Nothing like that big Texas sky

Beautiful sunset driving back from Uvalde.

I think Becky would have lost it if she saw me take out my camera while driving, but it was totally worth it =)

Oh no, the natives are getting restless...

And the white people are getting scared shitless.

I recently started a an ongoing project on the State Fair of Texas. I want to photograph the different faces of the fair, according to the different days they hold. I started with public school day. I've always found it so interesting how much unnecessary effort the State Fair and DPD puts into subduing black teenagers who are just trying to have a good time. The minute they start being loud, the gang units rush over and escort them out. I mean, seriously, they're teenagers. They could do much worse than congregate in big groups and start yelling. I'd put any amount of money on the fact that the white kids at the fair are doing far worse. Did I mention that you can almost get away with murder as a white kid at the fair on public school day? seriously, they don't care.

I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty hilarious to watch all the white people freak out or them squeeze their purses closer than their children because they have never seen so many black people all in one place.

But anyways, that's my soapbox for today. Here's how I saw the fair on that Friday. Other days on my list include gay day, senior day, opening day, private school day, different bowl games...any ideas would be greatly appreciated =)

Chi City

Don't know about the rest of the region, but America's Heartland has done something right in Chicago. So instead of spending an 8 hour layover in O'Hare after my flight in from Frankfurt this July, I opted to spend some quality time with Douglas Fielder. Here's some shots from Millenium Park and Navy Pier =)

Around the World

Although I like to think of myself as an honorary French House member for the past three years, I had never attended an Around the World, not because of lack of invitation, but because I was so busy. But all that changed this September =) Here are the new members getting inducted to French House co-op life

Smitty's BBQ

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6PDUMNogacxYHTKNWJEQh6wBTJXkrR_bWgupC2tptmEH6zN5qw_O7Q_obxrFJBU_evB0kJbFh_fj7ms2LDUjK1tNvf74XKqyDhzDPDbV-AkRb5wkFEP0kAXntWQsykULPhQRdS0knfw/s1600/+IMG_1928bw.jpg">

The only bbq to rival my daddy's =) Not only is Smitty's some of the best bbq I've had, it employs some of the kindest people I've ever met.

If y'all haven't made the trip down 183 yet, I suggest you get a move on.

Punk's not dead

even though my blog was for months. Crazy busy, y'all, but I've only neglected my blog, not my camera. Here's a photo that made me happy from a punk show the other night. Yes, that's confetti =)

Barcelona

As my dear friends know, I'm terrible with the uploading, but here are some shots that I like from Barcelona. No eloquent photo story depicting weathered gypsies or a morale-boosting World Cup win, just those sights that tickled my fancy. So check out some Gaudi, roasted cow hooves and Catalunya Square.

Que Viva Espana

So I was in Spain for the World Cup win...pretty amazing? once in a lifetime experience? all of the above. I'm just happy I had my camera. Que Viva Espana.

Carnies

Long time no talk, y'all. That's what happens when you go to Europe and the internet is either non-existent or super slow.

But as promised, here are my photos from my final project in Praha. A little background info: In the 19th century this complex was built for some trade exhibition. Glass panels, colored lights, the whole deal. Then the commies came in and built a quite ugly ampitheatre behind it, I guess to entertain and spew propaganda. Now this complex is used as a tourist trap to showcase bad ballet among colored lights and huge fountains of water. But what's even more interesting than the dilapidated palace of industry and the commie auditorium is that the hated gypsies have set up camp, yes, literally camp behind all of this and run a ricketty amusement park. Even better is that they live behind it. At this complex, I found some of the creepiest people I've ever met in my live and at times was probably more scared for my live than I've been in a while. Because of course I had to at least ride that roller coaster--twice =)

But enjoy the fruits of my labors. The early mornings, the late nights, the evasion of the cops to get this undercover shots for you, my bloggers. haha.

Last night in Praha

So I definitely won't miss how rude the Czechs can be. I spent my entire afternoon, the one that was supposed to be spent in the Bohemian town of Kunta Hora, at the Czech post office. Because the Czechs take a 5 day weekend to commemorate democracy, and excuse for stealing our Fourth of July, no Fed-Ex, UPS, or DHL was open--the only places in the entire Czech Republic that carry big boxes to ship my suitcase. So instead, I had to divide my suitcase contents among 5 tiny boxes in the middle of the main post office. Oh, but that makes it sound easy. Several tellers were sending me on a wild goose chase to literally 5 different windows, as I'm trying to lug a suitcase, camping backpack, purse, another backpack and 4 boxes, not to mention some souvenirs that were quite big [I have to leave the description out, because one was for Becky, who hopefully reads my blog. You better love it, bitch!] I swear some do it for their own amusement. That communist work ethic still prevails. And to top it off, they yell, as if that's going to make you understand their ugly language any better. I'm sorry everyone walked all over you in the last century and merged you with the Slovaks and the gypsies, but it's not my fault. Be nice for a change. O by the way, the Hungarians have better goulash. Take that. lol.

Ok, now that that rant is over and done with, I have to say, I will miss Praha, but especially the Czech countryside. I'll miss watching the sun rise over the Vltava River, the sweet air of Moravia, the castles in Bohemia, the gypsy chasing, photographing the remnants of communism that still prevail, the fact that life moves slower, if at all on some days. And of course, the Moravian wine. I'm coming back even more of a wino and also a nutella fiend. Those are going to be expensive habits in the states. I'm also coming back the closest to a vegetarian I'll ever be, thanks to the Czech's strict diet of sausage and unseasoned hunks of meat. I don't know what I'm going to do without fried cheese.

My final project will hopefully be done soon, but for now enjoy photos from the group's last night in Prague, at the local billard bar. People seem to like to wear my glasses. I think one day I'll do a series of portraits on it, I already had three others before this.

You don't have to put on the red light

Oooo Amsterdam...what a great city. If it wasn't so cold, I might be able to stay for a while. I was so happy to see different people--to see a plethora of colors. The Czech Republic can get a little boring visually when everyone is white and looks like family. And there was all types of food, from all over the world--and it was delicious. Walking down the alleyways I felt I could have easily been in the 17th century and not much would have differed in the town's worldly and liberal mentality. Unlike in Prague, you can tell that old port city knows exactly who it is and isn't afraid to show it. The Czechs don't seem nearly as confident, fearful of tourists as they try to recover from the USSR, much less their tumultuous century.

Any who. I loved it. And what's even better is everyone rides their bike and speaks English =)