blackbird

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Where has the time gone?

Well, 2009 is heading out the door with 2010 nipping at it's heels. Where has the time gone? I guess the major event would have to be that my baby graduated from high school and left us with an empty nest. I can't say I'm sad about that - I mean it's kind of the goal in raising kids, to actually make them functioning adults. Both boys seem to be happy and well-adjusted so I am comfortable with the success of my parenting skills.

What to look forward to in 2010? HMMMM, when one reaches this age I suppose health would be a good wish. You look around and start to really take notice of others who are battling with health issues. We have been fortunate and feel thankful we have not had to stand toe-to-toe with any of those tough issues.

I wish for you all to have a healthy and happy New Year!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

ARUBA, Jamaica, ooo I wanna take ya.........

Once again Aruba....... I love that place. It is so sad that it has gotten a bad rap since the Natalie Holloway thing. I am sorry that happened - I'm sorry when a crime like that takes place anywhere - but Aruba is not to blame. Sure, things might have been handled differently but unfortunately that kinda of stuff happens even in the US.

Aruba is hands-down my favorite place to vacation. But my idea of a perfect vacation is probably different than other peoples. I've been there and done all the touristy things (of which there really aren't that many) and so now when I go, it all about relaxing. Laying on the beach, whether in the sun or under an umbrella, and doing nothing. Reading books, reapplying sunscreen and worrying about where to go to dinner, now that's a vacation. My schedule consisted of go find a beach chair, lay in the sun, read a little, sleep, read, eat, lay in the sun, move to the shade, read, go get ready for dinner - and maybe somewhere in there have a drink with a little umbrella in it. FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC.

We did go snorkeling one day, I absolutely love doing that also. I love being in the water with the fish and visiting their world. I fed the fish and that was fun, I had a wadded up piece of bread in my hand and the colorful fish were swarming around me, it was wild. If I held my hand right above the water a few of those little rascals would jump out of the water toward my hand.

Didn't take too many pictures - most of the time was spent laying in beach chairs with drool running out of our mouths so really not picture worthy............but I have a couple of pictures that I really loved.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

AESA- Austin

OH MY GOSH! Where does the time go? My last post was in September.....tsk, tsk, I'd say I'm going to do better but .......... I won't. I decided to write a bit about AESA - Association of Educational Service Agencies - Conference in Austin. I was there December 1 - 5 and it was a great experience. I had an official duty of conference photographer and also to help with the slides of aforementioned photos during lunch and before and after keynotes. I learned so much! Being backstage was a total trip, in the dark with monitors everywhere. I even got my own headphones and mic....... woo woo........... cue camera one, cue slides and GO! I was amazed at how syncronized and organized it all is. We had rehearsals and everything. Long and exhausting days but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My job as photographer required me to take photos during the vendor reception and in the halls and rooms before, during and after the sessions. Now it always amazes me how I can be scared to death of being in front of people and put a camera in my hand or some sort of service assignment and I blossom....... ok, maybe blossom is really not the right word, but I do ok, i seem to be able to bury that shyness and fear.

I was also thrilled because in making the templates for the photo slides I wanted to use a cowboy theme, I mean, Duh, Austin...... anyway I found some really nice cowboy art by a man - Nelson Boren from .... I believe.... Idaho..... www.nelsonborenart.com I contacted him and he was very gracious and gave me permission to use any of his art as backgrounds and watermarks for my slides. woo hoo squared, I was SOO excited. So I have included a copy of the Friday slides so you could get an idea what I did.


Next year the conference is in Savannah, I hope I am chosen to work that one. I want to go visit Paula Deen!