Free at last

Today was my last day at the Paso Robles store!! On Monday, I'm back to the SLO store and back to my old job. You know the saying though, you can never go home again. Hoping that this won't be one of those times that it becomes glaringly obvious.

pretty colors

Off to the fair

Home for about 30 mins and then off to Paso again. Noah and I are going to go see Weezer at the mid-state fair. Haven't been to the fair in years, and really, if it wasn't for Weezer, I wouldn't be going this year. But I'm looking forward to dancing to awesome music.

Hectic Schedule

I've become convinced that since it's my last week in Paso, I've been giving the worst schedule possible just to torture me. It's almost over though and then I might start actually start writing in these blogs again instead of just posting pictures with no explanations.

Long Day

Time for bed so I can get up early

One week

Just one more week of working in Paso Robles! One week and I won't have to drive 50 miles a day anymore...more like 5 miles a day. One week and I'll feel like I have my life back again. One week and I'll be a much saner person. Just one more week.

Can you spot the difference?

So, I thought it would be fun to show the difference between my old camera and my new camera. So here are two very similar photographs. The first one you've actually already seen. I was really proud of this photograph when I first posted it. In fact I said it was one of those photographs that I instantly fell in love with.




Then, today I took the same photograph with my new camera. And I stand corrected. The difference really amazes me. It was even the same time of day. This time though, I had it on manual mode, was able to set the shutter speed and aperture right where I wanted it and had manual focus. Hope you enjoy the comparison as much as I do.

can't think of anything clever to title this....

I know it's not completely in focus, but I love this picture of Loki. It looks like he's sticking his tongue out at me in a "neener neener" fashion. Have you noticed that I like my cat?



And this one's just pretty.

I love having manual focus!

100!!!!

Celebrating two milestones today. First, this is my 100th post! Haven't missed a single day since I started! Woot woot! Second milestone: it's been one month since I've had a cigarette! So, going to keep this short and sweet. Enjoy the photographs and I'm looking forward to the next 100 posts.

Sleepy girl

So, picture taking adventure did not happen today. I stayed up waaaaay too late last night and woke up 3 hours later unable to get back to sleep. So what do I decide to do at 6:30 in the morning? I go for a run. I haven't "gone for a run" in probably about 6 years. What made me want to do it? I have no idea. So, by the time I was supposed to go take pictures, I was a bit out of it and didn't want to concentrate on anything but a nap. So, here are a couple more photographs from my first day with my camera...hope you like them! I'll get out there soon and take some new ones, I promise.

Lots of pictures!

So, had a comment from my mamma asking me to post pictures of my new camera. So here are a couple of them:






Isn't it pretty? Taking pictures of it with my little point and shoot makes the point and shoot seem so tiny. Never really thought it was that small (it's not for a fixed lens compact), but compared with the T2i, it seems like a little baby...perfect for keeping in my purse at all times.

And now, here are a couple shots of what my new camera can do! Hope you enjoy. Going out for a photography adventure with my friend, Kevin, tomorrow. Hopefully I'll come back with a lot of really nice photographs for you.






PS: I'm sure you know this already, but if you click on the pictures, you can see them on a bigger scale.

Taking a walk

Took a walk with my new camera...here are a couple shots:

I couldn't help it!

After the week I've had, I decided that I deserved a wonderful treat. What was this wonderful treat? My new camera!!!! I just couldn't help it. I had to dip into my saving a little bit as I didn't have quite enough put away yet, but it was soooooooo worth it! Have spent the day playing with it and taking pictures around the house. Loki is already sick of it. Here are two of the photos I've taken with my new Canon EOS Rebel T2i!!!!

be careful what you wish for

Today was definitely a case of that. On the plus side, I get to go back to my old job in a week...that's what I wished for. However, my manager, Tony, who I love(!), is going to be the new store manager for Paso. And the new store manager for SLO? John, our district manager who I hate. This was definitely a challenge for me when it came to not smoking...a challenge that I tackled! I didn't smoke...I did freak out for a bit and am enjoying a strong drink now. But hey, gotta deal somehow. Anyway, enjoy the pictures...I'll try to get out and take some new exciting ones tomorrow since I have the day off.

night lights

I don't know

It's taking all my energy right now to post anything. I'm just not feeling it. This has been probably one of the worst not smoking days so far. I don't understand how I can be so strong and so weak at the same time. I can feel so good about myself and still hate myself. Here's hoping tomorrow is easier.

kitten kuteness!

My moms got kittens about 3 weeks ago. On Sunday, I went over to play with them...and take their pictures, of course. What is it about kittens that just make you happy? It's impossible to play with a kitten and not have a smile on your face. So, here are two of the shots that I took. Amazingly, even in their hyperness, they stay still longer than my nearly 4 year old cat.

Pride in the Plaza

Yesterday was Pride in the Plaza here in San Luis Obispo...yes, we celebrate Pride Fest the month after national Pride month. What can I say? SLO is just a little slow. It was wonderful though! Probably the best turn out that I've ever seen for it. There were lots of families, cute couples, happy people, adorable pets decked out in their rainbow gear, amazing music and delicious beverages (the mojitos were very refreshing). Face it, the gays know how to party! The main show was Frenchie Davis, who you may have heard of. She was on this little show called American Idol. She was amazing! It was a great day filled with great people and lots of love! Unfortunately, I'd taken too many pictures earlier in the day of two adorable little kittens at my moms' house and my camera battery died...would've liked to have gotten a few more pictures. I hope you enjoy the ones I did manage to shoot:

Mint and Mountains

First, the mint. Noah transplanted this a couple months ago. For the first week or so, it looks like it was going to die...now it's taking over. Luckily, it's in a pot, so there's only so far it can go. And such a gorgeous color of green.




We went to the PAC last night to see Lisa Lampanelli. When we got there, I looked out the window and the marine layer was starting to come over the mountain...it just looked so cool. I love that I keep a camera in my purse at all times.

roses are red

Just a couple quick shots I took today of some roses I got at Trader Joe's earlier this week.

small details

Something that I've noticed about a lot of my photographs is that I try to find things that other people don't see. I try to see something amazing in something ordinary. In college, I majored in Language Studies. I got really into my linguistics classes because it amazed me how something we think is so simple, something we don't even give a second though to (speaking) is really very very complicated and amazing. Both of these photographs signify that to me. They're both images of things that nobody really pays attention to.


In the first one, it's the roots of the plant: not the plant itself. In fact, you can't even see the plant in this photograph...just the roots. In case anyone is super curious, this happens to be a spider plant. Noah took a clipping from a plant in stuck it in a jar with water. It's thrived and is beautiful and had to be moved to a bigger pot.




The second is dirt on a terra cotta pot. The succulent is out of focus and in the background. It's the bit of soil on the lip of the pot that is the subject of this photograph.




I really love how both of these turned out. I usually do love the photographs that I take where it opens my eyes to something new that I never necessarily noticed before. Hope you enjoyed them as well.

Got him!

A successful shot of Loki!

Soooo tired...need sleep

Thank you

Thank you for all the wonderful comments and support from yesterday's post. It really means a lot to me. Aunt Becky, I didn't even know you knew about my blog! What a surprise! It's been a long couple of weeks, but I know it's going to be a really good thing in the long run.

As always, enjoy the pictures: