The Bees Got Nothing On Me!

I say that because I've been so incredibly busy. The past month has been a whirlwind of activity, and even a little bit of productivity, too. My organizational skills are really being put to the test, which can only help me improve them -- and as so many of my friends can tell you, this is a good thing.

Several personal projects, though, have been put on hold until I can get a better handle on the whole time-management thing. So, if you haven't heard from me in awhile, or haven't spotted me around my usual haunts, worry not; It will only be a matter of time before I resurface and resume a more normal schedule.

It's baaaaack!

The camera. The memory card. And, most importantly, the pictures.

They all arrived (safe and sound) in the mail this afternoon. No surprises. I still can't believe it, but am glad to have the photos and movies which had almost been lost forever.

On a side note, I saw a young woman (24 years old) nearly die right in front of me this morning. She is a diabetic who relies on an insulin pump to help keep her sugar levels in check. Anyway, she hadn't eaten for several hours in the morning (around 11am) and was under a little bit of stress (buying a new car), and she simply tanked. . . FAST! Actually, she began convulsing first, then she stopped breathing (turning her lips and face first blue, then ashen gray.)

I thought she was going to die.

She didn't. . . and responded very rapidly to very intensive and immediate treatment. But man, it was scary to see.

An Update

It seems that the nice people at Hershey Park may have found my previously lost (read: stolen) camera (see previous post). They called today for a more specific description of the pictures conatained on the memory card, mainly because the card itself was still in the camera. It also matched the brand and size which I stated in my initial report.

You see, when you submit a report on the item lost, all the information is entered into a computer database and is cross-referenced with items logged into a database of found items. When they get a hit on this referenced search, someone examines the items and their descriptions to see if the item found is indeed the same as the one which had been lost.

It's a simple, but apparently effective method. And, based on the conversation I had with one of the "Lost & Found Dept." personnel, the pictures on the memory card appear to have been taken by me. If the story ended there, I'd be happy. But that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

Some of the pictures described to me didn't sound familiar at all. So now I wonder silently, "Could it be that the person who had my camera during the past two weeks left additional pictures on my card? Could it simply be the wrong camera? Or maybe it had been stolen, as I suspected, and somehow found its way to the lost and found in spite of the fact? What additional clues will the camera offer?"

It's a mystery.

I had written-off the camera and its contents the day after it vanished. Other family members held out hope a bit longer, including my mother -- a sure sign of eternal optimism and unwavering faith in mankind. I had no such illusions; clearly, the camera had been stolen, and the culprits had gotten away with it.

I have to admit -- they were probably right. But I'm still wondering what those 'other' photos could be. . . ?

Summertime

My brain seems to have taken a break to soak in the sun. Either that, or my life just isn't interesting enough to blog about lately. Maybe it's a bit of both. . .

About the only real news in my life, is that some slimeball stole my digital camera last weekend during my return trip to Hershey Park. It was a family outing we had planned for several months after I visited the park during their winter festival. In true amusement-park style, the place was crowded with families, school groups, and rogue teens. It was also unusually hot, which made for excellent weather for the water rides, too.

I was sitting down on a bench, trusty camera by my side, waiting for my youngest cousins to return from their ride on the Skyway. Then, the fatal mistake. . . I left my seat (don't ever do this if you have stuff on the bench) to consult the park map. It was only a few seconds, but it was all the thief needed to carry out his/her dirty deed.

As if by magic, the camera had vanished into thin air. The scoundrels were kind enough, however, to leave my souvenir mug in its place. Perhaps they are nostalgic and wanted me to have a memento of the occasion.

Now, the camera is just a camera. In fact, it's only one of several that I own. But the photos and movies from the family trip which were on the memory card are irreplaceable.

My heart sank.

Sensing my distress, cousin Diane summed it up thusly: "Well, you lost your pictures that were in the camera, but you still have the pictures in your memory. And you'll have those forever!" Leave it to a ten-year-old to put things in perspective for you. In that instant, I was freed from the prison of my own negative thoughts, and was free to enjoy the rest of the trip unaffected.

All in all, everyone had a really fun weekend. Besides, I still had my spare camera in the car!

Frustration

It's annoying, isn't it?

Some days, I feel as though no matter what path I take, the universe conspires against me, mocking my every move. It's a very uncomfortable feeling -- you know what I'm talking about.

So we rely on family and friends to help validate us, to give us some encouragement. But sometimes even this backfires, and they are unable to provide us with any wise counsel, or even a vote of confidence.

Finally, the realization that "this, too, shall pass" kicks in. And it is apparent that we're deep in the middle of the fray, like a giant, cosmic game of chess, except we are every piece on the board from pawn to King. Our opponent only wants us to believe we are losing. It is his last desperate attempt to undermine our confidence, and hence, our good judgement. His only hope of prevailing waiting for you to blunder.

What's your move?

Babies & Funerals

We're drawn to them both.

They are subtle reminders of the interconnectedness of all our lives. In babies, we experience the awesome sense of possibility, the limitless potential; the miracle of life. With funerals, no matter whether we know the departed well or only casually, we feel as though we should be there. We seem to know, somewhere deep down inside us, that our lives affect all the other lives around us. Even when we are unaware of it.

I've been thinking about these and other things lately, especially after having read a poignant entry in my friend Tara's blog, where she speaks of a young boy she knew named David. Although David's life was tragically difficult and short, he had a tremendous impact on the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. Even know, his story and his spirit continue to impact the lives of we who are of this life.

So the next time you feel alone, scared, uncertain, abandoned, or otherwise disenchanted, rest assured knowing that your life has made others possible. That your life has made others easier. That your life has made others worth living. Rest assured in the all the reasons we're drawn to babies and funerals.

From the Mouths of Babes

My cousin Diane is 10 years old, and had the following conversation with me at our big family dinner yesterday evening:

Diane: "Was it *really* a flat tire which made you three hours late to our house today?"

Walter: "Yes, of course. Why?"

Diane: "Well, I thought maybe you were really on the internet. . . y'know looking for a date or something."

Walter: "Really? What makes you think you can find dates on the internet?" [She doesn't have an internet conection at home]

Diane:"Oh, I dunno. Maybe some [in a snarky voice]technology-girl thinks you're cute."

You just can't make this stuff up.

Sick As A Dog

Twice a year, usually around the time allergy season peaks, it visits me -- that itchy-scratchy feeling in the back of my throat. Within a few days, its traveling companions, watery burning eyes, pesky cough, and swollen glands follow.

I'll have to put my new crockpot to use and make some chicken soup or something. That is, if I can muster up the motivation to do much else besides lie in bed and sleep.

Finally, a belated Happy 31st Birthday to my old friend (you know who you are.) Okie-dokie-hokie-pokie. . .

Beach House Self-Portrait

Beach House Self-Portrait
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

I recently visited with my dear long-time friend, Tara Kekahuna Parks to shoot some photos and hang out. Make sure you visit her excellent blog (if you don't already.

We ended up at Seaside Heights boardwalk, opting for some saltwater taffy, crabcakes, and Kohr's ice cream.

I'll write later about our adventure at the game tables!

Paula Abdul Is Drunk (or Insane)

That is all.

Today's Quote

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." - Goethe

---

Perspective

Thought for today:

Take a time out from your daily routine to be thankful for everything in your life, especially the people with whom you are surrounded. It is so easy to lose perspective and let our perceptions overshadow the truly important things.

We've all heard it before, and know it's true. . . but the trick is to live it daily. As they used to be fond of saying: this ain't no dress rehearsal, folks!

Runnin' Hot and Cold

Hot and Cold
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

So my friend, Kevin Casey came across this gem during the Tokyo leg of his current tour. Apparently, this was an attempt by some locals to accommodate their American guests. Ya just can't make this stuff up!

Payin' The Bills

So I've gotten tired of the never-ending-search-for-a-day-gig routine. It seems that I'm either over-qualified or under-qualified for jobs ranging from $7/hour to $25/hour.

So what to do? [Warning: Shameless plug to follow]

Go into business for yourself and charge $50/hour or more! Hence the creation of www.walthertmanphoto.com

I figured, why not turn a hobby into a profitable business? So, if you (or anyone you know) is in the market for wedding photography or family/business portraits, send them my way.

You could even earn a tidy sum in return for your referrals. Here's how:

For every referral client that books before April 10, 2006, I will pay you $50 CASH. Heck, send enough business my way, and you might be able to retire early and start your own business!

Zero To 60

Zero To 60
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

Nahhh, I wasn't really driving when I made this photo. But now that the cat is out of the bag, you might enjoy it anyway.

Late-Night Dining

Late-Night Dining
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

I've been busy working on some photography. So much so, that even when I take a dinner break, ideas are presenting themselves to my brain!

Quail (Dick) Hunting

Read my lips: I’m no conservative!

But let’s gain some perspective, folks -- the White House press corps is clearly overreacting to Dick Cheney’s recent hunting mishap. This story should have been good for a few nights worth of wisecracks and one-liners from the likes of Letterman and Leno, not the major political calumny the pundits are attemtping to push.

It’s not as if Cheney was attempting to assassinate a political rival under the thin guise of a hunting accident, although it might be advisable for them, and perhaps even a few lobbyists, to ponder future invitations from the VP with some caution.

The call for Cheney to make some sort of statement about the incident is misguided, at best; asinine, at worst.

With all the truly serious challenges our country faces, both abroad, and right here at home, we ought to work harder to find creative solutions for those issues which actually matter -- like making sure the National Security Administration starts tapping Dick's phone line, just in case.

The Power of Positive Habits

Many of you know that I'm an avid proponent of 'peak performance' technologies: affirmations, creative visualization, meditation, and others. I truly believe that we become what we think about, whether our thoughts are positive or negative.

If we change our thinking, we change our lives. Changing our thinking changes our income. Changing our thinking changes our personal relationships. In other words, we can substantially improve every aspect of our lives by improving our thinking.

I'm not just talking about "positive thinking." All the positive thinking in the world won't enable you to dunk a basketball if you don't have the physical skill to do so. What I am talking about is taking charge of how we consistently direct our thoughts, which in turn, determines our actions, and eventually, our goals.

Enter, The Power of Positive Habits. I'm so excited about this great eBook and audio program, that I'm recommending it to anyone who wants to improve any aspect of their lives. That, plus the fact that I'm an affiliate, so I earn some kind of living until someone hires me!

Seriously, The Power of Positive Habits is an amazing resource of which everyone should take full advantage. Check it out and see for yourself!

Dummies

Portrait Practice
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

I've been spending some quality time with this one, named Shirley (hey, I didn't name her, ok?).

Seriously, I've been trying to practice some things I learned in a photography class I took two summers ago.

Maybe if my doctor sees this, he'll finally write that Ambein prescription I keep asking for!

Diet Coke Kills

I've seen the first casualty of my Diet Coke addiction -- my laptop's keyboard.

This addiction is no laughing matter, mind you. It started when I was traveling with "Miss Saigon," wanting to cut back on syrupy, over-sweetened soft drinks. Diet Pepsi seemed even sweeter than its sugar-laden counterparts, if that could be possible, and so it was that I found the former much more to my liking.

Several guilt-free weeks passed, and I found that I was starting to drink quite startling amounts of the magical, carbonated, sugar-free nectar. It was obvious. . . the caffeine contained in this mystical potion was part of the addiction. There would be no turning back from my 12-pack-a-day habit.

Sure, the stuff is more like a can of embalming fluid than a real thirst-quencher, but it keeps me hopped-up enough to get by on about 4 hours of sleep each night. Little did I know the real havoc it can wreak, then it happened. . .

Oooops! Oh, sh*t -- my fr$@#^^!'in laptop!

Oh, OK. None inside the machine. The keyboad took the hit. Wait. . . the keyboad? KEYBOAD!? Whe e's the ?

So, $60 and a few missing 'R's and '4's later, Apple was kind enough to get a replacement in the mail super-quickly. It arrived this afternoon, and now, typing has taken on a pleasure which is greater than almost any other I've known in a looooong time (sad, isn't it?).

Maybe it's just feels more special because it's my birthday.

City Driving

Daily Commute: GWB
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

I've recently been inspired by New York-based photographer Clay Enos, by way of an interview he did for Studiolighting.net which was made into a podcast.

Clay makes very compelling images, whether he's shooting people, places, or more mundane subject matter.

You can also view Clay's blogHERE.

Sixteen Candles

Ive always suspected myself of being a dork. Now it's confirmed.

No matter how many times I see it, or even portions of it, usually at some odd hour in the middle of the night, Sixteen Candles teleports me instantly back to that most special of decades -- The 80's.

I don't know what it is about those years that seems so idealized in my present-day memory, but even way back then, I knew that the era would always hold a special place in my heart.

It must be that we all have a particular part of our lives which, at least for our own selves and for whatever reasons, are more special than the others. Perhaps these were times when we were the happiest, or the most optimistic, or at the height of our youthful powers.

I can't say for certain.

Nevertheless, the people, the places, and all the various parts of my life in the 80's suddenly rush back like a soccer-mom running late to practice, whenever this movie finds its way into my local cable t.v. schedule.

The funny thing is, it all seemed so awkward and angst-filled, and insecure in those "deified" days. The pressure to do well in school, fit in with the "cool" crowd, and to be otherwise socially acceptable (which meant different things, depending on which crowd you hun out with: The Rockers, The Guidos, The Jocks, The Weirdos, or The Nerds) was enough to make anybody second-guess their very existence, let alone try to be cool.

Oh, but how I tried.

Maybe that's what I miss the most -- I was cool. Believe it or not, ALL the band geeks were the coolest kids in school. Clearly, we lived in some experimental, underground, super-secret society of Artsy-Fartsy Band Dorks.

Youth is not wasted on the young, it just fits them better.

Oh yeah, and Molly Ringwald is still hot. I know, I know -- but all the other guys in my band class think so, too.

The Joys of Job-Hunting

It comes down to this: I need a day gig!

Sure, it was all fun and games on the road. Not much to worry about except whether or not the next city had decent sushi, whether your hotel room was a suite or a double, and "how late does room service deliver?" After the end of my tour, unemployment insurance actually provided more cash than a 40-hour-per-week day gig, so why bother, right?

Well, friends, the last of the insurance money has been spent. Room service is now a short stroll into the kitchen, where I become my own "help." And there are no mints to be found anywhere near my pillow, let alone turn-down service (which takes on a completely different meaning these days.)

I want to see the manager, dammit!

So I hit the streets wide-eyed and optimistic. "Day gigs" [Read: Full-time job] are a musician's necessary evil; between gigs, the rent still needs to get paid. I rejoice because most of the newspaper ads say, "Apply in person," and I'm phenomenal face-to-face. It all made me very happy.

That is, until I figured out that when the ad says "Apply in person," what they really mean is:

"Please waste your precious (and expensive) fuel by driving many miles out of the way, to our difficult-to-find location, so you can meet our attitude-laden, minimum-wage-earning secretary, who will then give you our standard application to fill out. When you're done, drop it in the box with all the others, most of which we'll never even look at. Oh yeah, and, um . . . don't call us, we'll call you. Have a nice day!"

Actually, they don't really ever vocalize that last part about having a nice day, but in my heart I know they want to. In reality it's more of an apathetic grunt. Which, I suppose, is better than saying nothing.

Well, maybe not.

Fortunately, I have yet to become desperate enough to peddle any body parts -- it would be too disheartening to find out the real market value, piece-by-piece, of an entire human body on the open market.

So, I'll continue to play the game, traipsing from place to place, appearing in person, if only to leave behind resumes that could have been mailed on the cheap. I think, "Maybe I'll get some face time, maybe not." Either way, it makes for adventure.

Oh yeah, I'm livin' the dream!

The Greatest American

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

Happy Birthday, Dr. King

It was in the summer of 2003 when I first visited the tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (where Kings Jr. & Sr. preached) in Atlanta, GA.

Sadly, I didn't know much about the man, beyond what the textbook entries describe. But that would all change with my visit. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my life.

My friends and I set off on foot that sweltering afternoon from our midtown hotel. We were to first visit Atlanta City Hall to pay our respects to another great Atlantan, Maynard Jackson, the first African American mayor of that city. Then, we would walk to Dr. King's tomb making visits to Ebenezer, the MLK Center, and his boyhood home, all located within a few blocks from each other.

The walk turned out to be much longer than we anticipated, but we endured anyway, sensing the importance of learning more about this man, and also about Atlanta.

I can't say for certain that any one aspect of our day trip was the trigger for my intensely emotional experience; Maybe it was the long walk, en masse, in the southern heat of summer, as Dr. King had done in so many cities (even under threats of violence and death);
Maybe it was the impact of the stately funeral for Atlanta's landmark statesman;
Maybe it was seeing firsthand, the run-down homes and shops of Atlanta's poorest neighborhood;
Maybe it was just being inside the church where a truly great man inspired a nation.

Maybe it was all those and more.

No matter. I learned more than I expected to that day. I learned more about Dr. King, more about the idea of "America, " more about our humanity and inhumanity, and much, much more about myself.

I also learned just how far we have come, and how far we have yet to go.

The Night Tripper

For those of you who may not know about Dr. John, The Night Tripper, here's a little musical morsel to feast on. Just thought I'd share what I've been listening to lately. Enjoy!

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Hidden Talents

Your Hidden Talent

You have the power to persuade and influence others. You're the type of person who can turn a whole room around. The potential for great leadership is there, as long as you don't abuse it. Always remember, you have a lot more power over people than you might think!

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Everyone Loves A Wedding

Down The Aisle
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

I was recently the "official" photogapher for my cousin Amy's wedding. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but also a lot of fun.

Here is the blushing bride with her Dad, as he walks her down the aisle. Yeah, the event was slightly un-traditional. How 'bout that hair?

One For Pineapple

Walter & Stephanie
Originally uploaded by walterhertman.

At the request of my longtime (and dear) friend, Tara (aka Pineapple), here is a recent photo of me, taken at my cousin Amy's wedding reception. The lovely lady on my arm is Stephanie -- a beautiful woman who digs photographers =)

You see, Tara and I have been friends since our junior high school days, waaaay back in 1981. I always had a crush on her, but didn't get up the nerve to actually ask her out until we were just starting high school. Ah, the innocence of youth. . .

We lost contact with each other as the years rolled on, only to reconnect this past summer via the internet, when I found her blog. As a result she has inspired me to write more frequently in mine.

Thanks, Tara.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The President of the United States of America . . .

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Is Pat Robertson Nuts?

Either he's losing his marbles, or he's sly like a fox. Maybe a little of both . . .