If It's The Holiday Season, It Must Be Covid-19 *UPDATE

 

“The decisions and choices that we make in society today will have a direct impact on the number of people who get hospitalized (with COVID-19) two weeks from now."

Jay Varkey, ID physician, Facebook Live

 Alan tested positive this morning. The current strain of Covid-19 making the round is Omicron Sub-variant XEC, so it's more than likely what he has. So far he has only mild symptoms, which I am grateful for. I suppose, in that we are in the same house, I will be getting it soon. I am beginning to get some symptoms. Scratchy throat, aches, etc. Sigh. We wear our masks, wash our hands frequently, I don't know what to say. Everywhere I go, everyone is mask free, and pretty much acting like it never existed. Perfect. Thanks unvaccinated assholes. Here we are. Please folks. I beg you, do your reading. Get vaccinated. WEAR YOUR DAMN MASKS! Stay home if you are feeling unwell stay home! As was pointed out the first time around, entire families DO NOT NEED TO SHOP TOGETHER!

 

XEC Information

 

Sigh. I don't know what the next few days or weeks will be like, but I will probably take a few days or perhaps a week off from posting anywhere, so I will post my autumn leaves in one large post at a later time. Love autumn while it is here. Those little leaves travel a whole year to reach us, they are good for the soul, so enjoy whatever leaves are left.

 

I will try to update soon, even if it is just an emoji.

READ UP FOLKS, PRETTY SOON WE WILL BE ON OUR OWN.

UPDATE

 My body is not very happy right now. 12/15/24

 

Bleach Me, My Sweet Unbleachable You

 

“Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart,” the President continued. “Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star … to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius … and a very stable genius at that!” 

 

~Donald John Trump

 

It's that time of year again. Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it comes all those delicious opportunities to spread Covid-19. You remember Covid... right? You know, that pesky little virus that killed millions worldwide, and in the United States, 1,152,647, as of the writing of this blog post. Sigh. The variant, Omicron, the variant that Hubby gave me for Christmas, 2021, continues to mutate and at this point, we are on HV1, which first made its presence known last summer. So, here's the thing, there is a lot that can be done to take care of oneself, and others, but do we still make the basic efforts to do so?

 

1. Wash your hands.

 

2. WEAR A FUCKING MASK!

 

3. Ge the vaccine and the boosters.

 

4. Don't drink bleach!

 

 

5. It doesn't hurt to wipe your groceries down went you get home from the store. Tedious, but so is contracting a deadly virus. Sigh. You all know where you stand on this, but it makes me so sad to know anyone who takes the time to read my ramblings, may not be here a year from now, because we were all so ready to get back to "normal"

 

6. Gloves are a good idea. Hey, remember a few years ago when that report came out about what is actually found on shopping carts? Feces? Forget about it! Or rather, remember, that cart will hold the food you eat.

 

Of course a deadly pandemic occurs while Trump was in office. When I considered all the apocalyptic scenarios that would happen after he was elected on election night 2016, why didn't I think that would happen? When it was my turn to experience Captain Tripps, I felt so many things, as I lay face first into my Covid pillow. I thought about how Hubby and I had moved about the full first year, without catching either the original strain, of the equally dangerous, Delta variant. I wondered just how bad it might get. Would Hubby be okay? Eventually it became apparent we would survive. Weren't we lucky!? But now we had Omicron... what the Hell would that mean for Hubby and I, down the road?

 

Well, as it turns out, Hubby decided to retire because he couldn't get the strength he once had back. One day he was fine, the next day he is left with Tinnitus, and a seriously decreased energy level. We both have memory losses and the occasional heart flutter. Neither of which existed prior to our catching Covid-19. I couldn't eat normally for most of 2022, and to this day I can't mushrooms. Why? I have no idea, but it started about 2 weeks after I was symptom free. I consider myself lucky on that score, as my bout with the food repulsion was manageable during 2022, most folks who experienced this phenomena had it to very different degrees. It just seemed so sad for that to be a symptom. Omicron killed less folks than previous strains did, but it was not mild in the sense that it left lasting damage. And we were among the lucky ones.

Please... just take it seriously. I never want to get it again. Frankly... the thought scares the Hell out of me. And I really don't want to lose my husband because someone just couldn't be bothered to take care of themselves. 

 

Please, just wear a damn mask! 

Great Reading... 

 

Harvard Business Review

Did 4% of Americans Really Drink Bleach Last Year?

By

• Rachel Hartman
•  April 20, 2021

Covid Data Tracker

 

Get free Covid tests from the government.

 Covid tests

 

Things To Come

 

"I knew by the signs it would be a hard winter. The hollies bore a heavy crop of berries and birds stripped them bare. Crows quarreled in reaped fields and owls cried in the mountains, mournful as widows. Fur and moss grew thicker than usual. Cold rains came, driven sideways through the trees by north winds, and snows followed."

 

~Sarah Micklem

Firethorn

 

 

Why do they do it? Why can't they, the Covid-19 deniers, understand it's a matter of life and death? Why don't they understand it's not the flu? And, at times, one will encounter the truly jaw dropping, and the question must be asked... what is with the Covidiot that has enough brain power to put a mask to their face, but not enough to position it properly? It's the couple in the photo, and others like them, that makes me wonder... are they trying to provoke a response, or are they just clueless? Could it both? I want to understand.

 

 I wanted to approach them and ask... why? Why don't you believe it's a dangerous pandemic? Why are you taking your life into your own hands? Why do you care so little about your neighbors and your community, that you can't even be bothered to try? Why can't you just listen to the science? Why can't you listen to experts who have been studying infectious diseases for over half a century? Are you truly that selfish? Do you really trust the "expert" advice of Donald Trump? A man so corrupt that he is considering issuing himself, Rudy Guiliani and his children blanket pardons. What makes you believe he has your best interests at heart? What has he done, for you to invest so much faith in him?

 

I spotted this couple on my last official shopping trip, just before Thanksgiving. I wanted to approach them, but decided to not do it. I thought about making an example of them on Twitter, but it could lead to something I find just as repugnant... the ever popular death threat. It seems some folks can't express their feelings without mentioning violence, and threatening to kill the offending party. It seems every infraction no matter how big or how small, must end in the offending party being hung at dawn, but that is life in America in 2020. Folks, so afraid of dying that they are willing to kill others, and others who are so afraid of listening to more than one voice, they are willing to take their life, and the lives of others, in their hands. I don't understand all the time folks waste, when life is so short anyway.

 

I'm back inside now. And it's a good thing I made the decision to self quarantine again, because its becoming more apparent that Governor Newsom is getting ready to shut the state down again. He has to, because in the last couple weeks the Covid-19 stats for the state have exploded. I support it 100%, and at the same time, my heart is breaking for all the small businesses that have had to shutter, and all the folks out of work because this virus was born in the year 2020. Autumn was my first real time out of the house since the original shelter in place order was issued last spring, and it did wonders for my mood and sleeping. Autumn is usually a time of healing for me, but this year it was like no other time in my life. Beautiful leaves and new animals and birds I spotted with my camera. New places to explore. The golden autumn sun. And finally, the national election and win for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. All that in the three months of autumn, with a few weeks left to go.

 

But winter is coming, and it's promising to be the coldest winter of my life. There is a possibility Alan or I, or both of us, could contract Covid-19, even after doing our part, even after following the directives, and educating ourselves. It will be hard to not wonder if it was because of someone else's carelessness. Why can't everyone just be a little less selfish? Why would someone ruin a beautiful place like the Woodbridge Ecological Preserve, by discarding a mask and a cotton swab, that could be infected with a deadly virus? Why would someone do that? I don't get littering anyway, but that is taking lack of self-respect to a new level. Who does that?

 

 

 

~Carly

Stockton, California

December 3rd 2020

8 Weeks, Give Or Take

"Illness is the night side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds a dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, for identify ourselves as citizens of the other place."

~Susan Sontag

Illness As Metaphor

The last time I posted here was on January, 18th. Just about eight weeks ago. So much has happened in that time, but it's Trump time, which is time that seems to move differently than any other measure of time, because of his knack for creating a NEW FRESH HELL daily, and the last eight weeks have been no different. But in addition to his bullshit, other things have happened. In no particular order, I learned that I am now in late, stage three, Chronic Kidney disease. Valentine's Day happened, which was great this year, because Alan and I got to spend the day together, and he gave me my first Valentine's day card in years. Spring officially began last Friday, and along with all the rest of it, came a pandemic.

 It is believed that the Covid-19 virus (novel coronavirus) began late last year, in China, but that is somewhat unclear in detail. Right now that is just the theory, because it's not definite how the first human contracted it. Trump, in his usual racist form, likes to refer to it as the Chinese virus. A term which is not just wrong, but again, racist. Blatantly so. So, as you might imagine, his speaking daily, alongside his coronavirus task force, helps no one. He speaks, down goes the stock market. He speaks, a whole community of Americans are put into danger from racist assholes. He speaks. He lies. He puts folks in danger from so many directions it's staggering.

I've been dwelling on my childhood, and the little memories that seem like a billion years ago, but also, somehow, feel like a couple days ago. I miss little things. Like eating on Christmas eve, at the little fish and chips restaurant, that my family loved so much. I remember eating there, on the first day of autumn, in 1976, after I went shopping for back to school clothes. I can remember everything about that meal, and about the clothes I purchased that day. I had chosen a brown cardigan sweater, and two skirts. A solid plum colored skirt and the other one was black and covered in tiny gold flowers. I bought a long sleeved green sweater to wear with that one. Also in the bag, I had a new pair of tennis shoes and a new pair of boots. A new purse and some folders and pens. And now I am hungry for a restaurant that hasn't existed since 1984.

But...

back to today. I am not sure why I am dwelling on those memories, except that it feels like my mortality is in serious play. Covid-19 tends to hit folks who have compromised immune systems. Between my Fibromyalgia and my kidney disease I feel like it's just a matter of time until it comes for me. The Trump administration has bungled the response to the pandemic.... thoroughly. All of it surrounding Trump's ego and pride, but fortunately individual governor's have really stepped up! Like Gavin Newsom. He was the first governor to shut a state completely down to all non-essential gatherings, including work. The state is closed, which means stay home unless you need to visit a grocery store or your doctor. It's an eerie feeling, and an even eerier sight, but that's the order, and it's so little to ask, if it will help stop the rampage of this deadly virus.

Before his order went into affect, folks throughout America panicked and cleaned out the grocery stores of everything, from toilet paper to canned food. We have driven the state up and down trying to find one package of toilet paper, and can't. It's not available on Amazon either. We are down to our last two rolls, and then we will have to do something fairly unpleasant, but workable. I don't want to think about it. We have food and for the most part supplies for us and the boys, and that is what matters. We are fairing a lot better than the hospitals, which at the moment, can't get masks, ventilators and other much needed equipment. Trump knew in late December what was coming and did nothing about it. He is about a dangerous man who has ever lived. These sure do seem like the last days, but I don't want to think about that. Why? It's not like worrying will stop the apocalypse... right?

Oh well. That gets Ellipsis caught up on the most important changes that have taken place. I will touch on everything as we move along going forward. Right now, here are some photos in order of what inspired me since January 19th. Small steps as we go. Right? Okay, moving on to some images, beginning with the sunsets. There will be more sets to come, in fact, some upcoming posts will simply be sets of photos until I get things caught up. 

Keep checking back.

 Set #1 The Sunsets

~Mood: Sad

~Me

Autumn, Alan, October, Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Roses, And Pizza

"This is October for me: Withdrawing into my own world, blocking out everything except the beauty of the season, my reflections and my relationship with God, I find that this is enough to sustain me through the long, cold, winter... and beyond... ."

~Peggy Toney Horton

Somewhere In Heave My Mother Is Smiling

Half Moon Bay, California, is beautiful every single day of every year, but it is especially beautiful in October of any year! The town's claim to fame is being the, "World's Pumpkin Capitol!" Which I have to admit there may be one or two other towns in the world who also claim that title, or at least "Pumpkin Capitol Of The World." It doesn't matter to me, I love the town so much, that I simply call it Heaven on the San Mateo peninsula! 

But I have to admit, I love coming down the steep hill, of Highway 92, turning a slight corner, and suddenly seeing, on my left, pumpkin patches as far as the eye can see! There are also a few patches that have roses, and sunflowers! My favorite stop in Pastorino's Pumpkin Patch!

Beautiful pumpkins, a petting zoo, sunflowers, a gift shop, and a bake shop, definitely puts a person in, not only an autumn euphoria, but in the mood for the upcoming holidays of, Halloween, and Thanksgiving! It's an enchanting autumn world, and Alan and I have been enjoying our Half Moon Bay visits, since we first visited Pastorino's, while we were on our honeymoon! I still remember the date, October 23rd, 1990!  

We had such a good time that day, that we named the day, Family Day, so that if we started a family, and wanted to spend our anniversary alone, which is October 13th, we could give the kids a special day for all of us, just ten days later! We chose that, because 49ner's quarterback, Joe Montana, and his family, were visiting Pastorino's that day in 1990 also! It was the first time, that year, they had a chance, to take a day off to be together for choosing their pumpkin! They seemed to be having so much fun together, that it sparked the idea for Alan and I to create the tradition!

As it turned out we never had children. We just didn't, but it didn't stop us from celebrating that special day anyway! We still have a ball, visiting Pastorino's! After we choose our pumpkin, we always head up the coast highway, to San Francisco, and enjoy the best of the city, and after that, it's onto Marin County, for dinner at Gaspare's Italian restaurant! A pizza, and two orders of their heavenly Cannoli! Life is good! Love is good! Autumn makes it all magical! 

We had to celebrate our Family Day, a bit later than usual this year, because I was a little under the weather on October 23rd, but it was okay, October 25th was a glorious day! Warm. Beautiful. And best of all, it was a completely happy, fun filled day! No stress. No politics. Just Alan and I! I only wish our kitties could have come with us. They are our children, and I just know it would have been fun having them choose the official pumpkins of Halloween 2018! Believe me, as silly as that sounds, my Dylan has very definite ideas about pumpkins! Each year we bring several home, and he always chooses one he likes to chew on the most! LOL! 

Alan and I have the life we wanted!

And our life is good!

#39 Leaf Of The Day

October 29th 2018

Photographed October 25th, 2018

Cull Canyon

 

~Mood: Happy

~Me

 

Cough Drop Affirmations

"Life likes to be taken by the lapels and told,

 'I'm with you kid, let's go!' "

~Maya Angelou

What you see above is a picture of a cough drop... with an affirmation on the outside of the wrapper. It's a Hall's strawberry cough drop to be exact! I hadn't had cough drops for a while, even while being sick because all brands of cough drops contain sucrose. Because of my Fibromyalgia, I can't have anything containing sucrose. It gives Fibro sufferers, such as myself, unworldly gas! I don't like experiencing unworldly gas, so I usually just cough until the coughing runs it's course.

But with this current cold, the coughing was really persistent and it was making my back and sides hurt to try to soldier through, so I broke down and used the cough drops. They were tastier than I remembered, and while they did indeed give me gas, it wasn't as uncomfortable as the constant coughing. And wonderful hubby that I have didn't even complain about my air concerts, he just wanted to help me feel better! Gosh I love that man! 

And look at that, an affirmation for when I am better!

"March Forward."

That's always good advice, 

marching backwards just makes you look stupid! 

Mood: Tired

~Me

Eat. Play. Love.

"The cat has complete emotional honesty... an attribute not often found in humans."

~Ernest Hemingway

My goodness, I think Hendrix has caught my cold. Since I first found this lousy illness, about a month ago, he has been a constant companion, just like his brother Dylan. In fact, both he and his brother have been keeping my feet and my shoulder quite warm as I sleep.

I am loved.

But unfortunately, I think Hendrix, and possibly Dylan, have caught the cold.

I know there are some illnesses that can be shared between fur-babies and their human parents, one of them being the H1N1 flu. According to Petside, there were 10 documented cases of that particular flu having been shared between pets and owners. Yet other websites claim that there is not enough evidence to say for sure about the possibility of transmitting a simple cold to a cat, but careful hygiene while around your kitty cat friend is strongly encouraged.

Hendrix has been lethargic, uninterested, and generally displaying an extremely quiet demeanor, which is not his usual self. Hendrix is the more playful of the two. He LOVES to look for the red laser dot, and follow his favorite mice on a stick. He is loads of fun, but while play is important, so is LOVE and EATING. They are the only two things that he will consider stop playing for. His priorities are EAT. PLAY. LOVE. So, when he stopped playing the last couple of days, you can imagine how much it worried me.

The good news is that he has been eating small amounts of food, and cleaning his fur. He is using his box regularly and on time. And when pushed, he will at least follow the laser mouse with his eyes. There is a part of me that thinks Hendrix might be simply tired out from taking care of Alan and I. He walks both of us to the bathroom, and he comes and sits with me when the coughing gets so bad I feel like I am going to stop breathing. On some level he is worried about that also I think, yet he will not let me go through it alone, which pretty much makes him my best friend. :)

Last night we fed him a half a jar of his favorite baby food, Chicken in Chicken Gravy, Gerber's #2. He seemed to perk up a bit after that, which lifted my spirits more than I can tell you! Dylan and Hendrix both are due to visit Dr. Barrett for their annual checkups soon, so I think I will schedule them for this week. It's always good to touch base with Dr. B., he is a great man, and actually he is considered a hero to our family! One day Dr. B. will retire, and I don't even want to think of what we will do. I wouldn't take my little boys to just any pediatrician!

Ooops... I mean veterinarian.

NO, I mean pediatrician. Well, veterinarian/pediatrician

Yes. That's accurate.

Yes. (Insert nodding head here)

Think good thoughts for my boys... okay? :)

Mood: Happy but concerned.

~Me :)

A Soup Or A Stew?

"A first rate soup is better than a second rate painting."

~Abraham Maslow

Alan made me Chicken and Dumplings last night for dinner. Soup, glorious, soup! Wait, is Chicken and Dumplings considered soup or stew? As of right now I am not sure. I looked it up on Wikipedia, and it doesn't really classify it, except to say it is comfort food! Umm... yes... yes it is! Chicken and Dumplings is a winter favorite in our house, although we don't have it every year. This year we only had it on the very last day of winter, and then it was more about Alan wanting to surprise me with not just comfort food, but with gourmet comfort food! His version of the classic southern dish is a-ma-zing, and he made it just for me! How lucky can a girl get?

I love you Alan! :)

"The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they're right if you love being with the all the time."

~Julia Child

Mood: Still sick, but HAPPY :)

~Me :)

A Visitor Parked In The Western Sky

"I never really thought about how I look at the moon. It's the same moon Shakespeare and Marie Antoinette and George Washington and Cleopatra looked at."

~Susan Beth Pfeffer, Life As We Knew It

There is a rumor that if you go outside, just after dusk, you will see something special in the western sky. It's a comet, and it's called Comet Pan- Starrs (C/2011 L4). I checked out the western sky at sundown, and I saw the bright silvery bottom outline of the moon, but there wasn't any sign of the comet. It should have been positioned to the left of the moon, a slight angle down in the sky. I didn't see it, but I think it was being obscured by a small amount of wispy clouds that were in the same general direction.

I heard from the doctor, and as it turns out I don't have Whooping cough, I have a fairly new virus that mimics Whooping cough. THANK GOD! I will still have about a 2 week recovery, but I won't have to do any of the unpleasant things Whooping cough would have demanded. And more importantly, Alan won't have to walk around in a mask, take anti-biotics, or inform his coworkers that they may have been exposed to the highly contagious, painful, stupid, coughing spasm disease.

False Alarm!

My virus is a poser! Let's hear it for posers everywhere! RAH RAH RAH!

See, kept my word!

Anyway, back to the sky watching. I am going to try to get enough rest so I can venture out tonight, only this time I will drive down Grizzly Peak to my favorite spot, where I have a better, unobstructed view of the sky. The same basic place where I do my sunset photos over the bay should do nicely. Wish me luck! I think I will stop at either Panera or this wonderful little Chinese restaurant I frequent, and grab some soup for the trip. I am not sure which place will win out, both offer such different experiences, but both are wicked good so either way I win. Now, if the medicine kicks in and does it's job, and the twilight sky doesn't let me down, I think I will have something special to show you tomorrow!

Stay Tuned!

*If you would like to join me in photographing our visiting celestial visitor, pop over to SpaceWeather.com to get yourself a sky map and be sure to stop and take a look at the wonderful images of the comet compiled so far!



Mood: Hopeful

~Me :)

It's Ice-Lolly To YOU!

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

~Mark Twain



My work from home photography jaunts to my office continue. LOL. Don't let the happy little giggle just then fool you, I am NOT a happy girl! This cold of mine, as it turns out is not a cold at all. Nope indeed something worse lies beneath!

The symptoms weren't quite right. Low grade fever then outrageous fever then a low grade fever that goes away for a couple days, then mysteriously returns. No sore throat. Not that I am complaining. Sore throats suck! I had the bad mother of all sore throats once, Strep Throat, which felt like a collection of tiny stars that had been dipped in very HOT oil. YUCK. So, the absence of a sore throat is appreciated, but I have never had a cold that didn't include a sore throat.

Strange.

The next strange symptom came in the form of a cough. It was a strikingly unusual cough. It produced nothing or very little, but the cough itself was intense and intensely painful and fitful as well. Several times a day I begin to cough uncontrollably, to the point where I feel like some invisible entity has their hands around my throat. You know, like the mean spirited ghosts you sometimes see in movies and bad TV shows! It's deep, and again produces nothing, but literally leaves me blue from lack of oxygen. For several minutes a day, I can't stop coughing, and no air is getting into my body. Nothing. It feels like I had pissed my body off for the last time, and it is determined to choke the life out of me.

Okay, that's it! It was time for some tip-toeing through the web pages at WebMD and Kaiser Permanente.

Both medical information sites returned one distinct possibility!

Whooping Cough.

Great... I have a painful kiddie disease.

Make no mistake, while it is usually children who suffer from this, it is probably one of the toughest, painful, things I have experienced in my 50 odd years! I can't even imagine watching any baby or child go through the painful spasms of coughing I am experiencing, let alone if I had my own child experiencing it. I don't know how all those brave souls with children do it! I really don't!

I will find out for sure later today, well, almost. My usual doctor is out of town, so an associate will be calling me to interview me over the phone. If you could possibly have Whooping cough, they would rather you start with a phone interview. It makes sense, and besides, I don't have much energy. Every time I lie down to sleep, I wake up a short time later mid-spasm.

The final straw, the thing that made me finally call my doctor was the odd noise that tends to accompany the cough. WHOOP!

I will never make jokes about WHOOPING IT UP or MAKING WHOOPEE again.

Sigh.

But in the mean time, I have Popsicles and jello, and lots of nice cold water, and salty soup.

It's all good. Well, no it's not, but it's one step closer to being cured.

Whoop.

WebMD: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Overview
Kaiser Permanente: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Overview

Mood: Sad and Tired.

A Brief Overview Of Popsicles. Fun Fact: In England, they call them Ice-Lollies.

 

~Me

Thank GOD Fireworks Don't Happen Every Day!

"Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference."

~Robert Frank

 

I like the quote I chose for today's post. I think it fits my life as a progressive, and my life as a photographer. It fits a lot of decisions I make when it comes to actually clicking the shutter. Most of the time I prefer pure instinct, but in order to get better at what I try to accomplish with the camera, I have to schedule myself to practice with settings and light. Light! Oy... light can be your best friend, and just when you think you understand each other, the odd natural filter like a cloud or a flock of geese soaring over can change how you think about everything. Photographing fireworks is a lot like constantly trying to make a good impression. You have to get it right the first time, because there is NO forgiveness available.

 

Photographing anything in San Francisco, especially outdoors, comes with a unique challenge. In a word... angles. San Francisco is a love story, built on a million or so earthquakes. I swear, there are NO even angles remaining in the city. Nothing seems to really line up. My meter can read that I, and my camera, are perched equally straight on a hill, STRAIGHT, or even on a perfectly mostly flat surface and yet nope, some off angle is hiding somewhere, waiting for me to come along. Invariably there will be something out of whack! To the right. To the left. Something. I want and need to do more work with hills this year. Hills facing up and hills facing looking down. Stairs to. There are so many stairs in San Francisco... all of them present some challenges for the amateur photographer.

But challenges are good! I am thankful that I continue to be challenged by something I love so much!

I have not, and will not cease growing as a person, as long as I have photography to challenge me. And what's great about that is that as I adjust how I feel about lighting, I think I remain a little more open minded about the other challenges that haunt my brain. The ones that don't have much to do with photography. It all works out at the end of the day, and if for some reason I can't find the correct angle or lighting moment, or manage to screw in the right light bulb, there is always new opportunities the next day to get it all right!

My two great loves. Photography and Progressive Politics. 

Thank GOD fireworks don't happen every day!

Mood: Happy... but the head cold continues.

And Now... Boston with "More Than A Feeling"



~Me :)

The Curse Of December 10th Comes True About This Time Each Year!

"I like these cold, gray winter days. Day like these let you savor a bad mood."

-Bill Watterson

KaaaaaaaCHHHHHHooooo! Yep, the curse of December 10th has come true yet again, I have a cold. Actually, it's a doosy, woosey, cold! I am dizzy and achy and moving at all is painful. I am swollen, and phlegmy, and downright gorgeous! LOL. So, whats a DIVA to do? Well, she is going to get back into bed, and fall into a deep NyQuil induced coma. I'll be back soon. Or later. Probably later.

-OndineMonet
"Big Chicken"
Berkeley, California
December, 2006
Evening