Celiac & Weather

Man I've been a blog slacker lately. I've been really busy at work, which is good for me but bad for my blog and I didn't have a home computer until My mailman brought me my charger yesterday!! Now I can blog a little more often.


I've felt really run down the past couple of days and I was blaming it on me just being stressed out but yesterday My stomach started bothering me which led me to blame celiac disease. I know I've explained this before but you're about to hear it again.

Celiac Disease is something that I have that keeps my body from being able to break down the proteins that make up Wheat Gluten. Those proteins get stuck in the villi inside my intestines, which are the little hair like objects that absorb nutrience and vitamins. Once those villi get clogged, they are no longer able to absorb the good stuff I need, and I start feeling really run down and sick. It usually takes about 2 to 7 days after I ingest gluten for my stomach to start hurting depending on how much wheat gluten I ingest. I didn't ingest much this time so It wasn't too bad of an episode.

Anyway so in a few days I should be back to normal and until then I'll just have to deal with feeling rundown and headaches/bellyaches. At least I know what it was though...The delicious protein shakes I've been eating for dinner at the gym. I talked to the guy that makes them and apparently the Meal replacer is what has wheat in it, and he only puts like a table spoon in the shake so he said he could put extra whey in the shake instead of meal replacer and it would work just as well so I'll still get to enjoy those delicious German Chocolate Shakes!!

Today We're experience icy-rain and everyone is freaking out about it.  And when I say freaking out about it I mean that all the grocery stores are all out of milk and bread and the school and half of the businesses are shut down.  We don't get much snow in Arkansas, only ice.  We've had some pretty bad experiences with ice storms so everyone gets pretty excited when there is a chance of ice.  It's not bad on the roads at all right now but It's supposed to get worse so I guess I'm just outta luck on the milk and bread if we get iced in because I'm all out and I wasn't one of the ones who ran to the grocery store at the first sign of ice.

I thought I'd post some photos of the "horrible" weather we're having here.

The monstrous Icecicles on my roof.

This is the Court house across the street from my work.  The flags are frozen!

Seriously it's only like 33 degrees outside but it's raining and freezing to all the trees and fences and I don't understand the panic!

That's a piece of string that used to have a tag on it.  It's on my oudoor table and I'm too lazy to cut it off...made a pretty photo though..glad I didn't cut it :)

This fence row doesn't have as much ice on it as it did this morning because Birdie got her head stuck in it trying to get her ball that rolled under the fence and she wiggled so much all of the ice fell off.  She was rescued by her momma and is fine, embarrassed but fine.

I Seriously hope the trees don't get too much more ice because I have 5 HUGE oak trees in my front yard and I REALLY don't want to pick up sticks all spring.

Ok what a boring post...Sorry!  If you're experiencing bad weather for real be careful out there!!! 

Photo Tips

It's Not so Wordless Wednesday hosted by  Seven Clown Circus and I haven't participated in a few weeks because I've been way too busy.  I decided to join back in this week since things have semi-slowed down...Oh & I've peppered this post with Random photos from this weekend of our Cousin Kinley...It really fits into this post's theme in no way whatsoever except that it needed some eye candy :)  And if you'd like to see more of her, go check out her Mamma's Blog.

Here's a sweet Photo of Kinley eating beanbeans  (greenbeans)

Most of you who visit my blog know that I have a 365 blog where I post a photo a day...or at least try to :)   My Friend Laura, who is also a photo lover, ran across an article and thought she'd send it my way since it's all about 365 blogs and she knew I had one.  I thought it was so Great that I would share it with everyone!!

So if you've have a 365 blog or thought of doing one here are some tips....also Go visit my 365 blog and give me advice, tips, or ya know..praise.  Really though critique me, I love the knowledge!!

These tips came from the article 11 Tips to Succeed   by Jim Goldstein

1. Maintain A Heightened Awareness

Every second of your life keep your eyes opened for a photo op!  Look for the obscure moments or observations that you normally wouldn't notice.  Training your brain to always look for a photo op is a great way that your 365 project can help you improve as a photographer. 

2. Always Have Your Camera With You

This is something I've had to learn the hard way!  When I don't have my camera I ALWAYS see a perfect Photo opportunity!  Remember, if you don't have your camera, you can't take a picture...pretty obvious :)

Kinley feeding Leah Mac and Cheese.

3. There Is No Time Like the Present

Oh I've totally disregarded this point and regretted it so much. 
Never say, ‘I’ll take a photo of that later.” or “I’ll take a photo of that on my way back.”   Take the photo NOW because the next time you see the object the lighting may not be same or the object may be gone and you miss that perfect shot.

4. Train Your Eye To See Light
"Learn how to get the most out of the light whether sunny, overcast, or any thing in between. Learning how to get the most out of high contrast and low contrast lighting situations is a great way to broaden your photographic opportunities."

I'm learning how to do this...and even though I may get 100 horrible photos, I figure out what type of lighting works, what doesn't work, and what settings to use.

Kinley Tried to feed me Mac and Cheese

5. Experiment! Don’t Stay In Your Comfort Zone

Take photos you have never taken before...Take a risk, if the photo sucks..delete it, no harm done right!  Taking the same photos over and over again won't improve your photography and won't increase interest in your work. 

6. Make Use of Weekly Themes 

Oh I am totally going to start doing this!! I'm running low on ideas and this is something that would totally help me.  Just Think... I could do a "Cowboy" week and do all cowboy shots...or "Chocolate Children" week and do all of the dogs!  Oh I could go on and on and on...

7. Plan Ahead & Write Down Ideas

Rather than wait for inspiration to find you plan ahead and write down ideas for future photos in a notebook. This is great practice for normal photo shoots and will reinforce creative thinking.  

I also read on somone's blog...though I can't remember whose it was... that it's a good Idea to snap a photo of the paper you wrote your ideas on.  The photo will always be in your camera so you can refer back to it on your viewfinder during a photo shoot and you don't look like a amature to your clients by carrying around an "Idea book."

Kinley Loved Melissa's Necklace

8. Edit & Post-Process Every Week

In order to avoid backlogs edit & post-process you photos weekly if not daily.  For many taking photos is the easy part, but editing & processing the photos is the challenge.  This isn't a problem for me because I love to edit photos but I guess some people don't...gasp!

 
9. Add Notes to Your Photos
 Tell the reader why you took the photo, what the photo means to you, and the EXIF Data...thanks to Tammy I now add the EXIF data!!  Anecdotal stories are also great information to look back on. Understanding how, why and when you photographed your subject provides insight to your creative thinking that you can’t get from EXIF data.

10. Get Into A Rhythm & Have Fun
Make sure to have fun during your year long photo project. The second it becomes work...it quits being fun.  Rember..take your camera with you everywhere!  Take photos on your lunch break or give your self 10 extra mintues on your way to work so you can stop and take a photo of something interesting!

11. Start Today

Who cares if you start January 1st??? Start ANY day of the year!! Start today and let me know so I can link you to my 365 Page!!

Dad Gave Kinley some Cool Whip...She was about to smile but I caught the initial expression, which was shock.

Thanks for reading my long post! Have a great Week

Post it Note Tuesday

Until today I was a Post it note Tuesday Virgin.  Thats right, I'm following the "incrowd" and joining the fun!   Let me know what you think!  Oh and You can join in on the funn at SupahMommy's

     

Have a Great Tuesday!

Random Things

Random Tuesday Thoughts...

I've been so busy at work I've abandoned my blog.

Momma's Birthday was yesterday.  She turned 29*..Happy Birthday Mom!!

Last night Sean and I had a really big important discussion about The Chocolate Children.  We** decided that since it's getting warmer outside that they need to start staying outside.  Their shedding is getting unbareable and our house is being over run by dog hair and I'm pretty sure I saw a dust bunny the size of a small cat run under the bed last night.  No matter how much I clean, mop, vacuum, sweep, or lint roll, the hair multiplies like rabbits.  I finally decided enough was enough when I was doing yoga at the gym, took my shoes off, and my socks were COVERED in chocolate hair.

* Maybe she's not 29
** By we I mean Sean

We put the dogs outside last night, made sure their bed was warm enough and  went inside and had a peaceful nights sleep.  I awoke this morning to two dogs asleep beside the bed.  I did not let them in, Sean did not let them in.  I have NO IDEA how they got inside...  It still remains a mystery...though I vaguely remember dreaming of dogs last night.  We've decided I slept walked and let the dogs in...this isn't good.

I left my computer charger at my parents house in Nashville this weekend.  I have an apple.  I went to best buy to buy a new charger but then changed my mind when I saw they were $75!!!   I promptly called mom and asked her to mail it so I am without a personal computer until it arrives.  Which also means that unless work slows down (outlook not good)  Then my blog will be boring and pictureless for a few days a posts will be few and far between.

I have a new obsession with Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus.  It makes my taste buds very happy and has replaced my obsession with Coke Zero.  He will be missed but replaced with a much healthier Man.

I watched American Pickers last night on the History Channel and I want to go Antique shopping ASAP!  I'm kind of wanting to go this weekend so that may be a big possiblity unless I get bored with the Idea by then.

Did anyone Catch House last night??   It was ok, but next weeks episode looks SO good!!  This week was about a psychopath that has a heart condition and they can't figure out why. I had no idea that Psychcopaths couldn't feel emotion.  Is it sad that the only scientific stuff I learn is from Sitcoms (And Mythbusters)??  And is it really all accurate??

My workouts are going GREAT!  I worked out four times last week and have gotten to where I can run a mile in 10 minutes.  My goal is 8 minutes.  Last night I probably would've met that goal but the gym was packed and the only treadmill open was next to a guy who smelled like sweat and I almost threw up he smelled so bad and I had to stop running after I couldn't stand the smell any longer.  Thankfully I had already ran a mile during warm up so I didn't really miss out on much.  I do feel like Barbie though because I worked out my arms and they are so sore I cannot straighten them.   Total Weight Loss:   about 5 lbs (water weight but who cares!!)

This has been the most boring and longest post ever.  I do hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend and I hope your week gets better and better!  I will post when I can but until the mail man brings my computer charger I can't promise anything...and if you read my blog you know the Mail man in this area can't be trusted!

Happy Tuesday!!!!!