Grumpy Old Man

As an artist pent up in a cubicle all day working nimbly on insurance and putting out fires for other people, sometimes a little walk with my camera is needed. Well today was one of those days that aloud for a lunch break and a meander down Pleasant Valley Road. After stopping at the liquor store by the 3 way stop at Bucks Bar Road, you know that intersection next to the creepy house that everyone said was haunted? Yes, fitting for Halloween I thought. Well next to said liquor store is this quaint office looking space that I have never seen occupied but has recently had an address added by the door. Being the photographer that I am and seeing two old lonely barrels I decided that this would be a great senior portrait or engagement session location. 

Until I met the owner of the property. I immediately thought Grumpy Old Men times ten. As he tried to quickly cross the street from the Haunted House at the Intersection he yells at me "What the hell are you doing?" So I replied as I do when I am somewhere shooting and the obvious question is asked, "I am a local photographer and this would make a great location for some portraits. I wanted to document this spot so that I may not forget about it."

The look on this man's face was by far the most evil look that I have seen from a person asking what I am doing. Imagine a 6' 7" or so 300 pound grumpy old man standing in front of you fuming. So I says to this man, "I have no problem in leaving but if you do not tell me that you have a problem and to leave I will continue on about my business of photographing the pretty things of this Earth." 

With that and a few ugly words in my direction I took what he said as "get off my property!" Now I know the truth. The old haunted house at the corner is not so much ghostly haunted as is haunted with negative old close mindedness. I think that I shall make him a print of the pretty little things of this Earth and hand deliver it next week. 

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Mahatma Gandhi 

To Stop Child Abuse

So, this morning after signing into Facebook I began to notice the fun cartoon scenes that people were changing their profile pics to. Interesting. Normally these don't catch my attention, like the infamous 'i like it...' or 'state the color of your bra' but this one is very serious.

The other night on the news they showed the story of the teen that 2 years ago had escaped a life of tragedy in Tracy. He is now living with his aunt and uncle loving life and not taking any small moment for granted. To read more of his amazing yet saddening story please visit Fox40.

Yet another amazing story is the one of the Dangerous Barbies. They are now finding that pedophiles are linking up cameras to these necklace pendants the new barbies are wearing. What?! They are always finding new and more disgusting ways to violate our youth. More on this one also at Fox40 or at The Huffington Post.

Some facts in regards to this subject:

• In 2005, 12.1 of every 1,000 American children, almost 900,000 in all, suffered abuse by adults, with parents of victims accounting for almost 80% of abusers.
• Every day, about four children die in the U.S. because of abuse or neglect, most of them babies or toddlers.  

• A third of all girls and a fifth of boys are sexually abused by an adult during childhood.   DoSomething.org

So please, take a few moments and stand up with the cause!