Five Questions

My cyberspace friend, Skip, participated in an interesting exercise in his blog recently where five questions were posed to him and he answered them. He offered to do the same for anyone interested and I was just curious enough to say, “Go for it.” Here are Skip’s questions and my responses:

1. What would your life have been like if you had been born 100 years earlier?

Miserable. My people were Scandinavians who migrated to the mid-section of the U.S. and took up farming. I’m not big on manual labor or getting dirty or cutting chickens’ heads off and de-feathering what’s left. No siree, Bob. All were required back then.

And I am far too much a creature of the world today. I have to admit I’m addicted to certain technologies ~ the internet, email, IM w/my kids, my cell phone w/a camera, my digital camera, PPV movies and On Demand ~ need I go on?

I would have been miserable.

2. If you could "come back" as an animal, which one would it be and why?

Hmmm… that’s a good one because I’m a true animal lover. I think I’d really have to be one of my cats. Not anyone else’s – just one of mine. Because I know how much I love my cats and how I absolutely spoil them. Only the finest of foods; the softest of places to rest their heads (located all over the house); all the love and attention they can stand.

3. If money wasn't an issue, what camera and equipment would you go out and buy today?

Another good one. Since I’m familiar now w/the Canon family of cameras, I’d probably upgrade my Canon DSLR. But I’m so technically ignorant, upgrading to something like a 5D would probably be a waste of a good camera on me. I do want to purchase a Manfrotto tripod as they have come highly recommended to me – a confessed tripod-hater. I adore toy cameras and weird little cameras, so I’d always look at whatever is the latest on that front. Actually, I’m considering the new Lensbaby 3G lens, too. I’m not too happy with my macro lens lately either so would love to get the best one on the market because the bulk of what I do (and love) is macro.

4. Besides relatives, who would be your most important mentor or role model...and why of course?

Wow. Hmmm… this one really has me thinking. And kinda’ stumped. I take this to mean who would I aspire to be like. Having said that, I need to revisit this question ~ and I promise I will. It’s actually worthy of a blog unto itself. It’s an important question and deserves a thoughtful answer. I just don’t have that answer right now.

5. What 5 songs do you play the most on your iPod?

Only 5? Ok.
“Half Acre” by Hem
“Send Lawyers, Guns & Money” by Warren Zevon
“All That We Let In” by Indigo Girls
“100 Years” by Five for Fighting
“You Can Leave Your Hat On” by Joe Cocker
And I can’t believe I don’t have Jimmy Buffett in there. One more; just one more!!
“Chanon Pour Le Petits Enfants”
Ok, two. “One Particular Harbour” Jimmy Buffett, too
“Strength of a Woman” Shaggy
Ok. I’ll stop. But that question really does kind of say a lot about someone, doesn’t it? I live on “shuffle.”

This was really fun and thought-provoking. Thanks, Skip! And if anyone out there would care to try this little exercise, I’d be happy to pose 5 questions – and from what I understand, the one posing the questions chooses the questions. Promise I'll be gentle.

A few years ago I was obsessed with a show called “Inside the Actor’s Studio” on Bravo; I haven’t seen it in a while. James Lipton has a very intimate way of interviewing actors, writers, and directors and does research like no one I’ve ever seen. It’s always a fascinating and revealing show. One of the things I liked the best however, was the very end of the show when James would ask his guest – whomever they may be - the same set of questions. He would ask things like, “What sound or noise do you hate? What sound or noise do you love?” And a variety of things that just tell you something about a person’s soul. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to do the same exercise at a dinner party (I’ve got the list of questions saved somewhere in my files).

Soon I hope to have a proper house for entertaining, I just might have to have a dinner party. But until then, I’d love to have a dinner party in cyberspace, complete with 5 questions here in Blogger-land. Any takers? Just send me your email address at cindi@elanphotography.net and I'll get back to you! :)

Hi Grandpa John

On my walk this morning I heard the soulful cry of a mourning dove. My thoughts, as they always do when I hear that sound, immediately drifted to my Grandpa, long since deceased.

I wasn’t close to my grandparents on either my mom or my dad’s side of the family; although I wanted desperately to be...and always will. Part of that lies in the fact that they were quite on in years by the time my little sister and I came along; part of that is because we are of Scandinavian heritage. Scandinavians – or at least the ones I grew up around – are people of few words. And even fewer emotions. Which explains a lot about me.

But for some strange reason whenever I hear the cry of a mourning dove, Grandpa saunters into my head. And I feel comforted. Hi Grandpa John. I think it’s because I remember hearing doves conversing around my Grandpa and Grandma’s house. Grandpa was a farmer. When he and Grandma “moved to town” as farmers do when they retire, I would stay there for a few hours each day after kindergarten while my Mom finished her shift at the hospital. (Yes, I was in kindergarten at age 4.)

When I smell a marigold, Grandpa is there. Hi Grandpa John. When he had to leave the country and the earth that he loved so much he planted a huge garden in their backyard in town. Grandma fell ill w/ serious heart disease not long after they moved to town. But I do remember her being healthy enough to chastise me once for putting sugar (or was it salt?) on the tomato Grandpa had plucked fresh from the garden and presented on a plate for me. I didn’t eat a tomato again until well into my adulthood. And even now, they aren’t a favorite fruit of mine. Interesting the damage one can unknowingly do to an impressionable 4 year old…

Which is probably why when I hear a mourning dove or smell a marigold I think of Grandpa. I really have no fond memories of Grandma. The marigolds? Grandpa used to plant them around the parameter of his magnificent garden to keep the bugs from eating his vegetables.

Sounds. Smells. That is what is left of my Grandpa. O, and the rocking chair I bought at auction when my parents moved from their home into a retirement community a few years ago. It was the one thing I wanted. And I was willing to pay any price. It was a bargain at $50. It holds no value investment-wise. But it is the one thing I remember about Grandpa visually. I can see him sitting there reading his newspaper (I don’t think they had a television) as I played with the one toy they had in their home – a gyroscope. Which, when I think about it, was an exceptionally challenging toy for a 4 year old to be playing with.

My Grandpa was a quiet man. A gentle man. In the truest sense of the word. A devout man. A religious man. A hard-working man. An honest man. A loving man. A beautiful man. I only wish I could have known him more deeply. But, in a way, maybe I do. In retrospect, my mother is the epitome of her father, just in the female form.

I can’t wait to smell the marigolds this summer…

Warren Zevon Saved the Day

The house we are leaving was inspected by an “official inspector” last week. The mister stayed behind as I hit the road with “the kids.” We’re not sure if the buyer of our home knows we have pets – or even how he might feel if he knew we did – but in the interest of making life easier we went for a ride.

Simba’s easy. She hops in the back of the Jeep and we’re ready to go. A-choo, on the other hand, needs to be tracked down, lovingly scooped up and coaxed into her cat carrier. She’s on to this game now, so it’s not as much fun as it was in the beginning.

We, of course, headed to the park. Thinking if I drove slowly it would probably take only one loop around the 880 acre park and we could just scoot back on home. Silly me. Two and a half hours later, I’m text messaging the mister saying, “Can we please come home now??” Simba was upset and whining – not understanding why the heck we were in the park and not out walking and chasing geese. It was too cold! A-choo was upset and crying endlessly as she pushed her little nose against the mesh trying to escape the carrier.

I searched my IPod continuously for something that might calm them both. Ironically Warren Zevon seemed to work for A-choo. She showed a particular fondness for “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Go figure. Simba leaned more toward anything Enya as she isn’t into loud noises – considering the amount of ear surface she has with those big stand-up ears, that’s understandable.

I had grabbed my camera on my way out the door; but, of course, didn’t have time to snatch up any additional lenses. And, of course, what is the first thing I see when entering the park? Three pelicans circling high overhead. Yup, the pelicans are back and I was so excited. And so bummed because I was missing my telephoto lens. So, of course, because I didn’t have it pelicans were everywhere. And the cherry on top of this hot fudge sundae? As I my phone rang and I tried to engage in a conversation with the design person re: blinds for our new house, I saw the biggest eagle I’ve ever seen land in the woods several hundred yards away.

Does anyone remember the skit on SNL in the early years where a couple is driving along (Gildna Radner and maybe Rick Moranis? Can’t remember for sure) and suddenly they start seeing amazing things like flying dinosaurs? The catch line was something like, “and me, without my camera!”

Well, that was me all over last week. Even though I had my camera, it was pretty useless without the proper lenses. My saving grace? In two week’s time I’ll be able to walk back home to retrieve whatever I need!

Musings...

Moving

I’m kind of surprised at how laid back I am when it comes to handling this move. I haven’t sold a house in almost 20 years; haven’t moved in 10. Perhaps it’s just being older and more relaxed. Perhaps it is being blessed to schedule my days this time around. In every other move I was working full-time and had kids w/all sorts of high school activities, etc. Perhaps it’s having three weeks in which to complete the move. Perhaps it’s because we’re only moving a couple of miles. Perhaps it’s because life is really good right now and things are just falling into line beautifully.

At last count I have 21 boxes packed. That sounds like a lot, but not really. I learned long ago that since we do most of our own moving of boxes, I pack ones that we can actually lift and carry w/out getting hernias. The furniture we leave to movers – big, buff guys in their 20’s who can do that kind of thing.

I will be riding around with one cat and one dog tomorrow morning while the inspector inspects our house… may have to seek out a drive-thru Starbuck’s.

Wedding

Thank God for organized kids. It’s all good and all very exciting. It’s going to be one fun summer.

Weather

Colorado gets most of its snow in March. That didn’t happen this year. So we shouldn’t be surprised that a snowstorm is predicted for the end of this week. April is our third snowiest month. They’re saying 6” at least for Denver; heavier in points east. We are in points east. We’ve plenty of boxes, packing paper, and tape. The pantry is stocked; the wine rack is full. There’s still some firewood in the garage that we might as well use ~ it will be of no use in the new house. The fire there will ignite immediately with the touch of a switch.

Health

I think I have a cavity. Dammit. My dentist has been after me to come in for a check-up for three months. I’m there.

The wind is awful today and has totally kicked up every blooming thing. Allergies are not fun.

The Calm Before the Storm

It’s one of those days when I just can’t get motivated; and at 4:10 pm I don’t see it happening any time soon. I think it’s safe to say today is a write-off and tomorrow will be better. (However I do have a two hour hair appointment smack dab in the middle of the day tomorrow...) It’s been snowing for the better part of the weekend. It’s too warm to stick to the ground, but has quite literally put a damper on the day. And it’s Easter Sunday. I feel sorry for all the little kids who were looking forward to Easter egg hunts…

I was thinking about Easters past and how things have changed. When my guys were little we often made the trek back to the Midwest to spend Easter with my parents and siblings. Years later as my life changed, Easter dinner was the first time my new beau and I entertained together. As time went on and he became my husband, Easter dinner at our house was a recurring event. We made some really delectable feasts... And here we are this year, eating cookies and even forgetting that it’s a holiday. Looking around at a houseful of moving boxes kind of explains that.

With the knowledge that we will begin carrying those boxes into our new home in two weeks’ time, I’ve allowed myself this day of rest. The ensuing days will be full enough and busy enough. So today is the calm before the storm.

And now I’m off to start a turkey meatloaf and some veggies to keep it company.

Moving Ahead

Buying a new house is fun. Packing is not.

I tried to start packing today, but it just ended up being an exercise in frustration. There is so much it’s hard to know where to begin. And this is where the “working together” part comes in. We each have our own way of moving thru life and that applies to moving to a new house as well. Neither one of us is right, nor are we wrong; we’re just different. So conversation and organization are in order before I can move forward ~ or anywhere.

And this I know for sure. I’ve had too much caffeine today.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name...

Have you ever googled yourself? I mean, your name?

I hadn’t in a long time, so as I was taking a break tonight I did. At first it was like, “Whoa, aren’t I all that?” ~ seeing some photos and small articles I have had published over the years that I’d forgotten about. Then I started seeing some of my images which had clearly been stolen. Or at least borrowed without my permission. Think I’ll be careful with the tags from now on. People who know me and like me will find me. I say this just having joined a couple more online photo sites… go figure. In my defense (because I always feel the need to defend my actions and, yes, that would make me a rather defensive person sometimes which is not an attractive trait), these are rather specific sites aimed more at publication ~ unlike Flickr which has become my hometown. But then the internet is still unchartered and unregulated territory and I need to remember that. Sometimes it can become too familiar… too safe.

That being said, think I’ll post a pic to Flickr and go to bed.