Week Twenty-One: Targets of Opportunity

I may have found my muse. Or if not my muse, at least someplace it has been. There is a bit of creative residue here. At least I hope that is what it is. Other residues are possible, but let's not think about that. Mostly on-base shots but that makes sense, as that is my environment of late. Went a bit nuts taking pics in NYC, and travel snafus caused a delay in my uploading the good ones. Ah well. All is well.

Day 1 (141): 28th of April
So when they told me "You're going to Virginia Beach" I had two thoughts. One was related to the glorious exodus from the grind in Crazy Land to a place with decent spring weather. The other may have involved the phrase "Bloody Virginia Beach" (or something similar). What I was not expecting was that the weather here would be startlingly similar to the wet dreary sogginess of Naples. But alas, such are the whims of the gods. Did make for some neat photo ops, like this rather empty pool on base Oceana.

And the drip drip drip of water on the asphalt.

Day 2 (142): 29th of April
One great thing about being in a classroom environment is that my schedule shifts for the better. my 0530 start becomes a 0830 start, and my 1600 finish shifts to a 1430 or at worst 1500 end. Gives me time to do things like the little bit of exercise my fool spine will allow. And wander about taking photos. Found this softball field on base with these silly stupid low benches in the dugout. Why do they do that for fully grown people? Most adults who actually play softball are not the kind who are good at getting off the ground easily. Asking them to sit on a bench six inches off the ground is a bit cruel.

At the same field I realised that I was returning to the scene of a past crime. In this very outfield, I got hit in the face by a line drive from a friend's bat (still have the scar over my right eye). Witnesses said my feet left the ground and I was essentially airborne before my limp body crashed to the grass.

Day 3 (143): 30th of April
More crummy weather. Have I mentioned that I am not the biggest fan of the Hampton Roads area? And excessively tall people in my class who have excessively twattish personalities. And who put their digits on my computer screen in order to tell me where to click and exactly what to type. That is the sort of behaviour that will result in loss of said digits, especially when I am hypoglycaemic. This pinecone is more relaxing. I forgot how much I like pinecones. Italy doesn't have them. Probably because it also doesn't have pine trees.

Not sure why I took this.

Day 4 (144): 1st of May
Gosh I wish I had more exciting things to say this week. But really the fact that the only things I've had to worry about are studying and learning and keeping up physical therapy is wonderful beyond what I can say. And today the Aussies proposed a class drink-up in the afternoon by the beach. The turnout was not great but really that just meant there was more for those of us that showed up. Even the weather cooperated. It was cloudy but dry and just the right temp to not need jackets. Silly details, I know, but that is what makes it, right? Check out the beach. No edits required.

Love was apparently in the air... again no edits required.

Then it got even better with the sunset.

Day 5 (145): 2nd of May
We finished with class at lunch. Best class ever. Probably won't fail next week's test. But I'll worry about that later. I've got two plane rides this w/end on which I can study. I promise I will. Really. No, really. Ooh! Look at the springy little fleurs...

They look even cooler in B&W.

Day 6 (146): 3rd of May
Off to NYC today. For the first time ever. Meeting my old college roommate this afternoon (after she sees a Yankees game... bless). Only been by NYC (gone over the bridge from Jersey), so this will be brilliant and intimidating. I'm totally going to rock the tourist thing. And try not to get robbed. But Naples has trained me for just this occasion. The day was pretty great. Went to a bar owned by my friend's landlord and had nice burger and beers. Got to see the inside of a TriBeCa loft (also owned by said landlords). Must be nice to be absurdly wealthy. Here is a placeholder (maybe) of a nice sight for this enthusiast's eyes.

And here is the bar. They sprayed over part of the B so it is now called the Ear. Brilliant.

Day 7 (147): 4th of May
Quite the romp about the city for Star Wars Day. Started in TriBeCa and walked to the water and down to the Freedom Tower and 9/11 memorial. Really not a bad day for walking all over the place. The memorial was really pretty neat. When I get the photos uploaded from the camera, they will show it. Played with shots of the water, but the best ones were of the tower itself and of the list of names (they put flowers in the names on that person's birthday). Also had lovely crispy eel in a nice little place in Chinatown, had mediocre coffee and rather ice-creamy gelato in a Little Italy cafe, saw Times Square, and got my pin from the Hard Rock. Then went to the Columbia University Film Festival for the premiere of a film I helped produce. Nice little event, even if some of the films were a bit hard to fully grasp. All in all a success. My flights... not so much. Got cancelled from my original flight and put on one for the morning, but managed to get on a flight to Charlottesville, which is a three hour drive from Norfolk. That means that I'll be getting into bed around 0330 or thereabouts. Thus the placeholders. Like this one from the inside of a NYC subway.

And this one of a tulip outside the fancy loft. New York has lots of tulips.

Feel bad taking out the placeholders, but here are some more tulips. Loved this purple.

And here are the ground zero shots. First Freedom Tower.

Now a nice shot of some names. Of all the shots this was my fave.

And finally, my best Bridge shot.

Really sorry about the use of placeholders. I hate that. But blame Delta. This always happens when I fly with them. Promise when I get the technology back, I'll fix it.
Update: All fixed, but left the placeholders because it is not their fault I was foiled.

Week Eighteen: Bye the Sky

Let's just get into it, shall we? The sky's the thing this week, but there are a few other shots to keep it interesting.

Day 1 (120): 7th of April
Racking the old brain for a nice unifying theme for the week, and coming up with zilch. Was v distracted upon returning to the villa, and nearly forgot to get out the camera. This seemed like a good filler, and really not a bad way to start the week. Took many versions on many settings, but finally got this one. Not often that I can see the Mediterranean from my bedroom balcony, but tonight was nice and clear.

So clear I took another with a different set of settings, and got this.

Day 2 (121): 8th of April
Another brain suck of a day. This time nearly let the evening get away to the point that I forgot to shower, but blissfully (on behalf of my co-workers) remembered. Waking up between 0400 and 0430 means I rarely want to deal with showering before work. Probably an over-share, that, but so be it. All I really wanted to accomplish this evening (sadly) was to watch the new Game of Thrones. My Italian internet had other plans, and decided to force repeated pauses for buffering. Thus, an hour long show took nearly two hours to watch. First world problems?? Yup. Here's another sunset. Earlier in the evening, but same shooting location. Cannot really see the Mediterranean in this one, but the clouds are fun.

Day 3 (122): 9th of April
Brilliant Wednesday. Really, truly brilliant. Was slightly out of it this morning thanks to another night of the best insomnia a girl could get. At the end of a 10-ish hour day that felt like ten days, I was at a loss to locate my car keys. It was at that point I realised what may have happened, and sure enough, I was correct. This happened. Not everyone can be so brilliant as this. Yes, that is my car door. Yes, those are my keys.

And here is another cool sky. With a bird.

Day 4 (123): 10th of April
After yesterday took a week to finish, today was a blur of getting things done and looking great doing it. It is these days that make me love what I do. And the guys who work for me are truly unique and terrific. Please don't tell them I said that. It will go to their heads and go against my daily routine of insults and sarcasm. But truly, am lucky to run the group that I do. Now, enough sentimentality; people keep asking for more views of my surroundings, so here is a photo of my 'hood. Pretty rough area, no? That shiny strip between the land and sky is the Med again. 

Got a fancy new flash in the mail, and although I promptly dropped the fool thing, I got to play with it a bit (don't much use flash) doing some studio-y stuff. My favourite was this number. Snarf's new pet has Lion-O rather unamused.

And because it would seem the sky is the thing of the week, there is this. Really loved this one. Partly because it took many shots to get it right. The layers came out really nice.

Day 5 (124): 11th of April
Another slug of a day. Largely due to a conference call at 1400 in which I really did not want to take part. Nothing quite like a dreaded thing at the end of a day to make it drag on like nobody's business. This is the vineyard next to my house. I've tried many times to get a decent shot of the thing, and today finally got a photo that doesn't look like total crap, but evening light certainly helped. Focus is still not quite what I wanted, but it is much closer to my goal.

Sunset tonight was a bit boring, so I thought I'd go out later an get another of these. Really need a better zoom to make moon photos look better. 

Day 6 (125): 12th of April
Insanely lazy Saturdays are a lovely thing. Have a lot to do tomorrow, so am taking full advantage of today, including lolling about in the hammock. Lolling is not an easy task with a gammy back, but determination to maximise sloth time won the day. Had Robin for company in the garden as well. His mum has buggered off (presumably with the kitten, but who knows?) so he and his brother are back in full residence. Must be an exhausting life, being of the feline persuasion. 

Again, the sky has become a bit of a theme, so here is another gratuitous but lovely sunset shot. Same balcony, same angle. Same power lines...

Day 7 (126): 13th of April
Lots of crap to do today, and of course that happens on a day I've been invited to go see another lovely show at the Teatro San Carlo. Bugger. And have had v strange dreams involving dead people, foreign castles, explosions, and the USS Mount Whitney. All with rather mild soundtracks. Ah my brain. Such a fun place to be sometimes. Any rate, the photos today are somewhat excessively modified (contrast, monochrome, exposure, temperature, etc). But that is just because I haven't modified any of the other shots this week worth the mention and my poor editing software was feeling unloved. Thus sepia-ish lock...

And boring sky made to look like Armageddon Cometh, thanks to temperature adjustments and exposure changes. Too much stuff to do to wait and catch the sunset. Want to get this thing out and published.

Not much to say in closing slash summary. Lots of sunsets. Symbolic? No, not really. Just have a soft spot for a good sunset. Not thinking much about the fool broodcat and her wee kit. Stupid animals. Time will tell, I suppose, whether the thing made it or Poor Motherly Decisions led to another sad story. Stupid animals.

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 Fifteen: Speak For Yourself

Another week of target of opportunity photography. Next week will ideally get back to some sort of theme. If only because things feel a bit disjointed and I may not be learning as much. Much plants this week. But as is Spring (as of mid-week) that is totally acceptable. Also kept the edits pretty simple, so hopefully the photos speak on their own (if at all). 

Day 1 (99): 17th of March
Got word first thing that we were in fact NOT staying on the fool ship. I say first thing. Really I mean halfway through the morning of sitting on our thumbs (not literally) waiting to find out one way or the other.  Got my paper done willy nilly by the end of the day. But wasted a perfectly good St. Patrick's Day. Poo. In other news, takes a heavy rope to hold a heavy ship.

Here is said ship. She's not bad to look at. And normally Gaeta is lovely, but the weather has been all hazy.

This made me giggle. Must mean smoking alone is OK, as is lighting flames. Just don't do them simultaneously or disaster will surely result.

Day 2 (100): 18th of March
Not much to say about today. Jokes about missing the boat aside, was a normal, mental, maddening sort of day. Getting pulled in two directions by higher levels of command, along with the internal churnfest makes for a joyous day. I love my masters. They are good to me. Thus some soothing tree branches in the evening light. To quell any rebellious feelings. 

And a team-spirity gnome, who has high hopes for the upcoming Giants season...did this one in B&W as well, but seemed too bleak.

Day 3 (101): 19th of March
One of those "six tries to leave the house" mornings, and still managed to leave important things at home. No matter, though. Wednesdays are like that. So are many other days, if I'm honest. This was a bad day for a VTC (in which I was all alone and it was cold and the speakers dreadfully boring). Nearly fell asleep several times, and forgot to bring in more than one lolly, so was left chewing the Tootsie Pop stick into that pulpy mess until I gave in and chucked it (into the proper receptacle...am no heathen). Not a great pic choice today. But textury, palm tree-y.

The weather has really been a bit overdoing the pollution and haze of late, which is inconvenient for a person trying to get better at photography.

Day 4 (102): 20th of March
I've said it before, and am liable to say it again. Thursdays are rubbish. Not quite  the w/end, but not really mid-week any longer. Just crap. No one here to do Thirsty Thursday with, either, because everyone lives all separate and driving here is dodgy enough whilst sober as a nun. Would be a cheap date these days anyhow as am v sleep during the day. Damn the insomnia and the second dreadful borefest VTC (why is that room so cold?). Ah well. Here is a rose (no, not the same one you've seen seventeen times already).

Day 5 (103): 21st of March
Called home yesterday for the first time since Christmas. Really am a shoe-in for top honour at the Worst Daughter of the Year awards. Not even a good excuse for it. "Got busy" (not like that), and "time got away from me" (yes like that) are sad and lame reasons. Also, today is my horse's 21st birthday. We met when he was barely 2, fell in love, and he's been the best thing in my life ever since. Even though (as part of my WDOTY package) he's been cared for by my long-suffering parents for many years now, I truly don't know what I'd do without him in my universe. Nonhorse People won't get it, but the attachment one can have with a horse is really truly cosmic and feels a bit molecular sometimes. On that note, here's a photo of some grape blossoms.

Here's another.

Day 6 (104): 22nd of March
Party time. Much to do, including v important cheese purchases. And my car decided to not function on a door-locking level. That's a new one. And BMW has a nice feature to stop idiots locking keys in cars, so one cannot push down the nob whilst the door is open. Splendid. Car looks local enough there is likely little incentive to burgle it. For today's trick, a funny faced lamp, which looks stranger still when one takes almost all colour out, but stops just before hitting true greyscale. 

And some v springy flowery blossomy things on the trees. Lots of pink. 

Finally, the view from the terrace where previously mentioned party was being held. You should have seen me slice and dice and lay out finger foods. Even I was impressed with my putting things in places skills.

Day 7 (105): 23rd of March    
Crap rainy day. A reminder that am still in Naples, and we haven't passed the wet yet. Add a wee bit of a hangover to happy back pain from overdoing things yesterday... that is my excuse for the bad photos. Didn't even really do things in post. Hooray lazy and not being as young and spry as I used to be. This is my hammock in mid-windy spin. Poor thing. 

And this is the horizon. Kinda lovely, but also kinda blech.

Lesson of the week: three hours of sleep after a night of party time is easy when one is 22. At 30, it doesn't feel so good. Captain Obvious, signing off.