Oh Thursday

I've got to say, in life there aren't enough special times. We get so bogged down with work, school, and social obligations that we sometimes forget to stop, take a moment, and enjoy life.

For me, Thursday is that day. I work Thursday mornings from 8-9:30 and then have the rest of the morning free to catch up on all the things I couldn't accomplish. Thursday is the only day I really get a siesta and my only responsibility in the afternoon is to coordinate photography projects and man to office at de Paula School of English. But, if it isn't the beginning of the month, I can actually sneak out to accomplish what I need to :0)

Somehow I always get an extra boost of energy and happiness. Especially when I cook lunch with Valeria. Which is always my favorite part of the day :0) I ate so many of her hamburgers I nearly exploded. Bliss for a moment. And then comes Friday.

A long time Coming

I just read my last post--which was a long long time ago. At the time I was considering the crazy idea that I could pull off living in some third world country and actually make a go of it. That question was so real and come from such a different place from where I'm standing today.

I live in that country. I now have two going businesses (an English School with around 150 students and a photography business "Hamner Fotos"). My wife and I moved into an apartment and bought all the things necessary to have the good life. I have friends. I have a baby "in the oven" as they say.

Life is good. Its been nothing but a blessing and I am truly happy.

I feel more like a man today than I ever had. And the experience of setting out on my own and building something myself has given me a large dose of confidence that often seems to lack among youngest children. I mean honestly, how many years can you live with two older siblings who are always smarter, better, wittier, and more accomplished before picking up a bit of an inferiority complex? :0)

But my life has changed. All for the better. I honestly don't know where I'll be a year from now. Be it the the US, Argentina, the Dominican Republic but I know I can do it. Whenever wherever.

I suppose that this is as good of time as any to start up the blog again. My sister Krisin just picked up my suggestion to start her own blog and has been doing an amazing job at it. So, in the spirit of sibling rivalry and love I too shall make a magnificent blog. To share, catch up, and challenge myself. Let the blogging begin!

And . . .

What if I gave it just one more year?  Opportunities gained, time lost . . .

I'll roll the dice.

La Difunta Correa II

La Difunta Correa II
Originally uploaded by Hamner_Fotos

I want to be be

So here's what its all about.  I am getting tired of the same old same old.  I'm always sitting around claiming to want to learn and change things.  I'm doing it.  I am a fotografer, I am going to interview the people, I am going to blog, I am going to journal regularly.

This weekend I'm going to the clubs to take pictures of the kids dancing.  I'll post them on my new blog:
www.hamner-obera.blogstop.com
aka more advertising for my services.  I'll add adds to my blog and we'll start seeing a little cash flow.  I'm going downtown to buy some paper to make my business cards to hand to people when I take their pictures.  This is it.  The moment is now.  Nothing can stop me but myself.  Let's roll!

Hard times

I've been told it can be an enlightening experience

When seasons change, to look back on life and reflect

I heard that it can be theroputic to compose in a pickle

Expelling these notions that fester

With a more enlightened self in mind

And wanting in reflection

I think I'll take this opportunity. . .

The Reader

Today I watched The Reader and was overcome with questions about why the movie was made and why at this moment.  It was beauitful and very well done.  And I did find the answers to my questions about the movie.

But what captivated me more than questions of the Holocaust was the idea of living within such a small world.  Immagine being illiterate, have no internet, tv, telephone and being forced to live your life within the boundaries of your life.  No escape through radio, The Simpson, Rachel Maddow, no amazing stories to propell your life.  And then, one day having someone read you Homer.

Stories are a masterful way to feel and to connect.  However, sometimes we are become so immune to life through our over exposure to story.  A good book should be more than intertainment--it should be cathartic.  Its been a while since anything has done it for me like that.  I have the suspician it has something to do with living in a near constant state of living through others that I have forgotten to live my own life and have my own struggles.  I can't remember reading a book and being so connected that I cried.  Yet, somehow I think I should.