Working for the Weekend! On homework, that is...

But that's no excuse for hiding a glorious photo from y'all! I must confess that a mere two weeks of school has left my brain feeling like a mashed cat and with the promise to myself that, by God, I will finish this novel and start shopping it around! But first I need to slay the dreaded dragon that continuously tells me I suck. To anybody who has written something creative for a class, you have to know the feeling. The words are constipated and tainted with the worry, "What is everybody going to think of me? That I'm a piss-poor writer in the leagues of William McGonagall and Julia Moore?" And of course, when you go back and read the story, it will read like you wrote it for a workshop. Emotional depth and continuity is sacrificed to form a pretty little sentence a la Cormac McCarthy. But alas! There must come a day when I will get over this bushwa (and maybe bind and gag my evil inner critic as well) and write a novel worth reading.

But anyway, here's a cheerful picture. I have no idea what these people are doing with that gigantic cross, much less where this picture was snapped, but it is quite fascinating anyway. Whatever religious sect has these kinds of gatherings, I don't know (but if any of you readers do know, I'd appreciate a little knowledge). Without further ado:

Vintage Pugs? But of course!

Ever since I saw Milo and Otis (back in the bygone era of the early-nineties), I've always wanted a pug. Unfortunately, my dad liked big dogs and hated anything under fifty pounds that yapped. Now I'm in an apartment that only allows cats and the one cat I have is very, very territorial. I tried bringing a kitten into the house a few years ago and she wasn't happy, so I couldn't keep the little guy. 

But anyway, I found this picture in a Chicago antique shop, the same place I found a majority of my photographs.

Been awhile...

I've been in Albuquerque for the past couple of days. From a "road trip" up the Turquoise Trail to walking around precarious mountain trails to nearly getting my ass in hot water at the Chicago O'Hare Airport, it's been quite an experience. But...I found some more old pictures! Unfortunately, I don't have them scanned onto the computer yet, so while we're on standby, I'll present a photo from good old Milwaukee, Wisconsin! It's from 1946, according to the back, and was snapped at the Mitchell Park Domes. If you don't know about those, here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Park_Domes

Now this might not be exciting to those not living in Wisconsin (or Milwaukee, for that matter), but for people who have been to the Conservatory, this 64-year-old picture might prove fascinating. Take a looksie...

Star of the Show

Because I can't help myself, I figured I'd throw two pictures up here today. This picture, which I title "Star of the Show", for reasons you can plainly see, I found in Chicago, at this little hole-in-the-wall antique shop a few blocks from my apartment. I have to say I struck the jackpot at this place! Here's where I collected a majority of my photographs!

Anyway, this photo amuses me. The parents and the brother are a pretty serious-looking trio, whereas the little girl is totally hamming it up for the camera. It's too cute for words.

Chickens and Family Albums

So I was rummaging through a thrift store about two years ago (around the same time I came upon Julius) and found this photograph. For some reason, I was charged two dollars, but I have to say those two dollars were well spent. Look at this photograph! It's stunning! Sure, it has a hole in it, but if you look beyond some of the physical wear and tear, it's stark nonetheless. It looks to have been taken somewhere between the 1930's and the late-forties, but I could be wrong. For all I know, it could be older. Or younger. 

I actually "used" this in my fictional "Blake Family Album", to accompany my novel. Yes, I'm so nerdy that I make "Family Albums" for my characters and their families when I collect enough photographs to represent them. 

Julius

I found this gem in Milwaukee - look at the guy's mustache! Even better? Apparently his name is Julius! It's definitely a name I never hear anymore unless it's referencing the ubiquitous Paul Frank monkey. Now guys are named Julian instead. He's one of those characters who doesn't "have a story" just yet, but one day...one day he will...

Until now, feast your eyes (?) on Julius!

Thrift Score Photos

I love going thrifting. I love nothing more than digging through junk shops and thrift stores in search of photographs. Now this might seem like a weird hobby. That I have a box of pictures of people I do not know is definitely strange, but for anybody who doesn't know me, I am a writer and I like putting faces to names. Thus, a lot of my characters have faces. It's a nice feeling.

But then I come across some interesting photos. They may not fit any of my characters, but the people in these pictures are so unique and/or strange, that I just have to take them home. They may have a story further down the road, but for now, they're nameless, storyless people who have cool clothes, strange expressions and poses, are located in weird settings, you name it.

That's what this blog is for - to show off some of these finds. Enjoy!

Oh, and before I forget, please ask my permission if you want to use these photographs! Do not take/use without my permission!