quick hello

I am going to be posting photos and more detail soon. I went to Kansas to visit Nancy's family over Easter, and am swamped with work right now so I have a little catching-up to do.

Tuesday evening I took a drive to an area south of Denver to buy a Macintosh computer. Before you all take this as my endorsement of Macs, I did it solely because I need to test the work I create on my PC on the Mac platform -- for the sake of the small percentage of web users who own a Mac. I can only say I feel dirty because of it, and am holding off pulling it from it's tidy white box until I absolutely need it.

While I was down there, Brian and I met up and had some dinner together and caught up on what is going on in our respective worlds. It was great to see him and spend some QT together. I hope to spend more time with him in the future.

I'll post more about Kansas and the new Mac later.

Clearly a lot of terrified people here, but what a great shot. (and I admit it makes me chuckle a bit -- especially the guy in the top left with the gum in his mouth)

The original photo is here, but it won't likely stay in place.

Kelly's audio blog

Kelly just launched his first audio blog. Pretty fun to hear his voice again.

vice vice, baby

I'm not a big drinker, smoker, gambler or what-have-you, but this week has been a small exercise in some of my "part-time" vices -- sort of.

Occasionally I'll smoke a cigar, and every week or every few weeks I'll enjoy a beer or two. I've had something like 5 cigarettes in my life. That's why I call them "part-time" vices.

On St. Patty's day, I went to Mulligan's here in Fort Collins with Jeff and had several celebratory glasses of Guinness and a plate of corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and carrots. It did strike me as funny that on this [what I imagine is a] traditional Irish sort of "working-man's dinner" plate that they served baby carrots.

Tonight I went to a BBQ at Jonathan and Sarah's house, and while sitting around the firepit in the yard with the guys, took several turns on the hookah -- filled not with opium but with some mild, flavored tobacco from far-off India. I had to laugh a little as the gurgling was pretty loud and our requisite "guys around the fire" laughter would have likely raised some neighbor's eyebrows.

Back to normal life now, enough of this crazy carousing.

bravery

A great story about an incredible soldier: Private Johnson Beharry, 25

art-a-thon

Last weekend CoCoA had an art-a-thon to raise funds for our coop. 17 artists stayed for all or part of the 24 hour event creating art. I did not get photos of everyone who was creating art, nor did I get any photos of the 6-hour "grill-a-thon" I participated in behind the CoCoA building. It was a lovely day -- in the 70's and sunny -- I got WAY sunburned, and was officially titled the "Grill Master."

Then it snowed almost a foot that night. We had a lot of fun and raised some money for CoCoA

linking to friends

Well I've finally added links to some of my friends' blogs or sites along the left-hand side of the page. If you are a friend and want a link, let me know and I'll add you as well. If you aren't listed already, it means that either 1)I don't know your website URL, 2)I think that you may have reason not to want a link, or 3)you aren't my friend. (It's probably one of the first two, unless you really aren't my friend)

Make a giant photo poster for free

I just made a huge printable version of this (this image is just a test and is only random photos)

Here is the full-size (3Mb) version of this image.

To create the above image, I opened Picasa, selected a folder of photos, then clicked the "Collage" button at the bottom. I chose the "Picture Grid" option and it cranked out the above image in no time.

To make one giant printable poster, I used the "Rasterbator" (I can't vouch for the work-safeness of this site). You can upload an image or download a standalone version and creat the printable posted on your own machine (if you are on a PC)

Once you've done this, you can print it off of your own printer at home.

Ashley Smith

We don't have cable and our antenna only picks up fuzzy, intermittent air channels. I'm sure this has been in the news already but I'm just getting it.

I heard Saturday that Brian Nichols had been arrested after releasing Ashley Smith. I just read Ashley's story on CBS news' web site.

Her husband died in her arms several years ago after being stabbed. She has a little girl and talked to Brian Nichols about God and her relationship with Christ, her husband's death and her daughter.

Pretty amazing story, Ashley's a pretty amazing woman.

Lucky and Lucky, Jr. And Emma and Corben saying "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee [breath] eeeeeeeeeeeeeze" 

Emma capturing a great angler at work. 

Emma's documentary of a dead crayfish we found. 

Emma's shot of the view. 

Emma self portrait. 

These are some of Emma's photos from Sunday afternoon at Watson. She was completely unsupervised with the camera. 

Last weekend I went fishing with Emma at Watson Lake outside of Fort Collins. We didn't catch anything, mainly because we barely fished. We explored some, Emma took a whole bunch of photos which are pretty amazing for a 5-year-old, and we watched this bird soaring along the ridge across the river for about 30 minutes. Initially I thought it was a Golden Eagle, but I think it was probably a large red-tailed hawk. Either way it was amazing to watch it dive then soar in the wind. 

a dark month

I just got off the phone with Karl, who pointed me to this news article.

Tim Buras was a High School student when I was on staff at Willow Creek. He was a terrific young man, a lot of fun, well respected among his peers and looked up to by younger students.

What a tragedy. I find myself saying that too often these days. My prayers are with his family and friends.

drawing

Just stumbled upon Drawn and had a great time. If you enjoy drawing, or drawings, or fun -- check it out sometime.

I need to put some of my drawings online. I think I have a grand total of one posted on Flickr and about 1,000 in my garage.

Sometime I'll get this website and my random disjointed blogs in one coherent shell. Until then I'll build other people's sites and slap what I can on my own.

Remembering Laurie

I knew Laurie a little. But what I remember of her is very sweet.

This song is coming to my heart for some reason. I hope you can listen to it if you knew Laurie and miss her.

Jesus King of Angels, Fernando Ortega

Jesus King of angels heaven's light
Shine Your face upon this house tonight
Let no evil come into my dreams
Light of heaven keep me in Your peace
Remind me how You made dark spirits flee
And spoke Your power to the raging sea
And spoke Your mercy to a sinful man
Remind me Jesus this is what I am

The universe is vast beyond the stars
But You are mindful when the sparrow falls
And mindful of the anxious thoughts
That find me, surround me and bind me

With all my heart I love You Sovereign Lord
Tomorrow let me love You even more
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name
Until I close my eyes and sleep again

Jesus King of angels heaven's light
Hold my hand and keep me through this night

Laurie Boncimino

I have been praying for a young woman by the name of Laurie Boncimino who has been missing since mid-week.

I just read on the web page that her family created to help find her that she took her life. What a loss and tragedy. My prayers are with her family.

Getting your tail online

Hey everyone. I posted an article on my technology blog to help folks who want to post photos and thoughts online.

I went to tonight's "Fort Collins Gallery Walk" in Old Town. I really just stopped byCentennial Gallery to see Don Vogl. Fort Collins is such a great place. I just caught a few shots of what it's like 

MISSING PERSON

Laurie Boncimino

Pray and watch.

This is just another random beautiful sunset here in Fort Collins. I actually posted this same image on Flickr, but this version has some color adjusting done to make it a little warmer.