Labor Day Coney Island

Just enjoying the life.. and a day at the beach.  This was taken pretty early on.. the beggings of freckles are just starting to take a hold of my face.

Aja came too!  She had never been to Coney Island. I am glad we got one last chance to see it in all it's splendor

Ok, so as we left for the day we rode the Wonder Wheel.  In case you were wondering... When they say swinging baskets they DO NOT mean rocking, they most assuredly mean swinging.  Somehow I was mistaken in my assumption of this.  I don't think I took my grip off that cage door the entire time.  Somehow I love days like this one!


 

Where did you go Joe Dimaggio?

Ok so once again I have had a laps in my blogging.  But I have a good reason... really.  

So come to find out you can get kidney stones if you are dehydrated and exhausted.  This was the only reason the doctor could give me after a battery of questions about my alcohol, tobacco, coffee, drug,.... and soda habits. (of which I only occasionally dabble in the latter ;)  And I would like to go on record as saying the test for exhaustion is not scientific enough to convince me of its merits... I don't know a single sole who could have answered any of the questions in the positive.  

Thankfully I live so close to wonderful friends who helped me get to the hospital and kept me sane in a truly painful moment.  Brenda... bless her heart... stayed with me the whole day in the ER, and was even the voice of reason when I felt this strong need to talk to my boss about why I wouldn't be at work... She took my phone away from me for the entire day!

And in truly "Gaby" fashion The day wouldn't have been complete without a bizarre moment/ story.  I was in a cab (next time ambulance.. I know James) and everyone was getting me a wheel chair when the driver says to me,  "you have to get out of the cab I can't park in front of the hospital.. there is a street cleaner coming behind me..."  yes, I was kicked to the curb (which was scrubbed by the cleaner)  Funny now, but at the time I was so angry and unable to express it due to a more pressing pain... once the pain killers kicked in, it was all I could mumble about... that, and how my doctor looked like the woman I did my internship for... and I was afraid that it was her, and I didn't want her deciding what drugs I was getting.. Lol!

The picture is from brenda who braved watching me get the messiest IV ever!  She pulled out her camera and I made her promise not to take a picture of my face:)  

Fall Catalog 2008

So after much work the Fall 2008 catalogs are finally finished... well almost I have to go back to press the end of August for one more quick press run... but still I am pretty much mentally over the books.  These area a few of the images I am especially proud of.  This first cover was shot with natural light (thanks to my great new studio space!)

I am especially pleased with how this one turned out.  And let me tell you chain in sand.. it was a rough day on set.

Not to be out done by this one which was a bit of a rougher day for me.. but thankfully my boss was around to help me think through my mental block... ok so this one maybe took three days;)  And there is a possibility that I bought all of the olive branches that one store in the flower district had!

All and all I think it was a good book for me..... on to the next!

Oh How I love the Train

Tonight on the train ride home this little girl started throwing fish and chips at me (covered in vinegar of course... the only way to eat them really)  Anyway I told her to stop when from behind me I hear...

"What are you saying to my girl?!"  I turned around to see a woman in pink scrubs with little balloons all over the top holding a plastic baseball bat that she was taping not so gently on the car's floor!

"mama," I stammered.  "She was throwing food on me so I told her to stop."

"Don't you talk to my girl!  I am the only one who tells my girl what to do!"  she screamed.  "she can pee in this car if she wants and you can't say nothin' about it!  There are crack heads who live here so she can toss anything she want!"  (I am editing the language for my younger audience)  "you don't hit my girl I hit my girl!  I don't want you talking to her ever!"

I started to pull away towards the other side of the packed train as she swung her bat at the pole in the middle of the train. I jumped and moved faster. The seemingly packed people parted for me.  

"why you leaving... you are acting like you are afraid of me," she bellowed after me.

I said the only thing that came to my mind, "I AM afraid of you" (plastic toy bat or not I really had no desire to find out how bad it would bruise me)  The train broke out into laughter and she steamed in her seat.  I stayed on the far end of the train waiting for that seemingly endless stretch between 59th and 125th to be over. The whole while she just kept looking and yelling in my direction.  

She got off at the 125th stop with the warning that she had her eye on me... and I looked at the spot of vinegar on my shirt.... totally worth it.. how many times in your life do you get to make a whole train of people laugh because you are just being honest!

Indulge me please....

I was home about a month ago and have to admit I love Iowa and my family:)  Please indulge the me with the amount of images I am loading.. and don't mind all the different sizes.

This is one of my favorite views (the field behind our backyard)

My brother Drew leaves on a mission in less than a month.  I can 't even tell you how much we will miss him.So this is kind of amazing.  We went bowling at a little town alley and this was an actual sign on the wall there... and yes that is a saw hanging above it!

And this is the hallway to the Banquet room.. yes the carpet is printed with treasure chests overflowing with gold.... lol

The look on grant's face when he realized there was room for him in another car... but it was too late he was stuck with the girls.

Have I mentioned that Grant is pretty much awesome?!

Abbie's bowling shoes were the cutest things ever!

Erica.. remember that great game of air hockey?.... I am pretty sure I cleaned the floor with you;)

Me and all the nieces and the nephew

So basically it was so much fun....

I love the Mail Man

So this week the mail man brought me two of the greatest things ever!  First off my new camera.  This is my first Digital SLR camera.  I can hear my canon AE sighing in the closet.  I don't know why it was such a huge decision.... but somehow I managed to make it one.  Either way I am glad I bought it and  stoked to use it!

And then speaking of photography...  I finally bought this print!  I have to say that I have some amazingly talented friends.  I remember the first day I ever saw this image in class.  I knew I needed to own it. I mean seriously look how the light hits her lips, and her gesture.. amazing!  One day I plan to own it huge.. but until then I bought a little one from Capree's etsy store Capree's Curiosities

If I didn't take pictures...

I can't tell you how many times when I was in school the teachers would tell me and my classmates "If you could do anything else besides photography and be happy... do that"  I never really agreed with that.  I think they were just trying to prepare us for how hard it can be to get work and all.... but I could do at least 15 things to support myself and be happy.  I chose photography because it is difficult and makes me stretch and grow.  And honestly can be insanely fulfilling and rewarding.  (not to mention just fun:)   

So what else would I do...

Teach art

write childrens books

Work for a museum

make things to sell 

Become a Librarian

do set design (location scout)

Cook cook cook.... This was the whole point of this entry.  I made a great diner the other night that made me think  "Why don't I do this for a living?"  lol... probably cuz I never follow a recipe so the things I make are always a bit different each time I make them.  I made this Roasted chicken with rosemary and sun-dried tomatoes.... yummy (the picture is the uncooked version)  I paired it with a yellow squash soup I made... (a bit to peppery this time, but next time it will be perfect I think)