SMASHED AMBITION

Been holdin'out on us...

2009-07-28T12:26:00.006-04:00

After several trips to this location, our tour guide finally agreed to let us into this particular building without a level3 hazmat suit and respirator. It seems he was worried about us being exposed to asbestos and other yummy stuff like that. Thanks for your concern bro, but I think it's just a little late for that. I have been practicing this art form for a few years now, and if I'm not mistaken, I'm still the new guy in the krewe. The oldest but the newest, and thats all I'm sayin about that...
It was a really awesome day spent with friends taking pics until we were completely exhausted. Apparently our guides concerns weren't all that far of base though, at the end of the day sirens could be heard wailing throughout the facility. When we found the source of all the excitement there were guys running around in those spacesuit looking fire fighting outfits and screams of "MAN DOWN" and "WOMAN DOWN" and some guy with handcuffs and an AK-47 keeping us from seeing what was really going on. And the really fucked up thing about it was, it was all happening at the very building he didn't want us in...
With all this excitement we decided we had to have some kind of memento of our special day. So we all stopped at the souvenir shop on our way out where we were treated to some very nice gifts. Thanks again bro. That fucking rocked!
And just so you know, We here at Smashed Ambition are making our best efforts to be"green". It seems to have become very trendy to be involved in recycling, and we certainly want to be trendy and hip. In our efforts to be "green" I sent over 6 gigs of photos to the recycling bin on my computer after this trip. One of these days I will learn how to take a quality image... maybe

The morning after...

2009-07-17T11:31:00.002-04:00

Detroit Iron...

2009-07-14T19:46:00.006-04:00

Huge props to our P/R Director, and the guy with the really nice camera
for this place. I actually made it through the day without destroying any
gear and no personal injury. Guess I'm not trying hard enough...

I'm back, I think...

2009-07-03T12:55:00.003-04:00

I have decided to spare the few who read this two months worth of my ramblings.
Here is the condensed version of the last two months;
Everything sucks,
No job,
No money,
No motivation,
No desire,
No creativity,
No energy.

For the few bright spots in my life, I thank you. (you know who you are)

Light Speed Blogging...

2009-05-05T20:56:00.002-04:00

I have been working on this post for three days now.
Work, falling asleep at my computer desk, and running out of cigarettes
are only a few of the myriad of reasons it has taken this long.
I had thought of all kinds of witty things to say about
Brown Panther sightings, there was even an attempt to tame the elusive beast
by a couple of people in our krewe.
I have photographic proof that I'm saving in the event that I want something.

Apparently the Blogger spell checker has never been to New Orleans.
It is desperately trying to tell me that krewe is not a word...
but "Blogger" is?

These pictures were taken over 72 hours ago and about the only thing my sordid
mind can remember about them is;
Good times with good friends.
Brown Panther
Brown Panther
Brown Panther
Way too much discussion about the human digestive tract.
And the largest, most fetid collection of pigeon shit I can recall encountering
while practicing our art form.

Three buildings in one day,
One common thread,
We had a great time,
We may have "issues"

Cement shoes...

2009-04-26T19:54:00.003-04:00

I have no idea if you come here or not,
I doubt you do.
If you do, you know who you are.
Thanks for this place.

De-commisioned...

2009-04-21T21:27:00.003-04:00

Been looking at this place for a long time now.

What a pleasant surprise.

Crumbling around us...

2009-04-19T21:00:00.004-04:00

In anticipation of temps in the mid 70's, we got an early start on Saturday.
We were at Starbucks by a little after 6 getting coffees and macchiatos that would later be shared with my camera bag.
This place is like a "two for one" as there are two buildings connected to one another.
Work is currently underway to save the facade of one of the buildings, but there is no way they would be working on Saturday...Right?
I read in the Freep last week that D.N.R. biologist have been observing a Bald Eagle in the downtown area. Pretty cool.
Just in case any of you D.N.R. biologist are reading this...
There is a huge Brown Panther running around in this place.
I didn't exactly see it, but I heard it, and without any water...
You definitely smell it...
Gaaarrraaaaaaaaarrrrrrr

Bye Bye Birdy...

2009-04-15T00:15:00.003-04:00

Hell Boy's next address...

2009-04-05T20:54:00.005-04:00

Tricity...

2009-03-29T11:19:00.004-04:00

Ever since our first trip here, this has been one of my favorite places to practice our art form.
Like everywhere else that we make return visits to,
this place is constantly evolving and changing.
The first time we visited here was almost two years ago.
The place looked like you could flip a switch and start generating electric.
Since then over two million dollars of "Super Fund" moneys have been spent on hazardous material abatement.
Over 300,000 linear feet of asbestos has been removed(hey guys you missed a shit load).
Over 150,000 gallons of "contaminated or hazardous" liquids have been removed(you missed a bunch of that too).
And over 700 pounds of mercury was taken out of the place as well.
The EPA report also states that you built a "containment wall" between the steam generation areas, and the turbine room.
Well, your wall ain't containing shit.
It took about 10 minutes to find a way from the boiler rooms into the turbine room...
Nice "containment wall".
I'm sure it made the place safer to get all of that crap out of the building,
but just how safe is the place if your barbed wire fences are falling on people...

Shrinking student body...

2009-03-15T21:58:00.003-04:00

Where have all the good times gone?...

2009-03-09T21:29:00.004-04:00

Three weeks since my last post...
A week of being as sick as I've ever been(physically)...
Two funerals...
Financial anomalies...
Increasing domestic unrest...

I needed to have some fucking fun. This place brought back nothing but great memories of childhood and teen years. Going there first when we were kids for the rides, then as teens for the rides, the girls, and smokin whatever ya brought on the picnic grove or in the woods. Midnight cruises with WRIF. I even had the chance to take both of my daughters before it closed. Good times.
More good times yesterday.
Good friends hoofin it in the rain,
Being watched by the weird guy in the employee lunch room enjoying his Snickers,
Asses in the wind with no means of cover what so ever.
Dark enough to see the head lights on a distant truck, light enough to see that it was a scurity truck. And yes it's scurity, not security.
Standing at the railroad tracks full of trepidation...
The seasoned vet and the rookie simultaneously said
"Fuck it, let's do it"
It was on. No turning back.
Props to whoever left the lights on for us.

The wrecked room

2009-02-17T19:23:00.001-05:00

Part of me is missing...

2009-02-12T22:13:00.004-05:00

My failing mental health...

2009-02-01T12:24:00.010-05:00

My new therapist, Dr. Ricky Bobby

Don't smoke in bed...

About a month ago I received an email from someone that follows my blog. She is a Psychology student, currently gathering data for her Master's thesis. She is studying her theory of being able to analyze an individuals mental health based on that persons blog. I can't imagine how she ended up here...
The soon to be doctor asked if I would be interested in participating in her study.
I agreed.
I did her study, sent it back to her, and waited for her email reply to get my "results".
When I opened her email reply it was the typical patronizing rhetoric thanking me for my time and participation. Then she went on to state that she didn't want to send my results until she could confirm with me that I was sure that I wanted to see them...
What the fuck...
How bad can this shit be?
Now she has me curious. Send me that shit. It took a Psychology major, with an education that cost more than my house, and a 30 page, 300 question test to tell me the following;
I'm depressed; No shit...
I have trouble with "authoritarian figures"; Really?
I have trouble trusting others; Me?
blah, blah, blah...
There were a lot of other "observations" in my results that were all equally as obvious to anyone that reads this crap. All of this was very unsettling and I of course immediately realized that I needed to seek out "professional help".
Right...
I was good with all of this stuff about me until yesterday. I've known for a long time about my "issues", and I deal with them. It's not like I'm driving at night with my headlights off. I was OK, until yesterday. I received a diagnosis yesterday I was not ready for. The highly respected Dr. Ricky Bobby dropped a bomb on me yesterday.
I'm paranoid.
I'm fucking paranoid.
The voices told me to lash out at the good doctor, but I resisted. Dr. Bobby has agreed to work with me on this issue, but I'm feeling a little paranoid about that decision now. Dr. Bobby's bed side manner sucks, and he needs some work on his "ethics".
Thanks doc.

Disney Midwest

2009-01-25T22:32:00.002-05:00

Psycho Power

2009-01-21T21:20:00.004-05:00

We trudged through testicle deep(so what if I have short legs) snow drifts before sunrise to get these images. We get to the "building of interest" just to find the local trailer dwelling yeehaw outside plowing snow with his mega- truck that was most likely worth more than his home.
Not long after that truck guy realized the sun had come up, and therefore time to start drinking and he retreated to his manufactured haven.
While I was busy polishing my first aid skills, the new guy hooked us up.
Thanks Bro. The exit was even better(so what if I have short legs).
These are the first images with my new camera body. And "No" that does not mean the photography will be any better. That just means I'm spending a hell of a lot more money than I ever should be to take these pictures.
After a coffee and some fresh band aids we considered the possibility of going to jail, briefly.
Cool day

Randomness

2009-01-11T21:07:00.002-05:00

Just some random crap.

(D)Evolution

2009-01-01T23:34:00.004-05:00

The artist formerly known as "The Ostrich" loves this place.
We made a few trips here in 2008.
Some more memorable than others.
The piano that remains in the ball room here is probably one
of the most photographed icons in metro Detroit.
Thirty plus years after the last notes were played on this piano,
and it continues to entertain.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2008-12-23T20:35:00.003-05:00

May your holidays be exactly what you would
like them to be.

Peace be with you.

Domestic Harmony

2008-12-23T20:09:00.003-05:00

Because of the holidays, and a family members birfday, I found my
self with only one hour to spend practicing our art form this weekend.
So what is one to do with this one golden hour?
Find a light bulb to become obsessed with.
Spend the entire hour photographing your new obsession.
Nice.

Guess I should just be glad that I can...

The Dome of Pestilence

2008-12-16T13:38:00.006-05:00

Started my Sunday morning this week looking for an apartment. Like so many others, my home has lost so much value that there is little to no equity left in it. Why stay? Why have anything permanent here? The apartment sucked too. I think it was the fact that half of the building had recently burned that made me feel that way. Aside from the whole fire thing it was kinda nice though, almost quaint.

Dog food on the floor...

2008-12-06T01:32:00.003-05:00

Whats does it say for a community when there aren't any more prayers?
Was it the crazy U-haul man behind this place that drove the congregation away?
They didn't want to leave.
Another architectural jewel falls victim to the seemingly perpetual downward spiral.
Lost jobs and homes and schools and churches and dreams and lives...
Is there an end?

Happy Birfday

2008-12-01T20:02:00.003-05:00

Four "new" buildings in one day.
That's a good day.
I didn't fall today.
I didn't break any gear today.
Good day, and good day.
Spending the day with someone special
on their birthday,
spending the day with friends,
taking pictures, making memories,
challenging our fears,
learning how to compromise.
We had a good day.
Thanks guys.

Seasonal Anxiety Disorder...

2008-11-26T19:39:00.007-05:00

Almost 3 weeks since my last post.
Almost 3 weeks without any new pics.
I fucking hate Winter.
Since my last post I have straight up face planted, while out practicing our art form, not once but twice, all though the first one was far more spectacular. It included a large pile of broken glass.
I fucking hate Winter.
Since my last post I have broken my tripod. But that's no problem, I'll just grab a fistful of $20's from my hidden bag of $20's, and buy a brand new one.
Only one problem; This is Michigan, in the Winter, and there are NO fucking hidden bags of $20's anywhere to be found in this depression ridden state.
I fucking hate Winter.
Six months of this meteorological hell.
Six months of energy sucking grey skies.
Six months of wanting to be anywhere but here.
I fucking hate Winter.
A lot of people at this place would have understood me.

No prayin' today...

2008-11-08T18:47:00.006-05:00

We all got up early this morning to go get our pray on. I guess because none of us actually go to church that often, none of us considered that it was Saturday, and there is no prayin, at the church, on Saturday.

Demise of the middle class.

2008-11-02T20:14:00.004-05:00

Law Enforcement

2008-10-26T23:20:00.005-04:00

After going to this place, we went to the projects to watch a group of physics students conducting field tests on the descent rate from 15 floors of various pieces of household furnishings, up to and including love seats.

Doors...

2008-10-26T09:23:00.008-04:00

Door(noun) A swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed or opened. A means of controlling access, ingress and egress.
What do you see when you look at a door?
I have no idea why I'm drawn to doors, maybe it's because it's a way "out", or maybe it's their symmetry, or maybe because it's a way "in", or maybe it's because of the unique noise they make when violently separated from all the hardware holding it in place(some physics students told me about the noise). What ever the reason may be, I take a lot of pictures of doors. And it really doesn't matter what I see, what do you see?

Gutteral Turkey Love...

2008-10-20T19:55:00.005-04:00

Once again we found ourselves chased from our own backyard, and forced to go practice our art form else where. I don't know if it is scrappers fuckin everything up, or an over-zealous interim Mayor. Or maybe were just to lazy to work around the two. Whatever the reason may be we once again found ourselves headed west. Headed west through an inordinate number of shredded victims of car/deer incursions, which we later learned was caused by the females coming into "estrus", causing the males to chase them with wreck less abandon, and some reference was also made to blaming it on hunters. The turkeys were obviously smarter than the deer, we saw a lot of those too, but they stayed the fuck away from the interstate. It was like there were turkeys every where we went. You could hear turkeys everywhere, and some weird, greasy porno groove. Sex was in the air everywhere we went. It's even rumored that a butt-hymen may have been sacrificed(in the name of "art" of course).

The New FB21?

2008-10-16T20:36:00.002-04:00

Hookin' Up

2008-10-10T21:12:00.003-04:00

Across the Street

2008-10-10T20:37:00.002-04:00

Follow up visit

2008-10-05T16:59:00.004-04:00

I hate hospitals. Aside from child birth, hospitals suck. If you find yourself going to the hospital it's for only one of two reasons; either you are fucked up, or someone you care about is fucked up. If your in touch with yourself you can feel the death when you walk through the door. Add in radiators that are pinging and popping in a futile attempt to preserve an already failing roof, just enough electricity to power the "exit" signs, and an occasional flicker in a florescent fixture, and you have this place. This place is a thrill ride for the senses.

I feel better already...

2008-09-27T12:43:00.003-04:00

Just ruble and memories now

2008-09-22T22:40:00.004-04:00

Drove past the corner yesterday. Here's a few from her last days as a complete stadium.

Standing Tall

2008-09-22T22:01:00.003-04:00

A different perspective on a subject every explorer in town has photographed. My friend hurt his back helping create this image( hope you feel better brah). This just goes to prove that Neurosurgeons should not be moving pianos(not that there's anything wrong with being a piano mover) I'm just sayin'..... B.T.W. up righting the piano was his idea.

Went to skoo today....

2008-09-20T20:31:00.010-04:00

You could learn how to make "jewry"

They had a poo, but the scrappers stolt the water

They even had a meth cooking class

With all this really cool shit, I can't believe you have to
get a permit just to be irregular...

Fake People

2008-09-20T10:00:00.006-04:00

We all know at least one of them. Two faced liars, cheaters, people who pretend to be someone they only wish they could be. They are usually the ones that want to talk shit about everyone around them in a futile attempt to distract attention from themselves.

Road Trippin

2008-09-19T08:09:00.004-04:00

How many exploring trips have you been on that included you and your party being evacuated by FEMA.

The Begining

2008-09-18T23:02:00.003-04:00

If I have no expectations, I can't be dis-appointed.

I have no idea where this will go, or what it will evolve into, if anything.