I was one of the first. This crazy little thing called Twitter...I actually started about a year ago when one of my favorite little tech magazines (WIRED) tipped me off to the mini-blogging app. Still unsure of how it is making money, it is sweeping the mobile devices around the country...cluing everyone into everyone's mundane life. Trust me, mine is somewhat mundane :) But it's information at the speed of Twitter.


I follow 16 or so people and receive their Twitters on my iPhone (be prepared to have an unlimited data plan if you choose to do this) and they are close friends...so it's fun bantering at each other throughout the day, or knowing when one of us is having a hard time, or has great news to share, etc. Wanna follow? Be my guest :D

It's time for a shout out. Meghan Bingle...I'm calling you out for your awesome support and liaising (yeah, that just happened...I used that word). Meghan is the voice and face of Into the Darkroom. We've been chatting an awful lot over that past few months because of some projects Into the Darkroom and I are working on together. Fun stuff that I'm so looking forward to sharing with you guys!

She's been totally accommodating and patient with my incessant demands/creative ideas (think Andy/Miranda dynamic in Devil Wears Prada). I think I'm single handedly responsible for her exhaustion in the above photo (which I hijacked from her Facebook sans her knowledge). She's integral to my experience with ITDR.

Got a question? I ring Meghan. DONE.
Something not quite right? I ring Meghan. DONE.
Overlook something? Meghan rings me. DONE.

Now that is something to blog about. DONE.

Rumors have been floating around yesterday via Twitter, text, iChat, Facebook, MySpace and every other communicative outlet accessible to mankind that my place had been burglarized...and on top of that, that the thieves took like $7,000 of Apple equipment. Crazy huh? Well it happened.

Yesterday sucked as a businessman. It's never a good time to see that kind of equipment disappear. But that is what equipment insurance is for...to be reminded that these things are just that..."things." They can be replaced. Thank the good Lord Jesus Christ that my MacPro was NOT taken. These guys were obviously amateurs (or scared out of their minds that I'd come after them in a mad/delirious/not-accountable-for-my-actions-in-the-next-30 minutes kind of way. It's going to take alot more than taking 2 30" Apple displays, 2 iPods, 1 MacBook Pro, 2 Airport Extremes and my Michael Jackson 5 disc box set (Ok, that one really pissed me off) to put me out of business.

All my files and backups and backups of backups were untouched. I am so thankful for this.

Yesterday also wasn't the greatest as a human being. But that is me being really self absorbed. I'll explain. Yesterday was my 27th birthday.

* No birthday party
* No dinner with friends
* One birthday present
* I had to work
* And I had to work on replacing all the equipment that was stolen

[and cue the "feeling sorry for me music...NOW]

Seriously, on paper it was a downer...but honestly I realized I couldn't feel sorry for myself. Sure, I had to experience a burglary during my birthday, but little trials like this build character. And how we handle them determines what kind of character is being built inside of us. Chew on that for today, I'm still trying to swallow it from yesterday.

All things work out for good for those who love Him. I have to believe that in times like this.

Maybe I'm popular...??? Not sure...but fifty some-odd people want to be my friend on Facebook (I'm BIG stuff...everyone settle down) and right now I look like a REAL cyber jerk leaving them out in the cold because I won't accept. SO, I am posting here to explain and possibly receive some grace from these kind fellow photographers.

I joined Facebook for more personal reasons than when I joined MySpace. I actually try to "know" (and no, not in the Biblical sense...mind out of the gutters readers!) the people I'm friends with on Facebook instead of being a friend whore, which I have quite well accomplished on MySpace (so friend me over there and I'll pretty much accept anyone that isn't taking their clothes off or promoting their new pyramid scheme).

So when do I accept a friend request? If we've actually met in person I always accept and then jot down the little details of where we met. If you have "friended" me and we have met in person, please remind me of the meeting with a little message. See you guys on Facebook and I look forward to meeing the rest of you in person :)

I appreciate attention to detail...especially in design. When's the last time you were stopped by strangers because they commented on your timepiece...and no, I'm not talking about your iPhone (already passe btw). Neves makes these unique tie watches that are killer and really fun.

ThinkNeves.com

I am proud of you. I am proud to be associated with you...those that have placed bids on the Thirst Relief auction. All of you...not just those who bid on me. It is good to report that you and me together have raised almost $250 so far to ensure those much less fortunate than us have clean water to drink tomorrow.

Before I shamelessly ask you guys to drive up my going price, I want to share with you why I'm doing this. I believe in the God who gives the warmth of the Sun to both the saints and the sinners, the God who expresses love with the rain that falls on both the faithful and the wicked. And I'm thankful for that since most days I'm more the latter than the former.

These people that need our help didn't choose to be born where they were...God did. He orchestrated that so people like me could be a blessing to them. That is so hard to see through the smog of our American mentality. Our resources, our standard of living...are our greatest assets as Americans, yet we often hoard it for ourselves. If you make over $45,000/year you actually make more money than 99% of the 6.6 billion people on this planet...can we sit here and deny that we are rich?

Money changes people. That is a fact. Money changes me. And I want money to change me in a positive way. The only way I can figure out how to do that is to give away as much as I can and gradually loosen its suffocating grip around my heart. Giving makes me a better person, that is why I do it. And who knows, I could just as easily be the one who needs that cup of cold water one day.

With that said, I'd love to spend 90 minutes with you over dinner for the benefit of these kids, fathers, mothers, brothers...sisters.

BID HERE BEFORE 8PM TODAY.

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I ran across this interesting post on Seth Godin's blog this evening:

"Workaholic" is an adjective that has long plagued the obsession over my hobby ever since it became my living...and I've really beat myself up about it with a one-two punch of guilt and self defeat; however, Seth's thoughts on the matter force my hand to rethink what's really at the root of my so-called "workaholism." Curiosity and passion are much more at the core of my photography, rather than fear. So it explains why I'm editing images, blogging and tweaking my new website/blog while on vacation in Taiwan (although I swore to myself that I wouldn't take any work with me).

It's fun...and I enjoy it so I'm choosing to not feel guilty about many of the long days I put in or the "kid who can't put down his new toy" behavior. I'm very grateful I've found work that (much of the time) is what I'd most like to do (while exercising moderation and a balanced lifestyle)...and finding that can be brilliant.

On that note, an image that struck my fancy from a recent portrait shoot...

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