timothy j. lambert

Current Photo Friday theme: My Favorite Spot


One of my most difficult Photo Friday challenges ever. I have favorite spots in Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.

In Houston, I have a variety of favorite places depending on my mood. In the middle of a drought in July, my current favorite spot is sitting on my bed next to snoozing dogs, laptop in front of me for writing, favorite book and beverage next to me, and maybe a canvas to paint or a doll outfit to sew.

Still, Glenwood Cemetery is one of my favorite places in the city regardless of the weather. Shaded by majestic trees, set among rare hills in this flat coastal city of 2.5 million, it offers a chance to be left alone with only a fountain or waterfall breaking the silence. It even provides a view of Houston's fantastic skyline. It's the ideal secluded spot for reflection and daydreaming, and the dead have never objected to my walking among them.

Yesterday was a fun day, if a rather busy and hectic one. I started out at Julie's, went to the office and then out to lunch with the co-workers for Dining for Life fundraiser for NO/AIDS, back to the office and then to Cafe Envie to meet an Austrian Ph.D. candidate who is doing her dissertation on post-Katrina fiction (I thought she was German; she was from Austria: AWKWARD!), and then on the way back to the office I ran into the fabulous Nevada Barr. I just love her--she is so funny and witty and charming. Perhaps one of these days I'll have the nerve to invite her for coffee. (Of course, it's not like I don't owe coffee dates to any number of people, from Chris Wiltz to Patty Friedman to docbrite to...oh, why go on? It's too depressing.)

I am also leaving on this coming Wednesday for Orlando for the Gold Crown Literary event. It's an eleven hour drive; I am going to depart on Wednesday evening and spend the night on the road to break up the trip. My schedule for the weekend is jam-packed, with lunches and dinners and coffees with any number of people I know from my days living in Florida--many of whom I have not seen in years. It's always interesting to reconnect with people from your past, I suppose.

Couchboy flies out tomorrow; it's been fun hanging with him after work every night. Jean is leaving for Orlando tomorrow--she's visiting family in Florida first--which frees up my Sunday. Tomorrow night we are going to a house-warming party for our friends Scott and David on the (gulp) Westbank. Yikes! The weekend after i get back from Orlando it's off to Fairhope to visit Joe and Suze (Hurray!), and apparently the next weekend there is a plot afoot to get us up to Hammond for the weekend. Ah, the Screen Porch. It has been far too long.

Still trying to get "An Arrow for Sebastian" ship-shape, and have to get the first fifty pages of BBB finished by the end of this month--neither of which is an easy task. I am however hopeful that I can make significant progress on both this weekend. Here's hoping, right?

Tonight we are doing testing at the Phoenix from 7-9.

Okay, off to the gym.

First time = funny.



Second time = stupid.

Nan, Mum's mum, died eighteen years ago today. I can hardly believe it. I was eighteen when she died. I still dream about her regularly, though. Mum reckons she's trying to speak to me. Maybe she is. I still miss her.

I've been trying to figure out how I can fit in work, college, drama, voluntary work and Chris. Something's gotta give - and I think it's going to be drama and maybe some voluntary work. I've already conceded Cymbeline isn't an option, which is a real shame. However, I'm trying to make time to do John Godber's Teechers. I reckon I will have to give up the switchboard if I start volunteering in Richmond, but the one will replace the other, it's not like I'm giving up voluntary work. I just need more hours in the day, days in the week...

So I went and saw the new Harry Potter with Emma this afternoon and I had a latte because Galaxy has great coffees and now I can't sleep. On the upside, I got to see Craig Ferguson and I lurve Craig Ferguson. He's one that can make me laugh out loud an honest loud laugh. And he has good interesting diverse people on. He just makes me happy. Like tacos or something.

Anyway-- the new Harry Potter is good. I dozed off a couple of times, but I have noticed from watching them at home that Harry Potter movies are good to doze to. Like "Everyday Italian" and Ina Garten are also good to doze to. And Harry Potter movies are long enough that if you do doze off you still have time to catch up after you wake up.

In other entertainment news, UK Channel 4 has managed to block most access to UK Big Brother this year. I've found only two reliable sources (as opposed to about six last year) so I'm able to keep up, but I'm not sure what the point of cutting off American fans is. Last year I even bought stuff from the Channel 4 store, and would patronize their advertisers if I could, so it just seems mean. But still I'm keeping up. I'm loving Halfwit, like apparently all of Britain is. I can't believe it still doesn't seem to have sunk in to some of them that they're not seeing the big picture. Lisa has them brainwashed.

So I guess I'll try to sleep again. Or maybe have a popsicle first. Popsicles are getting us through the summer this year. Sleep tight.

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

As you know, I have posted many pics of Max in the last 11 months(yes, he will be a year old one month from yesterday). However, I don't see my brother, Kenneth, and his girls as often, so there are not as many photos of them in my albums. Right after I got this newest camera, Mom and I were at Walmart and she saw a photo frame with three slots in it. She said something to the effect of, "If I had a good picture of each of the girls, I could put all three grandkids' pictures in this." I took the hint and told her I would get some pictures of the girls when I went over to take Jess her birthday present on July 1, before I headed to Nashville for S&P's show. So now I give you my neices, Jessica and Hannah. I cant believe they are both in high school this fall. Jess just turned 14 and Hannah will be 13 in September.

 
( Individual shots under the cut )

( You are about to view content that may only be appropriate for adults. )

Just after Tim and I got back from the gym, as I was unlocking my front door, I heard a clap of thunder in the distance. Empty promise, as usual. I started dinner, and Tim started tending to what's left alive on the drought-impacted Compound grounds. Then he stepped inside and told me about this:


If you squint, stand on your head, and recite one of Hermione's spells from Harry Potter, you can see proof that it's raining somewhere in Texas by virtue of a rainbow.

I wrote this poem in college. I can't remember all of it. Here is what I remember off the top of my head.

They see the shell,
But hear not the sound.
Life whispers forth,
But she is hushed.
-Ellen Tevault-

I wish I could remember all of it, but that part still resonates with me. That's how I feel a lot.

Ellen