I feel like I have been in a creative slump for, oh, three months now. Do you ever feel like you're just in this rut, and you keep doing the same things over and over? But you keep creating the same type of crap? Well, that's where I'm at.

I am resolving to start putting on here things that inspire me (although, many times my resolutions are good natured but last only a short time. so, i guess when this entry gets to the bottom of the pg, we'll know if i've stuck with it).

Let's call this semi-ongoing topic...inspirati..kinda gay, huh. Sounds like a really bad ice skating show. But it's close to midnight. So i'm sticking with it.

I never thought I'd be inspired by pictures of fishermen. But this stuff was a 'wow' with each one I viewed. Check out the photography of corey arnold.

Mas inspirati

Paul Armstrong lives in Maineville, Ohio. I lived in Maineville, Ohio. I never met Paul Armstrong. He is a very talented photographer. Paul volunteers his time with Four Corners Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. I want to be more like Paul Armstrong. He has a very cool blog, too. Much cooler than mine.

Looking at Paul's pictures has made me long for a digital SLR. I need! I need! Gimme! Gimme!

Paul partners up with another talented graphic designer named Ryan Hartsock. Together, they are cooler than they are alone.

Our wedding photographer, Kevin King, continues to wow and inspire me.

When I asked him how he got so good, he said he just took his camera in a room and started playing with the flash, the aperture, the speed, etc. This, again, is why I need a digital SLR. So, I too can create cool pictures to be used in New Valley materials and videos. And b/c God wants me to. :)

Another place I like to go is a site created by a guy who is the Creative Director at my old church in Cincinnati (Crossroads). He started his own podcast and subscription website for creative types called The Accidental Creative. In just a few short months, he has like thousands of subscribers. Basically, I am like a cold, dried up piece of toast compared to him.

Other sites I visit for inspiration:
res72
Open Source Photo
okaydave.com
flickr's interestingness

Ok. That'll do for now. Feel free to give me heck if I don't keep this up. And tell me what your inspirati is.

Kira and I just returned (last Friday) from a five day cruise to LA, San Diego, Catalina, and Ensenada. This the ship we were on. It is the only pic you will see as I left my digital camera on board. Smooth move, Ex-Lax.

Highlights of the trip included:

- Watching the sunrise and sunset in a different city each day

- Ordering as many of each entree per night at dinner that I wanted. And oh yes, I did order more than one.

- Sharing a 10x12 room with my wife. It actually was kinda fun. Forced you to simplify life a little. Something, too about not having to drive anywhere, to check email, to cook. Just hang with my wife. Very fun.

- Meeting people (our first conversation was with three African-American women in their 60's and 70's..all widows...and all joking about how they believed Kira and I were going to make a baby on the boat..they were a hoot).

- Playing Kira one on one on the back of the boat

- Seeing hippos at the San Diego Zoo...Did you know they can stay under water for minutes at a time. I have some incredible pictures of them. Well, someone does (whoever has my camera).

- Being reminded of life outside of America. Our Ensenada tour guide made fun of us b/c we knew very little about Mexico. He seemed a little (ok, a lot) resentful. But there is definitely truth in it. Do you know how many states are in Mexico? :)

I am hoping we take another cruise soon. We were thinking how fun it would be to go on one with a group of our friends. What do you think?

Grab some popcorn, sit back and relax. Let Pappa Scott tell you the story of how God created (and is still creating) a little 'ol thing called New Valley (11:14)(24.3mb)(I split it into two parts, though).

We had a great time at Vision Night! We had about 70 people come back on a Sunday night to hear all about the plans for New Valley in the coming year. The big things we laid out were...

1. Hire Tom Mulhern as our Youth Director
2. Hire Tami White as our new Kidz Director
3. Hire Sherry Eschenberg as our new Admin Person (ok, she's volunteering for free!)

It was a great night. I made a video chronicling the story of New Valley thus far. I will post it in the next few days, so keep a look out!