I took a half day of vacation today so that I could better prepare myself to photograph my niece’s wedding next month. I offered my services as a second shooter at no charge so that I could practice my skills in a real world setting. Many professional wedding photographers use a second shooter to cover more of the wedding (a 2nd covers the groom getting ready while the primary covers the bride, for example) and to get additional angles on critical moments (nothing worse than missing a must have shot because someone inadvertently stepped in the line of sight). I was fortunate to hook up with a great photographer and fantastic couple which made this both a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I was totally spent when I returned home at 1AM after 5 hours in the office, 4 hours on the road (to/from Falmouth) and 8 hours shooting the wedding. The pro unexpectedly split his tip with me making this my first paid photo gig. I think I will stick to my day job, but it was a very nice affirmation to be paid for my photography work for the first time.
Cool temperatures this morning made it easier to sneak up on this bee, who was moving rather lethargically. There is a definite feeling of fall in the air.
This morning I fitted Jeanine’s new car with a towing hitch so that we can attach our bike carrier. I was very pleased with the results and I know this addition will be put to good use immediately. I then drove to Schenectady in the Smart Car to visit with my parents. My father continues to struggle with health issues caused by his progressing congestive heart failure. After a very nice dinner we all enjoyed a walk through my mother’s Japanese style gardens before sitting down to a conversation which turned to end of life planning. It is not easy to talk about death with a loved one. At the same time, it was so worthwhile to understand my father’s idea of a good death and for him to realize that he has a voice in deciding what that will look like. Whether he has 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 decades left I am very pleased that he has embraced the idea of planning for a graceful death on his own terms.
On the way home we stopped off in Newburyport where we had a rather disappointing diner at a locally recommended Mexican restaurant called Agave’s. The people here are a little stiff but otherwise it is a very quaint and friendly place.
After a productive morning of organizing around the house, Jeanine and I took advantage of the perfect afternoon and drove to Plum Island where we hiked a couple of the nature trails and discovered the island’s namesake. We finished our visit to the wildlife refuge napping on the beach enjoying the dramatic wave action caused by the recent passage of Hurricane Earl.
Kyle, sporting a new haircut, and his buddies were attracted by the aroma of the broth Jeanine was cooking so we gathered them in for the last shot of the day.
Jeanine is putting the finishing touches on her professional web site and asked me to take a picture of her cooking. We had a lot of fun doing the project.
My Audi A3 sold for the asking price yesterday and today I am feeling a little seller’s remorse. It has been one of my favorite cars but it had reached the age when the financially prudent thing to do was sell. I am in no rush to find its replacement as I really enjoy driving the Smart Car. I am still leaning towards another A3 but have decided to keep an open mind and consider other options.
Pretty humdrum day when the blog features a photo of my doctor’s office. I was in for my 52,000 mile check up. Engine looked strong, air intake was good, tail pipe inspection was satisfactory, on board computer checked out OK but oil pressure was very high and 3 out of 4 suspensions joints are shot. The mechanic implied that the junk yard was the next stop if I didn’t take better care of the machine. On a brighter note my earlier visit to the dentist revealed no needed work on the grill.
Nicolai spent the weekend in tryouts for his high school junior varsity soccer team. There are many kids vying for a small number of remaining openings. For the first time, Nico’s skill and determination may not be enough to compensate for his inability to run as fast as others. Of two things I am sure, however. First, Nico is putting every ounce of his strength into these tryouts, evidenced by another stress induced crutch failure shown in the photo. Second, that the decision of his coach will look past his disability and only consider his effectiveness on the field. For many years we struggled to work past small minded officials who could not imagine that Nicolai would be able to play or contribute to the beautiful game. He has since proven to the entire local soccer community that he has game and the question now is no longer one of discrimination or exclusion. Our fingers will remain crossed for him.
This website is dedicated to sharing, with family and friends, the day-to-day adventures of the Calabria family.
