The Anti-Scrapbooker

A Rose Collage

2008-08-03T22:02:00.006-05:00

After a busy month, I have successfully completed three more hours towards my master's. There wasn't much time for taking pictures. Tonight I made up for it by taking a trip to Tulsa's Rose Garden. Most of the flowers were dying--numerous 100+ degree days in a row--but I was able to find a few that were still beautiful. Here are some of my favorite shots:

Summer Update

2008-07-06T19:19:00.016-05:00

This has already been such a long summer for me. I finished school late this year--thank you, December ice storm--and almost immediately left for two weeks straight to teach a workshop. After being home for six days to pay bills, interview for a job, and do laundry, I left to visit my family in St. Louis. Due to the outrageous price of gas, I decided to stay a little longer than I normally do in the summer and only do one trip. Below are a few of the shots that have captured my summer so far.

The wildlife reserve in the Wichita Mountains outside of Lawton, Oklahoma

The animals below have the run of the refuge. There are signs all around warning that they are dangerous and to not get to close.

Forest Park and the Art Museum in St. Louis

At the art museum, I got to see Monet's original "Waterlilies." It was so amazing!

The Gateway Arch and the Flooded Arch Grounds

The Family

A Glimpse of Lawton

2008-06-15T16:53:00.003-05:00

This week I've been in Lawton, which is in southwest Oklahoma, just 30 miles from Texas. The church is a beautiful site I see every time I go into town. I just love its steeple.

At the Zoo

2008-06-14T22:08:00.011-05:00

Last Saturday, Jana and I spent the morning at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Even before I got my new camera, I recorded some beautiful pictures to record the day.

We did see some animals, too. The animal exhibits weren't like those of one of the stellar zoos in the nation, but they were pretty good. Did you know that alligators are indiginous to Oklahoma?

All throughout the zoo, there were all of these miniature statues of animals. It became a game to find these statues and take Jana's picture with each one. Which one fits her the best???

A Practice Shot

2008-06-09T21:32:00.006-05:00

I've been in Oklahoma City for a week now teaching a summer workshop for teachers. After a trip to the zoo (pictures to be posted in the near future), I decided that updating my camera wouldn't be the worst thing to do. After all, I am working during my summer break and I deserve a present of sorts. :) Now, my new camera isn't one of those semi-professional things that I wouldn't have even a clue to use, but it's still a bit more advanced than my old Kodak EasyShare. Personally, I am just thrilled that they make a camera for people like me who have naturally shaky hands and the camera steadies the shot so it doesn't blur--as much. Here are a few practice snapshots that I took today out on Lake Hefner in OKC. I'm still figuring out the flash, coloring, etc.

I Can't Believe I Did It!!!

2008-06-02T23:32:00.003-05:00

I hung the medicine cabinet!!! Thanks to the nice customer at Lowe's who helped me drill holes in the metal bracket, to Jana who held the cabinet as I was installing it on the wall, and to my dad for letting me know that the replacement anchor was going to need to be a size bigger than the original one I installed. I really can't believe I installed this without hiring someone to come to the house. For now, I think I am done redecorating my bathroom (not that there isn't more that I could do).

FYI--I read online that installing a medicine cabinet is as easy as hanging a picture. I personally have never taken hours hanging a picture. I'm sorry, but this is a lot more complicated than that.

Weekend Project

2008-06-01T20:00:00.003-05:00

I'm always wary of projects around the house. Personally, I don't want to make a mistake, especially an expensive one. However, after finally finding a new shower curtain for the bathroom last weekend, I decided that it was time to paint. Last weekend Jana and I found some paint samples, and we both agreed on one in particular. The color was a shade of yellow, but seemed to have a slight brown tone in it and it didn't seem bright at all. So, yesterday was painting day. After preparing the walls, I was off. The color sure seemed bright as I was rolling it on, but at this point there was no turning back to those baby blue walls.

I'm not even sure at this point if I made a good decision, but for better or for worse my bathroom walls are yellow. It is bold, but it is rather fun, too. You'll have to let me know what you think.
I can't wait to see it when the entire project is finished. I also decided to put up a medicine cabinet; I'm having a difficult time though getting my drill bit through a piece of metal.

Splash!

2008-05-30T20:09:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-28T13:34:00.011-05:00

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

2008-05-26T21:13:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-24T22:27:00.003-05:00

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

2008-05-24T21:49:00.007-05:00

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.