Slacking

19/365

I'm sooo slacking on this 365 day photo challenge.  But really, I have a good excuse reason.  Well, it's kind of a good reason. 

There's no wireless internet where I'm staying.  I have to connect to an ethernet cable.  The boy is homeschooled and is often on the cable, and the mom works from home much of the time and she's on the computer when she's working.  (I'm spending a LOT of time at McDonalds and Starbucks...)

I'm out of the house a lot, a real lot.  I've made about 4 copies of the topic list, but it never fails that when I'm out, each of the 4 lists is someplace else other than with me. 

Okay--pretty lame excuses reasons, I know.  I'll try to do better in the coming weeks. 

The two topics I missed since posting "someone you love" are "reflection" and "your shoes" (both really, really simple topics, sigh).  But for today, this is what you get.

The beach made famous in the classic movie "From Here to Eternity"

The topic for today is "something old".  So consider this lighthouse "old".  Now I'm caught up, hah.  Let's see how it goes from here.

Lighthouse seen in the movie "50 First Dates"

Someone You Love

18/365

Okay, so the only member of my family that I'm near is my daughter, and there was no way to see her today to take her picture.  This is a picture she posted on fb that was taken with a phone, sheesh.  One of the best pics of her, but taken with a phone!!!  argh.  Anyway, I cleaned it up and lightened it a little.  It is what it is.  And she is someone I love, good pic or not.

Sweet

17/365

My all-time favorite winter fruit, luscious, SWEET naval oranges.

Something You Bought

16/365

My friend, Julie, and I decided to take a trip to the North Shore today for Shave Ice.  We traveled up the windward coast, stopping many times along the way to take pictures and talk story about cameras.  It started out as a grey day that threatened to rain and be miserable.  By the time we got out on the road, the clouds had cleared away, the sky was blue, clouds were puffy white, and the water was a spectacular azure color. 

We arrived at Matsumoto's and got our Shave Ice.  Now I can say I  Have.  Truly.  Arrived.  in Hawaii!!!

(We each only had one a piece, but we had to hold each other's while the pics were being taken)

Water

15/365

(Just a little explanation--I decided to keep track of how many posts I do, so the number above reflects how many posts I've made compared to 365 days of the year.  So...even though today is the 18th, I've only posted 15 times [actually less than that, but I'm not going to recalculate])

Morning

14/365

Need I say anything?

Happiness

13/365

As with most words, there are several definitions for the word "happiness".  The one I'm using here is:  good fortune, pleasure, contentment, joy.  An explaination below the definiton in the online dictionary states: it results from the possession or attainment of what one considers good.

In my adult life, I've know one mom who would rather have cut off her hand than take her children to Disney Land.  Too commercial, too worldly, too cliche.  But she's the only one I ever met that felt that way.  Everyone else either did manage to take their kids to one of the Disney wonderland at least once, or always dreamt of it.  So, in a way, I guess you could define the experience of being there as happiness.

Here on Oahu there's a Disney Resort, as I mentioned in my previous post.  Not a theme park.  It's beautiful!  Right on the beach!  There are Disney Characters walking around, they offer a Character breakfast (at breathtaking prices I hear), and I think there are other "events" on the grounds.  I'll find out more later. 

My daughter is a waitress there.  I think that's happiness for her, at least for now.

Watching sunset from the lanai of the restaurant.

A small chapel on the grounds.  There was a bride on the beach having her photo taken. 

Kind of like something you'd see on TV.

I have to confess--I didn't take these shots today.  Church took up a large part of the day, and right now I have no inspiration for the topic.  I told you I'm not good at conceptual ideas.

Falling  Behind

12/365

I'm way behind on this "daily challenge" thing.  Several reasons:  1) the flight to Hawaii, 2) being very busy since I arrived here, and 3) probably the most important--I have limited-to-no access to the internet.  Of course, #3 doesn't have anything to do with whether I take the photo for the day or not, but it sounds like a good excuse, so I'm gonna use it!

This first image is of a mail box letter box.  That was the suggested theme about a week ago, but when I saw this, I just had to post it.  So cute.  I saw this on the grounds of Aulani Disney Resort.

A few days ago the theme was close-up, but I was traveling and was ccompletely uninspired.  This is part of a center piece on the tables in the outdoor dining area of Aulani.  They really are live flowers even though they're so beautiful they look fake.

Part of the Aulani Resort.

The beach at the resort.

And then, just a couple of funky plates. 

Where You Sleep

11/365

No funny story about this post, except that minutes before I took this picture, my room looked like there had been an explosion.  I always marvel that when I'm getting ready to pack, everything that is spread out on the bed and floor actually does fit into the two suitcases and doesn't exceed the weight limit of 50 lbs.  (To be really honest though, I shipped two very heavy flat rate boxes instead of packing the contents into my suitcases).  It just occured to me that I should have documented that process of the chaos on the bed and then the two prim & proper suitcases.  Next time.

On another happy note, back at the beginning of Oct I went on the Nutri-system program with the hopes of losing 25 lbs by the end of Dec.  Well, that didn't happen, but I'm happy with the 13 lbs I lost.  Woot, woot.

Childhood

10/365

I had several ideas for this topic--which in itself is quite a miracle because I don't usually have any ideas for the topics.  But I was unable to execute any of them during the day.  I knew I was going to my grandson's bb game tonight, so I figured I'd use an image from the game.  You don't usually think of JV players when you think of "childhood", but really, in the big scheme of things (living to 80-90 years), a 16-year-old is still in the stage of life referred to as "childhood".

Now for my rant.  Before leaving the bb game for the hour drive home, I decided to visit the loo.  I usually head for the handicap stall, not because I'm handicapped, but because there's sooooo much more room.  Well, once again I faced the all-too-frequent logistic predicament found in all-too-many ladies' rooms.

The commode was about 3 inches from the wall--really, what's that all about?  The stall is almost as big as a small bedroom, but the commode is jammed up against the wall.  If you sit down too fast and your shoulder accidentally touches the wall, you practically rebound off the seat.

Okay, then it's time to get the t-paper.  Well, that in itself, is an adventure, because invariably the dispenser is located so far down the wall that it's almost impossible for me, who isn't handicapped, to get the paper.  What in the world do the "handicapped" people do?  You practically tip yourself off the seat while bending over to grab the paper.  And if there isn't a little "tail" of paper to grab onto, you have to go on a search & rescue mission, hoping that you don't land on your knees before being able to clean up.

All I can say is, men must design those arrangements, cause a woman certainly wouldn't subject herself and her fellow-women to that kind of indignity.  hmmmph

Daily Routine

9/365

I've been trying to figure out how to label my posts since I began this 365 day Photo-a-Day challenge.  I think I finally hit on the way I'm going to do it.  Each post will be titled by the topic of the day, suggested by fat mum slim (Jan 6) .  And under the title will be the day's number/365.  Not exactly rocket-science, and I can't even say I came up with the idea on my own.  But it's a good idea, it will provide continuity and most importantly, it's easy enough for me to remember from one day to the next.

I do the dishes as my daily routine.  Well.....if the truth be told, maybe not every day.  But often enough to call it a daily routine.

Even the dishes look pretty good in HDR.

Oh, by the way, my plane leaves at 5:15 am on Thurs, so I actually have only two more days till I fly off to Hawaii.  Woot, woot!!

Day 8 Challenge

"Your Sky"

It's about 30 degrees with some  blowing wind.  Even so, we occasionally get a nice sunset around here.  The straight shot, not so great.  The HDR, pretty tolerable.

I was only out there for about 10 minutes.  Needless to say, I didn't belabor the issue.  I could have worked the composition and location, but 10 minutes was long enough for me.  I'm so NOT a winter photographer.  (of course, being dressed properly would have helped quite a bit...)

Tomorrow's challege:  Daily Routine.  Anyone want to jump in?  Leave me a link to your

blog so I can check out your image.

Photo a Day Challenge, Day 7

"Favorite"

Jacob just turned 9.  Tonight was his party.  He's my "favorite" 9-year-old grandson, and his sister is my "favorite" 7-year-old granddaughter. 

The party was chaos.  The dad and the uncles wrestled with all the boys (there must have been 50 6 of them) right in the middle of the room where everyone was trying to talk--not in the completely empty other room.  hmmmm.  I'm too old for this.

I've noticed that my photography skills are deteriorating at an alarming rate.  I think I'll blame my equipment, or maybe the chaos, or maybe the lack of cooperation of my subjects.  And if you believe that, I have a bridge in the middle of Arizona to sell to you.  Sigh!

Photo-A-Day Challenge, Day 6

"Makes You Smile"

Getting a head start on Christmas 2012 makes me smile.  Last year I got hooked on making quilted totes.  I lost track of how many I made.  This year, as Christmas drew closer and closer and no handmade projects reared their heads, I despaired of having something creative to give as gifts.

About three weeks before Christmas this year, a friend showed me a table runner that she had made.  Eureka!!!  I found my project, but it was too late to make them for this year.  No worries.  Now I have an entire year to make my gifts for next Christmas.  I'm psyched....and I'm smiling.

Want to join in on the Photo-A-Day-Challenge.  Click here.

Something You Wore



My favorite kind of footwear.  (not talking about the brand...)

Lettebox

The photo challenge for the day was "letterbox".  fatmumslim is from the UK, so I'm guessing that is referring to what we call, the mailbox.

Couldn't find one that was interesting enough and I thought I'd have to miss a day already, but when I arrived at Morrette's for dinner with my photo group, I noticed these cute minatures on their Christmas display. 

It's not a mailbox letterbox, but pretty close.

Tomorrow the challenge is "something I wore".  Now that should be easy, right?  The operative word is "should".  Knowing me, I'll convolute it in my head and make it much harder than it should be.  Go to photographer mum to see what she posted.

Something You Adore

The suggested topic for the day.

Yikes, how I hate abstract.  You might not think that's an abstract idea, but to me it is.  My kids are gone, there isn't much left that I "adore". 

But.....almost as soon as I began thinking about what to photograph, this wallet came to my mind.  Now seriously, I don't adore, adore  it, but it kind of makes me giddy.  Pathetic, I know.  Wait! A little background might redeem me from being consigned to the "totally frivolous" camp.

A loooong time ago I bought myself a spiffy leather wallet that I really liked.  Over the years it began to self-destruct fall apart and for at least the past 3 years, I've been on the lookout for another that I would enjoy as much.  My daughter asked for a particular Christmas gift from the Fossil store and while I was there I spied this cute wallet.  I thought the style would suit my needs and I love the color.  Ergo, a new wallet that makes me giddy.

The Past Couple of Days

For the past couple of days I've been thinking about what a slacker I've been about posting on my blog.  I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but I thought that Jan 1 would be a great time to begin posting an image a day for a year.

As some of you know, a few friends and I did that a few years ago. Most of the time it was pretty agonizing, although, ultimately, very rewarding.  Well, in her Dec 19 post, fat mum slim has challenged her readers to the very same activity, but she's added a nice twist.  She's posting a topic for each day as a suggestion. 

Today is Jan 2, and I didn't post yesterday, so there ya go.  I've already blown the 365 thing.  And since it's late at night and I just found fat mum slim's list, it's too late to do her suggestion.

So here's my pic for the day.  The only vanity plate I could find in a parking lot full of cars. 

Playing Catch-Up

I haven't been blogging much lately.  Don't know why.  Could be because I'm busy.  Could be because I'm in a funk. (holidays do that to me) Could be because I'm not taking too many photos and I don't like to post without photos.  Who knows.

Anyway, this post is an effort to catch-up a little.

My older daughter's birthday is Dec. 24.  So on Sat, Caleb and I went over there to give her her presents.  Out of the clear blue, someone suggested we go bowling.  So we did.

I hadn't been bowling in more years than I could remember, and believe me, it was totally obvious from my scores.  But it was great fun.

Caleb has a great hook and managed to get quite a few strikes...

My birthday girl and her family.  

Awesome son-in-law and grandkids!

Moving on.  Before Caleb came home I asked him if he'd put down a new floor in my bedroom.  This is the result.  It was painted plywood before.  The walls will have to wait to be painted until I return from Hawaii in the spring.

Moving on again. My husband and I usually drink about 1 cup of coffee each a day.  Even with a small 4-cup coffee brewer, I wound up throwing some of it away.  I like decaf sometimes, he doesn't.  He likes flavored sometimes, I don't.  I like bold brew all the time, he doesn't.

It was becoming quite a conundrum.  Enter the KEURIG coffee maker.  Exit all the problems. This gadget is awesome!  Makes one cup at a time--no waste.  Everyone can have their own coffee brew & flavor.  Or tea.  Or hot chocolate.  Or hot cider.  There is Half & Half (1/2 caf, 1/2 decaf) which is the way I often mixed my grounds.  There are all different kinds of tea.  There is Brew Over Ice for Iced coffee.  It's such a kick.  I even wound up giving two for Christmas presents.

Moving right along. Today we went to lunch at a local restaurant with some folks from church.  The pastor we had for 16 years, and who moved away to take another pastorate about 10 years ago, was in town.  They figured the best way for a group of people to visit with him and his wife was to meet at a restaurant.  It was a great time, and the food was yummy.

Dave and Janet and my good friend, Jean (middle).

So, you'd think that I never used a camera...  I never gave a thought to checking the ISO before I handed the camera to the waitress to take this photo.  Sure enough, it was on 1600 for goodness sake.  Kind of overkill for a flash picture.  The reason I even mention it is because the high ISO makes flash pictures grainy, and the image has been cropped, which tends to make grainy pics even granier.  Doesn't make any difference here on the blog, but for printing purposes it's less than ideal.  Will I ever learn????

And now for the finale.  Caleb was home for almost two weeks, after being gone for 2 1/2 years.  In that time I saw him for a week when I went to Alaska for a visit, and for 15 minutes when I flew with the dog and met him at the Fairbanks airport. 

On Thursday evening we drove him back to Syracuse to meet up with his good friend, James.  They left on Friday morning for their drive back to Florida so they could arrive in time for New Year's Eve services at their church.  Wonder how long it will be till next time?



13 days till I leave for Hawaii.  Woot, woot!

Random

A couple of license plates.

The Scrabble game.  Need I say it?  I lost!

He's Home!

So, early this morning we grabbed our coffee (and that's another story in itself), jumped into the car and headed off to Syracuse to collect our baby boy for the holidays.  He arrived at his friend's house in the wee hours of the morning after driving all night from Florida.  We met him at his friend's church.

Soooo good to see him.  It's been 2 1/2 years since he left for Alaska.  I spent one week with him the summer after he left, and then about 15 minutes with him last winter when I delivered the dog to him at the airport.  See post for April 30, 2011.

Since then, he's temporarily relocated to Pensacola, FL to attend the Bible institute there, so getting back to NY is a lot easier than it was when he was in Alaska. 

The First Game

Well, another grandchild has joined the ranks in the basketball world.  Jacob played his first-ever game this morning.  The team was made up of a mixture of 3rd & 4th graders.  Several of the 4th graders played last year, but it was the first game for Jacob and most of the other 3rd graders.  It was very impressive. 

I think there are going to be some really good ball players coming out of this group of boys.

Jacob was so cute yesterday when I was asking him about the up-coming game. 

Jacob:  I love basketball.  If there's a flat surface and a basketball hoop, then I'm there playing basketball.

Me:  I didn't know that, I didn't know you liked the game so much.

Jacob:  I play with Mace (his older brother who has been highlighted in this blog in past posts) as much as I can.

Me:  That's great that you like the game so much.

Jacob:  Yup--Mace taught me everything I know.  (Jacob is 8--"taught me everything I know" cracks me up). 

It will be a lot of fun watching him grow into the game as he gets older. 

Once again--camera was on 3200 iso and I still got movement and soft images.  I didn't want to use flash.  I was afraid it might be distracting to the boys.  But what I got is better than nothing.