I can't remember a time that I wasn't allergic to something. Trees, grass, pollen, mold, cats-the list goes on and on. I was a sneezing itching watery eyes mess growing up-my friends used to count my sneezes as an Olympic Sport OR I was sleeping off the allergy medicine. The person who invented Claritin-my hero. In my teens I developed a few more allergies-these ever so fun-bananas, avocado and almonds. The banana and avocado allergy has manifested itself as something that feels like hives inside my stomach. Joy. I haven't eaten either of these since I was 14 or so. Of course, these was the accidental ingestion-a sour apple martini-which, by the way, is made with banana liquor at certain locations. Live and Learn. Almond has been my worst allergy. The last time I had an almond was when I was 15 and I ate a chocolate and almond bar. My face got really swollen. Thankfully, I was very unaware that I could have died. I just sat at home and waited for the swelling to go down. In allergy tests I am, on a scale of 1-4 a 4+.
Dining out, pot luck dinners and grocery shopping are oh so fun with these 3 food allergies. Bananas and avocado are pretty easy. I know what foods they lurk in-it is pretty obvious I don't eat banana bread or guacamole. (Except smoothies-so many smoothies have banana as a secret ingredient!) Almonds, however, lurk in the strangest places. Cereal Bars is the best example. Ever heard of Almond paste? It is the most popular filler in cereal bars-even ones that don't have any nut in the title. I picked up a bag of popcorn at Walmart the other day and had to put it back. Why? The lone ingredient was popcorn but the allergy statement plainly says "contains trace amounts of almonds" Seriously.
I am very diligent about checking the allergy warning labels. I am that annoying person at pot lucks and restaurants asking about ingredients (twice servers have insisted their food was almond free and I have been served green beans with almonds and pie with them baked into the crust). I have also learned that "familiar" dishes are not always safe (who puts almonds in oatmeal raisin cookies? At least they were clices to when I bit into one the almond popped out to say hello!) My coworkers are diligent as well to not bring any dishes with almonds or to warn me-setting the offending item on a different table even so I will remember.
So imagine my surprise the other day when, after we ate out pot-luck salad bar lunch, one turned to me and said, "you didn't eat the fired onions did you? they have almonds." My reaction: instant panic attack because, yes-I ate some. Instantly, everyone panicked with me. "Do I have an Epi-Pen?" (No, doc won't prescribe). How do I feel? (I can't breathe but that is because of the panic). After a couple minutes I just went to my office. I was in tears. I was shaking. Let's face it-I was scared. My friends sister died of a food allergy reaction not to long ago. Eventually, someone came to tell me that the Onions says "may contain because manufactured on a facility that processes almond". That calmed me down-not that that isn't bad--but it is a hell of a lot better than the fried onion almond salad mix they first thought it was where almonds are actually part of the ingredients. Eventually I declared myself OK-and went about my day.
Did I mention I am extremely diligent about checking ingredients?
Well, last night I stopped at Giant Eagle and bought a last minute birthday cake for my husband. We went out to eat at a place where we don't eat dessert. He wanted a white cake. I grabbed the only white cake they had. I looked at the ingredients listed on the top-no problem. Around 10:30 last night he wanted his cake. I noticed that the ingredient list on top was really only for the sprinkles-so, diligent me-looked at the allergy warning for the cake-wheat, soy, eggs and milk. No problem. I pulled off this label in pieces because it was stuck on with of the stickiest glue ever-ate the cake and that was it...Right? Wrong!
About 15 minutes after I finished the cake my husband noticed I had a piece of the label stuck to me. I playfully put it on him. He pulled it off and went to throw it away-except he looked at it first. The pretty white cake I bought? It was WHITE ALMOND CAKE. Eff. Instant panic attack. Hubby wants to drive toward the ER (30 minutes) and I am thinking we should just drive over to the ambulance station a couple blocks away if I have a reaction. It would be faster than even calling 911.
Then I remembered the allergy warning didn't include nuts. We pieced together the label and (except in the big title I didn't even look at) there is no mention of almonds, almond oil or anything nut related. Thank you, Artificial Sweeteners! Still, I stayed up until 2am (the arbitrary time my husband set to monitor me) thinking every single twitch, itch, feeling in my face was the beginning of the swelling. It wasn't and I thanked the artificial sweetener gods and went to bed with one thought:
I am not eating any more of that cake!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A Journey of Despair
I am one of the many people struck by infertility. Let me tell you-it sucks. I have always had the "I can do anything I put my mind to" attitude. I could have been the President, an astronaut, Valedictorian-None of these appealed to me. The one thing I always assumed I would become easily was to have a baby. 3 babies, actually. That, apparently, is not going to happen. To face something I have no control over-no way to fix-really kind of crippled me. No matter how hard "I put my mind to this" it won't happen. Ever.
I was told 4 years ago that I have less than 1% chance of conceiving due to endometriosis-and that doctor only told me that 1% because of liability. I don't know how to describe hearing this news. It still is a gut punch today.
Then, 2 years ago--well, I most likely was pregnant. It was -brief-. I didn't know or even suspect. The only sign was extreme chest tenderness. OMG-so bad I called and scheduled a mammogram (I have had several cysts removed and figured I needed a follow up). Then, I fell on the ice. I little fall, really. I grabbed a railing and ended up on my rear-end. Not hurt. I spotted 1 tiny spot (first and only time in my entire life) that day-then, 2 days later I had a very early but heavy cycle. On day 2 of the cycle I called the doctor because I was mildly concerned about the spotting/heavy and very early period-it just "wasn't right". I never thought I would hear the words "miscarriage." I remember talking to the nurse and then the next thing I knew I was buying pregnancy tests (per the nurse) and freaking out. I couldn't talk-could not formulate a coherent sentence. I just shook. I cried. I probably scared the people at the store. I know my husband was worried-I called him after talking to the nurse and blubbered out a few words of jibberish and sobbed. I took the tests-one immediately and 1 the next morning. They were both negative. I was in shock and utterly heartbroken. I am not sure how I got through it. The doctor didn't run any tests-said the negative pg tests were enough. Unless I had a complication I didn't need to be seen. A brief pregnancy didn't need any medical attention.
I have told very few people of those couple of days. Not my family. Not my friends. They were awful days and I am not sure how I even functioned.
As bad as it was, it gave me a glimmer of hope.
The doctor decided to send me to another specialist who was encouraged by my "episode"-confirming that it "was most likely" a brief pregnancy. So a few months of injections, many ultrasounds, lots of sex, needle pricks and 1 IUI later-I got the same dreaded soul-crushing sentence: In-Vitro or nothing.
We cannot afford In-Vitro. It is $10000 minimum per TRY. no guaranteed outcome. Adopting a baby is also out. It is also too much money. We have looked into adopting from foster care-and that is what we will most likely do-it scares us, too.
I have flirted with going to a 3rd specialist. Trying the medicine cycles again. My concerns are that I had a medical issue arise after that last injection (high blood pressure started 6 weeks after it and still present) and I am not exactly a young chick. Let's face it- I'm over the hill. No one tries to get pregnant at my age-well maybe Kelly Preston. The HBP worries me-it came out of nowhere and I don't have much of a family history-NONE at all before retirement age. It hasn't exactly been easy to control either-as some of the meds leech vital minerals out of my body and supplements make me sick-and as a bonus, don't actually work for me.
So there it is...my journey into the abyss of infertility. Maybe the worst part is-nothing is malfunctioning. I have regular sucky heavy awful lengthy cycles. On any given day I know exactly where I am in my cycle-I don't think about it..I just KNOW. I know when I ovulate. I know how many days before, after it. I do not keep track. We do not try to get pregnant. But, I am upset every month on schedule. I know it's coming-but it still infuriates me and sends me freshly into the abyss again. I sometimes think I would rather have a 0% chance because then I wouldn't have any thought that *I* could be that 1 in a million.
My husband is wonderful. He knows what this is doing/has done to me. He lets me have my moments-and then helps me get over it. He is going through this with me. It is his painful journey, too. To accept that any children we have won't be biologically his-ours-is a difficult thing--while I am physically forced to deal with it-HE has had to make the choice to accept it-to consciously choose to not have a biological child. Something I am not sure I could do.
I cringe when I hear of parents hurt or injure their kids. I once told off a panhandling person because she told me that she had a toddler "under a bridge" she needed to feed and could I give her some money. I told her to bring me the kid-I would give him a home.
I love kids. I work with kids.
So Why ME? Why not them?
Some days are just so hard. I have had a lot of them lately, for some reason. Infertility is soul-sucking. Don't let anyone tell you different.
I was told 4 years ago that I have less than 1% chance of conceiving due to endometriosis-and that doctor only told me that 1% because of liability. I don't know how to describe hearing this news. It still is a gut punch today.
Then, 2 years ago--well, I most likely was pregnant. It was -brief-. I didn't know or even suspect. The only sign was extreme chest tenderness. OMG-so bad I called and scheduled a mammogram (I have had several cysts removed and figured I needed a follow up). Then, I fell on the ice. I little fall, really. I grabbed a railing and ended up on my rear-end. Not hurt. I spotted 1 tiny spot (first and only time in my entire life) that day-then, 2 days later I had a very early but heavy cycle. On day 2 of the cycle I called the doctor because I was mildly concerned about the spotting/heavy and very early period-it just "wasn't right". I never thought I would hear the words "miscarriage." I remember talking to the nurse and then the next thing I knew I was buying pregnancy tests (per the nurse) and freaking out. I couldn't talk-could not formulate a coherent sentence. I just shook. I cried. I probably scared the people at the store. I know my husband was worried-I called him after talking to the nurse and blubbered out a few words of jibberish and sobbed. I took the tests-one immediately and 1 the next morning. They were both negative. I was in shock and utterly heartbroken. I am not sure how I got through it. The doctor didn't run any tests-said the negative pg tests were enough. Unless I had a complication I didn't need to be seen. A brief pregnancy didn't need any medical attention.
I have told very few people of those couple of days. Not my family. Not my friends. They were awful days and I am not sure how I even functioned.
As bad as it was, it gave me a glimmer of hope.
The doctor decided to send me to another specialist who was encouraged by my "episode"-confirming that it "was most likely" a brief pregnancy. So a few months of injections, many ultrasounds, lots of sex, needle pricks and 1 IUI later-I got the same dreaded soul-crushing sentence: In-Vitro or nothing.
We cannot afford In-Vitro. It is $10000 minimum per TRY. no guaranteed outcome. Adopting a baby is also out. It is also too much money. We have looked into adopting from foster care-and that is what we will most likely do-it scares us, too.
I have flirted with going to a 3rd specialist. Trying the medicine cycles again. My concerns are that I had a medical issue arise after that last injection (high blood pressure started 6 weeks after it and still present) and I am not exactly a young chick. Let's face it- I'm over the hill. No one tries to get pregnant at my age-well maybe Kelly Preston. The HBP worries me-it came out of nowhere and I don't have much of a family history-NONE at all before retirement age. It hasn't exactly been easy to control either-as some of the meds leech vital minerals out of my body and supplements make me sick-and as a bonus, don't actually work for me.
So there it is...my journey into the abyss of infertility. Maybe the worst part is-nothing is malfunctioning. I have regular sucky heavy awful lengthy cycles. On any given day I know exactly where I am in my cycle-I don't think about it..I just KNOW. I know when I ovulate. I know how many days before, after it. I do not keep track. We do not try to get pregnant. But, I am upset every month on schedule. I know it's coming-but it still infuriates me and sends me freshly into the abyss again. I sometimes think I would rather have a 0% chance because then I wouldn't have any thought that *I* could be that 1 in a million.
My husband is wonderful. He knows what this is doing/has done to me. He lets me have my moments-and then helps me get over it. He is going through this with me. It is his painful journey, too. To accept that any children we have won't be biologically his-ours-is a difficult thing--while I am physically forced to deal with it-HE has had to make the choice to accept it-to consciously choose to not have a biological child. Something I am not sure I could do.
I cringe when I hear of parents hurt or injure their kids. I once told off a panhandling person because she told me that she had a toddler "under a bridge" she needed to feed and could I give her some money. I told her to bring me the kid-I would give him a home.
I love kids. I work with kids.
So Why ME? Why not them?
Some days are just so hard. I have had a lot of them lately, for some reason. Infertility is soul-sucking. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Right Now
Ok-time to stop procrastinating and just write. I seem to want to wait until I have the "perfect" topic. Several bloggers are jumping on the "now" theme Uncle Crappy, Pittsburgh Girlie, Wildfire and others. So I am going to do this too.
Right now the score from Lost's finale is playing in my head-has been all day.
Right now I am hot and my husband is being nice and not turning on the AC because I hate hate hate it. Not the cool air-but the Window AC. It is noisy and we have to shut out the outside, hang a sheet-and there are days I feel claustrophobic from it all!
Right now the dog is trying to get on the couch because she heard thunder. She hates thunder ever since we moved from Florida. Go figure-storms were a daily occurrence there and never bothered her. Here she shakes and whines and one time got stuck under a bed-up the steps she is forbidden to climb.
Right now I am waiting for a friend to pick me up so we can do Week 1, Day 2 of Couch to 5K. I am pretending that my knees are not still screaming from day 1 on Sunday. I took Motrin. I bought new inserts for my new supposedly great for my type of issue shoes. This is why I stopped aerobics in the fall-and only started walking in April.
Right now I feel I will never be able to say I am a runner-that my goal for running 3 miles is a fairy tale because I can only run 60-90 second intervals for 20 minutes and get injured.
Right now I am depressed over several things at home. My age, No kids and husband without a job top the list.
Right now I have 7 days to do about 30 days worth of new paperwork at work--oh yeah-and do my job.
Right now my cat is basically living in the basement because my husband suddenly developed an allergy-and that, combined with his ocd tendency about cat hair has made him hate the cat and I am tired of fighting over a cat (since he used to like him there is a lot of tension between us regarding this subect). So now I feel guilt and uncertainty and just don't know what to do. If I give the cat away it solves one issue-but brings up several new issues between us-control, jealousy, and fear that somehow this will become a permanent part of his personality (force me to give up what i love because he "hates" it suddenly).
Right now I should quit worrying about "what ifs"
Right now I need to turn off the computer because it is booming outside.
Right now the score from Lost's finale is playing in my head-has been all day.
Right now I am hot and my husband is being nice and not turning on the AC because I hate hate hate it. Not the cool air-but the Window AC. It is noisy and we have to shut out the outside, hang a sheet-and there are days I feel claustrophobic from it all!
Right now the dog is trying to get on the couch because she heard thunder. She hates thunder ever since we moved from Florida. Go figure-storms were a daily occurrence there and never bothered her. Here she shakes and whines and one time got stuck under a bed-up the steps she is forbidden to climb.
Right now I am waiting for a friend to pick me up so we can do Week 1, Day 2 of Couch to 5K. I am pretending that my knees are not still screaming from day 1 on Sunday. I took Motrin. I bought new inserts for my new supposedly great for my type of issue shoes. This is why I stopped aerobics in the fall-and only started walking in April.
Right now I feel I will never be able to say I am a runner-that my goal for running 3 miles is a fairy tale because I can only run 60-90 second intervals for 20 minutes and get injured.
Right now I am depressed over several things at home. My age, No kids and husband without a job top the list.
Right now I have 7 days to do about 30 days worth of new paperwork at work--oh yeah-and do my job.
Right now my cat is basically living in the basement because my husband suddenly developed an allergy-and that, combined with his ocd tendency about cat hair has made him hate the cat and I am tired of fighting over a cat (since he used to like him there is a lot of tension between us regarding this subect). So now I feel guilt and uncertainty and just don't know what to do. If I give the cat away it solves one issue-but brings up several new issues between us-control, jealousy, and fear that somehow this will become a permanent part of his personality (force me to give up what i love because he "hates" it suddenly).
Right now I should quit worrying about "what ifs"
Right now I need to turn off the computer because it is booming outside.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saying Goodbye...
Over the years I have loved certain TV shows. You know what I mean-the "I must be in front of a working TV to watch this show from start to finish each and every week." I can't even remember them all-but LOST tops them. I have loved this show from the time I had the TV on for noise while I did work at home and ended up engrossed in the premiere-hooked from the first minute.
I have never watched a show as confusing and maddening and makes me feel, well Lost-yet at the same time I love it so much that even my husband knows not to bother me when Lost is on. I missed one episode ever (Claire's back story) and-with the way Lost is written-it comes back and taunts me at least once a year. I don't even want to talk about the season finale when I was completely LOST because it was when we all started realizing Jack and Claire were Brother and Sister....and you HAD TO WATCH Claire's back story to get it. I, of course, didn't get it until the next day when I read what other people were saying.
So now-we come to the end. It is hard-I have seen so many shows go on f.o.r.e.v.e.r until they are mere shadows of their once great selves-so much so that we all welcomed their demise. But Lost-has not run its course. It is still just as puzzling and wonderful-even if it has changed each and season to something new and different from the other seasons-yet connected. I have applauded the creators for ending the show before it ages for the last three years-but now that the end is here-I hate it. I wish they had made full seasons of Lost these last few years-because clearly there are enough questions to answer.
I have had theories about what happens over the years about Lost-some not so far from the truth.
I am floating my final guesses out there before the finale to see if I get any right. Some of these I feel were the original intentions of the writers-or at least possibilities so tidbits were placed in various episodes "just in case." (I really really believe Rose and BErnard were supposed to be Adam and Eve on the island.
(Rock Star) Charlie is Desmond and Penny's son. (No surprise here-I have thought this for a year-it has to due with the baby being billed as "young Charlie" while other kids are just "johnny"). Of course time travel would be involved...but it isn't like Lost hasn't gone there already
Of course, I wrote a draft post before this weeks episode and naming Hurley as the Candidate-but of course I was wrong. but my rationale was: He has been the peace keeper throughout. Always making good decisions. Of course, Jack was always the leader-and I always said it was Jack-but thought it was too obvious...guess I was wrong.
Rose and Bernard let Desmond out of the well...or maybe Claire
The Man in Black's name is Esau. (although a friend says Aaron b/c he was raised my another, like Aaron)
Juliet is Jack's wife in the alternate reality...
Someone will stay on the island with (Jack). There has to be a balance of good and evil on the island for it to go on. I am thinking it will be Sayid...or Ben. Ben would be logical. But Sayid went in the water (ala Jacob's brother went in the water). Of course, it could stay Locke.
I think the finale will show that Locke was the Man in Black since the crash....He died in the crash...and the Man in Black possessed him....maybe over time...maybe right away...but THAT is why he could walk.
They say the last 10 seconds will blow our minds---I hope the last 10 seconds are a montage that ends with "we were just kidding See you next season"
Of all my "predictions" I hope the last one is true.
Because I don't want to say goodbye.
I have never watched a show as confusing and maddening and makes me feel, well Lost-yet at the same time I love it so much that even my husband knows not to bother me when Lost is on. I missed one episode ever (Claire's back story) and-with the way Lost is written-it comes back and taunts me at least once a year. I don't even want to talk about the season finale when I was completely LOST because it was when we all started realizing Jack and Claire were Brother and Sister....and you HAD TO WATCH Claire's back story to get it. I, of course, didn't get it until the next day when I read what other people were saying.
So now-we come to the end. It is hard-I have seen so many shows go on f.o.r.e.v.e.r until they are mere shadows of their once great selves-so much so that we all welcomed their demise. But Lost-has not run its course. It is still just as puzzling and wonderful-even if it has changed each and season to something new and different from the other seasons-yet connected. I have applauded the creators for ending the show before it ages for the last three years-but now that the end is here-I hate it. I wish they had made full seasons of Lost these last few years-because clearly there are enough questions to answer.
I have had theories about what happens over the years about Lost-some not so far from the truth.
I am floating my final guesses out there before the finale to see if I get any right. Some of these I feel were the original intentions of the writers-or at least possibilities so tidbits were placed in various episodes "just in case." (I really really believe Rose and BErnard were supposed to be Adam and Eve on the island.
(Rock Star) Charlie is Desmond and Penny's son. (No surprise here-I have thought this for a year-it has to due with the baby being billed as "young Charlie" while other kids are just "johnny"). Of course time travel would be involved...but it isn't like Lost hasn't gone there already
Of course, I wrote a draft post before this weeks episode and naming Hurley as the Candidate-but of course I was wrong. but my rationale was: He has been the peace keeper throughout. Always making good decisions. Of course, Jack was always the leader-and I always said it was Jack-but thought it was too obvious...guess I was wrong.
Rose and Bernard let Desmond out of the well...or maybe Claire
The Man in Black's name is Esau. (although a friend says Aaron b/c he was raised my another, like Aaron)
Juliet is Jack's wife in the alternate reality...
Someone will stay on the island with (Jack). There has to be a balance of good and evil on the island for it to go on. I am thinking it will be Sayid...or Ben. Ben would be logical. But Sayid went in the water (ala Jacob's brother went in the water). Of course, it could stay Locke.
I think the finale will show that Locke was the Man in Black since the crash....He died in the crash...and the Man in Black possessed him....maybe over time...maybe right away...but THAT is why he could walk.
They say the last 10 seconds will blow our minds---I hope the last 10 seconds are a montage that ends with "we were just kidding See you next season"
Of all my "predictions" I hope the last one is true.
Because I don't want to say goodbye.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Bloggography Challenge-Focus
This weeks challenge was all about focus. you can read it here.
I didn't get a chance to take a bunch of photos-but I went to my Nephew's T-ball game. It was so cute to see a bunch of 5 year olds learning the game.
Here are my best shots:
The first 2 shots I practiced focus in action shots:
This last picture he directed me to get "the Thunder" (logo) on his hat and he wanted to hold up the piece of plastic he found in the outfield while playing. So cute.
I didn't get a chance to take a bunch of photos-but I went to my Nephew's T-ball game. It was so cute to see a bunch of 5 year olds learning the game.
Here are my best shots:
The first 2 shots I practiced focus in action shots:
This last picture he directed me to get "the Thunder" (logo) on his hat and he wanted to hold up the piece of plastic he found in the outfield while playing. So cute.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
End of Month update-April
I'm not sure why I am updating this month-it was a bad month for my goals. I don't know why, but the month flew by. I'm stressed and under motivated. Also, I apparently started watching waaaaaay too many tv shows this fall. It didn't become apparent when hubby came home from his internship because many shows were on hiatus. But now, they are all on (the same nights-which forces me to record at least one) and it's the Stanley cup playoffs-hockey is on and we watch all the games. Add in a weekend at my Mom's, a weekend without power and hubby's refusal to let me delete 10 hours of sports games from the DVR because he wants to record them (remember last month the DVD recorder broke-we can't afford a new one!!!!) and you have a DVR full of unwatched shows.
SO I am behind on some of my favorite shows. In reality, we are talking 5 or 6 hours of weekly TV shows here-not 20. I just can't find the viewing time. It's just tv which is no big deal--but right now it is my only source of entertainment because funds are tight. No worries, I will eventually catch up-the wonders of the internet and all. Maybe before next season starts (?????)
Adopt a child. (Become foster parent as part of process(?))
-No progress.
2) Exercise regularly
I bought shoes. I have worn them around the house. Once the rain goes away i will begin walking. I did lose some weight-which I have most likely regained.
3) Eat healthier
-This, I have done about 80% of the time this month.
4) Minimize the clutter in my house
-We still have not recovered from last month's rearrangement of the "junk room" into a bedroom. Next up: Cleaning the basement. i just need an entire sunny day when I don't have to do yard work.
5) Grow out my nails
-nope. however, I am working on decreasing the stress part of this issue
6) Pay off my own credit cards.
This is such an overwhelming task with a husband jobless and experiencing some health issues. Also, there are just things we MUST do-like take our dog to the vet when she got hurt, more vet bills for flea and heartworm meds, car repairs. We DO over spend at times. We DO eat out a few times (but this has reduced greatly). We DO do some fun things (we had free tickets to a Pirates game-but spent probably $40 on parking and food (hey we HAD to eat out-no power for an entire weekend!) but we are consciously trying to minimize all of this.
May WILL be better, right?
SO I am behind on some of my favorite shows. In reality, we are talking 5 or 6 hours of weekly TV shows here-not 20. I just can't find the viewing time. It's just tv which is no big deal--but right now it is my only source of entertainment because funds are tight. No worries, I will eventually catch up-the wonders of the internet and all. Maybe before next season starts (?????)
Adopt a child. (Become foster parent as part of process(?))
-No progress.
2) Exercise regularly
I bought shoes. I have worn them around the house. Once the rain goes away i will begin walking. I did lose some weight-which I have most likely regained.
3) Eat healthier
-This, I have done about 80% of the time this month.
4) Minimize the clutter in my house
-We still have not recovered from last month's rearrangement of the "junk room" into a bedroom. Next up: Cleaning the basement. i just need an entire sunny day when I don't have to do yard work.
5) Grow out my nails
-nope. however, I am working on decreasing the stress part of this issue
6) Pay off my own credit cards.
This is such an overwhelming task with a husband jobless and experiencing some health issues. Also, there are just things we MUST do-like take our dog to the vet when she got hurt, more vet bills for flea and heartworm meds, car repairs. We DO over spend at times. We DO eat out a few times (but this has reduced greatly). We DO do some fun things (we had free tickets to a Pirates game-but spent probably $40 on parking and food (hey we HAD to eat out-no power for an entire weekend!) but we are consciously trying to minimize all of this.
May WILL be better, right?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Best Lens Picture
This weeks Bloggography challenge was to take the best picture with any of your lenses. I have a Nikon D60 The standard lens that came with is is an 18mm-55mm, 1.3.5-5.6. It also has Vibration Reduction and Auto focus (which both can be turned on or off.) It is the kind of lens that does a little bit of everything. Right now it is the only lens I have right now (on my wish list is a zoom lens) and I love taking all different types of pictures with it.
I usually read the challenge and plan out my picture taking fro the weekend, which is what i did this time. Unfortunately, on Friday we were hit with a (15 minute) thunderstorm that knocked out our power until Sunday. Of course, the weather was dreary, cold and cloudy and I did not realize my battery needed charged. I did manage to take a few pictures one of the nights without power. Here is my favorite:
I love how "Love is in shadow in the background.
I usually read the challenge and plan out my picture taking fro the weekend, which is what i did this time. Unfortunately, on Friday we were hit with a (15 minute) thunderstorm that knocked out our power until Sunday. Of course, the weather was dreary, cold and cloudy and I did not realize my battery needed charged. I did manage to take a few pictures one of the nights without power. Here is my favorite:
ISO 1600, f 4.2, +1.3 EV
I love how "Love is in shadow in the background.
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