Week 10 Jump for Joy | I Heart Faces
This week over at I Heart Faces we’re Jumping for Joy! I had one shot in mind until I happened upon this gem from a summer concert I went to. The guys are Enter the Haggis, and they make jumping an art.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me | No. 1 I was a Zookeeper
I started this post as a “10 Things you Didn’t Know About Me” type thing, but then I started going way too in-depth with some of my items. And I felt they all deserved their own posts.
#1 - I was a zookeeper
For 2 summers in high school I worked at our local zoo. The first year I was a gift shop girl, ringing in admissions, stocking the shelves full of plushies, prepping and wrangling school groups, and running the cash register, which included counting the change that aforementioned school kiddies would pay in. Thanks to my training in Outdoor Emergency Care (for ski patrolling), I also became a medical assistant for our manager. So occasionally I got the call to grab the bag and head to a scene. Typically a scrape or a cut, the occasional heat sickness, but my favorite was a snake bite. I know, I sound sadistic, but this particular kid just wouldn’t give us the whole truth. According to him, he was walking by the pond when the snake jumped out and bit him. After pressing him a bit further (sadly we couldn’t pull out the interrogation lamp and water torture) he owned up that he was reaching into the pond to try to grab the snake when it snapped.
But the best year was the second. I got a job as birdkeeper, and while it had it’s grunt job moments (cleaning cages and washing out food and water dishes which had been terded in) it had some really cool moments as well. The day started early, feeding, watering and cleaning the cages of our outdoor residents. That meant I got to crawl in with the toucans daily. How many people get to hand feed sliced bananas to a real live toucan? As their job? Granted I was always on my toes, because birds are sneaky buggers and one little slip up may have left me explaining to the zoo owners why there are only 3 birds in that cage when there used to be 4.
Next step would be to bring our “commuters” out to their open air perches. Our two commuters were a bratty cockatoo and a blue hyacinth macaw with a beak that could break a broomstick in half and a record to go along with it. In one snap he had broken his owner’s (our head birdkeeper’s) wrist. I had to wrestle, trick, and bribe them out of their cages every day. Some days they’d go quietly, and other days…well, I still have scars from those other days. And I’d repeat this game at the end of the day when I had to bring them back in.
The rest of the morning was spent cleaning cages and feeding and exercising our other residents, who would get their moment in the sun at our noon time show. This was my favorite part of the day.
For two hours every day the head birdkeeper and I would have a slew of exotic birds out on our open air stage. We’d talk about each one of them, demonstrate tricks, and answer questions from the crowd, mostly children. Each bird had a personality, and each bird had a special trick we would try to have them show. Some days they would perform like a star, and other days they were grumpy and took pleasure in making us look ridiculous.
One day in particular, we had the bratty cockatoo’s pal out with us. His name was Fred and he was always a gamble thanks to his salty language. He used to grace the open air perch with his friend until he insulted a customer. From that point forward he was restricted to the barn unless he was having a “good” day, in which we would bring him to the show and let the audience pet him. On this fateful day we thought Fred was having a good day. I had bent down to show off these adorable little sun conures when I felt a very deliberate, and very sharp, pinch on my butt. I turned around to witness Fred booking it back to his perch, wings spread, CACKLING!
You can’t make that up.
You also can’t stay mad. Bruised butt and ego aside, it was funny. And the audience found it hilarious, including Sean, who had just happened to visit me that day. But you better believe I kept one eye on Fred the rest of that summer.
That summer I was exposed to some many other cool animals beyond my aviary realm.
I witnessed the Running of the Kangaroos - the day at the beginning of the warm season when the kangaroos are herded out to their summer enclosure from the barn by the zoo keepers. Did you know that to steer the kangaroo, you merely turn his tail? It’s like a rudder. Which of course is easier said than done when they’re hopping at full speed. I witnessed one of the six foot tall male keepers take an awful dive trying to steer a bitty baby roo.
A baby giraffe was born that summer, much to everyone’s excitement and delight. My friend took me into the barn to see it, which meant climbing up a ladder to the platform with the feeding trough. Momma Giraffe decided she was hungry and she wanted the food that I was leaning over. Do you know how BIG a giraffe head is? Neither did I til it firmly nudged me out of it’s way. It was as big as my torso.
And to cap off the summer of babies, a brand new leopard cub joined our crew. Once afternoon my sister (who had started working in the gift shop) and I went to walk and play with it after hours. There’s nothing like having someone thrust a large, wiggly, powerful baby jungle cat into your arms. You realize quickly that those are big paws with big claws on the ends and he’s batting at your ponytail. You also think for the first time that your hair is really close to your face. We watched as the cub played with the resident tortoise, jumping on its back and riding it around the room pawing at the shell’s holes. We watched as the tortoise drew in its head and walked straight into the wall, bumping the unsuspecting cub in the head.
It was an incredible summer, and an amazing opportunity to witness so many amazing creatures up close. You can’t get that kind of experience out of a book.
Fix It Friday 46 | I Heart Faces
Normally I don’t get a chance to enter the Fix It Fridays entries because they’re posted after I leave for work. But today’s was up in time! Hooray!
This week’s photo came from Sarah Halstead who blogs at Loving My Life. The little cutie-pie is her son, Dustyn. Sarah wrote that she was “having issues with overexposure in the top left corner and with blemishes on his face.”
Here is the original photo:
And here is my fix. I bumped up the levels, warmed up the color balance, healed some of the minor blemishes, and ran Pioneer Woman’s Sunshine action at 40%.
A Good Week
I’m ready to pinch myself. That’s how good this week has been. And it’s only Thursday.
I hope I don’t post this and then bite my tongue when a million bad things bombard me over the second half of the week.
Good thing #1: I was a guest fan judge over at I Heart Faces! I was flattered, humbled, and overjoyed at the request and the flood of comments you all left me. I hope you’ll stick around 
Can I say one thing? Being a judge is HARD! I wish everyone could win. I do not envy Angie and Amy their job in narrowing down the finalists, and the weekly judges who have to decide all on their own. And the hardest part? Refraining from commenting on other blogs. I tried to remain as anonymous and mysterious as possible, even though my fingers itched to type in the comment window. Next week I’ll go back to being a regular old contestant, but the comments and encouragement will live with me forever.
Good thing #2: We booked the rest of our Scotland trip! Yes, this meant plopping down a grand for a deposit, but it means our trip is pretty much planned out. We have been planning this trip for 2 years, since we first gave my parents the Christmas gift with a picture of Scotland, promising to take them. We’re book ending the trip with 3 night stays in Edinburgh, and for the middle week we’ll be on a whirlwind cross country adventure, plotted out with help from Paul and Pauline at Homemade Holidays. The trip even includes a stay in a castle with a resident ghost!
Good thing #3: My hubby and I have been cast in Romeo and Juliet….as Romeo and Juliet! I know, Sean will have to shave, we can’t have a hairy faced Juliet but it’s a sacrifice we’ll have to make. (Um…Kidding. Just making sure you’re paying attention) Rehearsals begin Monday and the show goes up between April 30 and May 16. Fancy a trip? Sean and I working this closely could be dangerous. Last night we decided that a lolcat version of Romeo and Juliet was in order.
It hasn’t ALL been good. My poor little kitten Malcolm had to have “the procedure” today. Sean is grieving. London enjoyed his day alone in the house.
Have you had a good week? I’d love to hear about it.
Week 9 I’m A Guest Fan Judge | I Heart Faces
Hi, I’m Briana Gardell, and I will be one of your Guest Fan Judges this week. It’s a flattering thought, and you can imagine my surprise when I got the invitation! Floored is an accurate description.
photo compliments of Brooke Gorman (Dinkypopsnomore)
Angie and Amy asked us to fill out a little questionnaire, so here goes!
Name: Briana Gardell (aka Briana @ Wake Up, Juliet)
Websites:
- www.wakeupjuliet.com (you’re on it now!)
- Twitter/wakeupjuliet
- Wake Up, Juliet Facebook FanPage
About Me:
I’m twenty four years old, a wife of 2 1/2 years and mom to the two cutest cats in the world (no really, our vet said so). Outside of photography, I love singing, writing, acting, dance, crafty things and planning parties. My family is everything to me, in particular, my husband, who is a saint for putting up with my multiple passions, particularly my photography (look here and here for proof he should be canonized).
My Photography Journey and I Heart Faces:
My journey isn’t that long compared to many, but it’s been meaningful. Like, change my life meaningful. I bought my first DSLR in 2008 as a Christmas gift to myself (it was supposed to be a gift to ourselves, but who are we kidding?). I just wanted to take better pictures for my blog. I was inspired by The Pioneer Woman, who made all the high tech photo mumbo jumbo make sense. Once I had the camera I was hooked. But what really launched me was I Heart Faces. Now that I think of it I can’t remember how I found them, but the important thing is that I did. I began entering the challenges and managed an honorable mention in my 3rd week! When they offered the Dallas Workshop, there was no way I couldn’t go. I loved photography so much that I was kicking around the idea of starting a side business. Now, a few months later, I’m in the throes of getting that business off the ground.
I Heart Faces has taught me, encouraged me, humbled me, and introduced me to some amazing, talented people. It’s challenged me to do better, be more creative, to nail that shot, to take chances. Thank you Angie and Amy for bringing us all together!
Photographer Who Inspires me the Most:
Oh dear, is it really possible to choose one? I follow so many who are amazing (Becker, Jessica Claire, Jose Villa, Chriselda), but there are two that truly inspire me. 1) Rebekah Westover – I adore her style. It’s fresh, clean, pure, and she seems to nail every.single.shot. 2) Jasmine Star - She shoots amazing pictures, yes, but what inspires me about her is her attitude and personality. She loves her job, her husband, her clients and she shows it in every blog post.
Editing program:
I use Photoshop 7…nope, not Elements 7, just plain old Photoshop 7. It’s great, it works, and I don’t have the money to upgrade right now lol. Sadly that means most actions aren’t compatible with my version, but that’s probably for the best right now. I like to keep my editing pretty simple, and if I avoid actions altogether I consider it a good shot.
What’s in my Bag:
- Nikon D40 with 2 kit zooms
- Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AF-S (my newest baby, on my camera 99.9% of the time these days)
My Hilarious Outtakes:
1) Malcolm telling me he’s had enough.
2) My darling husband at his MOST charming.
3) Little one telling mom what she thinks of the finger stuck in her mouth trying to show everyone her first tooth.
4) Wary looks exchanged between my husband (Santa) and his cousin’s daughter.
5) Sadly, I have a million of these. Back off ladies…he’s allll mine.
Ok, maybe he shouldn’t be canonized…
Week 8 Hands On Fun | I Heart Faces
There’s nothing sweeter than the relationship between mom and baby. Teeny hands grasping and pulling at fingers that dance over a round tummy. Unconditional love that is emitted through those fingers. Exchanging coos and ridiculous faces just to elicit one of those brand new smiles.
I love watching my friend interact with her youngest. She has four kids, and is a supermom. Seriously. This woman can whip up over a dozen loaves of bread in one day while caring for her babes.
But I digress.
Her little 4 month old has a million new smiles at the ready, and when you see the two together you see why. There is nothing but joy and love bubbling up from the both of them.
Now go join in on the rest of the “Hands On” fun this week at I Heart Faces.
The One Where I Scare the Oil Man
Procrastination is a shared flaw between Sean and me. If it isn’t pressing, we won’t worry too much just yet. We are trying our darndest to break this habit.
To bad it didn’t happen before one of us got hurt.
Ok, that’s a tad dramatic…no one was physically harmed, but my dignity was lost, and the oil man may be emotionally scarred.
It all started about a year ago, when our oil man noted that we didn’t use as much oil as other homes. He suggested that we move to a “call as you need it” basis, rather than auto delivery. We were all for it. And it worked, the first time, but not the times after that.
So instead of fussing with a company we paid too much, too often, for, we spoke with a new company at the end of the summer. When we weren’t going to need oil for a while. Which means there wasn’t any rush to call the old company right?
Suddenly no rush became too late. We arrived home to a yellow receipt from the old company. Nuts.
I guess that’s ok. We’ll call before the next delivery, we’ve got some time. And the new company will wait until we call them.
Another yellow receipt. Ok, for real now, we HAVE to call them.
…and another. Ok, this is ridiculous, we need to call them.
Flash forward to me last week, home from work sick, cozied up in my pjs and robe watching TV. And I hear these back up beeps…coming from my driveway.
Oh no.
So out I run in my pajamas, pink fuzzy robe, glasses, and uncombed hair. I forget what shoes I threw on, but they didn’t add to the outfit. I dash around the corner of the house and catch him right before he hooks up the line. I explain in my stuffy, nasal sick voice that we don’t need oil, that we’re supposed to be on the other plan…etc, etc.
He gives me this disapproving scan with his eyes, and grumbles something about paying for his trip, then stalks back to his truck. I slink back into the house, trying not to picture the crazy bathrobe lady he had just witnessed.
I called up the old company right away and cancelled our account. The phone call took less than 5 minutes. Maybe next time I’ll learn my lesson before I make a complete and utter spectacle of myself.
Catching Up
I’m not dead. I’m just quiet. I’ve been trying to readjust some of my priorities and have been nursing some disappointment. I’ll be working my way to a happy balance soon I hope.
What have I been doing since I dropped off the face of the blogging earth?
Reading – I’ve polished off 2 books and am closing in on the end of #3. This is more books than I read in all of 2009…how sad is that? I was a bookworm growing up, and I realized that the internet and television have robbed me of that passion. So I’ve taken some time to rediscover my thirst for the written word.
Socializing – I’ve gone to some SCA events, spent time with my family and friends.
Planning – Sean, my parents and I have made some serious headway in our plans for Scotland in July. Flights and Edinburgh hotels are booked, and we’re working with a travel agency on the rest of the trip.
Trying out a new skill – I’ve finished my first piece of blackwork! Small though it may be, and with a slight mistake, I’m rather pleased with how it turned out.
And I’ve been facing trials, some of which I’ll touch upon, and some of which are too personal.
There have been some health issues going on, but everyone is hopefully on the mend at this point. I, myself, am getting over a nasty cold that sidelined me last week.
This past weekend I had scheduled my Mini Sessions for Haiti. I had great expectations working for such a great cause and had been thinking of this as a coming out party of sorts for my new photography business. Well, Saturday night found me, the “birthday girl”, all alone…no one had come to my party. It was embarrassing, and felt like a kick in the gut. But I’m getting over it, as I will get over any other bumps or dips that come in the road to success. Thanks to my amazing family Compassion will be receiving some donations, but it did little to soothe my confidence.
That was my biggest downer. Sadly, I’m the type that tends to get their hopes up high only to be disappointed. I’ve developed a time line in my head of how I’d like things to work out, and my first reaction to this disappointment was that the entire time line is doomed. My path to happiness is ruined, I’ll never make it.
Just a tad bit dramatic, huh?
I’m getting over it. It’s time to focus on the next thing, and that is getting bookings for the spring and summer! I’m very excited for a maternity session next month with a friend, and probably a senior session in the near future.
Week 6 We Heart Kisses | I Heart Faces
ROMEO: If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET: Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO: O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO: Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.
JULIET: Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO: Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.
JULIET: You kiss by the book.
Now go indulge your romantic side by checking out the rest of the kissy faces over at I Heart Faces.
And for the runners up to this image, check out the gallery.
My Relationship with the Treadmill
I have a love/hate relationship with the treadmill. If it was on Facebook, our status would read ‘it’s complicated’. And as I take on the Couch to 5k again, our relationship is tested once more.
One pro in the argument for the treadmill is that it is consistent. Whether raining, sleeting, snowing or hailing, it sits in the gym, waiting for me. One bad thing is that it eliminates any excuse I can come up with not to run. And I can get creative.
Another nice thing is that I can exercise AND watch TV! The bad thing is that the TVs in the gym are on mute and on the sports channels. So if I want to know what they’re talking about, I have to read the captions. And that opens a whole new can of worms.
I am an arguably graceful person. I grew up dancing, and dabbled in figure skating with some success. One would think I could run in a straight line, right?
Ha! WRONG!
I am incredibly awkward on the treadmill. I press that ‘Quick Start’ button and I suddenly find myself pitching to the sides. I’m so scared that I’m going to put my foot down half on the tread and half on the side and find myself twisted and mangled into the beast. I’m also afraid I’ll hit the back end, so I run so far to the front that I’m banging my knuckles on the grab bar or feeling the static shocks that come from the dry air.
The only way I can forget about the fact that I’m on a thin ribbon of doom is to stare at something straight ahead. If I deviate from center, by entire body does as well. And looking straight ahead can be a pleasant or um…unpleasant experience. It all depends on what (or who) in front of me. Tonight it was the windows to the pool area. It wasn’t the most *ahem* pleasant of pool sessions so I was forced to focus on my own reflection.
Oh joy. For the remainder of my 30 minutes I fixated on my ponytail swishing back and forth like a metronome so my gaze didn’t shift to my less than svelte thighs.
But I finished, checked day 1 of week 2 off successfully. And come Wednesday the treadmill and I will be on again.
