This is the snowstorm that has delivered as promised… and continues to do so! I trekked out the 7 blocks up to the Capitol to get some pictures and wasn’t dissapointed. I ran into a Washington Times staff photographer while I was there… lesson learned – NEVER buy used newspaper gear. She was laying lensless Nikon D300 bodies in the snow as she changed from wide to tele zoom and snow was everywhere… wow, what a mess!

I may go out again this afternoon to the monuments!

I’ve already posted a full album of Thanksgiving pictures which you can check out here.   Between hosting our own pre-thanksgiving last Sunday night with the Stav’s, Erika’s Grandma, my Mom and our friend Breanna to the full DeFilippo Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh (with Madigan desert!) and finally post-Thanksgiving at the Stav’s last night with friends it was  a great 7 day event for us this year.

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving as well!

On a photography note I am excited to be asked to photograph a party for a friend of Erika’s coming up in late January.  Its a ‘pro-bono’ kind of gig largely but it should be good experience and possibly some publicity with other potential clients.  I’ll keep you posted.

-Tony

I really can’t complain at all… what a great weekend!  We had the VT-MD game at College Park penciled in since the schedule was released so that was no surprise but when I got Sampel and Laura’s text about tickets and a parking pass for the Skin’s game versus the Bronco’s on Sunday the weekend was really capped off.

Saturday was an early, and grey day in MD spent with tons of great friends on the parking garage roof of ‘Terripan Trail’ structure.  Ryan and Lauren got there at 7 AM to make sure we had a good place to tailgate – it was still empty when Erika and I rolled in around 10!  From the great spread of food to the improvised beer-pong on a concrete column it was a a great time all around.

We cooled our tailgating jets for a mere couple of hours and then fired up the Sportage for its first visit to FedEx field with Sam and Laura.  We had great (free) parking and the game day weather was a splendid 70 and sunny.  Both victory’s – coincidence?  I think not!

GO HOKIES, HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!

I’m still catching up on Haloween pictures. This one in particular makes me happy… it is taken from the Fort Room in the farmhouse (which is looking great these days). Despite the wonderful farmhouse, the barn is the first thing I think about when considering the place at Winchester and this is not a view alot of people take in very often.

This weekend is going great, a nice time tailgating and good football game up in College Park and we got suprise tickets to the Skin’s game tomorrow! GO SKINS!

-Tony

Happy Veterans Day!

Odd chance but I took this shot following our Haloween Campout. It is from the inside of Chapman Mill in VA. This is the old stone building on the north side of I-66 between Exit 40 and 31. A very interesting job at stabalizing the old structure as you can see above.

Tony

I’m finally (nearly) done with my California trip photo-processing! Only a month+ later right?!? Well it was about 1000 or so images counting the film. My trip was fantastic and I saw amazing things. Carrying and using the two cameras was more complicated than I care to remember but I am impressed by the differences and the advantages of both. To be honest I got just as many ‘keepers’ with one as the other. In fact in several cases I took nearly identical pictures with both and I ended up liking both D80 and F5 images pretty equally as I went through them.

I guess I’ll keep packing them both for now! It would also seem that it is high time to get back out and take some new pictures! With Photoweek DC starting Friday the timing is perfect. I hope if you get a chance you come out and sample some of the many gallery’s and free events going on for the next week. See you out there!

Tony

Erika and I entertained several of our best friends at the Turner Farm in Winchester this weekend. Haloween complete with pumpkins, costumes (for Knish) and a creepy, haunted old house!

We had a blast, thanks to Heather for coming all the way from Florida! Stephen and Jenny, Andrew and Meghan, Krissy and Scott for coming out and enjoying the great outdoors. Also of note, I was officially introduced to the game of ‘Kan-Jam’… and I am already hooked. Just google it, you’ll get a better explanation than I can give but it is a great time.

Can’t wait to get out and do it again,

Tony

I’m checking out the Windows Live Writer, which if it works is a local application on my computer that sync’s right in with my blog. We’ll see how it works!  It might make the experience easier and me more interested in doing it!

Hopefully it works well!

To all those who serve, their family and friends! Enjoy the great weekend!

MSO = Minimum Service Obligation

For those of us who opted into Navy ROTC that meant 4 years active, 4 years reserve as a minimum obligation for taking the scholorship and the commission.  I had a fantastic time in the Navy and would go back and tell the 18 year old me to do the same thing again.  But 8 years ago today was commissioning and as of now I am eligible to become a completely free agent.

Funny thing about the inactive ready reserve (of which I am a member) is that once you reach your MSO you don’t automatically get unregistered, it requires a second ‘resignation’ to complete.  So I guess that is the next step.

I sure can’t believe it’s been 8 years…