Putting out Fires

Well, this weekend I was all alone.  Ryan is out ‘camping’ so I’m left to fend for myself.  But!  I did manage to have a great time and kept myself really busy.  I rented girl movies, ate a whole pizza by myself (over a period of 4 meals, come one, I’m not that much of a pig), and I took tons of pictures.

Saturday my parents and I headed out to the Fountain Hills art festival.  This one has over 500 artists, its free, and SO great.  The problem is, I like to linger and look at things for a long time, but my parents are in it for the excercise it seems.  To each his own, but I figured that I needed to go back on my own for a longer look today. 

So today I jumped in the Mustang and took the long way, past the desert lakes.  It was a gorgeous day out, and everyone was out there enjoying it.  I ended up right in the middle of a biker gang and it was an interesting study in social behavior.  Anyone ever notice that the Harley guys only acknowledge the Harley guys, the old guys on glorified scooters only acknowledge the other old guys, and the crotch rocket guys basically give a big ‘F U!’ to everyone.  Anyway, I cranked the classic rock station and did my best to blend the red ’stang into the rest of the biker gang.  When we parted ways I gave them the patented Harley two-fingered salute down toward the ground that they all gave each other…. and I got the death glare.  Fine.  I guess Harley guys don’t like blonde girls driving Mustangs either.

After I went to the festival with my parents yesterday, I stopped by Michaels and Home Depot with the idiotic idea that I was going to create a space w/ a background and a light source (using a work light) for my aperture assignment.  I then got beautiful flowers and some great looking veggies to try some different things.  Well, I took 162 pictures and hated them all.  Inside, outside, sunrise, sunset, 40watt, 100watt, light through a window, light through the blinds…  I’m embarassed to even show any of them, but I put one on Flickr in case you’re looking to waste 15 seconds. 

But then at the art show today I spent loads of time at each of the photo boths.  There were two kinds of photographers:  the GREAT ones who made me feel small and so jealous of their years of experience and all their amazing travels.  Then there were the ones who were just ok.  Uninspired.  Fluff to decorate a room but not to stop someone in their tracks.  It made me realize that while I know I’ve got years and years of practice ahead of me, there’s hope.  If those people can sell photos, surely some day I’ll be able to also.  With LOTS of practice.  Lots.

On the way back today I drove by my old house again.  But this time I was armed with a camera.  The weeds are so bad I almost pulled them myself.  And because BLOG.COM SUCKS ASS, you’ll have to click HERE to see the picture.

That is all.  Happy week to you.