for 365 and FGR invades Your Three Words

...typically gets the worm. On this day though, despite an early start, this photographer got partially side lit, partially backlit scraps.

Despite a late night shooting time exposures in Williams, I was up and out of the hotel before dawn and was bouncing down the ranch roads north of Ash Fork when the sun made its first appearance over the tall mesas to the east. My goal was to spend the morning crossing another name off of my list of Seligman Sub locations that I had missed on my previous trip; Eagle Nest.

Eagle Nest, Arizona is one of three control points on the 'Crookton Cutoff' line change that the Santa Fe opened in 1960. The cutoff is typified by wide, sweeping curves through deep cuttings, or over high fills. Eagle Nest has these in spades, with the added appeal of red lava rock, and flagstone. Photo angles are virtually unlimited, provided you are willing to take a walk, hike, or drive to gain elevation above the line.

One this day, one angle in particular was my goal. The shot that trumps the rest is a view of a westbound, through the 's' curve between MP 408 and 410. 'Over the shoulder' lighting would occur around 14:30 that day, but a dramatic backlit shot was possible not long after dawn. The prior year I had reached East Eagle Nest not long before dusk, and promptly got my rental stuck, then up on three wheels. This experience left me gunshy about the direct route to the vantage point. With a year to think, and overthink my options, I made the mistake of taking a 'creative' route along some range roads which appeared in better condition than the BNSF access road; at least on a map, and in satellite imagery. My alternate route cost me about an hours time, traversing much rougher roads and trails than I would have if I had just gone the direct route.

As a result I missed two of the three westbounds that had passed through Flagstaff earlier, before a long work block held up traffic for several hours. As what would turn out to be the only westbound that I would see that morning approached, I heard the roar of locomotives escaping the deep cutting beside me. An eastbound stack train charged up the grade, and onto the scene just as the westbound's headlights appeared. I ended up capturing a neat scene, despite the less than ideal lighting due to my late arrival.

Surprised how many decent shots I got today, as it was one of those trips where I expected nothing to come out. Perhaps because I haven't had a proper excursion for a while, my instincts kicked in and I didn't try to overthink the shots... maybe!

Thanks for all the views and positive feedback on this one!

🌴✨ Michelle Set by adorsy — Casual Chic with a Rebel’s Smile

There are mornings when the sun rises just a little brighter over the coast… when the air feels playful and the day whispers that anything might happen.

That was exactly the mood when I slipped into the Michelle Set by adorsy.

It’s the kind of look that feels effortless but undeniably captivating — a youthful blend of tailored polish and carefree rebellion. The silhouette hugs just enough while leaving room for attitude. A cropped jacket, distressed denim shorts, and thigh-high boots create a fashion language that says: confident, modern, and a little mischievous.

I love pieces that feel alive with personality, and this set delivers that in every seam and button.

✨ The Jacket — Cropped Tailoring with a Modern Edge

The Michelle jacket is where sophistication meets playful flirtation.

Its sharply cropped cut draws the eye to the waistline, creating a sculpted silhouette that elongates the legs and accentuates the curve of the torso. Inspired by contemporary street couture and the revival of 90s fitted tailoring, the jacket blends structure with sensual minimalism.

Subtle lapels frame the neckline beautifully, while the clean tailoring keeps the look refined rather than overdone.

🎨 Jacket HUD Features

• 65 jacket color options

• Additional texture selections for subtle fabric variation

• Perfect for styling everything from classic monochrome to playful pastel palettes

👖 The Denim Shorts — Carefree Confidence

Every casual chic outfit needs that one piece that feels like freedom — and the Michelle denim shorts are exactly that.

The distressed edges and perfectly faded wash evoke the effortless cool of vintage summer fashion. They sit low and relaxed on the hips, emphasizing movement and creating a relaxed but flattering silhouette.

This is the kind of denim that looks even better after sunset when the city lights come on and the music begins.

🎨 Shorts HUD Features

• 25 denim washes and tones

• Belt color options for personalized styling

• Subtle fabric detail variations for realism

👢 The Boots — Leg-Lengthening Drama

And then there are the boots…

Thigh-high and unapologetically bold.

They transform the casual denim look into something powerful and fashion-forward. The sleek lines visually extend the leg, giving the entire outfit that runway-ready posture even when you’re just strolling along the boardwalk.

They feel like the finishing note in a perfectly composed outfit — confident, modern, irresistible.

🎨 Boots HUD Features

• 45 boot colors

• Smooth leather tones and statement shades

• Easily styled from daytime chic to evening glam

👗 Compatible Mesh Bodies

• LaraX

• PetiteX

• Legacy

• Legacy Perky / Pushup

• Reborn

• Waifu

📍 Where to Find the Michelle Set

You can discover the Michelle Set and many other beautiful designs at the adorsy mainstore:

🌐 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Adorsy/128/128/25

There’s something wonderfully youthful about this look. It reminds me of those spontaneous days when you throw on something stylish without overthinking it… and suddenly the entire day feels like an adventure waiting to happen.

Sometimes fashion isn’t about perfection.

Sometimes it’s about confidence, movement, and the quiet thrill of knowing you look incredible.

✨ “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”

— Rachel Zoe

♫♪♫

Wasn't gonna go out

I was gonna stay in

Another Friday night on my own

Then I started drinking

My phone started ringing

I got my shit and walked out the door

Oh every time you cross my mind

I get stupid

Whoa

Don’t overthink it

Just finish up your drink

And surround me, surround me

The night ain’t over

We’re far from being sober

Surround me, surround me

‘Cause I like you, I like you, I like you a lot

How to see through the smoke

I don’t know how you found me, you found me

The night ain’t over

We’re far from being sober

Surround me, surround me

Baby take me outside

Kiss me in the moonlight

I just want you to touch me

I don’t wanna waste no time

You don’t even know me

But I want you to show me

What it feels like to be alive

The lights go down

I want you around me

Whoa

Did I say something wrong? Did you hear what I was thinking?

Did I talk way too long when I told you all my feelings that night?

Is it you? Is it me? Did you find somebody better?

Someone who isn't me, 'cause I knew that I was never your type

Never really your type

Overthinking's got me drinking

Messing with my head, whoa

Tell me what you hate about me

Whatever it is, I'm sorry

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

I know I can be dramatic

But everybody said we had it

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

I'm coming to terms with a broken heart

I guess sometimes that good things fall apart

Location: Soul Deep

- John Dryden.

| insta | blog |

Landscape photography, for me, at least often is a quest to find the highest outlook point of a vista while the light is at its best. At most locations, the right outlook point is easy enough to find, and the struggle is to get the light right. But not the case at Dead Horse Point State Park. There are tons of fantastic outlook points to choose from, each better than the previous one. Being a canyon, light is still a challenge as well.

My first visit to the park was on the last day of a 10-day road trip through Southern Utah. We drove through every single National Park in Utah and didn’t overthink about the little park that’s tucked away next to the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands NP. But as soon as we parked and got out of the car, we realized how unique dead horse point SP is for a landscape photographer. Every access point to the rim provides a spectacular view of the canyon. I was lucky with the light as well. It was gorgeous with some pastel colors in the sky. I still cannot believe how unbelievably fortunate we were to be at this beautiful on that beautiful day.

🎼Mood🎧

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Fellowship of the Ring, the boys and I decided to whip up some vignettes depicting scenes from the greatest film trilogy ever.

Like most of my projects I got over ambitious and had to rush at the end, but overall it felt good to build LOTR again.

anyone else guilty of overthinking?

(Verse 1)

[KATE MCKINNON]

The snow's falling down

It’s Christmastime again

A woman has to get a gift

For some girl at work named Jen

[EMMA STONE]

She doesn't know what Jen likes

And she doesn't super care

So she goes inside a closet

Just to see what crap’s in there

[AIDY BRYANT]

In darkness, there's a light

Then suddenly she sees the Christmas savior's here tonight

(Chorus 1)

[ALL]

It's a candle

A plain peach candle

It's been sitting by a bike pump for a year

She takes the candle

Dusts off the candle

Then wraps it up for Jen and just says, "Here."

(Verse 2)

[EMMA STONE]

Then one day after this

In foggy London town

[AIDY BRYANT]

Two acquaintances are having tea

When one puts a present down

[KATE MCKINNON]

The other says, "Wait, what?

"I mean, I got you something, too."

Then she rummages inside her purse

For some garbage that will do

A hand, it settles on

[AIDY BRYANT]

Something that she just had gotten from her boyfriend's mom

(Chorus 2)

[ALL]

It's the candle

That same peach candle

Regifted 'round the world in just one day

Oh thank you, candle

The one true candle

The candle we all get, then give away

(Bridge)

[AIDY BRYANT]

But here’s a warning:

When you give a candle, that is all that you need

Don’t pair it with a lotion or some lame little cream

A lot of people think two gifts are better than one

But that just makes each gift seem smaller and dumb

(Chorus 3)

[ALL]

So just give the candle

Don't overthink the candle

It’s passed to every single woman and most guys

We all get the candle

We all give the candle

That nine-dollar candle

That almost rude candle

We're joined by the candle

It's the gift of having a gift to give away

The gift of having a gift to give away

Thank you, candle

There is a story behind this image that is of significance to me.

A part of the Visual Design workshop that is put on by Freeman Patterson and Andre Gallant is an assignment given on Thursday afternoon that is specifically tailored for each participating individual. My assignment, based on a conversation at table with Freeman during the first group meal together on Sunday evening, was 'retirement.' At that meal, on the subject of retirement, he had said two things to me: "Brian, don't overthink it, and follow your heart!"

So, of course, the first thing I did when given the project was start to overthink it. I spent an hour making notes and jotting down ideas (15 to 20 photos had to be made and presented in a slideshow the next day).

Heather and RonM (the workshop newbie in the group) both brought me up short with something along the line of, "Brian, don't worry about it. You're retired, do whatever you like!"

So I did. Heather had found some places she knew I'd enjoy photographing, scouting around the area while I was attending the workshop. So we went and I shot Thursday evening and Friday morning. Had a wonderful time and met a generous man named Jim Day who let us explore his property and photograph old cars and trucks returning to nature in the woods on his place. I'll have a little more to tell you about him later, when I put the slideshow together for uploading to Flickr.

I hope you enjoy this photograph as much as I enjoyed making it.

Bo Burnham - All Eyes On Me

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBgKxsvl6M8

Get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seats

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

Get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seats

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

Are you feeling nervous?

Are you having fun?

It's almost over

It's just begun

Don't overthink this

Look in my eye

Don't be scared, don't be shy

Come on in, the water's fine

We're goin' to go where everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody, oh

We're goin' to go where everybody knows

Everybody knows

Get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

Ay, come on, get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me, yeah

Heads down, pray for me

Heads down now, pray for me

Get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

You wanna hear a funny story?

So, uh, five years ago, I quit performing live comedy

Because I was beginning to have, uh, severe panic attacks while on stage

Which is not a great place to have them

So I, I quit, and I didn't perform for five years and I spent that time

Trying to improve myself mentally

And you know what?

I did

I got better

I got so much better, in fact

That in January of 2020

I thought, "You know what? I should start performing again"

"I've been hiding from the world and I need to re-enter"

And then, the funniest thing happened

Are you feeling nervous?

Are you having fun?

It's almost over

It's just begun

Don't overthink this

Look in my eye

Don't be scared, don't be shy

Come on in, the water's fine

You say the ocean's rising like I give a shit

You say the whole world's ending, honey, it already did

You're not gonna slow it, Heaven knows you tried

Got it? Good, now get inside

We're goin' to go where everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows

We're goin' to go where everybody knows

Everybody knows

Come on, get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

Hey, come on, get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seats

All eyes on me, all eyes on me, yeah

Heads down, pray for me

Heads down now, pray for me

I said get your fuckin' hands up

Get up, get up

I'm talkin' to you, get the fuck up

Get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

Ay, fuckin' get your fuckin' hands up

Get on out of your seat

All eyes on me, all eyes on me, yeah

Come on, heads down, pray for me

Heads down now, pray for me

I said get your fuckin' hands up

Get on...

All eyes on me, all eyes on me

My friends, they wanna take me to the movies

I tell 'em to fuck off, I'm holding hands with my depression

And right when I think I've overcome it

Anxiety starts kicking in to teach that shit a lesson

Oh, I try my best just to be social

I make all these plans with friends and hope they call and cancel

Then I overthink about the things I’m missing

Now I'm wishing I was with 'em

Feel like I'm always apologizing for feeling

Like I'm out of my mind when I'm doing just fine

And my exes'll say that I'm hard to deal with

And I admit it, yeah

But all my friends, they don't know what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why I can't sleep through the night

I've been told that I could take something to fix it

Damn, I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah

All my friends they don't know what it's like, what it's like

Always wanted to be one of those people in the room

That says something and everyone puts their hand up

Like, "If you're sad, put your hand up

If you hate someone, put your hand up

If you're scared, put your hand up"

Feel like I'm always apologizing for feeling

Like I'm out of my mind when I'm doing just fine

And my exes will say that I'm hard to deal with

And I admit it, it's true

But all my friends, they don't know what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why I can't sleep through the night

And I thought that I could take something to fix it

Damn, I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah

All my friends they don't know what it's like, what it's like

I got all these thoughts, running through my mind

All the damn time and I can't seem to shut it off

I think I'm doing fine most of the time

I think that I'm alright, but I can't seem to shut it off

I got all these thoughts, running through my mind

All the damn time and I can't seem to shut it off

I think I'm doing fine most of the time

I say that I'm alright, but I can't seem to shut it off

Shut it, shut it, yeah

But all my friends, they don't know what it's like, what it's like

They don't understand why I can't sleep through the night

I've been told that I could take something to fix it

Damn, I wish it, I wish it was that simple, ah

All my friends they don't know what it's like, what it's like

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q33DvcjXA7M

OK, I admit it. I have no idea where that title came from. Today was a heavy paperwork day to get ready to leave it all behind for a few weeks next week. Each of the four pieces came from a place of meaning -- I guess piling them up increases the meaning? And, hence, the power? I'm overthinking it I think. Someone stop me.

Metellina in her universe

a scatterscape for Arachtober 5

we are all in the centres of our own universes. ...and for me that is good to acknowledge and reflect on.

For me this helps me appreciate that others are similarly at the centres on their own universes and that other's roles in our individual universe are always very secondary to their own. Simple thought but helpful. I am unnecessarily overthinking as usual ...but I do tend to enjoy the process of doing so. Please ignore my stream of consciousness as appropriate.

The Ramones- Journey To The Center Of The Mind

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbpi4pyFydg

CC Week 13: minimalism

Thanks to Robin for her opinion that this qualifies as minimalism. I really enjoy looking at minimalistic photos, but I have a tough time creating them. Overthinking on my part, no doubt.

Wearing ~

Head & Face ~

LeLUTKA Avalon Head 3.0

[theSkinnery] Prilla (LeLutkaEVOX) almond @ Kustom9

[theSkinnery] Wornout Eyebags (LeLutkaEVOX) 1 50%

DeeTaleZ MU *Realface* for LELU EVOX/ 50%

Body ~

Maitreya Mesh Body - LaraX Petite V1.1

Accessories ~

LaGyo_Sel Earring @ C88

hive // cola & ciggies @ Kustom9

Hair ~

tram N0908 hair / FATPACK @ C88

Clothing ~

Bombshell Dahlia / Black Jacket @ C88

Bombshell Dahlia / Black Top @ C88

-Pixicat- Milano Skirt @ C88

Pose ~

Ana Poses - Lucerne 5

Overthinking

Mabel, 24kGoldn - Overthinking

⋆Tнαɴĸѕ тo мy Spoɴѕors⋆

❀ WarPaint*

♙Brows> WarPaint* George brows @ ❀ Anthem

♙Face> WarPaint* #IWokeUpLikeThis7 - freckles + blush + liner [L.EvoX] @ ❀ Uber

❀ Lyrium

♙Pose > Lyrium. Morning Routine Set /Lyrium. Scrunchie Bundle [L]/ Lyrium. Morning Routine Bag [R]/ Lyrium. Sleeping Mask Head v2

@ ❀ Equal10

❀ UNHOLY

♙Skin > UNHOLY_Poppy Icy_No Brows

♙Shape>UNHOLY_Poppy Shape

@.Previoulsy blogged here

⋆Everyтнιɴɢ elѕe⋆

➳♥REBORN by eBODY v1.69

➳♥LeLUTKA EvoX KAYA 3.1

➳♥^^Swallow^^ Gauged S Ears (f)

➳♥(Enfer Sombre*) LeLutka EvoX Hairbase – Messy

➳♥ NOVA. Dylan - S

➳♥[avarosa] Mino Eyes

➳♥[avarosa] Lips - Pink - 50%

➳♥Lunar - Dawn Bra & Romper & Shrug - Midnight Black NEW @ Equal10

➳♥= DAE = SXD1 HUMEN FEMALE EARRING

this is more than anything

Oh I’m obsessed

With the way your head is laying on my chest

How you love the things I hate about myself that no one knows

but with you I see hope again

Oh I’m a mess

When I overthink the little things in my head

You seem to always help me catch my breath but then I lose it again

When I look at you that’s the end

Why do I get so nervous when I look into your eyes?

Butterflies can’t stop me falling for you

Darling this is more than anything

I felt before your everything

That I want but

I didn’t think I’d find

Someone who was worth the wait

Of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now

I've found the one I love

I love the way

You can never find the right things to say

You can’t sit still an hour in a day

I’m so in love

Let’s run away because us is enough

Why do I get so nervous when I look into your eyes?

Butterflies can’t stop me falling for you

Darling this is more than anything

I felt before your everything

That I want but

I didn’t think I’d find

Someone who was worth the wait

Of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now

I've found the one

Come close Let me be

home for anything

Good or bad I know it’s worth it (woaaaaah)

Darling this is more than anything

I felt before your everything

That I want but

I didn’t think I’d find

Someone who was worth the wait

Of all the years of my heartbreak

But I know now

I've found the one I love

Sometimes I wish you just...

Well, if I told you what I'm really thinkin', it might make you blush

Yeah, but baby, so what?

And I don't wanna rush

We've been pretending we're just friends and all that stuff

For long enough, yeah

I'm thinkin’ babe tonight

We start blurrin' up the lines

Go 'head, get out of your head

Think you're overthinking, use your lips instead

Cause what you want I want, I think it's easy to see, yeah

I know you're a little bit shy

But if I'm gonna be honest, baby, so am I

You're on the sidelines wasting time when you could be winning with me

All them days are over, all them red lights are green

So move on, move on, move on...

Clare Dunn - Move On

{Le'La} Emel Outfit

♥ Fit for Maitreya/Petite, LaraX/PetiteX, Legacy/Perky/Bombshell, Reborn/Waifus, Kupra/Khara, GenX Classic/Curvy

♥ Top, skirt, panty, heels, leg laces, sparkle gem add-on

♥ 30 color options

♥ each clothing piece is separate

New release at {Le'La}

♥-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------♥

For more details & pics:

Blog

X

instagram

movie trivia question :

what film does this remind you of ?

dont overthink this one, its right there......

got it now ? good !

answer : endless summer, 1966, bruce brown (writer/director)

check out a clip from this very cool, timeless movie :

tinyurl.com/qbvsv5

(look at those huge boards !!!)

on black, please :

tinyurl.com/q5o8lg

now, wax up & go, my peeps...the big one is still out there waiting for you!!!!!!!!!

I was a little short on time so I threw together a quick still life and called it a day. Glad I didn't overthink it because I like the way this one turned out.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.

Click "L" for a larger view.

More old stuff, but good stuff, at least I feel that way. I really had to put some time into this one, but I think it was worth it.

Imagine, a panorama with many images, if there is a hotspot issue, then it's a "good" one, believe me. So I had to take care of that.

It appears one the most important things to do (for me) with these projects is to not discourage myself right away.

Keeping it simple, not to overthink, starting, doing every step as good as possible, staying at it, and then at the and and only then does it make sense to judge the whole thing. It's not perfect, but I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

However, when done, I viewed the exported files full screen, and I was like wtf happend? Banding! A lot (in the sky)!

I first really wrestled with or addressed this with my mountain lake panos (with the cool pine tree), and ..well, I learned a lot too, so it's not all bad. But I was pretty disappointed, not willing to start this over, cause what could I do different other than work as clean as possible. Introduce noise maybe, or a sky replacemnt which I don't do.

So I went for a run in the woods and after an hour or so, it clicked, something came to my mind while not thinking about the whole issue. And it turned out to be true, I verified it when I was back.

My source photos are clean, *sigh*, it's my image viewer! Not all but most of the issue comes from poorly downscaling my usually huge images. I'm wondering how much of the mountain lake pano hustle was due to that, cause this was not apparent to me at that time.

Anyway, so essentially, all this is mostly out of my control. It's the nature of the JPG format itself, software like viewers or mine and your browser handling image files and also Flickr, scaling photos to different sizes which is thankfully not too bad actually. So that is that.., not that anybody asked.

Technically that is mercator projection, consisting of 42 individual photos, 417,2MP, cropped to 8:5 with 16518 x 10363px, 171,8MP.

Nikon D90 (APS-C, fullspectrum mod)

Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di ll VC HLD

Hoya R72 (720nm infrared pass-filter)

ISO250, 24mm, f/6.3, 0,6sec

(therefore 36mm full frame equivalent)

tripod, panorama head, remote (ML-L3)

Some stories don't have happy endings...Someday you're gonna be all alone, so you need to figure out how to take care of yourself.

The 52‑week challenge always includes a self‑portrait week. Usually I set everything up, smile politely, and hope the camera believes I’m well‑rested. This year, I switched it up with dramatic lighting and a shot of me contemplating the meaning of… well, this portrait.

I've heard sometimes the best way to say something is by saying nothing. There's truth in that. But it's not always effective. Anyway.. I'm supposed to chill instead of overthink. So let's chill.

I'll leave you with this chill cover:

youtu.be/zqoj_3r9oqg

Morans Falls

Lamington National Park

[Freebies!]

[The everlook action and other tutorials]

Image taken from above Moran's Falls which is a beautiful 30 minute walk from a pullout before O'reilly's rainforest retreat. It's a bit of a hairy drive in the dark for a first timer but so worth it :)

The tile refers to two things I think about in terms of who we have become in photography.

A.A is the 'accidental artist' which is the best way I can describe our work if catering to an audience where concepts and background motivations are important. I've never really considered myself an 'arty' kind of person and so , when I go into the field, I'm simply aiming to capture a compelling rendition of my experience. A kind of visual diary of my experience as a whole. If the by product of that is a form of art that others appreciate, then I am appreciative :) I feel that I work best when I'm not overthinking a scene as to what kind of message I'm trying to portray or what kind of deep soulful thoughts I had. I just don't usually have them ! For me, the KISS principle works best (Keep It Simple Stupid) but I do realise that others approach photography from a completely different direction. I just hope that there's a role for KISS photographers in the fine art world :)

AC stands for the 'accidental celebrity'. With over 100k followers on several social media sites, Marianne and I have to accept that we're actually known! The AC could be driven into doing things which stray from the principles of being an AA but we'll resist that. It is interesting to see what happens to images on different platforms though. This image has also been posted on our flickr and instagram . Go ! The race for exposure is on for Moran's lol - I'm betting on an instagram win :)

(No I didn't place that stray leaf there lol!)

•Delirium tremens•

They say the EYES are the windows to the SOUL, I TINTED mine....not everyone deserves to see it.

PD: Thanks Blayze Benoir for the pic

🎧 Song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTsmIbNku5g

Great Magicians need to overthink their Great Adventures too..

No better place than the Magic Mushroom... ;-))

Best viewed large; static.flickr.com/94/226591219_502d491779_o.jpg

via Instagram ift.tt/2dJsWHE

So I am not really sure I agree with this statement, falling in love with things seems problematic to me. When you love things it feels very materialistic and perhaps could lead to hoarding. Perhaps I am interpreting this too literally. I'd like to suggest falling in love with experiences, ideas, people, places, nature, music but not just things.

Am I overthinking this too much?

So...what have you learned so far this week? Yesterday as I stood in the shower trying to clean the grime of the day away, I thought about the new things I learned over the course of the day and the things that I already knew, but reaffirmed.

#1. It is good to have a strong bodied exploring partner. Even better if they are strong AND kind.

#2. It is good to have a plan B (even if you don't particularly like Plan B).

#3. It's important to remember where you parked your car... and in this case, it is also important to know how to parallel park. A sense of direction is also helpful, but in my case, there is no hope for that.

#4. Be aware of your surroundings. In this case, this means, know which room the skunk is currently in,

#5. Worrying about things that might happen is most likely a waste of time. It uses up a great deal of energy.

#6. I am always impressed when I meet young people that have taken the time to learn how to sew. (Because it is the best thing I have ever learned and no one seems to learn it anymore.)

#7. It sucks to get old.

#8. Adventures are good. Adventures are important to your well being

#9. Overthinking is bad.

#10. I now understand the Nike slogan ... "Just do it."

(I will leave it up to you to decide which of these things I just learned, and which I have reaffirmed.)

In a nut shell.... Standing in the shower, washing off the grime and reviewing the events of the day, (why is the water never hot enough?), a day which I knew was going to start with climbing a ladder over a 10 foot wall, but I was told.... "Don't worry... it will be fine."

The plan was that I was supposed to be surprised by NOT having to climb over the wall, because my friend had the key to the lock on the chain on the gate. The real surprise was that someone else had thrown another lock on the chain, to which he did not have the key and since parking was so difficult, that we all parked more than 5 blocks away and it was now broad daylight, there was also no ladder. Proceed to plan B, which was that my friend hoisted us up and over the wall.... (Which is where having a strong exploring partner comes in, and the first time that the importance of kindness comes into play, with him NOT saying... "Hey, didn't you weigh about 25 pounds less last time we explored together.... ) So we are now on the inside of a 10 foot wall, with him on the outside, which is where he had to remain, sending text messages for me not to worry, to let him know when we were ready to leave and he would drive 45 minutes back from home to rescue us (this of course would add up to him spending 3 hours driving for an adventure that he couldn't even participate in). Now, I knew that my exploring friend for the day was not going to have a problem getting out of there, because she was 40 years younger than me, and fearless. Me, on the other hand, spent a good portion of my exploring time thinking about how I was going to get out of there without having to call my friend and making him come back to rescue me, and also without crawling 5 blocks (assuming I started crawling in the right direction and actually found my car after 5 blocks) back to my car with a broken ankle after going over the wall, splattering on the sidewalk, hoping there would not be a police car driving by on this busy street, and breaking an ankle in the process. At this point the water in my shower is barely lukewarm and I realize that I'm not really trying to wash the grime off anymore, I'm trying to wash away the disappointment in myself for how I ended the day. No, I did not make my friend rescue me, although he texted many times telling me not to worry that he would be there. (See, it really is important to have a kind exploring partner, but I was trying to make being rescued by him my Plan B). Instead, I dragged a step ladder out of the building, which turned out to actually be too short. So while my exploring partner, who could easily have gotten over that wall, was freezing because she didn't wear a coat, I made her investigate every corner of the property with me, trying to find the safest way for me to get out, while dragging our camera gear, the step ladder that was too short, and now another taller wooden ladder that I found outside. Finally I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to go out at the same place where we got in, even if it was in the middle of a Sunday afternoon with people walking back and forth on the sidewallk where we were going to land, hopefully unbroken. I then realized (shower water is COLD now) that going in... I had no time to think about it... no time to climb a ladder and look down the other side... and to say "Ok, I'm going over." "No, I'm not.... I can't do it." I was pushed to the top of the wall and had no choice... I had to jump down (Can't say it felt good, but I had to do it... and I survived). Eventually, I put on a pair of gloves so the top of the wooden gate wouldn't rip up my hands, threw a leg over the top, then the other, turned and hung by both arms, let one hand go, then the other, and dropped... and I didn't break an ankle, and it really wasn't all that bad, and I made a big deal out of nothing and wasted a lot of time, while my young exploring partner shivered patiently. (I'm thinking she should have screamed at me "JUST DO IT"!!) See, the Nike slogan.... I get it now!! 40 years ago, I probably wouldn't have worried about it so much... (It sucks to get old) I headed in the right direction and found my car 5 blocks later. I was glad to see it! I have a lot to think about now. I wasted a lot of time and energy worrying about how I was going to get out of a place that I may never get to see again, instead of just worrying about simple things... like rounding a corner and running into the skunk that apparently was also exploring, or maybe lived there. I appreciate my friend that got me in to see the amazing place that I explored yesterday, even though he couldn't join us, and I apologize profusely to the poor young woman that had to put up with me. Thank you both! Adventures are good for the soul.