Good morning out there to you where ever in the world you are. Thank you and welcome to all that have stopped by in the past few weeks looking for something to pass the time. I get it. Times are tough. If you are not working you are probably getting bored. I love seeing all the creativity this pandemic is creating. Many of my “social acquaintances” or people I have virtually met on-line have been happily posting photos showing their latest projects and newest hobbies. Even my own son and his family have started a garden. I would give them advice but, I still have brown thumbs even though my luck with plants has been way better than it has in the past. Still, I have yet to conquer the back yard pests but at least the bunny has been getting fresh scraps of Brussels sprout leaves. Sadly, this morning, I made the decision to pull out a few of the plants as the insects had done too much damage. Ugh. At least the flowers seem to be doing just sweet, like sugar. However, I do need to search out some professional advice on harvesting this latest batch.
So, I learned some new stuff in Photoshop. I am sure most people know how to create a GIF but I didn’t so that was new to me. I also learned how to manipulate the backgrounds using a new technique. I like this way much better. It is easier. Luckily, I had hubby take some test shots for me when we were out this weekend. Because I am still recovering from a surgery I had 18 months ago, and now because of the pandemic it is kind of hard to get subjects to practice on. Often I use hubby. While I was out I had an idea. I was thinking, instead of charging for portraits, I could do a trade, exchange a session for an interview. You know, everyone and I mean everyone, has a story. Like Hubby for instance, he has been playing music since he was like, I wanna way 12 or 13. He plays piano, guitar, bass and I think I am missing a few things. He has a vast musical video library (some on VHS tape and cassettes) and history of classic rock. Those are just a few things. So, it may take some time, just like with other things but at least it is down and out in my Universe so I can go back to this and work on it later, cause I will, just slooowllly….
The edited 
The original, unedited 
The original, unedited.
Hubby turned 55 on Saturday. I know I moon over him because after all, he is my Hubby. That dude liked me when I was not desirable and over 300 pounds. Who am I kidding, I am not everyone’s ideal, but I am his. Heck, back then, I hated myself. Somehow, he liked me. He has been there when I have been hangry and have cried because he didn’t move fast enough out of his seat so we could leave for dinner when I was having issues with my potassium. He was there when my eyes rolled back in my head and I had seizures. He washed my hair when I couldn’t. He always manages to smile at me through dancing women, with their tits swinging in front of the band. Ladies, and I am talking to you gals around my age, you go on with your bad selves, but know, he is smiling at me. I trust him completely. It took a long time, not going to lie, but trust is a gift you give yourself. Trust allows you to sleep at night and breath and dream and hope. Do I worry when he is late coming home? Of course? We live in a seasonal place with wild speed zones and senior drivers (I am or would be considered a senior driver). I worry constantly about other drivers. He said to me once that he would never change. It was like a statement of defiance. He was trying to make me change my mind about marrying him. It didn’t work obviously. He was wrong though, he has changed. We have both changed together and I am sure still evolving.
This weekend I was looking through old card for pics of hubby for his birthday. I found some old selfies that I took around 2017. Remember, I said I was a goofball. I will end the post with a few of those photos for amusement, okay.
Goofy, right? I was trying to get my creative juices flowing. I ended up making myself laugh but I did produce one photo that I use as my avatar. By the way, those are my favorite glasses as orange is my favorite color. I wish I could still see out of them. Anyhow, if you that is reading is local to the Coachella Valley or Southern California and you are interested in an exchange – a photo shoot for an interview, shoot me a message.
Thank you for visiting and may you joy find you today where ever you are. Hugs to you.
Art of the Beat 
In most wedding vows you say “…in sickness and in health”. The sickness is when couples find out how much they love each other. Good for you two. When I had my first bout with cancer, Laurie got really sick also, and as it turned out she was closer to death than I was at one point. We were like the two stooges at times between our treatments, low blood counts, and trying to keep things together. We both survived and we are still together. We’ll be celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary at the end of next month.
It’s fun to mess with effects. I used to do a lot of effects, but I don’t seem to have the time these days and simply process the raw files and post photos straight. Although sometimes B&W with a splash of color or adding a big moon in the background are irresistible.
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Wow! 38 years! That is a something to celebrate! When Jim was going through his cancer I was driving over 200 miles a day just so he wouldn’t have to spend the night alone. I was living near Los Angeles and working as an accountant and he was living here in the desert 100 miles from where I lived. He was so sick and so weak but he was so evil at times or as I would say, feisty. It really was a test. We got through it and so many other things. Going through something like illnesses either make a relationship or break it. Most of the time, like in both of our cases it seems, has made it stronger. Hopefully, you two will get to celebrate in a special way on your special day.
It is all new to me I was one of those people that would say things like “I like my photos pure and I shoot right the first time and don’t do post processing…blah blah blah.” I used to just shoot film until I could afford the first lo-res digital camera and even then I did not edit. The reason I said those horrible things was because I did not know how do do those things. I started trying to learn the fancier editing in the last few years. It has just taken me time. I have issues. Ha ha. However, with my imagination this is going to be fun.
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There is no such thing as pure photography, film or digital, as you have figured out. I still shoot film every now and then, but my darkroom has become a music studio/darkroom and I’m doing more music than film these days. I like film, it’s like magic, but if you want to share or film images you have to digitize the negs, slides or prints, so you might as well shoot digital.
I know a lot of people who’s relationship didn’t survive an illness. Our daughter’s marriage is one. Her hubby said “¡hasta la vista! Baby.” when she got sick and had to stop working for a while. He wanted to be supported not the supporter.
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My first marriage did not survive illness either or youth. He had and AVM in his spine that bled I had a brain bleed around the same time. We met in the hospital, the social worker thought we would make a great support team…ughhh. We were too young and got pregnant 2 years after we met. We lasted 7 years, he was paralyzed however that wasn’t the issue, it was his mother. She thought she knew better. So I let her take him.
Yeah about the film, I never learned to develop my own so I never got to play with it or change it., WIth digital I used to only use whatever came with my computer to edit it. I just started using photoshop a few years ago. I would get out my meters and lights and stuff and go shooting and lightly edit or cleanup my shots. I would shoot 200 shots at a live show and get 5 good ones that I didn’t need to edit. Now, I go for less shots and use the auto features and editing more. I want to enjoy the music more that way. Besides, I am just shooting photos for fun now, not chasing the dream any more.
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Howdy!
The edited photos are cool, but your raw shots are beautiful. I mean, not all photos need editing, don’t they?
The idea about the exchange is cool. These days we tend to interview the so-called famous people, but each person is a book after all. They have wonderful stories to tell and all we have to do is frame it in an interesting composition. I look forward to reading your interviews. 🙂
Your hubby seems like a really romantic person. 😀
Have a great day and stay safe!
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Hey 🙂
Trying to get the WP app on my kindle to work 😦 Had to come to my computer for a bit…
Thank you. I like them too but the “experts” say you should edit your photos but I think that just makes them look like everyone else’s. Unless you can do something really spectacular like add Godzilla to every picture, then that would be cool.
Yeah, I think every one have a cool story that needs to be heard. Your adventures are cool. By the way, only the first post translates 😦 but your photos do what your words can’t they show the people, the towns, life. I will have to interview you via skype perhaps? Think about it. I am going to practice on hubby first to work out the bugs. I am sure there will be many.
He is in a weird way. He is not the guy to buy you candy or flowers or birthday present or valentine. He will remember to buy your favorite shampoo and conditioner and will dance with me in the middle of a crowd when there no music. 🙂
Be well…have fun.
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Hahaha…. Yeah, a photo with a real Godzilla in the background would surely go viral! 🙂
Thank you. 🙂 I guess it’s gonna be fun. Well, yeah… let’s see. I bet the story about your hubby will be wonderful. I’m looking forward to reading it. 🙂
Those are practices of romanticism rarely featured in mass media. 😀
You too, have fun! 🙂
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I have photos of the Cabazon DInosaurs already cut out and ready to be photoshopped into various photos…ha ha! Maybe I should add them to the concert shots! Hahaha!! I really need to get better at Photoshop first. Still learning but getting better every day!
Yeah, pain and misery sells so much better. so many people focus and misery and pain and sadness. It is contagious but so it joy and happiness. I was in a support group for people with my condition and too many people were trying to out-woe or how do I say it, it was like a competition of who was worse off. I started feeling their pains and it just wasn’t healthy for me. So, I left and have never felt better 🙂 I want to be around positive people. I know people are going to have bad days because everyone does but I just don’t want to stay in it every day. I say the world needs more romance, but then I am a girl 🙂
Have fun, go take Madam for a spin or brush the hair out of her face for no reason….oh yeah and be safe!
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That’s a good idea! Hahaha…
Yeah, so true. You know, I guess sometimes people just need a little time for themselves, listening to some good music or something, walk hand in had with the loved one, instead of being in that kind of support group. I mean, we need other people, but the only one that really knows an individual is the individual oneself. I better be on my own, being quiet, than pretending to have a dialogue while in reality I’m doing a monologue.
Will do! Thanks for the advice. Have a nice day! 😀
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Heyyy, it sounds like your hubby and I have the same birthday! Hopefully he had a memorable quarantine birthday, too 😀
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Happy birthday to you!! He did, he got a brand new bass. Did you get to do anything special? Hopefully next year you both can fully celebrate 🙂
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One more thing I would like to state is that in place of trying to accommodate all your online degree tutorials on days that you complete work (since the majority people are fatigued when they get back), try to get most of your sessions on the week-ends and only a couple of courses for weekdays, even if it means taking some time off your weekend. This pays off because on the week-ends, you will be much more rested plus concentrated upon school work. Thanks alot : ) for the different points I have discovered from your site.
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I don抰 even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
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Ha ha! This was in my spam folder but geez it is good to read nice things…even if they weren’t meant for you 🙂
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I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading everything that is posted on your website.Keep the posts coming. I liked it!
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