buddha

fall is the time…

“Fall is the time when the leaves fall down. Orange and yellow and golden brown…”

And when Ms. Quizon is most overwhelmed.

This is the song that is stuck in my head.  I added my own verse there at the end.  Heh.

So much stuff is on my plate, it’s hard to know where to start.  At least I can say that my closet is clean.  Unopened and opened mail waits to be sorted.  Files wait to be backed-up.  Film waits to be developed.  Cameras wait to be used.  Blogs long for posting. Laundry, dusting, sorting, filing…You get the picture.

And on the school end…well, there is no end on the school end until the end of June.

It’s already almost the end of November…no WONDER I’m tired.  Since I got back from Joy’s wedding, there’s been a lot to do and finding the time to do it is the challenge.  Now I’m starting to run again so I’m busted tired, but at least my day is full and productive.  I only hope I can keep it up.  This weekend I have 3 shoots, two where I hope to use film and my dad’s birthday, which, luckily, is low-key.

Okay.  Here’s a picture.

It’s one of my favorites from the church shoot.  Here’s another…

I think I’m good with the kids…

Man.  When you haven’t journaled in a while your thoughts sound so random.  It could also be that it’s 1:13 am and my brain is just random right now. No work tomorrow cuz I got my doctor’s appt.  On another random note…Budget is bad so our superintendent is suggesting increased class sizes (again), 4 furlough days and a 12% pay cut.  Four furlough days is actually a 2% pay cut since teacher furlough days just mean unpaid vacation.  Kids need a certain number of days in school so I would still go into work, thus kinda cheating us ACTUAL furlough, so really it’s a pay cut.  That makes 14%.  Boo.

Okay.  I’m done.  Sleepy time.

picture

I scanned this negative myself on our photo printer/scanner.  Now I know why labs charge a lot.

 

This picture is from Lynda’s office in Hawaii.  I liked her version of the ABCs.

Skid Row

reconnect

Last Saturday, before the marathon day, I had a break. It was nice and brisk last week, which was a blessing, because if it were THIS hot last Sunday, I would have fainted during the half. God really blessed California with real fall weather, if only for that week. I’d like to think He answered the prayer I had when I signed up for the race, because I do remember praying for not-dry hot weather.

Last Saturday, because I knew I had the day to myself, I resolved to do nothing besides picking up my packet with the run buds and having lunch with Robyn. The whole day was mine. I finally got to stop and think. I walked outside on our deck and it was all sun-shiny and fresh and I realized that I hadn’t done that in a LOOONGG time. I used to love just being outdoors in my own backyard. I’d bring a book, a towel, journal, my ipod and maybe a snack to read, sit, write, listen to and eat on the grass. I usually end up falling asleep, but I loved doing it. Poshi would even join me and Mako too, when he was alive. I’d even just take pictures of whatever in the yard. I’d think and pray and totally have a ball with myself and nature.

But somehow, that doesn’t happen anymore.  And I don’t read.  I just look at pictures.  And I don’t pray or listen to music as much and realize how much I love both when I do get around to it.  Nor am I out and about when the sun is out.  It’s just been busy, I guess and when it’s not…I sleep.

So when I stepped out that day, I decided to have a go in the yard again.  Because it was Mom’s bday weekend, I decided to bust out the camera and take pictures of all the work she’s been doing there.  It’s something she takes joy in, and since I’ve stopped hanging out in the back, different things are blooming and growing, including the persimmon tree we all thought was barren.  She’s also always bugging me to take pictures of her flowers.  It was also nice to take pictures just because I wanted to and not because I was hired or being paid.  It was good.  It felt like before.

plumeria

my companion

chrysanthemum

sampaguita

persimmon

guava

banana

tools

sky above

This is another thing I do less of…blog. And it feels good.