this page intentionally left blank

From lunch to breakfast just like that... my how time flies. I had to leave work yesterday around 2:00 for a medical appointment for my shoulder. It was good to get out from behind the desk after that mutated beast of a burger from Lankford Grocery. I think there was a whole cow on that thing. Anyhoo, I did spend more than 10 minutes on the computer at home last night... a freakin' all time record for me. I know it sounds strange, but it feels like I'm behind on something. I'm sure it's nothing being stranded on a deserted island with no running water or electricity for 5 years wouldn't fix, but on the short term, it sucks. The redeeming factor was spending time with EL. She's the best. In spite of our awkwardly poor-ish state right now, we succumbed to the Elfa sale at The Container Store and put up four rows of shelves, at 30% off mind you, in our utility room. It is amazing to me how much space we were wasting on those bare walls. EL says I'm a pack rack. I have my doubts, but as I gazed at the glorious shelf space, I wondered if there may be some truth to her theory. I mean, just looooook at all that storage space! I'm a dork. I'm running late for work this morning because, as if living and commuting in the fourth largest city in the US wasn't enough, the SuperBowl has caused this place to turn into a monkey mad house. There are people from all walks of media, commerce, and self-justification just oozing from every pore of the city. We have these METRO awareness signs (presumable funded by the Texas Department of Transportation) telling commuters how long in driving minutes to the next "checkpoint" along your commute. Normally when I get onto I-45 southbound in the morning, my first sign says "8 minutes" to my first "checkpoint". These days preceding the SuperBowl, it's been in double digits. It has taken me well over an hour to get to work every day this week. I'm riding the bus today as I type this and even the HOV is clogged like an artery after consumption of the deep-fried-Monticrist-Mac-on-a-stick-with-chougat (a special proprietary blend of cheese and nougat). In a ninja style switch of subject, I am shooting a darkly lit venue next week and I'm a little nervous about the potential outcome. I'm not worried about know how to expose the shot... it's my job to know that... I'm worried that this mercilessly low lit venue will not provide enough ambient light to expose correctly within the limits of my camera and "film". I shot this place last year at f/2.8 and had to use ISO3200 to get handheld shutter speeds. I'd like to use the 70-200mm f/2.8, but will probably have to fall back on the 50mm f/1.4 for the extra light. Another issue is my camera will only support up to ISO1250. Well, I suppose it's not an issue because I was sorely disappointed with the digital noise at ISO3200 anyway, but some post processing foo can go along way these days. We'll see. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. I am just a bitch when it comes to noise. I hate noise unless I put it there for effect (which rarely happens). I'm so ready for some coffee. The last couple of days at work have been pretty stressful. My partner in crime was out the last two days and there was no one to load balance the never ending trickle of whiney bullshit that rings in during the day. I hope today is better. Well, my bus is just tucking in under the dramatic sky blanketing downtown Houston this morning, so I'll sign off. Next stop: CorpoHell!