The Grand Floral Parade...the Mardi Gras of Portland...although, with out the heavy drinking and beads and public exposure.

It seems liek the weathermen were all wrong this week. The rains did not wait until the end of the parade. However, I am sure they were handy when the Fred Myer float caught on fire at the end.

Although C&D and the M&Ms were in town, I volunteered to work. I figured Polly and Natasha would be so busy with the twins they wouldn't even miss me. At the last minute on Friday I was asked if I could take a picture of one particular guy who works at PGE for an internal publication. He would be volunteering, handing out trashbags along the route prior to the start of the parade. I said "of course." I brought out my big camera and lens and the results were a big success on Monday. I also took pictures of other volunteers and the PGE float.

I was a pretty cheap date as professional photographers go, but it was nice to make a good impression. Today I was promised to be paid more the next time they hire me as a photographer. My boss also gave me a Starbucks gift card. My office mates gave me a bottle of wine and tickets to tonight's baseball game. Those weren't really a reward, I was just a way to get extra stuff off their hands...but I think my work has helped me cross a bridge into acceptance.

The first week, I felt overlooked. People were curious and nice, but a little stand-offish. One example: I wasn't asked to lunch. Just a little thing, but I felt a bit on the fringe. I feel more in the mix now. Needed that.