Drying the Well....

In this simple blog post, I am going to make a few statements concerning humanity and our final plight...

I had in the past months, been revising my political views on the stance of Global Warming. As Americans we can say, that it would be egotistical to think that a mass of pink fleshy toned hominids could alter the stabilization of all life on earth. I could scream here in your face everyday that we are destroying the world every second of the day. I could list out all the negatives I keep reading from things like Monsanto to Fukushima. I could even take it a step further and show you photos of how BP and how their ignorance has destroyed the gulf.

But alas, if you wanted to see or hear all that you wouldn't have stopped at this blog, so I will spare you the emotional duress that my words may inflict. 

What I will share though is a simple photo. This photo when you see it will evoke 1 of 2 emotions. 

1. What the eff is this guy's problem???

or 2. What the eff is "Our" problem??

It started at the beinning of summer, I knew this was going to be an unusually dry summer, so I sat back and waited for the rain. Had I held my breath waiting, you would not be reading this blog lol. I walked my property almost daily usually while walking my dogs. I had passed by our pond everyday wanting to just sit down and fish all weekend long. Everyday that I passed the water had diminished a few inches. This was a subtle change, and not overly visible to someone not watching. Fast forward to August 2013, I walked to the pond tonight to see, what I was hoping was water. What I saw really drove that nail in the coffin for me. I was standing where there was once 14ft of water. I was actually dead center in my pond with not even a drop of water could be seen. You see folks global warming is real. The question is not if it exists or not, but the question really is "Did we cause it???" I mean if you think on a small local scale of 1 car burning fuel to get to work for the week, and how much pollution that may cause... Now take it up a notch and say roughly 1 billion cars on the road everyday burning through billions of gallons of gasoline. How much bigger is our carbon foot print now??? I am not asking you to go green or change your way of living. All that I ask is that you be aware. Be aware because suddenly when problems are brought to the forefront to be addressed 90% of the time its already too late....

As a final thought...

I once watched maggots consume a dead bird. As macabre as this may sound, it was completely fascinating to me how a whole comunity of worms consumed and consumed every ounce of flesh from this bird. They had consumed so much that the bird unwittingly had no more to offer to the worms and became a hollow skeleton of what once was. As I sat there it all came together...We are the consumers of the earth, one day we will have dried up our resources to the point that, in order to save the race we will have to look for another body to consume...We are mother natures maggots.

URBEX a home without a master

This morning I set out on a mission. I always feel empowered by the abandoned, left behind, and lonesome buildings. Not sure why but abandoned buildings always appealed to me. I could go the Sigmund Freud Route, and say that its probably attributed to growing up not knowing my real father. So in a way I was also abandoned and left behind.

Of course I am not one to crutch on weakness, so lets just say these buildings resemble to me that there was once happy memories in here, it was once somebodies dream to own this. Though now it looks like a nightmare lol - It was once somebody's home.

At this particular location there were about 4 houses. Some still intact and some burned to the ground. Also the property itself was about a good 100 acres big. The grass was about 4 ft tall, with those lil sticker plants (you know those annoying lil stickers that get on your clothes by the hundreds and you have to pull them off one by one). It was about a good 1/4 mile inbetween houses. Even though these places were in shambles beyond repair. The place itself had avery somber feeling inside. Almost as if it is patiently waiting for attention.

The main house was overcome by the elements and mold. There was lots of it, that is to be expected though by houses open to the elements lik this one. I was almost saddened to know that something that was once so beautiful now is a mere shard of it's once mejestic view. I spent about an hour and a half in this location taking it all in. On the way to the main house, I turned a corner and came face to face with a wild coyote. Its safe to say we scared each other lol. He ran off, by the looks of it, I may have been the only person this coyote has ever seen.

Back to the main house though, this is where much of my focus was, It had to be about a good 3000 - 5000 sq ft home. It is also safe to say that the fireplace will outlive even me. It was once quite an engineering feat. And now it stands there to never devour another log in the dead of winter.

All in all it was a great morning. I got to get snapshots of history, but also of what will soon be history. It was great getting into a location that I know will be gone soon. Urban Exploration is one of my favorite things. Mostly because as a photographer we take only memories and leave behind footprints.

inceptum finis

As the title of this blog suggests. The beginning of the end. Not sure of the day exactly, but one morning I was getting ready. I look in the mirror and "It" happens. Could this be??? I know that it really is not a big deal per se, but I finally got it after haggling the older crowd about it for so long.

By now you are probably going "WTF is this brown bastard talking about?" lol - I look in the mirror one morning and bright as the August Midday sun was a white hair. There is no denying it. My first white facial hair took front and center like it was jumping in the pit, at a slipknot show. 

I have to honestly say, I am actually quite proud of my lil pale follicle, it shows that I made it out of child hood. Its like it sits there and lets other people know "Yeah I been there" haha. 

A small blog for those in weary of the milky thread. Its nothing to be shamed of and I look forward to many more :)

Even Socrates would struggle to write better Comedy and Tragedy....

7.18.2013

I had been anticipating 5'oclock like there was no tomorrow this thursday. I had another photoshoot to do and it was for a former co-worker and friend. I woke up a lil early and made sure batteries were charging memory cards, reflectors, and tripods were all in their respective places waiting for me. Now they say God works in mysterious ways, and we'll get to that in a minute, and today was one of those days.

After fullfilling my daily life as a pen pusher, finally it was 5 o'clock. I was rushing home to be at my photoshoot on time. It was nearly 6, and I was about to take the exit towards my house, when my shifter or stick went loose. Yes, the fear set in.....I couldn't change gears much less leave the gear I was in. Thankfully, I might add I was stuck in 2nd. OH NO!!! What do I do??? (excuse the profanity I feel like it summerizes the moment better)..Shit...Shit..Shit. I thought I was going to have to abandon the car walk home and explain to Breeanna that I could not make the shoot. 

As I coasted into my driveway, I knew there was little time to figure things out. I jumped out of the car and jacked it up for better inspection. Well the actual connecting piece for my gear shift and cable are inside the car. "Dammit" I thought to myself. I look inside the car at the console and begin to silently curse, because I knew it had to come out.

6.10

I grab a screwdriver and and start taking apart my console. After a few hiccups, I finally break it free from the center. "Ok what am I staring at?" I thought to myself as I begin to look for any signs of damage, or anything out of place. AHA! There it was the stick shift, actually broke free from the clutch cable.

6.40

Now I know this piece is broken, and somehow it will all have to be in working order to get the car on the road. I mend the 2 pieces with chicken wire like Mcguyver. Now to test my shenanigans. "SUCCESS!!!" 

Now it was time to get on the road and pray to GOD that it holds.

7:00

I get out to Adriatica and waiting for me is my friend Bree and her family. Slightly surprised and excited we begin grouping everyone together and taking photos when it happens....

We were 30 min into our photoshoot when it began to rain on us. I remained a slight drizzle, but man did it stop our shoot.

I remember checking the forecast before I left and no where in Weather.com did it call for rain!!!

We tried to wait it out and take photos when and where we could here, then as we were walking to the tower in Adriatica, it began to rain harder. So the family decided to go to their place and finish up the session. We ended with some more outside shoots, and all ended well.

It was the ending you hear of in Fairy Tales. Everyone had a happily ever after and we all went home.

So here are a few key points to my story.

#1 Yes the man upstairs works in mysterious ways. This is why the worst case scenario happened at the best time and location. God forbid it happened on the 30 mile stretch of higway between work and home, or between home and Adriatica. 

#2 When dealing with a worst case scenario, do not just toss in the towel. I found out last night that someone with no mechanic background, could fix their car in less than an hour. 

Whatever you do, as in everything in life, you will run into problems. Make the best of it and overcome your problems to the best of your ability. Good things wait for you.... 

Adandoned Motels, The Pride house and spirits of children.

 Today is June 29 2013.

As a preface to this blog. I am a photographer and I enjoy sharing my art with those who also enjoy the art of photography accompanied by the stories of why the photo was taken.

Jeromy Jones of TPI called me the other day and asked if I wanted to help him out with investigating The Pride House. Not being one to ever deny a trip to Jefferson, we were off.

On our way to Jefferson Texas, we passed an abandoned motel. "Turn around bro!!!" I told Jeromy. We did the Ol' Hook and Gas, and did a u turn to the motel. When we arrived, this place looked like it has been abandoned for a good while. While exploring through this building almost taken by nature. We started getting that feeling of impending doom. Jeromy had said "Dude I feel like we are about to walk into a scary movie". I agreed. I said "man I feel like any minute now a door will be kicked open and the smell. Burning oil, smoke will fill the room - all the while the sound of a chainsaw cranking up rips through the walls of torn wallpaper. Yes it was that scary.

 

 

As we finished up taking photos and what not, I couldn't help but almost be relived that the ride was almost over. I took the last few of my photos, then I saw this lone rusty dart. It was bound to go into my collection of haunted items. I asked for permission to take the memento with me and we headed out.

 

Getting into Jefferson Texas. 

We stopped in a little Italian restaurant. We were all contemplating on what would be good to eat, when the owner (who was also the only waiter) suggested to Jeromy the wheat alfredo. He said "Jeromy you should get the wheat alfredo, it soaks up the flavor so much better". The only thing wrong about that statement was that, we had only been in the building for 5 minutes and not once did we address ourselves by name. How did the Italian guy know Jeromy's name??? To be honest the waiter said it so subtly that that I just assumed he knew Jeromy. When the waiter walked off, Jeromy asked "Did yall just hear him say my name??"

After dinner was over, Jeromy had to regulate his sugar so we headed downtown to get him some ice cream. We were greeted by the sounds of some guy just gettin down on his fiddle. 

This kid could play the Irish Jig like none other. I snapped his pic and dropped five in the case.

At the Pride House.

Simply walking up to the building, it screams "I'm haunted".

 

After doing the meet and greet with would be ghost hunters. We headed to the parlor room to answer any and all questions. Jeromy with this plethora of spectral technology, was the center of attention. 

 

Like myself Jeromy loves to engage with people and tell them his experiences with ghosts, poltergeists, and things that go bump in the night.  

We all got divied up into smaller groups and Stacy and I were to lead a group of about 5 or 6 people in the house alone. Now here is where Stacy and I love to have fun. She loves to investigate buildings like this. She also has this internal knack to research the history of locations like this. Giver her enough time and she can give you a list of every known occupant, up to and including their dietary choices. Ok I am kidding about the diet thing, but she is quite good at her research. Her ability and love to research history is like myself to photos and stories.

11.10pm

It was time for our group to head in....

As I got to into the kitchen, I turned to the group of newbies and I said "We are gonna try something a lil different tonight" I told the group we will be walking room  to room. I also told the group to tell me when they felt the need to stop and "Investigate" We stopped in our first room and decided to do an EVP session. Not receiving that much activity I turned on the box.

The box addressed itself as Jenny. We asked what room we should be in. It told us to go upstairs and the far back bedroom. So we now had a location to be. We went upstairs, I was placing meters everywhere and we started our session. One of the couples told us they had an Ovilus. Its a simple device that draws readings from the air and translates that into audible words. We were all feeling like someone was watching us, when I decided to turn the box on again. The box again called itself Jenny. The responses went as follows.

Jenny -Jenny-I'm dead-Dead-Burn-Fire. Then it happened, the Ovilus said "Mommy". All of a sudden the parascopes lit up as if to tell us we were not alone. One of the members of the group said she started to feel very sad, almost as if she was lost looking for her mother.

Then the little piano on the bed went off. Then all together the members of the group felt like the piano should be outside. I picked it up an no sooner did I walk out of the doorway, the piano went off again.

Alas our time to investigate was coming to a close. All in all i could not have had a better time in the Pride House. I also could not have had so much fun without ma' lady Stacy. Its really great to be with someone who enjoys your hobbies as much as you do. Our group was awesome and I could tell they all had so much fun in the building.

I will keep this blog going, with my photography and stories from time to time. The things I go through are funny at times, sad at others. But I would not trade this life for any other. Its also a good outlet to use my photography. Have a good night and I hope you enjoy reading my stories :)