The journey begins with a single step...

Hehe...I love how you can captivate people with just a single catch phrase or snazzy title!

Anyways, saying is true, journeys do begin with a single step, and sometimes without a map. I do however have a charted course to some destination...which is a really good step for me!!!

So now that my very awesome like-minded friend Widow Lady aka Lisa stopped by and offered me a start up kit for painting, I now have some things to start with on that adventure with my daughter. She is trying to be an aspiring artist/clothes designer/origami bunny folding/singer/writer who just wants to dance type of person, we do have a start. This is just the type of motivation I need to get the craft room going. Right now, I have a general idea of how I want it to look like so there is some organization to that madness!

Step 1: Clean out the garage...sounds easy but where to start
Step 2: Get the storage kit to set up out there.
Step 3: Organize the storage kit to set up material, art supplies and part of the photography stuff
Step 4: Get the easel and bench out there.

Okay, so now that list is done...lol time to get to work! Once again I am setting myself up for getting myself up off my arse and moving! It is going to be epic!! I am glad that I have the motivation now! Thank you support group!

Happy Blogging everyone!

Education...lost

Okay, so my second vision of this picture is now completed! I know it may offend a few people (especially teachers) but let's face it...with so much money being put into education, how are we not in at least the top 5 in the world for education for public education (not including colleges)?

I am hoping that this is an eyeopener for parents as well, because our future depends on our children, so why not give them the best education that money can buy? I know as a parent I want my child to excel.

I think that there are programs out there that should work with public schools, (Sylvan Learning Center for one) who can help children learn. It is also up to the parents at home to help them understand their work from school. Too many parents work two jobs to make ends meet, and try to be there for their children, but grandparents or babysitters raise more of our children nowadays than parents.

I know I am nowhere near "parent of the year" but I try to be there for my daughter. I don't have the patience sometimes, but I try to make it fun for her to learn what she needs to in life. I hope somewhere in the near future they will have classes for debt management, and understanding how to live within your means that will be a requirement for graduation. These are things that children do have to deal with when they become adults, so teach them that as well.

I think I may have gone a little on the "soap box" so before my rant goes any further, I will end it here. Hope you see the vision as I did, and hopefully the rant didn't upset anyone but make them think about what your public school have to offer!

Happy Blogging Everyone!

Take it to the limit...

Sometimes, it feels good just to let it all loose, ya know!

So I have a few ideas that I am setting myself up for the upcoming new year...lots of plans!
First off, I am going to a time lapse photography on my tree outside my window. For one year, I am going to take a picture of the tree everyday and see how it looks during the year. I think that will be good.

Second, I need to make my craft room/art room going on. I already have the space, but it is combined with alot of other stuff right now. But it is big enough for my daughter to start her watercolor paintings she wants to do. It will also give me a space to do my photography and scrapbook so that I don't have it scattered everywhere.

Third, need to get outta debt! I am working on the one right now, but dang there is no stopping interest rate! Grr, school never looked more disappointing, but it is slowly going down!

Fourth, start the business I want to do, where I can get myself money and not let coporate people make money off of me!

Sounds like it is gonna be a crazy 2012!

Anyways, this is goal, and now that I put it on paper it has become a reality!
Short and sweet! Happy Blogging People!!

My random thoughts!

First and foremost, I would like to say I am happy my computer charger came in today! w00t!
Okay, now time for the real writing:

I would like to say this is my favorite time of season...the time from Halloween to New Years! So much happening, so little time, the magic in the air and the change in the weather. I know that holidays are tough on people, with being away from loved ones to losing loved ones and sometimes they don't feel the magic anymore.

I feel sorry for those people who lost that feeling. For me, it has always been magic...I don't know why, my dad didn't like the holidays, I hardly seen most of my close family, but still I can feel the energy in the air around that time. I guess you can say I am a child at heart, and amazed by the simple things.

I love when my daughter was younger and the amazement in her eyes were there around this time. Her dad's family didn't believe in Christmas, so her first celebrated one was in Ohio. The look of wonderment on her face...priceless!!

As far as I am concern, (it being so close to Thanksgiving and all) I am thankful for the amazing moments in life like that. I like when we both have a pajama day and goof off all day. Or when we are both so focused on our creativity that nothing can distract us (and believe that is rare because of "shiny" moments!!) or when we just hang out and do nothing but talk about clouds or leaves changing. Those moments are what being a parent is all about...the simple stuff!

I am also thankful for having a loving and caring support group with me. I am stubborn like no other and very opinionated, and they support me no matter what...(unless it's illegal of course) and also help me see the other point of view. While I may be just having a creativity block and can't think of nothing, they can come up with another idea and get me going again...it's amazing!

Anyways, I think that I will end it here for now...so thank you for reading and Happy Blogging!!

The final first draft....

This is what happened when I first took this picture. At first, when I looked at it, I wanted to make it a dark version of what I liked to call the demise of Snow White...lol
However, my daughter came into the room and talked about school and Ryan and I looked at the picture and he came up with the concept of Education...Lost.

Back in the days, students would give their teachers apples to show that their appreciation. But it seems to me, now teachers demand more and the students receive less. Now before you respond with any kind of opposition, hear me out.

Here is the latest statistics: http://broadeducation.org/about/crisis_stats.html

Now my theory on the picture is that the students are fading into the background, learning is being pushed aside because of budget cuts, increased raises and reduced funds. That may sound like an oxymoron to most people, but I believe that the students are fading into the background. I don't blame the teachers, everyone has a blame in this. The superintendent has the authority to increase or decrease education, the teachers are responsible for teaching the curriculum for the students to pass/fail the OAA. The parents are responsible for making sure the child reads/understands their homework and make sure they do it correctly.

We are still basing our school system on a 1700s theory, where children are let out for the summer to help with farming. That doesn't really apply anymore and for most states, they improvised the year round schooling, so that students don't forget about what they learned during the summer months.

I could go on and on about it all, but I wanna hear your thoughts on this as well. Did you see that when you first saw the picture as well? How do you think it will make a bigger impact? What do you like/not like about it? How can the picture be improved?

I would like to say that the picture in the apple (if you look at it straight on, you can see a picture of a sad little girl) was not supposed to be the primary, more the resemblance of the fading in the background...anyways, would love to hear your thoughts/suggestions!
Thank you and like always, happy blogging!

Step 3 of work in progress...

Okay, so this isn't exactly what I was thinking of...but it is still coming along nicely! At least I think it is and with a few tweakings left to do and some added effects, I think it will look NICE!!
Hopefully you can see the image right now within the image...

When the sun goes down...

Okay...so not exactly the best of days, but let's face it...you can't always go uphill without eventually going down again.

Let's begin with insurance:
First off, I would like to say insurance is a farce! They shouldn't force to you buy something that isn't even worth it. The government should go back to where companies compete for better insurance for better workers. That way you can buy something that you actually like.

Secondly, I can't even afford the insurance that my company provides, which covers me getting hit by a pink elephant on the second Tuesday of the week, and pretty much nothing else. But it takes 1/3 of my paycheck to cover that. I better start looking for pink elephants and create a second Tuesday of the week.

Moving on to better things, I am home safe and sound after a little fiasco at work. Lol, nothing like a fire drill right before you clock out that forces you out of the building for a roll call. That was fun!

Now on to the reason why I started the journal:
So everyone following this knows about my apple project, which is coming along nicely has taken a turn. Now I am going all about symbolism with it that may make a bigger impact than my original plan, (which I still may do because I think it would look cool!) and may be used in the future for other options...hrm, thinking out loud and multipurposing! How awesome is that???
However, I need a suitable test subject that can pull off the look I need for my vision to be complete, so wish me luck!
As always, thanks for reading and happy blogging people!

Aloha Ke Akua!

As the Hawaiian saying goes, "Aloha Ke Akua!" For the English version, "God is Love!" No, this is not going to be a bible-slinging, repent or pay type of thing...just my version of the saying I love.

Today, looking at the sunrise made me think of the small things that never go noticed. I take it for granted that the weather is nice for sleeping, the sun looks awesome in the sky, especially in the morning and evenings and the way my daughter gives me a hug for no particular reason.

Hearing a sermon yesterday reminded me of that too, that no matter what, Jesus is always there! Sometimes when you least expect him to be there, you know (by faith) he is. There is always a sign that he is, from the unexpected good weather, to just having a close friend that knows what to say, or having the eternal hug you can feel when no one is there. That warm feeling when you are sad that makes you smile through all your pain and heartache is the reason I know he is always there with unconditional love.

For most people who know me, unconditional love is something I struggle with myself. I have the excuse that I don't know how, which probably a deeper meaning of "I don't wanna get hurt so if I don't show that, I won't." But I know that I miss out on alot of things when I don't accept if fully either. The saying goes, "Love thy neighbor as you love yourself" but if you don't love yourself that much, does that mean you don't have to love your neighbor as much either?

It's funny how you can look at it that way as well. But I am constantly learning the concept of unconditional love, from a very supporting group of friends, to my own daughter...each one has taught me something along the way. I can see love from their eyes, and it's beautiful. Don't ever let something that pure slip by...embrace it fully! That is what I get from that message. As the warm feeling makes me smile again, I know that is what I wanted to say today, here in this journal of random thoughts I have! =)

Anyways, just thought I would post that cause it just felt right! Happy Blogging People!

My work in progress...

Okay, so I am still fine-tuning this nasty little program...CS5 is amazing!

So this is the picture I started off with, and after a little layering and some minor editing...it looks like this:

Still touching up and trying to figure out more stuff to do with it so the image in my head can come to life via picture!!
But for now, this is just a sample!

What If...

Those are always great words to begin a journey...what if? Somehow, somewhere in my life, it has become a what if...from what if I did this, or what if that turned out differently. You begin to rethink all that you have done. Could you have done more? Less? Yet somehow your choice always remains the same...your choice. But during this past week, I have come to reflect on a few things:
1. Life is too short to take for granted.
Yes it's true everyone says that, but having two different people that their lives were cut short puts things in a new perspective. You start thinking about what you want to accomplish in your life, from the mediocore to the more "bucket list" goals. There is always the excuse; "I never have time" or the great "I don't have money" to use, but doesn't that come with regret?

2. Criticism is just another way to boost your self-confidence.
Of course there are people out there who would love to condemn you for your work, or how you can do something differently. Yet, people are so quick with negativity that they don't see the undertone of it all, that you can use that to make yourself more efficient at what you are doing. So yes, that line in the middle of a picture may be "distracting" doesn't mean you should stop what you love doing. It just means next time, make sure you don't have distractions to what you want the world to see. Lesson learned and move on. There are critics everywhere, ranging from your friends to professionals who see it as constructive criticism, learn how to deal with it in stride. Ask questions, gain advice and use it to your advantage.

3. Have a support group.
Who doesn't love support groups? When you are down and out, someone is there to lift you up. Don't ever take that for granted. Sometimes it is tough love, other times it's a hand in your time or mourning. Some people react to grief differently, so make sure you are there for them. Other times, happiness is always best when shared with friends! The best times is when you can laugh and have your closest friends around you to share that experience...even if it means you were on the recieving end of the joke...at least there is a memory involved with it to share later down the road. "Remember that one time..." always brings a laugh or a tear, but it's a memory to share with people who were there. Nothing is worse than having a memory and not being able to share it with anyone who would find it as amusing because they weren't there.

Okay, so this is my teachings that I learned during the past month or should I say, the past two weeks. Hopefully this helps anyone else who stumbles across this page!
Btw...I will posting some of my work on here in the near future so stay tuned!