It's official - Son2 is now officially signed up to do Tai Kwon Do again. Tonight was the hardest class I've watched so far - focusing on personal discipline (and integrity). Students spent time standing at attention (not military attention - but back straight, hands at their hips, eyes straight ahead) for one minute at a time. Then it was 4 different stretches - holding each one for a count of 60. This doesn't sound like much but picture arms up and forward, hands clasped, palms facing outwards - legs in a half squat (a squat would have been easier!), or 1 knee bent, the other stretched out behind or bent over, hands on the floor - clasped. I'm sure my desciptions don't give one any idea how difficult these were - I rarely see Son2 sweating during class. He did tonight - just dripping down his face. He was tired when it was over! However he wants to do this bad enough that my telling him that we won't attend class unless he picks up is good incentive. So...we will see now how it continues. I really would love to see him get his black belt. It will take time and work though.
On a different note I finally got my unit 1 assignments back. Two of the three pictures I sent in generally were good - showing I understood the objectives. The other one I have to redo - it wasn't quite what they wanted to see. I'm not as disappointed over it as I was afraid I might be - the instructor was very clear in his explanations of what I did right and wrong. And I had an "ah-ha" moment on the one that had to demonstrate distance - near and far in the same picture. It's still scary - can I actually get good enough to help to support myself and the boys with it?
Showing posts with label Photography course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photography course. Show all posts
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Catching Up
Mom and Dad left about 10:00 this morning to head home. They should get in earlier then they arrived because as far as I know they don't have any stops to make on the way home. Hopefully the roads won't be too bad - we've had rain mixed with snow and possibly some sleet again this morning. By noon yesterday we had close to an inch of slushy sleet/snow on the deck. Son1's track meet was cancelled due to the weather. I rejoiced as I wasn't looking forward to standing out in the weather to watch it. No matter how many blankets, etc we packed we wouldn't have been able to stay warm and dry. However I know Son1 was very disappointed.
My tulips are still trying to survive - they bravely lift their heads up in the afternoon after a very cold morning. It's impressive to watch - how often do I not want to lift my head and continue on after a trial?
We have 5 surviving baby kittens - 3 were born Easter Sunday, the other 2 on Tuesday. All are well hidden - though I had to help one of the mama's protect hers from the cold and wet yesterday. (We lost one of hers due to the cold) Eventually I'll get pictures of them and maybe even figure out how to post them. Speaking of pictures - I haven't heard anything back yet on the ones I sent in for my course - am hoping that will be soon. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a chance to work on the next lessons. I'm too exhausted today (mainly due to emotions).
Just made a fresh batch of peach jam - it's cooling on the kitchen counter now. Would love to have some fresh homemade bread with it. However that won't happen just yet. Today's an early release day for the students so the teachers can have a in-service in the afternoon. On the one hand that's nice because we all get done earlier. On the other hand, one doesn't accomplish much around the house those days. Tonight Son2 and I will go to Grief Group. Son1 has an Academic Team competition to go to - it's always on a Thursday evening that we have Grief Group but it's only once a year. He just wants us to get directly home afterwards so that we can be home in time to get him picked up.
Better scoot - I have to leave on the bus in just under a half hour.
My tulips are still trying to survive - they bravely lift their heads up in the afternoon after a very cold morning. It's impressive to watch - how often do I not want to lift my head and continue on after a trial?
We have 5 surviving baby kittens - 3 were born Easter Sunday, the other 2 on Tuesday. All are well hidden - though I had to help one of the mama's protect hers from the cold and wet yesterday. (We lost one of hers due to the cold) Eventually I'll get pictures of them and maybe even figure out how to post them. Speaking of pictures - I haven't heard anything back yet on the ones I sent in for my course - am hoping that will be soon. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a chance to work on the next lessons. I'm too exhausted today (mainly due to emotions).
Just made a fresh batch of peach jam - it's cooling on the kitchen counter now. Would love to have some fresh homemade bread with it. However that won't happen just yet. Today's an early release day for the students so the teachers can have a in-service in the afternoon. On the one hand that's nice because we all get done earlier. On the other hand, one doesn't accomplish much around the house those days. Tonight Son2 and I will go to Grief Group. Son1 has an Academic Team competition to go to - it's always on a Thursday evening that we have Grief Group but it's only once a year. He just wants us to get directly home afterwards so that we can be home in time to get him picked up.
Better scoot - I have to leave on the bus in just under a half hour.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Photography Course
To answer those who've asked about my photography course - it is a through the mail course - 30 some lessons in all through New York Institute of Photography. It's a course that I've been interested in taking for more years than I can remember - I remember seeing advertisements for it come back in my mom's pictures that she would send off to get developed. Anyway....I finally decided to do this course - as part of healing and starting my life over. And because people have said I'm gifted at photography and I feel I need to do something with that gift that God has blessed me with.
They promise that if I do the photo projects they will make me a successful photographer. So...we will see. It's scary - and takes time. But I am enjoying it so far. I usually use my old trusty Minolta SLR - I also have a Nikkon digital SLR that I'm learning to use. My goal isn't to be able to work in a studio - definitely not to own one. I would like to be able to freelance some of my pictures and eventually make enough income to help support myself and the boys.
I'm not sure what else to post on this - hope that answers the questions.
They promise that if I do the photo projects they will make me a successful photographer. So...we will see. It's scary - and takes time. But I am enjoying it so far. I usually use my old trusty Minolta SLR - I also have a Nikkon digital SLR that I'm learning to use. My goal isn't to be able to work in a studio - definitely not to own one. I would like to be able to freelance some of my pictures and eventually make enough income to help support myself and the boys.
I'm not sure what else to post on this - hope that answers the questions.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Practicing
My photo for my third assignment is taken and developed. I'm sending that one in as a 4x6, one is going in as a 5x7 and the other one I'm rather undecided on size. I can go as large as 8x10 but will probably do most as 5x7's. Anyway...I learned today that one should always check the front of the camera lens to make sure that there is no filter that will change the picture into something you don't want. Actually wiser still would be to make sure I always remove any extra filters I put on the lens in the first place. I took a picture of a red barn and then the fields behind it. Just on a whim I took one using my Minolta film camera and another using my digital....the digital came out much more color saturated - looked much better. I was rather amazed at the difference. I'm certain that it was because I had my neutral density filter left on - today was an overcast grey day and the picture certainly showed that. Anyway....my 1 1/2 hours or so spent driving around taking pictures certainly was educational - good practice for me. And I enjoyed myself in spite of really wanting to stay home and warm taking a nap. I just have to finish up the "test" that comes at the end of the lesson then I can send all 3 assignments in and start on the next section.
On another note...my wedding veil is still inside the house - in the smaller box that was inside the huge box. I'm not sure exactly what to do with it at this point....I don't want to put it back in the shed just in the cardboard box - and it won't fit in the plastic bin I put the other stuff in.
On another note...my wedding veil is still inside the house - in the smaller box that was inside the huge box. I'm not sure exactly what to do with it at this point....I don't want to put it back in the shed just in the cardboard box - and it won't fit in the plastic bin I put the other stuff in.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Assignments Not Finished
Ok....so it's Monday and I don't have my photography assignments completely ready to go in the mail yet. I have the enlargements made for the 1st two, and have taken the third. However those are not developed yet - I have to take the roll of film in and get it developed then an enlargement done of the picture. I also have to finish the paperwork that needs to go with all the pictures and include my quizzes. It was exciting to realize that in the last two months or so I'd already taken the first two pictures that I needed but disappointing to have to take the third. I still hope to and plan to get the paperwork done today. However it will likely be Wednesday or Thursday before I get the stuff in the mail.
I have spent time this morning on the phone with a pharmaceutical company trying to find out if I can possibly qualify to get my prescription meds free or at a highly reduced rate. What the dr. has me on right now is not the best for me I don't think. He's switching me to something that he gets samples from in the office. The problem is that if I take it in the morning I'm up at night but if I take it in the evening, while I sleep much better I struggle with alertness in the mornings. I would rather take it in the mornings - at a lower dose and not sleep as well then sleep well and have a challenging time waking up. So...I went through part of the application process over the phone - now I have to wait for the paperwork to come in the mail, fill it out, take it to the dr's office to have them fill out and write a 'script for, send it in and wait for them to decide if I'm accepted or not. It will take 3-4 weeks at least. I would really appreciate prayers that I'm accepted into this program. It still won't negate the need for insurance but it will help.
The other things I've spent time doing was folding laundry, trying to take a short nap, cleaning the kitchen and beginning to look into the possiblity of getting Son2 back into Tai Kwon Do training. Both boys were involved in that before we left OK - beginning the same month Mike died. Once we moved they were not willing to get into another school here. However this past weekend Son2 went and dug out all his old gear. He's requested to get back into training - realizing that he may have to start all over at the lowest belt level. So...I've got to call some schools, schedule some appointments to go visit and observe and then get him into classes. He will at that point need some sort of accident insurance at least - another step in the process. However since he's brought it up and requested it I feel like it's important to look into. It will have a couple of benefits that I can see right off the bat - the first is that hopefully he will feel less left out because he will begin to have his own activities. He will likely begin to make new friends - they have been in severe shortage since we moved here. Plus hopefully it will teach him self-control, confidence and add to his maturity.
Ok...enough rambling. I'm going to finish my coffee and get off the computer for awhile. My posts tend to be really long but it's a release to me to write - and I love the comments.
I have spent time this morning on the phone with a pharmaceutical company trying to find out if I can possibly qualify to get my prescription meds free or at a highly reduced rate. What the dr. has me on right now is not the best for me I don't think. He's switching me to something that he gets samples from in the office. The problem is that if I take it in the morning I'm up at night but if I take it in the evening, while I sleep much better I struggle with alertness in the mornings. I would rather take it in the mornings - at a lower dose and not sleep as well then sleep well and have a challenging time waking up. So...I went through part of the application process over the phone - now I have to wait for the paperwork to come in the mail, fill it out, take it to the dr's office to have them fill out and write a 'script for, send it in and wait for them to decide if I'm accepted or not. It will take 3-4 weeks at least. I would really appreciate prayers that I'm accepted into this program. It still won't negate the need for insurance but it will help.
The other things I've spent time doing was folding laundry, trying to take a short nap, cleaning the kitchen and beginning to look into the possiblity of getting Son2 back into Tai Kwon Do training. Both boys were involved in that before we left OK - beginning the same month Mike died. Once we moved they were not willing to get into another school here. However this past weekend Son2 went and dug out all his old gear. He's requested to get back into training - realizing that he may have to start all over at the lowest belt level. So...I've got to call some schools, schedule some appointments to go visit and observe and then get him into classes. He will at that point need some sort of accident insurance at least - another step in the process. However since he's brought it up and requested it I feel like it's important to look into. It will have a couple of benefits that I can see right off the bat - the first is that hopefully he will feel less left out because he will begin to have his own activities. He will likely begin to make new friends - they have been in severe shortage since we moved here. Plus hopefully it will teach him self-control, confidence and add to his maturity.
Ok...enough rambling. I'm going to finish my coffee and get off the computer for awhile. My posts tend to be really long but it's a release to me to write - and I love the comments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
