I'm Ready

Jack's Mannequin I'm Ready

How to catch up... Hmm..

It is now August 6th, 2017, my last entry was in March, on the 2nd. Since then I have started working again, as a Support Engineer. I also ended up helping Paul Butler, of PBS, with various photo shoots, pushing myself to improve my work. It has allowed me the opportunity to to be a photographer for his Wendover Project, a photo shoot on the Salt Flats going into it's 20th year. There's also the prospect of working in a tattoo shop, as an artist once again. There is also the side work I'm doing for a company that installs interlock devices in cars, building the cables that link the breathalyzer to the interlock computer. To top things off, I've also been getting back into working on cars, though I can't say the money has really been all that much to talk about. All in all, things are incredibly busy, and only ramping up even more.

Through my day job, I ended up in Texas again, for 10 days to do training which brought it's own interesting adventures. It was the first trip I've ever done for work, involving getting expense reports filled, renting a car, staying in a hotel, and exploring what Dallas, Texas had to offer when one has money, much unlike when I passed through the first time. I enjoyed my time there, though it was a strange feeling when passing through Fort Worth, in a brand new car I was renting, only my camera bag at my side instead of my large backpack, money in my bank and on my person. I met some really interesting people there, Dervin being one of them, he's in a picture I have posted. He called me Nephew and helped me talk to the cute girl that worked at at bar we hungout at in Bishop Arts District, the bar being Whitehall Exchange. I met Dervin and his girlfriend while hanging out at a cigar lounge called Cigar Art, where you can actually have a drink and a cigar and just hang out, I was definitely in my comfort zone there, browsing their decent selection of some really nice cigars, their own line being a favorite by the time I left.

Once I returned home, I received a call from a number I didn't recognized, upon answering, I was greeted with the voice of a friend I made when staying at the house for travelers[Little Motel]. Running into a friend from my backpacking Adventure in Louisiana was a bittersweet reminder of things. He was doing alright, still hopping trains with two new travelers. We talked, caught up on what the other was doing, I picked up some supplies for him and his companions and we went on our separate ways. I miss traveling, going to new places and seeing new things through the eyes of a stranger with unsure way of getting through things. It was tough, it was hard, but it was something else alright. 

In addition to working and photography, I ended up getting back into RS events, first being Naughty Gras and then School House Rock. In case I haven't explained just what RS is, it's Risque Soiree, a love positive, adult entertainment group that hosts parties to bring people together in a safe and fun environment. Naughty Gras was a Mardi Gras themed party, and School House Rock was a school themed one.

The next adventure would be Philadelphia, in mid July, visiting the Studstill family. I first met the Studstill family when I was working at L-3 Communications, I was about 20 at the time, and worked with Chris, he a year older than myself. Chris taught me about a lot, from beer to what it means to be married, to board games and being there for a friend. His wife was actually someone I went to school with at Northridge, where I spent my 11th year. They have a son, rather inquisitive kid that was only barely talking and followed Chris around when I first met him, now probably going into Jr High, so crazy to see the change. They've been my friends for about 8 or 9 years, and I had the privilege to visit with them for 9 days in their new Philly home. The days went by quickly and fully, I ate, drank, explored and enjoyed every minute there, albeit I left exhausted and in need of recovery, though it was not to happen.

Immediately following would be NxN. Naughty by Nature, another RS Event, following maybe 15 hours after getting back to Utah. NxN was an weekend long camping trip, with Wild and Mild sides, color wars, dance parties, drinking, light shows, and an awesome Tree House for play. I ended up bringing extra tents in case others needed them, and used my hammock style tent I originally took on my backpacking trip. I do have to admit, the second night there, my anxiety and depression ended up taking me out of things for a while, ended up just hiding in my car a while before ultimately going to bed. I feel it may have been a combination of just exhaustion and my own personal demons having a go at things. Sunday I quickly left to grab props for the photo shoot with Paul.

The photo shoot with Paul would be on Sunday July 30th, the Wasatch Feral Women. It was an interesting shoot involving 13 women, naked, covered in paint and mud with various adornments for themselves made from twine, sticks, and found materials. The shoot was meant to tell a story of women living in the wild, not knowing just what technology is, only having these things and coming up with their own ideas and uses. Needless to say it was interesting, and I ended up taking over 2000 pictures. I may post some on my photography site [edit,insert link here].

With all that has gone on, and all that is going on, things have been anything but calm, internally as well as externally. 

Stay tuned for the next Adventure on August 9th, Ohio.

Later days.

[Edit: this post will be updated with pictures and details as times goes on, just been really busy.]

“I’m on the verge, I’m on the verge
Unraveling with every word
With every word you say, make me believe
That I won’t feel your tires on the street
As I’m finding the words you’re getting away
I come undone, oh yes, I do
Just think of all the thoughts wasted on you
And every word you say, say something sweet
Cause all I taste is blood between my teeth
As I’m finding the words you’re getting away”

— I'm Ready - Jack's Mannequin