The

Undeniable

Ruth

®

…and the Ruth shall set you free!

  • Day 36/90 – Sitting Second Chair

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 36 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I got sit second chair for the first time in a courtroom!

    Sunset Scenes, Sedona, AZ 7-30-13zzm by inkknife_2000 from Flickr (Creative Commons License)
    Sunset Scenes, Sedona, AZ 7-30-13zzm by inkknife_2000 from Flickr (Creative Commons License)

    When I started Carter Law Firm right out of law school, I restricted my practice to transactional work: contracts, copyrights, and trademarks. I didn’t want to take a case that could go to litigation because I was afraid, as a new solo lawyer, that I would screw up the case. I never wanted to take that type of risk with my clients. Now that I’m with Venjuris, where I have colleagues who are experienced litigators, I am expanding the scope of my practice.

    Today, I made my first court appearance as a lawyer. It was a small hearing in Sedona regarding an injunction against harassment (a.k.a. a restraining order). I was there mainly to observe and learn, and it was a fantastic experience to see how the law plays out in real life. My colleague reminded me that you should never go into a court appearance thinking that anything is a for sure deal, because you always want to be on your toes and ready for anything.

    One thing I’ve learned this year since joining a firm that does litigation is that the law provides a framework to achieve resolutions to problems; however, it takes a certain level of creativity and finesse to practice law exceptionally well.

    In case you missed it: Day 35 of the 90 Days of Awesome – Being a Model for Bodyscaping Photography!

  • Day 35/90 – Bodyscaping Photography

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 35 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I got to do a photoshoot with Ben Stadler-Ammon, including some bodyscaping work.

    I have friends who are amazing photographers. They’ve shot amazing photos of me over the years at Ignite Phoenix and doing flash mobs with Improv AZ. At the last Ignite Phoenix event, Ben asked if I’d be interested in doing a photo shoot with him. I jumped at the chance.

    One of the types of photo work Ben does is called bodyscaping. It’s a type of photography that is usually in black and white that focuses on shapes made with lighting and the curves of the body. (Yes, since this type of art focuses on the body, the photographer needs to see your body; therefore, most bodyscaping is done in the nude. And in case you were wondering, when you’re working with a professional photographer – like Ben – there’s nothing sexual about the shoot. It’s just about taking beautiful photos.) When done well, the resulting photos are absolutely gorgeous. Ben does an excellent job of capturing your best angles and making your eyes sparkle. We met for a shoot a few weeks ago and it was so much fun – and the photos were beautiful. Here’s my favorite one from that shoot:

    Gorgeous Photo by Ben Stadler-Ammon, June 13, 2015
    Gorgeous Photo by Ben Stadler-Ammon, June 13, 2015

    We did another shoot today. What made this one special was my friend and fellow model Sara Santiago was there to do some modeling and also learn about taking these types of photos to better understand how to take a good photo. It gave me a chance to learn about what makes a good photo and I got to take some shots with her so I got to see another artist’s perspective. Working with her was different because since this was her first time shooting, setting up shots took longer, which presented me with the challenge of holding still longer.

    Here’s something no one tells you about modeling – the most beautiful pictures involve contorting your body into poses that no normal person would use in their daily life. There’s a lot of twisting, back arching, and leaning in ways that no one does naturally. It’s funny at the time and the pictures that come from it are fantastic.

    Ben did some “organic” photos of me today too – just me being me. I can’t wait to see the results.

    In case you missed it: Day 34 of the 90 Days of Awesome – I finally hung my wall art.

  • Day 34/90 – Hanging Wall Art

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 34 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I finally hung my wall art!

    Fishing Flies by Cameron Derbyshire
    Fishing Flies by Cameron Derbyshire

    Given that this is the 90 Days of Awesome, many of you might expect me to spend the day celebrating in the sun and watching fireworks. Although I consider myself patriotic, I don’t really celebrate Independence Day. In fact, I rarely celebrate any holidays; and even when I do, it’s a quieter affair.

    So what did I do today? I had what I call a “Susie Housewife Day” and mainly worked on chores and projects around the condo like laundry and filing papers. I also finally hung up my wall art.

    People who know me well know that I generally suck at appreciating art without the help of a docent. I love listening to people explain the stories behind a work of art and architecture, but without this guide, I can fly through a museum in 10 minutes flat. Not surprisingly then, I don’t own much art.

    Photo by Sheila Dee
    Photo by Sheila Dee

    I’ve been in my condo for about nine months and I told myself I had to hang my artwork this summer. As I hung the few pieces I own, I noted that they’re all from friends and my relationship with the artist was as important as the artwork itself. Here’s what went up today:

    I recently got the photos from Stacey Champions’ show on sexual assault and government regulation of reproductive rights. I was a model for both displays. I think one will end up in my office and the other in my home once I get them framed.

    In case you missed it: Day 33 of the 90 Days of Awesome – Breakfast with Jeff!