November 09, 2008
Orion's Belt
I took pics on a tripod outside of my cabin last night. They turned out pretty cool. On the bottom picture you can see Orions Belt clearly. These pictures don't really do it justice either. You could clearly see the Milky Way race across the sky as well.
Posted by colin at 04:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2008
Around Town
Posted by colin at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2008
America
Everyones talking about how proud and happy they are to be an American at this moment. Don't get me wrong, I do too. I voted yes. But maybe it's indifference around town that makes me not care as well. I mean I know it's historic but not that many people in town were going crazy for either candidate. Weird.
Maybe it's the I still feel like a journalist and am supposed to be unbiased. Weird.
Someone asked me if I wanted to stand outside of the County Courthouse with signs of a certain candidate (Obama). I told her I didn't feel comfortable doing that. I also tried to see clear of photographing picketters at voting areas in the Delta. However I did see more Obama picketters around that McCain ones.
Posted by colin at 07:04 PM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2008
Tutwiler, Sumner, MS
We traveled down HWY 49 through Tutwiler, Sumner, and Webb, MS.
Our first stop in Tutwiler to see JD and Marvin and what those boys are up to.
Throughout Sumner:
On to Sumner and the cemetery.
More numbers
COMING SOON, a new church in Webb
Back to Tutwiler
Chas wanted to take me to an overgrown cemetery in Clarksdale, the young kids would come here and party at times.
Posted by colin at 01:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 04, 2008
Bob Brooks Elementary School
We found an abandoned elementary school. Or what we thought was abandoned. Well they used it as a haunted house for Halloween. Very scary, if you ask me. I was scared for sure.
Eww, Chas, didn't you find that on the floor?
On the way home, I got a few nice pictures of a random church somewhere along highway 1.
And I got this one just off HWY 1 near my cabin
Posted by colin at 05:40 AM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2008
Delta Again.
It's been a re-occuring them of just driving around throughout the Delta and taking pics all over of anything and nothing and all that is inbetween. Enjoy.
I got into shooting numbers. They're just random but it was inspired from when Haas was a month an counting to his wedding and he would photograph that number of how many days until his wedding.
Posted by colin at 05:35 AM | Comments (0)
Delta Queen
So with a tip from Ruskey and with Ahbleza visiting for the weekend we took a trip to the river to see the final trip of the Delta Queen down the MS River. It's the last of the wheel boats. It's retiring once it gets down to New Orleans.
Riverman himself.
Other friends down at the river.
We began to worry that the sun was going to go down and we would miss the boats passing, at least for photography reasons.
Posted by colin at 05:23 AM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2008
More Photos
A few shots from finding a house way way out in the country and Halloween and the Bolivar Ballers.
Posted by colin at 05:08 AM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2008
Delta
Here's more from going around the Delta
Marvin Freeman was working on some infrastructure stuff for Eric and West Tally HFH. I came down to help Eric with some roofing and took some pics of Marvin and crew working. They're funny funny guys.
JD got stung between the eyes by a wasp. Scary stuff, but he's tougher than most.
Posted by colin at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2008
Route 61 Revisted
My failed Route 61 photo shoot ended with not many photos and me hoping to get to STL before rain and late night hindered hanging out with Tony not happening.
Posted by colin at 03:40 AM | Comments (0)
Windy City
I was home for under a week. It felt much quicker than that. I didn't really shoot much while I was home. I got so see family and very few chicago friends. Hopefully next time though.
I see the above picture and am reminded of the Alkaline Trio song lyric, "From sour home Chicago. I hear it beating far away. There's no telling what I'll do if I don't return to you."
Posted by colin at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2008
Delta Randoms
Here's a few more random Delta shots from the first half of the month. Hope you enjoy 'em.
Posted by colin at 03:32 AM | Comments (0)
Lambfish
My friend Joey opened his own art studio in Clarksdale. He's a cool guy and if you're in the area you should stop by. But Joey has a bunch of photos of mine up at his studio. He's even given me a key and I've been going there during the day to open up the shop for any customers and just for a place to hang out. It has turned into a nice little place that is a second home. Lamfish Art Company on Third Street in downtown Clarksdale, come on by!!!!
He has a guard kitten, named Hitler. Can you guess why??
Posted by colin at 03:26 AM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2008
Delayed
I have a ton of pics and updates to post so here goes. I came up with the idea to have a photo shoot at the New Roxy which is the old black only movie theater in Clarksdale.
And the inside
Once the models were in place and access to the Roxy was granted, the fun began.
The shoot did not go fully as planned but I wasn't really sure what to expect to begin with. No expectations and you can't be let down right? Minor problems let to the shoot ending earlier than expected. One of those problems was the roof, or lack there of at the Roxy and it raining.
But a few days later I was able to get to go back and get a few shots that I wanted to get with the fence as prop that I really wanted to use the previous sessions.
I truly enjoy shooting Chas and shooting with her around the Delta. She's been patient with me and shooting her and letting me try and experiment with different ideas I have. She's been an awesome friend with a different photographic style and tour guide of the Delta. I've also shown her some of my favorites that she did not know about. She's also be a great friend, ear, shoulder for my current struggles. I can't thank her enough. But, thanks Chas. Hope you know this.
Posted by colin at 02:44 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2008
Red
I have so much to update up here, I've finally caught up with editing photos from the past month... I'll leave you with some red shots.
Posted by colin at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2008
Route 61
I am heading home tomorrow for a week or two not quite sure how long. I am going to take route 61 as far as I can, through STL. I am going to shoot (photographs) 61 shots on HWY 61. Woo hoo. See you all soon.
I still have tons of editing to do from several photos taken through the past 2 weeks. maybe more?!?!?!
I'll have a chance when I am home, hopefully.
Posted by colin at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2008
Midtown Fair
Duvall, Grey, and I went to the Midtown Fair in Memphis.
I tried to take pictures while I was on one fo the roller coasters. Well I ended up not liking the ride and felt nausous afterwards. Somehow I still got a few frames off too. Nothing great but I guess funy, maybe?
Apparently it is the last year for the fair there. But they said that last year and the year before that and the year before that too. Grey and Duvall decided to get matching airbrushed outfits. A hat that says "Shawty" and a t-shirt that says "I'm with Shawty"
good times.
Some more from the night.
Over the weekend hung out with some friends where we ended up outside of the New Roxy. (History Lesson, The New Roxy was the Clarksdale black only movie theater back in the day. Matt from Detroit and Robin from Seattle bought the place and renovating it. They're both cool. Matt was there and let us come in for an impromptu photo shoot which was fun. One thing let do another and we decided to have a real naughty/nice devil/angel theme shoot a few nights later. So I'm excited for this new idea of studio kind of shots. We'll see how it turns out. I am not the best lighting or studio photographer. Actually I downright suck. So we'll see how goes. I am excited for it. The girls are really getting into it as well. They are getting pumped for it. That's exciting too when you get subjects that are as excited as you about the shoot. It makes for a more enjoyable event. They are even throwing ideas out there too. That's fun too. Get everyone involved in the whole process.
So I will eventually post a few photos up here. We are planning for Tuesday Night.
Posted by colin at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
Presidential Debate
So again on another whim, I decided to go to Oxford, MS for the debate. For a week, all I heard was how crazy it was going to be there, that the debate was going to turn the town upside down. I wasn't really paying attention to the news and the on goings of the economy. I had plans to stay with Duvall who's there for grad school in Southern Studies. It sounds rather cool. But so I got to Duvall's condo and she wanted to know if I heard the news that the debate may be postponed. Great, come this way and for nothing? Well hmm... I am here may as well see what will happen.
So Wednesday went to campus while Duvall was in class and walked around campus. One section was blocked off to cars and even bikes. But they did have golf carts to take people around. There were a few news channel trucks parked on campus but nothing else. The Cheer team was dancing and practicing on the Grove and a few guys were 'slacking' which is just tying a rope between two trees sorta low to the ground and they try to tight rope walk the rope. They tried to get me to do it, I just laughed at them. I lazily made my way to the Square to see what would be going on up there. Not much else was going on up at the Square either.
But they did have these volunteers around that can answer your questions about restaurants to eat at on the square. They were also supposed to answer questions about the Debate. So this was our back and forth.
"You have information on the Debate?"
"Yes I do. What would you like to know?"
Well, where is the circus going to be?"
"Well it's Wednesday, everyone is at church."
(A brief puzzled look followed by him looking at his watch. His lips open so I can see his tongue cleaning his teeth.)
"But, if you come back in say, 3-4 hours, all the sorority girls will be walking around here with the ti**ies hanging out. Yeah come back then."
"No, no, no. I meant the political circus. Where is the Democrat tent across the street from the Republican tent??"
"Oh THAT circus. No that isn't going to be happening here."
Right great. He was actually truthful. There was very very little that went on in Oxford at all. The debate happened, and supporters clapped for their candidate and that was it. Afterwards the bars were packed up journalists and such, but nothing otherwise happened.
But I got to hang out with Duvall a bit. Haven't seen here in a year or more.
Here she is baking a cake for class. I gave her a hard time about her cake saying Obama, '08. I thought it looked like Osama '08....
The real highlight was the Rock the Vote concert they had on the Grove on Campus. The headliner was North Mississippi All Stars. It was my first time seeing them and they certainly did not disappoint.
The wildest thing that happened at or during the debates happened due to me. It was after the debate and CNN had a reporter on campus out on the Grove. CNN cut to the reporter who was in front of me and a huge group. The reporter said the one thing that concerned them was that neither candidate talked about health care. I said, "Are you F@*(#&$ kidding?? That wasn't even on the FOREIGN POLICY agenda for the debate." I had some very concerned looks from the crowds then. So I laughed and walked off. I'm just a rebel rowser.
Posted by colin at 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2008
Palin
This is just getting more and more funny.
Posted by colin at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2008
CD Cover
I took pictures for Cedric and Malcolm's new CD. They turned out pretty rad. Here it is
Posted by colin at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2008
James Natchwey
Here it is.
Posted by colin at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
September 30, 2008
Important!!!!
This is a huge news story that will be breaking by one of my favorite photographers, James Natchwey. Please check this out on Oct. 3. I know I will.
Posted by colin at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2008
Another day, another year.
I had a birthday last week. I don't like them anymore. They are meaningless. Don't know what the big stink is about.
But i did get a new lens from dad. Thanks Dad!!!!!
Posted by colin at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)
September 18, 2008
Randoms
Some stuff from the past week.
Thanks to Hilari for taking this.... hmm, need to clean my lenses. But throwing the message in the bottle out into the mighty Missipp
Posted by colin at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2008
Outtakes.
Here's some left overs from the NOLA trip. Upon second glance, I suppose I'll show you these.
Posted by colin at 06:29 PM | Comments (0)
September 15, 2008
Sunset
I'd quit everything just to take pictures like this the rest of my life.
Posted by colin at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
September 13, 2008
After thoughts....
Feelings of frustration and hope and confusion are racing through me. I went down to take photos and wasn't sure what I would find or what exactly I was looking for photographically. But looking at the photos I got I am not very pleased with what I have and not happy with myself. I ended up losing my part time job to go down there and photograph the area. I feel crappy about losing a silly little job for what doesn't look like great photos. I'm just laying in limbo right now.
On a more upbeat note. Another crazy encounter in July and August with a couple (Clarke and Michelle) from Baton Rouge, panned out with new friends I was able to crash with them Thursday evening. Talking with Clarke helped and really pushed and opened new opportunities. Possibly to move down to NOLA/BR area. The area was so amazing and beautiful. Well aside the branches down all over the place. It was just so great.
I've noticed I am getting annoyed, er, maybe bored is a better word for Clarksdale. I found myself leaving on the weekends leading up to the departure to NOLA. One weekend in Oxford another up in Memphis. I fell that I've learned everything I can from Clarksdale. There's nothing new for me here. I'm at a point where it's time to leave. This chapter is coming to an end and time for something new. The small town life was great but I knew deep down that it was not going to be long term. I was back in Chicago a few times, and other big cities., but it wasn't until I went to New Orleans that I feel in love with a city again. I really miss the city life now. It's time for me to get back to civilization, kidding.
While I was visiting Clarke, he had a copy of the new Oxford American and it was pretty much a love letter to New Orleans before and after Katrina. It's not helping the love interest I am having with the city either.
Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. -William faulkner
Posted by colin at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2008
The ride home from Louisiana
Posted by colin at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2008
Banksy hits NOLA...
Famous graffitti artist Banksy, came to New Orleans and hit the town nicely... We found some of his stuff around town. This first one is a stab at NOLA graffiti cover upper, Grey Ghost. He covers up all the interesting things tagged in New Orleans.
Posted by colin at 02:22 PM | Comments (0)
Good Question
Posted by colin at 01:07 PM | Comments (0)
Louisiana Sunset
The sunset from the levee at the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans.
Posted by colin at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
Houma
So I got a good lead from a friend, Amanda. Her friend, Katie, works down in Houma which was hit really bad from Gustav. It took nearly two hours to get there. I found out the reason for that was there a truck that flipped over on the side.
Yes taking pictures while I should be paying attention. Very few people had electricity, all the street lights were out and cops were on alert.
Several of the churches had hot food for people who wanted it.
There were massive trees down everywhere, but not too many people out cutting the smaller or taking care of them, at least where I going to. It was a great opportunity but I kept struggling with the photos.
Posted by colin at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)
Trivia Night.
Finn McCool's has trivia night every monday. Turns out that this Monday Chuck and friends were hosting, meaning they can write and ask the questions.
It was a tough one, I wouldn't have gotten too many of the questions. But I really enjoyed the creative team names that came from the groups. "Fat Kids are harder to kidnap," "Premature Evacuation," and "Call us Tina cause we're afraid of getting hit by Ike."
Chuck Taylor and Kris
I am not sure why, but i really like this one.
The worst damage I saw in New Orleans was this gas station covering that toppled over. Good for NOLA that it wasn't worse.
Posted by colin at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2008
French Quarter.
No trip to New Orleans would be complete without a stroll down Bourbon Street.
A woman came up to us (Anh, Chuck, Bob) as I was taking pictures of the Cathederal. I am not exactly what she was on, but it was funny. "Touchdown Jesus" What? "Didn't you hear that Jesus saw his shadow." What? What does that mean? "It means that we have six more weeks of Catholicism this year. Touchdown Jesus!!!" and like that she was gone. So random and so awesome.
Posted by colin at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)
Touring the Crescent City
So this story with Anh needs a bit of background information to make it more enjoyable. I'll try to do that here and now.
So for a long time I've always had dumb luck in running into the right people at the right time that knew people or had connections to this or that. So Labor Day weekend was no different. I went up to meet some new friends and hang out at the Southern Folklore (something something ) festival. It was very cool, on Main Street, and free. I talked about it a little in a previous posting. So anyways. Lisa had friends from New Orleans come up and crash there. It took them forever from everyone leaving New Orleans. But so met a few of them and hung out with them. I left Labor Day Sunday back to Clarksdale.
Ok, so now let's fast forward to the present now. So Friday (9/5) I text Anh, if she remembers and was serious about being a tour guide. She said of course but first things first. Lunch. I agree as it is the noon lunch hour. A few of her favorite local hot spots are still closed and miss out of some amazing food. Just another reason to come back to New Orleans, I guess. So she finally decides on Flying Juan's Burrito place. As I am sitting there with Anh and one roommate and friend, we are still feeling each other out. I feel like an interviewee for the empty room in the apartment. Make sure I am worth showing around to the cool spots in town. The places saved for the select few visitors that come through. As we're sitting there, joking and having a good time, in walks Caroline one of the evacuees I met the other weekend up in Memphis. What is the dumb luck? "Wait? Didn't I just see you last weekend in Memphis?" Ha, everyone looks shocked, I can't help being a little embarrassed a little, not sure why. Once the question what are you doing here is answered, Marge chimes in, "Yeah crazy, we just met him last night." Oh man, really??? Is this really happening?
We continue about the food, one of the best burritos I've had. After paying and we leave. On the way back to the fort, we come across the scene of national guards men playing football in the street with some kids. I thought this was awesome. The Great Enforcers acting like kids again.
I love these pictures, not the best but they are entertaining, days after the storm and kids just being kids and enjoying a nice day. A bit warm but who cares. While taking pictures the kids started trash talking me. "You can't stop me" "Why you gotta hide behind dat camera?"
The soldiers weren't helping either. "Hey man, I'll hold your camera, this kids thinks he can lock you down." So got a chance to show some kids a thing or two about skreet football. Yeah, that's what happens in the south. In "ST" words, the t is replaced with K SKREET or "go skraight down the skreet and you'll hit Magazine Skreet. It's so rediculous but I love it.
Got back in the car and drove back to Anh's for a quick food coma breather
and to pick up Ella
and get a blanket for the park. Decided to go to Audubon Park let Ella run around and climb trees??
She was up about 20 feet. Came right up to me for her close up, haha.
Posted by colin at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
September 09, 2008
First night in the Big Easy
I got to stay with Chuck Taylor, give him a chance to return the hospitality. He came to visit me once on his way back to Chicago. I took him to Red's that night for T-Model. He called us up and asked if we like Jack Daniels and gave us a swig from his bottle. "Well you know what to do with it"
So anyways, went to a very cool irish bar called Finn McCools. I met one of the owners and told her my name, You spell it with one "L" right? I responded with that's the only way to spell it.
Snuck out and got some food, with plans to meet up with his friends later. Instead we snuck into this place for some drinks and conversation. A little more quiet.
A girl was taken aback by my converge shirt as something you don't see everyday in New Orleans. Strike up a conversation with her, and her friends. One of her friends with rather generous with her money, meaning she bought several rounds and shots for strangers. She then said she was going to the saint, I asked Chuck if he's been to the saint and if we should go there. His response, "Yes I do, yes we should"
The saint in all it's glory...
This is the third bar I've been to and all three have had dogs just hanging out. Off all the things. Has hell frozen over? Humans and dogs hanging out at bars together. Who's heard of such a thing??
I met a rather interesting girl there that night, Anh. She asked what I was doing the next day. I told her I was taking pictures and Chuck had to go into work so I was on my own and could use a tour guide. We exchanged numbers and agreed to talk the next day. I'll end here and start the bizarre story of the next day in another posting.
Posted by colin at 05:48 PM | Comments (0)
Watermarked photos.
So you have have noticed that my pictures are watermarked now. That sucks yeah. I had a musician take the photos off my flickr account and put them on his myspace account profile, without asking. That really sucks. I began to use Flickr as a sort of copyright tool that I took the picture and when I took it. It's clear as day to me, at least. So do I go after this guy? I asked him if he knew that the photos were copyrighted, he claims he didn't know. I asked him to remove them and he just posted a note saying the cool profile photos were by me. A little annoyed. So I got back to him and asked him again to take them down so we will see what happens here with that. I always saw the watermarking of photos as a little pretentious and cocky. But since that happened and I do have photos that certain people, musicians may like and want to take. I am stuck with having to watermark my photos from now on. So that is that.
Posted by colin at 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
Road to NOLA
Here's some pics from my solo road trip to New Orleans. I decided to take the scenic route down. Massive flooding through Mid to Southern Mississippi. Here's a cemetery off of HWY 61.
Finally into Louisiana and running into traffic of everyone else trying to come back to town.
Posted by colin at 03:41 PM | Comments (0)
September 08, 2008
Baggy eyes and sleepless nights
I am sitting here in Chuck Taylors living room.
Can't sleep.
It's sitting heavy on my eyelids but I can't sleep.
I have been really motivated by the photos that were coming out of Beijing from a few photographers. I decided to come down to NOLA right after Gustav hit. Chuck was back in town and he had power. Last minute decisions and I set out for down here. I kept hearing it be careful and that it was going to be so great. The Big Easy is that, easy to fall for. This city is so alive and full of life. But I have been stuck in rural Mississippi for the past two years.
Even with a hurricane that hit earlier in the week, well actually they only got winds and some rain. Baton Rouge got hit worse. It's been great and Chuck and friends, plus new friends I met through random encounters have been wonderful to show me around and let me into their homes and tell some stories. I met a girl at a bar one night that stayed through the storm. Sounds crazy with 95% of the city envacuating, she and a few other die hards stuck it out.
I just haven't been getting the photos i was hoping for here. I don't know if it's me, or what.
Another problem that just arrived the other day is that i found out some of my photos were taken off of flickr by a musician I took pictures of. Not asking for permission. Sorta annoying.
Well tomorrow is another day. So we'll see what happens then.
Posted by colin at 03:36 AM | Comments (0)
September 05, 2008
NOLA
Last minute decision, I decided to go down to New Orleans. Pictures to follow!
Posted by colin at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)
September 02, 2008
Memphis
I went to Memphis this weekend. I had a blast. I made some new friends saw some great music. The Southern Folklore Music Festival was this weekend. Not quite a blues showcase like i was told but better.
I'm not too sure that Pineapple pants is gangsta, but really what do I know...
Other interesting events are that dogs don't like vaccuum machines.
Homemade Jamz
I had two attractive ladies as my tourguides and to escort me around town.
Cedric and Malcolm came into town about 5 am from a show in AR. Cedric made breakfast for everyone including some New Orleans refugees that were staying at Lisa's as well. Ced can make a mean scrambled egg!!
I've been shooting them for a long time now and it's getting hard to get shots of them that I don't have a bunch of already. Gotta try new things now.
Posted by colin at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
August 31, 2008
Lisa
The continuation of portraits.
This is Lisa, and she lives in Memphis.
Posted by colin at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2008
BBC is Mrs. Sippy??!!?
There is this homeless man that is now a famous musician. He likes hill country blues music and plays his own style of blues but sorta in that style. It is very interesting. But now anyways he's playing huge festivals and sells out his own venues. He played at the Glastonbury Festival in England this year.
He played with Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm as a backup band.
The BBC came to follow him around for a week and a half. It was very cool and and awesome to be a part of. He played a small intimate crowd at Juke Joint Chapel
There were maybe 11 people there. I got the green light to be able to take pictures and was carefully trying not to get into the video guys shots.
Posted by colin at 06:26 PM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2008
Down and Out, Ragged and Dirty
I've been feeling very unmotivated and very down lately. Had a hard talk with my parents about what I'm doing currently and they don't really share the dreams I have. I still feel that this is where I should be, and what I should be doing. It's just hard when people that care about you don't agree with what you are doing. Something's gotta give.
Posted by colin at 06:16 PM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2008
Better late than never
I've been a little busy lately. I decided to stick around and currently working construction work at the Shack Up Inn. They just had a shack delivered today. Mom and dad came down for the Sunflower Festival about a week and a half ago. Fun stuff. But here's some of the recent pics I've taken.
I'll start off with this one of Muzz. Muzz came from Arizona, and begged his way into night manager position. I'm going to start doing a regular portrait of individuals I find in the community.
Next is Jimmy "Duck" Holmes who performs an old Benatobia blues sound. He's good.
John Ruskey runs his own canoe company and takes people out on the MS River. It's a great time and well worth the money. He carves his own canoes too. He's really nice too.
Jake Leg Stompers
Sharde Turner and the Rising Star Fife and Drum band, they are really great. Next weekend there is a picnic goat roast at the Turners, it should be a hell of a time.
This woman was at the festival and just seeing her made my day. I couldn't take my eyes off her outfit.
I started working on a house in Dublin for Bill T. It was in a bite of need for repairs. what do you think?
Here's Joe. He enjoys R&B and blues. He likes to sit on his porch and listen to Blues.
Something in the garden. Can anyone tell me what it is??
I threw stale pasta in my yard. Some landed sticking up and it reminded me of Pick Up Sticks. Over night it rained and the pasta got all loosey. I woke up the next morning and looked out the window and saw two dogs eating the pasta out of my yard. I didn't get to my camera in time. They got scared and took off.
This is RL Boyce. He plays the Hill Country style of blues. He was quite the entertainer. He drank a fair amount on the ride over so by the time he started playing, he was already slurring words. He made for quite the entertainer the whole night.
RL told me he was going to kill me if I took another pic of him, then he would wink at me.
Red thinks that he is calming down so now is a good time to give RL some moonshine.
At some point some 20 year old young white girl came in. RL called her up, Say you look pretty why don't you come up here a second. So she walked up and took his hand. RL said why don't you turn around and let me see you. She turned around and RL shook his head and said "well you ain't that cute, no mo' " I don't understand this as she was wearing a loose flowing dress and not something tight where you see her curves or lack of curves. I'm not sure what he was looking for anyways. Her boyfriend didn't really know how to react to that comment and nor did she. I think it went over her blonde head.
Posted by colin at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)
August 02, 2008
It's really hot!
No one really believed me when I said it's been hot here in Mrs. Sippy. A man died this week of heat exhaustion. Stubborn man and sad story.
It was a lesson again on don't try to do more, take breaks. We all need breaks sometimes.
Posted by colin at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
August 01, 2008
End of the Road
Yesterday marked the end of an era. Today is my first day not working for Habitat or with Americorps. I feel weird and funny. What did I do on my day off? I got up early and met the dirt man out at the site and shoveled dirt until noon. I met with the plumber to discuss the next two weeks and what needs to be done. There's a house that is so so close to being done. I really hoped it would have been done, completed, and Catherine starting to move in by today. That was not the case. I partially blame myself for not pushing the groups to concentrate on her house. I know how fun framing and roofing is, but Catherine's house now stands still empty, the paint dry and waiting to be moved into.
It frustrates me not to have it done and complete when I wanted it to be. How badly do I want this house done? Very. I've asked the Board to meet and see if they will hire me for the next few weeks. That's how bad I want to get it done. It can be multi useful this next few weeks. I get the house done I want, and Linda the new homeowner for the other house can get more hours in.
Wednesday night Robert "Bilbo" Walker played at Sarah's Kitchen, I went with the group and had a blast. Guy and Laura are there, and they heard I was leaving. They asked when and future plans. Rita, a member from the group, also made comments to me about leaving. She said she didn't think I could do it, that the Delta is too much a part of me. And she's right, I feel at home here now, and I am finding hard to leave or think about leaving. I know I was ready back in June, but now I am not so sure. Guy offered me a job helping with construction jobs at the Shack Up Inn's. He also found me a place I can stay and fix up in exchange for rent. Guy called yesterday to tell me it was a go for sure and gave a nice complement to me. He said that a few times people come in, like minded individuals that have a good time just like them, and they hate to see them leave. They want them to stick around. He said I was one of those people. I am seen in the community as an artistic soul that is trying to better the community and enjoy the music. That is a cool feeling to be a part of the community and people know who you are and sad to hear you are leaving. They are even going out of their ways to see if they can help you stick around and continue to enjoy the area.
I went home Wednesday night after a dance filled evening of fun and Bilbo. I pulled into the driveway, got out of the car and looked up. Above me the Milky Way could be seen clearly as I've seen only in Africa. Could I really leave this place? What would I be moving to?? Can anything else ever compare to the past two years of blood, sweat, and tears that I have put into this community?? I don't think so. I'm finding it harder and harder to think about leaving.
There was a gallery showing last week. A board member, Lois helped put it together. She asked me since I was leaving if I would put some of my work in it. I reluctantly decided to. I was the only photographer in the exhibit. My photos created a lot of buzz in the community and this man, named Win, hunted me down one day, and told me he was hoping to start a newspaper here. It would be a weekly paper and every other week it would focus on photo essays. Now that would be great help start a new newspaper that is a photo essay based paper. That was very cool, new concept and it would and could keep me here, I told him salary ranges and such, and to both of us it seemed doable. Can Guy keep me busy at the Shacks? and the paper keep me busy the other time? Freelance on the side? Who knows start teaching photo classes.
Other options are Anna from Philly is finding me jobs. She found a photo job at a ski lodge in Utah, who needs a photographer to take pics of the skiers and snowboarders. I think that would get old quickly though. I like the idea, of being a ski bum. But again, I feel I would get anxious quickly. It would not challenge me. She also found a job as a construction worker at a ski lodge in Aspen, CO. Sounds fun but again, would it challenge me long enough? I don't think so. Another option is that Matt Williams who works in Rockford, just called me yesterday when he found out a photographer at his paper is quitting. I looked at the papers site. A gallery of a a fair beauty winner milking cows in her tiara. I think that is funny too. Am I just making excuses now just to stick around?? Maybe I am. My horoscope today said, "You may reach a crossroads today." I am confused and a little nervous about the future, but Maryann and Chris left town today I had lunch with them, and they told me it will all fall into place. I hope so, I was getting nervous a few weeks ago that I applied to all these jobs all over the country and no one was biting. But again, everything will fall into place, right? Right!!!!!
Posted by colin at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)