Yesterday it was snowing and then sleeting and then raining. Then when I woke up today and it had started snowing again (and it was wet and sticky and HEAVY). Since I needed to get to campus by 7:45 am, I was up and shoveling before the sun was up, and man I had that driveway cleared AND my sidewalk AND the neighbor's sidewalk by 6:30 a.m. *flex*I will say, the snow was so pretty and quiet and even though it was early and I was kinda grumpy due to a terrible night of sleep (and my aching back due to the heavy snow), this peaceful morning made me happy. Guess I'm living in the right part of the country, eh?

So this was how I *started* my day. Sometimes being a freelance photographer is just about the most awesome thing on the planet. Ok, most of the time. Anyway, today I attended a workshop on how to use my flash.You have probably noticed (if you're a photographer-type) that I am big on natural light. It just suits my style better than flash photography, and frankly not only do I generally not like the look that a flash gives, but I just hate using it period. And I'm trying to get over that.So I attended this workshop today specifically aimed at wedding photographers who use their flashes at receptions (flashes are mandatory during the dances). And it was great! I learned all these fantastic, new techniques that make me hate the flash much less, and I was super excited. And then I accidentally dropped my flash and it broke. I know, right? Awesome luck. It couldn't break back when I hated it, but only once I had seen its value. In fact, about the exact hour that I realized its value. Ugh.So now I'm ordering a new, nicer flash. But I digress, let's talk about this photo. This is Jess, and we decided to shoot portraits of each other in the men's restroom. Oh wait, I should explain. Eliesa, who held the workshop, was smart enough to have it in the darkest, dankest bar in town, the 331. She figured by starting in the absolute worst lighting scenario imaginable, it would build our confidence, and she was right! So we all met there at 11 am and Eliesa bought all of our beers. Seriously. I told you it was fun to be a photographer.Anyway, I pulled my partner Jess into the men's restroom because, well, how often do you have full run of a dive bar? And I loved the subway tile, and the ladies' room doesn't have the radiator. So this was like the 3rd to last frame before I dropped my flash. It's kinda like something you'd see in Spin. Um, not the quality of the shot, but more like the style of the shot. Anyway, it's different for me. Look out, I'm tryin' to grow. Or something.*Also, sidenote: To get this angle I am balancing in heels standing on the rim of the men's toilet with a heavy camera and flash trying to frame my shot without falling in. I'm frankly just proud that I didn't drop my gear into the shitter. (sorry for the language, dad)

I wish I had more exciting stuff to tell you about, but after that trip to Milwaukee and then working the Oscars last night and 8 am class today I... came home and slept the day away. Such a waste! But dude, it felt so good. And it was one of those naps where I was dreaming that I was napping and "somebody" was trying to wake me up. And in my dream today, that "somebody" was Prince. Ha! And no, I was not waking up for that midget.And yes. Sadly it has come to this. Me blogging about my dreams (about Prince). Please forgive me.Tonight though, I pulled myself together enough for a Rivets and Roses meeting over at the studio, where this old, broken piano was sitting in the hall. I'm not sure why, but I love old, broken musical instruments. And new, shiny musical instruments...

This morning Mere and I wandered over to see Lake Michigan before we returned to the Cities. It's now 4 pm, and I'm home right quick before heading back into the paper to design the fashion page for the Oscars tonight (woot!). Then I will come home and crash... before teaching at 8 am tomorrow morning. Yeah. Wish me luck with that one, eh?

Hey look! Look who went and had FUN this weekend! Woot!I loaded up the truck with several photographer friends and we drove over to Milwaukee today so we could catch the last night of Doomtree's first leg of tour. It was so amazing to just drive and talk and laugh and watch music and shoot for total fun (not assignment) and wow, I just really needed that.After the show I went back to the hotel to do my post, but the internet was broken, which is why I'm tardy. Sorry about that.... Today I'm gonna take Mere to see Lake Michigan before we head back to the Cities. You guys? Weekend road trips are fun.Oh yeah. DID YOU SEE THAT KANSAS BEAT MISSOURI? That was nice. I hope my man Tivo'd the game so I can rewatch it this week. #rockchalk

Today was work, work, work, work, work and then packing! Because I'm taking this weekend (OK, Saturday) off and not working at all. I'm loading up my car with snacks, camera gear and some of my favorite photographers and we're all driving to Milwaukee to see Doomtree on one of their last nights of this tour leg. Fun!So hopefully this weekend will produce a ton of laughter, smiling, antics, amazing photography and in general just a damn good time. I think the odds are with me on this one.

I was a walking zombie today. It was like my head was full of molasses. But finally, I seemed to wake up around 4... at the end of the work day. Awesome timing, right?Anyway, after work I caught dinner and a movie with Margaret. We hurried out to see Re: Generation -- a music project sponsored by the Grammys. I am a total sucker for music documentaries. My favorite part was watching the dudes from The Doors open their minds to the world of Skrillex. Highly entertaining.And then I came home to my boys. How adorable are THEY?

This morning I had my buddy Brad as a guest speaker in class. I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have a range of extremely talented friends who I can ask to step in and cover topics that they are complete experts in. Today Brad covered package design (which was AMAZING) and Monday my friend Amy covered copyright law. Yeah, hear hear to having an actual lawyer talk about the intricacies of law, eh? Smart move, Leslie.Anyway, at the end of today's lecture, Brad had the students smell a fragrance he brought to class in an unmarked bottle, and then they came up with mood boards for the packaging. Their boards covered bottle shapes to color, patterns and typography. It was a super fun exercise (except it was hard for me not to snatch the stuff away from the kids and create my own because it looked so fun!). Above you can see one of the group's boards in progress. Cool stuff, eh?