Project 365, week 1

I'm renaming Photogenic Friday for the year. It just makes more sense.

Here it is, my week in pictures.

January 2

Frozen
January 3

Rough night
Goodbye for another year
January 4

But we love the tree

January 5

Time together
January 6

Chipped
Stoked
January 7

Dwindling
January 8

I don't know what you're talking about

*None of these photos have been edited at all. Right now that is beyond my scope of expertise. I'll continue to play around in photoshop and hopefully soon my confidence with the program will be such that I can enhance my photos. Any advice is welcome.*

Photogenic Friday: Back to Basics

Andy is the real photographer in this family. It was part of his major in college and, though he isn't usually artistic, he does have a talent for photography as an art form.

I, on the other hand, have always been artistic and creative, but never managed to find a camera useful in terms of an artistic instrument.

It seems like everyone is taking gorgeous pictures these days. I'm being left in the photographic dust. For a while now I've wanted to remedy that situation.

Which is one of my major reasons for joining Project 365.

Having an eye for photography (and patience, not something I'm famous for) is a major part of taking beautiful pictures. The right equipment, however, also makes a big impact on the outcome of the photographs a person takes.

Right now I take all of my photos with a Nikon Coolpix point and shoot. It has served me well for the nearly two years I've owned it. But I'm afraid it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. The camera is good for snapshots and not much else. Which is exactly why I bought it. I could take it out of the box and start using it, instructions be damned.

But now I have this entire year looming in front of me armed with a tiny point and shoot that is beginning to have some hitches in its get along.

This morning, while we were making breakfast, I was telling Andy about Project 365 and that I'd like to have a slightly more advanced camera in my arsenal. Nothing too major, because fancy cameras are expensive and also because dropping a lot of cash on something that could be a passing whim is irresponsible. Not to mention that we don't have the kind of cash that would need to be dropped.

So I told him that for my birthday I'd like to have something in between the coolpix and a "bells and whistles" camera. (You see how camera illiterate I am? I don't even know what they're called. DSLR sounds right, but what does that even mean?) I have about three months until then and I think I can manage with my small camera until then.

Then Andy suggested that I use our Nikon film camera that he used in his photography class.
Personally I think that suggestion is a little stroke of genius. The camera is complicated enough that I can learn something and simple enough that I can still use it. Also, there is something exciting about using a film camera. Every time you have a roll developped it's a surprise. In this digital age I think film cameras have gotten a bad reputation.

So here it is, the first photo of Project 365.


I took it with the coolpix, obviously. I took about 20 photos to get this one and I'm not real pleased with it. Sometimes the coolpix can be difficult to use and even a novice like myself sees all its shortcomings.

I have a lot to learn, but that's kind of the point, isn't it?

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I said yesterday that I wasn't sure which blog I would use to document my Project 365 journey, but now I know. Photogenic Friday is already a tradition on this blog, so on Fridays I will post the previous week's photos. It just makes sense.

But that's not all.

Who can only take one photo? If I'm going to go to the trouble of hauling a camera with me every day I'm going to take more than one picture when I turn it on.

Go here to see what else I have in store for 2010.

Photogenic Friday: What was I thinking?

The ski shop rents a lot of ski bibs and jackets through the season. Usually they take the laundry to the local laundry mat, but have decided that isn't economically sound anymore, and have been trying to figure out a better way to get the laundry done.

It's coming down to crunch time. The slope has been open since Thanksgiving weekend and they haven't had the laundry done yet. It hasn't been terribly busy, but with the snow forecast this weekend they're about to shift into high gear.

So I agreed to do the laundry. It's not like I have anything better to do all day. It will save the shop money and they pay Andy's salary. So helping them save money means that they can keep paying Andy and that's a good thing. Also, they are paying me to do it which gives us a little more dough.

Sounds like a good idea all around, right?

I thought so. Until Andy brought me the last month's worth of laundry today.


If you can't tell there are six giant trash bags full of dirty ski clothes. S-I-X!

I was slightly unprepared for the magnitude of laundry that needed to be done.

But then I reminded myself that it hadn't been done in nearly a month and usually they launder every week. So it won't always be this bad.

And since this is what it looks like outside:

I'm not going to be going anywhere anytime soon. I've got nothing but time.

My weekend plans include: Laundry, reading, laundry, playing with bunnies, laundry, watching Christmas movies... oh, and did I mention laundry?

I lead such a glamorous life.

Have a happy and safe snow filled weekend!

Photogenic Friday: The weary traveler is home

Here are some more pictures of Andy's trip to Tahoe. He got home last night, just in time for the alarm to go off at the ski shop. We met the police there after we got all his stuff off the truck.

We live in a sleepy little town and the local police force doesn't have a lot to do so when we got to the shop there were three police cars and at least two more pulled in after us.

Anyway, turns out a mouse tripped the alarm and one of the policemen freaked out when he saw it. I hope he handles criminals with a little more gusto.

We finally got in bed by 2:30.

I'm so glad he's home!

The village below their house

They had giant chess and checker boards
Riding the chair lift
One of the racers going under themView of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe in the fall
Driving into Reno
They stayed with Robert's parents one night.
This is the view from their house.
I think Andy said those were the Ruby Mountains
They drove through a lot of inclement weather.
This is in Colorado.
Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

Photogenic Friday on Sunday

Finally we have an update from the weary traveler.

I don't believe I have actually told you why Andy has gone all the way across the country.

Our friend Robert is the assistant cycling coach at our alma mater. The cycling team is pretty awesome. Mountain Bike Nationals are being held in Tahoe this year and the team is currently there racing.

While they were planning the trip it was clearly more economical for someone to drive the team's equipment across the country rather than try to ship it there. So Robert asked Andy if he'd like to come along and help with the driving.

Andy said, "Yes, please!" to a free trip to California.

So here are some of the pictures Andy has posted of his adventures. Please forgive the shots taken through the truck window. They were trying to make the trip as quickly as possible and couldn't be bothered to stop and take proper scenic photos.

Edit: The translation from facebook to blogger didn't work very well. Click on the photos to see full images.

Loading the truck

All smiles to start

St. Louis, just passin' through
Wyoming. Apparently Andy didn't care for the drive here
The Great Salt Lake
The rental house
Andy sleeps in a closet
First day at the races
Scenery, etc.

Photogenic Friday: Andy stole my camera

This post was supposed to contain several photos of Andy's cross country trip to date.

He left on Monday morning, took my camera and the laptop, and has yet to post a single picture.

Oh, excuse me. He has posted four, very fuzzy, camera phone photos on facebook that serve to prove my theory that cell phones should not have camera features. Or that people should not document cross country trips on their cell phones and try to convince their wives that they really did needed to take the good camera and laptop.

So I have no photo to share with you today.

If he manages to get something posted tonight I'll be sure to share it. Until then I'm going to go be annoyed with him.

Happy Friday!

Photogenic Friday: Still on vacation

I'm basking in the warmth of the flat land of my fair state. I can't be bothered with something so trivial as updating my blog. Because, you know, I've been such a stellar blogger lately.

Photogenic Friday will return next week, but for now I'm going to continue my vacation and pretend like this blog doesn't exist.

Just for now, I promise.

Photogenic Friday: I'm a slacker

Nearly a week late, but here is our 2009 July fourth celebration forever immortalized in photographs.

We didn't do a whole lot because Andy had to work until about 7. We met up with some friends to watch the fireworks and spent the time until dark playing four square and throwing around a football.

Ok, well, I played referee because they were playing too rough for me.

Waiting for the chalk and ball to arrive
for the four square game

This man is single ladies.
He's also quite a catch.

Waiting in line to take a turn at four square
The actual game.
Is is just me or is this court about four times
the size it was in elementary school?
The four square trash talk was too much for them
Without further ado...
Here I am (with Andy of course)
Still slightly swollen,
but at least my smile isn't crooked anymore.

I took pictures of the fireworks too, but they aren't very good because we didn't take the fancy camera and tripod. Also, I'm fairly certain you know what fireworks look like.

Photogenic Friday: 4th of July days gone bye

Circa 2002

I hope your holiday is great.

Photogenic Friday: The Milton Edition

Dear Milton,

I was going to do an interview with you like I did with Brunswick, but you don't sit still long enough so I decided to write you a letter instead.


This month you turn one year old. Two months from now marks the anniversary of when you became a member of our family. I'm sorry we called you Mabel for three weeks. When the lady at the pet shop told us you were a girl I was a little afraid that she didn't know what she was talking about and as it turned out I was right. But you let us know as soon as you could that you were not, in fact, a girl. Thanks for telling us. It certainly helped Daddy and I understand your strange behavior to your brother.


I'll also apologize for your birthday present. I guess it wasn't much of a present. For Brunswick's birthday we got him a bag of granola and we got you fixed for yours. I have to say I was a little worried about you and how you would handle the anesthesia. You've always had an extra sensitive system. It did seem to take you a long time to come out of your medicinal daze, but you're back to your sassy self now. In about two weeks you'll start to feel a lot different. I know it wasn't fun, but you're ok now and it was a necessary evil. I promise you don't have to do it again.


Daddy and I have really enjoyed having you around. You certainly always make things interesting. Brunswick likes having you around too - at least he does now. At first you guys didn't get along so well and you cost Mommy and Daddy a good bit of money on a tiny tube of ointment for your brother's eye. But that's alright, I forgive you and so does Brunswick.


Your energy is boundless and you never cease to amaze me with it. Just when I think you're down for the count you're off again, making laps around the living room, chasing your brother around, sniffing and marking my shoes. Because we all know what a tragedy it would be if every.single.thing in our apartment didn't smell like you.


I really enjoy watching you chase the broom around. I think I could play with you all day long, but I run out of energy way before you do. Recently you've come to love the game of "chase" where I follow you into a corner and then when I turn around you follow me back across the room. I also love it that you come out from your hidey hole just to say hi to Daddy and I.


You like to pretend that you're aloof and above needing affection, but I know you better than that. Nothing satisfies you more than getting a couple of pets and kisses from us. You're such a stinker and you get pretty jealous of your brother if you think he's getting more love than you. You've nibble holes in a couple of my favorite shirts because you wanted me to pay attention you you instead. I'd appreciate it if you'd find another way to get my attention.


I have to say that you put up with my shenanigans pretty well. A lot better than Brunswick, that's for sure. You don't complain too much when I dress you up or try to make you pose for the camera. But you're so curious of the camera I have a lot of close up pictures of your nose.


Daddy and I love you so much little fuzz ball. Don't ever change. And I promise that next year your birthday will be much better and it won't involve surgery.