What I did this summer
My summer has been filled with highs and lows. I finished up the math class I was taking this summer a few weeks ago. I was only two points away from receiving an A in the course, but near the end of the course things came up and I couldn’t dedicate the time I had been. Which I guess that’s good enough segue into my next subject. In July, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. He discovered lumps in his breast which got him to the doctor in the first place, but a CT scan also found spots in his lung, and later another doctor thought there might be something on his liver as well. It has been a really stressful time for all of us, because it seemed like a waiting game between tests to find out what type of cancer it was and how far along it was. Not only that but my Dad is 72 years old so that’s also something else to worry about. They removed his breast and we finally got the news that the spots in his lung were most likely Histoplasmosis and it may just be cysts on his lungs; and so they determined it was breast cancer. He started his first round of chemo Thursday and will do three more treatments every three weeks. He will also be doing radiation but we will have to see how chemo goes before they determine how much is needed. Even though he’s not out of the woods just yet, we’re all feeling a bit positive that we’re moving toward something.
Onto happier things… I went back to NJ and NYC the first week of August and spent time with Andy. If you count his visit to me at New Year’s this will be the fourth time we’ve seen each other this year. I think that’s a record! I set up this trip so that I’d get to spend my birthday with him. We spent a day at Point Pleasant with his friends Dawn and Barbara and later I got burnt to a crisp. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever been burnt that badly! (I have a nice tan now!) Andy treated me to Cirque du Soleil : Zarkana; this was my first Cirque show and I loved it. He also took me to see Zach Braff’s play “All New People” which was great the more I reflect on it. It seems like in the past, things I really want to see happen right before I come or after I leave, but my timing was perfect to catch this show. I feel like being so far away from a cultural hub I miss out on a lot of things that may or may not have an impact on me now or down the line. Other people do without so I suppose if I don’t think too much on it I’m not missing out. Finally, on my actual birthday I was treated to a delicious meal at one of our favorite restaurants. I think experiencing these things is definitely better than any gift.
Those were two big things that happened this summer. Outside of the last few weeks my summer has been pretty uneventful. As you might’ve read in a previous entry, I completed Project 50, finished my book challenge a few months early (11 books in ’11) – unfortunately, none are really worth blogging about, my brother came to visit *twice*, and in my last two days of freedom I saw Glee Live in 3D. It was pretty amazing and makes me want to see them in concert!
Classes start back tomorrow, and while I’ve been looking forward to going back to UofL, I wish I had a couple more days to relax. It’ll be OK though. I have a few things to look forward to in the coming weeks, such as the AIDS Walk (please donate!), and my fourteenth (!!!) Hanson show next month in Nashville. I’m thinking about going back to Nashville to see Chromeo in October but both of these shows fall on weeknights. There are very few things I’d miss a Hanson concert for; sleep isn’t one of those things. Not sure if I like Chromeo enough to go straight after school and come back that night as well. We’ll see…
Read MoreTechnology break
Last Saturday I spent most of the day away from the computer and my iPhone. It was such a nice feeling not to feel the need to check Twitter, Facebook, etc. every hour or so. I don’t know why I feel the need to check it so frequently other than it’s a habit.
I’ve decided this Saturday I’m taking another break from technology. I’d love to do dedicate an entire weekend to this, but I’m not sure I can do an entire weekend. Saturday I’m attending a portrait seminar provided by a local photography meetup group and later in the evening I’m going out with friends to a show and to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Needless to say, it won’t be difficult staying away from my phone and computer that day.
I’ve been staying home lately because my budget is tightening up and the internet has been my source of entertainment. I’m feeling worn down, and since having internet at home again my sleep schedule has been screwed up. There were times when I didn’t sleep well before but it’s definitely heightened. I just assume it’s due to staying up late working on homework (online), or mindlessly refreshing random social media sites, or other sites that I’m not really getting anything from.
After receiving a bill from AT&T for almost $140 (AT&T loves me because they can always count on data overages from me!) I think that’s encouraged me to cancel tethering on my phone after this billing cycle is up. I went to libraries before when I needed to do things I couldn’t do from my phone so I can do it again. I’ve been thinking more and more lately about getting rid of one social media site so I’m less distracted and actually doing something worthwhile with my time. Really the only one I could part with would be Twitter. I use Facebook to keep in contact with many people and Twitter seems to be getting my rants. I’d eventually like to convert to Google+ and use that in place of Facebook but we’ll see how well that catches on with friends.
I really need to get my goals in order, and figure out what’s important, and figure out what’s next for me. Maybe that doesn’t require me to delete anything but self discipline isn’t one of my best traits. We’ll see…
I’m curious to know how you all manage to keep your focus when we’re living in a distracted and multitasking society. Please share your tips so maybe I can try them out!
Read MoreLouisville AIDS Walk : Please Donate!
Since I’m not working right now I feel as though I need to do things to keep myself active. There have been days where my only physical activity has been walking from one room in the house to another. I hate that feeling!
I’ve been wanting to do the AIDS walk for a while but I’ve been waiting to find someone to do it with me. I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll probably be waiting forever so I’m going to do it anyway! Honestly, I’ll probably enjoy it more by myself anyway.
I have a goal of $300 and I think I can meet that goal. I’m asking in lieu of gifts for my birthday that people donate to this cause. Even if you can only donate $1 that would be helpful. I’d throughly appreciate it and you’ll even get a hug from me (assuming you live near by)! :-P
You can find my donation page here. Thank you! :)
Read MoreProject 31
I’m happy to report that Project 31 is finally complete! I wish it only took me 31 days to complete but it took me about 50 days. This is the first photo project I’ve completed so it’s better late than never. I’ve tried Project 365 in 2008 and 2009 and failed miserably. I think the furthest I got my first year was in the early 100s. In 2009, I attempted Project 50 but I only got through 25 days. Can you tell I have commitment issues when it comes to “artistic” projects? I would like to try Project 365 again but only when I’m done with school and living on my own.
I could have completed this project in 31 days but I didn’t like forcing it. Some days my life isn’t glamorous; I know it’s hard to believe! There were some days I didn’t leave the house and I didn’t want to put up a crappy picture just to have one to put up. I did that a couple days early on and decided I’d rather take my time…even if it takes two months!
There were days when it felt like pulling teeth getting my camera out to take a picture. The picture of my niece and the beer sampler shot were one of those days. I’m so glad I did “tough” it out because they’re both my favorite photos from the project.
My friend Kathy has been trying to talk me into doing a Project 52. Part of me thinks, it’s only a photo a week for a year but part of me doesn’t want to do it. It all stems back to the commitment issues I mentioned above. For now I’m going to enjoy this accomplishment of finally completing a photo project. …and hey! I have a new picture of myself out of this project!
Click the slideshow below to view more photos from Project 31! I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them — at least most of them!
P.S. The site had a makeover! Let me know what you think!
Read MorePublished!
If we’re friends on facebook and/or twitter you’ve already seen this but one of my photos has been published in a magazine! Over spring break while I was visiting Andy in NJ, I received a message on flickr from someone at Food Network. They were wanting to use my photo Casino Pier in a special feature they were doing but needed a larger photo. Since I was out of town, I didn’t have my external hard drive with me, and I wouldn’t be able to get back to them before their deadline. I ignored the message and the several messages that followed up until the deadline.
Until this morning I had forgotten all about that. I bought the June ’11 issue of Food Network’s magazine a couple weeks ago because I was attracted to the cover. I had already flipped through the magazine but this morning a photo from Seaside Heights caught my attention. “Hey, that looks like my photo!” then I noticed over in the right margin my name was credited for the photo. How exciting!
I’ve had other photos show up on other websites but I’ve never seen my photo in print before. What a nice way to start the day!
Read MoreWho am I?
I'm a student at UofL studying Marketing at the College of Business. I love Apple products, Hanson, lo-fi photography, social media, technology, and traveling. :D
I recently started a fitness journey (August '11) and will probably continue blogging about it.
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