Saturday, July 11, 2009

Photo Walk Week 2

This week we had our second photo walk and this time we went to Bush Park. About an hour before Kim picked me up she said it would be cool to do a scavenger hunt.... so I came up with one.

Framed - there were two that I really liked
Depth of Field - I haven't really ventured too far into manual control yet so I didn't adjust the aperture for the depth of field, I used the macro setting.
Motion Blur - I was trying to get a shot of this flower and the wind picked up and I really like how it turned out even though it wasn't intended to be the motion blur shot.
Airy (your interpretation) - I thought these flowers looked light and delicate which I thought would be good for airy.
Plant - not a flower - grapes are not flowers
Low Perspective - I got on the ground for this one
Something Blue - can't get bluer than the blue sky
High Perspective - I had to really look up to get the these... but they might actually be low perspective...
Something that makes you happy - I love swings...
Shadow - again there were two that I really liked.
Portrait - how could I pass up a reflection portrait?
Something red - I REALLY like this photo but it's uploading the wrong direction and I'm not sure why!! I'll need to figure it out and post it later.

Friday, July 10, 2009

photo walks

In an effort to improve in photography and to do a little more exercising Kim and I have started to do weekly "photo walks" (and seriously anyone is welcome to join us)

A couple of weeks ago we did our first one at Riverfront Park. I didn't have a lot of time to spare so it was a quickie. We walked across the old railroad bridge that has been turned into a walking bridge.
(Honestly whoever thought of that project was a genius! It's so cool.)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Leverage Screening (and praise to Ginger!)

I love Leverage.

I was excited for it to start and have watched it since the beginning.

I was extremely excited when I found out that they were coming to Portland to film, unfortunately I have not been able to Leverage stalk as much as I would like.

When I heard they were coming up here I said, "I'm going to Leverage stalk and get my picture taken with Parker patting my head." (It's from the season finale episode) And we all laughed, because honestly that would never happen.... until now.

I'm going to tell you a little story....

Once upon a time, aka yesterday, our hero was sent a text message from Lindsay that read, "I am going to the Leverage screening tonight." Our hero was shocked (and jealous) that she hasn't been keeping up in the loop and didn't even know there was a screening in Portland. A half an hour later Lindsay was able to locate a way for our hero to find out if there were any more tickets for this wonderful event. Within a half hour two tickets were secured! And of course our hero wants to have some bonding time with her sister.

Luckily our hero's wonderful parents had returned from a trip and were kind enough to watch Laura's wee ones. And they left Laura's sick husband at home to sleep and throw up alone.
Our hero and her sister arrive at the Hotel Deluxe in Portland and notice a line outside, they talk to a very nice valet attendant and were told vouchers were handed out earlier but to look for the gentleman in the yellow tie.

They search out the yellow tie only to find out that our hero's arch nemesis had attacked! Miscommunication between the Turner company giving out tickets online and the event staff giving out vouchers in person meant that there were no vouchers for them. But he encouraged them to stay because they just might be able to get in.

The two slouched down on a couch in the lobby in defeat, was their trek for naught? Were their dreams getting trampled on?

Lindsey and her friends arrive moments later with vouchers for themselves, due to the friends living in the Portland area. As the five of them discussed the issue and confusion over the tickets and vouchers a lovely event coordinator named Ginger comes to the rescue.She explains how the hero's arch nemesis had attacked but we may be able to get in still. Our hero and her sister have a plan - they played the "We drove all the way from Salem" card and the "She left her sick husband at home for Leverage" card. After hearing this Ginger said that they will get in then.

They waited patiently on a nice soft couch in the lobby instead of outside in the line. Thanks to Ginger our hero and friends were:

First in line for the autograph session for the second showing and first in line to enter the screening room. Do you know what this means? Front row baby!!!!

Ginger took the photo

Laura took this photo

Laura took this photo (I got my Parker patting my head picture!!!!)

After that awesome first episode, can't wait to watch it again next week, Timothy Hutton arrived! Yay! There was an fun Q&A and Timothy Hutton was nice enough to stay and do autographs.
Lindsay took this photo

It was an amazing night! And prayers are answered, I'm telling you I had a prayer in my heart that it would work out and we could make it in after we talked to the yellow tie dude, and it was answered!

We got pictures with everyone of the cast members, their autographs and I have a picture of Parker patting my head.

I must admit I felt silly asking her, but I have two new mottos that I'm trying to live by.
1. When opportunities arise take them - live your life without regret.
2.Don't be afraid to look silly.

Beth, who plays Parker, wasn't there at first, she arrived just as Laura and I finished getting autographs, she stood between us. We took that group photo right away, and then I asked her to pat my head - I felt silly asking, she was shocked/surprised (the look on her face was awesome) but she knew what I was referencing to because she said the line. If I didn't ask because I was afraid of looking silly I would have kicked myself all the way home and the for many nights to come. But since I asked, Laura was able to have her head petted too.

Did I mention it was an amazing night?

Sorry, I can't do short and sweet... I don't think that will ever happen.
Tonight was amazing.
I want to blog and post my pictures from tonight but I have to work later today. Laura & I went to the leverage screening for the new season. We have pictures with the cast & their autographs. It was an amazing night. Laura a blogging as I text this but I'm going to bed. Check her blog out & I'll post mine tomorrow.

Monday, July 6, 2009

What obsessions?

This is my friend Jen.

She's beautiful, amazingly talented and has a wicked sense of humor. (And she's an awesome warrior protector watching us a full 360 degrees in New Orleans.)

In that clever brain of hers she has many stories running around. And the current one she is working on I'm LOVING. I'm lucky enough for her to send me chapters after she's edited them and I can't get enough.

It inspires to me draw her characters and scenes. I'm always asking her questions about the characters, asking her what she has planned for them, and of course after I read what she sends me I'm calling her to say "I need more!" I'm like a druggie and she's my dealer.

What obsession?



This is NCIS.

I don't know why but I sure do love this show. If I let myself be obsessed I would with this one. Whenever there is a marathon I'm watching it even if I have already seen the episode.

Psst I'm going to tell a secret... When Director Shephard died I cried. I don't judge you!

"Yay!" *clapping hands* "NCIS is one" that is my reaction when I see it's on in the guide.

I don't know if this one really counts as an obsession though...

What are you obsessed with?

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A hero of mine is....

Dory!
Now you may be thinking, "but she's just a fictional fish with short term memory loss."

That may be true, but she lives life (even if she'll forget the things she's done.) Remember when her and Marlin were in the whale? The whale makes a noise and Dory jumps back in the throat with an "Ok." Marlin grabs her fin with his little fin to save her.

Dory: "He says it's time to let go and everything will be alright."
Marlin: "How do you know that? How do you know that nothing bad will happen?"
Dory: "I don't."

Why can't we all have that much faith?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

I love quotes....

I love V for Vendetta, but alas it's rated R so I no longer will watch it.

V: “I can assure you I mean you no harm.”
Evey Hammond: “Who are you?”
V: “Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.”
Evey Hammond: “Well I can see that.”
V: “Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.”
Evey Hammond: “Oh. Right.”

---

Creedy: “Bollocks. Whatcha gonna do, huh? We're swept this place - You've got nothing. Nothing but your bloody knives, and your fancy karate gimmicks... we have *guns* - !”

V: “No, what you have are *bullets*, and the hopes that when your guns are empty, I'm no longer standing, because if I am... you'll all be dead before you've reloaded.


Such a great movie! :-)