Tyler Mayforth

Official Website of Tyler Mayforth | Delaware Born | NOLA Living

Tag: Athens

Sky Photography: There Are 1,000 Words Up There

By

On August 22, 2015

In Photography

For some reason — and I can’t name it — I always have been fascinated with the sky.

I never wanted to be a pilot to soar through the clouds or a meteorologist to know what was going on up there, but something about it called me. It’s just one of those things that you always think about, but you never understand you’re obsession.

Well, I wouldn’t call it an obsession, but I love taking pictures of awesome cloud formations as well as Picassoesque sunsets canvasing the sky before nightfall.

Up top is a picture I took during my family vacation in Savannah. Here are other examples of my wonderful — but rather simple — photography of the sky.

This view is from my current office building in New Orleans. I was told on the good days, you can see a storm rolling in over Lake Pontchartrain. This was one of them.

Took this one as my dad and I recently traversed the South to get to Louisiana.

Was lucky enough to snag this one outside of my hotel in Metairie, Louisiana.

This one is my favorite. Taken outside of Wednesday night trivia in Athens, Georgia.

If you follow me on Twitter (@tylermayforth), you’ll see me sporadically post these kinds of pictures. I don’t take them every day, but as you can see, when I take them they turn out pretty good. Like I said, there is just something about the sky.

On the Move Again: Hello, New Orleans

By

On August 5, 2015

In Life Happenings, Life Stuff

A little more than two years ago I drove to New Orleans, nervous but excited.

As it turns out, not much changes in the span of 859 days.

Back in 2013, I decided to attend WrestleMania 30 by myself. I had never been to The Big Easy, let alone stepped out of my comfort zone that much. As I opened my mind to what could happen and the overall experience, I began to reap the rewards. Not only did I see one of the best WrestleMania cards of all-time, I truly liked what I saw of New Orleans. There was an indescribable charm and buzz surrounding it all.

Next Tuesday I head back to New Orleans. This time, however, will be for keeps.

I turned in my resignation at the Athens Banner-Herald on Monday.

In two weeks, I’ll continue my career as communications assistant for the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

I need to pause a second to read those two sentences again. These past two weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least. Life happens when you truly least expect it.

This will be my fourth move since August 2007, as you can see on the above graphic. I’ll be retracing 540 of the 1,208 miles I traversed when I moved last July from San Marcos, Texas to Athens, Georgia. If you’re counting at home, which I am sure you are, this trip from Athens to New Orleans will put me at 4,622 lifetime miles moved.

I’ll have my dad with me again to help, just like I did when I went up to Maine as well as my trip from Texas to Georgia. These trips allow us to grow closer, which is great.

There are a million things running through my mind at the moment, but I felt it was a good idea to break this news on my blog. Check back in the upcoming days, because I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this truly great opportunity I have in front of me.

Flash Floods and Severe Weather, Oh My!

By

On May 25, 2015

In Georgia

Less than one month after I moved to Georgia, I shot out of bed early in the morning to the sound of a siren. It honestly seemed like it was right outside of my window.

When I first heard it, I couldn’t put a finger on what it meant. I opened my blinds and scoured the outside trying to find what kind of person would try to pull a prank that hour of the morning. You can probably tell I don’t think too straight when I wake up.

Once I checked my phone and turned on the TV, I realized it was a tornado siren — not a practical joker. Tornadoes had touched down around the Atlanta area and the forecasters predicted the weather system would head to the Classic City next.

I never heard a tornado siren in the six-plus years I lived in San Marcos, Texas.

Needless to say, I was scared out of my mind and called home. Yes, there was 29-year-old me frantically pacing around my apartment with my mom on the line.

Long story short, nothing happened. The cell passed right by Athens.

Come to think of it, I never experienced any severe weather while living in the Lone Star State. An inch of ice on the ground is treacherous, but nothing more extreme.

Old-timers in San Marcos always brought up “The 100-Year Flood” as to the worst disaster to hit the city. Being situated between two rivers — the San Marcos and the Blanco — I had no doubt in my mind that it could be horrible if the rains came down.

Well, they finally did over the weekend and the aftermath is/was devastating.

Thousands of residents in San Marcos and Wimberley were displaced and hundreds of homes washed away in the flash floods. Power is slowly being restored daily.

The apartment complex where I used to live in San Marcos flooded. It was situated less than 2,000 feet from the Blanco River, which crested at 41.5 feet on Sunday.

My heart and thoughts go out to my former co-workers, friends and others affected by this past weekend’s floods. Pictures probably do no justice to what transpired.

Hi, Athens. It’s Been 10 Months

By

On May 23, 2015

In Georgia, Life Stuff

Dear Athens,

How are you, my dear?

It’s been about 10 months since we got serious and started our relationship.

Time flies. I know.

Who could have imagined a long-distance, online courtship that started back in April of 2014 would turn into what it is today?

There was something different about you when I sent that first message. Yeah, I’ll admit it was a little bit cocky — but it caught your eye.

To be honest, you were my “What if?”

When I was much younger, another “What if” came into my life. So did a sure thing.

I’m ashamed to admit I took a run at the sure thing. It didn’t work out.

So when I saw you, I leapt at the opportunity. “What if,” became “What is.”

I don’t know if you see it, but there is a lot of admiration out there for you. Some might even call it “love.” After all, “Athens, I Love You” is the phrase of choice and even beget a Snapchat geocentric overlay the kids use these days.

One thing I noticed is that the people who use those aforementioned four words have been committed to you a long time. They might be lifelong residents, transplants or most likely students of the University of Georgia (woof-woof, etc).

I’m trying to feel that emotion for you. I am.

It took me a while to even think about uttering those words to San Marcos. I know I shouldn’t talk about past relationships in front of you, but it must be done.

I wasn’t planning on staying with San Marcos as long as I did. Two years max, I said.

But the longer you stay in a relationship, the more you grow — and learn.

I finally fell for “San Marvelous” one month after contacting you.

There was just something about the way she pulled together around her softball team and in turn, my coverage and in turn, me. I poured my heart into that month. As the kids say these days, “I felt some type of way.”

That’s probably why I cried when I put her in my rearview mirror one month later. I never shed a single tear over a previous relationship ending, but seven years — plus a lot of long nights, sweat and everything else — finally caught up to me.

Athens, I’m excited about what the future holds in store for us.

I’m learning to like you more and more every day.

Hopefully it turns into love.

Yours for now,

Tyler

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén