Been awhile

I hadn't realised it had been a whole week since I wrote on my blog. To be honest I don't really have a lot to report. Marc has been unwell and was in hospital last weekend with a massive headache. They ended up doing a lumbar puncture which surprised me and worried me as well. Worst part was that I wasn't with him. I know he's a big boy but I would still like to have been there for something like that, especially as he was frightened (as he admitted later)but, then again, I didn't know until after the fact.

He's finally a bit healthier but he has gone from a healthy 70kg to a scrawny 57kg in one week and his face is so pale and drawn....

He and Courtney joined Alex and I for lunch today and it was lovely to spend some time with them - healthy and happy.

I still can't get any of the buggers to pose happily for any photos but I have to say that Alex is the worst of them all. He is such a sook! I think he looks lovely but cannot convince him of this no matter what I say. Oh well........these are a couple I (and Courtney) managed.

I'm on annual leave now and looking forward to some rest before starting my Commonwealth Games shifts.

Courtney starts uni on Monday...my baby girl *sigh*

Hope everyone out there in blogger land is happy and healthy

Photo Workshop

Two things today.

1. I went to the photgraphy workshop in the Treasury Gardens this morning as part of the class I'm doing. Thank goodness for digital is all I can say. I took over 200 photos to play and practice and I know I wouldn't have done if I had been using a film camera.

We had to play with shutter speed and aperture and use each other as models (hmmmm, I don't remember seeing that criterion in the application) and the Treasury and Fitzroy Gardens were beautiful as well. Whilst it rained a couple of times, the overcast sky gave us a beautiful even, soft light to play in which was great.


2. ALEX COMES HOME!!!!!! Only 6 more hours. God, I can't wait. I've missed him heaps and am really looking forward to seeing him again (just in case you hadn't already realised that LOL)

Home Soon

Alex has been away for 8 days so far and will finally be home Sunday night. It's amazing how, in such a relatively short time, someone can become such a part of your life that when they're not there, you struggle.

Not struggle in the sense that you can't function in the normal day to day stuff but struggle in an emotional sense (and I guess that does affect how you deal with everything else).

Despite regular emails, trying to remain positive became very difficult early in the week with the worst evening being Valentine's Day. Not because of the title of the day but I went to stay at his place after my photography course thinking I would feel closer to him but after I crawled into bed I was so overwhelmed with missing him that I got dressed, packed up and drove home. Much to my surprise, I had found it even more difficult to be amongst his things with no distractions and be reminded of exactly how far away he was. Then, presto, the next day he rings me. Hearing his voice was magic even though the conversation was fairly general. Since then I've managed fairly well.

I'm sooooo looking forward to seeing him Sunday night.

At least he'll be home for a couple of weeks before he goes again. I'm sure I'll adapt to his travelling schedule as I learn better ways to distract myself. Perhaps more crop nights are in order :)

Playing again

Doesn't matter how old your babies are, they are always your sweet babies when they are asleep. As you know, it is a battle to get a photo of Courtney but I managed to sneak into her room this morning (actually it was closer to afternoon) and get a shot of her sleeping peacefully.

I'm having fun playing with Photoshop atm as well. I like arty photos as well as your normal sort of stuff. Here's todays play.

29 days to go...

Not long now and the Commonwealth Games will be upon us. Don't you think Karak the mascot is cute?

I forgot to mention that I picked up my uniform last week. It's not too bad actually although I would prefer it if it was pink :) Maybe they should have employed me on their design committee.

My roster starts on the 28th of February and goes right through March. Whilst I'm still unsure of the specifics of my role, I have been advised that I will be allocated to looking after the official delegates hence the early start and late finish as they arrive and depart. I'm sure there will be many who arrive early to take advantage of Moomba then stay afterwards for the Grand Prix.

I am looking forward to it but expect it to be fairly exhausting especially with my 6.30am starts!

My new lens

I bought a lens I've been wanting for ages on Ebay last week and it came today. I'm soooo excited. It's a 50mm f 1.4 and I love it! I took this shot of Marc quickly (at least he'll stand still) but, as you can see, didn't focus on his eyes as I should have but check out the focus concentration at 1.4 and the blur - I LOVE it!

There are worse things in life...

Than your mother trying to take your photo.

Although if you look at these photos you would think I was trying to torture the poor child. Can you see Courtney mid "Mummmmmm...get lost" ROFL.

I told her all she had to do was stay still - not pose or anything - just let me do my thing but no, she couldn't do it so I tormented her and took about 40 photos LOL. None of them came out but we had heaps of fun.

Thank goodness for digital :P

Easier said than done...

If you're not up for a introspective then move on now :)

Ok...remember recently I said my reality had changed and I was living a new philosophy on life?

It all sounds really good when I say or write it but I never imagined how hard it would be to let go of old habits/barriers.

Thing is the new philosophy really isn't so new, it's just how I've always wanted to be but never had the courage. As I've...ah...matured (that's a nice word for it), I've lost so many of the obstacles I erected for myself as protection and it has been great. Sharing my thoughts and feelings on some topics though has not been so easy.

When I told Alex I loved him, I did so before he had said anything to me. Now that might not sound anything special but for me....it was a HUGE first and a gamble I found absolutely torturous. Thank God his reaction was so positive and he says he loves me too.

I thought that getting that out was pretty liberating and that everything else would come easily. How wrong was I? I am naturally introspective. I mostly analyse everything before I speak (well except when I'm yelling at my kids of course) and have always chosen not to share the thought processes I go through for fear of an unnecessary negative reaction before the "process" was complete. I'm finding that pretty hard to overcome at the moment. However, I'm working on it and I think my physical exhaustion is hampering my efforts by eroding my confidence.

Alex is away for 10 days or so (see a very sad face from me here) and I'm already missing him madly. I think I might try and use the time to recharge a bit and see if it helps me. If not, I'll be looking for wisdom from all you blogger gurus :)

Bloody Rach :) - Tagged again

I was supposed to be having an early night and should have been in bed an hour ago but just had to check my blogging friends didn't I. Thanks Rach for the tag LOL.

I'll do it now or never get around to it.

1. First time you got kissed: I remember this well. His name was Ken and he was a neighbour whose friend was my first boyfriend. As I had never kissed a boy before I was petrified and Ken kindly offered to teach me. Wasn't that nice of him. Anyway, I went out with his friend for about a week (nope never kissed HIM) and ended up going out with Ken after that LOL
2. First time you drove a car: Does sitting on your cousins lap steering while he operated the pedals when you were 8 count? If not, then it would have been the day after I turned 17 and was able to get my Learner's Permit. I drove my mum nuts!
3. First time you scrapbooked: Well, if you mean put my photos together and wrote notes about what happened then I was a teenager. If you mean as it is known now then that would be late 2001 maybe but didn't really take it up in it's current obsessive form until 2003.
4. First time you went on a date: That would be with Glenn. He came to the door and invited me to a family friend's 21st and I calmly said "hang on" and went inside and begged my parents to let me go. Unbeknown to me he could hear all my pleading through the door *cringe*
5. First time you fell in love: That would be same boy - Glenn. We went out for about 18 months and he was also the first person to ask me to marry him. We sort of got engaged and then I headed off to NZ for a holiday and broke it off.
6. First time you cooked for someone: It would be a memory I think I have blocked. I hate cooking.
7. First time you got on a plane: I was pre teens I think and we went on a joy flight from Essendon Airport over Melbourne. I LOVED it.
8.First time you shaved your legs: Wouldn't have a clue but I bet my mum went nuts. Mostly waxed as far as I can remember.
9. First time you put on make up: Now this I remember well. My mum and sister rarely ever wore makeup and I had no idea but when I was 16 decided to experiment. I was heading out to the ballroom dancing social group I was part of and put foundation and lippy on. Yep that's it. Can you imagine what I looked like. LOL
10. First time you moved out of your home: Easy, when I was married at the ripe old age of 20.

Rach has already tagged everyone on the planet I know so check out her links.

The early bird

I hate getting up early. I am always soooo tired and it really bugs me but, on the other hand I love the world early in the morning. When you get to see this - it is most definitely worth getting out of bed so early.

Obviously, I don't have this kind of view outside my front door in rural Wallan but Alex does from his loungeroom. The top of his building is still under construction so I am presuming that is why they haven't employed any window cleaners (although one would hope they do so soon or you won't be able to see out the windows!).

Imagine being in those hot air balloons...it is definitely one of my 'things-to-do'...

What was I supposed to be doing?????

Well, who cares anyway. I'm sure it was something mundane and boring like housework. Who could resist taking photos of this.......right outside my front door tonight. *sigh* Mother Nature sure knows how to put on a show. Of course, man had to stuff it up with power lines but......

Snap Happy

I'm so excited that I'll be starting my photography course at the Melbourne Camera Club next week. I've been getting in the "zone" today by using the gorgeous new lens my gorgeous man gave me. Funny though, everyone runs away when I pick up the camera (even him). At least the flowers can't hide and the dogs don't care LOL.

I love how crisp this lens is and the image stabiliser is to die for. In my old age, I'm getting pretty shaky, especially trying to hold a 20D with a 300mm lens attached. But the IS has worked a treat (especially if you knew how much I was shaking).

I'll try and share the project work I do and any tips they give me so all you guys can play too.

The sun is shining again

Gee, I really was a sook yesterday wasn't I.

Just letting you know that the sun is shining again (well not literally here in Melbourne). It's amazing what a chat with friends, some sleep and a pleasant chat with your daughter can do.

I am forgiven and have forgiven...well everybody except the bloody bank anyway. :)

Cheers everyone