My personal resolution(s)

Happy New Year everyone! (well, I'm a little early ... but this still counts!)

I've been talking with friends, family and co-workers about New Year's resolutions for 2008, and this year, I decided to do something a little different. Inspired by a few photographers who have developed their own lists, I've created my own 101 in 1001.

What is this list, you may ask? Well, it's 101 things I want to accomplish in the next three years. Yes, this appeals to the side of my overachieving personality that is WAY too Type A. But I LOVE lists — and the joy that comes with crossing things off them. (surely I'm not the only one!)

Anyway, what I love about this list is that are some big goals and lots of little ones. It took me about an hour to compile, and yes, I had help coming up with some of these ideas. If any of you guys want to join me in making your own 101 lists, I'd love to hear about it. And if you need some inspiration of your own, just type "101 in 1001" into Google and you'll be set!!!

What do you guys think of this?

Have any of you heard of Google's "Street Map" function? Well, if any of you have used Google Maps for driving directions or to find an address, this function takes it one step farther and shows you, at street level (hence the name), your home.

Google brought its satellite cam truck to Indianapolis recently, and apparently decided to cruise around Muncie too because, lo and behold, here's Nick and I's home:


What's ironic about this is that, despite getting a bird's eye view of our house, they labeled our address wrong (they say it is "approximately" 672 N. Brentwood Ln. Umm ... well, I live there, and last time I checked, the numbers over our garage read 608!)

My understanding is that, eventually, Google wants to take "Street View" everywhere. So what do you guys think about this feature? Is it a gross invasion of privacy? Is it a way for us to all feel "closer," as a Ball State professor says in this Indianapolis Star story?

I don't really know how I feel about the function yet, but I do see it as a sign of the times that, with today's technology, there's no such thing, really, as privacy. (and I'm just glad Nick and I weren't out working in the yard when this shot was taken -- apparently, there's a Web site out already of odd things and or people caught in unflattering "Street View" images. You can check that out here.)

(On an unrelated note, if any Mac users out there ever need to know how to do screen captures like the one above, I found this Web site to be a big help with this post and some other fun Mac tricks!)

Merry Christmas everyone

Nick and I opted for old-school Christmas lights on the rhododendron tree this year!

Hope everyone has a great holiday week!!!

(and because I posted this image -- and a few others -- to Flickr long before the computer glitches, I still have some Christmas shots to post!)

And the frustrations grow ...

I wanted to be able to share a lot of photos from a recent shoot I had with Nick and I's good friends, TJ and Tammi, and their little girl, Riley.

But remember all those comments about the speed of our computer? Well, if it were in a race right now with a slug, the slug would win. I think even the slime on the slug would beat the 'ol trusty Dell ... I'm serious.

So after spending nearly an HOUR getting Photoshop open long enough to edit one photo from the shoot, I said enough is enough and now I'm calling it quits for the day.

My hope is that anybody who checks this blog on occasion will hang with me (through what may be some sparse postings ahead!!!) until Nick and I can work out the financing of a new computer a bit sooner than we'd planned.

Because it's no longer possible for me to foster this dream of mine and do the work I need to do on a PC that's processing data like it's 1954.

In the meantime, enjoy a sneak peek of little Riley. Isn't she adorable?

When gifts give back

After a day at work spent mostly counting down the hours until I could go home (thanks to this awful cold I've got - just in time for Xmas!), I had a major mood-booster when I checked out Nate and Amanda's blog today.

Amanda, you are one of the sweetest gals I know and I thank my lucky stars my umpteenth random Google search for a wedding photographer led me to you and Nate all those months ago :)

And thank you SO SO much for a much-needed pick-me-up today!!! I needed one in the worst way ....

Early Christmas presents

I got to open a few presents early this year after a little get-together with my work pals, Michelle and Joy. I adore these ladies soo much, and look forward to this tradition every year.

This year, we all seemed to have made a point of buying our gifts from local merchants and I LOVED everything gifted to me!

First up - so this is total random, but for the longest time, I've been looking for a cute apron for when I cook. Joy remembered and bought this ADORABLE creation from a local gourmet kitchen shop, Casella's. This thing is so cute, I may just wear it over a top because I can't bear to get grease on it! (Joy also bought me AMAZING Andy Warhol coasters - she knows me SO well! :)

And from Michelle ... this cool necklace she found at our local cultural center made by a Kenyan woman participating in the Imani Workshops. By purchasing this piece of jewelry, money goes back to their families, helping them afford drugs to fight HIV/AIDs. How awesome is that?

Note: I have some SUPER cute photos from a recent shoot that I need to post and edit, but our computer is being SO wonky I'm afraid I won't get them up any time soon. Stay posted ... and I'll add this is just ONE MORE REASON we need a Mac in 2008!!!!!!

Deck the halls

Wanted to show off some of the festive greenery in our house for the holidays.

One of many paper whites lining our kitchen windows. I LOVE these guys!

An extreme close-up of the beautiful poinsettia we bought from a local non-profit

The festive arrangement my wonderful mother-in-law got us this year. She adores snowmen, so this definitely seemed fitting! :)