Virtual-Doug

Reminiscing

Recently I’ve been processing some of the 1, 953 photos I took during my last trip to Huê back in April and May.  I’ve gotten behind in this work – and it is work I have promised to MEDRIX, the excellent organization based in Seattle.  Its not that I’m lazy – I just don’t like to work.

These photos are not “tourist” photos – they are shots of the medical clinics and schools where MEDRIX has worked to install safe water systems and involve the local Vietnamese in the work.  I like MEDRIX concept – their goal is to put themselves out of business in Việt Nam.

For me, these shots are the real Việt Nam.  While the techies worked on medical stuff and safe water, it was my job to record the places – and the people.   Most tourists would not take this photo, but I rode by this place on my motorbike a few gazillion times when I lived in Huê.  In this case, university students were about to set out on a practical; exercise in using GPS devices – a skill that will serve them well when they begin researching environmental problems later in their college career.

(As always, be sure to click on the photo to see a larger version.)

This too is the real Việt Nam.  The government in the province has created a small but growing office that deals with safe water.  Each of the safe water units installed by MEDRIX is checked on a regular basis – not by an American, but by a Vietnamese technician.   Not only does the technician check the processed water, but he trains the teachers and local people to do it as well.  These kids will have good water to drink – at least at school. 

The real Việt Nam is in transition.  Sure, you can still find lonely wattle shacks out in the countryside, but electricity is everywhere – and where the phone lines don’t go, most likely you will be able to get mobile phone coverage.  MEDRIX is looking at providing a safe water system to the clinic across the road from this house. 

But of course, the real Việt Nam includes food.  This is one of our very favorite eating places in Huê.   The Mystery Guest Blogger and our friend Tuan closed the place down one night last April, deeply engrossed in conversation about who-knows-what.

Last night, the MGB decided to prepare fresh spring rolls – with shrimp, bean sprouts, peanut sauce – all the good stuff we enjoyed while living in Việt Nam.  I’m not sure I know where she found the rice paper, but her culinary skills were evident as I stuffed myself.  She even had some nưôc mam on the table.

All this reminiscing has prompted me to do something.  I have published a book of photographs I’ve taken in Việt Nam.  For want of a better term, I call them “travel photos.”  They too are the real Việt Nam, yet they are also the kind of photos that evoke pleasant memories from tourists and former residents alike.  Take a look, and if you see is something you like, the book is for sale.  Click here.  Be sure to click on Book Preview to see the first few pages of the ninety page book.

Cookin'

Gentle Reader – have you noticed a certain paucity of posts as time goes by?  I’d like to say that its because I’m terribly busy (which I am), but the reality is that I am hard pressed to find subject matter to write about.  After all, just how many posts can one write about taking photographs? – or how many about visits with Mom? –  or how many about wrestling with the cat?

Boring stuff, eh?

But, I am proud to say my cooking skills are, uh – advancing.

One of my best sources for recipes has been my long time friend, Jeff.  You see, Jeff is a bachelor, so he knows to keep things simple.  Last night, the Mystery Guest Blogger worked a twelve hour shift that turned into fourteen hours, so she was hungry when she came home.  Jeff’s “Golden Baked Chicken” hit the spot.  It was ridiculously easy to prepare, and took no time at all.  By the way – Jeff’s recipes are as funny to read as they are good eating.  He has a warped sense of humor that shows through in his writing.  Note that he says he eats lots of chicken, hence his full head of hair.  Jeff’s pate hasn’t needed a comb for many years.

He also suggested I serve the chicken with rice and a green veggie, but I am now getting courageous enough to try my own thing.  So, having some zucchini that was only a day or so from going bad, I decided to cut ‘em up, put a little oil on ‘em, and grill ‘em.  Turned out pretty good too.  Yeah yeah – I could have done them on the grill outside, but have you ever been in South Texas in August? The last place you want to be in August is outside, especially over a hot grill.

As I post this, I am curious to know what smarty comment Jeff will leave on the blog.  He’ll have to work to make his comment as good as the golden baked chicken.

Budding Photojournalist

In a few previous postings, I have mentioned the freelance photography I do for the local weekly newspaper, the most recent being in July when I had one of my photos on the front page.    During the spring, I shot a lot of high school sports such as soccer, baseball, and softball, but of course, there aren’t any high school sports in the summer.  The editor has been trying me out on other assignments.  I hesitate to say “hard news” because that is not the forte of a weekly newspaper, but nonetheless, they are assignments that cover life in our town.  The challenge is to shoot something more than a “grip and grin” pose for life in a small city.

For instance, it was a bit of a challenge to cover high school registration.  The gymnasium was filled with tables and long lines, just as there used to be when I went to high school.  But, we weren’t fingerprinted back then, nor did we have ID cards made – much less ID cards with our pictures on them.  As I watched the assembly line method of producing them, I met the teacher who coaches the swim team I shot last month. 

(As always, be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)

Later that same day was “National Night Out Against Crime.”  The city of Mission, Texas, celebrated with a large gathering in the downtown park.  I think every dignitary running for office with a thirty mile radius came to address the crowd.  The event was hosted by a local television news anchor and was made  complete by the presence of McGruff the Crime Dog.   But I also liked the “Pee Wee Honor Guard.  These are kids of the officers and employees of the Mission Police Department.  Cute, eh?  That’s the Chief of Police with the microphone.

And sports is starting up again.  I’ll be trying out the new toy, my 120-300 mm f 2.8 zoom soon, but in the meantime, volleyball has started, so I shot the tryouts.  This calls for a super fast lens because volleyball is played inside a “dim-nasium.”  In this case, I used my 50 mm f 1.4 to capture this shot of one of the athletes slamming a wicked spike.  I was happy I wasn’t in the way of that ball!  The new school year was exemplified by this young lady – a freshman at her new school – who was happy she could now wear a new “Rattler” t-shirt with pride.

Go Rattlers – and Eagles – and Patriots – and Coyotes.  (Hey – I gotta give all four high schools I cover equal representation, eh?)

The Home

Its her “house.”  I spend a fairly decent chunk of my time there every day, so I thought I would share a few photos I have been taking at the nursing home where my mother lives.  Many, but not all, of the other residents also have Alzheimer’s (or at least some form of dementia).

Back on the 4th of July, the staff decided to serve watermelon to the residents.  As the activities director carried in each watermelon, she stopped at this gentleman’s wheel chair to get his “approval.”  He was once a successful farmer.  He often comes out to the lobby area to look out the large glass windows and watch the world go by.  The day I took the photo, he saw me aim the camera towards him, and he never changed his expression – not even one little bit.  When I showed him his own image on the LCD of my camera, he never changed his expression.

(As always, be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)

I often process the nursing home photos in black and white.  The starkness of B&W suits dementia well – it doesn’t make the disease look good.  But, not everything in the home is stark.  Sometimes I am struck by the warmth and love I see.  In this photo, the wife is the resident.  Her husband comes every single day, and spends hours there with her.  I usually see him pushing her wheelchair as they tour the parking lot.  On this occasion, he “helps” her with her coloring.  A long time ago, this man said “In sickness and in health . . .” and he took that vow very seriously.  Color suites this photograph – it is one of love and caring and sharing.

I’ve watched this lady being fed by the staff on a number of occasions.  She is always in her wheelchair, and though she may talk, I have never heard her.  Sadly, I’ve never seen visitors either.  I wonder who put her in the nursing home – I wonder if she ever had a joyful time in her life.  I wonder what is in store for her.  I wonder if she wonders.

One of the best known stories from the Bible is about Ruth and Naomi.  Ruth was Naomi’s daughter-in-law.  When both women lost their husbands, Ruth pledged to stay with the older woman – “Whither thou goest . . “  And that is how I see the Mystery Guest Blogger and Mom.  My mother may not always be able to remember names and facts anymore, but she knows what love is – and she responds.

This photo definitely should be in color.