I think I can...I think I can...

So you may or may not of noticed the badge at the bottom of my page or the button on the side but I have registered for the "CIBC Run for the Cure" on Oct 2, 2011. It is a fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and it is a 5K/1K run/walk. I joined the Booty Camp Fitness Team so I wouldn't be alone. My former Booty Camp Fitness instructor Susan is on the team, and she is awesome, so I know she would encourage me to do my best!

I have two close family members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and survived; my Nan (now in her mid 80's), who was diagnosed twice on two separate occasions, and her daughter, my Aunt Tena.This is my effort to spread some good Karma, I will be running so everyone can be as lucky as me.

I *Heart* My Nan  

I HOPE TO WILL run the whole 5K...this is my new goal. Problem is I am not much of a runner..I have 94 days left to become one. I know if I have even a quarter of their strength than I can.

Run for the Cure To Do List:

1. Create My Donation Web page & Start fundraising
2. Dig out my old "Learn to Run" notes and read them
3. Create a 5K route
4. Create a Training schedule
5. Run my ass off

Wish Me Luck!

Photography Certificate Officially Finished!

Yea! I made it through! I finally finished something! I had everything done and printed DAYS in advance!(Big accomplishment for me, usually I'm a "the night before" or "morning of" type person). A weight has been lifted! One less thing on my to do list.  I still plan on doing more courses...just for fun. The wedding one starts on Thursday...I'm excited!

Below is my written proposal and my pictures if you would like to take a look...tell me what you think!

 

The Little Things

 

Outline:

“Beauty is the promise of Happiness” – Stendhal

In today’s ever changing world, mixed with the increasingly busy lifestyle people are rarely aware of the beauty in the little things that surround them. Most people spend their commute on their smart phone, playing games, reading emails, facebooking, and texting. I want to encourage people to be more aware of their surrounding and use their smart phone to capture it.

Focus:

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it” – Confucius

I will observe my surroundings closely and determine the unlikely beauty that may often be missed in the rush of everyday life. I will focus on things that make me smile; people, buildings, objects, patterns all seen from the eye of a commuter.

Approach:

I was hoping to do most of the shooting from the queen 501 street car. I will to do some of my shooting on my morning and evening commute, However because my work commute is short I will do a complete ride of the 501 queen street route over two days. First day will involve taking test shots, making notes of points of interest, and review of test shots. Second day will be used for shooting.

Technique:

Camera: IPhone 4 - Hipstamatic 210 A

• John S Lens
• No Flash
• Ina 1969 Film

General:

• Use of negative space, patterns, people, color, lines
• “Urban Photography” style
• Retro finish produced primarily by the IPhone App
• Minimal Photoshop adjustments
• Thick, Matte Paper

Goal:

“The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print is the performance.” ~Ansel Adams

The Goal is to print a series of 10-12 pictures that encourages others to look around them and capture some everyday beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Mothers Day!

I love Skype and IPhone 4! Today I went to Toronto Island. It was a beautiful day, I sat and read up on my photography while Mark tried his hand catching the elusive (thank god!) Carp in the canals (I keep picturing the three eyed fish from the Simpsons). While I was sitting on the pier I decided to call my Mom…it is Mothers day after all. I didn’t just call her though I Skype’d her on my IPhone and I was able to show her all around and chat and the same time…it was soooo good. My Mom has never been to Toronto so it was nice to share that with her :)

Started my photography class on Saturday…I came out of it a little more confused than when I went in! I think maybe I didn’t explain my idea very well because the teacher thinks I’m doing something else…I have no idea how to explain it but I better figure it out and fast!

We had a “Yard” BBQ on Saturday it was great! So my building is a building without terraces but there is a small side yard/waste land. Last year one the the girls in the building decided to start a garden…slowly as the plants started to grow so did the collection of people who decided to hangout in the “Yard”. This is how I met most of my neighbours! We started a collection of found objects such as lawn chairs, a wagon, an old BBQ, etc...This year more neighbours are joining the “Yard” fun and we have quite a few plants in our garden already.

Yummy…mines in the tinfoil…it’s salmon..


The Garden…full already…I think some stuff will have to be moved once it grows a little


Cutest little garden decoration!


The siting area full of found objects..or freecycled things.











As you can see we have an assortment of “Yard Dwellers” and a few are missing
Apparently a garden can grow many things including Good Times!

Silver lining

Immediately after posting my last post I wanted to take it down! I couldn’t believe I posted that out there for people to see! Moment of weakness…

But I have changed my mind, I decided to keep it there to remind me that the next time I am having a few rainy days, and I feel like I`m losing my grip, I can start again. I know it will probably take a long time to change, but I WANT to do it! I never want to feel like that again.

After reading the latest post from “Oh She Glows” I felt a little inspired, even though the issues were a little different I felt like some of the questions and answers still applied to me too. Angela is obviously a very strong woman…an inspiration…perhaps I’ll get my “Glow” back too.

I can do this…I CAN do this…Can saying that enough times make it true?

OK! The Shit List That Kicked My Ass: (doesn’t look like much when you write it down)

1. Make pillow covers – Done and they look good..yea!
2. Make Apron – Ok I have it cut out….it just needs to be sewed together…the hard part
3. Meal Planning – Stumped, this is hard when you are planning for 2 and 1 is picky…perhaps I should add clean out the fridge to this list?
4. Eat Breakfast Everyday – I can’t seem to get out of bed early enough
5. Exercise 3 Days a Week – ha…I should of known better! perhaps I should work my way up to this one
6. Take More Pictures – Took pictures didn’t take them off the Camera…mmm
7. Do My Taxes – Did them today…and I’m getting money back! woot!
8. Come up with Proposal for Photography Class – I have a couple of  ideas….nothing solid yet though…8 more days

Now just one thing at a time…what will the weekend hold?

I added this picture just because it makes me smile…I love  my Kitties

Weekend Wanders

So this weekend was a busy one...

I took a step toward one of my photography goals...I signed up for my last Photography class need for my certificate! Good right?...not so good...the class was full already and now I'm on a wait list....*sigh*. I will just have to show up at the first class and see if anyone has dropped out and beg the teacher to let me in! On the bright side my boss has offered to pay for my course so I can use that money somewhere else in my budget!

Marks cousin Michael came to visit, he hasn't been to Toronto since he was a little kid so a lot of sightseeing was in order. We went to Niagara Falls on Saturday. It was a beautiful day ...warm & sunny, we walked around and of course did some gambling. I had budgeted myself $20 bucks for the Casino and I won $100 so I took it and ran...I ran right to the outlet mall and bought myself a new coat and sun glasses! I guess I probably should of saved it, that would of been the smart thing to do, but at least it was an outlet mall...more bang for my buck...right?..right..


Me at the falls...a bit over exposed...not bad for a cell phone picture

 Michael's visit wasn't just for fun he was here to pick up a European Boxer puppy from a breeder in Harley, ON. So our way back from Niagara on Saturday evening we picked him up. I forgot how much I LOVE puppies! He was very cute...until he threw up...I moved the blanket just in time to save my leg! I guess he didn't like his first car ride, but he slept the rest of the way.

look at that face!

On Sunday the boys went to a raptors game leaving me to puppy sit...we played in the yard & in the park but mostly we did a lot of napping...




At the Park

 


He was so tired he sat on my feet and went to sleep..this is what I saw when I looked down

Meal planning is still off to a rocky start and I only have one session left with my trainer. I asked her to help me come up with a workout schedule to keep me on track...guess we will see how that goes. I went for a run/walk today at work...my boss has decided that we should do it at least 2 times a week...which is great...nothing like getting paid to exercise! 

I'm am off to do some more meal planning and blogging research...anyone know how to put a border on a picture? :)

So What's in a Name?

When I decided to write a blog I started reading about how to create one. As it turns out the name is really important...hello first stumbling block! I am not very creative and my writing skills are non-existent so this was a particular challenge. I turned once more to Google (my right hand man) ...”how to name a blog”...this came up with a wealth of sites offering up their best brainstorming ideas. A lot of them involved branding, domain names etc., but there were three tips that stood out across the board, so to make my life easier I’d thought I’d start with those:

1. Describes Your Blog (ok so...me admitting to the world that I have a huge procrastination problem, and me trying to fix it...)


2. Short- no more than 3-4 words (...umm... how do I shorten that...)


3. Unique, memorable or catchy (Shit, now I’m done...)

Ok can't stop now...I can do this...Break out the Dictionary & Thesauruses!

My first attempt came up with “Proclamation of Procrastination” ...proclamation roughly means giving public notice and procrastination...well we know what that means. So pretty good eh? ...umm...not really...close though, it reminds me of people in suits....too formal, too ridged...and I’m neither. I needed word for Procrastination that didn’t sound so...evil...

So I started to think... what are some ways to say procrastinator? Dilly-dallier seemed to sick out (mainly because I think it’s a funny word and it makes me smile), so I looked it up...It’s a person who wastes time especially in indecision, a daydreamer. Great...perfect...just the word I was looking for...now to make it catchy. After some deliberation Diary of a Dilly-Dallier was the result... It’s as creative as I get...sad i know!

So it Begins...Finally!

In an effort to stop my procrastination I have started this blog... I had hoped that by telling people about my projects, goals, and ideas; by saying things out loud to people it will hold me accountable and possibly guilt me into changing my habits. At least that’s the plan...so far it is has taken me almost a year since I first set up this blog to write my first post so...um...not a good start...but I guess I have started in true dilly-dallier style. Welcome to my Blog! :)