Busy Day – Short Post – Long Photo

September 30, 2008, 12:08 pm

Been slammed all day but I know how you get when there is no new Prettymike.com to read so here it is-

* I have begun growing my fall and winter beard as well as my caveman-manly long hair.
* Today I am wishing I did not have to move again…what a pain.
* This morning I walked outside and caught that cool fall breeze which I love so much.
* Last night it occurred to me that a nice quiet life would be worse than being murdered. But it would be close.

Below is one of my favorite photos shot out a cab window rolling up 16th St to see a friend.

From Rogue Photographers Favorites

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How My Drs Appointment was Like My Saturday Night…

September 29, 2008, 2:08 pm

Both times I laid down got hooked to electrodes then shocked with a stun gun. Just kidding, I went and got my EMG test today where I had wires glued all over my leg, and lower back then got shocked with what looked like a stun gun about 100 times.

That was the fun part because then the Dr. stuck needles in various places from my ankle to my back and moved it around to see what nerves were doing what- over all I have had more terrible medical experiences…but not many.

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God I miss…

September 27, 2008, 12:27 pm

This Chair… Enjoy.

“The definition of success–To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Does life imitate Art or Does Art imitate life?

September 26, 2008, 9:56 am

My good friend and photog-mentor Doug Sanford always says “Life is Art”. I don’t know if he made it up or heard it somewhere else, but I do know that when you go to a museum you expect to see beauty and you do, and when you wake up and choose to have a good day… usually you do and when we expect to see the best from those around us – they want to live up to our expectation.

Living a beautiful life requires very little material possession, but requires that we are rich in spirit, love, kindness and compassion.

As my brother from another mother Kanye West says “If you admire(love) someone go ahead and tell’em cause people never get the flowers while they can still smell’em.”

Live a Beautiful Day-

Click to Enlarge

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Bail Out: Like that Time in Tijuana

September 25, 2008, 11:51 am

Today I have been shooting the “National Tax Fighter Awards” given to Members of the Senate and House for voting against tax increases. Having photographed numerous members today all of whom (if they had time) were talking about the bailout, I thought I would again write about this breaking epidemic and contribute to the state of panic sweeping our Nation.

I have heard the word “bailout” a 1000 times today, from the coffee shop to the Capitol Hill Club all anyone is talking about is the financial crisis. As I am writing this I received an IM from a friend and an email from Harold Ford Jr…both about the bailout.

I readily admit that I am not an economist…as a matter of fact while I love money I hate finances and look forward to the day when I will no longer have to watch mine so carefully. Having said that- as a pragmatist I keep thinking when you bail out of a plane it’s because it’s going down and you will die otherwise, when you get bailed out of jail it’s because you were a dumb ass and got arrested. Yet we are using the word as if it is life threatening and our Government  who is out of money is attempting to throw more unregulated money to bailout those whose greed is at the heart of this problem.

Fine it worked before, fine we will make a profit, fine something is better than nothing…or is it?

Sometimes you have to learn to swim in the deep end, yes it sucks but there is far worse things than being broke…trust me.

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Recession, Depression, Panic and Mayhem- What's up with you?

September 24, 2008, 8:56 am

I am not a conspiracy theorist- I am not a theory guy at all. I either do or don’t do, so when I say the liberal media is scaring the shit out of Americans it’s really a joke- because it’s the media in general not just the liberal media that is contributing to a great state of panic.

In the last two weeks I have had at least 5 friends ask me to help them find work (of course! I would love to) and Suze Orman went on Oprah and said we are officially a cash Country…wait Suze? You mean we are only going to be able to live within our means? You mean if we have a dollar we can’t spend 5?

Maybe a little depression will help get Americans back on track, help get our souls out of the gutter and we will again value people based on character instead of what brand name they may or may not have.

Maybe some of the more deplorable unnecessary extravagances that are giving our kids value based solely on the items they have as opposed to what great treasures lay on the inside will fade away. (MTV’s sweet 16 Party needs to go first)

My hope is that our leaders will consider the fact that we all knew this was coming and did it anyway because as Americans we saw an opportunity to take the short road to a million dollar home…finance $250,000 worry about the $750,000 arm in 3 years…well 3 years came and went and here we are…abused, battered, crying ignorance and pleading for the help of the federal Government.

Something I am appreciative to my Dad for is the ability to make it no matter the circumstance- 30 years into a successful career, having bought and sold businesses he still regularly tells me “Mike if I lost it all tonight at 5pm guaranteed I would be working somewhere tomorrow morning at 8am, whether it was digging ditches or flipping burgers”.

I think we need to set our minds to getting back to the basics of life which don’t cost a thing and our more rewarding anything you can purchase…with cash or credit. It’s going to take awhile, be uncomfortable and require some pride swallowing…but after it’s all over and we are on our way I am sure we will find another way to do it again.

Whether Prince or Popper, Peasant or King, in the midst of a great trial or on top of the mountain: “this too shall pass”

***On a personal note I am getting crazy feedback on my new hair style. Thank you ladies!

Photo of Bob Inglis, Member from South Carolina’s Fightin 4th (as Stephen Colbert referred to him)

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Recession, Depression, Panic and Mayhem- What’s up with you?

September 24, 2008, 8:56 am

I am not a conspiracy theorist- I am not a theory guy at all. I either do or don’t do, so when I say the liberal media is scaring the shit out of Americans it’s really a joke- because it’s the media in general not just the liberal media that is contributing to a great state of panic.

In the last two weeks I have had at least 5 friends ask me to help them find work (of course! I would love to) and Suze Orman went on Oprah and said we are officially a cash Country…wait Suze? You mean we are only going to be able to live within our means? You mean if we have a dollar we can’t spend 5?

Maybe a little depression will help get Americans back on track, help get our souls out of the gutter and we will again value people based on character instead of what brand name they may or may not have.

Maybe some of the more deplorable unnecessary extravagances that are giving our kids value based solely on the items they have as opposed to what great treasures lay on the inside will fade away. (MTV’s sweet 16 Party needs to go first)

My hope is that our leaders will consider the fact that we all knew this was coming and did it anyway because as Americans we saw an opportunity to take the short road to a million dollar home…finance $250,000 worry about the $750,000 arm in 3 years…well 3 years came and went and here we are…abused, battered, crying ignorance and pleading for the help of the federal Government.

Something I am appreciative to my Dad for is the ability to make it no matter the circumstance- 30 years into a successful career, having bought and sold businesses he still regularly tells me “Mike if I lost it all tonight at 5pm guaranteed I would be working somewhere tomorrow morning at 8am, whether it was digging ditches or flipping burgers”.

I think we need to set our minds to getting back to the basics of life which don’t cost a thing and our more rewarding anything you can purchase…with cash or credit. It’s going to take awhile, be uncomfortable and require some pride swallowing…but after it’s all over and we are on our way I am sure we will find another way to do it again.

Whether Prince or Popper, Peasant or King, in the midst of a great trial or on top of the mountain: “this too shall pass”

***On a personal note I am getting crazy feedback on my new hair style. Thank you ladies!

Photo of Bob Inglis, Member from South Carolina’s Fightin 4th (as Stephen Colbert referred to him)

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Tales from the weekend.

September 23, 2008, 7:47 am

This weekend was special in many ways- since I found out last week I was probably going to have back surgery I decided to say fuck it and hit the mat for some no-gi jiu jitsu with good friends Tim Gentry and Taylor Dixon. Both are experienced competitors, ugly as hell and would run over their mothers for a hot dog if they were hungry…Just kidding they are both incredible guys and although I have essentially not trained in 10 months they still went after it like I expected they would.

Leaving jiu jitsu bleeding, bruised and starving we all went to whole foods for some lunch and revelry. We have spent many nights together on the road sleeping in dirt motels, in shit jersey waiting to pay $100 to compete and win a medal that’s well decorated with sponsors and hollow in the middle. But there is something about knowing you physically beat someone else in a combat art that is equally mental and physical that sends us packing into a car and down the highway. I have seriously missed that this year-

As promised a tale from a walk and the Zoo- well first my friend and I decided to stay in a hotel in NW and since Priceline rules we got a sweet room at the Palomar Hotel, we spent a night there last summer and it was equally fantastic. However, this time when we got to the room their was a baby screaming next door so we went back down and asked if their was any other rooms available and got an incredible Presidential Sweet that was twice the size and had a sweet view. Thanks Palomar Hotel.

The Zoo was awesome except I wish there was a no kids day – while what I appreciate most about the spirit of a child it also happens to be what makes them seriously annoying when you are trying to enjoy the Gorilla House but they won’t let you see…and then you ask them and the laugh at you cause your fly is down and then you run out crying in front of a girl you were trying to impress…I’m sorry I blacked out for a second.

Anyway the entire day was awesome, although we didn’t plan on it on our walk back from the Zoo we ran into the Embassy House Tour and saw some beautiful Homes, Architecture, Gardens, Decorating (from the windows, I swear I am not a peeping tom) and what had to of been the highlight called the “Spanish Stairs” near S St and Mass Ave. in NW.

This is my “Running Man Slide Show” this guy goes to stand in front of Union Station and was running because he was late to his protest- I wish I could find some workers that would jog if they were late-

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It's A Pretty Picture

September 22, 2008, 3:05 pm

Shot this walking to the train station last week- I know I promised pictures and “Stories from the National Zoo”; however, I decided not to take my camera. So I am offering a shot I took last week which I really like. On a personal note my Flickr page received a personal best 717 hits in one day on September 19th.

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It’s A Pretty Picture

September 22, 2008, 3:05 pm

Shot this walking to the train station last week- I know I promised pictures and “Stories from the National Zoo”; however, I decided not to take my camera. So I am offering a shot I took last week which I really like. On a personal note my Flickr page received a personal best 717 hits in one day on September 19th.

Comments (0)