"Cat's Eye View"

When I found all 3 of my fur babies in the same vicinity, I had to try to get them into today's photograph.  I had hoped to take one closer to Lulu but I couldn't get the lighting correct.   Luckily, I was able to get the point across from a slightly different angle.   

"Pride"

Today my daughter was inducted into the National Honor Society for the second time.   She was originally inducted as a junior and continued with her membership this year.   Tonight she spoke eloquently and with maturity when speaking of her mentor, a literary teacher who has inspired her to become an English teacher.    I couldn't be prouder of my young lady and I look forward to seeing her life unfold for her.   

"Sweet Dreams"

Today has been quite busy.   I entered a local art contest to find this years telephone book cover.  I was able to submit two enteries. 

  1. "Curves" & 2. "In the Eye"   So everyone cross fingers & say prayers and we will know by the end I next week....I'll let u know if I hear back :).  

All that being said, I hope u enjoy "Sweet Dreams" 

"Enlightenment"

I thought this was pretty.   

"Catnap"

Lulu has taken the pillows I made for our bed and turned them into her own thrones.  I think today's caption explains it all...."Catnap" 

"New Dawn"

This morning I was up early as my sweetie got ready to go to see an outdoor Rangers game at Yankee Stadium.  I've been filled with bittersweet mixed emotions.   Greg started taking me to hockey games when we started dating. 

  I had only been to one game in my life and that was a high school trip to see the Islanders.  I screamed for blood and truth be told, I scared myself with my reaction and never went to nor watched another game.

Till Greg!  I found that even though I still had a bit of bloodthirst in me, I realized as an adult, I can handle the emotion.  He was able to procure tickets to several Rangers games and I loved going.   I also have a great sweet friend who gets even more bloodthirsty than myself and it's even more shocking because she's such a gentle person.  Poor woman is a Devils fan though!  But I get it 100%(the bloodthirst not the Devils) !  

At this point though, Fibromyalgia has taken that away from me too.  At least the live games, unless we get seats that come with a couch for me to lie down on.      Irony or ironies, my friend can't go either due to her own health issues.   Heartbreakingly, her issues are life threatening  as mine are just life altering.   

So yeah, though I was extremely excited and happy that Greg got to go today, I was also very sad and reminiscing to our early years.   

This all ties into today's photograph because as I was watching Greg get ready there was a beautiful bright sunny winters day(ironically again, delay of start of game due to sun glare).  So please enjoy today's photograph as I keep things in perspective while enjoying the beauty that surrounds me!   

"Exuberance"

#project365

January 25,3014 

"Exuberance"  

I just realized that I never completed the posting of this photograph yesterday.  The good news is that this sweet girl was captured yesterday while picking up Roxie's new diet making it well within the parameters of the project.    

Our dog, Roxie, has been recently diagnosed with pancreatitis.   All we can do at this point is treat the symptoms with a complete diet change.   So we tend to spend much more time than we used too in the pet food store.  Resulting in getting to admire other peoples puppies! (I spent a good deal of time trying to convince Greg to get me a puppy....even stooped to using the tumor to try to get it....all to no avail ...so now I puppy covet).    

Enjoy! 

"Mysterious"

Enjoy the mystery of "Mysterious"!   

"Wishes"

I really like today's photograph. Personally, I make a wish every time I blow out any candle but at the same time, because I've been doing it since I was a child, I don't believe the wishes will come true.   It's like the wishing well.   It's very pretty and a nice thought but the truth is that it's just sitting there to cover a piece of metal so we don't expect that the wishes will come true.   

Occasionally, a wish will come true.  And that makes it even more special because u don't expect it.   So enjoy today's "Wishes". ....go ahead and make one...u never know which way it will go! :) 

"Simply Love"

Today's photograph is dedicated to all those pets out there that are in need of adopting.  Roxie and her sisters were rescued from a kill shelter in a low populated area down south.   They were born in the shelter and along with their mother, would have been put to sleep if not rescued within 2 days from when the agency picked them up.  She is a wonderfully sweet baby girl.   I admit that we spoil her but how can u resist that face.  All she wants is to be close to us.  

So with all the love in the world I present ......."Simply Love" 

Headache

KI've had a migraine for 3 days now.  The picture I took today isn't worth posting but I did take one.   I'm going to share an older one so u don't miss out 

January 20,2014

I enjoyed the way the leftover snow covered the cobblestones.  Please enjoy today's photograph. 

"Encircled"

I'm the type of person who through the years has struggled with my self image just like everyone else. 

  In high school, I was plagued by the idea of gaining weight and became anorexic.  I would go to the school nurse twice a day and get on the scale.  If I weighed more than a ridiculously low amount, I would not eat or eat as small amount of food as possible.  Granted, it was never about food.  It was about control.  I could control what I did or did not eat and/or how much I weighed.  

My ex knew exactly what things I disliked about myself and purposely would not only point them out but exaggerate who bad they were.  

It took leaving him and becoming a cocktail waitress in Atlantic City for me to learn to appreciate myself. 

Truthfully though, there is always something that you can find that you don't like about yourself. The hardest thing to do is to ignore that inner bitch who will pick you apart and learn to reinforce the kind voice that speaks lovingly to us.  Make a point of accepting that no one is perfect but there are things about ourselves that we do LOVE! Dwell upon your positives! Be your own cheerleader!  

Today's photo is of something I noticed about myself that I have learned to truly love....My curls.  

Enjoy "Encircled" 

"Curve"

Life is a series of curves that we are forced to navigate in order to survive.  Some curves are hiding beautiful surprises like the birth of my children.  Some are ugly and dangerous as a black ice covered road in the middle of a blizzard like my ex-marraige.  The truth of the matter though is that most curves are a little or even a lot of both.  If I hadn't  driven down that black ice covered road in the middle of the blizzard, I wouldn't have found the beautiful gift of having my children.   Life is a series of balancing the slippery dangerous curves with the surprisingly beautiful ones.  No one ever said it was going to be easy.    Please enjoy today's "Curve" 

"Spin Doctor"

I haven't been feeling my best lately and it has been affecting my ability to express myself clearly much of the time.    This can be extremely frustrating, especially when dealing with a hormone filled angry young woman who is dying to spread her wings and fly.....and I represent the exact opposite of everything she wants right now.    I keep breathing, do my best not to lose my temper and stay tempered, remind myself that I have to set the example and make sure I tell her I love her everyday.....especially on the days when she insults me and treats me like I am the supreme enemy....I must be really dangerous....the lady who can barely walk some days and barely speak a sentence that makes sense.  

Ok.  So I was a little frustrated today but in the end, I handled things in a manner that I can be proud of and again told her that I love her.   

So without further ado, I present : 

"Spin Doctor" 

"Haunted Nest"

Today's photograph is the nest that haunts Thomas' dreams......

"Watching You

I woke early this morning after actually having a pretty good nights rest.  As I lie In bed just resting before diving head first  into some things I'm dealing with (like still dealing with my HP problem....more to come....) Thomas climbed up into the window as I was taking pictures of a birds nest.   As the name suggests: 

"Watching You" 

"In the Eye"

"In the Eye" was taken today when my favorite little troublemaker was posing next to the flowers that Greg brought home for me today! 

Depending on who u speak with, Lulu has been known as a complete innocent sweetheart as well as being given the nickname of "the demon cat".  I personally find her to be both depending on her mood but no matter her mood I love her :) 

"Cuddles"

Early this morning, I stumbled across Roxie and Thomas cuddling.   Enjoy today's project !   

"Cuddling" 

Happy Birthday Alissa!

Looking back over the years, I remember my daughter as that sweet little stubborn girl who loved hugs and having her picture taken.   Today, 18 years later I see  a beautiful, stubborn, intelligent, driven young woman!  She has goals in her life and a plan on how to get there.   She's built up a bit of a wall to protect herself from getting hurt but even though she hates to admit it....she still loves hugs!   Happy 18th birthday!   I dedicate today's photograph to her!  

"Picnic Anyone"

Today's photograph was taken during a recent snow storm.   I needed to edit it today.  

I'm picturing us all sitting around it since the weather keeps yoyoing.  

Enjoy "Picnic Anyone?" 

"Afterglow"

Today still counts as January 10,2014 since I haven't gone to bed yet :).  "Afterglow" is my homage to the Christmas lights that longer long after the holiday.  I personally love leaving the lights and tree up as long as possible.  One year we kept the tree up and changed out the ornaments as the holidays changed(hearts, Valentines day ; clovers, St Patty's day ; eggs, Easter).  But alas , my sweetie likes the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and down New Years Day.  This year I feel bittersweet about the decorations.   2013 was a really hard year.   Both my sweetie and myself find ourselves in pain.   So the decorations stay up as I can't help him take them down.   But I like them up.  And he knows this....so maybe he hasn't taken them down because his enjoyment of them is stronger than his compulsion for order .....not such a bad thing :). 

"Mine"

January 9,2014.  

Been a pretty busy exhausting day....I almost fell asleep before posting this photo.   I caught Lulu coveting Roxie's bone and was able to quickly snap this pic before Roxie caught her.   This is the story behind "Mine". 

Enjoy! 

"Happy Dayz"

I stumbled across today's pic while in my daughters room.   I don't know exactly how it came to be but enjoy this carpet smily face, I did :). 

"Winter Break"

Yesterday was a bit of a winter break as the temperatures in the area went into the upper 40's.  In doing so, all the snow from "Hercules" melted except for these little patches around the walkway where snow had been shoveled into a larger pile than occurred from the storm.   The temperature has subsequently dropped about 50 degrees.   The irony of today's selection is that it was taken today as I shivered my way back from the mailbox.  

January 7, 2014 "Winter Break"

"Illuminate"

Good evening!   As promised, I am here yet again today :).   It's late so without further adieu ;    May I present "Illuminate" 

January 5, 2014 "Monkey Business"

Thank you for your patience dear reader.  Today was another long day.  My wonderful pup, Roxie, was ill again last night and through this morning.  She was sick a couple of weeks ago, recovered and then relapsed.  We rushed off to the vet this morning and discovered(long story short) that Roxie has pancreatitis.  As of right now, it is going to be managed with a low fat diet.  Should this happen again, we may want to look deeper into it but at this moment....diet and observe.

While waiting for Roxie's blood work to come back I took today's whimsical photo.  (Since I'm still getting used to my computer, it took a bit to get it ready..ok honestly, I thought I saved it but can't find it..lol)   On with the show,  I hope you enjoy "Monkey Business" :)

"Cozy" #Project365

I found this photograph of my orange tabby, Thomas, to be comforting and cozy after this long day.   I hope you enjoy it!   

I am posting this a little later than usual because I have spent 10 hours dealing with problems with my computer.   I haven't been this frustrated with customer service in a long time.   I started having problems with my computer shocking me, charging intermittently, noisy constant fan running and overheating for about a month now.   I have been trying to reach the company that I purchased it from to access the warranty it is under since then until long story short they referred me to the manufacturer today.   Now after waiting all day for a supervisor to call me bak, I was informed that they will call me Monday!  Ugh!    Before I call the companies out any further, I want to see how this is resolved though I promise that , good, bad or ugly, I will share!  :)

So as you can see, I earned this moment of comfort that I am sharing here.   I hope you enjoy "Cozy" 

"Uncharted"

I reserve the right to return at a later date to delve deeper into this subject.   Today's photograph is entitled "Uncharted".  Enjoy :) 

January 2,2014 "Perseverance"

There is a blizzard currently blowing around outside my door.  They have decided to name the storm "Hercules".   I chose to photograph the Rose from our garden that is still standing even in the middle of this storm.   Not only is she standing but there is an undeniable beauty lying within this rose as it stands against the storm.   Her perseverance is evident.   So without further ado, I introduce "Perseverance". 

January 1,2014 Renew

As the new year begins, as promised dear reader, I begin my journey into regaining my self worth through photography.   I spent a lot of time, when I wasn't napping, deciding what my first photograph for my Project365 2014 would be.   I chose the following photograph because I am hopeful that 2014 will be the light that lifts me out of the darkness 2013.   I hope you enjoy "Renew"! 

As always should you choose to share anything from my blog, be sure to give credit where due as I do not give up any copyrights by sharing it here.