What do bears do in the woods?

I shot this recently, in the van with my Pop, on PA route 44 North, in Lycoming County, about five minutes away from Potter County. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon when we came upon this bear hanging out on the yellow lines. I stopped the van about 100 feet away from the bear. It watched me fumble around for my camera. As soon as I got the camera to my eye, it took off into the woods. I was lucky enough to get this shot. I can't think of a more perfect time to be in the right place at the right time. Is this a metaphor for my life right now? I can't help but think that perhaps this was a sign, no pun intended. A bear crossing the road. Meh, so what? Except, I am that bear. But which way is the quandary.
I received many good responses from my last blog post, the future of DHP. Thanks to all who offered words of encouragement. I needed to hear that. Sometimes I get so caught up in the "how" that I forget to look at everything else. I realize how lucky I am to not be tied into one thing. There are other teachers here who have been here for twenty years, and the really only know their trade. This job is all they have. I can imagine that would be super scary. But I am so glad that's not me. I can see clearly my options, but they are very far away right now. I need one person to be completely beside me, yet I feel that is an near-impossible feat. That's my biggest fear in all of this.
Like the bear, I am wandering around the woods, bumping into many different trees. Perhaps more things will fall from those trees if I bump a little harder.

The future of Double H

It has been quite some time since I posted anything here. The past few weeks have been eye-opening for me. I have realized something pretty major. When I first started teaching, about seven years ago, I was in awe over the idea of a teacher's life. Teachers get incredible benefits. My health plan is phenominal, and my schedule is pretty cool also. Summers off are priceless because I can spend every day with my two boys, and in the process I feel like a kid again. I like having time off to re-charge. But things have changed since I started my education career. Things are not as fun, administration is out of control, and I don't know how many more students on a third-grade reading level I can handle. I have become more of a special education teacher, and less of a graphic design instructor. There is a huge push from the state on teacher accountability. We are being held partially responsible for PSSA scores, and are expected to remediate kids who score below proficient. It's ridiculous. No child left behind has made a mess of our schools. Kids who should have been held back, or failed are being pushed through despite being on grade-level in reading and math. By the time they get to me as juniors, some cannot read a ruler or do simple math.
I have had enough. I am watching my old, creative self slowly die. I think I may be saying good-bye to high-school education, and hello (again) to self-employment. I have been crunching numbers and I really feel I can make a go at doing photography fulltime. If I could dump all of my energies into Double H Photography and Media instead of useless college courses I am required to take, I think I could be rich.
So the good thing is I have time to think this through and plan. In a few years both of my boys will be in school all day. I have time to build my clientele and gain a steady flow of referrals. It's time for ol' H to move on. I think I actually see more free time in my future.

This just in....

Double H reports first-on-scene, Brownstown, PA, 7:35 a.m.
Barn fire and area firefighters battle it out on a crisp, early, Thursday in March. I captured these photos as I pulled into school. The barn is about a quarter-mile west of the Vo-Tech property, I could see the smoke bellowing high up in the sky as I approached the school from the south east. The fire happened in West Earl Twp, and fire departments from as far as my neck of the woods, East Lampeter. Other departments I could see included Martindale, Farmersville, Ephrata and a bunch of others too far away to tell.







The school's Amish neighbors arrive to see if they can help.




Delivering water to the hoses




East Lampeter arrives


Martindale arrives




Channel 8 finally got there.

Chameleon Wedding