October in photos

I started working with Hospice this month, photographing patients and their families who want to preserve memories of these last few days, weeks, months with pictures.

Right now I'm working with a 96-year-old woman from rural North Dakota who is about as cool as they get. She has tried to keep journals everyday for her whole life. It's less and less now, but she says they have been the best thing for remembering dates, birthdays, holidays.

I have taken a quick snapshot of myself every day this month just in Photobooth. The photos aren't great. In fact, most of them are pretty poor quality. But even as I created this little calendar it brought back memories.

How do you remember?

FargorificFriday

I found this note in a copy of the "Post Secret" book at Zandbroz in downtown Fargo.

Good luck, whomever you are.

Birthday recap

We went out Monday for my birthday to the Silver Moon in Fargo. It was our first time there, and none of us were very impressed. It's a little pretentious just for the sake of being pretentious. The menu was pretty good and our sweet potato cheese cake with chipotle marshmallow was beyond great.

Afterward we headed over to Monte's for a much more relaxed atmosphere and a drink and met up with Kasi.




I got some fun gifts. My friends and family know me well. Best of all, Cristen got me the sharky mittens from ModCloth without me ever mentioning them to her.

MakeAListSaturday: Birthday

My birthday is tomorrow, so let's hear it for a little self-indulgent online browsing of stuff I probably won't ever get, and if I do it won't be until Christmas.

My mom and grandparents came and took Troy and me out for dinner on Thursday, and it's nice to know that I'm still not too old for them to throw me a little party.

I have to work on my actual birthday, but Cristen, Phil, Troy and I are going out for a fancy dinner on Monday night.

Birthdays don't feel as special as they used to, but even back then I would go through the JCPenny catalog a circle all of the stuff I wanted. Even back then it was mostly clothing. Some things never change I guess.

So to my wishlist:

I've been complaining for months that I need a lamp on my desk. The only open spot is where my real cat regularly sits hoping for the chance to spill my coffee on my keyboard. Maybe it's time for a replacement cat ... like one that doesn't move and serves a purpose. Maybe like a cat lamp?

I don't know if I just have lighting options on the brain or if this is just really awesome. The awesomest part? It's less than $30.


Now let's move on to the next thing I have on my brain, now and always. I love this necklace and should just get it because I admire it about twice a week.

Diana minis. Woot. I have wanted a Diana for a long time, but it's hard to find a place to develop 120mm film. Enter the Diana mini. It shoots half-frame photos on 35mm. I really hope someone caught on to my heavy hinting about this item.

Holga. 1950s grit. On 120mm. Want it.

In case you didn't catch it. 1950s grit captured on 120mm film.
I found this browsing for books today. I don't know that I actually want it, but considering my documentary photography project was once titled "What I wore today" and consisted of photos very similar to this, it proved that most ideas are no longer unique.


This is probably just a staple I should have.


I live for shark week, and at one time in my life, was able to identify species of sharks better than any marine biologist the Discovery Channel could hire.

I even bought Jimmy the Cat because I thought he had markings like a Great White shark. His incessant biting doesn't help either. So long story not so short, I would die for the mittens.


Anyone who hasn't read these Jane Austen adaptations is a loser. They're entertaining, plus it's a good refresher on the classics most of us haven't read since they were required by an English teacher.

You'reSoVainThursday

I've been taking photos like a crazy woman lately. Sometimes when my subjects tire of me in their face, I turn the lens on my own. These are nothing spectacular, but someday I'll look back at them and be happy I took them because I can remember "Oh yeah. This was in 2009 and ... "

A little 'Self' satisfaction

The November issue of "Self" magazine arrive yesterday. And like most years, they counted down the top ten healthiest places to live.

And guess what? Fargo was No. 10, thanks in part to both the clean air and short commutes.

As a proud Fargoan (Ahem, Self, it's Fargoan not Fargoite) I was pretty excited, especially since I've been on a self help health kick lately.

So thanks Self.

Molly Monday

So this is little Molita. She spent the summer in Spain, and she just got back from Mexico last week — and has some fabulous freckles to show for it. I caught up with her at a downtown coffee shop after not seeing her in months.

Pint-sized Molly served as our fantastically cute translator in Costa Rica last March, and I will miss her when she goes to the next Spanish-speaking location on her list.

She was dressed for fall before it turned into this mostly winterific October. Thanks for modeling, Molly.