Last Floridian Fling

It's funny that after feeling the need to leave Florida so bad, Florida was just what I needed this weekend.

The trip started with some discouraging news as one of the agencies I shot for a couple weeks ago finally responded, just to say they didn't like my work and wouldn't be calling on me for any future gigs. It's funny how God encourages us, though.

On my connecting flight I sat next to a friendly old-timer who used to be in the Air Force. He had interesting stories about his tours in Viet Nam and "other places the government won't admit to being in."

At one point he saw me going through photos on my iPhone, and he said, "Looks like you're pretty good with that thing. You should get into photography."

When he asked what I was headed to Orlando for, I said I was actually shooting a wedding, and he said, "Oh, you'll do great!"

The wedding went well, and I got one more romp around Disney's EPCOT at the tail end of the Food & Wine festival with my buddy Del and my two favorite gals from the Yak. It was a really good time with plenty of fun and fellowship. In a place I had been itching so badly to get out of, I got a much-needed break from the place I wanted to be. Weird.

The Hunt is On

I must find work, but what shall I do? It's hard being an adult but only having kid-sized jobs available to me at this point. Even with a B.A., there's not much to do, at least in the short term, but look for entry level stuff.

Hopefully the photography will take off better here than it did in Florida. There are so many more great places to shoot in this area.

I'm Fall's newest fan

Living in Florida for 9 years really changes the way you think. Every Autumn, Facebook would be full of postings by people: "OMG! It's #Fall!!!!" and all I can think is, "Who cares?"

In Florida, Fall is just the season where you keep thinking how hot it still is, and how crazy it is that the Holidays are just around the corner. Nothing changes color and the only real weather shift is the absence of your mid-afternoon downpours. After a while, it's hard to understand why people go nuts over leaves being something besides green.

But, being around it now, I totally get it. The mild chill in the air, the vibrant oranges and yellows and reds, and yes, the Pumpkin Spice Everything. It all comes together to make something pretty freaking amazing.

And now I'm gonna be annoying people on social media with my freak-outs over Fall.

Denver Zoo

Checked out the Denver Zoo the other day, and really enjoyed it! The exhibits allow for wonderful up-close views of most of the animals. The elephant section of the park even had a lot of "Anandapur" style theming (like Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom). It was strange to walk around in a place like that, being so uncrowded and cool in the morning!

There's a great selection of animals, too. The seal & sea lion exhibit isn't quite up to the standard of Fresno's Chaffee Zoo, but overall they have a broader display of animals.

Exploring Colorado

Got up early yesterday and drove down to see Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. Definitely want to go again and spend more time hiking and looking around. I can still feel how the altitude change affects my stamina, though. Plus a storm was moving in and I thought it best to move along (there ended up being golf-ball sized hail, and I saw snow in a couple places on the way home).

Anyway, it was really cool to see climbers up on the rocks, and the climate in the early part of the day was just perfect. I hiked around for more than two hours with all my camera equipment on my back, and barely broke a sweat. Just awesome.

The red rocks reminded me of Big Thunder Mountain at Disney, and I realized that today I'm exploring the places I was only pretending to be at before. Really exciting... and less crowded!

See an album with more images here. The man and woman climbers you see in a couple of the photos, I was able to run into later on when they were on the ground. They're from New Zealand, and I was able to get their email so I could send them the photos.

Hello, Fall!

Between the internet being out for a couple days and taking little trips out (went to Estes park for a short bit Saturday), I haven't been posting, sorry! Today I'm headed out to Garden of the Gods, so hopefully some great pics will be up soon!

Colorado, Day 1

Well, we arrived safe and sound. Now begins all the adventures of uncertainty. How will I earn a living? Should I go back to school here? Where will I go to church? Who will be my friends?

It feels kind of like moving did, in a way, in that I have so many things to do and I don't know where to start.

My cousin's already expressed an interest in being workout buddies, which would be nice. Working out on your own is difficult and boring, and I've been doing that for the last few years.

Today I actually sat outside to read--in the middle of the afternoon!--and watched the dogs chew bones lazily in the grass. How long has it been since I've enjoyed being outside during the day? Too long.

Chilly but beautiful in Kansas

Fall begins

It's officially autumn, it's a cool morning in Topeka, and we're headed home :) 

Update: Leaving Franklin (in theory)

It's so exciting to feel a Fall crisp in the air this morning! No more sweating while I walk Samson despite the dawn hour.

Speaking of the little furball, he got plenty of exercise yesterday at Harlinsdale Farm, where we visited with my friend Kathryn and her dog. It was a picturesque landscape, wide open and green. There were so many dogs there, all in complete bliss!

Getting a slow start this morning. For some reason Samson isn't interested in his breakfast, but he's plenty energetic and willing to play keep-away with the stick. He gets more anxious as I take bags to the car. You should know by now that you're coming with me!

Update: Franklin, TN

Having a nice, relaxing day in Franklin after a 12-hour road trip (that started with a hectic 2-hour scramble to get out of the apartment). So today I'm enjoying puppy time, good talks with close friends, slightly cooler weather... and car trouble.

Or, I should say, devious car trouble. I got a quick oil change from a place that promises you'll be "in and out in 15 minutes." They of course pitched several hundred dollars worth of more work my way, which I expected and politely declined.

They added, "Be sure to come back in if any lights come on in the next few days."

Lo and behold, at (literally) the 11th hour of yesterday's trip, multiple dash lights come on: Check Engine, Check Brakes, Cruise Control, etc.

After a little bit of panic and chatting with folks on Facebook, a friend recommended I disconnect/reconnect my battery. Voila! Warning lights are gone.

I hate shady people. I'm grateful for knowledgeable friends, and social media.

Last Day

It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Thousands of people camped out all night to get the new iPhone this morning. It's cloudy and (relatively) cool, and it's my last day in Florida! A crazy time as I realize all the things I put off doing now MUST be done, or forgotten. There's no Turing back now.

Throwback Thursday

Here's me high in the California desert on an October day in 2005, leaving the Golden State for the Florida peninsula. My heart was heavier then than it is now, almost on the eve of leaving Florida for my next chapter. I was leaving family then; I'm going to them now. This time, I am taking my puppy with me from the very beginning!

I have no idea what happens next, but I kind of like that feeling.

In the weeks before I left California, I was so very sad. Everywhere I went and everyone I saw was another goodbye. I was also so scared. I hadn't grown into myself at all yet, I didn't believe in my gifts and skills nearly as much as I let on. I had serious, secret doubts about God.

Much of that is different now. In some aspects, all that's different is that I know these things about myself and I am learning to be okay with them. That in itself changes a lot.

This morning was Samson's last trip to the little dog park here in Casselberry, his first dog park. All his favorite buddies were there, it was like they knew. Especially his favorite buddy, Bear, a big, lovable Saint Bernard who is just about Samson's age. They love to wrestle and get dirty together. And they are always especially excited to see each other, you can tell. It made me really sad to think they won't play together again, except perhaps on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge... but that's a long way off!

I thanked God for Bear each time the big guy brought his giant, beastly head up to me and asked for a scratch. Such a sweet dog!

The apartment's almost empty. Tomorrow is my last day in Florida.

Errands and naps

Shared a good nap with Samson today; we're testing out his sedative and it even seems to work a little :). Mailed out the last of the big boxes, and scheduled a Salvation Army pickup for Wednesday. If I can get a bunch of stuff done, maybe I'll take myself down to Disney on more time Thursday for a last picture trip. But I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't happen. I'm so excited for the move! 

A New Chapter Begins!

Here's where you'll find personal thoughts and updates from me as I set off on a whole new chapter of my life. As I write this, I have one week left to live in Orlando, Florida, which I am about to leave for Colorado. So much has happened so far, and I have no idea what the future holds. Keep looking back here if you want to find out with me.