Here I Am

So, no, I didn't drop off the face of the earth.  I was just computer-less for far too long.  My faithful old computer died after a little over 5 years of service.  It took some time for us to decide whether to try to fix it or get a new one.  I'm not into fixing old electronics, these things run their course and should just be replaced in my book.  However, I was tempted to try that route just because it burns me that we've worked so many (many many many many) hours to save and save for a down payment and I didn't want to dip into that for a new computer.  In the end we did get a new imac, though, and she sure is pretty.

To be honest, I've not had much time to play with her, although Keck sure has and assures me she runs like a dream.

I'm just thankful to be back online, since we still can't write or read blogs at work, I've been having serious withdrawal issues.  Also, we didn't lose anything in the transition either since Keck had just backed everything up a few days before the old imac went on to a better place, where I imagine all desktops are as lovely as this:

And so to my imacs I say "Goodbye, old friend!  Hello, my new workhorse!" Here's a fun 3 generation photo of our little imac family:

Moonlight Drawings

While at Zoolights I started "drawing" with the moon on a whim.  It's a technique I once saw a fellow photo student use.  There was a big, bright lovely full moon hanging low in the night sky and so I used its light through a long exposure to create lines and pictures.  While the shutter is open for the long exposure, I move the camera around like a writing instrument.  I have no idea what will materialize but since it's digital I don't have to wait very long to find out.

I got some interesting photos but the masterpiece of the series is definitely Constellation Little 'dillo.

Do you see it too?  :)

A New Year, A New Smile

On account of various childhood injuries, Keck has had 2 chipped teeth since I first met him over 15 years ago.  I always found them rather cute and thought they gave his silly little smile lots of character.  However, in the name of good oral health, he decided to get them fixed some time ago.  It took a number of professional opinions and even more visits to our dentist (whom we really love and appreciate) but Keck finally had the chips fixed and now has an even more beautiful smile if that's even possible.

BEFORE

AFTER

Post Holiday Wrap-Up

We had a great time over Christmas and New Years with the family out from Florida and Texas.  We even had the actual Christmas Day and New Years Day off - a first in many years.  We gathered around the Christmas enlarger on Christmas morning and I finally got to open the knives I had gotten the sisterly telepathy about weeks earlier.  The thing about working with good knives is that you realize you've got some bad habits from working with those bad/dull ones for years and you cut your thumb again and again.  Then your husband does it too and you end up at the urgent care clinic with the doctor gluing the flap shut on his thumb to avoid having to use stitches.

Anyway, after the gifts we watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and got started on a fairly early dinner, that turned out to be fabulous and and later watched The Dark Night.  We did some shopping and took a drive up to Flagstaff a few days later.  We welcomed 2009 in the apartment where we can see the various fireworks shows from our balcony.  

The best part of their visit was how our place looked after they left.  If you recall I had been wanting to clear the clutter in our place and really downsize the amount of stuff we have.  Well with 5 people working on it we really put a huge dent in things.  Our place seems nearly twice as big now and the carpets are shampooed and look almost like they did on day one.  There's space for all the necessary things and those things are now all put away in said place and all the unnecessary things were either tossed, donated or packed away for now.

One last note - over the last weeks I've also come to accept that we will be staying in Phoenix after all, at least for a while.  So it seems there will be more Zoolights to wander through and cacti wrapped in Christmas lights yet to photograph. We've started looked for a house to buy and trying to familiarize ourselves with that most overwhelming process.  We're also working very hard to come up with a sizable down payment over the coming months.  With the way things are right now making a big move will not be the best decision for us at this time.  I know lots of people will be disappointed by this (us too) but we sincerely feel we're in the right place for right now and appreciate everyone's support throughout this fairly difficult decision.

Tag - Five is Great, Christmas Edition

Lor'n tagged me a while back, however, since the banning of things fun at work I can no longer blog or view blogs there.  Since that's where I spend most of my time it also means I haven't been able to accept the tag until today.  Thankfully it's still before Christmas so it remains relevant.

Favorite Christmas Movies:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story

Scrooged

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Elf

Five Things That Happened Yesterday:

I started losing my voice

I ate Rubios (I heart Rubios)

I drank yummy cinnamon tea

I made someone laugh

Several people made me laugh several times

Five Things to Look Forward To:

Christmas Day off

Seeing my family

Spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking

Getting over this cold

Zoolights

Five Things on My Wish List:

Kitchenaid bakeware set and 3 tier cooling rack

Kitchenaid standing mixer

OPI in just about any color

sewing machine

Wide angle lens for my D300

Five Things I Love Most About Christmas/Winter:

It's not over 100 degrees outside

Spending time with family

Christmas lights

Drinking hot chocolate and hot cider

Deserts everywhere

Five People I'm Tagging:

Debbie, Cindy and Jessica - the only other bloggers beside Lor'n that I know.

Don't Surprise Me

I really, really, really don't like surprises.  Actually, what I should say is that I hate knowing a surprise is forthcoming but will not be revealed for some time. Because at our wedding, during the first dance when Keck whispered "surprise" and I opened my eyes to see this:

I thought it was completely amazing in every way.  It was something I had no idea about, so I didn't have to agonize over what it might be.  Simply stated, telling me you have a surprise for me and then not sharing it immediately is total torture to me.  So, if you do happen to want to surprise me, then please, just do it and don't tell me about.  It won't fill me with excitement like a normal person, only anxiety.

Likewise, don't plan a surprise for me and then start acting weird or doing things out of character because I'll catch on quickly.  You've gotta run a pretty good covert operation around me because I've watched enough CSI New York, Miami, Oslo, Reykjavik, and the like to gather the evidence and come to a conclusion that a surprise is in the works.

So when Sissy sent Keck a text the other night, I was immediately on alert.

"Why would sis send you a text?"

"Maybe she's getting you something for Christmas and it's going to be a surprise."

"UGH!!  I hate surprises.  You know that.  She knows that.  Just tell me, what is it?"

"I can't tell you."

Wrong answer but I let it slide for the time being since I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open and certainly didn't have the energy to launch into a full inquisition.  

Then I went out to visit mom and dad earlier this week and mom gets a call from sis.  When I asked what sis had said, mom tells me she can't say.  So now she had turned mom against me too?  I was furious but eventually mom talked me down and I forgot about it until yesterday.  I was laying on the new futon where sis will sleep when we're at mom's together.  I was totally relaxed and nearly half asleep when it just came to me.  Out of the blue, I knew just what sissy was getting me.  You see, we have a special telepathic way of communicating and she must've been thinking about it at the time and I got mental wind of it.

On the one hand, I was glad to have solved the mystery since Christmas is so far away, once the gift arrived I would've gone insane looking at it in all its gift wrapped glory but not opening it for weeks.  However, everyone else seemed really disappointed about the whole thing, almost as if I had purposely ruined the surprise.  Sheesh, when did sisterly telepathy become a crime?

Anyway, the moral of the story is if you want to surprise me, please don't tell me about it in advance.  Also, if we share the special gift of telepathic communication, or you've ever had to dress like me for the early part of your childhood, you may want to skip the whole surprise thing, as you really can't hide anything from me and you know it.

I Did It!!

Today marks a personal milestone.  I've overcome a fear.  I faced it head on and all alone.  Yes, I stared that fear directly in its beady little eyes and I conquered it.  It feels amazing to rise above a challenge that for so long has paralyzed me.

Perhaps I shouldn't it build it up too much, however, as once I tell you the details of my victory the hype may seem a bit over the top in hindsight.

Here it is.  The loathsome little wretch that held the upper hand for years:

I understand it may seem a little irrational but hear me out on this.  These things can be potentially deadly.  I mean, come on, these puppies are sealed tight in that little can contraption thingy.  They are ready to bust at any moment.  They're under some serious pressure and the slightest release could send them flying, right?  Right?  You still with me?

Well, I've never wanted to open one of these myself because in all seriousness they actually scared me with all that build-up of suspense as you peel back the wrapping and applying the pressure of a blunt object along the seam to open it.  All the while, you have no idea when the POP will come, you just know it will.  Almost like a jack-in-the-box (although there is at least some warning there, what with the creepy music and all), but that's another phobia for another day.

Anyway, as it happens, Keck was off this morning and when I got up I had a craving for biscuits and eggs and I had no one but myself to turn to.  Since skipping breakfast is not a valid option for me, I knew I had to do this.  Of course, it's not as if I just jumped into it and popped that bad boy open with ferocious gusto or anything.  But after all the rationalizing in my head had finally amped me up enough, I just went at it.  I peeled back the wrapper ever so slowly, and as gingerly as possible.   Using a small pinch I created with just my thumb and index finger, I extended my arm fully so as to be holding the biscuit cannon as far from my body as possible.  Meanwhile, I turned my face away carefully, while still keeping a vigilant eye on the enemy, and let the weight of the can drop itself from the wrapper and onto the counter.

Once this part was done I felt some relief, as I had won the battle but I knew the war was still on until those biscuits were released.  So I did some preparatory calisthenics there in the kitchen, and after careful consideration I choose a spoon.  It was with this spoon that I would conquer the can, after all, so I couldn't just open the drawer and grab any old utensil.  Now there were a few failed attempts of me pressing the spoon along the seam without enough pressure but eventually I took a deep breath and pushed it down like I meant business.

With that, the canister blew open and the dreaded loud POP filled the room.  Finally I was able to exhale and release the tension that I'd apparently been holding in every one of my muscles for the duration of the entire scenario.  Then, 12 minutes later, I enjoyed the spoils of my victory.

In your face, Dough Boy!