The warm weather sure has sucked this season. It seems like we’re not getting any breaks this fall either. Indian summer? I’m not holding my breath.
In the spirit of making lemons into lemonade, I declare that I am grateful. Very appreciative, in fact, of the cool summer. And Zyrtec.
Yes, thank you, thank you, whacked out weather patterns and drug companies. It is my belief that the two of you together have made this year one of my most tolerant and comfortable – even pleasant – to have seasonal allergies.
Props to you too, Chicago. You paved, bricked, asphalted and generally lacking-in-vegetation oasis.
Only one day can I remember being kinda miserable. Sitting in my parents backyard, immersed in a pollen and ragweed bath, my daily dose of Zyrtec was just barely keeping me together. A lid on a bottle rocket. Watery eyes and sneezing, snot and tears everywhere – ick that wasn’t so good.
But honest to goodness, the rest of this season has been great. So, my advice is this. Do you have seasonal allergies? If so, immediately follow these steps:
1) Sell your house in the suburbs and move to the city.
2) Consider the Pacific Northwest, possibly Seattle. Lots of rain = much less allergy irritants.
3) Buy case of Zyrtec. I’ve tried them all: Allegra, Claritin, run of the mill Benadryl, but Zyrtec takes the cake. Fast acting proven relief. Oh and I take Zyrtec-D to ditch the decongestion. Hands down awesome stuff.
Last week by means of craigslist.org I sold my beloved videocamera, a Canon GL2.
Unlike most of my computer electronics, little GL2 didn’t have a name. (i.e. My desktop computer – “Raja”.) Despite this lack of personalization, GL2 was a trooper. While Raja performed in the safety of the indoors, GL2 battled on the front lines, outside in the elements.
Beginning in the grassy field across from my freshman dormatory, GL2 started small, eloquently filming flowers for my very first video project for TC 240: Introduction to Digital Media. From there he moved up rapidly, shooting cutaways for MSU & U, the student television show of which I would eventually become producer. Football games, dance team practices, restaurant cameos, man on the street reports, to name a few, GL2 spanned the full gamut. Nevertheless in these film shoots, he was only the side camera, the “B” cam – second best. The peak of GL2′s half-decade career was still yet to come.
At the beginning of my sophomore year, Kirk and I decided to film collegiate waterskiing. We put together our determination, our expertise, and of course, our equipment. I volunteered GL2 to be main camera. Ready or not, my little camera moved into the spotlight.
GL2 traveled all over the country. From Michigan to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, Kentucky and even Louisiana, he captured collegiate slolamers, trickers, wakeboarders and jumpers. He braved all kinds of weather, even the most dangerous for precious electronics: Rain, and horrible sidekick, Humidity.
Remarkably, GL2 pulled through every situation he was thrown into. That rainy footage? After being converted to black & white, it turned out to be some of the best. Time and again, GL2 pulled through for me. His 3 CCDs, compact size, bright LCD screen and hearty tape heads kept on truckin’.
Unfortuately, after college GL2 sat alone. All day, at the bottom of my closet, he laid there unused and unappreciated. “You’re standard definition,” I told him, “I’m so sorry. Everyone’s using HD now!”
Before GL2 became completely worthless, I decided he needed a new home. A new owner to love him unconditionally for what he was: a fantastic prosumer camera giving what he could – standard def. (Furthermore, having a few extra dollars on hand for my upcoming trip to Australia wouldn’t hurt.)
I took some great portraits of GL2 with all his accessories fanned out around him on the countertop. I would be selling his case too – a classy little number that looked like it should be carrying something of extremely serious nature. Like a disassembled automatic weapon, or maybe a bomb.
Lots of replies arrived in my inbox, and even one guy who strung me out over a month of email correspondance only to end up emailing “we can never seem to coordinate our schedules, maybe you should find someone else.” Hm, well thanks. Finally then, finally. A nice individual by the name of Michael G sealed the deal. He brought $1190 cash and whisked little GL2 off into the sunset.
Fond memories we had, me and Gl2. I hope he will be capturing just as much or even more important and fantastic footage in his future. What’s in my future? Kirk is planning on buying a Canon 7D – an SLR that shoots full resolution HD. A shining star with lots of potential. One that could do double duty in Australia, shooting photos and video.
No doubt, I’ll be excited to adopt 7D and treat him as my own.
~ ~ ~
Below is a highlight reel of the third collegiate waterskiing DVD that Kirk and I created during our time at Michigan State. Take a walk down our memory lane:
Back when my parents came to visit at the beginning of summer, my mom brought with her a few tiny marigold plants. Under my supervision, the poor things sat for weeks in their brought-from-the-greenhouse plastic cartons waiting patiently for a transplant to a proper home. I couldn’t decide whether to stick them in the ground outside or in an indoor houseplant pot. Finally I resolved that if I wanted to really enjoy them (a.k.a. remember to water the buggers, let’s be honest) I’d need to keep them inside.
I rode my bike to Gethsemane, the huge local garden center on the north side of Andersonville. A window box seemed like the perfect choice – marigolds are sunshine hogs.
After three months of awkward growth, they now seem to be at their peak of blossoming. This afternoon I took a few shots of their colors:
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The warm weather sure has sucked this season. It seems like we’re not getting any breaks this fall either. Indian summer? I’m not holding my breath.
