Tween Fads for One and All

As a 20-something, I see no purpose for the newest fad of Silly Bandz. On my 6 year old cousin, sure, but people my age? Absolutely not. Or at least this is what I thought before a friend of mine impulse bought a Disney Princess set at the local dollar store. Now I know there is a purpose for that ridiculous tangle of rubber; to distinguish your martini from among the masses. Yes ladies and gentlemen, like window clings, these stretchy strings attach to perspiring glasses of the beverage of your choice. (Wine glass charms are a thing of the past.) So thank you creators of Silly Bandz, you kept my drink clearly labeled, safe from swiping, and the center of jovial conversation.

Cheers!

Love and Honor

It seems appropriate on this, the first day of classes for those who were lucky enough to not graduate this past May, to pay homage to my alma mater. For all its twists and turns, I wouldn't change it for the world. After all, there is no more beautiful place in my mind or in my heart.

To think in such a place, I lived such a life.

Love and Honor.

Shanghai 2010 World Expo

We bring my China posts to a close with the Shanghai World Expo aka the Epcot of life, only a million times more amazing. Here are a couple of shots from inside the fraction of country pavilions I made it to during my two days there.

This small city of international celebration was too large for even a person, such as myself, armed with good walking shoes and a Performers' Pass (aka cut to the front of most lines) to get through it all. If you're in the Shanghai area between now and the end of October, I highly recommend going. Prepare to have you mind blown and spirits soar.

Above: Vietnam Pavilion
Right: Italy Pavilion
Above: Germany Pavilion

Above: Morocco Pavilion

Above: Czech Republic Pavilion

Above: Russia Pavilion

Above: UAE Pavilion

What Kind of a Box?

Not much beyond "they made me chuckle" needs to be said about these photos. Passing the smile along.

Real Chinese Food?

While I still can't claim to have experienced "real" Chinese food, I can say that I'm closer to the palate than I was before. These are from a dumpling dinner in Xi'an. 18 different kinds of dumplings, we counted, and each in the shape of what they contained. This one, as the whimsical form suggests, was duck. Whether helpful or close to disturbing at times, this style of labeling the different courses certainly kept things lively. Below is a bottle of "vinegal" or vinegar...which really turned out to be soy sauce.

Meditative States

Coming from the land of in your face Christianity, it was wonderful to step back and appreciate the tranquility of religion in China. The Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an was a swirl of incense, gardens and silence, wherein a slow stroll fostered introspection.

It's Kinda the Same but Beautiful Still

From what I've noticed over the years and from the pictures I've taken, the only possible conclusion is that I have a thing for lamps and shadows. Particularly lit lamps in twilight shadows, like these photos. At the top is a lantern outside the entrance to the Luxembourg Embassy in Beijing and below is a night view of Tianamen Square. I think it's the fickle relationship between my camera and nightscapes that draws me to these particular shots. The transitory potency of the dark poses a challenge that I'm all too willing to take up.