Dress-Up Day

      The second day of the shoot my back has decided to go out - big time. The only reminder I have of my unpleasant first husband - and not a one I want to have. It goes out at the worst possible times and often with no prompting incident.
      This is prompted by the mad race around the airport - that famous 48 hours delay in muscles that have declared war. Normally, I exercise and stay stretched. I have been post-op and hadn't been cleared for exercise. The exercise was unavoidable.
      I woke up during the night with a twinge. I got up this morning with the pain so sharp it makes my eyes water. I had taken 1/2 Xanax when the first twinge hit. Now I take 2 Aleive and another 1/2 Xanax (muscle relaxant).
      I am determined to go to the beach in my new purple suit and my white terry topper - in hair-straightening wind and stormy seas. I stand barefoot in the waves and relish walking on wet sand. It is again early and there are few people around. No lifeguards. I watch a cruise ship whip into the harbor and fishing boats disappear over the horizon. These are the expensive boats that dot the canals all over Ft. Lauderdale. The ones the drawbridges go up and down for and hold up traffic.
      I am determined to find a coffee place this morning and have $5.00 in the pocket of my terry top - it is too cold to take it off at first. I examine seashells and seaweed and the occasional jellyfish thrown up - blue bubbles that look like semi-inflated plastic balloons. I avoid stepping on them. Troy tells me later that they will cause a very bad rash if touched.

Storm Debris

      I watch the sea gulls. One hovers 5 feet up, three feet in front of me. A young bird, its wings wobble and it resembles a hobby store kite.
      On the way back (I have a time limit because we need to get in touch with Troy at a specific time), I discover that the wind has removed my $5 bill from my pocket!
      For some strange reason I find this funny and just laugh out loud. $5? I'd pay that for the view alone.

My Bodyguards - A Whole Flock of Them

      My room is a corner room. I can see a canal in one window and the beach in the other. I spend a lot of time with the drapes open when I am there. On the seventh floor, who is going to peek in?
      I get back to my room, slightly less limber than yesterday but better than when I woke up.
      Troy has been contacted - and we start a little later. Good. Because I cannot yet tie my shoes. I am not moving very well when I need to bend over, pull up pants, etc.
      We arrive at his apartment - and this begins a saga and the week's running joke. Every time we get there, we need to borrow the bathroom. It's the car ride and the coffee. (I have mix in my room.) This man is neat. He even replaces the roll of TP in his bathroom. It hangs up! Nice touch! Wish I could get my son to do that. (I am currently trying to explain germs to my youngest and how it would be nice if he cleaned his bathroom. Occasionally.)
      Note how only a woman would notice this.
      We stop and get a classic tux jacket and shirt with studs from a cowboy with dogs who runs the shop. Troy has pressed his dress black pants. He also has the shoes.
      A flower shop (he knows the woman there, of course) provides a dozen blood-red roses. I had hit a drugstore last night and acquired a big red heart box of chocolates - leftover from Valentines day. Troy had shown us the store yesterday in a mad dash (he shops as fast as I do) for sun block, spray bottle, baby oil, clothes pin (I had to go to Target for those later), and miscellaneous items we had on a list.
      Then it's off to the Einsteins bakery - and Cappuccino decaf mocha - at last!
      This is silicon-central - but unlike Silicon Valley, Starbucks is not on every corner. Yet. I did spot one or two in later days.
      We decide to use the club where he works as our set since we can't think of where to get a roulette table on short notice. 007 at a pool table. Hair back. I have to help him with the studs. (Oh yes - one perk - get to dress the boy!)
      Oh, to be young again!
      Oh, who cares!
      I get to fasten his tie and check that his hair is not tangled in it. Nice hair.
      We try pool cue and then the Champaign. Including a bottle of Dom. The pool table gives color. Those glasses are a bit phallic.
      There is a problem with lighting as the club is painting places and the big spotlight unit goes up and down behind us. Green lights hang over the table. We try for the best angles.
      He does look very good.
      Because of the late start - and all the running around, Troy is hungry so I run next door for a sandwich for him. (Have to feed the boy.) Ron doesn't usually eat when working. He had a bagel earlier.
      I don't run - I am rather blurry. In fact, I feel like hell. I get in and out of the green machine by hanging onto the strap. I gingerly sit down. I move carefully in my sneakers which I finally got tied, because I want to be able to move the rest of the week.
      I do stretches by leaning on the bar. I walk evenly and slowly to Subway and back. I edge myself slowly onto the bar stool.
      Mostly, I keep out of the way and let the guys work. They know what I want.
      Troy is just too cute in a tux! He has that smile mastered.
      Not quite a grin - just enough to melt you.
      Oh, this will be a nice calendar!
      We finish with the bar and take off for the theater - a classy set for a classy man. He does stop at his house to change his pants (for other black ones) and we loose the shirt. Time to use the roses and candy. His hair is now loose.
      We have Fabio's calendars and RT magazines under the seat of the green machine. We had them for examples of covers and poses (some of the calendar shots are bad examples - that's useful too). The boys have been very careful not to step on them while we drove around and hopped in and out of the SUV. (Something about not wanting to sing soprano.)
      We try for several outdoor shots but the wind is too much! (Enough of this! I need my hair done!)
      We move in closer to the building for shelter. We find a stair well that looks great. Inside, there is an even better one but they won't let us shoot there. Something about permits, money and they are too busy to deal with it now. Just to stand on the stairway!
      Outside will work, just dodge the construction workers. The construction workers are distracted - and finally one gets up the nerve to ask Troy what happened to his shirt. Let's just say this. It is damn obvious what we are shooting!
      Great pose!
      Troy's tan and the black jacket and the sharp red roses - great! I have to get shots on my camera.
      We drape him over a railing and on a bench.
      We switch to the blue shirt (they sent me to the car to fetch it) and put him back on the bench - shirt open - sprawled.
      PERFECT! The man is too damn sexy. Especially sprawled like that........

Troy - From the Calendar Photoshoot - Oh yes! You will Want This One!
      They leave me to baby sit equipment while they scout another location.
      We walk to another setting - by a fountain. We draw a crowd.
      Women just stop and stare and whisper.
      Three sent their husbands on ahead so they could just stand and watch. Good! That's the reaction I want!
      We have Troy sprawled on a white pool edge, the sunlight still playing havoc with the exposure, the wind ruffling his hair.
      I pass out the web address.
      On the way home after dropping off Troy, I leave Ron in the car and hit Target. He wants no part of Target. I power-shop for towels (for the shoot) and clothes pins and can't resist grabbing two tops and a tee shirt as I pass through at the speed of light. I need top get back here!
      I race back to the car and we are down for the day.
      We will meet Troy for dinner.
      I need to comb my hair and become human.