SILVERSMITHING

Last week was my last Silversmithing class. Outside of college, I'd never taken a class quite like this. I took it twice - once last fall and again this spring. It really was great fun, mainly because Angela, my instructor, was awesome, but also because I learned some techniques I'd never been exposed to before. I managed to make these three silver rings and a paisley-looking pendant which made a nice Christmas gift for my Mom.

I also just realized that I've now been keeping this photojournal for a year. Wow! That was quick. Here's to another year of shameless self promotion and irreverent observations!

Comments?

SINUS PRESSURE

My sinuses have been killing me for some time now, and so last week I went to see an ear, nose and throat specialist. The doctor used a scope to look up my nose and he told me "It's a mess in there" and sent me to get a CT scan. Five years ago I had sinus surgery and I was afraid that maybe something was wrong and I'd have to have surgery again. Fortunately, the "mess" was only a wicked sinus infection, which has cleared up now. I was a little concerned that my sinuses don't look symmetrical, but the doctor said that's pretty common, and everything looks good.

On another note, I've been submitting pictures to a "Digital Photo of the Day" site for about three years, and last week I finally had one of my pictures picked. The photo was the one I posted below with the two Soap Box Derby cars racing on Capitol Hill. It was a real thrill for me.

RAIN

It has been raining nearly every day in Washington for at least six weeks. Now I understand why Seattle has such a high suicide rate. Day after day of gloomy skies is truly depressing. Despite the rain, today was the annual running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. I was involved in Soap Box Derby and National Derby Rallies for many years, both as a competitor and an organizer. It's really a great (non-athletic) family sport. Before today, I hadn't been to a race in five years, but this year I was asked to come up with a new T-shirt design for the Washington race, and so I finally took some time to stop by the race and say hello to some old friends (George, Ken, Mike, and Matt). The local race is run on Capitol hill, and takes an act of Congress to shut down a portion of Constitution Ave. for a day. George (the director of the race) jokingly said that he might get arrested if the right person sees the T-shirts. Apparently, it is illegal to use an image of the capitol building for advertising (I guess). I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but if George was going to get locked up, I was too, because I'm the one who drew it... Dohh! And now that I think about it, I never even thought to pick up a shirt for myself... Double-Dohh!

The T-shirt design.

I didn't stay very long at the race, and on my way home, the sun crept out from behind the clouds for a short time. I passed a church where a wedding party was standing by the road waving to the traffic. Is it me, or does the groom seem awfully young?