Thursday, June 27, 2013

Theme Thursday: Black and White

Theme Thursday with Clan Donaldson is black and white this week, which I was sooo looking forward to, to put my o's to good use, until my true ace but still not a DSLR camera broke. Sadness. Because I do have a fascination for the black and white, particularly for finding mood, subject matter and insight that is centrally transformed when viewed through a more limited spectrum of light and color. But I am stuck using my chintzy point and shoot and then using Picasa's various filters to bring out what I would undoubtedly have mustered on my own capacity had I my trusty camera.   Had enough of Rebekah-speak? Me too.





Peter, as most first-born, is my black and white kid. Always seeing things from his own, unbendable perspecitve. This morning he woke up at 4:15, absolutely no complaints, in order to be at swim practice at 5:30. He tells us that under no circumstances does he ever need less than an hour to get ready for whatever it is he is going to do that day. He starts every. single. day. with the hottest shower he can stand, no exceptions. Ever. He has told me a morning shower is more efficient and longer lasting than a Red Bull when it comes to getting yourself going. Clothes somehow find themselves on his body despite Peter's snail-like efforts to appear motionless. Fascinating, really, and he has taken as long as 15 minutes to accomplish socking one foot. He then sits down to two and exactly two bowls of cereal, and they must be two different kinds of cereal. It is a very rare occasion Peter will concede to have something else for breakfast, unless it's an omelette with olives, bacon, cheese. That's acceptable, on occasion. Black and white. 



When I picked him up from swimming today, I told him my idea for a photo shoot and BEGGED him just to do what I asked. So although this is what he is seen doing at this time of day, it was nonetheless staged. He suggested that smoking a hand-rolled cigarette with the smoke wafting dolefully in obdurate convergence would look much cooler. SO you can imagine that for his sake. He afforded me exactly five minutes to accomplish my purpose, groaned every time I asked him to scoot just a little to the right, and literally counted down the seconds and and dismissed me from his presence. 

Everybody needs a Peter.

19 comments:

  1. I'm never tired of Rebekah-speak. Ever. And I'm never tired of reading your descriptions of people. Also ever.

    I love the picture, more so because of the behind-the-scenes. Sorry about your camera. The end.

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  2. I want a Peter! I find his ways so fascinating!!!

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  3. Grooooan. We get a lot of groaning around here also.

    for all the groaning it turned out perfect.

    totally could use this in an ad for selling coffee. I'd buy it!

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  4. My brother is a Peter and they sound very similar except I am the first born so more black and white. I agree, everyone needs a Peter!! (I middle named my baby Peter after my brother.) I am sad for your camera but if this is what you accomplished with a point and shoot well gosh I am jealous!

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  5. He will be glad he let you do this in about 20 years - you've really captured him. I'm impressed with his habits too, good to know yourself so well at a young age.
    I hope life is rolling a little easier these days and things are getting settled, home is starting to override vacation mode.

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  6. My husband also swears by a 'as long and as hot as allowed' to get going in the morning.

    Love everything about this post!!

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  7. Black and white people always have a ton of personality. How does he make those omelettes again? Black or green olives? They sound delish!

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    1. Either, but preferably green with pimientos!

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  8. I guess I tend to be somewhat of a black and white person too, and I totally agree with him about the shower thing! Love the picture, even if it is staged. And I love the view :)

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  9. 4:15??? I am NEVER letting my children start swimming competitively... As soon as they learn how not to drown, we're quitting lessons (if we ever bother to start them...).

    He looks so OLD in those pictures - I don't know how you can stand it! Or perhaps it's nice to know that you're that much closer to getting him out of the house ;)

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  10. VERY cool pictures. They COULD be used for coffee ads.

    You son sounds so interesting...and so much like a firstborn. I love your way of putting things: "his snail-like efforts to appear motionless." (You are an awesome writer!) That reminds me a little of my oldest son.

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  11. SEriously, I could really use a cup of coffee just looking at that photo!

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  12. My eldest is black and white, too. She writes things down...in black and white. If she could have a uniform of black and white, she'd happily wear it. Hah! Maybe someday she will... ;)

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  13. Your boy is so handsome!

    And, I'm totally black and white too. I can totally relate to the same thing for breakfast every single day (3 eggs, 2 slices Udi's gluten-free bread) and if I'm forced to deviate from it, I actually get anxious. Yes, I am sad.

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  14. Oh, I love these photos. I am so so so sad for you about your camera. You sure do make do, though, don't you?

    And I agree with everyone else about your descriptions of your family people. They are fascinating (people and descriptions). Someday I will move near you and spend every day hanging out with you just so you can know me well enough to write one of these about me. That's not stalker-esque, is it?

    One last thing, and you must tell the truth: Did Peter actually say, "with the smoke wafting dolefully in obdurate convergence"? As your son, I wouldn't be surprised.

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  15. You totally rocked the point & shoot today! Great photo - I love the mood. Peter sounds like a fascinating kid. And your descriptions are just delightful!

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  16. Ohmygosh. Love. I think I snort-laughed. That's embarrassing! :p

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  17. These pictures I will treasure forever!!! I love that mysterious simpleton - so deep, yet so bare bones, so Peter!!

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