Tired

Cora had a hard time sleeping last night.  I must not have slept as soundly as I could have.  Leah didn't exactly sleep during her nap time, either.  We were all three showing signs of sleepiness.  She is down for her nap right now.  She's been here all afternoon and has been a real pleasure to have visit!!  Cora and I will probably wait for tonight to get our sleep, but I imagine it will be an early night.

  We have had lots of fun.  She likes to fly.  I pick her up and we go for a short flight.  We went outside and looked at leaves.  We laid on the floor and investigated toys.  We played music on a tiny piano.  We watched the dog walk by...over and over.  We have just had a bunch of fun (Cora had some fun, too: she changes diapers).  I think we'll keep her.

Vacuum Sucks

We have a Dyson vacuum.  Pretty good little vacuum.  Optimized for pet hair.  It sucks...which is a good thing in a vacuum.  However, since cleaning our carpets last weekend, I have been trying to vacuum at least every other day.  I know, probably should do that anyway...we are just trying to get out of the habit of letting things go until...well, disaster.  

Gypsy, our beloved Goddess of Fur Spreading (or is that Doggess), sees the vacuum and splits...well, all the animals do that.  They head outside for the duration.  I am unsure why.  It's not like I chase them with the vacuum, never done that. >:-)  OK, well, once or five times.  (You say it's cruel until you try it, then it's fun.)  Well, I think Gypsy's revenge is to come back inside find the clean floor and roll on it and try to shed AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE on that clean floor.  

That has irritated me.  Which might be why we used to let vacuuming go for a week or two at a time.  That and the fact that we don't exactly spend a lot of time on the floor.  Unless I am playing with the dogs.  But, other than that, we don't spend a lot of time on the floor.  Now, however, with the threat of impending Chloe, we have both been trying to get into the habit of being more INTO the vacuuming up of pet hair.  

Which brings me back to the Dyson.  I fear for it's continued wellness.  With the amount of use it's gotten lately, well, we might wear it out soon!  So far, it's been a trooper.  It sucks and doesn't try to shoot out dust everywhere, all-in-all, it is an awesome vacuum.  Of course, maybe if we are vacuuming more often it will be doing less work in the long run...I hope.  

Today, we get to play host to our Newest Niece!!  Leah!  I can't wait to see how we handle a little one around the house.  Leah, however, isn't a normal baby...she is AWESOME.  I don't think I have actually heard the kid cry!  Weird, huh?  Well, we'll be spending a few hours babysitting and we'll see how the whole not crying thing holds up.  Wish us luck.

We also, plan to clean more on the house this weekend, but I am fairly certain that our visit with the niece will be the highlight!

     

Photo Anyone?

I found a cool rustic door to take your picture in front of…anyone game?

I had a good day.  High Schoolers…smart allecks as usual.  I retaliated with my own come backs, of course.  No worries. 

This weekend?  More cleaning.  also…we get the chance to baby sit a niece!  OUR YOUNGEST! 

Autumn Colors

I don’t mind cuddling under a blanket, but this wearing a coat to work is the pits.

I did get a chance to take some pictures yesterday.  I took these on the way home.  If you have seen my photo site you know I posted a grainy picture of the moon.  I’m afraid I did not have time to put it on a tripod and take a longer exposure (a longer exposure would have made it less grainy).  I was on my way to work.

I need to do more photography.

Keep It Between The Lines

There is an old country song that says all you gotta do is keep it between the lines…The road to adoption is wide, but keeping it between the lines…well, that’s tough.

 

Hello Thursday

I don't have much to say.  Simply that I like the new arrangement we have with our furniture.  I can see out the window now, rather than having my back to the windows.  I see the TV from an angle, but there is always the couch to sit on and watch TV from.  So, yeah it's good.

I cleaned the front glass on the reef tank yesterday only to find two aptaisia (Pest Anemones).  A few months ago, there was only one.  I'd gone after that little bastard with a syringe and some liquid calcium.  I thought that had done the trick.  Nope.  So, now there are two and I want them both dead.  I'll have to locate the syringe...hope the needle isn't rusted shut.

Fall keeps falling, and so do the leaves.  I haven't been using my camera as much as I'd like.  I got some leaves the other day, and I'd like to take some pictures of the local foliage changing, but I don't know if I will have the energy or time.

I am hoping the travel approval comes soon.  I don't know if we can wait much longer!  I can't wait to see that little girl.

I get to be at a middle school today, which means I will be done about 230pm.  Nice, but I have plenty of things to do.  Maybe I'll take the camera and get a few shots on the way home...

Leaving Summer Behind

The last couple days have been very nice for photographing leaves after work.  I don't know why, exactly, but over the past fifteen years, I have become more and more interested in the colors of leaves.  I hope you will enjoy these.  Yes, they are altered slightly, but still, I am really happy with these.

I once held the position that one of my former professors.  "Digital is NOT the same as film!"  I echoed his objections about the new media(circa 1995).  I was reluctant to even own a digital camera.  Well, my parents bought us our first one back in 2003.  It was a true blessing.  We loved it.  It was NOT as good as film, but over the past seven years, the technology has matured.  Now, digital cameras can make quality prints at more than 20X30 inches.  I have never enlarged a photo past 8X12, so why worry?    And look at the way you can manipulate them!  I have never developed color film or prints because of the temperature control necessary.  Black and white is more forgiving.  Still, I DON'T have a dark room.  I DO have a computer.

Anyway, back to the leaves: you can't manipulate a photo you don't have.  You have to be able to obtain a photo to base it off of, and then tweak it until you're happy.  We don't have Adobe, but this is what I can do with our Corel program.  I love the colors! 

I subbed for first graders today.  Not too bad.  They were appropriately in awe of my drawing skills, even though I was not attempting to showcase those.  I was shooting from the hip a few times, but that's a normal thing for a sub.

Tomorrow, I am back to fifth graders.  The same batch that seem to love me.  This will be my third showing this year.  I am pleased with that.  Fifth graders are a good bunch.  I should be able to see the results of their coloring contest, on the scarecrow that I left behind.  I enjoy this bunch.  I have similar feelings about history as their regular teacher seems to.  It should be another good day!

The adoption continues to creep closer.  I thought a short amount of time like a month would be easy after the past four years, but, honestly, I'm not having an easy time of it.  I wanna go get our girl!  Cora isn't having an easy time, either!  Come on!  Let's get this party started!  I'm ready to go to China!