Snow Job
SNOWED IN
La, la, la, it’s a snow day, had more than a few snow job days lately, minus any sign of white flakey stuff, until this week. Booted up, over a foot deep, chilled my toes, not nose, but finger button froze. I did two shoots; one in the late afternoon hours, one after dark. Admitting here, I was excited for the first time in years about snow. This kind of storm has become rare where I live. I felt like a child again. It was really strange. It was frozen fun.SNOW HAZE SOLITARY
VEGETATIVE REMAINS
I wandered along the city streets slowly, shooting whatever caught my eye. I had to pause to warm my hands since I didn’t bother with gloves. They don’t work well with a camera. I’ve always had a dislike of gloves between me and whatever tools I’m using, except when I’m welding metal. No choice there for obvious reasons.RED BERRY BRANCH
SNOWY RED REFLECTION
Intentions, so many intentions that shift like snowdrifts sculpted by wind. People have all kinds of intentions and motivations for their choices, their behaviour. Often, I find myself sifting through this when I meet people. I need to know where someone is at. How much can I connect with them and in what ways? What motivations are present in a person? What are they seeking in their connection to me? These are questions I never asked myself when I was younger.RED BERRY
The regular refrain I’ve heard for too long is, “I hate people”. It’s such a constant repetition that I was compelled to look at it more closely. You see, I don’t hate people. I don’t know how to do that. It’s behaviour I dislike at times, always the behaviour, not the person.SNOWY GOLD REFLECTION I
If you are someone who “hates people”, do you not also hate yourself, since you are a person? Imagine two dogs at a park, sitting down having a bark chat about dogs. One dog says to the other, “I hate dogs”. The other dog looks over and says, “I hate dogs too”. Beyond the fact that dogs don’t speak words, does that scenario make any logical sense to you? It adds up to nonsense for me, even if I’m pressured to get on the hate people train and agree. Don’t expect me to agree with you on hate. It’s not happening.SNOWY GOLD REFLECTION II
Behaviour, now we’re talking! That’s what has prompted the direction of this post, some crappy behaviour from several people. It’s annoying. It’s tiresome. It tries my patience. It tests my nature. It tests me. How will I respond to such behaviour? I have a lot of rules for myself. More rules than the government can dream up laws. I have to answer to myself every day for my thoughts, choices, and behaviours. I don’t need a babysitter to guide me through life. If I do, then I have a serious problem on my hands.SNOWY GOLD REFLECTION III
I’ve had to draw the line with several people, more than few times in recent months. They didn’t like it. They never do. There’s always some blowback smack down flack in return, while they spurn. It’s not them, it’s me. Finger forked repeatedly. Nice. Really nice. Not. Crappy behaviour from people ill-equipped at managing themselves. Nothing new. This is a lifecycle rinse repeat experience of being human. A game for all to play.SINGLE ICICLE SNOW STAB I
SINGLE ICICLE SNOW STAB II
Do I hate them for it? No. At the same time, I have to establish a boundary around behaviour that is not acceptable to me. This gets dicey after I’ve delivered a gentle repeat no, stop, needle stuck in the record groove hitting the same bump. Behaviour continues grinding the same track. They aren’t hearing me. They aren’t listening regardless of how I frame and reframe the image for them.SNOWY WROUGHT IRON I
SNOWY WROUGHT IRON II
I’m out of patience after multiple repeats. The boot comes down. All nicey, nicey, polite feelies are finished. I’m down to business. I’m going to be very direct, point out the behaviour clearly, and identify where my line is. I’m used to people being ticked off at me, not liking me, and on and on and on. I’m not responsible for anyone else’s feelings or life. If you’re an adult, it’s way past time for you to learn to be responsible for yourself and your behaviour. That’s on you.DOUBLE ICICLE SKY STAB
People can crybaby all they want when they don’t like what I’ve said in such situations. Guess what? Nothing changes until you decide to reflect on yourself, your behaviour, and step in new directions. So go ahead, take your pot shots at me, slap me around whenever you choose for whatever reason. I truly don’t care. It’s nothing new in my life. Don’t cry though when I draw the line and hold up a mirror. Know that you are the one that loses when you behave badly and I don’t mean just towards me. That’s your snow job you’re burying yourself with.MISTED GATEWAY I
MISTED GATEWAY II
All photos taken by Nine with a Pentax digital 35mm camera and 90mm Tamron macro lens.
<3 Single Icicle Snow Stab II & SNOWY WROUGHT IRON II
😍
Thanks @aagabriel! You have a discerning eye with art (among other things). 💖
Maaaaaan, all of this. Anti-people-hating, boundaries, putting the boot down. Clearly you have done the good hard work. Lots of it. I think I hope I'm where you're at now but only time will tell. Kinda came close to a boot situation a couple days ago but the bootee went silent.
The title Snow Job and the name DOUBLE ICICLE SKY STAB are my two favorite word combinations of the day. I have said "double icicle sky stab" out loud way too many times now. The cat agrees.
And your photos are awesome. I love Misted Gateway II. And the Oogie Boogie Tim Burton burlap with the christmas bulbs.
Yeah, you don't want to know how many years, lol. I consider it ongoing work until I'm dust.
You know exactly where you are 😉, trust that.
Hahaha, yes, sometimes the bootee falls silent. Frankly, I dislike having to take a hardline approach with some people because I'm concerned that I may be too harsh, until I go over in my mind how much of the behaviour I've already given a pass to. I avoid being emotional in response, but then get called cold, when I'm exercising restraint and self-containment. There's no winning, someone is bound to be offended over whatever. It's best to focus on being one's authentic self while balancing that with consideration of others.
The title popped into my head out of the void. Later I remembered this was an expression I heard growing up. The same with "Double Icicle Sky Stab", out of the void. Later, I look at these things and where did that come from? 😂 Thanks for appreciating those combos and especially liking that your cat agrees.
Thank you @corvidae, the second one is also my favourite of the two. I seem to have a recent fixation with these bulbs and taking distorted macro photo reflections of myself in them.
Funny, I read your reply and said "double icicle sky stab" out loud again and the cat appeared. It must have come out of the feline void...
😂 I'm going to try that and see if a cap will appear here from the feline void.
Let me know if it works!
I most certainly will, lol!
So I see you were able to enjoy the contact with the snow at home! Once again, your post has great reasoning for me. I really like the poetry of your photos and the authenticity of your texts.
Thank you and have a nice day @nineclaws :)
I was and it's actually not all melted away into slush mud pies. I would rather be in the woods on snowshoes or gliding on cross country skis.
Thank you for checking out my post and phots @ancolie! I'm glad you enjoyed them. I think you have the better snow deal though. 😉
I'm totally with you on cutting out the shitbags! We've done that in our life, we stopped letting people treat us like shit and not being the punching bag any longer. The best part is they are fucking mad about it! I'm sorry, you're mad at me because I cut you off for you treating me like shit? That's a hell of a reality to try to bend in my opinion lol
Some awesome shots here! The wrought iron snow ones were possibly my favorite!
Isn't it amazing how people get angry, turn it around and finger you as the cause of the problem? The narcissism never fails to amaze me. I'm liking it that you stand solid, not allowing others to bend your opinion.
Thanks for checking out my post, glad you enjoyed my photos!
Perfectly captured moments and good photo content.
Thank you @tomskiss, glad you enjoyed!