March 22, 2010 – WWD -

Did you know that even though our planet is mostly covered with water; we can only use about 1% of it?

Yea, I think we all ‘know’ that, but do we really ‘know‘ that?  If you look at how we use, pollute and waste our water; it’s safe to say we don’t ‘understand’ the fact.  1% is a very small amount.  It’s even smaller when you put it up against the size of our planet and the number of fresh water dependent beings that live here.

Why are we talking about this?  Well, in the morning I always cruise the internet to see what’s new for the day.  Yahoo and the AP for news and information.  The racing sites to see what the latest talk is about.  Then the cool sites, just to see what’s hot.  Roughly equivalent to you waking up as a kid to see your parents watching the morning news as they prepare for the day – and the more things change, the more they stay the same -

This morning an article on our water caught my eye.  It was on ‘the cool hunter’ and this is yet another example of the amazing diversity of that website.  It seems the subject of our water use and abuse has been and seems to be an increasingly profound topic of discussion.  And it should be, we and everything else on this planet are dependent on it.

dusk + india + ganges + festivals + time lapse = amazing photography

Now the article was posted on ‘the cool hunter’, but was actually linked back to a piece on Boston.com.  It centered around ‘World Water Day’, a day of recognition and public awareness  set up by the United Nations Water Group.  This years theme was the necessity of clean water to sustain a healthy world.  You’d have to agree; that’s a pretty vital focal point. Click On The Picture Below and it will take you straight to the article.    Read through it,  and you’ll see its dominated by an awesome gallery of images that illustrate the theme of this years WWD.  But take a look at how these images tell the story in they’re own way.  A real example of photography showing it’s worth, taking you to the heart of the topic.   Check it out, it’s worth the time spent and a great way to get the mind working this morning.

World Water Day

make friends in far away places

It was summer last year.  In the mail came an invitation from the other side of the world.  There was to be a wedding, in Australia.  An old friend made contact and told the age old story of meeting a young lady, enjoying her company and as the time passed, growing to love her.

and here they are

I guess this sort of thing happens all over the world… (smiled a little as I typed that), but it’s a classic story, and one that you love to see.   I was honored by the invitation but this is one you would have to seriously think about.  After all, Australia is on the other side of the planet.  The trip alone is quite an investment, time, money, etc.  But on the other hand, the potential for adventure is off the chart….

Right, I’m all in.

Hello V Australia, you’re planes and service are amazing and comfortable.  I’d like to fly to Australia please.

They obliged and I was down under before I knew it.  There’s actually a lot more to this trip, motorcycle races and travel tales, but this post is about the Boxer’s.  The week with them was awesome, tons of new experiences and the chance to really explore a place that I had never been before.  Now, I’d known the wife to be through the internet but this was our first physical meeting.  She’s a Kiwi – (New Zealander) and one of the coolest chic’s I now know.  Her family is just as cool, especially her mom.  (If you’re reading this, Hello Vivian and hello to both the families, thanks again for the hospitality).

the only way to roll

The wedding was what you would expect it to be.  Boxer, properly tuxedoed riding in on his famed motorbike.  The bride arriving in a classic convertible hot rod with her veil blowing in the wind.  Indeed, right on par for this couple and I don’t think any other entrance would have suited them better.  The gallery was filled with family and friends from all over.  Co-workers, Aunts, Uncles, brothers, sisters, niece’s and nephews.  The families from both sides getting to know each other.  All coming from near and far, travelers everywhere.  I was content just to see it all unfold.  But also to play the photo journalist; using Boxer’s camera (Canon 7D) to provide another POV of the day.  He’s a great guy and awesome with the camera too.  You know, it’s funny how life works.  We met way back in 2003/2004  when he was traveling and working here in California.  We stayed in touch but hadn’t seen each other since then.  Fast forward to the fall of 2009 and there I was standing atop Mangrove Mountain watching him get married.  Draw that out on a timeline and it looks pretty interesting I bet.

All in all the day was golden and the weather matched the atmosphere of the event.  But afterwards there were only two days until my return to the US and their honeymoon departure.  That time went by fast and before you knew it I was on a plane, back home, unpacked and they were in Malayasia and headed towards Japan.   Before I left they outlined the honeymoon for me and it sounded great.  But Boxer’s creative and imaginative with photo so I was looking forward to seeing the pictures from their trip.  He did us one better and made a video about it.

And here it is.

- 25.September.2005 -Thank you Bill Watterson -

There’s Treasure Everywhere

Bill Watterson is the author and creator of a comic strip that you guys should be familiar with.  It’s called Calvin and Hobbes.  I’ve read these comics since I was a kid.  The imagination involved is amazing.  The reality involved is amazing.  Or maybe since I spent my life reading these comics, I actually welcome it’s reality?  Who knows, but anyways I am writing out one of these comics right here and right now.

One frame setting:
A snow field could be a park, or maybe Calvin’s front yard

A Huge Snowman stands with arms down, and a ridiculous frown on his face.  Atop his head, a steaming hot water bottle.
About two steps away, Hobbes stares with one hand grabbing his hip and the other scratching his chin.  He’s taking in the monument as he does all of Calvin’s snowsculptures.  Hobbes asks, “Why does he have a hot water bottle on his head?”  Calvin stands beside him, calm, proud as he always is and replies, “He’s committing suicide.”

- end

That’s amazing, check out the one below for the contrast in style and subject matter.

I love it

4.july.2007 – a day to write apparently -

Countdown to life

right now its the fourth of july.  in the two thousand and seventh year.  just got in from seeing a movie, lighting some fireworks and making a mess here in the streets of orlando.  well actually after i did that i hopped on the bike, took off down the road and hit illegal speeds for a little bit.  it was fun, but i’m home now, looking over everything that i’ve accomplished to this point, and i’m excited about what is to come.  who knows where i will be in a years time.  europe is calling and its sounding sweeter and sweeter every time i think about it.  i now have more than a few hookups in the UK and that in itself is nice and proper.

i’m listening to gulity simpson right now, song called ‘man’s world’

going over my resume, and trying to put out a plan of attack, and its all coming into focus.  graduating from school in like 15 days and that is amazing in itself.  motogp in the same week, california here i come.  the book i am writing is taking shape more and more each day, but man the more i incorporate the more i don’t want to stop.  maybe it will end up being a piece that someone stumbles over when i die, and its published at that point?  haha that is crazy, but i do want to finish it, i want to see my friends and family when they read it.  their admiration, their surprise, their interest.  gotta be there for that.

listening to a mix by Madlib now.  a sick hip hop mix of Nas to a ridiculous beat by the late great j.dilla – ‘my niggas keep it ghe-tto with them plastic cups’  you have to listen to the words to realize that this is real hip hop.

so now sitting here pausing for a minute, letting it all soak in to help me make the right decisions.  a soft voice from a pretty young lady would indeed be optimal right about now, but in due time.  i’m smiling at the thought of friends that have made it, congrats big coleman.  my boy is married and did it big,  i am proud of him.  OOOOHHHhhhhhh man i could just get on a plane right now…and fly somewhere….. and this might end up in my book as well   even with that stupid smiley face.

this new song by interpol is awesome, it’s  called – the heinrich maneuver – i like this band alot.  seperate sound from alot of things in my world but right in line with what sparks life in me somehow.   so how are things on the west coast?

so what am i doing right now….the answer is relaxing.  exhaling with my feet crossed and chilling in sound while i think aloud, or should i say through my fingertips.  computers and technology, i mean if i was alive in the pilgrim days and i told the townsfolk that one day i would one day be using my fingers to play multiple types of musics, at hi levels of volume, while simultaneously using my fingers to write a message of excitement that would have the possibility to reach millions of people the world over; at any time of the day no less.  they probably would have labeled me a witch and found a wild and imaginative way to do away with me.  but times are different now.  hop on the net and explore the world for a bit.  see and speak with old friends, learn new languages, anything really.  that is cool, and a sense of calm comes from that for me.  i love to learn, i live to experience,  i love to see smiling faces, and new places. (sorry about that rhyming)  so many things to do friends.  keep your head up and see all those things through.  if you have someone close to you tonight, hold them a little tighter and make sure they know their worth.  trust me its worth it in the end, maybe even 10x over.  so i’ll be seeing you all soon, with mad stories to tell, looking to get in touch with many of you and waiting to see what kind of experiences are to be had.  it’s a fun night, and i hope this has helped somebody else to smile a little bit tonight.

4.july.2008 – a year later…check that out… -

another one from an old blog of mine.  this writing is called ‘holiday’, get into it.

red, blue, green, yellow, sizzle.

orange, white, BANG! and there’s gold.

my mouth is cracked open with a subtle smirk as i sit next to a kid on the rocks that line the waterfront.  the bay is located on the west coast of Seattle, Washington.  the park here is filled with people.  north of us, south of us, behind us, there are people everywhere.  as a matter of fact; the balconies and rooftops of the apartment buildings and office complexes that surround the waterfront have apparently become stadium seating tonight.  the fireworks are directly above us right now.  i hear the kid smile in awe and i look down from the sky to see him laughing and clapping.  oh how the world must look through the eyes of a child.  we all should try to see things that way.  i look on the water, the bay in front of us is filled with boats.  all lined up and facing a barge that’s throwing magic into the sky.  the boats are everywhere.  i imagine what the first every drive-in movie might have had the same effect on the passerby.

BAM, red and silver shimmering down and the water reflects it all.  i look back up to get lost in the moment.  i get lost in thoughts just as easily.  thoughts of how much time has past, the things that have changed, the ways we all have changed.  the things i’ve done, the things i have yet to do.   think about old fiends, they’re spread out doing what they do.  but i love them all and smile at that fact.  i think about new friends, i smile again and send a text from my phone ”…i wish you could see these fireworks”.

the grand finale now and the crowd wants it.  the noise gets louder, as the explosions of color are bigger and faster and before you know it, the light from the sky has lit the entire bay.  people are cheering, children are jumping as high as their small legs will let them.  my little buddy is on his feet with his arms raised, yet his body and face are motionless.  the finale has turned him into a living statue, lost in what he sees; the mother takes the picture.  at the conclusion the applause was as if the home team had just won the title.  clapping drowned out whistling drowned out by cheering drowned out by the boats in the bay sounding off with their fog horns.  all at the same time.  the smoking cannons on the barge is all that was left and that is what we cheered.

everyone turned at headed back into the city to find their cars, a bus, the train, a restaurant, the apartment, a club, a drink, a smoke.  everyone was filtering back inland to return to their world.  i was walking through the crowd, heading back to the van.  but watching as much as i could to ‘experience’ it all just a little bit more.

1st ave & stewart is where the van is.  i got about a two mile walk and the fireworks haven’t stopped apparently.  i see families getting back to their cars, loading up and joining the traffic.  i see inner city kids looking like cartoon characters running around trying to get mixed up in whatever they can.  i see clubs with lines cued up out the door and down the street.  guys that think they’re the business, girls thinking along the same lines and bouncers wearing sleeveless black shirts to show off their tribal tattoos.  i laugh cause it’s time to play a game.  okay here it is, make eye contact with a girl in line,  let her guy see me do it and wink when he notices.  the guy sees me, he bows up like i’m scared of him, i smile and drink my smart water.  i look back, she is still watching.  a lot can be said without saying a word. 1 point g.hatton – 0 points guythatthinkshescool.  i see old couples married or just dating; they’re on the town tonight at the real lounges to interact over a real drink.  some might like red, some might like white.  everyones out to have a good time.  i see goth kids and i’m not mad at them they’re doing their thing.  i see a live band playing in a lot between two apartment buildings down the street.  they sound good and the crowd surrounding their stage is feeling it too.  i see taxi’s picking up and dropping off.  but by this time i arriving to my van.  and i see people on the roof tops of 1st Ave.  they have fireworks of their own to set off.  which leads me to believe the night has only just begun.

happy 4th of july everyone

g

15.apr.2008 – what i got from it -

this is amazing to me

i think its most important to do the things in life that you genuinely love.  the efforts and experiences along the way are beneficial for you and the people around you.  when you’ve followed those interests and done so for a long enough time, you stand to experience some of the most amazing things you could possibly imagine. physically, mentally, spiritually.

That’s It, That’s All

- i wrote this after seeing the trailer for red bull’s ‘then’ new movie entitled ‘that’s it, that’s all’

1o.apr.2008 – this one’s called ‘panorama’

there are 31 sail boats, a thousand different footprints and a small bird that just walked right in front of me. there’s the sun, a barefoot couple, a surfer paddling out, and a horizon willing to take us all to another place. there’s a woman sitting alone, some seaweed left behind, and a breeze cool enough to shake you.  there’s an empty lifeguard post, a thousand passer-bys, small sea shells everywhere, and a million waves creating the soundtrack.  there are some kids on the jetty, a seagull overhead, and i look behind me to see that night’s not too far away.  there’s the sun again, dimmer now and it looks as though he’s taking the horizon up on it’s offer.   if only we could meet them there.