Kiwano!

Kiwano!, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Have you ever seen one of these in your supermarket? It's called a Kiwano. Apparently, the fruit originates from New Zeland but can now be found growing in California as well. I bought it because it looked interesting, but it was much better for photographing than it was for tasting. It tasted like a cross between a kiwi and a cucumber with a bit of tartness thrown in.

This pictures is just as bad as class

This pictures is just as bad as class, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

So...I wasn't much better on Tuesday than I was on Monday with the picture. This one was taken during a break in class...one of the most BORING classes ever. I like to think that the poor quality of this picture reflects the poor quality of the class. See, I'm being metaphorical.

Desperate Dashboard

Desperate Dashboard, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

I took my camera out of my bag when class ended (at 9:30pm) on Monday to make sure I took a picture before getting home. Let's just say there was nothing too inspiring so I snapped this quick shot while getting a ride home from a friend. I made it black and white to try and at least be somewhat fancy.

Go Cuse?

Go Cuse?, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Following with the theme of the weekend (lacrosse). I went to Harvard to help scout them for next weekends game against Yale. They were playing Syracuse, and this car (and by car I mean gas guzzling suv) was parked in the lot. I guess there is a really proud Syracuse lacrosse parent driving around Massachusetts!

National Anthem

National Anthem, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This was at the begining of the Yale v. Dartmouth lacrosse game. Since before I played at Yale players have always held hands during the national anthem. Other teams are doing it more and more now, but I think they got the idea from us. I remember I hated being at the front of the line because I felt so exposed!

Hard at Work

Hard at Work, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This is one of my favorite pictures to date for a number of reasons. I went to Yale today (my alma mater) to do a sports psychology session with the lacrosse team (who I played for back in the day). Afterwards I went back to the office and hung out with the coaches. I spent so much time in this office back in the day that it still feels like home to me. Also, I just love how much is going on in the picture and how it represents the life of a coach in season. Not to mention one of my favorite coaches (and friend) who has meant a lot to me over the years is pictured in it.

Playground

Playground, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

I walked to a drs apt today and passed by this playground. Hopefully spring will actually arrive soon, as I imagine the big puddle underneath the swings would discourage students from playing on them.

Apt Sunrise

Apt Sunrise, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This picture is out my bedroom window and captures (though badly) the sunrise. The sky looked much better in person, but the camera didn't want to get it for me. Since this was the only picture I took today, I had to go with it...

As promised, the Recorder!

As promised, the Recorder!, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This picture is slightly out of focus, but it was my favorite among the ones I took of my recorder. I promised a picture of an instrument I could play and here it is! My sister used to (still does?) play the flute and my brother the piano and bass guitar - I guess I didn't get any of the musical genes. It's okay though, I got all the sports ones :)

HS Library

HS Library, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Mondays and Wednesdays I work in two Boston area high schools. Often I spend a lot of time in the library as I wait for the student teachers I supervise to teach lessons.

Pluck me a Ditty

Pluck me a Ditty, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

I by no means play the guitar. In fact, Becca doesn't play it much either, but likes to feign proficiency by keeping the guitar in a prominent place next to the desk. I wish the lighting in our apartment was better for all my picture taking - I hate the reflection in this one. Oh well, next time maybe I'll take a picture of my recorder - and instrument I AM proficient in...and have been since the 3rd grade!

Lincoln Sudbury CHAMPS!

Lincoln Sudbury CHAMPS!, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Becca and I travelled to Worcester (prounounced Woosta for all you non-Massachusetts people) to watch our friend Liza coach the Lincoln-Sudbury girls basketball team in the state championship game. We're happy to report that they were victorious!

Icicle

Icicle, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

What happened to my 70 degree weather! It snowed about 8/9 inches in Boston here today (Friday). These icicles were hanging off a car. We used to get the most massive icicles hanging off my front "porch" when I was a kid - almost two feet long! I used to like to break them down and suck on them like they were ice-pops. I'm sure now with acid rain and snow they don't taste quite the same.

Here's Laughing at You...

Here's Laughing at You..., originally uploaded by laxlaws.

I'm not quite sure what Faedra was laughing at...possibly the test we had just finished taking. The test itself was about Freud and psychoanalysis...I wonder how he would analyze her reaction in this picture...

Swans on Ice

Swans on Ice, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

I took a long walk to school today since it was in the 70s. The Chestnut Hill Reservoir was still mostly frozen despite the warm temperatures over the past couple of days. I spotted these two swans near the end of my walk - it was amazing, as I started to take pictures of them they sat up and craned their necks almost as if they were posing for me.

Coca-Cola on the Tracks

Coca-Cola on the Tracks, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

The life of a coke can. Most of the cans you see are in ads and look all nice and shiny. This one was lying on the T tracks as I waited to go to school this morning. I'm surprised someone hasn't picked it up yet to get the 5 cent desposit back. Even so, it stood out to me - sort of like a life deconstructed.

Morning Sky

Morning Sky, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

We've finally gotten a nice day or two here in Boston after some FREEZING weather last week. I took this one right out of my apartment window. There was some beautiful "sunrise" lighting out of another window, but I couldn't capture it because of all the apartment buildings in the way and because I would have risked life and limb by leaning too far out my window.

Gerber Daisy

Gerber Daisy, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Just another flower from Trader Joes. I actually don't love this picture, but I've really been slacking with the camera lately, and since I'd taken this I figured I'd post it. I really like how vibrant gerber daisies are - the colors they come in and the way they look like minierature versions of the sun!

T Sleeper

T Sleeper, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Captured this one of a local student who had fallen asleep on the T. I had to turn the flash off (I was afraid of waking him) but I think the lighting in the picture is interesting. I see many people falling asleep on the T - maybe it's the vibration of the train, or possibly that its their first time sitting down all day.

Ring(s) around the...fingers!

Ring(s) around the...fingers!, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Becca and I got engaged on Wednesday morning (our fourth anniversary)! I had to make sure to take pictures of the rings before they were sent back to the jewlers for resizing. Our fingers were too skinny, especially in the cold! Besides what this picture represents, I love the way the rings look in black and white. It was difficult to capture their brilliance with the camera, but I think this came close.

Comment Apologies

Hi All -

I just got home from vacation (4 days and nights in Puerto Rico as some of the pictures will show) and was playing around with my blog. I just realized that I had comments that needed to be moderated and were waiting to be posted - and here I thought no one had anything to say! I very much appreciate your comments - please keep them coming, and I apologize for not having the technical savvy to realize that blogger was hiding them from me!

Thanks again,
Amanda

Vacation's End

Vacation's End, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This is what people look like when they're forced to leave warm, sunny Puerto Rico and return to cold Boston. They looked even less happy when they landed and were greated by a temperature of 8 degrees and nothing but flip flops to wear home.

Puddle Condo

Puddle Condo, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This picture was taken walking around the streets of Condado, San Juan. It's the picture of a reflection of a condo from a puddle on the street. This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip but probably just because it made me feel artsy.

Sci-Fi Trees

Sci-Fi Trees, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This picture is what happens when you try and take a picture of palm trees at night. However, once I used iphoto's "enhance" button, it turned out like this, and I thought it looked pretty cool. The trees definitely looked less radioactive in person, but probably not as fun.

Boy in Fountain

Boy in Fountain, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This is a fountain near the "El Morro" fort in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thre were a ton of kids playing in the fountain - enjoying a respite from the heat of the day. I wish I could have captured all their facial expressions, but they were all running too quick for any of that!

Palm Tree

Palm Tree, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

A palm tree is...a palm tree is a palm tree. Fortunately, the fact that I was able to take a picture of one meants I was in a warm climate (Puerto Rico) and avoiding 40 mph wind gusts in Boston.

A House, Deconstructed

A House, Deconstructed, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This was once a beautiful victorian house down the block from my apt. I'm not sure what they're doing to it, but it has been completely stripped and moved forward on the lot.

Blurry Eyed BC

Blurry Eyed BC, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

This was the only shot I got to take today. Clearly I was not able to hold the camera still enough. I guess to some degree though this is how many BC students see their campus...at about 5:30 am after a night of drinking. Though I guess the sun would be rising in the east and not setting in the west - but that's a minor detail.

A Light, in the BC Forrest (?)

A Light, in the BC Forrest (?), originally uploaded by laxlaws.

Spotted this walking out of class late on Monday night. It had snowed earlier in the day, and though I hadn't captured any good pictures then, this one caught my eye. There's not much to it - just a light and some snow. Pretty.

Yankee Blue

Yankee Blue, originally uploaded by laxlaws.

We painted the bathroom Yankee Blue this weekend. I would have preferred Mets Orange, but that would have been...ugly. I felt the need to apologize to the paint man at Home Depot for buying Yankees paint in the middle of Red Sox Nation. He didn't seem to mind too much.