Things you might see: Part II

It's that time of year again. I am photographing the 2009 Bonita Springs Firefighters Calendar. Yes, yes, difficult job. I know. (Thank you, Lisa Krantz, for passing this responsibility on to me.)

Seriously, it's fun, but it's also a lot of work. I won't be posting those pictures here. But, last year shooting the calendar, I spotted bizarre little things at the station and posted it here. The trend continues. Today, another bizarre little photo.

Saving Grace

I returned to Florida and started back to work yesterday after my trip home. Two days of working felt like a week. For the past two days my job felt like a P.R. nightmare. Hospitals, schools, building construction at the new Emergency Operations Center — each place has some public relations person hovering or telling me what I can or can not photograph. This control of information is getting ridiculous.

It's frustrating because I feel like I'm not doing journalism. I feel like I'm the lackey for the whichever public relations firm happens to be in control at the time of the given assignment.

Thank goodness for Grace Place. The family community center and the people in it was just that, my saving grace. Children were getting free shoes and were genuinely excited about it.

Grape juice! What is it good for?

My 83-year-old grandma, who still works at Wal-Mart full-time, is pretty funny. We went grocery shopping today and as we went down the juice aisle, she says:

"I drink grape juice because they say it's good for.... Well, hell.... I can't remember what it is good for. So, I drink it."

:)

Dad... thinkin'..and drinkin'

Dinner tonight had a cool wallpaper and cool light.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I went to work with my parents today (more pictures of that later). They work as dietary aides at an assisted living facility. I watched as the wife of one of the residents came in with a special request for her husband's lunch. I watched my mom hold her hand and listen to exactly what the woman was asking, then promptly take care of the request. I had to take a quick picture, because right then, I realized where I get this trait from. But, I only recognized the moment because a couple of weeks ago, a photographer named Ed Foster took a picture of me at the Ave Maria Oratory dedication. A woman was asking me to use her camera to take a picture from the middle aisle for her because she was stuck in the pew. I touched her hand as I listened and then did exactly what she asked me to do.

Arletta Marie Hardin

One year ago today we said goodbye to my grandma. I thought today would be more difficult. Maybe it isn't more so because there are so many other things happening in life, I have been distracted. Or maybe being with my parents on this day has made it easier. Or maybe it is because I miss her always, no more today than any other.

She was an amazingly complex woman. Beautiful. Cunning. Funny. Artistic. Poetic. Strong. Much like my own mother.

I copied these pictures from a guest book I made last year for her memorial.

Rest in grace, grandma. I feel you with me, everyday.

graveyards, cousins and trying not to get impaled by a fence post

My beautiful cousins, Dustin and Sarah, drove down to visit me in Carson City from Idaho. Yesterday we went to Virginia City. We checked out the graveyard, only after missing the turn and having to jump a fence to get to it. I ripped my pants more, but it was completely worth it. They left this morning. Which, of course, was a total bummer.



photo of me struggling over the fence by Sarah Mays

The Rents

Home is where they are.

Love it All

Wow.

So far, this trip to Nevada....Sheesh. What a ride. And I'm only to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Of course, this morning, I was running late. As usual. But not so late I thought I would miss my flight. As I walked in to the airport they were calling my flight number for last boarding call. Oh SH#T. Apparently they were leaving early.

After paying extra for my overweight bag (I should have put her on a diet before my trip), and running through the airport and begging to cut ahead in line for security, I am the last person to board my flight. Phew.

Only to sit.

For two hours.

Because the gear on a private jet collapsed on the only runway at the airport.

I knew I was going to miss my connecting flight in Chicago to Denver. Then my next connection from Denver to Reno. Unfortunately, Fort Myers to Chicago was through American, and the rest on United. What a freakin' fiasco. American says they can't help me (their only responsibility is to get me to Chicago.....whenever..) United says my reservation is through American so they can't help me. I end up on the phone with cheaptickets.com as we are finally taxiing on to the runway to see if they can piece it together to get me to Reno some time today.



Please keep in mind this is condensed. And not nearly as dramatic as the original events.

The flight to Chicago? Interesting. Annoying British people (not annoying because they are British, but annoying who HAPPENED to be British) sitting behind me, arguing the entire time, two screaming babies and a dog...yes....little dog...who liked to yip. Oh, and a man next to me to said the school teachers in the U.S. get paid TOO much, and that all schools have enough money to buy books. uh huh...ok, dude.

I laugh at something the Brits say behind me. And the other man next to me looks at me and says I am in good spirits considering how my day has been discombobulated. I laugh again and he says I have ... and I quote "good mental health." HA!

If he only knew....

I was starving so I bought a snack. I recommend these....



The reasonably priced trail mix. woo hoo... bargain price $3.

Finally at O'Hare I am booked on a flight going to San Francisco (not Denver) and will arrive in Reno sometime around 11:30 p.m.

That's fine.

I am reading a book "Eat, Pray Love" (those who know me know I've been reading this forever) but.... in it, there is a passage that talks about a Sufi poem which says:

"God long ago drew a circle in the sand around the spot where you are standing right now. I was never not coming here. This was never not going to happen."

So, here I sit. The Kooks on repeat. Wiping greasy McDonald's french fries from my fingers. Watching the feet of hundreds pass by me. The vibration of their ergonomically correct rolling bags thumping every so often.

And if the above is true, this is where I'm supposed to be. Right here. Right now.

Motherhood

My best friend is having a baby. This isn't new news. But, it is something I think about often. She only lives an hour and a half away, but because of conflicting schedules and busy lives, we haven't seen each other much during her pregnancy. I think because of it, I have found myself gravitating toward stories that have to do with the things currently happening in her life. It is a way for me to understand what she is going through, since I don't get to be there with her. She told me while back that she was taking prenatal yoga. I decided to see if they offer that in Naples. Turns out they do. It was beautiful to watch.



"Even though this is your first baby, you are already mothers." — Tanya Colvin, yoga instructor

Bridge

Today I photographed a Bridge tournament. I know only one of these pictures even looks like a card game. But, I was more fascinated with faces, I guess. Some of these people were very serious about their Bridge. The woman in picture number four told me..... now, I don't know if she said I was annoying or the fact I was taking pictures was annoying. Either way, she said I didn't belong in a bridge room. Eh...

Intimacy

I'm all about the chapstick...

But, who puts on lipstick to ride 62 miles?

Something to smile about...

I came across a picture today that made me so happy. It instantly filled my heart with joy. Not because it's the best picture in the world, but because these are my nephews, Benjamin and Bryce, sitting on the front porch of the home I grew up in in Bakersfield. I shot this on Memorial Day weekend four years ago. I can't believe it has been that long. So cliché, but it really really does feel like only yesterday. I don't usually post pictures of family or stuff that is too personal. But, I started thinking today... why not? Pictures of my family are the pictures I cherish the most. And when I'm with them (which is only about once a year) I photograph them as if they won't last another second. Especially these two boys. I love them so much. I mean... come on.. who wouldn't? look at 'em! In a couple weeks I'm going to see my parents for the first time in their new home in Nevada. I will be posting hopefully from there. So mom... be prepared to see your business all up on this blog. :)