The Zombie Walk

We went on a new adventure yesterday. The 2009 Portland Zombie Walk. The basic premise is that Zombies "WERE people too" and "deserve the right to eat whoever they want". Ok, maybe not. In reality, it's a fun event where people gather, "dressed" as zombies and walk around the streets of Portland, culminating in an odd re-enactment of the Micheal Jackson Thriller video. We tagged along as non-zombie participants, taking photos along the route. My favorite shot was one that I titled "Last Call" where someone had put bloody handprints on a phone booth (against coordinators specific directions against putting "blood" on any public or private wall, window, surface, or vehicle). I had a couple of favorite quotes that I overheard. One, a young lady decked out in a tattered white blouse and tan skirt, fake blood dripping everywhere, stated, "Oh NO.. I hope I don't get mud on my mom's good boots!" The other, an over the top young man, "blood" soaked, multi-pierced face, lips, nose, upon seeing a fellow zombie with a bloody bottle protruding out of the top of his head exclaimed, "Dude, THAT is disGUSTing!" I wanted to point him in the direction of the nearest mirror, but I was laughing too hard.

Seasons Come and Seasons Go

Summer is over, and autumn has arrived in it's usual stormy way. Gusty winds blowing leaves all around. Rain beating down in bursts. Washington State isn't known for its overall fall foliage, although there are some really pretty places... or so I have heard. An odd thing that I noticed last weekend was that the capitol campus of "The Evergreen State" has a relatively small amount of Evergreens, dominated rather by maples and other deciduous trees. Near the WaDOT building I found a rhododendron with a single blossom still clinging mightily to its stem. This is odd, since most rhodies are done blooming by...oh... early summer. I love the autumn storms. I drove home through a rare thunder & lightning event the other day. Traffic slowed to 40 or so on the interstate, mostly due to the fact that the visibility had shrunk to about 6 inches. I would have much preferred to be somewhere with my camera set up to catch that once in a lifetime lightning shot. I almost got one once. It was with my previous camera,and just a millisecond too slow. Maybe I'll get another chance this fall.

Mammograms

Really... If you are a gal over 40, get your annual exam. It's a bit uncomfortable, sure. But, what is worse, 15 minutes of discomfort, or the pain and horror of breast cancer treatment?
C'mon… Do it!!!