Monday Musings

A lovely weekend with friends.  What a gift good friendship is!  We missed my husband at dinner Saturday night because he was ushering a concert of Handel and Hayden, but as the three of us were headed to bed, he came home and we all stayed up to hear about the wonderful evening he had.

A couple of rain sprinkles over the weekend.  Not of any consequence.  Just enough to get me to rush outside and bring in the hammock.  But the air smells good and wet, and we had some milder weather -- which will end soon with mid 80s temps yet again.  Sigh.  Indian Summer, be gone. (Or I could revert to old English and call it St. Martin's Summer.)

More friends arriving today, from the Napa Valley.  Just an hour and fifteen minute drive.  Just a quick visit overnight and I'm making a decidedly old-fashioned dinner of meatloaf, potatoes and peas.  Well, a few little tweaks and extras thrown in there, but I won't bore you with details.

We have decided to try the service Blue Apron.  We've heard rave reviews from friends who are using it.  All ingredients delivered to your home with instructions for preparation.  3 meals a week of chicken, fish and shellfish (the preference I chose).  We'll see how it goes.  Perhaps I'll post reviews here, yes?  I mainly pushed for the service because my taste buds are bored and my mind is tired of thinking up new things to make and eat.  I hope the Blue Apron folks can jump start my lackluster menu planning.

The final gift my friend Paul left me with this weekend was another session on using the photo processing software Lightroom.  I went through my catalog of photos to find something suitable to work on, and a particular image jumped out at him, so I pulled it up.  It was not an image I had considered at all.  I passed right over it.  But he liked the composition and to work we went.  It required a bit of fiddling around with shadows and light, and I learned some good short cuts.  I learn, over and over, not to dump images that don't wow me.  I often go back and look at them again, much later, and find gems that I had overlooked.  Luckily for me, Paul found this gem, taken a couple of months ago.  Enjoy.

TGIF

As planned, we met with our friend, A., to review his photographs.  What a great 2 hours we spent, looking at images, dissecting them, talking about what makes for a compelling shot.

His enthusiasm is infectious.  His sense of composition and placement on the page is innate.  He's off to a very good start, indeed.

He had great questions, most of which we could not answer except with another question:

How do you get better?  Keep making photos.
How do you make money to support the habit?  I dunno, kid, if you find the answer please let me know.  What makes for a good portrait?  S. suggested that including something in the background that is representative of the subject often works.  Something that gives the subject context.

The real kicker question for me was:  is it worth it if you can't make a living at it?  My answer went something like this:  What if your life's passion was sailing?  Would you buy a boat and take it out on the water as often as you could, for the sheer joy of it?  Would it matter that it was a financial investment that would see no financial return?  No.  You'd do it because you love it.

I came to the conclusion, years ago, that whether I was financially successful at photography or not, I wanted to keep doing it.  Because I love it.  It is the rare bird that parlays their photographic work into a viable financial enterprise.  I know many excellent artists, photographers, painters, musicians, ceramicists, writers and poets.  Very few make money at it.  All hope to be recognized some day in some way, but that is not why we do it.

We are looking forward to friends visiting this weekend, one of whom is a brilliant landscape photographer who is self-taught.  He took up the craft long after I did, and, in my estimation is technically light years beyond where I am.  That's his passion.  Much to his wife's chagrin,  S., P., and I can get really caught up in "photography talk."  We have to remember that there are other things to talk about.  Like food.  Like the best method for roasting a whole chicken.  Like reminiscing about favorite vacations and meals we ate while on vacation.  That sort of thing.  I'm going to sign off and make myself a pastrami sandwich.

Have a great weekend, whatever you talk about, whatever you nosh!

Wordless Wednesday

Plymouth, CA.  Tara Crowley. All Rights Reserved.

Monday Musings

Here's an earth shaking fact: people are weird.  We went to our monthly "antique fair" yesterday and I was wearing, proudly, my Bernie Sanders t-shirt.  I'm walking along, minding my own business, deep into the visuals of table after table piled with stuff, and I hear "socialist" uttered in a snarky voice, seemingly from nowhere.  It took me a minute to process.  Then I turned around and watched a guy walking away from me.  He looked normal enough.  I suppose he meant it to be a put-down, but to me it only bespoke his ignorance.  I laughed to myself and went about my business.

Later, I see this cute kid, about 10 years old, wandering with a large sweet treat in his hand.  He was having a bit of trouble eating and walking at the same time.  He was adorable, which translates to me as "photographable."  I hustled a few steps in front of him, turned around and SNAP!  When I took the camera away from my eye, I saw a terrified mom face sheilding the boy with her arms.  "Please! Please! Don't take pictures of my son!"  Really?  "But he's adorable."  "No.  Just. No."  What do I look like?  A scout for pedophiles or human traffickers? Being a mother myself, I dutifully deleted the image I took.  But I would have liked to have said, "Lady, don't take your kid out in public.  People will LOOK at him."

My husband, a friend of ours, and I have been taking photos at this fair for over a year.  We put together a book of our best and we hawk it now at the fair.

We chat with vendors and buyers, fortify ourselves with breakfast burritos and coffee under the freeway overpass, and sometimes get rained on.  We've made friends.  Mickey is there with his gorgeous stained glass.

Mickey is a talent.  He also is a great musician, hosting Friday night jam sessions with  his band, and all and sundry are welcomed to sit in, grab  a percussion instrument and join the fun.  He always has a great spread of food and drink.  In the warm weather, he rolls open the garage door and invites the neighborhood in.  Now that is hospitality, and human kindness.  No weird stuff.  No hidden agenda.  No judgement.  Just an open heart and a desire to connect with the human family.

Mickey and Marilyn

TGIF

Hello everybody.  I had hoped to have some parade photos for you -- our local High School's homecoming.  But we were late for the spectacle and, alas, what's done is done.  We did get to visit with our friends and drink cold beverages.  And A. cut some gorgeous Zinnia's from his garden.  Steve was eyeing the pepper crop as well, so A. harvest several for Steve.  I love peppers, my insides do not.

I have just begun to use our new Leica Q digital camera, and I have a lot to learn in terms of what it can do and what I can do with it.  So far, however, I love the incredible sharpness of the 28 mm lens.

Our protege is loving the Cannon Rebel XT with 15mm - 80mm lens we loaned him. Hope to get together with him soon to look at some of his work.  I'll probably end up giving him the camera, since I don't use it at all anymore and could hardly get anything for it if I sold it.  I'll pass it along to him with instructions to pass it along to someone else when he upgrades to a better camera (and I bet he will).  The Canon is not a bad camera, it was great for me for many years.  But as my work improved, I knew I needed better equipment to achieve my goals.

My daughter is upgrading to a better camera as well, and we're helping her buy a Fujifilm XE 1 body.  This is a mirror-less camera that delivers superior image quality.  Steve is giving her a lens to go with it, and she got teary eyed when we told her.  She's someone who also has a lot of talent, and will take it to the next level with better equipment.  I am so pleased that Steve and I are in a position to help 2 young photographers.  The art of it has brought us many years of extreme satisfaction, good friends along the way, and peak moments of inspiration and exhalation.  And, let's not forget, it was our love of photography that brought Steve and me together!

Every place we go offers new photographic experiences:  Cuba was a highlight.  Next month we go to Kauai.  In December we go to a (hopefully) snow covered Yosemite Valley.  And next year, France and Spain.  The travel in and of itself is exciting, and the prospect of capturing some lovely images is thrilling as well. 

Photographer Burk Uzzle, (1938) was the youngest documentary photographer to be hired by Life Magazine.  He said “Photography is a love affair with life.”


I couldn't agree more.

Have a great weekend! 

Monday Musings

We're doing it all again.  A mass shooting.  Lots and lots of talking about it.  I'm practically losing my shit over this whole gun debate in the USA.  What is wrong with people?  The problem is not mental illness, the problem is, well, wait, let's look at the profile of the average mass shooter.  Young white male with rage issues.  The need to get revenge, to "show them."

We can (and do) debate, endlessly, gun control -- does it even exists in this country?  I remember when Bowling for Columbine was released in theaters.  I was incredulous at the statistics.  "No way!" I thought. "Those numbers are off the chart!"  Well, they were, and they are.  And still, as a nation we cannot pass gun legislation.  Personally, I advocate a strict NO GUN policy.  Don't pussy foot around with regulation.  Ban them.  All of them.  (Hear the objections mounting in your head?  They don't mean a thing to me anymore.)  If I were a gun owner, and I knew giving up guns would end the shooting of innocents to the tune of 30 THOUSAND people a year, I'd give up my gun in a hot minute.  Nothing is worth these lives.  Nothing is worth this pain.

My latest brain storm: talking with my husband last night I said, to my horror and surprise, "They should start showing photos of the crime scenes."  Ewww.  Gross, you say.  Horrible, you say.  Yes, I say.  And the only thing more horrible is the fact that these killings actually happened and will continue unless we do something about it.  I think we should get good and disgusted by an in-your-face campaign to show the real horrors of these crimes.  Then take these photos and picket outside gun shows, NRA sponsored events and stores that sell guns.

I'm pissed.  This is not rocket science.  We, as a nation, have accepted the mass killing of people, and particularly grade school students, as a by-product our of second amendment rights.  Rights that, I believe, are not guaranteed to the individual, but to a well regulated militia.  But I'll get all kinds of push back on that constitutional interpretation.

By the way, where is the Occupy movement people when you need them?  Are we at the point where we will occupy the streets, en masse,  and demand gun legislation?  I'm ready.

TGIF

We had rain on Wednesday.  Blessed rain.  Not much, only trace amounts here, but a promise of things to come this winter.  We turned on the house heat for the first time in months.  I'm wearing my big comfy sweater and fuzzy slippers.  Oh!  The rapture!

Steve has been working diligently on planning our trip to France and Spain in the spring.  It's hard for me to imagine we are really going.  I've not been to Europe, hell, I've not been to a lot of places!  We've secured an apartment in the heart of Paris by way of a friend of a friend.  It is gorgeous, and spacious, though the kitchen has little working space.  I hear this is fairly typical.  I suppose it's akin to the kitchens in Manhattan.  We're going in April, which may be more drizzly than May, but that is when the apartment is available.  Besides, photos in the rain are often magnificent. 

The GOP has further disgraced itself (as if were possible to sink any lower) by its witch hunt of Planned Parenthood and its President.  Congressman Cummings (Dem) called them out but good.  He called the hearings a pretext for denying women safe and legal abortions.  Planned Parenthood is responsible for the sharp DROP in abortions over the decades, through low cost contraception for women and men.  When I was a teenager and needed contraception and sex education, PP was the place I went.  When my own daughter needed health services, this is where she went.  I'm glad there are people like Mr. Cummings who can call out the rats when they attack.  It's a shame we need to be so vigilant to secure our right to health care, but alas, this is the crazy country we live in.

Speaking of health, did you read the study recently released about vitamin D3 and it's role in maintaining healthy brain function as well as immune system?  I found out a few months ago that I have low levels of this vitamin, and so the doc recommended 2,000 IU a day.  Shopping at Costco this week, I found a 5,000 IU capsule and so I bought it.  It's a tiny little thing, once a day, that can have a huge impact on bone health, mental cognitive health and a strong immune system.  We'll see what it does in the immediate future about my own situation.

And, so, anyway....I'll leave you with this from John Cleese's Facebook page. 

Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Monday Musings

Home after a week at mom's.  As usual, we had nice time just doing the usual.  I don't plan big while I'm there, because most of my energy is directed towards helping her move safely about the house, cooking meals, taking care of all things domestic because she can't do any of it.  Her Parkinson's is making her muscles even more stiff and it was quite difficult at times to get her up out of bed, or a chair.  It must feel like shit to have your body lock up like that.  I am patient with her, and even funny with her because she likes a good laugh.   But it is wearing.  We are up 4 times a night to get her to the bathroom.  It's not just like waking up and shuffling off the john, and, back into bed you go.  It involves time, effort, the long slow walk to the toilet.  When she's safely there, I sit on the bed and wait.  Then it's up again to assist her back to bed, and position her until she is comfortable.  I work up a sweat, I tell you.  And I know I have 2 to 3 hours before we do this again.

I truly, honestly, do not understand how my 83 year old father can do this.  If I'm worn out after a week (with a caregiver three days of the week), then imagine what he must feel like.  His trip this past week was sorely needed, and he did have a great time eating lobster, taking the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, visiting friends, driving around CT and NY.

I guess the saddest part of the week was my realization that I would have to return little Mocha.  She is not house-trained, and it was a herculean effort to work with her.  Pee and poop were everywhere.  Right in front of me.  She didn't have a clue it was not acceptable.  I had no patience for it.  I knew that my father wouldn't either.  So, after 5 days, I called and said it wasn't going to work.  My husband took her back, thank goodness.  I think it would have broken my heart to do so.




I'll leave you with something funny.  It's the least I can do.

TGIF

Another scorching day in Northern California.  I am begging and imploring any and all powers that be to please bring us some cold crisp autumn weather!  The Pacific Northwest is looking cool and lovely, though I know Seattle has had some record breaking heat.  My friend Bob Adler (look up his fabulous photography web site) has been up in the rainforest for crying out loud.  Sending back lush green images of the trees and mountains.  How I wish I were there.  Western Washington is not burning.  It's not smoking.  It's verdant and cool, with moss dripping from the trees.  As it should be.

I've been living at Mom's house this week, while dad is enjoying lobster lunches and ferry rides to Martha's Vineyard.  The weather back east is favorable as well.  Only here can you walk out your front door into your very own brick pizza oven. 

My husband and I took a chance this week, and picked up this 4 mos. old puppy as a gift to my mother.  My folks have never had a dog, but mom loves my chihuahua so much that they both are open to the idea of having a pooch around the house.

This lil' girl was supposedly house-trained.  Allegedly. So now I am running about my parents' lovely home cleaning poop and pee off the shiny hardwood floors and expensive oriental rugs.  A challenge on it's own, but when paired with the challenge of making sure my mother doesn't take a fall, well, it's almost too much to bear.  I was helping her along her way when I saw Mocha take a squat on the floor.  All sense left me and I practically pushed dear mom down in order to grab the pup and place her on the pee mat.  Of course she stopped peeing when placed on the mat.  This is why I usually adopt older dogs.  What were we thinking?  The road to hell, and all that.

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Happy Friday, all.  Hope your weekend is carefree and, above all,  below 70 degrees.

Monday Musings

Greetings, Monday.  You begin cold and windy in our neck of the woods.  Your local weather belies the raging fire storms just 70 miles north of here.  And southeast of here.  Entire mountain communities in ashes.  What is there to say?  Terrible loss and destruction.

I spent the weekend in my old home town with my daughter and her family.  It's only been four years, but already I get that otherworldly feeling when I am visiting.  That dreamlike state that sees differently what one used to see daily.  My daughter was born and raised here, and is raising her family here.  Nothing seems changed to her.  My perceptions are pervading my dream state: I'm in San Francisco, navigating neighborhoods that are completely unknown to me.  I'm in NYC, lost and trying to phone local friends for directions.  I'm in unknown territory.  Nothing is familiar.

Back home, in the arms of my husband, I feel rooted again.  No navigation dreams last night.  There are appointments to be made for the cars, the doctor; lunches and dinners.  Ant stakes need to be purchased at ACE and some fresh veg from the co-op.  All around me it seems the world is burning, but, here, in our bubble, our week begins.