365 Photo Project - Day 62

Taken: March 3, 2010, approx. 3 pm
Location: Healdsburg, CA

Since I'm posting Day 61 and 62 at practically the same time, I figured I might as well stick to a theme. In yesterday's shot, you got one view and today another. That's my bedside table as currently configured. Almost everything a girl needs to get through a hellaciously noxious sinus infection nee cold. Except for a bottle of scotch. But then again, me and scotch, we parted ways awhile back and remain but passing acquaintances.

Got me a cheap-o thermometer (made in China doncha know) and the damned antibiotics, some natural stuff that's supposed to ease my sinus headache (the jury is out on its effectiveness) and sooth one's throat. Oh, and my probiotic acai berry juice next to my mug of freshly brewed coffee (gotta keep the caffeine addiction fed). Over on the right is one of the dozens of Moleskine notebooks I own (and leave everywhere around the house, my car and office) because a writer is always writing, even if it's scribbling fever-addled notes I may or may not be able to decipher later.  The sunglasses came in handy for  that sinus headache I had that was so bad, I couldn't even stand even the light of a darkened room.  Ever eat ice cream too fast? That's how I felt for two days straight. Ouch.

The only thing not in the picture is my iPhone but that's because I used it to take the photograph, an image I edited ever so gently with Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 61

Taken: March 2, 2010, approx 2 p.m.
Location: Healdsburg, CA

Still sick, still in bed. I'm suffering for sure so it's gonna be post-a-pic and run the next couple days. This is an iPhone shot of the view I've been staring at since Sunday.  And yeah, that's my faithful pug Louie standing guard. He's got a nasty cough too, so together we sound like a TB ward.

As I write this, I'm starting to feel like maybe I've turned a corner. But then again, I felt that way last night and woke up this morning with a pulled muscle in my chest from all the damned coughing.  This photo as been edited ever so slightly with Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 60

Taken: March 1, 2010, approx. 4 p.m.
Location: Healdsburg, CA

Today is day 60. Wow. I should have something special but unfortunately, I'm still sick, felled by a sinus infection and who knows what else. Thus today's photo. I shot it while I was in the car waiting to go inside to see my doctor. That blue near my eye is a reflection from my glasses but the red on my lids, that's real. I wanted to try and capture the moment in all it's awfulness.

Besides, I had absolutely no energy to get out of the car and take a proper photograph. So here's me, feeling like shit.  I know it would have been braver to get the full-on looking right into the camera shot (and believe me, I took that one) but gimme credit at least for not going black and white. I sure as hell  thought about it.  Taken with my K100D. As for the editing, well a girl doesn't give away all her secrets.

Excuse me while I go back to bed.

365 Photo Project - Day 59

Taken: February 28, 2010, approx. 12:15 p.m.
Location: Healdsburg, CA

I'm staying in bed all day today. Low-grade fever, chills, sore throat and gnarly cough. No fun. Especially when outside, the day is bright and sunny and the winter rains have left the landscape a vibrant, golf-course green.

Been watching the USA-Canada Gold Medal hockey game (which just went into overtime), remembering my early L.A. sportswriter days when I got a chance to help cover the Stanley Cup Finals (Gretzky's Kings vs. Montreal and a young goalie named Patrick Roy). I'm not much of a hockey fan but I dig these heart-pounding medal games and even the NHL Playoffs, particularly in the late rounds in tightly-contested series.  My knowledge of hockey is limited I admit, but it seems to me the Canadians have outplayed the U.S. most of the game and if they had a better goalie, they'd already be on the top of the medal stand. The Canadians have the best player on the ice in Sidney Crosby but the advantage in net is with the U.S. This should be a fun finish.  

My area for taking photos today is limited to what I shoot around the house today. The pugs have been good subjects, but I like this shot of the oak over the garage, with the sharp sun filtered through the branches. Feels like spring is almost here.

Taken with my K100D and edited a bit with Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 58

Taken: February 27, 2010, approx. 1:15 p.m.
Location: Solvang, Ca

I'm posting a day late again. Saturday was a travel day and I didn't get home until late. In the category of no good deed goes unpunished, I'm getting worked over by my first cold of the season. So, I'm going to make this post short.

I shot this off  the main drag on our way out of Solvang. Who knew they had ostrich ranches out here?  I tried out my old manual 200mm lens and got some close-ups of the big birds, but this long shot was my favorite. I'm gonna call it the Plains of Central California. Ha.

The weather was like this sky the whole trip, partly sunny, partly cloudy with patches of blue sky peeking out and bouts of rain so heavy it was hard to see the road. It was a rainbow hunters kind of a day and while we did see a couple, they looked much better in person than in the images I shot with my camera. Some things are best remembered anyway.

Shot this with my K100D. Edited slightly in Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 57

Taken: February 26, 2010, approx 6:30 p.m.
Location: Flatbread Restaurant, Los Alamos, Ca.

Just finishing a whirlwind trip to Solvang with my friend Keiko Niccolini, Keiko who has long been in the wine biz,  put together an amazing project with the help of Palmina Winery in Lompoc, Ca. They bottled a rose called Sintanize: Rose For Haiti. All the profits are going to Rural Haiti Project.  Please click on the link and check out their good works for the children of Haiti. If you want to order the wine, contact Keiko here or find her on twitter at @cocolovie -- but get it on it soon because there's only 120 cases.

This photo is rose but not the actual Sintanize which just came off the bottling line today. I shot this with my K100D at a great restaurant in Los Alamos called Flatbreads -- amazing pizzas made with organic and local ingredients. Even if you can't get out to Central California, you can find it in your local Whole Foods freezer under Full of Life Flatbreads. Trust me, it's damn good.

This was edited lightly with Photoshop.

365 Photo Project - Day 56

Taken: February 25, 2010, approx. 11:30 a.m.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Headed off for a last-minute road trip with my friend who is putting together a cool project to raise money for a special Haiti relief organization (more about that in my next post). We left late in the day and a hitch in our plans put us in Solvang at 3. a.m., three hours after our hoped-for ETA.  Best laid plans be damned. Had no time to put up a photo -- for the first time in the relatively short time I've been doing this project. But like I said in the beginning, there would be days like this.

I got took this shot yesterday morning as I was heading off to my office  to write and after, join my friend for the drive. I had my overnight bag with me and when the pugs see that, they have two reactions: either they follow me to the gate until they're certain I'm not taking them along or they sit in the first available spot and give me those pathetic looks. Like here in this photo.  What can I say? If I could take them everywhere I would.

That's Chamuco on the left there and old man Louie lounging next to him. Shot this with my Pentax K100D and edited in Photoshop, where I used an old-school sepia tone because it felt like an old west pose to me: two gunfighters resting for the big noon shootout. All that's missing is the chaps and the sidearms.