Hiker on Hanging Bridges over the cloud forest, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Hiker on Hanging Bridges over the cloud forest, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Originally uploaded by inger h.

So I've been in a nasty funk all evening cause as I was leaving work I distractedly forgot I was parked next to a pole and so I turned the wheel too sharply as I was reversing and "clunk!" ran into the pole and gave my beloved little mini a big dent in the side. A dent. In a car. I've been upset about a dent in a car. Cars are made to have dents. That's what they're *for*. It will cost me money to fix it. I will be vexed. But its just money. It's just a car. My friend Megan has cancer. She's getting better, but the worry and the uncertainty stalk her like a cat.

My friend Megan went to chemo and all I got was this stupid dent in my car! I should make t-shirts with that slogan.

Perspective is important. I love my car, but it's no Megan.

Moonset from Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine.

Moonset from Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine.
Originally uploaded by inger h.

There are few things in this world I like better than bicycling at night. Rolling along in the dim blue air, the smell of woodsmoke and tree sap hanging heavy all around me. I peer into the warm glow of people's front windows, navigate around evening dog walkers. The city is a different place at night; emptier and more quiet. The breeze comes strong off the ocean, and pushes me back the way I came. I change gears, and sit back on the saddle, and ride slowly towards home.

Me versus the lazy

Sunset near Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Originally uploaded by inger h.

The problem with daylight is: you could be talking pictures right now. No matter how tired, or uninspired, or tetchy you might feel, if there is light in the sky, you could be out making pictures. Good pictures. Sellable pictures. Not making them will often give you this greasy guilty feeling, as if you've just let someone down really bad.

You get tired... you're done. After a long day of hiking, taking pictures and sweating more than I've sweated since, well the last time I was in Corcovado, I really didn't want to have to carry anything anywhere. I got out of the shower, got dressed, and thought about how nice a weak watery Imperial beer would taste at the lodge's Sunset Bar. Then I saw the camera bag and the tripod. Hmm. I should probably take that. But so heavy! I'm so tired!

My roommate Susan chimed in, "Well of course you're going to take your camera."
Yeah, she was right. I really should. Forget the beer.
So I hefted the tripod to one shoulder, and swung the camera bag up to the other, and walked down the hill to the sunset bar.

Worth it? Yeah it was.

I tried to shoot while still not blocking anyone's view. I dashed into the bar to collect a can of Imperial. I made small talk with the guide who wanted to learn all about my camera. I waited some while the light got good.

Me versus the lazy. Look, I won!