June 26, 2009

Kodak Moments

Mill House Day 3
Mill House, Day 2The Mill House
The mill house is one of my favorite quiet spots on earth. It sits by the river where I can hear the water rushing below me as I nap on the porch. My friends, the loving proprietors, come with it, making it all the more extraordinary.

As appraisers of music ephemera -- anything from a bust of Beethoven, centuries-old sheet music, harps, books, antiquities, etchings, and the correspondence of composers and conductors -- Gene and Marianne are two of the most fascinating friends I've ever known. They've got incredible funny stories, and a cool job.

During this particular weekend at the mill house, Gene sorted through the letters of Leopold Mannes: a composer as well as the co-inventor of Kodachrome -- by content into a music pile and a photography pile. The most interesting letter to me? The one by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Mill House Day 3The Mill House
The Mill House
Letter from Eleanor RooseveltLetter from Eleanor Roosevelt
Letter from Eleanor RooseveltSorting the letters of Leopold Mannes
The Mill House
The Mill HouseThe Mill HouseThe Mill HouseThe Mill HouseThe Mill House

April 06, 2009

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park
Visit Joshua Tree National Park if you haven't yet. You feel like you're on another planet. There's rock climbing, hiking, and all kinds of interesting things. Bring food and water, and you need at least a full day. Camp spots are available on site!

Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

February 28, 2009

OCO Space Launch

I went to the launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, NASA's 1st environmental satellite. It was incredibly dramatic, exciting & sad!
www.spaceflightnow.com/taurus/oco/failure.html for the news on the launch.
Status reports to see the drama unfold here: www.spaceflightnow.com/taurus/oco/status.html

Photo album here (guest pass). I have a countdown video too, but haven't posted it yet. Here's a short video from just after launch.

January 08, 2009

Cairo

I don't suppose I can even begin to describe how incredibly cool Egypt is, but I went DIVING IN THE RED SEA and jumped at the pyramids with the Grateful Dead's Danny R., toured Luxor with a private guide, rode a fellucca, and saw a whirling dervish for new years. About as cool as going to the gelato conference in Italy last year... Life freaks me out how good it is.

Album here.

Jump SakkaraIslamic Cairo
Temple of Karnak
Sunrise at the hotel in DahabTombs at SakkaraThe Pyramids in GizaAt Sakkara with DannyFellucca Ride on the Nile
New Year's Eve in CairoIslamic Cairo