Same Time Next Year

It's been quite awhile since I posted last. Not that there has been a whole lot to post about. Been busy with work, photography work on the weekends, and now with the Fall semester under way, my photography class. Needless to say I've been very busy.

I still have no love life. Surprise! It's not from lack of wanting something, anything... It's more like all the men are either married or just your typical man who likes to talk a good game, but can't step up to the plate long enough to shut his trap and stop talking about what he says he's going to do instead of just doing it. Men like these I have no patience for and just irritate the fuck out of me. Like speed bumps they put in the middle of the road to slow you down. Just get the fuck out of my way! I've got no time for you. I just keep on going like they were never even there.

The past two months I was busy with youth sports photography. Managed to mack close to $700 during the soccer league season. That money will definitely come in handy. I was going to put all that money towards the digital DSLR I'm eventually going to buy, but it looks like I need to get new tires for my car. I already dumped about $2,000 into the bitch just at the end of August. Money that was meant for my digital camera. It was a sad, sad day for me when I had to put it all into my car. But as luck would have it, Nikon announced that they are releasing the D300 just in time for Christmas. I was planning on buying the D200, so it worked out perfect. Well, not entirely perfect. It's just going to take a little longer. I will still have to come up with all the money still, but at least I will have the new and improved upon version of the D200.

With that said, looks like I'll be dumping another $330 for much needed tires. I think I broke a belt in my front right tire over the weekend. My front end is shimmy and shaking more than normal, just like the last time I busted a belt. Only I never got a front end alignment so my front did a little shimmy shaking. At this rate, it may take me until next November until I'll be able to afford my camera.

Specially since I leave for my annual New England vacation next Friday. Looks like I'm going to be a little bit lighter on money for my trip too. That sucks ass. But, what can you do? Bitching and moaning isn't going to make any difference. I'm just happy to be getting away for a little while. One thing I noticed. My vacation always ends a day or two after daylight savings time. I know we set the clocks back an hour, so in all actuality we are gaining hour. But damn if it doesn't always mess me up when I'm home. It's bad enough that by the time my vacation is ending I'm finally on East coast time, I sure don't need that extra hour added on messing with me when I'm finally home. I'm looking forward to the New England colors and weather though. I can't wait! 11 days and counting...

Ghost of Angel's

A year ago today a fire took the lives of four children and an adult. My friend, Erin, two cousin's, Christa (8) and Mikayla (6), were among the casualties of that tragic mid-December fire that seriously injured their father, Arthur Foster Jr., and claimed the lives of his second wife, Kimberly Stoltz-Foster, and her own young children, Brett and Tory Stoltz.

During the summer of this year, Barre Town, Vermont redeveloped and dedicated a park in the girl's name. While I was in Barre last month E took me to see the park. One of my assignments that I had was to capture the illusion of motion. An easy task, but one for me that was becoming difficult.

Everytime I'd go to develop the roll with this assignment on it, something would make me completely fuck up the process and I'd end up with nothing on the roll. This happened not only once, but twice!

By the time I went to Vermont, this assignment was already about 5-6 weeks past due. It was while Erin and I were at Christa & Mikayla's park that I was finally able to capture this assignment.

Erin was swinging on the swing while I was busy taken pictures of other parts of the park. It was when I finally turned around and saw her swinging that I finally saw my illusion of motion that I was supposed to capture...Erin swinging on the swing in the park that was dedicated in her cousin's name.

This picture is dedicated to Christa & Mikayla.

Same Time, Next year

This is the time when most people are beginning to think of warmer places to escape to.



Most people.

Not me.

Then again, I'm not most people.

This is the time when I long to be in New England. Where the trees are proudly displaying their ever changing leaves as they shed them again until Spring, and the crisp autumn weather enfolds you in its embrace like a lover you haven't seen in years.

This coming for someone who hates to be cold!

Yet every year in October, like clock work, New England calls to me.

Vermont to be exact.

Beckoning me...

Like a lover, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

The whispering is making me restless…

Discontent…

Last year just wasn't the same. I went much earlier in the year and too many things were going on then, personally. Me going away didn't help one in particular any. Then again, I was trying to fix something that was beyond repair.It should've been left as it was…broken.

It's been a long year…

Even longer since I was last in New England. Its embrace is longer over due.

Time to get away, even if for just a little while.

The whispers of Autumn is beckoning me...

The first time I went to Vermont was during the Fall of 1997. Halloween was only a few days away, the changes of Autumn all around me. My senses were so alive. The crispness of the cold air was nothing like I had ever felt. It awoke a part of my soul, I felt so alive. I felt like I was home.

Driving down the many different rural roads, all the trees showing thier many shades of oranges, reds, yellows, and golds. Every now and then you can spot a sugar shack nestled inbetween the changing Maples. Crossing covered bridges, reflection of Autumn in the waters from the tress just along the edges.

Yes, Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. Around this time every year I hear the whispering of the trees and the crispness of the air, calling me. My heart aches, longing to be there.

Vermont has been whispering to me loud and clear the past couple of weeks. It's been calling me, begging me to come home. Yet, my so called home is here in California. It doesn't feel like home to me though, it never has. I long to be in Vermont, in the crisp, clean country air. I want to drive down lanes with maple tress lining both sides of the road, under a canopy of thier ever changing leaves.

The longing is even more intense this year. I think it's because I had plans to be in Vermont in just a couple of weeks. which reminds me, I need to cancel my flights. It pains me to have to do it. But then again, nothing in my life has ever gone according to any plan. I guess I'll just have to wait until next year.

I can hear the whispering of the trees...