story for you: One of my dearest friends Karen, is in Thailand right now teaching English in a school. She was able to vote, even so far away. When Obama said "To our fellow countries in palaces and castles...blah blah something something...and to those of you huddled around radios in the forgotten shadows of the world"..I lost it. I thought of my friend Karen so far away from home but still following the election. Last night I felt like not only was a whole country celebrating one huge achievement, but the whole world as well. I have many friends in England who stayed up all night to hear the results at 4 or 5 am their time, They are just as excited as we are because our countries actions affects the rest of the world. Karen said that people in Thailand came up to her on the street, recognized she was an American, and cheered and praised her for Obama's big win. The world celebrates.

Today is indeed a good day.

Love,
Luke

Election '08

I'd like to take a moment to thank my friend Jake for helping me make these two awesome images. It's clear who we voted for and its also clear this country needs Obama to be president.

It's the final countdown.....

Also, watch a silly election video here:

Click me

*watch for a Luke character. Jake made that too. 

All My Love,

Luke

PS today I decided I'm going to go to graduate school for a Masters in Counseling. hooray!

Toby the Tripod

Hey all,

I just wanted to share a funny story about my mom's dog Toby. For the last several months, my mom has been taking in stray dogs and fostering them so that they can eventually be placed in permanent homes. Anyways, we had a daog with a deformed leg from birth and he had to have his leg amputated. I know this is really sad, but he is happier without the leg because he feels less pain throughout the day. My mom took pictures of toby before his legg was cut off. After his leg had been removed, m mother then called me up and the conversation went something like this..

"Hey Luke can you do me a favor?"

"yeah sure mom what is it?"

I took pictures of Toby before his leg was removed and I need to you photoshop his leg out of the picture so we can put them online."

"Mom why don't you just take new pictures?"

"I know that makes sense, but they had to shave alot of his fur off before the surgery so the pictures would be Toby with a hairless stump and I want him to look pretty."

"Sure mom"

Very bittersweet story if I do say so myself. Anyways, I've posted the pictures for your entertainment.

poor Toby

First post

Dear Friends and Family,

As I sit in a large leather chair in the Dixon entryway, I realize what a reflective day it has been. Thats right friends, I've finally taken the plunge and become what I've made fun of for years....a blogger. This new hobby came from a few different places. First, I've decided I want to work on my English/Writing skills and this seems like an appropriate way to do so. Reason number two purpose of this blog will be to chronicle my trip (through words and photos) to Antarctica coming up in the Winter. This came about because on of my dearest friends, Karen, is currently teaching English in Thailand and she made a cool blog so her friends back home can see what's going on in her life. (click on her name to see it) The third and final re

ason I am starting this is because I want a place to display my absolute, "best-of-the-best" photography. This came from discovering my new favorite artist, Rosie Hardy and her blog can be seen by clicking her name. Rosie and her lover, Aaron fell in love through photography and their story is inspiring and gives true love a new name.

Anyways, I'll probably upload a new post every week or so with new photography and of course, interesting stories about what's happening in my life. If you don't care, then don't waste your time, but if you're interested, I'd love to be writing for other people, not just myself.

This first photo is from the Eve 6 show last weekend in Corvallis. I chose it because it was a great experience to get to be basically on stage taking pictures for great musicians and my school newspaper, The Barometer. After the show I contacted some of the other bands and actually sold some of my photos to a band from New York called Cloud 9. Their music is really catchy and I really liked their energy and excitement. below is the best picture from that shoot:

As I said before, this blog serves the purpose to help me develop skills in writing and photography. I promise it will be very exciting once I go to Antarctica on December 14th. I don't know if I will have internet access on the research vessel I will be on for two weeks as I cruise around the Antarctic Peninsula, but I'll find out. That is happening in exactly 64 days. Kind of a ways away, I know, but if you're interested in what I have to say, bookmark my page and stop by whenever you want! I'll be also trying to post the current music I've been listening to and links to some good jams. Until next time, be well, live well, be kind.

All My Love,

Luke

"Aggressively, we all defend the role we play."

 -The first line from the last song on the Killers second album