January 30, 2015: “Addicted to Books”

This week I finished 2 books.  I rewarded myself with 2 books from my happy place Barnes and Noble to make up for it.  The queue continues to grow, the shelves become overfilled and I become full of stories. 

I usually take to reading a few different genres at once usually a book on Buddhism, philosophy, nature/adventure, fitness and fiction.  

Today I added a book through my game I play called book roulette.  It goes like this I walk into Barnes and Noble, at which point I choose a section.  I choose three random number.  The first number is the aisle, the second is the section and the third is the shelf.  That gives me one small shelf with around 20 books to choose from usually it is of two or three authors.

Today’s choice was “The Eyre Affair” by Jasper FForde.  I chose his book because on the font cover the review from the Wall St. Journal said it combines elements of Monty Python, Harry Potter, Steven Hawking and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  It sounds amazing, two of my favorite things are Harry Potter and Buffy and that is why I now own this book.  I also bought a bargain book on Buddhism called “The Dude and the Zen Master” by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman.  I just finished my previous read “You Are Here” by Thich Nhat Hanh

My name is Nathan MacFarlane and I’m addicted to books.

January 29, 2015: “The Wall (Not the old record store haha)”

I take, I print, I create the wall of my favorites.  As part of throwback Thursday all my photos are throwback to many different shows with many different artists.  The wall is mainly my favorites who have some great songs, amazing sounds and wonderful personalities.

 

My preferred style of music is all of it, mainly I like someone who can tell a story.  Jaida Dreyer writes some of the best stories set to music today.  Unfortunately people don’t realize the songs she writes or never hears them.  She is an Americana, folk, country just plain old good music singer.  Sunny Sweeney is a down home country girl who says what you don’t have the balls to say.  She is unfiltered, funny and wise.  Bringing a Texas attitude to the rest of the world.  The redhead on the wall plays a plethora of instruments.  Her name is Megan Mullins and she is a country musician who plays a men fiddle for acts such as Big and Rich, Alabama, and Trace Adkins to name just a few. 

This wall allows me to see the great memories from them and others.  We should all have inspiration within sight.  I have music and photography to inspire me.  I say maybe I am alright looking at those photos.  Thanks for the inspiration.

Visit Jaida here www.jaidadreyer.com and listen for songs on the tv show Nashville

Visit Sunny here www.sunnysweeney.com and catch her on tour with Miranda Lambert

Visit Megan Mullins on her facebook here https://www.facebook.com/meganmullinsmusic

January 28, 2015: “Live and Local”

For a good time call your local music venue.  You never know what you may find a band starting out or some veterans skilled and connecting. 

These photos are from the show at the Sportsmens Tavern on January 28, 2015 featuring the newly formed band Savannah and the Kings.  Savannah King is the front woman, flanked on the wings by Mark Bamann on the lead guitar, Scott Gergelis on the bass and Loren Metzger on the drums. 

Check them out, check out Sportsmens Tavern, check out the Buffalo music scene, if you are not in Buffalo heck out your local music seen.  Music is the beat of our hearts. 

 

Go to www.savannahkingmusic.com to find out more about the band.

Go to www.sportsmenstavern.net for more information Buffalo's best Americana and music venue.

January 27, 2015: “Photo Club Rust”

Now that volleyball is over my Tuesday night activity reverts back to port photo club.  Every week we are assigned a project by the best photo person of the week. This weeks project was rust.  Rust, Rusty, rust, rust, rust so many ideas.  How do I decide, I wanted something that was different that was not recognizable and up for interpretation.  I ended up underneath a bridge looking at patterns, analyzing light, trying to capture something interesting.

Initially I was upset by the amount of light coming though the grates.  That problem was solved by catching a car crossing the bridge blocking the light.  It added depth and contrast like I wanted. A fun challenge.

Here is another shot I got randomly of a runner passing on by enjoying the 15 degree weather.  That is dedication.

January 26, 2015: “Snowstress”

As I get older I despise one thing the stress caused by driving in the snow.  I drive 10 miles to work and 10 miles home up a few hills around a few curves.  When it is not plowed it is treacherous, I drive a little too cautious but I am going to be safe and stat out of accidents.  I hate my car it handles ok but sucks going up the hills.  I worry on my journey through the snow and the ice. 

The beauty fades fast as winter wears on.  Stress increases, I worry about life.  I think we should just shutdown, there is no need to live dangerously to do a job.  It can wait for another day.  We had 8 feet of snow a few months ago, yet so many could not stay away, fought to get to work.  Instead of distressing, relaxing we worried.  This image captures the beauty, the uncertainty, the power of nature.

Capturing snow is an art I have yet to master.  This captures somewhat of what I see, all I know is that snow was flying crazily towards me.  I hope it will stop in a few hours and when I get up at 5 am it will be gone so I have that safe ride to work.  

January 25, 2015: “Into the Woods”

What is life?  Why do we live?  What is our purpose?  There are so many existential and unsolvable questions.  The closest I can get to answers is when I run into the woods, when I run from manmade progress.  Progress has created a life easy to live with problems that do not exist. 

We have basic needs like all other animals for survival.  These basic needs for our survival are eating, sleeping and procreation.  We truly need nothing more, anything more is a luxury.  After all there are thousands of homeless.  They search for food and places to sleep.  Those are their only needs.  Those are the only needs I would like to have.  Instead I have a need for money to pay off debt for education, if it were to ever disappear I would walk into the woods and live with nature. 

Nature is beautiful, nature has no currency, nature has no debt, natural laws rule all.  On my walk today I saw an amazingly diverse set of trees some stood tall, some branched out, some were broken down, some were starting grow.  Each was unique, each was surviving a cold winter waiting to bloom in the spring.  Treading lightly is what we need to do, understand each other, understand our environment.  Walking into the woods I was freed from greed, freed from time, freed from rules.  I was free well unless I decided to sleep there or walk into woods someone “owned”.  Then I would be arrested. 

Into the woods there is only beauty.  Into the woods we can all be free.

January 24, 2015: “Seriously”

If you know me I wear socks with patterns, long soccer socks, warm wool socks, short socks long socks, mismatched socks and any other sock you may be able to think of.  I’m not too concerned if you judge me or think it’s weird or awkward.  I mean if you think it is awkward, the most likely reason is a result of my overall poor wardrobe choices.

I have reached a point in my life where I live as I like, look like a person of Walmart at points and worry not about others judgment.  The only judgment I wish to have thrust upon me is about the content of my character, if you must.

I walked in the salon and saw these socks, moccasins and a cute outfit.  I thought this girl has her shit together at such a young age to be free to wear a little character in her clothing.  Freedom can be as simple a pair of socks showing your personality.  Be who you are and do not take and to seriously.  That is where this image inspired from.  Seriously take a moment notice something small and find meaning inside it.