Simon Ponder: Haikus, Thoughts, Lomography and Games with a dash of ADD
I am a little behind on this. Like super behind on this. I started OCA this week and it has consumed me.
Last week was good. I got in two really solid runs. Some of the best runs I have gotten since I started doing couch to 5k again. I did not get in all 3 runs.
I did however get in 10k steps each day and hit the distance goal for Pokemon Go.
I have also been doing really well on my sleep patterns which had been lacking.
I had some free time last Sunday before work at the retail job. I knew there was a park nearby so I decided to visit it and see what was there because I had never visited the park and knew there was a trail that follows the creek through the park.
What I did not expect was that the trail was completely paved for the whole .81 miles of its length. Still, a trail is a trail and I had never walked the length of in this park which is build on a flood plain and is part of the cities preventative measures to keep downtown San Antonio from flooding.
It was a nice stroll through the Oak trees and great for a little short day hike before work. I don’t know that I will revisit this trail, and I was disappointed there were not any paths that would take me off the pavement and onto something a bit more rugged.
This week has been really good. I started the week and the year off right by going on a hike. I also wanted to make certain that I got my 10,000 steps each day. I could do this however I could, which led to a really poor choice, or an excellent example of how out of shape I am.
You see, one day this week the weather was really bad, so I decided to go for a walk in the stairwell downtown. One story up, then 8 stories down then back up 7 stories. It was murder on my calves. And then my iPhone did not record a single step of that. Incredibly cruel.
Because of this. I finally got a replacement for my Apple Watch. I decided to get the Garmin Vivosmart 3. It was on sale on Amazon, and I have some Amazon bucks to spend so I decided to grab one. I like it and that it is keeping track of my walking habits. I can leave my phone behind and just go for a walk.
It is not a permanent solution for me, but it is a nice tracker and I may continue to use it for those times when I do not want to risk my apple watch again.
I did get one solid run in from Couch to 5k, however the stair climbing stunt completely ruined my calves and made it hard to walk the next day. Put that on pause and focused on just walking and stretching.
I did end the week with a nice hike/stroll along a nature trail in Olmos basin which I will write about tomorrow.
2018 was a very frustrating year for me photographically. I took a lot of photos this year. For the animal rescue, while traveling with the photo studio. But nothing spectacular.
Anytime I went to shoot for myself, for the sheer pleasure of it. To create something of value for myself. The camera would break.My rangefinder for example died in New Orleans. My Instax Mini died while I was in Dallas.
My 4×5 all the paper fell out of it while I was in Denton.
Frustration after frustration. It was in between these moments that I would pull out my iPhone and load up a favorite app of mine, the 1-Hour Photo app, that I would finally start creating things.
Without further adoo, here are my favorite photos of 2018:
I have my Lomo LCA loaded up with film right now, after some budget hiccups I am going to start developing film again, around May or June.
I think it is going to have to be a back to basics for a little while to get me out of the rut that I am in.
I am happy with these photos, I am just so frustrated with equipment and not being able to create what I want. Although, I have started using the app more and more as a way of quickly creating something that I love.
Without spending hours tweaking it in Photoshop until its something I can settle on.
One of my goals for 2019 is to get outside more. Part of that goal is to go on 52 Hikes as inspired by the 52 Hike Challenge.
Yesterday, being the first day of the year made for a perfect day to start on the 52 Hike Challenge. After a tasty lunch with my parents I headed to Hardberger Park. This park is close to where my parents used to live. I am super familiar with half the trails in the park, but since it is a divided park I decided to do the other half that I had never been to.
I decided to hike the Savannah Loop, a 1.8 mile trail. It was pretty, even in the fog, cold and damp.
Parts of the trail were flooded out because of the recent rains.
It is an easy trail to walk/hike. Part of it is paved leading into the park. It isn’t until you get deeper into the park that it turns to dirt.
The trail signs say it is a Level 3. I have never been certain on what the levels mean. Its a nice urban trail that is fun to hike on a lazy day.
December 1, 2018
Photos with Santa
Cousins wedding reception
Board games with Ariel
December 2, 2018
Breakfast with Ariel
Walking for Pokemon day
Gather stored items
December 3, 2018
Notes sent overseas
Raid bus tickets are for sale
Write essay for Quest
December 4, 2018
Prepare documents
Assessment meeting with quest
Discuss funding me
December 5, 2018
Observe the new pups
Visit parents for dinner
Stroll along the lake
December 6, 2018
Deliver banner Downtown
for work on projects
Run at
December 7, 2018
grant organizer call
Failed to eat a healthy lunch
Late night GameStop shift
December 8, 2018
Adoption event
Help mom move heavy items
Blog and clean the house
December 9, 2018
Wake up for bus photo
Clean home and
Ready for new year
December 10, 2018
Finalize design
Schedule plans with project quest
Frito pie dinner
December 11, 2018
Certification
Meet with project quest advisor
Potential future.
December 12, 2018
Mail package to
Lose water bottle during
Consult board game store
December 13, 2018
Surprise lunch with friends
Christmas party for district
Celebrate funding
December 14, 2018
Joy filled walk to work
Pizza and walk for quick lunch
Fermented Friday
December 15, 2018
Waiting for email
Dressed as Santa for rescue
Worked late at GameStop
December 16, 2018
Slept
Spicy noodles with Ariel
Relaxing
December 17, 2018
Wrote the big letter,
Completed a final project
The year winds down now
December 18, 2018
Removed the
Informed boss of future plans
Hot cocoA after
December 19, 2018
Up early today
Email confirmation today
PoGo tournament
December 20, 2018
Worked from bosses home
Ran errands and discussed work
Home to clean the house
December 21, 2018
Run Errands today
Visit Game Workshop for toy
Late to evening work
December 22, 2018
Friendly 5k race
Double Christmas parties kept me
Out late in the night
December 23,
Up late for noodles
Last minute Christmas shopping
Game stop shift tonight
December 24,
Red dawn light through glass
Christmas Eve shopping
followed By family joy
December 25, 2018
Christmas gifts for all
Sausage balls hot from the oven
Playtime with the kids
December 26, 2018
Dog sitting for friends
Work downtown setting up computer
Family time after
December 27, 2018
Up early for dogs
Lunch stroll to find warm pizza
Closing shift tonight
December 28, 2018
Gather bus supplies,
Babysitting friends dogs
Final days of work
December 29, 2018
Sleep late, tend devil dogs
Laundry and chores with parents
Relax in the night
December 30,
Full day retail work.
Fajita tacos for sup
End dog sitting
December 31, 2018
Finish the year strong
Prepare challenges ahead
Celebrate the day
