cartwheels

This month marks my final loan payment towards my education. I am so thrilled to know that 2008 will mark a new year without this loan that I'm doing cartwheels in the snow, (sorry, no picture, just use your imagination).

P.S. I used to think the Lucinda Williams song, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was Cartwheels on a Gravel Road.

odd couple

First image was taken at our local fairgrounds in the off season. Second image was shot at the Dumas Brothel in Butte, Montana. These two images I picked randomly to post, but upon further thought, realize they have something in common. Odd things/people/objects you see and find at the fair or your local brothel.

Doo Wop Girl

This is a utube link to my buddy Chris playing with Feist on the Today Show last week. You know, one of the events I missed. He's one of the backup singers. If I knew how to circle him out I would, but they're all wearing school sweaters with a giant F on them (something I'll have to tease him about later).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf8Vwp0SvFo

I later learned from a friend who went to the show that it could have been a possibility to sing backup with Feist, but that you would need a work permit for the States. I have always wanted to sing in a band - it would be one of this girl's dreams come true! That dual citizenship I could get (my mum's American) seems like it might just come in handy!

Hi Neil, nice to meet you

So my musician friend Chris Brown invited me up to NYC this week. Nuthin' much going on there except him playing with Feist and mr. Neil Young!
Let me back up a bit...Chris is from T.O. and has been living and playing in NYC for the past 5+ years until he officially moved to the island this year. Since then he has brought some amazing musician friends to the island, one being Rocky Roberts, who has been Neil Young's technician for a long time. Chris just produced Rocky's new cd, and Rocky's debut is with Neil among others.
So Chris asks me if I would like to be spitting distance away from Neil this week while he's in NY. Ummm, let me think about it....YES!! YES I WOULD! Except, I have to work and I have to work 'cause I have bills to pay and although a 4 day trip to NYC sounds divine, I just can't swing it, it's that damn responsibility showing up making demands on me again.
However, Chris is back in NY end of December for a gig, and sure I'll go, um, will Neil be there?

P.S. Check out Chris's latest CD,
Chris Brown and The Citizen's Band: Oblivion
It's great, and has some W.I. voices and names attached - woohoo!

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death

Most every Sunday as a teenager I spent a couple of hours every morning watching old b&w movies. Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone, was one of many.

Last week I went to the library (I love the library!), and signed out a bunch of movies, one of which was Sherlock Holmes Faces Death. A good thing about the rainy, cold weather we've been having is it makes me want to curl up and watch a movie. I don't feel guilty for being inside as I'm sometimes prone to feeling.

So Sunday night I plop my blow up bed mattress on the floor, grab some wooly blankets and a few pillows and tuck in for a night of movies. Sherlock was first. The movie starts and what's this? There's a bloody commentary with this movie??! Ah come on! I contemplate getting up from my warm den and out of laziness decide to give it a chance. What I discover is the usefulness of this commentary. Check it out. You know sometimes when watching a movie you don't quite make out what a character just did, or understand exactly what just happened? Well this voice helps you with that. Instead of having to ask the person next to you, "What time did the clock read?" And they say, "I dunno." The voice tells you! It's really very helpful by not leaving you in the dust and it doesn't distract you from your viewing pleasure as I thought it would.

Needless to say by the end of the movie Holmes faced and conquered death as only he can.

If anyone has any favourite old movies let me know! I may not have seen it yet.

show and tell

So I'm having a show. My first show in fact. It's a collection of my images from the past few years and some very recent images too. My friend Vicki is hosting it in her new home. This is her second show. She recruited me as her next victim after her first. I tried to back peddle my way out of it, but she wouldn't hear of it. So for the past month or so I've been routing through slides and scanning negatives that have never seen the light of day. It's been fun 'discovering' these images. I had turned away from selling my personal photographs as 'art' awhile back, so I'm returning to a place I didn't think I would enter again.

It can be pretty vulnerable to put an expression of yourself out to the general public. It's almost like being a kid again asking the question, "will they accept me?" But heck, I'm having fun with the process of getting ready, even if I find it a bit frustrating at times. I'm finding it really challenging deciding how to 'present' my work best. I wish I had someone sitting beside me who was seasoned at this and could guide me along. However I have found a great guy who is printing my work and has given me some advice based on new materials he has come across.

I'm tired of the old matting and frames and have been introduced to something called sintra board. Essentially it doesn't require any glass or frame. The image is mounted directly to the board allowing a customer to choose whether they want to frame it or not, so this spurs me on and makes the process exciting. This is my poster with an image I've posted here before so I'm including another image that will be presented at the show as well.

Bringing sexy back

We had to re-shingle the south side of our house this weekend and we lucked out with bee-u-tiful weather to spend the time on our roof glancing at our surroundings from a new vantage point. This is my second time at roofing. The first time was in the middle of summer 2003. I was a reluctant participant in the beginning, but then I got hooked up with my own toolbelt, hammer and nails and something happened while I was up high off the ground, swinging a hammer.... I began to feel sexy. There was something about the physicalness of this particular job that made me wonder if this is how guys feel working outdoors. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't feel sexy when all dressed up, but can when I'm working out in the garden, hands in the dirt, sleeves rolled up, maybe I'm even sporting rubber boots or something. You know? When the bra is off and you're just working the earth or now, roofing. I bet it has something to do with the back to basics of the task. There's no artifice like when getting dressed up. It's you and your natural surroundings, push against pull, throwing all of your strength and sweat into this raw, honest exchange.
Is anyone with me on this?

Vindicated after 23 years

The topic of bullying has come up in conversation lately with some girlfriends. I was bullied in grade 6 and now what happened to me is happening to a friend's daughter in my neighbourhood. Among other things, she is being left out of "the group" to the point where she feels sick everyday and doesn't want to go to school. Yup, I remember that only too well.

Last night being Halloween I went to my friend's house in the village where there is trick or treat activity. We pulled out her Halloween decorations, they being a small headstone with a bare mannequin leg sticking out, skulls, lights and very spooking music emanating from her house. Our costumes were made up with whatever was in her tickle trunk and man, did we look good for spur of the moment costumes. We made her into a wacky Phyllis Diller/Carol Channing character and she sported the best nasal NY accent (not authentic to her characters), but nonetheless very entertaining. The kids would enter her kitchen and she would talk to them with this accent and they didn't know what the hell she was going on about. It was hilarious. I found myself a Jason type mask and black hooded cloak which hid me very well. Being someone who can't watch any kind of scary movie, I loved that I was playing this role.

Enter 3 girls. One very bossy. She proceeded to harangue us and demand who "we were supposed to be." When it came my turn I stayed perfectly silent and just stared at her in my spookiness. She was very cocky and told me many times she wasn't afraid of me. They left the house and quietly in my blackness I followed them outside and onto the sidewalk into the darkness. They spotted me behind them and all three of them SCREAMED over and over as they ran away.

I walked back into the kitchen buoyant from my victory as my friend told me I just scared the shit out of the biggest bully in school. Vindicated at long last!

Hermes (not of Paris)

I had a shoot with Hermes the horse on Friday. This was a returning client as I had photographed her dog earlier in the year. I learned a ton about horses through my client as she discussed the different breeds. She competes with Hermes jumping. She described the differences between circuit jumping and cross-country. Cross-country, if I were to jump, would be my sport. It sounded so exhilarating to be running through the woods with your horse, to have your heart beat match the thunder of the hooves. In these races your clothing and hair don't have to be impeccable, so for those of you who know me, yes, this is right up my alley. Dirt flying, sweat soaking you and your horse in the dead heat of summer. I love the adrenalin just thinking about it.

The great thing about my client is she likes abstract images. She's not a typical "equestrian" client who wants what I consider to be boring traditional shots. Hermes was a delight to photograph. He stood absolutely still while I got some detail shots to the point we thought he was falling asleep.

I was studying some horse images before my shoot and got excited about doing some cool close ups with the horses forlock hanging over his eyes. While I was setting up my client announced that Hermes has an incredibly short forlock, as you can see. And so although I didn't get the sexy long hair hanging over his eye, I still think it worked out.

On the second shot you can see the H on his bridle. My client actually went to the Hermes store in Paris and bought this just for him. It was the first time she had it on him.

Rise to the top

My mom's American. I grew up spending a lot of time and money in the U.S. while visiting relatives. Needless to say I also spent a lot of time watching what was $200 Cdn in my hand be returned to me for much less in U.S. currency. (insert sigh)
But today, TO-DAY our crazy loonie has soared above it's counterpart to it's highest since I was a year old in 1974 people!
Why does this excite me? B/c for the first time I ordered something online today from the U.S. and guess what?! There was less needed to cover that U.S. cost in my stellar Cdn dollars! It was my turn to get a deal!
So I do a little jig and see what else I can buy before the tide turns.

A new dawn, a new day

My friend Siobhan and I were out last w/e doing a strawbale home tour about an hour north of Kingston. It was a beautiful day, crisp and clear. We were finding our way back home from the quaint town of Perth and we passed by this abandoned farm just as the light was at it's peak. I hadn't taken any pictures all day and as we passed this barn along the road I felt it was time to take out my camera and capture the beautiful light and clouds. I looked over at Siobhan and told her we had to turn around and go back. I needed to take some pictures. And this is image is the result.

Nina Simone was playing as we parked the car, we were both singing along, and Siobhan suggested the title for the images taken here be called "It's a new dawn, it's a new day" in lieu of the light and Miss Nina, and I could only agree.

dreamy state of mind and body

I had the most heavenly shiatsu treatment this morning that I just have to share. I see my practitioner once a month and generally I walk away feeling pretty similar as when I walked in. But today she used her body as pressure instead of it coming from just her hands and the difference was delicious! Shiatsu in general isn't always the most relaxing of experiences b/c the practitioner is getting their fingers into some pretty tough spots that can be a bit painful. Shiatus literal translation is "finger pressure" and it is just that. You're fully clothed lying on a mat on the floor.

This morning she got up on all fours while I was lying on my stomach and used her knees to work the muscles in my legs and applied pressure to my back evenly with the flats of her hands. Today I realized happiness is having someone expertly walk on your feet with their feet. This may all sound strange and convoluted, but trust me, it's been over an hour and I'm still floating.

Spectacular Wyoming!

I met a couple on the boat today who live in Wyoming. They were in the car ahead of me and when I saw their license plate I knew I needed to talk with them and here's why.

Two years ago as I was leaving Montana after my stint at photography school, we decided to take our time coming home and so started off camping in Yellowstone Park. After one night of camping we made our way along the upper north part of Wyoming and headed east through the state.

I still don't have the words to describe what we saw. What I remember is driving along in silence and the only word in my head was "spectacular" (a word I don't, if ever use). Out of nowhere my husband says to me, "Did you have any idea how spectacular Wyoming was?" I just looked at him and shook my head. Our mouths and eyes wide open.

So if you haven't been....just go. That's all I can say. Talking with this lovely couple today they reassured me I saw the "best" parts of Wyoming. So if you go, it's the upper north end, sitting right on the border of Montana and travel east, or west, depending on where you're headed.

Funny how things come up in your life sometimes as I have been thinking about Wyoming more than usual, hoping I would return someday and then I met this couple who gave me their address. Wyoming, I'm comin' back!

The image above is from Yellowstone. (I was shooting b&w film and this is a lousy scan - sorry). I've never been so close to buffalo before...we had one right beside our car at one point. I do have images of Wyoming still in negative format. Have to get on that at some point.

I've been spending a lot of time in my head

I'm going to switch things around for this post and ask you the reader to "post" your thoughts.

My question to you:

If you could live your dream life, what would it look like? What are the colours, the sounds. What does your internal landscape look like? What's sustaining you in this dream life of yours? I'd love to hear any thoughts to these questions.

KR

the state of my emotions

I'm feeling a sense of loss today. This feeling seems to be overshadowing everything I do today.

I called this blog, "the beauty of life" b/c of all this life is made up of, both good and hard times. We are a part of that mix and with it comes the beauty of our experiences. It can be difficult to see the beauty of all of our emotions when at times we wish some of them would go away, but in the end they do help us grow and change....hopefully.

When I'm feeling like I am today I remember a quote I read by Jung:

"Embrace your grief, for it will expand your Soul."

This quote helps me remember that it takes every kind of emotion to make up an individual. We don't have to hang on to our emotions, just ride their wave until another comes along.

On my way to work

I came across this chair on my way to the boat one morning. I happened to have my camera with me b/c I had a shoot in town. I'm trying to bring my camera with me more often and am happy to say that I have this summer more than before.

I like the colour of the chair and the fact that it reminded me of outdoor furniture from the 70's. I don't see chairs like this anymore.