Show and Tell

Alternate Title: Shame On Me

I actually really like the e-mail that Blogher ads sends me to remind me that its been 2 weeks since I last posted on my blog. They are so nice about it in the e-mail "We Miss You"....Yeah, I know. I'm awesome and the world is colder when I don't post. I'm sorry world. Shame on me for withholding my awesomeness.

Crap. The Bloggess says that every time we say 'awesome' God kills a kitten...or something like that. Crap crap.

Anyway..so where have I been for two weeks.....Honestly, I don't' know. I mean, I know 'where' I am...its just that time kinda runs together and it doesn't feel like two weeks. Well, I've been in my room mainly - the TV and computer are in my room so, seriously, there is no reason to ever leave. Right?
The kids have alternated being sick so I spent some time cleaning up vomit off the floor...dang, I can't take credit for that. My husband did it. Both times. BUT, I did spend my precious time watching him!
Wait, that's not right either. The second time I vaguely remember seeing his back through my sleep-filled eyes...I only know it wasn't a dream because the vomit was magically gone by morning. OOOOOOH, Wait!! Maybe it was the Vomit Cleaner Fairy! See, Sean, I TOLD you it was real. If you wait long enough they'll come clean it up for you! (He's giving me that "Seriously?" look again. Dream killer.)


What else...? Oh, my mom has a boyfriend. LONG story. Yes, I'm ok with it...which I guess is really strange considering how much I loved my dad and how close we were....but, Mom has a right to be happy and she knew this guy in High School - they were best friends...So yes, I'm cool with it. However, she has discovered IM so I've lost every area where I can hide from her. She IM's me gushing about him, or freaking out because the computer is screwing with her. I.E., she and technology do NOT get along.

I've taken more pics in the last few days than I have in the last 6 months...which is cool and really pathetic all at the same time. Here are a few of my favs (also explains the title):


My neice "H"

My Best Friend Jennifer and her sister Bri (15 years younger than Jenn)


My nephew "H"



And my Favorite from the day:

Its like there is something freakishly horrible behind me and instead of warning me, she just sits there with this crazy-eyed stare. (She's gonna kill me)

Reflections on the Water

2 Sundays ago we took the kids (we being us and our best friends) to the lake. It was Lylli's first time fishing and the first time I've fished since I was a kid. She is an excellent caster - Like a Pro, Ya'll!!



This was Isaac's second time fishing. He was the proud user of a HUGE pole. He only nearly hooked his sister once :). Oh, and this face he's making - I SWEAR my son does smile. Really, he does. I snapped the photo seconds before his face lit up. Isn't he incredibly handsome anyway folks??



I don't understand the 'Conan O'Brian' thing his hair is doing in the middle. Oh wait, yeah I do. My mom was the last one to touch his head with scissors. UGH.
After we all got home we watched GI Joe - FanTastic Movie!! - and Lylli made us go outside afterwards to let her ride her bike. Now that she's over the fear of falling off from 2 feet off the ground she rides whenever she can.
The sky was absolutely incredible so I'll close this with 2 pictures of the sky :).





The sky actually looked like that. Breathtaking. I just wish I'd had my wide-angle lens on the camera so I could've caught more.

Sunset on a Thankful Day

I'm thankful for moments like this. And, for a husband who will pull over and let me catch it...and to 2 tired kids for not screaming when the van stopped for a moment on the way home :).

First, go check THIS OUT. Its a giveaway over at The Secret is in the Sauce :).

Now, for those of you who came back (*giggle*) I wanted to share something else with you that I found today. I've been searching for new reads like a crazy person lately and happened on this amazing writer. A few posts back she said something that completely stuck with me and I want you to read the whole article, but I'm going to post the section that meant a lot to me. After you read it here please go over to her blog and show her some love.

[...I’m sick of being afraid. I’m sick of letting my voice drop as I say it. From this moment forward, I am taking myself as seriously as I possibly can. Writing (or photography for me) is all I ever think about, day and night, all the time. Why wait until someone else tells me I’ve arrived? Why wait until I finally believe my credentials speak for themselves, when I know damn well there will never be a list long enough and good enough for the bully that lives inside my head? Why not use my own words to tell you all who I am? I am going to fly without thinking about how I look to you. I am not inadequate. I am not less than. I am not ashamed. I am not a part-time dreamer...]

She wrote it from the perspective of a writer - but it completely applies to me in my photography...and ANY of us who have an art or talent that we love and are passionate about.

Photo Fueled Post Ahead

So, Sean and I went to Oklahoma the other day (and no, I couldn't resist singing OOOOOk-lahoma where the wind comes... the whole way there, much to Sean's annoyance) and I got a couple shots on the way down. Unfortunately I did not get a shot of the one thing that was the most photo-worthy: We were driving along and came upon this HUGE cemetary in the middle of nowhere. Standing next to it was a building. When we were upon the building I read what it was representing...and nearly died (seriously) from laughing. Next to this huge, old cemetary was a white building with the words "Meat Packing Plant" on the front. OMG - are you kidding me? Who thought that was a good idea? OR do they just have one hell of a sense of humor....

Ok, so on with the show. Just outside of Joplin there was this building peeking over the trees. I have no idea what it is but it was strange and in the middle of nowhere, which made it super cool and photo-worthy. Its not possible to see how tall it was....but we are talking sky-scraper.

Then there was this little blast from the past. Last time I saw it was about 16 years ago. MUST STOP next time we go through.

This guy was standing just inside of Big Cabin, OK. I didn't get this shot until the way home, so its dark and blurry, but you get the idea. Note the "tiny" truck behind it.

Then we met Sean's totally cool sis, Erica. Hope she doesn't kill me for posting this :)

Then we met the most adorable and sweet kids: Baby E and K (names withheld to protect the innocent, lol). Baby E has those cheeks that a person could just Num-Num on all day. See for yourself!

Ike and K had so much fun: I've never heard Isaac laugh like that, unless he was being tickled. It was beautiful and sweet. Baby E helped me adjust settings on the flash and camera and made the whole unit complete by adding some of her sweet, teething drool to it.

Then, yesterday, I lost my mind and finally added highlights to may hair. They were supposed to be hot pink....but by the time we were done I had magenta hair. In the rinse process everything kinda mingled so I look like a chic who went to have her hair dyed red and someone got it wrong. See:

BUT this is not to reflect on Jenn's MAD hair skillz - I blame it on the color we bought and the natural color of my hair. Its just too dark and I was not willing to bleach it in any way before hand. (Wow...don't I look insanely enthused in these?? LOL)
And now, some gratuitious kitteh shots (it is a local stray that came to use last night):

There are a few more pics of the kids and stuff on my flickr page, but I think this is enough for now :).

New Prints Going into Etsy :)

I've had some much fun with photoshop lately - I couldn't decide what I liked better. I just have Wayyyy to many options. So, I'm posting the small version of them here. They will be available as an 8x10. Other color options are available...just didn't wanna overdo it, lol. I'd be happy to know what everyone thinks. Click on any size for a larger view at my flickr page. I'm in lurve with them :).

Double Super-Sonic Speed {Part 2}

So - after all the tests were run the doctor came in and told us that there were no broken bones and they could send him home with some pain meds and an excuse from school for a few days - end of story. (I didn't realize at the time that I kinda left last night's post in a cliffhanger.)
Once out in the waiting room, Isaac and Lylli announced they were going back with my brother and sis for the night. I had mixed emotions about it. On the one hand I knew I should take my baby boy home and love on him - but I didn't want to hurt their feelings by taking both the kids. So - judge me how you will - I let them go to my brother's house...and Sean and I drove back to Springfield to have a little fun. The drive back was spent kicking ourselves in the butt for being so selfish in the first place.

We got into Springfield around 11 pm and met up with everyone at the bowling alley. By this point though I was just fighting sleep. I had spent the majority of the day stuck in a vehicle. I did manage to chill out with my friends though - and even made a couple new ones. I'll post some pics here tomorrow...I have to ask Sean who a few of them are though. I know them by sight...name, not-so-much, lol.

We finally got home about 2 am and then I remembered we'd be waking up at 7 am to head back to Springfield to Sean's work (Denney's Harley-Davidson) for the MDA ride. I photographed it :). That was the main reason I let Ike and Lyll go back with my bro - I had committed to doing the photos at the event and I knew Isaac would not be up to hanging around there all day in his condition.
I had an awesome time there. Last year when I photographed the HOGS for Dogs ride I didn't know anyone and was intimidated - I mean, they're bikers! This year was totally different. I met clients, the President of the HOG chapter in Springfield (and his lovely wife, Missy, who totally agreed with me that Sean should buy me that ring I saw in the catalog), and I figured out the manual control on my camera - like totally :). I'm still going through the mound of photos I took but will upload them as soon as they're done. I can not wait for the HOGS for Dogs ride this year - I'm telling you, there is nothing more incredible than standing on the grass by the road as all the bikes start up at once and begin to leave the site. Its like thunder...and crack...all rolled into one. Oh, and being able to hear them coming back long before they pull in the driveway - sublime :).

PS - Our AC is on the fritz - AGAIN! They should be coming out tomorrow to look at it. I just hope its not the idiot again.

Saying the Wrong Things

In yesterday's post I forgot to mention how wonderful the day was. *read with intense sarcasm*

My best friend's world entered the first level of hell yesterday morning so when she brought Baby H over I was greeted with severly red eyes. I can say that my day was bad, but not nearly as bad as hers started out.

When Sean and I first got our trailer we were driving by a pest control place in town that has a sign out front that says 'Got Ants?'. I laughed and snorted something funny about the sign - 2 days later we saw the first of many ants. Ugh.
So...a few days ago, while looking through the phonebook for an ant exterminator, I made a comment to Jenn like 'At least we don't have termites.'
Yesterday Lylli yelled from her bedroom, "Mommy, Bugs!" and I went running. Once in her door I nearly peed myself. The light was shining in her bedroom window and there were at LEAST 50 bugs on the other side of the curtain. I immediately called the exterminator to make an appointment. When the lady asked me what they looked like and I described them to her she said it sounded like termites.
The guy came today - and gave me a $300 estimate for a CONFIRMED termite infestation - which I will give to the landlord.
For now Lylli is sleeping on the couch in the living room, furthering the bad habit I was trying to break her from. UGH!
Good news though - I've only seen 2 ants (compared to the nearly million I usually see a day) and they were so drugged that I swear I heard one of them say "Whatever, dude" when I started messing with them. One kinda shaked his butt at me and slid off the cup. I am a very happy woman right now, you have no idea :).

I need help making a decision so I'm going to post a poll on the sidebar and leave it open for two weeks. I don't know how difficult it would be to change, but I think I'd like to change my photography business name to that of my own instead of A Thousand Words. Perhaps KRP Photography or Kendra Puckett Photography - I really don't know. If anyone has any good ideas I'm open to them. I love the name I have now, but its unoriginal. Help! Also, if anyone would like to donate their blogger template skills to revamp my photo blog/website I'd kiss their feet and throw in a print or a piece of jewelry :). The site is www.athsndwords.com and I'm sick to death of the way it looks - so plain and pointless.

Busy April

Since I'm completely and utterly insane, I've decided to take part in the NaBloPoMo theme for April, which is letters. I plan to do it from the standpoint of a photographer capturing letters that I come across daily. I could be a phrase, a single 'letter'...I'm not entirely sure yet, but its kinda exciting.
While I have many 'writing' challenges right now I was looking for, and needing, a photography project that would cause me to take photos of my surroundings. I have the 365 project, which focuses on me...I wanted more of an 'objects' project - no I have it.
I don't promise the work of a genius...but if I learn just one thing it will be completely worth it :)

REAL Post for Today

I thought I'd pop in again because I'm addicted and the other post for today was kinda sparse. BTW, I knew once I posted something about what I 'don't write about'...I'd end up breaking it. Something would come along and I'd HAVE to open my mouth and address it. Kinda like: I found out the candidate I was rooting for withdrew. Grrr..

I'm still reading a book about Business Practices for Photographers and my mind is reeling from legalise, contracts and their negotiations and the guy kinda being a pompous a$$. But I've learned a lot.
Now I'm kinda in a jumbled mess. I have some good information rolling around in my head, along with ideas for writing up a business plan, and I can't seem to put them in an orderly line. I am having a hard time deciding where to start.
I've put myself on a deadline. Next week I will turn in my application for business license and pay their fee and take my news-brief by the newspaper. I want to have all of my forms, contracts and plan in place before I start getting calls from potential clients. So that leaves me..um...1 and a half days. Yikes! *breathe* I can do this....I can do this....I can do this...

On another subject: I'm posting a picture of my husband here that I took last night (with my new 50mm lens..lol) and I noticed something. See..I'm an 'eyes' person. To me the eyes can say SO much more than words do. So...I used to take pictures of Sean and there was a look in his eyes of "I don't care, get me out of here, you know I'm doing this so you'll shut up, this is a compelete waste of time." But...2 nights ago I took a photo of him and, though I deleted it because the lighting was bad, there was a new look in his eyes. Then last night I took another pic of him and Ike and there it was again. I suddenly see pride, hope, perhaps even faith in me. It is such a startling change that my breath caught. I've been seeing the same (bad) look from him for years....this is so new and welcomed that it made me emotional. Its amazing what a little support has done for my outlook on everything. Now it feels like I'm not fighting alone.
And...when others support me I don't have to ask myself "Now, why doesn't He support me??"

Please God, don't let it change.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Ok, everyone scream with me! I am soooo excited.

My husband called me a few minutes ago. We will be 'getting some money', most likely tomorrow, and I had asked him about getting my photography stuff. Honestly, I was not that hopeful..cuz..well we've been there before.
Anyway, he just called me out of the blue. Told me to look at the list and be absolutely sure of what I wanted and I COULD GET IT!!!! I'm flipping out...completely.

What I'm gettin':

• Canon nifty-fifty f/1.8 lens
• 430ex flash
• light stand
• umbrella
• macro filters and ring flash
• 5-in-1 reflector set with stand
• wireless remote
• wacom-like pen tablet
• background support system

Then he went on to tell me that I had the drive and he knew I could do it....I started tearing up and right now that's all I can really remember. I'm not sure what got him to this point but I am STOKED!!!

*Does a happy dance*

Other Good News

I was informed last night that in a couple of months I will be photographing a Harley-Davidson custom bike - for ex-NFL player Grant Wistrom.

I almost crumpled in the kitchen.

Chad, my husband's best friend from HS, will be the one working on the bike. It will have some custom work done, including full paint job.

I have been approved by the H-D dealership to photograph it and we will put the image on canvas as a present for Grant.

All I can think to say is omgomgomgomgomgomg....Is this for real? I'll keep you updated :).

Flickr Favorites and Good News

This week's flickr favorites can be found HERE.

You know...I had the hardest time waiting until Friday to post those. I may have to do a flickr favs twice a week :).

Up until about 6 months ago I was very active in an online Pyramids card league in Yahoo!. We played in Isdes and called ourselves the Mickey Mouse League. I was an admin...among other things, and I loved it. Life started getting the better of all of us and I had to resign. Depression and things being so hectic just didn't allow me to do the things that I loved doing. Now that our lives are somewhat better, I've tried going in the room but participation has dropped to nearly nothing.

Last night one of my friend's in Australia asked anyone that wanted a tournament to come in the room. I played...and won...and got to chat to some friends I haven't talked to in a while. Apparently, such a long while that one of them was able to get engaged. I was floored and incredibly excited. After joking with her for a bit she told me that she would love for me to be the photographer. Yay!!!!! I started bouncing on the bed. Its the best news I've had in a while. It won't be until March of next year....but that will give me enough time to get some things I need...like an external flash and 50mm lens.

Playing Catch-up

Its been since August that I've posted on here. I just wasn't comfortable with writing in a public place like the library. Now I'm at home, in my PJ's making a new post and it feels great.

Let's see...what has happened recently? I'm just getting over the worse case of bronchitis I've ever had. I had to get a shot of steroids in each butt-cheek on Tuesday of this week just so I could get some relief. I've also not had a real cigarette since last Friday. I've sniffed them and lit them so they could dangle out of my mouth, but no inhaling. Guess I'm quitting :). I needed to anyway.

I was always one of those momma's that said my son would never play football. Even though I love the sport a lot and can lose my voice at every high school football game I go to, I just couldn't bear the thought of watching my little guy get tackled. Well...I gave in. Since there are 2 other boys in the house now that wanted to play I decided I'd let Isaac do it too. I'm including a pic of him I took last night at practice. He doesn't have his jersey yet, should be next week, or his pants. I'll take a better pic of him when he's all suited up.

Day #3 - I don't care if it's already August 4th

Ok...today was uneventful, for the most part. I took this earlier today when I saw the cat laying under my van. Unfortunately, I missed him stretched out on his stomach...that was cute.

I wrote tonight. Actually wrote and I'm so darn excited I just can't stand myself. Perhaps I'll post part 1 and the new part 2 of my story sometime soon. Let me get the new off of it first :).

Day #2 - Black squirrel!!

Saw this cute little guy today while I was on the front porch. I took about 20 pictures of him, getting closer as I snapped away. He let me get pretty close though. Total surprise.

I had someone tell me once that while gray, brown and even white squirrel's exist, black ones do not. Ha! Yup, they do. Told ya!

Day 1 Photograph

The pic on the left shows a gaping hole where a radio used to be...the pic on the right shows an empty floor where 3 amplifiers and 2 speaker boes used to sit. Until some time this weekend. When someone broke into my husbands truck and stole it all. My husband went out to his truck today to clean it out and get our insurance switched over. A few minutes later he came and said he wanted to show me something. The truck doors were opened and he asked me what I saw missing. He was so calm, so I wondered if he had taken it all out for some reason...then he told me to look at the front. No stereo...he WOULD NOT have taken that out...nor would he have cut the wires down to the nubs....The truck was parked in the backyard, which is surrounded by a 6 ft security fence. Anyone who did this would have to park in the long-a$$ driveway that we have and walk the narrow piece back to the back of the house and then cart it all out the same way. Cops were called but they pretty much said we can kiss the stuff goodbye. He did not dust for fingerprints or take any of the tools that were left behind. He did not canvas the neighborhood. So lovely living in little towns :p. Thought I would share.

Decisions

I've decided to turn this into a 365 photo challenge for myself. I have this type of challenge on flickr, but it is solely for self-portraits. I prefer to not see so much of myself. So, I'm creating just 365 daily pictures I have taken. No rhyme or reason to them...except the joy of taking pictures.