My GPS Camera Phone

Found this in a WalMart Supercenter family bathroom the other day. It’s supposed to be a universal sign for a baby changing table, but it looks more like a torpedo loading bay or a tanning bed. Either way, tell me what it says to you.

This rail is just outside the side door of the place I work. I pass it every afternoon on my way to the parking lot. When I noticed the morning glories taking over the entire area, I was thrilled because the photo opportunities were going to be great. Unfortunately, the building maintenance crew decided otherwise.

Today, the morning glories are dead vines that will not bloom. The worst part is that they didn’t even bother to remove them after spraying with weed killer. At least I have this one. Maybe next year.

I love my motorcycle. It’s a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50T. What you see here is a shot of the engine cylinders which produce enough power to get out of it’s own way and then some.

If you’re looking for a decent cruiser, this is a great bike to start with. It sounds great, rides smooth and gets incredible gas mileage (somewhere around 45 mpg). Given today’s gas prices, it’s the way to go. Buy some good rain gear and you’re set for anything.

Look closely at the reflection and you might just recognize someone.

With the huge amount of rain we’ve been getting, I thought it appropriate to post a photo of this storm drain. It’s been busy drinking up the massive runoff from severe thunderstorms that have frequented the area. Thankfully, we aren’t anywhere near the Mississippi River, so flooding is not an issue.

This is also a shot taken from the Nokia 5310 that I’m testing out. I have to say, the camera isn’t spectacular in daylight, but I took some night shots of the kids with sparklers and I was surprised by the results. Come back later this week for the side-by-side camera phone photo comparison between the Nokia 5310 and my Casio G’zOne.  The results are rather interesting.

No really. They’re IN the road.

What happens to all of the trash on the road? Some of it gets picked up, some of it gets washed away by the rain. But some of it – usually small and metal – gets compressed into the asphalt.

Aside from all things photographic, what makes this photo interesting to me is trying to determine the origin of the debris. What does the key unlock? What drink was contained by that bottle cap? How many nails were picked up by the tires of unsuspecting motorists before the rest decided to stick around? How old is all of this stuff?

I suppose that might be a weak argument to some, but I can rationalize my intrigue with road debris through mystery. With mystery, there is potential for a much more robust story. Without mystery, there’s a better chance that there’s no amazing story. (OK, maybe there is, but it’s not nearly as compelling to me.) A mildewed and worn dining room table on the side of the road is far less interesting and mysterious than a key embedded in asphalt. Maybe it’s the metal and the endurance. Maybe it’s the timelessness of it.

Maybe I’m just crazy.

…deep thought…

…deeper thought…

Yes, that’s must be it.

In this picture:

• bottle caps
• a key
• washers
• aluminum can
• nails
• screws
• nuts and bolts
• a paperclip
• other bits of unidentifiable metal

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Closing my eyes, I see water crashing down onto the rocks below, a raging river and a peaceful sky. I hear the flow and feel the mist the waterfall produces, caressing my face and beading on my glasses. The sun burns brightly and sears my outer shell while warming my inner spirit. The sounds of the city are lost in a rush of vivid scenes and the lush backdrop of my mind.

A car horn grates across my eardrums and someone howls to a friend. The freshly-painted blacktop on the asphalt parking lot burns the soles of my feet and the intense heat boils up, carrying with it the smell of tar and exhaust fumes. My eyes open and the cold, metal fencing blocks my view of the waterfall, revealing the prison of my mind. Cooling tower runoff cascades in front of me, transporting the indoor heat back to the outside, creating a comfortable, unnatural environment for the cubicle squatters.

Looking up, the sky beckons my return, hovering overhead in all it’s clear, blue glory. A red-tailed hawk soars high above me and offers a ride to dreamland. I close my eyes and climb aboard as the barrier of reality melts, giving way to my recollections of visits with nature. The waterfall, rocks and river greet me with open arms.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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