{ Dashus:land }

A beach dressed in white...

Rehoboth in winter..

12-Hour Work Day Remedy...

An evening with a twist...

A weekend begins richly with him...

 

The Getty Center. L.A.

 

The Getty Center...

 

The Getty Center..

The Getty Center...

 

My two favorite gifts...

A very Virginia Christmas...

A special delivery from a special guy. xox.

A perfect evening's beginning.

The many meanings of nine eleven...

Today, September 11th, is my Dad's birthday. I'm such a huge fan of my Dad. I'm named after my Dad and he is a man that I look up to immensely. My father is still such a rock for my family. He may come off rugged and quiet but he is one of the most sweet, caring and joyful people that I have in my life. All of my Dad's actions come from his heart. He is not a man of pretension. If you treat him well, he will treat you well. His manner is very simple and that it was why I've learned so much from him. So many people I've witnessed in my life thrive off of drama. To see someone so completely disconnected from that trend can teach you a great deal. Dad - Happy Birthday. My wish for you is that this year is filled with more health, love, friends, family and good times than you know what to do with. I love you.

Today is also a day that has become a day of remembrance. The attack on our soil was one that drove a stake in to the heart of our country. Having been in New York during and after 9/11, I have seen a city that has grown and risen from such deep wrenching fear and loss and become a more cohesive place. I know I will never truly get over the feeling of that day. The madness, the panic, the unsureness and the absolute feeling of helplessness is something that you cannot shake. Each year I think different things about the events of that day and how it has shaped me, my friends, my city, my country. I look at how the events that took place on that morning brought out the best in this country and sadly the worst. I saw the heroic and the willful in my fellow New Yorkers as they risked their health to work at Ground Zero directly following the attacks and then we saw our own politicians use the terror warnings in the years to follow as a voting tools. There is so much good that came out of that day in regards to our recovery and then so much negativity that still lingers 8 years later. That day's events crushed families, broke spirits, confused our faith and at the same time it inspired hope, taught perseverance and strength and brought a Nation together for a moment. As Friedrich Nietzsche said "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." He couldn't have been more right.

Lastly, today is an important day to me because it is the 3rd birthday of this here blog! Dashusland is three! I began writing Dashusland on September 11th 2006. I had just gotten home from a fabulous week in Rehoboth Beach and I wanted to create some sort of artistic and cathartic outlet for myself. I love music and poetry and fashion and photography and art and I wanted a place where I could just document the things in my life that caught my eye. This blog has become some what of a living online journal of mine. This post will be my 1,507th post that I have written on this site since that first day. As this blog took off and I really found my home here, I made a promise to myself (and to you) on January 1st 2007 that I'd post at least one thing daily and I haven't missed a day yet. Whew! I look back at my HAHAHA posts that are filled with some funny videos, quotes, and photos that have caught my eye and I still laugh. I love my posts on ART, or the photos that I have snapped with my Blackberry and now with my iPhone that are part of my DASHUS:MOBILE series. I love my Quote related posts in my YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT series featuring quotes and sayings that I found interesting or inspiring or provocative. I'm also enjoying the new set of photos that I'm calling UP FROM DOWN which is my vantage point on the city I live in looking up at all the skyscrapers that I adore. This blog is fun for me and I hope that you find it fun sometimes, too. I really enjoy writing it and keeping it current. The things I feature here are just things that I dig. Dashusland is my lil' outlet and my communication with you. I hope that you'll continue to visit me here. Please continue to comment on the site and to send me things that you think I'd find interesting. I LOVE that. Here is to 3 more super duper years of Dashus goodness. I promise ya. xox.

Lovely Lewes...

Dear Bellmoor, Oh how I've missed you so...

A passing ship treats the scene...

Between the boards...

A very happy hour...

Sunset sweets...

N.Y. Seen - Slinking in to night.

A setting sun with you....

N.Y. Seen - A panoramic view.

Even rainy days are beautiful from here...

Balcony Theatre.

N.Y Seen - A rainbow connection.

La la la la life is wonderful...

Baltimore - An aquatic view - 1

Baltimore - An aquatic view - 2

Baltimore - An aquatic view - 3