Thursday, December 27, 2007

New Year's Resolutions


So Father Time is creeping just around the corner and it's time for new perspectives and fresh starts. I thought I'd write a few resolutions here so I have a place to go to see what I haven't done during the year! I'll be adding some now and again and maybe even deleting one or two, too... These are in no particular order:

1. Do more photography.

If you know me then you know that I have a whole lotta cameras I'm not even using! In 2008 I want to pull out the TLRs and do some serious shooting and experimentation. I enjoy it, I just have to make the time to get out there and do it.

2. Make our home more of a place that we really love.

We've been here for ten years and have basically done nothing at all with our house or yard. I have a feeling we're going to be here for a while so I want to look at it as a blank canvas and make it a place where we really love to to spend time and to share with friends and family. This includes cleaning it up, simplifying (ie., getting rid of crap!) , organizing and adding our own personal touches all around.

3. Don't let people walk on/take advantage of me.

Sometimes I'm too nice (hard to believe, I know) and this in turn can cause some people to take advantage of me. I think it's time for me to look at myself to determine how it's happening so I can put an end to it. It's sad to me that I have to include this in something I want to accomplish for myself but I'm afraid that's just the way it goes.

4. Be as healthy as I can be.

Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds cliche... but I really do want to get healthy this year and stay that way, too! The thing of it is, I know how I should be eating and what I should be doing to stay healthy but I just don't do it. How dumb is that? Sure I'm going to get sick and have some problems, but won't they be a bit easier to cope with if I'm as healthy as I can be? I hope my love joins me in this quest, I want us to be together for a long, long time to come.

5. Discover great music.

You know I dig the tunage but I have to say that I sort of got away from listening to music this year. Maybe the writer's strike will force me to turn off the TV and to discover more music. Shame on me, music is so important in my life... what's wrong with me?! I just need to think about how I'm going to do this: Get Sirius Radio? Go on Pandora? Find a site that makes suggestions? Any help in this arena would be greatly appreciated.

6. Spend more times outdoors, even if the weather sucks.

This is Cleveland and we all know that our weather is not the best you can find in the country! If I let that stop me I'll never enjoy the great outdoors and this area does have stuff to offer in that venue. This resolution can be combined with number1, as I am mainly an outdoor shooter.

7. Reconnect with friends.

We all have busy lives and it sometimes takes a great effort to cultivate and maintain friendships. I used to be so very good at this but I'm afraid I let things go to the wayside and have sort of lost touch with some people I care about. So now I'm going to make an effort to get together with them and to at least show them I care about our friendship.

Well, that's all I can come up with right now! Lucky 7, eh? I might be adding to this list in the very near future so you might want to check it on occasion to see if I've added anything else. In the meantime, I'd like to wish each and every person who takes the time to read this silly blog a very joyous and most auspicious 2008!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Friday, December 14, 2007

Ghost Chair

Holga, Fuji Neopan 400

Monday, December 10, 2007

Creepy Holga Fun






Yeah, yeah, I know it's not Halloween anymore but I just got this film back from my expert processor and I felt I needed to share!

The scarecrows were made by elementary school students and they're attached to a fence that runs in front of their school (it's across the street from Normandy High School if you're from these here parts). They're as creepy as all get out, just as much so in living color as they are in black and white! The first time I saw them I was on my way to work and I almost wrecked my car --- I knew I needed to go back with the Holga. You can see the school in the background of a couple of the pics.

The hubby and I went on a little expedition on the east side one day and we were driving down Rt. 306 when I saw this weird sort of fall playground for kids. It contained hay bale creatures, the best (read: creepiest) was this spider. I yelled out to my loved one to pull over and we ran out into the field for a couple of shots... so glad we did.

Shot with a Holga, Fuji Acros 100.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Can you change a front man successfully?


Neal Schon has just announced that he has found a new lead singer for Journey. Neal found the incredibly talented Arnel Pineda signing with his Filipino band Zoo on (of all things) YouTube. One wonders if it will be a new renaissance for Journey, only time will tell...

So this begs the question: Can a band change the frontman and still put out the same good quality product while keeping diehard fans interested? I wonder how one of my favorite bands, Jethro Tull, would fare under such a decision. Would you accept a new frontman in your favorite band if it meant that the sound quality was just like 'the good old days'?