Drones

Its a crying shame what the tyrannical American government has been doing overseas.

Below is an insightful article about a young Yemeni writer and his words that have been published in the New York Times and shared in front of the United State Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/01/ibrahim-mothana-yemen-drones-obama

Telekinesis - Dormarion

This album needs no introduction.

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174770982/first-listen-telekinesis-dormarion

Senior Photos

This fall I was given the opportunity to take my little sister's senior photos.We were fortunate enough to find ourselves a gloriously sunny late-fall afternoon.

 It was a blast and I look forward to future opportunities, should they come my way. I will gladly entertain discussions regarding any sort of photographic services that I can provide for you. 

You can visit me at my new webpage: www.prentography.com 

and email me at prentography@gmail.com

Two Door Cinema Club

My lady friend has been expanding my horizons, as far as music is concerned, delving deeping into pop rock and the like than I've ever been. I've become quite enamored with a few selections from Two Door Cinema Club, especially Sleep Alone. Its quick, quirky, and fun and also has an imaginative music video.

They are an electro pop band from Ireland that feature "[m]elodic vocals, which hail from all three members of the outfit, infuse with guitar riffs that have been described as "oceanic" and rhythm described as "pulsing."

http://www.myspace.com/twodoorcinemaclub
http://twodoorcinemaclub.com/
https://www.facebook.com/twodoorcinemaclub


It has been far too long since I've shared anything on here.

Big Success

I haven't posted on music in a while but approximately thirty minutes ago I discovered through a friend's Facebook post of a Tweet and exciting new-to-me band: Big Success. The British (I assume they refer to UK-based Norwich) trio of Dudley, Darren, and Mikey have an up-tempo rock with a splash of punk and a little pop. They list themselves as fans of The Replacements on their Facebook page. I was instantly a fan of their music, via bandcamp. I am also a fan of their self-description:

"Three grown men who get on really well.Some people think our songs are too short. We think everyone else's are too long."

They have all of two EPs - one from 2009 and one that has time-traveled from its listed release date of June 2012. Please note that it is only the month of five in the year of twelve. Perhaps there is more to come before it's official release? They have a show in Brighton, UK next week.

Anyway, you should check them out. More information can be found on Tumblr and Twitter.

Days Six and Seven Without Oliver

I had a busy weekend here without you. I cleaned up the house a little bit and weed-whacked  all throughout the backyard on Sunday. I attacked and was attacked by all the rose bushes out there. I'm not going to lie, I did get a little choked up when I was working around your grave and later when I was getting along the edge of the field and thought about all the times you would chase me from one end of the field to the other as I smacked golf balls around back there. I found a few balls down there, probably the ones that I lost a few weekends ago. You were just so dang adorable. On Monday morning I woke up incredibly refreshed. I slept like a baby then I had a pretty decent day at work and went to the gym after. I have some good news; I finally sold Roxy. I was offered $250 by a guy I know at the junkyard a few weeks ago but I decided I would rather see her put to good use than see her turn into a cube. I put her on Craigslist and received at least ten hits on it. I was surprised by how many there were. I sold her within a day. We had a lot of good memories in that old girl. We put 75k miles on it together. Oh how you loved sleeping in the front passenger seat as I washed it, cleaned it, worked on it. You always liked helping me work on it and we sure did spend a lot of time out there in dad's garage fixing it up. Good times.

Welp, I should be getting to work. I'm sorry I haven't written you the past few days but I haven't been feeling as sappy lately. I'm feeling a whole lot better. So, I'm thinking now that I am feeling better and its been a week since your big day that I might just write to you weekly on Mondays.

Good morning, puppy
<3

Day Five Without Oliver

I made this video of you on one of those long days you were left home alone. I hated leaving you home alone but it had to be done. I didn't get a roommate until the spring so the fall was a lonely time for you. When I first made this, I didn't watch any of it, but rather just sped the tape up 512-times and added one of Joel's catchy tunes. I finally browsed through some of the tape when I was putting together your tribute video and it absolutely broke my heart. In the YouTube version of this, it just looks like you slept a lot and walked around a bit. What you can't see on YouTube is that you're wandering around lost in the apartment crying for help. I feel so terrible for this now. If only I could have had a roommate sooner, or had someone to come in and check on you. But I will say this, I walked you more on the days I left you home alone and gave you much bigger treats and much more lovin when I came home from my long days at school and work.

I remember when you would chase after one of the many rabbits in that Buffalo neighborhood and I remember how I would chuckle to myself when you would not see a rabbit sitting no more than ten feet from where we were walking. How insensitive I was. But my goodness you were so strong and so in shape back then. You had buns of steel and shoulders that could kill. So did I, I actually exercised at the gym, ran, and walked back then. Those were good times for the both of us.

I find myself feeling more regret about what I hadn't done for you that feeling sadness that you have passed. I think that's why it is so hard on me and why I keep writing to you.

Good night, Oliver
<3

Day Four Without Oliver

I didn't write to you last night. I guess that's just a sign of how well I have been progressing. Do you see how fugly you are in that picture, that's what we had to deal with most of your life. Every time I would ask them not to cut you like a poodle but every time you would come home with those stupid fluffy long ears. It doesn't help you always ended up pretty well matted, but my goodness I hated those haircuts. Its almost as bad as that orange recliner you're sitting in there.

Your Build-A-Bear replica looks so much like you that Katie and I keep thinking its you every time we turn the corner. I have that sitting at the top of the stairs in front of the den. Mom put it in her room but I didn't want it buried in her pile of crap. Katie said she wanted to take it and cuddle with it like she would with you.

I'm still thinking about all the good times we had together over the years but I am starting to be thankful that I finally made the mature decision to do the toughest thing imaginable, and put you to sleep. You slept so much in the past year that its only right that you will now get to sleep forever and ever.

I still haven't washed my sheets. I like how they smell like you, which is slightly ironic since I never liked how you smelled when we were young. I remember I would always push you off my bed. And oh my, you would never make up your mind. It was always up and down and back up and then back down then ten minutes later you would want back up into the recliner, the couch, the bed, my lap wherever I was. You were never content. But I still loved having you sit with me no matter what the circumstances.

Good morning, my wittle puppy doggie.
<3

Day Three Without Oliver

So, this was my third day without you, Oliver. I'll admit that I am still oh so very sad to see you go but I'm doing better. Its just that you were so a part of my routine, my life, and my thought processes that its hard to break out of that. Especially living here, without thinking I will turn to go up the stairs and expect to see you laying at the top step waiting for me but you aren't there so it makes me sad. I suppose it doesn't help that we have your stuffed Build-A-Bear replica at the top step - slightly strange but it was a gift a few years ago. I look over to your big brown recliner and expect to see a little white fuzz ball laying there but you are nowhere to be found. I go into the kitchen and think I might see you waiting out on the porch to be let back in. I remember when I used to flick the light on and off when I wanted you to come in, and yes sir I did teach you to come in when I flickered the light on the porch. All of these little things build up throughout the day. There are so many memories built into this house that I can't find a corner of the house that don't have a good memory of us.

Its probably a little weird that I keep writing to you like this, but Katie told me to stop posting such depressing Facebook statuses to I decided to bring those over to this blog. I'm going to be honest with you, I'm not normal. I feel like only you really 'got' me. I have a terrible time socializing and connecting with people. I have few real friends. I feel like I fall on the Autism Spectrum sometimes, but you helped me bridge the gap. You were a very convenient segue and one heck of a conversation starter and it eased my social anxiety. Lord knows I take forever to warm up to somebody but when you were involved, I could go on socializing like its no big deal.

Generally, I keep my emotions bottled up inside, but I'm glad I actually let them out this time and allowed myself to heal more naturally. Its been tough, as I've told you, but talking about it as much as I have has really sped up my grieving process. Sure I felt a little mopey today, but I was much less mopey than the day before and I didn't even choke up at all today. I have even put my mind to the future and toyed with the idea of a new dog. Try not to get jealous, Oliver, I know how territorial and protective you were of me, but rest assured no one, no dog, will ever take your place in my heart.

I haven't washed my blankets yet and they still smell like you :) I'll call within the next week to have the carpets professionally cleaned to get out all of your little messes everywhere.

Good night, Oliver. I miss you terribly so.
<3

Day Two Without Oliver

I know this isn't you, rather your uncle Pepper, but I was extremely camera shy when I was younger so unfortunately there are zero pictures that exist of you and me when we were younger. If that were you instead of Pepper, this would be my most favoritest picture ever.

I came home to an empty house after work today. As I was walking back from the mailbox, I was expecting to hear you cry like you did when you were left home alone but I only heard the sound of silence echoing from inside the black hole that is this house. I knew you weren't there but when I came to the top of the stairs, I looked over to your favorite brown chair in hopes that you may have magically reappeared. I was really mopey today. I had a terrible time staying focused at work just to come home to wander around aimlessly looking for something to do. I finally cleaned up the garage from the mess I made building your Box with dad and I took your headstone out to your grave. I made it look pretty nice but it will look much better when I get you some perennial flowers. I know I won't always be around to take care of your final resting place but at least if I put some nice flowers in, you'll be looking good forever. I got really choked up when I was setting everything up, when my mind drifted off to the good memories we have of you chasing me around the field there as I mindlessly smacked golf balls from one end to the other. It was always easy to get you enough exercise when you were younger; we would just do a few laps around the field and you would be pooped.

Anyway, I'm starting to get a better handle now on my emotions for you. Small steps. Mom and Katie hinted at giving me a new puppy for my birthday but I told them that it was much too soon for me. I need more time for me heart to heal and to get settled down in my life. I want my next dog to not be at that house but to be at a place that we can share for at least a few years. I don't know where that would be but probably either in the Jamestown area or in Buffalo. Right now, I'm just hoping Jonathan gets that job he wanted so we can get a place together. He wants a puppy right away - its been over a year already since Tucker passed away.

My car has been a piece of crap lately. A big ol' money pit. Its incredibly upsetting for me that I lost my beloved Roxanne and my precious puppy Oliver within four months of each other.

Good night, Puppy

Our final night together