Are You Ready for Some Football

Are You Ready for Some Football
Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

We visited with my parents this weekend. It's very seldom that things align so that we get to spend time at bothof their houses. I cooked my mom an amazing steak on the grill, along with baked potatoes, kabobs (assembled by my youngest sister), hamburgers, and hot dogs. My other sister brought Birthday cake for my niece, who turned two last week. My brother and his kids were there too. Only my youngest brother was missing; but overall it was a good Mothers Day celebration.

Today we went to my dads and the kids got outside to play. It was a bit chilly, but we got to enjoy the sunshine for a little bit. My son definitely loves football.

Pretty In Pink

Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

My husband has asked that I remove some of the pictures of our kids from the internet, so I deleted them from Flickr and Facebook. It makes me angry that we live in a world where I can't post some of the cuter pictures of my kids on my Flickr account or blog because somebody with less than pure intentions might see it.

My daughter wanted to get me pink flowers in a pink vase for Mothers Day. We went out Friday night to look for my gift and I had suggested that we get live potted flowers instead of cut flowers so we could plant them in our flower bed instead of having dead flowers in a few days. We went to a nursery and looked at every flower they had and my princess didn't like any of them. I personally liked the orchids and rose bushes. But no, princess didn't like any of them.

We went to Wal-Mart to get stuff so I could cook my mom dinner for Mothers Day, and wouldn't you know that she decided the pink rose bouquet that she saw right inside the door.

I took some pictures last night using my lensbaby and bouncing the flash off the ceiling and the wall, and this morning using natural light. I love the dreamy feel of this image created by the lensbaby.

There Are Just Some Things

Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

I love Flickr. I do. I like being able to share my photos, I like being able to view other peoples photos. I like seeing how people do the things they do with their cameras and learning about how to do new things with my camera. It's awesome. It's a great learning tool and a great way to see great photographers.

And then there is the darker side of Flickr.

Now, I'm just speculating here, but, I used to not put pictures of my kids on here, at least not publicly. I was afraid of pedophiles looking at their pictures and doing unsavory things, but I started to get over it, especially because there are SO many kids pictures on Flickr.

During this past week, I have added pictures of my kids out playing because I was playing with my lensbaby and they're fun to take pictures of. No big deal, right?

And then I looked at my stats, and where my hits are coming from.

"wet pants"
"wet boys"
"wet"

Really?

Wet pants was not even part of my tags, just happened to fall in the descriptions of the pictures, and it's taking these people to a picture of my son running around in a diaper.

I'm disturbed, really.

And it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. I removed the words wet and pants from the caption of my photo. But who knows who has already seen it.

And then there are people that add me as a contact, with no pictures and no other contacts. Why? Are they really a pedophile that just wants to be able to easily access my kids pictures? Where do you draw the line? Do I just stop putting pictures of my kids on Flickr?

Sometimes, I'm really just disgusted by the world we live in. And I'm mad at myself for exposing my kids to that without even thinking.

Climbing Trees

Climbing Trees
Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

I bought a Lensbaby Muse this weekend and I've been playing with it for the past few days. It's going to take a lot of getting used to and playing with, I think. Today was the first that I took it outside and took any action shots with it. They're still not coming out with any consistancy. I have to remind myself that it's only day three and I can't expect myself to be amazing with it. I'm not even consistently good with my regular lenses. I also bought a cord to get my Speedlite off camera, so maybe I'll get to have a little fun with that too.

Pretties

Pretties
Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

We've been spending a lot of time outside lately. It's been warmer (aside from Thursday and Friday) and we have weeds growing all over our yard in the form of dandelions and these purple flowers. Our maple trees are sprouting new leafs and we've had a few bees.

We got a gallon of bubble solution and spent the evening outside last night and again today. It's been great.

Although I hate that my new job requires I work five days a week, and that I have to work until 5:30 once a week, it is nice getting home by 4:00 the other days of the week, and being able to take the kids outside before bedtime.

I'm working on writing and illustrating a childrens book, or two, or three. I have a lot of ideas. The more I write, the more ideas I have. I can write them. The question is, can I illustrate them. I'd like to illustrate one of them. Just one. Then I am more than willing ot pass off the illustrations to somebody else.

I'm trying to get my creativity back. It used to be my life. Now it's hardly anything.

The Thing with Project 365

If you follow my Flickr at all, you've probably realized that I am no longer participating in Project 365 at this point. I just wasn't getting what I wanted out of the project; I was getting very little feedback on my pictures, they were getting worse instead of better, and I was slowly finding myself caring less and less about getting a good picture. I'd comment 30 people and not even get a single view on my shots, which made me bitter, and isn't what I want photography to be about anyway. So yeah, that's why I stopped doing Project 365.

I also started a new job today that is making me work five days a week instead of four, and with the total upheaval of my life, it just wasn't conducive to continue. I will try again later. Maybe this summer....maybe.

We've been going to the zoo rather often, and I've been taking a lot of pictures...some I love, some not so much.

I took some of my kids on the carousel at the zoo, which was originally built in 1914. I know this, because they repeat it before and after every ride. I played with PSE, because I wanted an older feel to them, to go along with the old carousel, but I think I like the originals better.

Our last trip to the zoo was an all day event, because it was the last weekday I would be home with the kiddos, so we were all exhausted when we left.

I love the koala's.

The elephants are pretty cool too.

065/365: All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go

065/365: All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go
Originally uploaded by Anonymously Uncool

I haven't blogged in a while. I've been having a hard time getting a good shot every day, and an even harder time getting things uploaded in a timely fashion.

I knew I wanted to take this picture, at least the one of me laying face down on the bed, for a long time. I decided to add in some additional sequential pictures for effect. I kind of like it, but it's something I will probably reshoot later.

I bought this little black dress for my 10 year high school reunion. My husband said he'd take me out somewhere we could wear it when we returned to Ohio. It's been hanging in the closet for six months now.

I think I want the shot of me in bed from a higher angle.