Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Youtube? What to do?

Youtube is an incredible website. My computer has issues running some of the video formats available online, but Youtube is just fantastic for being able to pause and wait for loading time.

My problem with Youtube is the availability to everyone. We've all seen how videos become viral almost overnight.

I post the videos I take to Facebook. I can control who sees them, and I feel more secure making them available where people can be tagged or untagged. Facebook videos do not work on my computer anymore, nor can I watch them on my Ipod Touch. My problem is with putting a video on Youtube, anyone at all can watch them, a problem I have when I have not asked for permission to post them. I'd hate to have a video go viral on me (like it will happen, but you know!) and subsequently be an embarrassment to those in the video itself. 

Any ideas? I think Youtube allows you to protect videos to only certain people, but that seems silly to me for this. How have you dealt with it?

Light Tent Setup

This was a temporary setup for my new Light Tent. I have it worked out more precisely now. There is a second lamp, but I don't have a good place for it that has 2 plug ins right now! It's been fun learning how to make use of the tent and the lights.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Planning

In the near future, C and I will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary with a four day trip to the big city. Two nice hotels, with one much nicer than the other. I am really excited to be going.

When we make a trip to the big city...which is typically twice a year, we (or rather I) go crazy in Walmart. Many people hate Walmart, I know, but I can't get those prices here. Not even close on many items. I have slowly been working on a list of everything we need and this morning I perfected it. I cleaned out the bathroom cabinet to find what we really need and don't. It felt great!

I will be buying canned soups, toiletries, and cereal, and a whole bunch more that is less expensive in Walmart. We are getting a Walmart about 80 miles from here that opens in 2 days! I'm pretty excited, as it will cut down on the big city grocery trips. However, it might not be as great as I am hoping for if the prices are not as good. We will have to see.

The biggest purchase we are hoping to make is a musical keyboard for C. He grew up with a piano and is a very gifted pianist. His dad lent us a keyboard for the first year or so, but it was a hassle, since he needed it back every few weeks. C has been itching to play for a while now, so I hope we can get a good deal for him :)

The museum is having a Star Wars exhibit at this time and I am really wanting to go. It's expensive, and C doesn't like Star Wars, but we might get some friends to go with us also to make it more fun. I'd also like to see Avatar in 3-D. It's still there right now, so hopefully it will be for us! Small town theaters don't have 3-D screens :(

I will let you know how it goes once we're back :)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Chickens!

I love these chickens! I found them at Safeway for Easter and I just love them. So bright and cheerful!

Date: 3/24/10
Aperture: f/9.1
Shutter: 1/4 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 100mm
Tripod? Yes

Friday, March 26, 2010

Flower Sunning Itself

One of my houseplants is blooming for the first time!

Date: 3/23/10
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/15 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 100mm
Tripod? Yes

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Census

I was going to write this post on Saturday but never got to it. I'm glad I waited!

A couple weeks ago, I got a letter from the government announcing the census form was going to arrive at my house. The next week, sure enough, it arrived. I filled it out, rather disgusted at how much paper was being used, when I only filled it out for 2 people, and sent it off.

Saturday, I checked the mail again and there was a generic postcard sent to all postal customers as a reminder to fill it out. At that point, I was ready to scream.

Now, on Monday, I get another postcard, this time addressed to my address, just not my name. Another reminder to fill out the form.

Now I know why we are in such debt! Paper and postage and the wages of whoever is typing, printing, stuffing and addressing! 4 pieces of mail for one form!

I understand that this is important and that many people just won't fill it out. But good grief, was it really necessary, especially when there will be people going door to door soon?


Seashell

I got a light tent for my birthday :) I've been having a blast with it! Today, I plan to go in search of new backgrounds and props for macro shots :)

Date: 3/23/10
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/10 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 100mm
Tripod? Yes

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Boredom Meme

Written on Monday...

BIOLOGY

* Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right!
* Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Nope!
* What is the last heavy item you lifted? My scrapbook paper box. It's pretty heavy!

FOOD-OLOGY

* What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch! I LOVE the ranch I get at certain restaurants in town. It is amazing.
* What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Duncan House
* What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Eggs. Scrambled, fried, omelets and breakfast burritos can keep it mixed up enough :)
* What are your pizza toppings of choice? Just cheese.
* What do you like to put on your toast? Butter or jelly

RANDOM-OLOGY

* If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? I think I would like to know it was coming soon, but not the exact day.
* If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn't. Been through the last name change process once and that was more than enough!
* Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Nope. Not for anything.

DUMB-OLOGY

* How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Several. Last summer in Hawaii I finally broke down and bought an actual nice pair. They are amazing!
* Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Just for headlights :) Otherwise, never.
* Last person you talked to in person? People at jury duty.
* Favorite Month? May. School is done, but work has not picked up quite yet. And summer is approaching!

CURRENT-OLOGY

* Mood? Sleepy
* What are you listening to? Quietness.
* Watching? More snow falling!
* Worrying about? School. More jury duty


RANDOM-OLOGY

* What’s the last movie you watched? An anime one.
* Do you smile often? Yes! I love smiling.
* Do you always answer your phone? Most of the time, especially if I know who it is, but if I don't have time, I won't.
* If you could change your eye color what would it be? Maybe blue. But I like my brown eyes now!
* What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Never been =/
* Have you ever had a pet fish? Yep, when I was little.
* Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night probably. Or Jingle Bell Rock or Silver Bells :)
* What’s on your wish list for your birthday? Since I just had it..for next year, more camera stuff :P
* Can you do push-ups? Haven't tried one in a long long time. Definitely used to.
* Can you do a chin up? Again, I haven't done one in forever. The last time was literally middle school.
* Do you have any saved texts? Sure. Just from laziness.
* Ever been in a car wreck? Ditch diving, yes.
* Do you have an accent? I doubt it :P
* What is the last song to make you cry? No idea.
* Plans tonight? Helping at some friend's new house!
* Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yep, but it never lasted long!
* Name 2 things you bought yesterday: Groceries and pots for plants :)
* You ever been given roses? Mmhmm :)
* Current hate right now? Jury duty :P
* Met someone who changed your life? Of course!
* What were you doing 12 AM last night? Reading

TECHNOLOGY

* How many televisions are in your house? 1, used only for the Wii.
* What color cell phone do you have? grey.
* What does the first text message in our inbox say and who sent it? Who knows.
* Who was the last person to call you? Jury duty *scowls*


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Jury Duty

My experience with jury duty so far has been a bit rotten. Or rather, left a bad taste in my mouth (mostly).

Here in Alaska, in my borough, we get stuck with it for an entire month. An entire month of being on edge, never knowing when you would have to drop everything and go.

I was first called in to serve on the day of the worst blizzard ever. Thankfully, they canceled it for the day, but it was fraught with miscommunication. I was not impressed. I had to go in the next morning and brave the still blizzard conditions for it. I found the process interesting, and was #19 of 20 jurors to be put on the spot. It was a drunk driving case and I wormed my way out of it. It was a bit intimidating to have the attorneys in my face, questioning me! I got there at 8:15 and was on my way home at 12:30.

I called in last Monday, the 15th, and was told to call again Monday night, the 22nd. I was pleased to not have to come in on spring break and especially not my birthday!

Friday evening, I called the number again to confirm that yes, I did not have to be there. I hung up the phone and forgot about jury duty.

Monday morning, at 10:15, I was just finishing up breakfast and loose ends on my internet reading when the phone rang. It was the court. Turns out, things changed or something and I was needed at the court right away. They were desperate for jurors. When I confusedly asked about the message, I was given the reply of "Oh, we changed it a couple hours later."

I was pretty unhappy. And irritated. Why would I have checked the message again? I was not penalized or anything, since everyone else was caught off guard too.

So I took my sweet time in getting there and trudged down to the courthouse. Other people trickled in after I did. I spent time doing homework until we finally got called into the courtroom after 11 sometime.

This was a really different experience. The judge was a man this time and he definitely had a sense of humor (the lady last time did too, but was more no nonsense). The prospective jurors were much more laidback and less irritated. Many people made some amusing comments that kept it more light hearted this time around too.

It turns out that I knew the defendants, not well, as they were just acquaintances, but still. This time, I was not called to sit on the first 20, but made to observe. I got more and more uncomfortable with where the questioning was going. The attorneys were asking about civil lawsuits and awarding damages, and our thoughts on them. It was definitely interesting for me to see how I am uncomfortable with the thought of forcing someone to pay a large sum based on "51%" of an unreasonable doubt.

Thankfully, I never was questioned. There were about 25 people who were questioned several were let go. It was a bit of a shocker to realize that after the others had gone that no one else was being called forward and the jury was selected! Some of the jurors had stated several hardships that I was a bit appalled the court did not dismiss them. (One lady lives across the bay, for goodness sake! It's still winter, she might not be able to make it over tomorrow!)

But I was free to go at 1:15, so I breathed a sigh of relief and went to Subway for a reward for making it through.

I really hope I don't get called in again. Another week of this!

Adventures from the Past: 2006 Graduation

High school graduation was definitely a momentous occasion! I can't believe it has been almost 4 years!


Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Break Adventures

I was concerned that I would not have much of a spring break. I still had homework due until Wednesday.

Sunday, I started to let myself consciously take a break. That was really nice!

Monday, I had a big assignment to finish up, and once I did, I went off to take some photos :) It was a glorious day and the harbor was looking amazing. After we went to our small group, C and I picked up his youngest brother. Wasn't exactly the highlight of my week, but it was fine.

Tuesday, C's brother was still over, when Redhead invited me for beach time. Another gorgeous day, that the beach could not be passed up.

Wednesday, my birthday! An all around great day. More gorgeous weather.

Thursday, I got to scrapbook with my scrappin' buddy. The weather turned wet, but it was alright.

Friday, I made a trip to my hometown to see a friend and her new baby. The weather started to clear up again!

Saturday, work.

Sunday, the usual.

Might not really sound like I had a fantastic week, but I really did. It was spent doing things I wanted to do and I didn't feel guilty not doing school!



Adventures from the Past: 2005

2005 was the year of changes. C and I finally got together! It was fun summer (our last one before we got jobs) so it was a lazy time of hanging out with friends and each other. Two of each of our friends were also dating, so there were 3 couples of best friends hanging out all the time. It was a great time of all kinds of adventures.

Later that summer, C, I and 5 of our friends went on a mission's trip to Mexico. It definitely changed my life. I am so glad I went.

Right after that trip (as in, 2 days!) I went on a family vacation. After summer ended, I started my senior year!

2005 started the year where I really started taking photos. My 2005 photo folder is exponentially larger than 2004's. It's an interesting transformation to see. I still had no idea what I was doing though :) But that year is much better documented than any previous ones.


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Adventures from the Past: 2004

2004 brought me back to Creation Festival for the third and final time. Lo came along too! Got to see Jars of Clay for the second time. Had a fantastic, carefree summer. My friends and I went camping. This was the last summer before work, boyfriends and new schools all got in the way. It's bittersweet looking back on it!

This was the summer that I really got to know C really well. 

Unfortunately, that was the year Mom developed breast cancer. I also transferred to the public high school. It was a rough year, but we ended it with a bang with family for Christmas! My sister and her husband came to California and we all had a huge bash at my Uncle's ranch.




























Saturday, March 20, 2010

Adventures from the Past: 2003

2003 led me back to Creation Festival! Other than that, I really enjoyed my freshman and sophomore years at my new school. I had a fun birthday party with ALL of my friends from both schools.

Ebony passed away and I got my current kitties, OB and Petunia. This is Luv and me in my Jars of Clay bedroom. News articles, photos, you name it. My wall was covered!














Friday, March 19, 2010

Adventures from the Past: 2002

2002. A HUGE year for me. I was an 8th grader at the age of 14. I went to Washington DC and NYC on my spring break trip. My first trip away from my parents was pretty traumatic for me. But it was also an amazing time. I was amazed by DC. Seeing the monuments and the sights was just incredible. I especially loved being up in the Washington Monument. That was an incredible view. We got to meet our old senator Ted Stevens and even got to meet Ted Kennedy! I've been wanting to go back ever since. I went through like 7 disposable cameras on my trip, but I'd love to go back and really document it this time! This photo was taken in Times Square right before we saw the Lion King on Broadway! We went about 6 months after 9/11, so Ground Zero was really profound. We went up in the Empire State Building, to Ellis Island, to NBC studios, and floated by the Statue of Liberty.


8th grade graduation is a huge deal in my hometown. All the girls go out and buy a nice dress to wear. Here I am with my best friends at the time. We had no idea what life had ahead of us next! Our speaker at graduation was Iditarod champion Martin Buser.

That summer, I went to Creation Festival. My love of Jars of Clay got started there. It was a wonderful time. I think Dad even enjoyed himself! Unfortunately, this is the only photo I have of myself from that time!

After the summer started, I switched schools and started attending the Christian school. I made new friends there and that is where I met C! It really changed my life, I think, and I am really, really glad that I made the decision to go there. I played volleyball for the season and just had a blast.






Thursday, March 18, 2010

March Deception

All Alaskans can think Spring is on its way. Many here in Homer assumed February was the start, since it was so warm out. I was not fooled then, but I think I am starting to get fooled now. After our blizzard, we have continued to get more snow, but the temperature has risen nicely. It has been in the 40s this week, but this morning, I woke up to new snow. Nevertheless...we won't see the true disappearance of the snow until at least mid April!

This shot was taken on the beach in Homer. It was a gorgeous afternoon, with brilliant blue skies, but tell tale snow still on the cliffside!

Date: 3/16/10
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/250 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 33mm
Tripod? Handheld

22nd Birthday

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday! It was a gorgeous day (it usually is on the 17th, for some reason!) and a walk on the beach with C was in order.

I found all kinds of treasures on the beach. And like 4 or 5 china hats!

Standing on a block of snow that broke and was promptly in the waves!

We went to dinner with some friends and we got a slice of molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Because it was my birthday, the waitress gave it to us for free! The candle was interesting, because she had melted the wax so it just stood upright on the plate on its own! Pretty clever!

It was a wonderful day :)

Adventures from the Past: 2001

2001 found me at age 13. I went to my first real concert at the state fair. It was to see Jaci Velasquez, my favorite artist at the time. This was also the year that my mom babysat a little girl who I hung out with many a time. I recently reconnected with her mother on Facebook, which has been fun. We also got my trampoline this year. Oh the memories on the trampoline!


 


The second picture is of me and Ebony. He was my goofy black baby
who I adored. And the last shot is me on Christmas Day 2001.



















Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Winter on the Spit

The Homer Spit from the Baycrest lookout.

Date: 3/15/10
Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/500 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 176 mm
Tripod? Handheld

Adventures from the Past: Birth to 1997

Happy birthday to me! 

Taking a step backward for a day!

Here I am at one year old, playing patty cake with my dad! Notice the huge amount of snow out the window! That means it was several feet!








As I grew, I grew my hair long, but before kindergarten or so, my mom chopped it off because I always screamed when she tried to brush it out.
















Kindergarten was where I met the friends I went to school with most of my career. We had a fantastic Thanksgiving unit where we had venison stew and some other yummy dishes and we got to dress up as Indians and Pilgrims.












This was also the time I discovered paper hair bows! I would color on strips of paper and then tape them to my hair. I was pretty proud of them, but now I shake my head and laugh about them.








In 1995, my parents and my sister and I went on a fantastic trip to Disneyland, Knott's Berry farm and Marine World Africa USA. I still think about that trip to this day and how "magical" it all was.









Being born on St. Patrick's Day, my birthday parties always involved green. Green cake, jello (Mom's specialty!), napkins and plates. And whatever else Mom could find. Here I am in 1996 grinning at my birthday party.






Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Ain't nothin' like

There's a Brad Paisley song that I am borrowing this from.

But there really ain't nothin' like walking on the beach on a warm March afternoon with a good friend. Feeling like spring and summer are quickly on their way (ha) while driving with great music on the radio and just driving through slush. Life is good.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Homer Harbor

The Homer harbor! Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Sunshine and warmer temperatures. The Spit trail had many people taking walks or jogging in the sun.

Date:3/15/10
Aperture: f/8
Shutter:1/400 sec
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 70mm
Tripod? Handheld

Adventures from the Past: 2000

2000 dawned with the Y2K drama that we all don't want to admit to freaking out over. I was 12 that year and in the 6th and 7th grade. 6th grade was an amazing time for me. I won a 5 pound bar of Hershey's chocolate in a school event. Went across the Bay for an overnight school trip. Made earthquake houses, bridges, ice cream, cookies and incubated chickens in school. 7th grade was much more of a growing up time. My best friend at the time transferred to another school. The start of junior high was a bit rough, but I was in the same school with all my classmates. Had some trials with friends that year that I prefer not to think about anymore. But all in all, 2000 was a wonderful year.

Oh, and I cut off my long hair! It was also the first year that I spent time at the river less than a mile from my home. For several summers, my friends and I spent a lot of time there.

Eva passed away that year, much to my sadness. But then I got two new kitties from my friend Lin. Ebony and Luv came into my life that fall. Luv is still around, but Ebony passed away in 2003.

This was the year Dad built the lean to garage on the side of the house. The year my aunt and uncle came to visit. I also got a new bike! Well...new to me anyway :)