Monochrome Monday - I Just Went Out to Get Toilet Paper

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I have been cooped up lately and also the feeling the heaviness of events happening in the lives of people I love. I needed to get out and do some rearranging of my thoughts and emotions and just breathe. Since I was down to my last few squares of toilet paper, I decided to take a walk to the store. (Aren't you all so fortunate to be privy to my most basic needs? ;) )

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So, off I went. I don't live in a particularly picturesque neighborhood...just apartment buildings and strip malls but, it didn't take long for me to disengage and start noticing things that fascinate and feed my soul. Here are a few shots I took along the way...

Many who know me know I am a sucker for cool shadows and this bench and tree delivered for me right off the bat. I have a tendency to obsess over odd details. In this instance, I found myself thinking, this a bench placed here for no other reason than for sitting. There was no bus stop, there was no park, it was just randomly placed here. Why?! The view is of the Chinese take-out across the street and 5 lanes of traffic in between. The bench was saying to me..."sit...breathe."

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Here is some order and chaos all wrapped into one shot of the bleachers at the high school. Another place for me to sit and breathe.

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There seemed to be a theme developing here...line, shape, shadow, repeat.

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I was able to get some curves into the mix. My favorite part of this picture is the leaf dangling from the spider web and the shadow it cast. It was obvious this bike had not been used in a while and it was saying to me..."get out there, Sam...feel the wind in your hair!"

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I know it's Monochrome Monday and this shot is on the verge of sepia...close but no cigar. I included it anyway because it was some textural deliciousness I found along the way. "The verge of sepia" sounds like an epic title for something, not sure what. :D

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And this is me simply disregarding the idea of Monochrome Monday altogether. In the alley separating two apartment complexes, among the discarded mattresses, etc., I found this bougainvillea vine. I zeroed on the tiny sprig of yellow blooms amidst all of the fuchsia and red because it said to me..."tell a new story, Sam...let that light out that is inside of you!"

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So, there you have it, all of my messy, random thoughts for this afternoon. And to think, I just went out to get toilet paper!

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This is my post for MonochromeMonday - initiated by @old-guy-photos.

This post also works for the daily photo contest sponsored by @photocontests and initiated by @juliank.