Seattle, WA
29 November 2024 :: iPhone 14 Pro Max :: f/1.8 1/60s :: ISO-200

Dear Stranger;

How are we almost back to December already? I had hoped to work on the video for the day after the concerts, but work has been taking over my life and while I admit the extra money is nice and tremendously needed, I really miss the process of creating. I suppose I can consider this time as a necessary investment to a long-term goal of having more financial resources to create frequently but for now, I must pay off my last relationship and that's just the way it is–it was a graduate degree in healthy personal boundaries and with that comes some form of tuition that needs addressing, which is where I'm currently at. Progress is steady, not as fast as I would like, but I feel like I'm gaining momentum and I think that's the important part.

But for the immediate time frame, I'd like to create more when I can, and maybe that's what I will tell (force?) myself to do in the upcoming holiday break in a few weeks. We'll see.

How have you been, stranger friend?

Magically,
-j

Seattle, WA
16 November 2024 :: iPhone 14 Pro Max :: f/2.2 1/8s :: ISO-1600

Dear Stranger;

It's been years, maybe even almost a deca...de (?) since I've been to Meany Hall, ever since the orchestra with whom I currently play moved to the big hall downtown, but it was fun to support friends and hear music I've played before in a new type of setting and it was a much-needed distraction from all of the work stress this week. I don't have much more to say this week, other than I really want to make more progress on the Sweden vid I've got in the works, it's just that I've been on a months-long creative dry spell and I'm currently trying to figure out how to get around it.

But I can feel something bubbling up...

Magically,
-j

Lynnwood, WA
6 November 2024 :: iPhone 14 Pro Max :: f/2.2 1/38s :: ISO-1250

Dear Stranger;

Well, fuck. It's been an embarrassing week in a global sense, hasn't it.

Magically,
-j

Seattle, WA
20 October 2024 :: iPhone 14 Pro Max :: f/2.2 1/99s :: ISO-40

Dear Stranger;

I don't know how it seems to turn into November so soon each time, but here we are. It's feeling very much autumn on the fingers and toes, the morning commute is...crisp to chilly, let's say. Still in the weird temperature range where after a little bit of movement, I'm sweating in my jacket again, nevertheless, I welcome the change in season. Orion is starting to make its return to the night sky and hopefully this year I can add more to my Orion 50mm shot and bring out more of Barnard's Loop. I wasn't able to make it to my usual dark sky site for a few nights this summer so I'm a little bummed I missed out on the summer nebulae but I think given all of the experiences from May have more than made up for that. The year's not over yet, so I won't get totally skunked on dark sky activity yet.

The hydrogen alpha clouds around Orion are my goals for the coming months; those are where my hopes are for now, but the main concern I have is surviving the coming months as the execs are starting to push for making deliveries, often sliding them ahead of schedule so they can look good for their year-end bonuses. I will still say, the money is nice, but it sure would be nice to have some free time again.

The winter break? It'll be a long time coming, for sure. How are you holding up?

Magically,
-j