somewhere in utah in apple valley.  this was one of the views i had from my sleeping quarters (which were two rocks - not that comfortable but then again it could have been a lot worse).

so here's the deal.  i took/am still taking WAY too many pictures on this trip -- that's a good thing though, right?  because of my photo addiction i plan on posting one picture every day for 365 days.  the pictures will not just be from this cross-country trip, they'll be from all parts of life that i encounter.  but for the time being a lot of the pictures will be from this trip.  these are just a few pictures from somewhere in utah.  the first is near apple valley, which is about 10 minutes from the arizona border.  the other three are about 56 miles from colorado in utah  -- no real name to the town...because the town was dead as can be seen.

photo info for those who want to know for picture one: iso 200, f/2.8, 28mm, 1/250

what happens in indiana, stays in indi turns into corn.

my niece Sadie turned one year old TODAY!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE!!  it's hard to believe that this little gal is already walking and saying my name -- JJ.  my sister lives up in grand rapids but came down for a b-day party for miss Sadie a few weeks ago.  this, of course, meant i would be the photographer of said b-day party.  some might fear such a responsibility of documenting one year olds in their natural habitat, i.e., running around half naked, eating devouring cake, fat rolls, screaming their heads off because of the amount of sugar my sis...their parents gave them.  not me, ha, i embrace the position! 
my sister also asked me to take Sadie's one year old pictures.  this was a privilege and a blessing.  Sadie is by far the happiest baby i know.  she always has this big (toothless) grin on her face that causes me to have just smile back.  okay, enough talking.  Sadie Michael, Ella (the older sister), and Ella's friends...