Week Seventeen: Devil's in [on] it

The details, that is. I've long been fascinated by the whole forest and trees analogy, whether directed at one who misses the former or the latter in favour of the other. As fits with my personality, I vary in terms of where my focus lies. Sometimes I am all about trees, and other times would much rather the forest, thank you. This week was all about the trees. Some of those are slightly sad trees - erm - details, and some are just interesting.

Day 1 (113): 31st of March
Odd Symmetry, though not so fearful, dear Tiger. Last Monday was a horrid traffic day which lengthened my commute rather more than is acceptable. Today did the same fool thing. Problem with Naples drivers and narrow two lane shoulderless motorways is that they do not mix, and the inevitable result is chaos. The desperate need to get just one car ahead (whether or not it helps) leads to every situation becoming far worse than is necessary. Took advantage of the rather lengthy pauses to get a couple little photos, though. Like this little thistle by the guardrail. 

And then later a tree that has gone all green in bits (not those bits). Spring be upon us.

Day 2 (114): 1st of April
April Fool's Day. A.K.A. My Favourite Holiday. Sadly, this year I didn't even notice the end of the month approaching, and as such did not plan anything good. And if it's not planned well, it's not really worth it. Though we did put Rick Astley on the door sound system on a loop all day, so I can be satisfied that we song-bombed all passersby with a little Rick Roll. The reactions were pretty good, though no one did the Astley White Boy Dance in the hall, which would have been best. OK, I may have done it once or twice, but if one cannot enjoy one's own evil deeds, what then? For today, I kept things simple again. No horrid traffic situation this time, but I decided to stop on the side of the road to snap the following. Had to be hasty, as was in the left lane, and despite my illuminated four-ways the locals came roaring up behind me before going round. Just to prove a point, I imagine. Any rate, here is the result. 

And this shadow had me intrigued, so here it is.

Day 3 (115): 2nd of April
My brain is full of music. Yesterday my internal DJ mixed Astley with MJ's "Beat It" and it was strangely brilliant. Today I've had a Bee Gees / Spin Doctors thing happening and it is slightly less brilliant. Song-bombing all passersby is a true passion of mine, but it can have inadvertent side effects. Nevertheless, the detail-focused shots for this week continue, so I took advantage of the later time of sunset to spend time in the out of doors. Lots of looking down this week, so this is what I saw.

And more looking down got this. The light was not quite right, but it is tiny and bright and makes me think of spring.

Day 4 (116): 3rd of April
Today's photos came out of a trip to the other base, where I had to go for to see the Man With the Power. Not of Hoodoo, but rather of therapy (physical). I'd recently seen an Instagram feed where a gal divides the photo in half diagonally and makes use of natural angles. In light of my attention to the details this week, I thought I'd have a go at the same sort of concept. Not sure it really worked, but it is food for photographic thought. Wouldn't be Naples without a fag-end in the grass.

Again, not quite nailing it but there you are.

Day 5 (117): 4th of April
Ten years ago today the date was 04-04-04, in Europe and the U.S. Not sure why that matters (if at all), but seems a neat way to start the day. In April of 2004, I was finishing my second year of University. I'd not yet joined the Navy, but knew that would be my path. Funny old world, isn't it? Had I been able to see then that a decade later I'd be where I am now, would I have changed course? Not really a worthwhile thought experiment, but I sometimes think back like that. It comes with the introvert package. Speaking of connections, here is a chain. Good strong links. 

Day 6 (118): 5th of April
Bummer of a day. Three of the kittens have died in the last twelve hours. No idea why. They were fine yesterday, and then one by one, they stopped nursing and faded fast. Had to look it up, as was feeling like the world's biggest failure, and apparently it is not uncommon for kittens to "fade" in the first week, for a multitude of reasons. That said, I still feel like I've let G.G. down. She's been so trusting, and I cannot help thinking I missed something or failed to do something. The details, in this case, may have been the most important things. On that note, the below sign (though intended for the Americans stationed here) should really feature on most Neapolitan roads. And in this case, the lack of punctuation usage in road signs makes it all the more accurate. We shall name this "Caution Road." 

Day 7 (119): 6th of April
Little Bit is still going strong. She's lost her brother and two sisters, but she seems to be doing well, eyes opening and everything. I've been back and forth on calling her Christina Aguilera and Tiger, as she is a fighter and a survivor. Started with Agatha Christie, but then remembered that the book is And Then There Were None, not And Then There Was One, and I want Kharma on the side of this little dear.      

No worries, though, because Mama's still here. Mamas are always there. That is what makes them so great.

Yes, sad news to close the week. Put me in a foul disposition, and taking care of three dead kittens ruined my w/end. But on the bright side, little Christina Aguilera Tiger - holy crap, just saw what that spells - is on a good path for now. Keep fingers crossed for her. 

Week Sixteen: Everything in its Places

Not sure what prompted this week's theme. Maybe was feeling a bit in need of structure or some kind of place. I'll leave it to the shrinks to decipher my reasons. Either way, I wanted to go with things in lines, rows, etc. Things in the correct place, in other words. How it got interpreted each time is a bit different, but there you have it.

Day 1 (106): 24th of March
Not to be stymied by time passing, the weather went pear shaped again (still?). Figures I've not had my scarf or gloves lately. Ah well. Got stuck in delightful Naples traffic caused by a nasty pileup after the good rain. Got to the point that I put on the brakes and read a chapter in my book, then played a few dozen games of solitaire on my phone. Also got a couple nice pics of rainy windows and the lovely traffic (all lined up).

A little further down the road... same situation. Damn you, Scooter Man, and damn your freedom of movement.

Day 2 (107): 25th of March
At the end of the day we got into a Weird Al marathon for office music. It was marvellous. Had fond memories of singing "The Saga Begins" with friends in school, which then led to memories of singing "Paul Revere" by the Beastie Boys (also in school). Ahh. The misspent youth. Any rate. For the record, these lights never light up or mean anything. It's a nice idea, though.

Still v dreary soggy day, so the alley to my home looked extra dreary. B&W just kicked it over the edge.I also liked the division diagonally across the photo.

Day 3 (108): 26th of March
In the past two days, I've managed to miss being in horrible road accidents by a matter of minutes. One of those odd feelings that small alterations in a person's schedule can have a considerable impact on the rest of said person's life. It's a situation that strangely makes my stumbled upon theme of things in rows / queues / lines feel more fitting. To avoid getting too deeply embedded in that thought bog, here is a soggy field.

Day 4 (109): 27th of March
Put my glad rags on this morning in order to present an award to one of my guys. Haven't had to put them on in more than a year, and considering the fact that my backside hasn't seen a proper workout since the accident, the fact that the monkey suit (not literally a monkey suit) still fit was glorious. All was for naught, though, since my higher up boss decided to swoop in on wings of RHIP and do the honours whilst I stood to the side like the proverbial lummox. God I love my job. Every day really is good for at least one laugh. The VTC later was even better, as the folks at the other end kept mixing popular culture metaphors with rural ones. They were determining if these were the 'droids they were looking for whilst avoiding soul-sucking Deatheaters, and then tilling the same ground, stampeding herds, and breaking trail (etc etc). It was like a blackout game of Buzzword Bingo. I kept expecting someone to schedule the next shootout at the OK Corral or summon a posse.

This shot looked so cool when I made it sepia that I have to throw it in.

Also got an odd shot of this bit of wall, which I love, and debated the going of the B&W, but really I think it works.

Day 5 (110): 28th of March
Today there is a memorial for a base Chaplain who died over the w/end. Does it make me a terribly awful person to plan on leaving early because so many people are going to the service (and as such are themselves leaving early)? I did not actually know the guy, so I'd feel odd going to the service. In the end, forty minutes early was the answer, so good (inadvertent) compromise. Going heavy on the B&W this week. Not by design, but because the shots just seem to work (I think). I really liked the shadows on these steps.

And this shot has nothing to do with things in rows / lines, but holy brilliant sunset and silhouette (though in the upload I've lost the effect... see it here on Flikr).

Day 6 (111): 29th of March
Damn. Damn, damn, damn. The number of cats at present in my care is too damn high. G.G. finally popped. At 2200 or thereabouts. Last night. I had foolish aspirations of getting to bed at a  reasonable hour, and as such went out to check the cats and turn out the porch light. Saw what looked like a cat in labour, and sure enough there was soon a small mewly thing in the bed with her. Entranced, I sat by her side and kept her soothed (as I imagine anyone going through that sort of business would want) until number two came about forty minutes later. All v educational, indeed. Couldn't stay up for the rest, as it got to be 0100 and my back was killing me from sitting on the ground in my Jedi dressing gown (yes I have a Jedi dressing gown - it has a hood and is super comfy). Come morning, there was just this. A row of four and a content yet tired mama (honestly with the face).

So as to not just have the day be about cats, here is a neat little domestic shot in the really great morning light (at least I think it is, and that is the point, right?).

Day 7 (112): 30th of March
Spent the afternoon at work, doing my final exam for my class. Damn Daylight Saving. Took away a good hour I had planned for doing nothing before starting schoolwork. Boo. OOh. Add letters and get Booze. See below. No, I did not have any of this for breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner. It just looked cool.

To close, I am at present in my office, and it is nearly 1900. And it is a Sunday. Thank you, homework Gods. Thanks very much. It is a lovely way to spend a Sunday. But I had to get out and away from distractions (including those with four legs and an unhealthy level of cute).

Week One: iRodeo

Firstly, so far, so good on actually taking at least one photo a day for the first week. So I suppose that means only 51 more of these. Right. Not a problem. I can do this. Perfectly simple.

Secondly, the going in game plan is to at least attempt to lump each week into a theme or category. Cannot promise that will last or always work. Am who I am and sometimes my natural state of being perfectly random will manifest. That said, here's to a game plan.

Thirdly, and more important than the above disclaimers, below is the product of the first seven days. As I've never been any good at mobile photos, I thought that would be an interesting way to begin. It admittedly also gave me an excuse to start simply, generally photographing things in my house.

Day 1: 9th of December (aka my birthday)
Almost failed right out the gate here, as I'd not taken a single photo until I was in bed, ready to sleep. What is a girl to do, but find something within arm's reach. First I tried a shot of two of my bed companions posed to look arty, but it just looked silly. Partly because a floppy rabbit in a calico dress looks odd next to a blue penguin wearing a santa hat.
Plan B was no surprise to anyone who knows me. I saw that it was after 2300 by checking the time on my TARDIS alarm clock. Thus was born this photo:

It then became this after a bit of post-production:

Day 2: 10th of December
Doing a bit of (much needed) tidying up, I went to toss my leather jacket on the back of the sofa, ostensibly to be put in the coat cupboard later. As I was in motion at the time, I completely missed the sofa, and it landed in a heap on the floor. The obvious next step was to stop tidying and find my neat hat, set it artistically on aforementioned heap of jacket and snap snap snap.

And again with the post. Sepia is fun:

Day 3: 11th of December
How to explain this without sounding absurd. Nope. Forget it. by the end of this year, I'll sound more than absurd on more than one occasion, so may as well just go. Was having tea and biscuits for supper (yes, supper) and decided it might look neat to pile up a bunch of biscuits next to some candles I keep on the kitchen table. The biscuits were very textury and oaty and nobbly and fruity, and the candles are, well, not. Hmmm. Maybe fruity, but not in the same way.

And, sorry, gratuitous editing:

Day 4: 12th of December
Had been held hostage at work by leadership that didn't want to give feedback on a task, and allowing me to close it out and be rid of it. Finally gave up when I hit the beenatworkelevenhours mark, and left in order to go home and change for a much-needed "girls night." The girls night turned out to be a long-planned surprise party which was so flattering and amazing and I didn't behave properly at it and was v bad at socialising with guests, but I spent most of the night gobsmacked that it was happening. One day I'll be better at handling that sort of thing. Maybe. Ah yes, to the photo. I've not been a real "take piccies of everything I eat" person, but this was too good not to shoot. Mouth starts watering again just looking at it and remembering...

Day 5: 13th of December (Friday the 13th...)
Stand by for nerdyness. In another fit of realising I'd almost gone off without taking a picture, I again grabbed things close at hand (downstairs this time). Thus another TARDIS. This time a USB port thingy. And Yoda. And a pineapple-shaped cookie jar (no cookies inside). So yes - I mashup-ed Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Psych. Judge away. Things're liable to get weirder before they get normaler.

Oh, yeah. Then I did this. With a mini TARDIS and a backdrop of Yoda's house. Sorry.

Day 6: 14th of December
I like Minis. Not the new ones, mind you, as they've gone all Large. I miss driving one. Mine was so nice. And Mini. I also like old photos of places. So it makes sense to put my little toy Mini in front of a photo of Old London. Juxtaposing things is fun. So is the word Juxtapose.

And a non-blurry one.

Day 7: 15th of December (Huzzah! A whole week!)
I'm a dog person. Just to put that out there. Really though, I'm an animal person, and don't do well with no four-leggedy beasties with whom I can chat and cuddle and generally co-exist. Cannot have a dog out here in Italy, as my schedule makes it not fair to the dog. Thus when I moved in last year and was met by tiny new kittens and their mum, all shivering noisily outside my door, I caved in short order. They are still strays, and live outside, but I feed and cuddle and such. They're still v much cats, though, so I'm not fooled into thinking they actually care about me, but I can pretend with the best of them. It's a use-use relationship, really. Here's one.

And the other.

A Closing Remark: Still struggling with iPhone pics. But maybe getting better-ish (?). These 365 Projects are supposed to be revealing as well as exercise-y, and I forsee this being more or less in that realm. Here's to Getting Better-ish. Here's also to Being Thirty.