2010/08/15

History Shows Again and Again How Nature Points Out the Folly of Man

DaGoddess @ 06:31

“With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls the spitting high tension wires down”

Godzilla!

Oh yeah, baby!

Blue Öyster Cult.

Fremont Street.

FREE!

And I got photos.

And memories.

What a great night!

And the cowbell? Perfection.

2010/08/11

How to Get Results

DaGoddess @ 15:27

The ongoing saga of the insurance company and my back has been, apparently, resolved.

It’s only taken 4.5 months, about 500 gallons of tears, teeth worn down to nubs, permanently clenched jaw, knots the size of softballs in my back, steam pouring out my ears, and a trip back into court to get to the point where I:

1) emailed attorney with a very terse response to his email.
2) multiple phone calls with his staff
3) a call with the attorney himself today wherein I:
3a) became very VERY grumpy and more than a little bitchy
3b) let the anger slowly seep through my clenched jaw
3c) cried
3d) mildly swore
3e) became increasingly belligerent
3f) cried more, louder, longer
3g) scared my attorney since he’d never heard me in this frame of mind before

And that…resulted in however many calls between attorney/insurance company/doctor’s office and approval for my appointment.

I think my attorney is just hoping this keeps me from calling him for a while.

I have my appointment, folks. I HAVE MY APPOINTMENT!

I’m so taking the one woman from that doc’s office some cookies when I go in. She’s been pretty awesome in dealing with all of this. The attorney? Hmmm, we’ll see.

(Last) Resort Wear

DaGoddess @ 03:16

I got a nice little dresser from Freecycle the other day. Also got four “ugly UGLY orange chairs” (the donor’s words, not mine…I actually love them). But, back to my dresser.

Since my furniture is still in San Diego and I had furniture provided for me at Buster’s, I was sort of stuck when it came to moving into the new place. I had neat little stacks in the closet and on the floor and in suitcases. Not a lot, just enough. But I wanted to put everything away. So I found this dresser through the local Freecycle group, got it picked up, and cleaned up.

As I was putting clothes into the dresser, I was really organized about the whole thing. Items I always wear went on the top of each pile. Makes perfect sense, right? Heaviest items like pants in the bottom drawer with my favorite jeans on top. Pants that I’d only wear if everything else happened to be dirty? At the bottom of the stack, making them my last resort wear items. I thought this in my head as I was doing it and I started giggling. Stupid, yes. I get it. It just tickled me to no end, though.

Then I started to think…what if an actual, real life designer called one of their collections “Last Resort Wear”. C’mon now. You’ve seen these collections. Some are just insane. INSANE. Worse than clown clothes. Why not call the clothes exactly what they are? The last thing anyone would be caught wearing.

I’d be happy to donate an item or two from my personal collection.

Still, somehow, in the back of my mind, I keep imagining some crazy Gilligan’s Island type of resort where everyone’s castoff clothing suddenly becomes chic and stylish and runway ready.

Again, I realize this is stupid. My mind is all floopy and twirly. It happens. Especially after inhaling all the cleaning fumes.

Oh, and I realized that one of the best things to ever happen to me was moving. Not just into the new house, but to Vegas. I’m better organized. I’ve kept things tidy and neat. I don’t like having “stacks of stuff” around. It’s weird. It’s as if everything that weighed me down and kept things chaotic in the past was reflected in my surroundings. Hmm, actually, that makes sense. Kind of weird. Kind of “about damn time”, you know? Now I just have to get MOBD organized, too. He’s made great progress in the 11 days I’ve been here. We decided last night that we’re living by barracks rules: inspection could happen anytime and we’re going to be prepared. Also, I told him that getting everything all taken care of now means he won’t be rushing to get it all done just before his girlfriend (he’s protesting from across the room, mentally, “my friend!“, but she’s his girlfriend no matter what he says) visits next month.

Okey dokey, that’s enough nonsense from me. All this crazy talk about last resort wear. Guess it’s really time to go to bed and start mentally preparing for my OpLove session later today. We’re heading back to the winery for the shoot and I can’t wait! If I get done early, I’ll have a taste of some reisling for all y’all.

And maybe…just maybe…when I get home, I’ll have finished my PROMPTuesday post(s). I’m behind. As usual. Apparently, being organized and neat and tidy personally does not translate to blogging. Whatev.

2010/08/10

Two-fer Tuesday – Wocka Wocka

DaGoddess @ 04:00

No Fozzie Bear. Just Sugar Ray. And even though they don’t actually say “wocka wocka” in the video, that’s what it always sounds like in my head.

I don’t know why either. Some things are a mystery to me, too.

One thing that’s not a mystery to me is how I went from Sugar Ray to Violent Femmes in one swell foop (as my mom used to say). It was just their time on my playlist and I love love love this song!

2010/08/08

Colored By An Idiot

DaGoddess @ 00:14

I am currently in a situation where the picture painted of me has been colored by an idiot. I’m not sure what I should do.

On one hand, I believe I’ve proven time and time again within this particular community that I’m professional and always willing to grow and learn. On the other hand, one word to the right/wrong person in the public sector, my professional reputation could be ruined.

There are stories going around. I haven’t heard the details, but someone close to me has and is hesitant to tell me the details, which really makes me worry. Some of you know the story from a protected post I wrote a while back. In a way, the original incident doesn’t much matter — the fallout from it, however, does. I know I’m in the right and I know my actions have been above board. I still worry about the idiot with the paintbrush.

And there’s my ponderance for the weekend.

2010/08/07

It’s Not the Tools, but the Craftsman with the Tools

DaGoddess @ 00:15

I’ve said it before and still I read or hear people saying, “your camera takes great pictures!” (or something to that effect). For a photographer, these five words can cause your gut to twist itself into knots and make you want to throw the nearest heavy, pointy object at whoever just uttered those words.

Here’s an excellent post on the subject:

” Camera Takes Really Nice Pictures”

I disagree with the author on the final image converted to B&W, but that’s a minor quibble. Art is subjective and all that jazz. Still, her point is that the camera doesn’t do the hardest bit of work, the photographer does. The most expensive tools are nothing if put in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to use them or who lacks the understanding necessary to create something of value.

2010/08/06

Don’t Hate Me…

DaGoddess @ 04:16

…because I was doing the Hustle earlier tonight (okay, okay…last night).

Seriously. I was.

MOBD and I returned from scouting the winery and walked in on “Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation. My feet got away from me and that was all she wrote.

Except it wasn’t. I remembered how to do the Hustle. Muscle memory, baby. Of course, two and a half hours later, they actually played “The Hustle” by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. I did not, however, dance when it came on. I was dead dog tired by that point. The only thing I could do was write about it.

And that, for real this time, is all she wrote.

“Now is the time on Sprockets vhen ve dance!”

2010/08/04

Woo Hoo!

DaGoddess @ 19:53

I got a call from a winery in Pahrump giving me the okay to photograph a military family there. It’s taken a while for me to get some OpLove clients here, but now it’s on and I’m thrilled to have found a beautiful location (thanks to who’d mentioned the winery to me a month or two ago).

I love that Pahrump Valley Winery is willing to allow us to come by, use the grounds for our session, and support our troops. If you come to Vegas for anything, plan a side trip to visit them, take a tour, and perhaps buy a little wine. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up buying a bottle or two while I’m there.

Mostly, I am thrilled to be photographing military families again. I’m a patient gal, but not that patient. I’ve been waiting for this moment for too long.

2010/08/03

Two-for Tuesday

DaGoddess @ 04:00

Had to do it. (Be glad it wasn’t the DeFranco Family with “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat”, cuz I almost went there!)

Bonus (or not, figured I was suffering anyway and you should too):

2010/08/01

In

DaGoddess @ 04:39

New house. New adventures. Already managed to laugh my ass off, vacuum, and blow something up.

All I need now is a bed and a dresser.