…I’m the third hit on Google if you search for:

“strand sl coolbeam“

I kid you not.  It’s both awesome and weird simultaneously.  Awesome ’cause it’s Google.  And I’m the 3rd hit.  Right after the manufacturer’s site.  Weird because according to the internet I’m an expert on these lights.  Talk about pressure.

the Flash website intro

Great post on how the latest, “flashiest” (yes, I know I made a pun) web phenom isn’t always something to imitate.  Personally, I hate Flash intros.  Back when I had dial-up (yes, it still exists) they were the bane of my existence.  Think of how annoying they are on DSL/Broadband/etc. – but at least they load.  Half the time, I couldn’t even get to the SKIP INTRO option, because that also loaded as part of the Flash intro.

NOTE: He really could have dialed down the use of the f-word.  Come on, man, it’s just not necessary.  You made your point the first time you said it.  

http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/should-your-website-have-a-flash-intro/

So, yeah, I was going to Christina’s wedding.  I was.  I had told everyone at work that I needed their files in to me early so that I had time on Saturday to attend the wedding and account for the 2 hour (both ways) drive.  Then somehow I wrote the time of the reception down on my calendar, rather than the time of the wedding.  

It would have been funny, if it hadn’t been so sad.  I really wanted to be there.  I was even 5 min. early after getting lost in the middle of a wheat field and having to backtrack.  But unfortunately, I arrived at the church early for the end of the wedding.  

Then I thought I’d just follow the bridal party to the actual reception so I could at least congratulate her and Jacob give them their wedding gift and maybe have a few laughs at my expense to soften the blow.  But such was not be.

After apparently following the 5 cars that were NOT going to the reception, I almost ran out of gas and had to admit defeat.  All in all, I had a very nice, long drive through rural Illinois, Christina and Jacob did get married (always the most important thing at a wedding), and I headed back to St. Louis to work on lighting at the church.

Not exactly what I expected to post about the wedding, but there it is.  :)

On a somewhat related note, I’m still editing photos from the last batch I took at First Free, I hope to get those up soon – things have been hectic.

@ church

I’ll be around church snapping away again on Sunday.  We’re in week two of the new sermon series and I don’t want to put off photographing it until the last week like I did with “The Buck Stops Here” (our last series).  So look for a new crop of photos to pop up on Flickr next week.

@ Christina’s wedding

I’m attending a friend’s wedding this weekend and I can’t help but bring the camera.  It’s going to be so much fun.  She’s going to be a gorgeous bride!  Those photos will be up soon, too.

@ the Inner Harbor

These are late in coming, I had a file corruption issue to work through before I could post any, so next week will also see the best shots from the Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

…that just seems scary.  All the cross pollination that goes on via Twitter, RSS, Facebook, etc. makes my head hurt and spin simultaneously.  It’s cool, don’t get me wrong, but to think that when I update my Flickr account it automatically posts to my FB account, when I tweet on Twitter it pops up on both my websites and other sites I’m a member of, when I write a post on my blog that shows up in RSS feeds that I know not of.  And all this goes on out in the ether somewhere, in numerous servers and networks that make up the Internet.  Intangible, invisible, and without any effort on my part.  Talk about mind blowing…

I’ve gone through and weeded out the best of the 700+ pictures from last Sunday and come up with 80 that I think stand out.  I’ve put those up on Flickr in a new collection called Photography.

Take a look.

I took my camera to church on Sunday and just went wild – 750 pictures in roughly an hour and a half. I’m sort of addicted to the hold down the shutter and the camera keeps talking photos feature. 

Here are a few of my favorites (with commentary):

 I love the motion blur on this one, because Cory is totally in focus.

 

 

 

 

 

Greet your neighbor time: Helen is one of those few people who asks how you are and actually cares about the details.

 

 

 

I call this one: Decisions, decisions.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t often get shots of the screens that look good, so when I do – it’s something to celebrate.

 

 

 

 

OMGosh, I almost bought that shirt!

 

 

 

 

 

I just love all the vectors in this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Another great shot of a screen.  That’s got to be some kind of record.

 

 

 

 

 

Traffic safety it a must, so always obey the crossing guards.

 

 

 

 

Marlys, in her element.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our full name, First Evangelical Free Church. We go by many nicknames, too (Efree, EvFree, and now First Free).

 

 

And now for something completely different – portrait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love Paul, he’s a great pastor and just a fun guy to be around.  I also love how he worships with anonymity in the back of the room.

All the photos will be up on Flickr sometime this week, but I couldn’t wait to share a few now!  I’ll post a link when they’re finished and uploaded.

The last two Sundays we have been lucky enough to have a guest worship leader in Quest.

Quest is an alternative, casual, modern* service that meets during the 2nd hour of services at First Free Church.   

Harry is a gifted worship leader, a talented pianist, a great singer, and a good friend.  It was really nice to see him (the first time since we both graduated).  Everyone remarked on what a pleasure to have him join us.  We hope he’ll come back and visit soon.

*I really dislike the term “contemporary” as it is used in churches.  It has been used to mean so many different styles that it is now more divisive than descriptive.

[the replacement dog]

Back in May we went out to Virginia for my cousin’s graduation.  We spent a few days with the family then spent a day exploring.  We got a call which in Baltimore, MD telling us one of our dogs had gone missing from the kennel.  The people were very apologetic and offered to give us a brittany spaniel, which they raise.  We declined.  As a family we decided to stick with just one dog for a while.  

Well, dad got a call last week asking him to come out to the club (where the kennels are) for a Father’s Day event.  When he and my mom showed up, they were gifted with a dog.  Jenny.  Yes, she’s cute.  Yes, I’m sure I’ll like her eventually, but right now it just feels like someone has foisted a pet on us.  It’s not the dog’s fault and that’s what I keep telling myself.  

Dad, however, has already fallen hard for the little interloper.  Yeah, he’s kind of a pushover when it comes to dogs.

…I was blocked on another project this evening and decided to try one of these as a brain buster.  

  .