Monday, June 29, 2009

Where in the World is Charlotte

Would you believe . . . . .COSTA RICA?!?!?!?
Can I make some lame excuses for my long absences????
First of all, as usual, I've been crazy busy. That's nothing new. Second of all, I went on a 10 day trip, with not much pep or internet access. And Third, I have found out the reason I have been feeling aweful and not having any energy: I have Lyme's Disease! Thank the Lord for the miracles of modern medicine, I am feeling better each day, now.
As time allows, I will share more about the trip, and maybe some pics if I can find a way to download them. It's shocking I know, but I have only 1 camera body, 1 lens, and 1 flash on me. They say that it is a good exercise to impose such limits on yourself from time to time to force you out of your comfort zone and into an exploration of your creativity. We'll see.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Red Carpet Premiere! (by Amy)


My lovely neighbor, Amritha, is an assistant music composer, and tonight she was invited to a premiere for a film she worked on "500 Days of Summer". She has been dress shopping for weeks, and I think she found the perfect one. We ran out for a quick photo session before she took off for the red carpet, and we had a blast.









Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Crab Shack

Click to Mix and Solve
And again, in black and white.

I could live and die a happy woman in Manteo.

Brought to you by my handy "Handy," how cell phones are known in Germany.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A camera you can talk on (guest blog from Amy)


Mom (Charlotte) is in the Outer Banks and I thought I would take this opportunity to briefly hijack her blog. She recently got a new phone and when she went into the store to get it, she told the salesperson that she wanted a camera she could talk on. So classic. My current phone has really surprised me with the quality of pictures I've been able to take with it. It even offers black and white and sepia options - not bad for a standard-issue (bottom of the line) phone! BUT, my contract is coming to a close this week, and the timing could not have been more providential since my contract expires the day before the release of the new 3Gs iPhone. I have had iPhone lust ever since the first iteration came out, and this Friday my dreams of having my very own iPhone will be realized. As much as both Mom and Dad are dying to have iPhones (sadly, they are not available in rural Virginia), I know they are both very happy for me to be getting one. As an homage to my old phone, I have included these images taken with it around where I live in Hollywood.

This store is on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks across the street from the place where I did freelance editing work. The sunset was amazing:


Another night, just down the street from my apartment in Hollywood. The glow in the upper right corner is the moon rising:

Same night, experimenting with the sepia feature on my phone. The pointed spire on the left side is the top of the Capitol Records building:


LA has really interesting light at night. The sky is always glowing, and I love the moodiness that the streetlights in this image evoke:

So long, old phone. HELLO BABY, new iPhone!!!

-Amy

Friday, June 12, 2009

Evening Shadows

In my friend, Monika's backyard:
Click to Mix and Solve

Why I need an iPhone:
My phone.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Taking a Step Back in Time on the Parkway

Click to Mix and Solve

The cafe at Doughton Park. It just doesn't get any more iconic than this!
This sweet lady was our waitress. She has been working at the cafe for over 60 years!!

Monday, June 08, 2009

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Torch Run for Special Olympics

Click to Mix and Solve

The Carroll County Special Olympics Team got to participate in the Torch Run this morning. We made a great show at the start, rode the van, then finished strong at Lowe's. Thank you, to the Galax and Grayson County Officers who donated their time and sweat to the cause and made our athletes feel like champions!
Surprise, Coach!
Here's your quick slideshow!



Check out the front runner!

Friday, June 05, 2009

Thursday, June 04, 2009

The Great Wall of Shady Square

FINALLY! Something is happening around here!

(the first 3 photos are courtesy of Agape.)




But I think it's going to be another one of those DIY home projects that we try once and decide we're not doing that one again! Or, We're finding out the reason that the only estimate we received for this job was $5000.


Wednesday, June 03, 2009

"Just You and Me, Mommy"

This is what Agape told me on Monday while we were exploring the Energy Explorium.
Click to Mix and Solve
We had dropped big brother off at the airport earlier in the day, and had no reason to hurry home (other than the fact that I had only 2 and 1/2 hours of sleep the night before,) so we stopped and visited our old friends, Kyleene and Jody Hill, then I took Agape to see the dam that holds all of Lake Norman. Things like that are an endless fascination. We passed a sign on the highway leading to the dam that pointed the way to the Duke Energy Explorium. All these decades that we have driven down I-77 and seen those brown signs, we never took the time to stop, until that afternoon. So, it's FREE, informative, interactive, and a beautiful location on the shores of the lake with lovely lawns, gardens, picnic areas, decks, a pier, a long, well-annotated nature trail, and at least until September, a deeply satisfying photography exhibit (real platinum prints!) called "River Docs" documenting the Catawba River. It was while we were walking down that trail that Agape just spoke up and said, "It's just you and me, mommy." Instantly I was pricked to the core with guilt, because I realized that I haven't made time to do things alone with her for a loooong time, and I didn't realize that she noticed or cared. She always wants "friends" to do things with. Dear Jesus, please help me to change that.
Here is a little photo journal of our day:
Mom and Amos doing the happy dance before departure.

The Designated Driver

Agape's view of Lake Norman
Brotherly Love
Good-Bye, Amos!

Agape's old friend, Jody Hill. He grew up!

THE Dam!
The River below the dam.

Agape enjoying the butterfly garden at the Energy Explorium.

The View, for free!
What a Cutie!


Exploring Energy
How a turbine produces electricity.
By the Lakeside.