Theme Thursday - Memory

This week's theme is memory, and it's one that I have spent a lot of time thinking about. Because while I love photography as an art, the biggest attraction to it, at least for me, is the ability to capture memories. To take a fraction of a second and preserve it, something to look at that makes the memory come alive with every viewing.

I love to capture the special memories - the first steps, the graduations, the celebrations - but I love the every day memories just as much. I would guess that on average I take between 50-100 shots a day, even on days that nothing special happens. And on the days that are horrible? I take pictures of that too. Because sometimes the only way to see how far you've come is to look back on where you were.














Looking back to remember indeed. What a difference a year makes!



For more fantastic memories, don't forget to see what's new at Stacy's!

Listening In

I happen to find great entertainment in the random things that I hear on a daily basis. Because toddlers can be funny...when they aren't making you want to tear your hair out I mean.

Garrett: I need money.
Me: Well, why don't you go to the (pretend) bank and get some?
Garrett: Nope. Runs over to the pretend grocery store cash register. There's lots of money in here....shhhh, don't tell anyone I have it. And then he stuffs it all down the front of his shirt.

Headed for a life of crime much?


Garrett has also developed a love of the phrase "totally wicked". And really, hearing anything described as being 'totally wicked', in addition to giving me a serious flashback to the 80s, also makes me laugh. Every time. I clearly don't get out enough.


In addition to the normal things that make me laugh, I have also recently discovered House. Why did no one tell me about this show? I find it quite delightful, not to mention hilarious and entertaining.

100 Things About Me, Part 10

It is now time for the final installment of the '100 Things About Me' List...otherwise known as an excellent thing to post when I don't have the time/energy to come up with something else to write about. I suppose this means that I will have to start coming up with things to talk about other than myself. Oh, what a shame....

So here are the final 10 amazing things about me. And if that isn't enough, the rest of the list can be found here.


91. When I first got an apartment, they informed me of the complex’s pet policy. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want a pet. I now have a dog and a cat. And fish. And I love them all. Well, I don’t really love the fish, but I do like to see them in the tank. I think that counts for something.

92. I have pictures all over, of all different people and places. I smile every time I look at them.

93. I am a fastidious calendar keeper. I never make plans without checking my calendar, and the second I do make an appointment to do something, it gets written down. I carry my calendar with me everywhere…I love my PDA.

94. Emptying the dishwasher is one of my least favorite household chores.

95. I have a tattoo.

96. I love to scrapbook.

97. My handwriting is impeccable.

98. I am incapable of doing only one thing at a time.

99. I hate to have my feet touched, but I love getting pedicures.

100. New Year’s Eve is my least favorite holiday of the year.

Best Shot Monday - Trying Again

The theme for last week's Theme Thursday was texture...which stressed me out, as I had NO IDEA how to do it. But after some great tutorials and a few tons of attempts, I managed to come up with something.

But after playing around in photoshop and figuring it all out, I have decided that, just like everyone else said, textures are fun and somewhat addicting. So here is my BSM...with a little added texture...




Now head on over to Tracey's and see what everyone else has been up to in the last week!

Summary Saturday - Project 365, Week 8

February 16:






February 17:






February 18:






February 19:






February 20:






February 21:






February 22:

Tag, You're It!

Semidesperate Housewife tagged me for the '7 random/weird things' meme.



# Link to the person who tagged you
# Post the rules on your blog.
# Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
# Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
# Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.

1. I don't like chocolate. Please don't hate me. I will eat it, so I don't dislike it, I just don't prefer it. Unless it's combined with peanut butter - I LOVE peanut butter. But I know that not loving chocolate is weird.



2. I also don't like coffee...or anything coffee flavored. Coffee = ick.



3. The beach is not my preferred place to vacation. I have fair skin and I think sand is messy, so while I will go, it is not my favorite place.



4. I can't stand naked toes, and my toenails are ALWAYS painted. However because I can't stand to have chipped polish, my fingernails are rarely painted.



5. I love the snow but I despise being cold. It has also never bothered me to drive in the snow.



6. I find potty training to be one of the most patience-testing experiences on earth. I am amazed on a nearly daily basis that anyone bothered inventing it in the first place.


7. My favorite color is red.


I have to think abut who to tag, so let the fascinating facts of me sink in and I'll let you know if you're 'it'.

Happy Friday! Let's all hope it's better than last Friday...

Theme Thursday - Texture

This week's theme is texture, which I will admit has caused me a significant amount of stress, given that I have never attempted texture...well, ever. But I thought that I would have plenty of time to figure it out and perhaps not totally embarrass myself when I showed you what I managed to come up with.

And then I became horribly, utterly, and violently ill. Which can only be described as no fun at all. I wanted to die. But because dying seems like a fairly poor choice, I have persevered to present to you my first attempt at using texture. Which, due to aforementioned illness, has taken me hours. Not because I am THAT slow, and only due to the fact that I can only sit upright for approximately 5 minutes at a time.

But despite whatever the (*$% is wrong with me the plague, I have to admit that, like all the other cool kids, I am totally in love with texture. And I am excited to learn how to use it while not simultaneously wishing for death to use it. So here it is, my first attempt...




Please, be gentle.

For more fantastic use of texture, head to Stacy's!

Happiness Is...

watching snow fall. fresh baked bread. first steps. people who smile with their eyes. curling up with a good book. soft kisses. getting a surprise card in the mail. accomplishing goals. drinks with friends. naps. reconnecting. tivo. my dslr. blogging. heartfelt apologies. new markers. paying it forward. scented candles. new socks. the smell of clean laundry. fresh sheets on the bed. bubbles. hugs. getting a manicure. peanut butter. miracles. Cardinals baseball. sleeping in on a rainy day. getting surprise compliments. cookies right out of the oven. belly laughs. giving the perfect gift.

What makes you happy?

Best Shot Monday - A Little Color

It's Best Shot Monday time again!

Tracey's best shot is of some gorgeous flowers, showing that spring is just around the corner. Spring is a little farther around the corner (more like around the block) around here, but there is still a little bit of color to be had*...




*what you can't see is that when I took this picture there is snow pouring out of the sky. Go figure!

Now go check for other signs of spring at Tracey's!

Book Meme

Brittany and Christina both (somewhat indirectly) have tagged me for the book meme.

Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people


"In addition, the double helix is stabilized by the hydrophobic effect: base stacking, or hydrophobic interactions between the bases, results in the exposure of themore polar surfaces to the surrounding water. This arrangement is reminiscent of protein folding, where hydrophobic amino acids are interior in the protein and hydrophili are exterior. Base stacking in DNA is also favored by the conformations of the relatively rigid five-membered rings of the backbone sugars; the sugar rigidity affects both the single-stranded and the double-helical forms."

Clearly, the closest book to me is not very exciting, although I suppose that it does get points for being educational.

The other book that is only slightly farther away has somewhat less painful more traditional results:

"It's a mistake," he told her. "Whatever they say I done, they're wrong, Clare. They're dead wrong." Soon there would be questions, plenty of questions.

The book? The Bright Forever, by Lee Martin. I haven't started reading it yet, but it looks pretty good - I'll let you know!

I am tempted to follow the lead of the people who tagged me and just tag the first five people who read this. But since I did two books, I tag the first five people to read this AND the following lucky five - because I am curious to know what they're reading...

1. Niobe
2. jodifur
3. Lara
4. Brandy
5. Shalee

What are you reading?

Summary Saturday - Project 365, Week 7

February 9:



February 10:



February 11:



February 12:



February 13:



February 14:



February 15:

A Little Q & A

Q: What can make a child looked possessed like they are in immediate need of an exorcism?

A: Projectile vomiting while whipping their head back and forth as fast as possible.

Want to guess how my Friday is going?

Theme Thursday - Pure

Today's theme is pure - and because I am feeling rushed and uninspired, the only pure thing I have is this:

Pure Loyalty

Pure Joy

"When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that will never leave." - Gautama Siddharta

For more purity, head to Stacy's!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day. A holiday that most can take or leave. Some celebrate, and some do anything in their power to avoid it. To each their own.

But to experience Valentine's Day in all of it's commercial glory, there is really only one place that you need to go. Where might this place be you ask?

The cafeteria at any girls high school. Because I assure you, dear internet, that you have not experienced Valentine's Day to the max until you have seen the gaudy overwhelming display that occurs in such a place on Valentine's Day. Seriously.

And because I was a good Catholic school girl, I did experience this lovely display first hand, all four years.

And also because I was a good Catholic school girl, I graduated with not only the appropriate knowledge of how to do body shots, drink like a fish wear a plaid skirt, and a healthy dose of Catholic guilt, but also knowledge of patron saints. The first three things have proven to be useful life skills, but I was at a loss with what exactly the benefits of the fourth item might be.

Enter blogging.

Because what makes for better blog fodder other than embarrassing stories pictures random facts about things. And fear not, while you may think that you know all about Valentine's Day - chocolate! flowers! love! - there is more. Oh yes, there is.

And so I give you five random facts I am quite sure that you don't care about didn't know about Valentine's Day...

1.

This is St. Valentine. He was beheaded. Because what says "I love you" more than the memory of someone having their head chopped off? I also wonder how he would feel about sharing his day with National Condom Day.

2. He is the patron saint of marraige, engaged couples, and love. That's boring. He's also the patron saint of fainting. Why, exactly IS there a patron saint of fainting, anyway?

3. St. Valentine is also the patron saint of beekeepers. Also of epilepsy. And the plague. I can understand a little more why these folks are in need of a patron saint.

4. Valentine's Day is part of National Jell-O Week. As in eating Jell-O, not Jell-O wrestling.

5. Valentine's Day is also part of Just Say No to Powerpoints Week. As one who has suffered through experienced many a powerpoint presentation, there are certain individuals who I believe should embrace the "just say no to powerpoints" school of thought.

So go forth and celebrate the day of love. Just try not to behead anyone in honor of the occassion.

100 Things About Me, Part 9

81. My family got their first computer when I was about 6. We were the only people that I knew who had a computer, and we used to play the Oregon Trail from a big floppy disk. I'm pretty sure if you went and looked, this very computer and floppy disk could still be found in my parents' basement.

82. Everyone has heartbreak. I have been the one to be heartbroken and the one to break someone else’s. The latter was much, much harder.

83. I am fanatical about correct spelling and grammar.

84. I love to read.

85. I am excellent at staying in touch with people, even if it is sporadic. I think that there is no better way to make someone feel important than to send an unexpected card or email saying ‘hi, I was just thinking of you.’

86. I love making new year’s resolutions. And because I want to make sure that I keep some, I tend to make several resolutions, with the thought that at least one will be realized.

87. Last year I made 2 pages worth of resolutions. And kept over half.

88. Contrary to what you might think based on #65, I am fairly private. There are some things that I don’t talk about. Although I won’t lie about them when asked.

89. People who say that they don’t have enough time make me crazy. Everyone has the same amount of hours in the day. Prioritize and do what you need to do.

90. I love getting mail.


Since I am getting to the end of my 100 things list, I have moved them all to their permanent home, which can be found here for your reading pleasure viewing.

Best Shot Monday - Salt and Pepper

It's Best Shot Monday time again!

I think that I used my best shots in other posts, but I like this one too...



Tell me that these aren't some of the cutest salt and pepper shakers you've ever seen!

And don't forget to check out the other great shots at Tracey's!

Summary Saturday - Project 365, Week 6

February 2:



February 3:



February 4:



February 5:



February 6:



February 7:



February 8:

100 Things About Me, Part 8

71. I look very little like the rest of my family. I used to wonder if I was switched at birth. I have decided that this is unlikely. But if it were true, I wouldn’t be totally shocked to find out.

72. I rarely cry. When I was younger I used to cry at everything – movies, books, etc. Now it takes a lot for me to shed a tear…a whole lot. And even then, it's more often out of anger than anything else.

73. I am good at reading people. I can pick up on numerous subtle/unsaid things. And I don’t forget them. (see #15)

74. I am convinced that every detail in life ends up having a large impact at some point down the road. See The Butterfly Effect…it’s like that.

75. Sometimes I daydream about how the small decisions I made that day will make a big difference later on.

76. I tend to censor things and put a lot of thought into things that I say to people who are close to me. Not because I don’t want to tell them the truth, but because I want to be sure that they hear it the way that I mean it.

77. I am much better at making someone know what I mean when I write instead of talk. I get emotional and off track when I talk. When I write things down I have the option to delete things.

78. I am a big fan of email as a communication. (See #77)

79. My mother used to tell me that I shouldn’t live alone because if I were abducted or murdered it would take days before someone would notice. I told her that this was highly unlikely….but it did make me wonder how long it would take.

80. I have very eclectic musical taste. And I highly enjoy classical music.


And just in case you missed it:

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

Theme Thursday - Glow

Today's theme over at Stacy's is GLOW - and we happened to be graced with a gorgeous day on Monday, providing quite a few glowing opportunities. There is nothing that provides a more gorgeous glow that natural light.












See what other things are GLOWING over at Stacy's...

You are never too old...

...for a SNOW DAY!

You would think that the novelty of having a snow day would wear off, but you would be wrong.

Imagine sitting through three hours of a biochemistry lecture. Now imagine not having to do so. It's a fantastic slice of heaven, isn't it? That's what I thought too.

*You may now return to your regularly scheduled day*

Things I could have said...

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more
difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting
moment.
Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin said it well, but Swistle might have said it better. There are always things that you would really like to say to people, but for the sake of manners whatever reason, sometimes you don't. But the beauty of blogging, among other things, is that it is the perfect opportunity for those things that were left unsaid. The key is to not give a lot of background - just to say it and move on. So here we go...

1. I didn't make a mistake, and I don't regret it. But I am sorry.

2. You're the most selfish person I know. I thought that maybe that would change. But I've given up. And that makes me sad.

3. I am totally crazy about you.

4. I think that you are one of the craziest people I know. I know you can't help it, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to reach out and slap you sometimes.

5. I seriously have no idea how we ended up a part of the same family.

6. You have terrible taste.

7. I think that your marraige is a mistake. A huge mistake.

8. What you are doing is wrong. And you know it. And it makes me think less of you, because I thought that you were better than that.

9. You are not nearly as smart as you think you are.

10. I'm not really sure how we grew apart, but I think it might have been my fault. And I'm sorry about that - I should have tried harder.

What do you have to say?

I don't get...

niobe has a new meme that she was tagged for, a list of ten things that you just don't get. She, in turn, has tagged everyone who read her list, which puts me amongst the masses. But because I had a friend in high school who was constantly repeating the phrase "I don't get it..." about so many things, the very title makes me smile and think of her.

So here are my ten things:

I don't get...

1. soap operas.

2. people who are selfish. Everyone has their moments, but there are some people who are constantly selfish...and I just don't get it.

3. meteorologists. They have to have one of the easier jobs - they guess at the weather, then when they're wrong everyone just sort of shrugs and says "looks like the weather report was wrong again. oh well". What exactly do these people learn in school anyway?

4. how my parents always had a HUGE box of unmatched socks in the laundry room. In all the years that I have been doing laundry, I'm pretty sure I have always had pairs of socks. Where did all of their lost socks go?

5. why people have the need to touch my hair. It is curly and it is red. However it is attached to my head, and yes, it hurts when you tug on it to see if it 'bounces'. Just ask - I will tell you that it does.

6. religious zealots.

7. clutter. I know that some people are just 'compelled' to keep things...but I still don't get it.

8. celebrity obsessions.

9. Jerry Springer. Seriously, what is the appeal there?

10. how anyone in the year 2008 can still not know how to use a computer. Or have an email address.


And because niobe is cool and I aspire to be cool like her (and also because I am lazy and need to finish some homework before naptime is over), I also tag all the people who read this. Be sure to let me know when you post your list - I want to know what you don't get!

Best Shot Monday - Shhhh...

Need some inspiration? Head to Tracey's and check out some fabulous best shots!

Photo Challenge: A Show of Hands

Mike has come up with a photo challenge...show a hand doing something that they love most.




What about you? What do your hands show?

Summary Saturday - Project 365, Week 5

January 26:





January 27:





January 28:





January 29:





January 30:





January 31:





February 1:

Drumroll Please!

And the winner of the Funky Mama Giveaway is......

Christina!

Thanks to everyone who entered -- participating in the Winter Bloggy Giveaway Carnival was tons of fun, so I'll definitely see you in a few months for the Spring Carnival!

*Winner was randomly determined using Random.org. If I am unable to contact the winner to obtainn a mailing address, a new winner will be drawn next Friday*