Harrisburg

I'm visiting one of my oldest friends Heather in Harrisburg, PA this weekend. She moved here about two years back and I've been remiss in checking out her new city. This morning we went to The Broad Street Market for breakfast, one of the oldest continuous farmers markets in the country, then went across the street to Midtown Schloar a huge new/used bookstore.

In the afternoon we went for a walk along the Susquehanna river which kind of runs through the center/along the edge of Harrisburg.

Capitol Building.

It was 3rd In The Burg this evening, the monthly city wide art walk, so we walked around and popped into a couple coffee shops and art galleries. Pretty cool!

Sunsets #8

 Madison 9/26/15

Badlands 9/30/15

Hiking & Sunset

Today we spent all day in the park hiking around. There's only a handful of marked trails that you can do over the course of a day, the rest are longer stretches that would necessitate camping.

It was warm and for the most part sunny, a nice change from the overcast/partly cloudy we've been dealing with over the past couple days.

Tomorrow we start our ride back to Chicago. It seemed a fitting end. Sitting on the wind swept buttes watching the sunset. Pictures can't do the beauty justice, neither can words.

Sunsets #7

 Chicago 4/10/15

Chicago 5/23/15

Denver 6/6/15

Mile-High City

Adam and I flew back yesterday after our stay with the Beanpole. It was a wonderful visit. The three of us hadn't been together since Adam's wedding summer of 2012 and we hadn't had any quality time together of note since the last time Adam and I went to Denver in 2010. It's been a long time, too long, and although each of us have had some significant life changes our connection hasn't changed.

We've been through a lot together, seen a lot together, stuck together over time. It's a solid bond and a friendship we can all rely on and lean on if we need to. When I'm with them I feel comfortable and accepted, supported no matter what. True friends hard to find, ones that stand the test of time even harder, I'm grateful for Adam and Beanpole who have been at my side literally and figuratively since high school, all those years ago.

Sunsets #6

 3/20/15 Chicago, IL

 4/4/15 Santa Monica, CA

4/15/15 Middleton, WI

Getty and Beach

This is my final day in LA. We went to the Getty Museum on the way to Santa Monica. The compound is set on a hill and we had to take a trolley to get there.

The complex is large and incredibly beautiful. Clean architecture and an amazing garden. We didn't walk through many of the exhibits just explored the grounds.

Caroline and Alex are not only incredibly gracious and accommodating hosts but fun and funny travel companions. They've been so great about doing what I wanted to do and making me feel included in their lives for a little bit.

When we got to Santa Monica we headed straight to the beach. Swimming in the Pacific was the thing I'd been looking forward to the most about the trip.

Alex and I swam and the ocean was as invigorating and playful as I could have hoped. I've only been in the Atlantic two or three times in my life, never in the Pacific, so the whole experience was very special.

After we got out and dried off we watched while the sun set. It was majestic and big, almost cliche in its picturesque beauty.

In the evening Alex and I walked around the Santa Monica Pier and then through the Third Street Promenade which is basically an outdoor mall. We grabbed a bite at ShopHouse and then sat by the beach and talked about the future, comedy, ambition, and dreams. A nice ending.

Sunsets #5

8/30/14 (Marta's Wedding)

9/20/14 (Beanpole's Bday)

Sunsets #4

7/14/14

7/27/14

7/30/14

"The biggest cliche in photography is sunrise and sunset." -Catherine Opie

Sunsets #3

6/12/14

 6/27/14

6/28/14

Sunsets #2

3/20/14 Chicago

4/8/14 Alexandria

4/12/14 Chicago

Dusk

Molten valor
teases promise

hearts chant
dormant wonder

thrills unfold
upon inspection

waning-light heralds
unknown marvels-
waves which pulse and beg for refuge.

Deepest night holds no regret.