#37 – Never-Ending Story…

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NEVER-ENDING STORY

SELF-CRITICISM; THE WOUNDED EGO; UNNECESSARY DRAMAS

PROTECTION

Protection message: This is a time to avoid drama at all costs, especially when it comes to other people’s “stuff.” Your sensitivity is on overload these days, and you’re best served by keeping your distance. Your mantra today is “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” All this drama will pass, and you will carry on, unscathed and blameless.

First Assignment Almost Complete

My first night of taking free-lance photos for the local newspaper turned out pretty well.  A torrential downpour hampered me a little bit, but overall I was pleased with the way things turned out.  I spent a total of two hours and fifteen minutes on the assignment and got my quota of pictures…..so all-in-all, a good first night.

I started my assignment on the uptown square since there are quite a few venues within a short walking distance. I started at the local wine shop and got several pictures of both employees and customers.  Next, I went to one of busier restaurants downtown and was especially pleased with the pictures I was able to get while there.

Next, I traveled to the other main street of our downtown area and visited the restaurant/bar that “below ground.”  It was packed and I was happy to get a good number of pictures of customers that seemed more than willing to have their pictures taken for the local paper.  Afterwards, I went to yet another bar/restaurant across the street and got quite a few animated shots from its patrons.

I did stop by my favorite uptown coffee shop and there weren’t any customers there, but the two baristas on duty were obliging to let me get their picture.  I then decided to re-visit the first couple of places I’d visited and was able to get a few more pictures.

Across the railroad tracks it was to the largest of the restaurants I visited.  I found a former student that was working in the wine shop on premises and got several good pictures there.  I think went to the restaurant side of things and was once again happy with the results. I saw two more former students enjoying their meals there.

It was then time to travel to other venues on the other side of our fair town.  The first place I went to was one of the more popular spot for locals.  I saw quite a few friends there and even a former girlfriend.  I quickly sidestepped that situation when I saw she had a date with her.  I also got several people that chose not to have their pictures taken.  That was the part of the job that I was dreading, but I assume that’s a part of the drill when you’re taking pictures for publication.

I went to two other local restaurants before calling it a night.  My favorite was the final place I went to, a family owned Italian restaurant.  I got a short history of the sixteen year old business, as well as a picture of the entire family.  They were especially friendly and I think that’s a place I’ll want to visit soon to sample some of their cuisine.

I stopped by a fast food joint on my way home, realizing I hadn’t eaten supper.  I treated myself to a milkshake, which I usually try to stay away from.  I totally enjoyed my meal, realizing I had reached my goal of pictures for the night.

Tomorrow morning I will go by the newspaper office and upload the pictures to their computer. It will be my first time of doing that and I’m hoping that goes off without a hitch.  And then of course, the editor will look at the pictures and I’ll wait in great anticipation of his evaluation of my first night’s work.

I’ll update my blog and hopefully also be able to provide a link to where my readers can actually see some of the pictures I took….as for right now, I’m bushed….so it’s off to bed.

David Lee

First Day on the New Job…

Tonight I will be on my first assignment as a free-lance photographer for the local newspaper.  It marks the first time I’ve started a brand new job in a long, long time and to be quite honest, I’m a bit nervous.

I went to fill out all the necessary paperwork and get some additional information just yesterday.  Today I’ll make a return trip to the newspaper offices to pick up a key.  Then tonight I’ll be traveling to several locations throughout town to take my first pictures for submission.

There is a list of suggested places to go take pictures.  I’m not limited to the list, but it does give a lot of good starting points.  My task is to get one hundred pictures each weekend and upload the photographs to the computer at the newspaper offices.  I don’t have to sort or edit the pictures, so that will make it quite a bit easier.

The part of the job that probably is of greatest “concern” is the fact I have to get so many pictures each weekend.  If I go to ten venues, that would be an average of ten pictures per location.  I also have to ask the people I’m taking pictures of for permission to take and print the pics and that’s not something I’m overly comfortable doing.  But it’s a requirement of the job and I’m sure it’s something I’ll get used to over time.

I’m fortunate for tonight’s first pictures that it’s St. Patrick’s Day.  I would imagine the restaurants and bars will be quite a bit busier than a normal Friday night.  The NCAA tournament games tonight feature UNC – Chapel Hill, so that’s another draw to the local establishments as well.  I’m thinking tonight will be an easy shooting night compared to some other weekend nights.

So here’s to positive thoughts and great crowds and pictures…..it should be an interesting evening to say the least.

David Lee

This Too Shall Pass….

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#9 – STORM FIELDS

“THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS.”

UPRIGHT

An uncomfortable chaos is surround- ing you. Things that you’ve left unattended may be the cause of some conflict. Pent- up energy needs release, just as a storm in nature must break, for these events occur when the electricity between opposing forces stirs things up and creates temporary disorder. Not all storms are destructive. Rather, they serve nature by bringing rain to the ground and wind to the trees, enabling seeds to be widely distributed and continuous growth to be ensured. Just remember that whatever is being stirred up inside you — or between you and another — will benefit you later. The sun will shine again, and new growth will be observed. Don’t be afraid to shake things up a little.

Daily Reading – The Ice Queen (again)

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#28 – THE ICE QUEEN

IDEAS PRESERVED, NON-ACTION, ENTITLEMENT

CHALLENGER

When the Ice Queen comes to challenge you, she asks you to look at the illusion of ownership. Do you believe you truly own anything in this world? For example, do any of us really own land . . . do we own ideas? Or is it that we have simply laid claim to something we believe we’re entitled to? Even inspiration is borrowed from Spirit and shared by all in the Field of Divine Consciousness that permeates everything. Others have thought of even your most ingenious ideas somewhere else in time . . . and so what. Life incarnate is short. When you transition, you take nothing with you from the material world. The Ice Queen calls upon you to release your hold on your relationships, your belongings, your home, and all aspects of your life. Let life flow as it will. Everything is impermanent. Once you recognize that, everything is seen as the living miracle that it really is, and you won’t be frozen into self-induced limitations. It’s time to let go of ownership in general and be grateful for and enjoy what you’ve been gifted with.