Daniel the Marine

People don't always look as you may assume they should look: He has met past presidents, worked with troubled youth, served our country in the armed forces, helped prison inmates, led a church and more.

His name is Daniel Kingery and he travels the country picking up trash while displaying his sign “CleanHonestGov.com.” The website is a mix of his views, ideas and information on the government.

Originally from Iowa, the 2007 Presidential candidate goes from state to state talking to anyone who is willing to listen.

The former U.S. Marine was once the owner of several junkyards and a laundromat in the past, according to the “The Rock Island Argus” Newspaper. The paper also wrote in '07 that he stayed in the Kansas City Mission for a short period, and has served jail time for various contempt of court sanctions regarding disagreements with various city or community officials.”

To say he has seen some interesting things while being homeless would be an understatement.

In 2018 the 58 year old Kingery was homeless in the area of the White House. There, he has sat through extreme weather conditions, religious protests, public demonstrations, and white pride marches... He was not said to be a part of the rallies, protests or marches – only at the right place at perhaps the right time to witness history unfold in a small way. When interviewed by “Street Sense Media” reporter Christian Zapata he stated, “He looks at such events as opportunities to “learn from those who might be an enemy or have been taught to be one.”

“When they judge you, yawn.
When they misunderstand you, smile.
When they underestimate you, laugh.
When they condemn you, ignore.
When they envy you, rejoice.
When they oppose you, prevail.” 
― Matshona Dhliwayo

SURVIVAL: He came to the Washington DC

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SURVIVAL: He came to the Washington DC area in the early 2000's for a construction related job. He told me the job went well, he got an efficiency apartment and life was good. The market eventually went sour in 2008 and the job was cut, the apartment was yanked away and life led him to the streets.

Some of us overcome obstacles while others only survive, grasping at the strings of the rope to remain afloat.

42 Year old Gail Carriger stated during an interview, “I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the day." I think that sums up the difference of surviving verses living.

You Stand Out

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein wrote, “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”

While the pain is great the growth can be greater.

If you want to change something, you have to think bigger than yourself. You have to think outside the box.

True, you maybe a little different from others. You may have had a few negative run-ins due to your creativity and free spirit. You may live with your head in the clouds at times and some may not understand you.

Others may talk negative about you and you fail to correct them because you are too busy dreaming or growing in some way.

Most won’t see eye to eye with you because you go places that are not full of beauty and lush green plants.

You fall down and make mistakes… a lot. Then, you admit to the many mistakes and misguided roads because your eyes see more than what is ahead of you at times.

You make others laugh to cover up your displeasure and distaste of guidance or hurts. Sometimes both.

Far from a social butterfly, you fly away from the crowds.

There is also a chance that you can’t make up your mind sometimes, overthink, underthink, fail to plan, jump from number 1 to number 10, don’t read instructions, don’t take instruction and finally - - run from things that make sense.

But hey, that’s you. You are different.

Start dreaming and stop talking, gossiping or bad mouthing others. Start moving. Or, continue the old road and don't make a difference - up to you.

“Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”

— Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Muhraka Monastery View

In Tennessee we have Lookout Mountain where you can see seven states. In Israel, they have where you can see Mount Hermon, Beit She’Arim, the Kishon River, Judea – Samaria, Jerusalem, Ramat Hashofet, Ein Masmofet, Kibbutz Dalia, Tel Aviv and Netanya.

Standing on top of the Muhraka Monastery on the highest peak of the Carmel Mountains  you can see a forest on one side and dirt and sand roads on the other.

Slower Pace

In some areas of Cuba, it is a slower pace of life. Instead of cars roaring down narrow streets, you often see taxis with pedals instead of engines. Conversation instead of cellphones. Smiles instead of glares.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." ― Henry David Thoreau

Amazing to See

Simply look and you too will be amazed at life. 

“Look deeper and you can find some stuff which will amaze you!” ― Deyth Banger

The Grand Canyon 2018

Unreal is Real

Sometimes the real looks more unreal. 

I shot this photo in Arizona where this is a similar site along the roadways and trails. The rocks look more like walls and the mountain peeks look more like statues. 

“Life without any wonder left in it is flat and stale.”  ― David Eddings

Man Needs Colors

At the Valley of Fire in Nevada the rocks are amazing shades of brilliant red, some almost pink in color.

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Some of the mountains of red sandstone can easily crumble to the touch while others have lasted for thousands of years.

Scientist suggest the Aztec Sandstone formed 150 million years ago from shifting sand dunes.

The park was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

The park in its brilliant red has reached record temperatures in the summer of 117 degrees.

Record lows have bottomed at 12 degrees during the winters.

The average temperature in the summer is between 100 and 105 degrees (June, July and August). The average winter low is 38 degrees in both December and January.

“Man needs colour to live; it’s just as necessary an element as fire and water.”

— Fernand Leger, French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker (1881-1955)

The Joshua Tree

A tree of twisting and turning with roots that grow deep into the desert inching along for water that other plants cannot reach.

The tree has leaves that stab like little daggers.

The Joshua Tree is named after the Prophet Joshua from the Bible. Like the tree, Joshua was known to be a man of strength. He was the leader of the Israelite tribes up until Moses died.

The trees only grow in one place... The Mojave Desert. That massive land area consists of 47,877 square miles and is the driest desert in North America.

Amazingly, the Joshua Tree can survive for up to 1,000 years.

The English name of Joshua means “Yehoshua” in Greek. The word Yehoshua means Yahweh in Hebrew and “Yahweh is Salvation.”

“Desert sky, dream beneath the desert sky. The rivers run but soon run dry. We need new dreams tonight. Desert rose, dreamed I saw a desert rose. Dress torn in ribbons and bows. Like a siren she calls (to me)”

— U2, Joshua Tree Album - Song: In God’s Country

In the song that was written by lead vocalist Bono, the desert is used metaphor for "spiritual drought".

New Treasure Found

Going home with new treasures on the same grounds that Jesus walked... In fact, only about 100 yards from where he rose again.

Perhaps this dumpster holds more treasure, curiosity and magic than others in Israel?

“Children make you want to start life over.”

— Muhammad Ali

A Sea of People in Old City Jerusalem

It was a sea of people around every corner in Old City Jerusalem. A mixture of tourist and locals going about their daily chores of shopping, sightseeing, selling and more. 

Jerusalem is the most visited city in Israel. About 3.6 million people visit the city annually.

Conversations in the Old City

In the Old City of Jerusalem you see shoppers making their way home from a day of purchases, you see beggars asking for change, you see the aged sitting in chairs along the streets talking, laughing, smoking. You see life, some of which resembles the way life may have been in the late 1500's.

Today, Old City consist of an estimated 27,500 Muslims, 5,681 Christians and 3,089 Jews.

The area is mixed with different religions all living together. Sometimes they live in harmony and sometimes they don't. It can be a mixed bag of rest and fighting. The United States Department of State reports, "Jerusalem has been assessed as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution"

In a May 2018 edition of The Guardian, Harriet Sherwood wrote, "Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City say their presence at the geographical heart of their faith is under threat from intimidation and aggressive property acquisition by hardline Jewish settlers."

Life. It can be different from what we think depending on where we stand.

Celebrations of Lag BaOmer

Jewish men and boys laughed jovially as they took part in the celebrations of Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count.

It happened in May of last year (2018) and Bonfires were lit throughout Jerusalem as part of the celebration.

This particular event I photographed was at a Jewish school. In Israel, it is celebrated as a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit.

A Jewish Night in Israel

2018: A Jewish night in Israel marked by a celebration.

"A mother understands what a child does not say."
-Jewish Proverb

Caesarea Philippi near the Syrian and Lebanese borders

Strolling through the ancient town of Caesarea Philippi near the Syrian and Lebanese borders you will find seven pagan temples. The cave pictured above was nicknamed the Gates of Hades, also known as the Gates of Hell. Creepy would be an understatement.

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The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats

In 220 BC under Emperor Elagabalus, goats were sacrificed as part of rituals. The bones of the goats were then buried inside a rock building that once stood on the grounds. The tomb for the animals was called, “The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats.”

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Elagabalus was said to be one of the most corrupt emperors in Roman history. Bloodshed was common under his rule. Upon becoming emperor he took the name “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.” He was called Elagabalus after his death. He was 14 when he became the emperor and was remembered for not only bloodshed, but also sex scandals. He was 19 when he died.

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A column from The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats