Shiverfox

This is my friend Lyz who modeled for my shoot for the band Shiverfox. This is going to be part of their CD packaging, and I'm having fun with it so far!

Travis and Mojo

This is Travis of We the Kings with the dog that played Mojo in the Transformers movies. Both of them were amazingly easy to work with, and it was a great shoot!

Windows 7 is the kid no one wants at their party...

"Oh, you want me to come to your launch party? Uhm... I'm busy that day."

Right Back Where We Started From

Monday night Kevin and I ventured out to Spaceland for another dose of Saint Motel magic. We were in the process of walking home after Saint Motel finished their set when something made us turn around and go back for the last band. The last band was Army Navy, and they were SO good! Point being we got to see this cover live in person and it is possibly my favorite cover of all time now. Worth watching, especially since someone was genius enough to layer it over the original video.

Special times with Greg and AJ...

Happy Birthday Carlos...

Last night was insane. I honestly don't remember a lot of it thanks to whatever was in that drink Christian made me. Strongest thing ever. Anyway, that's why man invented the digital camera. So you can be reminded the next morning of what a jackass you are when you're drunk.




Yes we had people crowd surfing in the limo...

United Healthcare Death Panel Experience - By Eric Victorino

My friend Eric posted this very insightful and saddening blog a little bit ago. In this health care debate I feel exactly the same way. This is worth reading, and taking every bit into consideration.

I know a lot of younger people who think this health care debate doesn’t concern them. Why should they care? For the most part they are healthy - in their minds they are practically invincible. They aren’t thinking about high premiums, co-pays, deductibles, bills or paperwork - they are worried about more important things like where the party’s at or who to try and have casual oral sex with next. (I can’t say I’m not a little jealous, in this case ignorance is bliss.)

I posted here earlier this year my story of how my long lost father sent me a letter in the mail - A letter that changed my life in more ways than one. He said in his letter that he had ordered my books from Amazon, that he enjoyed them, although he wished to defend himself and that he was not the monster I had made him out to be in my writings - at this point in the letter I felt the emotions you’d expect - lots of anger and resentment, some sadness, lots of questions - but as I continued reading the subject matter took a strange turn…

“One of your young cousins you never met just died of an embolism… He had a rare but sometimes fatal blood disorder called Factor V Leiden. You and your brother should get tested immediately”

Oh.

Thanks, dad.

Factor V Leiden causes hypercoagulability in the blood. There’s a protein whose job is to tell the blood when it’s time to stop clotting - but that protein, with Factor V Leiden, does not work properly. So the blood clots into a bump on an artery, then a long string starts to form, anchored to the wall of the vein - blood continues streaming by and along the string form little bulbs of clots - much like a string of kelp - swaying in the sea - until one day the entire mass snaps off and goes with the flow… Ultimately ending up in the heart or the lungs.

So I got tested for this thing the week I got the letter and the results came back positive.

After a tiny bit of crying and a lot of self pitty, I ordered a medic-alert necklace online and tried to go about the business of being my normal scatterbrained multitasking dreamer self.

I have to look at it like this, nothing has changed aside from my knowledge of the situation. But I’e made it this far just fine…

So now I live with grossly increased risks of stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis complications. Or, to be more clear, I am now aware of the fact that I have always been living with these time bombs ticking inside of my body.

I could get on blood thinning medication, but the list of side effects and the possibilities of non-stop-bleed-to-death car accidents and bar fights mean, for now, sitting around and waiting for the blood clots is my best bet.

Ultimately the diagnosis has not changed me much - I eat right, exercise, I don’t smoke anymore - I’m healthier than I have been since grade school. Besides, I’ve always tried to live my whole life like I could get hit by a bus at any time - Only thing that’s different now is there are now a few more buses out to get me.

My doctor says I should be very paranoid and vigilant with my body, especially my legs and that I should see a specialist or go to the emergency room if I feel anything strange, any weird pains deep in my legs or my arms. If there are any bruised or reddened areas, warm to the touch… All duly noted. Thanks Doc.

A couple of months pass without incident until one weekend, after returning home from a trip to Kansas City where I played a show, I found myself rubbing my right calf a lot - the area was warm and achey - I had taken a total of four plane rides on that trip but I did my leg stretching and exercises mid-flight like I was told to - but there was this dull pain deep inside my leg that would not go away no matter how much I tried to ignore it.

Eventually my wife noticed my slight limp and how I was absentmindedly stroking my leg while we sat on the couch watching movies…

“I’m taking you to the doctor, let’s go,” she said.

“What? It’s eleven at night, we can’t go to the emergency room for this.”

“I’ll grab your phone for you, get your shoes on.”

I can’t argue with her when she’s like that - Not that I should, she only gets like that when she’s right.

We arrived at the hospital at 11:15 and checked in.

Then we waited for two hours with the bruised and the bleeding before a nurse took me into what looked like a trauma room, complete with leather restraining straps on the bed and an operation mirror lamp.

For the following two hours my wife and I played a game of “Spot the Spot” - finding tiny blood spatters on the floor-runners, the handles of cabinets and on the ceiling…

Making what could be a much more tedious story a little shorter; By 6:30 am I was discharged from the hospital having had one ultrasound procedure done, to listen to the blood flow in my leg. They found nothing out of the ordinary and we went home.

Less than a month later I received a letter from United Healthcare’s DEATH PANEL just letting me know that they wouldn’t be covering me for anything that might happen to me having to do with my blood disorder because it is a pre-existing condition. In other words, if I were to have a heart attack or a stroke or anything even remotely having to do with blood clots, I’m shit out of luck. Not like they’d pay fifty percent instead of eighty percent, not like they’d send me to a doctor of their choosing instead of mine, not like they’d recommend a less expensive method of treatment, just NO. Sorry. United will not cover a penny of my expenses.

I understand, I can see their point - It’s my fault I was born with a blood disorder less than %5 of Eurasians of carry.

It’s my fault I’ve been paying my hard earned cash every month to this gang of white collar racketeers, all the while thinking I was buying some sort of peace of mind. It’ my fault I’ve been dumb enough to think “If anything goes wrong, I have health insurance to take care of me.”

My doctor said to take any abnormality seriously - go in whenever I notice something weird in my limbs - Now I have bill collectors coming after me for three thousand dollars for my little emergency room visit. Calls to attorneys unreturned.

I watch the arguments on TV and wonder how much these right wing assholes must be getting paid by the Healthcare Industry to take their side. Maybe they don’t get money though, maybe they just get to be on some “No small print” list - Maybe they just get the premium treatment where if they need medical attention they’ll get it. Lucky elitists.

People like Sarah Palin are spreading lies about the coming government death panels who’ll decide the fate of our citizens. They have obviously never been told by their private insurance companies, “Now that we know there’s a good chance you’ll need medical attention in the near future, we’ve decided to cut you off.” I wonder if her special-needs baby will ever have to deal with this regarding his pre-existing condition.

They talk on TV about how a government run health care program would mean government people getting between you and your doctor, as though having a bunch of people at United Healthcare working around the clock to find new ways to fuck people out of the treatment they think they’ve paid for is any better.

These congressmen and governors, these government employees suddenly think it’s a good thing for us to be afraid of our elected officials and their ‘marxist’ ways. (meanwhile they’ve forgotten about the 700 billion dollars stolen from the public as a final kick in the ass from the Bush administration.) These people probably couldn’t define Socialism if they were asked to.

If they think it means big government, they’re only partly right.

In a lot of ways I think the government is too small. I want more.

I want it to be illegal for insurance companies to exclude patients for pre-existing conditions. I want there to be health care options that I can afford. I want to know there will be a doctor cutting me open or stitching me up when I need one, regardless of whether some prick at a desk somewhere thinks I’m worth the money or not.

I want laws in place to protect me from corporations in the health care industry - not the other way around.

I want it to be mandatory that people buy health insurance, private or public, just like it’s mandatory that we all have car insurance. People without car insurance drive up the premiums for all of us, so much that government now requires all drivers to have car insurance. Is that Socialism?

I want the electricity and the water that magically come straight into my house to keep on coming, safe and reliable as always. I want the roads I drive on to be smooth, I want the cops to come when I need them and the firemen too - I want the mailman to bring those checks to my PO box - I want the airlines to be monitored and regulated, I want the food I by at restaurants and grocery stores to not make me sick.

If that’s socialism, then sign me up.

Eric Victorino, Campbell, California.

Good god...

It horrifies me that these people have the right to vote.

Christian

Here is a portrait I snapped of Christian Heuer while I was testing lights for my shoot on Monday with We the Kings. Christian is an insanely talented producer and I'm lucky to call him my friend. We have plans for world domination, but I can't really get into that here.

So, we almost killed AJ last night....

In case there was any question about how much fun we have at Saint Motel shows, here's some proof. My favorite part is Michael Brown and Christian nearly pitching AJ off the stage.

Now taking deposits!

I am now taking deposits for October and November shoots! If you, your band, or your friends are interested please email me at megan@meganthompsonphotography.com.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Hello all! I'm trying to get some money together to enter a few competitions and to do so I'm forced to sell some equipment. If anyone is interested in the following, please email me at megan@meganthompsonphotography.com

I am selling...

Hasselblad 500c with 80mm 2.8 Zeiss lens and speed focus. Perfect working condition. I hate to part with it, but can't afford to shoot film, and it deserves a better home. Parting with it for $500 plus shipping or best offer. I bought it about two years ago for about $800.

Canon Rebel XT 8mp with kit lens. I upgraded and haven't used this camera since. But it was the same one I used to shoot both thesis projects, as well as lots of the work I did as soon as I moved to LA. It's a great little camera. It would be perfect for a sophomore looking for a cheap camera to start out with in digital to avoid having to check one out from the school. I'd recommend a lens upgrade. The kit lens is the only piece that's a little worse for wear. Selling for $200 or best offer.

If anyone was interested in both cameras I'd bundle them for $600.

Sierra is my favorite.

Sierra Kusterbeck of Versa Emerge. Photographed in Denver, CO on the Vans Warped Tour.

I'm broke and selling my shit!

I'd love if someone would buy the crap I don't need, starting with this guitar!

I received it in trade for a shoot, and have given up any hope of learning to play it. Sad I know, but I feel my real musical calling is to play the tambourine in a hardcore band. So if you know of any hardcore bands needing a tambourineist, send them my way. Also if you need a guitar, please buy this damn thing!

I finally found the goddamn email address!!!

For as long as I've had my current phone number at least once a week I've received this or some variation of this phone call...
"Uh yeah... is this J S R Set-Up? The trailer house movers?"
"No, you have the wrong number"
"Well this is the right number listed."
"Ok, yeah, so techically they have the wrong number then."
"Well do you know where the hell I can get a hold of them?!"
"Nope, sorry."

Well today I finally had enough after another person woke me up from my blissful slumber. I spent about 30 minutes picking through google trying to find a website or anything. Finally found a couple listings, and low and behold, there was my number! Oh and also an address and email so I made contact. We'll see if this does anything, but I'm guessing that they lost so much business by people calling me and getting mad, that they've gone under. However in this economy the phone calls have increased so maybe more people are into reusing and recycling their mobile living compartments.

Dear Sir,
I am writing in regards to your published phone number being my actual phone number. Websites, and listings for your business list your number as 406-461-xxxx which is my current number. I would greatly appreciate it, (and I'm sure your business would soar) if you remedied this issue. I've been getting calls for well over two years, but haven't been able to find your email contact until just now.
Sincerely,
Megan Thompson

Update: Just received an email from delivery systems. "Account no longer active" AGHHHHHHH!!!!! It's things like this that cause people to shoot up a McDonalds!

Cory and Kyle

This is one of my favorite candids from Warped Tour. My friend Kyle (Breathe Carolina) was about to jump on stage to perform when Cory (A Skylit Drive) stopped in to share a cigarette with David, and shoot the shit before taking the stage to watch. This photo pretty much sums up what I loved most about Warped Tour. You'd see the strangest people backstage watching bands you'd never have expected them to be a fan of.

fun.

Another song hit home...


fun. - Be Calm

As I walk through the streets of my new city
my back feeling much better, I suppose
I've reclaimed the use of my imagination
for better or for worse, I've yet to know
but I always knew you'd be the one to understand me,
I guess that's why it took so long to get things right.
Suddenly I'm lost
On my street
On my block

Oh why, Oh why
Oh why haven't you been there for me?
Can't you see, I'm losing my mind this time?
This time I think it's for real, I can see

The tops of trees are turning red
The beggars near bodegas grin at me
I think they want something
I close my eyes, I tell myself to breathe

and be calm.
Be calm.
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
I know that it gets so hard sometimes.
Be calm.

I'm scared that everyone is out to get me.
"These days before you speak to me you pause."
"I always see you looking out your window."
"After all, you lost your band, you left your mom."
Now every single crack, every penny that I pass,
says I should either leave or pick it up
But with every single buck I've made
I'm saddled with bad luck that came

the moment I was baptized
or when I found out one day I'm gonna die
if only I could find my people or my place in life
a when they come a'carolin'
so loud, so bright, the theremin
will lead us to a chorus
where we'll all rejoice and sing a song that goes:

Oh be calm.
Be calm.
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
I know that it gets so hard sometimes,
Be calm.
Take it from me, I've been there a thousand times.
You hate your pulse because it thinks you're still alive
and everything's wrong
It just gets so hard sometimes
Be calm.

I don't remember much that night,
Just walking, thinking fondly of you
Thinking that worst is yet to come
When from that street corner came a song
And I can't remember the man,
The panhandler or his melody.
The words exchanged had far exceeded any change I'd given thee.

Oh be calm.
Be calm.
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
I know that it gets so hard sometimes,
Be calm.
Take it from me, I've been there a thousand times.
You hate your pulse because it still thinks you're alive
and everything's wrong
It just gets so hard sometimes
Be calm.

It's Kevin!

It's been over a week and my house is actually silent. Keaton and Paulo moved on, Eileen flew out yesterday and Kevin went back to his island this morning. My house has been so non stop that I'm kind of at a loss for what to do with myself now. I guess I should start to go through and catalog all my Warped Tour photographs, maybe make some more phone calls, and print new work for my portfolio. But I'm kind of enjoying the eerie silence, and the dim light that the death plume from the Station fire is creating. I'm guessing since I can no longer see the plume over the hill, it's moved and I'm now residing inside of it. There's ash on my car, and it's kind of freaking me out.