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SPOTLIGHT
Brody & Tom
(click to enlarge)
Tranquility and grace
Tom and his Basenji puppy Brody first met in Louisville, Kentucky. And though they haven't known each other long (Brody is barely a year old), they've clearly forged a close bond.
"Tom and Brody share a sense of calm and serenity," says David, "and they both move with a certain grace and efficiency. I was really struck by the similarities during their photo session."
What did Tom and Brody think? Tom says, "It was a great experience, and I absolutely love the photos...creative...really showed off Brody's personality."
Brody, characteristically, had no comment.
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REFLECTION & REFRACTION
Restau-Rant
I don't have many pet peeves, but I've recently developed one that relates to dining out.
I should preface this by emphasizing that: I Am Not A Snob! I have worked in food service as a waiter, a dishwasher and a janitor. I have a lot of respect for people in these professions (most of whom, I confess, work much harder than I do). I'm not a so-called "foodie" either - I just enjoy eating out once in a while.
So what's bugging me? Imagine if you will the following scenario:
You're out having a lovely dinner with your wife. Let's say it's your anniversary, so you've selected a new restaurant, and it seems you've made a good choice. Even your wife, who has exceptional taste, comments on the design, acoustics and lighting. The food is good. They've thought through the menu and the table setting, the artwork on the walls - all the elements harmonize.
The service is top notch. Your server looks young, but he clearly has the necessary experience and seems to enjoy his job. He conducts you smoothly through the specials and all the details of ordering. He's good - he doesn't even look at the ceiling when reciting the salad dressings. As you dine (the food is excellent!) your waiter seems tuned in - he stops by at the appropriate intervals - attentive, yet unobtrusive. All in all you've had a melodious dining experience.
Just as you begin to apply your white cotton napkin to the corner of your mouth, your waiter stops by your table one more time. He smiles, glances at your not-quite-clean plates, then casually, with a phrase that seems to have invaded all levels of the serving professions as indiscriminately as a virus, throws a sour note into your evening's enjoyment:
"Are you still workin' on that?"
What sort of image does this question create for you?
Maybe you get a picture of one of the larger carnivores tearing at the carcass of an unfortunate herbivore. Perhaps an image of big dogs gnawing warily on giant thigh-bones. For me it calls to mind a National Geographic rendering of proto-humans smashing bones with rocks to get at the marrow. That's work.
I know that we as a society eat out a lot, but I don't consider dining out work. I dine out to forget about work, to find some respite from the workaday world and enjoy a little bit of relaxed refinement. I find the question "are you still workin' on that?" a bit jarring in this context.
The comment would be right at home in another setting, say coming from a slightly maternal, middle-aged waitress in a 50's-style diner addressing a seven-year-old customer, and then punctuated by the word "Hon." But the phrase pops up virtually every time I dine with table service, regardless of the style of food or relative price of the restaurant.
I have been known take a moment to explain to my server why I find the expression a poor fit. I'm not sure I'm getting through though, and I suspect my wife may be getting tired of hearing it. I don't have a solution yet, but I think I'll try a gentle retort next, such as, "Why, it's no work at all, in fact I'm quite enjoying my meal!" If that doesn't do the job, perhaps I'll just start carrying a pair of pliers and a screwdriver with me when I go out. When asked if I'm "still working" I can then lay out my tools and say, "no, actually I was just about to get started."
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COMMUNITY FOCUS
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 2008 Calendars
It's not too late to get your Dog Days calendar! These beautiful wall calendars (featuring our equally lovely clients) benefit animal welfare organizations across Chicagoland and help them raise funds for their important work.
Help us help these shelters and humane societies by visiting them to make a donation in exchange for calendars, or stop by the studio and get some from us (we'll give the money to our local shelter).
We still have more calendars to donate! If you work with an animal welfare organization that doesn't yet have some, contact Stacey to arrange a pick-up!
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