Monday, December 5, 2011

Five on the Fifth: December 2011


So it's the 5th of December and time for another edition of Five on the 5th.  Blogger Stephen Chapman who writes the blog The State of the Nation UK organizes a monthly photofest of sorts.  It's called "Five on the 5th" and it is five random photographs taken from your life on or in the days leading up to the fifth of each month.  This month's optional theme is "Winter Weekend."  This is apparently the final installment of Five on the 5th, as Stephen is mulling about options to replace the photofest with something else.  Something equally as fun, I'm sure.

This month finds me back in London on an extended stay, enjoying some shenanigans with friends around the city.  My photos mainly follow the optional theme and, as always, are posted without comment.





Monday, October 17, 2011

No Person is an Island


I recently got back from a trip to San Francisco, CA for the wedding of a very dear friend of mine.  Throughout the weekend of events I realized that it wasn't simply the wedding of a good friend, but the coming together of two communities of people.  Not just two families celebrating the union of their son and their daughter, but also the communities from which these two people are active and committed members. What really made me realize this joining of communities was the role that all the guests present for the wedding weekend played in making it a reality.  From checking in guests and assigning them to the appropriate retreat houses to preparing and cleaning up after meals to leading a yoga practice to officiating at the wedding to decorating the reception hall to...  The list can go on and on and on.  But in the end, the people there for the wedding helped ensure that the wedding happened with as few hiccups as possible.  And were there to "troubleshoot" and fix any problems that happened to arise.

And this got me to thinking about relationships within the context of community.  For not only is the relationship of two people something between those two people, but also of the communities from which they come.  The communities can be large and complex or just a small, close-knit friend group.  But it is important that those two groups come together and support the love, compassion, and passion of their members, for those two people are representing the shared values and beliefs of the communities.  Communities are the result of the people that make them up and the people are in turn impacted by the communities they build and the people with which they choose to associate. 

It makes me think of the importance of maintaining openness and honesty within one's relationship with one's partner, but extending that communication to those from one's community.  For while we each will hold our partners to the agreed-upon standards of the relationship and will love and support our partners during times of struggle to facilitate growth, it truly does take a village.  If those in our community don't know what is going on with one of their members, how can they help out in times of need?

I know friends that like to keep various aspects of their relationship private from their friends - to hold back those details of internal strife and struggle that arise now and then within all relationships, intimate or not.  And that makes me wonder how true growth can happen for if one only hears one's own voice while processing things, only one point of view is being considered.  For true growth to occur, many different points of view and ways of dealing with things should be considered.  Or at least heard.  And who better to offer support and advice than those people most close to one's heart - the people of one's community.

At the end of the day, I know that my dear friend and his partner are well-supported and loved within their communities.  And I know that their ability to communicate, seek advice, and process things will enable them to nurture and grow their relationship, their love, their connection, and the connection of their two communities.  For no person is an island and it really does take a village.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Five on the Fifth

 
So it's the 5th of October and time for another edition of Five on the 5th.  Blogger Stephen Chapman who writes the blog The State of the Nation UK organizes a monthly photofest of sorts.  It's called "Five on the 5th" and it is five random photographs taken from your life on or in the days leading up to the fifth of each month.  This month's optional theme is "Pleasure."
 
It's been a few months since I've participated in this.  Finishing my dissertation for grad school took a bit out of me, but I'm now in the process of exhaling after completing such a task, so I'm hoping to keep up with this a bit more regularly.
As seems to be my take, my photos are a combination of the optional theme and just a random selection of pics taken from my life in the past few days.  As always, though, they are posted without comment.





Friday, September 16, 2011

Foxholes

In our lives, everyone of us draws a circle.
Inside it are your people,
the people you fight for, the ones you protect, no matter what.
As you get older, your circle gets smaller and smaller.
People grow up, or they don't.
They fall by the wayside or just drift off, one day at a time.
But those who stay, through thick and thin, and everything in between...
those are the ones you want in the fox hole,
when the walls come tumbling down...

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Five on the 5th




So it's the 5th of March and time for another edition of Five on the 5th.  Blogger Stephen Chapman who writes the blog The State of the Nation UK organizes a monthly photofest of sorts.  It's called "Five on the 5th" and it is five random photographs taken from your life on or in the days leading up to the fifth of each month.  This month's optional theme is "New."
 
I struggled quite a bit with the optional theme this month.  I thought about heading in the opposite direction and photographing a number of old things, some of which I did include below.  But really all the pics are of things I've run into in the days running up to today.
 
I should note that after almost a year of living in London, I'm moving back to Texas in less than 48 hours.  At the end of the day, London and I tried each other on for size but we just don't fit.  I'm ready to be back in Texas.






Saturday, March 5, 2011

Five on the 5th

So it's the 5th of March and time for another edition of Five on the 5th.  Blogger Stephen Chapman who writes the blog The State of the Nation UK organizes a monthly photofest of sorts.  It's called "Five on the 5th" and it is five random photographs taken from your life on or in the days leading up to the fifth of each month.  This month's optional theme is "Lines."

I seem to only be participating about every other month, but the challenges of grad school seem to be keeping me rather busy.  Hence my sporadic posting in any way, shape, or form.







Saturday, February 5, 2011

Never a quiet night

Since arriving in London there are many neighborhoods that I just haven't been able to explore.  My world as a grad student has really consisted of classes, studying in the library, commuting between home and campus, and visiting a few pubs with coursemates and a few friends.  One place that I've had at least a passing interest in exploring was Vauxhall.  While Brit Boy and I were together he would regale me stories of good times had dancing in Vauxhall with friends and how it has a pretty cool vibe.  This has been supported by some friends who visit London periodically, so I figured it was at least worth checking out.

Well, accompanied by a couple of friends (a fellow student and a friend of his) I recently ventured down from my ivory tower to explore, get my dance on, and enjoy a much needed mental break.  The result of the night out?  Eh...  We went to a few places and the crowds were... overwhelming.  I mean, I'm fine with having to wind through a crowded bar or negotiate space on the dancefloor with my fellow... revelers?  but people really just seemed oblivious to the fact that other people existed and were throwing elbows right and left.  We visited at least three different bars and it all seemed the same.  However, I do have to wonder if it was the fact that we didn't really get out until later in the evening (honestly, I'm not exactly sure what time we did hit the first place), but it did seem as if people were already well-hammered by the time we arrived.

Whatever.  On the way home, my friends and I were crossing Vauxhall Bridge and chatting away when we saw a rather inebriated man standing/swaying close to the North side.  Oddly enough, it seemed like he was trying to hide behind a lamp post, without much luck I might add.  Anyway, as we got closer, it became apparent that he wasn't trying to hide but rather staggering his way across the bridge.  At a very slow pace.  As we approached he turned to me and asked for a cigarette.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any," I responded.

He attempted to focus on my face as he was processing my response and just kinda swayed from side-to-side.  "Oh...." he finally stammered.  "Well..." he started as his eyes showed that he had finally decided on one of the many of me he must have seeing on which to focus.  "Come back to Vauxhall..."  "No, we're good for the night.  We're out."  "Pleeeeaaasssee..." he slurred.  I had to wonder if he needed an escort for him to even find his own way back to Vauxhall.  Or to keep from falling over the bridge and into the Thames.

After I repeated that we weren't gonna return to Vauxhall he started to move but stopped short and turned to me again.  "Okay then..." he mumbled and started to lean toward me as if trying to kiss me goodbye.  I leaned away and said a polite goodnight.  "Oh come on... just a kiss," he responded.  "I'm good, thanks."  "I can make it worth your while," he said and moved his hand to his crotch in what I can only imagine he meant as a seductive manner.

"As tempting as that is," I said, barely able to hold in my laughter, "I still think we're heading home.  Good luck."  And with that my friends and I left him swaying on the sidewalk holding himself.  I hope he was able to give himself a good time.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Five on the 5th

So it's the 5th of January and time for another edition of Five on the 5th.  Blogger Stephen Chapman who writes the blog The State of the Nation UK organizes a monthly photofest of sorts.  It's called "Five on the 5th" and it is five random photographs taken from your life on or in the days leading up to the fifth of each month.  This month's optional theme is "Fun and Games."

This month my post is split between the fun and games I had in London after Christmas and the fun and games I'm having while on holiday back in Texas with a special someone.