May 13, 2012

On a beautiful sunny Sunday I jumped in my Kia Soul and headed to central Texas to celebrate Mother’s Day with family. Along the way I stopped in Gholson, Texas to pick up my Granny and take her to my sister’s house for a family gathering centered around a lot of good cooking. After we ate, we stepped outside to do some skeet shooting. My brother-in-law and nephews gave my sister a new shotgun for Mother’s Day. We had a great time together and before I left, I got my Mom to try out my ENO hammock. Now I think she wants one.

May 2-5, 2012

The number of students I help support continues to grow. The undergraduate program is the first in our college to fill with new applicants and we have more and more students interested in our new MFA program . I still enjoy all the chaos because there’s never a dull moment. The VIST Show (undergrad) and Viz-a-gogo (graduate) are important events for the students. This time of the year is like the high-holy days for our department. Prior to the screenings, our Department Head (Tim McLaughlin) presented scholarships and awards to those who produced the best design portfolios, or exhibited exceptional work during the past academic year. 2012 marked the third year the graduate show, Viz-a-gogo, did not take place on campus. The week-long festival began with an art exhibition open to the public in the federal building in Downtown Bryan. On Friday and Saturday, students used the space to conduct software and computer-based-game demonstrations. Both evenings concluded with an animation screening at the historic Palace Theater. Another great turnout helped make this event a huge success.

May 3, 2012

A couple of months ago I stumbled upon a company called Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO). The company’s main product line is a variety of compact outdoor hammocks designed for camping, hiking, or just being outside. What really sold me on the idea was spotting several students using ENO hammocks on campus. I talked to a couple of students who owned one and decided to get one of my own. It worked out perfect in the backyard. If there’s a nice breeze outside, you’ll find me, Ruben, or both of us (it’s a two person-sized hammock) hanging out in the backyard in my ENO hammock.

April 28, 2012

My birthday celebration continued into the weekend when Esteban, Kelly, Liz and Vann came up from Houston to join Ruben and me at the Messina Hof Winery for their annual Wine and Roses Festival. We had a great time and plenty of laughs. Afterward, we took everyone to the MSC so they could see how much it has changed. The following day my parents came into town for my birthday. My folks gave me a cool antique 3D Realist viewer…and of course my Mom had to make me a cake. Did I mention I love my birthday week?

April 24, 2012

Yeah! Once again it was time to celebrate my birthday! Over the years I’ve learned never to complain about growing older…because it beats the alternative. *wink*

My first birthday surprise came from my graduate assistants, Jessica and Cassie. They presented me and Kevin with a birthday cake (Kevin’s birthday is on the 23rd). When Ruben and I returned home from work I was surprised by a house decorated to celebrate.

Ruben gave me a set of sandbags for my light stands. Later that evening, Glenn came over and gave me a very-large softbox for my strobe-kit. It was a little too big to use at the house, so the next day I took it to the studio at the lab to take a couple of test shots. Later in the week, Bill took Kevin and me to Downtown Bryan for a birthday lunch…and desert. I love my birthday week. *wink*

April 21, 2012

Every April 21st, Aggies around the world gather for Muster – a day for remembering students and former students who have past-away within the year. Muster 2012 marked the rededication of the Memorial Student Center. The MSC was closed for the past three years for a $125 million expansion and renovation. On the morning of the 21st Ruben and I headed to campus to observe the rededication ceremony and take our first look at the new MSC. They did a great job modernizing what many consider the “living room” of the campus. *sigh* It doesn’t feel the same, but this is also the MSC for the next generation.

April 19, 2012

In a lot of large urban settings you’ll find informal social groups made up of GLBT professionals who gather at nearby “traditional” bars, transforming them (simply by their presence) into impromptu “gay” bars. Such events/happenings are commonly called Guerrilla-Queer-Bars. The whole purpose is to offer a social activity for those who want more than the late-night smoke-filled club scene.

John and Edward (pictured above) took it upon themselves to start-up a GLBT guerrilla happy hour for our little community. Thursday, Ruben and I spent a great relaxing evening at the courtyard of the La Salle Hotel in downtown Bryan for the third GLBT Guerrilla Happy Hour. We had a lot of laughs and a great time with friends old and new.

April 14, 2012

My boss and friend, Bill, spends most of his weekends as the tech-sound-&-lighting guy for two local bands.  When one of these groups plays at a nearby venue, Bill invites us to come to the show.  Saturday evening, shortly before sunset, Ruben, Glenn and I took Bill up on his invitation and headed to the Icehouse at Lake Bryan for a relaxing evening of eating crawfish while listening to The Roadrunners play classical country and blues.

April 7, 2012

This year, my annual Easter-visit with the family had an unusual twist to it. Saturday afternoon, my Dad and I attended a wrestling show at a nearby beer-joint called Sambo’s to watch one of his co-workers perform…I mean fight. My Dad wanted to attend the event to support his friend/co-worker, Mutt Johnson. Mutt (his stage name) is an amateur wrestler and member of the Waco Association of Wresting. I never in a million years thought I’d spend part of the Easter weekend in a biker- bar with my dad watching wrestling…but there we were. I’ll admit it was more fun than I expected. The crowd was nice, the beers were cold and the Wrestlers were entertaining.

By Sunday, a feeling of normalcy had returned. I accompanied my parents to our home-church to attend the sunrise Easter service. Afterward the church hosted their annual pancake breakfast. For as long as I can remember, my Dad has helped cook the pancakes for this event. That afternoon, the entire family gathered at my parents’ home to eat, visit, and hunt eggs. It’s a tradition that everyone (adults included) take part in the hunt. While the kids are challenged to find eggs of a specific color, the “big” kids have to find an egg with their name on it. Those who hide the eggs try to make the hunt as challenging (and entertaining) as possible.

April 1, 2012

When the weather is just right (plenty of wind and sun)…and I have the time, I’ll fly my kite-camera-rig and snap a few aerial shots. The kite I have used (a Sutton Flow Form) is a great kite, but it requires a lot of wind, so I recently decided to invest in a kite that will provide plenty of lift, even in low winds. The kite I selected for the job is a 9-foot Levitation Delta. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Ruben and I took it out for a test flight. But, before we left the house, we assembled a few parachutes. While ordering the kite, I purchased a little kite-launched-parachute kit for the fun of it. Both the kite and the launcher worked great!