Climbing the Ladder

I tested to yellow belt in kung fu last night.

I was really nervous. I generally test well, but I also generally take tests that involve sitting and filling in little bubbles, not punching and kicking and jumping. So I messed up quite a lot, and I definitely don't feel like I did my best but it doesn't really matter because I passed and now I get to wear the shiny yellow belt instead of that totally tired white one. Awesome.

A Day Without Power Is Like...

I don't know what it's like, but it sucks.

We're approaching our 24th hour without power. I finally packed up the laptop and headed out on a wifi hunt.

I go to the library, where I know there's wifi - and it is closed. Because it, too, has no power. But there is someone surfing away outside, using the library's connection. How it is running without electricity I don't know, but I couldn't take advantage of it because we ran out the battery watching DVDs last night. I thought I was being clever when I plugged into an exterior outlet, only to feel like a jackass when I realized it wasn't working because - duh - the power is out.

So next I try Peet's. I couldn't even find an outlet there, but I did get warm and some coffee. Neither of which is available at home so it was still a definite improvement.

Finally, finally I find the solace that is Moonstruck and I find an outlet where I can recharge both the computer and the phone. And there's also some wifi to borrow (thanks, wifi provider!) and some more coffee. I may still look like I'm homeless, but at least I'm all re-teched.

Here's hoping they figure it out soon. I miss my lights.

But Is It a Stroke?

As a diabetic I've gotten used to hearing that I am xx% more likely to have (insert some other horrible disease or condition here) than a normal, non-diabetic person. Of course I'm scared of getting any one and/or all of these, but one that scares me marginally more than the others is the stroke. I think it is because I figure that once a person has a stroke that person sooner or later has to go into a store with the sole purpose of buying a scarf to cover their stroke face.

I very much want to avoid that shopping trip at any and all costs. Sometimes if I don't feel like working out I tell myself, "Fine. Don't go. Let's just schedule up that trip to the scarf store right now." This normally works.

So, this morning I'm at the dentist. Again. And the hygenist shoots me up with a lot of anesthetic in the lower left part of my mouth. After a few minutes she asks me if I'm numb and I wasn't really sure so I answered, "Sort of." So in she goes with the water thing and the scrapey thing, and it hurts some but not enough to admit that I might need another injection. This continues for another minute when my right eye starts to feel sort of funny. Like it's swollen or something. Then WHAM! the whole right side of my face goes totally numb and it feels like an old balloon that has lots its air and is all scrunched together.

I totally freak out. I think, "Oh god, it's happened. I've had the stroke." I completely fall apart, especially after the hygenist says, "No, it's impossible for your right side to be numb" when I want to hear: "Oh, this is perfectly normal. Happens all the time." When she finally believes that yes, I have absolutely no muscle control over half my face she hurries away for the dentist. That's definitely what you want to have happen. And back they come to discuss the "interestingness" of my situation. I feel a little better when the dentist explains that it is, indeed, possible for what is happening to be happening. Apparently I have a rare pattern of nerves. I guess if you have to have to a rare anatomical condition this one isn't so bad. Still, come on Universe...How about a rare condition that is very attractive and also makes me a lot of money? I'm not sure what that would be, but I'm pretty sure it's not my job to come up with the specifics, anyhow.

Anyway, you'll be happy to learn that I have dodged the scarf store bullet for another day. I can almost feel almost all of my face again. And any day when you can say that can't have been all that bad, can it?

December First Thursday

My first First Thursday went well, as I mentioned in an earlier post. My pieces looked the way I wanted them to, everyone was very nice and I met some great people. However, I was a nervous wreck from start to finish.

From the minute I got the first email from the curator to the end of that opening night I worried about - well, basically everything I could imagine going wrong I worried about. What can I say? I'm a worrier by nature. But, thankfully, nothing did go wrong. Everything was fine.

Now I'm happy to say that I've been invited back to the same gallery for December's First Thursday. I'll be in the main gallery again, this time for a group showing. It's going to be set up as a "You should consider buying art this holiday season" kind of show, with each artist showing 3-5 pieces priced under $100. It's a lot less stressful than the first show, so it will be nice to just let it be fun.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to put up this month. This month's show is all urban, street themed so I want to do something really different from that. Well, I have a little while to decide. I'll put up a link to the flyer when it gets a little closer to the opening night date for those who may be interested in checking it out.

The Holidays!

They're here again!

I've totally already got the Christmas spirit. It's awesome. I started decorating the house today. Our little fake tree is so pathetic, but we love it.

This is the first year we get to have Christmas in beautiful Oregon. We lived here last year, of course, but we were in California for Christmas, with family. I don't think I ever got the Christmas spirit in 2005. So sad. Stress sucks.

But this year I have Christmas planned to the hilt. Christmas ships, Christmas trolleys, Christmas trains, Trees, Tree lightings, Holiday Bazaars - you name it, we're getting our holidays on at it. It would be nice if snow made an appearance or two this season (*hint, hint*)

And so, for the first time in 2006 - *~* Happy Holidays, all! *~*

Please Vote

Here in OR we have the pleasure of voting whenever we damn well please. I voted today. Please vote. Thank you.

...Rain.

Well, First Thursday was definitely much more fun for me than First Friday.

It makes sense - if the rain is going to decrease the artsy traffic during a big event like First Thursday it's likely to completely decimate the decidedly smaller goings-on of First Friday. Still, I got the work out and showed it to some people. Met some nice artists. And that's what these artsier (versus markety) events are about for me right now.

Unfortunately, I had this blinding headache for hours last night. I'm sure that made me come off a big edgier than usual. Feeling a lot better today, just somewhat tired. I'm glad I have a few days to prepare for the next event, an Arts & Crafts Bazaar in Fairview. It is also the Bureau of Emergency Communication's 911 Awareness event, so it's nice to be supporting a good cause whilst peddling my wares.

Oh, good news, too - minutes ago I got an email...and I was accepted into the inaugural season of Portland's Sunday Art-Mart! Advertised as "Like the Saturday Market - only bigger!" it is going to run on Sundays from July through October. I've really wanted a regular event like this, so I am very happy!

Hours of Gallery Fun

The show last night went really well. I am exhausted today from so many hours of standing and chatting and being charming.

And it goes on - tonight I'm at Elemental Arts for First Friday (6035 SE Milwaukie for the locals) which should be fun - probably a little more low key than last night, but I'm not sure.

Not a lot of time to update, unfortunately. More tomorrow, I'm sure. Above and below are a couple of favorite pictures from last night.

Finally - First Thursday

Tonight's the night!

Last night the curator emailed me to let me know that if I wanted to I could write an "Artist's Statement" for the show. I couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound incredibly unoriginal or insanely pretentious so I think I'll just let the show ride on me saying things like, "I take pictures. I like taking pictures. Do you like my pictures?"

Last night I attended a Flickr meetup. (I would say something like, "Oh my god I'm such a nerd!" but I hate when people say that so I won't.) It was my first real life gathering of photographers - it was pretty neat seeing the range of equipment people would drag out in the rain to show off. Some awesome digital SLRs, some film gear I had no idea about, and even a pinhole camera made out of a paint can.

I've read about how there is this photography movement that is reacting to the increasing level of technology with each passing generation of digital cameras by becoming increasingly low-tech. Lots of pinhole cameras, holgas, lomos, etc. There were definitely people at the meetup last night that fit that bill.

I'm glad I went. I made some new camera friends, and a few even said they would try and make it to the opening tonight. I hope to see some bright and shiny blogger faces there as well! Come on - it'll be fun!

A Few More Details

Here's the flyer for the First Thursday show!

I'm framing the last of the pieces today and hopefully will deliver them tomorrow. I'm getting a little bit more excited than nervous. A little bit.

WOW!

Well, I said "soon" but this is sooner than I thought -

I just got my first show - and it's a month long - in the Pearl District!

I almost literally can't believe it. I'll be showing 10 pieces. The show will open at First Thursday on November 2nd and remain up for the entire month of November.

It's a two person show. The other artist is Marshall Stokes.

The gallery is at NW 14th and Irving. Those of you in the area - I hope you can make it to First Thursday or at another time during the month.

This is just so freaking awesome. I love my life.

Hello!

Well, I realize I haven't posted in quite awhile. I've been busy getting some new things started, and also quite a bit of time at the dentist.

Speaking of dentists - if you are in the Portland area and are looking for a really great dentist I've got a fantastic recommendation for you - Dr. Maggie Anderson. I have had really horrible experiences with dentists and this has led to a lot of anxiety surrounding dentist visits. Dr. Anderson and her staff have been so patient during my many recent visits - and now my teeth are healthy and look great! I can't tell you what a relief it is to have this problem fixed.

Onto a more fun subject - I'm still focused on my photography, and things have been moving along. My new website is up and running, with many thanks to Jason (the sweetest, hardest working husband in the whole wide world,) and I should have some events and things to tell you about soon. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Oh, and we finally joined kung fu! After a long time looking and trying to fit it into schedules we are finally in a class. It meets three times per week for two hours a night, and an additional fourth night is Tai Chi. So far I love it!

Life Is Good

The happy couple loved the wedding pictures. They even gave me a very nice tip after the viewing. I am just so thrilled to be making money doing something I love, I can't even tell you.

A Few Favorites

After careful selection and editing I have 292 photos to present to the happy couple tonight, on their one week anniversary.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Ten Hours Later...

I can now never say I haven't ever shot a wedding again!

It was long - I've been shooting since this morning at 7am and the reception ended at 5 - but I'm happy with the initial results. Total pictures taken: 1037 (with another couple hundred at the rehearsal last night.) I'll let you know how many survive the editing process.

Pictures to come. For now I'm going to eat a ton of junk food in my sweat pants and watch 6 episodes of Lost in a row with Jason. That is damn good TV.

Wedding Plans

I met with the wedding couple this weekend and we came up with a plan of action for the big day. It's going to be long, but it should be a lot of fun!

First thing in the morning I'm going over to their home to record the all-important bride prep. After she's all wedding-ready we're caravaning the couple plus about 15 relatives to the shoot location to do the majority of the photos. This shoot will actually take place before the ceremony, due to logistical necessity.

The best part is the shoot location. We decided, since neither the church nor the reception location would make great backdrops for pictures, to choose a third location for the main shoot. Being in Portland there are many beautiful locations to choose from. Happily, we ended up picking one of my favorite places: The International Rose Test Gardens!

So we'll have a couple of hours to spend there before heading to the church where the pastor (not being a religious person I don't know if this is the correct term. The church guy.) has given strict instructions. I'm only to take a few shots during the actual ceremony. The "important moments." So we decided on each member of the bridal party's entrance, the bride's entrance (of course!), the rings, the kiss and the couple's departure.

And the last segment of the day will be the reception which will last for a few hours. There I'll take the cake cutting, bouquet tossing, toasts and lots of candids while Jason makes awkward small talk with the couple's relatives. And that will be that!

This Week

To all the four and a half people who read this:

I want to go somewhere really amazing for a daytrip this week. Can you suggest a destination, ideally within a couple of hours drive time from Portland? It can be anything - urban, hiking, inside, outside, I just want to see something new and spectacular.

Can you help with suggestions?

Our People

We've got ourselves some people. Real Estate Agent lady and Mortgage Broker guy, to be more specific.

Our current plan is to get into a little condo or townhouse in an area we can afford, then upgrade in 2-3 years. We're looking in Lake Oswego, a few other areas around Portland, and Vancouver (Washington, not BC, although I would be thrilled to live there someday.)

We are really pretty flexible about this first place. We want it to be light (or at least not dark,) clean, and in a relatively safe area that is on good bus lines and is not too far from Jason's work. Ideally Jason will be able to finally take the bus himself, or even walk if we end up in Vancouver.

So, this is the beginning of our home-buying adventures. Stay tuned for the next exciting installment!

PDX, I Love You

Back from my trip, which will forever be known officially as my "Parenting Boot Camp."

Trauma, drama - the last 10 days had it all. The good news is: my sister is almost fully recovered and her husband is back in the good old US of A. And I am back here, in my wonderful beautiful Oregon on my fantastic couch with my cutie dog. I may never leave again!

Oh, except for on the 16th when - you'll never believe it - I'm shooting a wedding. Me. Yes, I'm serious. Oh. My. I'm totally excited and totally terrified!

Okay, I have to go be around all of my stuff now, and get re-acquainted with TiVo. I'll leave you with my favorite shot from my trip:

Last Minute Trip

I'm heading back to Colorado tomorrow to help out my sister. She's been sick, and has also been entertaining relatives for months. She so deserves a break.

I'll be back around the 7th, hopefully with lots of nice CO pictures. Speaking of pictures, I'm kicking the photography thing up a notch or two. I hesitate to say too much at this point because it's all just getting started. So I'll just say I'm really happy and leave it at that for now.

Sadly I'm going to miss my window of opportunity to climb the volcano. I'm very disappointed. Very, very. But I know that it is the right thing to do to go back to Colorado and help out my family. And I know the volcano will still be there when I get back. Maybe we can manage to get our hands on a few more permits later in the season.

In happier news, Jason and I have started to look for our first home! If anyone has a great real estate agent in Oregon to recommend, please do. We looked at the cutest townhome in LO yesterday. I really didn't think I would be happy with anything but a stand-alone home but I would be thrilled if we ended up in something like this. One floor was one big open room that was half kitchen and half entertaining area. I would love a big, open kitchen, with hardwood floors and lots of light. The next level up was two bedrooms - a good sized office/guest room and a nice large master bedroom. Both had lots of light and interesting windows. Also interesting was another flight of stairs that ran from the master bedroom up into a large loft area that could act as another workspace or living area. I could go on and on. But I won't, except to say that I can't wait to own. Renting sucks.