Woundings and their effects

So this has been a tough year for the klutz that I am.  Earlier this year, during a bathroom remodel that I was doing ( yes, I tend to do the remodeling myself,I enjoy it) I stumbled and tripped over a garbage can that was out of place ( more like stumbled , tripped and got tangled in the garbage can) Causing a broken big toe. I still managed to do my art modeling, with the aid of a stick for long standing poses....which I recommend anyway) But I missed out on one casting call, and wasn't at my best at another...I had to put off shoots, because I couldn't wear heels, and my workout schedule got totally out of whack.  I have healed from that, and had been on a normal workout schedule for all of 3 weeks.
But two weeks ago, I was cleaning the house, and dusting my Bat'Leth ( yes, I OWN a Klingon sword, and several other geeky ones as well, like Ramirez's from Highlander and New Moon from ElfQuest ) It fell off the nails it was hung on ( THAT has been remedied, It is now securely on the wall with actual sword hangers)   But I couldn't get away fast enough...It cut me, it cut me bad.  My left index finger got 13 stitches, the middle had 1. It missed tendons, but did cut through nerves.  So I am in an immobilizer for another 4 weeks, to give the nerves a chance to grow back.
So where does that leave me?
Missing out on a planned Underwater shoot, because it can't be soaked or take the pressure and movement of swimming.
Not getting hired for much, because...well my hand. ( even though I can still do head shots...and have FABULOUS ideas for them) as well as having ideas involving lots of feathers to camouflage. ( Oh, it is an EPIC idea!)  
I am still doing art modeling, there are some poses I can't do, but for the most part, that is fine.
My workout schedule is again messed up.  Though I have full use of my right hand, I can't just work out one side, that will be awful...so I will concentrate on abs and lower body.

On the up side, it could have been MUCH, MUCH worse, had I tried to catch it, or been slower getting away.  I could have easily lost a finger, it could have hit the top of my hand, severing all those tendons.  I could have bled on the white carpet. ;)

None of those things happened. True, Todd was in LA, but he pulled strings and rushed home early, so that he was there when I woke up from surgery. I have a great kid, who hung with me almost the whole time- and wouldn't let me go to the ER alone. I have wonderful neighbors who came to get the kid and take her home for some rest, when I was admitted. I have great in-laws, who came and sat with me , took the kid to eat and hung out until I went into surgery. I have friends who kept tabs on me,and checked up often,so I knew I was not alone. I am blessed, truly, and I am aware and grateful for it.

So here is to blessings, and here also to NO MORE WOUNDINGS!

Shoots , heat and weight

Photo by Wolfshead photography

So again, I haven't been posting much,mostly because I have been doing more art modeling things than photography... Would you like to see and hear about  some of that as well?

Friday,I had my first shoot in a while ,  the themes were "Superheroes" and " Gothic " pinup.
Michael ( the photographer) sent me this little teaser from the Gothic section.

What you can't see, is that I was melting, totally.  It was 91 according to the the thermometer in my car, Michael's studio is on the third floor, and only partially air conditioned ( the bathroom and front room, where we shot was not...this one, shot in the garage, even MORE not conditioned...probably 110 in there at least) I am sure that my face got red, even with the makeup, and was having to blot my face CAREFULLY, so as not to smudge makeup.  Heat is not my friend, was not my friend.... go ahead, try to get a full spandex body suit on, while sweaty.  I dare you...to say it as a little difficult, whew!  
Don't get me wrong, Michael is an awesome guy, and I had a good time, but extreme heat ( or for that matter cold) DOES make things much more difficult.  ( though it also made us go faster, to finish up....but that is not always a good thing, as there were poses that in retrospect, I would have wanted to try, but it was just so hot. ) So here is a word to the wise.... outside shoots, one expects to be uncomfortable because of heat or cold or rain or water, but inside....comfort should be taken into consideration. So Michael, as much as I like you... if we work together again, full summer would not be best time to do it in.

You may ask why I have not been shooting so much?
2 reasons really. One is that I am looking for more paid work- not that I won't do TFP, but it needs to be a concept that I haven't done before- something new...something that I have really been wanting to do...and most of those ideas are pretty conceptual.  The second reason, is that I had a bit of time where I got lazy with my eating and my exercise...and I gained weight...So I have beefed up my working out again , and paying more attention to food, so that, I will be able to see my ab muscles again.( not to mention, get into all ready waiting to be shot wardrobe)
Yes, let me make it clear, I do love my body, and I am fairly amazed at the things it has done BUT just because I love it, doesn't mean it can't be better- doesn't mean I stop striving...I had a hiccup, it happens, now it's back at it .    

Parking, Bathrooms and Heat

Photo by Bill Rock

Had a shoot on Tuesday with a photographer I have not worked with before, by the name of Bill Rock. Super nice guy, architect and started photography doing architectural work...he was looking to expand  with "edgier" models, I was looking to do something with architecture.  Worked out for both of us, I hope.
We met downtown (not to self, remember to check when festivals are starting so as to know when roads are closed...turned out to be the day before Taste of Chicago- so the roads around Grant Park were closed, making my planned parking, more complicated than it was supposed to be. another note...when downtown, ask for parking money 32.00 to park, whooee!  )

Chicago is such a great city for architecture, had we time and the feet for it there are PLENTY of other great buildings/ places to take pictures ! But we went from The Art institute to the Auditorium Theatre, to the El and the riverfront- so  a good walk and great places to work.

People, which I thought would be an issue, just weren't. They would wait for the shutter to click, us to wave them through or go behind Bill, so not to impact shots.  Some watched, but not obtrusively,and not for long. The people were nice. had a man with quite possible the lowest, most gravely voice I have ever heard, tell me I looked good, and several compliments of wardrobe ( shoes especially)

The problems we ran into were wardrobe changes ( a restaurant restroom, isn't the best, but it worked.  Could have been worse, I don't think I could have handled a port-o-potty ) Make -up touch ups...well we did the best we could in the bathrooms, and with the heat ( it was almost 90) I will tell you, leather shorts may be shorts, but they get STICKY...how my face was not totally flushed from the heat, I don't know.   Hair had to remain simple...I started with it up, and gradually took pins out , a little teasing and spray was all I could manage in the time and space ( and wind) I was dealt.

But overall, I think it went great. Bill seemed really happy with the images he got, I certainly am happy with the sneak peaks he provided.
All in all, another adventure, another different experience, with images  to prove it.