So I got a burst of energy last weekend and attacked the privet in the back yard. It was a truly exhausting effort, which took place over about 5 hours in ungodly heat and unheard-of humidity, and I didn’t even finish it. I got about 75% of the stuff cut down and chopped up, but there are still a number of trees (it amuses me to call them “bushes”) that remain. Maybe I’ll have enough energy tomorrow to take a stab at what’s left.
Here’s a time-lapse video of my campaign against the nasty stuff. My camera died after about three hours, but you should get the general idea of how wretched my afternoon was.
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| The two new squatters waiting for their free food. |
Also last weekend, two new cats (mama and kitten) showed up on the deck, having apparently been informed by the previous troupe that I was a soft touch. So I gave them some food and water. The next day they were back. And the next. They were here today, in fact. Both look quite healthy and, while skittish, they aren’t exactly terrified of me.
Work last week was monotonous, but I continue to make progress on the major project while hitting smaller stuff out of the park. Still hate my job, but at least I’m good at it.
It appears that I have landed at least one job shooting high school football this fall. A friend of mine got a job as a line coach at a high school in Atlanta and asked me to come shoot one of the practices last weekend, so I did and then posted my shots for him on FB. Apparently, the head coach at the school saw them and asked my friend if I’d shoot the season. There are some details to be worked out (like how I get paid), but it could be the start of something good.
I was also asked by the guy who got Betsy and I to shoot high school games near Macon last year if I’d be interested in doing it again this year. I told him that I was already committed to the Atlanta HS, but that I’d be happy to help him out on the nights that I could. He liked that idea, so there’s a chance that I’ll shoot two or three games in Macon along with 6 in Atlanta – and at least 11 Furman games on Saturdays. In fact, the only off week I’ll have is the week that I have a brass band board meeting in Cincinnati, so I think I’m going to be an extremely tired boy by the time December rolls around – and if Furman does well, I could be shooting into January.
Tired, but having a good time I hope.
My friend Brett and I decided to escape the insane heat of Atlanta for a couple of days this weekend by driving up to Hayesville, NC, on Friday afternoon. We spent Friday and Saturday on the banks of Fires Creek in the Nantahala Wilderness doing basically nothing except taking pictures, throwing sharp things at trees, playing with fire, and (frequently) jumping into a very nice natural pool in the river right next to our campsite.
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| This was my favorite shot from the two days at Fires Creek. I took it at about 7:00 Saturday morning, just as the sun was coming up over the trees. |
We first discovered Fires Creek about 7 years ago, but neither of us had been there in probably 3 or 4 years. The site that we’d planned on using was taken, but we managed to find another good spot two miles further up the road. Happy accident, as it was much nicer than the original plan.
Surprisingly, in spite of not feeling like I was doing anything, I feel today as if I’ve been beaten up by a pack of angry pit bulls. This is probably due to the fact that, while making multiple falls into the river, I actually did fall a few times (like “fell over” as in “not intentionally”), got a nice bruise on one heel, a massive sunburn, and general aches and pains associated with getting too old to do much of anything.
Also, while burning things, we both spent quite a bit of time with an axe in our hands and managed to chop up and burn two entire trees.
No, you didn’t misread that; and no, I’m not exaggerating. Two decent-sized trees (probably 6″ thick at their bases) had been taken down to clear the road. Brett and I completely chopped them up and burned them. Normally, I use a hatchet to chop small wood for campfires, and I’m sure that the combined hour or so that I spent swinging an axe against green wood is one reason that my arms and shoulders are screaming at me now.
If you’re wondering, I did indeed manage to get my self-portraits done while camping. I don’t *think* I’ve missed any days yet; but I’m not obsessing over it or anything. I’ve had to use a couple of iPhone shots to keep the streak going, which will not make it to the smugmug gallery.
It is, of course, still hot as hell in Atlanta. When I got home this morning, the temperature here was 95. Fires Creek, by the way, was at 66 when I left it this morning.
I want to go back now.