I'm sorry I've been slacking on my blogging this year. I've been busy - what with the new job, moving, working out, paying bills (being an adult sucks), crafting and trying to have some kind of social life...I just haven't had much time to devote to blogging. But you're in luck because my dvr is broken and even though it's 11 p.m. on a Friday night and even though I'm exhausted from a long week, I'm not sleepy.
So I'll just share with you a few of the things I've been up to this summer (that don't involve the gym, softball or work - three of my photos did end up on billboards this year, but that's for another post).
I read an article in the Post Dispatch that said St. Louis will once again have polar bears. I was excited, until I read the next line that stated that while they're working on the polar bear exhibit, the penguin exhibit will be closed - until 2015. That's over a year away! What if I start to get penguin withdrawals? I asked Kristin if she wanted to go to the zoo with me to visit the penguins one last time before they go away. So we went on August 18. It was an extremely hot day, and I don't think my brain was functioning properly that morning because I decided to wear a black shirt and blue jeans. And don't forget my camera bag that weighs close to 15 pounds. But you don't really care about that...you just want to see the pictures, right?
So here they are:
We randomly ran into my cousin, her husband and three kids at the zoo. Kristin and I were walking on Historic Hill and I saw them about 20 feet ahead of us...I was like, "hey, that's my cousin!" I called out to them and we all decided to go to the Red Rocks together. Here's a picture of two of my cousin's kids:
I'm going to miss these guys...
The next weekend, August 24, I went to Penzeys Spices with the ladies from my gym. I know, me in a spice shop is a ridiculous thought. I mean, I don't really cook and I like bland food. But hey, I like the ladies from the gym and it beat staying home alone. The lady who usually takes the group photo on their off-campus excursions couldn't go that day, so I said I'd bring my camera. Everyone was impressed when I set up my tripod and timer to take a picture of the group with me in it...
The weekend after that, Carlie and her boyfriend came in town for Labor Day. She wanted to do something "St. Louisy." I suggested the Gateway Arch. We had a picnic by the arch, took a tram up to the top and then took pictures outside the arch. (I sort of felt like I was taking engagement photos.) Crazy coincidence, my friend, Chris, not knowing that I was going to the arch that weekend, asked me if I had any good pictures of the arch that I'd be willing to give him and Stacy for their wall. I'm sure I have pictures of the arch - it is after all one of my favorite monuments. But I decided to shoot one just for them.
And here are the pictures of Carlie and Ted (I really need to get a fish eye lens so I can get the whole arch in the shot when I'm taking portraits of people - or a super wide angle lens):
I really thought about Photoshopping out that light pole - but the photojournalist in me said don't do it...
That's about all the fun things I've done lately. The end of August and all of September so far have been super busy at work. My brain is so numb at the end of the day that I don't always remember what I did that day. If it's not on my calendar or to-do list, forget about it. I've been taking A LOT of pictures. I swear I've had to carry my camera bag around at least four times a week these past few weeks. I've also been shooting video. And I've started writing blurbs for our weekly newsletter (which I design). What else? Well, I joined my first committee. Very exciting. I got to help plan our employee appreciation day - hopefully the employees enjoy it and feel appreciated. Oh yeah, and I had my biometric screening this week. I'm happy to report that I am healthy. I know you were worried.. I mean, even though I work out like four or five times a week...so yeah, that's good. Work is good. I think I'm getting sleepy now. Time for bed? I'll post the pictures of my billboards another day.
