31 July, 2011

iDdict

(While I'm out of the country, I'll be reposting some content from my archives. This one was originally published in June of 2009, when I was living in Ohio.)

This is a self portrait i created last night after a very funny conversation in my bible study. A member came with his new iPhone and of course, we exchanged phones and talked about all the cool things for it. It was like we had our own language. Then i realized:
i'm addicted to my phone. I must say that being addicted to something is terrible. I am not addicted to any sort of stimulant, drug, or amphetamine legal or otherwise. In fact, just the opposite- i do my best not to actually take ANY medications at all. Even when i'm sick. I figure, there are enough preservatives and crazy things in food and the water that i drink every day that i'll already either live to be 150 or die of a horrible flesh-eating cancer any minute now.
However, I do find other things that i can't go long without. My iPhone happens to be the first item that comes to mind on that list.
I love to stay connected. I have apps for all kinds of useful things like weather, stocks, Facebook, and even a little app to tell me what that awesome song on the radio is that i know nothing about. My iPhone is my vise. I'd even go so far as to compare it to a magic wand like in Harry Potter.
Sure, the phone didn't "choose me" or anything, but it's completely my own. My customizations, ring tones, pet names for friends when they call, photos, music, apps, notes... I can use someone elses iPhone (wand) but it doesn't have the same feel. It works but it's like wearing someone else's shoes... Functional but not comfortable. There's no magic.

Really, there's nowhere that i go without it, that i can think of. I sleep next to it (albeit on airplane mode), i drive with it plugged into the radio, it's always in a pocket on my person or in my purse. I use it as a GPS. It sits with me at work, in church, and at the pool. I take it into the kitchen when i cook and use it as a timer, i plug it into my stereo at home, and i use it when i shop (the lists i make on it are endless). I track my health, what i eat, how much i weigh on it. I saw an app that allows you to take credit card payments for your small business and thought "wow!" That's only the gravy. I can still make calls, text, take pictures too... but with style. LOL

I find myself wondering when my plan expires so i can upgrade to the new 3Gs, but also loathing the thought of getting used to a new phone (even if it IS an iPhone) because this one has become so much of my life. Like a friend. How sad is that? I have a best friend (who is human, lol) and a little digital technological, yet immobile robot-computer thing.

I go through withdrawals when i leave it at home. "who's going to text me? whatever shall i do without music if the silence gets too loud? What if i get LOST? How will i check my email? What about facebook? How shall i tweet?!"

The consideration of purposely leaving it off or in airplane mode all during the day as a form of "weening" has come to mind... briefly.

29 July, 2011

Gasworks Park

(While I'm out of the country, I'll be reposting some content from my archives. This one was originally published in November of 2007, when I was living near Seattle.)



28 July, 2011

"clothes of the spirit"

(While I'm out of the country, I'll be reposting some content from my archives. This one was originally published in September of 2007 when my best friend was visiting me near Seattle, Washington from Ohio.)



27 July, 2011

Fall Colors

(While I'm out of the country, I'll be reposting some content from my archives. This one was originally published in October of 2007 a day or so after I had purchased new camera lenses.)



24 July, 2011

what is this?

(While I'm out of the country, I'll be reposting some content from my archives. This one was originally published in October of 2007.)

this golden orb in the sky... ? it's warm and bright... i feel like it's familiar...

just kidding. i went out today in the sun and took some pictures. i'm having trouble with noise but i have a suspicion that it has something to do with my ISO being too high. i'll work on it.

anyhow- this is a branch on an old tree in the yard at our house.

23 July, 2011

Greeting Card Photographs: Stockholm

I thought it might be fun to start a series called Greeting Card Photographs. You're welcome to join in and link up if you like! 

These are photos I took from around Stockholm today. Enjoy!


22 July, 2011

Swedish Manners



Yesterday I discovered how rude some Swedes can be. Don't get me wrong, friends, most of the Swedish people I have met have been wonderful and polite, and willing to speak English to me... but there are some social differences I just can't not tell you about.
All of them happened in this one particular second hand shop, and after that, I noticed these mannerisms for the rest of the day.

21 July, 2011

Road trips and sunsets

Again! Sorry for my absense - but to save myself further apologies about missed blogging days, I should let you know that the internet where I am is patchy and slow at best, and my smartphone is not smart enough to blog without costing me an arm and a leg in roaming charges :)
I also ask your forgiveness for certain spelling errors I may miss - as the computer I'm working on underlines every. other. word... because it operates in Polish.

Shall we continue with the journey? Yes.

When I left you, we were hoping to travel to Torslanda. Well... it rained, we got lazy, and dinner ran late (not in that order), so we decided not to go after all. Instead, we enjoyed time with the family and had amazing Swedish cheesecake in which, after I ate a peice, I could hear myself getting fatter. Here is an example. I am the larger human in this photo, and still in my PJs. Don't judge. 

18 July, 2011

Gothenburg! (image heavy)

We woke up to beautiful sunshine and the temperature was almost perfect, with a wonderful breeze coming off the water. After breakfast (which was delicious... fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast) V's parents, V and I went for a walk around the city.





17 July, 2011

Travelog: London/Stansted to Gothenburg

This morning, we were ready to go! Off and running at 5:30am.

With Ryanair - things usually go pretty quickly. You arrive and check your bag, you zip through security, you get on the plane. All in all - I'd say it has averaged about 20 minutes total in the past. The thing you have to be careful of is all the fine print that Ryanair gouges you with, in order to bring you such low prices.



In the way of prices, it's usually pretty cheap to get from one country to another within the EU, but for the countries that are farther away, as you would expect, it gets more expensive. For instance, a quick trip to London from Dublin could be about €15. Our tickets to Sweden from Cork cost about €260 round trip.
There was a huge line when we got there, and we stood in it for about 40 minutes before getting to the desk. We were being checked in, and the lady informed us that we'd missed our flight. 

16 July, 2011

Travelog: Cork to London/Stansted

Well, after all that anxiety, we're halfway through the journey to Sweden. Today was hectic, but with the help of my wonderful husband, I got through it just fine.

Last night, we were just exhausted. I got most of the packing done, but we had cleaning left to do and still had things left to pack. A few weeks ago, we got a nice new (to us) suitcase off Freecycle.com, and this was it's maiden voyage with us.

We woke up early in order to get lots accomplished, and we did! Time just seemed to slip by though, and before we knew it - we had to dress up and head off to Camphire, Co. Waterford for a mini-wedding session!
Today was Angharad and Piers' happy day, and they asked us to come out for a couple hours to do individual photos and a little family session.


15 July, 2011

My Corinthian Husband

Hello friends! 


These last few days until our vacation in Sweden have proved to have ups and downs, and all arounds - but one thing is constant - the sweetness of my husband.


he may or may not be pinching my butt in this photo...

13 July, 2011

Bedlam

Funny how something so small can create such a loud, obnoxious noise...

12 July, 2011

Ten Things I Love Tuesday #8


Welcome to the eighth installment of 10TILT, a collection of things that I'm a fan of each week! I hope you enjoy it and maybe even find some new things to love!

11 July, 2011

dresses and blood tests.

You long time readers might remember that I have allergies. For the newbies (hi! welcome!), I have allergies that are pretty recent - and I've only had them for about 2-3 years now. I "narrowed it down" to thinking I'm allergic to dust. 
Dust is everywhere, which is why I think I'm allergic in every situation, especially while cleaning!


Lately, I've also been worried that I've got a thyroid issue... since it runs in my blood. 




09 July, 2011

I'm back!

Not that I was ever gone per se... but I'm here at any rate. Sorry for the little absence.
On July 7, my husband and I photographed a wedding for a client and to be honest, we are a little out of shape when it comes to that. This wedding, though wonderful, totally wiped us out and on Friday we were still recovering. We didn't get home until around 2am and for me, it was just not a restful sleep. I ended up taking TWO naps the next day and weighing my options between getting up for essentials like potty breaks and food, and just staying in bed and dealing with my needs another way.
I've read that some photographers (the super high-end ones) create their wedding packages to include a whole day at the spa complete with massage and meals the day after. I dont know, but last time I researched a spa day - it was upwards of $400... hmmm...


06 July, 2011

Photobooth

I have a Mac. Now, I'm not stating that to start any controversy - just so that I can go on to tell you that with my Mac there's a program called Photobooth, which I play with all too often.
I get a silly amount of satisfaction in sending emails to friends and family with a photo attached, showing an expression that fits the mood of the email, or showing something new that I'm doing, made, or received...

Here are some of the photos from the past year or so:


05 July, 2011

Ten Things I Love Tuesday #7

Welcome to the seventh installment of 10TILT, a collection of things that I'm a fan of each week! I hope you enjoy it and maybe even find some new things to love!


1. This photo of these amazingly beautiful cookies


they're made by Marion Ferrer of Sincredible Pastries. I think I'd be more apt to frame them rather than destroy them with my mouth...

04 July, 2011

Independence Day weekend in Ireland!

Ahh, July 4th weekend. There's just something about it for me. Like they say, you can take the girl out of America, but you can't take America out of the girl.
I seriously fought the urge to print out a "Happy Independence Day" sign with a big ole American flag and stick it in our front windows...

Our fourth of July weekend was spent doing the things that I think of as typical for this weekend in particular, and Ireland was kind enough to let the sun shine on it.

Our lawn was in dire need of a good mow. My mom had this thing about dressing me up like an insane person whenever I mowed the lawn at our home in Utah. Imagine a 90 degree day (32C) and I'm out there in sunglasses, a huge floppy hat, a scarf, a long sleeved jeans button down, jeans, and steel-toed boots. Not to mention the wool socks so that my feet wouldn't get blisters. It's amazing how I managed not to faint! We had a huge lawn too!
The first time I mowed our lawn here, I must say that out of instinct, I revisited my childhood, donning jeans and my hiking boots - for mom's sake... but this weekend? No. I rebelled. Mom, this is for you.

03 July, 2011

I made some magic...


Friends, would you believe that all this is, is leftovers re-created into something new? Neither would I, and I made it!!

02 July, 2011

Healthy Snacking

Edamame, aka Soya beans.



(photo credit Tia Nguyen)

01 July, 2011

Month 7 randomness

Wow! It's July already! This year is just whizzing by in a flash.

Fortunately, we have had a decent amount of sunshine this year and look!


Our white currents are getting ripe! Each day for the last week or so, I've been able to go pick some perfectly ripe berries off the bush. Unfortunately, they are just too good not to eat, so they never make it past the door into the house...

In other news... I want to be friends with the people who own this van.



How awesome is that bumper?! Friends, this is now officially my dream car.

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