Shining Lotus

Two Years

2012-01-23T21:18:00.003-05:00

Blossoming Lotus by Cynthia Rose Young

It's hard to believe that two years have passed. Two years since Shawn was paralyzed by an abscessed staph infection compressing his spinal cord. And today on the two year anniversary of that I feel calm and peaceful.

Last year as every minute passed from January 22 into January 23 I was reminded of what happened when. The anxiety and fear building all over again. Remembering. Last year got off to a rough start as well when Shawn had back to back bladder infections that lead to back to back ER trips. Each of those trips bringing that fear back. He had several other infections throughout 2011 that lead to high fevers with dramatic weight loss. Two steps forward three steps back.

But that's all in the past now. And with the fear subsided and the anxiety of reliving the hell gone, finally, I feel like I have grown. I can look back and say yeah, that was tough and I know that each time I didn't act from my highest self I was aware. And that awareness allowed me to try harder the next time. And while I know there's still growing to do (isn't there always?) I really, really do feel like I've risen up from the muck, like the lotus flower. To blossom on the surface of the water.

Like I said there's a peace and calm now. Like the storm has passed. Yes, there will be cloudy days and probably some bad squalls ahead but The Storm has passed. And the sun has returned to shine on us. And I'm grateful for every step of this journey.

Moonrise

2012-01-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

Lazy Saturday Morning

2012-01-07T21:11:00.004-05:00

A lazy Saturday morning spent playing with the kitties.

A Little Taste of Paradise

2012-01-03T22:59:00.004-05:00

Paradise Springs Winery that is. And not even 30 minutes from where I live. I'll be back here when it's warm:)

Extra Day Off

2012-01-02T21:23:00.002-05:00

God I love holidays. Whether I celebrate or not, I love having those free days off. No work. They give me time to sleep in, laze about in the morning and get cat pics.

2012

2012-01-01T21:54:00.005-05:00

Our alternative to sparkler art ... glow stick. Happy 2012!

My intention for 2012 is to let joy, compassion, gratitude, grace, patience and passion guide me in all that I do. In other words to live and act from my highest self.

I've also seen other people pick a word for the year and I thought I would give that a try. The first word that came to mind as soon as I thought it might be cool to do this was nurture. Nurture? Seems kind of boring, maybe. Not exciting like Dream or Soar or Rock. But it's the word that came to me. So Nurture it is. Nurture my self, my husband, my animals, my home, my creativity, my soul. It's pretty cool after all.

Step one ... being present here.

Painting!

2011-12-16T10:57:00.004-05:00

Well, here I am again, a month later finally posting here. Clearly something needs to be done about busyness and too many obligations. But, one of those obligations I took on was for total fun! And creativity. Some of my co-workers had been going to Tipsy Artist, a little art gathering where you pay $40 and go paint while you have cocktails. One girl was like, hey, why don't we just do this at my house, save the $$ and still paint with cocktails.

So that's what they've been doing and I joined them last night. It was awesome.

I haven't painted in like 5 years and I haven't done anything non-abstract since like 1998 or so. AND nearly every painting I've done in the last 15 years was HUGE ... like 5' x 3'. Something that's very difficult to do at home and that can be overwhelming. My masterpieces from last night ... kitty portraits on 8x10 canvas.

Quick, sweet and soul nourishing. I loved it! And the paintings pretty much look like the cats!

I can't wait to do it again and now I've realized, I can paint at home!

Workshop

2011-11-17T12:12:00.002-05:00

So this amazing photographer, http://www.nicholev.com/, has what appear to be amazing workshops. I was actually drooling over one last week that will be in my neck of the woods next year. I even thought, there's got to be someway I can justify the cost. And maybe I can. And today I come across her blog and she's giving a workshop away. Universe, please oh, please, I would so love to win this. So in an effort to win ... I'm posting here and there and linking and commenting to up my entries and chances. And now I leave it to the hands of the Universe.

Absent!

2011-11-16T11:23:00.005-05:00

Damn, I've missed my little blog. Being absent sucks. Being absent from my blog sucks even more because this is supposed to be a way I can stay present day to day.

But life or actually work took over the last month and half. I've had more photo shoots than I know what to do with. All of them awesome but all of them on the weekends and then weeknights spent processing.

My "real" job (as in the job that pays the bills), graphic designer for a non-profit, has been insanely busy.

I was in a photography class for a few weeks. That was fun and I learned some great stuff. But I do have to say that learning some technical things seems to have messed up my intuitive mojo for taking photos.

And freelance graphic design projects came back around. But they're fun freelance ... logos! I LOVE doing logos.

Whew!

When I first started this blog, I posted a photo every day for a year. And the most awesome thing about that was spending New Year's Eve with Shawn going back through that year. So once again, it's time to get back on track. I miss this space, I miss taking photos for fun to post here, I miss being present with my life.

These photos were from a little jaunt around Old Town Alexandria about a month ago.

South Dakota

2011-10-04T12:57:00.009-04:00

And now for a few more photos from the iPhone. Damn I wish the resolution was better because some of these are just awesome. Captured better than with the BC. But I'm not sure how they will look printed. Most of the time as we were passing by beautiful landscape, we were on the tour bus. And once you're on the bus it doesn't stop til it gets where it's going. So no, hey can we stop here so I can take a few pics! But there were times when we were on a bathroom break and I ran to get a shot or two. We drove through the prairie, the Black Hills and the Badlands. All of it beautiful in it's own way.

Blur!

2011-10-01T11:17:00.006-04:00

Wow ... September was a TOTAL blur. And now it's gone. The trip to South Dakota thrown into the mix made it all that much of a blur. It was a work trip for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, one of the non-profits I work for. It was me plus 6 other staff and 30 folks most over 55. We went to two reservations, Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River, a few touristy places like Mt Rushmore and the Mammoth Site, a bunch of Running Strong's programs and a bunch of museums. It was an amazing trip and I met some awesome people, both participants (the older folks) and some native Americans. And I took about 1600 photos. So let's start with the Hipstamatic shots! And it's great to be back!

The pictures include (in order) prairie of South Dakota, tipi, authentic covered wagon which is way, way smaller than you'd think, more prairie land and the wild horse sanctuary, old Ford in Chadron, Nebraska, tipi on Pine Ridge rez, farmer's market stuff and the Wounded Knee memorial.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-09-10T12:49:00.002-04:00

Here's the sky yesterday afternoon after 4 days of pretty much non-stop downpours. Just when I would think there's just no way it can rain any more or any harder than it is right now ... it did. Again and again and again. For 4 days. Until it flooded and made getting home Thursday evening a complete debacle. But finally, it stopped and the sun returned. Whew! That sucked!

And I had just two days left for the August break and never posted those pics. Oh well.

Tomorrow I leave for a week long trip to South Dakota. It's work related and I'll be taking photos and video. I'm seriously taking more gear than clothing! I'm a little nervous because it's a great photo opportunity but everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is going to have to be on the fly and winging it. I'm not sure what to expect so this will be interesting.

Anyway, hoping to have an internet connection so I can share a few pics. If not, I'll be back in a week or so.

August Break - Day 29

2011-08-29T21:49:00.001-04:00

The morning glories continue to amaze.

August Break - Day 28

2011-08-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

Almost cross eyed.

August Break - Day 27

2011-08-27T21:47:00.000-04:00

Recently we've been finding the door to the dishwasher open. Apparently somebody figured out how to open it and has a new spot.

August Break - Day 26

2011-08-26T21:41:00.000-04:00

Colonial Beach, VA

August Break - Day 25

2011-08-25T19:44:00.002-04:00

The snowman slippers. Something about this pic that I love. Maybe cuz I took it at work in the middle of the day. Maybe cuz my feet are on my desk. Maybe my horizons are expanding and I'm realizing that not every photo has to be some great work of art or something. It can just be what I'm doing at the moment and that seems to give it a special quality of its own.

Anyway, the whole reason I took this photo was that a friend noticed the snowman slippers in my earthquake photo. When I posted it on Facebook she was like, are those snowman slippers? And I told her why there were slippers at my desk and that at any given time someone in the office will be shlepping around in a pair because we all have the snowman slippers. My office is very casual. And I don't mind, I've taken my fair share of advantage of it. In fact the snowman slippers saved the day once when my sandal strap broke and I didn't have any other shoes to wear. And my friend is just tickled by this.

So, today she asked me to send her a pic of the slippers to brighten her day. Later I saw a coworker wearing a pair and got a pic of that to send to my friend. I think it was one of the highlights of her day!

August Break - Day 24

2011-08-24T19:42:00.000-04:00

Just an ordinary moment in Lucy Poo's life.

August Break - Day 23

2011-08-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

Earthquake aftermath! Yes, we experienced the earthquake today. My office is about 4 miles outside of DC and about 100 mile from the epicenter of the 5.8 earthquake. I was sitting at my desk when this very loud rumbling started and everything was shaking. I thought something very, very big and heavy had been dropped on the floor above me. But the shaking didn't stop. Then when I stood up I felt wobbly and unbalanced as the earth shook and our building swayed. I have a large aloe plant that is unbelievably heavy, Shawn can barely move it, and I thought it was going to topple over. When I noticed that I was like is this an earthquake?

Anyway, other than some books that flew off my shelf which are in the photo above, all is good. And those books probably would have stayed put if I hadn't placed them on the shelf all haphazardly:)

So is there some gratitude for what happened? Of course! First, they closed my building and forced us to leave which meant I got to go take a yoga class this afternoon!

Second, I realized Shawn and I need to set up some sort of emergency preparedness/communication plan. I couldn't get through to him or anyone on my cell for nearly 30 minutes.

And finally, it's time to declutter and organize once and for all. Those haphazardly placed books would have hit me in the head if I had been sitting! And at home, I can't tell what mess might be related to the earthquake cuz all of my areas in the house constantly look like a natural disaster struck!

August Break - Day 22

2011-08-22T22:00:00.002-04:00

August Break - Day 21

2011-08-21T16:52:00.001-04:00

Today's Morning Glory bloom!

August Break - Day 20

2011-08-20T18:53:00.002-04:00

I took this a few weeks ago but had forgotten about it until today when I found it on my card. Was having some fun with bubbles but I was blowing the bubbles and taking the pics at the same time. Gotta get hubby to help me out. Notice the bubble that looks like it has a trail coming off it. That bubble had just started to burst and I happened to catch it!

August Break - Day 19

2011-08-19T18:50:00.000-04:00

August Break - Day 18

2011-08-18T20:57:00.006-04:00

My bookshelf. Why my bookshelf today? Because the lovely Leslie tagged me in a meme that she made up in Celebration of Reading.

So there's my bookshelf and here are my answers:) And mind you there are books ALL OVER this house. This is just one central spot for me.

1. Do you read for pleasure daily, in spurts, or rarely?

I read for pleasure in spurts. I consider fiction books to be reading for pleasure. And it just so happens I am currently reading a fiction novel for pure pleasure! It had been awhile and this is the second in a series of three. It's the best twist on the Arthur legend, ever. Bernard Cornwell, The Warlord Chronicles. My preference for fiction is some sort of historical fiction that has undertones of mysticism.

More often I read non-fiction stuff for the narcotic effect it has. A page or two before bed and I'm out.

And the graphic design and typography books and magazines are all at work. That stays there.

2. What kind of books and magazines do you like to read?

For fiction see above:) Non-fiction books would be about spiritual matters and yoga, mostly. Magazines I subscribe to are Shutterbug, Yoga Journal, Whole Living and Everyday Food. Once in a while I'll get Shape, Fitness or Oxygen and maybe Real Simple. I like to check out girlie magazines like Glamour or Lucky but they're so not relevant to my lifestyle anymore. Magazines are a great way for me to read without having to read. Lots of pictures, mindless articles, easy to read chunks of info and did I mention lots of pictures?

3. Who are your favorite authors?

Anne Rice, Bernard Cornwell, Wilbur Smith, Lama Surya Das, Judith Hanson Lasiter, Georg Feuerstein.

4. How do you organize your books?

Mostly by subject matter but space is limited around here so if something fits in between something else and that means it's not sitting on the floor, then it goes wherever it goes.

5. Have you made the transition from printed material to e-books?

No, I haven't but hubby has for some stuff. I'm still catching up on printed books he's read (we often share our books) but once I get an iPad that might change.

I believe I'm supposed to tag some others so Kimberly June, Capricious Yogi and Sarah feel free to keep the books rolling:)

August Break - Day 17

2011-08-17T14:04:00.000-04:00

In the parking lot at work today.

August Break - Day 16

2011-08-16T16:12:00.002-04:00

I've passed by this old pump near Bristow, VA probably 50 times over the last 10 years. Maybe more. Each time saying I'm going to stop and take pics of that one of these days. That day has finally come!

August Break - Day 15

2011-08-15T22:51:00.001-04:00

Hot Buttered Elvis!

August Break - Day 14

2011-08-14T16:24:00.001-04:00

An old cemetery I stumbled upon leaving Luray this morning.

August Break _ Day 13

2011-08-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

From our girls weekend in Luray, VA. A hike, a beautiful sunset and yummy, yummy food.

August Break - Day 12

2011-08-12T16:18:00.000-04:00

August Break - Day 11

2011-08-11T16:17:00.001-04:00

Last one for at least a few days. Took this with the iPhone Camera+ app. Then boosted the clarity. And whoa! Epic, celestial sky.

August Break - Day 10

2011-08-10T16:01:00.000-04:00

Catching up after a busy week and a few days out of town at fun girls weekend.

Yet another amazing evening sky! Every time I think, ok no more, I look up and I'm compelled to capture what I'm seeing.

August Break - Day 9

2011-08-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

Corner of King St and Patrick St, Old Town Alexandria, on my way to teach yoga tonight.

August Break - Day 8

2011-08-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

Seems I can't get enough sky and cloud pics these days. Does that mean my head is literally in the clouds? I have been feeling a bit ungrounded lately. And I have been day dreaming a bit about things like a bigger house and new, different and exciting work options. But to reach higher you gotta be well grounded. Sounds like I have some root chakra work to do:)

August Break - Day 7

2011-08-07T19:52:00.001-04:00

August Break - Day 6

2011-08-06T10:37:00.001-04:00

August Break - Day 5

2011-08-05T10:36:00.000-04:00

August Break - Day 4

2011-08-04T20:00:00.001-04:00

August Break - Day 3

2011-08-03T19:59:00.001-04:00

August Break - Day 2

2011-08-02T11:46:00.000-04:00

So the thing about the August Break, is there are no rules. Whatever, whenever, without explanation if you want. I like that. But this warrants some explanation because I also have a question.

Here's Sully Erna from the Godsmack show last Saturday. I shot this with my iPhone and this handy dandy little telephoto lens you can attach. Got it from here. And it works way better than the digital zoom from the app I have on the phone.

Anyway, so this is the closest I've gotten to "shooting" a concert. I really would love to shoot a show at a large arena with the BC (Big Camera) but I cannot seem to get a way in. Now that said, I haven't really put my mind to it 100%. And I think when I do that it will happen.

But here is my question ... I have asked two people in the last few months that had press passes at shows how they got them and you would have thought I was asking for President Obama's email login. Jees, what is the big secret? Why all the mystery? These two women were not rude but they were definitely defensive about their press pass and neither really answered how they got it or wanted to share. One of them actually knew my name and when I asked her how she knew me, she skirted the question. Huh? What? Just tell me, you've seen me somewhere or you know so-so that knows me. Jees.

Anyway, I'm the type of person that if I have knowledge I'm open to sharing it. There's plenty of opportunities for everyone. And what you give out comes back to you. So if anyone has tips they are willing to share ... I sure would love to get in somehow to shoot some cool shows.

August Break - Day 1

2011-08-01T20:48:00.004-04:00

30 days of Hipstamatic is done:) Now onto the August Break. And it's a Hipstamatic!

In Honor of the New Moon

2011-07-31T21:21:00.001-04:00

In honor of today's new moon... my take on the triple goddess symbol.

Ganesha

2011-07-30T15:33:00.001-04:00

Hipstamatic Gong

2011-07-29T12:19:00.001-04:00

Another View

2011-07-28T08:10:00.000-04:00

Another view of the power lines. I took this from the parking lot at my office. But it looks so vast and expansive that it feels like it's the middle of nowhere.

Power Lines

2011-07-27T14:53:00.000-04:00

Who knew power lines could have any level of interest?

Kali

2011-07-26T14:47:00.000-04:00

I believe this is a statue of Kali in one of her variations. Took this at Pure Prana last night after teaching my classes. This is the John S lens with eh Kodot XGrizzled film. Should have used the flash but I forget I have it on the iPhone! Nonetheless, this app never ceases to amaze me!

Always Making Me Smile

2011-07-25T14:46:00.000-04:00

Grizzled

2011-07-24T10:35:00.000-04:00

So I know that this is the Kaimal Mark II lens using Kodot XGrizzled film. I like the "grizzled" aspect cuz I think it works with the dragon:)

More Morning Glorys

2011-07-23T10:33:00.000-04:00

More Morning Glorys with a different Hipstamatic Lens, Film, etc... I had started to get a grip on which lens, film, etc... does what but I really need to write it down with a sample so I can get it implanted permanently into my brain!

Just the Cats

2011-07-22T17:55:00.000-04:00

Crepe Myrtle

2011-07-21T08:47:00.000-04:00

One of the crepe myrtle trees outside the office. When I lived in Norfolk, I lived in this cool older neighborhood that was big old houses intermingled with brownstone apartment buildings. Colonial Place and all the street names were of the 13 original colonies. I had a kickass two bedroom apartment. It was old, super hot in the summer and super cold in the winter, with a scary ass basement, but I loved it. Anyway, crepe myrtle trees lined the streets of Colonial Place. I never knew what kind of trees they were until my mom came to visit and she mentioned it. And they're all over the place in Northern Va.

Ascending

2011-07-20T08:54:00.000-04:00

The moonflowers continue their ascent.

A Few More Roses

2011-07-19T08:51:00.000-04:00

We have this rose bush that gives us beautiful red, amazingly fragrant roses. Problem is we get like 3 blooms in the spring and that's it. We're like, wtf? Everyone else's roses bloom all summer. So Shawn was like, that's it! It's getting hacked. So he chopped it down to the ground. And what do you know, we got a bunch more blooms out of it, mid-Summer. We'll see what happens with it for the rest of the summer.

First Morning Glories of the Season

2011-07-18T17:52:00.002-04:00

The morning glories are starting to bloom. Here's one from this morning which I risked life and limb, well maybe just limb, to get a photo of. Had to walk around to the backyard in my wedge platforms to get the pic. And there's a bit of a slope in the side yard on the way to the backyard, which I have fallen on, twice within 15 minutes because I was wearing the wrong shoes. But I lived to post this photo! And limbs are in tact.

Fried Greenish Tomatos

2011-07-17T17:50:00.000-04:00

Ingredients for tonight's dinner. Green, well really, orange tomatoes. They're a wee bit ripe for green tomatoes:) Basil, spinach, pine nuts and parmesan cheese for pesto. Not the most amazing hipstamatic shot but the food was damn good!

Cumulus

2011-07-16T12:43:00.003-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this app? When I walked out of the gym this morning and saw these clouds I knew they'd make great Hipstamatic shots. And sure enough. Happy Saturday!

Jasmine Lounge

2011-07-15T21:23:00.002-04:00

Drinking a Habibi at the Jasmine Lounge. The Habibi drink is my brother's drink of choice so much so that his friends dubbed it, The Habibi. It's orange flavored vodka with tonic. It's pretty damn good. And for as long as I can remember Vodka Tonic has been my brother's drink of choice. My youngest brother, who will of course, always be my baby brother.

The Jasmine Lounge is the official name for the backyard patio oasis. The plant in this photo is the Jasmine. It was a beautiful evening. An intention and desire that I put out to the universe at the new moon came to fruition today, on the full moon. It was cause for a mild celebration. It's also something that reminds me to be grateful and to focus on the silver lining of things rather than the worst aspects.

Early AM

2011-07-14T15:29:00.000-04:00

Sun rise over Woodbridge.

Kitty Drama

2011-07-13T15:21:00.000-04:00

We've had a bit of kitty drama in the household the last few weeks. Of course, Tiki Baby passed away in June. A week later I noticed Lucy sneezing. A lot. So much so that she was rubbing her face a lot and her lip got all red and irritated. But she was acting normal otherwise. Doing her Lucy thing, getting after shower pets (my shower that is), gulping her food down in like 60 seconds, sitting in the window, playing fetch. She might have slept a little more than usual, 22 hours instead of 21. I made a vet appt for her for July 5 and what do you know, by that day she had stopped sneezing. Ok, I can relax now right. Oh no.

So Lenny Boy starts coughing Saturday. And not a lot. So I figure maybe he's got a hairball. Then he starts sneezing on Sunday. Ok, he caught Lucy's cold. But by Tuesday all he was doing was sleeping. He wasn't doing any of his normal Lenny Boy stuff, destruction, rip tearing through the house, attacking the steps, jumping on the counter, lounging on the table, romping with Lucy. By Wednesday evening I was pretty worried about him. He even looked sad. So I made a vet appt for him for the next day.

He slept next to me all night and this morning he seemed better, more like himself. Did a couple of rip tears through the house, jumped on the counter, attacked the steps. I'll keep my eye on him but jees can't a girl catch a break? The worrying was over the top.

Silly and Naughty

2011-07-12T15:18:00.001-04:00

I had a bunch of fruit sitting on the counter and as it was consumed ultimately these were the three pieces left. At first I had the apples together and the banana underneath, like a smiley face. Shawn noticed and was like that's cute. Then I got naughty to make it look like, um, well, I think you get it:) I know my bff will appreciate this.

Moonflowers

2011-07-11T19:18:00.000-04:00

The moonflower vines beginning their climb.

Garden Gnome

2011-07-10T19:16:00.000-04:00

This photo goes out to my girl Mo. She gave us the garden gnome last year. It's looking the elements might be taking their toll. And another shout out to Mo for finding the cool, abandoned and run down spots for a photo shoot I had yesterday. Sneak peeks of that coming real soon.

Sneak Peeks! Amanda and Jeff

2011-07-10T12:11:00.016-04:00

Sneak peeks from yesterdays wedding. Amanda is Paige's sister, whose wedding I shot last year. I was honored that Amanda asked me to shoot her wedding:) I'm honored every time someone asks me to shoot their wedding.

Here are some details ...

Here they are on Ft. Myer with DC in the background. We wanted to get this shot but technically we were supposed to have permission AND an escort. When I talked to them about it this shot the evening before, the groom had the best answer. Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

So we pulled up next to where this hill was on base, hopped out of the limo, climbed over a little railing, ran out to the hill and got the shots.

And finally, they pretended like the MPs were after them cuz we broke the rules. I'll never forget the bride laughing during this.

I had to delete my other comments because blogger is a huge pita, but I think the images speak for themselves!

Hipstamatic Wedding

2011-07-10T09:57:00.003-04:00

A hipstamatic shot from the wedding I photographed yesterday. I wanted to take more hipstamatic pics but I had enough to do! And I'm sure it looked a little funny ... the hired photographer taking pics with her iPhone! Anyway, if I want that look for any photos I've got the mad Photoshop skillz:) And Adobe CS5 sitting on my desk at work.

Sneak peeks from the wonderful day are forthcoming. In fact a lot of sneak peeks are forthcoming.

Trays

2011-07-08T21:28:00.003-04:00

Trays for pots in Shawn's office. Shawn's office is his sanctuary. Cats do not have freedom to roam in there. So of course, that's the place to be. Many plants make their home in the office during the winter. But right now, they are all outside. So the trays sit empty and stacked. But looking cool:)

I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow and promo shots for a band Sunday. Busy weekend. So I'll have sneak peeks from those as well as sneak peeks from a bunch of other shoots. Crazy busy is an understatement.

River Farm

2011-07-07T21:10:00.004-04:00

There's this place called River Farm close to where I work. It's a historical property on the Potomac River and GW Parkway in Alexandria. I would LOVE to live in this area. But let's just say, it ain't cheap.

I've been to River Farm before and now a friend of mine works there for the American Horticulture Society. Their hq is on the property in the historic home and other buildings. It's just beautiful and I want to work there doing their graphic design!

I went there today to have a picnic lunch with my friend but it was much too hot outside, so we ate lunch in the kitchen in the big old house. Can't wait to see this place in the fall. Can't wait to do a photoshoot with someone there:) Here's a few more from lunchtime.

Bad Kitteh

2011-07-06T17:39:00.000-04:00

Bad kitteh lounging on the kitchen table. We've pretty much resigned ourselves to the fact that we are just going to have to wipe down and clean off the kitchen table before every meal. Cuz le douche isn't going to change his ways. Yelling, squirt bottle, loud noise, etc... doesn't phase him. I guess this is one of the many sacrifices we make for those precious moments. You know, the precious moments that literally are a moment and are few and far between. When he's being so damn sweet you're like, how could I live without this. They like to give me those precious moments when I'm half asleep, thinking I won't notice. But, I love this little, bowling pin shaped cat anyway.

Backyard Oasis

2011-07-05T11:09:00.000-04:00

A little look at our backyard oasis. I'm still just randomly selecting Hipstamatic styles. You do that by shaking the phone and it changes lens/styles. Next week I plan to delve into which one is which and getting to know this great app a little better.

Melons

2011-07-04T15:38:00.006-04:00

Watermelons at Wegmans. Wegmans is our high end grocery store here in Woodbridge, VA. The only step up is Whole Foods and lucky for me, there's one of those very close to my office. But Whole Foods is pricey. I can get many of the same things at Wegmans for much less than Whole Foods.

I try to avoid Wegmans on the weekend or holidays like 4th of July. It's crowded and people are just so overwhelmed by the abundance of everything they don't know how to act. Stopping in the middle of aisles in a daze, meandering around with no purpose ... omg, I can't stand it. One time the evening before Christmas eve, it was insane in there and this man was in awe of some wacky fruit. When he realized he was blocking the way while in his awed daze, he apologized and told me he'd never been to a food store before. That did make me giggle. Anyway, I like to get in and get out! I make my list in the order that I go through the store (which avoids areas like the deli, the little cafe/restaurant thing and the prepared foods area) to expedite the whole thing.

Today though, I was taking Hipstamatic shots in the produce area, which is always a crazy area. So I was adding to the craziness of a holiday at Wegmans:)

And Happy Independence Day! Independence and freedom continue to have a whole new significance for us. A year ago when we would go out, we would talk about how great it is to walk out your front door, get in your car and go. And reverse that for when you get home. For us it was set up the ramps, push wheelchair and Shawn through grass and up street, get Shawn in car, break down ramps, get in car and go. It makes me tired just typing that. Ugh. BUT ... now, a year later we are liberated from that. We were actually free of that whole deal around October of last year.

Shawn is free to come and go as he pleases. He is independent.

And as a yoga teacher and student, I celebrate the freedom and liberation from suffering that yoga offers. Hari Om!

Stellaaaaa!

2011-07-03T15:32:00.000-04:00

My fave beer these days. When I had the hives, which, have simply gone away thankfully, I thought it might be a food allergy. So I cut a lot of stuff out of my diet, including wheat. So no beer while I was on vacation. Drag.

I tried a gluten, wheat free beer. It wasn't bad but it was little too ale like for me. But since it wasn't a food allergy causing the hives, I can enjoy a Stella. I have to admit though, in not consuming wheat, dairy, sugar and caffeine, my body was feeling pretty damn good. Some food for thought, huh?

Hipstamtic Kittehs

2011-07-02T21:16:00.002-04:00

Some bird was on the deck squawking its ass off at the cats. The cats were like dude ... the only thing separating us from a tasty snack is this thin piece of screen. Actually, I'm not sure if Lucy and Lenny would actually know what to do with a real bird and they'll never find out. They have torn the birdie toy to pieces.

I do believe Lucy was involved in a mouse incident when she was a few months old. A poor mouse met its maker (not the first time that's happened here, although it was the last) but we think Lucy got a hold of it cuz the poor thing was all mangled. Previously Mr., Nelli or Tiki would just flatten a mouse. No blood or guts. But the one where Lucy was involved. Eeesh.

A Month of Hipstamatic

2011-07-01T20:13:00.002-04:00

So in an effort to keep posting everyday AND to learn how to really use the Hipstamatic app on my phone, I'm gonna post a Hipstamatic pic everyday during July. Kaun Yin Hipstamatic style. Happy Friday, 4th of July and 3 Day weekend!

Day 30 - Self-Portrait

2011-06-30T19:05:00.005-04:00

Day 30. I really, really enjoyed this and realized that I very much need to be posting something here every day. I loved that when I did it in 2009. New Year's Eve that year, Shawn and I sat down and went back through our year together. It was awesome. And sure, sometimes I took a few days off but always caught up. It made me more aware of my surroundings and what was happening day to day, so I could get pictures of something.

Took this with the iPhone. Damn I love that effing thing. Then played with it in Photoshop. It looks like I overlayed the sunflowers onto the photo but I didn't. I was standing behind them. That was the other thing about this little challenge. It got me playing a little more. And realizing I need a haircut!

And I even got that Day 13 pic. Of course I dated it June 13 ... couldn't have stuff all out of order.

Maybe I'll challenge myself ... hmmm... how about a hipstamatic pic every day in July?

And big thanks to Kimberly for posting the pics everyday. I found some new blogs I'll be checking out:)

Day 29 - Black and White

2011-06-29T20:30:00.003-04:00

Never short on photo ops with the cats. Can't believe there's only one day left in June. And then 2011 is half over.

Day 28 - Flowers

2011-06-28T15:09:00.002-04:00

Jasmine flowers in Buddha's hand. The Jasmine plant has tons of blooms right now, so imagine the amazing smell we get when we step onto the deck. And of course, Jasmine blooms at night and the flowers pretty much fall off the plant by the next afternoon. A while back, I realized that even though the flowers had fallen off the plant, the fragrance still lingered on them. So I started gathering them and making them offerings.

In making those links, I've realized that my labeling kind of sucks. Gotta get a better system down for that!

Today is my last day of vacation. I wouldn't say I'm dreading going back to work but I wouldn't say that I'm wanting to go back to work. In an effort to make the transition a bit less harsh, I'm teaching my yoga classes tonight. Kind of easing my way back into the grind. I think it's the grind aspect that I'm so not wanting to get back into. Get up, go to work, exercise, come home, catch up on side work, go to bed, start over. Savor two measly days while I try to get everything done during them. Blah! There's got to be a better way. So universe, send me some answers. I'll do my part to clear my head and quiet my mind so when you send the answers I'll be ready to catch them.

Day 27 - From a Distance

2011-06-27T20:21:00.003-04:00

A shot of a kitty enjoying his nap from a distance. I tend to take photos of things either cropped or pretty close up. I actually like this far away shot. I feel like the space is part of what gives it a quiet, serene, nap time feel.

Day 26 - Up Close

2011-06-26T15:57:00.001-04:00

Up close on the sun flowers from the farmer's market, Hipstamatic style.

Day 25 - Something Pink

2011-06-25T18:08:00.002-04:00

Pulled this from the archives. It's the pink rosebush and every year, in May, this rosebush graces us with the most amazing pink blooms. They epitomize the color pink.

And then I couldn't resist this pink nose.

Day 24 - Animal

2011-06-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

But of course, this had to be a cat photo for me. Two of our three cats. Tiki on the left and Lenny Boy on the right. Sadly, we had to lay Tiki to rest this week. She was just two months shy of turning 18. I've always known that I would have to make the call with her. Nelli Kitty and Mr. both passed away without me having to make that decision. Tiki came to me and told me it was time. Tiki was the last of the triumvirante, the original 3 cats I had when Shawn and I got together. I've lived multiple lives during Tiki's one life. She used to be all big and fat and she was the best lap kitty ever. We'll miss you Tiki baby.

Day 23 - Sun Flare

2011-06-23T17:50:00.000-04:00

Love sun flare. Love it. I took this with the iPhone while stuck in traffic.

Day 22 - Hands

2011-06-23T17:29:00.000-04:00

Catching up after a little vacation adventure.

Hands, specifically, the rock hands. 17 months ago these hands couldn't do jack shit. They could not hold a fork for Shawn to feed himself. They couldn't play bass. They couldn't even wear his wedding ring because his fingers had shrunk. Miraculously, today they can break rocks on a vacation adventure.

Day 21 - Faceless Self-Portrait

2011-06-21T21:55:00.003-04:00

Me wearing my Ganesha pendant which hangs from a strand of tourmaline.

Disconnecting for a few days for some vacation fun. Woo-hoo! Will be playing catch up later this week.

Day 20 - Bokeh

2011-06-20T15:09:00.005-04:00

I love bokeh. Today is my birthday so I'm getting to do whatever I want. Slept in,relaxed this morning, had fun taking a bunch of bokeh photos, the sun came out, cut fresh flowers from the garden for the house, I'm not working, I'm relishing in my house with my kitties and hubby. It's the perfect birthday.

More from today, around the yard, garden and house.

Day 19 - Something Orange

2011-06-19T11:49:00.001-04:00

Something orange. A pretty lily.

Day 18 - Shoes

2011-06-18T23:38:00.000-04:00

Posting a bit late. Vacation started, there was a gig, dinner with friends. But better late than never. That Day 13 shot is coming later today:)

Shoes. I have a lot of shoes and I should really wear more of them more often. I tend to get stuck in ruts, wearing the same things, eating the same things, etc...

What I love about shoes is that I can ask myself, who do I want to be today and the shoe can help define that:) Gym rat, professional, casual and fun, rock star, yoga chick, hippy, hottie and so on. As a true Gemini I have multiple facets to my personality. And the shoes bring out the best of each one:) I wear these shoes pretty often except for the leopard print, peep-toe, sling back stillettos. They're new and have only been out of the closet once. They definitely need to get out more!

Day 17 - Technology

2011-06-17T12:50:00.002-04:00

Me taking a picture with my iPhone of my Macbook taking a picture of me.

Cool ass Hipstamatic pic from the iPhone. Love me some technology.

Day 16 - Long Exposure

2011-06-16T22:29:00.002-04:00

Had to totally go against my anti-rigmarole nature tonight. Pulled out the tripod, learned how to use pivoting tripod head thingee that hubby got me and take a lot of pictures.

Day 15 - Silhoutte

2011-06-15T21:56:00.003-04:00

My Day 15 pic and a sneak peek for an engagement shoot I did about 2 weeks ago.

Debbie and Joe were awesome. I was feeling the love:)

Day 14 - Eyes

2011-06-14T20:14:00.003-04:00

Lenny Boy's amber eyes. They're also the exact same color as the floor underneath him. If you look at like his eyes are the floor it gives this weird kind of dimensional feel.

Missed Day 13, although I am going to do it retro-active. Bus number 2 blew threw here early Monday morning and flattened my ass. Migraine, chills, nausea in addition to the hives I've been battling for over a week. Not sure what's up with the hives. Have never had them before and they came out of nowhere. If it's food, I'm suspecting wheat since wheat and dairy are the only two things I have not eliminated in the last week. No berries, nuts or chocolate. Please, that's the mainstay of my diet! So starting now, no wheat and dairy and we'll see what happens. I'm on prendisone which I'm not thrilled about but I needed relief. And if this morning is any indication of my energy level (from the steroid) I might just get to that Day 13 photo in a bit.

Day 13 - Me with 13 Things

2011-06-13T19:14:00.000-04:00

Me with 13 buddhas, kaun yins and ganeshas.

Day 12 - Sunset

2011-06-12T14:51:00.002-04:00

Yes, I admit, I went back to the archives for this. Hands down, the best sunset shots I've ever taken were in Hawaii. And this was from the porch of our condo on Molokai where we were like 2 of 10 people staying at the resort. This was from my little 3 megapixel point and shoot, long before I even thought about getting a dlsr. But just one glance at this takes me right back to that porch and the blissfulness of that vacation.

Now I'm off to a concert on a Sunday night! Sully Erna's Avalon tour is coming through Baltimore and my BFF and I are going. Hopefully I can sneak some iPhone shots:)

Day 11 - Something Blue

2011-06-11T15:39:00.001-04:00

The blue agate slice that sits upon the blue shelf which is above the blue desk (not pictured here). No problem finding something blue.

Day 10 - A Childhood Memory

2011-06-10T21:23:00.002-04:00

A childhood memory. I had a few ideas for this post but when I found this photo on my card, this was the one. One thing I remember was always having a pet. Cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, turtles, fish, pretty much everything. Several dogs throughout the years and and more cats.

Tiki, pictured here, is the pet I've had the longest. She's almost 18 years old. Most of the family pets didn't make it past 10 or so. I would even venture to say that Tiki could be considered a pet from my childhood. I was 29 when I got her, still a kid in retrospect.

Plus who doesn't love a fisheye cat pic? Well, besides the cat:)

Day 9 - Someone You Love

2011-06-09T17:03:00.003-04:00

Well this one was easy. First, I used a photo I already taken because unfortunately I won't see this guy again until Sunday. And second, he's definitely someone I love. Here's my hubby doing one of the things he does best, playing his bass, being the hot rock star that he is. Want to see more of him? Just click on the Shawn label:)

Day 8 - A Bad Habit

2011-06-09T08:58:00.001-04:00

Did anyone catch the number of that bus that hit me? Whew! Got home last night about 6:45, decided to relax a bit on the couch in the cold, dark basement. By 7:00 I was too cold down there, so I went up in the bedroom to relax and pet the kitties for about a half hour. Next thing I know, I'm waking up, completely out of it at 10pm. And the only reason I got up then was to feed the cats, who I think kept coming in the bedroom and trying to rouse me while I was unconscious. Not sure if it was the heat here in the mid-Atlantic but something wiped me out. So I'm posting yesterday's image today and will get today's later.

So a bad habit. I've got a few but I'd have to say my worst bad habit is being on the internet, in particular, Facebook too much. And now that I have an iPhone, it makes it so much easier. Where I used to have some self-control because I didn't want to sit at the computer now I can just grab the iPhone, sit on the couch, AND even have lap time with the old kitty while I peruse Facebook or text or email. A few weeks ago a girlfriend and I were Facebook messaging, texting and emailing at the same time! Finally we just called and talked.

All of this is really a mechanism for my really bad habit of procrastination. I'm a master at it. So let me get off of here and get to work!

Day 7 - Fruit

2011-06-07T22:28:00.003-04:00

So if I had been on top of my game this morning I would have taken today's photo when I was filling the blender up with berries making my morning smoothie. But no, I was tired and out of it. So my fruit photo is of my favorite popsicle, Edy's Fruit Bars Pomegranate flavor. Yummmmmm...

A funny little story behind this. Two years ago when I discovered these amazing popsicles Shawn noticed that I would leave the stick behind, wherever I happened to be when I finished it. Kitchen table usually. So when he mentioned one day that I never threw them away I was like huh? Really? Well then maybe those sticks need something done with them.

So if I remember, I took a stick and left it under the windshield wiper of his van. He got a good laugh out of that and the stick is still in his van. Then I took a stick and drew a stick man on it, and popsicle stick man was born. And left it on his keyboard in his office. Snicker:) And he loved it. The first popsicle stick man sits on his desk.

Then I took another stick and drew a stick man on it, maybe with long hair and put it in his guitar case to find when he went to a gig. I'm trying hard not to laugh now. And I do believe that popsicle stick man is still around.

And most recently I drew a stick man on a popsicle stick making the rock symbol with one of his hands and left it in his gig bag to find at another gig. And now Shawn has a collection of popsicle sticks, i.e. trash, that he can't throw away!

So as I sit here and look at my popsicle stick from my just finished treat I'm wondering what's the next step in popsicle stick man's life:)

A Little Contest

2011-06-07T11:24:00.002-04:00

So normally I don't do stuff like this. But I'm giving it a try because I'm trying to work every angle I can think of to start shooting bigger shows. Meaning a show at a music club or a amphitheater vs a wings bar or pool hall. And I think I've done a good job at making some of my rock photos look like they were NOT shot at a wings bar or pool hall.

Anyway, I'm going to the Soundgarden show in a few weeks and when I was perusing their website I saw this win a chance to photograph Soundgarden. Cool!! So I checked it out and submitted a photo. Thing is, it's not really based on talent or skill but rather how many votes you get. And that's fine, I'm trying to get everyone I know to vote for my photo. It said the winner will be selected with special consideration for the top voted entries.

http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/a5e306502787d53e5390a13a3c243b0d/208

The other thing is that the contest said for aspiring photographers, which to me means someone who has not had the opp to shoot a big show before. Funny how there's a LOT of entries of Soundgarden, Rush, other large acts, etc... clearly shot at an arena.

I also read the Talenthouse terms ... jees ... for real? My work becomes your property? Yeah, just this once. Sometimes these types of things really get me going. Like on Craigslist, when you see someone posting, hey design a logo for my company and if you win you'll get great exposure. Uh, yeah, how about I design your logo and you pay me for my time. Would you go into the hospital and gather a group of doctors and say, hey, cure my ailment for free and I'll tell everyone about you? Or go into the car mechanic and say fix my car and I'll let everyone know you did it? Come on now!

So anyway, it will be what it will be, but like I said I'm trying to work all angles. Maybe just maybe I'll get enough votes that whoever is selecting will see mine and be like ok, here's our Fairfax, VA winner, even if it's not the one with the most votes. Can't ever win if you never try, you know?

Day 6 - From a Low Angle

2011-06-06T21:43:00.005-04:00

From a low angle with the iPhone. It's easier to sneak up on the cats with the iPhone:)

Day 5 - From a High Angle

2011-06-05T17:38:00.004-04:00

From a high angle or at least a weird angle. This is some sort of plant in the garden, hubby knows what it is and I shot it from above and kind of crooked with the LensBaby. Used it for all three photo shoots I had this weekend and I'm anxious to check everything out. But this girl's gotta get some relaxation on for just a little while this weekend. So more on those later:)