Road Warrior Week - 1

I just arrived home from my first business trip, it was long and hot and didn't have much time for myself. I left Tuesday morning and wore little due to lack of air conditioning (which provoked much honking from passing truck drivers). The heat indexes were in the 100's, I encountered storms in Cedar Rapids that produced some beautiful photographs and on my return trip as well. I'm sure people stay clear of me while I'm snapping photos driving 70 to 75 mph. (keep in mind, I don't look through the view finder, I just point and click, its a surprise as to what I end up with and sometimes well worth it).

My schedule consisted of 11:00 am training, an hour break and then to the location where we set up our displays of portraits and packages available to the church members. If we are lucky, we get a break, if not we starve until we tear down at 9:30 pm and are usually out by 10:00 to 10:30pm. Once back at the motel its study and homework time and to bed around 1:00am (and then repeat).

I way over packed and that was another learning experience. I found I can cut down significantly on the amount of "stuff" I take with me; clothes, books and food. Instead of the huge cooler all I need is my small lunch bag. However, having a van is a plus as I've acquired a significant amount of equipment. Two huge bags ( 30 x 40 x 5 ) of display portraits and frames, another laptop, a printer, a flat screen for customers to view their photos, a big box of office supplies and a cart to haul it (All of that takes up the entire back seat).

I've been passing through towns and sites I'd really like to visit and photograph however I haven't any time for myself (yet). Training is grueling, the amount of homework is too much, by the end of the night you are so tired you can't concentrate but I only have one more week and they cut me lose and no more training or homework. I was told if I can make it through the first two weeks, I've got it made.

On Friday night we stayed in Waterloo and after work we went back to the motel and had more training and after, our instructors ordered pizza and provided beer. Now I don't drink often and I had two beers and the next day I was the walking dead but we had a lot of fun and I'll not do it again until I know my job like I know my social security number.

Saturday I actually began selling. It was an odd day in Dike, it was slow, I only had four sittings but sold two of them on a package and ended up leaving early because I lived the farthest away. I did have a chance to survey the cute little town and photograph their old Fire Department building, it was no longer in use and the tiniest building, I couldn't imagine them being able to house much of anything in it. But I found it interesting and took a few shots. I've sent an email to info@dikeia.com to inquire as to the age of the building.

I definitely want to return to Cedar Rapids (where I'm headed this morning) to take photos of their courthouse which sits in the middle of the River. From what I understand its undecided what they intend to do with the landmark as it was damaged by flood in 2008. Whether or not I will have time to do so is undetermined at this point. I have a friend willing to take me on a tour of Cedar Rapids if I can just squeeze it into my busy schedule.

On Saturday after breakfast at the Happy Chef in downtown Waterloo, which by the way gets a very poor service rating by our entire party, we passed by the John Deere plant where my Father was frequently called to business. From what I understand, he designed some of the office and is comparable to the size of our Alcoa building which spans at least one mile. I'm sure if I'm wrong my cousin will comment with the correct information.

Today I am ready to head back to Cedar Rapids for Week 2 and then to Kensett, IA near the Minnesota border. I'm done for the week at 10:30pm on Thursday and expected to drive 4hrs 9mins back home (250 mi). I'm contemplating the possibility of staying the night again in Mason City before heading back, that's a long drive after such a long day.

It's now time to load the van and be on my way. Until next time....

Peace
Liz

In Honor Of Father

I couldn't let the day go by without saying something about my own Father. He passed away in 2005 and being a "Daddy's" girl, it was very difficult and occasionally still is. The Father's day before he passed away, I honored him with a poem. I worked very hard on that poem, he was an Architectural Engineer for John Deere & Co. and to make it special, I researched architectural terms and their meanings to incorporate them into the poem. Unfortunately, he didn't live to see it published, or the award won for it.

So here's to you Dad! I miss you!

Construction Site

I've never felt the board's sting against rebellious skin,
instead you took from me pleasures and privileges
for Mom to return the moment you'd gone.
This architecture of discipline, though un-engineered,
imposed height to a seemingly small spire.

Whatever guided or misguided venture I constructed,
you were a rigid structure of support. You encouraged me
to challenge even the boys at their own games.
I didn't care to "kick, pass or punt" but did because you asked
and I swam for the love of it as I pitched and double played--
catching red-velvet rocking chairs.

I have gained wisdom from your vaulted mind
that you may have thought gone unheeded.
From your blueprint poured a solid foundation,
albeit rough and unrefined--
I will wear a red brick dress to dine.

Behind your new façade of old adobe eyes
and corbelled arch leans a pillar
I stand in its shadow as I swim-- I. M.
or butterflies, I dive into a pool of concrete
and water from the widower's walk, mitered at your side.
I am your cornice-- you have engineered that.

2005 - Ann Sherrick Award
2006 - Published "SAGA" Art and Literary Magazine, No 69A

by Elizabeth A. Hall
2004

I love this Doctor

I received this email (origins unknown) and just had to share it.....


Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise.
Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.
Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn.
And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient
mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken.
Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).
And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ...... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.
You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other -
body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

And For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.
It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2.. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Reflections of the Unemployed - Week 15

It has been a busy week, beginning with meeting my future daughter-in-law's family at her Graduation party. All went well and I was informed I passed the "mother-in-law" test by her parents. I went as myself with peace sign earrings, tattoo in plain sight, and my camera around my neck with the idea that they would get a true impression of who I am right off the bat. I believe its important to "just be yourself" in all situations. If people like me, great, if they don't, its their loss because I'm a very kind and compassionate person. Which may have something to do with why, on Wednesday, I was informed that I got the job that I interviewed for last week.

On Monday, I found a gold mine of old friends on Facebook and spent Monday and Tuesday catching up with old acquaintances and some very close friends. One being my best bud from the time I was about four or five until girls started becoming gross. We talked about how I gave him a black eye with a baseball and beat him up in his drive way (I really am a nice person). I recalled camping out in our back yards and sneaking across the street to share popcorn in his tent and I'm meeting up with one my long lost friends on Monday for coffee that just lives up the street.

The highlight of my week came Wednesday when I got the call offering me the job. I calculate that the odds by how many interviews it took to land one job, is much better than the odds of actually getting an interview. 41 applications+ 2 interviews = 1 job. The key for me was to get the interview but with the internet being so impersonal, I didn't meet anyone filling out an application. There was no one to hand the application to; no one to get that "first impression".

Thursday I met with an online group I met on "Twitter". Quadsville.com is similar to other online communities like Facebook and Myspace but its our very own local, online community. Now that I am employed there won't be much time for that because I'll be on the road during the week. I hope that more of those opportunities will take place on weekends.

I started my orientation today and as I suspected, my trip to Des Moines was as liberating and my free spirit flew high. My radio station carried me 100 of the 168 miles (thanks F106.5). Although at one point, I swear I hear a "Twitter" chirp during one of the tunes. I must have been experiencing "Twitter" withdraw. I was astounded to find "Wi Fi" at the rest stops and if I didn't have a mission I may have been tempted to stop at each one to squeeze in a "tweet" or two. However I only stopped at one, to grab a snack out the vending machine and while there, I updated my status on Facebook, checked the radar and I only tweeted twice (I swear).

Another change but disappointing was the disappearance of "Stucky's"; an interstate Icon for road warriors back in the day. They have now been replaced by BP gas stations and "Adult Superstores" ( I wonder how they compare to "Walmart Superstores" are they a "one stop shop too"? can I get a gallon of milk there?)

I made pretty good time, despite taking the wrong exit (even if it was in familiar territory as I was leaving town). I discovered "rear view mirror" photography, without looking through the view finder and snapping random pictures (I was driving after all). It was amusing to see how they turned out and a few good ones.

Leaving Des Moines I was headed into a storm so I took my time, trying to stay behind it because I had a wiper blow out. Had I not been cleaning the windshield so much because I was taking pictures out them, I may have been able to avoid that.

I manged to stay behind the storm and arrived home without incidence. Next week I will leave Tuesday for Cedar Rapids, Iowa and return home on Saturday. And there in lies the transition from an "unemployed" genre to "Week 1 - A Travelog".

Peace
Liz

Sinsinawa Labyrinth

Beneath a row of pines, on the left side
of the silent road, rests the labyrinth.
I breach the broken bones of limestone lines
in search of a golden thread.

Instead, debris litters the pebbled path.
Dead things lay beneath my feet,
shed from trees above my head;
leaves crunch, twigs crack.

Disoriented, I wander the maze
as the center moves
farther and farther away;
lost in mounds of thought.

Abruptly I'm centered.
A feather enchants my eye;
from the marrow I'm given wings and vision.
I see there is not a golden thread;
I have not sown it.

No longer fearing the narrow path,
I acknowledge the dead things.
The obstacles seem quite small
compared to the length of lines I've walked.


by Elizabeth A. Hall
1/29/06

Reflections of the Unemployed - Week 14

Wow, Week 14! This week went by in a flash. I had my second interview in 14 weeks on Thursday; the highlight of my week. I heard from the company on Monday and it was a grueling wait. The job is very appealing, like nothing I've ever done before and "I want it bad". The job description would have me traveling throughout Illinois, Iowa and Missouri selling photos to church patrons who have recently had their photo taken for their church directory (photos are already taken, no cold calling involved...Phew!). The directories are free with an 8x10 thrown in (good deal). I would offer them additional photo packages.

I've never done this type of sales before but I believe if the product is good, it will sell itself. Fortunately I would have a base salary in addition to commission, otherwise I probably wouldn't consider it. Having worked in a call center, I had the opportunity to talk to many people from all walks of life across the country and enjoyed the uniqueness of each person and found them all interesting in their own way (oh the stories I could tell and just might some day).

In addition to meeting fascinating people, the job would take me out of the office and onto the open road and you can bet, I will take full advantage of the travel opportunity. The places I would visit, the people I would meet, the photos I would take and the stories I will tell. It feels liberating just thinking about it. The interviewer said it tends to get lonely staying in a motel, night after night and can be quite boring. That's if you aren't creative and enjoy spending your alone time writing poetry, blogging, reading, thinking and twittering. I responded as such but in not so many words.

I came out of the interview feeling very positive, despite the question on the application: "Have you ever been discharged from a job and why". I could not avoid being honest. The interviewer commented on my "likable personality" which is a plus in any interview. At the conclusion of the interview, she asked "what do you think"? I had to say "It sounds like a great adventure", as it does.

On another note, my son made it to the Army recruiter this week, only to find out that the day prior to his appointment, they received a letter advising them to no longer accept recruits with a GED. Fortunately my son was in the process of signing up for college and grants. He is now required to have 15 credit hours before they will take him, so I'll have him around a bit longer. He intends to fulfill those requirements and then enlist.

Also this week, I received a call from my friend, to whom I took photos for, of her new Granddaughter. It seems she had taken the disk I made for her to Walgreen's to have some of the photos developed. Walgreen's did not believe the photos were not taken by a professional photographer and she was made to sign a statement indicating as such. That is the second time I've taken photos for someone and they had difficulty. What a compliment that is for me.

My poetic muse returned to me in a quite obscure manner but none the less it returned. All in all making me quite a happy camper this week. And hopefully, soon I will be writing on the road, traveling with Classic Rock blaring on the radio with the wind in my hair and a smile on my face.

(Photographic Theme: "The Sky's The Limit")

Peace
Liz