Days 46, 47, 48 and 49 - 2010

Well I have not posted for a couple of days now. Actually I was going to stop, figured nobody is reading this anyway so why post. But then I realized I am not doing this for the outside world I am doing it for me so I can remember what I was doing on that particular day in my life of 2010.

It is funny I look on some blogs and they have a bazillion followers. Some are interesting and some just so so but what is it about them that makes people want to read them. It's this complex I have always had, when I was in art school I would always judge myself against how good others were compared to me, but one day my teacher said some have been in this class for years you are just starting you can't compare yourself to them. Well I guess the same holds true for my blog, I am just going to keep focused and keep my eyes on the prize New Years Day 2011.

Well what has happened since I last blogged, Day 46 up there with the foggy tree is how I felt that day, I had just had to put my mom's dog Sydney down and I was pretty blue, went to the dog park and cried for a while. Sydney was one special dog, (as they all are but Sydney was truly special) I got her for my mom as a Birthday Gift, my mom had just lost my Grandpa and was all alone, my brother and dad had died and now my grandpa all within the course of 2 years. I had moved out and she was alone which she did not know how to be. So my friend Mary Ann and I went to the pound to actually get this other dog who just wound up not fitting in with our family, so Mary Ann went a wandering and found Sydney. At first I said well this dog is too big, so I read her bio and it said she liked to hold hands, so I said I have to see this. They brought her in and the first thing she did was give me her paw and we sat like that for a bit and I wound up bringing her home. My mom screamed and yelled at the time I DO NOT WANT A DOG, but Sydney gave her her paw and they were friends for life. My mom took it really hard to, they were together 24/7 every day for the past 11 years, (Sydney was 13) and you would not see one without the other. So now I am waiting for her ashes to be done so we could go and spread them over all the places she loved, she always loved to run and she gave us tons of good chases. I think I even blogged about it in her description.

Day 47, well that was the last of the persimmons on our tree. I love the way the tree looks when it is all decked out with the persimmons like a Xmas Tree from mother nature. I have to say I don't miss the fruit though it is John that loves the fruit persimmons are entirely to mushy for me, but thought I would send it off in style and get some Lensbaby practice in.

Day 48, this is my sweetie John Sweet. I got him to pose like a mean old cowboy for me but he is quite the opposite. His family is very wild west though. They are from Vernal, Utah real cowboy country. His great granddad was quite the character, he and his brother were run out of Texas for one thing or another and wound up in Utah. Gloria, John's mom says they are related to President Lyndon Johnson, (Johnson is her maiden name) and I have to say if you look at some of the family photos there is a resemblance there. Great granddad was known as Dally Man to the Indians in the area, he got that nickname as he was so good with a rope, I guess a Dally is cowboy lingo for the ropes they use to rope the cattle. He also lost a big chunk of property in a poker game. I just love to listen to Gloria tell stories of the family, very different from my upbringing coming from a very European family.

Day 49, today, well that is just me practcing with my Lensbaby again. I think it looks o.k., will be interesting to see what I think a year from now. Hope my photography gets better that is the whole point of this. When I opened the front door today I saw that my 50mm lens had arrived so I am excited to go home and give it a try. I see all these gorgeous photos with the great Dept of Field and think well how come I can't achieve that (me comparing myself to others again) but I just want to go home and have some 50 mm fun.

So that is it folks (or Paula), see you tomorrow same place but who knows what time.

Day 42 and 43/365 - 2010

When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out - because that's what's inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside.
Wayne Dyer

Day 37/365 - 2010

Day 37/365 - Thought I would try my hand at a portrait. Could not decide if I liked the black and white or the color version. Not the best have lots of work to do on my portrait skills any suggestions anyone??

This is our friend Tim who is moving to Utah this week. The shelter will miss him so much and so will we. Tim is one of those good good souls, he has saved over 30 dogs that would probably have been euthanized had he not pulled them out and fostered them. Lucky dogs are those at the next shelter he will volunteer for. Bye Tim :(

Day 16/365 - 2010

I work for a pharmaceutical company,so these little guys are laying around everywhere. I decided to put them to a different use and have some model for me. The original photo is of clear glass bottles sitting on top of my Orange Covered Mac, I thought it came out a bit dull so with a little help from my friend PS this is what I got. I just love that PS!

Day 9/365 2010

Was walking by the hallway last night and saw the little thingys on my lamp glitter so I pulled out my trusty Pentax and took a photo. A nice warm and cozy Friday night which I need after a long week.

I must tell you I had a crazy ride home yesterday. As I was on the freeway this crazy guy cut in front of me within inches of my car and almost hit me, so I did the obligatory honk but he did not care he just kept moving and terrorizing everyone who was in front of him. Then to boot I noticed he took the same exit I was going to take, ye gads, now he is going to terrorize my poor little town too! Anyway I drove slower so I would not have to deal with him, but then just as I was crossing the El Camino there he sat STUCK behind 5 or 6 other cars waiting for his light to turn. So as I passed I drove slowly and turned and looked him in the eye and just smiled and waved and passed him up and let him sit in the dust! Ah the universe does work in strange ways, thanks universe for giving me a happy ending!

Day 8/365 - 2010

Was walking by this old bobbed wire fence so I thought what the heck! Wow made it through one whole week of pictures, now only 51 more weeks to go....

Day 5/365 - 2010

getting up early does have it's advantages. The sky truly did look painted on this morning, Monet could not have done a better job!

Day 4/365 - 2010

Day 4 is Volunteer day at my local animal shelter :)

Meet Sonny and Cher, these two lovelies were found as strays back in October of 2009. They are quite a challenge to work with as they are so afraid of anything new, i.e. people, environment, etc. They so love and depend on each other, if Sonny think we are mishandling Cher he immediately comes to her side. They are both making progress slowly, yesterday was monumental Sonny actually came up to John and I and wanted to engage us and Cher meekly followed which took great courage on both their parts.

It makes me sad to see situations like this, not for the dogs as I am glad that they got themselves out of their situation but for the people who made them this way. Not just Sonny and Cher but all the animals in the shelter my heart just hurts to see them in their kennels scared and alone and not knowing why.

I would love for all people to go to a shelter and adopt an animal, especially now with the economy being like it is and so many being surrendered. But what I stress most is do your research first, make sure you are ready to invite one of these beautiful creatures into your home. The benefits of having an animal in your life are too infinite to list, but I can guarantee if you want true and pure love you will receive it hundred fold.

Hope to update you on Sonny and Cher in the weeks ahead with good news on their progress!