Last night a small cold front came through northern California and dropped a little rain and blew out east as fast as it came. That left today brisk, clear, and needle bright. My wife JJ (there’s no va in JJ) suggested we go for a walk. So we grabbed our cameras and headed out and we did this because the neighborhood looks like this:
Anyway, we’re enjoying our walk and taking lots of shots of yellow and orange and red trees. JJ focuses on tree pics and I find other things to shoot as well:
So, we wander down one street and decide to take a few shots and suddenly this woman appears on her porch demanding to know what we are doing. “Excuse me, excuse me, why are you taking pictures,” she yells across the yard. (This is her house below)
I tell her we’re with a radical sect of the Taliban and we are photographing her neighborhood and I was wondering if she has any children. No, see, we tell her we’re just taking pictures of the trees. She stares at us for long moment and finally says, “Okay.” This pisses me-off because we are standing in the street, not on her yard or even the sidewalk. I make a mental note to avoid this part of the neighborhood during the next Imbolc Festival. I have tagged her house on Google Maps, so if anybody living in northern California wants to take a picture of her house, then email me and I’ll send you the link.
This is the third time in a month that I have been hassled for shooting pictures in public. I try to be respectful, its not like I go around shooting photographs like this:
Honestly, I actually got permission to shoot this.
But the day wasn’t a total bust because as we were nearing the end of our walk I noticed these foreclosure balloons…
…and well it turns out that James (the guy in the background) comes by and we chat for a minute and he’s having a good time and telling me what a great day it is to be taking photographs…and this guy is in a freakin’ wheelchair, so…
…the lights green James, have a kick-ass day, thanks man.
I like James!
Me too!!
I especially loved the colors in the first photo of the tree.
And I think I’d like James as well. He looks likeable.
When the lady started asking you questions, you either could have started randomly talking about your penis. OR told her that you work for a tabloid and have an inside scoop that a certain celebrity that everyone believes dead, is in fact now living in seclusion on this very block. Then you could’ve moonwalked your ass down the street. That would’ve stirred some shit.
I am laughing for several reasons Scott and you know why!!! Quid pro quo, right?? Thanks, man.
Quid pro quo for sure. Thanks, I owe you one!
I can just hear that woman’s voice now….it’s Samantha’s neighbor in Bewitched.
BTW….was the balloon concealing anything we should know about?
And….great tree in first photo.
Exactly my thoughts YnB, thanks.
@yorksnbeans beat me to my comments! More James entries please….
Hey Angie, great to hear from you.
Quote: there’s no va in JJ
too funny. Hopefully every once in a while there’s a U in there.
What the heck are you guys talking about??
Oprah uses the term Va-Jay-Jay for vagina.
Bearman, why you gotta steal my thunder? I wanted the va in jj quote.
So…did she have any children?
(Hilarious squared, FJ)
Call me Canadian, but I have honestly never seen trees that color before.
I’ve also never seen a flag on a wheelchair before. I dig it.
That Bearman.
You can still have the va in JJ line Ms B, cuz, can you really have too much vagina in a post? Okay, that didn’t sound right…forget it.
So sorry you were responding to the 20 long ass posts on your blog the minute you post something. I got here first.
It surprises me that James would be that pleasant as from this angle he greatly resembles Larry David.
Great shots and a great story. Your angried-up neighbors could learn a lot from James. People get so pissed off about everything these days. It pisses me off.
I actually thought the same thing CLT, you must be a genius. Good to see you bro.
Possibly related posts, “walking and stalking” says it all FJ! The shot of James from behind is very cool.
I should check these more often, sometimes they’re pretty funny. Thanks T
So glad you cleared up the Va JJ thing!
I also liked the “needle bright” wording…you bastard…you’re so good at this writing stuff!
See you tomorrow!
Whachu talkin’ about Willis??
He does look like Larry David. Now I’m picturing Susie Green launching an obscenity laced tirade against you and your camera. And I’m laughing my ass off.
OK, I was going to ask what kind of tree is in the third photo, but I see this is the wrong post for that!
It is odd how taking a picture scares so many people. I would imagine these same people would make fun of the “jungle people” for thinking the camera steals their soul. Maybe the lady thought your picture was going to steal her house.
I totally thought the same thing RR, really! I am a soul catcher, Bewhahahaha.