Beginner Photoshop Training for Photographers

Beginner Photoshop Training for Photographers

Fears

It is said that you should face your fears and I set out to do just that.  While it is true that I have many fears that I will someday have to face it was my fear of bats and confined spaces that I would attempt to overcome this past weekend.  And a funny thing happened in this fear facing journey; I discovered that neither one of those fears bothered nearly as much as something I hadn't given much consideration.  The fear of falling and busting either my bum, breaking my camera or more importantly my pride bothered me more than anything.  The floors in the cavern were wet in spots and since the floor was uneven and sloped in places the added moisture caused  people to slip all over the place.  No one actually fell but I feared that I would be the "one" that would fall and be spread out all over the place; camera in God knows what hole, legs over my head and all of the things in my purse spread over the entire floor that kept me from completing the tour.  Not completing the tour would normally have caused me to feel like a worthless loser but I wasn't alone in my decision to cop out on the tour, my niece Kara was right there with me on this one.  The two of us sat at the top of the tour, laughed and sat in silence and had just an all over good time in our own little world.  The greatest decision we made that day was to go ahead and take ourselves back to the end of the tour and wait for the guide in the light because as we went down the declining path Kara took a slip which sparked on a bout of laughter from the two of us that nearly caused us both to pea our pants right there and I am so glad that we did not have an audience for that.   

 As you can see we came pretty close to random bats and one even flew between us as we were entering the caverns and I didn't do my usual drop to the ground and total spaz out freak attack.

As you can see the path is leading to a rather tight fitting space and still I ventured on.

It was this along with some other things that caused much laughter, and I don't think I need to explain why.

It was having made it out of there that caused me great joy!!  I felt a sense of accomplishment even though I didn't complete the entire tour I had experienced enough to know that I had looked my fears in the eye and I came out the winner.

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall

I drive by this pond every day on my way to work and on my way home from work and every day, "winter, spring, summer or fall these two swans are there.  It makes my day to see them but it also causes a sense of worry.  Every day I look for them and pray that they are both there, for I fear that if something happens to one of them the other will not make it either.  They are always together, and I do mean always; when we had all of that snow last year there they were huddled together in the middle of the frozen pond keeping their little section from freezing.  When we had all of that rain weeks ago they were huddled together weathering the storm.  Seeing them also makes me envious, I want to be loved like that and I want to love like that.  Seeing them daily is truly a wonderful treat. 

 Swan love.

Swan song

Don't they look happy?

There are ducks living with them too.

Yesterday was just a gorgeous day to take these pictures and I have been waiting for this opportunity to capture them in all of their glory.  I will continue to follow these beautiful creatures and pray for a long healthy life for them, this may be partially a selfish wish because as long as they continue to live in that pond my days will continue to be enlightened by them.  Thanks swans for bing a wonderful inspiration and blessing to me ans to all the others that drive by daily and look for them.

Not the winner

I didn't expect to win last year and I did, I didn't expect to win this year and I didn't.  It matters not if I lost I am a winner in just having participated.  I met some great people and it was all for a great cause; The Big Brothers Big Sisters club.

Can I also add that I am a complete dork at times!

Defending the title!

It is that time of year again; time to cook the chili.  Last year I went to the Biggest Little Tailgate Party at Raven's stadium (benefits the Big Brothers Big Sisters program)  and participated in the Chili cook off.; I was mostly there to help out because the turn out for chili cooks was not that great.  So I made my trusty old chili recipe and never once romanced the thought of being the winner!!!

 But to my surprise I won.  Can you believe it I won, me; its a year later and I still can't believe it.  But tonight I am attending this year's Biggest Little Tailgate Party as the defending champion.  I am not sure what to make of this; and quite frankly I will be glad when it is over. I 'm a little nervous about the whole thing.  Check back tomorrow to see what happens.  Sorry about the picture I can't figure out how to fix it.

What time is it?

It's GAME Time!!!
It's time the streets of Baltimore turn purple!

Its time when the skies of Baltimore even seem to take on a purple shade!

It's time to do battle and protect our house!

Its time to show just how serious we are!

It's time when we all go WACO!

THe ultimate Raven

So when the RAvens come knocking on your door remember  do your self a favor and ask them "nevermore"
So on that note GO RAVENS KICK SOME PATRIOT BUT and maybe you can tell  TOm to get a hair cut, cause he has really let his game go (so what he is married to a supermodel)

To ride the train; or not?

The conductor from the Polar Express said the following: "The thing about trains...it doesn't matter where their going.  What matters is deciding to get on."  This is a question that we all ask ourselves probably without even knowing it.  Are we going to participate in life (life being the train) or are we going to sit back and watch life.  I for one have decided to ride the train of life; its kind of crazy symbolic right now because as I am writing this the train just went by and blew his whistle as if to say you better get on life is passing you by.  So with that I ask you are you going to ride the train?

Brynlee Claire loved riding the train; watching as things passed by.

Ella chose not to ride Thomas but she was happy to see us take the ride.

Ella likes trains that she has control over; so I guess there are different ways to ride the train.

In the end we all have the choice "ride the train " or "not"; or choose which train you ride.  We all had a blast visiting Thomas that day and we made memories that will last forever because of that train.

Pumpkin pickin

Last Saturday I went to Summer's farm out in Frederick with Evan, Angel, Ella, Brynlee and June and what a blast we had.  We got lost in the corn maze, the girls rode the pumpkin train and we picked many pumpkins.  It was so much fun spending time with them; it gives me the chance to relive the fun of Halloween as a child.

Renessong

Renessong

Starting something new (beginnings are always scary)

Today is the first day of the rest of my life so today is as good a day as any to start the blog I have been thinking about doing for what seems like forever.  So here goes....wish me luck!!

Renessong