Feelings and photos

This is what I feel like doing today. Actually, this IS what I've been doing today. Minus the leaves and the grass. My summer is almost over. Teaching sure does have perks. I like to reflect on my memories of #summer2k13. 

I think I've contributed to Starbucks and David Yurman a little too much this summer. I killed a plant. Fell down the stairs as Macy's. Went camping for the first time EVER. Made new friends. Had a road trip to Texas. Made a 4th of July cake. Rode my bike a zillion miles. That's a pretty good summer if you ask me. Mom, if you're reading this, I'm not sure how I survived either. Especially the camping. And the canoeing. And the bee sting in the boob. God keeps me around for some unknown reason. 

The rough life of a first grade teacher. Im somewhat ashamed to admit I'm excited for the school year to start. I've already been practicing my Ruthless Rutland face. Hopefully my cheerleaders won't cry as much as first graders. Ahhhhhhhhhh, cheerleading. My apartment living room is currently consumed by boxes of cheer shoes, skirts, body suits and pom poms. When did kids get so big?! The sixth graders tower over me like I'm some kind of vertically challenged freak. The school administrator says I'll be the cheer coach with the least amount of drama. Ever. He must have seen the Ruthless Rutland look before. I get it from my mom. I'll take that as a compliment. Yeah! Now I have an excuse to wear my plethora of hair bows! I'm such a kid at heart. 

Farms and Photos

Squats at the gym are like taking a challenging photo. You stand back, observe your obstacle for about 10 minutes, debate on skipping it altogether, change the song on your iPod, then just take the plunge. This idea came across my mind as I was kneeling down in my mother's flower bed, sweat dripping off my back, bumble bees swirling around my head, microscopic bugs crawling on my legs; I was hot and miserable. I thought, "Is this what it takes to get that one good picture?". I think about how much I despise doing squats at the gym. I'd rather run until I throw up. But, I remind myself that I have better form than the muscle head guy at the gym who looks like he's had 1 too many protein shakes. So, I pat myself on the back for a job well done.

Yesterday, I was pumped like a dog who had just eaten an entire bottle of no-doz. I remembered the pictures I took in the flower bed with my favorite macro lens. Now, we're talking. On one picture, I got a close up of a beautiful red flower, exuberant with color, with those ferocious microscopic bugs crawling all over. I balanced myself perfectly, wondering all the while, why I was outside taking pictures in Mississippi in the 90 degree heat. Snap! Perfectly in focus, no "auto" button needed here. This girl has skills. I patted myself on the back like I had just completed 4 sets of 12 bicep curls with Jay Cutler. Yeah, right. God has already warned me many times about humbling myself.

Walgreen's is in the near future. Is it 3:45 yet? I've seen way too many boogers, and tears today. I'm ready to get my pictures developed. Oh wait! Take them out of the camera first, Corey. As I attempt to take out my 35mm film, the lever on my camera won't crank. Seriously???? I immediately go to the camera expert, my friend and co-worker. Still, nothing. I start thinking, "don't throw your camera across the room, don't scream at a little kid and make them cry, don't blame this on God." I jerk up the lever on my camera, fling open the back of the camera, and I am speechless at what I see; my film is snapped in half with most of the film exposed. You've got to be kidding me. I'm beyond mad. I debate on walking out the door and marching over to Best Buy, screaming and demanding that some geek squad member assist me in buying the best digital camera available!! The devil is trying to shake me. One of my favorite verses comes to mind.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Thank you, God. You always know what to say at precisely the right time. I got this. My 35mm Minolta camera is the bomb. And I'm thankful for it, because without this camera, my new hobby would be non-existent. So maybe I stepped in horse poop today, maybe I worked outside in the heat for photos that I'll never see. I still pat myself on the back. Because the Lord knows I'm trying; He knows I'm building a passion for this. And I think he would be proud that I still love Him no matter what, because it's all for His glory.

Last Day of Firsts

First, I must warn you. Blogging is a new concept for me, but I am willing to embrace this new idea. Today is my first day to blog about my photography journey. Wow. Photography. I always viewed people who did photography for a living as people who knew absolutely NOTHING about photography, and just used that "devilish" auto button for everything. Then, my friend shone light on what photography was all about. Auto button, what's that? My photography interests grew, as this inspiring cloud hovered over my head filled with amazing, new ideas. I dug out my mom's old Minolta cameras and her 8 lenses. I felt like a 4 year old child at Christmas. My Minolta x-700 might be one of the coolest, most sentimental things I own. Suddenly, I pictured myself at weddings, taking photos of trees, flowers, birds, and dirt! I'm so excited about this, I feel like I could out swim Michael Phelps at the Olympics! (BTW, I don't enter pools over 3 feet deep).

I finished my first roll of 35mm film. I walked into Wal-Mart like I had pictures of Kim Kardashian getting married, for the second time. Bam! Too bad Wally World doesn't process 35mm film in 1-hour. Next stop, Walgreen's. Bam! The genius working at the photo center turns my film green? How is that possible? No problem. I can easily re-create the Mason jar on my balcony rail. I got this. I'm all set with my new roll of film. I am learning to appreciate the fact that I am the only one I know who buys film. One day I will invest in a digital camera, but for now, the Minolta and I are attached at the hip.

So my first film experience was a bust. Shake it off. I turn to this Bible verse to give me encouragement about my new hobby:
"He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4
In other words, quit sitting around and talking about it; get up and do it to reap the benefits God has planned for you. I'm fist pumping all the way to Walgreen's after that verse! With no intention of using my camera's "auto" button.