What this blog is REALLY about....

Growing up in upstate New York I intrinsically figured that there could be no more a hick town than the one I grew up in. Then my family up and moved us to Minnesota where I was sorely proven wrong. That first year living here, and the next few to follow, was a nightmare not only because our family had to make a lot of unwanted changes and adjustments, but because it was a time of grieving for everything that we had left behind: our roots, our identity, our home. And we had to do it alone.



I high tailed it out of here at the age of twenty-one, swearing to myself that I would never, ever return. I had my adventures, I did, of drifting from state to state, desperately trying to find a place where I could re-invent myself and call it home. But it failed me. Two years ago (going on three), I had no choice but to return. So here I am, again, in this place that first chewed me up and spit me out. I’m now beginning to slowly grow permanent roots in this land, but I still find it quite damaging to my spirit.



However, as much as I hate Minnesota for what it did to my family fifteen years ago, I’m desperately trying to discover Its redeeming qualities. I’ve decided that if I’m going to stay here, I need to make this marriage work.



So. After an enlightening afternoon of drifting thoughts, I came up with an idea….



Twelve years ago I stood under a wintry night sky and saw twelve shooting starts twelve days before Christmas. Twelve is a personal number for me, so, twelve it is. I have decided to choose twelve places, cities, landmarks throughout the entire state of Minnesota to visit and write about here on this blog. My goal is to finish this within one year. In each place I travel to I will write an extensive, hopefully amusing, essay on my experiences. Some of it will be educational and informative on Minnesota’s history and wildlife and culture, and much of it will be about my personal growths. And most of it, I’m afraid, will be a lot of blunt, honest, offensive opinions. Take it or leave it. I’m trying to love your State; I really, truly am.

JC's Photo Tips

Photography is a somewhat non-serious hobby of mine. As a writer, I by nature like to record everything. EVERYTHING. I like having evidence of my experiences. It proves that my life has perhaps, just may be , been quite extraordinary by the end of it. Here are some hopefully helpful tips to those who enjoy, or want to enjoy, the benefits of taking pictures on trips and vacations.

Tip#1: Don't be afraid to get close up to something to take its picture. See a pretty flower? Get nose to nose. Taking a picture of something low on the ground? Get down on your knees.

Tip#2: Angles! Try getting down and shooting up. Try standing up on top of something and shooting down. Mix it up.

Tip#3: See something cool on the side of the road? Pull over! Don't be afraid to take the time to get a really interesting shot. But uh, pull over responsibily. Be aware of traffic...

Tip#4: Be familiar with your comupter's photo shop options. Get rid of those red eyes, people. And don't be afraid to play around with exposures and colors.

Tip#5: Snapshot. Snapshot as often as possible. This means, hold the camera up in the general direction of things and click away. You'd be surprised what you can "accidently" capture.

Tip#6: Compostion. You either got a sense for it or you don't, to be honest. But generally, try to keep things symetrical. You always have a background, middle ground, and foreground, no matter the subject matter. If it's not balanced, your picture sucks. Take a photography course if none of this makes sense to you.

Tip#7: Going on a family trip? Take your camera with you everywhere you go. To the restaurant, to the race track, to the beach, to the ice cream shop, to the mega mall, to the water slides. I was fortunate enough to have parents who loved taking pictures during my and my siblings' childhood. There's nothing more priceless than looking back on those memories. Take pictures of EVERYTHING.

Tip#8: Don't be afraid to delete bad pictures. Or to delete repeat pictures. Pick the best out of three shots. Get rid of those other two. No body needs a flip book of your trip. And if you're trigger happy like I am? It might be the best of ten shots. But I find life way easier when I get rid of those other nine, and I find that my audience is far less bored when I make them look through my albums.
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Merlin's Rest

My Minnesota in Winter

The Renaissance Festival

The Renaissance Festival

Stink Bugs and Apples

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy

Skin damage from the poison ivy and the meds

Apple River Hideaway

The Hairy Mosquito

Roseau MN

Pioneer Days '10

My Minnesota