Great...Now I Get To See Those Creepy Dolls All The Time

 I've been posting at least one picture a day since early 2011. If you do the math, that's a lot of pictures. Back then, I could only post 200 pictures on a Facebook photo album. When I hit 200, I started a new Pic Of The Day album. I don't know when, but sometime since 2011 and now, Facebook evolved so now you can post as many pictures as you want in an album (I don't know if there's even a limit...).

I kept the tradition of creating a new photo album for my daily pictures and last month, I opened my twenty-forth edition...

Like I said, that's a lot of pictures.

In order to post the pictures, I go to my account and pull up my photo home page. The first picture of the album becomes a thumbnail--it represents the entire 199 pictures contained therein. Because I look at that home page every day, I try my hardest to find something extra "photo-worthy." I want something pleasant to see each time I access the page. From the screenshot, you can see the first pictures from albums sixteen through twenty-four. 

Number twenty-four is a doozie.

Creepy dolls.

I attended a work party that day. We meet at a hospital facility. The dolls are used for training. Yeah...they're still creepy. I thought it was a great picture, and because it was the first picture of album twenty-four, I get to see those creepy dolls every day.

It could be worse. The party was fun and conjures good times. It could have been a picture of something unpleasant, something bad. Instead, I'll be seeing those dolls.

Until I hit 200 photos...then the creepy dolls will slide one place right. It's just a matter of time.

Top Of Utah...The Water Is Fine

 A few weeks ago, I found myself driving on a dirt road a few miles from the Utah - Idaho boarder. Depending who you ask, there's not much up here, unless you count open fields, desert grass, and bugs. 

However, it's stunningly beautiful.

Even though I live in the most amazing time of humanity as far as technology and developments go, I envy those who first entered the valley, the first human eyes to spot the land unfurl before them, most likely atop a horse or even on foot, the things they must have seen.

Funny thing is, from where took the picture from my phone sitting in the passenger seat of a mid-2000 Japanese minivan built somewhere in the southern United States, the scene I saw was pretty much exactly what someone would have seen in 1850, or year 500. Of course, I'm not a historian so I don't know what would have changed due to mankind or other historical factors, but when I sat in in the van and snapped the picture, I could imagine the view looking similar.

I used the picture as my day's Pic Of The Day with the caption that it showed the top of Utah. For some, it's just weeds, distant mountain peaks and clouds. For me, it was a link to the past, a past lacking so much of what we have but also a past that had so much promise, so much awe and wonder.

The top of Utah...the water (and by "water" I mean, life...) is fine.

A Posted Picture Only One Person Would Understand..

 On the road to our church building, a car is parked, but not an ordinary car--oh no. This car is a Ford ZX2. Ever heard of one?

That's why it's no ordinary car.

I've seen that car every time I go to church and whenever I'm driving that particular road. When I first spotted the car, an obscure memory popped into my mind, the memory of a conversation I once had with a co-worker probably ten years ago.

For some reason, I remember cars, and my co-worker at the time owned a Ford ZX2--it might have even been red. One day, my co-worker and I chatted about her car. She said that she received some junk mail asking her if she were interested in selling her "highly desirable" ZX2. We had a good laugh over that.

The conversation returned to me when I drove by the car, so one time after church, I snapped a picture of the highly desirable vehicle and used it for my Pic Of The Day. Since many of my pictures and captions are obscure, I figured anyone seeing it would think it's just another strange post from yours truly. However, I thought there might be a slim chance my co-worker (who is also on Facebook...) might see the picture and appreciate it.

Turns out, she did and she commented on it. I realized I posted the picture for one person and hoped it would be seen by that one person.

Sometimes I post pictures for as many people as possible. Sometimes, just for me, but it's rare when it's for only one person. I'm glad it worked out.

With These Shots, Kind Of Got Lucky...And Didn't

 Two shots, two chances where luck helped capture the images...

Luck was involved, but more with one than the other.

I try to find interesting pictures for my Pic Of The Day. I freely admit, some photos are better than others. Last week I caught two images I liked a lot, one a shot of a lightning bolt during a summer storm, and the other, a photo of a dragonfly taking flight. Both required some "adjusting," but both turned out great.

The first, the picture of the dragonfly, I caught while in the backyard with the dog. As I waited for him to do this business, I spotted two dragonflies landing on some bamboo poles we have set up. They would hop from pole to pole as if fighting. I got out my phone and tried to get as close as possible to snap a picture before they flew away. Because my phone has a short video feature, it caught the dragonfly as it took off. I picked a frame as it just left the pole and that was my Pic Of The Day. 

The second shot was far easier to get.

We live at the top of a huge valley and when summer storms roll in, my wife and I like to go out to the front porch and enjoy nature's fireworks. That storm was amazing. The thunder was almost constant. I got out my phone and hit "Video." Then, I would record for a minute or so, the phone pointing to the east. I took maybe five videos and captured numerous lightning strikes.

Because it was a video, I didn't know if I actually caught any lightning bolts with my camera. I downloaded the videos, then went frame-by-frame stopping whenever the sky lit up. The one I used for that Pic Of The Day was my favorite. I guess it's easy to conclude I snapped a picture right as the bolt appeared, but I'm not that talented.

Two shots, both required a bit of luck, only one needed less luck than the other.

When You Post A Timely Photo...

 Last week I needed to post a picture for my "Pic Of The Day." I could have gone outside and taken yet another photo of the incredible amounts of snow we've received this winter and spring. Instead, an idea came to me. I went downstairs to our bookshelves, did a little searching, and found what I was looking for...

Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic, The Long Winter.

I thought it was funny, so I posted it.

It was, in a word, a hit.

I read these books when I was in elementary school. We've read them in our homeschool to all our kids as they grew up. The stories hold a special place in my heart and I hope kids and adults alike will continue reading these books for generations to come.

It seems many others remember the books, too. The posted photo generated many responses...likes, laughs, and several commented that they remembered the series, and The Long Winter in particular. The fact that we have been experiencing our own long winter added to the timely photo.

This morning, we got another couple of inches of snow. Then the sun came out and all that snow is gone, as is (hopefully...) any new snow until next fall. I'd like to say I believe this was the last snowstorm of the year.

That's what I said during the last storm, and the storm before that...

And the storm before that.

One of these times, that statement will be true. Who knows...maybe someone will write a book about our long winter.

Anatomy Of A Photograph...

 I remember, back when I started telecommuting in 2018, I was a little worried I'd run out of things to photograph and use for my Pic Of The Day. It's true, from that point on most of the photos I used came from inside or around my house. Finding new things to photograph made me be a little more creative...

And, after all, wasn't that the whole point of the pictures?

Fast forward two years. We've moved into a new home in a town an hour away. If I thought I was a homebody then, that's nothing to my life now. The last time I drove my car was Friday. It may not move for another week. In other words, I am home all the time and once again on the search for things to photograph.

Which leads me to a little picture I snapped and shared a few weeks ago.

I think I was on my way to get some a quick dinner--there are several fast food establishments a few miles to the south. To get there, we drive out of our newly established neighborhood, past several horse properties, then onto the flats. Because our new town is agrarian, there are water canals all over this valley. It's amazing how much water there is up here. I turned right and crossed the canal. I glanced west and the sky above was on fire. The sight was amazing.

I drove a few feet, then pulled over. I doubled back and parked Donk the Subaru. I got out and snapped a couple of pictures, hoping some may turn out. I found one I liked and shared it. It's not a perfect picture--far from it, but I like the colors. I like how the water below breaks up the dark negative space. But, what I like most, is it's a few of our new home, a way to see this beautiful area for how it is...

I need to get out more and take more pictures of the area. With things getting colder, I'll probably spend more and more time inside, so I've got to kick that creative thing up a notch. Hopefully, as we put in a yard complete with beautiful plants and flowers, I'll have more things to photograph. Until then, I'll keep my eyes peeled for all the amazing things that surround us all.

Who Knew There Were So Many Opinions...About Horehound Candy?

Because I post a picture a day on social media, some pictures are popular, some are not. Some are funny, others, nope. Some pictures are beautiful, and some are so-so. Each picture is posted on Facebook, Twitter, and MeWe (even though I'm not sure how many people actually see the photos on MeWe...). 

Each photo has the potential to be seen by the same people, friends and followers. Some friends are kind enough to "like" everything I post. It's nice when they do. But, every once in a while, a picture generates a lot of comments. That's what happened last week when I posted a picture of a barrel full of horehound candy.

And that let the hounds out.

Whenever I think of horehound candy, I remember being a kid and visiting the Beehive House in Salt Lake City. The Beehive House is where Brigham Young lived, and so did several of his wives. I'm not sure if they do this anymore, but they used to give tours of the house and at the end of the tour, you could get some horehound candy. Now, like some of those who offered opinions on the candy, I personally liked it, but I like most candy--it's a curse, really.

I thought it might be fun to include the recipe for horehound candy in this post. I found it on Food.com and I've included it here. You can check out the site by clicking: HERE. So, for all of you who hated the stuff, well, you can just ignore the recipe. But, for everyone else, now's your chance to live--at least for a little while--like a pioneer. Happy Horehound Day, everyone! Enjoy!

Apparently...Social Media Believes I Have Bad Breath

It's no secret everything we search online, see online, or speak through our phones--online, or not--is stored, kept, accessible, retrievable. I've blogged about this before--how I mention something casually to a friend one day, and the next time I get online, there's an ad for that very thing.

Like I said, it's no secret.

Still, I find it interesting when I see this type of personal information hijacking first-hand. It happened again to me this morning.

Two days ago, I posted a subtly funny Pic of the Day picture. It contained a bag of goodies given out by the Walmart corporation for using their drive-up grocery service. We've used the service for years and we intend on continuing. From time to time, the good folks at Walmart have included a bag of stuff to celebrate a local holiday or other event. This week--Halloween.

Most of the contents were edible, but a few weren't. I thought it would be fun to arrange the edible things with something some have tried to consider edible, tried and failed and take a picture. This morning I received a Facebook comment about my picture, about mouthwash, about millennials, and their judgement (or lack there of...). I should say that I do not necessarily agree with this assessment of an entire generation. Just wanted you to know.

I responded to my friend's post, but not before noticing an ad for Listerine Ultra Clean Mouthwash directly under my friend's post. 

Coincidence?

I think not.

I closed the program. As I'm wont to do, I then opened Instagram. And what did I see? Another ad for Listerine. I decided to press my luck and see if there was an ad for Listerine on the third leg of the social media holy trinity, Twitter. I actually expected a Listerine ad to be on my Twitter feed, but it was not. Of course, the Instagram Listerine ad may have only been added after I saw the Facebook Listerine ad. Although, I'd like to think the Instagram Listerine ad was sitting there waiting for me to see it all along.

The more we look for this type of thing, the more we'll see it. Of course, there's always the distinct possibility that I actually need to use the product.

What I Was Looking At...A Year Ago Today

Sometimes, when I'm kicking back thinking about what to blog about, I think about the day that's been, and sometimes, that makes me think about what I blogged about on this particular day a year ago, five years ago, or longer. The great thing about keeping records, is you can always go back and see.

That's what I did tonight.

What I found wasn't the greatest revelation, but it did make me smile.

Has it really be one year?

I remember posting the picture. We had been at Walmart during the day and I noticed a couple of items, a portable CD player and a digital voice recorder. I remember snapping the picture because you don't see much of these items anymore, let alone being able to buy them new. Yes, those awful smartphones have put so many digital voice recorder and portable CD makers out of work.

I remember getting several comments after posting the picture. Apparently, others found the picture amusing as well.

Since I've posted a picture everyday, I could have gone back and looked at the picture I posted in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. I've done that before for a blog post. But tonight, I remembered that one picture.

And it made me smile.

Pics Of The Day...March 8 2011 - 2019

 (3/8/11)

As I occasionally do, I checked out Facebook earlier and it showed me a picture I posted exactly eight years ago today. Many times I'll check out the picture and move on, but this morning, I paused. I saw a world covered in white, a view of my street looking south. 

(3/8/12

What was striking to me is that, even though we've had a wet winter, it's been a couple of years since we've had a storm that left more than a foot of snow on the ground.

(3/8/13)

Instead, we've gotten several storms that left a couple of inches and a lot of rain.

(3/8/14)

I went to the Facebook page that shows all the pictures and comments I posted on this day since I joined the social network. 

(3/8/15)

And because I've posted a picture every day since January, 2011, the page had a picture I took on this day from 2011 to today.

(3/8/16)

Eight years, nine pictures.

(3/8/17)

Those nine pictures include two shots of snow, three shots of sunsets, two shots of social events, one writing retreat, and one shot of bicycles on the lawn. March 8th has varied weather, that's for sure.

(3/8/18)

It's fun to look back, remember taking the pictures, having the memories come back. I hope there'll be a collection of my daily pics that I can access in 2027 and remember not only these pictures, but the next nine as well. Time will tell.

(Today, 3/8/19)

Looking At Things A Little Differently...

Earlier this week I attended a work staff meeting. I sat next to a good friend and she commented on my blog posts and my daily Pic Of The Day pictures. She had wonderful things to say about both. I was happy for her kind words, but it was what she said after that intrigued me.

"I could never be that creative," she said.

It's not the first time I've heard basically the same thing, and it probably won't be the last.

Books and academic papers have been written about how to be creative. I haven't researched the subject, but I do have an opinion. I believe if you want to be more creative, you need to just start. My co-worker said that she believes I have a great eye for photography. Perhaps, but I also think that something I decided to do years ago have made me a better photographer. I decided to post a picture on social media every day.

And I've done it--everyday.

Posting a daily picture means I've got to consciously think about taking a picture. I need to look for something interesting. Some pictures are better than other others--it's the way of things. But by doing that, by thinking about taking pictures and actually doing it, you're training your mind to see things like a photographer. The same can be said about writing. If you write everyday, your writing has to improve--it just does.

For my Pic Of The Day after the staff meeting I took a photograph of a pamphlet we discussed. It's not the best picture I've ever taken--not by a long shot. But I thought up a somewhat interesting caption and it shows a bit of my day, something I've tried to do with my daily pictures.

I told my co-worker that if she wanted to, she could take better pictures and become a better writer. Whether or not she decides to do it, that's up to her. She doesn't have to do it, but I just wanted her to know that it's possible for anyone who wants to try.

The Reason Why I Keep A Daily Record...

Yesterday Facebook reminded me that I posted a picture of my sister five years ago. I remember that my wife and I went out for a date night meal at Iggy's, a local sports restaurant. I think we had ordered take out and we ran into my sister sitting alone in a booth.

It's always great to see my sister now and then. We asked her what she was up to.

"I'm waiting for a blind date," she said.

I don't remember exactly what we said after that, but I'm pretty sure "good luck" was one of the things. Fast forward five years and now my sister shares her last name with the man who was to be her blind date. My sister and Frank were married in August. I used that photo as my Pic Of The Day for October 18, 2013.

There's a couple of things I do everyday--well, more than a couple, but as far as chronicling each day I write in a journal--every day, write a blog post--every day, and post a picture online--every day. Most days my journal entries are similar--worked, stuff I did after work--went to bed. The blog posts are more varied, but sometimes, not much. The Pic Of The Day can be similar, too--pictures of our pets, our kids, our flowers, and the food I eat. 

But every once in a while, I'll write something in my journal, or blog something, or post a picture that ends up being more than what it appears at first. No one, not me, my wife, my sister, or her date knew that five years later, they'd be married. 

Tonight I'm going to write in my journal, finish this blog post, and put up another picture. I have no idea if anyone will read my journal post, look up this blog post, or find any significance in the picture five years from now. Then again, you never know.

Apparently, Google + Is Shutting Down...

News hit this week that Google +, the search engine's answer to Facebook, will be shutting down next year.

And to be honest, I'm not sure how exactly I feel about it.

I think my ambivalence surprised me the most.

I've enjoy using Google +, but I'm probably the reason it's closing down...well, not me alone, but people like me. I use Google +. I use it everyday, but as little as possible for someone who accesses the social media program daily. I posted a picture every day as part of my Pic Of The Day process. I've been posting a daily picture since 2011, at least I think I have. I thought it would be fun to see the first picture I ever posted on Google +, but scrolling back to see the first picture I posted on their site would take several hours, and frankly, I'm not really that interested in seeing which picture I posted first.

There weren't that many things to dislike about Google +. As Facebook grew in popularity and began adding all the bells and whistles, Google + stuck to what it began with--a place to post thoughts, pictures, and links to videos and other sites. But what brought me back to Google + again and again were the pictures. I found it a good place to see beautiful pictures posted by both serious and casual photographers. Some of the pictures on Google + are simply amazing.

Google + has communities. I used to check out the photography communities on a regular basis, but I stopped doing that some time ago. Now about the only community I check out is a H.P. Lovecraft thread that I find interesting.

Some of the people using Google + have been vocal about the news since it hit. Most, however, are like me, at least I take their lack of a response as mirroring my feelings on the matter. Who knows--maybe it will be saved and not go away after all. For me, if it does, I'll have one less place to post a daily picture and one less place to see beautiful photographs...

and H.P. Lovecraft stuff.

Pic Of The Day Subjects...Shifting To The Theatre

I noticed something last month when I began telecommuting. What I found, photographed, and posted for my Pic Of The Day subjects had changed. Whereas I had posted pictures of trains, bus stops, sights around the building where I worked, I no longer found myself in those areas, so I stopped posting pictures of those areas. I still think it's amazing how many photographable things are out there--even in a business park near the airport. You only look at life through a photographer's eyes and you'll see it, too.

Then I began working from home and most of my Pic Of The Day subjects were found around my house. That was the way of it. Of course, the pictures from around my home mean more to me than the ones taken near my previous office. If I didn't have a picture to post, I would take a walk outside and see what I could see.

Then this week happened. I have been so crazy busy, I haven't had time to even take pictures around my house, except for an occasional sunset picture. And because I've been so busy, I find myself needing to take a picture to post with time running out. I can't complain--I like the pictures I've chosen from the theatre. They're fun, interesting, and bring good memories. And, when I do a play, the theatre becomes a second home for me--we spend so much time there.

If I went to different places on a daily basis, like to work or on vacation or to anywhere other than home and play rehearsal, my Pic Of The Day subjects might be more varied, but for the foreseeable future, you'll probably see more of the same. I just hope I can capture something that's worth your time seeing it. As always, we'll see what the future will bring.

My "Pic Of The Day" Photos Have Become More...Localized

Earlier this month I changed offices. I moved from a call center to a basement, from cubicle walls to unfinished walls, from sharing multi-stalled bathroom to using my own bathroom. With every change, you realize how some things will affect you, but--as it seems to happen--there are things you don't know will change.

One of those things I didn't think too much about were the daily pictures I'd be posting.

I began this blog back in 2011. A few weeks after I started blogging, I decided to post at least one picture a day. I label these photos the "Pic Of The Day"(I know, original, right...?) and I've had a blast doing it. It's amazing how many interesting thing are out there, how many amazing things, just how much beauty there is in this world. I've tried to capture that beauty and some of those interesting things. I sort of wanted others to know in some small way what I saw that day.

Since 2011 I've posted some incredible photos, some funny pictures, some thought-provoking shots, and some duds. I try to say away from the duds, but not every picture can be a great one. All-in-all, I've been more satisfied than not, pleased than not. Sometimes I've found my Pic Of The Day at work, or if I'm somewhere new. And if I can't find a picture to use during the day, I've found more than enough subjects either in or around my house.

So when my home became my office, the locations for my Pic Of The Day have dwindled. This month most of my daily pictures have been around the house. I live in a beautiful part of the planet. We have all four seasons and right now it's spring, which is many people's favorite time of year (I'd love it more if spring didn't cause so much havoc on my allergies...). Spring, Autumn, and winter are especially photogenic and I do my best to let everyone see that.

I don't know what tomorrow's picture is going to be. Not knowing adds to the fun. But I do know that if I don't take a picture of something away from my house, it's going to be another shot from where I live. And that's not bad at all.

Posted A Picture From "UHF" Not Knowing How Many People Loved The Show...

A few days ago I needed a "Pic Of The Day." Actually, I need to find a picture to use everyday. Sometimes I find the picture early--other times it's a last-minute thing. While I was watching a movie, I realized I hadn't found my picture yet. Luckily for me, the movie I was watching was a classic, Al Yankovic's UHF.

I took the picture and posted it.

Then people came out of the woodwork on Facebook to let me know how they felt about the movie.

Turns out, they think about the show about the same way as I do.

UHF is not a high mark in cinematic excellence. In fact, it's a little slow. Then again, my wife and I watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off the other day and that's another film that's slow. Comedies have evolved over the years and movies we hold up as hilariously funny are still funny, but something's changed. And since the movie's not changed at all, it's us that's changed.

Here are some scene's from the movie. If you're a fan of the flick, you know I could have taken screenshot after screenshot, plastered them on this blog post, and still not gotten close to capturing all the great moments in the film. It is, after all, just a collection of sketches. But it's done well, and one of the characters is named Philo. I hope the character's named for the inventor of television, Philo T Farnsworth, a Utahn. Philo in UHF was played by Anthony Geary, another Utahn best known as General Hospital's Luke Spencer.

As I watched, I remembered parts and re-discovered things I had forgotten about. I don't think I'd want to watch the show over and over again. It would take away some of the charm. But re-discovering it after a long time, it's like catching up with a childhood friend and remembering just why you like them so much.

When Facebook Thinks You're Someone Else...

Last week I snapped a picture of my daughter at her weekend job. She did what I did last year and the year before that, worked as part of the Hackenslash show at Lagoon's Frightmares. After our shifts ended I used the picture as my "Pic Of The Day," It was when I downloaded it to Facebook that things got interesting.

If you're unfamiliar with Facebook, you can download all sorts of things, pictures, videos, clips from movies, artwork. It's almost limitless. And the good people of Facebook have added another handy feature--they've set up a face-recognition feature so you can identify people in your photos. I imagine the reason for this is multi-fold. When a person "tags" another person in a photo, a message goes out to the tagged person as well as all their Facebook Friends. That way as many people as possible will then checkout the new picture, thus staying on their website and avoiding others. Like cars, you can only drive one at a time--you can only be on one website at a time.

I downloaded the picture and I got a familiar notice. Facebook asked if I wanted to "Tag" my son. The problem is, the picture wasn't of my son, but of my daughter. Except for two years when my son was on a church mission, I've lived with both these children all their lives. I guess there's a resemblance, but I don't think they look a like. In Facebook's defense, my daughter was not on Facebook at the time and my son was.

This changed today. My daughter now has her own Facebook account so I wondered if Facebook would recognize that the picture of my daughter I posted last week was not my son. I pulled up the picture and clicked the "Tag" option. Turns out the book of faces still didn't recognize the correct person. I'm not smart enough to understand Facebook's recognition software--I'm sure it's very technical. Just not this time...