My Quirky Apartment Community
The apartment complex that I currently live in has a really odd atmosphere. It’s almost like a retirement home, but way cooler. Roughly half the apartments in the complex are rented by people over age 60. When we moved in, there were only two children in the whole place, which is +140 units!
What does my complex have that yours probably doesn’t?
- 102.9 Lite FM is piped through the hallways during the daytime. Yes, just the daytime. It is turned off every night around 8pm or so.
- A ‘Take-a-book/Leave-a-book’ bookcase full of old treasures. Today I scored a 6th edition (from 1961) copy of 500 Recipes by Request: From Mother Anderson’s Famous Dutch Kitchens. Awesome. *grin*
- A pretty good sized group of women does a Tai Chi exercise VHS tape together in the lobby some evenings. This ‘community benefit’ is not advertised anywhere. I think it’s a by-invite-only kind of thing. I find it totally adorable.
- Jigsaw puzzles sometimes appear in the lobby for tenants to put together. I’ve been so tempted to kidnap a few pieces for a couple of days, just to see if anyone notices! I’ve been good though.
- Cheap laundry!! A wash cycle is $1.00, and a dry cycle is $0.50. An entire load is clean for just $1.50! Around here that’s nearly unheard of!! It’s probably because half the renters can remember back to when it cost $0.25 to wash. At least one person has lived here since the place opened in the early 60′s.
I’m sure I’ve missed a few things, but those are the big ones. I’m really quite glad we moved here. The location isn’t perfect, only having close access to one bus line, but it’s totally homey and cool here. (Is it homey or homy? Google results seem to suggest it is both!? They’re listed as variants of each other… it’s an infinite loop!)
Beware!
A couple of shots from a photo walk with a friend…
Afterward, we went to Aster Cafe, where we were among the first people to experience the restaurant’s reopening! It was really fun, especially since it was so spur-of-the-moment. It’s not everyday you accidentally stumble into a business’s trial run!
We were in the right place at the right time, I guess. And yes, the blue cheese plate w/honey, pear slices, and walnuts was scrumptious!!
The Table & Chairs Project…
I was looking around on Flickr this evening and ran across this really great little project! This sort of thing gets my mind moving. There are so many ways you can shoot different subjects! The photos in the pool so far are clever and creative. Of course, my favorite might be the one with the Lego in it… *grin* This sort of project makes me want to dream up something and give it a go. I don’t let my creative mind out nearly enough!
Go check it out: The Table & Chairs Project…
You won’t regret taking a peek!
I Love the Internet!
Seriously, what did I do before the internet?! I’m an introvert, but I’m endlessly curious about who people really are. The internet is the perfect way to peek into the lives of other people. I can get to know people without actually talking to them! Brilliant!
Tonight, I found the MySpace page for a coworker’s band. I mean, I knew he was in a band, but I had no idea what kind of music it was, so it’s highly entertaining having a chance to listen to it. And it’s really fun seeing the artwork my colleagues make when they aren’t working! One girl makes glass ornaments and jewelry, a couple are photographers, etc.
I also love that I can interact with people from all over the country and globe. It’s really neat to know that there’s a girl in New York with a similar personality (we’re both INTJs) to my own. (She’s way more awesome and entertaining than me though, so go read her blog!) It’s also fun to find forums like Lavish where I can follow conversations and also interact when I feel like it. The ladies there are a lot of fun!
Booked!
I’m so excited! I got my first dance photo ‘gig’! (I decided to start doing some free photography as a way to be more involved in the belly dance community.) I’m going to be taking photos at Bohemian Underground‘s Boh-ho-ho-Holiday Hafla!
It’s going to be tons of fun! It’s a casual Hafla where the BohoU students can get a taste of dancing for a crowd, as well as allowing other local belly dancers a chance to shimmy, donate to some great charities, and celebrate the Holidays! *grin*
I have to say, while I’m completely thrilled that I get to go, I’m a bit nervous that the lighting will be dim and it’ll be hard to get decent shots. What I should probably do is learn how to use the flash on my camera before the big night. *sigh* But I dislike using flash. Maybe I could pick up a mining helmet instead, you know, the kind with the big head lamp attached… heh heh. Ok, I won’t go that far.
I did get a tip a while back from Eliesa of Photogen-Inc that she sometimes uses a cheap video light for some of her photography. I’d be curious to see how well something like that would work. It might be easier to control than a flash, but it might also be more bothersome in a dim crowded area. I think I’ll start playing with the flash first, because I don’t have to buy anything to practice that. *grin*
Any tips for me about using flash?
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