No. 38: ... in an elevator (Anytime to reference and Aerosmith song is the right time)

Jordan Miller, a Kone employee, fixes the hydraulic lift in a Moore Hall elevator. He watches passerbys while capping off an oil leak.

Miller told a story of a fellow employee who died last week doing the same thing in a University of Michigan elevator shaft. The man hadn't set everything up correctly, and the elevator crushed and killed him. Before he told me this story, I was considering asking if I could join him in the elevator shaft to get a different view point on the photo. Then, I had a flashback of a certain giant pumpkin assignment with Erik Holladay where I stood underneath a 1,200-pound pumpkin for a photo. Minutes later, it fell into the truck, breaking the straps that were holding it up.

Decided I should just be happy with where I was this time, and not go into the elevator shaft.

No. 37: Eye see Bradley

Lifeline Editor Brad Canze and I took a trip to Pixie after discussing story ideas for his next section. We played Connect 4, which I reign supreme with a record of 2-1. Best of three rules, I win. Just liked this photo, and this photo just tells the story of how fun a couple of guys like Brad and I can be.

No. 36: Boards and benches

Have to look back in my notebook to get their names, but wanted to throw these up. I saw these two grinding benches in the middle of campus. Of course, I took my camera and ran to see what they were up to.

No. 35: A delightful dish ... or four

Hungry? Why wait?

Baked apples, chicken quesadillas, red applesauce and summer salad. Get the recipes in Thursday's edition of Central Michigan Life. I'll post the recipes up a little later. The red applesauce is definitely something to try. It's delicious!!!

No. 34: Two parks for the price of one, FUN FUN!

A little girl named Rebecca Cassilla, 2, of Whitehall lays on the cement, her eyes barely open. She ran around from ride to ride at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, Mich. on Saturday, and after three hours, all she wanted was a nap. Her mother Cassandra holds her child by a monkey backpack, or what I refer to as a leash (never put a leash on your children). The two had already been on every kiddie coaster the park had to offer. Next on the list of things to do: lunch.

No. 33: Fire with friends

So I was able to sneak away this weekend to a few different key locations for what felt like summer. Weird, because I had all summer to feel like summer, but it's those few instances of really do-nothing attitudes that give me the opportunity to relax and have fun that stand out.

This is a photo of the fire Dave Weatherwax started. He said he could always rely on his pristine, fire-building abilities to get him by in life. I think it's a good second career. Lol. You make one damn good bonfire.

Note: I had too much fun this night. Thus, not so many photos. Haha.

No. 32: The King is dead!

A September arson was the beginning of an end for this Mount Pleasant landmark. Too bad the end really came nearly one year later, after the place was torn down because of asbestos. Here's the story that ran in Thursday's edition of Central Michigan Life. Also, here's a recap story the developments last summer.

No. 31: Senator Carl Levin at our newspaper? Yes.

Not two days after I started my first day back at Central Michigan Life, and who walks through the door ... U.S. Democratic Senator Carl Levin. My friend Brian McLean interviewed him in our office for about 30 minutes on the Russia-Georgia conflict and a few other topics in the news. Check out his interview.

No. 30: Tunnel vision

So my friend Jessica Scott is a pretty cool girl. She's the photo editor at Central Michigan Life. Gotta say, I don't know how I came up with the idea for this image, but I like it. I rolled up a photo assignment budget sheet (8 1/2 x 11) and then took a look through it. Crazy tunnel vision, but it gives me some ideas for some studio work this fall for class. Can't wait!

No. 29: High sky construction

The music building finished before I graduate? I don't believe my eyes, so I had to trust my lens. Construction workers stood atop the building applying a final metallic belt along the top edges. Amazing!

No. 28: Road Trip, Take Two

Here is irony. Below are two images I made on Sunday, Aug. 10. I didn't think about either as a pair when I shot them individually. I thought of different reasons for making each image. The first, being that I was finishing my road trip back to Michigan, was specifically shot to show that which is the "Breakfast of a champion." (Notice the healthy choice on the water. Lol!) This said specifically with a pun intended. This is the epitome of every long trip. McDonald's breakfast is not healthy, but hits the spot as you see probably one every exit off of any major interstates or highways. The second image I made because, as we all know, cows are roadside on any multi-state car ride. So, I had to get one of these cows. The irony: I think I ate his relative for breakfast. Or some processed version of another animal.

No. 27: Road Trip, Take One

On the first day on the road back to Michigan, I definitely found a good bit of wildlife while still in Florida (no surprise there). The story goes that I decided to stop to attempt my first few photographs just at the cusp of Ocala, Fla. I saw a sign for the Museum of Drag Racing. Lucky for me, I passed right by and drove for about a minute or two. As I told my friend on the phone, "Where the hell is this place," that's when I ran across a great deal of photo-friendly wildlife (and one not so wild).

What caught my eye was a pony with 80s rock band hairstyles comparable to that of C.C. DeVille and Billy Idol. I'll name the little guy Billy DeVille. As I left, I noticed Billy was following me along the fence. I went to capture a few more images when I almost walked straight into a spider as big as my hand, literally. I decided to take the Charlotte's Web approach, and forgot about Billy for a moment. What else did I run across. Oh yeah, Florida's deadliest creature: Fire ants! Oh and the man pictured with the funny look on his face is my

 childhood best friend Wesley Hunt. 

Sorry, put the blame on me.

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't updated, but I promise you that I have yet to miss a day of Project: Mom. I will be posting soon.

I should be posting tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, enjoy this song by Akon. By the way, it is the entire music video.

No. 26: LAST-ing impressions

I've been meaning to make an image of my badge all summer, but I couldn't find a more appropriate time than for today to post this. It's my last day at the St. Petersburg Times. It's my last day in the city, too. The staff here is amazing! It is the holy grail of newspapers. I only wish to some day come back to this paper and work, as it not only has a great reputation for journalism standards (Poynter being around the corner, literally), it has great people. That's what matters most to me is the people in my life. Thanks to all of you. You've made this a great summer and the best internship possible.

No. 25: Signs

A quick-lit photo essay on 4th St. N. in St. Petersburg. These are just a few of the signs that always caught my eye when driving down the street at night. Figured it was worth a post.

No. 24: Major League

Talk about a game.
There I am shooting my first Major League Baseball game. Who's playing: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Indians. The last game of the series. Rays are down by three going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
After Gabe Gross hit an RBI-double, Eric Hinske hit a homerun to tie it up. The momentum started to switch, and after two more Rays hopped onto first and second, in came Carlos Pena (once a Tiger). He hit a homerun which not only ended the game, but brought the final score to Rays 10, Indians 7.

No. 23: Up or down?

This image was taken at the St. Petersburg Times in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. I was between the third and fourth floors when I was inspired to make a few images. I thought of M.C. Escher, making this a small tribute to the artist who created impossible constructions, like the never-ending staircase. I can't believe that I have been here for three months and never saw this until today.