Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Deborah Zoe | Photographer

A Boston area photographer, I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah Zoe through an email. Yup, just like that. She sent me an email asking to go to coffee and I happened to have a few free days, so we met. And have continued to meet on occasion when my schedule allows. Nestled into the tiny little Atomic Cafe booth overrun with college and master's students....we found out a common ground outside photography that is foundational to our lives. A few elements of my beings we thought were rather isolated in our little corner of the world. But we each found a friend in a fellow photographer that extends beyond the lens.

So, internet, meet Deborah. Some of you may already know her, but meet the Deborah I saw. The little spitfire who really can work the camera if you get silly enough ;)








(ps) proof that Deborah is my kind of lady, she hired me to do her shoot and then sent me an Anthro gift card as an extra thank you. Girl after my own heart right there. Thanks, lady friend ;)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Happy Christmas.

I seem to find it easy to procrastinate on anything BUT decorating for Christmas. Once Thanksgiving was officially over and everyone else got up at 3 am to go shopping.... I got up at 3am to get my tree on. Ok -- maybe not 3 a.m. but 4 a.m. - I am sure of it.
I decided to throw a little twist into my traditional Christmas decor and do a full on installment above the fireplace.
Wooden spools, jute twine, clear ornaments and feathers, OH MY!

I wanted something different, and different is what I got :)







The annual Penguin Tree and my recent ornament addition. It's one of my now favorites




And a few details... including, of course, the hand carved goodness Dad Galligan has gifted me over the years. Again with the speak of favorites. I LOVE these guys and display them every chance I get.




Happy Christmas Decorating!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Italy [part 2] :: The Rome I saw.



St Peter's Basilica at Night





Underground Subway








St Peter's Basilica inside




And the Colosseum (Both before and after the drama debacle)






The band. I think I shall name them 'The Victim and the Calvary'






Italy :: the drama, the prayers, & the power of social network.

Roaming around Rome last week began as any other day. You know, a visit to the Colosseum -- The Palentine -- The Sistine Chapel -- Vatican -- St. Peter's Basilica -- The Pantheon -- Trevi Fountain. I'm talking whirlwind tour here. We crammed it all into a day so we could leave Rome early and hopefully have a chance to visit Verona after the trekk to Venice. That was the PLAN anyway.
After heading back to the Hotel, brother Mark had one thing on his mind... a night shot of the Colosseum. He is way more dedicated then I am because all I wanted to do was sleep. Now if we stuck a bride in there, I would have whistled a different tune, but instead, he set out to shoot and I crashed out. And come morning -- no Mark.
Long story short, he was gone for 36 hours. The only phone between us was on him so I had only email to communicate. Early on, I was more frustrated then anything. Emailing a few people but nothing serious. Then, after 18 hours missing, my boyfriend made the call to parents and eventually through connections and hours passing, I was being contacted at the hotel, by the police, the embassy, and receiving emails from FBI international affairs. Then I was informed The Calvary (Dad Jim and Boyfriend Daniel) we both on a last minute plane to Rome. holy crow, this was intense.

I made a comment on Facebook and within a few hours there were re-tweets, re-posts, and hundreds of Facebook messages and comments letting me know people were praying. All in all I received nearly 400 emails/messages and the support was overwhelming. The words 'thank' and 'you' seem much too common place for the gratitude I felt and continue to feel. Not once did I 'freak out' or stress out... it was more of a calm concern. The times I got emotional was when I realized the love and power of community. So, again, to everyone who offered up a thought, prayer, kind word, email or phone call.... thank you. You truly show me the power of together-ness. A statistic tracker from the news informed us that news of Mark missing generated 12,000+ views and responses



Thankfully the story has a happy ending... Mark is found, and the hours missing all made sense once we found out the reason. He had been drugged and then mugged. Apparently this is happening a lot to American Travelers surrounding the Colosseum over the past few months. Young Men start up conversation, and eventually befriend you... They essentially slip you a 'date rape' style drug and proceed to relieve you of anything of value in your possession. Mark, being a professional photographer as well, had all his gear/monies stolen but thankfully they left is passport and IDs.

The media caught wind of the situation and within hours it was on the evening news, and in the Oregonian.





I also managed to snap a few photos of the drama going down in the hotel room...



waiting








searching




I wish you could hear the frustration as Daniel tried to convince the airlines to let us change our flights without astronomical fees




SO, ALL IS WELL :) Despite astronomically expensive last minute flights to Italy by the Calvary, and the airports refusing to allow us to change our flights without fees (even though we had necessary paperwork), we are all back in the states safe and sound. Now, armed with police reports, embassy reports, and the purchased travel insurance documentation, I am off to write some forceful letters to the airlines that refused to aid...

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