good morning friends!

last i left you, i was musing about getting my story approved in Missouri.  i suppose i should back up and tell the whole story.  hmm . . . where to begin.

let’s start at the first weekend, just after i posted that photo of the airplane.

my first destination was Becky’s house until Sunday night.  after all, how could i go to a workshop in her state and not see her?  (for those not in the know, Becky is my Bestest Friend in the Entire Universe™.  there was Time Before Becky, and there’s Time With Becky, but when we met and became best friends, neither of us can remember.)  she’s been living in St. Louis for a while now – since 7th grade, with a detour to Boston for college.  the last time i ventured into her new hometown was for her Bat Mitzvah, age 13.  it was time to make my way back.

our time together was pretty quiet, and full of walks with her awesome dog Uli.  i don’t know why i didn’t take a photo of her and her dog . . .  bad photographer, bad photographer!  actually . . .  did we get any photos together?  yikes, i think we may not have!  ohhhhh, the sadness.  anyways.  we also spent a bit of time with her parents, since they live down the block.  her mom drove us to a street fair that was supposed to be great . . . except that it’s a drunken debauchery street fair, and that part didn’t start until about 4pm.  it was only noon.  i did see a zombie guy wandering around, offering advice on what to do against a zombie attack.  because that’s really likely.

did i not save ANY of my photos from the weekend?  UGH.

saturday night, we tried to go to the Arch after our very nice dinner with her parents, since that was one of the main things i wanted to do.  but, because of the damn hurricane the week before, the access road to the Arch was flooded out – water up to the bottom of street signs – and we could only view from afar.

i DO have photos of the Arch, just not on the computer yet.  i’ll replace it here when i get a chance.

Becky’s dad took us on a driving tour of the city, so i could see the sights at night . . . and due to the long walks we took with the dog, i was so exhausted that i slept through half of it.  oops.

sunday morning brought us to an early morning yoga class, around the corner from her house.  there’s something so lovely about taking yoga in the morning.  kinda gets you in the right mindset for the rest of the day.  especially when you’ve got a big day ahead of you.

we said our sad goodbyes, she headed off to her usual 10am yoga class (the one we took was a shorter teacher training session, just so we could do it together) and i took my car around the block to an einstein bagels for breakfast.  transitioning from ‘visiting best friend’ time into ‘let’s head out for the workshop time’ was not easy, but perfect weather, a semi-decent bagel, and a strong cup of [decaf] coffee helped point me in the right direction.

okay, so it was two maps and my iPhone’s GPS that really got me pointed in the right direction.

and then i was off to St. James!

continued in missouri – part 2. (well, once i write it.)

i wish i could take a photo of the scene here in the community center out here in St. James, Missouri (or ‘Missura’, as the locals say).  i’m sitting in a sea of folding metal chairs, chairs i’ll be spending most of the night in as well.   i should be reviewing my story idea and portfolio that i used to get in, but everyone came around the same time and we’re totally out of time.  ah, time.  we’re under such a constraint here, and yet it feels like it’s creeping along.  i know by wednesday, i’ll be wishing for more.

it’s technically day two, since yesterday evening we started with registration and a welcome dinner.  i shot my test card half yesterday and half today, and i’m concerned that they’re going to say “they’re all the same” for my portraits.  i know they are, and that’s not good.  i was so concerned with getting good shots, i played it too safe.  silly me.

my story idea is panning out well . . .  at least, for now.  we’ll see what happens once i go through the gauntlet – i mean, go through my first story review.  i’m nervous they’ll say no and i’ll need to follow one of my other ideas that aren’t as flushed out as this one is at this point.  and, if i get this story, it’s going to be brutal.  seriously hard.  i’m worried i can’t handle it.  best way to learn is to jump in the deep end, huh.

i just moved outside, in hopes of finding something a little less hard to sit on.  i’m sitting on the curb.

brilliant.

i hope i’m not the only one who hasn’t gotten a chance to talk with my instructors.  although i’m really nervous about it, i really need feedback.  there’s such a conflict in my head going on right now – am i really good enough for this?  can i really do it?  and then i remember that yes i can.  it’s just a matter of getting out there and doing the best i can do.  yes.

i hope to be able to post some photos of the town soon, but i haven’t gotten the wireless working at the hotel yet.  perhaps later.

time to go in and find out if i can be seen now, later, or if i just have to wait until tomorrow.

remind me to bring something to sit on for tonight’s program.  i need to find a sweatshirt anyway.  it gets cold here in Missouri!

I’m on my way to Missouri! First stop, St. Louis.

you all know i’ve been waiting for this trip to missouri for a while.

now that it’s almost here, i’m finding myself at a loss.  what to wear?  what to bring?  will it rain?  will it be hot?  or cold?  will i really need the big lens?  or my laptop?  what will my story be?

the only one i can’t answer at all is the last.  i have no idea where to begin for my story.  i’ve done research, read about the town, and i’m at a complete loss.  at least i have our test card assignment – meet five people, get their names, and take their portrait.  it’ll get me back in the groove, hopefully.  my good lens is STILL at Nikon getting fixed, so i’ve got to work with my old lens until i can borrow one from Nikon’s representative.  i hope it works like the last workshop, where i can borrow one lens as a main lens for the week.

i should be packing, but now that i have off from work at 12, i’m less pressured.  still, i’m nervous and can’t sleep . . .  so i guess i should get back to it.

not that i’ve been posting much lately, but i may be absent for a little while.  i’ll try to update with my iPhone as much as possible while i’m out . . . and hopfully i’ll get a few minutes to sit and write about what i’m going through at the workshop.  it starts Sunday.  until then, i’ll be galavanting around St. Louis with Becky.

12 hours until official start of vacation and counting . . . .