Lens Love, Stories, School

I have not had much time to get out and shoot with my Rebel XT, which was given to me by my husband for Christmas, but I have been loving the little bits of shooting time when they come. It's been a long time since I've shot in the snow though, and I needed to spend some time reading tips on the Internet about how our cameras perceive the drastic lighting, and what I, as a photographer, need to do for compensation. Thank goodness for photo editing software! PhotoShop Elements, paint.net, and picnik have saved quite a few recent shots from the feared recycle bin. I would like to rely less upon fixing the shots afterward, and be able to set things up right the first time. It's going to take time to relearn.

There was a one and a half hour intermission for story time with husband and daughter. We talked about our days, and M told us about her "How To" story was how to buy a cat. We pointed out to her that not all cats are bought, which lead DH to tell the story of finding and raising our baby Wooter, then i told her about the birth of old Roofus. After that I read the books M checked out from her school library.

I'm also playing around with the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature in my shooting. It's really interesting to me to see how adding and taking away light from the image can really change it. There is a Time-Life series about Photography on my bookshelf. The copy of "Light and Film" must be read when my next school break happens.

Speaking of school, things are going well. It looks like I will be getting a "B" average for now. This quarter consists of Perspectives, a study skills oriented class; Technical Writing, which focuses on grammar and writing in the technical style; and Medical Terminology, which is learning lots of words needed in the future as a student and out in the field as an official Veterinary Technician. Next quarter will have Chemistry and Medical Math for me. I am only attending classes part time and it will take me twice as long to earn my degree but I am glad to have the extra time for focusing on classes and family time easier.

That's it for now...

Thorns and Crystal Balls

Recently I had a "light bulb moment" regarding why I view my computer as such a thorn in my side, especially when doing homework is concerned. I believe it is because, my computer is viewed as a toy rather than a tool. I've spent so many years primarily gaming and web browsing that when I sit down at my desk, I have the idea of fun so deeply engraved in my brain that it's quite difficult to switch gears and write a paper. The only application which can be running is the word processor or else something will pull my thoughts away. Changing how I view my computer is something to be molded over these next couple years. I also need to de-clutter my desk. But that tale of woe is for another night.

If you had a reliable, accurate, crystal ball what would you use it for? Right now I wish I had one to know how much longer our old cat Roofus will be with us. We are considering I-131 radiation, a rather pricey treatment, for him and it would be nice to know for sure if he'd live long enough to make the cost of the procedure "worth it". We can continue to treat his Hyperthyroidism (HT) with medication but we've spent as much on the meds so far that we would have spent on the treatment. The decision does not need to be made immediately. His meds are stabilizing his HT fairly well. It sure would be nice if we did get the I-131 done though. It would mean no more meds for him, far fewer trips to the Veterinarian, and his body could function normally again after so many years of being out of sorts.

First post since school

School is going well but it's taking up every extra ounce of time and energy that I could have hoped for. Getting from the daughter's school to mine in time for my class to start is proving to be a challenge. The girl moves slower than I'd like her to, the parking lot fills up faster than preferred, and there's a road I keep turning incorrectly on. If I could master that road using it would shave a few minutes off my commute time so until then, I will have to take my slightly longer but more confident route.

I will not be publishing a Project 365. I do still try to get out my camera and shoot every day. I really do hope that I will get the chance to do a P365 but with the intensity of school and then what the Vet Tech job will require of me, I'm not sure if it will ever come to be. I am trying to be optimistic about it and the camera will be there when I need it.

Husband has been setting the freshwater aquariums up again. We have a 10 gallon and a 37 gallon and they are reflective of the Amazonian region. We have some corydorus catfish, a single male betta, an apple snail and some live ferns currently in the 10 gallon, and a single male betta and a live sword plant in the 37 gallon. When the water conditions stabilize the large community will swap with the single betta (minus the plants, they're staying put)

I post little updates on my facebook, usually by text message, but the major blogging and wordless wednesdays are sadly on the back burner for an unknown amount of time. That's all I can write for now. Need to finish making dinner and do homework (it never ends!).

Happy New Year? A Project 365?

Ringing in the new year was quiet here last night. Just me, the cats, and the computer were up until Midnight. I sang Auld Lang Syne at the magical hour, drank a couple Captain + Colas, and browsed around on the internet most of the night.

Earlier that evening we had a 'fun' time in the kitchen. I made potato soup in the crock pot earlier that day and brilliant me some how came to the decision to put the peelings from six Russet potatoes down the disposal in pretty much one go. The disposer couldn't hack it. A pipe cracked and the undersink area got flooded. The sink and dishwasher are out of commission until further notice. I see take out for dinners in the near future. I do have some pots and pans clean, but I won't in a couple days and  don't see how they can be cleaned effectively. What an adventurous way to bring in the new year, eh?

I am considering doing a project 365, now that I have a good camera that can load pictures on to my computer easily. I know I've been taking pictures every day since Christmas but I'm hesitant to start up a project like this with school in progress too. I suppose I will keep shooting and post here with a link to it if it does come to be. If I get my flickr pro renewed they will be posted onto there, if that doesn't happen then I will make a 365 blog.

Wordless Wednesday (eighteenth)

dreaming of dreams

I wish the technology was available to have a dream video recording device hooked up to our brains. I think the dream I had last night (or rather, super early this morning) was pretty cool but I can't remember it, so much. What I can tell you was this: It was in a space ship and there was a conflict which reminded me of Star Trek. A ship contacted us and took one of our important people hostage then we took one of their people hostage. Eventually there was discord and bloodshed in the ship itself, then shots were fired between the two ships. There was also a huge hospital involved but I don't know if it was on the ship. The same people from the ship were in the hospital as patients and workers but there was this large black wire coated dog walking around. How would a dog be able to be on a space ship? Or free roaming in a hospital area for that matter? Very odd and out of place indeed. Which is why I wish it were recorded. I could play it back and hopefully figure things out, or at the very least find they symbolism of it all.

Oh, how I would love to watch the dreams I've had about my brother David too.

I survived Christmas (among other things)

Wowza, where to start? I feel like so much has happened lately! I had a wonderful Christmas for the most part. My Mom, Dad, and two of my brothers and their families came out here to visit. Sis opted for the in-laws this year but maybe next year we will get to see her. Having so many people in town was a little bit crazy. Nobody lodged with us, I blame it on the cats! Many in my family are allergic so only short visits to my home. Because nobody stayed here I drove down to them many a time and now have the way to my cousin L's house nearly memorized! *cheers!* We did lots of Rock Band, playing in the snow, and eating. I was hoping my girl and I would get up the mountain for some skiing but the roads just would not cooperate. Oh well, there were plenty of local hilly parks to sled at and our front yard has made a wonderful snowball war zone on a couple occasions ;)

One of the highlights of the past few days has been my acquisition of a DSLR, at last! J got me a Canon Rebel XT! It was one of the models I borrowed from a friend last year so it was nice to jump right in and shoot up a storm. I got some pretty good sledding shots. Believe it or not but I think I might have had as much fun behind the camera as the ones on top of the sled! Now I'm shooting every day and re-training myself to think in SLR mode. It's taking some effort to go off the preset modes and remember how to use the f-stops and shutter speeds but I'm getting the hang of it. Slowly.

One of the presents from Mom was a huge basket of scrap booking stuff. There were some botanical theme things, a fall set, and a Halloween set, along with random letters and numbers. It looks like there are some loose pages for layouts But I think I will need to bind them together some how with hole punches and ribbon or invest in a pre-bound book. I think it will be fun to pick up this new hobby. I know I've got tons of pictures to print up for the pages. Here's to hoping I will actually finish a project some day!

Another highlight for me is actually part of J's present: We are setting up the aquariums again. We have had a 37 gallon and 10 gallon tank in storage for many years and I guess J decided it was a good time to get them up and running again. The 37 gallon will be in our front room and serve as the main tank. We need to buy a new stand before we can get that one set up though. Our current bedside tables were what held it up before. The 10 gallon will be housed in the entertainment center cabinet in the family room and it will serve as the 'green house' and 'quarantine' tank. We will have freshwater fish: a snail or two, a small school, and some random interesting ones too.

I am looking ahead to my birthday, four weeks away. A couple months ago I was thinking I'd ask for that tattoo I've been dreaming about for ages but now I'm not so intent on that. My flickr needs to be upgraded and I'd like a step down ring for on my Rebel's lens so some of my old filters can be used with it. I also want to go out for sushi! Those are the three main things that I really truly want (well that can be bought). I'm hoping I won't be swamped with school work and that J will be fortunate to have time off, or at least be on day shift.

That's all for now, I'm going to play with my camera some more and see if the cats will cooperate for some portraits before their dinner.

Wordless Wednesday (seventeenth)

Meowy Christmas!
Originally uploaded by caramews

The previous Wordless Wednesday

Last week I posted a picture of the bamboo we have in our master bathroom. I now consider it a living testimony that Zen can exist under just about any condition. This poor plant is nearly neglected yet sprouted itself! I jumped a little when I noticed the little sprout next to the parent plant. I felt instant happiness and a sense of love. For plants to reproduce they need to have elements of happiness, right? I've wondered in the past if I was taking care of this little plant correctly, and now I know!

Of course, there are things I can do to make my little bamboo family happier. They will need a bigger pot. Probably soon because it is going to be quite a predicament to get them out of that vase. They could benefit from actual food instead of just straight tap water. I should remember to reopen the blinds after I close them during bath time preparations. I'm not as concerned about that because they naturally like shade. The color of the parent plant has changed a bit over time and not sure if it's in a good way or bad.

I've never been much of a gardener and having felines in the house has discouraged me from keeping houseplants in the past. The cats aren't allowed in our bathroom at all though and it presented the chance to finally get the courage to take the plunge with the Bamboo and I'm so glad I did. It may not be as gratifying as, say, a fruit tree out in the back yard but it brightens the mood of that bathroom in ways we never imagined it could!

Time to go pick tomorrow's picture from the archives or take a new one!

wordless wednesday (sixteenth)

1202091540.jpg
Originally uploaded by caramews