THINKING OF MOM

Another long day at the hospital. I brought Mom some of the get well cards and birthday cards that have come to her home.I am taping them up on the hospital wall to make the room look more festive. Her next door neighbor sent some gorgeous flowers too that really brightened her spirits. She hasn't responded to the two pints of blood she received and today doctor's ordered another pint in the hopes that it would help her breathe more easily. Mom's fighting and I am praying for a miracle.

THE LITTLE LAMB

It was a very long day. I got home late from the hospital and as I got ready for bed I heard my Mom's voice in my head "Got a blog for tonight?" No. No I don't I thought. Then I stared at the little black lamb, a Steiff stuffed animal that has sat on my dresser since I was about eight years old. The lamb went away to college with me and has been my silent sentry, watching over me from the watch tower of my dresser. I remember the day my Dad bought it for me. I don't really remember him well (his work took him away a lot), I was eleven when he died. But I remember how carefully he choose that lamb from the glass case in a shop in Floral Park. The doctors told me my Mom's breathing is even worse today. She has been on oxygen for more than twenty four hours, but her breathing is shallow and labored. It scares me to watch her struggle. Tonight I think my Dad is watching over us both.

IN THE HOSPITAL

I spent the entire day at the hospital today. My Mom hasn't been feeling well the past few days and this morning when she called I could tell things were very bad. I am so spent tonight that I almost didn't post. I don't have a photo from today and I figured there was no point. However, I thought about how my Mom is the person who reminds me on each day to post. She almost always asks, "Have you got a blog for tonight?" There are times I post only because Mom doesn't want me to miss a day. So, tonight as Mom (who will be 91 in four days) rests in the hospital, fighting to breathe, I offer this photo of her from last December.

IN FROM THE COLD

I was playing with a new lens tonight when Sonia brought Pistachio (one of the outside cats) in to the house from the single digit cold. P got to warm up for a few minutes and then started to get skittish. Pistachio who was feral is really just a big mush. He is friendly and tame, but regardless of the weather he likes to live outside. It's a good thing too, Slugger wouldn't want any other cats in his castle.

SNOWY NAVIGATION

If I didn't know better I would think all the snow we have had this winter is some sort of punishment. As I navigated the back roads today looking for a "snowy" kind of photo I tried to recall the last winter that was this bad on Long Island. It's almost midnight and I just came in from shoveling yet again... it is still snowing. One thing I know for sure, all this white stuff will really make me appreciate being in Florida. One week to go!

MUSIC MAKER

It's all about the music we make, the music we hear and the music we feel. It's clear that this musician has a deep affection for his violin. His music is beautiful.

SKIPPING SHADOWS

Today's milder temperatures lured people outdoors. Lots of people found ways to expend pent-up energy. Skipping through the shadows of the Long Beach boardwalk was just one of many. I liked the sharp contrast of light and dark running through the image on a diagonal. The girl's red pants were just a bonus punctuation mark. Twelve days until pitchers and catchers report!

FIRESIDE SCRABBLE

I'm tired of winter. I'm sick of shoveling snow and being cold all the time. Tonight I made dinner for Mom and we spent a nice warm evening playing Scrabble in front of the fire. Mom had some real good words.. quota (ten points just for the Q) was especially good. I managed to win, but all those Sunday New York Times crosswords give Mom an unfair advantage.

POTS 'N PANS

TOO MUCH TECH

As I was winding down tonight I looked at the kitchen peninsula and saw my blackberry on top of my laptop. Nearby was the digital camera and some lenses and of course the ubiquitous cup of coffee. Who needs the coffee... I'm wired enough or is it wi-fi enough?

INTERSECTION

After a long day of driving in snow, sleet, ice and finally fog I was stopped at an intersection not to far from my home. I have driven through this spot countless times. Today as I looked at the tree silhouette which seemed even more dramatic in the fog, I also saw the symmetry of two stop lights and two telephone poles. I like the stark appearance of the tree, and there is something I like about the parallels of the telephone poles and the telephone lines. The punctuation of the red lights add depth. I guess I just like seeing this familiar spot in a new way.

A LONG DAY

From the look on my colleague's face it is apparent that he has had a long day. There is something so honest about his expression and by looking at him we recognize and feel his frustration. I like his expression and I like the use of space in this portrait too.

WAITING

I spent the better part of my day waiting. I wasn't alone, some of my colleagues were waiting too. I glanced over at one of my colleagues and thought her body language summed up the day rather well. I liked the folds in the oversized shirt and the texture... but I sure didn't like the wait. In a thirty year career, I wonder how many weeks or months I have spent waiting for "the moment".

DIFFERENT WORLDS

I find myself in a Starbucks almost every day. Sometimes I wonder what I did before Starbucks made it to the East coast. Of course, I go for the lattes but sometimes I set up shop and transmit photos using their wireless. I watch as people come in and order their very specific drinks, some rush out purposefully, but some linger. Some meet friends and some conduct business meetings. It's amazing all strangers and in very different worlds, but each in search of that cup of joe.

WARM HANDS

CORNER TABLE

I like the ambiance of this little Italian restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue. It is a real contradiction... a quiet corner table on a busy avenue. A warm,inviting place on a cold, dreary night. Besides the light is always interesting here.

WINDOW LIGHT

Late this afternoon as daylight began to fall off I went to turn on a light in my living room. That's when I saw the neat light and shadow play on the shade of one of my lamps. I really liked the reflections of the window panes on the shade and the shadow of the shade cast on the wall which is given life by the single patch of light. So often during the day I wonder where I will find a picture for my blog. This one was right in front of me.

TIME FLIES

FRESH SNOW

Today as America ushered in a new administration that engenders hope and promises change, this scene resonated with me. Fresh fallen snow with a fence that seems to be endless made me think about limitless possibilities.

THE MODEL

I got out my studio gray seamless paper and set up my new lights, eager to see how they looked. Not a person to model... so Slugger cooperated for a few very short seconds. Even his favorite salmon treats couldn't lure him back onto the stool!

HOLIDAY OBSERVANCE

The expressions of these two women caught my attention. Their attention focused on the speaker and their expressions so serene. The moment seemed so harmonious and isn't that what it is all about?

AT PEACE

At first my eye was caught by the sunlight pouring in through the library window. Dressed in his fatigues this solider looked oddly peaceful, yet out of place.

OLD SOUL

My cousin Jimmy's dog Angus, a Cairn Terrier visited tonight. Angus has a gentle spirit and gets along with all sorts of animals, including Slugger. In this photo Angus has such a sad look... like an old man or an old soul.

WINTER TREES

The days are getting longer now, but today's brutal cold was a constant reminder that we are still in the midst of the winter doldrums. The trees and their leafless silhouettes are beautiful in a strange way. They aren't as showy or in your face as they are when the leaves are full of color in autumn. Yet, they are majestic and pretty in an understated sort of way. Winter is a monochromatic season, you have to look harder to see the beauty in things. Maybe that's because everything seems so much harder in the chill of winter days.

STOP AND GO

Driving home from work was a slow stop and go sort of thing, but the sunset was easy on the eyes.

SPRING TRAINING SQUIRREL

Like many of us, this plump little guy wonders how long until pitchers and catchers report. In Tampa, the New York Yankees pitchers and catchers report on February 13. I am willing to bet this guy is a Yankees fan. If he wants to remain in my backyard, he better be!

EARLY LIGHT ON 125TH STREET

The first thing I noticed as I walked to my car on West 125th Street was the crisp light on the facades of these buildings. Then I noticed how they look like a bunch of building blocks, stacked on top of one another and next to each other. A hodgepodge of buildings that have had their raison d'etre reinvented time and again. I guess in that respect the lives of buildings are not unlike our own.

A WINTER BBQ

I love to barbecue in the summer. As the day gets shorter and the temperature drops, cooking becomes an inside activity. Not so for a good friend of mine who has been known to grill outside in single digit weather while standing on snow and ice. Perhaps it is my imagination, but the steaks seemed to taste even better on a winter grill. Maybe it was the side dish of warm summer memories that came with the steak.

READING ROOM

Today's snowy weather provided the perfect reason to curl up at home with a good book. I was surprised by how many people braved the elements to do just that at this bookstore! I liked the way each person here is engrossed in their own world, miles away from where they are, yet inches from one another. When I was in elementary school I remember my Mom telling me that books were my best friend because they were my window on the world and could take me anywhere. Mom was right (of course) and she instilled in me a lifelong thirst for reading.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

My very dear friend Pam and I have been friends for 41 years. We grew up together and although she has lived in New Orleans for twenty five years, we still see each other many times during the year. Her parents still live in the town we grew up in. So, whenever she visits them I benefit too! Today was her father's 84th birthday and we all gathered to celebrate. I couldn't resist taking a few photos.

SHOW OFF

My cousin Jimmy's cat Oscarina was just begging for attention today when I stopped by. Jimmy is out of town and Oscarina is lonely. She was really showing off, rolling over, purring and doing anything to get some pets. Of course I thought she looked a little thin, but then compared to Slugger any cat would look slim! Jimmy is home this weekend and no one will be happier than Oscarina.

STILL LOOKING FOR LIGHT

JUST HANGING OUT

Today was a tough day at the office and a very long one. When I finally got home Slugger didn't bother to greet me at the door. I found him hanging out in the kitchen waiting to be fed. I'm glad someone in this house is living the life of Riley!

WINTER TREES

I liked the simplicity of this image. The bare tree limbs and the intersecting telephone lines made for an interesting juxtaposition.

CANDLE LIGHT

I love candlelit dinners. Just seeing candles makes me slow down and lowers my blood pressure. We had dinner tonight at a charming French bistro with lots of little white candles on the tables. This multicolored candle was also on our table. I enjoyed watched the colorful reflections dance on the wall as I took a deep breath and sipped a pinot noir.

CAT NAP

I wish I could fall asleep as easily as Slugger. During the day I will see him curled up on the heating vent or on the couch (I need a new one, but since one side of it is gray thanks to him I'm not rushing into anything) and even on the bed. He curls up and often puts his paw over his eyes (to block out the light?) and is off to dreamland. Lately I struggle with sleep. I get in bed and my mind goes into overdrive. Sleep used to come so easily, but in the past month or so the wee hours of the night pass very slowly.

AT NIGHT

When I was reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Crack Up in college I came across a line that has always stuck with me: "In the real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning...." I think of this often when I wrestle with things late at night. Both thoughts and images can appear very different when shrouded in darkness. Something I might pay no attention to as I pass it during the day, becomes interesting at night. I have passed this building many times and never felt compelled to photograph it. Yet at night with the walkway lights reflected in the snow it looked both inviting and mysterious. The glass blocks added a sense of texture too and all of a sudden I saw things in it that I would never have seen in by the light of day.

NEW YEAR REFLECTIONS

Late in the afternoon of the first day of a new year I decided to try to create order where there is none--in my closet. This is a task akin to opening Pandora's box. As I rooted through some clothes, sorting through sizes and styles, I noticed the reflection of the window and blinds on the outside of the closet doors. I watched the reflection change from clean simple lines to stronger more confusing lines. Not at all unlike what was going on in my closet and my mind as I reflected on the year that has past and the one that has just begun.

GOODBYE '08

This afternoon as I peered out the kitchen window and watched the snow flurries, I spotted Mr. Cardinal in a thicket near the bird feeders. I have a few cardinal pairs that live in my yard all winter waiting for warmer weather and the promise of Spring. Tonight as we wait for 2009 to be ushered in with a lot of fanfare, I will remember Mr. Cardinal and the proverb, "Good things come to those who wait". For the most part I simply hope that 2009 is a good year. No big expectations, just an abiding hope that several things don't happen.

CHIAROSCURO

I was curled up reading when I spotted Slugger curled up in a patch of sunlight as cats so often do. Immediately I thought of my art history professor in college who spent the better part of a semester talking about "chiaroscuro", an Italian word for light-dark and commonly used in the art world to denote a bold contrast between light and dark. I grabbed my camera and started shooting wondering how the camera I am testing would perform trying to capture these contrasts. I am real pleased with the results. I really love this picture of Slugger. I am also real pleased that my middle aged mind was able to retrieve something I hadn't thought about in almost 33 years!

HARLEM

I think it is the symmetry of this photo that appeals to me. The white graffiti on the left side of the photo is balanced by a part of the tree on the right side. The arched doorway on the lower half of the image is balanced by the rectangular window above. The brick color of the lower part of the building versus the burgundy color on the upper part of the building. The woman dressed in black lends scale and interest at the same time. I wasn't sure if I liked this picture when I took it, but I like the balance of the photo. Perhaps because things seem so off balance right now.

JUST A TRIM

I can't believe it but I forgot. I forgot to post last night. I didn't even realize it until I got an email from a dear friend in Florida who was concerned about me. Thanks, Angelika! All is okay, except my mind is a bit scrambled from the roller coaster ride of the last few weeks. I got my hair cut and maybe that will lighten my load and provide me with clearer vision.

MY BROTHER

I was fooling around with my camera and really liked this picture of my brother. The light and shadow and his expression all work. I marvel at how much he looks like my Mom and how little I look like either of them. I guess it is all in the genes....

DINNER WITH FRIENDS

Besides great Asian fusion cuisine, Jin East has great ambiance too. I love to watch the sushi chefs and the way their white coats separate beautifully from the dark stone wall behind them. The play of light on the shiny stones is interesting too. I really had fun pushing the limits of my film speed setting (ISO) and seeing how the camera I am trying handled it. As for me, I handled the sushi without a problem!

THE CAKE

In my family Christmas dinner always concludes with the arrival of my brother's birthday cake. Every Christmas my Mom makes this cake from scratch and it is the ceremonial end of our Christmas celebration and the start of my brother's birthday which is December 26th. Over the years I have come to think how unfortunate it is to have a birthday so close to Christmas. Your special day is eclipsed by Christmas. Mom has always tried to make the distinction between the two, but Christmas is a real tough act to follow. Happy Birthday, Harold!

Christmas Eve

For as long as I can remember my immediate family has exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve. As a little girl I would stare out my bedroom window (which always had an electric candle in it) waiting for my Grandmother and Uncle to arrive. Over the years the tradition holds, but it is only my Mom and me and a few very close friends. So this was the scene under my tree tonight. Tomorrow the entire family will gather at my home for dinner and another round of gift giving. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

COOKIES

One of my favorite Christmas memories are the cookies my Mom used to bake. It was a marathon cookie session involving more than ten pounds of butter that resulted in thousands of cookies. Mom would make pretty tins and give them to to friends and family. Her recipes were handed down from an earlier generation. At 90 Mom has stopped baking Christmas cookies and I just can't seem to find the time to carry on the tradition. So today, I was delighted when Laurel stopped by and dropped off some cookies that she made. The cookies really brightened my day and reminded me of all those holidays spent baking cookies with my Mom. Laurel's cookies are delicious and I can't wait to share them with my Mom.

SLIPPERY PATHS

Frigid cold and snow continue to blanket the metropolitan area. Today I learned that I can continue to work at the place where I have been working for the past thirty years. My job will involve different things, but I am ready to embrace the challenge. However, I am sad for my work family, so many of my colleagues are forced to try to find work in a challenging economic climate. It isn't easy for any of us... those who are able to remain or those who must leave. My heart is heavy for those whom I will miss and at the same time I am breathing a little easier, but I feel strange about it. So many lives have been changed and I ache for my friends. For all of us the road is uneven and slippery.

MIXED BLESSINGS

In many households, including my own, families blend faiths and celebrate joint holidays. I like to think of this as mixing blessings and sharing traditions. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and to all who celebrate the festival of lights-- Happy Hanukkah!