Finally, Something to Say

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes" - Unknown

It has finally dropped below 100 degrees in the last two weeks.  Of course, that doesn't mean its cool.  Its still in the low to mid 90s, but at least you can do something other than moving from one air conditioner to another and praying for snow.

I haven't written in all that time.  My excuse is it was too hot for me to go out and do anything worth writing about.  That, of course, was just an excuse.  Topics to write about come along every day.  But no more excuses.  The temperature is still hot, but tolerable at least.  So, I went hiking the other day.  Again, I use the term loosely to describe a short walk in an urban "woods-like" nature area.

This trip was to the Colleyville Nature Trail.  I started the hike frustrated because getting to it wasn't very easy.  The construction on and off the freeway was extensive and severly lacking in signage.  But I finally found my way.  It was a very pretty wooded area within a quiet residential area. 

I took lots of pictures and relearned a lesson I have never managed to fully learn in the better part of 25 years of shooting...ALWAYS CHECK YOUR ISO SETTING BEFORE BEGINNING A PHOTO SHOOT.  Although, back in my film days, it was always check your ISO when you put a fresh roll of film in the camera.  I could never remember it then, and apparently I still can't.

I had bumped up the ISO the other day to take some low light indoor photos, way up to 3200.  So, you can probably see the problems with my full light/some shade, daylight outdoor hiking photos.  But, I guess its a good thing.  I have so much to learn, at least I recognize the opportunity when I see it.

Photography

"I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it."  ~Author Unknown

One entry on my list of things to do this year is photography.  I took my first "real" picture at 16 with a borrowed SLR and a crash course in exposure.  I was so proud when everyone gushed over how good the pictures were.  Of course, I look at those pictures now and find all the flaws, but they still make me smile.

I got my own SLR at 17 in anticipation of a summer in England and a photography class in the fall.  The camera was damaged about 10 years ago.  I didn't realize how much I missed shooting until I was given a little digital point and shoot about 2 years ago for my birthday.  It is a great little camera but I would constantly get frustrated that I couldn't control the exposure more.  I immediately begain saving for a digital SLR.

Which I finally got earlier this year.  Talk about frustrating.  My old SLR had shutter speed and appeture and the ISO was determined by the speed of film you bought.  The rest was technique. 

This one had so many bells and whistles, I had no idea what they were.  White balance?  Exposure compensation?  Histogram?

Two digital camera classes later, I finally feel like I have an inkling of how it actually works.  I love it.  The second class we had to submit photos for critique.  Oh God.  But I survived, with ego boosting kudos from the instructor.

Landscape:

Still Life:

 Architecture:

We also played with lighting set-ups for portraits and still life which was a lot of fun.  I can't wait to continue taking pictures. 

The only problem right now is...a month of continuous 100+ temps and no end in sight.  Argh!  I hate the heat.  I tried going out once a few weeks ago, as I wrote recently, but I just can't take it.  So I probably won't be out shooting much until at least October.  Maybe I can try some more natural light still lifes...in my apartment where it's nice and cool.

Trust Yourself

"If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price."  ~Author Unknown

I found myself writing a long, involved post about my recent adventures in purchasing a smart phone.  What I wanted to do was wax philosophic about the necessity of learning to trust your own judgement.  Unfortunately it just devolved into a tirade about incompenent, self-serving sales people.  So I deleted it.

I did the research, decided which phone I wanted and proceded to let the sales girl talk me into the one I KNEW wasn't right for me, despite her assurances to the contrary.  I returned it, less the restocking fee she failed to mention, and now I have the product I had originally determined was what I wanted and I'm happy,

But I had to go through a day of frustration and self-chastisement to get there.  How could you be so stupid?  You idiot.  You knew better.  All those internalized voices keeping you down.

Its hard to learn to trust yourself.  To have faith that you know what you are doing, especially when the message in your formative years was less than encouraging.  But its a lesson worth learning.  Only you know yourself.  You know what is right for you.  Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.  They may think its for your own good.  Or maybe they have a specific agenda that has nothing to do with you, or worse, is consciously against you.  Whatever the reason.  Trust yourself.  You know what you are doing.

Cedar Mountain Trail

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."  ~John Muir, 1913

I am seriously out of shape and its over 100 degrees.  So what did I decide to do on my day off?

HIKING.

I've actually been hiking several times in the area, but that was in winter when it was much cooler.  God, I hate the heat.

So.  Out of shape.  Way too hot.  And I realized once I got there, I forgot my hat.  Oh well.  The trail is mostly in the woods. 

Three quarters of the way down the balloon shaped trail, sweat running nonstop down my face and back, I realize the balloon portion of the trail takes me out of the woods and into open sunshine.  Great in winter.  Today...not going to happen. 

  

The many signs warning me to stay on the trail and beware of snakes didn't help either. 

I was perfectly happy to head back to my car and check this hike off my list.  Done (enough).

Now, I'm back in my air conditioning, slightly sunburnt, feeling healthy and quite happy to wait until fall for my next adventure in nature.

The Fruits of Higher Education

"This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put."  ~Attributed to Winston Churchill (but probably not)

I was on my way to my photography class last night (more on that in a future post) when I saw a sight which made me glad I was toting my camera around.

Now, I know that a small community college is not considered anywhere near on par with, say, an Ivy League University, but it is still considered "higher education" and I have had some wonderful classes with top notch instructors at several different community colleges throughout my life.

Last night, however, I entered through the main doorways, through which most everyone must pass, when what did my eyes behold?  Directly to my right, where no one could possibly miss...a sign on the campus bookstore door:

Sigh.  I guess a modern education doesn't include proper grammar.

Dreams

"Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him."  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

At 40, I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I've had a series of jobs that I usually liked when I started and hated by the time I left.  I allowed the winds and other people to dictate the turns of my life.  Time to take the rudder.

I had a psychology professor who encouraged his students to always be learning and experiencing new things.  His suggestion was to choose five things every year you want to learn or do.  (Thanks, Dr. Taulbee)

My list this year is:
  1. Write a blog
  2. Digital photography
  3. Cooking
  4. Hiking
  5. Cisco advanced routing certification

Usually, I manage to change one or two by the end of the year.  But this is good.  I've started two (write a blog being an obvious one!). 

First on the list is start a blog.  Obviously, I've accomplished this!  One down, four things and 6 1/2 months to go.  Of course, I doesn't count if I don't keep it up!  Hopefully, this blog will keep me honest and on track for actually accomplishing my entire list this year!

Small steps to taking control of my life.

Now What?

"The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." - Ellen Glasgow

I created this blog several months ago, but I have been avoiding actually writing in it.  I read some websites on successful blogging and they all say you should have a goal, a theme.  Somethng specific you want to accomplish or a specific topic you want to write about.  Well...


I don't have one.  So...I've created this blog...now what?


I'm still trying to answer that question.  But I think I just have to get over it and start writing.  As the title says, this is my Soapbox.  I'm going to just get up and write about whatever I feel like.  I'm trying to make some changes in my life, try new things, re-visit old thing.  Photography, cooking, writing, getting my butt off the couch and living my life.


A whole world is out there and I want to experience it.