25/365-2 Caring

"Slaving Over A Hot Fire"

Though there were many things that we should have done today, we shirked all of our adult responsibilities and spent the day celebrating a friend's birthday by sitting outside talking, laughing, enjoying the perfect weather and roasting hot dogs over the fire pit.  It was a glorious day.  And what better way to show your wife that you care about her than by slaving over a hot fire roasting her a hot dog.

Seriously, what does caring look like?  We all know what it looks like in the intense moments of life - when we need an ear to listen or a shoulder on which to cry a hand to hold or an arm to pick us up, a whisper in our ear or a stern word spoken directly at us.  In the every day,  however, it looks like a freshly made cup of coffee as we stagger out of bed, or the towel warmer being turned back on when we sleep beyond it programmed shut-off time, or our lunch having been packed on school mornings, or pain relieving gel rubbed on your back, and yes,  hot dogs being roasted over an open fire.  I feel blessed to know what caring looks like every day.

24/365-2 Fresh Air

"Friday Afternoon"

By the end of the day Friday, I was exhausted, too exhausted to concentrate on a photo so I recycled this one that I had taken earlier in the week.  It represents quite well the way I felt Friday afternoon.  As a further testament to how out of it I was, not only did I not take a new photo, I forget to post yesterday the one that I recycled.  

23-365-2 Umbrella

"Behind the Umbrella"

What happens behind the umbrella stays behind the umbrella.

22/365-2 Eight

'Size 8"

I am short on time and inspiration today.  Since we seem to have no resident octopus, the best I could do in only few minutes this afternoon at photographing the number eight was a picture of the size 8 knitting needle I'm using in one of my current projects.  Lame, I know, but at least I took a photo.  

21/365-2 In A Bowl

"Chow Hound"

This is Adidas and his bowl.  I'd like to say that in his mind this is the most important bowl in the house.  But, the truth of the matter is that any bowl that has food in it at the time, his or someone else's, is the most important bowl to him.  Harley's bowl, the cat's bowl, a human's bowl - they are all fair game according to this boy.

20/365-2 Upset

"Empty Chairs"

There is nothing really to be upset about in my world today, but I am a little sad to be going back to work full force tomorrow.  I love teaching, but I have really enjoyed my time off over this break.  I have had so much freedom to do the things I want to do with no deadlines hanging over my head.   I have read, taken pictures, napped and just had time to be.  "Be time" is so important to me...and actually to those who live with me because it puts me in a much better mood.

I feel guilty complaining about going back to work when there are so many people without jobs that need and want to be working.  I know I'll feel better about it once I get to school and things get rolling because I really do like my job.  Right now though, the thought of actually being totally dressed like an adult with lunches and backpacks ready to go in time to leave the house by 7:15 doesn't sound appealing.  

On another note...I spent my last afternoon of freedom taking a couple more funky photos.

19/365-2 Abandoned

"Abandoned Abstract"

I actually took this photo yesterday.  Apparently what I abandoned today was any hope of getting a daily photo that I liked.  For whatever odd reason, this image speaks to me.  I think that it is its totally abstract nature and the possibility of seeing so much or so little in it.

This shot was intended to be a simple shot of a leaf or two floating in a fountain, an exercise to practice with manual focus.  Because of the way the light fell, the reflection of the sky and the way the Lensbaby works, this is what I got, so much more than a floating leaf.

I did take a few shots today.  They were all dismal.  My mind kept coming back to this image.  Then I remembered the Mahler quote.  Then it all came together.  My mind is like this image until I center my thoughts and focus.  This is the one idea that remained after the other nineteen were abandoned.