I must thank my parents for teaching me how to spot class.  Good breeding from the crib through adulthood ~ from our ancestors passed down through the generations.  De la cuna is how mom likes to refer to it.  And it’s true.  It takes one to know one.  In real life, it’s easy to spot.  The way people carry themselves, how they move and/or eat and speak.  Mannerisms.  Body language. History.  We were trained very early in our young lives to associate with the right people from the right families.  It was important to know roots. And to go to finishing school.

It has taken me longer to spot really classy people online.  I usually start off by giving folks the benefit of the doubt until a certain benchmark is crossed.  Recently, many have fallen off that category.  I can’t say I’m disappointed.   I have no expectations of people who write.   I read and learn ~ and then I weed out.  Those I follow are chosen well.  My valuable time not wasted on their sites.

I had this “classy” convo earlier today with a fellow blogger who is a great and true friend.  We’re both shocked at strange behavior we see and reactions we don’t understand.  She’s from good breeding as well so we both could relate to the conversation.  Going forward since I now have a ‘minimum requirement’ baseline, I’ll know better.

After all, ‘tell me who your friends are’ you know how that goes.  Meanwhile, back to hockey and reading

and a bright sunny California Sunday!

La Dolce Vita

I switched to SmugMug yesterday and I must say I LOVE it!  I’ve been on Flickr for a while now and will remain on it, but SmugMug allows you to create albums and themes for your photos.  These are my  October and November pages.

It also  allows me to add private pages for photo shoots we will have in the future where clients (or family) will be able to order quality prints themselves.   Or just view photos for private events

I’m also able to export directly from LightRoom through a plug-in, another easy step.

So I’ve taken it up another notch.  This is a incredibly fun journey.  I’ve learned a few new things this last weekend from speaking and communicating to four professional photographers.   I can’t believe how far I’ve come from my first photograph in June of last year!

For the record, I’m a late bloomer (!!) ~ I have to give credit to my son for convincing me to switch over to SmugMug.  *Big Smile*  Love ya, kiddo and I hope you’re clicking away in LA!

note: TheGrammieDiaries is an affiliate of SmugMug.

I am SO NOT READY for our next big earthquake. Our home is close to a  fault and right next to us is a hillside subdivision that’s right on top of a  fault.   The BIG one is due.  But are we ready or worried?  No. Should I be? YES!!!

It’s been years since a really large one has hit us and AFTER the last one did, we all had our emergency supplies ready. Flashlights ~ water ~ batteries ~ everything to live on for at least two days. We used to fill our gas tanks when they were half empty.  These days, I sometimes have just enough gas to make it to the next station. Lackadaisical, perhaps so. Things taken for granted.

And I don’t have an emergency plan ready with the kids and kidlets ~ my mom and my sister’s family.  We need to address this.

As I watch the news about the Chilean earthquake and the impending tsunami headed towards Hawaii and our own SF Bay area, I pondered on how life has changed since the Loma Prieta earthquake.

We were not very DIGITAL then.  Here’s what my earthquake survival kit should contain now:

Water
Food ~ canned, dried
Flashlight
Candles
Tons of batteries
First Aid Kit
Car charger for laptop, cell phone and camera
Spare laptop
Point and Shoot Camera
4 Person Survival Kit
Speaker for iPhone
Radio
Spare memory cards
Blankets
shoes
Anti Bacterial gel
Baby Wipes
Dog Food

Okay ~ I just gave myself a project to do next week.   Oh my!

First things first!  I picked a winner for the messenger bag!

NamastebyDay Congratulations!  Please contact me at grammiemommyATgmailDOTcom.  I hope you enjoy your prize and thanks for participating!

I hope everyone has plans for a splendid weekend!  I’m not sure what we’re planning on our end.  We have houseguests beginning tonite.  Yup, we got the Muttley Crew with us!   Larry ~ Curly and Newman can be Moe.  Should be a fun and  interesting one since it’s expected to rain!

In fact, as I type this,  my wind chimes are being blown by gusts of wind.  It was dark for a bit but it hasn’t really rained yet.  I’ve been singing a catchy song all morning on account of this cute video that someone shared on Facebook.

I am at a wonderful place in my life where I’m able to share with my daughters all the feelings of motherhood.   The highs and the lows ~ the whole shebang  kit kat and kaboodle.    As a mother, I often heard my own mom telling me to “wait till you have your own kids” and yes, as children ~ my girls heard the same words from me.   How do you fall instantly in love with a child who didn’t exist a second ago.   How do things that mattered yesterday not feel so important when a child is born.

Women nurture. It’s just who we are.  We are the worry warriors.  And along with the immense love from  sheer maternal instinct and  carrying the child for nine months, comes mother’s guilt.  Where the heck does that come from and will it ever go away?

To be honest, it hasn’t gone away for  me.  I’m in therapy, though ~ by myself.  My kids know it.  Because they are grown children now, I am able to fight the guilt and if I wanted to make money, I would  start a 12-step programs for mothers and explain to them that yes, we can get suckered into this guilt thing for life.  I am teaching my daughters to understand this.   Perhaps by getting it early in parenthood and turning to as much family support as they can ~ they won’t become as guilty as I was.

From my daughter…when she became a mom

My oldest daughter learned FAST.  Two weeks after Nathan was born, she had a wedding to attend in Seattle.  She and her husband left me and I was happy to bond with my first babyGrand.   Being that I was the one with him and I  kept reassuring her that he would be  fine, she enjoyed her time in Seattle and came back with bags of frozen pumped milk.   Nate has spent many sleepovers at our home and in a couple weeks will be with us for three days.

Daughter number two hasn’t left Alyssa yet for any extended period except for an overnighter with her sister.   I’m still working on her.  She feels mommy guilty when she has to go to work.   Telling her I understand is easier said than done, I’m sure.  The fact that the cousins share a sitter makes it much easier for the sisters.  At least the little ones stay close and will grow up being close.

It is healthy for children to be left with trusted family members.  They need to understand that mommy and daddy can leave and will come back.   Every child’s training must begin from the crib.  The earlier, the better.  It is also good for parents to get away.  I didn’t do this in my first marriage.  I was so children focused that I forgot to grow my relationship.   Mom guilt.  I forgot I was a wife first.

I understand that not everyone has family members close to them by vicinity or relationship.  I was lucky.  In fact ~ for my 1st and 3rd child, I had a full time nanny.  My mom and sister were always nearby.   I traveled for work.  I didn’t travel alone for fun till about 15 years into my marriage.  I did not like the airplane doors closing and the thought of  orphaned children.   This feeling ~ this fear I got from plane rides ~ did not ever go away until Nate was born.  I felt my life complete then for some reason.  He was a milestone.

Nathan completed me and Alyssa ~ well ~ she’s just the cherry on top of the whipped cream.  [and while we're there ~ they both had me even before they said hello].

What I’m trying to impart here is that these are feelings that every mom goes through.  It’s just our nature.  Just don’t let it rule. Make the best with the one life you are given.

Me ~ I’m appreciating every glorious day now and wishing for more cherries. Now off to shoot some blooms I saw at the top of the hill yesterday!  Check ‘em out HERE! I’m really looking forward to another weather!

I couldn’t take it any more.  Every evening, when my sweet husband comes home, this is the first thing he tells me after a kiss and a hello.  “I got to hug me a baby again today!”  And every night, I’m jealous that he works so close to my little babyGrand Alyssa.  She’s been enjoying solids for a week now ~ turning front to back to front ~ and even sitting by herself!  So much so fast!

So today, I had TWO missions.  The first was to hug me a baby.  And I arrived just in the nick of time as she was strapped into her chair ~ ready to be fed!  [poor little one has a cough and so does mommy].

Soup’s On!

All Done!

Ready to sleep!  I’m full!

Omigoodness, did I get my fill of baby delight or what!  Such a sweet little girl ~ she likes to stand and jump ~ and can sit up by herself then fall and roll around.  Mommy was getting ready for work so my husband is usually there to help out.  Then Alyssa gets dropped of to her sitter where Nate is waiting for her.  My oldest daughter (whose a teacher) picks up all the kids till Alyssa’s dad picks her up.  It takes a village to love and care for these children, but a village we have!

After my morning delight, I went off to accomplish my 2nd mission of the day.  I’ve been debating on a 2nd fixed lens since I gave my 50mm to my daughter along with the Canon xTi she inherited.  I had my eye set on a Canon 85mm f/1.8.  I went to the candy store.

and yes, Virginia, I gave in to temptation and came home with the last lens I’m going to get for the last camera I’m going to buy.   I feel a little deja vooey over here!  Hello new lens!  Hello last child! Hello, fluff ball!

Mission Accomplished.  And with time to spare play!  Sit, Newman!

PS:  The shots of Newman were taken with the new lens at ISO 200 and f/3.2 ~ I could’ve taken it in ISO 100 because the sun was out.  Here’s a shot from my office of some magnets and just the lights in my room. This one is at f/1.8 which gives a real cool blur.  Can’t wait to play with lens.  It looks like it will be a fun one.

This is my second post today.  My first was a photography blog roll entry HERE.  Hope you enjoy that post and visit the other participants sharing their entries on Aperture Mode.

Today ~ I had a  hilariously long lunch with a grade school and high school classmate and another friend who is also our hairdresser.  We planned to meet to discuss business and mundane matters such as business (did I already say that?).  After we got the nitty gritty things out of the way ~ we chatted.  And then we gossiped.  And then we ate ~ while we were still gossiping.  Every few minutes or so, we would try to remind ourselves why we got together.  To talk about business.  But the chit chat was fun ~ funny ~ ridiculous ~ R-rated ~ ROFL-y.  I got a GREAT dose of laugh out of my system today.

The food was delicious [we were at the Cheesecake Factory] ~ although a tad bit salty today, which was unusual.  But we were busy yakking, and didn’t feel like returning the food.

My Garlic Noodles ~ With Chicken

I don’t think there was any topic we didn’t talk about.  Husbands ~ exes ~ wife ~ church ~ meeting in church ~ the church confessional ~ OTHER PEOPLE ~ waxing ~ retirement ~ money ~ people with money ~ vacations ~ high school reunions ~ brazilians.  Did I already mention waxing? Sorry if I’m a bit redundant today.  Blame it on the salt.

Lunch was two hours long.  I was not in a hurry to leave ~ the company was uber entertaining.  And I laughed out so loud that I didn’t really care.  My heart desired it.

And then we shared this ~ Red Velvet Cheesecake.  Divine!  OMG it was heaven on a platter with whipped cream.  Actually, I think maybe God invented this.

We shared this over laughs and decaf

Oh real life friends!   I should spend more time with y’all.  I forget how deliciously carefree our lives were and it was good to remember today.  My laughing will last all evening long and I’m off not to tell the hubby what one of you will be doing to your spouse reallllly soon!  Ha!!

If you’re  loving your DSLR and following Manic Mother and Better in Bulk you’ll know that last week’s tutorial was on shooting in  Aperture mode.  When I finally got the nerve to get off my DSLR’s GREEN automatic mode, aperture value (AV on a Canon) ~ and understanding it ~ got me really excited and motivated to learn and keep discovering how fun photography is as a hobby.

Here are some pictures I took this morning before I left for a long lunch meet up with a grade school / high school friend and our hairdresser friend who is a riot.  That deserves it’s own post because OH! the topics we covered!  I’m still laughing.

Back to topic:  APERTURE

Both pictures above were shot at ISO 500 on a rainy day inside my office; f/2.9 at 1/125sec.  You can tell which of the items above I wanted to focus on.  Below is a shot taken at ISO 500 but with the f-stop at f/5.0.  You can tell the difference.  I focused on the frog then moved the camera to compose the shot.   I am still practicing AV mode for group pictures  (not recommended really as you’ll get people out of focus when you do this).

All the photos above were slightly edited in LightRoom2 ~ mostly just to fix the exposure and to add a little vignette.  I hope you learned from the tutorial and pick up your camera and get out of your GREEN safe zone.  It’s really fun to explore what your camera can do.  I recommend practicing every single day.  You will get it and there are many who are one the same adventure as you.

Now, on to Mcklinky and that’s my homework for the week!  Thanks to Better in Bulk and Manic Mother for the easy tutorials and the blog carousel.

Original post in Newman’s Own Blog

I thought they  forgot. The preventive wellness reminder was for a check up due last October but my masters were so busy and I thought I was off the hook.

I wasn’t that lucky! Nope NOT ME!  They didn’t forget how much they loved me ~ so off we went today!

This is my first ever Not Me! Monday post!  Who’d have thunk!  Not Me! But first times are always interesting.  I’ve found some cool blog hops in the last week and find it rather fun to do.  So here’s hoping this first one with MckMama’s community will be just as fun as the photography one I did last week.

This last week, I DID NOT spend an entire afternoon learning HTML code.  Nope!  I spent the EVENING  and the next entire DAY working on my WordPress blog!  Did my butt hurt?  Nope, NOT MINE!

I also didn’t give my doggie Newman his own blog to squeal on his OCD masters (plural, please) and talk about his champagne wishes and caviar dreams life.  NOPE!  I have more than enough to do during my work day and I need another blog to maintain like I need more bags in my closet.

And this one will make my doctor cringe!  I DID NOT help my husband with this concoction last night.  Nope, NOT ME!  I didn’t have any of this and swallow a pre-diabetic pill in between bites.  That would be bad!

And FINALLY ~ as if I didn’t go crazy with the first giveaway with MckMama that we did in December (remember this?) ~ I’m NOT giving something away AGAIN!  NOT your choice of either this MobileEdge computer (or camera) bag  that will fit a laptop up to 16″ and a Mac that’s up to 17″ or the tote bag that will still hold a computer but can be used as just a regular tote.  (Added this for those of you who don’t have a laptop).

I WON’T tell you that I’m going to award this to a reader who responds to this post by Friday evening.  If you keep it a secret, I WON”T tell you that you can tweet this on Twitter and @GrammieDiaries me to earn another entry.  Nope, NOT ME!   Who likes GIVEAWAYS anyway!

Okay, scratch that, I am giving this away to a lucky person.  You know the drill.  Comment (one entry, please) on this post, tweet this contest on Twitter, post on Facebook and comment again with the link , or sign up and follow or start a conversation on my BlogFrog Community and tell me you did so and Random.org will choose a winner.

Head on over now and link up with Mcklinky.  And have a great week!

Disclaimer: This is a purchased product.  Contest open to US residents only.

It was a doggone rainy Sunday today but we didn’t let that deter us from having a wonderful day.  We capped the evening off together  and watched the USA vs. Canada hockey game.

Well, then we kind of had the major sweet munchies ~  and our shot  nerves from watching the hockey game wasn’t helping any.  So AFTER the game just to relax ~ we put some really.good.stuff together.  Well ~ two ingredients.  Lemme share!

Super Toasted Blueberry Waffles Lathered in Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

Smooshed together for goodness.  Enjoy!

SHARE !!

I won’t tell if you keep it a secret!  Nom nom nom! You’re welcome to share your crazy emergency food concoctions if you wish.  If not, we’ll share some more of ours another day.  Have a great week!

Today is a teaser, weatherwise.  It’s chilly and the sun is out.  It’s suppose to rain for a few days beginning tomorrow.  Just like it always rains when I wash  my car, same thing goes for right after I get Newman groomed. But today, as we took him for a walk around the neighborhood ~ I captured more blooms.  It was crisp and clear outside ~ these photographs almost look lenticular.

[You can click to enlarge]

Are you sneezing yet?  I know I’m going to start sneezing soon.  Always happens ~ but not yet.

And as the daffodils were blooming a week ago, so were the lilies today!  It’s so wonderful to see flowers blooming.  If you’re reading this from where there’s tons of snow, have faith.  Your good weather is just around the corner!

In the meantime, let me remind you of what’s to come.  I can’t wait.  Since I didn’t really take to my DSLR till June of last year, this will be the first Spring I’ll be capturing and enjoying.  I’m looking forward to that.

And we are talking about possible summer vacation spots.  I heart wishing and hoping.  Spring teases me like that.

PS:  While I was typing this post, my sweetest bestest better half was out in our yard and put together this assortment for me.  This vase is only 3 inches tall, the flowers tiny.  But in the eye of the beholder ~ it be huge.

If you’re interested in checking out the Properties of these pictures, I posted it HERE. Enjoy!

After spending an afternoon yesterday with my blog designer ~ Paulo ~ from JustHost who was kindly referred to me by Lolli of Better In Bulk [thank you!!] ~ and after weeks of playing ‘tag’, my blog is finally getting to where I’ve envisioned it to go.  I still am in ‘creating mode’ so I’ll continually be tweaking it here and there.  However, for the most part, I have the basics that I am happy  to share.

Things in life I love ~ my family ~  my “finer things in life finds“   ~ my pup ~  photography 101.  More coming soon (including food/recipes and health).

There will be a blog rolls so that I can refer readers to your sites. That’s how we grow our communities and in real life, that’s how I network.

Hope you find the new sections interesting

Whew!  I spent my whole morning working with what I learned yesterday!

And I feel like I’ve just begun!

I ♥ WordPress today!

This is the first time I’m participating in Fix It Friday, a blog hop for photography aficionados.  I love playing with my camera and even more so, with my photo editing software of choice, LightRoom 2.  You can visit other participants in I Heart Faces.

Here’s the BEFORE photo for Fix It Friday #44

and my rendition after tweaking the photo on LR2.  The AFTER result.

Now that was fun!  I’m heading on over there to link up with MckLinky now and see how others did.  Have a great weekend!

I love Photography blog carnivals and today, I’m participating in PSF and GMYBS hosted by Lolli and Cecily.

It was a pretty busy week for me but I managed to sneak in a short lunch visit with my daughter and babyGrand in the middle of the week.  Alyssa’s growing so fast.  In fact, last night I was looking at the folder where I keep all the pictures I’ve taken of her and oh my, she’s on a roll!

Here’s my sweet goodness. Asleep.  I can’t get over how sweet her lips are.  My husband told me that she won’t need Botox lip treatments when she’s older.  They’re perfectly shaped.

And I also found some unprocessed photos of Nate from previous family gatherings.  He’s also grown!  They need to stay little a lot longer.  Here’s one I missed but like a lot.

These ones  are from a wall mural that I saw when my husband and I went for our Valentine’s Day lunch.  I thought it was fun and showed the artist’s interpretation of the town’s center.  Don’t you love the colors?

If you’ve got cool photos to share, head on over to Better In Bulk or My Chaos My Bliss and share your best shots for the week. And don’t forget to have a great weekend!

If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks.

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…

Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.

~Atticus Finch: To Kill a Mockingbird~

I’m going to digress from my normal family and life posts and talk a little bit about the dark side of mom blogging.  A word to the wise, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Mommy bloggers have become a big industry.  A few years ago when I began my other site ~ more business related,  I kept a mom journal on the side just for my family.  It was private and was shared only among friends and family. Since then, and with advertisers like BlogHer paying good money per impression, the industry has become almost like a feeding frenzy.   The beauty   is that I’ve found exemplary authors with brilliant ideas that I’m learning from.  Community forums like those you’ll find at The Blog Frog help spur debate and discussion amongst members.

Most often, it’s wonderful.  And then there’s  a dark side. It’s not one of my proudest moments, but I have to admit that I’ve threaded this dark negative world and even though I have urged myself time and again to stay out of it,  I am drawn back to read some of  it’s spewing wrath.  I choose not to engage and remain a voyeur when time permits.   It’s amazing how much time people are able to spend looking for ways to hurt someone they don’t personally know.

When I held a contest in December with  MckMama* I got many people riled up [upset is an understatement]  for having gone from hater to forgiven acquaintance.  Only she and I knew the truth as only she and I were present for our phone conversations.   I was   wishing to bury the hatchet and she was quick to forgive.  After the giveaway, it was expected that my site go back to normalcy as I had been planning, thereafter, to make the switch over to WordPress. [you do lose subscribers when you make the switch].  If money was my intention [and it never was], it was easy to sell my product and get instant cash for it.  What I got in return was a weekend of knowing what her life was like, kinda sorta.  It’s NOT an easy world. If she makes money off her site, it is because she has the ability to deflect all the negativity aimed at her, renew her spirit from the positivity which far outnumbers the naysayers,  write a daily post with content to keep her readers interested, monitor comments from both her site and community.  And be mom and wife.  Not an easy feat for a daily writer. It IS work.  Kid yourself not.  One weekend opened my eyes.

*Jennifer Mckinney aka MckMama is the author of My Charming Kids, a bold blogger who writes about life with 4 children, one of whom had and survived a life threatening heart ailment.

Did I mention it’s not easy? There is pervasive negativity in the mommy blogger underworld.  Cut throat. Dark ~ dire ~ ugly ~ evil.

I learned how thick my skin had to be.  And how a clear conscience allows me to  sleep very soundly at night.

And how to stand my ground.  [*note: an email from another BIG mom blogger stated she was ready to give it all up but was happy to receive my private message; the sort of which keeps her going].

I learned how to co-exist and stay friends with others who had varying or opposite opinions from mine.  We were grown ups watching mean girls fight.   I’ve learned to share comments by email and DMs on Twitter  instead of  in blog comment sections and build friendships more personally that way.

This little blog of mine  is not big and will never be big.  But it is mine.   This is not my day job.  As a matter of fact, it’s still in Construction Mode as I’ve yet to fill in my tabs up above.  Work.   Busy.  Little time.  You know the drill.

I have left the naysayers to congregate where they find companionship and/or commonality  and truth be told, I’ll find friends the real way. One by precious one.  There’s no rush.  Real life is currently plenty wholesome and since my sister is traveling [again] to Asia and Europe, I have her children to watch and love on.  That makes it nine kids I’ll have for two weeks ~ three houses and two dogs.  And a nanny to cook for for me.  Sweet!

Now on with the rest of my life and since it’s Lent, I’m giving  up reading some sites that add no value to my life whatsoever.  I will be focusing on  ones that  will help me be a better person, perhaps add more positivity, fun and spirituality in my life.  I know where to go for that.  I appreciate it very much if I don’t get chit chat updates.  This will be an easy one to give up.

I am a liker of spontaneous meetings or meet ups.  My family will attest to that.  I love it what I get a call that says “Hi! Whatcha doing for lunch today?”   And better yet, I get that call when I’m already on the road for scheduled appointments, but was flexible thereafter.

Thus ~ today I got a baby treat!   I had lunch with my daughter and got to smoosh this itty bitty with kisses!  She smells so good.

So, Alyssa has two teeth, her lower two in the front.  She’s not happy but she wasn’t too upset at lunch today.  Mommy and Daddy are marking today as a milestone as they are going to feed her for the first time!  Yup! This one is kinda sorta wanting to eat already.  She looks at our food with poor puppy eyes.  Goodness, time flies by! She’s almost half a year old.

Look at those lips!  Juicy little one!

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.   In my younger days, I would go to church to be reminded that “unto dust, you shall return“.  Although I didn’t do that today (the ashes thing), we still decided at lunch that we would abstain from meat today.  Food was great and company even greater.  We did not miss meat at all. I was just happy to have a little one to hug for a  bit as I hadn’t seen her since a week and a half ago.  I don’t know how families live far apart from each other.  It would break my heart to have these little babyGrands be too far away from me.

And speaking of baby treats, next month we get Nate for a 3 nights one weekend and an overnighter the following week.  Gives us time to plan something cool to do with the boy.

Yup, this 2 and a 1/2 year old ~ who just learned how to put 25 piece puzzles together by himself and wants more puzzles!  Oh we’re going to have a mighty fine time in March.

Sweet little ones.  So blessed am I and grateful to be able to enjoy them.  Carpe diem!

“Look at me, Newman!  Over here, pup!”

“Here, boy! Yoohoo! Look over here!“  [jiggle noisemaker above camera]

I swear this dog can talk ~ or whisper. And he normally is very obedient.   Today, he’s mad at me because he got groomed again.  So, he won’t look at me.  I tried getting his attention but I got this.

“No! You left me at the groomers, again!”

So, right now, he is playing next door with the neighbor kids.  Hopefully he’ll forget that he had a bath and a massage, got a pedicure, cut, shampoo and blowdry.  Hopefully he’ll realize that I cut my hair short(er) so I don’t have to go every six weeks just so he can go every three. Cash management, I think that’s what it’s called nowadays.

He HATES having his nails cut!  “Don’t touch my feet!”   I have given up my manicure and pedicure every other week.  I do mine myself so I can afford his.

My dog needs to be OCD clean.  And the obsessive illness isn’t his or his daddy’s.  I know he hates it, but he is used to it.  (Dear SisInLaw: if you’re reading this, please stop laughing)

In a little while, after all the playing with the kids is done, he’ll come back and forget.  When I’m forgiven, he’ll  come to me with a choice toy for me to throw and play fetch.  Then he’ll stay by my side and cuddle up close until it’s time to play ‘run around the entire house’ at the stroke of 5:00PM.  On.The.Dot.

Until his daddy comes home.  Then he becomes someone’s shadow.

Man’s best friend.  A woman’s too!   I wuv my dawg. This post will be repeated in three weeks.

Definitely on top of the world today with the sun in our eyes ♫ ♪ ☺ ♫  My sister and I spent a wonderful late morning and afternoon together just chilling and thinking about life ~ past, present and future. Unplanned ~ the way I like things on my weekends.

It was incredibly gorgeous out today.  Where can you find this beautiful weather in early February?    I heart you, California!

No clouds, about 70 degrees and full frontal SUN.

That’s my lounge on the left.  I was downloading applications on my Blackberry and we were BB Messaging each other.

Served with a smile. I could get used to this again.

oh, Cabana boy! where are yooooou?

Sister ~sun ~ shades ~ sunblock ~ good company ~ cool convo ~ nobody else around us ~  delish food ~ good music ~ two Blackberries.    Fun day that started with a ‘whatcha doing today‘ on my Messenger.

Happy President’s Day!  Mine Ours was divine.  Hope yours was too!

Happy Valentine’s Day, My Lovely!

Dandelions!  Who said I needed roses today!  Not when I get to spend the whole day with Mr. Lovely and a cuddly furball, choice munchies, chocolates and Olympics on the telly!

Actually, it was a GREAT day to be outdoors.  I walked around my neighborhood a couple times today with and without Newman.  He loved watching the kids climbing trees, hanging a swing, biking and jumping off the roof of a car.  We block this road off when the kids are out playing and the moms and dads were just out and having a nice sunny relaxing day.

Tomorrow is sister bonding day and hopefully I’ll see the kids + kidlets.   I am being tempted by a good Twitter friend to get this lens.   Soon.  X my fingers. Wish me luck. I’m going to will it to happen.

Oh, and here’s my Valentine’s Day message to you all.  Just do the love thing, okay?

Not  because I said so.  But because we were commanded to do so.   It IS possible.  Dammit!

I forgot to show you Nate’s kitchen, right beside mom’s.  He makes a mean burger and pizza and can make coffee for me.  There’s a lot that goes on in that little mind with the big imagination.  It’s totally entertaining.  I wish I had this when I was growing up!

His bedroom is another world of wonder.  And so is his garage-ful of vehicles.

Sigh!  Oh to be two!

UPDATE 11:13PM

Turns out my son and his girlfriend spent the day at the Japanese Tea Gardens today to photograph nature as well.  Here is one of his photographs I lovingly stole from him

and here are a couple of the shots I took at the Cal game today ~ (can’t wait for March Madness!)

and Berkeley ~ as only Berkeley can be ~

SOC Photo ~ Untouched

A beautiful sunny California day.  We even had lunch outside.  It.Felt.Good!!

ORIGINAL POST 2/13/10 1:13AM

There’s HOPE for us all.  Spring.  I had a little glimpse of it today as I went for my afternoon walk with Newman.  Leave it to my four-legged furry buddy to remind me to get out of my office and take in some fresh air at almost the exact time each day.

Well, late this afternoon, we walked and then I dropped Newman off and picked up my camera.  I wanted to capture hints of spring which I noticed today.  These will look different tomorrow, so there wasn’t a moment to spare.

I’ve been noticing these daffodils on our walks.  They’re so pretty and there are so many of them.  They’re the only flowers on the ground that I’ve seen.  Many of the rose bushes have been pruned and of course, it’s been cold so everything is dormant ~ except these yellow and white lovelies.

And then I noticed the tree across our home.  Just today, there were hints of better weather ahead.  Cherry blossoms!  Small ones ~ there were about four of them that opened up today.  Many buds and I’ll be watching them closely.

Funny how you notice more of nature when you have a fun hobby like photography.  And YES, these were edited using the Presets I just got from X-Equals.  Gotta love the one click wonders. They give you more time to play with the camera and less time required developing your RAW photographs.

Tomorrow (well, later on today) ~ we’ll be watching UC Berkeley Men’s Basketball.  Hope to practice taking some action shots.  I heart Berkeley.

Hope you all have a swell LONG weekend!  Do something positive today, will ya!

A lot of my photography ‘learn’ days are from friends I’ve met online ~ more precisely from Twitter.   I’m blown away but the knowledge I’ve obtained on hardware AND software technology.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to X-Equals and it’s founder, Brandon Oelling.  On Twitter, he is @xequals.

Get to know this logo and avatar on Twitter.  He’s the best.  And X-equals just released a Preset for $14.99.  If you visit HERE you’ll be able to see some of the presets that will be available on this particular set.  Check out his previous posts too as he always has great artistry featured and you can learn SO MUCH on this site both PhotoShop and LightRoom related.  Mike Grey and Brandon spent weeks putting this set together and honestly, you can’t beat the $14.99 price for 75 Presets.  That’s NOT a typo.  I did say SEVENTY FIVE.

I just got mine and I can’t wait to download them and play.

If you have LR2, you know that there’s MUCH more you can do with presets ~ I’m a big fan of them and most of the ones I have were found via X-Equals.

Can you just say I’m a fan?  I’m sure you will be too!

LOVE IT!  See?

SOC

One Click Preset: X-Equals + LIDF – Paper VC-O

One Click Preset:  X-Equals + LIDF – Holga – Kodachrome 25 Curve

It’s FUN!  How many times could a woodchuck chop can a puppy be so cute!  SEVENTY FIVE Times !

Thank you.

I’ve Been Blessed

Wowzers, this bloggerdom  can sometimes be funny and hilarious,  mean and atrocious.   Fortunately, it is virtual and you can safely venture  before you become close friends with anyone.

Truth be told, I  consider myself internet savvy since I’ve been working and socializing online since the very early days of AOL ~ around the same time as when LOL and ROFL was coined  ~ on AOL chatrooms ~  and yes, I can tell you good and bad stories of them days. [sorry, long sentence].   I guess I’m dating myself here cuz AOL was so many moons ago.

This  interwebz [plural ~ internets] has significantly changed with the advent of Google and the fact that information about every soul on this planet is readily available has it’s pluses and minuses.  In fact, I’m calling it BLOGGERWACKY.  Yup, I’m inventing a word and even though it’s a tad bit of a quacked out world out there, there are jewels to be found. Good gold is just waiting to be discovered.

For the record, I choose to play nice but I will defend myself. I choose to help people but I won’t be so gullible. I choose to learn from professionals and use what I learn to help others.  I own my words then, now and tomorrow.   And yes, I can change my mind,  just like I can in real living life.   Geminis are a fickle bunch.

By blogging, I’m a willing contributor and player in this bwacked space in cyber universe.  I learn by taking the jabs ~ punching some ~ feeling the brunt and the love.  Naive I’m not.   A student I’ll always be.

I hereby claim my own real estate in the Republic of GoDaddy Domains.   My space, my rules.  Mi casa  no es tu casa aqui.  Mahalo.  Please remove your shoes before coming in.  And when you do, I will serve you fine wine or champagne depending on your time of visit ~ or a cool fruity margarita on the weekends.  The DH  might serve you a micro brewed beer ~ only the finest.   Good taste?  Yeah ~born with it ~  live with it. Exquisite and sure to please.  My mother and her  blue blood will vouch for that.

After all,  LIFE IS GOOD! Fist bump!

Find the gold, find bliss.

This last weekend, my Canon xTi got passed on to  my oldest daughter [Nate's mommy] and I referred her to Lolli’s blog tutorials for easy to read and learn lessons in digital photography.  Lolli is the author of Better In Bulk and also co-hosts a photography challenge which I’m participating in today.  This week’s challenge is Shutter Speed.  Hop on over HERE and share your motion photos.

If you’re surrounded by children and pets, there’s always motion around you.  I’ve honed in on some portrait photography skills but can still learn a lot when it comes to capturing a moving target.  As an example, this photo of Newman [my furry fuzzy cockapoo] chasing his tail was a challenge especially since it was an indoor night time shot.

With my newer 7D, capturing my niece’s volleyball tournament last week, I took some of these shots.

I’m working on clarity and some of the tips I’m learning will help me get there.  I think that’s the fun part of learning and participating in challenges such as these.  If you’d like to participate, head on over to Better In Bulk and keep coming back for tutorials.

Plus, it’s a great way to meet cool people.  I’m headed there right now to link up.  See you there!

Life doesn’t get better than this.

Alyssa turned five months old on the 28th but we celebrated today since it was the one day we could get most of the family together [errr... make that 'the MOM'].   Today extended family joined us and we held the little party at Nate’s crib per my request.  I love playing with this kid in his home, where all his toys are and where he’s in his element.   As has come to be the norm, we hung out in the kid’s bedroom.  A dream bedroom, in my opinion.  If I were a child, I would spend many happy hours in this room ~ and he does when he is home.

Your imagination is all you need in this room.

Even the little one ~ the celebrant ~ was entertained.

See?  We expose our children to everything very early in their life ~ and it’s never too early for music ~ and sports ~ and books.

So here is the little girlie girl in her 5th monthsaversary outfit.  She’s growing into her bib!  And yes, she was outfitted for the cold.

Yup, we have a little live baby doll.  And a two year old entertainer.  It can’t get any better than this, really.   Oh yeah ~ it can!  S’more babies, please!  I’m living and loving every second I can spend with them.

I really have found bliss.  Now, good night.  My puppy awaits!

I’ve been putting off visiting my business center for one reason or another, mostly because I’ve been very busy.  Today, however, I took the work day off and tried to run some procrastinated errands.

Like pick up special samples that I have to test out and some self promo items I ordered.  I forgot how many times I pointed to objects at the Vegas Expo and just blurted out “Send Me That One”.  One of the item’s really cool and has come just in time for the next rain.  Great for football!  Can’t wait to show it off to a high school with an EXCELLENT team next week.  (Hint:  They were Green).

This opens up to a deliciously warm fleece blanket and hooded poncho ~ and a picnic blanket, too.   I also got a bunch of summer-y items and electronic gadgets which I’ll test and write about [recommend] on my other blog, should they meet our standards.

Earlier in the day, I went to Best Buy to pick up my Point & Shoot Canon SD90 IS camera which failed me at the last Vegas trip [just when I needed it to work].  Well, the rep at Geek Squad told me they had replaced the lens. Happy me?  NOT!!

I proceeded to put my battery back in and power the camera on ~ and it completely failed again.  The SAME lens problem and error message.  I kindly and gently told the Geek Squader that I wanted my money back or a brand new camera so that is what he wrote up on the second work ticket.  C’mon Canon!  You got tons of my money!  Gimme a working product here, yeah?  Not a lemon!  NOTE TO SELF:  Choose battles wisely, this ain’t one of ‘em.  Thank you, innervoice.

Sigh.   After stopping by to get some food to take home with me, I came straight home and chilled.  Many thoughts crossed  my mind today while I was processing some pictures from the previous days.  Thoughts about life and the pursuit of happiness bliss.  And simple living and indulging in children and babyGrands.  Things that used to be important a few years ago, just aren’t anymore.  How silly I was and impulsive.

Age and time affords me some crystal clarity.   Who would’ve thunk!

I wish I could save people the trouble, but I can’t.  Everyone must walk their own road and hit their own bumps and untie their one knots.  It’s what makes us who we are and appreciate what we are given.

Hopefully, the road ahead will be a smooth one for the ones behind me.

Just being a mom again.

My blog friend Lolli, wonderful author of  Better In Bulk [and mom of five!] hosts a blog carnival called Give Me Your Best Shot which you can link to HERE.

This week, my shots were sad ones as I had to attend the wake and funeral of my daughter’s MIL ~  my 2yo babyGrand’s other Grammie.  I took pictures during the wake and the funeral, together with my son.  Those will be shared by our family.

I did take some more lighthearted pictures of Nathan, though.  Mostly, he was happy to be with his Owpa [grandpa who always says "Ouch"].

Leave it to a child to put everything into perspective.  Living, that is.

And so ~ life goes on. And we do the best we all can.

Man, you babyGrands  just suck love out of me and GrammieDaddy!  Alyssa Girl [our practice imprint baby] ~ guess how much we love you?  Can you stretch out your arms to Pluto and back?

This BIG?

Check out this blanket / tapestry wall hanging!   I think Newman likes it too! I’m LOVING it!

This is a digitally imprinted fleece blanket.  The photograph was taken by me and I worked with my peeps to imprint the 60×50 blanket.  Pretty cool, eh?  Next week, I’m going to test out a colored photo ~ and then when I’m happy with my results ~ I’m going to ask YOU photo buffs to send me a cool picture and I’ll choose one photo and one winner and will print one for you!  So stay tuned while I fine tune this process.

This one is going to mommy and daddy’s wall.

Tonite, my 2 year old babyGrand said his first goodbye to his other grandmother.  Tomorrow, he will say goodbye for the last time.  We worried so much about explaining life and death to him ~ and in the end, it was so simple.  Oh to have the pure  blissdom of childhood innocence.   What I’d give for that.

Grandma Josie and I were both first time Grammies.  Together we doted on Nate.  She would have spoiled him more rottenly had she not fought her illnesses these last two years, but she survived the odds time and again ~ willing herself to recover for her children and only grandchild.  When our children married at the beautiful Basilica in Carmel, we   symbolically and together  lit one singular candle before the ceremony so that her son and my daughter’s   path in life will be filled with light and clarity, safety, harmony and bliss.

Nathan did say goodbye ~ and then we took him home with us since mom and dad will have too many things to take care of in the morning prior to the funeral.  He’s a heap of slumber in our bedroom right now, with his two doggies.

We’ll love him twice as much now.  And someone will be watching over him from up there.

No goodbyes ~ we’ll meet again someday.

I had a nice long lunch with a classmate of mine today.  After about 35 years of not seeing each other, we met up again about a year ago when another classmate was visiting town.  And then we went to my Vegas trade show convention last year.

Then I got busy between then and today.  Till we finally caught up again.  And this time, over a good lunch, with great stories and [eeeek] gossip. YUP!  If you weren’t with us, your name was mentioned!

Over lunch and red velvet cheesecake and chocolate fudge.  And yes, it was delicious.  We ate all.of.it.  Down to the last sugar crystal.

We reminisced [again] about our very strict catholic school education and how we survived that was fun.  I tried to do a roll call of our class.  She has seen more friends that I have over the last few years.  We lived pretty charmed life back in the days.  In fact, our friends still do back in the old country.  You know, the one where Riley lives?

Yep, my fellow chocaholic.  Who’d have thunk that after all these 35 years of unseen and unheard, it would feel like I just talked to you a second ago.

See you next week!  And uhhhmmm ~ way to go get that appointment for us.  Wish us luck!!  *GRIN*  Dream Very Big!

If you are a new owner of a DSLR camera and love taking pictures up close and personal, as in macro photography ~ but for some reason are holding off on purchasing a macro lens,  here’s an option  for you.  I took some pictures   with my 7D Canon and a 50mm f /1.8 lens and a $25.00 Quantaray Close Up Set of filter lenses.

First of all, the filter set comes in this case

inside of which are  three lenses you can attach to the 50mm lens, one by one or altogether.

Now bear in mind that when you’re using the 50mm ~this is about as near or far as you can get in order to take a close up photo ~ no zooming in.

Different shot different subject, still with the 50mm lens by itself.  Here’s my Benders basketball dude and my collectible Conan KeepaKlip from my store and sample stash.  This is the closest, clearest I can get with just the 50mm.  Not bad.  I love my 50mm.

Now, let me get closer with the +4 lens attached to the 50mm.  Same  Bender dude, with Conan. About 6 inches away.

Now, I really want to close up on Conan since he needs some attention lately ~ and I kind of like the guy.  I attached all three add-on lenses to my 50mm and I’m about a couple inches away with this last shot.

See how easy that was?  And I did NOT spend $600 on a macro lens.  I can go outside and find some cool bug [except that it's winter] and take some cool outdoor photography!  Here are some online reviews of this filter set. Yup, I did my homework and I’ll save you the trouble.

Now when you go to a camera store, you must ask for these lenses.  If you talk about close up photography, they’ll want to sell you the expensive stuff.  Not many will mention this alternative.  They are available in different diameters.  For $25.00, it will tide you over until you have disposable money to splurge.

Now go on, and have fun with your hobby!  And while you’re at it, you even have enough for a cup of coffee!  Cheers!! Say CHEESE!!