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Jun. 11th, 2009
In late April, between the many storms that hit the region, we went out on several wanders to see what we could. Along a major thoroughfare were several sites points out to us by friends so off we went.
Carpet Warehouse
Before even leaving Huntsville, we stopped off at a former retail carpet warehouse. Business was slow, so they let us wander around.
Shopping anyone?..
( Plush and shag, all sizes [16 images behind the cut] )
Carpet Warehouse
Before even leaving Huntsville, we stopped off at a former retail carpet warehouse. Business was slow, so they let us wander around.
Shopping anyone?..
( Plush and shag, all sizes [16 images behind the cut] )
Anyone in the local area have access or recomnmendations on where I could find, borrow or make use of a wheelchair for a shoot on Sunday??? I'm willing to consider purchase or make a small donation for a loaner.
Anyone?
Anyone?
NASCAR in NYC
Jun. 11th, 2009 05:28 pmI nearly laughed my ass off when I watched the expression on people's faces.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Brian-Vickers-pulls-off-the-first-ever-Times-Squ?urn=nascar,169424
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Brian-Vickers-pulls-off-the-first-ever-Times-Squ?urn=nascar,169424
Notes and Motes
Jun. 11th, 2009 10:35 pmRequiem for a mirage
EDIT: Since![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gynocide decided to cross post the link to this journal, allow me to politely welcome the many new viewers. Unfortunately one post does not a journal make (nor one side does a story tell). Enjoy the photos... Ignore the snark...
END EDIT:)
Today represents an inauspicious anniversary of sorts. As some folks reading this will recall, I lost my job with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in February of 2008, after someone complained that I was conducting my photo business from work. Though it was a lie, Lockheed took the most conservative route, and canned me. That event came right after a passionate but ill considered romance with a young woman who I fell deeply in love with, but who ultimately could not leave another relationship. One year ago to the day, I discovered that Angela was the person who filed the vindictive and ultimately disproved complaint (per a Federal security clearance investigation) which cost me my job. When I found out about this, I was deciding between taking the job I have now in Huntsville, AL and taking one in Ridgecrest, CA.
For a year, I have held out the faint hope that Angela would make an apology for her behavior. For some foolish reason it seemed like the least she could have done to make some small amends for causing me to lose my job, reputation, insurance, and putting my children’s welfare at risk. Instead, the only contact she made with me was to accuse me of faking my termination and merely being transferred to Huntsville by my former employer. I didn’t reply even though I had a copy of my final pay statement from Lockheed available to scan and mail. Why did I hold out hope of an apology? Perhaps I believed that there was a small measure of conscience and decency in Angie. Perhaps I hoped that she would display a measure of maturity or compassion befitting her nursing training. Perhaps, but instead her relative silence spoke volumes about her character.
A year later, I look back on the train wreck this young woman created in my life, my family and my career and I can scarcely believe how much has changed. This may come as a shocking statement, but I may owe her a debt of thanks. It’s a very small debt, especially when measured against the level of damage my family suffered for her treachery. Moving to Huntsville has provided me with so many opportunities and benefits. Calmer environment, lower cost of living, better schools for the kids, more photography opportunities and subjects and much more.. Yes, I miss aspects of and people in California, but the opportunities here in northern Alabama are far greater than I’d ever conceived of in southern California. I even have found someone here whom I’ve deeply and very comfortably fallen in love with.
What a difference a year makes..
Through a number of public and private sources, I’ve kept up with some aspects of Angie’s exploits since last year. Why?! An ancient Chinese proverb by Sun Tzu comes to mind.. “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Angela has been compelled to change Live Journal accounts, and has surrounded herself with on-line trolls and trouble-makers (some of which have received national attention). She’s now living in a part of Bakersfield that is widely considered the armpit of southern California. She is now a Licensed Vocational Nurse and working her ‘dream job’ - at a prison in Delano, CA. Must be nice to hand out Band-Aids to convicts, but hey she can afford her dream car (assuming anyone will give her credit). She’s made an enemy of one of her oldest friends and the Maid of Honor at her wedding. Apparently she was accused of plotting to steal away Angie’s husband. There’s a sense of irony there!
At this point, the chapter in my life that Angie occupies has been closed, utterly and completely. I’m not writing this out of malice or hate. I could have taken very personal revenge on her but instead chose not. I’m writing this as a requiem to a mirage and a cautionary note to her and others. The memory of this situation is steadily been buried deeper and deeper under the joy of new opportunities, new friends, new love and new hope. To my friends who stuck by me last year through one of the most horrible and scary periods of my life, you have my thanks in ways that words can not hope to express. You kept me going, gave me hope and kept me (mostly) sane. One year on, I’ve survived and done well.
EDIT: Since
gynocide decided to cross post the link to this journal, allow me to politely welcome the many new viewers. Unfortunately one post does not a journal make (nor one side does a story tell). Enjoy the photos... Ignore the snark...END EDIT:)
Today represents an inauspicious anniversary of sorts. As some folks reading this will recall, I lost my job with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in February of 2008, after someone complained that I was conducting my photo business from work. Though it was a lie, Lockheed took the most conservative route, and canned me. That event came right after a passionate but ill considered romance with a young woman who I fell deeply in love with, but who ultimately could not leave another relationship. One year ago to the day, I discovered that Angela was the person who filed the vindictive and ultimately disproved complaint (per a Federal security clearance investigation) which cost me my job. When I found out about this, I was deciding between taking the job I have now in Huntsville, AL and taking one in Ridgecrest, CA.
For a year, I have held out the faint hope that Angela would make an apology for her behavior. For some foolish reason it seemed like the least she could have done to make some small amends for causing me to lose my job, reputation, insurance, and putting my children’s welfare at risk. Instead, the only contact she made with me was to accuse me of faking my termination and merely being transferred to Huntsville by my former employer. I didn’t reply even though I had a copy of my final pay statement from Lockheed available to scan and mail. Why did I hold out hope of an apology? Perhaps I believed that there was a small measure of conscience and decency in Angie. Perhaps I hoped that she would display a measure of maturity or compassion befitting her nursing training. Perhaps, but instead her relative silence spoke volumes about her character.
A year later, I look back on the train wreck this young woman created in my life, my family and my career and I can scarcely believe how much has changed. This may come as a shocking statement, but I may owe her a debt of thanks. It’s a very small debt, especially when measured against the level of damage my family suffered for her treachery. Moving to Huntsville has provided me with so many opportunities and benefits. Calmer environment, lower cost of living, better schools for the kids, more photography opportunities and subjects and much more.. Yes, I miss aspects of and people in California, but the opportunities here in northern Alabama are far greater than I’d ever conceived of in southern California. I even have found someone here whom I’ve deeply and very comfortably fallen in love with.
What a difference a year makes..
Through a number of public and private sources, I’ve kept up with some aspects of Angie’s exploits since last year. Why?! An ancient Chinese proverb by Sun Tzu comes to mind.. “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Angela has been compelled to change Live Journal accounts, and has surrounded herself with on-line trolls and trouble-makers (some of which have received national attention). She’s now living in a part of Bakersfield that is widely considered the armpit of southern California. She is now a Licensed Vocational Nurse and working her ‘dream job’ - at a prison in Delano, CA. Must be nice to hand out Band-Aids to convicts, but hey she can afford her dream car (assuming anyone will give her credit). She’s made an enemy of one of her oldest friends and the Maid of Honor at her wedding. Apparently she was accused of plotting to steal away Angie’s husband. There’s a sense of irony there!
At this point, the chapter in my life that Angie occupies has been closed, utterly and completely. I’m not writing this out of malice or hate. I could have taken very personal revenge on her but instead chose not. I’m writing this as a requiem to a mirage and a cautionary note to her and others. The memory of this situation is steadily been buried deeper and deeper under the joy of new opportunities, new friends, new love and new hope. To my friends who stuck by me last year through one of the most horrible and scary periods of my life, you have my thanks in ways that words can not hope to express. You kept me going, gave me hope and kept me (mostly) sane. One year on, I’ve survived and done well.
