If only I could get this to work for real!

Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum)

ARTE - CIENCIA, CAMINOS ADENTRO ~ pintura de Diana Galvez

Took in the exhibits at the Museo de la Ciudad here in Queretaro today with my new friend, Maria Luisa from Calgary. We spent the afternoon exploring el centro since our mutual friend and host, John, is sick with gripe (the cold). Here are a few shots from our walk through the city.


Museo de la Ciudad (exteriors)


Jardin Guerrero


entrance to a funky cafe/live music venue
and a straw/metal calavera (from Dias de los Muertos celebrations)

PHOTO SHOOTS of Oscar and Victor

Sort of a busy day, did two photo shoots here today. The first with a sexy fashion designer named Oscar followed by a second shoot with my new amigo, Victor. Both shoots realized some possible images for exhibition. The light here is so beautiful to shoot with - that intense tropical sun, to say nothing of all the lush greenery available when working outdoors.

Oscar, Queretaro, Mexico 2005



Victor, Queretaro, Mexico 2005

Capped the day off with Sol cervesas with my new friends here, Hebert (John's roommate), his pal Jose, and the incredibly hot Martin(who I'm still trying to convince to model for me), and his roommate, David. Afterwards Martin, David and I went to the club here, Oz (which plays better music than either club in Edmonton, go figure that one) and then took a taxi over to their place for more beer. Incredible vista from their windows of the city of Queretaro twinkling in the night down below them in the valley. Unfortunately I didn't have tripod to get a good shot of it.


Jose & Hebert (left) - Martin (right)

Words to the Blue Monkey

Words to the Blue Monkey

I am a spectrum of color
touched by the light of your love,
my every hue is forever changed.
Together, I too am brilliant.

...

Echo Within

You invade my every waking moment
You populate my dreams
Looking into the eyes of any other
I can only hear your name.

I've got a life

Peter, my friend at Flylife Music in NYC, sent me this link today to the new Eurythmics track that his company is promoting. This is their video, check it out. The director is photographer Matthew Rolston. God bless the photographers of this world. Ha ha. I love this song!

Useless personal trivia

Not that anyone cares but ...

a) at last count, after my first week in Queretaro, I have 13 mosquito bites.
b) now after 10 days in Mexico, I have yet to be visited by "Montezuma's Revenge" * thunk thunk
c) I am trying to budget living here on $20 day (200 pesos), so far relatively successful however the traveling from one city to another tends to blow that all to hell. Of course, if I was paying for accommodation this wouldn't be even remotely feasible however since I am housesitting for my friend John, and taking care of his two cats, it works out rather nicely.
d) I am speaking Spanish equivalent to that of a toddler and my favorite saying is "Lo siento mi espanol es muy basico." (I'm sorry my Spanish is very basic.)
e) a latte at my Mexican Starbucks, more aptly known in all it's rich cultural nuance as "The Italian Coffee Company" costs $1.80 -- a far cry from the $4.33 I pay in Canada (and the $4.28 I pay in NYC). Go figure.
f) after typing this I now have at least 14 mosquito bites.

* sound effect of knocking wood

Pescado

Had a great meal tonight. Hebert prepared fish (pescado) the traditional way they do in his home town in the Hildalgo region. Here's what the process looked like from start to finish. Needless to say the end result was delicious.

Feria La Cañada, El Marques

My friend Hebert invited me to go to a "fiesta" here in Queretaro tonight. He described it as an event with food, music and beer out in another municipality. I thought what the hell, take is some authentic Mexicano culture rather than just the tourist activities in the downtown centre. As we approached I could see a Ferris wheel albeit a small one, and rides. Little did I know that it was going to be organized chaos much in the same vein as any Fair, with tons of teenagers and families. The kind of thing I don't really enjoy. Fortunately I don't think Hebert enjoys that sort of thing either because we didn't stay long.

Los Arcos, Queretaro Mexico 2005

My view for today: the current landscape

Queretaro, Mexico 2005

Photo Shoot with Leo - Queretaro, 2005

The best compliment

My buddy Ryan, who lives in Toronto and is such a total sweetheart, said this to me today about when we first met;

"I was like dayummmmm he's like a plate of good lord with some have mercy on the side."

It's the best compliment I've had in ages. Thanx!


How hot is Ryan!

Dustin!

I don't know exactly what to say about this man except this is the day we met and I'll never forget it.

Couldn't help but post this: A Catastrophe That Walks Like a Man

Bill Maher's closing bit the other night:

"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission accomplished.

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know. There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

"But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising water and snakes.

"On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans. Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

"So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "

Terrifying Trivia #2

In the latest count, there is an estimated 11,000,000 (that's right 11 million) rats in NYC. That's approximately one rat for every resident in Manhattan.

Promising OUTLOOKS

Received some great news this morning, Outlooks Magazine, has contracted me to shoot the out & about Edmonton page, which is a photo spread of gay events that take place in the city every month. You can check out my photography coverage starting in November.

Had a warm and fuzzy dinner tonight with one of my dearest old (not her but us) friends, Dellee, in fact, she was my date for our High School Graduation. How fun is that! This year marks our 30th year of being friends, and although she no longer lives here, every time we see each other it feels like we were talking or hanging out just the day before. Time has become irrelevant. It's remarkable (and wonderful) how your really good friendships become like that. I'm a very blessed man, with some truly amazing friends.

Photo Shoot with Ward -- Centennial Park

more photos to follow.

Very WRONG, but not so wrong!

Terrifying Trivia #1

36 chips is equivalent to an average sized potatoe.
Ahhhh, so therein lies the problem.
Now how many scoops of ice cream equals an average sized potatoe?

Words of Encouragement

Finally reconnected with my Chicano buddy, David (aka Casper), who after 5 years in NYC, has returned home to LA. David, who has a great appreciation for the arts (and the male form -- wink), was solely responsible for getting my photography published in the national Latino magazine, QV. Today, in an instant message, he made the following comments, which I appreciate more than he knows;

"what i think of you and your talent yo....you go beyond being a photgrapher....you capture energy which alot of photographers don't and you already know this but i will say it again....thank you on how you capture people of color.....you dont exploit which is beautiful...you have a genuine love for Latinos which shows in your work."

All I can say is thank you David, encouragement like that only inspire me to create more and even better images!