New home, even if it is temporary...

We have moved our family into a friend's house, short term. My husband is looking for work, and then we will look for a house to buy. It must be a low-cost house though. In the meantime, I have been busy working nearly every day, at the studio where I have worked for years.

I am slowly learning the streets around here, at least enough to find my way to stores and gas stations. This area is no where near where we want to land, but for now, we are glad to have a roof over our heads. My husband will be helping the homeowner to make some repairs, in lieu of paying rent. I will help when I can, but as I work most days, even weekends, I'm not around as much.

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary. I even took off work for it. A lot has happened over the years. Lots of laughs, smiles, and yes, even bumps along the road. But I would still marry him all over again. We are soulmates for life.

Packing up

Today after work, I am stopping by a coworker / friend's house to pick up some extra boxes she didn't need from her last move. I will be up late packing! This is a relief, as I was not able to rustle up any free boxes on craigslist, though I tried. On Friday, my first day off for the week, I am going to another homeschooler's house to pick up more boxes. I'm hoping that betweeen them, I will be all set for boxes. We have been in our apartment for nearly 8 years, so there is an abundance around here to pack. Some stuff has been packed into under-the-bed bins already, and the like, so that is ready to go.

Next job: find a storage place! We are going to have to stay with family or friends until we can get our next home. We are hoping to be approved for a mortgage on a house in Winchester...

Exhausted...

My sister's wedding went off without a hitch. They had beautiful weather, no gaffs (at least none I could detect), and great photos. I saw a preview from their photographer's website. They are probably on their way home from their honeymoon soon. I wish for her and her husband only the best. She was a beautiful bride, and he looked dashing.

The day after their wedding, we drove home and hit the ground running. I have worked everyday since, until today. However, this morning, I had a bad dream about our pending move, and I could not get back to sleep. So, I've been awake for nearly 20 hours. Tomorrow I start up another full week, until Friday. I am grateful for the hours, for they were sorely needed.

I hope this post makes sense, due to my tiredness... For now, goodnight!

The "Big Day"

Today, my little sister is getting married. I have not seen her dress, or any of her wedding stuff, because we live about 125 miles away from my relatives. I look forward to attending her wedding and reception, and plan to take some photos myself. I know their wedding photographer might not be thrilled, but hey, I'm family to the bride. It's not like I'm going to sell the photos I take. They are just for us.

My husband, son and I have a long drive today, and have to start getting showers and getting dressed to go. Since we are traveling home tomorrow midday, we are traveling light. Just the bare essentials, plus my camera gear. But I consider that an essential anyway...

Day by day

I'm plodding along here, day by day. I have worked at my other studio job every day since Sunday, and I have today and tomorrow to go.

Yesterday was a pretty good day... long, but good. I had a sitting with a little boy who was very expressive, very energetic, and lots of fun to photograph. I like to capture all sorts of expressions, not just smiles. I like to show who the person is, and what they like to do. His mother assured me that I was seeing an expression or a stance that she sees often. She liked the portraits, and I had fun taking them. I love doing portraits!

I just had a thought. (I do that often.) Why are sittings called "sittings?" Subjects stand, lie down, kneel, sometimes even move around, and yes, sometimes sit. Sitting is only part of a sitting...

Run, run, run!

I work every day this week, with a maybe shift on Friday. Yesterday, my son spent the day at a friend's house, where he got to go swimming, play games, watch a video, etc. After my shift at my other job, I picked him up and we went to my location to organize stuff. I realized I was missing some props I had collected long ago, and they are at home still. So, some time next week, I guess, I will take the stuff over again...

Well, I hear thunder. I have to quick shower and run to my other job, so you'll have to read how the rest went, later.

Later.

Hope this works this time... should be a video portfolio.

OK, it seems to have worked this time, after several tries. Click on the small icon in the lower left hand corner, and after a few minutes, maybe you can successfully view it as HQ video. I tried to get it to work as smoothly as it does on my computer, but I'm new to using Google and Picasa stuff, etc.

I'm all set!

I have all the paperwork wrapped up, and I'm all set to go! I was very excited, but later in the day, oh, so tired. Today I was up at 5:30 AM, and I stayed up too late last night, so once I check my e-mail, I'm headed to la-la land.

My son, who recently turned 10 years old, is very excited to come see my business location. It is basically an office space, with a spare room. I have nearly all my equipment there, save a couple of items. He wants to help me organize all my props, which I've collected over the years. He would like to learn photography, I believe. (He says he wants to be a photographer someday.) I have given him a little bit of instruction and allow him to use an older camera of mine. He says he's "my assistant." He assisted me when I was my niece's wedding photographer, but when it all came down, he found he would rather play with his cousins instead. ;) But he's interested, and learning a little about it, now and then.

I plan to put up a portfolio here, but not tonight. I'm too tired... G'night.

Keeping busy, even when I'm not working...

Well, I went into work, and quickly figured out I wasn't scheduled afterall. :/ So, I went to exchange something that wasn't the right size, stopped by the post office and then made a beeline for home. It is super hot outside today, and our AC at home works better than it does in the car.

Tomorrow, I'm leaving super early in the morning since I have a long drive to a different studio, and while in town, I need to wrap up some last bits of paperwork for my new business. Then, I'm ready to go! (But I have to spend the day at the other job's studio, which is good, cause we need the income right now.)

Next month, we move our home, hopefully closer to Winchester!

What time is it?!

Well, I started out here, just planning to get some sort of face on the internet for my business. I've spent the last hour messing around with Internet Options and Java stuff, and I'm still not sure what else to try to fix it, so I give up. I'm going to bed.

Later today, I have to go to work at my other studio job. Once things get into full swing with my photography business, the pendulum will swing the other way. For now, I work in the same studio where I've been for years. So, good night, or um, morning...