katori blog

Peafowl Stops Traffic

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:13:14 GMT

A few days ago, I snapped a few pictures of peacocks and peahens running across the road.

I didn't realize I was shooting in black and white. But why! Why do peafowl cross roads?

Dubai This and That

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:26:24 GMT

This morning, there was a layer of fog over the gulf, which forms the horizon along half of my view. This is the other half of my view, Dubai Creek, with a river of fog floating over it.

I was amazed to see this in Dubai. Being Dubai, beer and wine aren't served.

However, one can ice skate there.

Stricklands, this cape's for us.

This is a cat I call Dummy, who loiters outside a tea shop, barking like a dog at everybody who goes in and out. He's very affectionate, but that big cranium does not house the sharpest mind.

Hello Tomorrow

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:43:35 GMT

Here it comes...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Emirates

Seattle, The Next Morning

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:29:07 GMT

Window design of a hardware store on the way to (cupcakes for) breakfast.

I've quit coffee (and by "quit" I mean I'm at .01% of what I used to drink) but Quinn said Cupcake Royale had the best coffee. Wow, she was not exaggerating. I can't figure out what they did to it, but it was the gods' nectar.

But I was sugarlogged after the cupcakes-for-breakfast, so Quinn took me to High 5 Pie, where I could eat a flipside stuffed with potatoes and dill.

Plus they made delicious cappuccino with this attractive device.

There is so much going on in this city.

Quinn said, "here's a zine library, women in lingerie, puppies, and the Poetry Apocalypse." Seattle just has it all!

I think our bags look related.

I love a city that is rainbow friendly.

This is a random example of how beautiful the downtown area looks. There are no ugly buildings.

Then we went to the Pike Place Market.

I was enthralled by the cheese makers ~ and most of the experience was the amazing aromas coming from this shop (which had a line around the block).

Thousands of names on the floor of the market.

The Greatest Shoe On Earth!

We both hugged this big ole' hog, "for luck."

Another squirrel, this one in his underpants. (Also SubPop and Rollergirls.)

The Washington flag (featuring all of George Washington's head), at the entrance to the Pike Brewing Company, where we ate and drank a delicious lunch.

One more: my laptop display has a 16:9 aspect ratio, so I'm using this as my desktop wallpaper.

That brings us to midday. More Seattle pictures to come.

Seattle, The First Day

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:57:10 GMT

So I love Seattle. It's my new favorite American city, in spite of the nasty weather we had my second day there. (Snow? Sleet? Winter mix?) The first day I didn't reach the hotel until late afternoon, and slfcllednowhere came straight over to take me out and show me her fun city. The laughing didn't stop for forty-eight hours. We're two girls who speak in TMBG lyrics, and we were loose on the town.

It's Quinn! First meeting, and I've only known her for about eight years.

Our first stop was this attractive structure, the Seattle Library.

This is a vegetarian hot dog place, and it looks like it does well.

Seattle is full of voices.

For antivert

This chile relleno was good, but the yam & habanero tacos and guacamole were outta sight.

Used book store, where I finally picked up a copy of Rat Girl.

Oops, this came out blurry. Quinn is actually a curator, and her apartment is a museum which is also a library.

I like Quinn's portrait of her accordian, Sid.

The Space Needle

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:45:00 GMT

Here's a stitched panorama of The Space Needle in Seattle. That's the hair and glasses of slfcllednowhere at the top; she was floating upside down above the structure.

Sad tree on a windy day

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:28:18 GMT

A few weeks ago, a good few potted palms were installed around my building. A few windy days, and they look pretty sad.

"I want an eh--" "-ks one hundred? Who doesn't!"

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:56:51 GMT

I've tried, and failed, to take pictures of northern lights more times than I can count. I know I'm blessed to have seen them so many times that I'm not sure just how many that is. Yesterday, I finally managed to get some that turned out, having finally obtained a camera with a lens that lets in more than a little light.

Here are some of my favorites. These were shot with a 1" exposure at F2; the last two have an exposure compensation of +2/3. Many thanks to Captain Chris from Brazil, for calling me into the cockpit when the aurora started, and for helping me get the shots.

The Fujifilm Finepix X100 is a pleasure to use. I haven't had this much fun with a camera in a long time. Annie Leibovitz has one, apparently, and for what it's worth, so does David Beckham.

(Image swiped from the 2012 Lavazza calendar)

The thing is a better photographer than I am. Even when I'm fooling around, I'm thrilled with the results.

Like this picture of my boyfriend.

My dad gave me his Hoya Star-Six filter, which does neat things to points of light.

Like this.

And like this!

"Tortoise is THE BEST"

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:33:49 GMT

A few days ago, I took my Tortoise kitty to have her teeth cleaned. When I picked her up in the evening, the vet doctors were all a-squee. "How did you get her so sweet?" her doctor asked. "She is amazing, she is the best!" She said she jumped into the vets' arms and gave them kisses. That sounds like my cat. She goes for walks on a leash, pees in the potty, rides in the car, and loves strangers.

Also, she's beautiful.

I always felt Japanese cats have a funny way of looking at you. Like they're judging you.

This picture conveys her lack of a sense of humor.

Here she's "making biscuits" on my coat. Her ears are hilarious.

Her number one hobby is looking out the window.

Shade and Shadow

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:12:40 GMT

A few days ago, I was out walking during the hottest and sunniest time of the day (yes, I do live in the Northern hemisphere), so I took some underexposed pictures to entertain myself.

The first one is cropped, and that's why it's so noisy. The others, I didn't tamper with at all. And I do love to tamper with photographs.

I'm pretty sure this is a palm tree.

This is a succulent that's often used in place of grass here.

Unphotographable Cat

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:06:59 GMT

Do you know of the unphotographable cat?

Kali devours light. It's just what she does.

But my X100 devours light, too!

And X100 wins! Kali, the Internet can see you now.

Isn't she funny, though?

Have You Met Cyrus?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:42:24 GMT

Of my three sweet kitties, Cyrus might have the biggest personality. He's also extremely photogenic, but I've never owned a camera smart enough to catch his tiny, quick movements ~ until now. He did try to make it difficult for me, by pouncing on the camera strap.

My Mom's Craftiness: Let Me Show You It

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:23:44 GMT

Here are some of my mom's latest preemie baby hats.

These are three of the stitches going into a quilt she's working on.

And here's a fourth stitch for the same quilt.

And I really like these tea towels she gave me!

ETA: And she was right, they do match my things.

New Year, New Camera

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:53:59 GMT

Here are some more pictures of North Texas, if you want to see what North Texas looks like.

First, there's the vast sky.

The landscape is beautified by billboards and telephone lines.

There are churches that don't look like churches, even when constructed specifically to be a church.

I thought this ditch near my high school was attractive.

My parents' neighbor cares for a zebra.

Retail. This is a sacking carousel at Wal-Mart. It's possible I hadn't been in a Wal-Mart for ten years.

Central Market, a playground for chefs. I did the cooking that night.

Cheese department in Central Market.

My parents lived in New Orleans for a few years, and didn't blink at the King Cake.

Their house has a nice front porch.

Here's the button slfcllednowhere sent me, pinned to the bag nativeinformant got me in Kazakhstan. Thanks, ladies!

This was on the way to the hotel where the airline puts us up.

Said hotel's lobby has mustaches hanging, suspended.

Recipe for a brilliant 48 hours

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:18:19 GMT

I flew to DFW...

Dressed like this...

Bought myself a present...

And saw these people!

I also got to see this guy...

And this one...

And my best girlfriends...

AND my favorite band.

I saw this guy after ten years. Ten years? What? Not letting that happen again!

And let's not forget this cat. I've known Phanny since high school.

They Might Be Giants ~ Join Us

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:02:29 GMT

In time for the They Might Be Giants show at the Granada on Thursday, here are some of my thoughts on the latest album, Join Us.

1. Can't Keep Johnny Down
It's a good opening to the album. However, there are a few TMBG songs I think I would like better as instrumentals, and this is one of them. Musically it's lovely, but I could completely overhaul the lyrics.
Favorite lyric: "bathroom in his pants"

2. You Probably Get That a Lot
This is the one that made me laugh out loud. It's my favorite kind of absurdity.
Favorite lyric: "Although millions of cephalophores are walking past my door, they're invisible to me except for one cephalophore."

3. Old Pine Box
There is nothing wrong with this song. I think it's just about perfect, melodically and lyrically. It makes me sway and sing.
Favorite lyric: "you old paper hat on your skull full of bats"

4. Canajoharie
We all love this one, don't we? It was such a happy moment when this song hit in 2010. And now we can really hear it, and yeah, he really is saying things like "a fin reaching from the swamp" and "this baby tooth no longer fits in my skull." Fun!
Favorite lyric: "my arm was strong!" This may have something to do with slfcllednowhere! Also "I'm not insane."

5. Cloisonné

I don't know why this song exists, but I like it. The clarinet grabbed me right away. And now I know what a Quonset hut is.
Favorite lyric: "conversatin'"

6. Let Your Hair Hang Down
This song creeps me out.
Favorite lyric: "Let the wrong be wrong / would it be so bad? / when your hair's so long / when you look so sad."

7. Celebration
I feel like this song is a bit empty, but I like the beat. And Flansy's voice, of course.
Favorite lyric: I can't pick one. They aren't moving me.

8. In Fact
Who is this reminding me of? Maybe Cake, Motorcade of Generosity era? I like the Spanish sounding horns.
Favorite lyric: "I wanna find a softer spot for my crash landing"

9. When Will You Die

THIS SONG. THIS SONG! Doesn't it belong on John Henry? Where has it been all our lives? I feel like it's about the Gaddafis and Kim Jong Ils, the people you don't mean to wish harm, but as long as they go on, that question lingers... when will they die?
Favorite lyric: "And I'm John and he is also John and all of us are wondering when you're going to die!"

10. Protagonist
I just like the sound of this song. The finger snaps, Flansy backing himself up. I don't care what the lyrics are. I don't find them very memorable, honestly.
Favorite lyric: "for exposition I'm out here on my own."

11. Judy Is Your Vietnam
I feel like this song belongs on Mink Car. I like Mink Car.
Favorite lyric: "she's the storm before the calm"

12. Never Knew Love
Were they trying to make a Ween song?
Favorite lyric: "the mountainsides of daydreams too steep for me today"

13. The Lady and the Tiger
This may actually be my favorite song on the album. It's good in the way that Miscellaneous T and The Early Years stuff is good.
Favorite lyric: "Do you surmise it's wise / to have laser beams emitting from your eyes?"

14. Spoiler Alert

This would almost be my favorite song if it were easier to sing along to. I can't believe I'd even complain about that. I love it so much when John and John are singing together; their voices are lovely when they weave in and out of each other's.
Favorite lyric: "cover my eyes"

15. Dog Walker
Another song that reminds me of Ween. And that one riff reminds me of Weird Al singing "sign my poodle, s'il vous plait" in "Genius In France," which amuses me because of the dog theme.
Favorite lyric: "someday I'll be a dog"

16. 2082
I don't know. It's pretty, but isn't grabbing me. I like the number 3415.
Favorite lyric: "3415"

17. Three Might Be Duende
This is the one that keeps getting stuck in my head. It's old school, classic TMBG style, and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.
Favorite lyric: "like a bird with a dastardly egg"

18. You Don't Like Me
My first few listens, I thought this album was too negative, with titles like this one and "When Will You Die," and lyrics like "all of the dicks in this dick town." This song is growing on me, though. The line "I can read your mind" reminds me of Alan Parsons' "Eye in the Sky." And I like the idea that there is so much pleasure to be had from mystery and secret plans, except that, well, you don't like me. Who doesn't relate to that? Also, Woody Harrelson.
Favorite lyric: "cutting with a fork"

"He sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag!"

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:57:41 GMT

I was sitting on the jumpseat in the cockpit, while the pilots were inputting mysterious things into the Flight Management Computer, when I laughed out loud at the plotting chart.

Delhi Dwellers in Sweater Vests

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:15:22 GMT

When I was in Delhi last month, my camera battery couldn't seem to last longer than an hour. I was repeatedly thwarted from taking pictures of historical monuments, sweeping landscapes, and fun friends. However, if I met a man in a sparkly sweater vest, my camera reared to go.

(No, I can't really explain why I felt the need to make this post. It had something to do with Rockstar.)

I just finished watching the six hour long documentary, The Story of India, by Michael Wood. It's pretty. Watch it in HD on a really big screen.

How to praise the Lord in Texas

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:58:11 GMT

Last month when I was in Texas, I decided finally to document what I consider to be odd looking (and oddly named) churches. Churches seem to outnumber people in that area, but due to various camera issues, I was only able to photograph a few of them. My mom helped me with this entry by photographing some of the ones I missed.

If you live in Texas, these might not look at all unusual. If you don't live in Texas, these might not look at all like churches.

When I was a kid, this was a supermarket called the Diamond Food Store. It later became the Metro Food Outlet, but was later converted into a house of God called "The Met." It is now The Milestone Church, and has a golf cart parked in front of it.

This is in my parents' neighborhood, on Mt. Gilead Road. It used to be a popular little church in a white church-like building called "The Mount Gilead Baptist Church." It has grown into this larger structure, and its name has been changed to "the mount."

You see a lot of vacant retail space these days. All over North Texas, these spaces are used for worship.

And why not?

But I'm not sure what makes this one so "underground."

I spotted this one on the drive down to Houston. It is coming soon.

This simple barn-like structure was photographed by my mom. I guess there are people who prefer to worship in storage facilities.

This was taken by my mom, as well. I grew up in the suburbs, so the only Cowboys I ever knew were our football team.

The Lighthouse Baptist Church may have been a barber shop or a liquor store in a past life.

My picture of this sign didn't turn out, so my mom went back and got it for me. The Vineyard of Grace Church is conveniently located such that you can get a spray tan, pick up donuts, and praise the Lord in one easy trip.

"Words of Life" was in the same strip mall as a Chinese restaurant I ate with my folks.

And there's something quaint about this Mexican church, which looks to me like a place you might have your teeth cleaned.

Lastly, my dad clued me into the Beautiful Feet Ministries, "serving the homeless in the inner city of Fort Worth, Texas." "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Romans 10:15. This picture is stolen from facebook.

More Delhi?

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:17:13 GMT

Hauz Khas Villagers Only!

Colorful residential units behind historical Hauz Khas pavillions

I like this little structure in Hauz Khas Village.

The tower structure is the Qutub Minar, and that's a mosque in the foreground.

The rest of these pictures are from the Qutub Minar and surrounding complex.

India, The Third Time

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:00:45 GMT

Earlier this month, I went to Delhi with dubaiwalla. I got to meet fugney and rparvaaz, and have new reasons to go back to India. This was my third trip to India of the year. Here's the first handful of pictures, in no particular order!

Humayun Tomb

Several copies of this billboard surrounded a Hindu temple.

Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, the "Lotus Temple"

This guy was singing the whole twenty-five minute drive through heavy traffic.

This is a fast food stand at Dilli Haat.

Eclecticism in Hauz Khas Village

Trying to Rain

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:41:43 GMT

Just rain already, Dubai!

Ground Floor

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:31:25 GMT

On October 26th, I went downstairs to run to the store, and stepped into the shooting of an Indian film scene. I should have asked them what they were filming, so I could be sure to check out my building's cameo.

Box of gear.

All those people are standing in front of the elevator I stepped out of to go to the store.

The guy in white is wading in the pool. I looked hard at these people, but didn't recognize any of them.

Bondi Beach, the Edge of the World

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:11:32 GMT

I like these two pictures my friend Abhi took of me at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

Sitting on the edge of the largest water ocean in the known universe.

Climbing where they don't want you to climb...

And here are three pictures I took:

This is a bench on the strip of restaurants and shops along the beach.

A not-very-compelling picture of some neat swimming pools.

And this is a great big rock.

We did this beach walk hike, which lasted a couple of hours and passed through another couple of lovely (and less crowded) beaches. Everybody on the trail (and their dog) was attractive; it was a parallel universe. We went up high to a summit covered in flowers and succulent plants with purple flowers that hung like curtains, to an observation deck where you can see humpback whales at the right time of year. Alas, we saw no whales.

Index and Blue Skies

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:05:28 GMT

Taken with my phone on my way home from the store yesterday.

ETA: I just took these pictures while chatting with pajamasaurus. As they were taken with my phone, and are about my apartment, I'll put them here with the other one.

This is what I see, this morning. The post-its are all the things I have to do before tomorrow.

And of course, there is a cat on me. And I'm in my pajamas. Time to get dressed and go out into The World?