Northport, Alabama

Is it just me, or does every photographer have little figurines of photographers? I’ve noticed them on photographers’ desks, at their houses, on their refrigerators, all over the place. I collect these, along with figurines of cats. (Now if I could find a cat photographer, that would be the coolest.) Anyway, this scene is part of my Christmas village from last year. If I ever get around to setting it up this year, it will probably look exactly the same.

I call this guy Joe McNally because, well, he looks kind of like Joe McNally. I actually had the privilege of assisting Joe when he and a number of other legendary photographers came to town to shoot for Bryant Denny Saturday, a day in the life type book about a typical football game and the hoopla that surrounds it. Several photography students were chosen to carry the photographers’ bags, label their film, pass them equipment, etc. It was a great opportunity and one that I wish I had taken more advantage of, but it still looks nice on the resume.

Anyway, Joe is now part of my Christmas village, which features dozens of houses and hundreds of people, animals, trees, fences, etc. It’s a lot of work to display, but is one of my favorite parts of the season. Maybe I’ll get around to it on Sunday. I have three photo assignments for the paper this weekend as well as a shoot for AP to run in Newsday next week in addition to baking three desserts for my church Christmas party tomorrow and finishing a photo shoot for my Christmas cards, which have yet to be mailed.

Yeah, I’m a busy girl suddenly, and I couldn’t be happier.

Music of the day: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan