Category Archives: Storytelling

Mega Bus, Mega Problems

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Yesterday I had another Megabus travel experience. I think I have ridden with them a good handful of times now… but the past couple have made me wonder if I should continue this travel habit.

The benefit to riding the bus to visit my parents, or to travel in general, is that you have more flexibility. Instead of driving and hoping music or an audiobook will entertain me for 7 hours I get to read or play games on my iPad or write. The ride goes much quicker!

My bus yesterday was 30 minutes late. Then, when we got to UW Madison to pick up folks at that stop, I found myself playing navigator. The whole time the bus driver mumbled about the construction and other nothings about why it wasn’t her fault. After that pick up, I had to play navigator again to get us back to the freeway. This time she mumbled in circles about how she passed the exit the last time. And just when I thought my bus navigating days were over I found myself navigating us to the final destination in Minneapolis… yikes! This time the bus driver alternated between mumbling and yelling repeatedly about the ridiculousness of the directions that Megabus gave to her as heated discussions erupted behind us. People were now incredulous, they were all hollering because not only were we significantly late but she skipped the St. Paul stop.

Finally we parked and I made my speedy exit while chuckling at the hilarity of the whole bus ride. At least it makes for a good story right?

Things I Don’t Like

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My favorite photographer and friend Andy Brophy launched his new website yesterday. I took a look and in his about section he had two columns labeled “Things I Like” and “Things I Don’t Like.” What struck me as I read them was that I was way more interested in the Things I Don’t Like category. I am not negative or pessimistic so I pondered why this might be. A millisecond later it occurred to me that I liked the Things I Don’t Like because it was more descriptive and unique so I felt it told me more about Andy than the “Things I Like” category. Perhaps part of it is also the fact that I can tell what he likes just by looking at his photography and by following him on social media – we photographers tend to photograph the things we find beauty, joy, and love in. All of these thoughts lead me to want to explore and colorfully explain my list of Things I Don’t Like. So here we go…

Things I Don’t Like

  • unexpected traffic (expected traffic I can do… maybe because I have allotted extra time to get from A to B)
  • when eatery establishments seem to be hurrying you out the door to open your table
  • when we run out of something right after I’ve gone grocery shopping
  • days when I’m so cold I can’t get warm or I’m so hot I can’t cool down
  • 2-4pm in the summer (disgusting lighting = the world looks ugly to me)
  • excessive shot lists I don’t request – since you chose me, I want you to trust me
  • when people make fun of me
  • any excessively loud noises (unless its a concert)

    What things don’t you like?

Proud Parent of Two Small Dogs

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Wednesday Words

I photographed a wedding a few weeks ago that led me to discover a dog park.  Since then, Josh and I have been taking our furry children over there 2+ times a week.  Upon just our second arrival Haley clearly recognized what we were pulling into and started shrieking  in a voice that can only be described as the blend of a hyena laugh and a squeaky toy.

Yesterday was one such celebrated dog park day.  It struck me while I was there, rooting for my furry babies to make friends with the other nice dogs, that these dogs have provided yet another experience that may come in handy if Josh and I ever conjure up children that are within our own species.

Our Haley has always been particular with who she is friends with.  At the start it was due to a fear of other dogs – I suppose she was bullied in the shelter we rescued her from.  And now I suppose it’s a blend of pride and wariness – funny that a dog can have so much pride.  Anyway, she seems particularly hesitant with oversized puppies.  In her defense, puppies have yet to learn boundaries or proper dog etiquette so put that unrestraint in a horse-sized puppy and I have a nervous and persnickety dog on my hands.  There was one such puppy there yesterday and even after Haley snipped at him a few times he still seemed bent on winning her over.  Good for him.

Eventually my furry babies started warming up and started the slow process of learning how to play with dogs bigger than themselves.  I have confidence that they will soon frolic merrily along with all the dogs.  There is one such dog that frequents the park.  She is a husky and she will play with anyone. I turned to Josh after observing this and wished aloud that any children of ours, and maybe even Haley, can be this way some day.

Despite my desire though I am also fully aware that I am no more in control of the way my dog interacts with other dogs than I will be in control of some child.  At the end of the day, all I can do is teach Haley kindness and how to relax and hope that she’ll forget her pride and wariness and play with that over-sized puppy.

My Most Embarrassing Moment

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I do a “Question of the Day” via social media Monday – Friday.  Last week was “funny week” so I asked “What is your most embarrassing moment?”  It occurred to me that telling my most embarrassing moment in a blog post would be much more fun that jotting it down in my feed.  So, here we go.

I have this brown convertible dress.  Convertible dresses are a skirt and two wraps, so-to-speak.  You can make your dress a halter top, criss-cross, regular, strapless, and so on.  You can completely lose yourself in the dress, get trapped in it, or you can fall right out of it.  These dresses are a fine art.

One day I decided to go strapless.

On this day I was also doing a family photo session.

Sometimes when I get an idea I attempt it no matter the cost.  Wearing this dress in general is risky.  During photo sessions I am up, down, bendy, straight, in trees, and in the grass.  I need tops I can count on.  So why I decided that day was the day to attempt the most risky form my convertible dress could take, I have no idea.

I arrived at our session location and happened upon a good friend before meeting up with the clients.  Almost immediately she leaned in and said “Kaia, I can see your boob.”  It seems that the wrap around technique I tried shifted ever so slightly, revealing a peek of one of my ladies.  I suppose I should be grateful I ran into her before I met my clients and I’m sure you’re thinking my punch line involved the whole thing coming undone, but for a girl who wouldn’t so much as wear a v-neck…

My eyes almost popped out of my head and my cheeks burned red.  I think I mumbled some scattered and incoherent mumbo jumbo as my fingers attempted to amend the situation despite the immediate tremor that took over them.  After that I hurried away from my friend and into the nearest bathroom.  I switched the dress to a halter, my safest option, and moved on to my session meeting place.  I was still shaking and pink when I got to the door but they were in such a mad rush I had plenty of time to talk myself out of my horror before we got started.

Since then, I have banished that dress indefinitely to my closet.  And now I wear v-necks instead 😉

I also am embarrassed all over again having told all of you, so perhaps you would be so kind as to share with me…

What is your most embarrassing moment?

My second most embarrassing moment is coming up next 🙂

I Love Composting

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gardening

Illustration by:  N.I

For you faithful readers and friends you have probably gathered by now that I am a tree-hugging, animal loving nature freak.  The older I get and the more I learn the more I change my lifestyle to better serve the preservation of this beautiful world.  I am not only a naturally inclined nature lover but I am a firm believer that I bring God lots of joy by reworking my lifestyle to be a better steward of the world He has given me dominion over.  This includes trash.  Josh and I were able to start recycling in the home we currently reside in.  But we still had trash and I knew I could do better.  Composting is one of those things I wanted to do but didn’t do because I didn’t know how.  I did a little reading and in one of my chosen books on the subject the author said something like “you can’t go wrong when composting.”  I was instantly encouraged.  She went on to say that people can get as obsessed or as lazy about their process and ultimately your compost will turn to dirt.  I decided to challenge this and take the more lazy style of composting by creating a general compost pile in the backyard.  I didn’t even do the layering technique so many compost folk say is required.  I just toss my little bin of goodies at the end of every day or two into my outdoor pile.  I thought it wouldn’t work and I would have to revise my strategy, but upon coming home from a week away my eyes fell upon a gorgeous pile of black earth where my compost once was.  SO STOKED!  So, y’all, get on board!  It’s easy and saves the environment just that much more landfill material.

Mount Landfill

Illustration by:  sepponet

Here are some simple rules…

Only pitch the “green stuff.”

These are any plant based scraps – anything from spoiled fruits, to potato peelings and even bread and paper.  Egg shells, chicken, and goat droppings, cow manure, dry leaves, tea bags, and coffee grounds are actually safe, good even, to compost. DO NOT put dog turds or meat scraps into your compost.  Although, if you dog is a vegetarian I have a feeling that poo is safe.  It’s really the meat that is the hazard.

Throw it in a pile at a back corner of your yard.

In case it stinks.  If it does, and you can’t stand it, put a layer of paper scraps or dry leaves over the top and that should take care of it.

Watch and wait.

Soon some rich, black dirt will magically replace your garbage.  Talk about some yummy soil for your garden!

There are other more composting methods if you don’t think you could handle the potential eye sore in your yard.  Check out Little House in the Suburbs or The Essential Urban Farmer for more information on different techniques or for fine tuning your compost composition (if you’re a gardener there are different benefits to tossing different morsels in your compost for different plants).

Ta ta for now!

Kaia Calhoun

P.S.  Sorry I don’t remember the name of the book… bad Kaia.

P.P.S.  CLICK HERE for more Wednesday Words posts.