Faded - Adrian, MI

Tutu - Adrian, MI

Ash Wednesday

I'm so hungry.

I know I am and my stomach knows it too. It has being growling for the last couple of hours.

Is it wrong that I want Ash Wednesday services to be completed so I can come home and eat my only meal of the day?

Books read in 2009

I noticed recently that when I take a book on assignment with me, people need to know what I'm reading. They will ask what I'm reading or just push my book forward to read the cover. My first question is why? Why do others have to know what I'm reading? OK. Moving on.

I'm reluctant to show them what I read because it usually isn't something that everyone will want to read. Books that I like to read are not the hottest books on the bestsellers lists or the most popular fiction book. The books I enjoy the most are biographies or non-fiction. The reasoning behind all of the that goes back to my elementary days. When we went to the library to pick out a new book, I was always drawn to the biography section. I picked biographies about presidents, inventors or leaders. With books like that I could learn about history in a different and fun way instead of from a textbook. That is still how I feel today.

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick
Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan
Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot, J. Randy Taraborrelli

Currently Reading: Crimes Of Style: Urban Graffiti and the Politics of Criminality, Jeff Ferrell
Up Next: Another book ordered from Amazon or the library

Fat Tuesday

I can't believe it is Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which means another Lenten season has arrived. I have so much to look forward to: the fasting, the no meat Fridays and confession.

For the pas couple of weeks, I have been thinking about what to give up. Many years ago I gave up pop and never went back to it. In November/December 2008 I bought a six pack of orange Crush. It was delicious and the best part is it didn't have caffeine. But that sweet sampling hasn't made me go back and start drinking pop. Which is good for me. Water, milk, and Gatorade are the my everyday preferred drinks.

This year I will give up the vending machine at work. I usually give this up every year. Everyday I bring my own food from home. The times that the vending machine is my best friend is when we are all out of snacks in-between grocery shopping. I hope to make it through the six weeks of Lent without coming to work empty handed. If I do, the vending machine will be whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

The other thing I plan to give up is chips. But not entirely. Sometimes after work I come home and grab a snack before lunch. Most of the time it is cheese or chips. So to break that habit, I have a catch. The only time I can eat chips during Lent is when I eat a sandwich. If I'm eating a sandwich, I eat less chips because the sandwich fills me up.

Weekend update

Saturday evening my husband and I ventured to the local mall. We walked around and looked at the new spring clothes. I only saw a couple of things that I wanted to buy, polo shirts. I will buy them soon and add them to my closet, which is looking like a rainbow right now. All of the polo's are arranged by color according to the rainbow.

While in a store a man walked by us and he was talking on a cellphone. I overheard him say that he "was sad and lonely." About twenty minutes later, I saw the same guy still on his cellphone walk by us in a different store on the opposite side of the mall.

After the mall, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. As we wheeled our cart into the alcohol aisle, we smelled something really bad. I pushed the cart ahead, stopped at the Smirnoff, picked up a six pack and the awful smell got worse. That is when we saw a family in the aisle. Someone in that family had some awful body odor. It was nasty. My husband and I took a breath and we held it as we walked passed the smelly person.

While checking out and I saw the guy from the mall. The cell phone guy. He was still on his phone talking, coming towards the checkout. Its like he followed us all evening.

My husband and I wanted pizza for dinner. He didn't know the phone number for the place, so we went to the service counter to look in a phone book. After he found the number we were leaving when we passed the smelly family once again. It wasn't hard to miss because they were smelling up the joint. I can't image what that car ride home must have been like.

An hour before running Sunday, I had some chips and dip. It was a small snack to get me through my 5 mile run. My run went well and I finished a bit tired. After running I did some ab exercises. I noticed during abs, my stomach starting hurting. I finished my abs and decided I should go upstairs to the bathroom quick. For the next couple of hours I was throwing up or sitting on the toilet. It wasn't good. I didn't attempt to eat any food because I don't think I could have kept it down. I had a popsicle and water the rest of the night. I even went to bed early at 8:30 p.m.

This morning I felt fine. I ate breakfast and had no problems. I don't think I will be eating that dip anytime soon.

Ready for spring

All of the snow in the yard has melted. The area has had multiple days of 40 degrees and sunshine. And it will be ruined Saturday with the snow that the county is supposed to receive. I'll be so happy when it is time to finally put the shovels away for the season. I'm tired of shoveling the sidewalk, porch and back deck. Spring can't get here fast enough.

A look at what is coming my way Saturday morning:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Detroit, MI 3:33 am EST, Fri., Feb. 20, 2009

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES BY EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW WILL DIMINISH BY LATE SATURDAY EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Notice - Adrian, MI

The Letter Q - Adrian, MI

While out shooting last Friday, I noticed this letter sticking to an old furniture store sign pole. It was a great find. I wish more letters were randomly scattered all over town.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick
Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan

Currently Reading: Jackie Ethel Joan: Women of Camelot, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Up Next: Library trip or books I ordered from Amazon. Whichever come first

Detail - Adrian, MI

Weekend update

My husband and I both worked on Valentine's Day, we had our dinner on Thursday. We went to Evans Street Station in Tecumseh. Both of us ordered the center cut strip loan. It was fabulous, as was the entire meal and service. Probably the next time we will return to the restaurant is for my birthday.

My husband and I exchanged Valentine gifts on Saturday afternoon. I got him a gift card to Lowe's and he surprised me with a sweatshirt and t-shirt from the University I graduated from. Both the items I received were brown. They really goes well with my hair.

While eating lunch, my husband said that one of his co-workers was wondering why his plate got ran by the city police Friday morning. He said that he wasn't out, so it was my plate that did. The police ran my license plate. I guess I was acting suspicious. I was driving slow looking for graffiti and taking photos at a school that closed in the '90s. After leaving the school, I went a couple of miles down the street to fill up my car with gasoline. As I parked my car at a nozzle, I noticed a city police car driving slowly on the other side of the pump and the officer looking at me as got out of my car. At the time I thought it was weird. Now I understand why he did it.

I decided to try to run at my normal pace on the treadmill Sunday. I ran 4 miles and I was beat. I haven't run that fast in a while and it tired me out. My heel felt OK after the run and I did ice it. When I run again tomorrow I hope I can run at my normal treadmill pace again. Cutting back on running is really hard for me to do. I can't wait until my plantar fasciitis goes away and then I can really get back to normal. And also run on more then flat surfaces.

Freight car - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick

Currently Reading: Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan
Up Next: Library trip

Love. Graffiti style - Sand Creek, MI

Zim - Adrian, MI

Closed factory - Adrian, MI

Electric Meter - Adrian, MI

I went to the dance studio to photograph a class last week. Waited for 10 minutes and no one showed up. I assumed the class was switched to a later time so I walked out the front door and left. I walked through an alley, at night, to get back to my car. The two lights in the alley lit up this electric meter covered with ice, so I needed to stop and take a photo.

Foot Update

I visited the foot doctor this morning. My foot is on its way to recovery.

I was told to keep stretching, icing and taking my prescription. Before leaving, my foot was wrapped again. I need to keep the wrap on for another three days. I see many Ziploc and garbage bags in my future.

I asked the doctor how I should continue to run. He said if my foot is feeling good I can keep my mileage at 75%. I think for a now I'll keep my mileage low then maybe at the end of the week, keep it up a bit and run over 4 miles.

Books read in 2009

I've read three books in a span of five days and I have enjoyed them all. I read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in high school. I can say that I probably didn't like it back then. But the second time around, I did like it. Maybe it was because I wasn't forced to read it. Now I'll put the movie with Robert Redford on my Netflix queue.

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Currently Reading: Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick
Up Next: Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, Michelle Morgan

Foot doctor visit

Tuesday morning I make a return visit to the foot doctor. I'm icing my heel, stretching and taking a prescription for my inflammation due to plantar fasciitis. When I see him, I hope he will tell me I can get back to my regular training. But I feel he might say to keep my running at 50%. I will let you know the outcome tomorrow.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro
How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Pieces of My Heart: A Life, Robert J. Wagner & Scott Eyman

Currently Reading: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Up Next: Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, Maureen McCormick

Miles run in 2009

It is torture to for me to cut my mileage by 50%. If you don't know, I have plantar fasciitis and my foot doctor told me to take it easy. I know it is good for me. My foot and heel are feeling so much better. It is so nice to be able to wake up in the morning and walk down the stairs without foot pain. Let me stress, its just so nice to walk without foot pain. I hope next week, my doctor will let me go back to my normal mileage. Please!

Later today I will be taking off my foot wrap. It is been a wonderful three days with that on my foot. Really it has helped, but it is a pain when trying to take a shower. I figured out a good way to keep the foot wrap dry in the shower. First put a Ziploc bag on your foot. Zip it up as far as it can go, then tightly duct tape it near the top of the bag. Always duct tape near the top of the bag. Next put a garbage bag on over the Ziploc bag and tightly duct tape it at the mid-calf level. Lastly, get another garbage bag and put it over the other bags. Again tightly duct tape this one as high as it can go. My last bag was right below my knee. It is an easy way of keeping a foot wrap/cast dry. Taking off the bags were a breeze. The duct tape came off quickly on my shaved legs.

2004: 34.5
2005: 47
2006: 44
2007: 40
2008: 98
2009: 100

WS - Adrian, MI

Another photo from my 2006 series.

Books read in 2009

America's Queen, Sarah Bradford
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner's Office, John Temple
Marilyn's Last Words, Matthew Smith
Corpse: Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, Jessica Snyder Sachs
Rage and Glory: The Volatile Life and Career of George C. Scott, David Sheward
Sinatra in Hollywood, Tom Santopietro

Currently Reading: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner, Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
Up Next: Library trip

So about my foot

I went to the foot doctor today. He told me I have plantar fasciitis. I received a prescription and was told to stretch many times during the day and continue to ice my heel. I asked if I could still run. The doctor told me to cut my running back by 50%.

Before I left, one of the assistants massaged my heel with some equipment and wrapped my foot. She told me that I needed to wear the wrap for three days and I couldn't get it wet. After running, I took a shower with two garbage bags over my the bottom half of my left leg held on by duct tape. It was awful. I knew what it felt like with people who have casts.

BK - Adrian, MI

This photo is from a series I did back in 2006. It is from a train engine that was scrapped for metal. Who knew back then I would love graffiti? When weather gets warmer I plan to go play by the railroad tracks to take new photos of graffiti on train cars.