This is a video of how snow affects Portland, Oregon, where there are no snow plows and nobody owns shovels or snow blowers, so the smallest amounts of snow (by New England standards) simply brings the city to a screeching halt.
I've been out of work for the entire week and yesterday was the first day with over an inch of snow! Most days this week the roads were actually pretty much bare, but still nobody was out and the ones who were all had chains on their tires. It's a completely different mentality, and I find it quite amusing...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is just under 2 minutes
Technorati Tags: snow winter portland oregon ice snowboard west coast headsoff
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, June 02, 2008
El Músico
Looking back, this was one of the most authentic-feeling moments we had on our entire vacation.
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 50 seconds
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation bus guitar sun headsoff
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 50 seconds
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation bus guitar sun headsoff
Bucerias
This is some footage from the town an hour up the coast from us that was slightly less tourist-focused, but still pretty crazy. One thing about Puerto Vallarta itself is that its ALL about the time shares. You can't walk 4 steps without being acausted by yet another guy trying to take you on a time share tour, but not saying so up front.
Well, we were actually invited into the restaurant in this video and were at first like "no, we're not interested" because we thought it was a time share. When he said he was just inviting us into his restaurant we decided to give it a shot. We were, after all, looking for a place to eat. But once we were settled in, he came up trying to get us to go on a time share tour! I guess the restaurants have some kind of symbiotic relationship with the time share guys. It does bring in business!
The irony to all this is that on our last day there, we had a few hours to kill between checking out of the resort and catching our plane home so we actually TRIED to go on a time share tour, figuring if we could make a couple hundred bucks in our down time then why not? As it turns out, after ALL that hounding, we're not even eligible to go on the tour because we're not over 30! You'd think they'd get that out of the way right up front... hah!
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 1:10
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation Bucerias flea market sun headsoff
Well, we were actually invited into the restaurant in this video and were at first like "no, we're not interested" because we thought it was a time share. When he said he was just inviting us into his restaurant we decided to give it a shot. We were, after all, looking for a place to eat. But once we were settled in, he came up trying to get us to go on a time share tour! I guess the restaurants have some kind of symbiotic relationship with the time share guys. It does bring in business!
The irony to all this is that on our last day there, we had a few hours to kill between checking out of the resort and catching our plane home so we actually TRIED to go on a time share tour, figuring if we could make a couple hundred bucks in our down time then why not? As it turns out, after ALL that hounding, we're not even eligible to go on the tour because we're not over 30! You'd think they'd get that out of the way right up front... hah!
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 1:10
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation Bucerias flea market sun headsoff
Swimming With Dolphins
After the horses we decided why not step it up a notch and try riding a dolphin? unfortunately, we weren't allowed to have video DURING the experience since they make a killing off selling photos by what they call their "mexican paparazi" (one of which is featured below, the one and only that we purchased). But you can still see some dolphins :-)
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is a minute and a half
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation dolphins swimming with dolphins sun headsoff
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is a minute and a half
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation dolphins swimming with dolphins sun headsoff
El jinete
I did a lot of horse-related activities as a kid, first attending and then counseling at a horse day camp and working at the ranch in exchange for lessons. During my years of chemo and weakened immune systems, I was technically not allowed to go back to work with horses, and since I've been in Boston I've realized that I miss them! So, when presented with a chance to go on a multi-hour trail ride that included breakfast, lunch, and swimming in a waterfall for just under $50 each we decided why the heck not??
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is just under a minute
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation horses horseback riding sun headsoff
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is just under a minute
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation horses horseback riding sun headsoff
The Life on a Resort
Chad and I went on our first vacation together that didn't involve visiting friends or family... just taking time to relax. We got to use a week of his parents' time share, and decided to trade into a spot in Mexico. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the time shares in Mexico all tended to be pretty ritzy, and in the middle of tons of other crazy resorts. I'll post a series of videos but this one is just about the resort...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 2.5 minutes
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation sun headsoff
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 2.5 minutes
tags technorati : Puerto Vallarta Mexico vacation sun headsoff
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Yay for Vacation!
Chad and I disappeared for almost 2 weeks back to my parents' home in the Northwest. Boy, was it a needed vacation after Xmas season at the studio had me working like mad and Chad's work was no less forgiving... my mom wanted pictures of my sister and I, so I gave Chad my camera and orchestrated a photo shoot from the other side of the lens. I love teamwork! We danced, dipped, hugged, jumped, laughed, smiled and even posed a time or two. I made a fun little compilation of a few of my favorite shots.. although it was very difficult to choose!
We even got in a somewhat unconventional and one-day-belated New Years kiss
As usual, more can be found on my Flickr site
tags technorati : headsoff, sisters, anacortes, vacation
We even got in a somewhat unconventional and one-day-belated New Years kiss
As usual, more can be found on my Flickr site
tags technorati : headsoff, sisters, anacortes, vacation
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Is "goddess" a bad word?
Philosophically speaking, who are we? Who am I? Who are you? Who and/or what affects who we are; as individuals, as communities, as cultures, societies, races....
Obviously there is a lot to say about this and a lot of energy to be generated through the discussion - both positive and negative. Some people would claim that we have full control over our destinies, while others would insist that we have none. And while this debate rages in one corner of our existence, still others struggle to extract definitions as to what they all mean, and what is "destiny".
Using the English language as a paramount reference point, we bind ourselves into devastating paths that lead to absolute miscommunication. We land solidly in our anger and disagreement and manage to completely miss the fact that when it comes down to it, whether our dogma allows us to admit or forces us to deny it, we all just want to believe that there is something important enough to live for.
I've heard a lot of people who say they do not believe in concepts such as "luck", "love", "fate"... The problem is language.
I do believe in all of these things, especially love and fate -- in my own way. To quote an earlier fridge "haiku", "who says language is never purple?". Must we all agree on a definition for such universally personal things in order for them to be true? Isn't there room to simply accept that sometimes things work out in ways we would not have expected and then realize that "truth" can mean something different to each of us linguistically but still, without exception, hold the same weight and merit?
I do think that every person who enters our lives enters in order to teach us something. I also think that the lessons they bring have little to do with them, and everything to do with us, and that it can be immediately apparent or take years or decades to understand them.
I don't think that all of this is necessarily true from the perspectives of those passers-by, but it's the perspective through which I choose to view them all, and this life. I do think that every situation, every accomplishment, every challenge, is something to learn from. I do think that every word I say, every move I make, every decision I support will effect everything around me in the same way that I am affected by the movement of others. I do believe that our lives are in continual motion and that the motion is inevitably shared, no matter how much we try to separate or individualize.
I do think we're all connected, and we need to be careful and loving in our actions in order for the world to return to a more naturally positive balance.
Technorati Tags: headsoff, philosophy, goddess, who am i?
Obviously there is a lot to say about this and a lot of energy to be generated through the discussion - both positive and negative. Some people would claim that we have full control over our destinies, while others would insist that we have none. And while this debate rages in one corner of our existence, still others struggle to extract definitions as to what they all mean, and what is "destiny".
Using the English language as a paramount reference point, we bind ourselves into devastating paths that lead to absolute miscommunication. We land solidly in our anger and disagreement and manage to completely miss the fact that when it comes down to it, whether our dogma allows us to admit or forces us to deny it, we all just want to believe that there is something important enough to live for.
I've heard a lot of people who say they do not believe in concepts such as "luck", "love", "fate"... The problem is language.
I do believe in all of these things, especially love and fate -- in my own way. To quote an earlier fridge "haiku", "who says language is never purple?". Must we all agree on a definition for such universally personal things in order for them to be true? Isn't there room to simply accept that sometimes things work out in ways we would not have expected and then realize that "truth" can mean something different to each of us linguistically but still, without exception, hold the same weight and merit?
I do think that every person who enters our lives enters in order to teach us something. I also think that the lessons they bring have little to do with them, and everything to do with us, and that it can be immediately apparent or take years or decades to understand them.
I don't think that all of this is necessarily true from the perspectives of those passers-by, but it's the perspective through which I choose to view them all, and this life. I do think that every situation, every accomplishment, every challenge, is something to learn from. I do think that every word I say, every move I make, every decision I support will effect everything around me in the same way that I am affected by the movement of others. I do believe that our lives are in continual motion and that the motion is inevitably shared, no matter how much we try to separate or individualize.
I do think we're all connected, and we need to be careful and loving in our actions in order for the world to return to a more naturally positive balance.
Technorati Tags: headsoff, philosophy, goddess, who am i?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Autumn in New England
I went out to do a photo shoot today and the girl I was supposed to shoot with didn't show up. I had been so excited to shoot the foliage that I wasn't ready to leave without taking a few photos regardless.
So I convinced Chad to walk around with me...
and slipped in a couple of him.
But hey, it's not like I'm unreasonable!
To be fair, I let him take some of me too ;-)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Delerium and how we make it through
I had gum surgery last Tuesday (the 9th) and it's been a ridiculous stretch since then...
Let's start off with a little history. I've learned that there are two things that lead to gum recession. One is not brushing/flossing enough so that plaque builds up and your gums are separated from your teeth. The other is brushing too hard so that your gums are slowly worn away.
So. Looking back over my history I had a couple years of low blood counts and immune dysfunction during which I was told not to brush my teeth, because it was dangerous to do things that cause abrasion through which infection could enter. After those years passed, my dentist told me that I was incredibly lucky and I had no cavities but that I had a bunch of areas where it looked like cavities were just beginning and so I should be extra careful to take good care of my teeth. What he failed to mention was what exactly to do, and not to do. So I interpreted that as "brushing well" which ignorantly translated in my mind to scrubbing harder....
Fast forward through 5 or 6 years of (what I would now classify as) negligent dentists who failed to point out the hole that I was literally scrubbing my way into and I ended up with one tooth that had a gum recession almost all the way to the bottom of the root. I thought I was doing good (I never did end up getting any cavities)...
Well, my immune system still isn't stellar so after having the initial surgery, and being on tylenol 3 supplemented with motrin and eccedrin for most of a week with gaps of pain that led me to malnourish myself to the point of baseline hopelessness, it was clear that I was having problems beyond what the periodontist had anticipated.
I finally went to my medical doctor to ask what I could do, since he understood my history, and he put me on $85 (yes thats after insurance) worth of crap which has put me back on the up-swing. Yay for simple Nystatin and Levaquin.. along with percocet for the meantime...
Today I'm feeling so much better but I'm not thinking TOO silly optimistically because Chad is right when he says that if I change my expectations too much I'm just setting myself up for disappointment in case I do have another setback.
Anyways, I figured it's time for another magnetic concoction, and since it's been a very nonsensical week I think it calls for a very nonsensical haiku, the choice of which is inspired by Chad's (highly appreciated) attempts to soothe me by playing guitar and reminding me how good it feels to take baths.
Let's start off with a little history. I've learned that there are two things that lead to gum recession. One is not brushing/flossing enough so that plaque builds up and your gums are separated from your teeth. The other is brushing too hard so that your gums are slowly worn away.
So. Looking back over my history I had a couple years of low blood counts and immune dysfunction during which I was told not to brush my teeth, because it was dangerous to do things that cause abrasion through which infection could enter. After those years passed, my dentist told me that I was incredibly lucky and I had no cavities but that I had a bunch of areas where it looked like cavities were just beginning and so I should be extra careful to take good care of my teeth. What he failed to mention was what exactly to do, and not to do. So I interpreted that as "brushing well" which ignorantly translated in my mind to scrubbing harder....
Fast forward through 5 or 6 years of (what I would now classify as) negligent dentists who failed to point out the hole that I was literally scrubbing my way into and I ended up with one tooth that had a gum recession almost all the way to the bottom of the root. I thought I was doing good (I never did end up getting any cavities)...
Well, my immune system still isn't stellar so after having the initial surgery, and being on tylenol 3 supplemented with motrin and eccedrin for most of a week with gaps of pain that led me to malnourish myself to the point of baseline hopelessness, it was clear that I was having problems beyond what the periodontist had anticipated.
I finally went to my medical doctor to ask what I could do, since he understood my history, and he put me on $85 (yes thats after insurance) worth of crap which has put me back on the up-swing. Yay for simple Nystatin and Levaquin.. along with percocet for the meantime...
Today I'm feeling so much better but I'm not thinking TOO silly optimistically because Chad is right when he says that if I change my expectations too much I'm just setting myself up for disappointment in case I do have another setback.
Anyways, I figured it's time for another magnetic concoction, and since it's been a very nonsensical week I think it calls for a very nonsensical haiku, the choice of which is inspired by Chad's (highly appreciated) attempts to soothe me by playing guitar and reminding me how good it feels to take baths.
Monday, October 01, 2007
How is your apparatus?
Yep, now I'm sick. Way to go Chad! Or I guess it could be the countless small children I come into contact with on a daily basis... anyways, this poem spoke to me today because assuming that a body is an apparatus for one's self, mine is really in question and I'm not thinking about it too fast....
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, apparatusillnesspoetry, headsoff
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, apparatusillnesspoetry, headsoff
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Worshipping Repulsive Fluff
I've been studying philosophy for a while now, which puts me in a place to really notice things. One thing I've noticed frequently is the incredible attachments that people have to all sorts of things. I am by no means claiming that I'm exempt myself. Just an obervation...
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Less Size Pant
Chad has been feeling sick. Usually he cooks everything but lately he hasn't been feeling like cooking. I think this poem might have come partially from that.
But mostly it came from our amusement at the words "less" "size" and "pant" all in a row. It makes us feel even more lucky to be living with each other, rather than having to worry about encountering any number of Chinese men, or smoke, or just plain strangers when venturing out of our bedroom...
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
But mostly it came from our amusement at the words "less" "size" and "pant" all in a row. It makes us feel even more lucky to be living with each other, rather than having to worry about encountering any number of Chinese men, or smoke, or just plain strangers when venturing out of our bedroom...
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Fridge Haiku
Chad and I are slowly settling into our new place. After 2 months of blank refrigerator, we finally broke out the magnetic poetry.
We stuck word after word onto the fridge until it looked like it had magnetic poetry pox. Then, satisfied, we went to make dinner... but those words all over the fridge were too tempting and before you knew it we were munching on frozen yogurt sitting in front of the fridge and seeing how many haiku we could make from the words that were there...
I've decided to post a few of them in an attempt to get myself back into blogging. They'll be photos rather than video, and since I've been doing a lot of still photography lately this suggests to me a possible transition from strictly video blogging to photo and video blogging. We'll see what happens...
Here is our haiku entitled "self portrait" ;-)
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
We stuck word after word onto the fridge until it looked like it had magnetic poetry pox. Then, satisfied, we went to make dinner... but those words all over the fridge were too tempting and before you knew it we were munching on frozen yogurt sitting in front of the fridge and seeing how many haiku we could make from the words that were there...
I've decided to post a few of them in an attempt to get myself back into blogging. They'll be photos rather than video, and since I've been doing a lot of still photography lately this suggests to me a possible transition from strictly video blogging to photo and video blogging. We'll see what happens...
Here is our haiku entitled "self portrait" ;-)
Technorati Tags: magnetic poetry, refrigerator, words, poetry, headsoff
Friday, July 13, 2007
Veggie Oil Filtration
I had an e-mail glitch and didnt get notified about comments for the last post, so I sincerely apologize for those who commented and got ignored!
As predicted, here's our very elementary video on figuring out the sock filter system of oil cleansing. Its probably too long, and definitely too dark, but amazingly simple! For those of you out there wondering if SVO is too much hassle, take a look and see what you think...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is a little under 4 min
Technorati Tags: SVO, alternative fuel, veggie oil, vegoil, filter, inner tube, sock filter, new balance, headsoff
As predicted, here's our very elementary video on figuring out the sock filter system of oil cleansing. Its probably too long, and definitely too dark, but amazingly simple! For those of you out there wondering if SVO is too much hassle, take a look and see what you think...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is a little under 4 min
Technorati Tags: SVO, alternative fuel, veggie oil, vegoil, filter, inner tube, sock filter, new balance, headsoff
Sunday, June 03, 2007
VeggieOil Pickup
Still thinking about converting to SVO, and Chad just put a deposit down on a VW Rabbit that has been converted already. So I called up the Green Grease Monkey guys and asked if they'd let me tag along while they collect waste veggie oil and show me the ropes.
The restaraunt we will be collecting from for our car(s) will be considerably more straightforward than the footage you are about to see. Since it's a smaller restaraunt, they won't have the huge drums and all we will have to do is walk in and carry out already-filled cubes of oil!
Next lesson will have to be setting up a filtration system at home...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 4 minutes
Technorati Tags: veggie oil, bio fuel, red bones, waste veggie oil, oil collection, headsoff
The restaraunt we will be collecting from for our car(s) will be considerably more straightforward than the footage you are about to see. Since it's a smaller restaraunt, they won't have the huge drums and all we will have to do is walk in and carry out already-filled cubes of oil!
Next lesson will have to be setting up a filtration system at home...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 4 minutes
Technorati Tags: veggie oil, bio fuel, red bones, waste veggie oil, oil collection, headsoff
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Bio Diesel Fill-Up
It's official. The new ("new") Jetta is now a green machine!
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
See my previous post Going Diesel for more on what I'm doing and why, and links to more information.
Runtime is 3 minutes plus a bit
Technorati Tags: biodiesel, diesel, alternative fuel, green, funnel, volkswagen, headsoff
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
See my previous post Going Diesel for more on what I'm doing and why, and links to more information.
Runtime is 3 minutes plus a bit
Technorati Tags: biodiesel, diesel, alternative fuel, green, funnel, volkswagen, headsoff
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Going Diesel
I bought a car in August. It was a Honda Civic, a basic economy car known for its reliability and its gas mileage. Many of my friends live off the subway lines and many miles from me, my work at WGBH is hard to get to without a car, and every job I seem to be applying for requires that I have my own transportation. So I caved.
Despite my good intentions and rationalizations, it became clear that driving this Honda was gnawing at my soul. The automatic transmission confused me and it's all together possible that the unfamiliar territiry simply made me paranoid, but the mileage just never seemed to be what it should be. I felt like I wasn't even making it to 30 miles per gallon, and slowly I stopped visiting people because I felt guilty.
I would be on edge driving to have dinner in Waltham (only a 10 mile trip from my home) because I figure that's probably almost half a gallon of gasoline that I'm using, and by driving all the time and burning so much gasoline I'm contributing to so many problems including health risks associated with the gasoline exhaust, greenhouse effects, and warped political priorities that have arisen to ensure US appropriation of foreign oil.
So after owning the Honda for less than 6 months, I decided it was time to sell it and buy something that didn't stress out my morals so much. Enter, 1989 VW Jetta. For now, this car will run on diesel which is not much better for the environment, but at least is more efficient. I can get approximately 45-50 miles to the gallon, as opposed to just under 30 with the honda. And as it warms up I can transition to biodiesel and eventually, with the help of these guys, to SVO (straight vegetable oil).
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Thanks to Chad for the excellent camerawork, encouragement and company.
For more inspiring videos about running on alternative fuel, check out RyanIsHungry
Runtime is 1:17
Technorati Tags: volkswagen, vw, jetta, diesel, biodiesel, SVO, straight vegetable oil, vegoil, alternative fuel
Despite my good intentions and rationalizations, it became clear that driving this Honda was gnawing at my soul. The automatic transmission confused me and it's all together possible that the unfamiliar territiry simply made me paranoid, but the mileage just never seemed to be what it should be. I felt like I wasn't even making it to 30 miles per gallon, and slowly I stopped visiting people because I felt guilty.
I would be on edge driving to have dinner in Waltham (only a 10 mile trip from my home) because I figure that's probably almost half a gallon of gasoline that I'm using, and by driving all the time and burning so much gasoline I'm contributing to so many problems including health risks associated with the gasoline exhaust, greenhouse effects, and warped political priorities that have arisen to ensure US appropriation of foreign oil.
So after owning the Honda for less than 6 months, I decided it was time to sell it and buy something that didn't stress out my morals so much. Enter, 1989 VW Jetta. For now, this car will run on diesel which is not much better for the environment, but at least is more efficient. I can get approximately 45-50 miles to the gallon, as opposed to just under 30 with the honda. And as it warms up I can transition to biodiesel and eventually, with the help of these guys, to SVO (straight vegetable oil).
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Thanks to Chad for the excellent camerawork, encouragement and company.
For more inspiring videos about running on alternative fuel, check out RyanIsHungry
Runtime is 1:17
Technorati Tags: volkswagen, vw, jetta, diesel, biodiesel, SVO, straight vegetable oil, vegoil, alternative fuel
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Making Ice
While some may think it's a difficult, highly technical endevour, I'm pleased to present you with the idiot's guide to making ice. Turns out it isn't difficult at all, just takes a delicate balance between starting out with very little water in the first place, and accidentally leaving it outside in the car all night long while it's snowing... The result is beautiful. Just don't tell my mom I've been freezing the new Nalgene she got me...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 28 Seconds
Technorati Tags: ice frozen water+bottle winter cold
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 28 Seconds
Technorati Tags: ice frozen water+bottle winter cold
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Hot, Cold.
Commentary on global warming?
On the unusual winter we've been having?
A day in Chinatown...
Or just some random moments that caught my attention...
Click here for Quicktime movie (in a new window)
Runtime is 1:27
Technorati Tags: hot cold odd+restrooms
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