Oh, my poor neglected blog!

Again. Sigh.

When I get into my bloggers-block mode, you can always follow me at twitter. I also waste quite a bit of time at facebook:

I'm big into the LastFM thing, too!

Extrememe Makeover: Home Edition Tonight!

Watch Extrememe Makeover: Home Edition tonight on ABC. The family tonight is from right in here in Pittsburgh. I got to process and print photos for the show/family! A small thing, but still... It was pretty cool.

My very good friend, co-worker, and photography guru Chuck from Chuck Brown Photography actually got to do more... he took photos, did interviews, and wrote about it for a local newspaper. He blogged about his experience here. Check it out!

I'm excited to watch this tonight, it is going to be a very touching story (as usual!). Check it out! And if you see framed family photos, photos from their vacation, etc. know that yours truly had the honor of helping to make that happen!

Big Sigh of Relief...

It seems the craziness from the holidays is starting to calm down a little. See... I actually have time to sit here and type something up for my poor neglected blog!

Work is slowing down, things returning slowly but surely back to normal.

Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays. It was fun. Just crazy.

Maya was quite a happy camper, she really made out this year... between Santa and family, she is now the proud owner of a Nintendo DS lite (red!) and 8, yes 8 games. I have shamelessly been hogging the DS quite a bit, I must confess.

There are also a whole variety of other various toys and games and doo-dads to keep her occupied. We've been playing boggle and have yet to try out the joys of cupcake making with her Gourmet Girl cupcake maker. It's nice having her home from school, but the poor kid has a pretty bad cold right now. Sipping hot apple cider and watching Nims Island. Great movie, by the way!

I'm also the proud owner of a new Fondue Set, which I have been wanting for, well, a long time. I'm thinking of trying chocolate rum fondue recipe for New Years eve. Yummy.

I haven't had a chance to read up on all my wonderful fave blogs recently, I plan on taking some time to do that today and tomorrow, but I do hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday, whatever and however you celebrate!

Bark At The Moon

So, tonight is going to be the largest full moon of the year, and I will be out and about Christmas shopping, out among the masses of already crazed people all trying to get that ever coveted deal of the century. Will the full moon make them even crazier? I can only hope not.

Going on a Friday night, 2 weeks before Christmas.. not so smart to begin with. But hey, it was pay day for the hubby and I, and my schedule doesn't allow me much freedom and flexibility. The stars aligned (albeit with the largest full moon of the year!) allowing a night off, alone time with hubby, grand parent provided kid-sitting and money in our pockets... all at the same time, on the same night. How could I pass up this opportunity?

The kiddo has requested the follow items from Santa, which will no doubt leave her one very disappointed little girl on Christmas morning:

A Laptop (Hahaha.. Santa has not yet finished paying off her laptop, and kiddo thinks she can get one? She is EIGHT!!!)

A Cell Phone. Yes, a cell phone. Once again... she is EIGHT!! Now, I do see the logic in kids having cell phones... safety concerns all that. But I'm thinking, maybe let her hit double digits first? I don't need a cell phone bill through the roof because she's downloaded 6,754 Hannah Montana and Jonas Bros ring tones. Besides, I am perfectly capable of providing my very own through-the-roof cell phone bills, courtesy of my new friend MoBlogging.

A Video Camera. HA. She is the daughter of an aspiring photographer who works in a camera shop! The kid already has a digital camera nicer than most kids her age have, AND it does shoot video, and she has a pretty little 4 gig SD card to go with it! So, ixnay on the ideovay ameracay.

Nintendo DS. Ah. Now this, I can do. Mainly because I want to play with it, too. If she lets me. Well.. she will have to sleep sometime right?

Happy Holiday Shopping to all, and... hey, wish me luck out there with all the werewolves and frantic shopping lunatics under the glow of the gigantic full moon!

Southern Vampires

I don't know how I am going to be able to wait until May 2009 for this to come out!



Sigh. Anyone else read these? GREAT series. For real. If you were a fan of Twilight, you will LOVE these even more! They are sooooo much better. More grown up, too.

For the record... I <3 Eric.

13 Things Your Sales Associate Won't Tell You

Based on the popular readers digest "13 things your __________ won't tell you" I bring you my version, 13 things your friendly retail sales associate won't tell you during the crazy holiday season.

1. If you are shopping anytime between the day after Thanksgiving and about a week or two after Christmas, EXPECT TO WAIT! Don't get mad at ME because, GASP! There is a store full of people and you actually have to wait for 10 minutes... the weekend after Thanksgiving!

2. I'm sorry if sometimes I seem a wee bit cranky. I am friendly and bouncy and cheerful 99% of the time, not my fault if you caught me during that inevitable 1% moment... I've been dealing with rude customers, huge crowds, noise, running back and forth, god forsaken mall xmas music ALL DAY, and really... it's nothing personal. Unless, of course, you were rude to me first. Then? It's personal.

3. Please don't stay after we close because we're too nice to kick you out. It's after 11, we've been here all day, we want to go home, the gate is down and the lights are half off... can't you hear our heavy sighs through your bombardment of questions? Can't you take a hint or 10? Come back another time. Please.

4. Every customer is important.. not just YOU. Stop expecting special treatment. We treat our customers well, we try our best to show great customer service to ALL our customers, but we treat all our customers the SAME. You can't get your photos in 10 minutes instead of an the typical hour, you can't get 50% off that tripod or camera bag just because you are a "regular" customer.

5. That joke about the item being FREE if it doesn't scan the first time? So. Not. Funny.

6. If you have to bring all 7 of your kids into our tiny store full of highly expensive and breakable merchandise, could you PLEASE parent them so we don't have to? And could you maybe NOT stay for an hour while ignoring the fact that they are hitting each other over the head with our tripods and tossing glass photo frames around like footballs?

7. When I ask you if you'd like a bag with that, please, for the love of GOD, don't say "No I already have one, she's out in the car!"

8. Items sell out. They do. Especially when it's a really good deal. Don't get all huffy just because It's in the AD but we have none in stock. There's no conspiracy against you where we are holding all the merchandise in the back room just to tick you off.

9. Speaking of back rooms, I know what we have and don't have, on the floor AND in the back. Don't ask me to please check for you when I have already told you there are none back there. I am not just being lazy, I am not lying, we really don't have any back there!

10. We will be a LOT nicer to you if you are nice to us!

11. Don't bitch at me because wallymart or betterbuy has a lower price than we do. Go there, then. I don't set the prices. I'm not personally trying to rip you off. Oh, you can order it online for hundreds less? GREAT! Have fun trying to get personal service if you have a problem with your purchase. Mr. Internet will be a great help, I'm sure.

12. In the photo lab, sometimes our machines break. The world is an imperfect place, screws fall out all the time. I'm very sorry, but please, don't take it out on ME. I did not purposely break our equipment just to make your life hell.

13. If you know you need to special order something, DO IT EARLY!! I can't help it if you wait until a week before xmas, and it doesn't come in time!! I'm not the one who procrastinated, YOU are!!

Happy Holiday Shopping All! And please, show some cheer and respect to all the retail workers you come in contact with this season.... they are working LONG hours, overtime, and dealing with a lot!!

I need to get me one of these!

How cool is that?!

Come Back! Please?

As you can see, I am slowly but surely getting this blog put back together. Not done yet, but getting there! I miss blogging so much, I miss all my fave blogs and I miss all my readers and bloggy friends (wow, how dorky did THAT sound?)

Due to my super long Hiatus, I know I have lost a lot of readers but I'm hoping to gain you back! I will be maing my rounds to all my fave blogs over the next few days.

Check back soon, because I am BACK baby, for good!

Hi

I just can't keep up with this blog much anymore!! I don't know what it is.

I'm not saying I am leaving or quitting. I'm just saying... sorry, I must be going through a phase, but I know the phase will be over soon.

I do have another online journal, that's a bit more personal, but it's mostly friends only. So here's the deal.

If you have a livejournal account, leave me a comment or email me: java_mama@yahoo.com and let me know what your livejournal addy is and I will add you. If you don't, well... go get one. Haha.

Feel free to do this even if you've only been mostly "lurking" here.

I'm not leaving this blog, though. So stop by from time to time!

By the way... good news. Maya was asked to try out for the "team trainers" program at gymnastics, which is a pre-team training program. So, she did... and she made it!

So, now I will be diving into the world of competitive gymnastics. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I have read so many good things, but so many bad things, about this level of gymnastics.

But, they seem to think she has what it takes, and she loves it more than life itself right now!

No Boyfriends Until You're 40 (Her Dad Says...)

Getting back to my "mom blog" roots...

Maya has a boyfriend.

Here's the thing. I want to be the kind of Mom she feels she can talk to about to anything. I want her to be able to come to me for support or advice, I want her to feel like she can tell me anything, I want us to have that close relationship.

She is only in first grade, 7 years old... but it starts now. The trust thing, we have to start building it with our kids from day 1. I firmly believe this and I have tried, in so many ways, to do this as a parent...

I have been very involved in every aspect of her life (well, DUH, I'm her mother!), and obviously school is one of the most important aspects... so obviously, I have been very involved in this, also. I have volunteered in her library, her computer classes, class parties, book fairs. I meet with her teacher and we discuss her "gifted" status and the challenges her teacher gives her, I have a wonderful relationship with her teacher.

A few weeks ago Maya was Student of the Week. This means, among other things, parents get to come to the school and do a special project with the class. We made and decorated foamie sun visors, the kids loved it! Many of her classmates know me pretty well by now, I get a lot of "Hi, Maya's Mom!" comments as I walk through the halls.

I keep getting off point here. Anyway. While the kiddos were busy with their projects, Maya's teacher pulls me aside and says, "So, have you heard the news? About the romance?" I was like, huh?

So she proceeds to tell me that Maya and Devon have announced that they "like" each other and are now boyfriend-girlfriend. Whatever that means, to 7 year olds. At first I was a little freaked, I mean it's cute when it's someoneelse's kid... I asked the teacher if this was normal and she assured me it was, normal and healthy at this age. She got married in first grade. Hehe.

My next reaction was, why didn't Maya tell me?? Have I failed already?? At only 7 years old, does she already feel she can't tell me these things?

I didn't need to worry, though. While we were driving in the car, a almost an after thought, Maya says "Oh, hey mom! Guess what!" and I got to hear all about her and Devon, and how funny he is, and how nice he is, and how great of a climber he is on the playground equipment.

In other wonderful mom news... They have moved Maya up, from level 1 to level 3 in gymnastics. Skipped her right over level 2!

Also, I'm looking forward to her spring school musical show this month. These things are beyond cute. Their Holiday show was adorable and just awesome, and now they are going to have a spring show... A Year with Frog and Toad.

Obviously, I will have photos! :)

My Vintage and Antique Camera Collection

Check out all the photos of my collection HERE.

A Dedication

I don't understand why nothing I do is ever good enough. From the very beginning it seems there was always a focus on the negative.

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless
Lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me

It was always about what I couldn't do. I couldn't do this, I couldn't do that, and if I could, well... I couldn't do it right. I couldn't do it your way. My way was always wrong. Maybe you did want the best for me. I'm telling you now, it wasn't best.

Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow

There were, and still are, times when all I needed was a little support. I could never talk to you, when I did I was patronized and mocked, or yelled at. 28 years old, and nothing has changed. I can't take it anymore.

I've Become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware

I wonder what would have happened if you had supported me, just once?? If you had expected me to succeed instead of assuming I would fail?? Perhaps when I was 14 and my art teacher told you I had a knack for photography, you could have encouraged me. Instead, you were too busy screaming about my math grades. And all of the other things I was so awful at. I have failed at everything I've tried. That's not true... I have either failed or given up out of fear. Fear of failure. The minute I start to think I might be good at something, I might be able to succeed and make something of myself, I give up.

I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

Well, no more. I'm done trying to come to you for support or advice, just to get beaten down. I'm done being afraid of failure. I'm done giving up on my dreams. I'm done listening to you tell me what I am doing wrong with my life, done listening to you tell me how bad I've screwed up, over and over again... I'm done.

Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly
Afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you

Yes, I rebelled as a teenager. I had every right to. I may have done it the wrong way, but what did I know? I was a teenager. I needed love and support, I needed someone to talk to, someone I could trust, someone to look up to. I needed so much more than being told what a mess I was. I was never given an ounce of trust. An ounce of freedom. You called it "tough love" and said that's what I needed. Well, that wasn't what I needed.

Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow
Just caught in the undertow

As an adult I've still been living in the shadows of all your negative words and actions. I still can't do anything right in your eyes. When you have to step in to help me out, you hold it over my head and I can't escape from it... the words you use, the way you say them...

I've Become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you

No more. I am going to live my life the way I want to, and I am going to follow through with my dreams an goals, without the fear and self doubt you've instilled in me.

But I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me
With someone disappointed in you

(lyrics in white from "Numb" by Linkin Park)

Woo Hoo!

So, how about these primary results tonight, eh?

:)

Argh!!!!

What a mess.

So. I was planning on paying for my Nikon D40 with our Stimulus Check from the Uncle Sam. We assumed that because we received our tax refund via direct deposit, our stimulus rebate would be the same. This is what they were saying, anyway.

We assumed we would be getting this deposit into our account this week, no later than Friday, May 9th.

Which was perfect, because the deal on the camera was ending May 10th.

We filed our taxes using Tax Act Online, and had the fees taken directly from our refund.

Each day I've spent, anxiously and excitedly waiting and checking, for that rebate money. Growing more and more excited and more and more impatient.

Now I've come to find out, we probably will not be getting our rebate direct deposit after all... we may have to wait, until JUNE 13TH, for a paper check... because of the way we filed our taxes.

It seems that if you've filed with a third party service, i.e. tax act, or turbo tax, etc.. and had your fees taken directly out of your refund check, you're stimulus rebate will NOT be coming direct deposit... you have to wait for a paper check. (This apparently does not apply to those who used such a program but paid the fees with a credit or debit card).

The thing is, My sister in law claims she filed the same way we did, using the same program, and she had her rebate direct deposited yesterday...

Online, in various forums and sites, I've come across many people who filed the exact same way we did, and some of them got theirs direct deposit and some of them didn't and have to wait for the check.

I am confused and frustrated, and extremely disappointed. I already have so many plans coming up for that camera, that I will now have to miss out on. Plus, by June 13th, the special deal will probably be gone...

So, anyone else go through this with their stimulus check??

Great Photography Websites and Books

Today I'd like to share with you some great links and books for learning photography. These are the websites I've been visiting and the books I've been reading.

Some of the books are slightly outdated, because I bought them cheap the half priced book store... but the basics remain the same, as far as learning about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition, etc.

Also, a few magazines I've been buying.

I can't wait to get my camera, So I can finally put some of this info to use!!!

First, the links:

PhotonHead.com has a ton of useful information, my very favorite being the Digital Camera Simulator which is very useful in helping to learn about the effects of shutter speed, aperture, and camera shake. You can mess with the settings and "shoot" the photo to see how it turns out.

This isn't going to as helpful as actually doing this yourself with a real camera, but it's still really cool.

Next up, KenRockwell.com is a great site. I'm not so sure I necessarily like the style he uses in his photography, but that's a personal preference and says nothing about his skills. He's great. Plus, he is a Nikon fan, in particular the D40, so this earns him major brownie points from me!

My very, very favorite, Digital Photography School. This. Site. Rocks. The tutorials, tips, guides, etc. are amazing and easy to understand. Soooo much info, all very useful and helpful. Plus, there's a forum that rocks, weekly assignments, and much more. I've gotten the most from this site. Love it!!!!!

A few others include all the amazing groups you can find on Flickr, The photography forum at DeviantArt, and even something as simple as checking out the ratings on photos at Good Shot or Not.

Now, onto the books. I'm not going to get into detail here, a lot of the info found in each book is take it or leave it... some very helpful info, and a few outdated and pointless things, either way... not too bad.

The Digital Camera Handbook

Digital Photography Problem Solver

My newest book is wonderful: Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D40. I probably like this one the best because it is new, and it is camera specific.

My favorite photography magazines include Photography Monthly and ShutterBug.

So, there ya go. For those interested in learning as much as you can, like I am trying to do... this should help! It's really been helping me.

On a final note, I want One of these Lenbabies Lenses. Heh.

Here's to doors, and "a lot of others" opening up.

I'm posting these lyrics as a dedication to a time in my life, a time and place. NOT to a person. To a small fraction of my life that has passed.

Now that it's all said and done,
I can't believe you were the one
To build me up and tear me down,
Like an old abandoned house.
What you said when you left
Just left me cold and out of breath.
I fell too far, was in way too deep.
Guess I let you get the best of me.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.
I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.
'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.

You took a hammer to these walls,
Dragged the memories down the hall,
Packed your bags and walked away.
There was nothing I could say.
And when you slammed the front door shut,
A lot of others opened up,
So did my eyes so I could see
That you never were the best for me.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.
I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.
'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.


That was Over You by Daughtry.

News!

I'm becoming a bad blogger again. That's ok though, because I'm enjoying time with my family and working...

I have exciting and terrific news. I'm getting my camera!!!! The perfect starter dslr, the Nikon D40. Isn't it beautiful:



Hopefully, if the deal at work is still going on, I am also getting a cool bag and a second zoom lens.

I love the people I work with. Love them. This one guy, Chuck, is a professional photographer... he does everything. Weddings, portraits, you name it. He even has his own studio. He really liked my work so far, and he's going to have me "shadow" him to learn the ropes of professional photography. He also teaches digital photogrpahy classes.

Speaking of which, I am taking photography classes as soon as the next session starts.

So, the ball is rolling. I can't wait! Can you tell I'm excited??? :)

A whole Lotta Nothin

I'm not going to blog about the obvious. No, not tonight. You all know how I feel, You all know where I stand, you all know what has happened and you all know what I believe the future holds despite what has happened. So, let's move on for now, shall we?

My mind is all over the place, so bear with me.

Tonight at work, I "played" with one of the Nikon DSLR's. I've got it bad, people. Real bad. The photoholic bug. I thought strep was bad... HA. Strep ain't got nothin' on this virus.

The moment that beautiful camera touched my hands, my fingers were literally tingling. Seriously. I was holding my breath and fighting back tears.

Sigh.

Now... I lied, up there when I said I wasn't going to blog about the obvious. I changed my mind, really. I do have one thing to say. Numbers, people. MATH. In other words, IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!!

There, I feel better!!

Guess what I did today...

Well, today's the big day here in PA.

Will Obama pull this off, and get the big win here? Honestly... probably not. I'm still hoping, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be a pessimist, either. despite what the polls say, despite what the media says, I do think he has a chance, but I have to be realistic and say it's not likely.

It will be close, for sure.

Regardless of whether or not Obama gets PA, I still believe very strongly he will get the nomination in the long run.

I want him to win my state, though. So many volunteers like myself have worked so hard for this.

For now, I wait. Sigh. I hate waiting.

The Story Behind The Burning Tree

Because yesterday was "Wordless Wednesday" I couldn't exactly tell you why I had a photo of a burning tree. Which is just as well, because the element of mystery made it that much better. In my opinion, anyway. I won't keep you in suspense any longer!

It all started with my genius of a neighbor. The folks who live right behind us like to burn... garbage, leaves, the kitchen sink... you name it, they'll burn it. You may be able to tell where this is going by now.

Have I mentioned that it is illegal to burn where I live??

My genius of a neighbor had been burning for days, so I paid little attention to the billows of smoke pouring out from his backyard. Other than the smell was really starting to get on my nerves...

I happened to glance out the kitchen window, and immediately had to do a double take. Were there flames coming out of that tree???!!?? Nah, couldn't be. My eyes playing tricks on me again, most likely.

I walked around to various other windows in the house, squinting and trying different angles, and still it seemed there were flames shooting off of the tree.

Grabbing my camera on my way out the door, I meandered on over to find out what the heck was going on. Did he light the tree on fire on purpose?? I knew he was a genius, but I didn't think he was that insane. Or was it the more likely scenario, a spark from his illegal fire flew up and lit the tree ablaze. If so, was he even there? Did he know about it? Why wasn't he hosing it off with water or calling the FD before it took out other trees, and then houses??

These thoughts, and others, drifted through my mind when suddenly I saw him... Mr. Genius himself. Standing nonchalantly on his back porch, beer in hand, watching the flames jump and dance from the tree, listening to the crackles and pops of dead, burning wood.

I called out hello, and then began asking questions... because his little pyro show was a little too close to the pine tree in my yard, for one thing.

So he proceeded to tell me his story. No, the tree was not suppose to be on fire. Yes, he knows that is indeed, it is on fire. He can't call the fire department, because they would fine him... you know, the whole burning being illegal thing. I was also told not to worry, because he had everything under control. Let me tell you, WHEW did I feel better! Because when you want someone to be in control, you definitely want that person to be a genius like him.

"I'm just watching it, going to try to let it burn out and fall, hopefully it won't fall on my shed...."

His shed, his all wooden shed, which was about 10 feet from the burning tree.

I, on the other hand, was slightly more worried about my property. You know, the pine trees, the house.

I'm still not too sure why he didn't get out the hose... my guess is he actually did light the tree on purpose, to get rid of it. I can hear his axe chopping up the charred wood as I type this.

After all was said and done, everything turned out ok. It was actually sort of amusing at one point, when dozens of sirens could be heard coming our direction... Genius dropped his beer and was running to the front faster than you could say "pyromaniac's in hot water now!"

Before you ask me why I didn't call the proper authorities or the FD, let me say: I thought about it. I had my cell phone firmly gripped in one hand. The thing is, the tree was not close enough to any houses to start anything major right away, and I figured if I saw it get too out of hand then I would call. The way the yards are positioned, it was highly unlikely that any damage would be sustained in our yard. Not without plenty of warning, anyhow. He wants to burn down his shed, his house, well... that's his prerogative I suppose.

So, that's the story of the Burning Tree!