New

After a very tough decision I've finally decided to not fix the D70 and to instead put the money I would spend fixing that one to a new one. So I am planning to order the D80 soon.

I called the other day after I got the estimate on how much it would cost to fix the D70 and was told it could go up from there, they weren't sure exactly what was wrong with the camera and wouldn't fully know until they opened it up. I laid it all out: how old this one is, the cost to fix it, upgrading etc. I was planning to get a new one next year, so I thought I had plenty of time to save for it, and the D70 went crazy all of a sudden, but I'm going to bite the bullet and just upgrade.

I feel lost with out my camera. It has been a very rough week or so. Guess I will add the D70 to my "camera grave yard" (a.k.a. collection of cameras, theres a lot!)

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.

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!

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)

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)

2 Down...20 To Go

Just a quick update. I took my second test tonight: Exodus and only got an 89 on it. I mean its not bad but I accidentally hit the the enter button and it submitted it with out me double checking my answers. Oh well. Only 20 more tests for this course!

Next week Victoria and I start our pilates class which is on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I can't wait.

Grace and Peace
~Jenny

Healing

(Again playing some catch up for everyone in this post)

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases," (Psalm 103 1-3 NIV)

On my 19th birthday I was diagnosed with Cervical Dysplasia (HPV). There are several stages to this and is known as a precancerous condition. Since then I have had to go ever three to six months for tests and biopsies to check for cancerous cells. 90% of the time they would come back positive as to having the cancerous cells. I have been told since the age of 19 that future with children looked risky and some even said impossible. For me, that was fine. I was/am open 100% for adoption, but being that young you really don't want to hear those words. How do you explain to whom ever you date (if you think it might get serious enough) that Oh by the way I may not be able to have kids and I might develop cervical cancer...easily, you say it just like that. Well at least I did. You get nervous of ever having to have that conversation. You think who the heck is ever going to want to date me and once they hear that will they actually stick around??

On July 17 after an ER visit, more doctor visits and a bunch of not so much fun tests I got some amazing news...No more cancerous cells...No more of the HPV!! Completely in the clear. No signs of not being able to have children. I had to have the doctor repeat it about three times, I was shaking. Healing has taken place, amazingly and only one to thank for that...God. Seriously amazing. I won't have to have that conversation, ahhhh what a weight lifted from my shoulders. I might actually go out on a date, who would of thought

Below are some e-mails I sent out as prayer requests about all of this back in June and July of this year. They go in order of oldest to newest...

June 26, 2007:
Hello,

Just wanted to fill you in and ask for prayer over the next week. Saturday I was in an extreme amount of pain in my pelvic area. It hurt to sit, stand or lie down, however I put it off for a day and just popped a ton of Advil. It didn't get much better come Sunday so I called my doctor and she suggested I got to the hospital with my medical history. I went had a few exams, blood work, ultrasound, etc and they said there was some loose fluid near my right ovary in the ultrasound and it concluded that I had a functional cyst on my right ovary that burst and that was the source of all the pain. I need to follow up with my regular doctor near the end of this week for another exam and see what she has to say also. A functional cyst from my understanding doesn't seem to be extremely serious (doesn't lead to ovarian cancer), but never the less its a bit scary to deal with. I have an appointment Thursday morning with my regular doctor, and I'll let you know what happens then.

Thanks for praying. Jenny

June 28, 2007:
Hello I went to the doctors today, and no more answers for now. She had my results from the hospital faxed over and decided i needed more blood work (three tubes) and have to go back next week for another exam. Thanks for praying and I'll keep you posted. Jenny

July 5, 2007:
Hello, So another follow up, I went back to the doctors today and had another exam and got the results of my blood work from last week. The blood work came back normal. As for the exam, she said that she thinks it will come back abnormal and may need to go see another doctor with in the next week, week and a half. She will have the results of this weeks exam hopefully by the middle of next week and we will go from there. No solid answers yet, but please keep praying. My doctor and I talked today and the worst case scenario is that my pre-existing condition has become worse over the past two years and possible surgery in a not so distant future. As for now, more doctor visits, exams and biopsy's. Thanks for all the prayers. ~Jenny

July 17, 2007:
Hello, I just received a call from my doctors regarding my test results. For the past six or seven years I have been having some health problems (the detection of pre-cancerous cells). I have been told time and time again, that my chances of having children are very slight, and lately have been told that I might be having surgery in a not too distant future. Just wanted to say thank you all for your prayers during all this, and to let you know that my results came back completely negative on ALL my tests! There were NO signs of cancerous cells. I won't have having to go back for any biopsy's!! Thanks again! I'm shaking, I am so excited!!

~Jenny

Grace and Peace ~
Jenny

"For Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37 NIV)

Back to School...well kind of

So I decided to take an online bible course. The actual title is Survey of the Bible part 1 (Genesis - Song). I took my first test the other day (Genesis) and got 100!!

Please pray that I complete the course. Its online so its a go at your own pace type course, which is nice but can also be bad some times. Its a survey course so you are skimming the books during the lessons and gleaning the meanings and importance of each book. You are expect to read them more in depth out side of the lesson.