I’m dancing.

The twist, actually—or something very much like it. And though I am mortified by the very thought of dancing in front of witnesses, I am not alone in this room. Around me, nine or ten Filipina nannies and their charges are also swiveling their hips and moving to the music in their stocking feet. My dance partner is a two-year-old girl in pink tights and a tutu. The red stuff beneath my fingernails is, I suspect, vestigial Play-Doh.

This, I am fully aware, is not cool. This is as far away from cool as a man can get. But I am in no way troubled by such thoughts. I crossed that line a long time ago. If anything, I’m feeling pretty good about myself—in the smug, Upper East Side, Bugaboo-owning, sidewalk-hogging, self-righteous kind of a way indigenous to my new tribe. I am, after all, the only parent here on this fine Tuesday afternoon, alone among the gyrating nannies, the little Sophias, Vanessas, Julias, Emmas, and Isabellas. My daughter, grinning maniacally as she jumps and twists about three feet below me, is very pleased that I am here. “That’s right, I do love you more than the mothers of all these other children love them. That’s why Daddy’s here—and they’re not. They’re getting their fucking nails done, having affairs, going to Pilates class, or whatever bad parents do…I’m here for you, Boo…twistin’ my heart out—something I would never ever have done for any other person in my whole life. Only for you. I’m a good daddy. Goooood Daddy!”

Later, if she’s good, there will be ice cream. I will seat her prominently next to me, facing the street in her Petit Bateau jumper, secretly hoping that passersby will notice how beautiful she is, how cute we are together, what a great dad I am. Holding her little hand, or carrying her on my shoulders, I will float home on a cloud of self-congratulation.

From Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw.

I am completely in love with this man’s writing so of course after finishing his notorious Kitchen Confidential, I had to pick up his latest, Medium Raw.

I’m in the middle of another hectic couple of weeks, with a couple engagement shoots, family sessions,  bridals, and ofcourse weddings, and I’m also getting the itch to re-do the website- yes, I designed and constructed Bloom’s main site, and this blog, all the slideshows and flash galleries. Though, on second thought, I do love the simplicity of the site, the photos can just speak for themselves…so, I might forgo that idea, til next year.

I have a RIDICULOUS turnover rate from a shoot to the final clients’ copies/prints (less that a month for most portraits and less than 2 months for most weddings)…I’m kinda insane. Clients know that. Other photographers know that. I know that. Thing is… I know how it feels. I HATE waiting. I’m totally an instance gratification kinda girl. Ofcourse, most great things are worth waiting for, especially something that should last a lifetime, like photography. But waiting 2-3 years for your wedding photos is unbearable for me to think about…I mean whats the hold up. This is the reason, I never take more than I can handle. I do have a specific number of weddings I allow myself to commit to, and dammit, it is a commitment. But maybe its just me being a workaholic. It doesnt feel like work to me though, honestly, it is sooooo FUN being me !!!

Most of my clients actually do ask me, how I find the time with all of my shoots, and especially in the busy summer season to do…things. I guess you just make time for what’s really important. My family, my puppies, and a few good friends, and a few great books. The simple pleasures really help you stay grounded. To see whats really important.