Solar Powered Fountain

How cool is this! I really want one of these... Our backyard needs some major help. It's large and fairly flat, so it's a perfect space. But visually it's pretty awful. It needs some TLC. It also needs a solar powered fountain now.



I did a very responsible thing last night and I started cleaning up the outside of the house. Whee! Yard work! There are still leaves, leaves, leaves everywhere. I plan to tackle the rest of it on Saturday.

A few things this week...

Few things going on this week...

1. Matt and I are having Easter lunch with my family at our house. It's my first ever holiday dinner. Whaaaa? I have massive cleaning to do. I got a few things done this weekend but there's still some work to do done. But then again if people come over and our house is gross, I might not ever have to host a holiday again...

2. I need to finish fixing those chairs so people can sit on them.

3. A friend of mine who has literally been a part of my life since the day I was born asked me to take some candid/photojournalistic photos on her wedding day. I've also been recruited to photograph her shower, rehearsal everythings and maybe some engagement pics. Sweeeeet. It's great experience and I know she won't kill me if the pictures don't turn out. They have an official wedding photographer who is doing the wedding so the pressure is off of me not to eff it up.

4. Matt and I have been talking about moving lately. We're giving Omaha until he turns 30 (in two years) then we might move in pursuit of our careers. The top runners are Nashville and Portland, with San Francisco and Colorado also being considered.

Nashville is the most comparable to Omaha as far as cost of living goes. I also like the idea of living in between our families in Nebraska and Florida. Plus, Matt knows a semi-famous musician in Nashville who owns a recording studio so he has industry friends down there.

However, Portland is completely rad.

Colorado is freaking beautiful.

San Francisco is Mecca.

We'd go straight to SF were it not for the fact that we would have to choose between living on the streets or selling ourselves for rent. (Hello 520% housing cost increase.)

Public Photo Archives

I've been staring at this picture for the last two days. I just can't get over how amazing it is. I found it in a public domain archive. The photographer is Toni Frissell. It's just so beautiful...

Love.

You think your day sucked?

I went to a memorial service for a baby today. My niece. There is nothing on this planet more heartbreaking than watching two parents, who I love dearly, saying goodbye to their Julia who was gone before she ever had a chance to be born. There is no consolation that I could possibly offer anyone involved in this. All there is to say is, "I love you."

I've spent the majority of the day either crying or holding back tears. My heart is broken for Julia and her wonderful parents who miss her so much. I know I've blogged about it a couple of times already, but this is pretty much what has been consuming my thoughts for the last couple of weeks.

As time passes and I acquire those experiences that only age can bring, I realize more and more that nothing in this life matters more than the people who love you. That "I am a rock, I am an island" business is bullshit. Family, friends, a support system. It's necessary.

I love you. I love you. I love you. Having someone to say it to doesn't make you codependent, it makes you strong. It gets you through the day. It gives you a reason to wake up in the morning. Love is the most inspiring and spiritual force on Earth and it is the only thing that I can possibly think to offer my family right now.

Julia

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you,
Julia

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering,
In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Hum hum hum...calls me
So I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia

Happy One Year House Anniversary!

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of closing on our house. Only 29 more to go until it's paid off! Hooray! I've been taking a mental inventory lately of all the things I intended to fix on the house when I bought it and pretty much 99% of those things are still undone.

First off there's the inside... I never fixed the red paint in the dining room that stops halfway into the kitchen. But that's okay because it matches some holes in the living room that I patched and then never painted. Then, last week there was an incident involving large pieces of furniture being moved and the wall in the hallway...

The sun shining on the outside of the house makes it very clear that the old owners attempted to touch up the paint with the wrong color. And then left it. They also didn't feel a need to replace the piece of downspout that looks like it got ran over with a truck. But neither did I, so touché old owners.

There are still old tires behind the shed for some reason. And a computer monitor inside the shed. I can't go in there though because the door is guarded by the universe's biggest spider.

Sigh. Maybe I'll manage to fix everything sometime within the next 29 years.

Couples Pictures

I met my friend Taylin and her girlfriend Michelle on Saturday to take some pictures. Those chicks are awesome. We went out for drinks first and talked about movies, music and babies. They of course are on a different side of the reproductive line so it was interesting to talk with them about being married and having kids.

This was the first time I've photographed a couple, so I was a little nervous. As were they. Hence the drinks. I thought all parties did a great job though... :)