mural art

On a building in the lyn-lake area.

WOW

I saw this guy the other day and pulled over and took a photo for you guys. He was doing a good job I thought anyway.

pop

So I thought I had my life sorta figured out. However before the i's were dotted and t's crossed I let it slip out to the wrong people. It is now squashed or popped. With hurts like heck considering it too me years to take the leap to do it and now I'm back to square one. I was so looking to the new year with a fresh start, now I'm just frustrated, angry, hurt and have walls back up. Not to mention the blow to my confidence.

It is times like this I really miss Joe, he was always my #1 supporter no matter what it was.

The good news is that I'm back to myself if I can feel things not being numb anymore.

peace

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Not sure who this is by but it was a favorite of Maria Shriver. I found it when I was cleaning my desk along with some other nice words.

quote for the day

"Run away from toxic people. Instead, surround yourself with others who are positive, who support you and want you to succeed."

This is something I really believe in - however lately I have been struggling with it...someone in my life makes me feel like crap with I'm with them and 2 times now has said really bad things to me. No matter what I do or say I'm not good enough for them. Sometimes I actually believe they wish it was me who died instead of Joe. I know they would totally treat him different them they treat me. I'm trying to weigh the pros with the cons to see if I should still put up with there crap. That is all for now just need to vent.

rocks

This is another one from hawaii - I changed it to black/white with a heavy grain effect. I'm thinking I should make copies of these and put it on my fence to keep my neighbors from putting up lights on it.

surfer girl

here is my attempt to work with my NIK software. If you can believe it I did a dynamic skin tone smother on her and did a contrast only filter with a darker and lighten center and edges. I forgot I also did a detail extractor on her to bring out more detail in the reflection of the sunglasses.

I don't think you can see all of that on this little photo, on my screen you can tell.

Her skin was a major improvement - one reason not to live in hawaii - nobody that lived there had nice skin it was all gross and leather like.

it is ok for my first try I guess

software

Today I just did my first web - go to meeting. I have bought some new software for my computer to work on my photos and need to learn about it now. I am a big fan of the nik software, just what I have seen anyway. Don't get me wrong I'm still a HUGE purist photographer and don't believe in make adjustments to the photos. To me that is not photography.

I have another one scheduled tomorrow so maybe this weekend I will work on some of my photos and share them with you.

love thy neighbor??

I need suggestions. My neighbors have copied my fence - asked to put there the front of there fence on my property, painted the other side of my fence cause I wasn't going to and now want to put up lights on the the other side of my fence cause they like mine.

What i gave in last night because this is the 3rd time they asked but I'm leaving a note to say no i need more time. I even gave them suggestions as to what to do with there lights.

help me!!!!!! I like my fence and light cause they are different. Miss Jilaine this is not the same as your neighbor copying you....continuing your landscape into there yard looks nice and if they did something different it would look weird. Like the neighbors on the other side.

I could always take it down...oh I forgot I own 12 inches on the other side of my fence and the guy plays soccer and bang the ball into my fence or over the fence.

Belgium

My heart has been with my little crazy country Belgium lately...3 years ago we left there for LA with the thought that we would be in LA for 3 years.

Yesterday a friend of mine that lived in brussels sent me a photo of my house that they took before leaving this year. It was a blue sky day with no car parked on the street...but it was half of my house and half of the neighbors. Oh well what can I do but go back some day and take my own.

this morning I was watching the new and heard this terrible news.

A gun and grenade attack in the centre of the Belgian city of Liege has killed at least two people and wounded 47 including a toddler, media say.

Witnesses say a man in his 40s threw grenades at a bus stop in Place Saint Lambert, a busy square. At least two other men are thought to be involved.

Reports say one of the attackers is among the dead. Local media say another has been detained, while a third is involved in a stand-off with police.

It is not clear who the attackers are.

There are reports of a fourth man escaping the scene.

TV images showed blood splattered across the cobblestones.

Medical staff are said to be attending to some of the injured in the courthouse.

Seven of them are in a serious condition, and doctors at a city hospital are trying to save the life of an 18-month-old boy injured in the attack.

Roads into the centre of the city have been sealed off. Police helicopters are hovering overhead and explosives experts are on their way to the square.

A TV report said many shops in the city centre had closed their doors, with customers trapped inside.

Place Saint Lambert is a busy intersection, served by hundreds of buses daily. It hosts an annual Christmas market which attracts some 1.5 million visitors a year.

Summer time

Anyone free to join me for fun...In june I have 5 twins games and in july I have 2 concerts and 3 games (which I might sell) with a concert and 3 games in august.

cactus

My cactus is flowering. Which is amazing considering I have been neglecting it for the last 12 months. It was outside from may till mid november (dog sitter brought it in cause she was worried about it) I never water it (thank god it is a cactus). So with doing nothing with it this is what happens. You can see there are other buds coming too, I will keep you posted.

winter

I'm not sure where the past year went. I don't even know where the spring or summer went. Now winter is here and I'm not ready. I believe the past two winter I was still in a fog. The first one back I never left the house I was just with Ana inside trying to work with her. Last year all I did was shovel and shovel and didn't notice my winter outwear cause all I wore was my snowpants. Now the fog has lifted and I looked at my winter stuff and went what the heck.

My boots from last year were all ripped, jackets need help and I didn't have any warm mittens or hats (stylist ones anyway the ones to shovel and snowblow yes cute no)

The past 3 days I have been trying to find a jacket, mitten hat what ever and found a few things. But does nobody believe in warm scarf anymore???? Not to mention that warm stylish clothes are expensive.

Thanks I feel better now for venting.

new computer/softward

I got my new computer all set up, however I didn't get my new desk organized yet. I have been playing with all my new photo software. My head is going to explode trying to figure this stuff out. Here is one that I did play with.

Not only do I have to export all my photos to lightroom - I ordered the wrong photo shop - but I have 3 web casts set up for the NIK software I got.

When ever I pick a school to go to watch out world here I come...

Oh Christmas Trees

This year I did something different, you know I like to change things up sometimes. I got 3 trees that are 3 ft tall and put them on my buffet. It takes up less room and too less time to get all set up.

Tis the season for a little sparkle

Taken with my flash tips from my trip

treadmill

Yesterday at the gym I almost feel off the treadmill...why you ask. I have had my eye on this guy in the gym for a couple months now. He always pop ups from no where, and yesterday he popped out of now where looking really good and caught me off guard - lost my concentration and almost fell.

Yes I know I'm crazy -

flowers

The reverse of my other photo trip, no animals to photograph on Kauai. The challenge here was sometimes the wind or rain was so strong it was hard to get the flowers to stay still (or use high shutter speed).

This one was taken with my new iphone

cars and etc...

Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving. My clarisonic face brush broke last week and I went 5 day with out it. It felt like I have an inch of dirt on my face by thursday morning when I had a new fully charged one. That was added to my list of what I was thankful for.

I also found out that the monday after thanksgiving is the best time to bring your car in for repair. I had to take both cars in (there dash boards were light up like a christmas tree with all the warning lights) to get fixed. I have been putting it off for a long time. I was in and out like that - however my one car had to stay over and need some work done. Hopefully I will get it back today.

The other thing I discovered this past week - it was packed at the gym on wednesday and friday just a fyi next year to keep in mind.

My parents and I also on thanksgiving day drove down nicollett mall! I guess on thanksgiving from 6-10 pm you can drive up and down the street. It was fun to do - however the girls were barking like crazy - i believe they knew that they were not suppose to be on it.

classic

I believe that these two photos say classic Hawaii! Just looking at either of them you would know you were in paradise.

We were suppose to be taking photos of the sunset but this shot was just begging to be taken.

One of the many hula girls I got. We had 6 girls that came and posed for us them we each got one to pose how we wanted. FYI it was cold and raining when this was taken...it was taken with flashes set up on her face to give that sunlight effect. The flash stuff I learned on this trip was amazing. (the pro photographer was holding the flash for me)

zip line

OK here they finally are - the photos of me zip lining. I will have to download the video later - major computer issues here that need to be figured out today cause it is getting worst the longer I put it off.

One hint - don't wear white when zip lining. You get grease from the clips and smells from the harness on you. Not to mention it poured inbetween lines.

getting my harness tighted

Getting clipped

Just got done repelling backwards over the waterwall

Going down the easiest zip line - which I did last, which made it really easy after the backwards one and jumping off a really high platform.

Last saturday I drove around taking photos of some murals around my neighborhood. This one I was watching them make and saw it before I left. I guess I wasn't suppose to see it yet...

Sorry no hawaii pics - I'm exhausted and knew I couldn't write a good blog on the photo. I don't know how I am always so busy but now but this week really was bad. Not to mention I'm still tired from the time zone change.

I'm also trying to decided to go back to school where and what I'm not too sure yet. I mean my dream I would like UCLA or UC - Davis.

Have a good weekend.

rooster

Kaua'i is full of roosters! They are running all over the island. They said the hurricane's are to blame - when it came there chicken coops blew over and they all got loose and the rest is history.

I wanted to get a couple good photos of them - however they don't like to have there picturce taken. Not to mention the pro's with use didn't like that we were taking photos of rooster. Oh well that is too back I took a ton and this is one of the best ones.

I have a couple of them crossing the road...insert your own joke there.

Surfer Dudes

On my trip they arranged for surfers to model for us. I think that they were looking at some of those waves thinking man I'm missing some good ones.

The first couple I think the background looks kind a fake but we were really on a beach doing a photo shoot. Hard to believe that I took some of these photos.

rain

As usual my vacation was full of rain...on the other hand I have never seen so many rainbows in my life! I now know why they have rainbows on the license plates.

Aloha

I'm back from Kauai, Hawaii! I went on another photo trip - this time with Nikon. It was good except for the weather. It rained every day - one day we were totally rained out.

I'm working on the photos and will upload them as soon as I can -

gone shooting

My horscope for today...It may be that you've come back deeply changed from a long voyage. Of course, travel changes everyone to some extent, but in your case, the change is more profound. You're going to have a problem getting back into your old life. It may feel too limiting for you. So what are you waiting for? Change it

More blogs coming november 14 ;)

sick

My products that I used to stop from getting really sick. the coldcalm really worked...ok my crazy dog just ripped the scrunchi out of my hair as I'm writing this.

juicer

I got a juicer and i'm not afraid to use it!

home

This is what it is like when I come home from some where - i used my new phone to take the video. sorry it is upside down, side wise and somewhat 3d. My dogs are a little crazy.

hairy

At the party I also had wax mustaches - grape flavor if you were wondering. This is what Jenn and I would look like if we had them :)

halloween party pics

This year for my halloween party the theme was dress as a song title. Here are some photos from the night. It was a good night

Yummy food truck

"Yellow" sometime I had my submarine sandwich so then I was Yellow submarine and fat bottom girls

Singing in the rain and Anna can't remember the song she is dressed like

In the navy and jail house rock

I don't remember what matt was but running on empty and itsy bitsy spider

truck

My interesting neighbor across the street the other dragged this truck out from his yard...I never knew that it was even in his yard.
I just wonder what else is hiding in there???

jobs

Has anyone else heard that the price of peanut butter will go up 40%? I have the girls now looking for a job. We go through a jar of peanut butter every week and half.

With this price increase Joe might have let us start eating jiff again. He made foxy and I change to peanut butter that only had peanuts as the only ingredient in it - that means nothing else. Which means that it is healthy so it is more expensive than regular peanut butter. (of course being healthy is expensive who would have thought)

paddle board

Tough choice - surfing lesson, helicopter ride or paddle board lessons hmmm. I booked the paddle board lesson, I figure this is something I can do again here. There is still time to do surfing lesson later.

costume

it's almost that time again to wear costumes. I believe I'm the only one who doesn't like to dress slutty that day. I figure you can dress that way 364 day but on you can't wear a evening dress or fancy dress every day with out being stared at :) slutty dressing you can see that every day and not think twice about it.

gum

I saw this the other day at whole foods - it is the same brand that Ana use to get for her stress. I will give it a try and let you know if it works.

cleaning solution

Since I share my room freshener here is my new cleaning product...

add 3-4 teaspoons of tea tree oil to a 1/2 gallon of lukewarm water and then add 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda.

This is what I do for my counter top or general cleaning in a spray bottle...

16 oz water

3-4 drops of tea tree oil

splash of white vinegar

little baking soda

For my wood floors I mix this up and spray it on the floor then wipe it up.

16 oz warm water

1/2 teaspoon liquid soap

1/2 teaspoon borax

squeeze of lemon or splash of vinegar

Happy Cleaning!!!

keep colds away

I found this tip in a magazine and thought I would give it a try - since I like to share tips here you go...(also the lady next to me on the plane keep sneezing on me with out cover her face)

To fight off colds, make an antiseptic air freshener. Combine ten drops of lavender or rosemary oil with four ounces of water and put it in a spray bottle. tip by tieraona low dog, MD

chi town

Last week I went to chicago with my mom to see my friends.

equator

Late post...last friday I meant to do this but oh well...this is the equator line and last friday the sun was directly over this spot in Equador. You have no shadow for a couple minutes when this happens. Also if you stand directly on the line the way the gravity works there is you are 2kilograms lighter. This photo was taken by the photographer that was on the trip with us.

I know you are all love my zip off pants.

this is for what?

This is my mess of keys. I have Joe's parents cabin keys, the van keys to the moving guys in belgium, Joe's office keys to the office in LA and I found one key to his bronco that we sold before we went to Belgium.

The sad part is I didn't get rid of any of them...I still have this mess in my cabinet.

jobs

I finally have my resume done! I got an offer yesterday that I think I will turn down and a lead on my old job at fingerhut.

Now do I want to go back to my old stressful life or do I want to totally start over here or somewhere else??? Do I want comfort of what I know or to experience something new and exciting???

coffee?

next best thing to my seoul mate...I know some of you are smiling right now.

This was a present from Tiff & Scott-thanks guys

hawaii

I decided I'm going on another photo trip in November...I really want to go to LA for some reason but I found this description of the photographer leading the trip.

inspired by legendary photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson, Lucas Gilman has traveled across the globe searching for the decisive moments that make his photos so unique. Gilman is Ansel Adams crossed with Vin Diesel; he shoots stunning scenic shots with a splash of action. With clients like National Geographic and the New York Times.

No comment from me on the Vin Diesel part :)

eight

Eight years ago many of you were with me on a perfect night in Minneapolis. Eight years ago there was a celebration with blue champagne. Eight years ago I thought I would have had my best friend by my side forever.

I didn't know

I wasn't going to blog on this 10th annivsery of 9/11 - because I thought there would be enough stuff on it. Then I thought I would post this email I got from meet up - it is a group that I found last August when I was fed up with being home all the time. I have done fun things with them and next spring/summer plan on joining the paddle board club. I have a special spot for NYC which you all know but never knew about this connection.

Fellow Meetuppers,

I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is
special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
hoped they wouldn't bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and
grow local communities?

We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make
people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one
thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's
powerful stuff.

It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks
to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
weren't for 9/11.

9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to
strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new
community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started
with these Meetups.

acupuncture

Yesterday I had a good session. I tried cupping?? she rubbed a glass cup thing (suctioned) on my back it felt weird but after and still today is feels good. It is for circulation - the down side I have little hickeys on my back from the suction.

Also I don't recommend sneezing when you stomach is full of needles. Oh that hurts!

cheers!

Sunday night I thought it would be good to have some family from out of town over for pizza...well somehow Jodi and another one of my friends polished off most of these bottles wine after the pizza.

shoes

I have always wondered about these shoes. I know people that have them and like them however with my small feet I never thought I could have them. I found a store that had them in kids sizes (usually kids don't fit me).

It takes a little while to get my toes into the right spot off. I used them to walk the girls yesterday and the felt good. I will keep you post as to how it works out then I exercise with them on.

nice though

You are going to change anyway over time so make it the way you want.

I couldn't say it any better myself - that was a quote I found on cameron alborzian website.

passport

Yesterday I was all dressed up and had makeup on for a funeral I went to, so afterwards I decided to get my passport photos taken since it expires in feb. They look so much better than my ones 10 years ago. It might have been the camera cause I look totally round face and fluffy. So much so that people customs agents and embassy workers have not believe that it was me - some even commented that I lost a lot of weight. That is how bad it was :)

You know when I said partners push us... I would never would have had that passport if Joe and I were not thinking of going to paris for the tour de france when we were dating. We never did go but my first stamp in it was from our honeymoon in Aruba. Not to mention every stamp after that until he died was with him.

It is sad that it is expiring, it is just another thing I have to start over with.

gym

Yesterday some how my quiet day at the gym turnout crazy. After Pilates I hung out with my friend Anna from brazil. We did stair master and treadmill. As you know Anna is a little out there. She had on a see through yellow t-shirt on and no bra - she has enhanced top half. Oh the stares we got.

Then we saw this girl that has an eating issue - she is skinner than me if you can believe that - her stomach it totally swollen that is how I know she is not just like me. Any way Anna knew her and then when i was leaving she was parked next to me and we talked or she talked to me I should say. She was actually question my eating habits and the last time I was at the doc. She said she is working on nutrition and gaining weight - which is a load of crap because she does hours and hours on the treadmill and elliptical. That does not get muscle that make you lose weight.

Then I ran into her at whole foods and she was totally looking in my cart. I however could not see in her basket.

giggle

Have a giggle today

Anna

I have this new friend Anna - she is in my pilates class and I call her my Brazillian bomb shell. She is the same one that is 40 and engaged to a 29 year old guy. (who I have now met and he is really nice and good to her)

Last wednesday we went for lunch and then a walk. She is so insightful I just love asking her life questions. This one thing made a lot of sense to me.

Partners push us to make us better - that is why we need them and should not be alone. I got to thinking about this I alway knew that I made Joe a better person and vice versa. Then I thought about the dates I have been on since November. The ones I have liked and most of the ones this go around have made me push myself. example one made me motivated to get joe's frequent flyer miles in my account. One has made me take a bike ride and I'm still working on getting other paper work done. I would have not done any of these things with out a little push. It is different than a friend pushing you.

More from out walk later...

Adventure

Lately I have been asked if I'm adventurous. Or what adventurous thing have you done? Well I always thought meant crazy outdoor stuff, not sure why but I did. So I never thought I was adventours cause I don't want to jump out a plane or camp :)

Even though lately people called me that word I just never thought it was me.

Definition of ADVENTUROUS

1 a : disposed to seek adventure or to cope with the new and unknown
b : innovative

2: characterized by unknown dangers and risks
— ad·ven·tur·ous·ly adverb
— ad·ven·tur·ous·ness noun

After reading the definition of the word - I believe I'm the most adventurous person! take that you people that jump out of planes - that only last a little while however my life is one be adventure daily.

Let think I traveled LA, NYC and europe alone (unknow dangers and risks)

Dating (new and unknown with dangers and risks)

Fashion (innovative)

day to day life (ADVENTUROUS)

Maybe that is why I have never had the urge to be crazy adventurous I have enough on a daily basis. Relaxing for me is my for me of the unknown and dangerous and that scares the crap out of me.

So the next time some asks you "are you adventurous" you can think outside the box.

new band

I just saw this band on Saturday! Love them!

what did you say...

So the cat is out of the bag and I have been trying to date again since mid July. I went out on a date with a guy that is a little more fluffy than I like. I told one of my very supportive friends (most are which is a good thing according to research the more supportive your love ones are the more successful the experience will be-example if they are not you don't pick good guys) She said "you have worked so hard on your body the past 2 years you deserve someone that is good to their body too". I never thought about it like that - I was thinking i was being picky but why settle for less than I deserve.

boating

Last week the girls and I went to the cabin. They love the cabin and boat rides who knew!!! I just hoped that they didn't jump out.