Photo Scavenger Hunt - December 2009

Well folks... it's that time again (are you sick of my photo hunts yet, or do you just love them!?)

(click on the badge to be redirected to the list of participants on Photohuntchallenges.com)

As always, I'll be filling in the pictures as I go using my Nikon D60 - it's just how I roll.  Ready for the list?

1. Holiday Lights

2. Holiday Spirit

3. A Holiday Treat

4. An Ornament

1. 5. A Gift-Wrapped Package

2. 6. A Window Display
3. 
4. 7. A Winter/Holiday Icon
5.  
6. 8. A Tree
7. 
8. 9. A Tradition - The Dice Game
9. 
10. 10.Something that says Noel
11. 
12. 11. Something Precious
13. 
14. 12. Something Peaceful
15. 
16. 13. Something Hot
17. 
18. 14. Something Cold
19. 
20. 15. Something Red
21. 
22. 16. Something Green
23. 
24. 17. Motion blur
25. 
26. 18. Black & White Photo (with selective coloring)
27. 
28. 19. Any photo using an Infrared Photography Technique (in-camera OR post-process)
29. 
30. 20. A Macro Shot

uff-da!

Interesting Point

I got this in an email several months back and have been meaning to post it since... kind of an interesting point.

JOB - URINE TEST 

(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)
 
Joe, the average worker says:

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their lazy butts, doing drugs, while I work . . ..

 

Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though . . . Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!! 

Little Birdy

I've worked my hours for the week, Friday is upon us, my birthday celebration is a few short hours away... how do I prep for such a eventful evening?  I get in the hot tub before I shower and do my hair and make-up.  

I'm sitting in the hot tub and see a Woodpecker, a Downy Woodpecker I think, he has made his home in the wooden frame of what used to be a big wooden swing, which happens to sit right off the patio from the hot tub.  He pops his head in and out a few times, looking right at me each time.  Then he pops out and away he goes.  A few minutes later I hear a bird call, one that sounds like a birdy in distress.  I look around and find him hopping around in the branches of a little bush/tree we have off to the side, calling his call every few seconds.  I figure this poor thing is buggin' out thinking about how close I am to his home, his nest, his family.  Little guy just wants to go home and I'm the one in his way.  

I get out of the hot tub and let the little bugger go home.  He is happy now.

Do you ever watch animals or think about how they feel when you are in 'their territory'?  Maybe something to think about next time you are in the presence of a creature, then again, maybe not.

Have a good weekend!

My 28th Year

Today I enter my 28th year of life on this planet... silly how it doesn't seem that old now that I'm here.

1 year ago today, at around 6pm, I was in a car accident.  My brand new car all smashed up :(  Something I was hoping to forget about on this day, but also something that, in some small way shape or form, has made me part of who I am today - all of the events of that day, not just the accident.

28 years ago today, at 11:57pm, I was born.  The past 27 years have also shaped who I am today.  Today, on this 28th celebration of the day I was born... I am happy.  So very happy, actually.
I'm celebrating on Friday (if you are free and local, find me on facebook and I'll give you details).  I seem to have started a tradition of sorts, a night out for Ang's birthday - FINE by me!  People look forward to it (some friends need the night out and what better excuse?), I love seeing my friends and, honestly, I love the attention of it being a night for my birthday.  I'm an attention whore, but I think hope I am not obnoxious about it.

So what will this 28th year of life bring for me?  (Good Question; maybe I should send it into CCO?)  Maybe the better way to approach this is What are my hopes for my 28th year of life? 
First and foremost, I'd like to get a start and hopefully complete the December Scavenger Hunt... I am feeling, at this point, like I may as well throw the towel in and give up.  That's not a super big deal, in the grand scheme of things though... so let's move on.

{20 minutes, of thinking, later...}

Is it horrible that I have no goals for my 28th year?  Why change something so good?  Not entirely true... I do have somethings I would like this year:

• I need to get my ass back in the gym and find a way to fully dedicate myself to it.  I hate working out, so even though I go because I need to, I would like to get to the point where I'm going because I like to.  One step at a time; I'll start by just getting the membership this year! HA.
• While it's not a personal goal, it is something I'd like to have happen... I would love for my SIL to have a healthy little baby (hopefully a boy, but I'll stick with healthy as enough).  Becoming an aunt again is exciting to me, and I can't wait to hold the little baby, cone head and all :)
• I hope that my grandma and her health recover tenfold, and that when she has to go back for this procedure, she is in and out with full success.
• Be the best girlfriend I can be to a man who is deserving of it.

Other than that... my main objective is to take life one day at a time.  Why hurry along and try to figure out what will happen?  Stop and smell the roses, take on challenges, don't worry about the future because you are probably wrong anyhow.  If only I could think like that everyday... 

I'm not where I thought I would be by age 28, but I'm happy where I am; I think that is more important than anything else.

Finally, I want to answer the questions that I asked all of you one week ago, today:
1. I don't know if I dream in color or B&W - isn't that so stupid?!  I honestly can't tell... I think it's color, but it must not be very vivid, if I can't figure it out.
2. I always get my hands wet first.  I cannot stand the feeling of rubbing soap around in my hands when they are dry.  I never even knew people did that until I started to watch other people wash their hands.  It grosses me out to even think about it!
3. I've recently learned how to laugh at myself... fully.  Obviously we all have times when it's not so easy, but really, life is too short and already stressful enough.  Sit back and laugh when you do something stupid, turns out it's not that bad!

Random v.9.18

Bullets today, since us Minnesotans have been dodging bullets on the road today... or something like that.

• I haven't started my December Scavenger Hunt yet and I'm kind of becoming uneasy about it.  I usually have a few up or, at the very least, taken by this point... I've got nothin'.  There are a a few items on the list that I'm not fully excited about (no offense Kristi!!)... B&W w/Selective Coloring and Infrared.  The selective coloring shot is exciting to think about... but I'm already feeling behind on taking the pictures when will I have the time to edit any?  As you may or may not be aware, I generally do not post-process my photos, so it's kind of hard for me to think about, especially this month.  The Infrared photo is simply mind-boggling to me; again, the time thing, not only the time to post-process, but the time to learn a new technique in Photoshop.  The end result should be pretty cool... but I just don't know how I'm going to pull it off.
  
  On top of not having the time... I think we've finally come across winter and if today is any indication of what the weather will be like in December... I'll have little to NO photos outside.  That's just depressing.

• Did you know that recycling one can (ONE CAN!!) can power a TV for 3 hours!?  That's a whole football game!  Maybe that will help motivate you to recycle or encourage others to do it.  Just sayin'.

• Here is a great idea for the holiday season... What if bill collectors (credit cards, electric, gas, water, garbage, car payments, etc.) gave everyone the month of December off of payments WITHOUT accruing more interest?!  So a month of free gas or water... or a month off of a car payment without having to worry about being behind and accruing more interest.  It'd help so many people with Christmas and it'd make those companies look so fricken good in the eyes of everyone else.
  
  
• I had a thought the other day... do you think fathers are proud of their daughters when they grow up to be sluts?  I have a friend on facebook and I often just wonder how proud her father is...

Some Random questions for you (and I expect you to answer each one!):

1. Do you dream in Color or Black & White?
2. When washing your hands; Do you get your hands wet then pump soap or do you pump soap first then get your hands wet?
3. Do you feel like you can laugh at yourself?

Stay warm America!

Good Point

It's no big secret that I've had an opinion about Favre joining the Vikings.  A thought occurred to me this morning that I want to put out there.

First, let me tell you my thoughts on Favre now, with 12 games under his belt.  So, you know I've accepted the fact that he is our QB and in all honesty, I'm glad he is.  We've had an amazing year with him in that position and, as a Vikings fan, who wouldn't want that?!  I do still think he is a bit of a prima donna - I'm starting to realize that he can't control the media and maybe he does just want to play football.  maybe.  I'm still upset that every game we win is because of Favre, or Favre this and Favre that... it's old news.  We know he's 40, we know he's a great QB, we know he breaks a new record (or 2) every game.  He absolutely aids  in the winning of games, but he doesn't win them on his own.
I say this to every person who asks me about my feelings on Favre and now I'm saying it to you....
It's week 3 in the NFL, the Vikings are playing the San Francisco 49ers, 2 seconds left in the game and the Vikes are down, we need a touchdown to win.  Favre passes 32-yards down the field to Greg Lewis, who catches the ball, gets both feet in to win the game!  Huge victory!  The announcers say "OMG he did it, Brett Favre did it!"  Excuse me?  Did Favre also run down the field and receive the ball that he just threw 32-yards?  Pretty sure Lewis had something to do with that game winning play as well.
So, I've remained very (some may say 'extremely') bitter about that the entire season, again, I'm trying to understand that it's not his fault, he doesn't write the news, he just makes it.  I'm slowly making progress... you can ask anyone who knows me well enough.

So after checking the score of last nights game (because there was no way I could stay up to watch that tortuous game) I gots to thinking (I did have a good 50 minutes in my car this morning)... since we lost, is that Favre's fault as well?  He makes the game-winning headlines; will he also make the game-losing headlines?  Is it now a 'team effort' when it's a loss or is it still Favre driving the ship?  It's a valid question... and a damn good point.  Just sayin'

That's all for now :)

Healthy Relationship

I'm happy and it feels good.  Seems now-a-days people have a lot going on and the negatives seem to be highlighted more than the positives.

It's been a whirlwind couple of years for me in relationships but I finally feel like I'm in a great place.  Why wouldn't I talk about it?

Other than blogging about my trips, I've never given much detail on my past relationships... I think most people know that I was dating someone from out of state (those that followed me on myspace know that we dated for several years), and that is really all I care to share, otherwise I would have shared more, obviously.  I also think that most of you know now that I'm in a new relationship - and if you didn't know, you need to read a bit more carefully.

Not to discredit any of my past relationships because I was happy in them; I am now in the healthiest relationship I've ever been in!  I'm very low-drama but I also need a lot of attention so it's hard for me to find a good balance; never anyone else's fault, my own issue.  In the past it's always been frustrating to me because of commitment issues, distance (long distance relationships are hard!), or something else that just wasn't working, for myself or the both of us.

It's amazing to me how relationships just fall into your lap.

It's easy to look back and say I can't believe I let myself continue in that relationship or Why did I let him treat me that way.  The one thing I've learned over the past few years is that I deserve to be treated the same way I treat someone.  I'm a good great girlfriend to have; I love completely and with my whole heart, I'm funny, I'm outgoing, I'm honest, I'm giving, I'm kind, and I honestly care about people.  I should have the same given back to me.
Those things are finally starting to come to me during the relationship, not after.  Isn't it funny how we learn and grow each day, and differently with different people around us?

One thing that is interesting to me is the whole 'relationship' aspect of it - I don't know that I've ever been in a "real" relationship.  I wrote a blog several months ago that I quickly unpublished (if you were lucky enough to read it, you may remember); it talked about how I've always been the girl that ends up in the 'friends with benefits' situation; I'm not sure I know how to be a big girl and be in a real relationship! It's fun learning though...

I'm in a good place and I've got a great guy - Its healthy and its good!

Wish List

Well, Happy December everyone!  Does anyone else feel like this year has absolutely FLOWN by?  I remember back in January/February it was soooooo cold here, below zero for years (it felt like), and because it was so cold we didn't have much snow... on top of all that it's dark for days (it felt like)... I thought I'd never make it to the end of the year.  Now, here I am in December; 15 days from my birthday (cause I don't count today) and 24 days from Christmas.  What the hell have I been doing the last 11 months?!  I'm excited to post my year end photo blog, though I fear it won't be much of me with friends/family; in the past year, with the new camera and my developing interest in photography, I've begun to slack in taking pictures of me, my friends, and my family (with the exception of Jordan).  We'll see how that turns out.

Kristi posted her Tuesday Top Ten today with the Top 10 being her Christmas List, at the end she suggested posting my own Top 10, on my own blog!  I tend to do pretty much anything Kristi suggests and it so happens that my blog subject is "Wish List", so I'm kind of stuck now...
With my Birthday and Christmas falling so close together, my list will be a Birthday/Christmas Wish List (hopefully I can come up with 10 things!); ready?

1. A Wide-Angle lens
2. Flat Screen HD TV
3. Flat screen computer monitor (yeah, I still rock a CRT, don't judge me!)
4. Diamond Earrings
5. A new hairdryer
6. New kitchen pots
7. A gallery wrap of one of my best photos
8. A Trip, to either New York City, San Fran, or somewhere warm
9. A new Vikings hoodie
10. Clothes!
11. Free Sushi for a year (The good stuff!)
12. A new point and shoot camera

Ok, so this really is a 'Wish List', as in I WISH I had this stuff, but never will - except for the hairdryer, that's obtainable.  I have a hard time thinking of things I want... well, reasonably priced things.