"Something that never fails to make you feel better."

[Crystal] 

No matter what my mood, I've noticed that the only thing that ALWAYS makes me feel better is taking photos! Our Thursday night Camera Club usually alleviates the need on a monthly basis, but when a weekend comes up and I'm feeling the need, a stroll through the arboretum or even my own neighborhood which can help settle the creative shutterbug in me!

I've been admiring these sunflowers for instance on my way to and from my house so finally today I had my camera with me and I snapped a few shots! Boom - instant happiness! (And a cool new Spark post image for this blog header!) 

People are obviously my favorite subjects though and capturing their spirit, emotion or energy really sets me free! Characters and models who follow directions really well I can get some priceless expressions from. It's these simple moments that give me so much joy when I scroll though all of the images from the shoot! 

A photograph has the power to convey such a beautiful story and I hope that my work brings others as much joy as it brings me! So I'll keep my camera (or iPhone) close by to capture this lovely world around me and all that's in it.

-Crystal Olguin

August 27, 2017

[Mike]
I love TV!
Something that never fails to make me happy is good ol’ TV. I have loved watching TV my whole life. Educational shows, dumb eighties cartoons, old shows, new shows, news, everything but sports. There was so much TV could show you that was beyond the bounds of my simple life. 

When I was down or anxious, I could be transported to a different world where I might not see any other way. Sure, cartoons were pleasant distractions, but there was more to it. Old re-run shows made me wonder what it was like “back then.” I even liked talk-shows, news, and soaps even if they were boring or scary because it helped me understand the motivations of adults. 

Mr. Rodgers, Reading Rainbow, Sesame Street all created a desire to learn. You would see people who were artists and scientists, and I thought, Wow, I want to find out more about that. Ironically TV would compel me to go to the library to learn more about things. 

Now, this was the 80’s. My curiosity and reading didn’t translate to better grades and I'm sure TV was thought to be the cause of it, but I don't know how I would have coped with how much I hated school without it. I’d like to say to say that I grew out of it and everything worked out, but resenting school because it wasn’t “as good” is something I would carry with me until college.  

In the years since I have been learning to cope with anxiety/depression and even these days, I have one two shows I call comfort shows. They are shows that no matter how I feel, I could have on in the background for multiple episodes. 

I get a sense of real comfort these shows. The Office, The Simpsons, The Twilight Zone, Parks and Rec and documentaries are the shows of the moment. No matter how I’m feeling these shows can keep me company. The characters seem like friends. I hope to find other shows that I love this much, but these shows will always mean a great deal because they got me through rough times. 

I don’t know what the future holds. In these dog days of summer, it’s too hot for anything. Our friends are gone, or with their own families or just plain not our friends anymore. The news seems like a bad movie plot, and we are still wondering what we want to do with our lives. These shows and hopefully others will be there to lend a hand, to remind me that there is more out there and whats important. For that, I’m really thankful. 

-Mike