Author: onajide

Not long ago bitterlawngnome had a photo I found interesting. It was a foot treadle sewing machine. It reminded me of my grandmother’s old machine but, with all the decoration on the old machines there is some similarity. New machines are very design oriented and no external decoration. I found these two near my studio.

I was thinking about danthered when I took this pic since he likes older cars.

My photos have been installed at the museum and today I went to take some new photos for here even though the lighting has not been done. Take a look on my previous entry where I have updated the images. I didn’t measure the height but, it’s about the same as the portable wall nearby, 10 ft. It’s 16 inches off the floor. Title? Yes, I gave it a title finally: “37 years” (because they cover the past 37 years of my image making)

Swimming went well again today. In just two days the swim coach has helped me a lot. He’s got it easy with me because I can swim already. Anyway, I want to try and do a few laps tomorrow freestyling and then try to do some back stroking so that I can get the feel of the mechanics of it. Having it taught is different than just doing it on your own.

My neighbor in back is taking their daughter swimming every morning too. They arrive earlier than I do but, she’s there to have fun, and I don’t know if she’s taking lessons. Nice neighbors and sweet daughter that always says hello. 🙂

Today was the actual first day of my swimming class. Monday’s class was cancelling because of rain and lightening. I’m the only one that can actually swim in it. There are a total of five people in the class and the instructor is a teenage boy maybe 18yrs. He speaks Spanish (for the two women in the class). I’m mostly interested in developing better technique and he’s helped with that already. He asked if I wanted to try the breaststroke and I said yes but, when it came to execution I went nowhere and felt uncoordinated. Once I get my lungs working better I should be able to work on my kick which is what bothers me most. I am enjoying this so far.

After the swim I went to the museum to install my photos. I have 120 prints but as it looks I won’t need to install them all to reach 10 ft. up the wall. The grid is 8 across and 12 high but, I may add another two rows tomorrow when I go back to take a final look at it. The museum’s new director mentioned to me several times that he liked my work. Upstairs they are currently exhibiting Ansel Adams and Clyde Butcher (FL) whose work is similar to Adams only pertaining to Florida’s remaining wilderness (Everglades and such places).

I wouldn’t characterize myself as an overtly political person however, Sunday I was invited to assist a friend with his neighborhood John Kerry Rally. I know him from being a member of Black and White Men Together, the social organization. I’ve met a good number of men I’ve become friends with years through that org. Anyway, my friend Tom, is a Democrat, recently changed from Republican. He is a great person, and very handsome, loved by friends and neighbors alike. His neighbors told me they had a fire in their house and he offered his house for their children for a while.

As Sunday blossomed the crowds arrived along with a fair number of politicians, some in office, others running for office. I was totally surprised to see so many. There had to have been between 10 to 12 during the day.

I’m not Democrat but, like many have said, GWBush has had his time in office and it’s time to send him back home. I’m non-partisan. In the past I registered to vote as Democrat but, both parties leave something to be desired. I can’t say I’m interested in being part of a national political organization anyway. I don’t have time to volunteer yet I know in order for my concerns to be heard, I would have to find a way to get inside. I’ve been a member of cultural and arts organizations over the past and I know what work is needed from me in order to effect incremental change. Removing GWBush from office is not incremental change!

You want more cops do ya? He was at the grocery store giving somebody a ticket a few weeks ago.

I know people love black tee shirts but, I don’t. I was heading the the Univ. a few days ago and saw an accident at my offramp. There was a handsome, hunky FL. Highway Patrolman out there talking to some woman whose car had gotten spun around the wrong direction. Luckily, I had the camera. *wink*

Yesterday, was a view of Minnesota. Today, is a view of downtown Ft. Lauderdale from the Univ. complex also used by Broward Comm. College where I used to teach. There are not many tall buildings but, during peak hours the streets are filled with people and cars.

Last June (2003) I was in Two Harbors, Minnesota. It was VERY cold and windy on the edge of Lake Superior. There was a pro-am bicycle race that I wanted my friend, who used to preside over the national org. that sent cyclists to the Olympics and Worlds, to take some pics of for possible publication. He said I should do it myself so, I went up. While there I saw an old friend that we (Florida Cycling Federation) took to Dominican Rep. for an internationl race back in 1986. Anyway, my MN friend had his digital camera and I used it to take a few pics. Thank goodness I did because my film wasn’t loaded properly and I lost a roll of film. My light meter wasn’t working properly and the images have color and tonal problems. What a bad trip it was for the main thing I wanted to do.

Anyway, we spent two days with the race since it was in the upper part of the state where he has a family cabin. We stayed there the remaining time. I vividly remember our canoe trip across the lake, including getting covered with ticks on our hike to see a smaller lake. There are lakes, large and small, everywhere.

The mining and logging trains used run throughout the area but today, there’s only a few tracks in use. The building shown is a museum, store, and train station. It was overcast that day. Sorry.

I went back for my third dental visit. The first was to find out what needed to be done and schedule the time. I knew what needed to be done. Today I finished up the first part of my teeth fixing. I had the second tooth extraction done. It was a lot of trouble to remove. It didn’t hurt but, it might when the drugs wear off later. I feel better about the situation but, I would like to replace those two teeth with something. Having a big gap between teeth I need to eat will not be fun. Strange but good, neither tooth gave me any aches. I used toothpicks after eating to keep my teeth as clean as possible. This was a long time coming but I’ll feel better after all this is done.