sara with camera

God Hates Verizon.

After a customer service call gone wrong, I was very angry and couldn't seem to get a grip on it.  I called Katherine and the plan was born.  Most anyone who has lived in Topeka awhile knows about the angry corner: 17th & Gage.  That's where (or across the street at 15th & Gage) Westboro Baptist Church holds their work week-day 15 minute protests.  You've seen the signs.  God hates this and God hates that.  I decided that it would be cathartic and funny if I could join in with a God Hates Verizon sign.  So I did (I got about 10 minutes of protest in before the cold got to me). 

My wireless shutter remote wasn't working, so Katherine snapped the photo.  My sign kind of pales in comparison to theirs, but...there it is. 

Before I followed through I thought a lot about it.  I mean, Westboro Baptist folks and I don't agree on much.  But, I am glad they have the right to express their beliefs and opinions.  That's one of the best things about this country. 

I was going to post the break-up letter I wrote to Verizon (but haven't yet sent), but I think I'll keep it simple (though seriously, when the contract is up July 26th- we're gone). 

Oh, and Jael (far right) got my photo too.  Happy Tuesday, Sara

Death Penalty

I've been volunteering a bit with the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and last night I got to take photos of the Sister Helen Prejean event (she's author of the book Dead Man Walking). 

That's Sister Helen in the middle, Chris on the left (I would have scalped her last night to get her hair if that sort of thing could possibly work out), and Ms. Schneweis on the right. There was music, then...

Students read an act from Dead Man Walking, the play.  The actress playing Sister Helen is on the left and the actor playing a Louisiana death row inmate on the right.

I am so glad I was able to attend.  Any opportunity to break out the camera is something to get excited about (although I have much to learn about event photography), but mostly I enjoyed the discussion afterward that led to a victim's family member expressing why she was opposed to the death penalty.

Sister Helen again!

I just wrote a very compelling call to arms about how you should phone your legislator to let him or her know that you support HB2323 (if you do), a bill abolishing the death penalty in Kansas and introduced last month.  But I accidentally erased it, so hopefully the above is inspiring enough.  If you don't know who to call, you can find your legislator here: http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/

If you're on the fence; talk to me!  Hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you at the coffee shop tonight (Gypsy jazz is playing!).  Love, Sara

Oh, and there's this if you're interested:

http://cjonline.com/legislature/2011-03-03/prejean-seeks-end-death-penalty

Nearly Blizzard

...and today was another snow day which means I got to take photos.  It was really windy.  I mean really.  How 'bout some randoms?  1. Lyle Lovett was on Castle last night.  Not the best actor ever, but I love him.  

2. Last week Matti said to me, "Oh, I forgot you don't have a p@!&%."

 3.  Auden, noticing the checkbook on the console, said that he was going to write a check to himself for $1,000.  I asked him what he would do if he had $1,000, and he replied, "I'd give it to all the worthless people who don't have money."  (there was a small meaning-of-the word talk that followed). 

I hate dead grass and it somehow seemed less offensive- more about the ice in black & white. Still, I might (depending on how they turn out) post a different dead grass photo tomorrow. 

4. Am I the only one who (when deciding whether to bother with the make-up when getting ready) sometimes goes for it just in case I'll run into a cop?  Yeah, that's probably just me.

Sorry that this is a sort-of repeat/macro version of photo 1.  It's edited a little differently and I like it so...

5.  Homeschooling is a bust.  Auden would go back to public school tomorrow but for the snow day.  Here's to a couple of hours to myself 4 mornings a week!  Happy winter storm guys, Sara

Manuel

All week I wanted so badly to take photos, but Chris was gone early and home late.  The first chance I got was the dairy, but it wasn't enough.  Today was supposed to be the big day...and it was semi-warm (in the 40's).  I didn't really have a place in mind so after a little driving, I decided to head to north Topeka where I figured I could at least retake some photos I took with the old camera.  I got this one in...

(the green lamps caught my eye), but then I met Manuel.  He is staying at the mission at nights but has to find somewhere else to stay between 8 am and 11 pm (something about police and drunk he said...there was a small language barrier).  He followed me around until I realized I wasn't getting any shots and gave up.   

 
Kansas weather is not Florida weather he said and I'm with him.  I'd rather be in Florida too right now and I don't have to spend my entire day on a bench outside.  He's from Mexico- Durango originally, but has been here twenty years or so.  His adult children are U.S. citizens, but he isn't... which makes it difficult to find work as a welder (his tools are being stored at a nearby bar).  So he's going to search for oro he says.  He knows a good spot and he'll get a metal detector.  That's what his grandpa did and he lived to be 114.  But he added, money is what people are killing each other for over there right now...

He had a backpack with him and in it he carried several newspaper clippings and a National Geographic map of the route Christopher Columbus took on his way over- only 30 or so days it said and he landed near Cuba.  One of the clippings was an article on 9/11 (color photo and all) and another on Osama bin Laden. Twice the wind caught one and my heart nearly stopped at the thought of his 10 year old piece of newsprint flying away.  

Good Luck Manny, 

Sara

Topeka Community Cycle Project

I've wanted to take photos of the bikes at the Topeka Community Cycle Project for a long while now...pretty much since I've known about it, but it's only open a couple of times a week and law school kept interfering.  This morning though I finally made my way downtown to snap the photos.

GEARS

Photography side note: I almost always use a tripod now.  Dad and the results convinced me.  

Robert runs the project on a shoestring budget.  Proof: the building is not heated (though there is an uninsulated warming room with a single space heater that I hogged for awhile)...and the rent is super cheap (the building is beautiful though...but I like my buildings with a little history and character so I'm not a reliable source). Even though Robert is super frugal, the project could use a little cash.

Here's why I love the project: Community members who need a bike to get to work can have a functional loaner one straight away.  Those interested in earning their own bike can build their a keeper bicycle after they log ten volunteer hours.  

HANDLE BARS

 

 There are used bikes and bike parts everywhere.  

NO SMOKING IN THE BASEMENT!
 

BASKETS

   

Though riding a bike right now in the sub freezing weather through the snow, slush, and ice is only for the hardcore, winter is when TCCP readies itself for cycling season.  I've posted some of these photos to Photoshelter (see link on top left) under the gallery BIKES where they may be purchased.  All profits will go to TCCP (some of the purchase price goes to printing, some to Photoshelter, some to shipping, but the rest will go to TCCP).  If you have no need for prints, but want to help out anyhow, contact Robert through the link at the top of the post.  Thanks guys, Sara

I Hate White Cars

and white walls (unless we're talking tires)...but not white buildings:

 

 
  
Not sure as to the building's function, but it's a neighbor to the capitol building- surely something important (as it should be).  The other white in my life right now is a little baby sweater (to be added to the general gift stash) from: Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. 

I hope to take garden photos tomorrow and to go home to a working air conditioner tonight (I'm in class until 7 p.m.)- ours went out Monday night (at least that's when we realized it).  As much as I hate the cold, I don't sleep well in the heat.  Last night was pretty bad and resulted in musical beds for Chris & me (the boys, in their room upstairs, have a window unit as even our new ac won't cool their space).  Matti also played, but that's his m.o. just about every night.  We (unsurprisingly) found him naked on the couch this morning.  Contributing to the night-time weirdness at the house: Nelly sleeps under our bed.  So, the typical morning means a naked Matti (he rips off his pull-up sometime in the early a.m.) somewhere (usually in our bed- feet pointed toward the headboard), Nelly under our bed, and Auden waking us all up (he's the early riser of the fam. -unless I'm running that is). 

On that note, have a great evening.  Love, Sara

Photo Break

 
I only thought that Don's was out of business...looks can be deceiving.  Don is alive and well and cutting hair.  Proof: lit sign (and I've seen him a couple of times now driving to and from the courthouse- I'm watching him now since my porch lady hasn't been out lately).  How about another neon sign?

  
It's not a great photo, but I'm not going back for another and I had to include it since, after taking it, a security guard approached me saying that his employers were concerned that I was casing the bank.  If only I had such skills.  He seemed embarrassed.  He really shouldn't have been, but his employers certainly should.  I was obviously after the sign- not structural weaknesses. On to a better photo...

 
 

  
   
 

  
   
Here's to a slower rest-of-the-summer (I'm holding my breath that it will be anyhow).  Love, Sara

Maybe garden photos next (don't expect much: it's that kind of garden).

Got a New Lens!

It's a perspective lens- an architectural one.  Very exciting.  I've been so busy though that I haven't had time to try her out.  Today, I finally made time. I have so much to learn. 

 
It's a fun sort of learning though.  This first summer semester I'm taking Secured Transactions (definitely not as fun as figuring out camera functions) and Clinic.  The latter is a community resource through which law students learn while assisting those who cannot afford legal representation.  I was counting on it to bring back my desire to be a lawyer, but it hasn't yet (man, I'd like to be an architectural photographer these days).  I finally get to help real people with real issues instead of just reading about them in a textbook.  I love helping people, which is part of the reason I thought I'd really love being a lawyer.  It's just not doing it for me yet.  I haven't given up.  It could be that I'm so tired that I'm not quite me.  Or maybe I feel like I haven't really helped anyone yet.  We'll see.  Regardless of whether I decide I want to be a lawyer or not, I'm finishing law school and taking that bar. 

 
Adding to the fatigue: a Saturday class this weekend; the hospital hill half marathon last weekend (I wasn't properly trained so I treated it like any other 13 mile training run); the deck and patio building in which we've been engaged; strep throat two weekends ago---I think that's it.  Well, that and there was no break for me between sessions.  The good news is that the patio is finished and the deck is well on its way (fingers crossed for a completion date of this weekend).

 
Isn't it great- Topeka has a disproportionate number of blue buildings.  I love blue buildings. 

 
and abandoned hair spots, and building numbers.

 
and blue with red...

 
 
 
And Chris said this one looks like Iraq--it's a little fuzzy, but I like it anyway...Oh, and for a five fingers update: i ran in them when I should've given my feet a rest and my left one hurts after I wear them- which is worth it because my knees don't!  Hope you all have a great weekend.  Love, Sara