Posted by Christina | Posted on 17-08-2010
Category : Daily, Family, Friends, Randomage, Visual
I am back from my glorious vacation. On Sunday the eighth, my mother, my best friend (and room-mate), and myself got in the car and set out for Atlanta, Georgia. We went through Ohio (boring), Kentucky (so beautiful) and Tennessee (scenic as well) and then made it to our destination in Georgia. We stayed at the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, which was amazing. We were on the fifty-fourth floor with an amazing view (I’m still working on getting all my photos together), and had heavenly beds and a heavenly shower. The hotel staff was amazing and the atmosphere was wonderful. I would definitely stay there again. The only thing we did on the way down was view Cumberland falls, but otherwise we were trying to get to Atlanta as fast as possible. We took two days to get down (staying in a Hampton in over night), and on Monday just used our time to relax and walk around the hotel. On Tuesday we spent almost the entire day at the world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium (I have so many photos and videos to go through). The next day we visited the Georgia Zoo (again, so many photos). Once we were done at the Zoo we decided to head for Five Little Points. The next day we visited Roswell, Georgia and did a tour of a plantation house. This was on Thursday (our last full day in Georgia), so once we were done there we spent the remainder of our time in the hotel just relaxing and talking about everything we had seen. On the way back home we did Clingman’s Dome (which was insane, but beautiful), where I briefly met and was able to get a photo of John Glenn.
Not only were all the attractions just wonderful, but so was the food. We ate out for almost every meal and I was no disappointed once. I have a few photos of the places we ate at because some of them were just awesome on the inside. Such as a pizzeria that had giant action figures hanging from the ceiling. Sadly, I don’t think I got any inside photos of the Goodfellows pizzeria (which was across the street from the hotel). We also ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was amazing.
Overall I had an amazing vacation. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. It was awesome. And it was my first “real” vacation away from home. It was also the first time I have been out of the state. Technically I have been to Ohio, but just to cross the border for the Zoo (so it doesn’t really count).
At this point I just need to go through all my photos and videos. I had five memory cards on me that are all full, so I will probably need to wait until my day off to really go through them all. For now though, here’s a teaser.
Posted by Christina | Posted on 22-05-2010
Category : Daily, Family, Friends, Visual
It is the last day of my vacation. I am sad to admit that it’s almost over. Then again, I am fairly bored today. That’s a good indication that it’s just about time to go back to work. I work tomorrow night but then have Monday off. Seems a little ironic but I am going to use Monday to clean off my bookshelves. They are atrocious.
Today I saw my mother hovering around the neighbors house and our house taking photos. The base of our house is surrounded by lily’s of the valley. She inspired me so I went out to join her. I was able to get some good shots and also found this little bush against the house with these very colorful flowers blooming. Sadly it looks as though some sort of bug is eating away at the leaves and petals but they were striking nonetheless.
My good friend Beth would love these little flowers. As I recall, orange and purple are her favorite colors.
There was a thunderstorm last night and a light rainfall this morning so all the leaves were covered with water droplets. I can’t resist water droplets.
My plans for my last day of vacation were canceled. Originally the plan was to stay in the house all day and veg in my jimjams. Well, first off, it’s too nice outside. Hence going outside and taking photos. Second, I’m not huge on staying in my jimjams all day. About thirty minutes after I have been up I have to get dressed or I feel gross. Third, tonight has been dubbed family night. In an hour the family is gathering at my parents house for a cookout dinner and games afterward. It should be fun!
Posted by Christina | Posted on 19-05-2010
Category : Daily, Friends, Randomage, Visual
I ended up coming home early from my uncle’s cabin. It was a little freaky at night. During the day I was fine, but sitting out in the dark listening to coyotes kill things and then being growled at by either a bobcat or bear (not sure which. I heard it, didn’t see it), was enough to make me want to come home early. I got in around noon on Monday and unpacked everything. Overall I did enjoy the trip. I liked being alone for the most part and having no obligations for once. The first morning I woke up at eleven. I have not slept in like that in years. It was great. I also learned a lot about my cameras while trying to get star trail photos. I got a few with the digital camera and have to send in the black and white film to see how those turned out. I will be dropping them off tomorrow.
Since I was constantly getting scared trying to take these photos in the darkness (I had a pocketknife with a four inch blade on me at all times), I was very impatient and I think the longest I let the shutter stay open with either of the cameras was thirty minutes. Sadly I did not end up with any photos of deer, bobcats, coyotes or bears. I did get a photo of a rabbit. Whoopee. Not that I would have been totally cool with trying to get a shot of bear. I probably would have pissed my pants. I would love to go up again. I would love to go up when my uncle is hunting. I could probably get some awesome shots then. I might pitch it to him.
Since I’ve been home I’ve just been relaxing. Which is the point of a vacation I suppose. Yesterday my friend Lisa and I went geocaching and I placed my first cache. It’s still waiting for approval, but I am excited. I have found twenty so far. She has found nine hundred and sixty over three years. Crazy. I’ve only been doing it for a short while but I really want to get into it. I’ve been playing with my GPS more and got a thirty day free trial with it through the Garmin website to use the premium membership goodies over at geocaching.com. We are going out again today and we are taking Mat with us so he can experience the fun. I’ve also been asked to join a Dungeons and Dragons group in the area and I think I will. I need to get out more anyways.
Posted by Christina | Posted on 24-04-2010
Category : Daily, Family, Friends, Furbabies, Randomage, School, Visual
The semester is almost over. One week to go. Finished a final paper, finished a grant proposal, and finished a presentation. Now all I need to do is edit and fix up my three short stories and study study study for a final exam. I can’t wait for it all to be over so I can start to catch up on my life. That would be nice. First order of business will be spring cleaning. My room, desk, and closets desperately need it. I have a vacation scheduled towards the end of May and my bigger vacation scheduled in August. In August my mom, my room-mate and I will be driving to Atlanta Georgia mainly to visit the world’s largest aquarium. I booked a four star hotel (which I am sure we will never want to leave), and we are figuring out our other sight seeing plans.
You see, because I have only been outside the state of Michigan once, and that was to Toledo Ohio when I was little. We decided against flying because it’s such a hassle and by driving we actually save around a thousand dollars. I’m not too sad about it. I’ve never been on a plane before and I’m sure I would need to Valium or something. My brother has agreed to take care of my cats while I am away. On my first vacation in May, Mat will be taking care of them. I’m hoping to be up north for at least four days during that vacation and the coming home for the last three days to just relax and do whatever. The whole point of going up north is to be totally by myself. My uncle has a cabin up there and there is nothing around him but woods for miles. I want to be cut off. Literally. I want to fill my car with my cameras, painting supplies, books and writing junk and just take off. I want to have a few days where I have absolutely no obligations. Freedom.
I can’t wait.
Oh, and here’s a sneak peek photograph of what I’ve been pointing my lens at so far this spring:
Posted by Christina | Posted on 08-01-2010
Category : Daily, Friends, Randomage, Site, Visual
I attempting to get back not only into the Photoshop groove but the coding groove. I’m sure most of you already know, but I started a fanlisting collective a while ago and am now starting my own fanlistings. I was approved to own “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” and “Monster” by Lady Gaga. Mat has agreed to help me with the image for “BDR” as well as the coding. It has been such a long time since I have done a design on my own that he is giving me a crash course tomorrow and hopefully I will have both up and running by tomorrow. I also hope this crash course will help me so that I can just do all my own designs and coding for the fanlistings. Right now I am working on the “Monster” image but I am stuck because there is a particular brush I am looking for and I am scouring deviantart for it. My eyes hurt. That is my cue to take a break and listen to my iPod. *plugs in*
