April 2003

April 01, 2003

Photos and Bombs

I made my first black and white photo prints from negatives today on 8.5 x 11 paper. It was a lot of fun. Seeing the image magically appear before your eyes in the darkroom is really neat to watch. I'm like a little kid in there, but it took me about three hours to only make three prints (that includes prep time, enlarging, processing, cleanup, and washing). It's quite a process but you have so much creative control. That's the beauty of it. The prints look pretty good considering it was my first time and are drying overnight; I'll scan them and post them as time permits. But if you look at the contact sheet from the last post, I printed #3, #8, and #17. We have a critique in class on Thursday.

I wish I could have stayed and printed more, but it was getting late and I was getting tired and hungry. I spent a total of seven hours in the darkroom today (the three in addition to a my regular lab period from 8 until 12). I needed to stop for a few items at the grocery store on the way home, but when I pulled into Wegmans the parking lot was cleared out and taped off. There were a bunch of police cars surrounding the place. There was a bomb threat. Yikes! So I turned around and left and went to Tops instead. While I am a Wegmans junkie, I must say that Tops meat department is quite lacking. They had no boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Pissed me off because I wanted to make some Lemongrass Chicken tonight. They did have a limited selection of ground beef, but not the best looking or freshest I've seen, especially compared to what I normally find at Wegmans. Oh well, I ended up making a Cajun Burger that was quite tasty. Now what should I have for dessert?

Posted by Phil at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)

Chicken Joke

For all I know, most people have probably seen this already. But I just came across it and found it pretty amusing. There are many reasons for that chicken to cross the road. I hope it did it for the right one(s).

Posted by Phil at 08:59 PM | Comments (0)

April 05, 2003

April Icing

If April showers bring May flowers, what does April icing bring? June flowers? Dead flowers?

Just when I thought Winter was over, we get about an inch coating of ice in Rochester yesterday, and that was only before I left. It took about 30 minutes to get into my car and chip off enough ice to make it driveable. I came home this weekend to see my relatives from Michigan and left the blanket of ice that covered upstate NY. But I heard it was supposed to continue through last night, too. When I got to Wilkes-Barre last night, it was dry. Then it rained a little bit overnight, but no freezing. Hmm, I guess I haven't complained in a while on here so I don't feel so bad about doing so about the weather. I just want it to be Spring already. Is that too much to ask for April?

Oh, and 3 and a half month old babies are really cute. I met my cousin's son, Jonah Thomas, yesterday.

Posted by Phil at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2003

Huzzah

Apparently huzzah makes a good variable name for some people. While grading, I came across this code:

public List openTrips() {
    List huzzah = new ArrayList(open.values());
    Collections.sort(huzzah, new EntryComparator());
    return huzzah;
}

So much for variable names being descriptive.

Posted by Phil at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2003

Snickers-like Snack

I invented a new snack today: a Quaker Carmel Corn Rice Cake topped with peanut butter and chocolate syrup. It tastes similar to a Snickers bar, which is my favorite candy bar. Mmm. I might start up a recipes area on this site because I have some others that I'd like to share. Yeah, right after I do the quotes thing like I previously mentioned. If only I had the time.

Posted by Phil at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)

Limited Hot Water

I need an apartment that has it's own hot water heater, dammit.

Posted by Phil at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2003

The Passion

I just got back from Palm Sunday mass, at which "The Passion" is read. The Passion, of course, is the Gospel account of the time leading up to the death of Jesus. Anyway, the reading of the gospel always takes me back to The Stations of the Cross, which we performed during Lent in 8th grade at St. Al's. I had a speaking part as the "Good Thief" who was crucified with Jesus:

Don't you even fear God, seeing that we are under the same punishment and we, indeed, are being treated justly for we are receiving what our deeds deserve, yet this man has done no wrong.

I said to the "Bad Thief". And after a brief pause, I said to Jesus:

Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

With that line I/he was saved, hence the "good" thief. Wow, that was a whole eight years ago, and I still remember that line and those stations so clearly. I got crucified and had to wear minimal clothing, which was quite embarrassing for someone going through puberty. Eight years. Wow.

Posted by Phil at 08:43 PM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2003

Snow

It's April 23 and it's snowing. Has been all morning. Not much sticking, but still! *sigh*

Posted by Phil at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)