January 24, 2009

Even though they can be unsettling at times, I just love parking garages and their utilitarian elements. I captured this on my way out after shooting an event last night. It was in the back corner of the garage.

Call me careful or call me chicken. Since it was getting late I set this one up through an open window with the motor running and doors locked.

"He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it." -- Douglas Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
English humorist & science fiction novelist (1952 - 2001)

January 23, 2009

Not Before My Coffee

Just a dip into the SP world. Spooky, huh?
I used Optic Verve's Old Newspaper filter and then a Davis inset frame treatment from On One. OnOne ROCKS!

"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" -- Fanny Brice, comedian singer and actor

January 22, 2009

Yesterday's News -- Tomorrow's History

History happens. We are blessed to be able to recognize it.

I can remember quite a few very important days when we KNEW history was happening. One was the day that we landed on the moon for the very first time. My dad made sure we followed the news all day as he reminded us that history was happening. My brothers and I spread a roll of butcher paper out across the living room floor and colored a banner with crayons. I think it said "We're on the moon at last . . . hooray hooray hooray" Then I organized a bicycle/tricycle parade for the kids on our block. There were tons of kids, and they all came. My mom still has the banner.

When September 11 happened, I wanted my kids to mark the day and to remember what they were doing. Because I didn't want to overload them with too much television tragedy, we watched snippets but broke it up with special activities. We planted flowers. We made frozen chocolate covered bananas. We played board games. We prayed and we talked. I hope they will remember. If they don't remember, I'll tell them the story enough times that they will think they remember.

It's been fun watching so many families across the nation as they drove home the importance of another historic occasion for another generation of children.

The Houston Chronicle and others across the country reported that they printed quite a few extra copies of this paper because so many people would be seeking souvenirs.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6223370.html
They even posted extra streetside vendors out throughout the city.

They say that printed newspapers are a dying medium. I certainly hope not. I can't spill coffee on my computer and get away with it.

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." -- Abraham Lincoln
16th president of US (1809 - 1865)

January 21, 2009

An interesting day -- one that makes us appreciate our health. Hubby had surgery yesterday and they sent us home -- maybe a little too quickly. We were back in the ER by 6 am and should have gone sooner. After three different anti-nausea drugs and two bags of fluid, he seems better. Hope it holds!

The angel in my day was the sweet little ER Housekeeper, Ellie who took time out of her morning to bring me coffee. She didn't need to do that. Thanks Ellie!

"The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone." -- George Eliot

January 19, 2009

Our neighbor's friend drives the coolest vintage Firebird. I hate using the word vintage because I had a friend who drove one like this when they were new. I keep meaning to go out and photograph it in detail, but for now, here's the view I had of it when I came in from some errands. (Orange fencing -- we're still rebuilding the fence after Ike took it down) It was a BEAUTIFUL day.

"Throw out an alarming alarm clock. If the ring is loud and strident, you're waking up to instant stress. You shouldn't be bullied out of bed, just reminded that it's time to start your day." -- Sharon Gold

January 18, 2009

I'm Just a My-Cereal Girl!

Thanks to my goofy hubster for the great headline. I was photographing my Sunday breakfast when he came into the room and started singing and dancing. I couldn't top that if I tried -- but why would I want to?

Multi-grain Cheerios and bananas. Natural sunlight through a dirty window.

January 17,2009

Mike and I have developed a very fun tradition over the years. We go to the store together during the month before Valentines and we read the cards to each other. That way we get to share all the silly,mushy, and trashy sentiments without buying all the cards.

It's always fun. You should try it. Then, on the way out we bought a bag of pink, red, and white M&M's.

My blonde friend got a job at the M&M factory, and she was so excited because she was going to be a proofreader. She got fired after one week though, because she kept throwing out all the W's.

Have a nice day and tell someone else a favorite silly joke.

January 16, 2009

Reflecting on Life Changes -- and They're All My Kids Now

Exactly ten years and ten days ago we packed up all five of our boys, two cats, and a bazillion uncertainties and moved to Houston and into a rental house that I had never even seen.

We had no idea what kind of life was in store for us here, but we hoped for the best.

Our kids are about grown now and hardly need us anymore. We've had good times and not so good times . . . but I never would have dreamed that in ten VERY SHORT YEARS I'd spend Friday nights watching and photographing other people's kids playing high school sports. How cool is THAT??!?!?!

As far as I'm concerned, they're all my kids. Thought I'd share these two with you today. I just LOVE the intensity in their eyes and faces.

Wonder where they'll be in another ten years and ten days. I hope they follow their dreams into very big things.

January 15, 2009

Fruit Salad Tonight?

Here's wishing I lived closer to Matt so I could put this alongside his Mac and Cheese recovery dinner.

I played a little more with my orange juice picture concept today, and although I came up with some ideas that I need to pursue further, I still never got any images that truly blew me away.

Why is it that I just want so badly to impress myself?

Anyway . . . I gave up on the juicy pics and got out the grapes. The bananas escaped for the time being. Now I owe my family one decently prepared meal at an equally decent hour for a change . . . so I'm done shooting for now. This is straight out of camera, but at least I have a daily!

"For the rest of my life I'm going to trust that God is always at work in all things, and give Him thanks long before my simplest prayers are answered." --Nancy Parker Brummett

January 14, 2009

New lesson. It takes a whole lot of oranges to get a little glass of juice.

They had 15 lb bags of oranges on sale for $5.99 the other day, so I bought them.

A note of thanks to everyone who was concerned about me being "out of commission." Nothing to worry about, and I apologize for any cause for alarm. I simply thought "out of commission" sounded better than "I couldn't get my act together."

"Early morning cheerfulness can be extremely obnoxious."
William Feather -- 1908 - 1976