Day 68 - A Mini Me

In more ways than one this photograph is a self portrait. There is the obvious reflection of myself in her shades, but this kid is a reflection of me in almost every way.

This is my only full day home without a to-do list so I opted to spend it with my 6 year old niece. We made a whole day of it. I picked her up just before lunch and we hit the park with one of my other nieces, Murphy. She’s a 1 year old puppy but still as much fun as the girls. This was by far the best way to spend my time at home.

After the park we went back to Grammy’s house and helped Grampy clean out his van, then rode bicycles outside. After that we made bracelets and necklaces for ourselves and her uncles and daddy and Grammy and Grampy. A full day, but all of it was active and creative and learning and exploring. She is a mini version of me in looks and thoughts and humorous moments.

Her version of bike riding is different than mine. The bike she has here is a bit too big for her, so she requires an adult (usually her dad) to hold the seat and run alongside her while she peddles. Well, Aunt Ria don’t play that game. So to save myself the extra cardio I taught her to brake and stop the bike by herself. First we practiced in the grass, while I was holding the seat so she could react to the stopping motion before hitting the ground. Once she got used to putting her foot on the ground when she wanted to stop I let go and she practiced without me holding her. She landed well, on her tush and told me she was tough and got back up. Then we practiced on the road so she knew what to do if a car was coming. She kept asking, “If I get it right this time can you get Grampy’s bike and just ride beside me?” So eventually she got it down enough to be able to ride all by herself. We did laps around the block; she took direction very well for an energetic 6 year old. After a couple turns, we were riding next to each other, she looks over at me with her pink Barbie princess helmet on and says, 

“Best. Day. Ever!”

 She was right. I could have just frozen that moment. Being an Aunt doesn't get much better than that.

BTW’s the interview went great! I gave them the most professional relaxed version of me I could. Also, Mom’s home from the hospital so all is good.

Day 67 - Power Suit, Power Shoes

Did I mention my mom’s in the hospital? Yeah, On the flight home for this interview my brother calls to confirm my airport pick up and lets me know ‘she’s ok, but at the ER right now’. Oh ok, no biggie. Also my car hasn’t been started in months, so it’s dead. I think it’s a quick and easy fuse issue so I can handle it later, but the day before the big interview and mom in the hospital, it’s too much. A dear friend let me use her car while she was out of town for the weekend. Such an answer to prayer. It was a sweet ride too, with a GPS, back up camera and XM radio.

Anyway, I’m off the morning of the interview far too early. My check in time was 10:30am and I was in the parking lot at 8:30am. Parking is a beast on campus and I didn’t feel like fighting it. So I bought my parking pass and found a spot and read for an hour. Then I walk upstairs and follow the signs at am engulfed by 60 young applicants in pants suits. Every one of them, wearing a jacket. So funny, they looked like men. I opted for a pair of dress pants and loose emerald dress shirt that hung ruffled from the shoulder and conveniently hid my extra lbs around my middle and any perspiration that would have otherwise been too obvious. I applied a light covering of makeup and pinned my curled hair half way up. Professionally casual.

The most ‘not me’ aspect was the shoes. These bad boys took some practice too. Everyone else had their power suits, I had power pumps. Of course with the dress pants you could barely see them, but I knew. I could feel the “I am woman, hear me roar” vibes coming through my toes and heels up my calves into my knees. Or was it pain? IDK, but I felt nothing but confident with a small side salad of excited nervous/anxious.

They did a great job to ease the pressure of this make or break encounter. Current nursing students were on hand before and after check-in to calm our nerves. We were assigned groups of 4 applicants with 3 interviewers (2 faculty and 1 community member). I presented the most professional, relaxed version of myself that I could. That is all I had in me and all I wanted them to see. They score you on that interview and are in no other way involved in the admission process. That score is 50% of my consideration, entrance exam is 30%, GPA is 20%. Here’s hoping! 

Day 66 - Strange Self Portrait

The interview is just around the corning, which was an unexpected but much appreciated opportunity to impress the admissions of this program with more than just my ability to test and complete assignments. This is the chance to show them you I really am and why they want a person like me, or ME in their program.

I practiced everything. I bought a professional outfit and tried it on days prior to ensure I looked the part without overdoing it. I rehearsed some possible questions and scenarios out loud in the mirror to make sure I had my interview tactics down. And I practiced my hair. The color is still new to me and I love playing with it, plus I really don’t have any excuse to get dolled up while on vacation so why not. I decided on a half-up half-down look. Cute and stylish, but proficiently out of the way.

While I was admiring my work and determining this was the look I wanted I captured this erie self portrait, but was inspired. I needed to work on some more visual renderings to define myself. This one makes me laugh, which is probably the opposite of what I’d want to evoke if I intentionally shot this image. Whatever.

Tomorrow’s the big day, so off I fly, east coast bound.

Day 65 - One Way

The process of applying for any nursing program starts for most at the launch of college. You decide where you would like to go and plan out each tedious step, each tedious class, each tedious year. For me, I had completed an Art degree in an arduous eight years of major changes and school jumps. I couldn’t decide…eh-um, poster child for ‘undecided’.

A year later, I am facing the brutal realization that I need a career and cannot - will not - work at the Y for the rest of my life. So I listened to some tough, but wise counsel and embarked on the journey of becoming a nurse. Nursing appealed to me on many levels. First, it’s a real job with a real salary and good benefits and opportunity to grow or change or move. This was not the case with my previous employment or degree. Plus, I like people for the most part and I think the human body is a wondrous thing. It was either prevention or patch work. I chose to patch up those who did not choose to prevent.

I investigated the programs available to me and pursued the prereq’s necessary. I knew my art school GPA wasn’t going to win me any seats in this highly competitive nursing field so my mission, should I choose to accept it, was A’s. I had to get A’s in all the classes I had gone into art school to avoid. Math and science. YUCK! I did it though. I quit my job and abandoned my family (or so they often think), to work on that goal. I achieved it. It wasn’t easy at first, but I was relentless.

Then the applying and the check marked lists of to-do’s and forms and certifications to turn in. Not to forget or take lightly the entrance exams. Oh my, the exams were monstrous. I rocked them, note cards and all. Always could have done better and if I don’t get in I’ll retake them and reapply.

Also, my preferred program requires an interview. So I’m adding that to the one-way street that is this endeavor. 

Day 64 - Chicken and Waffles

I love new renditions of an old favorite. Take the Lays potato chip. You know they’re tastey because they are so bad for you. I remember the slogan, “Betcha can’t eat just one.” And they were right. Such a good marketing campaign too. The competitive nature of the American public rose to the challenge and lost, buying bag after bag. Who cared if most of the bag was air and the rest was a greasy fried unfulfilling snack full of all the bad trans, saturated fats.

And now we have a new gimmick with these crazy flavors and a contest to keep one. I’ve tried 2 of the three. First, the cheesy garlic bread doesn’t match up. If I wanted to snack that tasted like cheesy garlic bread I would in fact eat actual cheese topped garlic bread. This one should be voided from the contest entirely, thus my voiding it from my taste test. Second, Sriracha – you know the flavor. It’s the “insanely hot” Chinese red sauce in clear bottle, topped with a green lid, displaying a proud rooster on the front. This one I found intriguing prior to sampling a few. Now, after a seasoned hot sauce sampler has burned, scorched and flambéed her tongue on a variety of insanely hot sauces, I’m not inclined to call this chip inflamed. It is moderately spicy, but had a good combination of kick and crunch. It was what you would expect from a uniquely flavored yet traditional snack.

The third sampling was beyond comprehension. Chicken and Waffles are a pair of food items I’ve heard of and considered much an urban legend of foods, not something people actually ate. Then with that flavor combo in a potato chip, I wanted to know. My boyfriend and I sat down together to experience this flight of the imagination as a couple. It was an instant favorite. He described it (and I concur) as the perfect breakfast chip. It has the buttery sweetness of waffles and the complimentary seasoning of chicken. It is surprisingly delectable and unsurprisingly addictive. His photographic reaction was also priceless.

**There were a flip-book type sequence of these, but this one is the finale.**

Day 63 - New Hair Feeling

Ya know that feeling when you’ve just done the same thing for days and months and years and years? Yea, well if you’re female you do what we all do…get yo hairs did! So after 63 days of 2013 all pretty much the same, just a different location, it was time for change. I wanted to go crazy neon bright red with my hair or at least the ends. But I have an important interview coming up so, I went burgundy instead. You can barely tell, unless there is a light behind me or you are my boyfriend or mother. They noticed immediately, another reason I love them so much!

I have a dark borwn almost black natural color, so I stepped jst outside that and in normal lighting or if you aren’t aying attention you can barely tell. But in direct sunlight my new shade looks punk-style deep red and I love it. So does my man.

It’s new for me and it makes me feel like I made some radical change for the better and everything in my life will work out, when in reality the color of my hair which will fade and grow dull has absolutely NO effect on my life circumstances. But still, I relish the new hair-do feeling and confidence. So, *SNAP*!

Day 62 - Restored Hope in Humanity

My time prior to pursuit of a nursing degree was spent much like it is now. I take pictures, maybe they’re good; maybe they’re not. Sometimes people comment, most of the time not. Only difference is that I used to get a grade. Now I am a grown up. I realized a valuable lesson in art school, a good grade DOES NOT validate my life, purpose, concept or art. A grade is one persons mandatory comment, usually compared to their great masterpiece photographs (that they’ve been perfecting for the last 30 years, I might add).

While accumulating this life lesson, I earned a meager living working in a fitness center/gym. Five years through college I worked at the front desk on the membership team. If you want join, see me. If you missed a payment, I’m calling you. If you lost your _____ (insert a variety of items here), I’m the one who digs through the box-o-unloved-stuff.

My experience working in the fitness industry has earned me a unique perspective and kindred attitude towards gyms, especially the people who work at them. I’m devoted to my own fitness enough, that I’ll pretty much workout anywhere. Yes, I’ve used gallon jugs of water for resistance when my car died and I couldn’t get to an actual weight room.

Thank goodness that is not the case here. In the small town where I spend most of my time on the west coast there happens to be a stellar fitness center that has become my second home. I love the staff and business model. They are extremely laid back and their attention to customer service is above the industry standard. This doesn’t mean that they will let their members do whatever and act however. They even have words printed on all the mirrors, saying: “Please Do not Slam weights”, “People are impressed with how much you lift, Not how much you slam down”, “Rerack your weights”, etc. My favorite posting is the rule list. A sample includes this gem, “Unless your mother or maid work here, no one else is going to clean up after you.” My all time favorite rule is the final one listed, “Please be sure to rerack all weights when finished. If they are too heavy for you, ask the girls at the front desk for help.” Now that’s good management right there.

The equipment and facilities are also state-of the art, but not too fancy. They are still developing the areas and shifting some things around to make their expansion less awkward, but I like it. It’s a little grungy but well equipped.

Today during my visit, I went to the downstairs ladies locker room. As I’m walking towards it, I glimpse this note hanging on the community bulletin board for members. I couldn’t help but smile.

Not only does this simple note, restore some faith in humanity in general, it does my heart good to know that I contribute to the economic well being of a place with this kind of membership base. It is such a rare thing to lose anything of any value and have it returned. I can count on one hand the times priceless items were actually turned into the front desk and returned to the rightful owner. Contrary to this, I have lost track of the amounts of thievery and “missing” items from lockers and gym bags. It was actually comical at times when someone would call and ask us if their iPad or iPhone or $500 watch had been turned in. Usually the answer was “I’ll check, but it’s not likely.” We would check for them. We would ask any staff; we would get a timeline of when and where it was lost, but usually to no avail.

Another average day, another ordinary workout, but with added hope that the crap shoot that is this country has glimmers of goodness. Keep an eye out for them; they are the best type of surprises.

Day 61 - Scrapbooking Station

During my mega-vacation on the west coast, I’ve had a bit of down time along with the tons of fun you’ve seen already. My sweetie works hard so I can lay around and read, go to the gym or, most importantly, I scrapbook. I’m current on recent life events and now have started scrapping this trip. I have recorded so far: the day he left, the LOOOOOOOONNNGGGGG wait until my flight west, my arrival and the first scrapping this trip. I have recorded so far: the day he left, the LOOOOOOOONNNGGGGG wait until my flight welittle bit of my time here. I’m probably a month behind, but with our departure for home rapidly approaching, I’m hitting it hard.

This is the kitchen/dining room area of the small apartment I call home. This is the only work space to speak of. Since we usually eat at the coffee table laughing at the latest episode of Duck Dynasty online, I am allowed this entire space. After all, a woman’s place is barefoot in the kitchen. ;) Here is where some women would comment about the joy of scrapping in the kitchen but not fixing any meals or something liberal. Well, I like freedom and enjoy a variety of them. I also love cooking and caring for the man who, not only provides for me in every way imaginable, but also makes my life a joy. Exhibit A: 3 month long couples snowboarding retreat. No need for further evidence. I digress.

I’m a barefoot, standing scrapper; I like to have full range of reach over any supplies I have out on the table. I only keep out the limited supplies necessary for this topic. Also other pictures are put away so I can keep focused. I sort my pictures ahead of time and organize any cutesy little tidbits I’ve picked up as well. I really have a different approach than most scrapping veterans out there. I am not into all the details. I like the pictures; I find some paper; if I have a title or embellishments for it, good; If not, I move on. So later I’ll come back and embellish some more, add titles and journal notes I’ve handwritten or printed out. My main objective is to get everything glued down. Then I can sweat the small stuff later.

I hope to get all finished, barring the fact that I need to print about 250 more pictures, before we start home. Then in mid-April a group of ladies from my church are getting together to have an all weekend scrap-a-thon. We set up tables like mine here, but there are 10-12 of them in a house. We eat, sleep and scrap there for two days and one night, somtimes until 2 am. There is also a whole lot of chatting and admiring and sharing ideas and life stories. We also watch a couple movies while we work. It is a fun time with sweet friends. I should be at the journaling and embellishing phase, except for the cross–country road trip home.

Actually, you'll have to excuse me while I upload some of those pictures I need to print.

Day 60 - It's Artistic...

“It’s artistic, you wouldn't understand.”

During a scrap-booking session years ago, a couple of friends and I were joking about our craft and I replied with the idea that everyone has different views of art and what is artistic or not. Abstract anything is a perfect example.

My drawing professor used to tell me I had a knack for abstract work. I think she was being nice and was basically telling me that my still life drawings didn't look anything like the actual still life in front of the class. It’s ok. At least she got it. She saw my effort and gave me credit for the attempt at art. (Art school is mostly about learning techniques, then practicing, developing, attempting to better yourself with at those skills and concepts.) This was the seed to the idea I later developed. Anytime someone outside the art world would respond critically or negatively to my work, I would simply respond, “It’s artistic, you wouldn’t understand.” Who are they to argue with my artistic process?

My answer, by the way, to that question ‘what is art?’ is summed up as a depiction of anything interesting. If you find interest in a water bottle, snowboard, cluster of trees, part of a transmission covered in grease - then show that off in your medium of choice and there you have it. An age old debate settled. Art.

This artistic photograph is just that. Part of a transmission we had taken out, cut off and a newer, better working part spliced back on. It made the problem in the truck a little better for a moment, but there are still issues. The technician gave us this one to show us the corrosion and bare wire. 

I see my next post. 

I see something interesting. 

I see art.

Day 59 - Tire Chains

Chains are a new concept for me. Oh, we have chains, just not like these. Where I’m from, we don’t have snow - we barely have cold! 

We are in the process of selling our truck, I've been tasked with photographing the details of the sale for a potential buyer. Since these are specific for the tires on our truck, the buyer will inherit a beautiful, unused set of four with this purchase. I’m glad we haven’t had to use them yet. We've never been in bad enough weather that we needed them. People get crazy when the weather turns. They forget the basics. On the other hand, drivers on vacation think they’re entitled to do anything on the road they’d like. People on vacation in bad weather are the worst.

I thought a thunder storm during spring break at the beach equaled bad driving. That’s got nothing on white out conditions, whilst drivers are hummin’ over some mountain pass with a ‘falling rock area’ on one side of the road and a ‘drop to your death’ valley on the other. Then add in turnouts for installing chains, semi’s mixed with regular Joe’s, all trying to hurry up and get ‘em on so their limbs don’t freeze and they can be on their way. Yeah, thankful we've been able to just drive on through. 

Day 58 - Tuning the Board - Shaving

The third step in tuning a board is all about that even coat. It was too dark yesterday to go outside for this step so this is the second installment of my tuning posts. To remove any inconsistent amounts, you scrape away all excess wax. My photographic heart beats wildly for this one. I believe firmly that everything could be more interesting with a change of perspective.

Another step, smoothing out any ridges. This board should glide across the snow now.

Fake snow, naw - banana flavored wax shavings, YUM.

Day 57 - Tuning the Board - Hot Wax

Tuning a snowboard is essential to the performance you will get out of it. If you don’t tune your snowboard before going to ride, you are just cutting yourself short. Tuning includes waxing, sharpening the edges and a few other things. For more info, visit http://www.the-house.com/portal/how-to-tune-a-snowboard-part-1/

When tuning his board, my babe starts by removing as much of the old wax as possible and continues by adding new wax. This wax was shaped like a banana split long ways and smells the way a banana flavored Now-and-Later tastes. He's using this iron to spread a thick coat of wax on the board.

I’m constantly in his face during any project and was able to catch these sweet shots. I had fun with it.

 The perfect moment.

He only had to drip a couple extra times for me to catch this one. Gotta be one of my top five faves.

Day 56 - Frozen Everything

After a full day on the mountain anything you leave in the truck is frozen. Everything you have in your pockets...Frozen. Any ungloved fingers...you guessed it, Frozen.

I don't know why I am so amazed at this. I mean, I know its cold out there. I can feel it, but the workout involved in snowboarding is terrific, I don’t realize I’m cold until my blood slows down.  Also, the trucks heater is sub-par at best, so I still have on my jacket, snow pants, warm socks and boots. This bottle was among a collection behind my seat to keep us refreshed throughout the day. This was the only one that looked like this. 

I like my drinks with a slight chill, no ice, not frozen, closer to room temperature. This was too much. I must have taken 30 shots of varying exposure times, aperture settings and angles. I was trying to depict my amazement via digital image and I feel I've failed miserably. Eh, you get the point at least.