Translation, please?

Saw this taped to the soda machine at the local McDonald's....

Christmas Lights 2006

I just uploaded "Christmas Lights 2006" to my Flickr page. These pictures were taken back in December 2006 with my beloved little Kodak V550, which has recently expired. (See this post for more on that sad turn of events.) I posted the photos in honor of my sleek silver work horse, which I miss terribly right now. 

I'll probably be getting a shiny new camera this weekend for my birthday from Pete (yay!), so I thought I'd pay homage to a camera that's been almost everywhere with me. My Kodak was very dependable and easy to carry. Although it sucked through the batteries, it always performed flawlessly for me, until the recent turn of events in Maui. Though it had its limitations, it did what I needed it to and filled many a gap that couldn't be filled by its bigger brother, my Sony Alpha 100.

And the Kodak took pretty damn good pictures, too—at least when the photographer behind it had her crap together, that is.

...and a handmade card for Izzy

Izzy was really amused by the card I made for Pete yesterday, and she asked if I could draw a picture of her that represented what she was all about. So I made her this card today, complete with rhyming verses and stick figures. I hope she likes it.

Handmade birthday card from Izzy

Izzy presented me with this lovely handmade birthday card last night. I was very touched and was impressed by all the added details, like the real flower and chocolate candy taped to the front of the card (she knows my weakness!). Throughout the card she wrote sentiments as to why she loves me so much and her thankfulness for my help in all matters. She's so sweet.

And best of all, on the back of the card she made an all-exclusive pass for unlimited access to her skills and talents. Which means I can call her over if I need her help whenever I want, for however long I want. She said I can use the pass for housework, errands, helping with the dogs, etc. So I already told her to pencil me in for Sunday for house cleaning, because I can sure use her help. I won't work her to death, but it'll be fun having her around and chatting with her while we clean and organize. I'm sure I won't have to beg her to help me reorganize my shoe closet!

Eschelman Pottery Studio

Sam told me about a cool pottery studio located in Elizabeth, IL called Eshelman Pottery by Paul Eshelman. The pieces have a very modern Asian look to them, and there is a variety of serving pieces and glazes to choose from. There's also a list of upcoming shows in the area, and an artist's statement from Paul himself. Pretty cool.

(Photos courtesy of Eshelman Pottery)

And finally...the group shot from the Annual Family Camping Trip, 2008—Nelson Dewey State Park in Cassville, WI

Take one

Take two

Cool camping pix, take five (more casual shots)

Studs Steve and Matt on the beach

Resting our doggies

Tribute brat for Chuck

Pete and Chris on the beach

Hambone looking forlorn in the morning sunlight

Cool camping pix, take four (casual shots)

Henry feeding his pet beaver

Bugs shagging on Mani's shoulder

Zip Zap Rapp and Matt (flashing the Z sign)

Henry and a watchful Pete

The girls and their shave ice

Cool camping pix, take three (portraits)

Shannon in a sun hat

Izzy drinking juice

Sabrina and the view

A blue-lipped Henry

Sam and Mani

Cool camping pix, take two (campfire photos)

Shannon and Matt with drinks by the fire

Pete playing guitar

Sam in a blur

Stephi working by the light

Alien Pete

Cool camping pix, take one (abstract shots)

Henry's feet and my foot on the beach

Otto's eyes

Reflections in Matt's sunglasses

Adora gazing

Beach ball and legs

(Adora photo courtesy of Izzy)

A custom greeting card for Pete

I made this "To my wonderful husband..." greeting card for Pete today at work. I was feeling inspired, and the idea suddenly hit me on one of my trips to the bathroom (of all places). Pete really likes these, and he'll especially like that it's a 3-part card. I like how you can see the ceiling of the office reflected in my light table in the photo, too.

Turning 35

Me, age 35



Yesterday I turned 35. I was depressed almost the entire day, and cried off and on at work. When I got home it got worse. Pete ended up taking me out to Sullivan's Steak House, which was excellent and pricey, but I ended up getting sick from the food all night. I was blue about the thought of turning 35, which seems really bizarre to me when I think about it. But my emotions have been the ruling party as of late, and they tend to override my brain on a lot of matters.

Why so depressed? I think it's got a lot to do with my health, which has been poor for the last several years, and my self image. In my mind I'm still 23, kinda nerdy and goofy and girly, and definitely not the person I see in the mirror with the lined face, swollen body, and tired posture. I have many responsibilities like anyone else, which doesn't bother me, but sometimes I want to just curl up in the corner and sleep for several days. I want to have my old body back, and I don't necessarily mean losing these 15 pounds I've been fighting for the last few years. What I mean is I want to be free of the migraines, the body aches, the weird Hooveritis symptoms (I think I've had quite enough of the drooping eye this past week or two), the exhaustion, the wacked-out hormones, etc. etc.

So while I should be happy that I'm in reasonably good health (no cancer, tumors, diabetes, etc., knock on wood), I certainly don't feel like I thought I would at 35. Sure, I expect to not be bouncing off the walls and to have aches and pains like anyone else. But I worry that if I'm this way at 35, how will I be at 40? 45? and beyond?

I suppose I should look around me and see all that I have to be thankful for—a wonderful husband, family, friends, pets, lifestyle, etc. It's all about looking at the glass half full instead of half empty. It can be really difficult to do, however, when it's a struggle to pick up that glass. But perhaps this dark cloud will pass and I'll feel the sun on my face again, a spring in my step, and a vitality of spirit and emotions. That's the gift I received yesterday—the chance to continue this wonderful thing called life for another year, and to make 35 better than the last several years have been. To do everything I've been thinking about before I no longer have those options, and to live life to its fullest, instead of hiding in the shadows and withdrawing because of my health. Maybe I can shake off this dead weight and continue on my way, get back to what I was doing before I was interrupted, and share this journey with others.

Possibly...

(I took the picture of me {above} when I was feeling really depressed and sorry for myself at work yesterday. I kept trying to get the picture sharp and focused, and tried to show how glum I really felt. Instead, I got this beautiful abstract picture with pretty swirls of color and light, which is a much better documentation of my birthday than any moody portrait could capture, I think.)

Adora and Izzy

This was taken at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, when Izzy, Adora, Spanky, and I drove up to the shower house at Nelson Dewey State Park. We had arrived at the park really late, and were about to shower and hit the air mattresses. Spanky was sitting in the back, and Adora was in the passenger seat, where Izzy was supposed to sit. Izzy tried to push Adora out of the way into the back seat, but Adora was resistant and acting weird. She seemed to try to squeeze between the seat and the car door to get to the back seat, but at the last second she slid down next to Izzy and wrapped her paws around her, hugging her in a strange but needy grip. Izzy and I were cracking up, and I shot a few pix of the scene on my iPhone.

I'll be posting some camping pictures, hopefully tonight (there are about 500 of them). And yes, I'm still working on the Hawaii pictures too. With the camping trip successful (and over!) and only small family events left for the next few months, I can breathe easy and have some free time for such things as editing and posting photos. I also intend to clean my house, the yard, and maybe start on a children's book I've been thinking about.