I invite you to swing over to my friend Christine’s blog, Quasi Agitato, to read my guest post entitled #Heaven in which I get to chat a bit about my #love of #Instagram and my favorite #s … Be sure to read some of her posts; absolutely brilliant!
By the way – I haven’t posted on here in a while. Sorry! That damn thing called “work” is getting in the way of so much fun stuff! Stay tuned though, I’ve got some edits I’m working on and lots of thoughts I’m ready to share.
xoxo
Christine
Whatever happened to my blog? Seemingly I have forgotten about it. “Not true!,” I say. Funny thing having to have a job and work to support a family. I am sure you all are no strangers to that indeed.
This past year has been a tough one. I was out of work for basically then entire school year due to another shoulder surgery due to another work-related injury. Money was tight and I sadly sold my camera to pay bills. A mother must do what a mother must do. I was able to find a used Fuji X100 which has held me over. My iPhone helped a bit too. Gotta love Instagram. One day I will build my DSLR kit again.
During my recuperation, I discovered yoga. And I wonder why I hadn’t started practicing sooner. I also rediscovered my love of being a mother. I often found myself wondering how I managed to work full-time, raise two kids on my own, help my kids through their special needs, take care of a house, and all that good stuff. But again, we moms we do what we must.
I finally got another job. I am pleased so far. I am not in the classroom any longer but am a specialist kind of transition consultant. And I like that I can shape this job into what works best for me and the students. And my team – they are a good group of people.
Along with work, my kids, my family, and yoga… I am still finding time for photography. It brings me a certain peace.
A short while ago, Paul and I went to NYC and in our walking journey around The City we passed by the building in which I had my first apartment. Different restaurant downstairs but still the same – 22nd & 7th. It would be cool if I still had that place!
Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Paul and I spent the entire day outside, walking the boardwalk (and me hoping for some good people watching!), going to the park, having ice cream, and checking out one of our favorite marinas. Seems the parking lot serves as their dry dock during off season. Odd. Can’t wait for the weather to warm up and get out on the water…
I have one tiny dolphin tattoo; my sisters and I share the “same one.” My dad drew the picture and we went together to all get the same design. Kind of a sister bonding thing. Well fast forward 20-ish years later and I am now semi-covered in ink. Each piece tells a particular, often poignent story. My friends Sean Rhodes and Kris Dilworth of Tough Luck Tattoo have been the ones to put my stories into image across the landscape of my body. (Oh click on a pic to see it larger!). Peace & happy tattooing!
On my way out of the Hotel Rodney in downtown Lewes, Delaware the other day, I walked by these flowers planted along the base of the mirror in the hall. They were so pretty. And I liked the continuous reflection of the flowers in the mirror. Post processing was tough only because there were so many enhancements I liked, finally I decided on this…
I just love this cow – well he’s not a cow he’s a bull. And he lives at a local market. He is sweet and gentle. I think he could use more space to roam but he gets plenty of visitors, giving him lots of head scratching and is well cared for. Each day I drive by this market and a couple of local dairy and livestock farms. I think of this sweet guy and all those gentle creatures. So I have given up on eating beef (or lamb for that matter!). I am not a “vegetarian” but I just can’t get this face out of my head.
On occasion I’m stuck inside: weather, kids, working at home, boredom, comfort, solice, peace, chores … whatever. Just a few shots as of late from times when I’ve been stuck inside.
PS – that bike is waiting to come off the wall until the weather is sure to be nicer more consistently. I am not a cold and/or rainy weather rider!
My first tattoo was a tiny dolphin I got more than 20 years ago. My two sisters and I got the same one; my Dad drew the picture. It was a sister bonding thing. Fast forward to 2008, when my daughter was 8 years old and we had some literally near death experiences with her, that I knew what my next tattoo would be – the symbolism, the words, the meaning of it all was clear. The story began on my arm: plum blossom; two sparrows; a chop by CHI PAI SHIH. Then it grew and grew. My life. It’s message. My failures. My triumphs. My children. My love. My passion. My resiliency. So there is my self portrait – in ink.
Tonight is not a post featuring any photos of mine. I am at a loss for photos lately. It is dark by the time I get home and the mornings are often harried. I carry my camera with me. I snap an occasional one here or there.
Tonight is a night to write. Pictures are not here to express the weight in my brain. And the need to release that pressure is immense. So many things in life to ponder. Why is being a grown up so friggin’ hard sometimes. My daughter screams at me, “You don’t know how hard my life is Mom. You don’t have to deal with the things I do!” Alas she is right. But while I do not live with those “things” inside my own body and mind, I do shoulder so much of what she cannot deal with as a result of those “things.” I shoulder my son. The house. The bills. The dogs. The food. The clothes. The job. The insurance. The money (or serious lack there of!). The gifts. The hope. The faith. The belief in my things, their things, getting better.
Do not misunderstand please – there is good and wonder and laughter. But some days there is simply too much for these shoulders to bear without feeling like I can no longer stand straight. I recently had a reading done. She saw me with an owl – like Athena who kept one as her pet. This spiritualist said, “You have gained battle wisdom through your past and will be passing this wisdom on to others who suffer…next year things will be coming together more and 2012 will be positive and healthier for me.”
I know this is life. And sometimes well I don’t feel very Athena. I am a bit tired and torn feeling today (and my already saggy eyelids are seemingly saggiER!). Ahhhh well. On the upside, I would like an owl as a pet though.
