Jeez, what a day. A little background. #7 had been retired for a while. Basically, she's not really cut out for assisting. She likes going to weddings, but she's not particularly interested in working them. I get a lot of this:
http://www.bigdayphoto.com/images/ashiInChurch.jpg So, while I'm hobbling around trying to find the sundry crap she's left in various pews, she's weepily enjoying the proceedings. Anyway, things got off to a bad start as she was running late. I get really antsy when I'm running late. I've never actually *been* late, because I give myself so much extra time, but I was getting jumpy. So, we started snapping at each other. We get there on time, but I'm uptight, #7 is sulky. The bride has forgotten to bring her list of family shots. There's a divorce, which generally complicates this sort of thing. I start shooting. Ceremony goes off fine, the bright spot of the day was a very cool minister. My ankle has loosened up a bit, so I'm not hobbling too ridiculously. Family photos go twice as long as they should, but we get them done. Head off to the reception. Talk to the catering lady, ask her very nicely if she could serve us early. Generally, vendors get served last, if at all, which is a pain as I would be getting my meal as the bride and groom are finishing theirs. She says ok, but I'll have to wait by the kitchen. There's nowhere to sit, so I stand. 40 minutes later, at 8:55, I'm still standing there on my throbbing ankle. I haven't eaten in 5 hours, my blood sugar has dropped through the floor, my ankle is killing me - I've now crossed a line, and am now officially in a bad mood. First dance is at nine. The food (bad) finally arrives. I find a place to eat, put the plate down, the DJ announces that the first dance will start after the current song. This place is now on my shit list. The reception proceeds. About 20 minutes before the end, the bride and groom decide it's time to leave. I'm in the middle of something else...the card in the camera is full, so I hand it to #7, tell her to put a new one in. I follow the couple as they're making their way to the limo with camera #2. #7 walks up, says she can't get the card in. I take the card, slide it in, and notice something feels wrong. I take a look...she's bent the one of the pins. CF cards are designed so you can't insert them the wrong way, but...well, there it is. I'm pissed, say a few obscenities under my breath. She takes it personally - we have an quiet argument, which escalates into a louder argument in the car, I sleep on the couch. Of course we're out of beer when we get home. *Lovely* day. BTW, here's what my ankle looked like when I got home: http://www.bigdayphoto.com/images/ankle1.jpg http://www.bigdayphoto.com/images/ankle2.jpg You knew there was a foot shot in your future. tv

