Project 365 d-205

     Headed out after work to the build site for my parents new home. My hope had been to get inside to look around and perhaps find a photo waiting to be harvested. As it turns out, everything was locked up tight except for the back door that I could see was open through the front window. "Ill just go around to the back and get in that way", I thought. So around the side of the garage I went toward the back of the house. About ten steps into my ill advised journey; I saw that my shoes were starting to sink into the mud. Not really bad, but enough that I considered turning around. Being too smart for my own good; I kept right on going. All I had to do was just step light and take my time and the mud would be vanquished. A few more steps, and I would be at the back corner of the garage a victory would be mine. Looking down at my feet; I noticed that it now appeared as if I was wearing big, brown snow shoes. "You've come this far, so don't turn back now", I chided myself. Two more steps and I came to a stop directly at the back corner of the garage. "What a mess you moron", I scolded myself. Still, like a General returning to formerly surrendered ground; I continued forward with a single step toward the door. What happened next should have been filmed to seventies "disco" music, and it would make for a great instructional video for wives to order their husbands from cable TV. Perhaps it would help make us men understand that when our wives call us geniuses, they don't really mean it. As my right foot slid sideways it sank into the brown, soggy mess while my left foot slid backwards. All the while my swinging arms made me look like a six foot windmill with blades missing. KC and the Sunshine Band comes to mind. "That's the way, uh huh, uh huh I like it, uh huh, uh huh"!

     At this point, I just wanted to keep from falling into the muck and it's worth mentioning that all of my camera gear is around my neck and shoulders while my legs were scissored apart. My pride and my clothes could stand the garden house while my gear could not. Summing strength from muscles that were thought lost after mankind stopped chasing free range chickens to feed their cave clans; I began to use my arms as skillfully as a tightrope walker above a life stealing canyon. Slowly at fist, but with determination I willed my legs back toward each other with the aid of my balancing limbs and into a firm stance. As a proud warrior, I straddled the vanquished mud, as I flicked off some of its flesh from my right foot. Turing back around, I traveled back toward safety within the footprints of the fool who had gone before me. A ridiculous laugh came over me as I looked down at my feet encased in gooey mud. It occurred to me that even if I had made the door; I would have tracked this slop all through the house. So now what? It didn't take long to answer that as I noticed a fore lorn cement mixer staring at me. On top of it was all of this wonderful history just waiting to be photographed. In an instant my genius was at work again and I began to climb on it for a shot from above. Across the street, my parents new neighbors were surely watching me trying to decide if they should call the Police or an Ambulance. I had to get above it or there would be not shot. There wasn't a ladder in sight, so climb it I did. From the top looking down it was even more beautiful than I thought. The faded paint, the oxidation, and the remnants of cement all forming a fine-art piece. It was a worthy exploration even though my footing only allowed me a few shots. It was enough for today, and it was time for this genius to hit the road, and then the hose.

Happy Shooting.