Getting Away, Nearby

I've been feeling spectacularly uninspired and depressed lately. I can't even remember the last time I picked up my camera, DSLR or phone. Lots of reasons for that, and while I thought that I was ready to share my life on my blog, it seems that I may not be. So, I suppose it is what it is.

Fall is in the air, though, and it's my absolute favorite season. Fall in the south isn't exactly the picturesque scene that you might imagine when you think of Autumn, especially near the coast. It's more the knowledge that summer is over, as far as I'm concerned. :)

It started about a week ago. The air is a little less humid. I can actually feel it when I take a breath of fresh air. There are a few more fallen leaves on the sidewalks and, of course, oodles of cans of pumpkin are showing up on store shelves. I can almost smell the pumpkin pie now.

I'll be going to a football game this weekend (Go NAVY!) and while it's not the kind of trip for which a plane ride is necessary, I am getting away from things for just a bit. This photo from earlier this year just says, "Let's go!", don't you think?

Please Use Other Door

Tomorrow is my very last day at my current place of employment. I've been there 9 1/2 years and it's time to move on. I'm certainly nervous about what's coming next, but without something changing I can't expect things to be different, can I? So even if circumstances aren't the way I'd have liked, the timing, otherwise, probably couldn't be better.

Bird's Eye View

Uncertainty and Making Changes

This has been a stressful week. Life-altering, actually. I know, that sounds so dramatic, doesn't it? Last week I got what I've been asking the universe for. Maybe not in the way I would have preferred, but it happened, all the same. So I've been trying to adjust and manage the stress and tension that came along with this big change.

I'm taking a severe cut in my income soon. Very severe. And I wonder why the first thing I feel compelled to mention is about money? The changes that led to this pay cut are going to, almost immediately, allow me to live a much healthier life. Why can't that be the first thing I mention?

I cried over the tough changes I'm going to have to make over the next several months. I've been working hard to realize a few of my dreams, and it hurts that I have to set them aside for a little while. But it is just for a little while. I won't hide from life for long.

The Friendly City

2009 was the first year that I participated in Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk. It's possible that 2009 was the first year for the event, period, but I'm not completely sure about that. Either way...

It was in downtown Charleston. In July. That's Charleston, SC. In July. It. Was. Hot.

Sometimes I don't appreciate the beauty of Charleston the way it deserves. I imagine a lot of us are like that in regards to the areas where we spend the most time. So it was nice to walk through areas I hadn't seen before. And be reminded of how friendly people in this southern city are.

There were several photographers standing across from this window (which is actually a garage window) trying to get their shots, myself included. The owner of the property was getting ready to pull out of his driveway and he stopped and asked all of us if he should wait for a few minutes until we had all gotten the shots we wanted. We, of course, said "No! Let us get out of your way!" and made sure to step out of the street, back on the sidewalk. Then, as the property owner drove away, we waved goodbye, stepped back into the street and got our shots.