tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52573742009-02-23T00:14:25.472-06:00Pictures and stories of recent events in my life.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-81628633703868425052008-05-30T23:05:00.006-05:002008-05-30T23:37:38.543-05:00

I've had my Blackberry (the Curve aka 8300) for almost a year now. On occasion when I am without my trusty Canon camera I have used the Blackberry in its place. After reviewing my first year of pictures I have concluded that I wish I had my Canon with me more but you do get some interesting photos from a phone. And with that, please enjoy my study in phone photography.The phone is quite handy

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-84366174184379176622008-02-23T14:55:00.002-06:002008-02-23T15:11:52.963-06:00

I have posted several movies from my recent vacation. These were all shot with my camera not a camcorder so quality isn't amazing but should give you the idea. Below is a quick movie of Lisa showing off her boogie boarding skills (no sound). Lisa Boogie Boarder from jmb on Vimeo.Here is the link for all the additional movies. The movies are designed to give you an idea of what the resort

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-38075741098965912122008-02-23T10:06:00.007-06:002008-02-23T15:25:58.970-06:00

TripAdvisor.com has a great travel map that helps you map out where you have been. Check out mine below.Click on the map for the interactive version. Where should I go next?

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-8049711923740745992008-02-16T20:17:00.002-06:002008-02-16T20:26:33.976-06:00

The closets are finally done! They were scheduled to complete the install the Friday before we left for vacation but due to a big storm, I rescheduled to save the installation team from a 3 hour commute each way. On Tuesday they came back and finalized the drawers.Here's a picture of the full complete closet.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-27487199008185045722008-01-26T16:10:00.000-06:002008-01-26T16:21:53.864-06:00

Today was my closet install. Unfortunately due to mistakes made in the factory they are only about 85% done. Hopefully the company can come back this week and finish everything. That said, here is the photo story on my closets.The Blank SlatePaintingPainting CompleteClosets InstalledNow I can hang my clothesHere's the not quite done section - soon to be drawers and a hamperMy office closet

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-60546960396898801262008-01-09T18:12:00.000-06:002008-01-09T18:20:13.960-06:00

I am very excited that I will soon have fully functioning closets. I have lived for the past 9 or so months using wardrobe boxes for my hanging clothes. But before Christmas I finally called a few companies to have them bid on installing closet systems in my master bedroom and office closets.This past Saturday three different designers came out and made their design recommendations. After a

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-40088795499608541502007-12-31T15:58:00.000-06:002007-12-31T16:26:13.072-06:00

We've gotten a lot of snow already this winter. After a recent snow we had a beautiful blue sky day, so I grabbed a quick picture of my building.Based on this Christmas explosion you'd think kids were involved with this gift exchange but it was just two full grown adults.I've held onto some prints since I bought them in college and had not used them forever. But I finally bought some frames and

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-31555311601008986662007-12-19T21:50:00.001-06:002007-12-19T22:25:20.201-06:00

You can credit Stephen and Tia with changing my mind on the beach vacation. Having never been to the Caribbean or Mexico before their wedding I never really saw the attraction of the beach vacation. Well, Jamaica provide me wrong and when Lisa suggested a trip to warmer weather during the frigid month of Chicago February I was totally up for it.After much research and consternation, Monday (

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-83952571341909381392007-12-04T22:42:00.000-06:002007-12-04T22:43:32.181-06:00

I'm a little late but I just had a big birthday. Unfortunately the cake in the picture proves it.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-90724614938195630682007-10-09T22:17:00.000-05:002007-10-09T22:31:45.358-05:00

This past weekend Lisa and I went up to Door County. Left about 9AM Friday morning, took a leisurely drive up north, and arrived at Gordon's Lodge about 3:30. We enjoyed the lodge and the property Friday including dinner at the Top Deck. The purpose of the weekend was to experience the fall colors.Saturday we went to Peninsula State Park and went on a 10 mile bike ride.Sunday we enjoyed the

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-16142410287423437442007-07-26T14:09:00.000-05:002007-10-13T13:10:14.557-05:00

Robby picked out a remote control airplane as his birthday present this year so he and I have been spending time over at the high school fields flying it. It can be a little challenging but lots of fun and some spectacular crashes. He really enjoys it and so do Meghan, Bob, and I! &nbsp &nbsp

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-33248062689465284252007-07-24T22:00:00.000-05:002007-07-26T14:06:52.204-05:00

Max, Meghan, Sam, and RobbyOn Tuesday, Meghan, Robby, and I went to visit Melissa. Tricia was in town visiting her sister so it was an opportunity to see both of them and their kids. We ate lunch together, the kids played, the adults talked, and we even got a game of croquet in. Above is a picture of the kids and below is a picture of the adults.Ray, Tricia, me, and Melissa

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-69492313863852465672007-07-23T21:00:00.001-05:002007-07-23T21:09:45.758-05:00

Meghan had her first day of cheer leading camp today. I managed to get a video of her learning the first section of her routine. You'll see her in the middle with the yellow shirt and red shorts. She picked up the routine very quickly! Meghan Cheerleading from jmb and Vimeo.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-53674867627108387282007-07-23T15:39:00.001-05:002007-07-23T15:44:17.801-05:00

I took some time today to play around with the colors in my Chicago picture. I think this looks better.Original picture (after Paint.NET auto-leveling):New picture after my personal adjustments:Oil Painted Effect (probably need to view at a larger size... click the picture):

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-21312704950626793582007-07-22T14:52:00.000-05:002007-07-22T14:59:00.331-05:00

Last night, Meghan, Robby, and I went to see a Herndon Braves baseball game. The Braves are part of a summer league for college ball players. Robby was part of the baseball camp they put on earlier in the summer so he actually got acknowledged at the game along with the other campers (they called out each kid's name over the loud speaker). He also was one of the bat boys for the game.Meghan

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-66541299853204448862007-07-20T22:00:00.000-05:002007-07-22T15:18:59.537-05:00

While I was riding the "L" to Midway I managed to capture this photo out the window. I'm still learning the new photo editing software I recently downloaded (Paint.NET) so this picture may get adjusted. I used auto level to improve the color but I feel like it is a little too red. I'll see if I can improve the color.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-16930132939422546962007-07-15T21:58:00.000-05:002007-07-15T22:05:15.089-05:00

My friends Kristin and Russ were married this weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the couple but here's Kristin in all her glory. It was a great wedding and it was an excellent opportunity to hang out with many of our friends. You can see pictures of us on Flickr.Here's a picture of Lisa and I at the wedding.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-66796751377764509912007-07-09T21:29:00.000-05:002007-07-09T21:42:43.397-05:00

This past weekend I went up to Milwaukee for SummerFest. It is the world's largest music festival but I'm not exactly sure what that's based on. Possible number of bands... it runs for 2 weeks and has a lot of stages all playing at the same time.Took the train up, saw some bands Friday night (Love Monkeys were the best), hid from the heat on Saturday, and saw more bands that night (Guster was

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-46573852740096938062007-07-08T19:49:00.000-05:002007-07-08T19:58:43.969-05:00

With a little work I was able to increase the size of my posting area (the space where you are reading right now). This allows me to put in larger pictures (widths up to 500 pixels). The "Summer Fun" post below is an example of the new larger picture size. Enjoy!

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-24524127276596577902007-07-05T11:22:00.000-05:002007-07-05T14:36:12.986-05:00

It is a horrible picture thanks to me forgetting my camera and having to use my phone, but I think you get the idea. For the fireworks on the 3rd, Lisa and I were on her sister's boat in Monroe Harbor. It was a beautiful night and it was very relaxing on the boat compared to the crowds on the shore. We were about 100 yards from the barge that actually shoots off the fireworks. It was an

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-59664964841748447312007-06-18T20:50:00.000-05:002007-06-18T21:04:27.794-05:00

For work I was invited to watch the Cubs from the rooftops. For those unfamiliar with Wrigley Field, the outfield bleachers are pretty short so the buildings across the street build seating on their roofs. You would think the views would be terrible but they are actually decent. We enjoyed the game, had plenty to eat and drink (part of your ticket) and the Cubs won.

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-60321276914287151102007-06-07T18:30:00.000-05:002007-07-08T19:39:21.147-05:00

Thanks to the wonderful burgeoning summer here in Chicago below are a couple pictures from around the area.Two weekends ago I went to a concert at Millennium Park. The band shell was designed by Frank Gehry and is supposedly "the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States". Thanks to the wire frame above there are no obstructions between the seats/lawn and the

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-85480732569938079102007-05-01T18:01:00.001-05:002007-07-08T19:40:54.354-05:00

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-32802025167635937052007-04-29T15:52:00.000-05:002007-04-29T15:59:28.876-05:00

The tree out my front window is blooming in amazing colors. I took this picture and then super saturated the image to make the colors pop. I also played up the contrast a little. I think it looks pretty good. I wish I had an external flash so I could have bounced the flash off the ceiling instead of right into the window. Oh well...It's about 75 today and plenty of sun. Beautiful spring

Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257374.post-50835046586474960162007-04-01T15:08:00.000-05:002007-04-01T15:24:38.689-05:00

After testing out Tumblr for running my blog I've made a decision. I love the simplicity of Tumblr but I want more for my blog. I like the way blogger archives my old posts by month along with several other features. So I'm going to stick with blogger for now but use Tumblr for a small side project (more on that below).One thing I really wish blogger would do is open up their templates to user

Michaelnoreply@blogger.com