loaded with possibilities

.oil change - check

. new tires - check

. fresh wiper blades - check

. trip-tick - check

. bad-ass new car stereo - check

All the makings for a great road trip!

Sonny left for Cali today. My wish for him is to throw all expectations out the window, and instead, be open to all possibilities. Love you buddy-boy...

Be Here Now

Yesterday, while driving I was able to catch part of Deepak's wellness show on XM. He had Gotham on and they were discussing their upcoming documentary called "Soul'd Out". During the show they had a conversation with the uber talented writer/ director Darren Aronofsky. (paraphrasing) One of the things he spoke about was the invention of the close up. The incredible connection one can have with an actor during a closeup while setting in a dark theater with a hundred other people. There is no reservation. No shyness. No looking away. That in person, the gaze of one or the other will turn away due to shyness or vulnerbility. As he was speaking, I knew exactly where he was going. I had just had a conversation the other day about the same thing in my own life. We all have demons that help us create walls, tall and thick. Which really, does nothing but guard us from happiness.. life.

Downtown Columbia

When I moved to Tennessee I worked just South of Nashville in the Franklin area. On my house hunting quest, I spent many evenings taking different routes home exploring different towns. Old town Columbia was one of my favorites. I like the way the square is set up. Something about it is calming and a little hip. I went to a meeting there a few weeks ago and it reminded me how much I liked it. Saturday I went back for a little exploring.

in the moment

in the moment, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

I cut out of work a little early to beat the rush for my Thanksgiving shopping. As I drove toward the market, I found myself driving further west into the sun. I hit Rose Hills just as the sun was sliding down and pulled in to get my fill. As I watched in quiet, I thought about all of the different emotions that people feel in a graveyard. Sadness, anger, fear and hopefully.. love. Then I think, over time, empty. It's a beautiful place.

wood(s)

wood(s), originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

Somehow I've lost a month. Really, it's almost like a year. I can't believe 2010 is in the home stretch. I'm hard pressed to think of a major accomplishment. Things feel odd.

sunset on the landing

sunset on the landing, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

I spent the day decorating for a haunted house themed dinner party I'm co-hosting next weekend. I've been combing the internet looking for goth makeup inspiration. Looks like I'll be hitting the MAC counter tomorrow. : )

marketing

Pre Fayetteville, I went marketing. Vons, Ralphs, Hughes or Trader Joes. Now the term doesn't seem to fit. It's more like one-stop shop. I'm talking about Wal-mart of course. It should be convenient and I suppose in someways it is. But I miss those funky finds at Trader Joe's that turn out to be the greatest thing ever. Or walking into Ralphs looking for that off the wall infused oil or vinegar. Now it's red, white, malt and balsamic. yawn.

On the flip side, you can get new tires, buy a gallon of paint and the ammo you need for that up coming hunting trip. Oh and some people, people that remain a mystery to me.... order their wedding cake and flowers. Call me weird, but some things are just better on their own. Ya know what I mean? Go to a bakery for gods sake. Walk in and smell that sweet smell. Peek behind the glass at all of the lovely, eatable art. You know what I'm talking about... things that look to beautiful to eat but inside, you saying pass over that fork!

some people drink coffee, i drink tea.

a rare moment at sonic without a ton of customers.

next time, carrot cake.

it's been 238 days of little to no sugar. tonight i made cocoa cappuccino cupcakes as a test run for a party i'm having next month. i ate one. it didn't taste good to me. next time, carrot cake.

interstate 65

stand still

on the way home from BNA.

life in the cube

life in the cube, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

September 13, 2010

smartwater.... because i need all the smarts (and water) i can get.

treasure hunt

the hunt, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

Part of the magic of this store is the store itself.

Built in 1890, it's full of beautiful layers of brick and plaster. The open air lift, with gears and ropes exposed. The stairs, worn smooth and rounded, dipping in mid-tread. Hard wood floors with light leaks form the lower floor peeking through. It's magic I tell you. I especially love the large upstairs windows with their light flowing in and view of the square.

This place is a treasure.

5

5, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

blue

blue, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

sometimes you remember a feeling. the way something actually felt. the sand, soft and smooth on your feet. the air, misty, salty goodness. that's what i'm remembering right now.

open happiness

open happiness, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : thirty

Campbell Street

Campbell Street, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty nine

left behind

August : twenty eight

I don’t fancy myself a gossip. In fact, part of my job involves asking probing questions. This is a.) partly due to regulations involving money laundering prevention, and b.) the know your client rule. This in general doesn’t constitute gossiping as I’m not sharing the information with outside parties. It is however, difficult for me in general, as I feel like it is not my business where you get your money or how you spend it... (I would be offended if someone asked me where my money is coming from or what I planed on doing with the $15K I just withdrew from my account. My answer would be that’s really not your business.) Or why you lost your job and what you plan on doing now…. although if you did lose your job or need a second income I can definitely share an opportunity with you. I ask what I have to ask to follow the rules. In my mind less is more. My partner on the other hand, has a little different view. For example, when I find out that a client is getting a divorce. I can easily ask about changing their beneficiaries, setting up an appointment to divide assets etc. My partner on the other hand wants to know the details, the why, and I think is disappointed when I don’t ask the “why” question. In general, she has the more personal relationship with them and I feel like if she wants to know the why, she should ask it herself. I on the other hand am more of a need to know kinda girl, and for me to do my job, I don’t need to know the why, just the when, where, who and how.

That being said, I do wonder the story behind some things. Why is that building empty? And what is it’s history? Or what happened to make that house family-less. This gas station, or filling station as my grandmother called them, this was once someone’s dream. What happened? Did the owner retire? Was he run out by the corporate stations, the Wal-marts and Shells, the Chevrons and BP’s? Or did he die? Does his family now own it? Did he even have a family? Or perhaps, the city or county now owns it due to a tax sell. These are the stories that I wonder about.

I guess in some ways if I was my partner, I may know the answer to some of those questions.

-----

Coincidentally, Ray LaMontange's Gossip in the Grain came on Pandora as I posted this.

women

women, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

take a number

take a number, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

clientage

clientage, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

smock

smock, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

vintage view

., originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

there are fantastic old buildings in my town, filled with little jewel like details.

welcome to Atlanta

welcome to Atlanta, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty second

deck

, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty two

not an apple.

not an apple., originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty one

, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty one

, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : twenty

lazy

lazy, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : nineteen

, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : nineteen

a good morning

a good morning, originally uploaded by Lisa Jean.

August : nineteen

Gulf Breeze, FL

August : eighteen

it's been a really long time since i've seen the ocean.

the air smells good. the sand feels great. the water

is beautiful. it's a good day.

Battleship Memorial Park

B52 belly

US Air Force Rescue Craft

I'm on my way to the R3Global Family Reunion in Orlando. I decided to take an extra day

to cruse the Gulf shores. As I was setting in traffic I spotted Battleship Memorial Park. The park was closing in an hour so there wasn't enough time to tour the ship, but grounds had some nice memorials. I'm sure I'll get to spend more time there in the future.

Going Crazy

August : sixteen

On hot summer days, Alice would grab a cooler and round up all of us kids, "get in the bus!" she'd say. We'd all sit on the wooden floor (the bus had no rear seats). I remember being so excited and asking where we were going. She always said the same thing... "we're going crazy"! It made me laugh because even at 5yrs old I knew it was because we were driving her crazy! Sometimes it was the park. Sometimes it was the beach. Every time it was a great treat. Thanks for that Alice.

blue. white. red. yellow.

August : fourteen

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

An evocative look at our history captured on color slides. These images are extremely powerful. I'd love to seem them in person.

Friday night G E M..

August : thirteen

beautiful you.

August : twelve

Vintage

Nat King Cole /where did everyone go?

cover shot by Ken Veeder, 1963

Nancy Wilson*Hollywood-My Way

cover shot by Ken Veeder, 1963

August : eleven

I've recently discovered Ken Veeder.

I've started collecting album covers that he's shot to use as art work in my home.