game over ©2012 Gary Garbett
Go ahead and wait for Puxatony Phil all you want.
The way I see it, the heck with February 2nd groundhogs, 12″ sprouting bulbs win. Break out the shorts and Wayfarers. Game over.
days seen with open eyes and a camera
home alone ©2012 Gary Garbett
While my wife vacationed in Cancun with her parents this past week, I spent a great deal of time with my thoughts and myself. I’ve changed a lot since I was a younger man. Then again, I haven’t changed much at all. My wild and frenzied week of being home alone looked vaguely similar to this.
I listened to more records on my turntable at high volume than I have in a decade and even found a few rarities that I forgot I owned. I prepped a few new recipes in the kitchen and made bbq chicken twice. It was delicious. I cleaned the refrigerator. Every single shelf is spotless, including the condiments shelves and the crispers. I laundered all of the Mexican blankets and linens. I drank coffee whenever I wanted and took my medications regularly as prescribed. I watched football, basketball, music videos, and Bogart films.
I danced with my pets. They make me laugh and I’m willing to bet they laughed at me too. I just can’t tell. I made the best grilled cheese sandwich in the world… three different times. I wore a ponytail, a baseball cap, flip flops, $600 slacks that I paid two dollars for at a thrift store, and many nights I wore pajamas before Brian Williams welcomed me to the 6:30 evening news. There was even one night when I sat with the flickering glow of candlelight while reading liner notes.
I did those mundane things like the dishwasher, the litter box, the laundry, the grocery store, and my weekly jaunt to the landfill and recycling center. I reorganized the kitchen cabinets. I captured a few moments with my camera and a few more with words. I taught myself how to do a few things that I didn’t know before last week. I spent time with each of our three children. They’re all adults now, but they’ll always be my children. I saw red cardinals on several different occasions during the week and I managed to catch an unexpected afternoon nap one day, something I rarely ever do.
I talked to my Mom on the telephone and told her I loved her before saying goodbye. Several nights I was in bed before 10, and other nights not until after 2AM. On Saturday morning I served up a wonderful breakfast, just for the pups and I. I made it a point to say my prayers before going to bed, but admit that I missed a few nights. I also cursed a couple times during the week and apologized whenever I caught myself.
Looking back, my week was everything that it normally is on any given week, minus the company.
eclectic breakfast ©2012 Gary Garbett
I treated myself to a few of the things that I love most this morning – music and cooking. As a result, my Saturday morning looked a little like this.
Scrambled eggs with tabbouleh and feta folded in and sprinkled with parmesan; crispy turkey bacon; toasted oatmeal bread topped with a friend’s delicious homemade lavender peach preserves; a pot of Puerto Rican coffee; and orange juice. Of course an excellent dining experience could never be had without the right ambiance of music, so my turntable soundtrack included Little Feat, Eddie Kendricks, and Cheech and Chong’s Los Cochinos. I do my best to keep the peace around our ranch. So yes, I made enough to share with the pups. The world is a happy place.
I’m almost certain if you Google Map “eclecticism”, you’ll see my house and get directions. See you for dinner.
show and tell ©2012 Gary Garbett
I’ve spent the past few weeks cataloging my record album collection and database. It’s been sort of like attending a 40-year high school reunion without the awkwardness or the nametags. I dig the musicians and their art that helped sculpt the boy I once was into the man I’ve become today. Aside from decades of gained “life” knowledge and grayer hair, there’s really not too much different between the two of us.
My collection represents me. It really is a mish mash of genres, trends, classics, oddities, and accented with its share of one hit wonders, all of which I still believe in. From the time I first began collecting records, I’ve always taken great care of them. Most still have their original shrink-wrap including the advertising sticker that reads, “Includes poster and an eight page collector booklet”. Although the music is essential, great package design has always intrigued me and been equally as important. Several albums in my collection are there strictly because of their packaging and art.
Long before the internet or telephones for your pocket, I’d spend hours and hours on a regular basis studying my heroes through the pages of rock and roll magazines and by flipping through rows and rows of record albums at locally owned record stores. Spending the past few days sorting through thousands of liner notes and deep grooves has been a welcomed reunion with some damn fine music, some which I’ve not heard in years. It’s also been a reawakening with a medium I’ve never ever been very far from. I’m pretty fond of that kid I grew up with. He spent hours each day absorbing a world of music through his turntable. It makes me even happier today, knowing that he still does.
I brought a 1970s Creem Magazine to the office today that I stumbled across during my cataloging. I’ve decided to resurrect show and tell… just because I can. Peace!
days of color ©2012 Gary Garbett
With snow leaving traces of white on our roof and winter painting the afternoon gray, my kitchen was filled with color this afternoon.
defining self ©2012 Gary Garbett
Between the news I heard last week and the question I was asked this morning, I’ve spent much of today taking a far closer look than normal at myself.
Following my morning coffee, weeding through emails, and a few good morning kisses from the pups, I headed out the door for Sunday worship. Recently I’ve missed more sermons than heard and today I wanted to change that trend. It is after all a new year. For me, the best messages aren’t those that are simply well prepared and delivered from a pulpit, but instead the ones that suggest deeper thought and self-evaluation. Today was one of those kinds of sermons. The takeaway as I made my walk to the car was quite simple, “what defines me?”
Ironically I’d already begun asking myself this very question on Friday afternoon upon hearing that a friend had passed away. I was shocked by the news and to my surprise, she hadn’t passed recently, Friday marked the fourth anniversary and I never knew. Naturally, I spent the balance of Friday in memory mode. It was a healthy mental time and two days after receiving the news, it continues.
The older I become, I find myself holding onto my past more than I once did. I certainly don’t make it a point to live for the past, but I have great respect for it being responsible for much of the very thing my pastor discussed this morning. In all of it’s greatest, worsts, and more than it’s share of mediocre days, my past defines the very man that I am today.
Reflection is a way I continue moving forward. That evaluation of knowing where I’ve been propels me. My father guided and taught me more than his share from the time I was a child through my adulthood. His far too early death nineteen years ago however didn’t erase those life lessons. I still use them… many of them daily.
Although we hadn’t seen one another in several years, the news of Donna’s passing still saddens me. To say that she died too young is such a cliché, but it’s the best I can come up with and the fact is, she did. I’m incredibly grateful however for all of the life and laughter that she brought to mine. Each of them are now blessings.
The passing of time continues to move quicker than it once did, all the while defining me and defining us. Hold onto it.
chili summer ©2012 Gary Garbett
In preparation for the weekend playoff games, I spent some quality time in the kitchen today for a little pre-game warm up.
My homemade chili and skillet baked salsa cheddar cornbread are ready and waiting for the coin toss. The afternoon cooking soundtrack had a number of LP fare on the menu from southern rock to Donna Summer’s Live and More spinning on the turntable. It all worked just fine together. Playoff games after all are about the spice and the last dance.
Good luck to your team this weekend and Bon Appétit. Life is delicious.
moving forward ©2012
Yesterday marked the end of the first week of 2012. The weather and the day were nearly identical to the week before. Almost to the minute from a week earlier, I passed a cemetery yesterday that I’d driven by on the afternoon of New Years Eve. On a date generally known for celebrating great hopes and new beginnings, a funeral was taking place. Beneath the largest blue sky was a green canopy providing shade for family, friends, and loved ones who instead were spending this final day of 2011 by saying farewell. There was no champagne, no confetti, and no loud countdown to a brilliant display of lights. There was only sunshine, silence, and goodbyes.
I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking quite a bit about those things that I control; and more importantly, those that I don’t. I’m not generally one that’s big on making annual resolutions. A good idea is a good idea. Whether you begin it on January 1 or May 5th is really unimportant. The importance comes from making a healthy decision, committing to the right people, and being honest with yourself.
I’ve happily committed to a number of those in recent years. On December 30, I celebrated my second year of sobriety. It certainly would have been far easier for me to wait until January 1. Then I could have bookmarked it as one of those happy, new beginning, resolution kind of things. It couldn’t wait though and neither could I.
I owe it to myself to be surrounded by the right people; to learn how to forgive; to wake in the morning and live the entire day until I lay my head on my pillow at nighttime for a few hours sleep; to smile because I truly mean it; and to move with a forward momentum. I’d like to dance everyday to the music in my head and sing the lyrics …whether I know all the words or not. I need to leave any random aches from my past where they are and move with one step in front of the other.
I’m responsible for me, so if a large blue sky plans to shine on my day, I refuse to be invisible.
best i can ©2012 Gary Garbett
Relaxation has never come easy for me. I’ve always been one of those “I must always be doing something” sorts of people. I love working for the university. It forces me to take time off when the campus is closed. This year with the way the holidays fell on the calendar and my adding four additional vacation days, I ended up with a good spell of two and a half weeks away from the office.
Of course I had all of these lists of chores and tasks that I knew I’d accomplish during the time off. As usual though, things, projects, and days change. I did accomplish quite a bit and after working through the holiday and family commitments, I was able to make some healthy time for me in the studio. It may not have been the most artistically productive time, but it was great spending several days in the space that’s become more and more difficult for me to find time for. I still have a few more days to bask in this down time thing. As difficult as it is for me to do, I’m finally in relaxation mode and to my surprise I’m actually enjoying the idea.
Today was day fourteen of vacation. I walked two miles, ate tacos for lunch, read liner notes, conditioned my hair, and got a zit. I’m doing the best I can and with only four more days to get it right, I promise to do my best… whatever it is, including getting better with this whole relaxing concept.
new years eve ©2011 Gary Garbett
Twelve months ago I wanted to be challenged creatively every day. It didn’t matter if the inspiration was for five minutes or extended five days. From that idea, this daily photo blog was born on January 1. I committed to it. Not only was I dedicated to the process; it was equally important that I share it with the world. Every… single… day.
The daily promise I made to myself was for one year. Today marks day three hundred sixty-five.
Over the year, my cameras and I became best friends, opening my eyes to the world probably more than they’d ever been before. I saw average things that had gone unnoticed for years and I saw remarkable things that I’ll never see again. I met new friends, greeted the mornings, and anxiously looked forward to tomorrows. Surprisingly, I learned a great deal about myself by documenting each day. The images I took became diary entries, my words a road map.
After three hundred sixty-five days, A Passing Glimpse went from seven views on January 1, 2010 to over 13,000 visitors as of last night. Those numbers pale in the corporate world, but for a guy that just wanted to share a new photo every day, I’ll take it. I’ve stood behind my cameras to capture more than 30,000 images using three different cameras. Some of them will never see the light of day, but a few are keepers. It’s interesting to look over a year’s worth of images. They take me back and remind me. They celebrate moments, days, and light.
Upon stepping into 2012 tomorrow, I don’t plan to do much different than I did this year. I’ll continue unfolding my creative path. I don’t have much choice with that. It’s what I do. New Years always invite new direction and with this post, today fulfills the creative promise I made to myself one year ago. I love how this blog has become such a healthy retreat for me. As I look toward 2012, A Passing Glimpse will continue to be the home for my images and my thoughts… just not on a daily basis. Bookmark this blog, share it with a friend, and follow me on my Gary Garbett Art + Photography page for all of my creative updates. Happy New Year.
And yes, I promise to still be creative. Every… single… day.
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