Photography

Expect the Sun to Set

The thing about life’s
Inevitabilities?
They always happen.

Zoo

We have reached the end of SFoxWriting‘s Alphabet Challenge, the letter “Z”. What a fun ride. My topic choice for the letter “Z”, from day one, was always going to be the zoo. I adore animals. The zoo in my hometown is pretty small. That doesn’t stop me from visiting multiple times per year. My husband and kids are big zoo fans too. We traveled from Michigan to San Diego over spring break a few years ago specifically to go to the San Diego Zoo. That was an incredible trip, except for the earthquake. Within 2 hours of arriving at our resort on a sunny Easter Sunday, we got rocked by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Fortunately the rest of the trip went off without a hitch.

A zebra haiku:
Stripes like fingerprints
Exclusive identity
No two are alike

Here are some of my favorite shots from the San Diego Zoo:

Xanadu

SFoxWriting’s Alphabet Challenge ~ “X”

So the letter “X” fell on my 40th birthday. I was tempted to post nothing but pictures of this date from different calendars all crossed out with giant “X”s. However, I’m not THAT mad about it. Besides, it was a lot more fun to write about my favorite place on planet Earth, my Xanadu, the cottage. My Dad has this amazing escape on a lake up north. There are no motors allowed on the lake. It is quiet. There is no cell phone reception. It is peaceful. We are surrounded by hills and trees. It is beautiful. We have fires and roast marshmallows. It is entertaining. When the silence needs to be broken, we ride ATVs or do some target practice. It is utopia.

Still
Pure crisp air
Placid blue waters
Escape to serenity
Peace
Calm
It is here that I am found
When life goes astray
My Eden
Home

The beach house rules are easy to follow, and contain a few “x”s.

Icicle

We are 9 days into SFoxWriting’s Alphabet Challenge, the letter “I”. I am closing in on a record for number of consecutive days of posting. I hope this momentum carries even after the challenge has ended.

Icicle
Crystal javelin
Dangles precariously
Prepares to fall and shatter

Satin spear of ice
Never so beautiful as
The moment before she dies

Electric Six

Image from Electric Six’s March 1st show at The Stache (inside The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI). This is me after the show with Electric Six front man, Dick Valentine. My husband got me tickets as a birthday month, day 1 gift. I told Dick that I am turning 40. He said I don’t look a day over 29. I really like that guy.

Day 5 of Steven Fox’s Alphabet Challenge and I am loving how this challenge is forcing me to branch out. No longer does this blog seem to be nothing more than a series of creative writing assignments. There is life here now, reality in small doses. It is time to show the world who I am and what makes me tick. Today, I give you the “E” in me. The music of Electric Six ~ they are the soundtrack of my soul, the rhythm my heartbeat, and the voice behind some of life’s greatest memories.

Electric Six is a band that originated from my home state of Michigan. The band was highly successful, particularly in the UK, in 2003-2004. According to Wikipedia, their style has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of garage, disco, punk rock, new wave and metal. To be a little more succinct and to put into my own words; it’s rock music you can dance to, infused with fun and absurdity. To best appreciate an Electric Six show, you must take it in along side a group of your most entertaining friends.

I was denied the light of Electric Six in my life until July of 2009. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I was enlightened. It was a day of celebration, friends gathered together to feast and imbibe upon spirits. It was the day the music was resurrected. A great man they call Dan brought forth a gift. It was not the tangible sort you hold in your hands, but the kind that touches your soul. Joy erupted within my psyche as “Down at McDonnelzzz” off I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master penetrated my ear drums. Before that glorious day came to a close I would also fall in love with “Dance Commander”, “Danger! High Voltage”, “Improper Dancing”, and “Gay Bar” all off Fire.

Today Electric Six serenades me as I write. They are there when I dance. They encourage me to sing. Their live shows are an anticipated event for me and my closest friends. I have seen them live no fewer than 7 times now, usually at The Intersection (or The Stache inside The Intersection) right here in Grand Rapids. Pre-show the band mingles with their fans. Once my husband bought drinks for himself and guitarist, Johnny Na$hinal while they took in an opening act together. Post-show band members walk among the crowd and happily shake hands, sign autographs and take pictures. It is an experience, one I never miss when they come to town.

Here are a few photos from the latest show I attended, as well as a link to my favorite music video, for your pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc ~ Electric Six chooses to neither confirm nor deny the presence of Jack White’s voice as backup on Danger! High Voltage. I think we all know…

And because this is still a creative writing blog, an epitaph poem inspired by Electric Six’s “Egyptian Cowboy” lyrics (did you catch how many “E”s I tied together there?):
Here lies an
Egyptian Cowboy.
That identity was
Merely a ploy.
He set out to kill
But was stabbed instead.
He had pretty hair
But now he is dead.

You can learn more about the band at their website http://electricsix.com/.