Biscuits with Honey

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 6

2012-02-11T21:52:00.002-06:00

Only two photo subjects were in the running this time... a random water melt refreezing and a delicious dessert after an equally delicious lunch.

Temptation befell me... and what a way to go - apple walnut cobbler. Warm, covered in ice cream, accompanied by chocolate and a decadent strawberry.

Runner up:

4th Blogiversary!

2012-02-09T22:22:00.003-06:00

I cannot believe it's been 4 years now... and I'm still going! Sure, I'm posting less as my time committment and jobs have changed - but I still very much enjoy this forum to share my photos and projects, as well as crossing things off my life list.

I don't have much to say tonight, except thank you, dear reader, for reading and stopping by. I love hearing from you so don't be shy about sharing your comments with me!

I hope to see you keep visiting!

Here's one of my favorite recent photos to commemorate the day! I'll have to come up with something good for my 5 year anniversary in 2013!

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 5

2012-02-05T09:04:00.002-06:00

This week has been busy and not at the same time. Needless to say, I do find myself taking pictures on the Friday or Saturday of the week.

This week's photo came from outside the Art Museum. Our museum is going through a large renovation so everything is a little messed up at the moment. Still a wonderful museum though and a nice stroll. This is the sidewalk after a bit of a rain.

Here are two runners up:

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 4

2012-01-29T10:12:00.003-06:00

This week was so tough to decide on. Yes, it was a work-consuming week and I didn't take most of these until yesterday but it was a fun time. A fellow photo blogger and better photographer than I took a great sunset photo of trees in Tower Grove. I knew that when I got to the shadows topic that I wanted to try to emulate it.

I will tell you that the 'Thorny" picture below was an ever-so-close 2nd place. It almost made first. It was a really tough decision.

Runners up:

And one that didn't quite fit the topics, but I still enjoyed:

#33 - Complete!

2012-01-28T23:00:00.005-06:00

~~33. Get over my fear of needles and join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and maybe save someone’s life.~~

Friday evening, I drove over to Wash U and got registered and swabbed! I've obviously been meaning to do this for awhile - but a colleague and I discussed it recently and it renewed my interest in attending a drive. Luckily, there were about 7 in the next month or so - but Friday's was the most convenient - both time-wise and locational-wise.

It only took a few minutes and a lot of paperwork - but now I'm officially registered and hope that I match someone in need.

I am looking forward to getting that phone call or email some day! I'll keep you posted!

Update #2: Task #5 -Visit All 50 States

2012-01-24T08:46:00.003-06:00

See older lists here and here

Not much progress, but I knocked some off when working on other list items. I'm amending the visit to a visit of decent length - i.e. not just eating food at a rest stop or just driving through. If I have spent some significant time there - then that counts.

I really need a road trip! And seriously, how have I not knocked off Maryland with the number of times that I've been to the DC metro area???

States I've Lived In: (4)
California, Indiana, Missouri, Texas [note: "lived in" means stayed for a period of longer than a show contract; and not necessarily tied to a contract either]

States I've Worked In/Already Visited: (22)
Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming

States I'm Already Planning On:
Washington, Oregon ('12), Wisconsin ('13)

States That I Still Need To Visit: (21)
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 3

2012-01-21T22:05:00.003-06:00

This week was a busy one for various reasons, and I didn't get the chance to take the photos that I really wanted. When I had originally put together this randomized list of topics, I was looking forward to writing. But right now my handwriting is atrocious and not fit for photography.

This was the next best thing. My favorite sprinkles - non-pareils - certainly count as tiny, do they not?

I'm looking forward to better photos/subjects soon. And time to take said pictures. Also hoping to have full use of my formerly smushed index finger as well.

Runners up:

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 2

2012-01-15T09:15:00.002-06:00

This week, I chose doors as my theme. This door (one of 3) is located on a building right next to where I turn to go to work. I've been wanting to take this photo all week - and finally had the chance yesterday (Saturday) when Mom and I went to visit the Loop Ice Carnival. It was warm-ish weather, considering the last few days - and the ice sculptures were at a slow melt.

Hoping to continue on the project! Only a little straightening required - and I've learned how to take pictures with my ring finger - an unnatural position - especially from within a mitten.

A Bump in the Road

2012-01-13T21:25:00.002-06:00

I've hit a bump in the road in my project... maybe.

I fractured my middle finger fingertip of my right (dominant) hand. Incidentally, the self-same finger I broke during my first 365 project, 2 years ago. I also managed to bruise my index finger at the same time - and now I have two fingers out of commission.

I'm hoping that it won't interfere with my photo project, but it might. I've taken a few shots here and there, but tomorrow will be my big outing - the Loop Ice Carnival - complete with wintry weather.

I had to buy a mitten today because the fractured finger is super-sensitive to the cold... and this winter weather isn't going anywhere fast.

My middle finger is out for 4-6 weeks and the index finger, hopefully less.

Hopefully I'll have some great images to share!

52 Week Project 2012 - Week 1

2012-01-08T15:36:00.004-06:00

Here we are - my first post of the week. It was, as predicted, an incredibly busy week of work for me. Luckily, I had some nice photo opportunities available to me on Friday so I had several to choose from last night.

I chose Topic #3 - reflection as my theme because several other topics were not applicable, especially since we had an unseasonably warm week.

Here's to 51 more photos!

Photo Project 2012 - 52 Weeks!

2012-01-01T21:52:00.003-06:00

Two years ago, I attacked a 365 project for one year of my life - literally - birthday to birthday. Just yesterday, I officially finished my modified 365 project for 2011 - the details of which can be found here.

I really enjoyed working on the project, and found myself satisfied with the flexibility of lenient guidelines that I had laid out. I found myself with many more pictures that I enjoyed, but still, I did not like every single photo in the project. While I have changed jobs, my work is still time consuming. I don't always have the freedom to take a photo every day.

I was struggling on deciding on a project for 2012, vacillating from ideas such as St. Louis Iconic Alphabet, or a smattering of interesting topics. I also really want to learn more about my camera(s). If that requires me taking a class, then so be it. I want to move myself off "P" (Program). I know how to use Av (Aperture Priority) and Tv (Shutter Priority), but I don't always start there.

I decided that a 52 week project was the way to go - and that posting the best photo of the week would be a great guideline. But still, I faced the quandary - how much do I define it? Do I assign myself themes specific to the week, or do I pick 52 topics to cover over the entire year?

I decided tonight, that a happy medium could be found. I combined several different 52 week project themes from 2010, from various sources. And I came up with this:

So here are the few rules for myself:

1. Items must be taken from Jan 1, 2012-Dec 31, 2012.

2. Take at least one photo at week. Hopefully take several to choose from and post the best one.

3. There are 4 different topics to choose from to help guide your photography.

4. Post the best picture at the end of the week, on the designated Sunday.

5. Photos can be taken with the Digital Rebel XSi, G12 or iPhone.

6. Photos can also be enhanced via Photoshop, iPhoto or other programs. This is an effort to expand my photographical horizons.

Wish me luck!!

Best of 2011

2011-12-31T11:04:00.002-06:00

I took a lot of photos - much more than the 366 represented in Photo Project 2011... but here are some of my favs:

Here's hoping 2012 brings some even better photos and photo opportunities!

Photo Project 2011 - Food, Textures, People

2011-12-30T18:23:00.002-06:00

Food

Beer

Cocktails

Coffee

Cooking

Fruit

Soda

Spices

Tea

Vegetable

Wine

Textures

Blocks

Brick

Textures

Wood

People

Cats

Birds

Dogs

Feet/Shoes

Hands

Photo Project 2011 - Architecture & Places

2011-12-29T23:00:00.000-06:00

Architecture

Bridge

Door Knob

Hallway

Handrail

Historical

Modern

Sidewalk

Skyline

Stairs

Tracks

Vent

Window

Places

Buildings

Cemeteries

Road

Urban Decay

Photo Project - Objects

2011-12-28T17:33:00.000-06:00

Objects

Books

Bottle

Bubbles

Button

Cables

Candy

Cards

Clock

Clouds

Doors

Fences

Fountains

Glass

Grafitti

Hinge

Ice

Lines

Mail

Map

Marks

Mirror

Money

Music

Nail

Neon

News

Path

Pens

Pencil

Plastic

Rust

Screw

Snow

Sculpture

Seam

Signs

Table

Telephone

Traffic

Trash

Vehicles

Vertical Lines

Wheel

Zipper

Photo Project 2011 - Perspective

2011-12-27T16:55:00.000-06:00

Perspective

Abandoned

Abstract

Backlit

Black and White

Broken

Celebrate

Chaos

Clean

Closed

Colorful

Contrast

Empty

Fill The Frame

Flat

Fresh

Growing

Half

Low Angle

Looking Down

Macro

Motion Blur

On The Go

Open

Order

Out Of Focus

Out Of Place

Out The Window

Plugged In

Remote

Repetition

Safety

Secure

Shallow DOF

Shadows

Silhouette

Simple

Small

Spot Color

Still Life

Symmetry

Together

Vanishing Point

Photo Project 2011 - Nature, Shapes

2011-12-26T15:46:00.000-06:00

Nature:

Creek/River

Flowers

Horizons

Landscape

Leaf

Sunrise

Sunset

Trees

Water in Motion

Shapes:

Circles:

Curves:

Squares:

Triangles:

Photo Project 2011 - Letters/Numbers/Colors

2011-12-24T15:02:00.008-06:00

More to follow!!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 30

2011-11-30T22:33:00.004-06:00

Today, I am dually grateful. Grateful that this project is over... and grateful for being introduced to Pinterest.com. It is an amazing site where people "pin" up interesting things... be it pictures or quotes... or projects. There are DIY projects galore as well as delicious recipes.

You should definitely check it out. However - it is a time suck as you will notice time warping past you at well... warp speeds as you get sucked into the amazingness that is Pinterest.

I've got 5 emails to myself of projects and recipes to try in the near future!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 29

2011-11-29T22:12:00.003-06:00

Today, I'm grateful for my camera... because it allows me to take pictures and memories and keep them 'forever'. I think I have always had an interest in photography except my style has changed from photojournalistic to more artistic over the recent years.

I had a film camera for as long as I remember, but I didn't have a digital one until I graduated from college. That one lasted me awhile, and then I got another point-and-shoot super zoom like my parents had gotten me for graduation. That 2nd camera lasted me, I believe, into my artistic phase in Houston where I finally made the jump to a digital SLR. My wants in photography (low light, long exposures) had exceeded my camera's limits.

I have a Canon Digital Rebel XSi that has seen me through almost two 365 projects and I have a Canon G12 that accompanies me almost every single day - so I don't miss a photograph while not having the bulk of a DSLR.

Sometime soon, it'll probably be time to upgrade the lens or the body - but I'm hoping that'll be awhile. Meanwhile, I still manage to take decent pictures without having recently taken a photography course nor know every capability of my camera.

My new goal it to know my camera inside and out versus taking a million pictures to get the few great ones.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 28

2011-11-28T21:59:00.001-06:00

Today, I'm grateful that this project is almost over because I'm so tired, exhausted and so unhappy right now that I can't find anything good to write about.

It's amazing how quickly someone can ruin a good thing.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 27

2011-11-27T22:06:00.003-06:00

Today, I am thankful for mashed potatoes. I love potatoes almost any way - french fried, tater tot (though less so because they tend to be so greasy), hash brown (see tater tot) but the best way is mashed. Bonus points if there's garlic involved. And sometimes cheese (the real stuff, not plastic-y cheese like velveeta or nacho cheese)

Thanksgiving gives me the excuse to eat it more often than one normally should. Tonight, I made my garlic mashed potatoes - complete with butter, milk, garlic (whole cloves) and salt and pepper.

I could wax philosophical about mashed potatoes but that would just be silly. They're just yummy.

This won't be the last time I make this this wonderful guilty pleasure, comfort food.

How do you like YOUR potatoes?

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 26

2011-11-26T22:45:00.004-06:00

Today, I'm grateful for my ability to wake up almost immediately, when necessary. (Think zero to sixty... in a short amount of time) Sounds odd, but I'll explain.

I'm not always thankful for this particular ability but today I was. I am the type of person who wakes up when the alarm goes off... and usually can't get back to sleep. If I'm woken at the light point in my sleep cycle, forget about going back to bed. I have to be pretty exhausted to fall back asleep.

This benefited me today, as I was sleeping in a little when I got unexpectedly called into work at the last minute to cover for a colleague. From answering the phone call from my coworker, explaining the situation, to me being at work was about 20 minutes or so. I literally leapt out of bed, tossed clothes, shoes, a little makeup, and deodorant on, grabbed my keys and phone and headed out the door. My work is about 5 minutes away, and I made a detour to St Louis Bread Co (aka Panera for those out of town folks) to grab an egg and cheese sandwich and green tea to wake me up and keep me going until lunch.

I was decently alert and managed to be personable (good thing since I was sitting at the front desk) and maintained my energy through out the day. I have gone pretty non-stop since then and am finally having time to breathe.

So while I often curse this ability to wake up at the drop of a hat/pin, I am pleased that it was useful today.

30 days of Gratitude: Day 25

2011-11-25T23:29:00.003-06:00

Today, I am thankful for my pedometer. Not specifically today, but it is one of the things I am thankful for in general. You're supposed to average about 10,000 steps a day, which for most, works out to be about 3 miles. I always find it interesting to see how far I've gone in a day. Sometimes it's really small and sometimes it's really large. But it's the large days that always surprise me because though I know I've been up on my feet and out and about, I don't realized that I've walked a total of 5 miles in a day. It's quite often not continuous, and the "calories burned" count can, for me, be taken with a grain of salt... but it's interesting nonetheless.

So thanks, mom, for turning me onto this. I have, in turn, piqued the curiosity of a coworker who ordered her own.

Like I said, it's always interesting to see where the day has taken me.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 24

2011-11-24T21:49:00.004-06:00

Today, on Thanksgiving, I am grateful for my mom's amazing apple pie.

I can't get apple pie in restaurants because they all pale in comparison to my mom's. Her pie crust is to die for. I will eat the pie filling first and save the crust for last, it's that good.

Plus, mom uses 3 types of apples and has the whole thing down to a science. She even tried something 'new' today and it tasted just as amazing as ever.

This isn't this year's pie but this is Mom's AMAZING Apple Pie:

Hope you got to spend Thanksgiving with family - and if not, at least you got to spend it with friends!

I'm going to go sit on the couch because that's all I can think about - sooooo full from dinner!!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 23

2011-11-23T19:44:00.003-06:00

Today, I'm grateful for a quiet day. I have been sleeping deeply as of late and I slept hard into 8:30, which for me these days, is late. I had a slow-moving morning where I read and worked on a baby gift, and then went into work.

Work was eerily quiet - with several classes cancelled, students already on Thanskgiving break outside of St. Louis - when the halls should have been teeming with dancers, there were almost none.

It's nights like these where I wish I had a pile of work to do but my focus is off tonight anyway.

I'm also thankful for the training I've been give over the years on the ETC Expression 3 - for I successfully resurrected old cues and rewrote them. Small victories, but I'll take them when I can have them!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 22

2011-11-22T23:23:00.003-06:00

Today, I am grateful for friends. For both the friendships that are over the decade mark and still going strong to the new fledgling ones that I hope flourish into long lasting ones. I like having friendships of all depths, from light to super deep.

One of my best friends randomly was in town awhile ago and I got to spend time with her and her husband. Another best friend (the one I've known the longest) is due to be in town this week and she's going to carve time out of her busy family schedule to spend some time with me. I spent some time with another best friend tonight - trying to get her baby to kick back at us. It was really magical since I haven't spent a lot of time around my pregnant friends, even though I have many friends with children.

I treasure each and every friendship I have and I'm such a giver too. Sometimes it gets me hurt but sometimes it makes me/the friendship stronger.

So I'm thankful to have so many friends, both near and far - from weeks old to years old. Ties into Day 11 when I thanked Facebook for helping me continue some of these friendships or even pick old ones up from where they left off.

Thanks for being my friend! I'm lucky to have you in my life! And if I haven't heard from you in awhile, drop me a line here or on Facebook or via email and let me know what's new with you.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 21

2011-11-21T23:25:00.005-06:00

Today, I'm thankful for a day off. I'm really lucky to work at a place that does its best to give me days off on a regular basis - even though I often work outside of the 9-5 M-F sphere.

I had a chance to run several errands, some of which I specifically waited to run today, when most of the public was going to be at work/school. I am not the biggest fan of crowds at places of shopping. I'm the person who wants nothing to do with Black Friday, even if the sales are tantalizing.

I was also able to catch up on finances - I keep pretty close track on receipts - which has paid off in that I have never been overdrawn and I caught fraudulent charges on one of my credit cards before the card company did.

I was still able to be lazy and relaxed... as one should be on a day off.

The day was capped off by making a really surprisingly tasty tortellini, spinach and tomato soup and an all-family viewing of the penultimate Sing Off episode where some seriously amazing music happened... and another sad elimination occurred.

I'm going to miss fun Monday nights without the Sing Off.

But today was definitely a day very well spent.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 19 and 20

2011-11-20T09:07:00.003-06:00

Got home a little late last night and forgot to write up Day 19.

Day 19, I am thankful for a smooth running show weekend, and nights out with colleagues/friends. Two show day followed by a funny movie (Tower Heist) and a tasty dinner (Cheesecake Factory). Neither night was planned and both were enjoyable. Harkens back to Day 6 where I was thankful for good colleagues.

Day 20, I am thankful for good food and large portions. Usually I'm not a fan of large portions, but I liked the idea of having leftovers to spread over to the next day. Cheesecake Factory still has ridiculously large portions.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 18

2011-11-18T23:36:00.002-06:00

Today, I am grateful for 1 hour long shows... something that I'm not used to. I'm used to 3 hours on average.

Because of the short show, and a former colleague visiting work, we went out and had a fun Friday night out at Three Kings pub in the Loop. Fun times were had and good food and alcohol consumed with the best of company.

Not very wordy tonight, but very happy with a night well spent with colleagues/friends.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 17

2011-11-17T21:58:00.004-06:00

Today, I'm thankful for dimmers and lights that behave.

I have been having troubles, on and off, with the lights in our theatre... you know, the one I"m in charge of.

And it always seems to act up right before a big event. However, today, aside from a slight mishap, they seem to be behaving. May they stay that way.

*knocks wood*

Good grief! Nevertheless, I'm grateful for them when they work... and I'm grateful for the resources around me when they don't! RG, I'm looking especially at you.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 16

2011-11-16T22:22:00.002-06:00

Today, I'm thankful for potlucks.

My company had an all-staff potluck today and it was supremely enjoyable. First and foremost, I have really great colleagues and it was fun to all be in at the same time and to sit and chat with everyone. Secondly, everyone brought an amazing dish -from a main course, to a salad, to a side or dessert.

We had SO MUCH FOOD! And all of it was delicious. We're having a secondary potluck tomorrow - eating the leftovers. I filled a plate with a little bite of almost each dish and I was SOOOO full it was hard not to crawl under my desk and go to sleep afterwards.

Plus, now I have a whole new batch of recipes in my arsenal!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 15

2011-11-15T22:08:00.002-06:00

Today, I'm thankful for me having patience, at least 75-85% of the time. I'm generally more patient that many of the people surrounding me. But I have my days of impatience, and I'm often most impatient with myself.

But patience serves me well in most of my endeavors - my job, my family and my hobbies. Two of my primary hobbies involve patience and lots of it. Photography requires patience to get the right shot - from composition to waiting for just the right set of circumstances to occur. My other main hobby, counted cross-stitching, also requires patience - especially when one (me) takes on a huge baby afghan with 26 different designs.

I'm very much human and I won't claim to have patience 100% of the time... but I tend to have it when and where it counts, most often.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 14

2011-11-14T23:28:00.004-06:00

Today, as I sit down to write this blog, I'm a big grumpy and very tired, so this will be short.

Today, I am grateful for the seasons and more specifically, for living in a city that experiences all four of them. I grew up here, and I have spent at least 4 of my years in life in cities that do not have what I consider a winter. And I have spent three winters in a city where winter is king.

I am looking forward to experiencing an ordinary Midwestern winter - though I do miss my Alaska friends and the great wonders to explore.

I'm hoping for fluffy snow, and warm-ish temperatures and just enough snow days... that is, if there's such a thing at my work.

At least, I'm grateful for the ability to walk to work even if my car can't get up the driveway.

But, weather gods, please be kind this winter, ok? Don't read this as a challenge.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 13

2011-11-13T22:53:00.004-06:00

Today, I am grateful for my mentor, DG. Today is a landmark birthday for him, so why not celebrate him and thank him for what he did for me.

I can say with certainty that without him, I would not be where I am today. True, my parents kickstarted me on my way into majoring in theatre in college, but it was DG who made realize that I could actually make it a career.

He joined my theatre department midway through my time there - by then, I knew I wanted to be a stage manager... but I didn't realize I could do it 'for real'. He was the one who started me thinking that way. He found out that I could read music (I had played piano for 12 years) and encouraged me to stage manage a ballet and an opera before I left (I was working primarily on musicals and some plays at the time.)

So he got me a summer job staging managing "Die Fledermaus" at the summer opera. What an adventure that was - a fluffy operetta piece but I learned a lot and made some great friends. He also got me gigs staging managing "Giulio Cesare" and later, "Nutcracker" during the academic year... little did we know that I was hooked.

"Giulio Cesare" was the type of music that I grew up playing and I loved it. I couldn't understand a darn word they were saying (the opera was in Italian) and our score was Italian/German - no English for me... so it took years for me to fully understand what was going on. But I was hooked.

"Nutcracker" was harder than I anticipated because all of the recognizable music is in Act II where its simply lights up and lights down after every dance. But I survived it and challenged my music reading skills (and reading a piano reduction of orchestra music isn't always what its cracked up to be - especially when it doesn't have a clear melody).

But DG knew I was hooked and helped me out - he helped me to get my first professional summer gig at LGO and also with my first season of gigs at IO - having turned down a Fellowship at Arena Stage - one of the worst and best decisions of my life. It was an extreme honor to get that Fellowship, but I don't regret it one day - and even one of the stage managers I was to be working with told me that it was a wise decision - as she saw me beyond their program. He also introduced me to one of my other mentors, CS, and eventually I won an internship with her company to learn from her as well.

8 years later, I find myself a Production Manager - and he was one of the first people I called after I got the job - because I owed all of it to him. He was one of my references - sure - but more importantly, he was my teacher. I was so proud to be calling him and telling him thank you for everything.

I am a DG stage manager, and now a DG production manager and proud of it!

Happy Birthday, DG! I'm thankful you were born, and that you went into teaching to share your knowledge, wisdom and humor with so many of us.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 12

2011-11-12T23:49:00.002-06:00

Today, I am grateful for my apartment. It is virtually everything I desire in an apartment. Wood floors, large windows to let in sunlight, an open living/dining area, a suitable kitchen, two bathrooms (well, one and a half) and three bedrooms. It is gorgeous. It is a duplex and everything I really wanted when I came back to St. Louis.

Did I mention that there's ceiling fans in the bedrooms and an attic fan which is a godsend in the summer at night? And closets upon closets upon storage space (which really doesn't help this quasi-pack rat).

Plus it is in the city I grew up in and love so much - and even better, in the Metro area of one of my favorite cities to live in.

I really didn't get to spend much time here the first two years I technically 'lived' here - and life keeps me pretty busy now, but I'm looking forward to enjoying spending more time here.

So thanks to KBE, who found the apartment and SA, who is a really great landlord - in so very many ways. And made me remember why I no longer wanted corporate lease holders - individual/personal landlords are the way to go.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 11

2011-11-11T22:58:00.003-06:00

Today, for no specific reason, I am thankful for Facebook. For all of its annoyances and so-called security issues, it has allowed me to keep in touch with tons of people, and I am grateful for the ability to do so.

I have kept in touch with colleagues past and present, especially because most of them do not live near me. I can keep up on their latest everything - from where they are in the country, to the latest and greatest stage stories from the current jobs.

I have been able to keep in touch with past schoolmates as well from college to as far back as elementary school.

I was not really part of the Facebook generation - in fact, I was out of school when it first was created. I luckily still had my school email - back when it was exclusive to schools only. I do kind of miss those days, but then again, I probably wouldn't have found everyone that I have.

What I am really thankful for is the ability to reconnect with a handful of people that I would not have found without the benefit of Facebook. AST for example, or LN, or most recently, JSB. I like the ability to keep in touch with these folks and find out what's new.

I like being able to see pictures of former classmates's kids or their weddings or their latest adventures.

I like that I can usually catch up on the world's news or latest trends by simply checking my news feed. I like that the politics of my friends span the spectrum and I enjoy 'watching' both sides of the debate on issues. I like that we watch the same TV and different TV and expose each other to new things and new ideas.

There are many things that irritate me about Facebook, but I try to overlook them - for me, the good outweighs the bad. At least for now.

But I also have to be thankful for Veterans today... because they have done and do and will do so much for our country. The least we can do is celebrate them on one day specifically and everyday in general. Thank you to all Veterans, past, present and future.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 10

2011-11-10T21:56:00.002-06:00

Tonight, I am thankful for sushi. And specifically thankful for RN and BW for introducing me to it.

I had long been suspicious of raw fish - not that I wasn't exposed to it because my dad is a very adventurous eater. Plus I'm picky about texture of foods. And had always considered it scary.

But I was convinced to try it during my internship and I did. And it wasn't so scary. True, I stayed to cooked ingredients initially, but I have strayed towards the raw. Still can't handle some of the stuff, texture-wise, but I'm getting there.

My favorite roll is the Philadelphia because of the cream cheese - and if its flash-fried (aka Deep Friend Philly or Big Cheesy), even better. I love cream cheese in sushi and with the cooked ones, it's WARM! And that makes it extra yummy! Also a big fan of avocado and/or shrimp in rolls.

Love love love ginger - but still have a hate relationship with wasabi.

One step at a time, right? Now I can't seem to get enough. At least it is a fairly healthy choice, right?

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 9

2011-11-09T22:05:00.003-06:00

Today, I am thankful for my iPad. I will admit, that with this device, I was an early adopter. I had been seriously considering a Kindle for awhile and was thisclose to purchasing one when the iPad came out. It was actually my mom who kinda nudged me towards buying one. A tech consultant got his early on and she got her hands on one during a consult. She wrote me this email with the text of "omg you must try it" or something to that effect.

Mom doesn't use OMG. Ever. So I knew this might be worth looking into. So the next time I was in a mall near an Apple Store, I wandered in and started talking with some of the employees. I said, I have an iPhone, I travel a lot and I have a Macbook Pro, why do I need an iPad. Some of them gave me the standard sales answer, but a few didn't. Then there was a free workshop on the iPad, so I decided to stay. I ended up being the only attendee and got a chance to ask a LOT of questions.

After that, I was pretty well sold. I knew I wanted one for all the reading (I'm a voracious reader) and I liked the idea that I would have access to a whole host of online bookstores (vs just Amazon's, if I had gone with the Kindle). And I knew it wasn't going to replace my laptop.

I no longer had to worry about having to re-read a book many times over because I couldn't pack enough reading material while on a gig. I could check my email on it and while on a trip to my cousin's wedding - mom and I left computers behind, and checked our email off our iPads as well as reading the NYTimes at breakfast in the mornings.

But now, I'm not traveling for work... right? So has it gone to the wayside? Oh no... I use it at my new job. We work in a Windows environment in a client called Citrix. And they have an app. That allows me to log into our Citrix environment backstage while our shows are going on and I can work on work and, god forbid, still be nearby should something go wrong.

It's incredibly useful and one of the smarter purchases I've made. Plus, I can show of my photos on there incredibly easily - a feature demonstrated to me by the Apple workshop guy.

So, I'm happy with my 1st generation Wifi only iPad. My mom got one shortly after I did, and Dad got his as a surprise for Father's Day. We are a 3 iPad family and love it! For them, it's their first "laptops" and they're loving it.

Thank you, iPad, for making life a little easier and a lot more fun!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 8

2011-11-08T23:04:00.005-06:00

Today, I am thankful for St. Louis sports. We are a die-hard sports town and we stay behind our teams whether we are on top (go Cards!) or on the bottom (what the heck, Rams?)

It was a wild ride, to watch the Cardinals post-season. I really was able to bond with my colleagues at work over the Cardinals. There are some die-hard Cards fans there. And I watched us pull the win out of our rear on that amazing Game 6 - at Cicero's with some colleagues after a technical disaster at work.

Tonight, my parents and I went to a Blues game. Dad decided the Blackhawks vs Blues game was the one to go to - and boy did he pick it right - for so many reasons. Recently, there was a plane crash and almost an entire Russian hockey team died on that plane. Of those players, two of them were former Blues players, and tonight they were honored in a pre-game ceremony. Igor Korolev and Pavol Demitra.

Blues greats like Al MacInnis, Brett Hull, Kelly Chase, Geoff Courtnall, Keith Tkachuk, Tony Twist, Curtis Joseph.... I could go on - there were several more there, as well as Korolev's wife and daughters. It was a really nice, touching ceremony. Oddly enough, both of them had worn the #38 with the Blues.

And then, the current St. Louis Blues showed Chicago who's boss and swept them 3-0 in an awesome game - including one great fight between our player and theirs... and our player POUNDED him into the ice. Halak, our goalie, made 29 amazing saves and it was a really really great game. Did I mention that the Blackhawks have one of the best records in the Western Conference... and we have one of the worst?

I screamed myself hoarse.

So thank you, St. Louis, for having sports teams worth fighting for - even when they're down and out. Go Blues! Go Cards! Go Rams!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 7

2011-11-07T22:48:00.004-06:00

Today, I am grateful for The Sing Off. It is the only reality competition show (pretty much the only reality TV show) that I watch. And I love it.

I first saw an ad for it last November - advertising the second season of a 4 or 5 week acapella song competition. I tire of so many singers who can't actually sing, who rely on auto-tune, etc to make their voices sound pretty. I wanted pure, unadulterated human voice.

I've always been fascinated and enjoyed acapella - from Rockapella on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego to having a few collegiate acapella groups visit my schools like Colgate 13. To an all acapella musical called Avenue X which captivated my attention in the first 10 seconds, and sent me running to the gift shop at intermission to buy the CD (which I have done once and only once in my theatre-going life).

I thoroughly enjoyed watching last season's Sing Off having been blown away not only by the amazing talent and music but by Mr. Ben Folds. I have always liked his music - but he FLOORED with his musical technical knowledge. He gave real, intelligent feedback unlike his other two fellow judges. Mr. Shawn Stockmann definitely balanced the modern vernacular with musical critique but the same could not be said for their fellow female judge - a member of the Pussycat Dolls... and was nicknamed by me, "The Showpiece". My favorite group, Street Corner Symphony, sadly did not win... but it was a very enjoyable December.

I LOVED "watching" it with my dad. Mom and I "watch" a few shows from afar together like the Tonys or the Oscars... but Dad and I had never had a show that we called each other on the commercial breaks and commented about how AMAZING that piece was or how flat or bad the other piece was. We'd try to correctly predict who would get voted off and compare notes.

This year, with it being a main season attraction, on Monday nights and me being in town(!), we've turned it into a new tradition of watching it together.

If I thought last season was amazing, then this one just blows it away. I can't believe it started at 16 groups and now its down to only 5, as of tonight.

There is one group, Pentatonix, who just continuously blows us away every week. They are phenomenal. Their arrangements are, as Ben Folds and Shawn Stockmann say, sick. They are extraordinarily talented and they have not screwed up yet. And they have definitely been singing out of their comfort zone. 4 guys, 1 girl - and the girl both easily blends in with them and comes sailing out as a rockin' solo.

Groups like BYU's Vocal Point, Howard U's Afro-Blue or the Dartmouth Aires have also consistently brought some amazing pieces and arrangements to the show.

Groups like Delilah or The Collective surprise us in turn and disappoint us in the next which keep us on our toes.

And groups like Urban Method make me appreciate rap mixed in with non-rap music. Especially at this late point in the competition, almost all of the "weak links" have been voted off and from here on out, it's going to be a Very. Tough. Competition. Tonight was the first night that I had trouble ranking the groups. Usually I can pick the top two and bottom two with fairly good accuracy... but it was so ahrd to tell.

It is amazing when you consider what they go through - not only singing and performing a piece learned within a week - but they do their own arrangements.

I won't lie - I have EVERY album of The Sing Off from Seasons 2 and 3. I LOVE re-listening to the amazing work that was done and is being done on this show. Is it all 100% perfect? No... and I like that. It makes it real. I like hearing the flaws. I like hearing them grow. I like them hearing their mistakes and fixing them on the fly.

I only hope that people who never gave acapella a chance before are enjoying hearing it now and will explore acapella listening opportunities in their area.

So thank you, Sing Off and Ben Folds, for bringing great acapella music to prime time television... even if you had to turn it into a reality tv compeition.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 6

2011-11-06T20:32:00.001-06:00

Today, I am thankful for good colleagues. This is both in general, and specific. I have been lucky over the last several years to have had good, even great, colleagues. Many are still friends and some, close friends.

But at my current job, I have some really great colleagues, if I do say so myself. Today, three of us were hanging out at the end of a full day and just laughing our butts off at the silliest things. It was so great to share stories, crack jokes, make unintended jokes brought on by tiredness and just laugh laugh laugh.

But really, it makes work more enjoyable to have great colleagues. So for those of you colleagues in the present, and in the past, I'm thankful for your companionship, friendship, etc.

Nothing is better than having work not seem like work because you are surrounded by good people!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 5

2011-11-05T23:33:00.004-05:00

Today, I must give thanks to Nancy M, who taught me how to do counted cross-stitch way back in elementary school. I forget why or how we met up for me to learn. I stitched some horrifyingly sloppy thing onto a hand-towel, which I'm sure my parents still have.

That was way back in 4th or 5th grade, and somehow I've still maintained it as a hobby. Its a craft that I really enjoy for it makes me work hard, and think, and yields beautiful results. That being said, please don't look at the backside of my cross-stitch projects, they're a hot mess. You're supposed to tie things back neatly, and the back is supposed to look almost as good as the front. 'Fraid not with mine, but that's how you'll know its from me.

This art, which I can put down and pick up at any time; and doesn't require maintaining a certain amount of thread tension (like crochet and knitting do) has allowed me to put time and effort into gifts such as non-religious marriage announcements and most often, baby gifts.

Too often cross-stitch is associated with religious sayings, country samplers, and other stuff that doesn't catch my interest. The more complex the pattern is, the better. I tend to steer away from cheesy and often find myself stitching Asian-inspired patterns. I did a vegetable wreath for my parents, I've done countless baby records, and a few other random pieces.

But my favorite pattern of all is the one with the Dalmatian puppy who is missing a few spots and is surrounded by dark marks on the floor. The pattern's title is "Achoo!" - I've stitched one and bought the pattern again for keeps. That is exactly my style and humor.

But another thing I love is that it is an uncommon craft for someone my age. In fact, I only know a handful (single hand) of my contemporaries that know how to, and semi-regularly, cross-stitch.

So thank you, Nancy M, for teaching me this lovely art.

Now, I've got to go finish this HUGE baby animal afghan project... I'm on letter "U" and the baby is due early January! Must get cracking!

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 4

2011-11-04T21:38:00.003-05:00

Today, I am thankful for my iPhone. I never was one for a smartphone up until the six months or so before I got my first one. I wasn't even a huge texter at the time (in fact, I did not become a 'texter' until about 2 or 3 years ago), so a normal phone served me well.

But it was around that time that I realized I was spending all this time in a rehearsal hall, away from a computer and away from internet. Not that I was especially popular and getting mounds of emails, but I did feel very disconnected and behind the times. Especially after watching singers check their email and respond during breaks on their Blackberries or other such smart phones at the time.

Then years later, my computer had to go into the shop. It was too difficult to solve through the Apple Store, so it had to be sent off. Therefore, my only internet access was at work. Now, unlike most of my friends and colleagues, I have a domain name email versus just having a Gmail or Hotmail or Yahoo! account. And I could check my other email accounts on my slightly intelligent phone, but checking my main email could not happen. I felt very crippled by that.

Around that time was when the first iPhone came out. But I just couldn't jump on the bandwagon - even being the Apple fan I am - and I still had some loyalty to Sprint. But I learned more and more about the iPhone, and it was around the time that the 3G came out that the pull for a smart phone really really started to eat at me. In fact, my very good friend, W, was looking at upgrading to a smart phone and was trying to figure out how to make Verizon phones sync with her computer (because she didn't want to leave Verizon at the time).

We did a lot of debating and I decided that if she made the jump, I would too, contract be damned. So she did and I did. And I haven't really looked back.

I can't honestly say how I did my job to the effectiveness I have without it. There have been places I've worked where my internet/email access on my phone and/or my photo text capability have been absolutely vital for things to get done in a timely manner. There are so many appealing features that I tend not to notice its drawbacks (no Flash, sometimes questionable signal). The benefits outweigh the others - and I'm not a heavy data user and certainly don't use it to the fullest extent of its abilities.

It was the best investment I have ever made - for the benefit of my personal and my professional life. I don't regret it for one bit.

And just the same, I love the ability to put it down and walk away from it.

So thank you, Mr. Jobs, for dreaming up the iPhone, and helping make my life a little bit better.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 3

2011-11-03T22:28:00.005-05:00

Today, I am expressing my gratitude for apple cider. I love apple cider. It is the right balance of sweet and tart, and I could drink gallons upon gallons of it. I get excited when I see the gallon jugs in the grocery store because that tells me that fall is here! And I get sad when they dwindle away because that means winter is here.

While I tend to enjoy it chilled, it is also delicious warm, and a bonus of spiced rum to boot! I'm not quite sure what would happen if I found cider year round. This gal would be spoiled!

I shall enjoy the tart goodness while it lasts and be slightly sad when it is all gone. If this is an addiction one must have, at least it is a mostly healthy one.

Have you had a mug of apple cider lately? If not, I suggest you do! You'll thank me later. Rum optional, of course.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 2

2011-11-02T22:24:00.004-05:00

Today, I am thankful for my current job. I've had it less than 3 months (feels like longer!), but I really do love it. It's similar enough to my previous job (stage management of opera) but keeps me at home in a city I love, near my family and my dogs and still challenges me on a daily basis on one level or another.

My assignments are varied (from small to large, simple to complex) and I learn something new every day. Plus, I have really great colleagues. I really wish I could be more eloquent but its been a long day and sometimes to say it simply, says it best.

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 1

2011-11-01T18:11:00.003-05:00

I've always wanted to do a gratitude project again - I did a version of it called the Happy List, which I might institute again soon, to help me see the positive side of things. And I have sorely neglected this blog as of late.

But since the month of November (how the heck is it November?!) has Thanksgiving in it, it seems like the perfect month to list/enumerate the things that I am grateful for.

So here goes, Day 1:

I am grateful for my family. Without them, I would not be who I am now in so many ways. They have influenced me, educated me, raised me, supported me in every way possible and are just the best all around.

I'm Alive!

2011-10-09T20:27:00.002-05:00

I really have been incredibly busy with other things, and my poor blog, and even my photography have been neglected.

I've switched jobs, where I have more of a 9-to-5 oriented job, but I swear I spend all my time out of work working on things away from my computer.

One of my best friends is having a baby and I'm making her the baby animal alphabet cross-stitch afghan, which is a HUGE undertaking and has taken up all of my free time.

Between that major project, adjusting to the new job and schedule, I have just now re-started taking pictures. I hope to have some 'processed' and posted soon for your viewing enjoyment!!

Stick with me, and I promise not to let so much time go by without picture goodness!

Freak Storm

2011-09-04T14:41:00.004-05:00

It all started as a beastly hot summer's day. The Loop was hosting its First Annual Chalk Festival, something I was really excited about. But the heat was too much and I soon gave up on that. Later, after my parents and I visited a lovely indoor Art Fair, we decided to check out the chalk work.

We found a parking spot and walked in. My mom is a big fan of Patch.com and they had a booth - so she stopped and chatted with them.

I ran ahead, on the sidewalk up the east side of Fitz's. I had talked to some of the artists earlier in the day and I wanted to see their final work. I saw some really stunning finished pieces of art - and I'll post about them another time.

My parents had just caught up with me when we felt the first drops. It was just a few. We stood there chatting briefly with the guy who was working on the farmost piece (almost to Melville). That's when it went from brief sprinkles to downpour. The wind started to blow a little, and not wanting his work to get wet, we ran for the nearby bus shelter. It had benches and a roof overhang, but nothing else to protect us.

My parents sat on the bench and I stood to the south of them. The downpour continued and the wind blew a little. That's all we figured that would happen. We didn't anticpate what was going to happen next.

The wind gusts picked up, blowing the umbrella the guy was working under (think of one of those umbrellas that have a very heavy base) over. We never saw what happened to him or where he took refuge. Then it started really pouring and really blowing... At some point, I realized that we couldn't see the street which was about 2 feet away.

The next thing we know, Mom thinks she saw lightning, but what I saw was blue sparks of something flying into the power lines nearby. That's when we all instantaeously and mutually decided that we were no longer safe where we were. We headed to the nearest structure, which was the Starbucks at Melville and Delmar. The road had flashflooded and the rain was driving and we couldn't see. We were pelted by pea sized hail.

I only think we were in Starbucks for 5 minutes before the storm blew over. The nice folks at Starbucks handed out small towels and we all waited for the deluge to end. When it finally lightened enough, we decided to go home and get dry. On our way out, we encountered Starbucks patio furniture that had blown away, a rattling drain that seemed like it might blow its top, and my mom shouted out at us because she saw car after car with their rear windows blown out.

Luckily, we had parked far enough over, that we managed to miss that particular phenomenon. We went home and changed into drier clothes and reflected on our near miss.

I went back the following afternoon and took these pictures:

Our bus shelter: We were in the middle:

View from where we were standing to the tree:

Another view close to where we were huddled:

The tree that either got struck by lightning or blown over into the power lines:

A view from the sidewalk where you can see the shelter and the tree:

Another nearby tree, blown down or damaged in the same fashion, and the path of destruction further down the sidewalk:

Twin damaged trees:

Another closer view of the tree:

Path of destruction:

Another tree view:

Tree:

One last look back before I went back to the car:

We definitely realize how lucky we were to only end up soaking wet and slightly traumatized. The weather experts suspect it was a microburst which can have wind gusts from 40-60 mph. I'd agree that those gusts got up there. I've rarely seen a white-out from rain. And i've never been caught outside in a storm like this.

I love thunderstorms - but I like to enjoy them from the safety of a building, not exposed and endangered.

I think it'll be a little while before we venture out in a storm again, even in a car.

Water Lilies at the Missouri Botanical Garden

2011-08-31T07:33:00.003-05:00

Recently, my family and I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden on a lovely summer day. We went to see the Treehouses exhibit but I was captivated by the water lilies...

and a few other pretty flowers:

Summer Cooking!

2011-08-05T11:23:00.003-05:00

I've made an unofficial pact with my parents about cooking together once a week - in an attempt to both see them and expand my cooking skills. My parents are EXCELLENT cooks and I have a lot to learn.

Our menu for this day was a recipe found in Cuisine at Home, a pretty amazing cooking magazine.

Grilled Vegetable Couscous w/ lemon and goat cheese, with Lemon Butter Chicken. Sounds delicious, doesn't it? Well, I can tell you it was.

First, we washed and prepped all the vegetables (asparagus, whole bell peppers, red onions, white onions, zucchini) for the grilling:

Then we grilled them to deliciousness:

Then we prepared our colorful couscous:

Next up, grilling the chicken:

Here's the finished product, all sliced up, pre-mixing:

All mixed up:

And the final product, before being eaten:

YUM!

Hungry yet? I am!

Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market

2011-07-26T17:30:00.003-05:00

I had heard many good things about the DM farmer's market, and I love me a good farmer's market, but I was not prepared for the immensity and complexity of this market. In addition to the farmers hawking their freshly grown goods, there were food booths galore, as well as arts and crafts booths, and other amazing goodies. Plus there were street musicians, and people wandering around trying to sell really tiny puppies.

Speaking of the puppies, I think they are too young to be sold at the age they are, but I didn't talk to them long enough to see if they were selling them at a later date when they were more mature. That aside, they still were darling little things, don't you think?

But let's get down to the real things at hand - don't all these things look good enough to eat?

So many sights such as a pickup truck full of cantaloupe:

Or people making amazing kettle corn in already horrifying heat:

Or someone hawking growing your own mushrooms to eat:

Refreshments were had - such as this delicious breakfast burrito:

while we listened to this guy while we waited:

I went back again the following week, and my only really exciting find was this man who did amazing weaving right before our eyes:

The details and the colors blew me away. I'm sure his work was very expensive, because it was amazing.

So if you're ever in downtown Des Moines, during the summer & fall (i think), check it out. It'll be well-worth your time!

The (Covered) Bridges of Madison County

2011-07-15T10:57:00.002-05:00

Did you know that the Bridges of Madison County (book and movie) take place in Madison County, IOWA? I admit, I haven't read the book nor seen the movie in a long time. It turns out, that these covered bridges are located a mere 30 miles away. Most of the info found below is borrowed from here

Originally, there were 19, but now there are only 6. The map we found actually listed a 7th that was ruined but we could not locate it. Apparently, someone burned it down in a fit of broken heartedness.

The remaining bridges were built by two different people: Benton Jones and Eli Cox and most remain on their original site.

Hogback

Hogback Bridge was built in 1884 and renovated in 1992, is 97 feet long and is in its original location.

Roseman

Roseman Bridge was built in 1883 and renovated in 1992, is 107 feet long and is in its original location. It is the more well-known of the bridges as it is featured in the movie and the book. Also considered haunted.

Cedar

Cedar Bridge was built in 1883 and renovated in 1998. It is featured on the cover of the book and is featured prominently. It is no longer in its original location, and was actually destroyed by an arsonist in 2002. It was rebuilt according to original specifications and rededicated in 2004.

Holliwell

Holliwell was built in 1880 and renovated in 1995. It is the longest at 122 feet and remains on its original site. It was featured i the movie.

Imes

The Imes was built in 1870, making it the oldest and renovated in 1997. It is 81 feet in length and has been moved twice from its original location.

Cutler-Donahoe

The Cutler-Donahoe bridge was built in 1870 and renovated in 1997. It is 79 feet in length and one of two bridges to featre the pitched vs flat roof. It has been moved once from its original location.

Random Pictures

2011-06-23T08:11:00.002-05:00

My summer job has eaten up nearly all my free time, just like last summer. But I realize it's been over a month since I've posted here.

I did take a few pictures earlier in the season, but really haven't had the time to pick up my camera again. It feels neglected, I'm sure.

Here's a few photos to tide you over:

and my favorite:

More to come, hopefully, as my schedule lightens up.

My 30th Birthday

2011-05-20T16:27:00.005-05:00

May 16th was a big birthday for me - my 30th. I left my 20s behind and am facing my 30s head on. Unintentionally, instead of just celebrating on my birthday, the celebration sort of spread out for the next two days.

I had just gotten back into town on my birthday eve, late in the evening. As I usually do, I spent the first night back in St. Louis with my family and my pups.

When I awoke on my birthday morning, we had a lovely breakfast of popovers (my favorite breakfast) and yummy fruit salad. I spent the afternoon with my mom's therapy and service dog group celebrating their therapy dog class graduation. Speaking of pups, when I got home in between things, I found this amazingness on my doorstep from one of my besties.

Seriously? How cute is that?!

To top it off, I had a simply AMAZING dinner with my parents at a new-to-me restaurant called Niche. They have this thing on Monday where it's a prix fixe menu and it was AMAZING. We had a chop salad with romaine, radishes, bacon, tomatoes, goat cheese with a tarragon buttermilk dressing. We all chose the Flank Steak as our main course which came with blanched asparagus, pommes anna and topped with ramp maple butter. And ended with what they called Humboldt Fog which seemed to be a goat cheese, with granola, pear mostarda and crostini. We only let it drop once or twice that it was my birthday. Thankfully, a chic restaurant like that does something like this to let you know you're loved:

It's also the only part of our meal that I actually got 'on tape' because I ate the others up before I even thought of documenting the amazing dinner we had. So amazing that I wrote the chef a thank you note the next day. Because of therapy dog graduation, no birthday cake (a tradition in our house) was made.

The next morning, we all got up early and my parents picked me up to take my to my birthday surprise. I was told to bring my smaller camera, wear comfortable shoes and that they'd be by to pick me up at 8am. My surprise was a downtown tour of St. Louis... on Segways. Judge Segways all you want, but until you've been on one, you can't really judge. These aren't the big ones of mall-cop fame, but smaller ones. At first, you really think you're going to fall off and harm yourself because you haven't learned how to trust the equipment, but once you get the hang of it, it's really hard to give it back at the end of the tour. It was really a great way to see downtown St. Louis and have an experience on a Segway that I wouldn't normally have. I'm not sure who had more fun, my parents or me.

The Segway tour kind of wiped us out, plus an amazingly delicious and filling lunch at JBucks, so making of my birthday cake was postponed to Wednesday.

We made this cake last year, and I loved it so much that I wanted it again. I LOVE lemon poppyseed cake (my usual request), but you can't deny the excitement of carving into this amazing technicolor cake. It's a lot of fun to dye the different portions of batter.

Fresh out of the oven! What we didn't know, is that dome kinda spelled disaster.

Look at that amazingness!! For some strange reason, the cake fell in the middle and some of it wasn't cooked. But you know what, most of the cake was fully-cooked and amazing. So we ignored the part that didn't cook (unfortunately, most of it was purple!) and ate the cake anyway.

So all in all, a three-day celebration for a new decade - not too shabby! I'm really glad I was able to spend this birthday with my family. I only wish I had more friends in town to do a party as well. But there really wasn't much time this time 'round. Perhaps I'll have a belated celebration when I get back in July.

Bellefontaine Cemetary

2011-04-29T09:47:00.002-05:00

Better late, than never, eh?

I may have blogged about Bellefontaine Cemetary before, but here I am again. My mom and I drove through on a summer's day and explored its vast acreage, and historical plots. I drove through again recently with a friend of mine, and I saw things differently. We did less hopping out of the car (actually almost none) and I became 'obsessed' with doors on all the mausoleums.

There's also just some beautiful gravestones:

One of the historical graves, Eads:

And sites:

And two for my opera friends:

And a few more things crossed off Photo Project 2011:

Urban Decay in St. Louis

2011-04-23T10:44:00.002-05:00

I know it's strange, but I LOVE urban decay as a photographer. If I was a resident near any of this decay, I'm sure I'd think differently. There's something tragic about it. Not all of it is beautiful in my eyes - I like urban decay with history. For example, last Spring, I had a chance to walk through an amazing building, the former St. Louis Southwestern Freight Depot. I was accompanied by a very burly male photographer who was tattoo-ed and he happened to know the homeless man who watches over the building. I would never venture in there again without being accompanied by him.

We also found these two houses that MUST have been hit by bad weather because the damage is pretty hit and miss:

Here's what looks like an old funeral home:

Falling down alleyway:

A boarded up buildling:

But the gem of the trip was this building on Mallinkrodt. This building was falling down and had been for a long time. Looked like a victim to a hefty fire. My companion and I drove slowly around the entire building and were enraptured by the decaying tragedy before us. I really really wanted to know the history of this building and I found it after some internet research.

The building is called the Nord St. Louis Turnverein, and was home to the Turner Society, a German organization. Check out the link to see what the building used to look, and check out the photos below to see what it looked like today:

More info here about the building.

Up next, a visit to Bellefontaine Cemetary.

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-04-21T18:03:00.004-05:00

Spring has definitely sprung in St. Louis - and thank goodness. I love Alaska and all, but I was really looking forward to warmer temperatures. Despite craziness during my time at home, I managed a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. What a treat - here are just a few pics from my trip:

Beautiful huh? I didn't have to work too hard to capture the natural beauty.

#25 - Complete!

2011-04-05T21:17:00.002-05:00

~~25. See Northern Lights in person.~~

I have waited and waited for this day to come when I could see the Northern Lights in person. Every time I came up to Alaska, I had hoped and hoped that the conditions would be right. And finally, they were. I was so excited that I couldn't set up my tripod properly at first.

Words cannot even describe the ethereal beauty that is the Northern Lights. They move like the wind and change intensity at the drop of the hat. We briefly saw them overhead but they were mostly on the horizon. We saw them two nights in a row, but the first night was the most intense and beautiful. I hopped between my DSLR and my G12 camera like a crazed bunny, much to the amusement of my companions.

It was totally worth freezing for.

Here's just a few pictures- they're mostly unedited and unadjusted:

Check out the rest here

Running With the Reindeer

2011-03-28T19:34:00.003-05:00

With all the more 'serious' events that happens during Anchorage's Fur Rendezvous, 'Running with the Reindeer' is a pure outlet for fun. This is only the fourth year they've done it, but it seems to be enormously popular. Not to mention that it is a huge fundraiser for Toys for Tots or some other very very very good cause.

The premise is - they get a bunch of non-feral (i.e. not wild) reindeer, walking them down opposite their feed trailers and let people start basically a 100-yard dash, give the humans a few seconds lead start and then let the reindeer loose. And let the "chaos" ensue.

What could go wrong with this premise? And I knew I had to try my hardest to be there to see it in person. Just to say I was there. And I was glad I was.

One of the more serious parts of the entire event, is that there was an entire COMPANY of soldiers (I'm feeling guilty for not remembering which company exactly it was) but what I do remember, is that they'd been somewhere very dangerous and they had returned a few days previous and they returned incredibly intact. Out of the company of 100, only 6 were injured and none of them fatally. That's a great feat and they paraded down the entire 'race track' from finish line to starting line and the crowd roared in their approval and celebration.

I think that a batch of recruits were sworn in at the start line (I was a little too far away to hear it un-amplified) and then, that lucky full company got to be the first to run with the reindeer. And let me tell you, that was pretty priceless:

Then they let the men's group run. There were several VERY CRAZY and likely drunk men who were running in boots and boxer shorts (it was seven degrees Farenheit out). And I think several of them were military. And the emcee (a local radio host) just loved torturing them by making them do push-ups in the snow while everyone waited for the reindeer to be escorted back to the starting line.

Here are some of the crazy men:

There was this guy who was running with puppets (oven mitts) on his hands:

And then the woman ran - can you tell costumes were a theme?

And you'd never know who you might find in the crowd:

Some of the reindeer even had antler cams:

All in all, it was a very funny event - plus I had the chance to see reindeer up close and later, even got my picture taken with one.

But nothing beats the sight of a reindeer running down the street in downtown Anchorage:

Iditarod Ceremonial Start

2011-03-23T01:26:00.003-05:00

I was lucky enough to be present for the Iditarod Ceremonial Start, here in downtown Anchorage. The official race doesn't start then, but you wouldn't know it from the crowds and the dogs. Not unlike the Rondy Sled Dog Race, the dogs are WAY amped though these dogs I think are bred for distance vs. speed.

Here's just a few pics - due to the volume, I've made them smaller, check them out in bigger form at my Flickr page:

Rondy Carnival

2011-03-11T12:05:00.003-06:00

Only in Alaska would there be an outdoor carnival in WINTER. True, it may technically be the warmest it's been all winter... but it was still damn cold. And since it was on the coast (outer part of downtown), it was pretty windy when I went. I stupidly braved the cold (and complained about it later) to take these pictures, but I think it was worth it.

There were many a carnival operator simply looking super cold. I chatted with a few of them, instead of losing money at their games. It was a fun, albeit very chilly, visit.

It was very sparsely attended but those loyal attendees were bundled up for the cold!

Rondy Sled Dog Race

2011-03-10T12:32:00.003-06:00

In late February/early March, there is a festival call the Fur Rendezvous, called Fur Rondy for short. While it is centered around fur (duh), it's basically an excuse for Alaskans to party. There's lots of events from an outdoor carnival (no kidding), to sled dog races (Rondy and the Iditarod start) and a relatively new tradition called "Running of the Reindeer". I have pictures from these 4 events... so here goes on posting/blogging about the pictures from the first event: the Rondy Sled Dog Race. This is a three-day event (I'm guessing the times were added up).

As we approached 4th street, you could hear the cacophony of the dogs barking. These dogs were AMPED. Ready and raring to go. We heard that one of them got loose earlier and it took an hour to round up the dog. These dogs are born to run.

Though they closed down 4th street, they had to keep some streets still open. Here's how they controlled traffic:

One musher fell off of his sled near the start... it took 4 adults to tackle the dogs/lines to get them to stop so the musher could catch up and remount. This was after a set of dogs went the wrong way down C street. An exciting morning.

There were attendees of all sizes, including a school group that counted down with the emcee:

More blog posts to come!

Moose!

2011-03-03T14:03:00.003-06:00

On the same drive as Old Portage and the eagles, we also saw two moose. In fact, one of these moose was likely the elusive moose that lead us to the eagles.

It was a real treat to see and photograph these moose. I even got video (I'll figure out how to link it later) - they spent a lot of time walking around and snacking, but they played and ran around. The most active moose I'd seen - mostly you just see them in urban areas eating trees. This time, they were in the 'wild' off a major highway.

They played together:

Eagles!

2011-03-01T00:04:00.003-06:00

On our drive to Seward, we stopped to take pictures of a moose, but when we got to where he was, he'd disappeared into the brush. We backtracked further, but to no avail. I happened to look up and see an eagle in a tree. This was my second live eagle outside of a sanctuary and WS' first. We snapped a bunch of photos and kept backtracking when I looked back and saw a second eagle. The second eagle had been there the entire time but had been hidden by the tree.

Behold:

Keep checking here for more pictures not included on the blog...

Old Portage, AK

2011-02-27T13:26:00.002-06:00

On our drive to Seward along the Seward Highway, just past Girdwood, I spotted something on the side of the road. As a photographer, and a person, I ADORE abandoned, falling down buildings. They have so much HISTORY.

And I apparently spotted the proverbial gem mine. There were two falling down buildings in a frozen marsh along the side of the road. I was initially content to take pictures from the roadside, but WS was more adventurous and ventured out on the ice. THANK GOODNESS she did. The pictures we got were INVALUABLE. There were two buildings, and next to one of the buildings was an old rusted out truck.

I kept having this feeling that there was so much more to this place, so I remembered the mile marker and resolved to look it up when I got home. And what a history and story did I find.

What we discovered were the remains of the town of Portage, which was ruined and abandoned after the great 1964 earthquake. That earthquake among other things dropped the town of Portage down 6-10 feet and killed several trees at their roots from the salt water. These ruins have been standing for 47 years.

To read more, check out these wikipedia articles on the earthquake and the town.

Here's just a sample of the photos I took - here's the complete set:

Alaskan Adventure #3.5

2011-02-26T12:50:00.003-06:00

This adventure is a .5 adventure, because I went on my own - from Palmer to Whittier, up and down the Alaska 1 - from Old Glenn Highway to Seward Highway.

And I saw many sights. Like this one in Palmer, which WS spotted during Adventure #3 and I went back the next day because I really liked the pictures so damn much.

And then, as I was heading back to Anchorage, I saw this gem:

And this: at a Power Plant:

And as I drove back from my adventures on the southern portion of Seward Highway, I was treated to this sunset:

As well as this: many signs around here are shot through like this:

Alaskan Adventure #3

2011-02-25T00:55:00.003-06:00

Here be pictures from our adventure to Palmer/Hatcher Pass (north of Anchorage on Old Glenn Highway). I'll let them do all the talking.

Two Years Ago/Yesterday

2011-02-23T01:17:00.003-06:00

Coincidence? I think not...

Taken two years ago:

Taken yesterday:

Virtually the same place.

More pictures from same drive in another entry.

More Alaskan Adventures

2011-02-22T13:39:00.002-06:00

This time, it was a trip down Seward Highway, to about Girdwood or so. The ice breakup, though no sign of spring, is beautiful and watching the ice chunks flow by with majestic mountains in the background is amazing.

But what is even more amazing was the sighting of not one, not two but FOUR Dall sheep on the moutainside next to the road. I've seen moose up here, and I've seen eagles, and even an otter. But not a sheep:

More PP2011

2011-02-19T14:05:00.002-06:00

Leaf

Silhouettes

Vegetables

Signs

Trees

Wood

Spot Color

Blocks

Squares

Music

Seams

Doorknob

Low Angle

Wintry Alaskan Photowalk #1

2011-02-19T01:19:00.004-06:00

Took a photowalk with bestie and fellow photographer, WS, after a sizeable snowfall. We braved 5 or so inches and some chilly temps, all in the name of art.

Here's a few highlights of the walk:

including two gems discovered by WS,

a music note:

and is it a leaf or a bird?

More Photo Project 2011 Photos

2011-02-14T18:19:00.002-06:00

Having a little more free-time encourages picture-taking - though I have been keeping my eyes out for interesting things to photograph lately, even if I haven't had my camera handy.

I didn't realize I hadn't taken pictures of the # 1

or started looking for 100

One beautiful thing about Alaska is the sunrises and sunsets:

Sometimes the items are right in front of you, like this vent:

I'm surrounded by coffee drinkers, so I'm a little surprised it took me this long to take a photo like this:

This is definitely broken:

I thought locks were on my list, but luckily, hinges are:

Rustiness abounds:

Only 242 to go!

Crossing Items Off The List

2011-02-10T13:54:00.005-06:00

... the Photo Project List

Cats

Cables

Shallow DOF

Silver

Gold

Wood

Numbers

Blue

Blocks

Sculpture

Yellow

Marks

Books

Plugged in

Shadows

Alphabet

Abstract

Leaf

Rust

Only 251 left to go...

Happy 3rd(!) Blogiversary!

2011-02-09T01:57:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I've been blogging on this blog since 2008. Three years ago, I started this blog centered around my photography with this post on the most confusing parking sign in history.

Three years later, I've completed two different year-long projects, and continued the theme of the blog - meaning that it is centered around my photography hobby. Sure I have mostly-text posts occasionally on topics that interest or intrigue me, but here we are, three years later.

For those few who have been here since the beginning, thank you for reading and commenting (when you felt like it) and for those who have joined along the way, thanks for stopping by and reading!

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging tomorrow (including more fulfillment of Photo Project 2011).

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pics taken relatively recently:

Anastasia, Amur Leopard Cub

2011-01-29T02:00:00.003-06:00

On Wednesday afternoon, I had the privilege of seeing Anastasia's public debut. Anastasia is a 3.5 month old Amur Leopard cub born at the St. Louis Zoo and Wednesday was her first major outing. She was incredibly adorable and her mom, Mona, was a charmer too. The neighboring pen held her dad, Erskine, but they had never met. I witnessed their first "meeting" through the wire of the cages - initially she was curious, then hissed because "mom, that's a BIG cat next door" but was later curious. Mona and Erskine hadn't seen each other in awhile and are quite taken with each other and were very chatty. As was mom with baby. Anastasia spent the beginning doing an Army-style crawl around the enclosure - everything was new to her - she'd only seen snow once before and would greet everything with an initial hiss. After awhile, she was bounding around, playing cutely with her mom and being a precocious little toddler by walking out on branches that her mom playfully knocked her off of.

I had a chance to chat with the Keeper, R, who was very accommodating and answered a lot of my questions. I found out about Ana's debut about 45 minutes before it happened via Facebook and I'm so glad that I bundled up and headed over there. Ana was super cute, her Keeper awesome and the parking attendant who saved me from using a parking pass by finding me a free spot (I rewarded her with pictures and stories of Ana on the way out) - it was all in all an afternoon well spent.

p.s. there are 97 pictures in this set, but I took almost 1100. It took me several days to pare down to these pics - I had to throw away so many bad ones (their wire enclosure makes auto-focus moot and they occasionally move pretty fast for manual focus) and just as many good ones that were similar to the ones remaining. I definitely overshot because I never knew which ones would truly be in focus. I hope you look at them all and more than just the few favorites posted here:

More PP2011 Fulfillment

2011-01-26T11:37:00.002-06:00

Since my time off is nearing the end, I decided to cross some more items off my PP2011 list.

Trees

Ice

Closed

Bridge

Circles

Wheels

This was marked as a circle last week - before I uploaded the ones above:

Square

Zipper

Path

Map

Vertical Lines

Creek/River

More #s

Starting on the Alphabet

Neon

Plugged In

Blocks

Pencils

Order

Pens

Hands

Out of Focus

Shenandoah National Park

2011-01-25T15:40:00.003-06:00

While I was making visits to some very good friends on the East Coast, I was "close" to Shenandoah National Park, one of the national parks that I still needed to visit. Luckily, my best friend is awesome and graciously drove us there in fairly chilly weather and we drove through part of the park. Part of Skyline Drive was closed, but it wasn't clear whether it was closed for weather or otherwise. We only saw 5 white-tail deer, and I got ZERO pictures of them. I did, however, get snaps of some pretty vistas. My G12 has a setting on it called "Super vivid" and it charges up the colors pretty high. I really like the look that it captured - so I kept those and discarded the regular. Just imagine reality a small dial back on intense saturated color. It also points out some of the features that were the reason for taking aforementioned photos. Enjoy!

Only 29 more to go!

Snowy Missouri Botanical Garden

2011-01-25T09:11:00.003-06:00

Sometimes, it takes "extreme" weather to tell you how dedicated you are to your 'art'. We had a lovely snowy day and it was crispy cold. This crazy blogger decided to bundle up and head to the Missouri Botanical Garden to take pictures of the garden in snow. This was inspired by a recent gift.

It was beautiful and worth being freezing cold (next time: wear long underwear!) and being one of the few people out there! Here's just a few of the pics:

There are tons more under the Missouri Botanical Garden set, and a few more featured in the next photo project 2011 post...

Checking Things Off

2011-01-23T20:16:00.004-06:00

I've made inroads on my Photo Project 2011... for now, I'm ahead of the game. I'm up to at least 43 posted pictures, with some left to post.

I've finished the number 2:

And the color green:

And the color purple:

Filling the frame:

Safety:

a fire hydrant on the Hill:

an old fire extinguisher;

Cooking:

Traffic:

Wine

Tracks

the color yellow

And a few #s:

And 3s:

Neon, Shadows, Symmetry, Hallway, Button:

Sometimes happy mistakes happen, like this out of focus:

Or this mailbox that I happened upon:

Going from silver to colorful:

Ice and shallow DOF (of ice):

Circles and clocks:

Repetitions and Vertical Lines:

Doorways and stairs:

And sometimes just the ordinary is interesting like this vegetable:

More to come soon! Again, I've got quite the backlog of photos.

"Macro" Snow

2011-01-18T07:15:00.004-06:00

I don't have a true real macro lens, but I wanted to try to get some close-ups of snowflakes. They're not the greatest but not they're not so bad either.

And of course, one can't resist a snowy dog pic:

Next up - checking things off the Photo Project 2011 list

Chihuly's Blue Chandelier

2011-01-13T17:34:00.004-06:00

While visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden in sub-freezing temperatures in attempt to catch MOBOT in snow, I inadvertently visited Chihuly's Blue Chandelier hours before it was to be dismantled. Missouri Chihuly fans fret not, as its dismantling is only temporary. The Ridgeway Center, where it hangs, is undergoing roof renovation and it is being removed in order to preserve its safety. They expect it to be back up by April.

Here's a few pictures to tide us over until then:

Looking straight up from underneath:

Task #22: Visit all the National Parks in the continental United States - UPDATE

2011-01-12T13:38:00.005-06:00

Updated 1/12/11

Here's info on the original post which explains why there might be some missing.

Visited But Don't Remember Clearly and/or Would Like To Revisit: (5)
Acadia (Maine), Badlands (South Dakota), Black Canyon (Colorado), Bryce Canyon (Utah), Crater Lake (Oregon)

Visited and Remember Clearly and/or Visited Post-College: (10)
Death Valley National Park (California), Glacier National Park (Montana), Grand Canyon (Arizona), Grand Teton (Wyoming), Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina/Tennessee), Joshua Tree (California), Mesa Verde (Colorado), Rocky Mountains (Colorado), Yellowstone (Wyoming), Hot Springs (Arkansas)

Still Need to Visit: (30)
Arches (Utah), Big Bend (Texas), Biscayne (Florida), Canyonlands (Utah), Capitol Reef (Utah), Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico), Channel Islands (California), Congaree (South Carolina), Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio), Dry Tortugas (Florida), Everglades (Florida), Great Sand Dunes (Colorado), Guadalupe Mountains (Texas), Isle Royale (Michigan), Kings Canyon (California), Lassen Volcanic (California), Mammoth Cave (Kentucky), Mount Rainier (Washington), North Cascades (Washington), Olympic (Washington), Petrified Forest (Arizona),. Redwood (California), Saguaro (Arizona), Sequoia (California), Shenandoah (Virgina), Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota), Voyaguers (Minnesota), Wind Cave (South Dakota), Yosemite (California), Zion (Utah)

That's quite an impressive list to still accomplish. I'll probably aim for "still need to visit" first; followed by the ones I'd like to re-visit.

Cupcakes

2011-01-08T23:18:00.001-06:00

I think we may be getting the hang of this:

This was featured on a cupcake-related twitter account:

Urban Decay in St Louis

2011-01-07T13:30:00.002-06:00

I think I have always been fascinated by urban decay, on many levels. I love finding history in buildings, even if they're falling apart. I love exploring old, abandoned areas. So one day, because I could find no one else to do this with, I drove around and took most of the pictures from the car.

Here are some of my favorites, check out the rest here:

Why I love my Canon G12

2011-01-05T20:46:00.002-06:00

... is because of pictures like this:

These photos were taken in the parking lot of Schnucks. I cannot tell you how many times I've walked around since the end of my 365 project wishing I had a camera other than my iPhone to snap a picture with.

Thank you G12 for letting me capture this gorgeous sunset.

2010: A Year in Review

2011-01-04T22:49:00.003-06:00

2010 was an interesting year to say the least. Not surprisingly, I spent a lot of time traveling - but I also spent a good amount of time at home - a good thing and a bad thing simultaneously.

January was spent in Cedar Rapids, IA doing my first Salome and also mourning the loss of my maternal grandfather.

February found me in chilly Boston, working on a world premiere with all the accompanying trials and tribulations.

March was spent working on a double-bill of new shows to me: Gianni Schicchi/Buoso's Ghost which reunited me with a colleague I hadn't worked with in years. This cast was addicted to Apples to Apples almost as much as my previous cast had been addicted to Trivial Pursuit.

April saw me mostly at home with a side trip to LA where I caught up with friends, ate at all my favorite restaurants, saw another Death Valley Bloom and crossed #48 off my list.

May had me completing my 365 project and happily so. I also celebrated my birthday by recording it for task #57

June and July were eaten up by an intensive summer job in which I discovered the truth and and wisdom in Dove candy and discovered just how long one could go without a day off whilst working three shows simultaneously.

After recovering from June & July, I spent a week in August in Montana, spending time with extended family and standing by my cousin as one of her bridesmaids, crossing #43 off my list as well as visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for the first time in 20 years.

September found me enjoying my favorite St. Louis fall pastime, festivals. I visited the Greek Festival, Japanese Festival (twice) and the St. Louis Art Fair before heading off to work once again.

October had me half in Indianapolis doing The Mikado redux (it was to have happened in March) and spent the last 11 days of October in Beijing - crossing #60 and 62 off my list in one fell swoop. October also had me mourning the loss of my final remaining grandparent, my maternal grandmother.

November found me mostly in St. Louis with a brief jaunt to Phoenix to help Mom tie up loose ends and pack up the house. I put my work skills to good use and kept Mom and I on task - and we finished with time to spare.

December was a pretty quiet month and nothing of great significance happened. A lot of personal housekeeping, house purging and reorganization occurred while I madly tried to finish 3 baby projects (1 gigantic, two smaller) before said babies were born.

I also crossed items #2 and #53 off my list.

I took lots and lots of pictures even without a photography project to drive me and added a Canon G12 to my camera arsenal to replace my rarely used and mostly broken Fuji point-and-shoot.

Mom and I put my 2009 Hanukah gift to good use and made/decorated cupcakes in various forms throughout the year including two different types of dog cupcakes, black and whites, graduation caps and most recently, petit four-style cupcakes. I've gotten a dab hand at dyeing white frosting all sorts of colors.

I revised and expanded my life list again and brought the number up to 100 - my original numeric goal. I've crossed things off, including eight items in 2010, but there's many more to go.

And on the cusp of the New Year, whilst a torandic storm was brewing, I created a monster photo project to keep me busy in 2011. Let's see what the new year brings.

Snowy Christmas Day

2011-01-03T17:01:00.003-06:00

I don't celebrate Christmas in the sense that other people do, but I do celebrate it as a more special day than others. I'd been itching to get another crack at snow photos and mom wanted to take the dogs for a walk - so we compromised and she accompanied me to Forest Park. I had fun, the pups had fun and mom would've had more fun had her steps counted.

While it was fun to try to catch the falling snow the day before, the pictures from Christmas were much clearer, cleaner and crisper.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

This was great wet snow - the kind that sticks to trees and sticks to itself, as evidenced by these mini-snowmen

We also came across a tree that was planted in the memory of a person whose friends decorated his tree for Christmas:

Snowy Christmas Eve

2011-01-02T23:59:00.002-06:00

Before I start posting my project photos (which I've already knocked some off my list...), I need to work on the backlog of photos. So I start with a snowy Christmas Eve. Our first real snow since Thanksgiving, and that one barely lasted that day.

After reading an article in my new photography magazine (courtesy of a friend), I really wanted to take pictures of snow. Not quite sure why I got the proverbial bee in my bonnet about it since I will be spending all of February and March in ALASKA, where it snows A LOT.

Time flew by on Christmas Eve and I headed out a little too late in the day. Plus it had started snowing much heavier than it had when I had left the house. Nevertheless, I still caught a few good snaps. Here are my favorites:

And this one which I caught on the way home from catching up with old family friends:

This gate is pretty in its own right, but highlighted with snow and hit with perfect light - just made a trifecta of good and I couldn't let that moment pass by.