A. Bennett Photography

Aliens

2008-03-20T20:58:00.005-06:00

Aliens
Canon PowerShot SD870 IS

I have a new camera. I indulged in a new point-and-click to carry around. In part because it worries me to carry around my Nikon everywhere without a case, not to mention the expense of replacing it. So I'm carrying my cute little camera, that I hope I'll love much more than the cute little camera I bought last time.

Also, it's the first day of Spring, so I'm celebrating by getting back into the habit of taking pictures.

The two pictures posted today are of the Alien in the freight elevator at Southwest Airline's Headquarters. For the most part our building is immaculately clean. We have a wonderful cleaning staff and all the pictures on the walls would pass the white glove test. But apparently all bets are off in the freight elevator.

Typically whenever we eat in our cafeteria upstairs (which is somewhat rare) we take the freight elevator because it's the closest elevator to our department. I used to be disgusted about the nasty tiles in the ceiling, but after realizing we had a guardian Alien, it's not so bad. Kinda.

Game Over Man
Canon PowerShot SD870 IS

Whiteboard Wednesday

2007-10-10T23:01:00.001-05:00

Whiteboard Wednesday: Red October

Faithful readers, as I'm sure you've noticed, I'm taking some time off. Work is hectic and allergy season is kicking my ass (or my head as the case may be). I'm planning on it being one week, but it might stretch into two. But I will get back on the ball, I just need a bit of a rest. Believe it or not, it's hard to keep up with a daily blog.

Today's whiteboard is brought to you by the one and only Cris, who stole my Stick Figure Angel of Death. He also gave him feet, hands, and bigger wings, I'm still not sure how I feel about that. However, the biggest improvement: 5 of 8 Snowmen have hats! (Eric and I decided the pumpkin head counts as a hat.)

The nice thing about October is that we fit in a little better in a month where it's OK to be a little weird, a little bloody. It's December when we kinda stick out when our Christmas lights tend to still be skulls, but with little Santa hats.

Stairs

2007-10-05T00:51:00.000-05:00

Stairs
Nikon D70 70mm f4 1 second

Whiteboard Wednesday

2007-10-03T23:52:00.000-05:00

Whiteboard Wednesday: Snow Globe

I drew a smaller version of this on Eric's whiteboard a couple of weeks ago and asked Cris if he could recreate it with a bit more artistic flair than I have. However, it's been a busy week in workland and Cris had his cheese moved and had to change cubes. But it's a nicer one more in the corner with less traffic and most importantly away from certain individuals that we hate. They will remain nameless in the event said individuals should happen across this blog and then we all get fired and Whiteboard Wednesday would shut down. And no one wants that. So long story short (too late), I did a larger version on my board. Luckily I took a picture of it unmolested before we went to lunch.

When we got back someone had added a bit to it. Adam was nice enough to add the Molotov Cocktail throwing snowman and his burning and melting victim. The subtlety of a theme apparently went above his head, but the rendering was so endearing, I didn't so much mind. After all I'd already taken the picture.

A bit later my boss came over to my cube and commented on the new addition. Eric happened along and we again put forth our position that the snowmen needed to have hats. Tiffany was swayed by our passionate persuasive speech and added a wizards hat to the psycho snowman. Adam wasn't thrilled and stated "now it looks likes he's throwing pixie dust." I guess that pixie dust often catches fire. Who knew.

Tiffany was not to be stopped, in addition to the new stylin' pimp hat, she added a dog into the snow globe destruction area. And then a turtle, a goldfish, a stop sign, a school bus... and most everything extra inside the globe. I added the kitchen sink.

While not the best whiteboard ever, it does represent the wonderful collaborative effort that embodies the spirit that is Whiteboard Wednesday.

Whiteboard Wednesday: Snow Globe Revisited

Chapter One

2007-10-02T22:26:00.000-05:00

Chapter One

iPods make it sinfully easy to ignore people. If a stranger in a store, on the train during your morning commute or sitting beside you in an airplane tries to make conversation you can "get away" with being rude with a blank smile and a gesture toward your plugged ears.

I typically drive with my iPod plugged in. Yes, I know technically I could get a ticket for it, but I'm going on faith that unless there's a moving violation in there as well, a cop in Dallas isn't going to stop me. I have more than 2000 mp3s loaded into my iPod, and ironically rarely listen to any of them; I listen to books. It makes my commute into work not seem so long or boring. I hate morning radio and got into this habit long ago when I still lived in a suburb and drove into downtown everyday in bumper to bumper traffic. It kept me sane.

Several jobs and years later, I'm still doing it. But now, when I stop the car, my book can go with me. I shop with my iPod, even if it's just running into a convenience store to grab a coke, my iPod goes with me. I've even been known to sit in my car or circle the block when I'm getting close to home to finish a chapter. I can stop at anytime. Honest.

So where is all of this leading? Yeah, I'm getting to that. Many times I've been asked what I'm listening to. I usually respond with "a book on tape." And of course I get an odd look but generally that stops further conversation. Today, however, I was at a bookstore when I was asked by the guy at the check out counter. When he asked, I thought, "Hey, I can actually tell this guy what I'm listening to, he'll get it."

Bookstore Guy: Hey, what are you listening to?

Me: Next by Michael Crichton.

Bookstore Guy: *brief confused look* I don't know who that is, but the way you said it, it sounds good.

Now I'm confused. "The way I said it?" What does that mean exactly?

Me: Umm, you know, Michael Crichton; He wrote Jurassic Park.

Bookstore Guy: Oh.

Is it wrong that I think a guy who works in a bookstore should recognize the name Michael Crichton? It's not like it was some obscure author, he's a New York Times Bestseller. And while Crichton might not be great literature, I doubt he'd have recognized Dostoevsky, Proust or Kerouac either.

From here on out, I'm going to stick with the apologetic smile and gesture toward my ears.

Priceless

2007-10-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

Priceless

This is one of those moments that truly emphasize how important it is to always carry your camera with you.

Comfort

2007-09-29T23:52:00.000-05:00

Comfort
Nikon D70 60mm f5 1/60th ISO 200

The Photo Friday this week is comfort. Is there anything more comfortable than a broke-in pair of old boots? Actually I wouldn't know.

I know, I know it's shocking. Here I am from Texas, but I've never actually owned a pair of cowboy boots. I have some Dr Martens, but it's not quite the same.

Sunset

2007-09-28T23:39:00.000-05:00

Sunset
Nikon D70 70mm f7.1 1/30th

So Friday was a bad day. I woke up with a horrible headache and called my boss to tell her I was popping some migraine pills, going back to bed and I'd be in later. I knew I couldn't ditch the whole day, I've been working on a hideous project at work that I have to have every piece that I can possibly finish before Monday done. It was either get up and moving on Friday or I'd end up working on Saturday or Sunday to finish, and I didn't want to spend the weekend at work. I finally made it in around 11ish. I didn't leave work until 9:30. And then I left with people from work and we stumbled into the nearest IHOP for some food and relaxation (gossip) I didn't end up back home until 11:30ish and I could feel the headache coming back. I ended up taking out my contacts and falling into bed and never gave the blog a 2nd thought.

Here's my tardy post for Friday. Since I didn't take a single shot, it's another one from the archive. This picture is one of the few that hangs on my cube wall at work, and while the Keys weren't my favorite vacation spot ever, I do love the beach and any aspect of the water and all I have to do when it gets hectic at work is to glance up, and I'm back on the beach. Without the fish smell.

Dazzle

2007-09-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Dazzle
Nikon D70 65mm f5.6 1/60th

Whiteboard Wednesday

2007-09-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

Whiteboard Wednesday: Battle Lines

No, it's not Eric back drawing the board, we had another guest artist today. Adam wanted a turn. It's a cult following!

We did however decide that Adam needs to use more color, I guess he's in his blue period.

WTF?

2007-09-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

WTF?

9 out of 10 American women who perform fellatio prefer a circumcised cock. I'm just saying.

Turn Back the Hands of Time

2007-09-24T23:04:00.000-05:00

Turn Back the Hands of Time

I do realize that this rant isn't going to garner the most amount of sympathy from most of you, but I'm doing it anyway. So there.

This is my alarm clock. The old fashioned kind that runs on a battery and there's no snooze. My other alarm clock has the snooze. But, this is my fail safe alarm clock, so that in the event of a power outage it will still go off. It's usually set for 7:15, which is the last possible second I can stay in bed and still get to work on time. Tonight, however, I've had to move back the alarm to 5:00.

I figure there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who like mornings and normal people. I'm a normal person (shut up all of you, this is my time). I like to sleep in.

So someone at my job decided that what the Leadership Team needed was some motivation. In general I can agree with that statement, most of the Leadership could use a swift kick of motivation in the ass. It was suggested by this lovely individual that the "GET MOTIVATED!" seminar was for us. On paper it didn't sound like a bad idea. It's a big thing being held at American Airline Center (the new arena where the Mavericks and Stars play) and the speakers include Colin Powell, Zig Ziglar, Steve Forbes and Goldie Hawn (that one is a little weird but ok). Oh, and we found out today that Tony Romo was also going to speak. Although, I had to ask who Tony Romo is and let me say here that it's embarrassing to have a gay guy explain to you who a sports figure is, but there it is. So we all hopped on board the Get Motivated train and agreed to go and besides we get out of work for the day, so woo woo!

Then the bad news. "So hey, what time do we have to be at this thing tomorrow?"

"The doors open at 6:45."

Pause. Blink.

"Umm... in the morning?"

"Yeah, 6:45 in the morning."

"So do you think I can just come into work instead?"

The look.

Sigh.

People, there is not enough coke in this world to get me motivated at 6:45 in the (insert expletive of your choice here) morning. All I'm saying is if Ziglar takes the stage first, I'm not responsible for the lives of those sitting around me. And once I explain it to the jury, no one would convict me.

Golden Studio

2007-09-23T23:14:00.001-05:00

Golden Studio
Nikon D70 25mm f4 1/30th ISO 200

Golden, Texas - population 156. In a place that small you wouldn't expect to run across an art studio. And while the art is decisively Texan in nature, the work here at the Belben Nest Art Studio and Gallery is fabulous. Two cousins own and manage the studio out of a converted 1913 building. Fair warning, the ladies didn't add air conditioning to the old building, so visiting in Summer can be stifling.

PCH

2007-09-23T00:03:00.001-05:00

Pacific Coast Highway
Nikon D70 55mm f9 1/320th ISO 200

Ok, so I'm cheating today and posting something from a year ago. I have been trying to make sure that what I'm posting each day was actually taken on that day (or the day before, or at least the same week) but today, I didn't even touch my camera.

Today we celebrated Kara's birthday (a few days early, it's not offically until the 26th) at her house with a cook out, and because I knew there'd be a ton of people there along with various children, I didn't want to take my camera. We were there much later than I thought we would be, so I'm posting one of my favorite shots from my archives.

Taken from the passenger seat of the car while driving the Pacific Coast Highway in May of 2006.

Polly

2007-09-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

Polly
Nikon D70 200mm f5.6 1/60th ISO 200

Lock

2007-09-20T21:38:00.001-05:00

Lock
Nikon D70 200mm f5.6 1/6th ISO 1600

I've been trying to actually manage the amount of unopened boxes that I drag along with me everytime I move. They are full of things from my youth that I no longer wish to display, but I can't bring myself to throw away. Well, no more, I've hardened my heart (and I know some of you are thinking "that's different from normal?") and am throwing things away. I have a general rule of if I haven't thought about it in the last year then it has to go, with a few exceptions like photographs, books, and family treasures. So the purple unicorn stuffed animal from when I was in the third grade that I couldn't get to sleep without, is history. English papers from high school, tossed out (I did convert them to .doc files first).

This is a box that I kept my jewlery in when I was in highschool, the funny thing is, a lot of it has kinda come back into style. But with one exception I threw out the lot. Oh, and there was a picture of the boy I loved back then also in the box. I kept that too.

Whiteboard Wednesday

2007-09-19T22:55:00.001-05:00

Whiteboard Wednesday: Private Dancer

Thanks to Cris for coming up to do today's board on his day off.

I should have erased this after I took the picture, but I just couldn't. So it's still on my whiteboard at work, I'll probably erase it, or portions of it tomorrow. But, I wanted my boss to see it before we erased it, she's become a fan. Thankfully my office doesn't get that much traffic.

The one thing Eric and I keep trying to explain to Cris is that for the snowmen to be animate, they need hats. I mean, come on! We've all seen what happens to Frosty when you take the hat away, but he insists on hatless snowmen.

Update 9/21/2007: Ok, so yesterday afternoon a bunch of guys from technology came around passing out "thanks for all you do" cards and candy to everyone at headquarters. When Eric saw them coming toward my office he ran in ahead of them and stood in front of the board to block any inappropriateness. So after they left I had my boss come in and look so she could get a good laugh, and then we erased the SnowDancers.

Dallas Ink

2007-09-18T20:52:00.001-05:00

Dallas Ink
Nikon D70 45mm f9 1/320 ISO 200

Today is my 100th post! So I celebrated with a new tattoo and piercing! Ok, I didn't but I took the picture.

Strokers is THE biker's paradise in Dallas. Here you can buy a bike, get wasted before getting a tattoo and piercing. You can do it all at this one stop when you're ready to release your inner Harley.

Ascension

2007-09-17T21:19:00.001-05:00

Ascension
Nikon D70 30mm f10 1/400th ISO 200

I know I've not done a lot of writing with my last few posts. Kinda odd since I'm taking a writing class and all. I've been working on an article, you know *the* article. The one I'm going to submit by the end of the year the one that's going to be the start of my new career that will pay me to travel the world. I'd like to be able to report that I have pages and pages of writing. But in actuality what I have are pages and pages of research and notes. It's a beginning.

Photo Friday: Fantasy

2007-09-16T20:29:00.001-05:00

Photo Friday: Fantasy
Nikon D70 80mm f5.6 1/160th ISO 200

Fun & Flirty

2007-09-15T22:45:00.001-05:00

Fun & Flirty
Nikon D70 70mm f4.5 1/3rd ISO 200

Spare Change

2007-09-14T23:49:00.000-05:00

Spare Change
Nikon D70 80mm f5.6 1/30th ISO 200

Wither Away

2007-09-13T21:08:00.001-05:00

Wither Away
Nikon D70 30mm f5.6 1/125th ISO 200

I'm sure someone at some time loved this house. A hopeful bride was carried across the threshold. Laughing children played on the wrap around porch. Someone lost their virginity. Secrets were whispered and dreams were envisioned.

Only the shell of what once was remains.

Whiteboard Wednesday

2007-09-12T20:02:00.001-05:00

Whiteboard Wednesday: The Execution

I left work last night and the whiteboard was a blank slate and I walked into my cube this morning and it was as if the Snowman Fairy had visited!

Bad news is Cris is off for the next eleven days.. so next Wednesday it's back to mine and Eric's drawings which suck in comparison. However, we are trying to harass him into coming in just to do the board.

Interesting Fence

2007-09-11T21:53:00.001-05:00

Interesting Fence
Nikon D70 105mm f5.6 1/500th ISO 200

Can't find a picket? No worries.. how about some old bicycles?