Dream..on the way to be...Coming True

When you are a kid, a common question you are asked is: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I'd have different answers to this question throughout many years but the most consistent answer I had was, "To be a wildlife photographer in Africa." That was what I wanted. My dream was to work for National Geographic.

I went as far as taking photography classes in junior high and I got my first real camera. It was very exciting. But I realized photography was not easy and it was an expensive hobby. As I got into high school, my interests turned to choir and so photography got pushed back a bit so I could focus on my opportunities that came along with the singing groups I was involved in.

Now that I'm out of school and choir is no longer on my mind, I have taken up the idea of getting back into photography. I love my little digital camera I have now, but I want to graduate up to a digital SLR camera. There are so many things that I'd love to capture and with great quality that a little digital camera is just not capable of doing.

I've been doing lots of research the past couple of months on what to look for in a good SLR and one that will fit my photography style. Like I had mentioned before, photography is an expensive endeavor. The body of an SLR can be in the thousands of dollars, that's not including the price of any lens. Which, if you want to really excel in photography you will want to purchase multiple lenses for versatility.

But I think I finally found the right one for me. I'm super excited too because the one I picked won't break the bank. Woo hoo! And it comes with a lens so I won't have to make too many additional purchases in order to use my camera. I probably won't be getting it for another couple of months still, so I have some time for preparation and saving.

What's even better is that I'll have this great camera before our next trip to India. (Oh yes, Ben and I are planning to join the next India trip again.) So I'll have some time to master this new camera, with the help of my soon to be photography partner and SLR expert...Erin. :o)

So my dream of being a wildlife photographer may not be too far off!! Especially with the globe trekking that Ben and I plan to do, I'm hoping to only get better and better. Maybe not good enough for National Geographic but I'm still optimistic on that one.

Starbucks Snob

Yep..that's me, it's official.

There is a deli on the first floor of my office building. They serve coffee and have a whole array of flavors to mix into any kind of drink you want. It's cheaper too, but I don't get coffee there. Because it's not Starbucks.

There is a 7-11 by my office building. They have coffee there too that is also cheaper. But again, I don't go there. Because it's not Starbucks.

The Starbucks by my work is actually in a terrible location. It only has 7 parking spots and it shares what little space it has with a Chevron gas station and a Mexican restaurant, and located on a high traffic road where Scholls becomes Skyline right off of Hwy 26. An unbelievably small space, but it doesn't stop the throngs of people that flood into that tiny parking lot to get fueled for the day, and I'm not talking about gasoline fuel.

I am one of those people fighting for an empty parking space. You wouldn't believe how aggressive and hostile people can be when they haven't had their morning coffee. Unfortunately I can be just as bad as any of them. I frequent this Starbucks so much that the baristi already know my order when I walk through the door and have it ready before I even pay.

Today it hit me just how much I rely on Starbucks. One of my ex co-workers got a job in a different building on Sylvan Hill but we are still within walking distance of each other. She called my office this morning and said she was on her way to Starbucks before heading to work. I gave her my order and she would be down in front of my building in 10 minutes.

I ran downstairs and there she was. I exchanged the money for the cup of coffee. I just had to say to her, "Wow, you have become my coffee dealer. Nice doing business with you."

So there you have it. I have sunk so low that I refuse cheaper, more convenient, and more accessible coffee.

Just label me a Starbucks Snob...I'm satisfied with that.

Stress Relief

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an
audience, raised a glass of water and asked
'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't
matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right
arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an
ambulance.


In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I
hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress
management. If we carry our burdens all the time,
sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
we won't be able to carry on.'

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for
a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of
work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for
a moment if you can.'

So, put down anything that may be a burden to
you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested awhile.

Mini Backpacks and Aviator Goggles?

That is what I dream about apparently.

I had a dream last night that I was in a pet shop. I came to a tank that had 2 hamsters in it. One had a little zip up jumpsuit and aviator goggles over it's beady little eyes. A hamster, with a mini jumpsuit! It even had a tiny little zipper.

The second hamster had a mini backpack on its back...as if it were about to head off to school.

I remember saying to myself in the dream that I would totally buy those hamsters just because of the outfits. They were so darn cute. I think I woke myself up by my laughing.

According to Ben this was a blog worthy dream. So I hope you enjoyed it. :o)