America

Americans seem to have a holiday for everything (indeed recent weeks have seen Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Halloween), yet I must say I’ve always been a bit partial to the idea of a day of Thanksgiving.

Continue reading “Reasons to be Thankful”

Coffee shops. Sunshine. The small kick I get from seeing licence number plates with the word ‘California’ emblazoned across them. Badly designed currency. The way female news anchors have large lipstick smiles but deep manly voices. Strangers gleefully saying hello to you on the street. Having to risk your life every time you merge onto a US highway. My name somehow ‘Pool’ yet spelt with an ‘i’, and being mistaken as Australian.

Continue reading “Goodbye California”

Whilst I was back in the UK, my friend Lee told me I should blog more about what I get up to. I think that sounds like a great idea¹, and comes at a time when I plan on making the most of this summer here in California.

Continue reading “Now that I'm back…”

Just a quick post (at 4:45am CDT) as I’m feeling a little guilty that I’m behind on my blog posting (plus I can’t sleep due to anxiety about this evenings 20×2 performance).

Continue reading “Falling in Love with Austin”

So yesterday I finally moved into my new apartment in the Potrero Hill district of San Francisco. In the morning I went on a walk on and around nearby Third Street, and thanks to my new flatmate Tom whose camera I borrowed, I think I managed to capture just some of the inspiring scenery to be found here. In fact I’ve only just scratched the surface, as this place is full of photo opportunities.

See my ‘Welcome to the neighbourhood’ photoset on Flickr

I also just found a nifty little shortcut in iPhoto, that allows you to quickly and easily play around with a photos colour balance. It works by just apple-clicking on any portion of an image - suddenly I feel like I can have some more fun with my photos!

Anyway, I think this change of scenery is really starting to get my creative juices flowing again, and hopefully it’s starting to show!

I guess I’ve let a little too much time pass without adding a blog post… so much for that new years resolution goal.

I haven’t got a lot to say to be fair, having finally recovered from a cold that’s knocked me out for the last two weeks. But it had dawned on me, that only four weeks into 2007, I have already managed to cover a fair bit of ground.

Continue reading “A Weekend in Las Vegas”

Last Saturday I took myself into San José, the self-proclaimed capital of Silicon Valley. This city lies at the foot of the peninsula, and about 50 miles south of San Francisco. Like me, you may be surprised to learn that this city is not only the 10th largest in the US, but also more populated than it’s more famous Bay Area counterpart, San Francisco. According to the FBI, it is also America’s safest city.

Continue reading “(Do you know the way to) San José”

At an anti (Iraq) war demo in Palo Alto:

Demonstrator

Thanks for your support sir! All the best to you and your children!

Bystander

I don’t have any children…

Demonstrator (walking away)

Son of a bitch!

Second Bystander

Hey, watch your language!

Demonstrator (aggressive)

What did you say?

Second Bystander

There was no call for that…

…and before the fight begins the police step in!

And you wonder why the US has trouble ‘liberating’ Iraq.

A list of things I’ve noticed whilst living in the States. I will no doubt update this list throughout the coming weeks and months…

Continue reading “Observations from across the pond”

Just a quick post to let you all know I’m safe and well in hot and sunny California!

Yesterday I settled into what will be home for the next three months (photos to follow soon) before visiting the local supermarket to stock up with food. This was ‘Whole Foods’, a superstore famed for it’s moral values, so nearly everything I brought there was organic - but without the prices you would associate with that in the UK.

I will have something more insightful and though-tout to say in the next week or so no doubt, but needless to say, all comments and e-mails are very much welcomed. Hopefully time permitting I can reward you all with many photos of Palo Alto and San Francisco, and perhaps even a podcast or two. This all depends on how long I have to wait to get my hand on a lovely new MacBookPro of course!

The Creamery, Palo Alto - December 2005

Okay, now that I’m back to just the one job a day (more about that in my next post) I am slowly starting to catch up with myself!

Continue reading “Catching Up: New Photos on Flickr”