Drawn to fuchsia

This rich, deep shade of pink—which I'm constantly drawn to—always makes me think of my Junior Prom.

My dress was this shade of pink. I remember loving that it was different than the prom dresses I usually saw on my classmates. Mine was a two-piece dress with a slim, straight cut, while big, frilly princess-style ball gowns seemed to be more common. I felt beautiful in it.

Since then, I've gravitated toward this color, and you'll find more than a few items of clothing in my closet that feature it.

So when this azalea at my parents' house blooms each spring, I'm out there with my camera.

106/365 Scenes from the parking lot

How about we make this a theme week? It's been a while, and I was struck with inspiration this week! The theme is "scenes from the parking lot." (It sounds a bit like a theme from This American Life, doesn't it?) All photos will be ones I capture in or from a parking lot. 

First up: this one's dark (done at night without a tripod handy), but here's the idea: My high school has undergone some much-needed renovations over the past 18-24 months, and it looks like everything is complete. I believe the lights in this photo are actually glowing from inside the new gym, but I haven't been inside, so I'm not 100% sure!

I drive by the school every time I go to my parents' house, so it's been fun to watch the progress and imagine what things look like on the inside. One addition to the school that I'll get to check out next month is an auditorium. Until this year, the school has been presenting concerts, plays, and other programs from the cafetorium -- a stage at one end of the cafeteria.

It's worked okay for the past 30 years, but it's about time these kids got a real auditorium! I'll be helping with the annual Junior Miss program again next month (actually emceeing the show), so I'll get to check out the auditorium firsthand and see the view from the stage itself.

No pressure, huh?

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/8 second, f/3.5 at ISO 500 at about 8:00 p.m.

344/365 Raw sugar

Even though I enjoyed it, I didn't take many science classes after I started college. (Choosing to pursue a degree in the journalism school will do that to you.) Physics was my favorite science in high school for two main reasons: math came easily to me (and that's a huge part of physics), and I could see the concepts at work.

I could draw a diagram to help me solve a problem. "If car A is traveling at 60mph, and car B is traveling toward the same point at 45mph from a distance 32 miles farther away, how much longer will it take for car B to reach the destination?" I can picture the situation in my head.

Chemistry? I'm cool with balancing equations (more math). Biology? Get me past the minuscule cell-level discussion and you've got me. But mitochondria, ribosomes, cytoplasm... that was tougher. Because I literally couldn't see it.

The part of biology I did always enjoy was gazing into the microscope and seeing the makeup of minute objects with my own eyes. Ordinary materials we take for granted every day have characteristics that you just can't see with the naked eye.

For instance? Table salt and refined sugar. Any pint-sized prankster knows they look awfully similar. But under a microscope? Their structures are completely different.

I'm sure that's one reason I like raw sugar (pictured above). Not only is it a little better for your health, because it hasn't been refined as much as your standard white sugar, but it reminds me of discovering things under a microscope as a kid. I can even photograph it.

What about you? Is there an aspect of science class that you miss?

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens and 430EX Speedlite, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 500

159/365 Friday night lights

When a home football game is happening at my old high school, you can see it from miles away.

The glow of the lights is easily visible, which you can see above the trees in the middle of this photo. It makes you realize how difficult it is to see -- and catch -- a ball if you're on the field and you look directly toward a light.

If you're into football, I think approaching and driving toward that glow is kind of exciting, even if I'm not at the game itself. What I find especially cool is hearing the band from miles away. Nothing says America quite like that!

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 at about 9:30 p.m.

158/365 Dress rehearsal

The Junior Miss girls planned on a long night on Thursday, as we did a dress rehearsal from beginning to end.

With only six contestants, the night was mercifully short compared to the year we had 17 individual talent performances to practice.

This year we had two flutists, one singer, one tap dancer, one cheerleader, and one hip hop dancer. It was the first time in several years that we didn't have any humorous skits or lip-syncing routines.

While preference is usually given to contestants who have obviously practiced over time and honed their talent, I respect the girls who don't have a traditional on-stage talent and have the confidence to pull together something unique. I'd much rather see that creativity than hear the excuses from those who say, "I don't have a talent."

It takes guts to perform on stage in the bright lights. Not everyone can do it.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/125s, f/4.5 at ISO 1000

157/365 A little fun is always good

Every class of Junior Miss participants mingles differently. Some tend to separate into smaller groups, some contain contestants who don't get along (not surprising for high school girls, right?), and others mesh well as a group and have a lot of fun together.

The last description best fits this year's class. I was really pleased to see how well they got along. They didn't break out into cliquish segments, but stayed as a cohesive, friendly group of six all week.

Their relatively small size -- just six girls -- is certainly part of the reason, but it also says something about the girls.

It made teaching and directing them a challenge, because I had to mandate run-throughs with no chatting on stage every so often, but more than anything, I was happy to get to know a fun, friendly group.

When they're having fun, those of us running the program are having fun, too.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/3.5 at ISO 1600 in mixed lighting

156/365 Discarded heels

During the week of practice, the Junior Miss contestants often had to switch back and forth between tennis shoes (to practice their on-stage fitness routine) and high heels (for the portions that required they wear a dress).

You might not think that wearing heels during practice would be necessary, and they always complain about it, but when you get up on that stage -- which always tends to be a little slippery -- you realize that it does take some getting used to.

And it's better to feel silly during a few nights' worth of practicing than to step out and fall flat during the show itself.

Even with hours of practice, this can happen:



How embarrassing! I suppose that's really where the mantra "just smile and keep going" comes in handy.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/4 at ISO 1600

155/365 Local Junior Miss

It's Junior Miss time again, which means my weeknights this week have been filled with practice at the local middle school.

I've been volunteering with my high school's program since the year I participated as a contestant my senior year. It's a great program that carries a message I can believe in.

This year, we have six contestants. They began learning their fitness routine on Monday night, taking a much-needed break afterward to practice a fun opening song. They'll be singing it as a group a cappella to set the tone for Saturday's competition.

We'll all be exhausted at the end of this week!

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/4 at ISO 1600

52/365 Protective gear

I'm part of a generation that will likely have hearing issues when we reach our older years.

In high school, part of the ritual when you got your license and drove to school involved leaving the parking lot with your music -- preferably something with a strong beat -- turned up so everyone outside the car could hear.

I did it. And I definitely felt a little cooler, even if I wasn't.

Then we got iPods, and those loud speakers that once remained in your car or room now migrated right into your ear canal.

I know previous generations have had stereos, boom boxes, walkmans and loud music of their own. But as with everything, it seems like in more recent years the decibel has increased. And putting ear buds directly in your ear doesn't help matters.

I've (mostly) grown out of the loud, booming music phase. And I'm taking more care to protect my hearing. Like yesterday, I vacuumed with a Shop-Vac for over two hours, and I made sure to wear protective ear muffs while I did it.

I hope that will save me a few years of yelling, "What?" at everyone around me.

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000, lit by a single CFL bulb indoors

317/365 Scholarship season

I'm on a scholarship selection committee this year, so over the weekend I read 25 bright and shining applications for this monstrous scholarship.

Two things were constantly in my mind as I read these applications:
1. Holy cow, these kids are amazing, and
2. Holy cow, these kids have way too much going on! When do they sleep?

It makes me feel positive about the future when I read about these future engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, pharmacists, lawyers...

We'll be in good hands. If they can get 4.0+ GPAs, manage 200+ hours of community service, part-time jobs, athletics, and other activities, then there's no way they won't be amazing adults.

Look out, world.

Camera: Canon 40D with 60mm macro lens and external E-TTL flash, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 100.

233/365 A new Junior Miss

After a long week, we finally named a new Junior Miss for my high school on Sunday afternoon.

No one substantially froze at the microphone, fell on stage, or made a complete fool of themselves (thank goodness), and it was absolutely a success.
The lucky winner left with six scholarships and is the third girl in her family to win the title (what's in the water over there?).

She'll go on to compete at the state level in February, where she'll spend a week in Frankfort being chauffeured from place to place, shaking hands, smiling for photos, and learning yet another fitness routine.

My roommate during my freshman year at college was a girl I met at the state Junior Miss program. We didn't really know each other, but we knew enough to believe that the other was tolerably normal and had to be a better option than rooming with a stranger (it ended up working out very well). If I remember correctly, six of the 29 girls who were contestants in the state program ended up attending Butler, so we already had a group of familiar faces when we started the school year.

I hope our new winner had (and has) as much fun as I did. It was definitely one of the most significant experiences of my high school career. It's for that reason that I continue to volunteer with the program each year.

I love it!

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/4.5 at ISO 1600.

229/365 Mock interviews

A few years ago, we started doing mock interviews with the Junior Miss contestants at Wednesday night's practice. I think it's a great idea because the two Junior Miss interviews I did (local and state) were the toughest I've ever been through.

They quiz the girls on politics, current events, reasons behind their application answers, and other unexpected topics that really test their ability to coherently answer a question under pressure.

The real interview is held the morning of the program. It lasts about 10-15 minutes, and more than once, a contestant has come out of the room in tears because she's afraid she completely made a fool of herself.

For that reason, even if the mock interviews are more light-hearted, I think it's good preparation.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/125s, f/5.6 at ISO 1600 in fluorescent lighting.

227/365 Get those knees up

It's Junior Miss week, so eight high school girls are jumping, gliding, stressing, preparing, coping, and getting ready for the program on Sunday.

Monday night is always the night they learn the physical fitness routine. It's 8-9 minutes of constant movement. Beth Ann, the choreographer, throws in jumping jacks, squats, kicks, tae bo, spins, you name it. At state, the girls have had to do push-ups and sit-ups on stage as well, but our local program just keeps them on their feet the whole time.
Their normal schedules don't stop for this week. They have swim practice, volleyball, band, cheerleading, homework... all in the name of earning scholarships. The two girls in band have it especially tough this year because the marching band qualified for the state finals, which happens to be this coming Saturday -- one day before the Junior Miss program.

Good luck convincing the band director to let them out of practice.

Tuesday night I'll teach them the self-expression portion of the program. It may seem like a cake walk compared to fitness, but stepping up to the microphone and thoughtfully answering a question can easily topple the faint of heart.

I love it.

Camera: Canon 40D, 1/60s, f/4.5 and f/4 at ISO 1600 in mixed lighting.

219/365 It's Junior Miss time

When the end of October draws near, it means it's Junior Miss time for me.

I love this program. I participated at the local and state levels in 2002, and I've volunteered with my local program ever since.

And darn it, it's NOT a pageant!

Ahem, pardon my outburst.

I've always been pretty anti-pageant. (And my definition of a pageant = walking onstage in a swimsuit and heels.) Yes, Miss America is a respected program and does a lot of good, but the thought of parading on stage in a bikini and 4-inch heels gets my feminist hackles up.

Now, on the other hand, nowhere in the Junior Miss program is anyone required to display themselves before a panel of judges in swimwear. It's all about scholastic achievement, poise, intellect, talent and physical fitness. And that's a platform I can get behind.

This year, my local program has eight participants. We met for the first time on Sunday afternoon, I shot their photos for the program booklet and county newspaper, and they got their first real idea of what their week will be like.

I'm looking forward to it!

Camera: Canon 40D with external E-TTL flash, 1/250s, f/5.6 at ISO 100 outdoors in shade at about 2:30 p.m.

203/365 High school Homecoming

In high school, few things are more exciting than Homecoming.

My particular high school lived, ate and breathed football. I didn't. But I always went to Homecoming.

Each class decorated t-shirts for the event with puff paint and lots of blue and gold glitter. We decorated floats for the parade, had themed dress-up days during the week, and some went so far as to paint their faces for the game.

Some schools have formal dances to celebrate the event. Ours? Head inside to the cafeteria after the game, shed your sweatshirts, and just dance.

As I was passing the school on my way home from the gym on Friday, I took a detour through the packed parking lot to view the festivities. The game had just started, so people were still pouring in through the gates, and when I rolled my windows down, I could just hear the cheerleaders.

Next year I should plan ahead, go to the game, and get some shots from inside the fence... instead of just from inside my car.

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 at about 7:15 p.m.

147/365 08/08/08 and start of the Olympics

I've always admired Olympians. The amount of discipline, patience and dedication that it takes to become that good at something -- in addition to the fantastic physical ability -- never ceases to amaze me.

It's for that reason that I really look forward to watching the Olympics every two years. And this year, I actually get to root for someone close to home.

One of the female gymnasts, Bridget Sloan, is the sister of a guy in my high school class. I did a lot of the same extracurricular activities that he did, and I also knew another of his sisters through Junior Miss. We come from a small high school in rural Indiana that sometimes produces good football teams, but never an athlete on the Olympic scale.

Signs are posted all over the community. You can see the ones pictured below in front yards, and in front of the schools, plus several local companies have their own signs by the road.I'm really looking forward to cheering her on, along with all of the other great American athletes.

Go USA!

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1000 at about 7:30 a.m.

60/365 Azalea Pink

The color of these azalea blooms seems almost unnatural. And the entire bush is absolutely full of them -- the few little bright green leaves are trying desperately to get some face time, but they're losing the battle.

I've always been drawn to this color. When I go shopping, even today, if I see this color on a rack, it doesn't matter what it is -- my hand reaches out, driven by a subconscious force, to touch it. My first prom dress, junior year of high school, was this color.

I've seen pictures that show it's prom time yet again. It seems so long ago, yet I remember it like it just happened. I had a fantastic date (my gay ex-first-boyfriend) who picked me up in his convertible. He adored that car, even with the top that wouldn't completely latch and the passenger-side window that wouldn't close and slanted out of alignment into the door. I had to ride with my head practically on his shoulder so as not to mess up my first-ever professional updo.

I haven't talked to him in years. Last I knew, he was loving life in California, hoping to finally make it onto American Idol.

Camera: Canon Rebel DSLR with 60mm macro lens, 1/125s, f/2.8 at ISO 200. Natural light, in shade at about 7:00 p.m.