I unknowingly arrived 45 minutes early, so I sat on an old bench and chatted with a few of the band members as we waited.

I always find the questions people ask me amusing because, more often than not, they think I’m a kid working for the student newspaper. (And I am totally OK with looking young as long as I continue to age slowly and gracefully and be confused for a 30-year-old at 40. Or something like that.) Did I ever play in the marching band? No, but I played the violin. Did I go to school at USM? No, I was an LSU Tiger. How in the world did I move to Hattiesburg after living in Baton Rouge? I got a job. And so on.

The sunshine came out of the clouds right before 3:30, and the band director made a quip about how it was practice time because of that. And then the music began, color guard girls commenced their practice, and so did the baton twirlers.

I was impressed by the sound and skill of everyone, and I spent nearly 45 minutes documenting their practice. I headed back to the office when dark clouds covered the sun and threatened me staying dry.

The following is one of my favorite images of the day:

Alisha Hogan and other members of the color guard perform a routine Thursday afternoon during the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band practice at the University of Southern Mississippi. The marching band, which has been in existence since 1920, has 260 members and will be marching in next year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

Happy Friday, y’all!

It was a weekend of fests (and I wasn’t able to attend one of them because I was so swamped!), and I loved it.

First, we have one of my favorite images from the Renaissance Festival.

Dana Milner paints a rainbow on 2-year-old Alexandria Dungy's cheek at the Enchanted Realms Facepainting booth Saturday afternoon during the Mobile Street Renaissance Festival. The event, held yearly on Mobile Street, features music, food, crafts and activities for children. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images from the event can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

Another event I shot was the preparations for this upcoming weekend’s triathlon in Lamar County.

I used to be a sporty girl in high school, lettering in two varsity sports, but since I went to college, the sporty-ness went downhill. Unless you count my two season stint with the college newspaper’s basketball team… We won our first game in THREE YEARS the last game of my first season with them. Sad, but true… But there is something about these triathlons that piques my interest.

No, I’m not a runner. No, I haven’t swum in years. I haven’t picked up a bicycle in a long time, either.

But something about these events makes me want to be active. Something about these events makes me want to give it a go, even if I fall on my face. Some of the people I met last weekend setting up were trying to convince me to sign up for a triathlon, train for it and document it via a column in the newspaper every week or month.

While I don’t know if this will come to fruition, I made some nice images Saturday morning and look forward to spending tomorrow morning out on the course. If nothing else, it will be fun. And a learning experience.

Here is one of my favorite setting up images from last Saturday:

Chris Boyd, from Hattiesburg, places orange fencing on the ground to outline the bicycle area Saturday morning at the Heritage subdivision in Lamar County. Volunteers gathered to prepare the course for next weekend's EagleMan Triathlon. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images here.

Sunday, I photographed two church events: a groundbreaking at Parkway Heights UMC and First Baptist held the first service in its new sanctuary.

What did YOU do last weekend?

It doesn’t happen often, but one of these said events happened last weekend. Barkfest.

It was held at the local dog park, and people were invited to bring their furry friends to play games, purchase food and have fun to raise money for The Sanctuary, a local no-kill animal shelter.

Judging from the number of dogs and owners there, I must assume the event was a success.

The following are some of my favorite images from the event:

Brooke Joyner, from Hattiesburg, walks her dogs Daisy, left, and Zoey during the cake walk Saturday morning at Barkfest, which was held at the Petal Dog Park. People brought their dogs to the park to play games, win door prices and compete in competitions. The event benefits Dianne Breakfield's Sanctuary, a Lamar County animal shelter. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

People listen to music and walk in a circle as a part of the cake walk Saturday morning during Barkfest at the Petal Dog Park. People brought their dogs to the park to play games, win door prices and compete in competitions. The event benefits Dianne Breakfield's Sanctuary, a Lamar County animal shelter. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Peyton King, 8, from Oloh, pets Buck Saturday morning during Barkfest at the Petal Dog Park. People brought their dogs to the park to play games, win door prices and compete in competitions. The event benefits Dianne Breakfield's Sanctuary, a Lamar County animal shelter. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

I turned 25 a little less than two weeks ago, and the day before my birthday was a fantastic day, simply because I got some really fun, different art to stand alone in the paper.

I heard there were going to be some high school art students helping a lady from the Saenger Theater paint windows downtown in preparation for that weekend’s Art Walk, a event that is held a few- times a year that includes, music, art, crafts, vendors and everything in between on the streets of downtown Hattiesburg. I’ve been a few times — all for the paper — and am always amazed at what people can create.

But I was going out of town that weekend and couldn’t make it to the Art Walk. So why not photograph something pertaining to it beforehand? Especially when we needed wild art.

The following is my FAVORITE shot, and it ran very large on the Pine Belt page of the paper.

Cordelia Dunbar, 15, paints red onto the window to form the Saenger Theater logo Tuesday afternoon at Business Launch Point in downtown Hattiesburg. Students from Sacred Heart Catholic School helped Rosie Ricks, front of the house manager at the Saenger Theater, paint windows at the business for this weekend's Art Walk. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More photos can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

Want to know why?

Check out all these links and photo galleries. I think they explain it all.

Miss Hospitality pageant photos (here and here)
First Tee of the Pine Belt celebration (here)
Regina Adams appreciation at Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist (here)
Body found in apartment (here) –> This was a surprise Sunday afternoon, and now knowing what happened makes it pretty crazy.
PCS teachers prepare for school (here)
NFHS football community service (here)
First day of school at the DuBard School (here)

And last but not least, Sumrall football practice.

Sumrall High School player Brian Hartfield (12) dives to catch a pass Wednesday afternoon during practice. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site.

What have you been up to recently?

It was the assignment for 5 o’clock that was the kicker (and byfar the best art): I spent some time with contestants from this weekend’s Miss Hospitality event at the local bowling alley Wednesday night.

Mary Catherine McDonnieal, Miss Lincoln County, celebrates after bowling a spare Wednesday night during the Miss Hospitality "Bowl Night" at Champion Lanes in Hattiesburg. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Cierra Sherman, Miss Woodville, celebrates after bowling a strike Wednesday night during the Miss Hospitality "Bowl Night" at Champion Lanes in Hattiesburg. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Tiffany Moak, Miss Pike County, bowls Wednesday night during the Miss Hospitality "Bowl Night" at Champion Lanes in Hattiesburg. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More images can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site, and you can be sure I will be posting some images from the Friday and Saturday night portions of the competition.

The following image was one of the first I took yesterday and one of my favorites.

Dr. Glenn Braswell from the Family Dentistry in Petal uses a flashlight to check 4-year-old Jayde Coghlan's teeth Thursday afternoon during the Petal Kid's Health Fair at the Center for Families and Children in Petal. Dental, developmental, vision, scoliosis, height and weight, hearing, fitness and asthma screenings were offered, as well as free immunizations. (Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

More photos can be seen at the Hattiesburg American Web site.

Here is one of my favorite outtakes:

I don’t know what happened to this shot, but I like it. A lot.

My photo gallery from the celebration and show can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

Earlier this week, I was sent out to a local water park.

The follow are some of my favorite images. More can be found at the Hattiesburg American Web site here.

Paris Jackson, 5, left, and Asia Jackson, 7, bury Haley Rogers, 7, in the sand Wednesday afternoon at Pep's Point Water Park. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Heather Dillon hugs and gives her son Robert Dillon, 5, a kiss Wednesday afternoon at Pep's Point Water Park. (Photo by Erin Parker / The Hattiesburg American)

Happy Saturday, y’all!

The subject? Snow cones.

Enjoy!

(And if you want to check it out on the HA Web site, you can find it here.)