You Know You're in the South When...

The KKK comes to town...

2010-10-23T23:59:00.000-04:00

I was jolted back into culture shock when the KKK came to visit today...sans the white, pointy hats but still intriguing nonetheless. As it turned out, only a few of them came to protest and left after only 20 minutes. They were greeted by about 300 counter protesters. Check out the article here

A Rare Snowfall

2010-02-16T22:02:00.005-05:00

People love the snow here... because they never see it. I looked out the window and watched all of my happy neighbors taking pictures, having snowball fights and building snowmen. Then I remembered that I don't have to be a grumpy northerner who is supposed to despise the snow cause I live in the south! So I went outside to join them. After all, it's been awhile since I've had to put on my boots and scrape snow off of my car.

Actually, I didn't even have to scrape my car off because it melted so fast. The following day I discovered remnants of the previous day's excitement.

Just Peachy

2009-07-18T10:59:00.006-04:00

The other day I was jolted from my sleepy, photo rut for a few hours. Finally, an unfamiliar scene that awakened the senses.

Driving Home

2009-01-05T14:29:00.003-05:00

Lonely Tree Reflection

Foggy Hay

Welcome to the USA

2008-10-27T23:04:00.015-04:00

I heard about a family that was going to be adopting five children from Guatemala. I asked if I could follow them while they adjusted to their new lives in the U.S. The first time I met the family, they were just returning from Guatemala after the adoption became legal. Family and friends came to Atlanta to welcome them home. Everyone was crying and hugging. For a second I forgot I was there to take pictures. With tears running down my face, I hugged the mother (who I never met)and introduced myself. "Hi, Congratulations. I'm Jackie the photographer." Awkward. But no one noticed because we were all too busy being happy.

Here's a link to the story (that is on-going at this point and a short slideshow)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/102608/met_480941.shtml

Strength

2008-10-14T22:16:00.024-04:00

One would think only a superhero would have the strength to tackle some of the great pains that life throws at us. But these women don't have special powers, they're human, just like me, but facing a battle no one should have to endure. I don't know how they do it, but I've been truly inspired by their strength and courage.

Sherry, a mother and a wife, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

And June, a grandmother, raising her granddaughter who is a victim of shaken baby syndrome.

VIEW JUNE AND SEPTEMBER'S SLIDESHOW:

Soldiers Homecoming

2008-10-09T15:58:00.002-04:00

At work, I'm known to whine every and now and then. But on days when I get to witness moments like this, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to be doing what I do.

More People Not Like Me

2008-09-23T22:56:00.010-04:00

I went to this assignment tonight with an open mind, as I always try to do whenever I am introduced to something that seems to contradict my own beliefs. I'm finding more and more people don't think like me, and that's OK. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy living here- and one of the reasons why I don't.

There's Something Called the Redneck Games?

2008-07-08T19:17:00.017-04:00

Yep, there sure is. And we decided to embrace southern culture and head to East Dublin, GA to check it out.

There were lots of confederate flags

and people dancing with beer guts

There were proud people, like the man on the right who just won the watermelon seed spitting contest, and the one on the left who is just proud.

We had the opportunity to witness a redneck wedding. Rumor has it that they met in the mud pit last year.

After the ceremony, the happy couple belly-flopped into the very same mud pit

and so did everybody else

Covered in mud, we took our newly discovered appreciation for rednecks to bonjangles for chicken and biscuits, discussing next year's plan to be there in time for the bobbin'for pigs feet competition.

YEEHAW!

It takes a really long time to get back where we came from

2008-06-18T15:52:00.016-04:00

We took a road trip back to the Northeast.

went to a Sox game

and bought souvenirs

drove

saw a lot of my feet,

old friends

and some new

waited for the rain to stop in Annapolis

made a few stops

and drove some more

1 pool is not enough

2008-06-01T12:07:00.005-04:00

It's hot here. 92 degrees today- supposedly that's cool for this time of year.

Asha wanted a pool. But likes to use it as a giant water bowl.

I wanted a pool. Our neighbor has a nice one, in ground with a diving board. I used to peek over the fence and dream big. Then I took my $14.00 to Target and bought a whale pool. But it won't stay inflated. Asha likes that one. So I use hers.

Meet Asha

2008-03-16T22:31:00.005-04:00

She's a lab/viszla mix, about a year old. Her favorite toy is Mr. Turtle. She enjoys barking up trees at the birds and burying bones in the backyard.

A southern birthday...

2008-03-08T19:38:00.009-05:00

I drank coffee in the bathroom while I got ready for work. Then I had leftover lasagna for lunch on the porch.

Then I did other things like took pictures at work.
Then I got wrapped up in streamers and a party hat went on my head. Then I went to Adventure Land.

We all rode the Wacky Worm.

Then Nicole and I got our own ride on the Wacky Worm (my party hat stayed on)

Then I ate turkey and stuffing at Cracker Barrel.

Fun Day!

There's a swing on our front porch...

2008-02-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

and our friend Kendrick came over to test it out. She also watched while I painted the bottom half of our dining room red. We can paint whatever color we want now that we have our own house!

We're going to be working on it for the next few weeks and it should be ready for us to move in at the end of February.

An unusually cold morning

2008-01-05T14:11:00.001-05:00

I was heading out to work and Nicole was still waiting for her car to warm up. I noticed the cool snowflakes, and the morning sun coming through the window and took some pictures. I didn't think it would be for the paper but my boss liked it. It ended up on the front page the next day and was picked up by AP. The managing editor wrote about it in her blog.

http://blogs.augusta.com/node/1222

Plunging Southern Style

2008-01-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I wasn't sure what to expect when I was assigned to shoot "the parrot plunge" on New Year's Day. I'm used to to hundreds of people diving into the frigid Atlantic on Hampton Beach for the annual "polar bear plunge". Turns out a small group of parrotheads gather together every New Year's Day and plunge into a swimming pool. The water was a temperate 59 degrees and the air temperature in the lower-60's- BRRRRRR...

Eating, Relaxing and Being a Tourist

2008-01-02T21:06:00.001-05:00

It was nice to be back up north for Christmas.

lot's of eating

relaxing

and being a tourist again in Boston.

No Wintry Mixes of Precipitation Here

2007-12-02T23:15:00.000-05:00

I had a dream last night about pachysandra plants and the cellar door in my backyard leading to the basement in the house where I grew up. I was feeling nostalgic when I woke up. Then I heard the weather up north- mix of wintry precipitation, 28 degrees. I remembered how much I hate wintry mixes of precipitation. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful, 70 degree weather and go for a run. This happens to be my favorite street in our neighborhood.

Speaking of neighborhoods, my Dad just emailed this photo since I was feeling nostalgic. It's one of my earlier photos of my sister and the neighbors.

Cotton feels nice and BBQ tastes good :)

2007-11-19T22:01:00.000-05:00

We were driving home from a wedding in Americus this past weekend and I had to pull over on the side of the road to touch the cotton. We each took a piece and ran.

Distracted by the lovely feel, we took a wrong turn and ended up at Heavy D's BBQ somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The nice lady told us how to get back to Augusta and then informed us that Heavy D's was where they filmed the bar scenes in "Sweet Home Alabama". We looked at some photos she had in an album and ordered some BBQ to go. We were glad we got lost.

But I've never seen it- and that's what matters

2007-11-14T19:28:00.000-05:00

I was driving home from work last week and saw this. Ecstatic, I immediately called my co-worker, hoping I stumbled on a great opportunity to make a feature for the paper (my first might I add). Apparently giant crosses in the south are as common as fast food chicken restaurants, but I shot it anyway.

People Like Chicken (but not on Sundays)

2007-10-23T21:39:00.000-04:00

It's been a couple weeks. I've ventured out some and discovered that people in Georgia like chicken. There are at least five chain chicken restaurants, just chicken, and then one for chicken and biscuits. Chick-fil-a, which is pronounced "chick filet" is not open on Sundays. The founder wants all of his employees to be able to worship and spend time with the family. I got the run-down on the chicken situation from a lady at the grocery store when she saw me trying to buy a bottle of wine on a Sunday (not allowed either).

There are several of the chicken restaurants missing in the photos. While out rounding them up, I got a call from the Augusta Chronicle offering me a job as a staff photographer that I had applied for a few days earlier. (I didn't mention that I was out shooting chicken restaurants) Anyway, I start on Monday and am very much looking forward to seeing people other than those who pass by outside of my bedroom window.

there's a piggly wiggly a few blocks away

2007-10-08T22:47:00.000-04:00

well, we made it to augusta after driving 12 hours from new jersey. murphy meowed the entire trip. today nicole went to work and murphy and i wandered around the apartment and spied on the neighbors from all of the different windows. next week we may venture out. i'll let you know how it goes.

fyi, my new cell # is: (912)687-4245.