Orbits of a deluded mind

Out of the images pulled from the old drive, I also have photos from a second site we visited on that cold February afternoon - a former filling station. It wasn't much. The neighborhood was sketchy which probably contributed to the demise of this former Raceway gas station (petrol station). With the cold, the locals didn't choose to come see what I was doing, so a few photos were had.


We're sorry but this number is no longer in service...

( Rollin down the highway )

Let's test out this "new" version of LJ. It might be worth staying for if so.

Just a quick message. Due to work schedules, we will not be going to DragonCon at the end of the month. Add that to several other recent issues and I'm frustrated beyond words.

Speaking of work, I was nominated for an Agency wide honor / recognition. 30 contractors out of a workforce of over 7000 were nominated. I wasn't selected but wow. I think that's why I'm covering the projects they've been assigning me to.

Photo wise, I'm nearly caught up on photo work. I have a wedding to edit but I'm waiting on their selections. I have a shoot this weekend and next. This weekend has been in the works for 6 months and there was drama getting to it. The following weekend is a paid gig. After that, I'm putting down the camera for a while. First off, it needs to go in for repairs. Second, I have projects around the house I need to work on.

Speaking of unnecessary drama, the house in Lancaster is finally empty of tenants. We have to clean it up and make some minor repairs and I will sign the closing papers. This will free me from the place.

Abandoned Places – Fort Worth, TX (Dec 12) – part 3

By the 1960’s, the Swift Fort Worth plant had already suffered through several major strikes and the site was in need of major modernization. The former Armour Meat Plant to the north of this complex was already closed as ranchers increasingly moved their herds to smaller markets by truck and smaller local railheads. The Swift Company had also diversified substantially into soap, transportation (they owned Greyhound Bus Company) and even insurance. In 1963-4, Swift began the process of shutting down the plant. As has been said, now the former complex is like a small ghost town tucked into the heart of Fort Worth.

Location #3 – The Swift Meat Packing Complex



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On that warmer than expected afternoon progressed, my companion and I started wandering north through downtown Fort Worth. Warmer than average was probably a misnomer; because it was in the upper-60’s and pleasant… in mid December. The next place we found was unexpected but worth a quick walk around. The Ellis Bros Pecan Company was one of Texas’ premiere nut vendors. Their warehouse was along the same train sidings and spurs that handled cargo, cattle and such heading ‘back east.’

Location #2 – Ellis Pecan Co


This building has a remarkable history I never would have imagined:
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/north/ellispecan.htm . For me it’s a rare thing to give out a location, but this site is scheduled to be renovated and it was also VERY securely locked up. This is a Texas historical site and situated amidst a number of very active businesses.

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Wow it's been a while. Not intended either... Life has that habit of sneaking up on me and running off with my spare hours and days.

Let's make this a quick update as I try to play catch up (and let the anti-virus scans catch up to the computer).

If you didn't catch the news, the Lancaster house is finally up for sale. We've had a few hits in the last week or so, but the offers fell through. I expect to have a solid offer within the next month if things keep going this way. Why sell it? I never intended to be an absentee landlord when I had to move away from SoCal in 2008 (OMG it's been THAT long?!). I didn't have the choice in the matter. It was rent it or lose it entirely. I've struggled hard to keep making payments and lost thousands of dollars on the place due to bad renters. Another reason I'm selling it is the memories. Some are very bad, some are good, but many are too intense for me to ever move back into it. When that day comes again, I'd rather have a place where I have a bit more quiet and privacy.

The kids are doing well. Brenna has decided that she wants to work on pottery and ceramics as her degree emphasis at college. I swear I haven't seen her this happy and upbeat about doing something with herself and her future since she was 9. The work she's done is pretty incredible so far. Chris is having mild issues with classes. This was the first report card in which he's gotten C's or lower in several classes. I wonder if all the games and on-line distractions are affecting things or whether the after school activities are instead. What after school activities you ask? Track. My little boy who nearly died of asthma and pneumonia is running track (sprints mainly) very competitively for his middle school. He's also learning to play bass. The boy's got some serious skillz there too.

Work has been going well, though this constant Federal budget crap is getting seriously old. As a Federal contractor (day job), I'm constantly tired of wondering whether we're going to lose or keep our contracts. That being said, I must be doing something right. I was recommended for a 4.5% pay raise when most people only were recommended for 3.0 to 3.5%. HR cut everyone's recommendation down by 1% across the board so I got 3.5%. I also got a bonus from the prime contractor for the many compliments. The other benefit is I've been moved into a job where I will be working with industry executives for high level test reviews. Without going into details, I'm working my tail off.

Photo stuff has gone well. I just did a shoot with a teenage model for a second shoot. Her parents were there and were happy with how I'm working with her and the manner in which the shoots are drawing her out of her shell. We're planning a very creative special effects set with her and my regular make-up artist in May. I've also had a number of local and regional business opportunities for shooting. Another local body painter (former photog) also approached me about hosting a workshop to display his work with my photos. That's next weekend.

Frolicon was also this weekend. The adult/fantasy/educational convention for debauchery was a blast. Once again, I shot as a staff photographer and presented two classes on abandoned site photography. Unfortunately I went solo. I gave my wife the choice between this event and a quilt show in April. She took the quilt show. I contented myself chatting with many old friends and making some cook new ones. Showed a few rope tricks and made some new contacts. I also worked my ass off. I shot approximately 2000 images in 4 days. I have already deleted 400+ images and expect to drop more. I have to give the Con my top 100 photos by next Sunday. Given how much I worked, I did bruise/torque a knee. I'll heal.

I'm going to start a new workout routine by the end of the week. I don't like the shape my body's gotten into and I want to be more trim and fit by this summer. I have the feeling that I'll need to be in better shape by then no matter what.

Here’s another gem from the past I’d forgotten about. Several years ago, while visiting family in the area, I took my daughter to explore a series of buildings in downtown Louisville I was surprised to see derelict. They were only a few blocks away from the YUM Center (Basketball arena) and in an area that had been full of clubs.

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Walking down the alley behind these buildings we spied an unusual sight

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Finishing the exploration.

As the city employees who were my escort took me deeper and deeper into the former high school, the dust and age of the ‘left-overs’ gave the impression that these areas had been largely untouched even by the swatters and metals thieves. There were several areas that disturbingly colder than the surroundings. Before it’s asked, no, I didn’t notice any permanent residents.

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I was researching a photo article I wanted to offer to several publications including Alabama A&M (University). The article focused on a little known abandoned gem lying in the heart of downtown Huntsville. In the winter of 2011, I managed to get a guided tour of Huntsville’s former segregated African American high school. William H. Councill was the founder and first president of what became Alabama A&M (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Agricultural_and_Mechanical_University) in 1890. Councill, a former slave, rose to become a lawyer, newspaper editor, legislator and Alabama Supreme Court Justice. He was without doubt one of the rare cases of success in the Jim Crow era.


It seems appropriate then that the US Martin Luther King Jr holiday (and several days after), I offer some images of the high school building named in his honor.

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I know I keep saying I'll update more but this month has been insane on multiple counts.

Work
At my day job, I've been leading a major review of engineering deficiencies agency wide. Out working group has made little progress over the years till now. Something I wrote and presented on was noticed by several very high level people and they agreed. That said, a log-jam of ten years worth of materials, issues and political roadblocks just broke down. I'm rushing to keep ahead of and direct the flow. That being said, my customer just told me I was indispensable and they're moving me (immediately) from a remote office building, miles off-site, to the main building and right down the hall. I also found myself as the only representative from my engineering team remaining after a major internal personnel reorganization. This is all on top of my administrative and test support duties. O_O

Store
We're keeping our heads above water, but only barely. Tammy is away at tech training so she'll be certified to work on the Bernina sewing machines we sell. Amy's been running the store while Tammy's in Chicago. This is a repeat of sorts. Two weeks ago, Tammy was at a company sponsored trade and education forum in Washington DC. We've paid for both of these trips out of pocket versus using store funds. The benefit is we get discounts and benefits for attending the conference and the tech training for the store. Right now, we need investors or working capitol though.

Photos
Networking and commercial shooting are paying off finally. I wish I could afford the time to post here more. For those who haven't seen, the Nature Photo of the Day Feature, has returned over at my Facebook page. I discontinued it here last year because of burn out and frustration over the image hosting at Photofuckit. As I get more confidence in LiveJournal's new photo hosting, I may start bringing it back here too. If you haven't friended or watch me on Facebook, I'm here: http://www.facebook.com/jj.maccrimmon

Off to work