Chapter 71 - Taking Care of Business

The song, "Taking Care of Business" just popped into my head as I began writing this Chapter. I've never really heard the lyrics before...I hear the beat and the sound but, honestly, besides singing, "Taking Care of Business" I was pretty much making up everything else according to my mood at that particular moment.

So I found the song on YouTube with the lyrics and, wow!! It makes soooooo much more sense now.

Especially this one part...

If you ever get annoyed
Look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day...

Hooah!! That's my new mantra!! It's got me down to a T. I'm self-employed and I really, really, really love to work at nothing all day.

And the best part of that is just taking a couple pictures here and there.

Like this. Mike and Hannah's son, Michael, had a game Saturday and I drove on over to catch the end of it. I brought along the monopod for some extra stability but, honestly, there was enough sun (I know!! Ain't that odd!?!) so I could have shot hand-held.

And it was fun!! I plunked myself down along the third base line trying to keep out of the kids and the coaches way and took pictures. All told, I took 705 pictures. I whittled those down to 380. And, for you two loyal followers, I greatly reduced that number to these few shown here.

Hahaha, the players here, just like in the Majors, can be temperamental and require lots of encouragement. These kids are all around 8 years old. Here the Coach, Colin, the Tiger Den Leader, coaxes a young player along with a soft High Five.

Here's the Mighty Michael. Playing Second Base for all it's worth.

And keeping a weather eye out for how things develop on the field.

I'd been to a game not two weeks before and I have to say in that period of time the team's batting ability doubled or tripled (baseball pun intended). They were punching the ball around today.

And it was easy and fun to get some good shots. I put the camera on Tv and used a shutter speed of 1/1000 to 'freeze' the action. I also, because it was bright out, set the ASA to 125. There was plenty of sun and so I chose a film speed that would give me max clarity in my pics. The f-stop fell wherever but on this shot it was f5.6. 

Things were clicking.

I think, though, that next time if I have the bright sun, etc., I will push the ASA up to 400 and try for a faster speed for the shutter. You can see the ball but it is slightly out of focus because of the speed with which it was moving. I want to 'freeze' everything next time.

This little guy had the most expressive face of them all. Except maybe 'Closed Eyes Girl'. She was pretty good with the facial expressions, too.

Yowsers!!

Nary a one could really field a ball with consistency nor could they make a throw to save their lives or the lives of their family. But they were learning and having fun and that's what counted.

Hahaha, at least he stopped it in the infield.

Open your eyes, Sweetie!!

And Michael got moved to Center Field whereupon he immediately began dancing. He tells me this dance is called the 'Floss'.

Don't ask. I don't know.

I found out later that this is a new dance all the cool kids are doing and it is called, "The Floss". Yeah, me too.

Hahahaha, and this is the look the Coach gets when he's asking the Mid-Fielder why she threw the ball to the Right Fielder instead of throwing it in to the Second Baseman. Ah, the mysteries of life, Coach.

I had moved over to the first base line and caught this action. First good thing was...he caught it...in his glove!! Wow!!

Second good thing was he didn't throw it over the first baseman's head or to the mid-fielder, who would have, in all likelihood, thrown it to the right fielder. No, it was on line to the first baseman but a wee bit low. 

Didn't matter. The first baseman didn't catch a single ball thrown his way all game long. Nary a one. Nada. Zip. Zilch. None.

But he tried!!

Time for a team cheer and some pep talk. 

And some goofing off behind, literally, the Coach's back. Fun, friends and foolishness. It all works.

They were mighty at the plate on this day. Everybody was hitting.

Now this kid is going to be good. No doubt about it, he'll be playing, if he still wants to, high school baseball.

And this kid, too. He's gonna be good. He made contact and got a solid hit.

Only problem was the other team was slightly more proficient at catching the ball and making the throws then our team was. Only slightly, but it was telling.

And soon enough it was over and the obligatory high fiving took place with a lot more enthusiasm than they showed playing in the field. I think the kids were just a bit delirious with joy that the game was finally over.

For the Tigers it meant putting away their gear. 

OK, I admit it. I don't like seeing pink in the dugout. It's OK for the girls to play but, c'mon, pink baseball bags!?! Let's have some sense of decorum, eh, girls!?!

Pink!! For corn's sake!!

And after the Big Game everyone, even little brother, got themselves a donut.

Even Mom got one. 

Well, almost everyone got one. I didn't get one. I just thought I'd mention that. I didn't get one.

Ratz!!

And just like that he changed venues. That's about all I got to say about that.

It was such a beautiful day I felt guilty sitting inside. So, as is my wont, I pulled up the Google Maps and started looking for places to drive to and take a walk. I'm am seriously tired of walking through this neighborhood. Dead tired of it. So I Google and search and found a little place up on Hwy 18 about 10 miles out of LCO. 

It had some road I could walk on with my camera and it had, best of all, a Roadhouse where a thirsty traveler could obtain a particular adult beverage after a strenuous trek through the wilds of the Oregon backwoods road system. Hah!! I was set and off to the KIA I went.

As I was driving out, about four miles to my destination, I had to pull over for a fast-moving Sheriff's Patrol Car. Man, he was pulling some Gs moving down that country road. I figured it didn't bode well. All I could do once I had regained the road, was to hope the accident, for that's surely what it was, had happened just beyond where I was headed to.

It hadn't.

Traffic started piling up fast and so, the first chance I had, I pulled a U-Turn and headed on back down the road I had just come out on. And, on a lark and because I was out and about and didn't want to go back just yet, I headed the KIA out north on The 101.

Somewhere between the here and the there, I stopped alongside The 101 and just enjoyed the nature. And, in-between the roar of the cars speeding by, I could, occasionally, hear the happy chirps of the birds. Couldn't see'em, but I surely heard'em.

And, as you'll see, I had myself a definite bent towards shooting me some sunlit leaves today.

Walking back to the KIA parked along The 101.

I was looking up and enjoying see the blue of the sky and, unsuccessfully, trying to spot some birds. But I was taken with this arrangement of color...blue, white, green. 

Photography is painting with light.

Fun Fact: The coining of the word 'photography' is usually attributed to Sir John Herschel in 1839. It's based on the Greek pos, meaning 'light', and graphs, meaning 'drawing, writing'. Together the meaning was 'drawing with light'.

Very appropriate. I like the modern interpretation that "Photography is painting with light."

This, well, it was unintended. I was trying to use the shutter speed to capture, either crystal clear or a moving blur, the surface of the water. I had tried a BUNCH of pictures around some stones in the river and this was the last effort I put into this project. 

And what caught me wasn't the movement of the water but the muffled, muted, muddied colors as the green of the forest was reflected back by the surface of the water. This was, to me, more intriguing than any of the shots (which I've thrown all of them away) of the rushing water over the stones.

I know this isn't a good shot but it reflects (hahahaha, love it when I can pull a pun) a direction I'd like to pursue.

And then this. Right by the side of The 101. It's there and rarely visited. But, and here's the deal, this is all there waiting for me and it is less than 10 miles away. Sometimes I forget how much beauty there is just outside my door and down the road.

I thought I'd drive out to Proposal Rock. I haven't been there in a long time. I had not expected it to be as busy as it was. The parking lot was full; I was lucky to come into a space to park.

I've never seen this many people here.

Hahaha, I was thinking it was crowded but, c'mon, really!?! Even I have to admit that I think I'm a bit spoiled.

Haha, it was jam-packed!!

No, seriously, I've never seen it this busy. And I felt over-dressed. I had on slacks and a shirt. I didn't even bother walking down to the beach. I did spot a trail leading off to the right and, having never noticed it before, I headed up that way to see what was at the end of the trail.

But first, I reached waaaaaaay out there with my long lens. The heat and the mist combined to blur the picture.

An Oregon beach. Heavy surf and occasional sun.

I can't explain this effect scientifically but I can understand why it happened. Angle, light, haze, temp and so on. But it's interesting. Almost like looking through mottled glass...a slightly disjointed view.

Regardless, I like it. The effect, not the picture necessarily. The pictures are rather blah but the effect, well, there is yet another well waiting to be dug.

Ah, ratz. So many things I cannot do; cannot master.

But I persevere.

And the Proposal Rock. Legend has it a sailor brought a local girl out here and proposed to her near this rock formation. The excited Mama was so excited she proclaimed this hunk of stone would forever be known as Proposal Rock. 

And so it has.

And, conveniently, that name is a good draw for tourism. In addition to its own natural beauty.

Don't trust the Oregon Surf. It's nothing like the stuff I dealt with as a child growing up in the Fabled Age that was the 1960s in Los Angeles County, California.

The motel must be happy. The shops all seemed quite full. Everybody's happy!!

I didn't stay long at Proposal Rock. You know it's not easy for me to go adventuring alone. It's something I must work on but I'm not keen on solo travel. I get started and then get easily discouraged and bag it. Which is pretty much what I did after Proposal Rock.

I did stop along the road just to see the river and got this shot. I didn't realize until later when I downloaded the pictures onto the computer how many pictures of back-lit leaves I took. I guess that was where my eye was today.

But I did like this. Had it in color and let Mac put it in B&W. Still not the tones I want but it's a clean picture and fits the B&W mold.

And why not!?! I shot everything else might as well throw in a couple of thistle.

And so, life goes on and I take care of my business.

Part of my business is taking a daily walk. I said that with a straight face because while I admit I NEED a daily walk I have not been as diligent as I should be in actually getting out AND taking that daily walk. Didn't say I had to do a good job in taking care of my business. Just I should.

But I got out the other day and to no one's great surprise, most of my shots are of flowers. Which is OK. I've given myself permission to shoot them as much as I want. No, my chagrin lies in my not being able to see any other pictures BESIDES the flowers.

I do enjoy shooting flowers. I love the color and am amazed at the symmetry, the color, the everything about them. They're amazing and a testament to the divinity of God.

And they're willing subjects for me to shoot. Except for that jerk, Mr. Wind, the flowers will always pose just so for me. Always. And if I put a bit of effort into shooting them I'd have some good stuff. For example, this one. I saw the shadow but left it because, I tell myself, I photograph it the way it is without artificiality.

Bananas!! I should have done whatever to lose the shadow and make the picture stronger. It's a beautiful subject but...ah, laziness.

I do likes me some 'road' pictures. I've shot this section of NW Jetty Ave several times before. I need to get further back, I think, and really extend the lens to compress the picture more. I like the way the road slightly curves and the trees hang along the side. I'll be back.

Walking along there are so many yards with flowers. The yards are well-kept and some planning has been put into them. And the flowers. 

These were set in a raised planter running alongside a driveway. 

OK. I know I'm a one-note picture-taker. The flower guy. Been over that and I understand the whys. 

Still, I want to challenge myself. And I'll fall short but I'll be trying. Like this. This fence. I've mentioned before my attraction to lines, patterns repetitions. I saw this fence (this is color by the way) and wanted to try and get a touch of its character. I didn't but I got something.

I got a start. Maybe next time...I'm thinking.

And I need to challenge myself to see the other pictures all around me.

Hooah!!

Hahaha, LCO is NOT flat.

And it was a beautiful sky. I love me some blue. I was trying to juxtapose the color of the grass, buildings and flowers against the jarring blue of the sky. Could have used a few less clouds but, you know, patience ain't my thing.

But I got it. My subjects are the road and the sky and I got them. It's not a good picture but it is something I can work on. Like I said, I need to see the other pictures out there.

Walking along and BAM!! I saw this. I kept on walking...just a few paces...and had to turn back. I studied it for about 15-20 seconds and decided, "Yeah, I want this picture."

I am particular to back-lit almost anything organic. Flowers, leaves, whatever if it's back-lit I'm interested. And this one fit the bill. Plus, I like showing the backside, the seldom-seen side of a flower. Sometimes it is very interesting.

Like now.

I'm still getting used to the zoom and macro on this G3 X. It's a sharper picture but I don't know that it is as good as the little SX170 that was stolen from me. That some POS probably sold for $10. Ah, I hate them so much.

But I'm working on it and learning the camera's limitations and capabilities. And mine as well while working with this camera.

Ah, the delicacy of this flower. Seriously, this is amazing.

Astounding!!

It's so nice I shot them twice...well, I shot two of them together. This doesn't just happen by accident. There's a divine hand at work here.

And then there's this.

It was Memorial Day and Kiwanis put out flags and so I volunteered to go and pick them up with Mike Raines. Only problem is, Mike's truck is so big and HIGH that it really takes a lot of maneuvering for me to haul my plus-size posterior in and out of it. 

Mike takes pity on me and usually lets me drive and he does the hopping in and out. But tonight we had two Scouts, Caelen and Joe, and so he could drive his truck and I navigated for him.

A very pleasant evening.

We are ready to Rock 'N Roll!!

The display at the Cultural Center.

Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. In the order of their birth. Looks pretty good, eh!?!

And so there it is. Ol' Jackie is taking care of business. Rolling along and trying not to hurt anyone or mess things up. And being semi-successful at it.

And enjoying his picture-taking.

Hooah!!