Happy 27th to My Sister (a month later).

On August 28th we headed down to the farm for a family celebration of Laura Jane's birthday!  Nathan grilled and Dad made a tiered cake!  Nathan's parents came, too!  It was such a nice time!

I was able to find a neat necklace for Laura on etsy.  I dream of having my own spot on etsy... until then, I will be browsing and buying handmade gifts for family and friends.... here is a link to the shop where I found the mixed vintage/handmade necklace.....LeslieShields  

Happy Birthday, Sister!  Love you!

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Rules

Perfect Match: A Film Made in 48 Hours ...No, Really.

I was ever-so-fortunate to be a part of the 48 Hour Film Project several weeks ago.  The team I was on is called New Legend. (I use the present tense there because we are going to do this again next year--we are still a team!)  It was headed up by the parents of my bff, Sarah.  Her Father, Don Fitzpatrick, has always wanted to direct a film and her Mother, Christine Fitzpatrick, is a writer---so, it was perfect.  The team/crew was a diverse group.  The ages ranged from 10 to 70 years.  Each person brought something different to the table.  Everyone worked together graciously and efficiently.  I really didn't have much to do with all the creative-I was just there to help if needed.  I thought that I would document by snapping a few photos...but--it turns out, I was a little too busy--so, this image below is the only one I got.  Michael and Zepplin(the dog in the movie) are waiting inside a vehicle (and the van through the window in the background is also part of the crew) while Sarah and the actors were doing road shots in the car.  

It was a frantic, yet, controlled endeavor.  There was a lot of lost sleep, copious amounts of coffee consumed, troubleshooting galore and bonds made and strengthened between this group of family and friends.  

The end result is this:

The weekend after the production of the film occurred, there was a premiere at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, as they helped to sponsor this segment of the international competition.  Unfortunately, we couldn't pop the bucks to attend--but I heard it was glamourous!
There is so much more that could be said about this fabulous event-but, I will let some other team members tell their story-whether that is in a comment, here, -or on their own blogs....etc.
Thanks to all who let me be a part of this neat experience!

Fleeting Moments of Summer

Hayes is making waves....in our backyard.

Surf Club, man.

The incredible Central Public Library of Indianapolis.

We met our good friends, Colton, Kenleigh and Laura, there to play.  Check it-green screen stage where kids can be a part of a live and looping video which places them in various scenes.  Too much fun!

Computers for the kiddos.

Hayes was having fun punching, yes, punching, the keys.

Fun with "ABCs" and shapes on the magnet wall...

"O"

Hayes and I are ascending stairs in an old house on a horse farm in this reflective image--we were rummaging through the all of the exciting equestrian items at an estate sale held there.

Hayes found a book inside, carried it outside, found a  basket, put the book in the basket and proceeded to the pay table.

A couple of my equestrian farm estate sale finds.....

Scott hanging Adele's photographic tapestries in JP Parker.  Hayes is "documenting" our last time ever in the flower shop.

Life is a picnic.....yes, even after you (I) get fired.

crouching in attempt to find the last berries of the season.....

Found one!!!

One of our walk to nap rounds.

Fall is on the way....having my summer fun while I can..... (When Hayes sees this picture, he says, "opiteee"  --that means elephant.)

Adventure in the Circle City

Hayes in the doorway of the monument... the view behind him is looking south down Meridian Street.

On July 21st, I wanted to do something different, something fun.  I have never been up inside the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the circle down town.  I learned that it only costs $2 to ride the elevator up to the look out.  How neat would it be for Hayes to see our city from so high up?  Something I like to do is load our bike in the van and drive closer to downtown... that way we still get to ride the bike--but it spares us from having to ride four miles....and we don't pay to park.  We had a nice ride to the circle--but, when we arrived, I rode around and around looking for a place to lock the bike... There were no spaces in place for bikes.  I found that odd and disturbing.  Bikes were chained to lamp posts and trees--but, I assume that is illegal, so, I ask some skater kids what they know about locking a bike up on the circle.  They turned my attention to these stacks of metal road blocks.  They were placed all around and the kids assured me that the purpose of those metal piles were precisely for securing bicycles.  I didn't believe them--but, I had no choice.  We were on a mission--and I had to strap the bike to something..... After locking the bike and unhooking the basket containing all of our stuff, we walked up the many stairs to the door of the monument.  We entered, paid to ride the elevator and waited for its return--only four people may ride at one time.  I snapped a photo of Hayes in the doorway.  We rode the tiny and decrepit elevator up, up, up.  When the doors slid open, we were looking at a wall and then stairs.  Stairs?  I thought.  Okay, sure, of course--the elevator isn't going to take us all the way to the top. This certainly isn't handicapped accessible, either.  We make our way---and there it is--the view.  It is a neat view.  Hayes didn't really care where we were.  He wasn't interested at all.  I don't exactly know what I was expecting from him--but that didn't concern me... we snapped a few "we were here" shots and as we looked west, I realized that we could be in some trouble.  It was time to go.  The rain was on its way.... we had eight city blocks to ride to get back to the van.  We headed back down the stairs.  At the top, it is a bit confusing because there is a sign that directs people right if they are to find the elevator and left if they are to continue down the stairs.  Right did not feel correct.  As were we descending, I am doubting where we are going and before I knew it, my foot slipped on the worn metal stair and we were f

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We fell down about six stairs before we could stop.  Hayes instantly started screaming.  I immediately attempt to soothe him.  I felt as if I landed on his leg.  I was sure I had broken his fragile little baby leg.  A man came down from the look out to see if we were okay.  I was sure I was fine--but I wasn't sure about Hayes.  The man looked at Hayes's leg with me and we agreed that he was probably fine.  I still had a hold of Hayes-I never lost that grip--he was in my left arm-so I could hold the hand rail.... and that basket I had thrown over my shoulder was just another oddity of the event.... I managed to get both of us up off of the cold stairs and continue much more carefully than before.  We reached the elevator.  I thought we would never get to the bottom.  We stepped out of the door and the clouds we saw in the near distance were directly above us, now.  We hurried to the bike.  I strapped him in.  I took a couple more pictures.  I had to breathe after falling and before jumping on the bike.  Drip, drop, drip.  I felt the rain start to trickle on my skin.  I warned Hayes that it was going to be a wet ride and we set off.  People on the street looked at me as if I was a horrible Mother to have my baby strapped to the back of my bike in the middle of a rain.  I smiled and rode on.  After having to detour because of construction, we finally made it back to the van.  Refuge.  Sweet refuge.  My leg hurt considerably at this point.  I was still worried about Hayes.  We made it home safely.  I watched him very carefully to be sure that he wasn't injured.  He had two tiny and faint bruises on either cheek--I have no idea how--but there were no other marks on him, anywhere.  Thank the Lord!  I, on the other hand, did have quite the set of bruises on my thigh... you will see.  What an adventure it was!  We survived.  We won't let this event keep us from enjoying another ill planned adventure--no way!!

If you would like to see images and learn about the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, click here.

Here is Hayes at the look out of the monument.... he isn't looking out, is he?

With a little help from Mom, Hayes can see out to Lucas Oil Stadium.

Hayes is looking west toward the State House... and the dark clouds that are heading our way.

Hayes puts on an appropriate expression for the what we endured just moments before .

Vanilla wafers make it better.

And, we are two drowned rats after our drenching bike ride back to the van.

Lastly, and certainly not least: my "war wound" as it was a day after.  Niiiiice.

DOOCED

So, some new things are happening in my life--if you don't like controversy and true stories that are not all happy-perfect, click away... because--if I have not crossed the line into shockingly real yet, I do, here.  I mean, this is no celebrity reality scandal--so it isn't super exciting... but, there are things I need to document--and it isn't pretty.  


#1.  Let me first talk about my purpose, here... as if I have not done it over and over again--I just feel the need to do so--both for myself and for the doubting Debbies out there.  When I tell people that I have a blog.... first thing they say is:  "What do you have a blog about?"  As if to imply that I am so boring that I could not possibly have anything interesting to publish.  And most certainly--no one could possibly read the thing!  Well, on some levels, those Debbies have a point.  Sure, I am not a celebrity, I am not a writer, I live in Indiana--I suppose those things make me excludable to some degree.  Here are some of the reasons I trudge forth with my self exploiting posting exercises:  Anyone may publish his or her writings/photographs/links/videos and so on--why not I?  I am an observer of life.  Certainly, I live my own--observe my own--but observe wholeheartedly all that life is.  It is challenging and stressful for me to remember all I see.  Therefore--I photograph and collect.  What do I collect?  The number one thing I collect is imagery-in the sad form of digital files, mostly....and too much junk--clippings from different types of print media, show cards, personal cards and letters, art and other random trinkets that connect my brain to some moment in time.  It is too expensive to print all or any photographs I take--so, in order to share them, I must publish them online.... to me, it is like hanging them on the wall--without having to decide which frame and hammer another hole... In order to put those images in context, I must write.  It is simple writing.  I don't get the chance to read a lot of books--so, my vocabulary is rather sad.  I need to open a book and spend some time..... I know.  Another reason I write is to ventilate.  I am sure I would benefit greatly from some psychotherapy.  It isn't in the budget.  I have to find my own therapy--albeit, public and open ended....it forces me to take a hard look at myself... it helps me to laugh at myself--and it helps me to get over all of it.  In that writing, I share bits about my experience as a Mother, as a wife, as a freelance photographer, as a home owner, as a midwestern woman with big eyes for fashion as a way of glamorizing my potentially mundane existence....and so much more.... also, I can be creative, fast... I don't ask for a gallery show.... no one wants to visit a brick and mortar to see my work.  (That is, if I could afford to print any of it.)  I can shoot and share in a matter of hours if I want.
Okay--I really could go on and on about my personal philosophy of weblogging... and I will do it again and again... so, I apologize for the above and for the future ramblings on the subject.
I made a commitment to myself when I wrote my first post to always continue documenting and publishing.  I will do my best.


#2-Notice the title of my post....yes, it is true.  I have been fired due to the content of my website.  As I suspected, when I shared an extremely vague account of a happening at the flower shop over the summer, I laid it on the line.  My job--or "working relationship" as it was put in the email (yes, email) notifying me of the executive decision to wipe me from the payroll-- has been terminated.  Sure, my bad.  (And, in their defense, I am sure that they called it tit-for-tat... kind of like-'oh, if you are going to electronically air our business--we will electronically fire you'....maybe??)  Eh, well, of course, and because it is so easy to push the "reply" button, I did.  Aaaaand, at this point, what do I have to lose, right?  Well, the only thing I have left from JP Parker are the wonderful experiences and dear friendships I have with most of the people there--and I am figuring that some of those people hate me--so, I might as well go on and share some final thoughts.  I did.  It was a thankful response... mostly.  I hope we all learned lessons from our mistakes in this happening. Did I make a mistake?  Yes.  I should have told JP Parker that I had a weblog.  I should have told them that I was going to mention them in it.  I should have forced them to hear my real voice....  I can't regret what I have said/published.  I sometimes think--I wonder if I am selfish and that I stole time from them--precious time that they could have been teaching some one else... some one more pliable...  My answer is no way.  As I was adding to my knowledge bank, I was helping them build their business.  There were customers who only wanted to work with me...  I did some great designs representing them.  I helped rake brides in at various shows.  I photographed for them and waited months for payment doing my best to keep patient all while, at home, we had no bread and no gas to get anywhere.  I did make sacrifices for them.  Even the night before I received the flaming email, Scott and I hung up fresh artwork in the space--keeping Hayes up past his bedtime.... and did we get compensated for that?  No.  We won't see money for that--I knew it as we were working... I warned Scott, "um, this is for free, by the way... thank you."  He just rolled his eyes, shook his head and kept working.  I hope they are enjoying that fabulous artwork by Linda Adele Goodine hanging above their heads.
UPDATE:  We did get paid for that work.  Fair and square.


Well, it certainly was a priceless experience learning and working at JP Parker Flowers.  No one can ever take that away from me.  


And this experience of being fired has brought on all sorts of thoughts and feelings.  I have been mourning the loss of dear friends.  I have been thinking and worrying that from the outside I must look like a complete flake.  Especially to people who have known me my  whole life.... When I was younger--I understood that the appropriate thing to do in life is: pick a profession, go to college, get a job, make a family, be successful in that job for many years....
I am not sure that I really ever believed in that--I wonder if the people who do believe in that are disappointed in me.... Now, here I am, fired from my last official job--it was not my college major--but it was my first real job out of college...  Am I just floating on through life?  No.  I am building my knowledge bank bigger and bigger with every experience I embrace.  May I take a moment to list all of the jobs I have had?  I think it will be fun--each position has informed me in some way about life and work.  I won't touch on what I learned.... I will spare you that today....
I was a Diet Aide in a hospital cafeteria.
I worked at Dominos Pizza.
I earned my certification as a Certified Nurses' Aide.
I was a Mary Kay saleswoman.
I was a studio monitor in the photo lab at Vincennes University.
I worked as a sales associate at a jewelry store.
I was a host at Olive Garden.
I was a sales associate at Pier 1 Imports.
I volunteered at the Indiana History Center in Preservation Imaging scanning nitrate negatives.
I hosted and bussed tables at Smee's Place Bar and Grill.
I was a studio assistant for photographer, Linda Adele Goodine.
I taught Photography I at Herron School of Art and Design.
I curated for an "underground" art gallery in Indianapolis.
And lastly, designer of flowers at JP Parker Flowers.
During almost all of these jobs, I have shot various weddings, events and portraits.
Recently, I have served at private parties as a bartender.
Currently, I assist Amber Utter of Chemically Dependent Salon in Greenwood.  
I will always be a practicing photographer.
(I am pretty sure that covers it--but, I am sure that some one will remind me of a job I have done and forgot about.)


In lieu of the end of my floral design career... (I know, just because I don't work with JP Parker doesn't mean I quit floral design forever....I just don't see working for any other flower shop in this city--JP Parker is the BEST!) ....would you like to see some of my designs?  Of course you do!  I think it will be evident that I am a fan of asymmetry.....