Seven 9s and 10s

High-res “The Slash story is exactly the way I remember it. Dug this photo out of the archives, circa 1992.” My brother posted this to my Facebook wall yesterday, after I posted my April 15th story That photo conjures up some great memories. He was probably teaching me to play The Lemon Song or Radar Love or something else equally awesome. That was his bedroom at the time. He’d later move out and it would become my bedroom. Those guitars both eventually became mine as well. I owe him a lot. A lot.

“The Slash story is exactly the way I remember it. Dug this photo out of the archives, circa 1992.”

My brother posted this to my Facebook wall yesterday, after I posted my April 15th story

That photo conjures up some great memories. He was probably teaching me to play The Lemon Song or Radar Love or something else equally awesome. That was his bedroom at the time. He’d later move out and it would become my bedroom. Those guitars both eventually became mine as well. I owe him a lot. A lot.

GPOYW

I’ll be submitting one of these to Dear Photograph (You are following that blog, right? It’s excellent.), but I’m having a hard time deciding which I like best.

Possible captions:

  • (Upper left) “I’m still single… ladies?”
  • (Upper right) “Why yes, I have always been this cute.”
  • (Bottom) “We lost Nonna and the apple tree around the same time, but I miss her a lot more.”

What’s your vote?

High-res The story of my avatar: I was but a wee infant. My family had gone camping up in the mountain that you can see off in the distant background. Early one morning my father was gathering firewood, cutting down dead trees, etc. One of these dead trees was magnificently tall and it fell with tremendous force. The impact against the cold frozen earth sent shock waves up the mountainside, instigating a devastating avalanche. The snow barrelled down the slope with ever-increasing speed and furiosity as my father picked me up and ran back towards our campsite. Before we knew it, the snow had engulfed us and my entire family was being propelled downward by this unthinkable tragedy. It seemed like an eternity before we finally stopped, but it was probably only about a minute. The avalanche had deposited us into a deep ravine at the base of the mountain. Miraculously, I was not buried and ended up resting atop the flow of ice and snow - as if you were pouring milk into a bowl of Lucky Charms® and all the marshmallow treasures floated to the top because they weighed less than their oaty brethren. I cried out to my family but there was no response, so I did the only thing I could - I crawled. I crawled out from that ravine and slowly traversed miles of frozen forest before finally seeing a ski lodge off in the distance. As night was quickly falling, with my last minuscule strength, I pushed open the door and crawled to the edge of a staircase, screaming. This picture was snapped by someone at the base of the stairs. Startled by the screaming, she was quick enough to grab a nearby camera and capture this picture of me. You can tell I was cold because my tongue is clearly blue and frozen. My family was rescued. They had been trapped beneath the snow but protected in a natural snow-cave that had formed around them as they tumbled down the mountain. To this day, I still bear the emotional scars of that fateful experience. (originally posted 3/12/2009)

The story of my avatar:

I was but a wee infant. My family had gone camping up in the mountain that you can see off in the distant background. Early one morning my father was gathering firewood, cutting down dead trees, etc. One of these dead trees was magnificently tall and it fell with tremendous force. The impact against the cold frozen earth sent shock waves up the mountainside, instigating a devastating avalanche.

The snow barrelled down the slope with ever-increasing speed and furiosity as my father picked me up and ran back towards our campsite. Before we knew it, the snow had engulfed us and my entire family was being propelled downward by this unthinkable tragedy. It seemed like an eternity before we finally stopped, but it was probably only about a minute.

The avalanche had deposited us into a deep ravine at the base of the mountain. Miraculously, I was not buried and ended up resting atop the flow of ice and snow - as if you were pouring milk into a bowl of Lucky Charms® and all the marshmallow treasures floated to the top because they weighed less than their oaty brethren. I cried out to my family but there was no response, so I did the only thing I could - I crawled.

I crawled out from that ravine and slowly traversed miles of frozen forest before finally seeing a ski lodge off in the distance. As night was quickly falling, with my last minuscule strength, I pushed open the door and crawled to the edge of a staircase, screaming. This picture was snapped by someone at the base of the stairs. Startled by the screaming, she was quick enough to grab a nearby camera and capture this picture of me. You can tell I was cold because my tongue is clearly blue and frozen.

My family was rescued. They had been trapped beneath the snow but protected in a natural snow-cave that had formed around them as they tumbled down the mountain. To this day, I still bear the emotional scars of that fateful experience.

(originally posted 3/12/2009)

High-res Back in my day, this meme was called Gratuitous Childhood Picture Of Yourself Thursday. It is not Thursday. It is Wednesday. Get your Thursday meme out of my Wednesday. Anyway. This is me before junior prom in 1996. You can’t tell from this picture, but I’m wearing an Animaniacs pin in place of the top button on my shirt.You’re welcome.

Back in my day, this meme was called Gratuitous Childhood Picture Of Yourself Thursday.

It is not Thursday. It is Wednesday. Get your Thursday meme out of my Wednesday.

Anyway. This is me before junior prom in 1996. You can’t tell from this picture, but I’m wearing an Animaniacs pin in place of the top button on my shirt.
You’re welcome.

The story of my avatar: I was but a wee infant. My family had gone camping up in the mountain that you can see off in the distant background. Early one morning my father was gathering firewood, cutting down dead trees, etc. One of these dead trees was magnificently tall and it fell with tremendous force. The impact against the cold frozen earth sent shock waves up the mountainside, instigating a devastating avalanche. The snow barrelled down the slope with ever-increasing speed and furiosity as my father picked me up and ran back towards our campsite. Before we knew it, the snow had engulfed us and my entire family was being propelled downward by this unthinkable tragedy. It seemed like an eternity before we finally stopped, but it was probably only about a minute. The avalanche had deposited us into a deep ravine at the base of the mountain. Miraculously, I was not buried and ended up resting atop the flow of ice and snow - as if you were pouring milk into a bowl of Lucky Charms® and all the marshmallow treasures floated to the top because they weighed less than their oaty brethren. I cried out to my family but there was no response, so I did the only thing I could - I crawled. I crawled out from that ravine and slowly traversed miles of frozen forest before finally seeing a ski lodge off in the distance. As night was quickly falling, with my last minuscule strength, I pushed open the door and crawled to the edge of a staircase, screaming. This picture was snapped by someone at the base of the stairs. Startled by the screaming, she was quick enough to grab a nearby camera and capture this picture of me. You can tell I was cold because my tongue is clearly blue and frozen. My family was rescued. They had been trapped beneath the snow but protected in a natural snow-cave that had formed around them as they tumbled down the mountain. To this day, I still bear the emotional scars of that fateful experience. (originally posted 3/12/2009)

The story of my avatar:

I was but a wee infant. My family had gone camping up in the mountain that you can see off in the distant background. Early one morning my father was gathering firewood, cutting down dead trees, etc. One of these dead trees was magnificently tall and it fell with tremendous force. The impact against the cold frozen earth sent shock waves up the mountainside, instigating a devastating avalanche.

The snow barrelled down the slope with ever-increasing speed and furiosity as my father picked me up and ran back towards our campsite. Before we knew it, the snow had engulfed us and my entire family was being propelled downward by this unthinkable tragedy. It seemed like an eternity before we finally stopped, but it was probably only about a minute.

The avalanche had deposited us into a deep ravine at the base of the mountain. Miraculously, I was not buried and ended up resting atop the flow of ice and snow - as if you were pouring milk into a bowl of Lucky Charms® and all the marshmallow treasures floated to the top because they weighed less than their oaty brethren. I cried out to my family but there was no response, so I did the only thing I could - I crawled.

I crawled out from that ravine and slowly traversed miles of frozen forest before finally seeing a ski lodge off in the distance. As night was quickly falling, with my last minuscule strength, I pushed open the door and crawled to the edge of a staircase, screaming. This picture was snapped by someone at the base of the stairs. Startled by the screaming, she was quick enough to grab a nearby camera and capture this picture of me. You can tell I was cold because my tongue is clearly blue and frozen.

My family was rescued. They had been trapped beneath the snow but protected in a natural snow-cave that had formed around them as they tumbled down the mountain. To this day, I still bear the emotional scars of that fateful experience.

(originally posted 3/12/2009)

High-res September, 1988.I got Laser Tag for my 9th birthday.  To this day it’s one of the best presents I’ve ever received.  I still have both sets in the original boxes. I’m thinking the next ROFLCHESTER gathering will include a Laser Tag tournament.

September, 1988.

I got Laser Tag for my 9th birthday.  To this day it’s one of the best presents I’ve ever received.  I still have both sets in the original boxes.

I’m thinking the next ROFLCHESTER gathering will include a Laser Tag tournament.

High-res GCPOYT - Special Saturday 30th Birthday Edition! …as I turn 30, I’m looking back on some of my previous birthday parties.I believe this was September 1985, as I was turning 6.Left to right: David DeLuca, Evan Reeder, Jason Majewski, Andy Kupchik, Matt Donaldson, Kevin Meath, steelopus, Brendan Behan.The only one of them I’ve spoken to since graduation is Evan, and that was only for a few hours at a friend’s wedding. It’s incredible how much I’ve changed… and yet some days it seems I haven’t changed at all… and I’m perfectly OK with that, and perhaps I’m even glad.

GCPOYT - Special Saturday 30th Birthday Edition!

…as I turn 30, I’m looking back on some of my previous birthday parties.

I believe this was September 1985, as I was turning 6.

Left to right: David DeLuca, Evan Reeder, Jason Majewski, Andy Kupchik, Matt Donaldson, Kevin Meath, steelopus, Brendan Behan.

The only one of them I’ve spoken to since graduation is Evan, and that was only for a few hours at a friend’s wedding.

It’s incredible how much I’ve changed… and yet some days it seems I haven’t changed at all… and I’m perfectly OK with that, and perhaps I’m even glad.

High-res GCPOYT(making up for a few missed weeks) September 1987, I’m 7 years old.I’ve always had an excellent sense of fashion.  I was wearing three different shades of blue, cuffing my pants, and rocking the Chucks before you were even born.

GCPOYT
(making up for a few missed weeks)

September 1987, I’m 7 years old.

I’ve always had an excellent sense of fashion.  I was wearing three different shades of blue, cuffing my pants, and rocking the Chucks before you were even born.

High-res GCPOYT(making up for a few missed weeks) I’m thinking this was sometime in 1987, but I’m not positive.  That would put me at 7 years old.My advice: always be brushing.

GCPOYT
(making up for a few missed weeks)

I’m thinking this was sometime in 1987, but I’m not positive.  That would put me at 7 years old.

My advice: always be brushing.

High-res GCPOYT September 1985.  First day of school - 1st Grade.  I was still just 5 years old (for a few more weeks). Ah… the 80s… With deepest apologies to my sister…though to be fair, this wasn’t a very good look for me either.

GCPOYT

September 1985.  First day of school - 1st Grade.  I was still just 5 years old (for a few more weeks).

Ah… the 80s…

With deepest apologies to my sister…though to be fair, this wasn’t a very good look for me either.