Saturday 31 December 2011

Week 129: Post Christmas.

So I only just realised I posted a blog on Christmas day without realising it, so this one is dedicated to the holidays. I had a good Christmas this year, seeing my grandparents was great. It was quite but at least I got to see my family. I think there are two things that run this world, one is a lot less valuable than the other. Family and Money. The great thing about being human beings is that we are one of the only species that have a sense of morality around family. A lot of animals will look after their children until they can physically survive, then leave them to find their own way. Sea turtles leave their eggs behind on the beach and never ever see their kids again. Some animals even feed on their children in desperate need. We, as humans, are the only species to have an almost full sense of morality. Some choose to ignore it and some acknowledge it but do nothing with it. I am grateful to have a caring family and people surrounding me that do love me.

Daniel.



"Youth is the engine of the world" - Matisyahu Miller.

Song listening to right now: Youth - Matisyahu

Sunday 25 December 2011

Week 128: A sense of direction.

I look back at the 9/11 memorial morning sometimes and I think about the half an hour or so where I was wandering through the streets of Lower Manhattan, a little lost and confused. They had closed some of the main roads/footpaths. The police kept telling everybody different things, some roads kept opening and closing. It was rather confusing. I just wanted to get to where I wanted to be, I had a sense of direction but I could not use it. I feel that right now, with my future. I know exactly where I want to be, but there are some aspects restricting me from getting there. I will find a way to use my compass, I just need to blow the dust off it first.

Keep reading.
Daniel.



This photograph was taken that morning. We were asking the police officers where to go. We got numerous answers that were all completely different and ended up walking in a complete circle. I stopped and got breakfast in a deli, I thought I might as well just wait it out and then they would have settled with some concrete pedestrian diversion. I came out the deli and saw this officer directing people. He pointed me in the right direction and I didn't even notice his elbow tattoo until weeks later when I saw the picture expanded on my computer screen.

Song listening to right now: Rise, Rebel, Resist - Otep

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Week 127: The City That Never Sleeps.

Do you ever feel like your "life pacemaker" has just stopped? You're running on a treadmill at your full potential then suddenly, the treadmill cuts out. You fall flat on your face and don't have the motivation to get back up again and carry on running.

Coming back from travelling, my daily routine has been smashed to smithereens. I've found myself with nothing to do for a while. I am having a lot of trouble sleeping and I when I lie in bed trying to get to sleep, I can't do it. I lie there thinking about all the time I'd waste if I fell asleep and all the things I could be doing with myself in that time. Then I think about thinking, a sort of meta-cognition, I think about how much time I'm wasting thinking about stuff like that. I'm not actually sleeping so I should be doing something proactive instead of just thinking about not doing it. It's an endless loop that really plays with my mind. After a busy few months I'm suddenly doing nothing with my days and nights, when I should really be finding a way to occupy my mind.

Thanks for reading.
Dan.



I realise I have posted a photograph of a New York Sleeper before, in fact I have a fine collection of them. This one was taken just off E. 42nd street in Manhattan. This man was there all night long. Sleeping on the scaffolding. Every now and again he'd lose his balance, shudder and wake up momentarily. I wondered if he was dreaming about falling off a cliff, you know when you almost fall out of bed in your sleep? The difference was, that he was doing it every 30 seconds or so. I'm sure that can't be good for your brain. Constantly dreaming that you're falling to your death every 30 seconds. I'm sure it would have been more comfortable to just sleep on the ground with his back facing a nice hard wall and covered in the blanket he was carrying. Then again, I'm sure it would have been more comfortable sleeping in a king sized bed at the Hilton just down the road.

Song listening to right now: Runes To My Memory - Amon Amarth

Friday 9 December 2011

Week 126: An end to things.

So ending my travels for a bit, a little rest is deserved I think. Things will change, I have to come to terms with the idea of not having much of a routine. My life will get a little boring for a bit, I'm sure most of you have had boring periods throughout your life and if not you are most likely to experience them at some point. For now I shall entertain you with photographs from my journeys that connect with my feelings over the next few weeks. So even though this is an end to being busy, this is also a good time to reflect for me.

Daniel.



Taken in Little Italy, New York. I know this is technically two photographs, but it's more effective as a diptych. Just a funny photograph since I will be relaxing for the next few weeks. He had been hiding underneath that carnival stand all afternoon. Primarily to keep warm, but every now and again he would pop out to pick up people's half finished cigarettes and dropped food or change. Obviously nothing special behind these two photographs, just a little bit of humour.

Song listening to right now: I Am Hell (Sonata in C) - Machine Head