Very Late Photo Friday (Sorry Saturday?)

Today was interesting to say the least.  I got together with the household and I got my nails manicured.  Very good timing considering I broke a nail last night.

Ran by my favorite local camera store, Biggs Camera, and had a quick test done on my camera.  Good news, it seems that my wide-angle lens has the problem, not my camera.  That is a much lesser expense to have remedied.  (I'm starting to look for and price a good quality (ultra)wide-angle lens.)  For Philip's wedding, in two weeks, I decided I would rent a lens to be able to get some good shots.  This is also a way for my to test out a quality lens for posible future purchase.

Went with a friend to check on another friend who was supposed to have some medical procedures done today.  Upon getting there, we found out all the procedures got cancelled and there is no explanation as to why.  This friend has had a long battle with worker's comp to be able to get any type of treatment and is now suffering greatly because of the apparent ineptitude, and politics of a system supposed to help out the workers.

Anyways,  I was looking over photos from the past few years and really enjoyed going over the shots I took while in Ireland.  Here is one of Kylemore Abby.

Health-wise:  A good day, as usual it started with a little congestion which passed after my morning coffee.  My left leg issues seem to be lessening now that I have stopped wearing the cowboy boots and have started wearing my Doc Marten's again.  Hmmm.

What is Next

Today was pretty much another pretty common day for me.  Up with the alarm and an enjoyable pot of coffee.

Ran out and grabbed a late brunch sandwich from Bruegger's Bagel.  I call it my 1000-calorie breakfast bagel.  (Double bacon, egg, cheddar cheese, regular plain cream cheese on a toasted bagel (today it was an everything bagel). )

Afterwards I ran a couple of errands, and came home.

I think I need to somehow refocus myself and try to get back on track an accomplish a number of my personal goals.  Lately I just don't seem to be able to focus on getting things done.  I'm here wondering if it is just the result of me having a lot on my mind and the overwhelming sense of change coming.

I am not in fear of the change, actually I think I'm looking forward to it, whatever it actually is.  I have no idea if it is a good or bad change coming, I just know that a change is coming and it involves me.

Health-wise:  A good day.  A little congestion when I woke up, but as usual it passed by the time I finished my coffee.  I have noticed my appetite is decreased again, and I really need to stay focused on eating, otherwise I just don't eat.  I stopped wearing my cowboy boots today just to see if the heals are affecting my knee/groin on my left leg, which is a possibility according to WebMD.

Fun Day

Today was a lot of fun.  It started relatively early, with me grabbing a fresh pot of coffee and enjoying it while Vapour curled up in my lap.  Then a brunch with Mistress LunaSea turned into an all afternoon errand running excursion.  It was a great time and fun conversation.

That lead into spending time with the household and then helping edit some homework Mistress LunaSea had completed.  As I was preparing to leave, we all ended up playing with the new kittens.  Wow, the runt was very adorable and just loved playing with my hand and fingers.  All four kittens are just too cute for words.  I'll have to bring my camera back then and do a kitten photo shoot.

Getting home MUCH later than I had planned, I'm enjoying Stan's streaming radio show, Musical Conversation.  It is a great listen starting at 9PM (EST) and going until either the listeners (or Stan) 'drops off'...  It's not almost 1:30am and it's still going strong!

Health-wise:  Today was a great day!  Good energy, good breathing.  Just some random coughing while walking around with Mistress LunaSea which always passed quickly after a couple of coughs.

Life Continues

This was a decent weekend.  I took it easy this weekend and rested and relaxed.  I got together with friends and had a bonfire for Beltane.  I also enjoyed a night of drinks with Mistress LunaSea and the household.

Good news!  I now have health coverage through Medicare!  It started on May 1!

Today I enjoyed listening to the rain and catching up on a few things on the computer.

I'm looking forward to my webinar tomorrow with Art Wolfe about The Creative Eye.  Tomorrow is the last of the three weeks Art has presented.  It has been very fascinating and inspiring.

Health-wise: Saturday, during the day I felt like I was fighting getting the flu, but after dinner it passed and I was feeling good by the time I was to leave for the bonfire.  Just a little congestion in the mornings which passes after meds and coffee.

Just Another Day

As it says, today was just another day.  After not getting to sleep until about 4am, I woke up to a nice pot of coffee brewing.  I didn't get to sleep until so late because I was wired on sugar and caffeine (coders diet) after working on DomCon LA's website until just after 2am.

Today after the slow start, watched another great webinar on CreativeLIVE.  This one was with all about the differences between Full Frame and APS D-SLR cameras.  Great information!

Afterwards, I ran to get my meds for the month, and was surprised by a call from by best friend from back home!  It was great hearing from him.  Then an enjoyable solo dinner at Saigon Palace for some some good Pho soup.

Health-wise:  Good, no annoyances today.

Oops!

Oops!  I forgot to post last night!  Well, here is a quicky post...

I had a very good weekend, and felt great.  It was good to hang out with the household and to get together with them just for the fun of it and enjoy doing stuff together.  This is stuff that is just fun to do, and not on anyone's schedule or list of things that have to get done.  Yay fun times!

Today was busy busy busy.  I spent the day working on fixing/cleaning up the photo galleries on the DomCon LA website.  A lot of organization, converting, resizing, and then coding...  It's done now and looks pretty good.

Health-wise:  Good day, and overall good weekend too.

Semi-Busy Erranding

Today started slowly, I woke much later than I wanted.  It seems I forgot to turn my alarm on last night.  Oh well.  Once up, I printed coupons, clipped them and finalized some lists.

Groceries.  Check.  Over the counter meds.  Check.  Grease/oil/filter. Check.  Light bulbs. Check.

Now what was I forgetting?  Oh, yeah, check on the camera and work on choosing photos for my portfolio.  That is now on the lists for tomorrow.

Health-wise:  Today was a good day.  Breathing, energy, and physically I was feeling good.

Learning

I'm pretty hyped about learning now.  Yesterday, Chase Jarvis announced a new creative learning website CreativeLive.com and I signed up for my first class.  I did the first (of ten) weekly classes and it was amazing!  Today, I did a single light source webinar from Joe McNally!

I am so excited to be learning again, and putting what I learn into practice.  This should be a great summer!

Health-wise:  Not much to say, other than it was a good day.

Reconnections

Today, wow.

My landlord came by to fix the oven, but brought the wrong element.  He will be back tomorrow with the right one to fix it.  Baking soon!

While driving home from Greenville, I passed some locations that made me think about some friends that I had lost contact with in the last six-seven years.  I woke up this morning and had a Linked-In message from one of them, asking me to look him up on Facebook.  From there, I found the other guy from our little group.  By tonight, I had contacted each of them and received messages back.  Hoping to stay in touch a bit better now.

Health-wise:  Another good day.  Nothing special, just good -- no aches, pains or congestion of note.

Home Again

After a great time with Mistress LunaSea and Shannon presenting at ECU last night, today I drove back to Charlotte.  Two days in a row I drove 5 hrs in a stretch.  Not something I am used to, and now my shoulders are aching and I am looking forward to a good night of sleep. (Bt then again, when am I not wanting a good night sleep these days.)

Also, my landlord contacted me, an he will be getting my oven fixed this week!  This is great news, I have been without the ability to bake/roast anything bigger than my toaster-oven for about a month now.  I will be looking forward to roasting a turkey breast for sandwiches soon...

Health-wise:  Great day, just a little sore from a couple of days of long drives.

On the Go

A surprisingly restful weekend, however, I constantly seemed to be 'on the go'. Errands, laundry, getting together with friends. I would have to say it was a good weekend.

Sunday, the adventure of going to a gun show that wasn't turned into a good time out. Friends picked me up to go to a gun show only to find out it is NEXT weekend. We ended up goofing around NoDa. Good times.

Monday, drove to ECU, Greenville and participated with Mistress LunaSea in a presentation on Domination & Fetishes for a Sociology class. On the way there, almost ran out of gas - very nerve wracking. Thankfully it all turned out ok.

Health-wise: Fairly good, erratic sleep, and only morning congestion.

Photo Friday

Today was another day in the life and times of me.  No kidding says you.  I got to run some mandatory errands, mostly picking up necessities for my kitty, Vapour.  Then I ran out and caught up with a friend that I hadn't seen in too long.

Taking time afterwards to surprise Mistress LunaSea with a little gift and some good conversation.

Went out tonight with a couple of friends and got introduced to a new restaurant, Fran's Fill Station.  WOW, it is fantastic!  I ate too much and ended up feeling like a stuffed pig as I drove home.  I will definitely be going back.

This being Photo Friday, here is a an iPhone photo of my kitty, Vapour.  Yes, I am underneath the blanket that Vapour is napping on.

Health-wise:  Today was another good day, my knee is a little stronger, but still not as much as I would like.  Better is still an improvement. 

'Not The Doctor'

I had an adventure getting my hair cut (and coloured) today.  Every time I chose a colour, they could not find the right colour or dye. Wonderful!  I ended up getting a trim and a very cool violet/black colour.  I'm very happy with the results!

Afterwards I heard about a lot of 'issues' and 'concerns' from friends and the household.  I had to remind myself of the Alanis  Morissette song, "Not The Doctor".  I can't fix or save anyone other than me, and I can barely do that for myself.  I can however make myself happy, and allow others to talk/vent around me in a non-judgmental way.  I need to let them heal themselves, but I can help and just be there as best I can for them.

Health-wise:  Good day.  Left knee still a little weak, but getting a little stronger.

Onward

Had a good relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Not a whole lot of note to mention, just I really need to make a decision about my medicare plan.  As I go over the options of the Part 'C' choices I've narrowed my decisions down to, and do my research I have found two things.  First, given an average year, I don't think there is really a 'bad' choice for me.  Secondly, given a bad year, I don't think there really is a 'good' choice for me.

Tomorrow, I will get my software from my sister and, hopefully, get the last of my 'research' completed so I can finalize my decision in the next day or two.

Health-wise:  This weekend was really good, as was today.  A little congestion yesterday as the weather changed, but I overcame that quickly.  Sleep is still irregular, but starting to get a little more routine again.  I'm hoping for a good night sleep soon.

Photo Friday

Today was much much better than yesterday! Took myself out to a delicious brunch at Zada Janes, and then (finally) went grocery shopping.

Now, contented and with food for a while, I rested with the patio door open letting fresh air into the apartment.  I guess, between the fresh air, me being content and with a kitty laying on me, a nap was inevitable.  So I napped.

This being photo Friday, I figured I would show a photo from the show I shot last weekend.

©2010 Stephen Coombs Studios - Red All Over at Amos' Southend

Health-wise:  This was a very good day.  Happy, breathing was good, even with the extra effort of getting groceries.

St. Paddy's Day

Happy St. Paddy's Day everyone!

I enjoyed my day and night.  Not much else to say.  Back to finishing some work on my photos.

Health-wise:  Very good day today.  Looking forward to a restful and good night of sleep.

Set Back

Today was going well.  I was getting things accomplished.  Then when I went to purchase my plane ticket (with air miles) to go to my cousin's wedding in May, I found that (for some reason) I no longer had enough air miles.  Now, I am postponing getting my next tattoo until after the wedding and having to redo my budget to get the plane ticket asap.  It is so much more important to me to be at my cousin's wedding than getting another tattoo.  This is just a small personal set-back.

I have, slowly, been going through the photos from Saturday night.  I am very happy with the way they came out.  I should have the edits done and the photos delivered by Thursday or Friday of this week.

Health-wise:  Today was a very good day.

Riding High

I had a fantastic weekend!

I got out and shot Red All Over's live show at Amos' Southend on Saturday night.  I was excited, but a little nervous at the same time.  It had been a while since I shot a stage show and really wanted to do a good job.  They put on a great show, sounded fantastic... and I had a blast!  Once I got home and dumped the photos to the computer, I was quite amazed!  I took a lot of really good shots!  I'll get them edited early this week and delivered to the band.  (I think I'll post some this Friday.)

Sunday, relax and adjust to the time change.  Met up with the 'household' and we all saw Alice in Wonderland in 3-D.  I fully enjoyed this movie -- it was exactly what I expected and well done.

Health-wise: Congested in the mornings pre-coffee, but afterwards all is good.  Energy levels were up and feeling really good.  Still have weakness in my knees and have trouble getting up out of a crouching position, but I think some exercise may help with this.

Weekend of Chores and Food

What a weekend...

I spent this beautiful weekend taking care of business.  Laundry, research, reading and cooking.
I took my time as I went through my lists and got things done.

The apartment (minus the bedroom) is completely cleaned up now.  I have been getting myself to clean it little by little and now there is only a couple of 'piles' in the bedroom to finish and the whole apartment will be to where I like to keep it.  With my current attitude, and practice of cleaning a little each day, I'm hoping to keep things like this for a long while now.

I finally had the rest of the household over and cooked a traditional meal from home for them.  They seemed to enjoy the Fisherman's Brewis that I prepared and the tastes of Newfoundland Screech, Purity Syrup, Peppermint Knobs, and Purity Kisses.  I have to say I throughly enjoyed it too.

After having leftovers for lunch on Monday, I called my sister and she came over after work, had a meal and took leftovers of the Fisherman's Brewis home.  Definitely a great meal, but boy, did I make a lot of it...

Health-wise:  All weekend and today was great, once I've had my morning coffee.  After that coffee all is right with the world.  However before it, I have to say the breathing is a little rough and cough-y.  Sleep is still a little erratic, but it seems to be calming down now that I am getting myself on a more strict sleep/wake schedule.

Optimistic Outlook

Almost every day of this year has felt like things are going my way.  Things just seem to be falling into place and I am feeling a lot better than not.

I just ran back over my archive of horoscopes for this year, and the vast majority of them have been very positive.  Overall it looks like this is definitely going to be MY year!

I'm very happy with the way I have been feeling, and how I have been accomplishing my goals.  I feel much more comfortable with my photography and how it is improving.

I just seem to be 'happy' most of the time now.

Health-wise:  Today was a very good day, just a sore and achey back tonight.