January 2009 | The Ivory Hut

Monthly Archives: January 2009

Making the most of down time

21 January 2009

What do you do when you’re stuck in a small hotel lobby, waiting and guarding the suitcases that couldn’t fit in the car for the first run to the port?

You whip out your camera and start aimlessly shooting the stuff around you.

These flowers were fake. I couldn’t fathom how a hotel in a tropical island surrounded by lush vegetation can lazily resort to fake flowers.

At least they kinda look real in the photo. Almost.

The birdcage was not fake. I found that out when I almost bumped into it the day before. I was so intrigued by the strange-acting guys at the computer station that I didn’t realize I almost backed into the wall. Why were they pointing at the screen and laughing? Why did that guy have last week’s paper folded and tucked under his belt? Why, oh why, did the other guy have only one sandal on, and what in the world happened to the other one?

I also wondered where the bird that lived here went. Did it fly away? Do tropical birds ever head south sometime, like maybe St. Kitts or Venezuela?

These are the things that baffle and beguile me when I’m on vacation.

Lastly, I bring you a completely forgotten photo. As in, I absolutely don’t recall framing this shot. Ever. I think maybe the week-long over-exposure to sun burned away portions of my short-term memory.

Okay, this is what really happened. I was fiddling around with the camera settings and inadvertently pressed the shutter. Honest.

Now that I think about it, I guess I really wasn’t the best person to ask to guard the suitcases. I was pretty much glued to the camera and never even threw a glance their way. Some security guard I’d make.

My military dad would be so proud of his little scatter-brained slacker sentinel.

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Midwest river

20 January 2009

I almost missed this shot because I was busy assisting the pilot calculate the optimal cruising altitude given the current cloud density taking a nap in my seat. I had gotten used to seeing fields of clouds out my window that I forgot to keep checking regularly in case the scenery changed.

There’s just something about rivers from the air that makes my shutter finger tingle all over.

Okay, so I didn’t just fly over the midwest last week. This was from my California flight. For some reason, I never got around to posting it.

For that, I blame the infernal packing that curses every trip I make. From now on, I declare war on packing. Wait. I don’t like war. Hmmm … I declare really-piercing-nasty-looks on packing. Yeah. With accompanying slight squint dripping with distaste. Take that, stupid packing!

I’m such a wimp.

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A recap of sorts

19 January 2009

Nine days ago, I boarded a plane in the early hours of the morning – about an hour before a snowstorm was set to begin.

Look at that pretty skyline. It’s even prettier when you know it’s going to be blanketed in snow very soon, but you won’t be there to shovel any of it.

Sorry, I just had to rub that in one more time. I’m real mature like that.

Moving on now.

Some hours later, this was my view right before the plane landed.

I would like to say that it’s a good thing I managed to get a few passable photos from the air, because trying to frame shots in a wildly bouncing descending plane was definitely a baaad idea. I was still paying for it a few hours later.

Fortunately, by the time the afternoon was winding to a close, I was all better. I suspect it had a lot to do with the fact that there were gorgeous views everywhere, with the warm wind blowing instead of snow.

And that was pretty much how the rest of my week went. Beautiful weather, clear waters, fine sandy shores, and the warm sun shining all day.

Then last night, as we pulled into the airport at the end of a smooth flight home, this is what I saw outside my window.

Ah, yes. The happy sight of a de-icing truck amid the backdrop of falling snow.

Welcome home to winter.

Speaking of snow, I’ll need a few days to de-ice myself. Then a couple more days after that to get used to the much browner face that stares back at me every time I pass a mirror. Just now, I jumped at the sight of the dark arm holding my desktop mouse and wondered who else was in the room with me.

Yes, I know I’m weird.

P.S. I took tons of photos, so stay tuned!

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Two apologies

9 January 2009

I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to Southern California for griping about the chilly weather throughout my recent visit. While I lamented the fact that I wasn’t able to wear shorts and walk around in December, it was nothing compared to what greeted me back home.

First, I slipped on black ice not even an hour after leaving the airport. Fell on my left knee. Forunately, my right hand braced some of my fall so my entire weight didn’t come crashing down.

Unfortunately, said right hand was holding an open cell phone at the moment because I was trying to listen to an important meeting.

It was strange coming home to a neighborhood blanketed in snow. I had missed two snowstorms while I was gone – the first significant accumulations for the season. So walking out in the cold, windy night air made me suddenly wish for the high 30s of SoCal.

This was the scene that greeted me one morning a few days after my return.

(Please ignore most of my winter whining. Deep down, I really do love watching snow fall. It’s so beautiful and serene. It’s especially wonderful when I’m inside with a cup of hot chocolate.)

It just kept coming down. I was mesmerized, until I realized that I had things to do that day and errands to run. Stupid, senseless chores. Like buying food, getting a hose clamp for a leaky car radiator, and mailing out bill payments that are two months late. You know, useless stuff like that. (Just kidding on the two months late thing. Those due dates are just a suggestion, yes?)

As soon as the snow died down, off I went.

No, I wasn’t driving. I may be crazy sometimes, but that trying to handle a camera AND drive in the snow trick? I’m not touching that.

Which is a really good thing, because then I would’ve missed out on this shot through the passenger side window.

Welcome back to New Jersey! Try to forget the fact that during this same week – yes, right after leaving California – it was back in the 70s there.

I may have to rescind that apology to SoCal after all.

Apology #2: I’m sorry for having been delinquent in posting. And commenting at my usual haunts. And answering emails. One of the souvenirs from my trip was a nasty flu-like virus that I’m still trying to shake. Meanwhile, whatever strength I can find is being channeled towards packing yet again. This time, we’re off to the Caribbean. Maybe the sun there will burn this bug and kill it.

Am I packed yet? Of course not. When am I leaving? First thing tomorrow morning. Do I have everything I need? I have no idea. I think I burned my shorts fifteen minutes after seeing the weather forecast for California. Then I went and hid everyone’s swimsuits because … because … well, because I just like to mess with them, that’s all.

I think this virus is melting my brain.

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