One of the problems with having Lupus, is that the fatigue can hit you seemingly out of nowhere... and be incapacitating. Today was one of those days. Fortunately, the family came to my rescue with help cleaning the floors... and a purchased pizza for dinner ( Papa Murphy's has the best stuffed pizza ever ).
I took this photo last December at a FlickR photo meet at the ABQRail yards. It is an awesome set of buildings... and just loaded with incredible atmosphere to take photos in. I loved this room full of old lockers... imagining workers congregating here before and after each shift... drinking coffee... telling stories...
Last year was pretty fabulous. Starting this blog was a real adventure for me... and I am looking forward to another year of posts. One of the things that this blog has encouraged me to do; is to take photos every single day. It has forced me to expand my creative boundaries and push through them. I highly recommend it. I have started a project for this year as well. You can see the photos here ... where I will be posting a brand new photo taken each and every day in 2010.
I am going to be starting a series of posts this year. Once a week; I hope to review a local gallery and post about it. This will be a new "art day" kind of series. There are a small ton of galleries here in ABQ and the surrounding areas, and I am sure that I only know of a few in comparison. This will definately be an adventure... but one I relish.
I am also going to be posting "living simply" tips. When I was in college, I helped put myself thru financially by cooking, cleaning and organizing for people. Sort of a professional organizer... long before the term was HOT. It is something I am quite good at, and I often get called upon ( ala the shows Clean House and HOARDERS) to come and organize for people. For me; it is awesome because I love the satisfaction of being able to see almost immediate results. And... truth be told.. I love to search thru people's stuff. It is like digging for buried treasure. Anyway; I have spent years organizing and pairing down my own stuff... re-using, re-purposing items... turning them into art and craft pieces... refurbishing things and passing them on. I am an avid recycler... and I frequently post on Freecycle and Craigslist.
and... I am getting rid of titles; and merely labeling them 2:365 and such. Who reads the titles anyway.. and it's usually hard to come up with one to be honest.
So-- some new changes, as well as embellishments to the "tried and true." *Don't forget to write me and enter yourself in my "anniversary give-away" at moongipsies@msn.com
well. The biggest part of the remodel is done. This weekend I am re-stocking stuff back to where they were... cleaning, sorting, organizing, and giving stuff away. The hubby and I have spent the last couple of years downsizing and re-organizing our lifestyle.. and it's not stopping now. Our house is about 1350 square feet. And, in reality... when the kids move out... it will be way to big for just us. In anticipation of that... we have been getting rid of extraneous stuff. The kids are saving some of it for their future homes.... and that is cool.
As an example, all of our Christmas holiday decorations (ornaments and everything) all fit into one rubbermaid container... and this year we decided to get rid of about half of that. We just don't need it. Now.. books are a whole 'nuther country... we have tons. And craft stuff (eeks).... and apparently ( whilst unloading boxes from the kitchen) .. dishes. So. I am filling a HUGE box with household stuff to list on Craigslist. I am also filling another HUGE box with re-model stuff.... piping, caulk, screws, plaster mix, whatever... to give away.
I have always been an avid recycle type person. We have recycle bins for plastics, glass, metals, and papers... which we take to the centers weekly. When we approached doing this remodel... we wondered if we could potentially recycle everything. The contractors probably thought we were nuts. BUT... we have managed to recycle about 90% of it. The cupboards, mirrors, lighting, doors, etc.. went to a guy who takes things to Mexico for rehabbing homes. All the cardboard and packing stuff was recyclable. Same with the wood and glass. In fact, the only things so far that we haven't been able to recycle was some plaster and some grout that was leftover... but already mixed up. It's pretty amazing. So... we have one more pile of stuff to go through for recycling... and then everything will be hauled off on Monday.
It's been a huge learning experience... and very rewarding. Recycle, re-use, re-purpose...awesome...
♥♥♥...time for a song from one of my most FAV singers .... ♥♥♥
So when we started the "remodel project" .. it was back in September. We had a new front door installed and new french doors to replace the sliding doors to the back yard and patio. Then we had a new sink, mirror, tub/shower unit installed in the hallway bathroom. Then a shower stall in the master bathroom. As of today we now have a new cabinet and sink in the master bathroom. We also got new lights in the hallway and entryway.
Then the kitchen was basically gutted, a door moved, cabinets removed and new ones installed with a new configuration. New counter tops, new dishwasher, new garbage disposal, and an over the stove microwave. As of today we now also have a new kitchen sink and running water.
We now have to wait until after the holidays to get our reverse osmosis system hooked back up. However, today was the major PLUMBING day.. with most everything water related getting done.
After weeks of not really being able to use the kitchen, I am not sure how to behave... but I'm sure I will figure it out.
There are still alot of projects that need done around the house...but this was the BIG one.
Painting everywhere, yardwork, some little odds and ends... it will all get done.
.....................................photo by Elaine A. Russell
everything often boils down to a matter of perspective... how we; as individuals, actually see things. how we perceive things to have transpired.... how our past experiences alter things and how we remember them on a daily basis.
photographing the railyards on Saturday was an awesome experience. What some people would see as urban decay in it's most unpleasant forms.... most of us there viewed with awe and wonder. The beauty of the architecture. The sun streaming through the windows... the light shadows on the wood brick floors....the graffiti ( which I personally LOVED)... the puddles and feathers and signs of time passing.. .weather beating down... people wandering through in the middle of the night....
So much of life is like that. You hear: "... don't move there.. the neighborhood is bad".... or ..." it's nothing but a slum in that section...don't go there..." Some of the best places I have lived have been in areas where people warned us not to go. Traveling is like that as well... people will recommend certain sites to visit... not realizing how much they are missing by not exploring and discovering neat little places on your own.
Sometimes it's a matter of clearing your mind of all previous expectations and perceptions to really really see what's in front of you... what's down that winding dirt road... what's off the beaten path. ...but it's worth it.
If you ever get the opportunity to see the inside of the ATSFRail Yards here in ABQ, I highly encourage you to go. It is the epitome of urban decay.... but it's grandeur and architecture will absolutely blow you away.
And while I am 57 shades of sore today.... it was well worth it.
99.9% of the time, the rail yards is closed to the public. It is intended to be the future home of the Wheels Museum; but for now... it sits silently... waiting... hoping..
And today... I too am taking a little break. The remodel is not moving along much at all; and it is beginning to get a little frustrating. But... we are all safe, and warm, and have a roof over our heads... so in the whole scheme of things... it is all good. Resting... waiting .. .and hoping here as well :)
Those of you who know me really well; know that I run, run, run and then am down, down, down. Mostly, due to the Lupus. Well; I have been busy for several days now... coupled with still getting over the flu... and yesterday I was on a photo excursion for about 8hrs.. standing or walking in the cold... Today I am down. Floored. Exhausted. .... but very happy.
I love being able to do my art on a regular basis. And being able to do photography ALL DAY was fabulous. I do try to take time to photograph every single day... but rarely, is it an all-day event. I also had the wonderful opportunity to try first-hand some of the coolest equipment that Nikon has to offer.
This late-afternoon/ early evening... the hubby and I are doing our weekly "date" of going to get a salad or soup or something lite for supper... and then going to Barnes and Noble for a Scrabble game and coffee. It is a wonderful ritual... and it makes me happy.
*photos are from yesterday's FlickR photo meet at the ABQRailyards
Lots going on these past few days. ... Today there was a FlickR photo meet at the Railyards. I have only been to the ABQ railyards once previously, and it was awesome. Today, the group had reserved this historical site for the entire day; so there was more time to leisurely stroll around.
Needless to say, I took a ton of photos. I took most all of them on my little Kodak... but then one of the other photographers graciously loaned me his Nikon D300 to try out. This is my "if I had enough money" dream camera ... and it was awesome to be able to play with it.
Most of the photographers had also arranged and hired models who came for specific shoots... this was not something I normally would photograph. I have done weddings, portraits and such before...but it's just not my thing. That said... I did take a bunch today because I had the opportunity to play around with some very cool equipment which included flashes and lights and such. So -- now I have photos of bikers, babes and more...Not sure what I will do with those...but it was alot of fun. And now I am off to bed... what a great day....
photo by Elaine A. Russell, taken at the Albuquerque Railyards
I am heading out.... into the brave wild world with my lovely Sabrina at my side for the journey. I have a map, music, and a brand new laptop that we found on an amazing sale. I have my phone, my camera, and my journals....colored pencils, gifts for my parents, a violin that belonged to my sister... that I am giving to her middle child. I have every bit of clothing I own (yes it fit in one bag). Sabrina's food, bed, treats, and brush. A soft pillow and a blanket just in case. A first aid kit. Toiletries. Sounds like alot...but is amazingly not.
I am driving my little SmartCar. I feel like the commercial for the Wii ....with the two dudes driving into the sunset/ sunrise in their little SmartCar....heading out into the vast unknown. In fact, I have always knick-named my car "the wee" ... after that. And being a small car.. it suits it.
photo by Elaine A. Russell, taken at the ABQ railyards
Somehow I managed to piss off someone today... someone I hardly even know... and it was not even something I was aware of until I got a note on FlickR. weird. Weird how by doing a favor for one person, pissed off another.
It led me to think about the stuff of life. How easy it is to get one's feelings bent. How easy it is to do something completely innocent, and have it turned around. How seemingly small incidents can become so large in a short amount of time. And yet... how small these things are in reality.... and how short time is in the grand scheme of things.
I got a call --my mother is sick and in ICU back in PA. She was in the hospital for several days, had just been discharged, and only got to spend that night at home, and ended back up in the hospital in the morning. I am heading out sometime in the next 24hours .. and driving back there. It is 1900 miles one way... and I am going alone. Situations are such that no one is able to go with me... but perhaps it is a good thing. Everyone needs some time alone for reflection.. and this may be the best thing for me.. in a weird sort of way.
so -- went on a photo expedition today. It was a FlickR photo group outing.. and didn't exactly go as planned... * if ya wanna know -- I'll tell ya later*
Woke up early --after only 3 hours of sleep.. got to the railyards in downtown ABQ around 8am.....and spent a pleasant hour or so wandering about taking photos. Having never been before.. to this ABQ iconic place... it was feckin awesome. I see why so many people have snuck in there over the years. It is now "off limits" to the general public, and is in the paperwork stages of becoming a museum. (http://www.wheelsmuseum.org/)
Today there was a local group there that was participating in the 48hrs filmfest (http://www.48hourfilm.com/albuquerque/). I had an incredible time, and wish to thank them profusely for allowing me to take some photos.
Then... went to the mall for a much needed massage. I can't say enough about the folks at Panda Break (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=214). They were kind, conscientious, and really helped me out alot.
Now... for some motrin and food... and a shower :) ----- and maybe some CSI !!
------> photo by Elaine A. Russell
photo by Elaine A. Russell
photo by Elaine A. Russell
photo by Elaine A. Russell
photo by Elaine A. Russell
.....................................photo by Elaine A. Russell
photo by Elaine A. Russell
**all photos by Elaine A. Russell
photos by Elaine A. Russell
