Saturday, September 29, 2007

Trigger

Trigger had a photo shoot last night, thanks to Topher. Check out more photos at Tophers Flickr site. Thanks Toph.




Thursday, September 27, 2007

New Pet

Out on our porch there is a huge spider web. In that huge web lives my new pet...a black widow spider, which I named trigger. I would post a picture but oh ya thats right, I have no camera. If he is out tomorrow morning and there is enough light for me to take a picture with my cell phone, I will. But for now picture a nice friendly (ha ha) black widow spider with the hourglass on its back!

I also woke up this morning to one of the most beautiful sunrises I have seen since living here. The colors were priceless with the clouds and again no picture. I did try to take one with my cell phone, but that was pointless.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Oh No

My camera is sick. Last night I tried to upload some photos I took this weekend at the beach and well it didn't go very well. I looked at them on my camera before uploading like usual, plugged it in and the rest is just a mystery to me. Some uploaded (but not well, kind of overlapping and color blocks) while others are just corrupted and no image is there...gone forever. I freaked out last night and wanted to call my dad but realized it was 3am his time so I should probably go to bed and call in the morning my time.

I told him what happened, went to the local camera store, was on the phone with Nikon at least six times today trying to figure out what is wrong, what to do and how much its going to cost me. I finally decided to send it back to Nikon in hopes that they can fix what ever is going on with my camera. I hear fixing it can cost $200 and up (I hope not much more than that). I have no idea how long this is going to take and if they can actually fix it so we'll just have to wait and see. However, I have an event at the end of October that I'm supposed to be photographing...ya a little hard to do with out a camera, but thanks to an awesome friend I can borrow his if needed.

If my camera can't be fixed I have no idea what I will do. Can't afford a new one thats for sure, and Italy is coming up...can't go to Italy with out a camera. But we'll see what Nikon says once they look at it. It should arrive there on Monday. I packaged it up (double boxed and wrapped in bubble wrap), insured for $1,000.00 and sent it off tonight. I feel kind of weird not having my camera. Its pretty much been by my side since I got it two and a half years ago. I don't like this. Was almost of the verge of tears all day over this.

Check out the examples from the last upload:
Nice little over lap there...
and we can't forget that great huge color block
Not that these are the best pictures ever but, it this was to happen after say the event I supposed to be doing, I would be screwed. I could see them perfectly fine one my camera before I uploaded and then everything went wrong.

A sad sad day.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

3 Months


Let the count down officially begin.
Only three more months until I fly to England and three months from tomorrow I get to see and hug my sister (Jay and Jedd too).
Our little family reunion is just around the corner.
Italy is that much closer.
I still can't believe we are actually going.
Very excited to be doing this trip with Sara, Jay and Jed.
If I could add one additional person it would be Dianne.

As stressful as it is when I look at how much this trip is really going to cost and how easily I find myself getting overwhelmed with trying to save money, plan with them being so far away, its going to be worth every second. The time together, the places we'll see, the experiences, the memories, the getting lost in Venice, every little thing is worth it. This will be the longest I have seem my sister, Jay and Jed since before Jed was even born! A whole two and a half weeks together. Just starting to prepare for our future of living near each other. :)

Places we hope to see/do:
Venice
Florence
Rome
Traghetto or Vaporetto - Canal Gondola Ride
San Marcos Square
Michelangelo's David (Galleria Della'Accademia
Piazzale Michelangelo
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Vatican City
St. Peter's Square
Closseum
Sistine Chapel
Pantheon
Maybe even hear the Pope speak on New Years Day

Can't wait to see the beauty of this Country , eat the amazing food and take part in a little bit of the wine. Ohh and we can't forget the tiramisu (meig I will be sure to have a piece for you)

I need to start buying more chips for my camera, I plan to take as many photos as I possibly can!

Only three more months!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Tread Lightly...

"... But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."


W.B. Yeats (1865–1939)

Thursday, September 13, 2007

To go or not to go...




I've been thinking of going back to school for a little while now. I had my performance review at work not to long ago, and the only real suggestion was for me to finish my degree. I had already been thinking of doing so before it was brought up but now I'm really thinking about it.

I have been doing some research on different options:
1. Look into Chapman University. They have classes one night a week each from 6-10 and could finish the reaming 3/4 of my degree there...but when the financial breakdown comes up...that doesn't look like the best option. I will be attending an info session there next Tuesday to better look at it.
2. Complete some more general education courses at MPC and either continue on to CSUMB or complete my degree online. I am planning to meet with an Admissions rep from MPC next month to see what else I can take and when. A less expensive option but way longer.
3. Do option two or start with online courses now. Expense wise...probably in the middle of options 1 and 2. The online program I am looking at is at U Mass.

UMass offers a BA in Liberal Arts (which is what I was working towards), but they have a focus in Woman's Studies:
"Women’s Studies Concentration
The Women’s Studies Concentration explores the history of women in societies throughout the world – providing students with an understanding of how social and cultural influences have shaped the lives and roles of women throughout history. For graduates, there is a growing demand in the workforce for experts on gender issues. In fact, women's studies specialists are increasingly being used as consultants in both the public and private sector. Graduates of this concentration receive all the benefits of a well-rounded liberal arts education, plus advanced knowledge of issues particularly affecting women in the workplace today."

The good thing about UMass online degrees, they are 100% fully accredited and you get a degree from the UMass that you are admitted to. For example, the one I am looking at would be UMass Lowell. That's pretty darn sweet if you ask me. I've always liked UMass...pretty sure I had a UMass hoodie when I was younger.

For now I am still doing research, hoping to have more of a plan and begin taking more classes come the new year. So many options, so much money. I have no idea how I am going to afford this, but we will see. Going back to school makes me a little nervous.

After working here at MIIS for almost two years now, I realized that after the first year I could start taking some classes. I was thinking about taking one next semester, but I found one I really wanted to take and it only happens in the Fall. So this weekend I am taking a work shop (Friday 6-9, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-2) on Human Trafficking. The recommended reading for this course is the 240 page TIP report.

(this the 100th post on here, glad you all have enjoyed them)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

It's almost here...

Ok so this isn't the best picture, but yesterday I got my first pumpkin of the year! Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year, no questions asked. To me the most beautiful time with all the leaves changing colors (mind you I don't see that out here but back East its amazing). The crunching leaves under your feet, the smell in the air. The joy of wearing sweaters with a scarf and gloves (something Adam always made fun of Meighan and I for). Good apple picking then going home to make some kick butt apple crisp. Pumpkin picking and carving. Sitting with apple cider in front of a fire. The colors, just everything. Ahhhh I just love it, and really really miss it, for the most part this is the time if year, if any that I get a little homesick.

Yesterday at the farmer's market I went to get some veggies and actually almost forgot to buy them because I was so excited to see pumpkins. I picked the most perfect, round little pumpkin I could see on the table! Also got a huge acorn squash, can't wait to cook that up with some butter, brown sugar and nutmeg! Yumm Yumm.

Happy Early Fall!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Finally




Ok so I'm a dork, that we all know. But you know when you get those questions like..."If you have lunch with any person, alive or dead, who would it be?" I always draw a blank, there are way to many options for that one and I guess it would depend on what I wanted to talk about on any given day. My answer never changes for the question "If there was one band you would love to see who would it be?"...Jimmy Eat World!!! I have missed seeing them a total of five times for various reasons but, that string of bad luck is to come to and end of October 2! Thats right, I finally get to see Jimmy Eat World live!

Every so often I check the site to see if they are doing a US tour again and always fails, but for some reason today I went on again and looked...front page, there it is, the schedule for this falls US tour and they are coming to Santa Cruz and San Francisco! Obviously I'm wicked excited about this. And their new cd comes out October 16. Tickets have been bought...Happy (way) early birthday to me!

(www.jimmyeatworld.com)