26.9.07

Today was intense.

Yesterday I found out that I was in G's photography LDP class.
Today I was all excited when it's time to go to LDP.
When I see who all is in my LDP, I get even more excited.
Then G starts talking.
And is going on about how if you're not serious about competing in photography, you might want to switch out into some other area. And then starts to go on about how you need your own camera for competition, and you need a laptop with Photoshop on it for competition. And then realizes that he doesn't have enough cameras for everyone in the class to use.
So basically, halfway through the period I just want to slink off and go cry.
Like I said, today was intense.

Then, I'm supposed to be taking pictures at the cross country meet.
I decided not to ride up with the team, and I would just drive to Redden after school.
So I go up to G, make sure he still wants me to go, and verify that I'll come pick up the camera right after school. (Somehow I knew he wouldn't be in his room since his last period of the day was his planning period.)
After Sociology, I go down to G's.
Of course, he's not there.
But some other guy is standing there waiting, too.
I quickly realize that it was his son.
We wait.
I keep thinking I hear G's voice or his back door being opened.
Finally he comes barreling down the hallway to unlock his door.
"Did they leave already?"
"Yeah." In fact, they had left nearly forty five minutes before. "But I was just going to drive up there --"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah!"
So he gives me the camera to use, drapes it around my neck, and I run off to my car wearing my broken sunglasses. (The discovery of them being broken halfway to school this morning was not very cool.)

I was totally convinced that I would be late for the meet.
I get there at 3:45, fifteen minutes before it was supposed to start. Things are starting to look up.
I walk down to the start line and begin to strategize about where to shoot from.
I play around with the camera, and get a pretty good shot of the girls starting the race. Really it was amazing.
I calculate that I'll be able to get shots of everyone twice --once each loop.
After taking a few shots, I begin to realize how difficult taking pictures of runners is hard. And that G's camera is kinda slow processing, so I could only get one picture of each runner for each lap.
Reviewing the pictures, I get the overwhelming urge to delete all of them except for the picture of the girls starting. G's LDP speech didn't really help.
Then I head back to school to return the camera, and I drive out to the practice football field.
Seeing that he was in the middle of coaching and they were running a drill, I wait on the side of the field until they take a break. In the meantime, I hear quite a lot of swearing from every side of the field. Finally he sends his guys off the field, so I walk over to him. On my way, he gets in a bit of a feud with Coach Layfield. So I finally hand off the camera, and he immediately turns it on and starts reviewing the pictures. I say "They're not very good."
He doesn't like that very much.
And he snaps on me.
And nearly screams "This is a good picture. This is a good picture. This is an excellent picture," and goes on about how I shouldn't bust on myself, and that if he had wanted bad pictures he would have sent some other person in my class to take them, and reestablished that he can always count on me to get it done without whining. By the time he's done talking, he's already walking away from me and I'm about to cry.
Because getting hundreds in my classes just doesn't have as much satisfaction as having G finally say something I had no confidence in was good.

20.9.07

I want to be Rainbow Hight

There again I've more to do
Than simply get the message through
I haven't started
Let's get this show on the road
Let's make it obvious
Peron is off and rolling

Eyes, hair, mouth, figure
Dress, voice, style, movement
Hands, magic, rings, glamor
Face, diamonds, excitement, image

I came from the people, they need to adore me
So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes
I need to be dazzling, I want to be Rainbow High
They must have excitement, and so must I

Eyes, hair, mouth, figure
Dress, voice, style, image

I'm their product, it's vital you sell me
So Machiavell me, make an Argentine Rose
I need to be thrilling, and I shall be Rainbow High
They need their escape, and so do I

Eyes, hair, mouth, figure
Dress, voice, style, movement
Hands, magic, rings, glamor
Face, diamonds, excitement, image

All my descamisados expect me to outshine the enemy
I won't disappoint them
I'm their savior, that's what they call me
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes
To make me fantastic, I have to be Rainbow High
In magical colors

You're not decorating a girl for a night on the town
And I'm not a second-rate queen getting kicks with a crown

Next stop will be Europe
The Rainbow's gonna tour, dressed up, somewhere to go
We'll put on a show

Look out, mighty Europe
Because you oughta know whatcha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of
Argentina's brand of star quality

--Rainbow High, Evita

I daresay she was

But on the other hand, she's all they have
She's a diamond in their dull gray lives
And that's the hardest kind of stone
It usually survives
And when you think about it, can you recall
The last time they loved anyone at all?

She's not a bauble you can brush aside
She's been out doing what we just talked about, example
Gave us back our businesses, got the English out
And when you think about it, well why not do
One or two of the things we promised to?

But on the other hand, she's slowing down
She's lost a little of that magic drive
But I would not advise those critics present to derive
Any satisfaction from her fading star
She's the one who's kept us where we are

She's the one who's kept you where you are


--She Is a Diamond, Evita

19.9.07

I Care

I'm not here to judge you;
I'm here to listen
to what you need to say.

I'm not here to blame you;
I'm here to know how you feel.

I'm not here to say
"It shouldn't have been this way";
I'm here to share your questions.

So though I do not know
how best to ease your load,
I'm here so you don't feel alone.

I'm not here to offer answers
to rights or wrongs,
or to question anything.

But I'm here
to simply be with you
when things are not
as you'd wish they were.

I am your friend.
And I care.


--Sudha Khristmukti