Splash!

For the first time in the twelve years I have been in Tulsa, I went to Big Splash today. What a great way to celebrate the last day of work!!! A couple weeks ago, I thought it would just be a nice way for me and my friends to spend those warm (okay, hot) summer days. I got a season pass and can't wait to go again. I went down the small slides into the pool, on the Mega Blaster, and down two other bigger slides. What a fun day!

The Noisy Chimney

I got home last night around 6 o'clock. Like normal, I turned on the television and began preparing my dinner. While sitting on the couch I heard this strange noise. It sounded like it came from my chimney. At first I didn't think anything about it, but it kept happening. It was something flopping around up there. By 6:30, this bird began squalling and I didn't know what to do. Basically, after talking to my dad, he said there really wasn't anything I could do (especially since I don't have a ladder to get up to the roof to take off the chimney cap).

Tonight, the bird is still alive and well--for better or worse. Does anyone have any suggestions???

UPDATE: Thanks to the people at Critter Control, for the small fee of $99, a little black bird is free to see the light of day again. I consider this my donation to help all of those poor animals.

Hidden Treasures

It was a beautiful day today, in spite of the overnight and early morning thunderstorms that made you wonder whether God had reconsidered flooding the earth. Since I couldn't go to the gym today, I decided to go for a walk through the neighborhood this evening. There are a couple of things I like to do when I walk through my neighborhood. One, I like to point out every house that is painted an uglier shade of green than my house. Secondly, I like to find this "park"/walking trail that passes between two houses just off the road. I had lived here for two years before I discovered this hidden path. I feel like it is something special that most of my neighbors probably don't know about. I do have to wonder about this park, though. What are the teenagers doing there? I don't imagine it is well watched. I am sure that the signs that prohibit lewd activity deter such acts. :) Anyway, here are a few shots of my hidden park.

Never Really Been into Gaming

I've never been a gamer. I lost interest after Atari's became uncool and I couldn't play Frogger and PacMan anymore. However, a couple months ago I decided that I should give gaming a shot--at least a little one. After Christmas, when I first played Brain Age 2, I decided to purchase a Nintendo DS. Although I haven't had much time to play it during the school year, it is quite fun.

Today I bought new game--Big Brain Academy. It's a blast and surprisingly challenging. I give it two thumbs up.

To Challenge Myself

I've never been one to take a lot of pictures. I think it has to do with a couple traumatic experiences I had as a kid. There was one time when I dropped my parent's camera, and although it didn't shatter, it never worked again. I don't remember my parent's yelling at me, but for us it was the nicest camera we had ever had and I know they were very upset. I felt awful! And there was another time that I remember being made fun of for not getting everyone's heads in the picture. (This was long before digital cameras.) I don't remember who the picture was of, but it was a group of people who didn't get together often. I really felt like a screw-up. Obviously photography isn't something that comes naturally to me. I thought that when I bought my digital camera a couple years ago that I would take a lot more pictures because I wouldn't have to worry about the cost of film, but I still don't take hardly any pictures (but when I do, I make sure I grip the camera well).

In my world, the only things I ever see people taking pictures of is their children and their pets. Surely their has to be something else for me to record. My life cannot be without moments that should be remembered, can it? Often I view my life as mundane, unchanging, and basically repitious. I want to challenge myself to look past the monotony. To look for the unique, or at least to look for that part of me that not everyone knows. I want to find myself--my passions--and share some of them with you.

Disclaimer: I'm not a photographer. I don't claim to be good at this. Actually I would say that I am very bad at taking pictures, but maybe they'll improve. Either way, I hope to share a bit of me with you.