hit me with your best shot

hmmm, should have thought my picture post better today as the occasion really calls for green.  but all around is gray because of the overcast skies.  so, for those that celebrate it, happy st. patty's day.  and may all of the irish blessings be yours.

as always, the time change has thrown me for a loop - i'm waking up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. so by 9:00 p.m. i'm exhausted.  of course that could be the running that i'm doing from meeting to meeting.  but the rest of the week should be on a downhill groove after this morning's final teleconference.  everyone seems eager to have the workweek over as most of the kids are out of school.  i know one thing - it makes my job easier as i don't have to run to all of the meetings.  yesterday, i forgot to go home on time because the sun was still out.  (i had wondered why it had gotten so quiet outside my door)

question:  i need a kick start to creativity - what is your best recommended method?  i've tried all my usual and they seem to work for a short time but i get so buried at work that nothing seems to last really.  i know spring is coming and i've been out to experience the new life budding out....but...you know.  i'm looking for the new and quirky.  give me your best thoughts.

can't wait to hear what you think.

a year in review

2009 through my eyes....

it's funny looking back at it this way - has on only been this year that i learned about textures, the beautiful of pola coloring and the wonderful light a window can bring? it also appears that i'm rather fond of diagonal lights, the close-up instead of the faraway, and a lot of blue.

thanks to all of your for your unflagging support and suggestions during the year. i am inspired by you (as you can see in some of my 'lookalike' shots) and am in awe of the talent we have in our circle of friends (and their friends and their friends' friends...and so on). i look forward to more inspirations and laughter with you.

expectations

expectations can be a dangerous thing. often they set us up for failure as rarely can something meet what high expectations we set. either for ourselves, someone else, something else.... of course, i don't want to go the other way - which is expect nothing so you will never be disappointed, right?

anyway - all of that is much too deep for such a glorious saturday morning. my heart is happy (my unemployment benefits were extended - very unexpectedly) and i'm going to make the most of the day. i went to see julie and julia last night with a dear friend - loved the movie - it exceeded my expectations. it made me love meryl streep and stanley tucchi even more than i already did.

it also inspired me to cook something different tonight. so i'm off to buy fresh ingredients with the same joy that julia shopped the french markets. i may chortle just like her in joy. hope you do too.

oh...what's for dinner? well you will see later.

that little bird is trying to fly the coop

an old shot from the secret vault and straight out of the camera as i'm at my sister's house with no editing programs. it helps to remind me at times what photography can be about. so many talk about national geographic and the what not, but face it - even they tweak their shots. so, let's not get all prissy - right, right? *smile* but it helps me remember the basic rules of camera work and composition to force myself at times to make that decision - back to basics.

i don't like to mention celeb-wannabes on the blog because i have decided not to give any more 'air time' to people who are talentless but wow, there was a show on nbc last night that showed how big some people are in their own mind and how spoiled we as consumers have made these people. if everyone would collectively turn off these spoiled princes and princesses and stopped supporting them, they would go away (i think).

i'm still stuck in this cycle of waking up at 5:30 a.m. and being unable to turn off my brain. there is a lot of stuff to think about (be scared about) and i think that is why when people whine who have so much to live for - it makes me tired. so very tired. and it's a sobering reality when i used to complain about my job or the whatnot. i count my blessings every day. some days i do that just to remain sane.

so...anyway - here i sit - uninspired, tired and half-way peeved at everything. as so many people have asked this week, how do you break through it? how do you push through to the other side of the journey? or, how do you tie the knot at the end of the rope while the threads are unravelling and the sweat is making it slippery? i've been journaling. taking shots even though they are mostly tired and boring (that's not a hint my sweeties, really). talking to friends. praying. meditating. hoping. building docks.

how do you keep hope alive?

monet inspirations

on a much smaller scale i have found a garden that i love in montgomery. it is the english garden at the shakespeare festival and it is hidden in an alcove, almost behind the theater. lately it has been covered in a mixture of poppies and larkspur and bees have been going absolutely crazy whenever i visit.



not much variety, but i can't help but be enchanted each time i go there. the whole park area is beautiful to visit and i can't wait to go biking there with my new cruiser. yes, i broke down and bought a bicycle....if i can't afford the jeep soon, at least i can get around on a bicycle. right?



so i got knocked out in the second round on the challenge - i can show you the shot i entered on the round. what i figured out is this group really has an aversion to flowers and it doesn't matter how bad (or good) the other shot is, there are some people that will automatically vote against flowers. the end. not that i think my shot was the end all to be all...it's just a matter of knowing your audience right?



i currently have coral roses on my desk and though i love looking at the color, especially in combination with my blue jars (i will not say the name because then i will giggle like a school girl)...i can't quite frame up the shot to my satisfaction. i think the straight stems and rigid lines are stifling me. or maybe its this nagging allegy session that i seem to be having.

photographers - does that happen to you. you look and look at something and the shot just doesn't happen? or....you try and try to take shots and nothing looks good? anyway, i need to get dressed and figure out what i'm doing with my day. happy saturday.