Creative Photography

Here's another entry for Roger's contest over at Creative Photography. I was having problems with his site, but all bugs are fixed now and I now can enjoy everybody's photos. This picture was taken by a good friend of mine. It was taken in the Boise National Forest near Silver Creek Plunge in Garden Valley, Idaho. I love the contrasts of the white rapids and the dark rocks. No editing here. All Mother Nature.

A Beautiful Day

Well...I'm finally back home from the boring town of Moscow, Idaho. I had a great week working and visiting with Mom. Did we really visit or just compute? I don't know, but it was nice getting to stay with her for a week. The drive home was routine. Nothing too exciting to photograph, but I did happen to stop in McCall to use the ladies room. I found a nice little stop next to the lake, so I got some awesome shots of Payette Lake. Check out the clouds above the lake. They were equally awesome.

101 facts about me you probably don't want to know

My Sis and Mom posted 100 different facts about themselves, so I thought I'd have a go at myself.

1. I don't like my hair. Who ever said natural curly hair is a blessing LIED!
2. I love photography as long as I'm behind the camera and not in front of it. My camera usually goes everywhere with me.
3. I buy EVERYTHING unscented, unless it's Opium or Emeraude .
4. Cats rule! Dogs drool!
5. I don't like most ice cream (yes, believe it), but I do like sorbets and ices.
6. Every car I've owned has been red or has had red trim.
7. Family is very important to me. I love them all.
8. I really miss my Dad!!
9. I am very tender-hearted when it comes to family, friends and pets.
10. I'm a pessimistic optimist.
11. I believe I have above average intelligence.
12. I don't like cold chicken, cold pizza, most cold sandwiches, etc.
13. I prefer to eat a hot meal.
14. I am an organized slob.
15. I wish my Mom lived closer to the rest of the family, so we could visit more often.
16. Music is a big part of my life. I always have a tune playing on the radio, computer, in my car, or in my mind.
17. I've played the piano since I was 6 1/2 or 7 (circa 1974).
18. I only took lessons for 6 months.
19. Unlike my mother and sister, I do not like hairy men. Gross!
20. It pisses me off when someone has to read the newspaper over my shoulder. Can't they wait?
21. I love vegetables! My favorite is green peas.
22. I love fruit except apples, bananas, and blueberries. It must be served at room temperature, though.
23. All the decor in my house consists of cats or music.
24. I own this Thomas Kinkade.
25. Coca~Cola is my beverage of choice.
26. Rootbeer is my second beverage of choice.
27. I have a very morbid and often crude sense of humor.
28. I am very outspoken.
29. I am extremely hard headed and stubborn.
30. I love every color in the color spectrum. Even blacks and browns.
31. I talk to my cats like they understand what I'm saying. I'd shit my pants if they ever talked back.
32. Although I am skeptically spiritual and faithful, I do not believe in organized religion
33. I am extremely independent.
34. Give me a plate with any meat, potatoes & gravy, and vegetables, and I will eat all the veggies, then the potatoes & gravy, then the meat. If bread or rolls are served, I will eat it first then the others.
35. The only grandparents I knew were my Grandma Beth and Great Grandma Violet.
36. I have never married.
37. I have never had children.
38. The littlest things can and will make me cry. Movies, commercials, people, pets.
39. The ocean awes me.
40. I love the moon.
41. I've broke both wrists, both pinkie toes, and the fourth metatarsal bone in my right foot.
42. I have my ears pierced 4 times. It was an 80's thing.
43. I've never traveled outside of the US Northwest.
44. I love to cook and/or bake for other people.
45. I have all 32 of my teeth and see my dentist every 6 months.
46. I dislike preachy people.
47. I love home grown tomatoes.
48. I wish I had a job where I could dress up once in a while. But I still prefer t-shirts and comfy pants.
49. I swear too much and really don't care who I offend with it. It's my first amendment right.
50. I love all of mother nature.
51. I don't like to shave my legs. I will grow it beyond the itchy stage. Except in summer.
52. I would join a nudest colony if I were the only member. I like to be (almost) nekked. I have to have the undies on!
53. When I sleep, I prefer no clothes (see #52) and no blankets. But, my feet have to be covered.
54. From #53, I have a slight fear of someone or something reaching out from under the bed and grabbing my feet.
55. I haven't been fishing or camping for over 20 years.
56. People like to confide in me. I must be very easy to talk to.
57. I've taught my mother everything she knows about computers. OK, maybe not, but I've taught her a lot!
58. I think spending money on cut flowers is a waste of money. Flowers are beautiful, but they die in a few days. Give me the money or buy something that will last.
59. I don't like telephones. I only have one in case of emergencies.
60. I don't believe people should have to apologize. If you are sorry for doing or saying something wrong, you shouldn't have done it in the first place.
61. I have very good penmanship.
62. I love to sing, whether I'm good or not.
63. I have no non-musical artistic ability whatsoever. I can't even draw stick people.
64. I have 5 nieces, 1 nephew, 1 great-nephew and 1 great-niece (deceased).
65. I've only used 1 1/2 days of sick leave in the past 11 years at my current job. Not bad!
66. I am very dependable.
67. I don't like to leave any task undone.
68. I love the smell after it rains.
69. I want to dance in the rain with someone I love.
70. I am running out of things to type.
71. I am not a very good typist.
72. I despise long fingernails. Mine are cut as close to the skin as I can get.
73. Same goes for toenails.
74. I like to keep my toenails painted. It hides the disgusting inherited toenails. Thanks a lot mom!
75. I don't believe there is anything or anyone I hate. Hate is such a strong word.
76. I have never ran out of toilet paper. There's always back-up.
77. I like to make lists. Keeps me from forgetting things.
78. I like to drive in the left hand lane.
79. I cannot remember anytime in my life I did not have a cat.
80. I very seldom wear jewelry.
81. I'd rather sleep on the floor than on a hard mattress. Strange, I know!
82. I am a night owl.
83. I understand that people have their angry moments, as do I, but really... what does it resolve?
84. I consider myself to be a happy person.
85. I don't stress over anything. Hakuna Matata!
86. I love all cookies, except Oreo's.
87. I eat cold cereal for dinner sometimes.
88. I am a self taught computer geek.
89. If I don't have an answer, I will search until I find one.
90. Medicine fascinates me. If I could do it all over again, I'd go into the medical field.
91. I am a handy woman. If I can fix it myself, I will.
92. I like candy, but I'm very selective if it involves chocolate. Reese's, Pearson's Salted Nut Rolls, and Necco wafers are my favs!
93. I hope to retire early. We'll see how my ESOP does.
94. I like to gossip.
95. I find myself daydreaming quite often. Keeps my mind off my boring work.
96. I've had surgery 3 different times.
97. I would love to travel abroad. Scotland would be my first destination.
98. If I HAD to own a dog, it would be an English bulldog.
99. I'm nearing the end of my list.
100. If only there were musical cats. Life would be PURRFECT!
101. Sing as if no one is listening,
     Dance as if no one is watching,
     Love as you've never loved before,
     Live as if Heaven is here on earth!!

Journey

I have gone to look for myself, if I return before I get back, keep me here.

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I am readying myself to embark on a journey up to the beautiful Palouse. My work takes me there to be their slave, but I look at it as an all expenses paid vacation to visit my Mother. Hopefully the beautiful (but long) drive will bring a lot of photo opportunities. I will post any I get the chance to take. See ya all when I return.

Words of Wisdom

If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitablepart of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." -Ann Landers