Sunday, August 31, 2008

Windmills & Other Things

I have this thing about windmills. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but I'm drawn to them. I think there is something peaceful and comforting about them. We have a storm rolling in, maybe a prelude to what's to come. Courtesy of Mr. Gustav.



We took a drive out to my favorite park, and since girly wasn't cooperating...I decided to focus on the windmill.



I've been trying desperately to get a decent silhoutte shot, and this is about as good as it gets. And that's not saying a lot. ;) If your reading this Becky, I'm sure you could totally blow me away with your crazy outdoors shots. I'm sure you could get a windmill with like, lightning bolts going through it.

Crackhead. Becky likes to stand in her garage during vicious storms and photograph lighting. Okay enough picking on Becky. I'm just jealous she has the cajones to go out in a storm and take pictures. I'm afraid my camera will spontaneously combust or something.

Need to hit the books now...

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Alice in Wonderland

Well not really, but that's what came to mind when I was editing these. For some reason or another, Girly decided today was a good day to actually look at the camera. Wish she would have more of those days.

PS. I didn't resize these for the blog, so the horizontal pics are missing some off the right.

























Also...I was messing around with some layers, trying to create a ghetto version of some awesome actions I've seen people use. Does this work?




Okay, enough stalling. I need to study.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Turns Out He Listens After All

So Hubby TOTALLY suprised me today. We were waiting outside a restaurant to eat dinner tonight, and I decided sometime during our 40 minute wait to whip out the camera. Girly was completely and utterly un-cooperative. Nothing new there. Hubby wanted to try to take some pictures of me, so I figured what the heck. Turns out the guy actually listens to all my completely random babble about photography! I mean he was using all this terminology, and explaining how he made sure not to chop any limbs or have foreign objects coming out me head. I'm SO proud of him! He even (almost) nailed the exposure, which is more than I can even say about my work.

Anywho. Here are a couple of shots he did:





I really need to send in my 50mm 1.4 and my camera body. They still are acting extremely funny. These were taken with my 50, but the focus is really not what it use to be.

Enough camera talk. I'm dying to crawl in bed.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Technical Difficulties

I never claimed to be computer savy. In fact, I am pretty computer Stupid. I'd even go as far as saying moronic.

I just completely deleted a blog post from the other day. Don't ask me how I did it. It just happened, somewhere amidst my flurry of backspaces and mouse clicks.


I feel bad now, so I'm going to summarize the deleted post to the best of my capabilities. It was something like...




and then a little of this...



then this...



some more words and punctuation marks...





Uhhhhhh yeah that'll have to do. Along with an outstanding knowledge of computers, I was blessed with a fantastic memory.

Introducing, My New Wardrobe



So here it is, the uniform I will proudly sport for the next 2 years of my life.

Please disregard the mess of toys in the lower left hand corner. And my goofy smirk.

I said disregard!



Moving on. I happen to be very fond of the color teal...or is it cerulean...I don't know. I do know that that much of any color is just not good. Or fashionable. And to top it off, we get to wear a nerdy lab coat over top of it. Which reminds me, I don't have a pic in the lab coat.

*stand by*











I realize that the excessive spacing there was unecessary. It took me a long time to take the stupid picture, and I felt I needed to symbolically convey this through my writing. I couldn't find my remote timer, so I had to go in front of the bathroom mirror and do it old school.




No my lens is not dirty. Yes my bathroom mirror is. Yeesh you people don't let me get by with anything do you? And yes, the coat could use a good iron. I'm fully aware I'm not living up to this Domestic Goddess title. That's why I'm still in training. Cut a girl some slack.

I kind of enjoy the lab coat. Even though it is 5 times too big for me. And the manufacturers let me feel questionably comfortable with my body, giving it the ridiculous label of X-Small. Your not fooling anyone Mr. Lab Coat manufacturer. We all know after all the Ben & Jerry's I've been slamming the only thing that feels extra-small are my jeans. Which I think by the way Hubby may have put in the dryer and shrunk. Well that's what I'm blaming it on anyway. I had to do that whole fiasco of lunges and squats in my jeans in order to get them to fit "properly" and not create a thigh forest fire when I walked.

Wow, where were we going with this?


Oh right, so the lab coat. I feel all professional or something. Like a scientist or a physician. Funny, the title nurse doesn't even come to mind. It's funny how a uniform will transform you, and make you feel and act differently. Like when I was in the Army and wore my BDU's. Anytime I had those things on, I just felt compelled to rough someone up. Of course I would have to patch them back up, because I was a medic and that's what medics do. Besides, I'm not the violent type really.


WOW can we stay on task here?



I think I'm finally realizing the reality of this whole nursing thing now. I have to admit, I am feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with it all. In fact, I better stop lolly-gagging and get on with my studying.



Ugh.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Little Slice of Heaven

So yesterday I found myself needing to get out of the house. I was told of this place nearby from a photographer called Sun City. Call me crazy, but I think the title of the city actually made it seem to be about 10 degrees hotter. Luckily, it was a cool 93, or else I may have evaporated somewhere along the way.

Turns out just 8 miles down the highway I have the most beautiful tranquil spot like ever. Well maybe not ever, but after staring at the walls in my house all weekend and chasing the rugrat around, it was pretty darn enchanting.

I wasn't able to stay until the best part of the sunset, but was pretty happy with what I did get to see.



We were actually on about a 50 foot cliff, which didn't set easy with me beings the only thing preventing us from going over was a horizontal pole. I know better to stay away, girly on the other hand was eager to investigate.

Overall it was a nice visit. I'd like to go back again soon, maybe when the weather cools down.







Sunday, August 24, 2008

Ice Cream...it's What's For Dinner



I was throwing myself a pity party the other night, one that could only be consoled by a Smirnoff and a pint of ice cream. During my pajama adorned trip to the grocery store, I found myself in a dilemma. My personal favorite happens to be Oatmeal Cookie. However, I was unsure whether or not even the mystical powers of Oatmeal Cookie could soothe my gripes and grumbles.

So I picked up the new Cake Batter.



Which led to me picking up the new Cinnamon Buns.


And then what if hubby decided he wanted in on my ice cream tirade?! He is purely a vanilla kind of guy, but just in case I picked up Whirled Peace and Half Baked. Then I tried to justify that because Peach Cobbler included a fruit in the title, it could be partially nutritious. Despite the fact the peaches were smothered in cream and shortbread.





Ben and Jerry's is a diverse food product, in that it can simultaneously elevate a mood and make you feel like a complete fat ass all at the same time. A unique concept however, is that one doesn't comprehend the later until the bottom of the container has been revealed.

That's where the alcoholic beverage comes in handy.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

My Daughter...the Penny Pincher

I'd like to introduce to you, Mr. Piggles the Piggy Bank.



Mr. Piggles is a gift from Grandma Young. Up until now, he was merely a colorful pig that made neat jingly sounds when you shook him. The other day I demonstrated to Kaitlyn the art of stowing away coins. She found this to be quite the exciting task.




I gave her a handful of coins, and one by one she fed them to Mr. Piggles.





(notice the chicken remnant? I told you they were everywhere.)


This next picture shows the exact moment when she realized she had run out of coins. If you look closely, you can actually see the look of desperation across her face.





She eyeballed the thing for a good minute, which in the mind of a two year old is next to forever.She bargained and pleaded even. She then did what every reasonable toddler would do.





She threw a fit.



I'm unsure who won. Kaitlyn or Mr. Piggles.






Then as if by an act of God, her entire demeanor changed. A smile emerged. I thought this to be extremely odd. She got up and immediately started lifting the carpet up.






How in the Heck does she even think to do this? For the record I have never searched for anything under the carpet before, and even if I did it was never in front of her.

Crazy thing is...there ended up being a penny under there!




I was baffled. Has she been stowing away a secret coin collection? Once she found it, she turned into a complete goofball. I was cracking up at this time at her animated celebration. I was unable to hold the camera still enough to get a decent shot of her victory dance.







Off to look under the rest of the rugs. Maybe I'll get lucky.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Photoshoot with the Beautiful Rebecca

I had the opportunity to do a photoshoot with an old co-worker and friend today. I was practically a puddle of sweat after it all, but it was SO worth it. Isn't she Gorgeous!







These are just a few from our shoot. Thanks again Rebecca, it was AWESOME seeing you. We need to do it again sometime. I'm e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d. That sun wiped me out. Although, I did lose about 8 lbs in sweat so hooray me! I think. I can't wait to shower and crawl in bed.

By the way, my 85mm 1.8 lens came in the mail today! Wooooohoo! That thing focuses faster than nobodies business. And the bokeh is just Mmm mm buttery smooth. Love it.

Before I go...here are a couple more from the shoot.



The unusual train that passed us, backed up, and then came at us again. I think it had something against Rebecca's shoes.




Okay that's all for now. I have a HUGE day tomorrow. It's my 8 hour orientation for the nursing program. Wooohoo! Night ya'll!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Fowl Play

While picking up the house this morning I came across what appeared to be the remnants of a seriously confused chicken. Strategically placed in almost every room, I came across this:





Purple and white feathers. I followed the trail to the top of the stairs, where I found to be what I thought was ground zero for the multi-colored mutant. It was about a 6" section of amputated feather fluff.





I picked up the strand of ratted up feathers, and suddenly realized what it was. My sister, who had been down recently to visit from Iowa, had brought along a feather boa. Her intentions were to have Kaitlyn use it as a fun girly prop during a photoshoot. However we got so caught up in everything else during her short visit, that we had completely forgotten about it.

Appearantly somebody didn't.







There have been times in the past (pre-kiddo) that I have seen kids in public with the most ABSURD outfits. I would say to myself "How can their parents let them dress like that", and "I would Neeeeever let my kid dress like that outside the house".

I am now eating my very words. I sheepishly made an attempt to re-attach the disected chicken strand, and in doing so almost lost a limb of my own. Girlie FLIPPED out. I mean she went kung-fo on my ass. I threw my hands up in defeat and took a step back to admire my stubborn little diva.







That's my girl.