Album vs Single

I was driving home tonight, listening to one of my favorite albums, when I wondered how many people buy whole albums anymore. When using iTunes there's no need. You hear a song. You like it. You buy it. I wonder how many people spring for the whole shebang anymore.

I thoroughly enjoy listening to an entire album. The time and thought it takes to get the order just right... The artist tells a story and with just the right order, it can be amazing or eh... Just like a novelist builds characters and story lines with chapters.

Don't get me wrong. I'll certainly buy the single of a song that really resonates with me or if I like the beat or melody, but I'll frequently go back and buy the whole album. I rarely hit shuffle on my iPod. I want to hear ian album as it was intended. I'm not just talking about concept albums here, though they're great. I'm talking about any album.

I was listening to Arcade Fire's latest, The Suburbs tonight, for the ten thousandth time. I love it through and through. I love every note. I love the progression. I love how it takes me back to living in the burbs in the 80's. I looooooove it.

Got it? Good.

I can't imagine listening to just one song or hitting shuffle. It just wouldn't be the same!

Below I'm listing some of my all time faves. These albums enjoy regular rotation on my iPod.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Adele - 19
Adele - 21
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Depeche Mode - Violator
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Garbage - Garbage
Paul Simon - Graceland
Keane - Hopes and Fears
Lissie - Catching a Tiger
Marc Broussard - Carencro
Metric - Fantasies
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Ray LaMontagne - Til the Sun Turns Black
The Secret Sisters - The Secret Sisters
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
The Sundays - Blind
The Sundays - Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
Young the Giant - Young the Giamt

Ok there are more, but I got a little out of control as it is. What are your favorites?? Do you feel the same way as me or am I a maniac?

Oh. My. Goodness I'm lazy

Wow, I popped online today and headed over to my blog so I could catch up on my reading and realized that I haven't posted since August.  August?  Really?  Wow it's been a long time.
It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I've been so busy that I haven't even thought about posting.  I haven't taken a photo since September.  What is wrong with me?

It's a combination of work, ghost hunting, and knitting like a maniac to make sure I have Christmas gifts done by the time the holidays roll around.  I've got lots to say.  I just have to make time to say it.
I guess it's time to make good use of that blogging app I have for my phone.

What's going on with all of you? 

Bring it, Fall!

I am so ready for Fall.  Bring it on!

I know.  I know.  That means that Winter is not far behind, but I'm ready for the cooler weather.  I'm ready for the crispness of a fall morning. I'm ready for the beauty of the changing leaves.  I'm sorry to those of you that  live in a place that has no seasons, I really am.

I'm ready for the smell of fallen leaves.  I'm well aware that smell is the smell of decomposition, but I love it all the same.  I also love the way that you can smell the hay in horse manure.  Yeah, I really do.

I'm ready for hot apple cider, making applesauce (mom, I hope that you plan on making more this year), planning winter knitting projects, football, sweaters, wearing socks, Halloween and all of the adorable kids that will stop at my door, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin spice coffee (thank you Dunkin Donuts for breaking it out early...) Thanksgiving, and the excitement that preparing for the holidays always brings.

I'm ready!  Bring it on! (The snow can suck it... but I love Fall!)

Are you looking forward to Fall?  Do you want to punch me in the face?

We Survived

Yup, that's about the extent of the damage at my house.

I went out to do a little surveillance this morning.  We're fine.  It was very windy and rainy, but we didn't get as much over here as they did to the east.  They said though it was a Category 1 Hurricane, it was really more like a tropical storm. 

No trees down in our yard.  I made the hubs and the Daisydog sleep with me in the basement.  There were tornado warnings all over the place and you could hear the wind howling outside all night long.  I was worried more about the wind than anything.

We had a dove adopt us a little over a month ago.  It's one of those white ones that is probably released at weddings.  The poor thing got lost on it's way home.  We can't get close enough for him to let us touch him, but we're getting there. I was worried about him.

Recently, he brought home a girlfriend.  She's a regular old pigeon.  There's a little love story going on in our back yard though I was concerned for a bit because she only came for one night last week and I didn't think that Dovey was that kind of guy.  I thought that doves mated for life and to see this little hussy fly in for one night made me a little bit suspicious of their relationship.

She and Dovey came home together last night and hung out on the roof all night.  I took a peek out this morning and they were a little worse for wear, but were alive so I'm happy.  I worried about them all night.

It's still raining and it is likely to rain for most of the day.  I think I'll stay in and knit.

What I've been doing aka ramblings

So I've been MIA from my blog for over a month.  I've thought about it, but I've been so busy getting used to my new computer (we bought an iMac!), building my photography site, and trying to re-design this blog and design another all while trying to continue knitting, working, ghost-hunting, breathing, and sleeping.

So.... drumroll please...  my photography site is up!  I have a blog over there too, but I'm considering removing it as it really is a place for my to show my "stuff" and I don't know that having a blog there is really appropriate.  I guess I can do whatever I want.  I'll figure it out.

Go on over and take a look then come back and tell me what you think!

http://www.recklessshots.com

I need to add watermarks to the photos and once I figure out how to do it the way that I like it I'll be adding them.  

This week has been crazy in itself.  We've had an earthquake, tornado warnings, and now Irene is barreling towards us.  If it starts raining frogs, I'm outta here.  Irene is not supposed to be affecting us until the wee hours of tomorrow morning, but I tell ya, it looks like it could start any minute out there.

What have you all been up to?

So, I've come to a realization

Field near my parents' home

that I'm an artist.  I mean I guess I've always known it, but I've never really said it.  Until today...

I was talking with a co-worker about a frame that someone left as a takeaway in our corporate kitchen.

I said, "Well, I took it because I'm a Photographer and I'm always looking for frames."

Internally, I gasped and chastised myself.  What?!  A Photographer?!  Who are you kidding?!

Then I thought.  I am. I am a Photographer.  Maybe I'm not getting paid, but I am.  I.  AM.

So there's that.  Maybe I'm faking it until I make it, but I've been told so much lately about how fantastic my photos are, that maybe I should really think about this.

Sure, I have a lot to learn, but hell, who doesn't?  

I am a Photographer.

I am an artist.  

Photography

Photography has been a love of mine since I can remember.  My first camera was one of those chintzy 110 cameras.  I would shoot roll after roll after roll.  I have no idea what happened to most of the pictures.

The love had gone a bit dormant until I ended up at BlogHer last year.  I sat in on one of the photography sessions and fell in love all over again.  Seeing all of those beautiful snaps rekindled my love for the art.

I bought my first DSLR in October 2010 and have barely put it down since.  Now I'm going through memory card after memory card.

Recently I signed up for the Superhero Photo E-Course with Andrea Scher.  It's only two days in, but I'm loving it.

Besides the shot above, here are some of my favorites so far.

 

Weekend

Brought to you by good friends, pick-up volleyball (keep away) games,a feisty cat, goofy dog, dancing on the lawn, and general tomfoolery…

While all hell broke loose on the internets yesterday (I was hacked… again…), hubs and I were visiting with old friends.

The day started with a water gun fight and it ended with me spiking a large plastic ball into a baby’s face.  Yup… Not on purpose.  Yes, she’s ok.  It was a thin plastic ball and I’m a wimp so it didn’t hit that hard.  Yes, I feel horrible. 

 

It’s always great to get together with our BFFs.  We’ve known each other for years.  They don’t mind that I look like I have a camera growing out of my face. 

Even the cat doesn’t mind.  Or maybe she does.

I just love that face.  He’s only 8 months old.  We played a game where I would blow at his face.  He would run around and then come back for more.  It was the funniest thing in the world, at the time.  I think I needed a nap.

There had to be a flower shot in here somewhere. 

This week, hubs and I will be getting ready for our trip to Key West.  I’m looking forward to filling my camera up with pictures of palm trees and the ocean.

Have a good week!

Where I'm From

I was inspired to do this template by Schmutzie.  It is a template from Fred First Floyd.  You can read the story and complete the template here.  It really does turn out some amazing stuff. 
Here we go.

Where I'm From

I am from the old, rusty red, white, and blue swing set, from Ace Bandages and Calamine Lotion.

I am from the big white house on the hill, the dirty city, and the rolling Alleghenies that always call you home with their sweet summer smells and cold, cold winters.

I am from the lily of the valley, the hardy mountain laurel, the rose bush that always springs new growth from old wood.

I am from family get-togethers and grudges, from John and Gail, and Alfred and Ida, and a difficult cousin.

I am from jealousy and confrontation.

From what reflection I was to my parents and what an angel I wasn't.

I am from God and all of the challenges of faith.

I'm from Pennsylvania and the Scottish Highlands, fine roasted beef and Yorkshire pudding smothered with homemade gravy.

From the many broken bones, cuts and bruises of Cousin Andy Ritchie who was careless and free spirited, the childless Aunt Ida who was a grandmother to me until she forgot who I was, and the invisible, tap-dancing cat of my Uncle Bill.
I am from the old cardboard box, under a well-used bed, dragged out every few years.

An open letter to public restroom users of the female persuasion

Women are pigs.  Yeah, I said it.  Women are pigs in a public restroom. 

You can make available all of the toilet seat covers in the world.  Women will still pee all over the seats and leave it for the next person to deal with.  You've got a toilet seat cover, SIT DOWN!  Unless, of course, the pig before you left feces all over the seat.  I've seen it.  It happens.

You do not have to use an entire industrial-sized roll of toilet paper each time you wipe.  You're killing trees, not to mention you're clogging the toilet for the next user.  I am by no means encouraging you to shake it off (though I'm convinced some people do) or use one square, but you do not have to cover your arm up to your elbow, for God's sake. If you drop a square on the floor, PICK IT UP.  I should not have to check my shoes when I leave the stall.

You do need to wash your hands, but you DO NOT need to splash water all over the vanity.  If you do, wipe it off.  There is no reason why I should have to have the tell-tale sink line across my crotch because you can't clean up after yourself.

You do need to make sure that your used paper towel is in the trash can.  I do not clean up after people at home and I'm sure as hell not going to clean up after a stranger.

Please follow these simple rules.  I will call a bitch out for bathroom indiscretions.  I've done it before and I will do it again.

Thank you for your attention.

Love,
Me

Wordless Wednesday

Let me hold your bags, will you?

I don't claim to be psychic, but I definitely have the ability to pick up on others' feelings all the time from time to time. I am able to feel what other people are feeling and most of the time I take it into myself and don't realize that they are not my feelings.

I don't like to go to places where there are large groups of people because it's overwhelming on so many levels. I can usually tell when someone is in a bad mood without them saying a word.  Yeah... Yeah... body language... but it's much more than that.  I can just tell.  Normally I try to stay away from those people until they work their shit out.  Sometimes it's unavoidable.

On the other hand, I am a Paranormal Investigator so it definitely comes in handy during investigations.  Sometimes, things just get weird.

I was on an investigation this past weekend and the entire evening I was stressing and thinking that I left my car lights on and that I would get into my car at 3am and the battery would be dead.  I don't know how many times I walked around the house to the edge of the porch and checked my car, each time knowing that the lights were off.  (But where they really off the last twelve times I checked and I just couldn't tell because  of the way the streetlight was shining.)


When we were all packed up and ready to go, I gave strict orders to another investigator that he was not to leave until I had turned my car on and was ready to go.  I got to the car, turned it on and it turned over.  I was so relieved.  I drove home (checking my back seat twelve thousand times to make sure I didn't have any hitchhikers), pulled in, and went to sleep.

The next day what do I find, but another investigator that had carpooled had to be jumped when he got back to another investigator's home.  He had left his lights on and his battery died while we were at the investigation.

Coincidence?  Maybe.

Maybe not.

Multiculturalism at the birdfeeder

My weekend in pictures

I spent a lot of time with my camera this weekend.  I went to a Pink Party for my cousin's new addition.  Unfortunately I left before I could take any snaps (sorry mom and ditter) and went immediately to an 8th grade graduation party (can't post the shots from there because I don't have parental clearance- I'm such a tease.)

Yesterday, I decided to do a little bird watching along with some nature shots of my progressing garden.  The crazy heat has speeded things up a bit, though I’m not sure how much because I am horrible with timing.  I never remember when things are going to bloom.  When they do, they do…

So here is my weekend in pictures.  Well, yesterday at least.

My weekend in pictures VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Here are some gratuitous Daisy shots just because she’s so damn cute.

Enjoy your week!  33 days until some awesome Key West pictures are taken.

I totally invented Planking

Source

You know, the coolest thing since Parkour except you just lay there.  That's my kind of extra curricular activity.

Everyone that knows me, knows I am possibly the clumsiest person on the earth.  I fall.  All. The. Time. If there is a crack in the sidewalk, the front of my shoe will find it.  It's not that I'm not observant.  I just don't pay attention.  I'm just focused on other things, like talking and taking in the scenery.  I'm not staring at the ground. 

I'm CONFIDENT.  I'm even confident when I fall.  I make a big joke out of it.  I never often cry.

This one time (at band camp) at Friendly's, my co-workers and I were walking out of the restaurant.  The leeft heel of my superfabulous, plastic-heeled sandals slid right out in front of me, split-style.  My right leg tried to compensate, and down I went like a spontaneous proposal.

I'd like to say it was graceful, but I'm positively certain that my throat let loose a wild, "WHOA!" as I went down.  I lay there for a bit.  Once I had gathered my senses, I burst into laughter, got up and turned to the rest of the restaurant and bowed.  I'm sure there was an arm flourish because I'm all about the artistic details.

The manager rushed over to be sure that I wasn't going to sue them.  I had to sign some papers saying I wouldn't sue Friendly's and I was told that I would be getting a call from their Risk Management people. My friends say that the floor was wet, but I don't think it was.  They were slippery shoes and I was not paying attention and flapping my gums.  Friendly's was really great about the whole thing.

That afternoon, my knee swelled up to the size of a large grapefruit.  Hubs took me to the ER and I left with a fluffy new accessory.  The leg brace.

A couple weeks later, I came home after a particularly aggravating Open House (during my dark days of being a real estate "volunteer.") I whipped off my spiky heels, threw on a pair of flip flops and grabbed a Manhattan.  (My father-in-law had made them in honor of the Phillies making the playoffs that year.)
I walked outside, took a sip, stepped off the deck and hit the deck.  I flung my arms out and threw my Manhattan across the yard, but I held on to that glass!

I lay there sprawled out on the river-stones that hubs had probably raked that day while hubs tried to keep his giggles at bay.  My ankles had rolled.  Both.Of.Them.  When I regained my composure and stopped wailing like a two-year-old, I exclaimed, "I only took one sip!"

Again, a couple days later, I ended up in the ER with swollen ankles.  They asked me if I felt safe in my home.  I told them I didn't feel safe around myself!  I then promptly told them I was joking and no, I was not trying to harm myself, yes I feel safe in my home, I'm a clutz with poor fashion choices. I left with another flufyish accessory, the air cast. 

There are other stories, like when I tripped up our basement steps, knocked the door open and flew into the wall leaving a shoulder size hole in it all the time yelling, "I'm FINE!  I'm FINE!"  Hubs had fun fixing that one.  There was the time, in college, when I tripped after walking over the railroad tracks, did a flip in the air and landed on my knees, but still kept my lit cigarette. (My friend peed her pants laughing, by the way.)  Aaaand of course there is the story of my "trip" to Key West.  We've all heard about that one.

So, you see, I really invented Planking.  Maybe I'm in more of the Interpretive Planking section.  Had I known it would have taken off, I would have absolutely publicized it before anyone else.

A walk through my garden

I've been really restless lately.  I'm looking so forward to vacation that I find myself speeding through my day wishing that vacation would come sooner. (38 days to go, by the way)
It occurred to me, today, that I should really try and find things that delight me every day and not just wait for the "big" things.
So, I took out my camera and took a stroll through the back garden.

These things definitely delight me.

Yarrow - should be yellow soon

Rose Bush with undetermined name - These roses were planted in our first "real" apartment.  I dug them up and took them with me when we moved. I was worried they would survive.  It's been five years.

Feverfew  - It's taking over the garden, but I love the flowers.

Joseph's Coat Roses - I love roses.  I have six plants right now.

Expanding my repertoire

So, I’ve realized that I take a lot of pictures of plants and though they are beautiful, I think I focus on them too much.  I think it’s because I love macro photography so much.

This past weekend I was at a Memorial Day BBQ aka the Opening of Pool Club (the name we have lovingly given our summer gathering spot) and I decided to get my camera out and take some snaps. 

Here are some of the faces of Pool Club.

I could use some improvement, but I’m happy with learning. 

Authentic Sangria Recipe

So the other day when I was dreaming of vacation and listening to the type of music played in every low-key bar in Key West, I decided to make Sangria to enjoy after work.  I sent the Hubs a text to give him a heads up about the Sangria and like every good, trusting husband, he immediately checked with his Puerto Rican co-worker on how to make it so he could test me on my Sangria-making skills. 

I was given a recipe in a college Spanish class from my Cuban professor.  Her's went a little something like this:

-One bottle of any cheap red wine
-One bottle of Lemon Lime Soda
-Oranges, Limes, and whatever other fruit you would like to add to it

That's it.  Simple, easy, and delicious.

Hubs decided that I didn't know what the hell I was talking about so he asked his co-worker, who immediately called her mom, in Puerto Rico, to get her recipe.  Then, she gave him her own recipe and said her mom's was too much work.

- Burgundy Wine
- Orange Juice (I used Lite Orange Juice.  You may also use concentrate.)
- Lemon Lime Soda (I use Sprite Zero as I would rather waste my calories on the wine.)
- Splenda (optional)
- Cut limes or limon verde if you can get them and oranges (as much as you like)

It goes a little something like this:

- Pour in any amount of wine you like into a pitcher

- Add the orange juice until the drink gets that Sangria color

- Add a little Splenda for sweetening, if you wish ( I didn't add any.)

- Add the lemon lime soda for a little fizz and some taste

- Squeeze the cut limes and oranges a bit and then add them to the pitcher

- Stir

- If you're serving it right away I would add ice to the pitcher or to the glass.  

-Enjoy

Thanks to the Hubs for making this while I snapped the photos.  He obviously gets the first taste.

The weather is beautiful today.  I'm going to go enjoy some Sangria now!
Happy Memorial Day!  Thank you to all who served and are serving our country!

We booked it! Hurray!

So, after talking about it for what seemed like months, hubs and I booked our summer vacation for this year. 

Guess where we’re going?  Come on, you can probably guess.

Why yes, it is Key West.  I love that place.  Hubs and I went last year after not traveling down to the Keys for a few years.  We fell in love with it back then and fell in love with it all over again last year.

We had a great time.  It was so relaxing.  (Except when I was throwing myself on the ground)  It was so much fun that we decided to go back again this year.

With all of the stress of fertility crap, losing weight so that I may go back to the Endo, never really having any time when we’re truly alone, we decided to take a Last Hurrah kind of vacation.  With any luck, this will be our last kid-free vacation for a while.  Hell, maybe until we retire. 

I’ve got a little over a month and a half to wait.  It’s going to be hard. 

More fun with my new lens

I went to the Philadelphia Zoo for my birthday, last Friday.  I love animals, but I have to admit that I really wanted to go to practice what I learned at the Nikon School class and play with my new lens.  Not all of the photos are edited yet, but here are three of them.  I'm editing on a verrrrrry sloooooow computer so it is taking me a while.  Compared to editing on an 10.5 inch screen, it's not that bad, but a new computer is on the horizon.

Victoria Crested Pigeon - right before she started sunning herself

Flamingo "herd" - we caught them right in the middle of their afternoon nap

Orangutan with his/her blankie - I still say we all have days like these.

New Lens, New View

I’m happy to report that there has been a new addition to the Sarcasm household.  For my birthday, I bought myself a new lens for my camera.  It is chock-full of Macro goodness, 70mm-300mm Macro AF to be exact.  It can be used as a regular lens or a macro lens.  I . Am. Beyond. Excited.

Above, is one of the first photos I took.  Below is another.

Not that my “old” lens wasn’t any good, I just like to have options.  Below is one of the photos from our latest Virginia trip. 

Well, that’s all for today, folks.  I’m off to play with my new addition.