If they can shorten "web log" into "weblog" into "blog", then I can shorten "photo log" into "phlog". I thought about using "ilog" for "image log", but it sounds kinda goofy, and I didn't want to tempt a lawsuit from Apple. So who's in favor of phlogging? If you're not, blame Dave -- he encouraged the idea of a photo log.

The only criterion for images to appear in this space is that I must want to take the time to upload an image and write something about it. Hence, you will notice that I often go months without any new images. I apologize for the lack of eye candy, but that's how it goes. Feel free to request more images. Keep in mind that I do not yet own a scanner (the old one was Dad's, and I have not bothered to buy my own), so my awesome collection of analog photos must for now remain hidden from the internet's ever-watching eye.

Also see old pictures!

These are the best of the best snapshots of San Antonio. The trip was for my sister, who graduated from Air Force Basic Training on April 8, and had a few hours of liberty each day of our trip for us to entertain her before she went off to tech school. We did our best to let indulge her with a few things she had been without for the previous seven weeks, and then we flew back home. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

(4/7/2005 -- I ate here Thursday night)


(4/8/2005 -- The band exiting the ceremony)


(4/8/2005 -- Dad admiring the F-82)


(4/9/2005 -- We bought our sandals at Quarry Market)


(4/9/2005 -- On the wall in the sushi bar)


(4/9/2005 -- Tower of the Americas!)


(4/9/2005 -- Tower of the Americas up close!)


(4/9/2005 -- Pretty watery things near the Tower)


(4/9/2005 -- Pretty watery things from another angle)


(4/9/2005 -- Pretty watery things from the Tower)


(4/9/2005 -- More pretty water things from the Tower!)


(4/9/2005 -- Pretty watery mini-rapids near the Tower)


(4/9/2005 -- Nifty little step-waterfall near the Tower)


(4/9/2005 -- San Antonio skyline from the tower)


(4/9/2005 -- Stoplight in front of the Rivercenter Mall)


(4/9/2005 -- Riverwalk endpoint at the Rivercenter Mall)


(4/9/2005 -- More of the Riverwalk endpoint)


(4/9/2005 -- Jenny and me on the Riverwalk)


(4/10/2005 -- Bowling scores for game three)


(4/10/2005 -- Quarry Market from the highway)


(4/10/2005 -- Clouds playing with the sunlight)


(4/10/2005 -- The plane next to us wanted some Grey Poupon)

Not enough pictures, you say? Fine. Here's a few. Some are linked to larger versions.

(1/20/2005 -- me, outside MSC)


(1/20/2005 -- me, outside MSC)


(1/20/2005 -- me, MSC cafeteria)


(1/21/2005 -- Jen, Onslow Beach cabin)


(1/22/2005 -- Onslow Beach, North Carolina)


(1/22/2005 -- Jen, Onslow Beach pier)


(1/22/2005 -- my feet, Onslow Beach pier)


(1/22/2005 -- me, Onslow Beach pier)


(1/22/2005 -- me, Onslow Beach pier)


(1/28/2005 -- the view from Dad's house)


(1/28/2005 -- Jen and my dad, Dad's house)


(2/21/2005 -- Jen, MSC cafeteria)


(2/25/2005 -- Bob, Jessi, Vernon, Max -- LOTR Day morning crew)


(2/25/2005 -- Bob, Max, Jen -- LOTR DAY afternoon crew)


(2/25/2005 -- Max, Jessi, Bob, Becca, me, Jen -- LOTR Day night crew)

Jen and I have been together since Christmas. We first met in our computer science class in late August, although I had seen her in a French class across the hall from mine several days before we met. I can remember the first time I saw her, through the window of the door to her classroom while my class was lectured on how to use the lab. Days later when I saw the web site she made for our computer science class, I decided that she should come sit next to me, and next time she came to class she did. I had no idea then that we would ever be together, and upon finding that she wasn't single I dropped any hint of pursuit. But months later, here we are. Funny how life works out sometimes.

In the picture to the right, the only source of light was the TV. I held the camera as still as I could at arm's length, but it still came out a little blurry.

I know, my track record with pictures so far isn't good; this is actually the first one I've posted in 367 days. But there may be good news for those of you who have consistently requested more photos: Jen is camera happy, and as a result I've been a little more camera happy lately, so in theory I'll be taking more pictures now too -- or at least she'll take more pictures of me that I can post here. You'll know when/if they show up!

Keesha and I dated from January to August. I suppose any two people who can tolerate conversation with one another for nineteen consecutive hours (ignoring a short power nap, which would extend it to over twenty-one hours) owe it to themselves to find out what else being together can be good for. (Don't get any ideas, now.) It was fun while it lasted, but at some point I realized that our minds were taking the relationship in different directions -- i.e., mine was taking me out of it. Sometimes it just doesn't work, I guess. We're still good friends though.

In the picture to the right, I held the camera and tried to center it between us. I guess I missed, and it's slightly blurry, but I don't have any problem with the image focusing more on Keesha. You've seen me before, anyway!

Notice the time I'm posting this: 4:45 in the morning. I only have a three-week break between spring and summer semesters, and I was looking forward to a much slower-paced, relaxing three weeks before resuming the breakneck work-school schedule to which I have grown so accustomed. So much for sloth.

After visiting Marcy for her late-afternoon break, I picked up some fast food for Mom and Jenny, and before I even got out of the Krystal parking lot, a cable or belt in my engine snapped. Immediately, my ears were hammered with a high-pitch, high-tempo repeating "clang", presumably of the snapped belt slapping neighboring parts as it spun. My power steering immediately died, so was it the power steering belt? *shakes magic 8-ball* Not knowing what exactly the problem was and not wanting to drive too far on it, I parked the car around the corner in the parking lot outside the library where I work because I figured that's a place the car could sit for the weekend if I couldn't get the car in position to be fixed by Monday.

You only wish the story ended there. At about 3:00am, I was just getting ready to turn off my computer and get a little sleep when the phone rang. The call ID said Bibb County Sheriff's Department. My first reaction was that my Uncle Jimmy, who works for the Sheriff's Department, had some news worth sharing at 3:00am. My second reaction was that someone wanted to tell me, at 3:00am, that my car was being towed. Of course, it never occurred to me that someone might have actually broken into my car. I mean, why would they?

To get to the inside, of course! By the time I arrived at the scene, Office DeFoe had filled out most of the report and was preparing to run prints on what few parts of the car weren't covered in the night's dew. The front passenger-side window was smashed with a hole, but they didn't go in that way. The rear driver-side window was completely shattered -- the rock is still in the back seat -- and they used that window to unlock the driver's door.

The ultimate irony here is that I never lock my car. My theory is, if someone is determined to get inside my car, I would much rather them open the door and take what they want than break through my windows and leave me with the check. So, naturally, the one night I lock the door (and also the day after I bragged to Marcy's parents about how my American car has had fewer problems than my family's "more dependable" Japanese cars) is the one night that someone is determined to get inside.

The damage: two windows, a CD player, and at least one CD. I'm not sure how many CDs I had in there, but I took most of them out earlier today and I took some more out to the car. I don't remember when I took the others out, but I know I brought several in. Either way, I know at least one casualty: 30 Seconds to Mars.

Jenny was a bit surprised by my serenity. From the time I arrived at the scene, I was more fascinated than upset by the fact that my car had been broken into. My reaction was a quick glance, a smile, and a "what do I do now, officer?" kind of look. I explain my attitude this way: I didn't really care that some lower lifeform felt the need to vandalize my property. My caring is reserved to the fact that now I have to deal with even more crap in the morning and probably for the next several days (car windows aren't so easily replaced, you know). Of course, a simpler explanation is that I'm just a very passive person, and I am very much in control of my emotions. The negative emotions are nearly nonexistent, mostly because I'm just really good at accepting reality for what it is. What will be will be, and an emotive reaction won't solve anything...

You can bet that I'll let you know what all this leads to. I expect the engine problem to be solved fairly easily, and I expect the glass to take a few days (but maybe not). What I look forward too least is working with the insurance company to figure out who's paying for what. Mom!

UPDATE: Pictures added. I couldn't resist, and I know you can't either. (Hmm, I should have gotten a picture of the rock in the back floorboard. Oh well.)

UPDATE v2.0: OH! I left out the most important detail! The food arrived at its destination and was devoured as planned, although seven minutes were allowed for worry and complaint, as I was forced to take the circuitous route home. Of course, I was really glad I had the food when the car died; it gave me something to do while I waited for my sister to show up.

This is the first picture of me alone that I have liked even a little in a couple of years. I actually don't mind showing you all the pictures I don't like, but I'm not going to waste my web space on them. Come see me on your own time if you really care that much!

Talk about being on the ball today -- this picture was taken about six minutes ago! I had to run up from my spot on the couch, so instead of dealing with the wires to get the laptop back in my lap, I just curled up next to it. Rascal jumped up into my lap, and surprisingly he stayed there for about five minutes will Mom and I tried to get my camera to work. It finally took the picture, and the dog immediately jumped down.

This is a typical, lazy afternoon for me. Just relaxing and pretending to do homework -- I'm actually trying to get a little work done on a couple papers I have yet to write -- while generally just surfing the net and chatting with friends. The semester is nearly over, and after finally getting the worst project turned in (and I think I did a good job!), I feel like the rest of the assignments, even the big one, won't cause much stress.

Note: this is how I looked when I rolled out of bed this morning! Don't you love those nights when you're so tired that you lie down on your bed and wake up still wearing last night's clothes? I was that tired!

This is the first picture of me alone that I have liked even a little in a couple of years. I actually don't mind showing you all the pictures I don't like, but I'm not going to waste my web space on them. Come see me on your own time if you really care that much!

Anyway, this picture was taken in the Matrix office after it was announced that I had been elected President of MSC's Student Government Association. The school's fearless leader needed a face, apparently, and a better one than what had previously been seen, at that. I suppose this one will have to do.

Check the temperature in Hell -- I just added two photos in one day!

This picture was taken in the cafeteria at school last Wednesday (April 9). Several other pictures were taken, but this is the only one that includes me, and it happens to include the beautiful Marcy as well. (I saw all the pictures that were taken of our group. There were fourteen of them, and eight of them seemed to focus on her. I wonder why...)

I may or may not post more from this set of images later. I just thought I'd give the masses of my dedicated readers (all three of you) an updated image of me, and I figured giving the boys a little eye candy couldn't hurt.

This picture was taken on October 20, 2002, as my plane turned onto the runway before taking off for Atlanta. I had a particular shot in mind, and this wasn't it. The angle from my seat didn't allow anything exciting, but I thought the picture should be here anyway.

In case you're curious, Portland supposedly is marked by semi-rainy weather most of the time, but for the three full days that I was there, it was bright, sunny, and dry. It had stopped raining the Wednesday afternoon that I arrived, and it picked again as I was leaving Sunday afternoon. Fitting, don't you think?

Actually, I have just realized that I never posted my "log" from that journey, so remind me to do that soon. I need to get the files off of my laptop. (Putting this message here will annoy me at least enough to make it want to go away, so maybe I'll talk about Portland some day soon.)