The world of _ vs. _

I seem to have accidentally gotten into a camera showdown with my roommate the other day.  She's  a Canon Girl and my fingers have never known anything but Nikon.  I was checking out her camera and she was explaining all the things she loved about it.  I was curious, and wound up bringing mine in for a side-by-side comparison.  I hope she didn't take it the wrong way, because I know she loves her camera, and I love my camera.  They're just really different beasts.  Everything from the way the body's settings adjust to the way the lenses move.

Here's the thing though, and this is true for a lot of things, neither one is better.  People get into arguments good over evil, and they're discussing things like Mac verses Windows.  Cat verses dogs.  Pirates verses Ninjas.  And if we really look at it we can see that none of that is really constructive.  It just pits people against each other and makes enemies out of people who otherwise might be really good friends.

People are different.  Unique.  That's the way the world works.  And if it wasn't then we would all be the same and the world would be boring.  But you know that.  You've heard it a thousand times.  Our freedom of choice is what makes us human and what, in turn, binds us together as humans.

Hmm, that got a little preachy-er than I intended it to, but the point remains.  I am going to go and do some chores and homework and get on with this day I have because I'm actually fantastically excited to be getting so much done so early in the day.

A Proper Dinner?

I have been wanting to have a proper dinner party for a while.  It's even on my 21 Before 21 list.  I don't really consider this a proper dinner party.  There were no invitations.  There were no RSVPs, but it was a sit down meal which is a step in the right direction.

There are no people in these pictures, but there were people there I promise.  I'm just not sure that the people who were there would like me to post their pictures.  I know them, but they are more Emma's friends than mine.  Sort of.  But we don't have to get into my whole I don't really know who is my friend in college issues, that seems like a post for another time.

Around Town: Friends and Newness

The Embarcadero at Christmas time.

Just a collection of pictures taken over winter break.  Soaking up San Francisco, spending time with friends, and getting ready for the newness of the coming semester.

The roommate took me out to sushi.

Waiting for the fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Around Town: Climbing SFMoMA

I've got climbing on the brain.  After a trip to Sports Basement last week all I can think of is when I'll get a chance to climb again.  I haven't been since October, and I'm really itching to go.  This lead to a lengthy discussion of instillation piece that's in the atrium of SFMoMA with my Grandpa.  I'm still a little puzzled as to the exact logistics of how it was done, but I think it's one of the coolest things there.

Of course, the exhibit we went to see, on Richard Serra's drawings, was no photography allowed.  I was a little ticked, but it was still a great exhibit.  Richard Serra is one of my favorite artists, because he forces you to experience his work, not just see it.  This showcase of his early work was a bit different then what I'm used to, but it was beautiful nonetheless.  One room in particular had two black canvases stretching to the ceiling.  When you enter the room completely you can feel the walls grow around you.  So cool.

These pictures are just general around the museum pictures.  Mostly the aforementioned instillation piece, and the sculpture garden.

We Smell Like Smoke

The Birthday Girl with her lovely boyfriend.

My friend Brittany's birthday was this weekend and so a bunch of us hung out at the beach, made a bonfire, and ate hot dogs and s'mores.  We watched the sunset and we were all taking pictures of everything.  Oh, the Waldorf children that we are.

This was the first time I've used this camera, it's a 6-year-old Nikon D50.  My dad got it for my mom as a present, but it was one of those presents that you say is for the other person, but is really for you.  When he upgraded, my sister laid claim to it, as I was uninterested at the time.  I commandeered it for while I'm home and may even take it with me back to Chicago.  Though, it doesn't seem to want to let me adjust the settings, so I'll have to get it checked out before I drag it all the way back.

Hanging out just before sunset (note the long shadows).

Owen finally arrived.

Playing with the light.

And practicing my framing.

My shoes.  Because I want to.

Manetteie!

New Layout!

Anyone notice anything different?  It's a new layout!  Granted it's not a custom design or anything, but I made the header myself and I'm pretty proud of it if I do say so myself.  I don't have photoshop so this was a picasa and picnic dealio, which is fine with me.  I do wish the image was a little sharper, so maybe once my photoshop expert comes back from vacation he can help me out.

{Trevor if you're reading this, come home!  I miss you and our late night IM conversations discussing TV shows and our crazy families.  Also, I need to show you pictures of new IKEA furniture}

Anywho.  I'm very excited about the new header for two reasons.  One of which I've already mentioned, that I made it myself.  The second reason is because I'm working on creating multiple versions.  Since I am so lucky as to be able to call so many different places home, I am creating different banners for different places where I feel at home.  Whenever I change locations the banner will change to show where I am.  The banner right now is a picture of San Francisco that I took while waiting for the bus.  I am working on a banner for Chicago (because that's where I actually am right now), and possibly one for traveling as well.  I'm hoping that this will be an effective way to say where I'm blogging from without having to mention it in every post.

I'm very excited for this whole thing (can you tell).

Edited to add: Chicago header is now up.  You should have seen how excited I was with how both of them came out.  Very happy.