m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e †photographer. artist. author. singer. songwriter. musician. teacher. student. humanitarian. visionary. addiction counselor. therapist.
I’m happy to report that after a turbulent year, things are finally starting to look up! Dare I think it safe to exhale?
Not quite yet; but I can feel a change in the wind. As I stare out my picture window, I feel a natural smile resting on the corners of my mouth. I don’t remember the last time I felt a smile that wasn’t forced.
Just received news that I’ll be able to afford to take the rest of the year off and simply heal from all of the chaos and drama that has been my life for the past several months. Perhaps I’ll seek out another position as an Addiction Counselor in the spring: Time will tell.
For now, I’ll luxuriate in the thoughts of taking this NIKON DSLR out and about and actually be a photographer again. (Of course it helps to have a new car.)
I really want to take the plunge and become a true black and white photographer; but when I think of all of the vibrant colours that are out in the world- I recoil. There’s so much emotion in black and white though. Only when one strips away colours, do the contrast, gamma, and various tones (midtones, etc.) come forth in their own ways.
I have an appointment today; perhaps I’ll venture out with the camera and see what I find. 😎
Dinner and a movie date night (last night) with Brian; Nice glass of Pinot Grigio, Homemade Japanese Gyoza/Pot-Stickers (that my Japanese sister taught me how to make, at her place, many years ago) and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Three of my favourite things in one place: My son, Gyoza, and Johnny Depp (be still my rapidly beating heart!). Wine doesn’t hurt either.
Dumplings. Precooked.In the cast iron skillet.
I tweaked my sister-in-law’s original recipe (which was a crime in and of itself- she’s 100% Japanese and has mastered the art of the Japanese dumpling, both in form and ingredients), but I wanted to give them a Thai-Basil twist, so ended up adding fresh cilantro, basil, mint, lime, Japanese Umami seasoning along with Red Thai Chili Sauce to the ginger, mushrooms, red onions, ground meat (ground pork, always. Walmart Delivery brought us ground beef only and omitted our pork- 2nd crime of the night) it was all too much. Were they tasty? You betcha. Was my sister’s original Gyoza/Dumpling recipe better, as simple as it was? In spades. Blew mine straight out of the water.
Sis-in-law: 1
Me: 0
Lesson learned!
Brian and I had just settled in to our movie POTC: Curse of the Black Pearl (yep; I’m the last known human on the planet who’s still never caught even the first movie in the franchise), noshing on our Gyoza/Pot-Stickers- me with my broken foot twisted up under me, him with his broken hip, collar bone, and rib, sitting uncomfortably in the leather recliner in the living room- it was 10:00 pm or so and we were enjoying ourselves quite nicely, having devoured two extra-large pieces of Red Velvet Cake (along with two equally large glasses of milk, naturally), and just having gobbled everything up, were prepared to lock in to the remaining hour or so of the movie…
…except, just like clockwork, once my belly was full, I fell immediately into a deep sleep sitting straight up. Not once, but seven times in short succession.
Just in: I’m old!
Well, I will be turning 55 in 16 days. (But damn!)
Yeah. Enjoy your youth whoever’s reading this that’s younger than 55, because when you hit 50? It all starts changing. In ways you can’t even imagine. And don’t even get me started on menopause, ladies. You thought having a period was bad and being bothered for one week out of the month?
😅
If this is the ride I’m in for at 55, I can’t wait ‘til my diaper days at 90.
I am so stoked. I planted my first flowers ever, only last week, in my mailbox planter; these beautiful morning glories. They’ve defied the lack of rain and near 100 degree heat- daily- and insist on blooming. I couldn’t be more pleased. 🤗
I just went out to check the mail, and to my surprise, noticed that they’ve all tucked themselves nicely and neatly away, into their nocturnal beds for the night, curling themselves up for protection against the night season and everything it brings with it.
Rain is finally on the horizon for tomorrow; I couldn’t be happier. I’m the happiest I’ll ever be under the soothing canopy of rain.
Spot of herbal tea, little classical music, some lit candles and a drizzle of rain…
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:17/KJV
“Surely the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird”. -Proverbs
Isn’t that what the kids are calling it these days? Brian’s Lunch: He said it’s easily one of the best sandwiches of his life: I would agree. Bacon, Avocado, (freshly-sliced) Lemon-Drenched, Vine-Ripened Tomato slices, topped with Crushed Parmesan, on a slathering of Home-Made Sriracha Aioli on Gourmet Bread- pan-seared in (EV) Olive Oil- finished with Pink Himalayan Salt & Freshly-Crushed Pink, Green, and Black Peppercorns.
Wasp: Memorialized. Found yesterday, stuck to the bottom of a tea cup, bound by honey. I used a water-soaked Q-Tip and washed its body down and tried to rehydrate and revive it, to no avail, poor lad. Alas, he’ll live on visually. Beautiful dead leaves found on the ground this morning. Death can be so beautiful. For Sandy, to inspire; Shot and edited this morning, while sitting in my front yard. What the human eye does not see nor realize, is that every colour of the rainbow perpetually surrounds the sun. Isn’t that cool? I learned that just this morning myself after seeing this image. God- the Ultimate Teacher.
Oven-Roasted Chicken, with Fresh Lemon & Bay Leaves, accompanied by Paprika, Cumin, Italian Seasonings, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Pink Himalayan Salt and Fresh-Cracked Green, Pink, and Black Peppercorns.
m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e † 