Faded & Blurred went on their first ever disposable camera photo walk this past weekend. We happened to pick a day where there was a lot going on. Traffic was a nightmare. Several people ended up not even making it in because it was so bad.

It is always crowded on Hollywood Blvd., but it was even more so on Saturday. There was not only a big race going on, but thousands showed up for a war protest. Perfect fodder for a photo walk.

Everyone that signed up got a 27 exposure disposable camera to play with for the afternoon and it ended up being pretty challenging. I kept looking at the back of my camera after almost every shot so see if I got what I wanted.

I was excited because this was the first walk Elliot was able to go on with me. It was a very long day but I think he had fun and we both can’t wait to see how our photos came out.

It’s not what you are in Hollywood—it’s what people think you are.
~ Robert Stack

I went out for coffee with a fellow photographer, Nancy Orozco, a couple of days ago. We have been trying to meet every week or so to talk business, brainstorm, and basically keep each other accountable in getting things done. Not only is she beautiful, she has a great eye for photography and a head for business. It’s been very encouraging to talk to her.

She showed up on Wednesday in this cute spring outfit… nothing really special, just jeans and a cute top and some sandals. And there I sat in my black polo shirt and black shoes feeling very “wintery”. Seeing her I thought I really ought to get out and buy at least a pair of sandals. The weather has been in the 80′s all week and I know it won’t get that cold again so it’s time.

I ended up at Kohl’s yesterday and found some cute sandals, but then had the thought that my feet looked horrible. Months of running, wearing tennis shoes, walking all over… not pretty. Now, you have to understand that I never get pedicures. I don’t feel comfortable spending money on myself. I remembered, though, that I had some Christmas money sitting on my desk that I had been saving for something… wasn’t sure what, but I wanted it to be something I wouldn’t normally do. The pedicure was it.

What a wonderful treat. Now I feel like I my feet can actually be seen in public without shame or embarrassment. Happy Spring!

It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!
~ Mark Twain

Jeffery asked me to come with him on a visit to his dad’s house in Arizona this past weekend. He hadn’t been there in a few years and we both thought it would be good to spend a little bit of time there. We started out late Friday afternoon thinking we would stop along the way for dinner. As the drive went on we realized that there really was no place to stop. The emptiness just surrounded us as it got darker. I spotted a sign that said the next exit had food and gas so we excitedly got off the freeway in a place called Newberrry Springs. This exit consisted of one Chevron station with a Subway inside. When asked if there was something up ahead (thinking there might be better choices or at least more choices) we were told, “There’s a Dairy Queen about 30 miles ahead and there are a few more places in Needles – about 100 more miles.” Subway it was!

It took a lot longer than I thought it would, but it must have been because it was dark and there wasn’t much to look at to pass the time. It was a relief when we finally pulled in… especially after the excitement of driving on the road to his house. I don’t think I had ever seen such hills – and not the curvy kind, the up and down kind. It felt like a roller-coaster, especially in the dark!

The house is definitely in the middle of nowhere. It is desert as far as the eye can see and the neighbors are not in spitting distance that’s for sure. I could see why he would want to be out there. It is peaceful and so quiet. I love the smell of the desert, especially first thing in the morning. There really is no smell quite like it.

We spent Saturday wandering around Havasu just people-watching and talking. Spring break had arrived and there were partyers everywhere. Definitely NOT my thing. My memories of Havasu and the river include taking the boat to a quiet cove and spending the day on a raft, reading and getting as dark as possible. I think I preferred being in the quiet of the desert!

The next stop was a boat show… it was amazing to see how much money can be spent just on a boat and the toys you need to haul it with. This boat was so big they had to haul it on its side!

I think one of the best parts of the whole trip was meeting Clyde… the neighbor’s donkey…

He loves people, plays with beach balls in his pen, and loves peppermint sticks!

On the way home we happened across a wonderful old piece of history on Route 66. It is in a town called Ludlow. It used to be a mining town, but I guess they mined it out so it was just abandoned. We had to cross some railroad tracks to get to the shacks and it was more than a little scary. I just love stuff like that though – imagining what life was like and who lived in the houses. Why was the RV just left there? Who drove the cars that were sitting there rotting through?

It was such a great trip and I know we’ll get out there again soon. I think we’ll have to do more research on Route 66, though, to see if we can find more abandoned buildings and take our time exploring.

I’ll leave you with my favorite shot from the trip… what do you think, color or black and white?