What about the future?

That's a good question. I know it seems like I am rehashing a lot of my past. I have taken the past few days to really analyze my intentions, and came to the conclusion that the purpose behind this blog is the fact that it's a good story. I don't think I could've created the series of events anymore raw or colorful than they were. 

I'm undecided about my future, however, in the present, I have found a genuine enjoyment in taking photos. I love the digital macro setting on my little Canon Digital Elph point and shoot! I like to get close up, and see things through new angles. I am notorious for getting in some funky positions. It's all for a great photo... 

Here's a selection of photos from the past six months or so. Enjoy!

A cricket in the garden.

Porch-fly

CSU Garden Flowers

The Hood

Cosmos

Fosferera

I enjoy photographing food as much as I enjoy eating it. 

Ice Cold Beer

Salvaged Planes

French oven

Urban Standard, Birmingham, AL

BETA FISH!

Cuddles

Taking after the boss.

soft sunshine

Candy dish

Geese on the horizon

Gone with the Wind

Bird Seed

View from my grandparents house, Fayetteville, AL

Rusty snow

Shine.

I love these!!

Dead Sunflower

Ralphie

I dig this for some reason.

Crazy Hair

Have a great week!!

DP

Ambition: what to do with it?

This is a question I often ask myself. I came across some goals I've written in the past. The first is from 2006, and the second is from 2010. I think it's interesting to see where you end up. So I am going to post them, and let you see for yourself.

October 4, 2006
Goals:
-Bring up GPA
-Learn to manage my time and money
-Balance Checkbook
-Find a church
-find more time to WRITE!
-get a job!
-Take more time to think/meditate
-Read more.
-Travel: Peru, Britain, Europe?
-Find my faith.
-STOP jacking around.

The next is from April 9, 2010

Things I want to do:
-Support Microcredit Loans!
-Have a successful garden
-Get married
-Have kids
-Go fishing in Alaska
-Return to Ecuador
-Become fluent in Spanish
-Adopt a child
-Live in another country for at least a year
-Be healthy
-Show my mom how awesome I think she is.
-Get to know my Dad.
-Always be close to my sister.
-Raise chickens
-Own a trampoline
-Write a good book
-See Dave Matthews
-Succeed
-Become self-sufficient
-Make a difference
-Make marriage work
-Run a half marathon
-LOVE.
-Make a difference.
-Find time to write.
-Find the strength to quit smoking.

I wonder where I'll be in five years?

My Safe Spot: Las Penas

Las Penas is pretty much one of the only tourist attractions in Guayaquil. It is on the edge of the river Guayas, and has little restaurants, stores, bars, lookouts, and my favorite, the Anthropology Museum. Las Penas used to be one of the poorest parts of Guayaquil, until a Governor gave money to them to fix up their houses, open shops, and thus creating an income from them by providing a tourist attraction. There are about 500 stairs to the very top, where there is a monument and you can look out over Guayaquil.

I call Las Penas my safety spot because it really was the only place in Ecuador I could go alone and be safe. I did get pick-pocketed there once, but other than that, this was the place I could go to walk around, think, and be independent without having to worry.

I loved this place. I would climb to the top of all of those stairs, and then stand on the edge, looking out over this city and I just felt liberated, inspired, and focused. I was studying Anthropology at Auburn before this trip, so I was fascinated by the artifacts that the museum had. The first month I was there, there was an art exhibit by the artist Viteri. This artist reached into my soul and did a number. I could spend hours trying to understand his work. I will show you some pictures. Besides Van Gogh, Viteri is one of my all-time favorite artists.

One of the statues along Las Penas

Daddy came to Guayaquil!

Dad in front of some crazy tree.

Las Penas

One of the peep wholes to see the river.

Ecuador's flags

Recycling

A local group called "The Indians"

The stairs to the top

One of the buildings on the way to the top.

View from the top of the monument at the top of Las Penas. 

Guayaquil

Guayaquil

The monument from the ground.

Yours truly at El Museo de Anthropologia

Artifacts found in Ecuador

The Archeologist who discovered many of these artifacts.

The logo of my favorite artist!

Yes, some are quite morbid.

In another part of the exhibit. Not sure if this is legal. 

Drawing is a form of thinking.

Enjoy the photos. Las Penas is a beautiful place that I will hold dear to my heart forever.