Surface Miner

is what Speedy Bob aka Metal Man calls himself.

Speedy Bob scavenges the streets around the Civic Center in San Francisco.  I met him at the BART station when I was waiting on a ride on New Years Eve ...

Bob, long curly unkempt brown hair and beard, dressed in jeans and a pullover that had seen better times goes on and explains me in a very animated way that he's sick and tired of being called a homeless, bum, dumpster diver, recycler ... he simply prefers "surface miner" ... I never heard the term before so I found it funny and wrote it down

Bob mines the surface of San Francisco ...

We're both looking at an empty pack of cigarettes lying in the gutter ... Bob says ... "let me show you, I'm sure there's still a cigarette in there ..." 

Bob stoops down, scoops the pack up and opens it ... a big smile appears on his face and he yells ... "See I told you" and he holds the pack my way ... I take a peek and count 12 cigarettes and 2 joints ...

Bob pulls the joints out, sniffs them and says ... "There's good weed in here ... I get $10 for the two of them" ... we start laughing ... my ride shows up ... 

Happy New Year Bob, keep mining that surface ...

Friday, September 12, 2008

Mom is going home on Saturday.  She's sufficiently stabilized to receive care at home ... always better.

I'm on my way back to San Francisco over Washington.  Flights are uneventful but I can't get online in the lounges either ... Brussels charges $30 for 4 hours internet access but I have only 30 minutes ...so not worth the money.

Have to take the BART from SFO to Fremont and the train I'm on has an issue with brakes.  It smells terrible ... burned rubber.  After a while they can unlock the brake.  It takes me over 2 hours to make the trip.  Long but it beats paying for expensive daily airport parking.

Checking emails, fielding phone calls and text messages ... it's good to be home.  Having mom in my prayers.

Continued ...

Wednesday, August 27, 08

Isabelle Reneaux graced my studio.  Tiana Hunter sent her my way.  Thank Tiana.  Lauren Warner for make-up and hair.

Isabelle got directed on the wrong BART train ... slow start, rocky start ... but that changed quickly after the first ice was broken and connection was established between the three of us.  The Dior make-up chair from Lauren does miracles ... lol

A crocodile and banana SMS cracked me up.  Don't be jealous.  Prop for the day: artichoke.

No pictures to share yet, that will take some time.  Happy though with what I've seen through the view finder.  Isabelle was on fire in the outdoor shoot on Mission Boulevard.  A 15 minute concept.  

We just stopped shooting and I had removed my memory cards out of the camera just in case ... yep ... a red and blue light cruiser rolled up and the officer walked up to us.  Totally ignored me when I tried to intercept him.  Walked right up to Isabelle and Lauren with a grin and a smile on his face.  I knew we were OK.

Isabelle and Lauren handled it perfectly.  Couldn't have done it any better.  The officer was totally professional and understood the boundaries and the law.  Expressed his concerns for the situation.  Promised to be more discrete in the future.  Be polite, be courteous, don't argue.  Thank God for understanding officers.

Back in the studio at 7:00pm ... dealt with a minor disturbance ... concisely ... don't sweat the small stuff ... peace of mind is so much more important ... good night ... I'm exhausted.

Continued ...