Here is what I want

I love my job. The very basics of my job. Helping people. Being there in the most difficult times of their lives. Keeping my officers safe on the street.  Unfortunately my job isn't just doing that anymore.

Here is what I would consider a dream job.

1. No phone calls.
2. 99.9% interaction with animals and only .1% with humans.
3. If I am properly trained there is no need to micromanage me. I'll let you know if I have questions.
4. Must pay at least $45,000 a year with benefits.
5. Will scoop poop.

I wish it were that simple.

Which are you? 

Captain America: The First Avenger

C

If you know me, you know one of my most favorite superheroes is Captain America. It appeals to my patriotism and the optimist in me believing in heroes who defend and represent our country. I am so excited about this movie. I am hoping they did it right this time. I still like the one made in the 80's even though it's very corny and low budget. I thought the Red Skull was pretty well done, even in that one. So, for those of you who don't know much about Captain America here is some basics that I found pretty darn cool!


Captain America is Steve Rogers who participated in an experiment to make super soldiers to fight in WWII.
Although he appeared in comic books prior to his own debut in 1941, his first dedicated comic book sold almost a million copies. It depicted Cap hitting Adolf Hitler in the jaw and knocking him to the ground. Today this comic has sold at auction for $115,000.00 This comic was published 9 months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The circulation far surpased that of Time magazine.


Captain America was the people's champion, representing the people of America rather than the government. Since the recent attacks on America, Cap has a even more greater resolve to protect his country and the principles for which she stands.




So, with that being said, I have to say that as much as this movie appeals to me, I am thankful for the job that the United States Military does on a daily basis. These are the true Avengers and the real life superheroes. They all do a job that I just can't do and they have volunteered to do it. They get sent away from home and away from their families for months to years at a time to put their lives on the line to protect not only the soil of the United States of America, but the reputation that politicians corrupt in an instant without thinking twice. We should all be thankful that we do have these real life heroes. They are the people's champion. They protect this country and the principles for which it stands.

Thoughts for the day...

I really don't have anything in particular to blog about so here are my thoughts for the day:

1. Working overtime sucks until you get the overtime check
2. I could be taking a "nap-nap" with my Fraggles at this very moment.
3. I am looking forward to tomorrow 3:00pm
4. I watched a couple of episodes of the show on Lifetime called Coming Home. It basically shows members of the military coming home and surprising their families. It made me cry.
5. I am so happy that I finally have my iTunes working right...it only took 5-6 days this time around.
6. I am looking forward to the Stars game April 1st.
7. I am DEFINATELY looking forward to the Rush concert which is getting closer. I intend to sing really loud and embarrass Russel as much as possible. :-)
8. If you are calling the police for anything other than an emergency, consider using a non-emergency number.
9. If you consider calling the police to see if your $15k diamond ring was returned to Lost and Found please don't get upset when you find that it wasn't. I didn't lose your ring or take it from your hand.
10. If you have a minor boo-boo that isn't bleeding profusely and isn't from your head, heart, or major artery please consider having someone drive you to the emergency room if you must seek medical attention. If you stumped your toe on the sidewalk please consider the person having a heart attack, stroke, or a major medical emegency. Their help may be delayed because those valuable resources are tied up.
11. Do we really need to get into another war with another country????
12. Time to get the heck out of here!

Just my opinion...

It may just be my perception but work has really picked up in the past few months. I feel like we are on a perpetual full moon cycle or something.

It could be that I am on the Monday-Friday rotation at work and having a full week of non-stop phone calls and radio calls is very trying. When I have my days off during the week things slow down a bit on the weekend so you have at least one day of sanity during working hours.

I am wishing I had more time off to take pictures. I feel like I am neglecting my awesome camera. I also feel like I am neglecting my Fraggles. I miss them while I am here at work.

While I am at work we have two big TV screens always on the news. So, I get to hear everything about gas prices going up, Libya and various countries going bat-shit crazy, and other non-newsworthy stories which should be on Jerry Springer instead of on CNN or Fox News. For instance, the food tax, fat kids, fat teenagers, fat adults, and how the government telling us what is good and bad for our health. The news just isn't reliable anymore and it is more political opinion than true facts. Everything is geared to present fear inside the hearts and minds of Americans with "Chicken Little Syndrome." ...and it's working.

Since I am on the topic of fat people articles I have to tell you about this. I have been submitting photos for challenges on a particular website for a few months now. Most of the topics for the challenges are landscapes, colorful photos, birds, animals, people and that sort of thing. One of the recent topics was titled "Fat" so, I checked it out and I really believe that the person who submitted the topic had their heart in the right place. The rules included a description of the topic including show how beautiful fat can be. My initial thought was "Right on!!!!" You don't have to be a size 2 to be beautiful. So, I clicked to view the images already submitted and I found things like this:

Now, anytime the national news runs a story on being fat they show stock footage usually of fat people walking away from the camera from the waist down. So what you see while the cute and fuzzy size 2 bunny is reporting on how fat the U.S. has become you get a nice look at fat asses walking down the street. Even better if they have a McDonalds cup in their hand. This is what these submissions reminded me of. People completely lost the point of this challenge. Way to go future photographers!

Birthday stuff

I am surprised to say I had a pretty wonderful birthday dinner last night with the family. My birthday isn't officially for another day but it was a day everyone was available for dinner. We had steak, baked potatoes, salad, sausage, jalepeno bread, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I was able to get what I needed done, (wash the truck and clean the bathroom) before anyone came over which made me feel better. My father behaved himself in front of Russel...well as much as he possibly could anyway. :-) It was a good night. I am spoiled. I loved it. Hope it happens again.

Sitting on a cornflake...

Last night Russel and I went to see The Eggmen perform at the Paramount theatre. I had a really wonderful time. I have to say, before I met Russel, I wasn't much of a Beatles fan...or a Pink Floyd fan...or a Rush fan. Of course I didn't know what I was missing. Last night's performance included the McCallum Orchestra with a few additions. A few saxaphones, trumpets, a trombone and a clairnet. This was really a great addition to hearing a cover band play the Beatles classic songs. It almost made me want to learn music again....almost.

Once upon a time I was a pretty decent saxaphone player and bassoonist. I think I must have mentally blocked a lot of my Jr. High and High School musical carreer. By my senior year in high school I was pretty burned out. I think I even quit somewhere in there and went back to play instruments in the pit during marching season. Last night's performance brought back some sort of reminiscent memories. Maybe because back in the day, I enjoyed practicing a piece until I had it perfectly, then feeling awesome when I performed in front of an audience. About three years ago I got the musical bug again and asked for a keyboard for Christmas. I tried to teach myself to read music again. I didn't do very well. I could play about a bar on the piano and then I was stuck again. That took me about a week to learn. One day I may try again, especially when I gain inspiration from hearing Russel play his guitar. Maybe I will just sing badly while he plays guitar. I'm quite sure he likes it. Ha! Just kidding.

Valentine's Day

For a very long time, Valentine's Day was probably the saddest day of the year for me. Well, one of them at least. I would see all of the married women at work getting flowers from their husbands. I wouldn't dare go out to dinner alone on Valentine's Day simply because every place was packed full of couples holding hands, speaking softly and laughing with each other. Those are the things I simply could not bear to watch, knowing I would be going home alone. I remember one year it seemed so bad that my dad even brought me a small vase of flowers to work to cheer me up. Thank you for that Dad. It really did mean a lot.


 So, now that I have someone very special in my life I am thinking back to all of those times I looked enviously upon the couples I saw walking down the street. I can honestly say that I have tried to make the absolute most of having someone wonderful in my life. Probably embarrassing him when I kiss him more than once in public. Hey, once just wasn't enough! I have found that spending time with him has changed me. For the better, I hope. I try to remember everytime I hold his hand what it was like to hold his hand for the very first time. It still makes me smile. I kind of wish we were still in the times of writing handwritten letters to one another. I think of all of the ways I could tell him how much he means to me. Although this is not my handwriting, the one way I will always end a letter to him is by saying I love you.


How did I spend my Valentine's Day this year? I spent it with Russel. Off from work. Running errands, annoying him with two or more kisses at the supermarket. Making him dinner. Making up stories about what Kitteh would be saying if she could speak. (One of my favorite things to do) And more importantly, being very happy that he is safely here with me. I hope everyone has such a wonderful day, surrounded by love and kitteh's with alter-egos. And, for those who are spending it as I did just a few short years ago, I hope it changes very soon for you, so that you too can be thankful and loved and want to shout it to the world. I know how you feel.

Happy Valentine's Day.

CAPS LOCK STRIKES AGAIN

NO I AM NOT YELLING. NO MY COMPUTER IS WORKING FINE AND THE CAPS LOCK BUTTON IS NOT STUCK. THIS IS MY OWN FORM OF PROTEST OVER THE STUPIDITY THAT SEEMS TO WORK IT'S WAY DOWN TO ME.

I'LL START BY SAYING THAT WHEN I AM READING VARIOUS FORUMS OR COMMENTS ONLINE WRITTEN BY OTHERS IN ALL CAPS LOCK IT REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER ME. IT'S THE SIMPLIST WAY TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS AND NOT HAVE TO FIDGIT WITH THAT STUPID BUTTON YOU PRESS A MILLION TIMES WITH YOUR LEFT PINKY FINGER. WHAT DID BOTHER ME IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE SPEND REPLYING THOSE POSTS JUST TO SAY NOT TO TYPE IN CAPS LOCK BECAUSE IT'S RUDE AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE YELLING. OK PEOPLE HERE IS THE DEAL, YOU ARE READING SOMETHING I HAVE WRITTEN. I AM NOT CALLING YOU ON THE PHONE OR TALKING TO YOU IN PERSON. I AM NOT YELLING. I AM TYPING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. IT IS SIMPLY LETTERS ON A PAGE TO CONVEY A MESSAGE.

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAT MY MESSAGE IS COMMUNICATED TO YOU NO MATTER WHAT THE LETTERS LOOK LIKE.

IF YOU KNOW THE INSIDE STORY OF MY LITTLE MENACING CAPS LOCK BUTTON YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS SEEMS TO KEEP COMING UP AND HAUNTING ME.

SO, HERE I AM TODAY TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THIS IS MY BLOG AND I WILL DO WHAT I WANT. UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO DO WHAT I AM TOLD.

365 days???

I have been reading a lot of camera and photography forums. Probably more than I should. Sometimes I think I should just get out and take pictures and quit reading about taking pictures. In most of the forums I read they discuss and give "topics" for a 365 photography project. A photo a day. What I am wondering is, can I take on this challenge? Will it completely burn me out? Will I get frustrated with it and just abandon something I really really enjoy? I am tempted in the hopes that it will improve my photography skills. That would be my goal. Maybe I'll do it.....still contemplating.

I can't wait!!!!!

We're going to see Rush in concert!!!!!!!

I have to admit I am fairly new Rush fan. I had heard everything about this band and it wasn't very good. Things like, "Eww. No thanks." "Nerd band" "He sounds like a girl" So, when Russel said one of his favorite bands was Rush I remembered the reviews I had heard in the past. I knew I had heard some of their songs on the radio but I was lazy in expanding the diversity of my music. I asked him to let me take them for a test drive and he gave me some CDs to try. Then we went to the Drafthouse to watch Rush:Beyond the Lighted Stage. I really started enjoying their music.

Russel was also kind enough to lend me a book that he mentioned when we first started dating. It was written by the drummer Neil Peart after his wife and daughter passed away and how he simply got out on his motorcycle and rode. It was an awesome book. I would suggest it to anyone. Here is the link from Amazon: Ghost Rider. I moved on to the next book called Roadshow. I really started to like his writing style. Then I went back and started reading Traveling Music and I have been trying to get through that for a few months now. I just haven't had the time to read much since I have been spending a lot of time with my camera.

So, now that I have been swept up by the "nerd band" with a lead singer who, "sounds like a girl" I am completely excited about seeing them in concert. I didn't know what I was missing.

And of course I have to list my favorite songs:

1. Presto

2. Workin' Them Angels

3. The Spirit of Radio

4. Subdivisions

5. The Working Man

6. Marathon

7. Tom Sawyer

8. Time Stand Still

9. Freewill

10. YYZ

I can't wait to hear them in person. I am even more excited than I was about going to see Journey in concert and that's saying a lot.

Remember the old days?

So, it might not be the old days for some but I have been watching some "classic" 70's and 80's TV series like The Incredible Hulk, Star Trek, Alien Nation and 21 Jump Street. All of them have some serious cheesy-ness but 21 Jump Street is tops it. Of course most people think about Johnny Depp as a superior actor who is diverse, cool and sensative. 21 Jump Street was pretty early in his career. I am always pretty critical of shows about cops, because hey, that's what I do. Maybe that's the way they did it "back then," but wow, we definately do it differently today. In the pilot episode Johnny Depp is involved in a pursuit of a vehicle which just committed an armed robbery. He gets on the radio and directs his radio traffic to "Control." Ummmm air traffic control? Command control? Janet Jackson control? It just caught me as something pretty funny.

While I am on the subject of things that bother me about movies and tv series, I have to say the absolute worse is when they have a diabetic character who starts going into some type reaction because, "they need their insulin" Ok folks, here is the deal: Panic Room did it wrong. Steel Magnolias did it right. I would have thought that Jodie Foster was smarter than that.


Now most people would complain that most movies aren't accurate because of science, or cars blowing up on impact and things like that. Yeah I don't care about that stuff as long as it's spoon-fed, mind numbing action. Just hide the wires and get the small stuff right.

I remember sitting down religiously to watch these shows with my mom. She was a big movie buff, especially sci-fi. I remember as a kid, I loved watching The Incredible Hulk with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. I covered my eyes and just couldn't watch when Bill Bixby's eyes turned scary green, but it was awesome. I think my absolute favorite was watching Star Trek, the original series and The Next Generation with my mom. We were both really concerned that there wasn't a Vulcan like Spock when the Next Generation came out, but I think we quickly warmed up to Data who was the "logical" replacement. Still, Spock holds a very special place in my heart.

So, in a world full of reality shows that suck and aren't really representative of the REAL world I long for the days of good shows full of cheesy-ness. The Real Housewives of "Generic" County??? Really? Keeping up with the Kardashians? Who are these people and why do we gravitate towards watching people with a lifestyle that isn't real? The Biggest Loser? Wait, let me finish eating my jelly donut before I criticize that one.

How about a list of the worst and the best? Ok maybe just a short list.

THE WORST TV SERIES AND MOVIES EVER!

Magnolia

Shallow Hal or anything with Jack Black

Anything with Jim Carrey

American Beauty

Rosemary's Baby

A Christmas Story- once was enough

The Thing

The Thaw
Manos: The Hands of Fate - even Mystery Science Theatre couldnt help this one out.
Crash
Jersey Shore
Keeping up with the Kardashians
Real Housewives...
The Biggest Loser


So many more that suck


THE BEST TV SERIES AND MOVIES EVER!
Aliens
The Terminator
Star Trek 2009
Halloween (Original)
The Color Purple

Places in the Heart

Glory

Lonesome Dove
The Thorn Birds

Gone with the Wind

The Shawshank Redemption

Schindler's List

The Green Mile

Apollo 13

Platoon
Man on Fire
Die Hard
Vertigo
Psycho
Rear Window

Cops series

Star Trek orginal series
The Incredible Hulk series
Forever Knight series

Alien Nation series and movies

A Haunting series

So many more that are great.

Those are my thoughts for the night. Time for bed.

Tribute photo

I have been meaning to try and re-create a photo that moved me as soon as I saw it. I was reading a book by Neil Peart who is the drummer and lyricist for the band Rush. His wife, Carrie Nuttall, is a photographer and took a very simple but moving photograph of Neils hands holding his drumsticks. I suppose I saw myself looking through the camera lens and seeing Russel's hands holding his drumsticks. So, that was the inspiration for my re-creation of her awesome photo. I also have to thank Russel for his patience with my amateur photography skills and holding a pose for quite a long time.

You can view the photo on Carrie Nuttall's website: http://www.carrienuttall.com/ 

Here is my tribute photo.

Acts of kindness from "Little Brother"

I first met Matt in 2001 at work. He was a tiny little thing, very young and all of the single girls were, shall we say, curious about him. I had already been with the department for about 3 or 4 years so I knew most of the younger generation didn't stick around long unless you were like me and had some nepotism going on. Matt and I worked together on the evening shift and he tried his hand at dispatching. He caught on quickly and the officers seemed to like him. He fit in great with me, Larry and Jonezy. We made a great team. Then for some weird reasons I decided to go to night shift. I was single with no life and a night owl. Matt and I didn't work much together for a few years and just saw each other at shift change. Fast forward a few years and when I returned to UT he and Kathy helped me settle back into the groove of things on day shift. This was the first time I worked day shift at the department. Since Larry and Jonezy have found other career paths our new team was made up of me, Kathy and Matt. It felt like home again.

Matt and I are sort of gadget heads. We both love electronics. Computers, mp3 players, car stereos, dvd players, ipods, anything and everything electronic or that I could break. Matt would always help me when I managed to break my computer or it had a virus or it needed more memory. Every time he helped me I learned how to do it myself so I wouldn't have to bother him the next time I broke something. Most of what he learned was from trial and error or stuff he taught himself. Always impressive in my book. I went through several computers through the years and Matt managed to make them last as long as possible. He even installed a new car stereo in my truck that my dad bought me. Everything Matt did for me was for free. He never asked for one red cent! I would try to help out when he went out of town and needed a puppy sitter.

Ipods: Yeah I have had my fair share of hatred of all things Apple, but destroying my first Ipod touch was my own fault. I managed to dump a 32 oz. Monster Energy drink in my purse where my Ipod was. I cried! I cried some more. Then after that I really really cried. I bought that all by myself and I was so happy with that Ipod. I loved it. I didn't have the money to get a new one and of course it wasn't under warranty anymore. Matt had a go at it and tried to open it up and dry it out. That didn't work and Apple doesn't make their products repair friendly. I was just going to have to deal with not having this luxury item for a while and maybe pick up some overtime so I could afford another one. One day while Kathy and I were working a weekend shift Matt stopped by. It was a little out of the ordinary to see him because all of us enjoy being away from work on our days off. Matt walked up to me and asked a very strange question. "Do you believe that good things happen to nice people?" I think my smart-ass response was, "Only in the movies Matty." He pulled out a brand new 32 gb IPod Touch. I could not believe my eyes! I could not believe that he put together a little scheme without me knowing involving himself, Kathy, Robin and my boyfriend, Russel. They all pitched in and bought me a new one. I cried again....happy tears. Tears of disbelief. I couldn't stop saying thank you to everyone. It turned out he got Russel's phone number from my cell phone and called him to recruit him as co-conspirator. Sneaky sneaky!

Kathy always referred to Matt as "Little Brother" because thats what he is to us here in our little work family. So, I started calling him my lil brother also. And Matty as well. Well, for the past few months I have been looking at new computers even though I can't afford one. My computer is about 5 years old and though Matty has kept it running all of those years I could tell she was slowing down and it was time for an upgrade. Again...no money so I was content with just making it last as long as possible. I received a text message from Matty on my day off asking if I was going to be at work the next day. Hmmm, felt like a trick question or a trap. I told him I was and he said he thought he may know a way to make my computer run better. I said thanks and I was curious to see if he found some new software or hardware that would help my poor girl run better. When we all got into dispatch he pulled out his laptop computer and put it in front of me and said, "Now you won't have to worry about your computer running slow anymore." WHAT????? Wait!!!! I asked him what he meant. He said he was done with electronics forever. Ummmm yeah right Matty! You lie worse than I do. :-) Then he pulled out a shiny new Alienware laptop computer. Instant melt for us gadget people. But wait! He just put his awesome "old" computer in front of me and told me it was mine.
That's not all he did. He gave Kathy a nice Bose Surround Sound system. He was casually cleaning out his closet and found something he wasn't using. Wow. Lil brother. You have outdone yourself here. You always do.

So, I don't have much to offer but I will write about your kindness and your thoughtfulness and what a great person you are. I am blown away by you sometimes and I will try to raise my level of kindness and thoughtfulness to your level. Thank you Matty. I couldn't ask for a better friend, co-worker, and lil brother.

In training...

I am in my own little training bootcamp right now. I am trying to learn the in's and out's of my new hot-rod beautiful wonderful camera. I have started taking notes and practicing on whatever I can focus on. I have started a flickr account to upload the pictures I am happy with.

Feel free to take a look and critique. http://www.flickr.com/photos/57976175@N08/

I am thinking I will probably have to resort to buying a dummies guide but I am ok with that. Long long ago I took a photography and dark room class in high school, but I have long forgotten all of that stuff. Of course that was back in the day when film was all you had. Now you are in a realm of megapixels.



Can you see my bottom toofs?



Get that camera out of my face!!!!!

I am anxious to get some days off and really practice. I am sure my Fraggles and Dinah are tired of the flash going off in their faces.

Ready, Set.....wait!

Yeah, I am not ready for the new year. Today I happen to be putting off paying my bills. I know it's already the 5th and I should just work on it and get it done.

I also found out that I should wait until Mid-to late February to file my taxes because of the late tax law changes...quoting from their website,  "The Internal Revenue Service announced today the upcoming tax season will start on time for most people, but taxpayers affected by three recently reinstated deductions need to wait until mid- to late February to file their individual tax returns. In addition, taxpayers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A will need to wait until mid- to late February to file as well." http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=233449,00.html

I am not ready yet! I still need a few more months to get ready. I guess I will grudgingly be pulled into 2011 whether I am ready or not.

Warning warning warning....

I had a wonderful Christmas. I wish I could have given more to more people but I am happy with what I was able to do. Christmas day Russel started feeling a little under the weather and even though I was housesitting, I wanted to check in on him and make sure he was doing ok and didn't need anything. Well, I got sick kissing Santa Claus.

I am a full blown biohazard now. I wanted to call in sick to work but since we're still on the holiday schedule there is no one available for coverage. I will do my best to stay conscious and aware but no promises!

Computers hate me...

If you know me, you know that me and computers generally don't get along. We have a love-hate relationship. When I touch a computer or any electrical device they seem to break. Not to the extreme in this picture but pretty close. I had some time off from work and I ended up working on computers the entire time. The home computer got a virus that is pure evil. I was unsuccessful at trying to cure it so...windows re-install will be coming soon. My aunt called me and needed help with her laptop because it wouldn't connect to the wireless.

While I was working on those two issues my portable external hard drive died. That had the back-up for all of the other computers. I cried and then Russel came in to save the day. He was able to recover the data from my hard drive and keep it safe until I could get another one. I promised I would never ever make weird faces or make fun of Linux again. So, here it is...I love Linux...mostly Tux but THANK YOU LINUX! for saving my butt twice already. Thank you Russel for everything!



Tux as Captain America.

My co-worker Matty came to the rescue to help me troubleshoot the problem with my aunt's computer so hopefully that will be up and running shortly. Thank you Matty.

Hopefully I will be able to get another portable hard drive soon. Until then iTunes...my other nemisis is at a standstill. Maybe if I ever get another computer I won't run into evil software problems.

I can almost hear Russel saying, "Let's install Linux on it!"

The Heavens...Take 1!....and Action!

My new goal is to get an outstanding picture of the Milky Way.

Last night was the Geminid Meteor Shower. Russel helped me set up his tracking mount for his telescope so I could try to piggy-back my sister's camera and getting the phenomenal shot of the Milky Way. FAIL!!!!!

Yeah my first attempt was pretty bad. And of course when I am around something will either get broken or scratched or not work. Two out of three of those things happened. I am hoping my next attempt will be better. I was so excited because the previews in the viewfinder of the camera were turning out really nice. When the pictures were downloaded they were out of focus and I was so entirely disappointed. I don't think the camera settings were right and I didn't double check the focus before shooting away about 5 gigs of memory.

There were some great things that happened last night so it wasn't a complete fail. I got to hang out with a really cool guy and watch "falling stars" all night. That really cool guy made me hot chocolate with marshmellows on top when it was pretty darn cold outside. Really, even though the pictures turned out crappy, I had a great night. Thank you Russel, your patience sometimes amazes me.

Here is the salvaged first attempt. The streak at the bottom is an airplane trail. I didn't capture any of the meteors....but maybe next time.

Catching Up

I haven't blogged in a while. I feel like I am just getting caught up. Laundry doesn't seem to want to wash itself. The computers all decide to die all at once and get infected with spyware. The truck likes to stay dirty unless I help her out and give her a bath every once in a while. I did get to go see the Lago Vista football semi-final game at the UT stadium the other night. I am disappointed that they lost to Cameron Yoe, but I had a great time. I felt like I got a do-over from high school. Russel was with me and when we got there my sister gave me some "spirit balloons" Russel made me a dog out of one and I attached it to the end of one of the others. I was hoping it was going to be a lucky dog but she didn't give much luck.

I was there with the cutest guy and I didn't have to wear a yukky uniform or march at halftime. I could just sit back and enjoy the game and I didn't have to worry about anyone talking in the hallway if I kissed him at the game. :-) It was awesome.

I also managed to get all of my Christmas gifts wrapped and ready to go. I can't wait to give Russel his gifts. So, I am off to see what else I can accomplish....

The heavens scooting by...

The other night Russel set up his telescope so I could be captivated by the heavens again. I decided to set up the camera and attempt some more star trail pictures. I didn't think that they turned out very well while I was taking them. The camera somehow moved (I blame user error or the evil camera fairies) so I figured I wasn't going to get anything that even looked like a star. I went ahead and downloaded them and stacked them just to see how horrible they turned out. I was pleasantly surprised. Russel says its time to move on to the next level of astrophotography. I am thinking I should stick to what I know. :-) Just kidding. You may have to look closely to see the small streaks.



Cassiopeia streaking around the sky




The bright streak is Jupiter.