Finding My Way

Quintessential Carols – My Favorite Versions of Classic Christmas Songs

2010-12-24T10:32:00.003-05:00

If you enjoy Christmas (or Christmas-themed) music as much as I do, you know how easy it is to amass a large collection. New compilations come out every year. As a result it’s not uncommon to have several versions of some of the classics.

Here are the versions of some time-honored classics that I like best.

In no particular order:

“O’ Tannenbaum” – Vince Gerauldi Trio

What would the holidays be without the A Charlie Brown Christmas album?

There are plenty of classics covered here, but it’s Gerauldi’s jazzy take on the classic German ode to evergreens that leads off the disc and establishes the mood.

“Carol of the Bells” - David Benoit

I can still vividly recall the first time I heard this jazzy version: December 1988, and I was standing in line at the Wall To Wall Sound record store in the Neshaminy Mall, when it came on over the PA system. Such a big sound - and they made a Christmas carol swing! “Wow – Dad would love this,” I thought. “Hell, I love this.” I got out of line and asked a clerk who it was. He showed me The GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. I. I bought it immediately.

It was my introduction to the jazz label, and their amazing Christmas Collections. Volumes II and III would follow and also become valued parts of my holiday music collection. But Volume I, and specifically this song, will always stand out. Dad and I still love it.

“Silent Night” – John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting

Ondrasik pulls off something really tricky here – he puts a Burt Bachrach-esque spin on this classic without losing any of the solemnity that the song requires. Nicely done.

“Jingle Bells” – Duke Ellington (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)

Tradition, shmadition - this hip-hop-infused take on Sir Duke’s be-bop version of Jingle Bells will move you with its beat alone.

“O Holy Night” – Weezer

There’s something about River Cuomo’s earnest yelp that seriously works for this hymn. I can almost picture the band as teenagers playing this in a school auditorium at the annual Holiday program, proud camcorder-wielding parents on folding chairs in the audience smiling at how pious this ostensibly rocking version turned out.

“Last Christmas” – Sarge

Jimmy Eat World’s version almost took this one, but Elizabeth Elmore’s voice will always do it for me. Not the best-produced version, but I suppose that’s part of the charm.

“Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth)” – Bing Crosby and David Bowie

I can actually remember seeing this on Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas special on ABC in 1977. I can’t imagine how weird a mash-up that must have been at the time – Ziggy Stardust appearing before the Lawrence Welk Nation.

I love the fact that this version, with the “Peace on Earth” counterpoint, has become a standard in its own right.

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” – John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band

Because sometimes, you gotta go with the original.

I have at least a half-dozen versions of this song. All have their charms, but none are an improvement on the source.

(YES this does count as a Christmas Carol. It’s 2010 for chrissakes.)

“Silver Bells” – The Ventures

When my friend Jack started putting out his famous Conshohocken Christmas collections in 1999 (on the short-lived Persico Productions label), he included many selections from The Ventures' Christmas album. And rightly so – surf rock proving to be quite the breath of salty sea air among pious orchestral and other traditional carol arrangements.

This one isn’t as rollicking as the others, but is nonetheless a lovely take on a holiday favorite.

“White Christmas” – Lee Ritenour

Another selection from The GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. I. Just the perfect chord-melody arrangement for this song.

“The First Noel/Mary Mary” – Sarah McLachlan

Yeah, it’s kind of a mash-up, but I had to include something from McLachlan’s Wintersong album here, as it’s become a permanent fixture in my holiday listening.

My fave from the disc is really her version of Joni Mitchell’s “River,” but this is ostensibly a list for classics, and this is the standout of McLachlan’s re-workings. I especially love her deep, bluesy intonations on the “Mary Mary” portions – it’s a side of Sarah’s voice rarely heard on her singles.

“Sleigh Ride” – The Ronettes

“Ring-a-ling a-ling a-ling a-ding-dong-ding!” A sentimental choice, yes, but certainly not deservedly so. There’s a reason Ronnie Spector’s NYC Christmas concerts were always so popular, and this song captures why.

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” – The California Guitar Trio

If I were awarding 2^nd place on any of the above songs, many would be taken by The California Guitar Trio. 3 acoustic guitars make for a quintessential Christmas sound, at least for me.

“Deck The Halls” – Mannheim Steamroller

For some reason, this cheese-tastic Moog-driven version has always resonated with me since the first time I’d heard it – oddly enough, as the background music for a radio station’s Christmas contest promo from the mid-1980s. It’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve heard it again. I finally learned the artist and downloaded it last year.

Perhaps because it reminds me of the Early 80s when despite the Cold War, there was still that capital F Future* out there – where Santa in his hover-sled would deliver toys to your geodesic-dome house, and all Christmas music would be performed on synthesizers.

(*tip o’ the hat to William Gibson for that phrase)

Gary Numan @ The Trocadero in Philly 10/21/10

2010-10-24T22:35:00.013-04:00

Geez, it's been well over a year since my last post here. Despite some occasional contributions to my Flickr page, I really haven't had much to say. But I definitely wanted to chime in about the Gary Numan show I was fortunate enough to attend last Thursday.

I'd been a fan of the song "Cars" forever, but my interest in anything else Numan had to offer is relatively recent. My friend Jack's inclusion of "Cars" on a massive 80s compilation CD set a few years back re-ignited my interest in the song. Over the following years, Numan began to enter my conciousness in other ways: both Nine Inch Nails and the Foo Fighters covered his songs ("Metal" & "Down in the Park," respectively), then Numan himself guested on Fear Factory's cover of "Cars." Finally, my friend Chris played "Airlane" on his vynil (!) copy of Numan's debut albumThe Pleasure Principle. I was hooked.

I downloaded the album myself and loved it. (Tangentially, got to like the Basement Jaxx's "Where's Your Head At," after being able to recognize their sample of Numan's "M.E." in it.)

I took a mild interest when the Trocadero announced a date for Numan earlier this year. But when I found out recently that he would be performing The Pleasure Principle in it's entirety, it became a must-see show for me.

There were a few things about this show I found surprising:

1) Numan's fans ("Numanoids") were among the most dedicated I've ever seen, with a very conspicuous Fan Club presence and activity. They only became annoying when Gary tried to address the crowd at one point, and the diehards in the audience took it as a cue to try to have a conversation with him, their shouting nearly drowning him out as he was explaining his recent throat problems (more on that later).

2) I was expecting Gary to do more of the "heavy lifting" keyboard-wise. But he left most of the recognizeable lead-lines to his back-up band, and stuck to the bass-end of the keys. I suppose it allowed him to concentrate more on his vocal performance...?

Backed by a 5-member band (bass, drums, 2 dedicated keyboardists and one guitar/keys/percussion multi-instrumentalist), Numan began by plowing right through The Pleasure Principle non-stop.

A couple of songs in, he explained that recent throat problems were still giving him trouble, and that there were some songs on the album that were in a register that was just too high for him to sing. During these songs, he just turned the microphone to the audience and lead them through the vocals.

Of course when he played "Cars," it was a high point in the show. His multi-instrumentalist even hit the percussive accents on the his keyboard, just like in the video.

But it was when The Pleasure Principle was done that the show really took a turn. The SST Virus synths were put away, the guitars came out, and the music got heavy and industrial. It was here that Numan morphed into the proto-Trent-Reznor-Robert-Smith-goth-punk-demigod that his fans love.

And yes, even Mr. New-Wave-Synth-Rock himself picked up a six-string.

It was a powerful sound, easily on par with NIN or Stabbing Westward. The band rocked it hard. And Numan turned out to be a charismatic performer who could pull it all off.

All in all, it was a cool show. It certainly made me appreciate the breadth of Numan's career much better. I'll likely be checking out his later offerings soon. I don't know if I'd ever go to see him again, but I definitely won't rule it out.

I'll also likely be checking out opening act Rasputina soon (supplemental blog post to hopefully follow).

Alice in Chains, Filmore @ Irving Plaza, 9/8/09

2009-09-10T21:09:00.013-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted here, but I have much to share after seeing Alice in Chains in New York on Tuesday:

a) my review of the band, featuring new singer William DuVall

b) show my first attempts at concert photography. I realize I'm no Todd Owyoung or Carrie Musgrave, but all things considered, I'm fairly happy with the results.

Since my trusty H1 is a point-and-shoot, I was free to snap away all show (DSLRs and other "professional" cameras would've required a photo pass). And thankfully, the lighting was usually bright enough to get relatively stable shots without long exposures. Granted, the H1 is very noisy at ISO 400 (its max), so I've also had to experiment with Noise Reduction.

The H1's zoom was invaluable in getting shots as the sold-out crowd would not have been easy to traverse.

So, how is the "new guy"?

Truth be told, it was initially hard to tell - the crowd singing along with openers "Rain When I Die" and "Again" all but drowned the band out! But as the set progressed, it became clear that DuVall had both the chops and charisma to carry this band.

Duvall and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jerry Cantrell make a good team. It's Cantrell's harmonies and guitar riffs that maintain the Alice in Chains sound on new tunes like "Check My Brain" and "A Looking in View."

Duvall's guitar contributions helped fill-out the band's layered sound.

The crowd was very loud and enthusiastic, eating up old faves like "Down in a Hole" and the multipart new offering "Acid Bubbles."

Even an old, beat-to-death-on-rock-radio standard like the set-ending " Man in the Box" whipped the audience into a crowd-surfing frenzy.

This show demonstrated that Alice in Chains are not destined to be a 90's grunge nostalgia act. Energized by their new singer and the public's warm reception, they are a band with a future.

A sample setlist can be found here. It's not exactly the show I saw, but it's pretty close.

More photos to come on My Flickr Page: UmlautSteve's Photos

Thanks again to friends Brian & Colleen for the extra ticket and overnight accommodations! Good to see you guys - and Jeff - again!

Ghost Leaves

2008-11-11T17:34:00.003-05:00

I've been wanting to capture an image of the phantom images left by rain-soaked leaves on our sidewalks and paving-stones for a while now. Thankfully I remembered before tomorrow's impending rain washes them away.

Speaking of things I've been meaning to do: it's National Blog Posting Month again. Obviously, I'm not taking part this year. Though it was a good clearing-house last year for all shots that have been piling up. So even though it's too late to go with NaBloPoMo in earnest, I do hope to get into a regular posting habit again.

Another Mantis

2008-09-15T12:58:00.004-04:00

Found IN MY DINING ROOM, this past Friday morning before work. After some tense moments, I was able to let her out the window safely!

Roman Numerals

2008-08-29T12:09:00.005-04:00

For this week's Photo Hunt topic of "Old School communication," I decided to go with this shot from our Coliseum tour.
There are 80 arches around the exterior of the Coliseum (actually, the "Flavian Amphitheater" is its proper name), and each one is numbered. Ancient Romans were issued tickets directing them to a specific # arch for entry to the stadium.
The original numbers are still visible on the exterior, such as #53 above.

More shots from our Italia trip on my Flickr page.

Truth in Signage, Part II

2008-08-12T12:44:00.006-04:00

There was a lot of expensive shopping in Italy. Especially in Roma, where we found this store that didn't mince words!

I'm using this as my entry into the JorjDotOrg Photo Hunt subject "Sign Language."

For "Truth in Signage (Part I)," click here.

24-Hour party people

2008-08-05T20:54:00.004-04:00

Something we saw often in Italia were old 24-hour public clocks. With just one hand to indicate the hour, they were simple yet fascinating.
TOP - the clock in Piazza San Marco in Venezia (Venice). The round face is the 24-hour version, above that a more modern digital readout with hours (in Roman numerals, though!) and minutes. The winged-lion statue up top represents San Marco (St. Mark), who is the patron Saint of Venezia (he's buried in the cathedral there).
2nd - Detail of the 24-hour face, showing the Sun on the "hand" circling the central Earth - obviously a very old clock!
3rd - Clock on the exterior of a church near Ponte Rialto. At least they've got the sun in the correct position here...
BOTTOM - Inside the Duomo di Firenze (Florence Cathedral) was this clock - as plain as the rest of the interior (it's the exterior that's amazing - coming soon!). It's only ornamentation is the faces of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John at the corners.

Interesting how the Venetian clocks have the numbers positioned in the same place (with midnight at about the 3:00 position), while the Florentine clock is differnt.

Big Dish

2008-07-30T12:20:00.004-04:00

Another interruption of the Italia pics for a Photo Hunt entry:

This large dish was part of the Fort Monmouth/Evans Area military base in New Bedford, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Appropriately located along Marconi Road, it's right next to a suburban neighborhood. It was quite a surprise in my travels for work.

This Old-Camera pic (which is a re-post from this old 'blog entry) was a no-brainer for the Photo Hunt subject "Communication Device."

All the young dudes

2008-07-25T12:19:00.004-04:00

The boys confer prior to heading out to the nightclub in Sorrento.

I'm using this as my entry into the Tobi- er, JorjDotOrg Photo Hunt subject "Chatting." I've been away from the Hunt for a while, hoping to get back in the swing for this round!

More shots from our Italia trip on my Flickr page.

The Mazz-der

2008-07-23T17:39:00.003-04:00

We interrupt the Italy travel photos momentarily for a little gloating:
I recently became the proud new owner of the 2004 Mazda 6i pictured above. I'm loving the performance, not to mention the feeling of satisfaction the comes with driving a car built within the last decade.

Zoom zoom, indeed!

Quiet moments in Italia

2008-07-23T12:31:00.004-04:00

We didn't have many quiet moments during our Italy trip, but I did get to observe a few:
TOP - a young couple shares ice cream in a doorway in a small plaza in Venezia. My attempts to shoot this kept getting thwarted by passersby, hence the slight focus problem from rushing. Still like the shot, though.
MIDDLE - also in Venezia, a man finds a quiet spot to read his newspaper.
BOTTOM - Another couple has a tryst while watching the sunset over the Bay of Naples from the cliff-sides of Sorrento. Unfortunately, the spot they chose also happened to be discharge area for tour busses. Just a few minutes after I shot this, three busses arrived and disgorged about a hundred tourists. The tryst was over and the couple drove off...

More shots from our Italia trip on my Flickr page.

Motoring in Italia

2008-07-10T12:16:00.008-04:00

Hey! Back from the "the Boot" with many hundreds of pics to share!

Just one of the obvious differences you notice between the US & Italy are the cars. With it's ancient Roman towns being tangled webs of narrow streets, smaller is definitely better.
TOP - In Firenze ("Florence" to us - don't get me started on "Anglecized" place names), I spotted this Pasquali, a three-wheeled single-seater perfect for Tuscan-town cruising.
2nd - Along with SmartCars and Minis, Fiats were among the more numerous nameplates we encountered. So popular are they in Italy, even this beastie was a big seller: behold the Fiat Multipla, voted by Top Gear to be the world's "Ugliest Car" in 1999 (and well-deserving of the title, IMHO). This one was spotted in Roma.
3rd - Of course, vehicles of the two-wheeled variety are even more popular in Italia, and their riders will find ways to park as many of them in an available space as possible (like this one in Milano).
BOTTOM - Again from Firenze, a oh-so perfectly aligned row of scooters that just begged to be photographed.

More shots from our Italia trip on my Flickr page.

Peter F**kin' Frampton!

2008-06-19T14:27:00.005-04:00

A stencil seen on a traffic-control box at the entrance to the Village @ Center Square shopping center, off Rt. 202 in Center Square/Blue Bell, PA. The colors are reflections of nearby flowers.

According to a discussion I heard on "The Preston & Steve Show," the "PFF" apparently DOES indeed stand for "Peter F**kin' Frampton," which is allegedly a line from "High Fidelity" (which I haven't tried to verify yet).

Word is that these can still be found throughout the Philly burbs...

More shots on my Flickr page.

Zig Zag Iron

2008-06-10T20:07:00.003-04:00

Detail of the Mill Rd. bridge over the Neshaminy Creek in Dark Hollow Park in Jamison, PA. Another shot from my work travels, taken today.

More shots on my Flickr page.

Old Sycamore

2008-06-07T12:42:00.004-04:00

This grand old tree is in Bloomsbury, New Jersey. I came across it during my work travels. I love the "S" shape.
The trunk looks to be about 4' wide (comparing it to the width of the sidewalk) and it's limbs extend all the way across the street!

And yeah, I know - I've been neglecting the ol' blog here for a while (exactly 2 months, to be precise).

Life's been busy. I'm sure you understand.

Juxtaposition

2008-04-07T12:53:00.006-04:00

Funny - I recently left a comment on one of Albert Yee's Flickr posts about "accidental" shots that turn out cool. And today in work, while sorting through some survey photos from Friday, I found this one.

I was trying to zoom in on the transformer; particularly on the switch that changes its operating voltage from 2.4 kilovolts to 7.2 kilovolts (you can make out the "2.4" label). I didn't realize the auto-focus had gone with the branches instead of the transformer (it looked good on the LCD), so I accepted it and moved on.

The white light from the overcast sky highlights the branches really well, I think.

Chrome

2008-03-31T19:28:00.004-04:00

One of my stops this past Friday was a custom chopper shop. This work-progress is almost done.

This is my entry for the Jorj.Org Photo Hunt challenge: Smooth.

More shots on my Flickr page.

Nevermore

2008-03-25T18:57:00.002-04:00

I can't be sure this is actually a raven - all the research I did seemed to indicate that it's easier to tell a raven from a crow while they're flying. But the ruffed neck works in my favor...

This cemetery is next to a Friends Meeting house in Dover, NJ.

I might try to process this a bit more and re-post...

Layers of Warning

2008-03-08T18:50:00.003-05:00

How many times can you nail the same sign in the same spot on the same utility pole?

We don't know yet, but someone in Kingswood Township, New Jersey is working on the answer...

Getting the shot

2008-03-02T20:55:00.004-05:00

Heights are obviously no obstacle to the intrepid photographer seen here. Sometimes you really need to go out on a limb - or rocky outcropping, as it were - to get the shot.

This was taken last year in Ricketts Glen State park, overlooking the massive, 94-foot Ganoga Falls.

Hmm - that guy looks familiar. Where have we seen him before...?

Anyway, this is my entry into the Photo Hunt subject "Unchallenged."

Lunar Eclipse 2008

2008-02-20T22:56:00.002-05:00

Taken about an hour ago.

More shots on my Flickr page.

A Dog's Life

2008-02-13T21:19:00.004-05:00

Our new* puppy Madison. This shot was taken about a half-hour ago.

This is my entry for this week's Photo Hunt Challenge: "Unexciting"

* New being a relative term - we got her in December. She's about 4 months old now.

More Princeton Fog

2008-02-13T20:12:00.002-05:00

A couple of more shots of fog over Princeton Battlefield State Park:

Top - a wider view showing the fog layer over the entire southern field.
Bottom - from the Bob Ross "we don't make mistakes, we only have happy accidents" file, a cool out-of-focus shot. I was parked across the road from the southern field, and every time I tried to shoot this group of teenagers emerging from the fog, a car would drive by and throw off the auto-focus. Eventually, they made it to the road and I gave up, but I like the way this turned out.

Princeton Fog

2008-02-12T18:58:00.001-05:00

As I was driving through Princeton, NJ on my way home a couple of Fridays ago, I snapped this shot of Princeton Battlefield State Park. After raining most of the day, the skies finally cleared and the temperatures fell - prompting fog to rise up in open fields.
I had already driven past a few of those fields, but this one was too good to pass up.

First Flakes

2008-02-12T18:41:00.000-05:00

As it began to snow this morning, I was treated to a rare sight - dozens of perfect little six-point-star snowflakes on the ledge outside my window at work. I grabbed my camera, put it Macro Mode, opened the window, and started shooting.
I only got a couple of shots before the warm air from inside melted all the flakes, leaving a surface of water drops that immediately melted any subsequent flakes the moment they landed!
Thankfully, I did get the one good shot you see above.

Cliff Fence detail

2008-02-01T21:23:00.001-05:00

This is a detail of the cable and fence seen in my previous post of the protective cliff fence behind the Watchung, NJ Municipal Building.

It's getting it's own post so I can enter it into this week's Photo Hunt challenge: "Unnatural."

Chained Cliff

2008-02-01T21:11:00.001-05:00

While driving through Watchung, NJ for work last week, I spotted this interesting sight - the cliff-face behind the Municipal Building, entirely ensconced in fencing and cables. While I understand the need to shield the public from falling rocks (and the ice, which seemed to be causing much of the falling debris as it melted), the method seemed extreme. Good photo op, though...

Near Miss

2008-01-23T18:11:00.001-05:00

This shot is from our California trip last year. I was up on the San Clemente Municipal Pier trying to get some good surfing shots, and not having much luck. The long-haired guy above seemed to be one of the few getting any runs in, so I kept my eye on him.
I had the camera in "burst" mode, and started shooting as he began this ride, capturing the amazing near miss above.
Don't worry, neither surfer was harmed in this incident.
I'm using this shot for this week's Photo Hunt challenge: "Unaware."

Push Pin Landscape

2008-01-17T12:00:00.001-05:00

Trying for a different approach for this week's Photo Hunt challenge of "Un-Corked" than all the wine/champagne-themed posts; our little red friend here being non-conformist and "un-corking" himself.

Engine 54's Gear

2007-12-21T21:03:00.001-05:00

For this week's Photo Hunt , I'm using another shot from this year's Limerick Day festivities:
The crew from Engine 54 brought out their trucks and gear for the public to peruse. A great opportunity to see this stuff up close.

Thanks for the great job you do, guys!

The view from inside

2007-12-17T11:40:00.000-05:00

For this week's Photo Hunt challenge of "Storefront," I found this old shot of 2 storefronts (one inside, one outside) taken in downtown Red Bank. This is the view from inside Zebu, a great bakery/restaurant.

Daisy 1993 - 2007

2007-12-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

We miss you, girl.

Into the sunset

2007-11-30T20:20:00.000-05:00

For the last day of National Blog Posting Month, a shot taken back on the 2nd.
30 posts in 30 days, with only 1 day missed - not too bad. Maybe next year I'll nail it.

Wetlands

2007-11-29T19:39:00.001-05:00

The story behind this shot is not so much the subject matter (or the fact that it's overexposed a bit - oops) but where I took it: from the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway.
I'd always admired this view of the Swimming River as I drove on this overpass on my way home from Red Bank everyday. Finally, in August of '06, I pulled over and snapped a couple of pics. The late afternoon sun made it tough to get the shot, but the detail visible here (hadn't noticed the boat previously) was worth it.
A very scenic spot amidst the teeming New Jersey suburbs.

Lost Childhood

2007-11-28T18:23:00.001-05:00

Found at Bread Lock Park in Stewartsville, NJ.

More from the park, part of the Morris Canal Greenway, to come...

Green Stone Church

2007-11-27T17:32:00.001-05:00

The United Methodist Church in Washington, NJ is one of the more unusual churches I've ever seen. The reason being the green and terra cotta color scheme. I don't know how the stones came to be those colors, but it is eye-catching.

Thanksgiving Sunset, continued...

2007-11-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

Another pic from last Thursday.

Glendinning Steps

2007-11-25T15:52:00.000-05:00

Taken on 11-11-06 in the Glendinning Rock Garden along Kelly Drive.

Thanksgiving Sunset

2007-11-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

We've had some crappy weather this month, but we've also had some breathtaking sunsets. This was taken on Thanksgiving, after a cold front had moved through bringing a swift downpour and heavy winds. Then the clouds began to break, showing the multi-layered sky above. I stood and watched as much as I could, and grabbed my camera when the high cirrus clouds were set ablaze.

More shots to come.

A WWII Horsa Glider?

2007-11-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

Google Earth is a wonderful thing for many reasons, not the least of which is the Google Earth Community - users who post all kinds of interesting info onto the maps for the general public's perusal.
My job has been taking me to various locations in the Skylands region of North Jersey, so I'll often take a quick look at the area in GE to see if there's anything noteworthy near my project sites. Sure enough, I found this posting from user RobbyR of various sites mentioned in Weird N.J. - particularly about what might be the remains of a World War II era Horsa Glider in the woods above Thompson's Auto Body on Rt. 46 between Oxford Furnace and Hackettstown.
I had searched for site a few times in the summer, finding Thompson's (even though RobbyR's location is a bit off, it's actually between mileposts 15 & 16) but not daring to actually park and look around. But a couple of weeks ago (during the same excursion when I captured the migration shots), I actually pulled up on the shoulder of Rt. 46 outside of Thompson's, and looked up the hill.
And there it was! The dense summer foliage probably hid it from view on my earlier trips, but now it's plain as day ("plane" as day? har har).
The numerous "No Tresspassing" signs would seem to indicate that this is the correct site. Whether or not this is actually the remains of a WWII military glider is debatable (it appears to be in awfully good condition for something allegedly 60+ years old), though the shape is seemingly appropriate.
I took these shots from the bed of the pickup truck I was driving, but I believe the frame would be visible from ground level on either side of the highway (so if you seek it out, leave the good folks at Thompson's - and their property - alone).
The location is at 40°51'52" N, 74°55'17" W.

Thanksgiving Day, 2007

2007-11-22T13:16:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The Other side...

2007-11-21T18:41:00.000-05:00

This is the "back" side of the TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES Bridge, between Trenton, NJ and Morrisville, PA. It was taken during the same trip as this shot.
I'm using it for this week's Photo Hunt .

Kona on watch

2007-11-20T19:24:00.000-05:00

Another San Clemente dog on patrol - this is Kona, who lives across the street from Katie & Jason's old place. She keeps a close eye on everyone's comings and goings!

Truth in Signage (Part I)

2007-11-19T17:29:00.001-05:00

Seen in San Clemente, California (from our trip this summer).

For "Truth in Signage, Part II," click here.

What is that?

2007-11-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

At first glance, it could almost be mistaken for the skull of some prehistoric animal. But closer inspection reveals that it's just some wood - remains of a tree recently taken down, arranged interestingly.

This "found-art installation" was in the front yard of a house on Leighton Avenue in Red Bank, NJ - just off Rt. 520. I first remember seeing it in 2006, and it was still there in August of this year.

City Hall

2007-11-17T14:20:00.001-05:00

For the "Tall Building" challenge of the Photo Hunt (Season 8, week 1), I'm submitting this shot of Philadelphia's City Hall. I took this about a year ago.
This building is always a bit confounding to look at; it's proportions always make it seem only a few stories tall. But indeed, the top of William Penn's hat is 548 ft. above the ground!

Red Bank Graffiti

2007-11-16T20:18:00.001-05:00

Some examples of graffiti I shot in Red Bank in June of '06:
Top - a statement about gas prices that's truer today than it was then. Found on the sidewalk on White St.
Middle & Bottom - Also from the White St. area - some stenciled tags urging the public to obey - that's right - Bob Saget.
These two have been painted over since, but you still might find one or two on the sidewalk in the area...

Silos

2007-11-15T12:29:00.001-05:00

The miserable weather this week has me longing for cool, sunny autumn days like the one pictured above. This was taken a couple of weeks ago in Norristown Farm Park - an oasis of rolling farmland and wooded trails in the middle of the teeming Montgomery County suburbs.

Foggy Day

2007-11-14T12:47:00.000-05:00

Since it is a foggy day today, I'm posting these foggy shots taken in 2006 with Old Camera.

The location is outside of Freehold, NJ.

On Alert

2007-11-13T17:38:00.001-05:00

This shot comes from the Pottstown 5K Run-Walk-Bark event held in April of this year. I've got tons of shots from this that I never got around to posting.
I liked how the dogs in this shot were so alert and looking at the same thing at the same time.

Perryville, continued...

2007-11-12T18:51:00.000-05:00

Another shot from the Perryville site.

Wee Little Stick Man

2007-11-11T09:28:00.001-05:00

We did indeed end up seeing The California Guitar Trio last night. Fantastic - as always!
Playing with the Trio last night was Tony Levin , one of the Gods of Bass (in all forms). Tony's new album Stick Man was available at the merch table, so I picked up a copy - shown above.
(For those unfamiliar, the thing he's holding is a Chapman Stick , a 10-stringed instrument played with both hands tapping the strings on the fingerboard. Tony is widely acknowledged as a master of the Stick.)

I love this cover, not only because it's a cool shot of Levin with the Stick, but also because of the little tiny photo on the inside spine (bottom pic).

This songs are pretty damn good, too!

Happy Birthday USMC!

2007-11-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

In honor of the 232nd Birthday of the United States Marine Corps, I'm posting these 2 photos of the Marine Memorial in San Clemente, CA. (In the top photo, I managed to get Venus in the shot.)

Happy Birthday and Thank You to all of our Marines!

Semper Fi!

Migration

2007-11-09T20:12:00.001-05:00

Today while in North Jersey for work, I witnessed a part of a massive bird migration. I managed to pull over and get some shots from the bed of the pickup I was driving. This was in Warren County along Rt. 46, west of Hackettstown.
One shot just didn't convey the incredible number of birds, so I posted four. I still doesn't due the flock justice, but you get the idea.

Guitarist on Chestnut Hill

2007-11-08T18:24:00.000-05:00

I'm in a guitar-oriented state of mind this week, after having seen Robert Fripp & The League of Crafty Guitarists on Monday night, and hopefully seeing The California Guitar Trio this Saturday night. So I searched my archives for a guitar-oriented photo, and found this one of a performer at a street fair in Chestnut Hill from this past May.

Trenton flower

2007-11-07T12:48:00.001-05:00

During the jaunt to get this shot, I also got this macro shot in Trenton's Riverfront Park.
This is a perfect example of an old shot that I've wanted to post for a long time.

Under the Pier (for Katey & Jason)

2007-11-06T18:49:00.001-05:00

I have a ton of shots from our California trip this past summer that I haven't yet posted.
This shot was a request from our hosts Katey & Jason, who wanted a photo taken of this view under the San Clemente Municipal Pier. I think this one was their favorite.
As they are now in the process of relocating back to the East Coast, I hope this shot reminds them of the good times they had out west.
Best of luck, guys!

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

2007-11-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

Remember remember the 5th of November
The gunpowder treason and plot...

I almost forgot that today was Guy Fawkes Day - what with the panic as I realized I had forgotten to post anything yesterday.
This photo was taken during the same session that produced this shot .

Hope our friends in the UK are enjoying the fireworks!

Tumblin' down

2007-11-05T12:10:00.001-05:00

Like this section of wall at the Bethlehem Baptist Church site, my posting record has already crumbled - only 3 days into National Blog Posting Month. Oy.
So, gonna try to make up for it today with 2 posts. Look for another later this afternoon.
I must post to my blog... I must post to my blog...(ad nauseum)

Outside, looking in (and back out!)

2007-11-03T09:44:00.001-04:00

Another shot from the series I started yesterday: this is Bethlehem Baptist Church ruin in Perryville, NJ. The POV is looking through the front window to the back wall.

Cemetery Wall - Perryville, NJ

2007-11-02T17:45:00.000-04:00

Funny how things work out...
I was hoping that my participation in NaBloPoMo would allow me to post a lot of old pictures. But here it is, only day 2, and I'm posting a brand new one!
I passed a wonderful historic church ruin and graveyard this morning after a job-site meeting in Perryville, NJ.
The site is the former Bethlehem Baptist Church, founded in 1837. The congregation was disbanded in 1906, but folks were still buried in the cemetery up into the 1920s.
This is a portion of the largely intact cemetery wall. The moss and the light filtering through the colorful leaves caught my eye.
More pictures from this site to come in the next few days...

Wow - I can't remember the last time I posted a photo the same day it was shot. I feel so... bloggy!

Towpath Mules

2007-11-01T12:21:00.000-04:00

At my friend Chris' recent wedding (congratulations to you and Karin, sir!) in New Hope, PA, we were treated to an unusual diversion: a ride in a barge along the remnants of the Delaware Canal. Shown here are one of the guides with the mules (count the legs, there ARE two) up on the towpath.
As you can see, those mules were HUUUUGE. When the barge-tours were over, the guide above mounted one and rode them back to their stable.
Did you know mules can eat poison ivy without harm? So said our barge pilot!

This post is also my first entry into National Blog Posting Month. Ani over at Syndicate Product encouraged me to take part, and this year it seemed like an especially good idea. I've certainly been guilty of neglecting my poor little blog over the years, usually in favor of the neato, featured-packed Flickr page. But I've got a lot of un-posted pix that (I feel) deserve to be seen, hence this great opportunity to post post post!

Wish me luck!

Iced Tea

2007-10-25T20:16:00.001-04:00

It's pretty much all I ever drink (friends and family will vouch for that). So for this week's Photo Hunt challenge "Beverages," there really wasn't any other choice for me!
This shot was taken at a wedding last year - my frustration with the low light levels got me fiddling with macro shots of stuff at the table.

No Swimming!

2007-10-15T20:22:00.000-04:00

Another Photo Hunt challenge, another archive pic! For this week's topic "beach," I dug up this old favorite that I've been meaning to post.
Despite the snow, it's still not too cold for the gulls! But even in summer, you still can't swim here. This is a surfing-only beach at the very north end of Asbury Park.
This picture was taken with Old Camera on December 9th, 2005.

Pier Fishing

2007-10-13T20:03:00.001-04:00

For this week's Photo Hunt challenge of "Fishing," I took another trip back through the California 2006 Trip archive and found this photo of fisherman doing their thing off the San Clemente Municipal Pier.

Limerick Day face painting

2007-10-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

It's not often I'm even tempted to go into such Geoff-ish territory, subject-wise. But while strolling around this year's Limerick Day at Manderach Park, camera luckily in hand, I spotted the scenes above. Perfect angle, perfect light, perfect subjects. Who could resist?

Of course, Geoff would use that lovely soft-focus, but that's just not me... ;)

Thanks for the unexpected inspiration, Geoff!

A quick history of cameras

2007-09-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

For this week's Photo Hunt challenge of "camera," I dug through the archives for this image taken on our California trip last year. This is the window display for Arcade Camera on Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente. Anyone who takes the time to create a display like this deserves a shout out.
The quality isn't great (my auto-focus kept going for the reflection in the glass), but I like it for the sake of the subject matter.

UPDATE - 10/01/07

Once again, it's the one you'd least suspect that prevails: this shot won First Place in the Photo Hunt challenge! Focus problems and all!
Thanks to everyone who voted for it!

Sun-dappled Clover

2007-09-14T19:47:00.000-04:00

I spotted (no pun intended!) this clover while cooking on the grill on our front porch. The sun was shining through a leaf that was partially insect-eaten, producing these tiny points of light on the clover leaves!
Luckily, the kebabs didn't burn as I ran to get my camera.

Field Trip to the Beach/Coneheads

2007-09-10T17:16:00.000-04:00

While on our recent trip to California, we were eating breakfast across from the pier in San Clemente when a school bus pulled up, disgorging a whole bunch of kids ready for a day at the beach. I especially liked these "coneheads"!
I'm posting this for the "Baggage" entry into Photo Hunt .
More pix from San Clemente coming soon to my Flickr page.

King without his Crown

2007-07-28T17:17:00.001-04:00

While doing some work-related surveying in Port Colden, NJ (a small area just outside of Washington, NJ in Warren Co.) I noticed this steeple sitting under a tree, next to a church. Further investigation revealed it's orginal home behind the church. As I lined the shot up, the Matisyahu. song "King without a Crown" occurred to me (hence the title of this post).
I don't know the history of this oddity (and had no opportunity to research it at the time), but I think it makes for an interesting shot.

Cohshohocken's Soap Box Derby

2007-07-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

It was the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the need for speed all rolled up into one great event: Conshohocken's annual July 4th Soap Box Derby!
Part block party, part the human drama of athletic competition, this was a fun way to spend the morning of Independence Day.

Tons more shots coming to my Flickr page..

In the future, all churches will look like this...

2007-07-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

... parking for flying cars & jetpacks in rear.

This interesting geodesic dome church is in Lake Havasu (visible in background).

(I was shooting through a truck windshield, hence the small blurry spots.)

Partying on Lake Havasu

2007-07-02T17:21:00.001-04:00

For the Photo Hunt Season 6, week 1 subject "fun": this shot of folks enjoying Lake Havasu in Arizona. I know we certainly had fun tooling around the lake, dropping anchor & hanging out at the sandbar, and just taking in the spectacular scenery!
Thanks again to our gracious hosts Darcy & Fernando - it was a great day, guys!

More shots to come, both here and on Flickr.

"Real" Stained Glass

2007-05-12T10:26:00.000-04:00

Having attended a "modern" church while growing up (or as my sister succinctly puts it, a church that "looked modern in 1960"), I've developed an appreciation for more traditional churches. Especially the stained glass - modern churches usually skimp on this detail.
The examples above are from St. Francis of Assisi in Norristown, PA, one of the most beautiful and striking traditional churches I've ever been in.

For more pictures from St. Francis, see my Flickr page.

Venus over Philly

2007-05-05T18:43:00.000-04:00

Another shot from Camden - showing the planet Venus (top center) high over the Philly skyline.

For more skyline shots, see my Flickr page.

Old Ben

2007-05-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

I don't know whether it's ironic or appropriate that one of the best places to view Philadelphia from is Camden, NJ. Whatever the case, here is a shot I took from that vantage point of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

[Side note - sorry for the lull in postings for April. Early in the month, photographic opportunities seemed to dry up, and I felt that I could use a break, anyway. Now that I've built my photo stockpile back up a bit, I'll hopefully begin posting more - as long as time permits!]

Just Married: Dina and Carl!

2007-03-25T21:17:00.000-04:00

I had already enterred this shot for this week's Photo Hunt subject: something in motion.

But I got this unexpected panning shot from Dina & Carl's wedding this past Saturday, so I'm switching. Less potential bonus points, but sometimes, you just gotta go with your gut.

Congratulations, Dina & Carl!

Moon & Venus

2007-03-22T21:19:00.000-04:00

From 2/25/07: this was my 2nd attempt at capturing this pretty pair. A month prior, the crescent Moon and Venus were much closer together, but I didn't have time to set up my tripod and all my shots were blurry.
Even with the tripod, I still experienced some camera jiggle (gotta remember the Timer next time!) - but a few shots - like this - came out ok.

Liberty Challenge - HOLD IT!

2007-03-18T20:16:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, St. Joseph's University hosted the Hawk Classic - a massive high-school cheerleading event. After all the junior varsity squads performed their routines, they held the Liberty Challenge. All the Varsity squads performed a "liberty" - the move shown above - at the same time, and the squad to hold it the longest won.
Congratulations to the Kennedy Kennrick High School Cheerleaders for winning the "Lib" Challenge, and for placeing 2nd overall in the JV comp! Go KK!

Guy Fawkes

2007-03-11T21:29:00.000-04:00

No, I am not the terrorist known as Codename "V," but I did play him for Halloween last year. Alas, no parties to go to, so only the neighborhood children witnessed the visage of Guy Fawkes in full "V for Vendetta" regalia.

I thought the mask (and some of the regalia) would make a good entry for this week's Photo Hunt.

3/20/07 - Woohoo! This photo earned 2nd place in the Week 10 Photo Hunt challenge!

Thanks to everyone that voted for it!

Tiles & Shards

2007-03-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

From the same Philadelphia Area Photobloggers excursion that produced my Olde City Gravestone shot comes this cool wall mural. Note the reflections in some of the mirrored pieces.

I can't remember exactly where it was (perhaps Jorj can recall), but it's in the vacinity of 3rd & South. I'm using it for this week's Photo Hunt.

Update - 5/12/07: having been in that area recently, I can report that the above mural is at the Northwest corner of 4th & Gaskill, a half block above South.
For more photos from this jaunt, see my Flickr page.

I See(m) Red...

2007-02-25T15:20:00.000-05:00

Portraits: definitely not my thing. Especially self-portraits. Eek.
So when Jorj posted "A Portrait" as this week's subject for the Photo Hunt, I blanched. I mean, the Hunt's been hard enough this season without having to shoot something I'm not into and don't think I'm particularly good at.
No wonder I'm angry!
But this Friday night, a bunch of the Philadelphia Area Photobloggers got together in Center City, and I saw an opportunity: the light from restaurant sign across the street was coming in through the window, and I thought it might make for a dramatic shot.
I might post more of my "typical" shots from that night here soon. Also - look for more on my Flickr page.

Trippy Rose

2007-02-15T20:32:00.000-05:00

This past summer I was playing with the macro setting on New Camera, trying to get a good shot of the blooms on our rosebush. For reasons I'm still not sure of, I couldn't get the exposure settings to sync-up, resulting in shots like the one above.
In the words of the immortal Bob Ross: "We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents."

I'm using this for this week's Photo Hunt .

Lighthouse Shadow

2007-02-08T18:30:00.000-05:00

I dug this Old Camera shot from our 2005 Cape May trip for the week 6 Photo Hunt subject: a shadow. This was taken through one of the Cape May Lighthouse's windows, about two-thirds of the way up.

Pistachio Pac Man

2007-01-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

Since I've been a bit lazy of late with my Photo Hunt entries, and with this week's subject being "Nuts," I figured I'd be a bit nutty and stage this shot. That's a big ol' honey-roasted Macadamia serving as the "Power Pill."

Of course, the hard part was not eating these before taking the pic.

Sitting Surfer (re-post)

2007-01-15T18:26:00.000-05:00

For the week #2 Photo Hunt subject "black & white," I'm being lazy and re-posting this post-processed b&w shot from our California trip.
This is, however, one of my favorite shots from that series, so I don't feel too bad about giving it another go in the spotlight.

Triple Seven

2007-01-08T17:29:00.000-05:00

For my first post for '07, I present 3 sevens.
This is the address for an apartment building in Plymouth Meeting, PA. It is also my entry for the first week of the Jorj.Org Photo Hunt, Season 4.

St. Stephen: My Namesake's Namesake

2006-12-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

Merry Day-after-Christmas!
Not only is today Boxing Day (feel free to speak "Canadian" all day, eh), it is also the Feast of St. Stephen, who is pictured above from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
It is also my late grandfather's (dad's side) birthday - hence he was named after St. Stephen per Catholic tradition.
And I was named after my grandfather. (The "Umlaut" came much much later.)

Jack Frost Was Here

2006-12-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the Winter Solstice, pictures of Mr. J. Frost's handiwork on my car window.

These were actually taken last year, with Old Camera from inside the car. The blue came from that morning's clear sky, with the car still in the shadow of our house.

Mantle Candles

2006-12-17T20:39:00.000-05:00

For the Week 13 Photo Hunt challenge, a shot of our mantle decorated for Christmas.

This may just seem like an obvious grab for the bonus points (there are actually ten candles visible, and smoke from the "jar" candle on the left), but I'm pretty happy with the warm, home-for-the-holidays feeling I captured here, too. And we liked the way it looked so much, we're leaving it this way!

The Finished Product

2006-12-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

And here are the finished kiffles!

...Uh, this plate's mine. Get your own. (ha ha!)

Kiffle Day, 2006

2006-12-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

Kifli (or Kiffles, as we've come to know them) are German cookies consisting of a pastry dough rolled around a walnut filling, then doused in confectioner's sugar. They have been a tradition in my family for generations, and we look forward to them every Christmas. [I don't have time to type up the recipe right now, but a similar one can be found here.]
They are very labor intensive - dough balls and filling are made the previous day and refrigerated overnight, then each cookie must be individually rolled and filled.
To expedite all this, we schedule a Kiffle-making party every year on whatever free weekend we have in December. This also serves to make those who eat the kiffles work for their cookies! ;)

Our recipe yields 70 cookies, and this year we made 4 batches. And it still doesn't seem like enough!

This photo is also my "Party" entry for the 12th week Photo Hunt challenge.

Cotter

2006-12-03T21:43:00.000-05:00

For the Week 11 Photo Hunt challenge: the cotter pin that holds the left side of my lawnmower handle.

Man and his dog/Kelly Drive

2006-11-30T21:55:00.000-05:00

Taken during my jaunt to Kelly Drive to find a megaphone: for a few minutes, I watched this guy and his dog as they watched the world go by - by foot, bike and boat.
I thinkd there's something about this shot that captures some of what Kelly Drive is all about...

For the entire series of shots of the Man & dog, see my Flickr page.

Embossed Propeller

2006-11-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

For this week's Photo Hunt, challenge - a leather-bound book, I dug out my well-worn copy of "Fighting Jets" from the Time-Life Epic of Flight series that I got as a gift from my aunt in my early teens.
I really like the propeller motif - the irony of a propeller embossed on a book about jets notwithstanding.

Running Late

2006-11-20T18:39:00.000-05:00

This harried young man echoed my own sense of urgency as I tried to find a suitable photo for this week's Photo Hunt challenge: a skull cap (with bonus points for it being worn, being a yarmulka, and for varied coloration).
This picture was taken this morning in Lakewood, NJ, which is something of an Orthodox Jewish enclave.

Update – 11/28/06

TO ALL JORJ.ORG PHOTO HUNT PARTICIPANTS

Firstly, thank you to everyone who voted for this picture. First Place! Wow. I must say that I’m honored… and to be honest, a bit confused. More on that in a moment.

But to all of you – is it just me, or are all of you being driven completely batty by the Photo Hunt challenges of late? I mean, finding the subject is difficult enough – but to also photograph it interestingly…?

(I know that snapshot gratitude has felt my pain on at least one occasion!)

As the weeks go by, it seems my goal for each challenge falls into one of the following categories

a. try to capture the subject in a smartly-composed, well-executed (dare I say artistic) manner, or

b. to hell with the art, rack up the bonus points.

Ideally, these categories don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And I see that many of you have managed to create very striking photos that also earn the multiple, frequently arcane criteria required for big scores. I am often inspired by the shots I see entered every week, and I salute you for them.

I think I’ve approached this Platonic ideal a couple of times, most notably here and here. But sometimes, it’s just not in the cards and you make do with what you have.

Which is what I thought this photo was – my attempt at an entry that was very firmly (in my mind, at least) in category (b).

Maybe it was the difficulty I had getting it (see my Comments for that story). Maybe it’s because I typically don’t photograph people, unless they’re doing something really interesting (like this).

I guess you guys see something in this shot that I don’t. Maybe this is art after all… ? (The jury will take a while with that one... Meanwhile, I'll still be Finding My Way...)

So again: thanks. And extra special thanks to Jorj, for driving us (and driving us mad) every week!

(And thanks for indulging me in this rant – I didn’t mean to get all “bloggy” like this.)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go dig through my garage for a friggin’ cotter pin…

Penn Crew

2006-11-11T15:45:00.000-05:00

This shot was taken from along Kelly Drive in Philly this morning, where (luckily for me) there was a regatta in progress.

I'm also using this for the week 8 Photo Hunt challenge: a megaphone. [I had another possiblity for more bonus points, but it fell through.]

Ganoga, Conestoga & F.L. Ricketts

2006-11-05T20:25:00.000-05:00

From the recent Ricketts Glen trip:
Top: Ganoga Falls - at 94 feet, the biggest, baddest waterfall in the whole park. Note the figures visible at the top.
Middle: The rapids downstream of Conestoga Falls.
Bottom: Water washing over the rocks at the base of F.L. Ricketts Falls.

For more pix from the Ricketts Glen trip, see my Flickr page.

A Golf Odyssey

2006-11-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

For this week's Photo Hunt, subject: a golf club (with bonus points for motion blur).

Que "Also Sprach Zarathustra"...

UPDATE - 11/14/06
Woohoo! This photo earned 3rd place (tied with this pic from snapshot gratitude) in the Week 7 challenge of the the Photo Hunt !
Thanks again to everyone who voted for it!