Happy 59th Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad’s 59th birthday! Avid reader of the Carolyn Scott Photography blog, I figured I’d write him up a little post. ;) I’ve found myself over the years turning more and more into my father. My family has always known about my dad’s list of strong dislikes such as:

– Shopping malls and large crowds

– Scented candle and/or perfume stores

– Desserts that are too sweet

When I was younger (a teenager especially), I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t like those things. Now I too avoid them like the plague. Unfortunately, I’ve also slowly inherited my father’s taste for really expensive hobbies. My dad’s been slowly accumulating a makeshift studio in my sister’s old room and collecting enough guitars for a small army. Now when I find myself needing a new lens or other piece of equipment, I curse my father’s genes that have a penchant for scouring the internet to figure out why expensive pieces of equipment you currently don’t have are better than the ones you currently do.  Thanks, Dad! ;)

Over the years I have always acquired my dad’s list of strong likes as well, such as:

– The beach

– Judging other peoples’ stereo systems and speakers

– NPR (when did this happen? I think starting to listen to NPR is the real sign that you’re officially an adult.)

You are the best! I hope you have a great 59th birthday. :) I’ll be bringing home your actual card and presents at the end of June! And I know you are working today, but hopefully you can spend your weekend like this! **

**Not meant to be sarcastic – I know you live in Western Pennsylvania and not at the beach, but maybe you can go fishing? :) You’ll be at the beach in August, yay!!

a jumpstart on autumn.

i love autumn. i really do. and not just because toothpastefordinner.com has several great autumn cartoons. and although summer is not over, i can tell you that my mind is totally over it already. i’m not sure why… i think it was the several days where it was kind of chilly because of all the rain. the light is also beginning to change – you know how autumn light is very different around 5:30 than summer light? or am i just nuts? anyway, i’ve been too busy to use the pool so to me that means that we might as well start autumn.

why i love autumn (in a list):

  • pumpkin pie
  • weather
  • colored leaves
  • stepping in crunchy leaves
  • halloween
  • my birthday
  • halloween candy
  • great photography light
  • having the windows open
  • carving pumpkins
  • wearing a jacket
  • everything about october

i’m sure there are things i am missing. but it is wonderful. last year geoff and i were new to north carolina and explored the mountains and hanging rock for the first time, so when i think of autumn now i think of those things.

it was absolutely amazing up on hanging rock in the fall. we decided we would hike up to the ledge because we knew there would be an awesome view. however, we weren’t entirely prepared for the hike instead of the walk, as evidenced by us wearing our chucks instead of hiking shoes. here we are at the top of hanging rock… both of the boys pretending to be excited but actually terrified. i was the one who climbed out closest to the edge while geoff and colombo tip-toed slowly out onto the rock, then perched themselves in a relatively safe place and laughed nervously:

raleigh-and-hanging-rock-085

hehehe…i’m not going any further than this… hehehe.

i plan on going back soon with my wide angle lens. raleigh was pretty awesome in the fall too last year. the weather was amazing and lasted for at least two months. the leaves were also colored for a really long time. eventually they fell off, but it took them a while.

bbt

i won’t be home for fall in pittsburgh at all this year which makes me a little sad. i am going home in september and december, but am skipping out on fall there entirely. fall in pittsburgh is cold, but then again i consider pittsburgh having really only two seasons: spring and winter. it’s only really warm in summer for a few days. fall is way too chilly and the leaves change color and fall off the trees within a week. i think that’s mostly because it rains so frequently in the fall there.

its-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood

the only sunny day captured on film in pittsburgh.*

*exaggeration… kind of.

i am hoping the fall in raleigh will be how it was last year. it will be the first october i have never been home. last year i was in north carolina for my actual birthday but went home the next weekend to see my family. this year my family is coming down to see me which will be lots of fun. my sister, mom, geoff and i are going to see U2 at nc state’s carter-finley stadium. woo! i am still trying to figure out how and if i can smuggle my camera inside. meanwhile, my dad (who harbors a strong disliking of crowds and bono) will stay at our house and entertain the kittens. and hopefully not cause any trouble at the science museum like last time:

dadbat