Monday, November 28, 2005

You people have been busy


You people have been busy
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
It's that time of year again. I wasn't in the mood last year and this year is shaping up the same way. How do you people do it? It's friggin December this week and every year seems like a more slippery slope than the prior.

What get's people in the Christmas spirit? I sure as shit haven't felt it in years. I can't remember the last time I looked at Christmas as more than a few days off and an enormous expense.

I lie. I remember what it felt like as a child to wait in anticipation for what things would be under the tree. Mind you, we didn't have enough money to keep a decent fire burning for 5 seconds, but I still approached each Christmas with wide eyed optimism.

I found beauty and awe in celebrating the birth of Christ (I wasn't Catholic then either). I watched every Christmas show, commercial or religious. My Mother had a spooky little elf that she would position somewhere in the house and I really believed that the damn thing was watching me to see if I was being good or bad.

I've wondered if my kids feel any of the wonder and awe of Christmas that I did at their age, or if they see it as time off and a chance for boodle.

I need a change. I need to find myself. I want to recapture some of what I've lost. Not just Christmas, but in life.

Public Decorations


Public Decorations
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Photo Friday - Yellow


Contrast
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Pasture Sunset


Pasture Sunset
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Watching me


Watching me
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Iowa vista


Iowa vista
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I took alot for granted when I lived there. I'd forgotten how beautiful Iowa is.

Still working


Still working
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Cattle in the Corn


Cattle in the Corn
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
The new landscape in Iowa

Iowa llamas


Iowa llamas
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
i'm not sure why someone would have llamas - wool?

Old Barn


Old Barn
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Iowas changing landscape


Iowas changing landscape
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
These things are everywhere in northwestern Iowa now. I was told that they cost over $1 MM to install and that the farmers get between $3k-$5k per windmill for rent compared to $140/acre for farm rent - not bad

Dad's hands


Dad's hands
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
it's hard watching your parents get older

Ominous Sunset


Ominous Sunset
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
my mom had been trying to tell me they never get good sunsets - i saw three in a row

Maintreet Galva - all of it


Maintreet Galva - all of it
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
When we moved to Galva in 1977, there were 3 bars on this block. It was actually a pretty bustling place until we consolidated schools with Holstein and then it seemed to just dry up.

Population 2004: 342
Population 1990: 398

The old house


The old house
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
This is the home that I lived in from age 10 to graduating high school. Pretty run down. Dad paid something like $5000 for it in 1977 and it had shingle siding at that time. It was built sometime in the 1880s. I'm sure it was a real beauty once. We pulled the shingles off and sided it the 1st year we lived there. I put the shingles on the roof. I think I was 13 or 14 when I did that. Dad is/was afraid of heights.

City dog in the countryside


City dog in the countryside
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
This crazy dog just wanted to be outside all of the time while we were in Iowa. It must really smell different there than in the suburbs of Chicago...

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Backlit


Backlit
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Warm sunset on a damn cold day


Warm sunset on a damn cold day
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Mr Sore Foot


Mr Sore Foot
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
Pups got his dewclaw caught in the muzzle at the groomers/vets today and broke it. On top of that he had his shots today, so he's not feeling his best - :-(

Monday, November 21, 2005

XBOX360 on sale Tuesday


XBOX360 on sale Tuesday
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I was amazed that there was a line outside of the local BestBuy at 8pm.

So I can't figure out who is the bigger loser. Someone who'll stand in line waiting for the new xbox, or someone who will sit in their car at Best Buy and take pictures of people waiting in line to buy the next xbox.

Tivoli Theater Downers Grove, Illinois

Here's an older one - a little over exposed

Marcus Cinema


Marcus Cinema
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I love the style of the old cinemas, even if this one is new

Liquor Store Addison Illinois


Liquor Store Addison Illinois
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Photo Friday - Imperfection


Photo Friday - Imperfection
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I wanted to pee in some pure white snow, take a picture of it and submit that for photo Friday, but alas, I have no snow to pee in.

Sunning and posing in the driveway


Duck fart?


Duck bubbles?
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Trust


Trust
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
North Central College vs. Capital University, NCAA Division III Playoffs 1st round

Airborn!


Airborn!
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
North Central College vs. Capital University, NCAA Division III Playoffs 1st round

Laugh


Laugh
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
North Central College vs. Capital University, NCAA Division III Playoffs 1st round

Nice Stiff-arm


Nice Stiff-arm
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
North Central College vs. Capital University, NCAA Division III Playoffs 1st round

Friday, November 18, 2005

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Hello darkness my old friend...


Nearly full moon
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Millenium tower


Millenium tower
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Sunset


Sunset
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Sunset


Sunset
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Vices


Vices
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Nostalgia


Objects
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Back Off Jerk


Back Off Jerk
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Q-Center Stiffs


Q-Center Stiffs
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I have been at technical training the past couple of days - besides the rain, this is about all I've been able to see out my dinky hotel window.

I'm only happy when it rains


I'm only happy when it rains
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
Im only happy when it rains
Im only happy when its complicated
And though I know you cant appreciate it
Im only happy when it rains
You know i love it when the news is bad
Why it feels so good
to feel so sad
Im only happy when it rains
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me

... Garbage ...

Corporate prison


Corporate prison
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I slept like a baby.... woke up every hour crying...

I decided not to stay a 2nd night


I decided not to stay a 2nd night
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

I literally was falling out of bed and braced myself on the dresser on the other side of the room. Easily the smallest room I've ever stayed in and for $125/night. My bedroom closet at home is larger than this.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

It was a windy day


It was a windy day
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Sad face


Sad face
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

IMG_7141


IMG_7141
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Moon from my driveway


Moon from my driveway
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Oswego Sunset


Oswego Sunset
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.