I think everybody had a blast last night at the gallery show in North Hollywood. There’s nothing quite like seeing my photographs framed and hanging up with people admiring and saying nice things about them.

My contribution to the show were ten 13×19 framed prints. Nine of them were single images and one was a collage from my “Jumping News People” series.

Friends, family and quite a few people who I didn’t know were at the show.

I brought a couple cases of beer. I’ve always thought art and beer go well together.

Kind of strange for me, I was interviewed by people recording video of the show.   Always a slightly disconcerting experience to be on the business end of the lens.

I’m nearly sure I came across as a grinning idiot, but hopefully they can salvage something useable in editing.

A lot of my friends wanted to find out how this fit into my recent declarations of giving up my photography career in favor of writing.

On the way to the show, my lovely wife and I happened to stop for a quick bite at “The Habit” (a burger franchise that’s been expanding into the SoCal not quite so fast food territories). I was wearing a short sleeved Jamaica Jaxx Hawaiian print shirt. My favorite Jamaica Jaxx Hawaiian print shirt.

Somehow while wolfing down a much better than expected burger, I popped a button off my shirt. It wasn’t a result of gluttony, the button caught on the edge of the table when I was getting up to snag some ketchup for our sweet potato fries.  It actually made a really cool ricochet sound as it bounced off the window and landed on the table behind me.

Anyway, that was a bummer. One minute I’m enjoying a meal reminiscent of high school days long past (but way better, because sweet potato fries hadn’t been invented when I was in high school), then I’m worrying how noticeable my wardrobe malfunction would be to the art gallery crowd.  Still channeling my high school self, so I’ll admit the feeling was eerily like developing a nice pimple on the day of the homecoming dance.

My lovely wife (veggie burger and half of a “shared” strawberry milkshake) offered to sew the button back on (God bless wives who sew), but if “we” were going to do that, “we” needed needle and thread.

No problem. There happened to be CVS Pharmacy next door and I believe I’d heard a rumor once that you could purchase a needle and thread at a pharmacy.  I mean, I’m a guy, how would I know?

I reluctantly get up to leave. My half of the strawberry milkshake still on the table and my wife’s smiling unspoken assurance that she loves me, but that milkshake sure as hell wasn’t gonna be there when I got back.

I exit “The Habit” and started walking towards the CVS. It had been a scorching hot summer day, but the sun was now low in the sky and it was starting to feel nice out.

Between the CVS and “The Habit” were a couple of small businesses.  Interestingly enough, a laundromat and a dry cleaners.

Through the window of the dry cleaners, I could see a sewing machine off to the side of the counter. They do alterations. I walk into the shop to inquire about some alterations to my Jamaica Jaxx Hawaiian print shirt.

The middle aged Asian lady working the counter, didn’t smile as I explained my situation. I turned on the charm. I think she smiled less (if that’s possible).

“Two dollars. Cash,” was all she said to me.

Done.I took off the shirt. Underneath I had on a brand new black t-shirt and trust me, I’d already considered just wearing that without the shirt. Dellis was wearing a matching Hawaiian print blouse and I didn’t want to mess up our coordination.

It took the unsmiling Asian lady less than a minute to sew the button back on. That was kind of amazing. Heck, I wanted to pop another button off to see her do it again. It didn’t seem wise to push my luck.

My Jamaica Jaxx Hawaiian print shirt was good as new and the unsmiling Asian lady had my two dollars and my thanks as she ushered me out the door back into the late afternoon sunshine and locked the door behind me.

I happily buttoned my Jamaica Jaxx Hawaiian print shirt and casually wondered if she thought I was going to rob the place, but the sun felt good and all was right with the world again.

So, how do I explain that I want to write and take pictures?

I passionately love both still photography and writing. If they were women, I’d have to be honest and admit, as much as I can, I think I really would like to pursue them both.

Just between us though, it might not be fair, but I’ll never really stop doing either.

The gallery is located at 5126 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood.  “The Art of News” runs until September 9th and the gallery web site is www.nohogalleryla.com if you need more information like their hours and stuff.