As my friend Patrick says, "Entrepreneurs: the only people who are willing to work 80 hours a week in order to avoid working 40!"

An apt description.

It's 8:30 Tuesday evening, and I'm starting on tomorrow's blog post. I've been up since 5:30 a.m., working since 7. I was going to start writing this around 7 p.m., but I forgot about something else that needed to get done.

I've exercised, meditated, written three articles for the content company I write for, sent a photo proposal to a client for four corporate shoots, sent my headshot and bio info to someone for a webpage she's putting together, sent some marketing emails, took care of a few personal chores, and fielded several phone calls.

Doesn't sound like that much when I write it. But, believe me, it was.

I also posted on IG a couple of times and did a couple of Instastories. For most people, that's what they do for fun, but it's something I have to do for my business. 

But, along with all the hard work is the beauty of working for myself.

It takes a lot of time. It's often frustrating. There's no IT Department when I can't figure out something on the computer.

But, I'm doing two things I love - photography and writing. 

And, I get to take Jack Bauer out into the beautiful blue-sky afternoon for 45 minutes to walk.

Today, I brought along my camera. Tell me that doesn't surprise you!

Bauer was jumping all over me as we got ready to go.

I live in a historic neighborhood where it's fun to walk around. There are lots of cool things to see. The neighborhood has grown and changed a lot since I moved here a little over three years ago.

Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market opened right around the time I moved here. The Eastside Beltline was open, but not busy. Now, on a sunny day, it's jam-packed.  

About a block from my house is the old David T. Howard School. Originally opened in 1924, it closed in 1976 due to lack of enrollment. Although it's been quiet and crumbling for many years, Martin Luther King, Jr. once walked its halls. So did Maynard Jackson. 

The building has served as an elementary school and a high school and is slated to be reopened in 2020 as a middle school.

An old stark tree stands in front of the door. It appears to have taken the abandonment to heart. I love that tree. And on a cold, clear, blue day like today, it contrasts with the sky and building perfectly.

I want to get inside and take photos before it gets renovated. I saw a workman over there one day and gave him my card and asked if I could get inside. He never called me back.

I'll keep working on that. 

I've been obsessing over texture in my photos and gave this one an oil paint texture. 

 

After getting a few photos and letting Bauer sniff around on the grass, we proceeded up the road toward the birth home of MLK, Jr. It's not far from the school.

Some friends of mine live almost across the street from the birth home, so I walk up that way often.

It was chilly out, but the birdsong heralded spring. I love the sound of the birds on a sunny day.

There's this cool sign that I pass whenever I'm walking over this way. I've meant to capture it for a long time.

Today was the day. The weather was beautiful. I had my camera. I stood on Bauer's leash so he wouldn't pull on my wrist as I snapped the shot. 

I'm charmed by the vintage feel of the sign and the yellow against that wonderfully saturated blue background. I also love the fence posts, though I could have done without the blue recycle bin behind the fence.

That's life, though. I capture it as is.  

Not blocking driveways is a big deal around here, especially if you're lucky enough to have one! Right here in the city, parking's an issue.

I don't have a driveway.

It wasn't a problem at all when I moved here. But, over the last year, it's started to become one a little, probably because I live so close to the Beltline. Most of the time I can squeeze my little Honda in somewhere, though.

My parallel parking skills were suburb-rusty when I moved here. Now I've got mad skills, but just don't look at my hubcaps on the right side! 

Back to the Walk 

Onward we walked until we arrived at MLK's home.

If you've never had a chance to take the tour, I highly recommend it. It's free, but you have to get tickets, and most days it sells out fast. No reservations. You have to get tickets in person that day. The tour takes about 30 minutes. Tours start at 10 am and go until 4.

Go to the visitor's center and sign up first thing in the morning, and hopefully, you'll get in. As I said, it's worth it. The house is beautiful and was ahead of its time with an indoor heating system - fitting place for someone as amazing as MLK. 

My favorite photo from today was the one I took of Lottafrutta. It's a little corner eatery and market. I love it. It reminds me of when I was growing up in Southern California. There were a few little corner stores in our town.

I gave the Lottafrutta photo a vintage feel when I edited. I don't like to shoot in the middle of the day. But, it was such a blue-sky day I didn't mind.

Sometimes when we're living right on top of something, we don't get photos.

I have tons of photos of the City of Atlanta, but most of them were taken a couple of miles from my home. Today, it was fun to get just a little bit closer.

I hope you have an awesome St. Patrick's Day!

See you between the raindrops!

xoxo,
Susan