Forgotten Friday-Abandoned in Beaufort

Beaufort, South Carolina

National Technology Day-My First Camera

    I got one of those 110 cameras for Christmas when I was a kid. But this one was the first real camera I had. I saved up my summer job money when I was 16 and bought it. After checking some Sears catalogs from the time, I must have spent somewhere between $200-$300 for it. A Pentax K1000. Came with the zoom lens and a carrying case. I had no idea how to use it.

    Soon after buying it, I took on the first test run to a concert at Astroworld. Before the concert, my friend and I headed over to the motel across from AW to look for the bands we were going to see. Sure enough, there in the lobby was the drummer of A Flock of Seagulls. I knew he was a photographer who had a K1000, that might have been the reason I chose this one. He asked if we wanted to take photos. I told him it didn't have film in it yet because I had no idea how to load it! He sat down, there in the lobby of this motel, and explained loading film and other things about the camera. Incredible. I'll never forget that moment.

    I wish I still had the photos we took that day. The concert rained out, so I never even got to try it that night. But I used it up until probably around 1998, when my hubby got me a Canon Rebel.

    But I don't do current technology well. I mean, the phone you see below is my current phone. Just got it a few days ago after a 6 year old flip phone finally went kaput. I have no interest in a smartphone, or apps, or a gps, or anything like that. I don't use an e-reader, I like real books. I don't order anything online, I only shop in brick and mortar. I'm not completely a Luddite, I mean I am on the computer(desktop, don't own a laptop). But I think I could easily go "off the grid" if I had too.

   I read about those who are "digital nomads". I absolutely want to be a nomad. The digital part I could live without.

National Bird Day

Gulf coast, Long Beach, Mississippi

Monday Motivation

   Today's motivation is LEGO. I got quite a few sets for my birthday, and I really need to build and photograph. But first I need to clean up, break down sets I'm not interested in displaying, organize, rearrange, dust, and generally get the whole LEGO section of the den together.

White Plains Baptist Church, Mt Airy, NC

Church and burial site of the famous "Siamese Twins" Eng and Chang Bunker. Located in northwest North Carolina just south of Mount Airy.

Hank Williams

   Hank Williams, September 17, 1923 to January 1, 1953. He is buried in Montgomery, Alabama in Oakwood Cemetery.

 "Praise the Lord, I saw the Light"

Resolutions, Sort Of

   It seems that everyone makes "New Year's Resolutions" each January 1st, though now it appears to be more 'hip' if you don't make them. Just call them "goals" or whatever. I don't think there is anything wrong with using the new calendar year as chance to make a change in your life, start something new. The last number on the date changed, so why not make a change yourself.
   These are the things I hope to change about my life this year:

• Get out of the house more. If it's a nice day and I'm feeling well enough, then I should get out and do something, take some photos somewhere, anywhere. 
• Take more photos. I keep reading that a good photographer is good because they practice every single day. It's no different than any other thing you want to be good at it. I don't think I'll ever be a good photographer, even if I do take photos every single day, but I want to try. The only problem is that taking photos around the house gets really really boring after awhile. I also use the excuse that my camera sucks. Well it does-it is 8 years old, is missing pixels, has so many dust spots, and doesn't take very clear pictures, ever. I'm not sure what to do except maybe start working all that crap into a new style. 
• Walk more. This goes with getting out of the house. I'm hoping that getting out more leads to walking more which leads to being healthier. Eating better goes with this. It won't be easy but I really want to try.
• Downsize my junk. The kiddo will a senior in high school this fall. It is hubby and my ultimate goal to perhaps get rid of nearly everything, get an RV and hit the road. But I have lots of stuff. Boxes of hockey magazines. A full cabinet of hockey cards. Shelves of books. So much stuff that I have a hard time imagining getting rid of, but know that is necessary. Anybody want a huge Def Leppard scrapbook? 

   I think that's really all. I am not going to be unrealistic, those are some pretty easy goals to reach. I dream of being on a "road trip" 24/7/365, photographing every single unusual or historic site out there. But I can't get there eventually until I start somewhere. Today is a good day to start.