It’s been a long time since I’ve photographed a concert. Gigbot has long since sold itself down the river for some songs, I’ve lost contact with the folks at LiveNation, and I’m no longer volunteering for REVERB. I had such a web of musical connections and I was lazy and let them all wither away. Thankfully, I still work at The Gothic Theatre and every so often a show comes along that makes me giddy and excited to pick up my camera and brave the sweaty crowds.

And so: I PHOTOGRAPHED SALT’N'PEPA!

The teenage me almost wet herself when they came on stage.
Oh. My. Goodness.

Admittedly, the photos aren’t great. I got a few pictures snapped before “Ain’t None of Your Business” came on and I decided dancing was more important than picture-taking.

Oops.

It’s strange to think that this time last year I was in a whole other country.

To travel the world is something that a lot of people get a real itch to do– something people lovingly refer to as “The Travel Bug”. Fortunately for my bank account (though apparently unfortunately for my “cultured-ness”) the parasite in my brain is likely more attracted to cats than to travel. That being said, I’m really glad I got the chance to go to Peru and given another chance I’d gladly go anywhere else in the world.

(I ate Guinna Pig!)

I adopted my cat, Mao, from a shelter back in August. He was just perfect. Unfortunately, I noticed about a week ago that he seemed to be a little under the weather… he’d stopped purring, felt a little bloated, was eating a great deal more and leaving in his wake tremendous poops. A trip to the vet revealed that he’s got Feline Infectious Peritonitis; a nasty, quick-moving virus with a devastating 100% mortality rate.

Poor baby. I’m gonna miss him.
He was a great little friend for as long as I had him.

Of those friends I’m so fortunate to keep company with, Leila and Robert are two of my favorites. They’re both unapologetically themselves and, most charming, their talents at their respective arts are so telling of personal passions and practice and practical disciplines; Leila is a remarkable comic artist and Robert is a writer. Beyond that, though, they’re a beautiful couple that maintains their jealousy-inducing love with constant laughter and imaginative support.

During the photoshoot, these two were delightfully fun despite the chilly weather and my request that they shed their coats and show off the classy duds they dawned for the occasion (though, admittedly, Robert always dresses well and Leila always looks like a bombshell).

We spent more time laughing together than we did taking pictures, however; so soon we lost our perfect light and were forced back to Leila’s house to drink peppermint schnapps and indulge in conversation within the warm confines of a living room.

Folks, Denver is full of really beautiful people.
Really beautiful, talented people.
While as humans we’re cursed with the concept of lacking any personal concept of “intact”, there are some individuals who– rather than carrying their faults on their backs or in their hearts– create something of it instead. And isn’t that what art is? The quiet, small heroism of humanity?

Among the various collectives around town, Cellar Door is one that I’ve become entangled in. Having seen my photobooth set-up at a please-don’t-leave-us going away/house party, the creator (One Mr. Michael Prince) asked me if I’d be willing to do some “about the artists” photos for the upcoming anthology.

“It was an honor collaborating with Haley Carnefix and I feel very lucky to be working with so many talented people in Denver!”
-Michael Prince, Creator (pictured above)

And of course I answered with an emphatic, “I’d love to!”
I mean… look at these fools! I’d be crazy not to.

Sometimes you’ve just gotta go and it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe, if you don’t know by now.

There’s something about adopting a puppy that makes a young person come to terms with concepts like permanence, responsibility, and consequence. It’s almost like having a child, save for the lifespan and the life long investments and so on and so on. You’ve got to make sure you’re home enough to create routine; to make certain they’ve enough time outside their cruel kennel (and it is cruel, isn’t it?) between your own cruel career (and it is cruel, isn’t it?) and the things you used to flippantly consider fun and which now, after puppy, seem like wanton hassles. Frivolous extras. Money-grubbing activities that you’ve grown too old for.

But who wants that?
Puppies, like children, are delightful wonderful little bringers of happiness and heart-warmth. However, puppies (again: like children) are cuter and much more enjoyable when they can be returned to the folks who have devoted their lives to loving and caring for the little critters.

It’s such a rare thing for a party to be attended 100% by friends who may as well be family; by strangers who embrace strangers and make friendships over homemade vodka; by persons who smile big for a photographer they’ve never met.

The lovely Miss Leila Del duca announced a few weeks ago that she’s Montana bound. And. So. For all the support we fostered Friday night, we knew– we have known– we prepared ourselves– that the floor could give out any day.

It was only a matter of time.

Her going away party was lovely and everyone was wonderful and, oh friends! Denver is going to be a such a sad, empty place for a few days or weeks or months after she’s gone.

See the rest of the photos here.