DLS Designs

Labor Day Weekend

Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse 1 Originally uploaded by DLSDesigns

I spent this labor day weekend at our summer home on Hog Island. On Saturday night we had the Hog Island dance. In typical Hog Island fashion we had minimal lights, a crappy DJ and a tons of alcohol. It's so great to be able to have fun and relax. It's nice not to worry about someone being stupid and driving home drunk, since  the island has no cars, only golf carts.

I was lucky enough to have beautiful weather and plenty of shooting time. I got some great shots of the Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse and the boathouse. I will try to upload the boathouse photos soon. You can check out all of my Hog Island Photos on my flickr.

A Quick Trip Home

Massachusetts State Police Cruiser
Originally uploaded by Mark Sardella

This morning, I left Dallas for Boston's Logan Airport to bring my 90 year old Grandfather back to Westwood. He had come to Dallas to visit with my dad and me for Easter. Overall the trip went smoothly and we didn't have any trouble with the wheelchair or with the bags, so we went upstairs to the departures level and met our taxi driver from London Taxi of Norwood.

After we passed through the tolls at the Ted Williams Tunnel, a Massachusetts State Trooper pulled us over. Apparently there is a new law that says all taxis must have a Fast Lane. Unfortunately for the taxi driver someone had taken the Fast Lane out of the taxi he was driving and he got a $50 ticket. I felt so bad for him, especially since the ticket comes out of his pocket. Plus, the meter ran the entire time the officer was writing the ticket, so we had to pay the wait time.

Road Trip from Clearwater, FL to Norwood, MA Part 1

5823 Big Ass Farm, originally uploaded by ElloreeCreations.

Today after I left Steph's place in Savannah, I headed north on I-95 on my journey back to Norwood. The weather was horrendous with torrential downpours and strong winds, but I had to make it to Norwood by Friday. Around exit 53 on I-95 in Virginia, I hit yet another traffic jamprobably caused by an accident due to the weather condition2. Since I was extremely tired of sitting in traffic, I hit the "Detour" button on the GPS and it told me to exit at exit 53. Along my detour, I ran across Olde South Cider & Country Store. They have the most delicious homemade ciders. The peach cider is to die for and I just HAD to take some home to Mom and Rob. Then as I followed Sniders Highway, I came across "Big Ass Farm". I think it was the funniest sign I had seen in a long time.

Day 1 with Steph in Savannah

Steph and I had a fun day. She got off work around 1:30pm and then we headed to the beach on Tybee. Steph took a nap and I took a several walks with my camera. I shot 2 and a half rolls of 35mm film and 1 roll of 120 film. Steph made us leave around 6:00pm even though the meter hadn't run out, because she was getting cold. :( I was completely comfortable and content in nothing but my shorts and bathing suit. Steph had a bathing suit, a dress, and two towels wrapped around her. I guess it pays to have some built in insulation. While I was at the beach I was feeling so content and tranquil. I started to think about my life and came up with a good idea for a dream job for me. I should be a entrepreneur and start my own gift shop called Coastal Inspirations. It would give me a place to sell my photography and my jewelry. I also started to rekindle my connection to the beach.

It is a fantastic place to think and I started thinking about grandma. I was remembering how she always used to tell me how in her next life she wanted to come back as a cat in a good home. She said that her cats which were in a good home were completely taken care of and could sleep all day. Thinking about this strengthened my desire to come back in my next life as a dolphin.

After the beach and a quick change, Steph and I grabbed dinner at the sushi place...mmmm... They had some delicious rolls. We ordered tons of Sake(the salmon not the drink) rolls. After dinner we took a ride over to her work, because she had to pick some paperwork up. While I was waiting in the car, a news van pulled up and there was TV Guide following a reporter. I LOVE being behind the camera, but I'm not fond of being in front of it. I hid in the car and was relieved when they went inside.

Then being our mother's daughters, we hit up TJMaxx. I insisted we go there or to Home Goods to get Steph a new toothbrush holder that won't rust or that isn't rusty. Steph found a really cute black and white dress. I didn't find anything, but I didn't really need anything either.

Overall it was a fantastic day. We had a great time just being together.(Most of the time anyways.) We had some good laughs.

Hog Island Mosaic

This weekend Stephanie and I flew home to Boston to go through some of Grandma’s jewelry. I had Steph sign in to my flickr account, so I could show her some of the family picts I had uploaded. She seemed impressed with the shots from Hog Island and said she would love to have copies of almost all of them for her place to hang up. Go Diane! Here are my favorite shots from Hog Island:

Hog Island Mosaic, originally uploaded by DLSDesigns.

Will I ever feel at home in Dallas?

The boat and the sky, originally uploaded by rightlySo.

While I sit here in this loud face paced café located at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI, I feel at home. Although my driver’s license was issued in Massachusetts and for about 300 nights a year I lay my head on a pillow in Dallas, I find myself feeling most at home in this small café and bar. I am over 1500 miles from Dallas and almost 40 miles from the home I grew up in Norwood, Massachusetts, but this place feels comfortable and soothing. Perhaps it’s the sailboat models in the windows or the blue paint on the walls reminding me of my most “at home” place, the beach. Maybe it’s the sounds of the people. I hear “wicked” being used as an adverb and a waitress who doesn’t say her r’s, “What would you like to ohdah?” The feeling could be based on the familiarity since its probably the 100^th time I’ve sat in this café as I took my first plane ride at 18 months.

I remember the time I sat at the next table over with my sister who has tears in her eyes as we discussed how much we missed this place, “our home”. We talk about the internal battle both of us as facing. Our hearts ache, because we are plane rides away from our friends, family, people we love, and each other. Yet, if we think logically and not emotionally we know that we are making the right decision to be so far away. Her career is taking off in Savannah and Savannah’s market is a good place for her to gain valuable reporter experience. As a poor college student, the cost of living in Dallas pales in comparison to the cost of living in Massachusetts or Rhode Island and I am forced to stay in Dallas until I have finished my Bachelor’s degree.

Another time I was here dining with my father. He insisted on sitting at the bar stools by the window, a much less intimate setting than the one my sister and I were at.  We ordered two lobster rolls since Maine lobster in Texas is non-existent. Of course the man who is always in a hurry, order an extra to go.

Thinking about the memories and atmosphere which makes this place special, my heart longs to be home. I yearn to stay here. Will I ever feel at home in Dallas?