I've decided that it's time that the local photographers in this (Florence) area need to get together to collaborate on photography. So I would like all the people who read the blog, are here in AZ, and have a strong interest (or side business) in photography to leave a comment on what kinds of things they are interested in learning "hands on".
SO! This is what you do:
1. Send me an email to let me know you want to be included (gwoolf at hotmail dot com)
2. Tell me what you are interested in learning.
3. Let me know if you are interested in sharing what you know.
4. Prepare for a whirlwind of knowlege to sweep you up and help you improve your skills!!
Some ideas I have in mind are:
How to streamline process in Photoshop, Creating actions, How to mask like a pro, Brushes - No paint required, using off camera strobe to improve your lighting, what every photographer should know about color temperature, All about F-stops (and not just aperature).
Please spread the word, this could really boost the creativity of this area and I would love to see some creative culture grow in the Florence, AZ area.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Getting to know you (again, and again and again)
Alright, Anna sent another one of these so instead of doing it on email I am posting it here.....
What color are your socks right now?
Socks? I live in AZ
What are you listening to right now?
Greg and Danny talking
What was the last thing that you ate?
Waffles (thanks for breakfast honey!!)
Can you drive a stick shift?
It’s been a while, but yes.
Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Spoke to: Laura; Text: Erica
Do you like the person who sent this to you?
She’s one of the best sister-in-laws EVER!!
How old are you today?
33
What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Ugghh sports on TV?
What is your favorite drink?
Milk
Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes. At least twice a year
Favorite food?
Homemade tacos
What is the last movie you watched?
Mamma Mia!! (last night for Maddie’s birthday)
Favorite day of the year?
Any day I spend with my family
How do you vent anger?
Other than yelling? Talking to my mom or husband (or his mom if he is the problem)
What was your favorite toy as a child?
The Bargain Hunter game (I bought another one on eBay a few years ago)
What is your favorite season? (s)
There are no seasons in AZ – in MN I love the fall
Cherries or Blueberries?
Both are tolerated but neither are my favorite
Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
I always love to hear from my friends
Who is the most likely to respond?
Anyone
Who is least likely to respond?
Who knows
Living arrangements?
In a house with a fantastic yard
When was the last time you cried?
Last night during Mamma Mia
What is on the floor of your closet?
Crap. Wait which closet…never mind they all have crap in them.
Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
Amy is my longest friend - since Kindergarten
What did you do last night
Took Maddie out for her birthday (she’s 12). We went shopping then saw Kung Fu Panda and then Mamma Mia
What are you most afraid of
The loss of one of my family members. After losing my father it makes it more real that I could (and know that I will) lose someone else.
Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers
BACON CHEESEBURGER BABY!!
Favorite dog breed(s)?
Shiba Inu or Cocker Spaniel
Favorite day of the week?
Any day I get to spend with Greg
How many states have you lived in?
4 so far - MN, TX, CO, and AZ
Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds
What is your favorite flower?
Tulip
What color are your socks right now?
Socks? I live in AZ
What are you listening to right now?
Greg and Danny talking
What was the last thing that you ate?
Waffles (thanks for breakfast honey!!)
Can you drive a stick shift?
It’s been a while, but yes.
Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Spoke to: Laura; Text: Erica
Do you like the person who sent this to you?
She’s one of the best sister-in-laws EVER!!
How old are you today?
33
What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Ugghh sports on TV?
What is your favorite drink?
Milk
Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes. At least twice a year
Favorite food?
Homemade tacos
What is the last movie you watched?
Mamma Mia!! (last night for Maddie’s birthday)
Favorite day of the year?
Any day I spend with my family
How do you vent anger?
Other than yelling? Talking to my mom or husband (or his mom if he is the problem)
What was your favorite toy as a child?
The Bargain Hunter game (I bought another one on eBay a few years ago)
What is your favorite season? (s)
There are no seasons in AZ – in MN I love the fall
Cherries or Blueberries?
Both are tolerated but neither are my favorite
Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
I always love to hear from my friends
Who is the most likely to respond?
Anyone
Who is least likely to respond?
Who knows
Living arrangements?
In a house with a fantastic yard
When was the last time you cried?
Last night during Mamma Mia
What is on the floor of your closet?
Crap. Wait which closet…never mind they all have crap in them.
Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
Amy is my longest friend - since Kindergarten
What did you do last night
Took Maddie out for her birthday (she’s 12). We went shopping then saw Kung Fu Panda and then Mamma Mia
What are you most afraid of
The loss of one of my family members. After losing my father it makes it more real that I could (and know that I will) lose someone else.
Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers
BACON CHEESEBURGER BABY!!
Favorite dog breed(s)?
Shiba Inu or Cocker Spaniel
Favorite day of the week?
Any day I get to spend with Greg
How many states have you lived in?
4 so far - MN, TX, CO, and AZ
Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds
What is your favorite flower?
Tulip
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Her first solid food.....well kind of solid
BEFORE THE FEAST:
AFTER THE FEAST:
Jilly had her 4 month doctor's appointment today. She weighs in at 13 lbs. 4 oz. (45% of average 4 month olds) and is 25 inches long (80% of average four month olds). She is tall and thin.....not a bad way to be. :-)
So after her check up (and the shots - poor thing) the doctor said she was definitely ready for cereal. So we came home and gave it a try. She wrinkled her nose a lot and everything came out at least once before she figured out that she should swallow it. But she was (is) dang cute doing it!! So, now we have a new fixture in the dining room....the high chair. YEAH!!
AFTER THE FEAST:
Jilly had her 4 month doctor's appointment today. She weighs in at 13 lbs. 4 oz. (45% of average 4 month olds) and is 25 inches long (80% of average four month olds). She is tall and thin.....not a bad way to be. :-)
So after her check up (and the shots - poor thing) the doctor said she was definitely ready for cereal. So we came home and gave it a try. She wrinkled her nose a lot and everything came out at least once before she figured out that she should swallow it. But she was (is) dang cute doing it!! So, now we have a new fixture in the dining room....the high chair. YEAH!!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ah! the subtleties of language and law.
I think this about sums up how I feel as well....
=================================
Prop 8: It's Impact: GREAT
Susan Noyes Anderson
10/16/2008 06:00 PM MDT
*EDITOR'S NOTE: Anderson was a former writer for Mormon-Life and is now a freelance writer. The following article was recently published on her blog.
Warning: This is not a "politically correct" post, at least where I live, but I feel obligated to make a statement of my beliefs and concerns about Proposition 8 due to its critical importance in this election.
I'll begin by affirming that I have no bias against gay individuals or groups per se and that I respect them as friends and associates. Neither do I oppose domestic partner statutes affording them any and all legal rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples in a marriage relationship. (Family Code 297.5) What I do oppose, specifically, is changing the legal definition of marriage to anything other than between a man and a woman. Here's how I see it. Domestic partnership is a newer status, engendered (and rightfully so) to support/protect the rights of same-sex couples. Marriage, on the other hand, is an ancient institution with well-established parameters developed more years ago than any of us would want to count and supporting/protecting not just the relationship between a man and a woman but the children that naturally result from the biological nature of such a union.
It is my deeply held belief that marriage is ordained of God as a sort of three-way contract with Him, made by a man and a woman who wish to welcome God's spirit children into their home. It is also my deeply held belief that no man or woman has a "right" to expand or redefine an institution as set forth by God. His law is not ours to change. We have no authority, as the California Supreme Court apparently believes it has, to "legislate from the bench."
Of course, I understand that not every American or Californian agrees with me, and I have no problem with that at all. There are many, however, who do agree. A number of people in our country (myself included) view marriage as a sacred estate whose purpose, at base, is procreation. Countless more, while not seeing this as a religious issue, are simply opposed to the idea of making marriage an umbrella category for every type of pairing entered into by committed individuals. In their purely secular view, marriage is marriage and domestic partnership is domestic partnership...historically, two different things. Indeed, why imbue an already established word, "marriage," with new definitions? It becomes confusing. Such new definitions, arguably, are best served by an equally new word. Should an e-mail address have the same nomenclature as a url? They are both internet addresses, but the dynamic, the process, and the end result of their use differs. Specificity in naming them, therefore, makes sense.
Other groups who support Proposition 8 are concerned about the manner in which a liberal state Supreme Court stepped in to overturn a law voted on and put in place by the people of California. Furthermore, a number of legal experts feel that the Court's ruling has established gay individuals as a "protected class." This status would likely make it difficult for individuals who are not gay to prevail in lawsuits where religious rights and gay rights come into conflict. Recently a doctor, whose personal religious views and conscience did not permit him to inseminate a lesbian woman, was sued by her and lost, even though another doctor agreed to perform the procedure. She had alternatives, in other words, but she was not satisfied with them. This suggests to me that the purpose of her suit was to satisfy one thing and one thing only: the need to see her rights as a gay person prevail over this man's right to freedom in practicing his religion according to his conscience. In all fairness, whose rights would be most violated here? Does his choice keep her from being inseminated as a lesbian woman? No. Does her choice to sue him (and win) keep him from practicing his beliefs (and medicine) as a religious man? Yes. She has other options. He does not. And yet, her rights prevailed...a harbinger, many people believe, of things to come. At the very least, a legal precedent has been set.
Another potential problem has been seen in Boston, where gay marriage is already legal. Catholic Charities has closed down operations there because it cannot arrange adoptions for same-sex couples and still maintain integrity with Catholic beliefs. Even though same-sex couples could have used other adoption agencies, the operative agenda was to see a gay person's right to adopt win out over the Catholic church's right to practice its religion and manage its adoption agencies in accordance with its core beliefs. Once again, religious rights lost the battle where there should be no battle at all. In essence, the right of gay couples to adopt at ANY agency they might want to approach was deemed more important than the right of an agency (run and based upon the Catholic religion and its tenets) to self-determine in accordance with its core beliefs. The Church was forced to either surrender its own rights or shut down. In this instance at least, gay rights trumped the rights of a religious group or individual. Where is the justice in that, especially if it becomes the national precedent? Where is the justice in having schools (at best) validate and (at worst) present ideas of marriage and family that are directly contrary to parents' religious beliefs? Should churches be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriages in their religious buildings that are open to the public? These are all concerns of mine.
More than a few opponents of Proposition 8 label any person who supports the idea that only a man and a woman should be eligible for marriage as a "hater." Those who espouse same-sex marriage too frequently view those who oppose it as (best case) homophobic and (worst case) bigots who want to deny the rights of fellow citizens simply because their lifestyle does not agree with more traditional views. Both of these assumptions are patently unfair. What's more, they worry me, for they suggest that views based upon religion are now being classed with views based on racism, ageism, or other prejudices. Religion is not a prejudice, it's a right, as valid and sacred as any other. Yet, opinions based on religious belief have become suspect, and the right to exercise religion is becoming somehow "less worthy" than other rights. People do have a right to act in accordance with their religious beliefs, and those beliefs should be respected, not suspected.
Contrary to (some) popular opinion, it is entirely possible to believe that men should not "marry" men and women should not "marry" women without bearing any malice at all toward the men and women in question. I fully support their right to form loving, committed unions under the protection of fair and equitable domestic partnership laws. For me, supporting Proposition 8 is simply about believing that marriage as an institution is ordained of God, between a man and a woman, with procreation as its greatest end. Period.
=================================
Prop 8: It's Impact: GREAT
Susan Noyes Anderson
10/16/2008 06:00 PM MDT
*EDITOR'S NOTE: Anderson was a former writer for Mormon-Life and is now a freelance writer. The following article was recently published on her blog.
Warning: This is not a "politically correct" post, at least where I live, but I feel obligated to make a statement of my beliefs and concerns about Proposition 8 due to its critical importance in this election.
I'll begin by affirming that I have no bias against gay individuals or groups per se and that I respect them as friends and associates. Neither do I oppose domestic partner statutes affording them any and all legal rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples in a marriage relationship. (Family Code 297.5) What I do oppose, specifically, is changing the legal definition of marriage to anything other than between a man and a woman. Here's how I see it. Domestic partnership is a newer status, engendered (and rightfully so) to support/protect the rights of same-sex couples. Marriage, on the other hand, is an ancient institution with well-established parameters developed more years ago than any of us would want to count and supporting/protecting not just the relationship between a man and a woman but the children that naturally result from the biological nature of such a union.
It is my deeply held belief that marriage is ordained of God as a sort of three-way contract with Him, made by a man and a woman who wish to welcome God's spirit children into their home. It is also my deeply held belief that no man or woman has a "right" to expand or redefine an institution as set forth by God. His law is not ours to change. We have no authority, as the California Supreme Court apparently believes it has, to "legislate from the bench."
Of course, I understand that not every American or Californian agrees with me, and I have no problem with that at all. There are many, however, who do agree. A number of people in our country (myself included) view marriage as a sacred estate whose purpose, at base, is procreation. Countless more, while not seeing this as a religious issue, are simply opposed to the idea of making marriage an umbrella category for every type of pairing entered into by committed individuals. In their purely secular view, marriage is marriage and domestic partnership is domestic partnership...historically, two different things. Indeed, why imbue an already established word, "marriage," with new definitions? It becomes confusing. Such new definitions, arguably, are best served by an equally new word. Should an e-mail address have the same nomenclature as a url? They are both internet addresses, but the dynamic, the process, and the end result of their use differs. Specificity in naming them, therefore, makes sense.
Other groups who support Proposition 8 are concerned about the manner in which a liberal state Supreme Court stepped in to overturn a law voted on and put in place by the people of California. Furthermore, a number of legal experts feel that the Court's ruling has established gay individuals as a "protected class." This status would likely make it difficult for individuals who are not gay to prevail in lawsuits where religious rights and gay rights come into conflict. Recently a doctor, whose personal religious views and conscience did not permit him to inseminate a lesbian woman, was sued by her and lost, even though another doctor agreed to perform the procedure. She had alternatives, in other words, but she was not satisfied with them. This suggests to me that the purpose of her suit was to satisfy one thing and one thing only: the need to see her rights as a gay person prevail over this man's right to freedom in practicing his religion according to his conscience. In all fairness, whose rights would be most violated here? Does his choice keep her from being inseminated as a lesbian woman? No. Does her choice to sue him (and win) keep him from practicing his beliefs (and medicine) as a religious man? Yes. She has other options. He does not. And yet, her rights prevailed...a harbinger, many people believe, of things to come. At the very least, a legal precedent has been set.
Another potential problem has been seen in Boston, where gay marriage is already legal. Catholic Charities has closed down operations there because it cannot arrange adoptions for same-sex couples and still maintain integrity with Catholic beliefs. Even though same-sex couples could have used other adoption agencies, the operative agenda was to see a gay person's right to adopt win out over the Catholic church's right to practice its religion and manage its adoption agencies in accordance with its core beliefs. Once again, religious rights lost the battle where there should be no battle at all. In essence, the right of gay couples to adopt at ANY agency they might want to approach was deemed more important than the right of an agency (run and based upon the Catholic religion and its tenets) to self-determine in accordance with its core beliefs. The Church was forced to either surrender its own rights or shut down. In this instance at least, gay rights trumped the rights of a religious group or individual. Where is the justice in that, especially if it becomes the national precedent? Where is the justice in having schools (at best) validate and (at worst) present ideas of marriage and family that are directly contrary to parents' religious beliefs? Should churches be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriages in their religious buildings that are open to the public? These are all concerns of mine.
More than a few opponents of Proposition 8 label any person who supports the idea that only a man and a woman should be eligible for marriage as a "hater." Those who espouse same-sex marriage too frequently view those who oppose it as (best case) homophobic and (worst case) bigots who want to deny the rights of fellow citizens simply because their lifestyle does not agree with more traditional views. Both of these assumptions are patently unfair. What's more, they worry me, for they suggest that views based upon religion are now being classed with views based on racism, ageism, or other prejudices. Religion is not a prejudice, it's a right, as valid and sacred as any other. Yet, opinions based on religious belief have become suspect, and the right to exercise religion is becoming somehow "less worthy" than other rights. People do have a right to act in accordance with their religious beliefs, and those beliefs should be respected, not suspected.
Contrary to (some) popular opinion, it is entirely possible to believe that men should not "marry" men and women should not "marry" women without bearing any malice at all toward the men and women in question. I fully support their right to form loving, committed unions under the protection of fair and equitable domestic partnership laws. For me, supporting Proposition 8 is simply about believing that marriage as an institution is ordained of God, between a man and a woman, with procreation as its greatest end. Period.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Jilly is 4 months old!!
OK I know 4 months isn't really very old...but I am sad that she is growing up at all! I am having so much fun with her! She is happy ALL the time. There is nothing better than being woken up to her talking in her bed in the morning. She doesn't roll much yet - mostly when she is mad. But it's coming. She is VERY strong and it probably won't be long before she is sitting on her own. YEAH!! Isn't she just dang cute!! (I realize I am a bit biased....I say this often don't it) LOL
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Nanny Video to the Rescue!!
Who says kids shouldn't watch TV until they are 2??? Jilly loves the TV. My mom regularly has her watch Sesame Street. I had to get a few things done and she was demanding all of my attention (I know baby attention is tough [heavy sarcasm]). So I turned on Playhouse Disney and she is having a great time!! She is watching intently and kicking and laughing with them..every now and then she will even yell at the TV.
She did the same thing when we went and saw Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. She was awake the whole time and yelled at the movie screen. She loves the colors and the noise. It is soo fun to watch!!!
Monday, October 06, 2008
Everyone's asleep .... BUT ME!!!
Well apparently I now live in The Napping House (which is one of my FAVORITE books!!) Everyone has been asleep in my house since 8:15 p.m. Crazy!! Danny came home from school today and told me he had a tough day because he was so tired. (We were up a tad too late with the Powers family last night!) I said that he could go to bed a little earlier tonight at 7:30 - and he willingly agreed (he must have been tired). Than as I was going through his clothes it hit me like a ton of bricks why...he is going through a growth spurt!! All his pants are becoming high waters and his shirts are all becoming belly shirts! So I spent a couple of hours in his clothes and took out everything under size 6. Then restocked with size 7. Soon both my boys will tower over me!!!! Hunter (at age 8) is already past my shoulders. CRAZY!!!
Here is a picture of a couple of my napping darlings! Aren't they soo cute!!
Here is a picture of a couple of my napping darlings! Aren't they soo cute!!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Breat Cancer Awareness Month
My Friend Erica posted this:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I had my first mammogram when I was 25 - the doctors thought I was crazy until they heard my family history. Then on my 29th birthday I thought I found two lumps - I was terrified and I didn't tell my family (except of course my mom) - I had the LONGEST ultrasound and mammogram EVER, which scared me even more and then waited and waited and waited. Finally I was told to keep an eye on it but that it was "normal", actually I don't think those were the exact words they used - anyway - I had put off going back - then my mom got cancer - not breast cancer mind you - but cancer, and it was stage 3b. I won't be putting it off again. So it is my turn to get on my soap box and get all "preachy" - if you don't get checked on a regular basis...you need to! Make sure you get a yearly mammogram - I hate doing it as much as everyone else - no one wants to have their chi-chi's mashed as flat as possible in a machine - but it is important! 5 out of 7 women in my family have had cancer, several of them have had reoccurring cancer. It does not matter if you have a family history, if you are healthy, or how old you are - 1 out of every 7 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime - GET CHECKED I tell you this knowing how much I dread having to do it myself - but I have to, and I will - so I hope that all of you will too. You just never know.
With a history of cancer in my family (mom has had kidney, colon and breast and two great aunts with double mastectomies) I know that I have no right to my children and husband not to follow this advice. I yelled at a man while I was waiting in the ER waiting room yesterday for being selfish for not having the heart surgery his doctor wants to do. If I do not follow this advice than I am no better. I have an appointment with my OB/GYN the beginning of December and I will start the process of getting annual checks for everything that I need. I also know that I need to start eating healthier and exercising. I will have to work on those a bit harder. Thanks for the reminder for all of us Erica!!
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I had my first mammogram when I was 25 - the doctors thought I was crazy until they heard my family history. Then on my 29th birthday I thought I found two lumps - I was terrified and I didn't tell my family (except of course my mom) - I had the LONGEST ultrasound and mammogram EVER, which scared me even more and then waited and waited and waited. Finally I was told to keep an eye on it but that it was "normal", actually I don't think those were the exact words they used - anyway - I had put off going back - then my mom got cancer - not breast cancer mind you - but cancer, and it was stage 3b. I won't be putting it off again. So it is my turn to get on my soap box and get all "preachy" - if you don't get checked on a regular basis...you need to! Make sure you get a yearly mammogram - I hate doing it as much as everyone else - no one wants to have their chi-chi's mashed as flat as possible in a machine - but it is important! 5 out of 7 women in my family have had cancer, several of them have had reoccurring cancer. It does not matter if you have a family history, if you are healthy, or how old you are - 1 out of every 7 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime - GET CHECKED I tell you this knowing how much I dread having to do it myself - but I have to, and I will - so I hope that all of you will too. You just never know.
With a history of cancer in my family (mom has had kidney, colon and breast and two great aunts with double mastectomies) I know that I have no right to my children and husband not to follow this advice. I yelled at a man while I was waiting in the ER waiting room yesterday for being selfish for not having the heart surgery his doctor wants to do. If I do not follow this advice than I am no better. I have an appointment with my OB/GYN the beginning of December and I will start the process of getting annual checks for everything that I need. I also know that I need to start eating healthier and exercising. I will have to work on those a bit harder. Thanks for the reminder for all of us Erica!!
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Location! Location! Location!
Sometimes its not the image itself but where the elements are placed on the page!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
