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A quick update from Long Beach...

So...just a quick update from New York.  We were delayed a few hours getting here yesterday but finally made it around 4 local time.  We are staying at Joey's place in Long Beach and then headed into the city tomorrow.  I am SO glad we decided to do it this way.  We get a few days out on the beach, enjoying the weather, soaking in the sun, etc. then we head into the city for the spa, tons of shopping and sight seeing.  What a perfect combination.  Relaxed, laid back pace of the beach, then the fast pace of the city.  So...I LOVE Long Beach.  It's the quaint little beach community with neat shops, restaurants and bars along the beach, little cottages with white picket fences, people riding bikes everywhere, etc.  There is NO humidity.  Like for real.  Last night we sat outside and had a few beers and chatted.  I wasn't cold or hot...it was perfect.  Today it's hot but not humid.  We got up, made breakfast, then went for a run on the boardwalk.  Well, I ran and Joey and Abby rode bikes.  It was so neat to look out and see the waves crashing as I ran.  I was rocking my awesome new New York playlist too so that was great!  I must say this...Abby and I were totally judgmental on our way up here about "east coast beaches."  We were talking about how the sand is brown and not fine like in the gulf.  I was in Myrtle Beach last year and it was so gross...more like dirt than sand that we are used to.  But the freaking beaches here are so different.  I know it's not like this in most places up north or along the east coast but the sand is FINE and WHITE...it looks just like Pcola...I swear.  I will take pics to show everyone!  So that's about it so far.  I'm also enjoying Joey's MacBook quite a bit.  Sigh.....

Pics to come soon.  Love to all...

It's a learning process....

I have only had about 5 chances to really use the 50D since I got it.  I'm learning alot about what does what, and how to adjust things to get the image the way I want it.  But I still have a long way to go obviously.  The one thing I think I've realized is that there is a lens that I need that I don't have...duh.  I have 2 fabulous lenses but I keep having an issue when trying to shoot moving subjects in low light without using the flash.  I have to slow down the shutter speed and up the ISO to get enough light in, but if the subjects are moving (i.e. playing the guitar) then you get blurred trails where the movement was.  I need a high speed lens.  Lenses are expensive.  Boo on that.  Anyhoo...if any of my photographer friends want to give me some advice for this scenario please feel free.  I am slowly learning ...
 
Here are some pics from the weekend...friday night Eric and Garland played pablo's and saturday night Eric had an outdoor gig with Peter...I ran late getting there and missed most of the daylight.  But these are some of the best ones.  Luckily there was a guy at the saturday gig who was pretty well educated with DSLR's and he gave me some advice and talked about lenses with me.  He was shooting with a Nikon.  I used to think I wanted a Nikon...I am now eternally grateful I have a Canon! 

I know I post alot of pics of Eric but, like I said, I haven't had a chance to get out and do anything else.  NYC trip this week...will have plenty to shoot there! Can't wait!

Click on any of the images to enlarge in a separate window and click again to close.

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A really overdue update....

So much has been going on lately with work, the social calendar, the house, etc. and it seems I can't keep up.  I know I'm just stressing out...I know that my need for control and perfection make me feel as if everything is OOC right now.  But man do I need a breather.  Abby and I leave for NYC in NINE days and it can't get here fast enough.  I've done a pretty good job of not over booking the trip and filling up the itinerary with a TON of stuff.  Yes it's New York, yes I should see a show, yes I should do all that touristy stuff but we aren't going to.  We are going to spend time with Joey, lay on the beach (Joey lives on Long Island) and shop.  The only scheduled thing on the agenda is my hair appointment at the famous Devachan Salon!!!  SO excited.  The trip is really about seeing Joey...NYC is just an added perk.  I was going to try to psycho stalk Rachel Maddow because I'm a huge fan, but I don't believe I'll be able to find her.  Not that she's a super celebrity (rumor has it she rides the subway to the studio everyday) but other than knowing her exact schedule it would be like finding a needle in a haystack.  I supposed I could cause a big stink outside 30 Rock (it worked in past attempts to meet Adam Duritz) but ...oooohhhhh that gives me another idea...ADAM.  ADAM.  LIVES.  IN.  NEW.  YORK....  Damn...he's on tour.  Boo..there will be no celebrity stalking for me on this trip. 
 
Anyhoo...moving on.  Work.  Work has me very stressed out right now.  I won't go into all that because, well, this blog is wide open and I'll just leave it at that.  But let me just say that I love doing therapy and if this job has taught me anything it's just that.  I love doing therapy.  I love being in session.  I'm good at it.  I just wish I got to do more of it and less of some other stuff :/  I feel like alot of other stuff is on me right now.....I've realized it will never be in my future plans to have a supervisory role or administrative role of any sort...I love the work I do with my clients and I hate when that gets overshadowed by other crap.  Frustrated is the word today.  Just frustrated. 
 
What else...OH...I have a sort of movie review. We finally watched Crazy Heart.  What a disappointment.  I'm glad I didn't waste one of my pre-oscar picks on that one.  I agree that Jeff Bridges performance was powerful but the movie, overall, was horrible.  Here are my reasons:
1) the characters weren't fully developed.  It builds up as if something is going to be fully revealed or developed and then isn't.  It seems hokey, too simplistic and unoriginal.
2) There is no depth into the relationship between "Bad" and "Jean".  The script doesn't take you to a place that can help you understand why she would even consider a relationship with someone like him.  It seems unrealistic, forced, melodramatic, not believable. 
3) Isn't this the same story we've seen a million times...it's nothing but the Country & Western version of The Wrestler.  Am I right or am I right?
4) More than anything it bored me.  It was too simple, had very little depth, wasn't original, etc. etc.   I think Jeff Bridges deserved finally getting the Oscar but I don't think he would have gotten it on the merit of this film alone.  I feel his character was more developed than the others and it was played well...but the rest of the film just fell apart in my opinion. 
 
Moving on.  What else is new...oh the canoe trip!  Lord help me.  I have been canoeing at Limestone every year since I was about 16 or 17 and every single year it is my mission to conquer that damn "rooster tail" rapid.  I've had alot of friends get injured pretty bad on that thing over the years but I have come out unscathed.  I guess that's why I keep tempting fate.  I had a few successful meetings with that rapid and felt I had finally found the trick to beating it.  But this past sunday I learned otherwise...  Eric and Mel decided they would not brave the big bad Rooster Tail this year because, frankly (and I don't blame them) their hands were more valuable to them then the adrenaline rush of the rapid.  They chose, instead, to hike around it, carrying the canoe ...they report this wasn't an easy task although I'd take it over getting the shit beat out of me by a rock.  I went down the rapid with Meagan instead.  We lost, we flipped, I got stuck under the canoe, pinned up against some rocks with the water rushing 90 to nothing.  It was scary.  I managed to get the canoe off of me somehow but I'm beat up pretty bad.  Bad to the point that I haven't worked out since saturday...y'all know it's bad when I voluntarily skip the gym.  Other than the crash the trip was great.  Got to spend some time with good friends and met some new ones too.  Loved our crew this year and can't wait to do it again.  I have definitely conceded defeat and will not be braving the big bad rooster tail anymore.  I'm hanging up that mission for good. When I was younger I guess I didn't care how dangerous it was...I'm getting older..and wiser too.  We took the disposable waterproof cameras as usual to document the trip but walmart no longer does 1 hour for 35mm film.  The pics won't be back til next sat.  I'll be in NYC so I suppose I'll get them posted sometime after I get back. 
 
In music news...Eric and I have been taking in some really great shows lately.  Truth & Salvage Co. was phenomenal.  Really talented musicians and great vocals.  Just a good sound overall. Check them out.  Last weekend we finally saw Josh Ritter.  What a killer show!  I had a few faves of his but had no idea how much stuff he had released ...and he's so young.  I love the diversity in his music.  It's one of the things I love about CC too.  There are acoustic ballads, heavier songs, songs that tell stories, simple ones, complex and deep ones....  And his energy...OMG.  Ritter seems TRULY grateful and humbled to be where he is.  He thanked the audience multiple times and kept saying "No...really...it means SO MUCH to me that you are here."  He smiled the biggest, happiest smile throughout the whole show.  For someone who really gets into the person behind the music, I was especially thrilled to have experienced Josh live.  I'm that girl who just can't get into a band whose members are known to be assholes or drug addicts...or generally mean people.  I like the story behind the band...I like the good guys who work hard and write good music and who TRY not to succumb to the music industry shenanigans.  The ones who keep it pure.  Josh seems like that kinda guy...and he seems really nice too!  Very accessible, grateful and genuine.  And for those of you who've heard Adam Duritz is an ass do not even try to argue my point...he's not an ass...I've met him several times! 
 
I guess that's about it for now.  I'm still bonding with the 50D although I've had ZERO time to go shoot anything.  I've been waiting for a day to get out to some of my favorite spots but every time that chance has rolled around we've had torrential rain and lightening.  I love being busy and having so many great things going on but it's just been non-stop and I'm seriously exhausted.  And on that note...it's time to get ready for bed.
 
Night all...
 


 

My Productive Day...

Due to the guilt over my rained-in-non-productive-weekend, I was uber productive today:  worked (3 individual sessions, a meeting and some paperwork), did 3 loads of laundry, found a new dentist and made an appt, returned movie to redbox, made a walmart run, called my doctor's office to hound them for a prescription refill, picked up said prescription refill, located 2 cheap pairs of sunglasses for the canoe trip, tanned, had an incredible workout (ran 2.5 miles at 8:45 min/mile, arced for 20 min, did 30 pushups on my toes, 20 on my knees, a crapload of ab exercises and stretched out), cooked a super healthy dinner, cleaned the kitchen, put fresh, warm sheets on the bed... AND now I'm about to color my hair.  Don't worry Mel...it's not the permanent kind...it washes out in 28 shampoos.  It just looked so cool on the box and it was on sale.  I couldn't resist.