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“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but the 400-pound woman perched in front of a slot machine, oozing bum-flesh off her stool as she balanced a cocktail and cigarette in one hand and robotically tugged the slot arm with the other . . . that’s still with me.” Brian Sack, Banterist, June 15, 2006
There’s alot to be said for that statement. This is my first trip to Sin City, and as glitzy and glamorous as it is, I was quite amazed at the people who sit mesmerized by these machines for hours and hours just plugging in their money and oblivious of anything going on around them. I was shocked that in the first hotel we stayed at – we had to walk through a smoke-filled casino to get to the elevators that took us up to our room. My eyes were burning and my throat felt thick and tight until we got to our room. There at least, the air was fresh.
We did go down to one of the many restaurants that flank the casino to get a bite to eat for dinner. I have to say . . . we had some of the best Chinese food I’ve had in a long time. It was excellent food, excellent service. I guess that’s part of the draw here, cheap really good food! Unfortunately, we won’t go back to that hotel because of the “smokey” experience.
Since our reason for being in Las Vegas has nothing to do with gambling, drinking, partying or, well – whatever else Sin City is known for . . . I’ll fill you in on the rest of our adventures in the next few posts.
307-365
“The real pleasure was having the chance to enjoy being weightless, and the other was to spend some time looking out at this beautiful Earth that we’re all lucky to inhabit.” Robert Crippen
Today is Baby Girl’s second birthday. Papa G and I spent the day out and about with her just having fun. We went to the Chabot Space and Science Center in the Oakland Hills. It’s a great place to take kids . . . fairly new and lots of great activities. One exhibit was all about weightlessness in space. In this one, I pressed the button on a touch screen, then stepped on to this mat with Papa and Ella. A message said for us to JUMP! When we did – it snapped out picture. It’s supposed to look like we are weightless in space! It didn’t turn out that great – but it was a lot of fun. There was an option to e-mail it to yourself . . . so I did and thus it becomes my 365 for today!
We head off to Vegas for the 365 Meetup tomorrow . . . I’m going to miss the little one so much. I’ve been with her every day for the last four weeks!
Hmm . . . I wonder who is going to go through withdrawal more . . .
306-365
“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” Alfred Stieglitz
I’m 305 days in to this 365 Self Portrait Project. There are approximately 30 of us left out of a couple hundred that started. Few of us have met in person . . . but we’re doing a meetup in Las Vegas this weekend. This has been in the works for a few months now . . . with about half of us showing up – some of us with our spouses and one fellow coming from as far away as Sweden! We range in photographic abilities from amateur to Pro. We’ve rented a big house that many of us will be staying at. It’s going to be a blast for sure . . . with “shoots” planned for different scenic areas around Vegas. Michael Andrew himself is showing up . . . so very exciting. To top it off . . . I’ve never been to Vegas . . . this is a first for me. I’m not really a night lifer, drinker, partyer or gambler . . . I am just interested in soaking up all I can about Photography from everyone that will be there. (oh – Baby Girl was just helping me pack . . . Mommy won’t let her go to Vegas with us! )
And . . . what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas . . . right??
305-365
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Mahatma Gandhi
Bathtime is one of my favorite times with Baby Girl. She so loves the water, and is so joyous and happy when she’s in it. For this shot I used my Gorillapod and hung the camera from the shower door frame to get a perspective from above. I then processed it using PS CS6 filters to get this grainy effect. I had to be careful which photo I used, as I discovered that from this view . . . most of the shots were not appropriate for posting on the internet!
My Grandchildren are so very important to me . . . and I want them all to grow up knowing that they are loved completely by their Grandma/YaYa. That’s why I don’t just talk about it. My actions back up what I say. I don’t buy their affections, I give them my time and my love. I’m well aware that I am compensating for something I feel I lacked growing up. No matter, as it’s a win-win situation!
304-365
“There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one’s self, the very meaning of one’s soul.” Edith Wharton
My “bestie” and I headed off this morning to do some “shooting” out at a local Regional Park. I’ve never ventured out there before, and was curious. There’s a big reservoir that is apparently quite busy in the summer with swimmers and boaters. We saw quite a few fisherman today . . . one with a good catch.
It was a very gorgeous day, though a bit on the cool side especially in the shade. Regardless, we enjoyed the relaxed morning just hanging out together taking pictures of whatever took our fancy. I set up this shot where we were actually standing in the crook of a tree that is just off the bank with the lake in the background. I rested my camera on a picnic table that was just a few feet away, and set the timer to shoot off 3 photos. I’m not really happy with my hair in this, and I didn’t like the color in the original, so I used Nik Silver Efex Pro to convert to B&W.
And . . . I just like hanging out with this guy.
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“I think the word ‘cute’ was made up just for you. You are cuteness redefined to a whole new level. Happy Birthday to the cutest and sweetest 2 year old in the whole world!” WishAFriend.com
Today is Baby Girl’s Second Birthday Party. Her actual birthday is November 14th – but the party was today. We managed to get her down for a good nap prior to the party, and she woke up ready and eager to have fun! I think she was a bit overwhelmed at first when everyone started showing up, but she soon got in to the swing of things. She loved being able to go get chips from the food table, and chasing around with all the kids. When it came time to open presents, she was such a little angel. I love this shot of her oohing over a present. I just don’t know how much more adorable a kid can get! Mommy dressed her in her Halloween outfit (Shirley Temple) since she wasn’t home for Halloween. This way everyone got to see her at her cutest.
It was a great fun day, lots of family and friends, awesome presents and one little girl who navigated the whole event like the true Princess she is . . .
And we ate cake!
Happy Birthday honey!
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302A-365
“Let them eat cake.” Marie Antoinette
Tomorrow is Baby Girl’s second birthday party. We are expecting upwards of 40-60 people/kids to show up. So we need lots of food, and lots of cake! One of my talents is Cake Baker/Decorator. I used to do custom wedding cakes and special occasion cakes . . . but haven’t done if for money for many years. I now mainly do it for family special occasions. I’m prepping the cake here . . . theme is Bubble Guppies. I’ve enlisted the help of my husband, who will create the characters out of icing. They won’t go on the cake until tomorrow morning before the party. It’s a lot of work to bake and prep the cake, especially when you’re making it to serve that many people. Cupcakes too! So – tomorrow you’ll get to see the final result of what I’m working on here.
Happy soon to be birthday, Baby Girl!
301-365
“It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.” Mike Huckabee
Wow! I can’t believe I have reached Day Three Hundred of this 365 Project! There have been days when I really didn’t think I could come up with something to post . . . another photo much less another blog post! Because I took on the task of not only doing a self portrait every day, but also doing a blog post about it ever day as well. I have fallen behind a few times . . . but I have not neglected the actual taking of a photo every day. It’s pretty incredible what I have learned through this process . . . one of which is Photography is most definitely where my passion lies. There has been a thread of Photography throughout my entire life . . . I just didn’t pursue it as I am able to now because of where life took me. I’m here now though, and so fortunate and blessed to be in a position to finally pursue my passion. In fact – in a few days I will be meeting up with fellow 365’ers in Las Vegas for a weekend of shooting and camaraderie over our shared mutual passion. Here I am perusing the 365 forums, amazed at the talent and friendships that we have formed even tho few of us have met in person. Vegas . . . here we come!
300-365
“Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the Mall of his choice.” Dave Barry
We’re hanging out at the Shasta Mall in Redding, California waiting for Papa G to finish up a morning of business back at the hotel before we head on to San Francisco where Baby Girl’s Mommy and Daddy are anxiously awaiting her return. We ended up at the Mall because I typed “playground” in to Map Quest, and this is where it instructed me to go. We ended up just running up and down the open areas as the Playground was full of kids and quite hectic. She was happy with that though . . . but finally it was break time and snack time. That’s when I captured this with my iPad. She’s just chillin’!
Funny thing is I never go to the Mall anymore, and will avoid it like the plague during the holiday season. I prefer to either do my gift shopping on-line, or make something that is personal and meaningful. I just can’t do the crazy crowds anymore. I didn’t buy one thing here at this Mall – even tho I did do a bit of window shopping. Everything is either too expensive or just not what I’m looking for. I would have bought a rain jacket for the Baby if I had found one . . . but could not find a single clothing store that sells them for toddlers. Weird. So – maybe I need to design something and get it on the market asap?? Hmmm . . .
299-365
“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.” George Carlin
We’re still travelling . . . and this is a late night on the road. We spent a bit too long at the Woodburn Outlets in Oregon and so are arriving late at our destination for tonight. Baby Girl is in the back seat jabbering away at us, singing songs along with the radio . . . a very pleasant and fun drive even tho it was late and dark. She has been a bright shining light on this trip. For a two year old, she is an incredibly happy little traveler.
I keep saying this, but it’s so true . . . she is so much like her mother at this age. We traveled every summer from California to Canada from the time she was a baby. And she was always a happy little traveler, going with the flow whatever we did.
I took this shot with my iPad as a Semi Truck was passing us. I liked the effect with the red tail lights . . .
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Nurture Self 365 