If Life Hands You Tomatoes

....grab some chicken salad!



My first vine-ripened tomato became my lunch last Friday. It was truly delicious!

Last night I was lying in bed trying to think of ways to make a variation on the the theme of "work" for the September issue of the magazine.

[Side note: my employer is very anti- union, so talking about the real origins of Labor Day or mentioning anything to do with labor unions is not allowed/won't be published. Having grown up in a union home and lived through several strikes and being a staunch supporter of labor unions...because let's face it, if your job has any/good benefits you can thank unions!....this is a tough pill for me to swallow.]

Last year I did "Where We Work" and featured workers from two of the city's largest employers, the school system and the hospital.

Suddenly, four variations on the theme came together for me! One way to go harkens back to my days of watching Sesame Street and is a sort of "they're the people that you meet when you're walking down the street each day," idea: highlight folks in jobs you interact with regularly: the check-out person at the grocery store and the postal carrier.

Then the idea of highlighting "helping" professions came to me. Perhaps a nursing home aide and one of the EMT's on the ambulance.

Why not feature some of the many, many people who keep the city's economy running: people working in small businesses? Someone working at a hair salon or pet groomer. The couple who own the lawn mower repair store. The local coffee shop barista.

And finally, (this may be the idea I like the best!) perhaps an article on "Dream Jobs." I'd like to get several people, perhaps even recognizable city leaders, and ask them what, as children, they wanted to be when they grew up. I'm hoping some of them will give me answers that all kids want to be at some point: fireman, astronaut, cowboy, ballerina, teacher, etc. I'd put their head shots, along with their "dream job" from childhood as a border on the story, then feature a couple of those "dream jobs" like one of our city's firemen, a doctor, etc.

The best part about last night's insomnia-induced brainstorming session for one is that even as I type up the results this morning, I'm still ok with any of these ideas coming to fruition in the magazine. (Trust me, that doesn't always happen! More often than not I look at the scribbles I've made in the middle of the night and think, "what the . . .??")

And now I have something to present at the meeting tomorrow!



What motivates inspiration for you?

All In A Day's Work

So yesterday I had one of those days r.e. my job that puts a smile on my heart.
I found myself almost laughing aloud at the thought I was getting paid to do this!

Assignment #1: 10:00 a.m.



One of the restaurants here in town closed down for a remodel. They've gone with a historic theme from the early days of the building in which they are located. It's really nice! And I get to photograph it!

Assignment #2: 1 p.m.




The Sertoma group here in town is putting together a really inspiring Veterans Memorial Park. It features a scenic walkway lined with blooming trees and stones dedicated to men and women who have served in all branches of the armed forces. There is a small amphitheater area and lots of flags. All set in the beauty of a local park with a lake.

Assignment #3: 6:30 p.m.




We have a historic cemetery here in Fort Dodge with thousands of graves. Most of the founders of the city/area are buried here. For the past few years a group of active citizens who work to preserve the cemetery have hosted a Ghost Walk. I'm doing an article about the walk for the June issue of Fort Dodge Today. One gentleman does a lot of research into the lives of those buried there. (He drove to four seperate county courthouses to track down minutes from a trial that had several changes of venue. The trial took place in the 1800's and court clerks had to find the records in warehouses!) It's a very interesting and informative event. Plus there's homemade ice cream for sale by the youth group of a local Lutheran church when you get done with your tour! (A real treat on a June afternoon in Iowa!)


Anyway, I had such a varied day and each place I went was interesting. It was fun talking with the folks involved with each project. (Their enthusiasm was infectious!)
I enjoy meeting people. And getting paid to take pictures??? PLEASE! I feel so lucky!