Smarmoofus Spot

(Note: This is the first post from my iPhone!)

On Saturday, August 21st, I went to El Mirage Dry Lake, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. While there, the Corvette’s lockout protection failed, and we were locked out. It was 100 degrees and we were in the middle of nowhere. We were very grateful for roadside assistance. (Incidentally, getting into a locked Corvette is NOT easy!)

I got tired of the look of that other theme, and I haven’t had time to design something that I do like, so I’m bringing back my old green site.  For now.  Or maybe forever.  We’ll see.

Meanwhile, I am home from the first part of my Road Trip 2010, but I have a birthday party to get to, then I have stuff to accomplish.  I’ll post highlights of my trip so far before I leave for Part Two.  *assure*

EDIT:  And comments are broken again.  I must remember how I fixed them last time so I can fix ‘em again.  *sigh*

EDIT²: I FIXED THE COMMENTS!

So much for the down-time I thought I would have.  My trip has been so amazing at each stage of the journey that I keep telling myself, “I’ll write something at my next stop… the next stop…”  But then I get to the next stop and it’s even more awesome than the last.  (My apologies to people I visited early in my trip for the awkward way I’ve said that.  Of course you are all fabulous friends and gracious hosts!)

So here I am, a full month into my travels, and I have very little shown for it.  But I’ve had an incredible time, and that’s what really matters (to me), right?  And at some point in the future, I will share some photos.  (Of course I’ve been taking a lot of pictures.  A really lot, to borrow my sister’s phrase.)  Please continue to hold.  An operator will be with you soon.

Miles-wise, I’m about half-way through the first part of my two-part road trip, and I’m having a fabulous time.  I leave my present location in the Tri-cities area of Washington within a few hours (boo!), and then I’ll have a short drive over to Erica’s (near Seattle), where I’ll spend the next almost-two-weeks (yay!).  I’ve been taking quite a few pictures, both along the road*, and at each stop.  When I get to Erica’s, I’ll have more down-time so I can get some of the photos prepped and posted.  Check back soon!

* Yes, I’ve been doing more of that in-motion driver’s seat photography I’ve warned you about.  Listen to me:  Don’t do it!  No!  Bad!

This occurred on Facebook last night:

My Friend: John Locke was freakin’ smart. And sensible.
8 hours ago

*sigh* And that is what’s wrong with America today.  Too many of us go straight for the Lost TV show reference without regard for one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers, whose views are reflected in the American Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…“).

Mind you, I had a good chuckle over the exchange.  But then I felt like crying.

After weeks of behind-the-scenes planning (in the midst of managing my very first ever paid photography gig!), I am within two hours of departure for the Last Last Greater American Road Trip – 2010 Edition!

This is my rough itinerary:

Part One:
Denver, CO – April 20
Salt Lake City, UT – April 21-26
Rossland, BC – April 26-30
Tri-Cities, WA – April 30-May 3
Everett, WA – May 3-14
Los Angeles, CA – May 15-26
Oklahoma City, OK – May 27-29

Intermission:
Central AR – May 29- June 1

Part Two:
New York City, NY – June 2
Boston, MA – June 3-6
Baltimore, MD – June 6-16
Around MI – June 17-20

See the Part One Map here, and the Part Two Map here!

If you’re somewhere along my route and we have not already planned to meet up, let me know!  If you want to send me gas money, let me know (or just Paypal to Smarmoofus [at] gmail [dot] com)!  Pictures and updates to follow.

My first order is officially packaged and ready to send out.  Now complete with re-ordering forms and a nice little “thank you for your business”!  I know I said I wasn’t going to show you any of the pics without signed releases, but I think at this angle, and deliberate blurriness, I can get away with showing a few packets.  I’m just too excited not to show you!

The prints are in!  My envelopes arrived this morning while I was brushing my teeth, and the prints came this afternoon.  I have put the orders together, so now I have a stack of envelopes containing beautiful photos from the Military Ball.  They’re only waiting for inserts (invoice/re-order forms) so I can deliver them.

I still don’t have those inserts,  but I’ll work on those tonight, so I can print them and enclose them with the orders and arrange delivery by tomorrow (if I’m fast) or Friday (if I’m my typical self).  Then there’s the final little matter of finishing editing the 95 casual photos that will be burned onto a CD…  That is taking a bit longer, but now that I’ve weeded out the unsalvageable ones, the process should speed up.

“Will” – Photo Date: April 5, 2010; Location: Central Arkansas