Experimenting with Saturation and Contrast

A Few Photos

While waiting for my USB cord to arrive via UPS, I discovered that this particular cord is actually quite common and actually found one hiding at my parents' house tonight. Boy how I love to waste money on things that I think I need. Oh well...better to have more than one I guess. On the plus side, I was finally able to upload some of the pictures that I've taken. So here are a few. Most of them were taken at Cedar Creek Lake in TX. And, yes, I know that the wine bottle is out of focus, I meant for it to come out that way. I was messing around with different techniques trying to jog my memory.

Be kind with any criticism as it's been a while since I've had a camera in hand. Posting these is actually almost as nerve racking as getting naked in front of someone for the first time!

Bitch Session #1

I finally managed to find the USB cord that I need for my camera. It was a real bargain at $3.99. What bugs is that the shipping is twice as much! Oh well, I've searched high and low and this is the best deal that I could find.


Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with how Subway makes their sandwiches? I bitch about this all time. I can sum up my grievance in just one sentence..."The TOPpings are called TOPpings because they belong on the TOP of the sandwich!" I miss the divot they used to cut into the bread. It was perfect, everything stayed where it was supposed to and the bread didn't get all soggy. They need to bring that back.


To drivers in Texas, if you need to pull over then pull over...off the road! I have never in my life lived in a place where people just park in the middle of the road. I see it all the time out here. Even on the highways...there's a shoulder for a reason, people.


Why is it that when you go to a fast food drive thru and ask for ketchup they hand you a whopping two packets? I always ask for more and they give me a disgruntled look like I'm asking for their first born. I actually got into an altercation with the staff at a Wendy's a few years ago. I asked for A LOT of ketchup (I got meals for 4 people). The guy handed me 3 packets so I nicely asked for more. He handed me 1 packet...to me that was just rude. So I again asked for more and he just shrugged at me...so I said "In what world is four tiny packets of ketchup enough for four large orders of fries?" At this point, the manager sauntered up to the window and asked me what the problem was. I nicely explained that I needed enough ketchup for four meals and that four packets just wasn't going to cut it. Her snarky remark was "Exactly how many packets would you like?" My reply, "Eleven". She then explained that they didn't have eleven packets left at the window, so I told her she ought to carry herself up front and get some more. She handed me 2 more packets and told me to be on my way. At this point, I was furious...I could've just driven off and stewed about it, bitched about it and then gotten over it, but that's not quite my style...so I parked the car, walked inside and dumped the entire bin of ketchup packets into the to-go bag. The next time I visited this particular Wendy's, the ketchup was hidden behind the counter. It's nice to know that I've left a small dent in the world :o)

Pictures Coming Soon

Spent the long weekend at my parent's lake house. I got some amazing shots of a blue heron that likes to hang around our dock. Unfortunately, the USB cord to my camera is MIA and I've found that they aren't so easy to replace. I've called three camera stores, Best Buy and Radio Shack and they all tell me that the only cables they have are the ones that come with the cameras. I wonder if I could get a business loan to open a store that sells only cords and cables... I bet it would make a killing. Thank God for Amazon and Ebay. Hopefully, I will be able to upload the pictures in 3-5 business days.

Hormones and Meltdowns

Last night around 7pm: The boyfriend arrives home from a grueling day of hard work to find me buried under the sheets, fully clothed, in the fetal position and bawling my eyes out.

Boyfriend: (cautious) Honey, what's wrong?

Me: Everything

Boyfriend: (gives quizzical eyebrow raise, there's a quick glimmer of amusement but he's smart enough after five years to shove the amusement away and try to seem serious)

Me: I can't find a job, I have $9.00 in my bank account, I owe over $2,000 in medical bills and I'm just really pissed right now (through sobs of course)

Boyfriend: It'll be alright..we'll get it taken care of. We aren't completely broke and the bills will get paid. (gives the "come on it's not the end of the world look")

Me: (annoyed that he doesn't see that it is in fact the end of the world, at least in my current hormonal state of mind) I can't paint anymore, I can't even take a decent picture...I'm not good at anything anymore. (he still doesn't look like he gets it so I throw out my biggest grievance) My ass won't even fit in my jeans! (huge sob ensues)

Boyfriend: (treading lightly and suppressing laughter) Honey, you're wearing your jeans right now..They look fine.

Me: (through choked sobs, I'm now doing the half-hyperventilation thing) It's because I'm laying down. When I sit up my butt overflows (huge sobs)


A new day's perspective:

Okay, so maybe it isn't really the end of the world. I should know, I've been in way worse circumstances in the last 9 months.

The bills can wait, it's not like they are going to come to life and stab me in my sleep! My ass really isn't that big (I still wear a size 5, but I still swear that it seems to be more plump than it was last week). I have a rather promising lead on a job that will hopefully pan out . And I even found a few savings bonds from the 80's which solved the money dilemma, for now. Just goes to show that things will always get better. They will sometimes get worse, but it all comes full circle. Now, if my follow up appointment next week indicates that I'm not cancer free, I will be singing a much different tune. But I'll be keeping up the optimism until then!

Dear Medical Billing Specialist....

Job hunting is difficult when there's no prey. The job market is ridiculous right now. And it's true what they say, it is easier to find a job when you have one. I've been out of work for a few months now. I taught pre-school and opted to not renew my contract at the end of the school year. I had some medical troubles and just needed a break. So now that I'm ready to go back to work, jobs are scarce. And as the weeks go by, the medical bills pile up. Here is the letter that I really want to send to the medical billing department:

Dear Sir:

It's not that I don't want to pay you, I really really do. I have just been a little bit tight on money lately, you know with being out of work and having been sick and all. But I think that $650 is more than reasonable for a CT Scan that takes less than 5 minutes of your time..it was so nice of ya'll to cut the cost in half for me. And $450 is just such a bargain for pathology reports....who knew a few faxes could come so cheap?! Oh and boy, don't get me started on the $150 blood work and the $920 procedure. You folks are just amazing for cutting me such a break on those. It was just like Christmas when those bills came in! I wasn't even expecting them since you weren't required to tell me about the cost before the tests. It was such a thrill and I would just like to thank you for the sleepless nights, early morning phone calls and all the fun letters you've been sending me.

So, to sum it all up...I will get the money to you...eventually. There's a reason that not paying you won't eff up my credit too badly. That reason is that you people grossly overcharge. I'm quite confident that you won't starve without my payments.

All The Best, (yea, who am I kidding, that's a lie)

Oil Paintings on Card Stock- Budget Paintings

I know these aren't great. I don't claim to be talented when it comes to painting or drawing. But I enjoyed painting them.