My friend Dolly Salazar's son was sent to Iraq last month. Dolly was one of the friends who was there for me when my youngest brother, Kevin, was sent to Iraq during the first Iraq war more than a decade ago. I don't think it ever occurred to either of us that her son would end up there all these years later ...
She sent me the following images -- and here is what she said: "Tina, I'm going to cheat this time and send images that I didn't take, but you'll see that these illustrate my only real fear. These were taken by my son, a Marine who shipped to Iraq in February."
The 1-7 on the Bus (c) by J.S.
"The 1-7 on the Bus: My kid and members of his company on a bus in the Middle East taking them to their base in Iraq. A bunch of tough-guy 19- and 20-year-olds acting like tough-guy 19- and 20-year-olds. He tells me it's so quiet there now that he's bored, but I can't help noticing the curtains blocking all the of windows in this picture. So they can't see out? Or so others can't see in? This is the first tour for all of them."
Starbucks, Kuwait (c) by J.S.
"Starbucks Kuwait: Yes: Starbucks Kuwait. Their first stop after flying out of the US was an air base in Kuwait, and the first thing my kid saw upon landing was this building. I always knew 'hearts and minds' was never about democracy, but such in-your-face proof is particularly jarring.
These kids in our armed forces have been fighting this idiot fight for six years now, just so Starbucks can monopolize Kuwait. I never did like their coffee."
Friday, March 13, 2009
"Fear" submission sent by Dolly Salazar
Saturday, January 31, 2009
"Double" Submissions by Dolly Salazar
I was thrilled to receive the following "Double" photos from my friend, Dolly Salazar.
"Finally, my entries for this week's/month's subject! (Look, I get lazy about sending my film to be developed in the dead of winter.) These are all (c) 2009. 
Doppelganger was an accident, I was actually out trying to get pictures of boats (none of which were very interesting).
The two pumpkins in Two Pumpkins have been sitting on our deck since October; this was taken in January. I now believe I can cryogenically freeze myself in my own backyard.
And I was so inspired by your Double Entendre that I used up a whole roll of film on macro shots of the naughty bits of fruits, Sour Nipple being my favorite."
All photos (c) 2009 by Dolly Salazar
Monday, November 17, 2008
"Celebration" photos by Dolly Salazar
We have two great new photos from my friend Dolly Salazar. Here's what she has to say about her pictures: "The summer that I first met my husband's kids, I took the three girls out to tea at a Victorian-style tea house. Since then, whenever we get together over the summer and winter holidays, we either go out to tea or throw a tea party; over the years, our new tradition has come to include aunts and grandmas and other members of the family, even the occasional dad or brother. (And hats are de rigueur, whether the guests want to wear 'em or not!) For me, this was a way to bond with my new clan, and our own little way to celebrate the holidays." 
Wichita Tea Party - Janet & Lisa (c) by Dolly Salazar
"The German asparagus are fabulous."— George W. Bush, Meseberg, Germany, June 11, 2008
Ally's Christmas Tea Hat (c) by Dolly Salazar
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Floating Ferry Heads by Dolly Salazar
One of the things that I enjoy about doing this blog is the explanations that photographers send along when they submit their photographs. I really love what Dolly Salazar had to say about her mystery submission: "The mystery is us. Me, stopping to snap this blurry portrait of two strangers on my way to finding a seat. Them, turning and nodding briefly at me before returning to their newspapers, no more conscious of the features of my face than I am of theirs. For that moment, we are acquainted, and from that moment on, we never will be again. Should I have cared who they were? Is this different than lost friendships? Does it matter how long the relationship, if the break is permanent anyway?"
Floating Ferry Heads (c) 2008 by Dolly Salazar
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Poopsmith's Boots by Dolly Salazar
About her second photograph, Dolly says "Bliss is long-sought normalcy. My husband's work boots on the deck at the end of the day, as always."
Details on the photo: Gelatin silver print, Fujifilm Neopan SS ("I am addicted to this film").
Poopsmith's Boots (c) 2008 by Dolly Salazar
Codie is a Pinhead by Dolly Salazar
I got a good chuckle out of the titles to Dolly's latest submissions. This first one is from 2007. "Bliss is everyone in the pack doubled over in convulsions, laughing loud and hard at something un-pc and kinda rude, while strangers turn and frown at the intrusion on their daily grind. More people should embrace the silly." (Boy, Dolly, do I remember "embracing the silly" when we were first starting out at KPCC all those years ago!)
Details on the photo: Gelatin silver print, Ilford Deltal 400 35 mm film.
Codie is a Pinhead (c) 2007 by Dolly Salazar
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Snowbike 2006 by Dolly Salazar
About this photo, Dolly said "Of course, we neglected to put the bicycles inside the garage before the storm hit. They were stuck in the snow, and we were stuck in the house, for about a week."
Gelatin silver print, Kodak Plus-X. 
Snowbike 2006 (c) 2006 by Dolly Salazar
What You Get
for Being Stubborn
by Dolly Salazar
"My granddaughter Evelyn stuck in her walker. She refused assistance climbing in, got both feet stuck in one leg hole, and then refused assistance to get out. This was taken just as panic set in. Gelatin silver print, Ilford Fuji Neopan SS."
What You Get for Being Stubborn
(c) 2008 by Dolly Salazar
Monday, August 11, 2008
"Old" Submissions by Dolly Salazar
The following 2 photographs are from my friend Dolly Salazar. Dolly and I worked together at KPCC-FM in Pasadena, California for several years and I don't think I ever really knew that she liked to take photographs -- so I was thrilled when she decided to participate with the Poetic License blog!! It's always so wonderful to learn new things about "old" friends.
IR Jet Workings 2 (c) Dolly Salazar
"The first [photograph]," Dolly writes "is of some detail of a WWII-era air force jet (don't ask me which one or what part), taken at the Boeing Museum of Flight. My husband is a private pilot, my stepson is an aviation mechanic, and they are both obsessed with WWII aircraft. We spend a looooootta tiiiiiiime at the Boeing Museum of Flight. This is an indoor shot using infrared film, and I like the way the tone and sort of faded look around the edges give the shot some age.
"The second, The Kilns at Roche Harbor, is a shot of the [circa] 1881 lime kilns at the north end of San Juan Island. Lime was a huge industry here until the early 20th century, and these kilns processed the lime used throughout most of the Pacific Northwest during that time. Exterior shot, Tri-X film maybe I think? (Yeah, I know, shame on me...)"
The Kilns at Roche Harbor (c) Dolly Salazar
I am really looking forward to seeing more of Dolly's photographs!
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