Move Complete

...And we have liftoff.

Scott the Cable Guy (Time Warner contract technician) just left, and a speed test shows 41.51 Mbps download speed and 6.3 Mbps upload speed, so The Online Photographer is once again deserving of the middle part of its name—I am back on the Internet in Office 3.0, reassembled by lamplight last night.

TOP Office 3.0, avec mes chiens

I'd to thank everyone reading this for their tolerance and patience as I've struggled to get re-situated.

If you're new to the story and haven't been following along, I've been quite a nomad these past 18 months.

First, I bought my old-old house, the one in Waukesha, Wisconsin, which I'd previously rented. That's where I toiled for nearly nine years to establish this little corner o' the Web. Then, after three years of preparation, culminating in a resuscitated credit score among other things, I moved to my intended "last" house, also in Waukesha.

That was supposed to be the peak of the disruption.

Fortunately for me, but decidedly awkwardly, five days after I closed on Wisconsin House No. 2 I reconnected with a woman with whom I'd been friends many years before. She lived far away. This whole past year—August 27th to August 19th, when I was supposed to be settling into my old new house and getting back to work on TOP in a serious way, my life actually became more upended than ever, as she and I struggled with the deservedly dreaded "long-distance relationship*." Delta Airlines still sends me emails constantly, as if I am still its best friend. I should be part owner by now, is all I can say.

So, never one to be daunted, I did it all over again.

My second move in 12 months has landed me near, but not on, the shores of Keuka Lake. (Say "k'YOOK-uh.") Google it and hit "Images"—the views should make you feel happy. At the north end of Keuka Lake is Penn Yan, New York, and at the south end is Hammondsport. After some delays, I closed on the new-new house on Wednesday. Last night was my first night reunited with the pups, and my first night here. As I said, the Internet got turned on this morning.

As Telly Savalas used to say, I'm back, baby.

Well, almost. Getting there. I've only been here for a day. But after an extended period in which I've felt myself suspended in mid-leap (and mid-air), at least I've landed.

So where's "back"? I've never lived in the State of New York before. TOP Rural Lakeside-ish HQ is roughly equidistant from Ithaca, home of Cornell University, and Rochester, home of Eastman Kodak and Eastman House Museum. I'm a two-hour drive from Buffalo, New York, and Canada; 105 miles from Niagara Falls; 25 miles from Watkins Glen; and 45 minutes from the Pennsylvania border. Three hours east is the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and an hour and ten minutes away is the where Mark Twain wrote his most famous books (and where he's buried) in Elmira.

Famous landmarks are a bit thin on the ground out here—it is not a populous area—but the Finger Lakes are one of the most beautiful districts in the Eastern United States, drawing tourists by the coach-load throughout the short but intense Summer season.

Last night a storm cleared at twilight. A snap from the grocery store parking lot.

I am all fired up to do workshops here. There are not a lot of a lot of things in this area, but brother and sister, there are pictures everywhere. I don't want to overpromise with the workshop idea, because I'm well aware that I've been quite bad at doing what I say I will over the past year and a half or so. (What can I say? I took time for my personal life. All work and no relationship had made Jack—er, Mike—me—a very dull boy.) Let's just say I will be looking into workshops very seriously and that I "promise" (that p-word again) to keep you posted as we go.

So, the upshot? It's a beautiful day. The dogs lie at my feet. S. will be here for dinner. As I sit here writing I think I'm as happy as I've ever been in my adult life. "Honeymoon period" it may be, but then, people should enjoy honeymoon periods, right? I'm seeing upsides in every direction I look with no downsides anywhere to be found. I feel more like myself than I have since I was 13 and riding a horse called Balderdash all over the Rocky Mountains at Lost Trail Camp.

Life is good and good for you in the Finger Lakes in August.

More soon.

Mike

*...Which you've heard so much about. Lots of it bad, as in painful/hard/not exactly conducive to mutual happiness and smooth sailing. Much of which is true. No matter how much you like someone, making a go of it with a great distance between you is not ideal.

Original contents copyright 2015 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

TOP's links!

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Carl Siracusa: "I'm sure your long-distance relationship was wearing. But take consolation in the fact that it could have been a lot worse. My wife—who is British—and I first met almost 20 years ago while we were both on the same tour in India. We then conducted our courtship trans-Atlantically for over a year, me from NY, she from London. Luckily we both had well-paying jobs at the time, so we could afford the airfares—plus the then-horrendous long-distance telephone charges. And bosses who didn't mind us taking time off to spend (very) long weekends together once a month.

"All our friends thought it was very romantic, but it did finally wear us down. I moved to England and we got hitched shortly thereafter."

Robert Roaldi: "We're never too old to completely change our lives."

Daniel Sroka (partial comment): "Never apologize for making your personal life a priority. Never."

Jim Wright: "Okay, I give up. What is the large device on the [low] table [on the left]?"

Mike replies: It's an AC regenerator. It takes line (mains) AC, converts it to DC, then reconverts it to AC...clean AC. No RFI, constant voltage. It's made for audio—it's a PS Audio Power Plant—but it actually has the most effect on video screens, especially TV. I certainly don't need it for this application—a Dectet Power Center would be fine—but I have it, so I use it. 

Paul McGowan, the owner (and the "P" in the name) of PS Audio, is a photography enthusiast and occasional reader of TOP.

Gill R: "Long time reader, almost-never-poster here. Mike, I've been following your updates avidly and am delighted for you that you're all moved in. Your house looks gorgeous—and I would give my eye-teeth for an office that looked like that  :-)  . I wish you many happy years in your new home, and many happy years with S."

Mike replies: Thank you Gill.

Chris Y.: "I've been following this blog since way back—2006? and I knew your name from the magazine days...I think a lot of us readers are still trapped in old-school white collar cubicle-anchored jobs that would be unbearable without the Internet and blog presences like yours. Your written voice is like that of a friend who stops by to chat about our mutual interests; photography, yes, but also cars, coffee, music—examinations of taste in all these pleasurable things. As a bonus, we get to meet each other in the comments too. I am sure an untold number of us have followed this latest happy and constructive move as a vicarious one of our own. Your combination of instincts and hard work must point the way to some sort of 'new journalism' for these weird, great-unknown, big-bang feeling times. It looks like you've picked a beautiful spot. Please accept my own humble thanks. Long may you share."

Mike replies: Thanks very much for that extraordinarily kind comment, Chris. Made my day. And thanks to everyone for all the good wishes.

Comments

[John London]

Good for you Mike, you should be happy!

JohnL

[John]

>>...an hour and ten minutes away is the Mark Twain House and Museum (and his grave) in Elmira

A little confused as to how you get from Penn Yan to Hartford, Connecticut in an hour and ten minutes. I know Mark Twain lived in Elmira but your link goes to Connecticut.

[Thanks John. Fixed now. --Mike the Ed.]

[Tuomas]

What a wonderful office! Not as spacious as the last one, but I'd much rather work in this one than the last. Very beautiful wooden floor, too - no carpet!

I'm very happy for you, Mike, and I hope you all the best in your new home.

[Kev]

Congratulations, and all the best for new house, and Life 3.0.

[Michael T.]

Welcome home! Glad to have you back! On one of your off-topic Sunday columns I would love to read about those "bookshelf" speakers on either side of your iMac; and perhaps your musings on the current state of audio components / systems for one's computerized work location.

[Joe Holmes]

Fantastic! Some people at our age are kicking off their shoes and putting up their feet semi-permanently on an ottoman. Others are making major iife changes with barely a glimpse backward. Congratulations on moving forward.

And if you haven't ... just wait until you experience upstate New York in the gorgeous autumn. (Though I assume you have.)

[PaddyC]

Massive congrats to you Mike. Such a lovely area. The pic of the office is very nice.

You are only 4.5 hours from Ottawa so if you put on a workshop I would love to make the trip.

[Dave]

Great to have you in the Finger Lakes, Mike!

[Bill Pierce]

Hooray for you. Hooray for the lady who lived far away. And hooray for the dogs. There are going to be some long country dog walks.

[Willam Lewis]

Amen. And thank you.

Covers it all, I think. At least till I have to find the money for your workshops ... LOL!

[misha]

"at the south end is Hammondsport"

Hammondsport rivals Napa Valley for winemaking. I highly recommend a trip to Bully Hill.

Also, the Corning glass museum, and a trip to Niagara Falls. Speaking of which,

Here's my shot of the south Grand Island bridges, taken with Ektachrome Aero IR, from a Cessna 182:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ubereye/2583557796/in/dateposted/

[Eli Burakian]

Congrats!

[Jim]

It's always a woman. Glad you're happy.

[Hélcio J. Tagliolatto]

Man....you found your very paradise. It's a dream office.

[Dennis]

Congratulations ! But may I say that as nice as it probably is to work on that porch, it looks like a nicer place to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with (or without) company. (I think the region is pretty well known for its wineries, too).

I've wanted to get over to that area for a while now, mostly to see Letchworth State Park, though the whole region is supposed to be very scenic. (The Adirondacks are much closer to me, so it's hard to justify the 6-hour trip). Maybe a TOP workshop will be in my future.

[FrankB]

Congratulations Mike, the moving part is finally over and behind you. This allows you to be that much closer to your plans for the future. The office looks great and the dogs look like they survived, so life is good.

I look forward to reading new TOP stories.

FrankB

[Eric Erickson]

Mike, congratulations on the new house and new location. You have been missed. I am somewhat familar with the country having spent summers in my very early years at Chautauqua Lake. One of the prettier spots in our country. I hope the new location will provide you with inspiration for both writing and photography. Weocome back.

[Mark Kinsman]

Congrats Mike. Hope the rest of the settling I n goes well.

[Benjamin Marks]

"Honeymoon period it may be . . " Greetings from a similar latitude in west-central Vermont.

It is OK to be happy. Really. And it is so much easier to be happy when near to the one you love. We are tribal primates. A dogs need his pack; a person needs his tribe, even if it is a tribe of one. Asalam alekum/Shalom alechem/peace unto you et dona nobis pacem. TGIF.

[Mark Kinsman]

...and Graham Nash is in Penn Yan tonight at the Opera House. A tie to both photography and music. It would be a nice way to spend the first Friday "back" .
A photo of Graham's wife is one of the photos in Kertesz's Polaroid book.

[Steve L.]

Congrats Mike! Welcome to Upstate New York! I love it here too, even in the winter. I'm not really a "workshop" kind of guy, but I hope to run into you someday.

[Bill OBrien]

Mike, Congratulations on your move (now that it is done) you are in one of my favorite parts of the world. Lived in Canandaigua for 23 years, my Father worked all over that area, visit any Catholic Church and you can see his work. Maybe i will stop by some day, ( with notice) overdue for a trip back home.

[marek fogiel]

Well done Mike.
Now, it's time to make lots of friends:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/books/chapters/chapter-outliers.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[Mahn England]

Welcome home!

[Trecento]

Congratulations Mike!
I am so very happy for you! The new office looks lovely too.

[Barry Reid]

Congrats, Mike, looks like a wonderful place and best wishes for your new life!

[Jack]

Where is the orange couch?
I hope it made the trip.

Your office view is much better than the last one I visited in your former basement. Let me know how it works for you in mid January at 9am.

Best wishes,
Jack

[Thanks Jack. I gave the orange couch to Xander. I hope you like your new non-Wisconsin home as well. I'll miss seeing you. Best to N. --Mike]

[Dean]

Congrats, Mike, the pooches must be happy to be back with you, albeit in a strange new place. Nice porch - is it heated?

[Not yet. But it's insulated. The previous owner used it as an office through the Winter last year, so I'm reassured that it's do-able. I'll soon (too soon) find out. --Mike]

[Rod S.]

Very nice, Mike. Glad to see that you've landed so well, and in such a delightful and photographic place. Close to woman.

[JG]

So much for working in your underwear, eh? I hope the view through the windows doesn't prove too distracting for you and your dogs.

All joking aside, though, congratulations! We should all be so fortunate as to have similar control over our destiny, especially later in life. I, for one, am envious that you were able to pickup roots and move the way you did...

[Darlene Almeda]

Finally some breathing room for you and yours. Congratulations and seriously, take a break!

[ann]

Happy for you Mike, enjoy!

[Stephen Scharf]

Congratulations, Mike! Great to see TOP really back online, your new office (much nicer than a basement if you ask me), and most of all, it's nice to see the pups again! :-D

[Pak-Ming Wan]

Like! +1

Pak

[Jeff]

Mike, I'm so happy for you! I have to admit, your new office looks like a much better place to work AND live! This is just the beginning of good things for you.

[Roger Bradbury]

Sounds great. I Googled Keuka Lake, and saw that it can look very different at different times of the year. I was surprised to find that the lakes are there due to glaciation; they don't exhibit the typical glaciated valley shape that's quite common here, especially in Northern Britain. That is, like a cross section of a bathtub. Sounds like there's a few hanging valleys and lots of other interesting terrain due to the ice.

I'm most pleased for you, Mike. It looks like it's all happening for you, and so it should.

[MarkR]

You forgot the Corning Museum of Glass. Another very cool museum about an hour away from you. Maybe that could be your slogan: "About an hour away from anywhere important." :-)

[Stephen McCullough]

Beautiful post Mike. Beautiful

[Ken Tanaka]

Looks like the eagle has landed. Congratulations on quite a move. (Now don't get into a fight with S over dinner and break-up!)

[G Dan Mitchell]

Congratulations on getting moved into the new place! It must feel great. Best wishes for a long and happy stay there!

Dan

[Roger]

Good for you Mike. Here's too smooth sledding here on out.

[Mark]

Once or twice a month my parents drive to Seneca Falls, NY. Occasionally they go to the outlet mall there but the main reason they go is to visit a Mennonite grocery store called Sauders. Apparently it sells things that it can be quite hard to find elsewhere (at least at reasonable prices);

[Dave]

Seeing your dogs looking relaxed makes me happy. Best of luck in your new house and also greedily awaiting more TOP.

[Earl Dunbar]

Hello S :) Glad to be the first TOP reader to welcome Mike to WNY/FL ... after you, of course!

[Earl Dunbar]

PS - Mike, if you haven't discovered or been introduced to the Village Tavern in Hammondsport, I can recommend it.

[Bill Duncan]

We need to see that "special woman" in the picture.. J

A little closer to Canada.. Maybe we could meet in the middle at the Anchor Bar for Buffalo Wings sometime.. I'll come down in my (3rd) Miata..

All the best.

[Ken Rahaim]

As a car guy, it may be good news for you to hear you're only a 1/2 hour drive from the world famous Watkins Glen road course (my favorite in the world and I've raced at Spa Francorchamps by comparison). As a student of motorsports history, my favorite library/archive is also in Watkins Glen: the http://www.racingarchives.org/>Int'l Motorsports Racing Research Center. I'm sure you'll be busy enough the next few weeks, but keep in mind the http://www.grandprixfestival.com/>Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival in early September. I'd be going myself if I hadn't just spent a week in Monterey for the Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

[Dennis Ng]

Behind all successful men's move, there is a lady ... Congratulation of the move.

[walt]

Congrats on closing. The dogs don't look too happy. :) They've been thru the wringer I bet. I can almost hear them thinking; "The place don't even smell right!" hehe You better get some quality time in with those pups. They look like they might enjoy swimming in a shallow section of that cold lake.

[Daniel Sroka]

Congratulations. It is a beautiful area (I'm western New York born and raised) and it sounds like beautiful area of your life you are embarking on. Never apologize for making your personal life a priority. Never.

[Tim Auger]

Well done Mike. It's NEVER too late.

[Mike Potter]

Yay!!

[Tom Bell]

Looks fantastic Mike.Home being somewhere beautiful is very special. Sometimes looking over the hills here I often take it for granted ..... Big mistake.

With a photographers eye i am sure you will see it afresh every morning.

Great area, happy partner and lovely office ...whats not to like!

[john Gee]

very posh!
calm too?
many happy days

[Gary Miller]

Congrats, Mike. Awesome move and delightful telling of your story. One of my first clients back in the Pleistoscene age was Penn Yann boats. Can you say "tunnel drive?"

You are an inspiration to us all. Here at wordsandpixels.com I think it's time to rekindle the blog. Thanks to your example and leadership, of course.

Ciao for now.

[cfw]

I wish my office/photo area was unclutterd and clean like that! I've got to start throwing out stuff.

[Mike.]

Looking at photographs of Keuka Lake, life is indeed good and good for you in the Finger Lakes in August (as William Klein almost said).

I hope you enjoy every day.

Mike.

[Thomas Paris]

So happy for you, Mike. It does sound as close to perfect as possible. And as I'm supposed to go to New England in the nearish future, I'd love nothing more than a good excuse (read workshop) to come your way.

[Øyvind Hansen]

I love your new office. And please write more about hifi!

[Hugh Smith]

Congratulations go out to you, Mike and the new world headquarters of TOP.
Mi dos Pesos!!!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1650313993]

Very Happy for you. Having spent 20 years in Syracuse I know Keuka Lake will be heaven for you. The snow and cold is what you are used to so no big deal. Drives to the Eastman House were always the high point for me. Good Luck and Keep Truckin'

[Rodger Kingston]

Congratulations on your move, Mike. It finally sounds like "Checkmate" to me.

In the Summer of 2011 my wife and I drove from Boston to Montreal, across to Toronto, down through Niagara, and then, instead of taking decidedly unscenic I90, we drove the relatively untraveled, and absolutely beautiful Rt 20 from Buffalo to Richfield Springs (where we cut down to Cooperstown), and from there back to Boston.

We loved the rolling hills, the picture-perfect farms, and the views across the tops of the Finger Lakes along Rt 20. It was one of the most memorable parts of our trip, and if Keuka Lake is as beautiful as that drive was for us, you're in for a bit of Heaven.

We spent two nights in (relatively inexpensive) Rt 20 motels, one of them in Geneva, just a few miles north of you, which looked very interesting, with lots of beautifully preserved old buildings and attractive small businesses. (It reminded me a bit of Burlington, VT.)

You and S. can spend the next several years - decades - exploring your new kingdom!

[Roger Bradbury]

Regarding the AC regenerator, I remember learning something about dirty AC, years ago. It's particularly dirty in industrial estates, where motors, heating elements, anything with a coil in it, are switching in and out.

There's a nice little spike as the magnetic field in the coil collapses as the current is cut; it's the same as the way that an old fashioned ignition coil and contact breaker circuit operates.

You still get it from your own and other people's houses, when things switch on and off.

[Kenneth Wajda]

Gotta love the clean and uncluttered look of a new space. Enjoy. Happy for you, Mike.

[John Holmes]

Mike, I hope you are planning on moving that computer inside off of the enclosed porch before winter. If not you will freeze or go broke trying to keep it warm enough to work out there.

[Armand]

Congratulations Mike!

[Robert Billings]

What a nice read. My best to you both and the pooches.

[John Krumm]

Awesome. And isn't cable internet a nice switch from what you had? Here in Duluth I have you beat on download speed, but you win on the upload.

I remember reading about Twain's writing study before. Over 30 cigars a day? Surprised those cats would even come in.

Do you remember the Woody Guthrie advice, "Take if easy, but take it?" Looks like you are doing both.

[paul richardson]

Just in time for the Bills season (good luck with that).

[ShadZee]

As someone who lives in San Diego; the bad side is always the "4-feet of snow" you'll eventually have to deal with... But I guess you're used to it ;-)

[MikeR]

Gosh, everyone above said what I was gonna!

Well, let me just join the chorus: Congratulations, best wishes, and much happiness with the new home, the new environment, and with your SO.

More pictures please, when you get more settled.

[Steve Jacob]

I would love to have that view when I am working....!

Congratulations, the big haul is over and you are in a fantastic location. Hope to see lots of images of the neighbourhood.

[Marty S.]

Hi Mike,

Congratulations. Definitely a nice place to live. I have friends that live near Penn Yan, parents and sibs that live 10-15 miles west of Ithaca, and my wife, dogs and I spend at least a week vacationing at Skaneateles Lake each summer.

Although I currently live down in MD, I'd like to move back up that way sometime in the next 10 years or so.

Best wishes to you, S and the dogs.

[David Adam Edelstein]

Well done, Mike. As a loooong-time reader (I ran across a copy of The 37th Frame in my office last month) I can say that the tone of your writing seems as happy as I've ever seen it.

[Jeremy Martin]

Welcome to the neighborhood. Despite many opportunities to relocate elsewhere (including Waukesha incidentally, when I worked for Cooper Power Systems), we continue to call Western NY home. I love having four distinct seasons, the great state parks, and most importantly great people. The taxes, well not so much... I have been reading TOP since the beginning, and while I chose to spend my time these days with my 7 and 10 yr old boys and not my cameras, I still enjoy reading TOP. I'm looking forward to hearing about the area from an outsiders point of view.

[Mark L. Power]

Well done, Mike. You had the courage to make a change and it all bodes well in a gorgeous setting. And thanks for the compliment about my hosta photo. Im trying to make my own change to Florida but its very slow going. Maybe after one more winter it will happen.

[Erik Danielsen]

Welcome to WNY. Watkins glen and the gorges in Ithaca are good places to explore one thing that binds me forever to this region- the aesthetics of shale gorges and the hemlock/northern hardwoods forest communities that grow in them. It is a deep aesthetic, which will not thrust itself before your eyes like the redwoods or grand canyon but requires contemplation, seeking the mercury form of young yellow birch twisting through ancient hemlock shade over smooth sluices cut through the stacks of shale and limestone. I myself am moving for a woman shortly, from the very western tip of NY state to its southeasternmost point on Staten Island, which has a totally different geology. Those narrow unnamed gorges tucked quietly into the rural hillsides will call me back for the rest of my life, wherever I go. My favorites are farther afield, in Arkwright NY, but Watkins Glen is far easier to traverse.

[Katie]

I love the photo from the parking lot! The slight reflections on the roof just give it that depth that a straight silhouette wouldn't. I really like it :) Congrats on the move also!

[Mani Sitaraman]

Three weeks ago, I drove through the area for the first time in over two decades, visiting from the far side of the world. Yes, I know, my timing was off. A few weeks later and I would have gladly stopped by to help you unload your boxes.

My memories of it had faded-it is stunningly pretty on a bright summer day in the Finger Lakes area. You are a lucky guy, Mike. Enjoy the summer and fall. WI has likely already prepared you for the winter.

[Marcus]

Plus 1 for Chris Y's comment, said what I feel far better than I could

You have a unique relationship with your readers

[Christer]

Mike,

Seeing as you moved with your dogs, I really hope it did not go along the lines of this:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.se/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

(Which is one of the funniest things I've seen on the web, well, ever, as well as not entirely inaccurate based on my dog owning experience.)

[Craig A. Lee]

Congratulations! Hope you can be as settled as you'd like to be now.

[Ed]

Hmzzzz,

Is top office 3.0 build around a SteelCase desk? In that case so is mine....great piece of American Enginering......

Greets, Ed.

[Jay Pastelak]

And a shout out for and from Branchport, at the top of the other fork of the Y. It's just a crossroads, with a hardware store, restaurant and the Mercantile. Check it out: a few years ago on a visit to my sister-in-law who lives in Branchport the dog and I walked down to the Mercantile. I had some camera around my neck, probably not a Leica but it got me into a conversation with the proprietress who told me her father was a regional VP for Leitz USA. We talked photography until I felt compelled to rescue the dog, whom I left tied up outside. You might want to stop by and chat.

[Christian Beck]

Reading your online writings since "forever" (including "The 37th Frame"), I have to say it's quite a Saga.

It had its ups and downs, a boy that has grown up (first school day photos anybody?), had friends, moved on, you had your big house campaign, moved in (and that was quite a few stories) but didn't settle, instead flew one too many times, moved on... and that's without the twists.

Very nice of you two, to bring a love story in to it as well! ;-) Have a nice and long honeymoon period!

Btw, nice photo blog of yours ;-)

[Miserere]

Mike,

I understand long-distance relationships; my then-girlfriend (now wife) and I endured one for 4 years and 3 months, between Southampton (UK) and Berkeley, CA (USA). The distance itself wasn't the main obstacle, it was the time difference: 8 hours. This made communicating that much harder due to offset schedules. On the bright side, Skype was launched early in our relationship and we were enthusiastic early adopters; on weekends we'd often eat meals together (she, lunch; I, dinner) in front of our computers, and it was almost, almost like being together.

When I finished grad school I moved to the US and we got married and moved in together. At which point the hard part of our relationship started, ha ha ha.

Kudos to you for going after S. and sacrificing that huge basement office I was so envious of. I'm still envious of your new office, but it does seem smaller ;-)

I look forward to attending one of your upcoming street photography workshops. Cos that's what you mean when you say there are photographs everywhere, right?