Night At Plaza Pool

I was on my way to join Mia and Craig at the Plaza Housing Pool on base here for a night-time pool party some friends were having. The phone rang.

"Mama!"
"Hi, baby, what's up?"
"Are you coming? You have to go in the POOL with me because I can't go in the big pool without you!"
"What? Why?"
"There's a TEST!"
"So take the test."
"You have to be 10 years old to take the test Dada said!"
"Put your father on the phone...."

I established with him that there's no age limit on the test, and she's perfectly capable of passing it as a level 4 swimmer; ahem.

I arrived at the party with my camera and after saying hi to the adults, I spotted Mia in the pool.
I asked Craig if she got some kind of sympathy vote, and he said, "Nope. She took the test, passed it, and now she's welcome to do whatever she wants in there." My confident kid jumped right in - swam the LENGTH of the pool (not across, the length - this is a big pool.) and floated for a minute and tread water for a minute. Now she has a bracelet to wear at any of the USMC base pools.

You can see her bracelet and her still fantastic diving form here:


It was pitch black outside, the pool itself was lit underwater, but the outside lighting made for some interesting exposures here... so bear with me at ISO 3200 and 50mm at f1.2 for this stuff. (if you care... if not, move along)

I was pretty impressed at the stopped action here.

Much more light when she was under water. Look at my little fishie!

Hello there.... Dara, eat your heart out!

It's too bad she hates swimming. Torture, I tell you. They literally turned off all the lights when it was time to get out and 9 and the kid was STILL whining about having to leave.

Side note - there were a few corpsman on the sidelines of the pool, not swimming. I asked why and they said, "Small pox." They had been vaccinated that day for an upcoming Iraq deployment. Seriously. They STILL think we're going to get small pox in Iraq? Annoying. And just plain unfair. But thanks to you guys - for staying out of the pool and for your service. I appreciate it.

Emerald Beach & Pizza in the Sky

On a whim last weekend, we trekked up to Emerald Beach. It's just north of the Churaumi Aquarium, and it's a gorgeous and friendly spot. (I blogged about the folks we met on the photography blog - too funny!)

I mean really. It's quiet, secluded - we paid 500¥ to rent a beach umbrella like this one and relaxed all afternoon.


Then we drove up a really big hill, through turns and twists I can't even explain - I think we turned around about 4 times because we said, "There's NO WAY this could be right.... look at this little street!"

Then we spotted some Y-plates and said, "FOLLOW THEM!" At the top of the hill, after parking and then coming around the corner and putting your name in at the front stand, you walk past the outdoor tables and see this.
Sesoko Island is there in the distance with the bridge, if you can see it. Obviously we know why this is referred to as "Pizza in the Sky". Gorgeous.

We sat with some friends and the couples they had arrived with - there were a good bunch of us, with a good bunch of kids. This is the menu:

Don't you just love that? And by the way... it's not kinds of pizza - it's just PIZZA. You get what they give you, in a small or medium pie. Done.

I ordered a guava juice for Mia - and it came in a glass cube.

Mmmm... this is the scrumptious salad. It was GOOD. Though we made the mistake of ordering one each (for Craig & I) and should've shared one!

Now tell me... wouldn't the world be a better place if iced tea were served with a little pinch-pot with tiny flowers and its own bingata place mat on this tray? More examples of Japanese presentation. So lovely (and yes, they laughed at me for taking a photo of it - but I mean really, look at it!).

Pizza. The rounds were somewhere between a hot dog and a sausage. Green pepper, corn (Of course - something about Japan is that pizza has corn on it. It just does.) and delicious sauce and cheese - wow. We ate too much.
In the evening while on our way back the sun began to set. And wow - it was a crying shame we couldn't pull over when we saw it go all the way down behind the silhouette of the hills and the ocean. It was incredible. But we did stop when we saw the amazing golden light in a marina on our way to the expressway.

There were a couple of guys out there fishing. And I'll tell you, there were fish literally JUMPING in this area. Mia, Craig and I were watching in amazement as rather large fish leapt from the water and splashed back down!

Such a pretty spot, isn't it? I've been meaning to take photos of this - so I was happy when we passed it at just the right time.
Hope you enjoyed this! I'm thinking the next photos you might see here are of Mia's first day of 1st grade.... heaven help me.

Hi. I LIVE Here.

First... tonight's lovely rainbow. This is a lousy shot of it - when we got in the car it was the brightest most amazing rainbow I've ever seen. Mia asked what made rainbows... I explained to her about the water droplets and the sun, but realized I should have just said, "It's magic, baby."

Recently I went to Sesoko Island with some girls... It's about an hour & 20 minute drive north, and the whole drive was just so beautiful - I knew it wouldn't disappoint. It WAS hot as blazes out there....and this was taken from the parking spot.

Somehow when you look at THIS:
heat isn't such a huge factor. Besides, my feet were in the water. That felt pretty good (though if it weren't for my camera, I'd have jumped in).

We were walking, and this guy showed up with an octopus ("tako") on a hook! It was still alive, and all of us got to walk up and feel what it was like to have little tentacles suck onto your fingers (it feels rather strange, but very interesting). I like this portrait very much.


On the way back, Anne stopped the van just one more time so I could snap this:
Oh yes - we will be back. In swim suits. With snorkel gear.

This is Mia with her friend (fellow only child and smarty-pants), Grace.


They were swim buds last session, and still will be buddies past the swim class thing as I will be in touch with Grace's mom. Her dad leaves for a YEAR in Afghanistan, and I think we need to be doing girl things together like tea parties and such. Especially since Grace's mom is from England. And I very much enjoy listening to her speak with that crumpets and rubbish accent.

My kid. How did she end up being this cute big girl?
She now swims in the deep end, treads water, "pencil dives" to touch the bottom, and is learning the butterfly stroke, side stroke, and breast stroke. Soon she'll be driving. (NOT)

We love it here. We've been busy, but enjoying our craziness. Friends are leaving, that's not a part we love. But I'm thrilled to have made them and I know we'll see each other very soon. As I live in a time warp on this little island.

Have I mentioned... I'm starting a business? With ITS OWN BLOG too? Yeah. That's insane! I'm excited and petrified all in the same breath. I'm realizing this tiny island grows smaller in the photog community. At Mia's swim lessons I've been speaking to Tara (who is a complete character and I can see that friendship working out very nicely) - and now to other folks who are recognizing me! My 15 minutes has started, everyone! Set your clocks, I hope it can last!

Now Don't Go Ignoring This Blog...

...but if you want to see something new, check this out. Stay tuned - can't wait to see what you think!

FYI - before anyone who reads this gets any ideas - I'm launching in September!

Calling Local Photogs

We have 2 extra lens hoods that we don't need, both are for Canon lenses. One is for a 10-22mm (awesome wide-angle) and one is for the 24-70mm f2.8 L (Canon accidentally sent us 2).

If you're interested in buying them on the cheap, comment here please.

**edited to add: The lenses aren't for sale, these are extra hoods I don't need! Sorry about that...**

Worthy Checklist & Shout Out To Teens or Teen Parents

Seth Godin's Email Checklist
A good read for folks who feel the need to forward things. Or to reply to forwarded things. Anyway, you get the point.

On a completely DIFFERENT note - I know there are a bunch of local Okinawa-stationed peoples who read this. If you're one of them and you are going into your senior year in high school, or if you're a parent of a son or daughter graduating in '09, (or know someone in that category) I want to take some senior photos.

I'd like for my photography portrait business to focus on Okinawa's seniors, to give them a choice other than what they're given. I need to build that portfolio a bit. I have a great deal if you are a/have a teenager whose pictures need to be taken. Put a comment in this post with your email address if you're interested - I have to approve before posting comments, and will NOT post your email address here for all to see.

(Ok, did I just write graduating in '09? ACK! Next year it will have been 20 YEARS since my graduation. Too bad I'm not in the states for the reunion. Or is it?)

ME!

I know, hard to believe - but OCCASIONALLY I let others snap a shot or two of yours truly. I don't like being on that side of the camera nearly as much, but during the aforementioned fini flight shoot I was even more willing. How can I not document my presence at such an event?

So - after takeoff, one of the crew guys that was out on the flight line, Justin, came to our van and admired my camera. So I handed it over and came home with the following fisheye shots which I think are not half bad! (Especially since I was fully working the drowned rat look from dashing around in the pouring rain for the last 2 hours.)

Note the pants soaked up to the knees, and the completely wet hair. The shirt was soaked too and I was very happy I decided to wear dark grey that day. On the left is Serena, on the right is Spider - I don't know his real name, nor do I need to. He was our wonderful driver and general go-fer that day, and I think he's just the bee's knees. Not too hard on the eyes either.

Justin (who took these pictures) was looking at me and said, "Gosh you look familiar - do I know you?"

"I don't think so.. I guess I just have a really hot Doppleganger."

Nobody else in that van knew the term Doppleganger (and yes, spelling/grammar/language afficionados, it IS supposed to have and umlaut over the a). So here's the Wikki definition for you, everyone. I love when someone uses a ten-cent word I haven't heard. What's your favorite?

One last cool shot - as the skies started clearing and you can see the F-15 to the right taking off:

MEA CULPA

Reasons I haven't posted in 10 days:

- Some PCSing friends have asked me to do photo shoots and I've obliged.
- Some very nice people here compliment me on my photography and want to pay me to do it; so I'm in the process of making that happen. (Starting a business is time consuming; ok, cat's out of the bag. More about this REALLY soon - suffice it to say right now I'm buried in test prints, merchant info and website building!)
- My very nice friend and former employer, Serena, had asked me to second shoot with her for a fini flight (which is an Air Force pilot's final flight before either retiring or just retiring from flying - which was the case for Dawg). What an amazing honor this was and I'm so happy she asked and I did it - because it was quite an experience! First day of the ceremony was his flight alone (well, with his crew and fellow pilots). Here are a few from that day... which was, um. Rainy.

This was actually after he returned, a shot with a fisheye from the back of the F-15. That machine is just amazing! Most don't get to be on the flightline like this unless they're pilots or family of pilots... so this was extra exciting!

This was him taxiing toward me. This was taken out the back doors of a panel van because it was raining so hard my gear would've been as soaked as I already was at this point. MAN was it pouring!

This was a shot of Dawg (aka Barry) during his pre-flight check. Serena said this was her favorite that I shot, and I really have to agree. He's looking at that plane as if to say, "I'm going to miss you." Um yeah - how cute is he by the way? TOTALLY. His whole family is gorgeous.
Here he is going by me giving the "hang loose" sign. Sweet! Yes. Still. Raining.
Formation flying overhead... incredible.
Ok - more of those from the 2nd day (Change of Command) when I have 'em. And have time to edit 'em!
- There are 2 more weeks of school. TWO MORE WEEKS, and then I have a kid at my hip for the summer. Not like I can send her off to full-day camp here, I'll be trekking her to swim lessons, t-ball, piano, snorkeling, etc. Which is fun & great, but I am definitely trying to enjoy the last days of having my daytimes to do ME stuff.
- There is a group here called OIWC (Okinawa International Women's Club). I have been asked to be on the board as their historian. (really great for me because we are very involved in the Okinawa community, culture, and charities)
- I've also been taking pictures for my own personal fun. Haven't even GOTTEN to those lately! I can't wait though ... SOON.

I miss you, readers and friends! More soon. Off to bed. I miss my hubby too.

My Meeting With A Japanese Producer

Yesterday I went out on a shooting expedition with my new friend Katherine. Shooting as in with the camera. I'm sure you knew that. Kat's way cool. I met her at a photography show Suwanee was doing at Foster Library a while back and as it turns out she said she was a "blog stalker" of mine. She treated me like some kind of celebrity which was a very new and strange feeling for me... I'm so NOT. I am very flattered by this, but I mean come on ... let's keep it in perspective. So we exchanged emails and a while later when I got in touch with her we didn't make plans right away, and then Craig & I ran into Kat and her hubby at the PX and liked them a whole bunch and then I called her to make plans.

So yesterday we bummed around American Village with our cameras for the morning. We played with light and metering and a couple of lenses and apertures and stuff. As we wandered by the Okinawa Beach Hotel, we were taking pictures of the shells, flowers, and anatomically correct shiisa (I will spare you that image), and an older Japanese gentleman was helping a couple of people into a white BMW SUV. He was wearing a suit, and as we walked by he asked Kat where she was from. We like being friendly, so since we both moved here after having lived in San Diego, we said, "San Diego."

"Oh! Go Padres!"
"Haha, right! How about you, sir? Where are you from?"
"I'm from Japan, from Tokyo," he answered in perfect English with an accent. He commented on our nice cameras, and asked if we were photographers, and Katherine said, "SHE is!" and I shot her the quick "oh gimme a break, stop it" look.

"Are you in Okinawa on vacation?"
"Yes, vacation and work."
"Ah, what do you do?"
"I am a producer - of music. I have a studio here, and several on mainland."
"Oh - what kind of music?"
"Hip-hop - Japanese artists. Right now a record I produced has the #1 hip-hop single in Japan. over 6 million downloads."

Ok. Wow. So you're filthy rich. No, we didn't say that.

"Wow! Congratulations, that's fantastic!" I held up my camera and asked him if I could take his picture.

"Oh sure! Here..." and he leaned over and opened the back seat door of the SUV and helped out 2 pretty young women. "These are my massage therapists, I bring them with me when I travel."

AAhhhhhhh yes.... your personal "massage therapists" that you bring WITH you when you travel. Nice.

The girls smiled and made motions with their hands like they were giving a massage. They're good.

They stepped out of the car and posed for a couple of shots with the man they accompanied here. I showed them the pictures on the back of the camera and they were all quite tickled.

"Do you have a business card? I can email you the photos if you like."
He smiled and said, "Yes, sure!" and handed me his card. I'm not giving up his name in case he has some folks scouring the net for information about him, but let's just say I got home and Googled him and he is most definitely a major record producer. Since the mid-70's. And his email has the year 1941 in it so that puts him at 67 years old. He was one of the coolest guys I've met and I would happily party with him.


As we walked away, Kat and I joked that maybe after sending him the photos I took maybe he'd hire me to take pictures of some hip-hop artist for an album cover or something. I guess that would make me "huge in Japan" in yet another whole new way.

Hajimemashite, Shoro-San!

Monday Night Randomness

So glad we have TiVo. We're having a Kentucky Derby Sunday Brunch Party with Mint Juleps! Derby starts at 5am, but I can fix that! AND fast forward commercials. Yay!

Ok, Ernie - what is this drink? It's soda - I realize - but why the marble in the pinched top? (That thing that's covered in bubbles at the lower part of the neck of the bottle.) Fascinating packaging.
Sign from outside Magnolia, Ohio. Just found it in photos I forgot to post.

Sea wall jacks. I know some of you are familiar with this particular warning....

STILL editing photos, mostly for personal friends. A recent baby shower (I'll post a couple for you here - but hopefully with BABY pictures too! Very exciting stuff.), a birthday party (Sena of the Jew porn - her daughter - so you KNOW there was some kinda amazing cake!) and still Ohio pictures. Yes. Still.

Hope this will tide you over for a few. Still having fun taking and editing pictures, and planning for future picture taking! And other things.

I Haven't Mentioned How Lucky I Am.

When we entered this adventure that is our 3 years in Okinawa, I knew I'd be in for some cultural education, definitely new sights, sounds, foods, and people, but I have to say I'm consistently surprised. I didn't ever dream of meeting the incredibly smart, fun, talented, and amazing people that I've been meeting.

We're all sort of in the same boat here - either military families or State Department or whatever - somehow put here by America or our choice to educate the Americans who are here. It's a strange sort of existence - just about everyone is only here temporarily. This spring and summer, I'm going to lose some of the friends I've made - they're going to head back to the states, or on to their next duty station wherever that may be. It's a sad part of the way it is, and we all know it.

But that being said, with the Internet, email, blogs, websites, Vonage - BLESS VONAGE!!! - etc., we'll all be in touch. If we want to be. I've gotten into photography quite a bit since I've been here, as all of you that read this little blog know. The support, comments, encouragement - they have had a profound effect on me.

At the commissary a few months ago, someone called me by name and told me she loved my photographs - and I had never met her before! She knew someone whose family I'd shot, and had subsequently followed my blog. Whether I've made these friends through my photography (like Suwanee or Annya) or through the blogosphere (like e or Ernie or Pam or even more people who are on their way to Oki and found me before they came!), or just by fate (you know who you are - Mere, Anne, Jen, Katherine, Ebeth, Casey, Sena, too many to NAME I must say...) - I thank you. I deeply appreciate your amazing words and encouragement and I really feel so incredibly blessed to be given the opportunity to do what I'm doing. Even if I am horrible about emailing back - realize that if I could take the time to sit down for coffee once a week with all of you - I WOULD!

Lots of amazing things are to come in my life. I can't wait to hold your hand through my journey... thank you for joining me!

I Shot A Model!

I was fortunate enough to shoot with Suwanee this past week and have been literally ANGRY every time I have to leave my computer because I'm enjoying getting to play with these shots. The light at this location was delightful and the model - well, you can see. She's just a knockout. Thanks, R - you were so fun to be around and chat with in addition to photographing! And thanks, Suwanee- I can't wait to do it again.





More soon! Off to a soccer game.

Sunabe Telephone Pole - Installment III

I'm editing what I've narrowed down to about 120 pictures from the 100th day celebration at Mia's school. I got there and there was music blaring and it was like a huge carnival! Bouncies, game booths, lots of parents, and even a visit from a Japanese kindergarten class - the cutest thing EVER. Pictures after I sift through the heap.

For now, a 3rd installment of what's sure to become a big series this weekend - the telephone pole. I was kind of joking when I posted it, but after 2 emails telling me they were looking forwad to the series - who am I to disappoint? This is kind of fun too. (Thanks for the compliment, Katherine! I hope I can give you a few ideas for your pictures..haha!)

Ok, Ernie - here are da boids.

Taken at ISO 400 this morning, 35mm, f3.2, SS 1/80

I used a couple of black & white actions. I have some Kubota actions and Totally Rad Actions (the Boutwells, married photographer couple, are brilliant!) and love them.

Sunabe Telephone Pole - Installment II

Taken at sunrise time, approximately 6:50am.

16mm, f7.1, ISO 400 SS 1/50
Textured, processed, etc.
Ernie - just for you, there ARE some birds on this phone pole if you look closely! (LOVE Pixar) I don't have a fisheye, but I've gotten to play with one. I think I want a macro first (100mm). I have also played with HDR photography a tiny bit (Photomatix) and haven't bought the software yet b/c I'm still recovering from buying the 5D and the lenses to go with it - not to mention Photoshop. But I'm on it (and tone mapping I'm pretty sure you use different ECs, not f-stops, but I could be wrong). I will get an HDR shot up here somehow!

Thanks for the support & compliments, friends! Looking forward to a weekend at home - mostly. I hope it rains.

Off to 100th day of school!

Ugh.

I wasn't going to blog about this but I figure I could maybe get some advice or helpful commiseration from readers, so chime in if you like. Mia had been scratching her head for a few days, and on Tuesday morning I found out why. She had lice. Ok. EW.

All I know about lice I learned from Linda Evangelista in elementary school. She had lice and she had hair down to her butt. After a while, she showed up with a chin-length bob. I now know why.

Thankfully, Mia didn't have a really horrendous case, however when I told her teacher about it via email on Tuesday morning when I decided she wasn't going to school, the nurse came to check the students. 2 other kids were sent home, and the teacher had it too. Then it was discovered in 3 or 4 other kindergarten classes, and a couple of other grades too. And then my friend told me she got a note home from her son's off-base preschool about it.

Long and grueling story as short as possible; got a rinse with the stuff in it that kills these buggers from the hospital pharmacy, did it, combed like mad, and nearly vomited several times. I bagged all of her stuffed animals in sealed bags not to be opened for two weeks. I threw away her pillow and washed ALL the clothing, towels, sheets, jackets, etc. in scalding hot water and dried for 50 minutes in the hot dryer.

The next day she went to school, the nurse checked her before she returned to class (good thing) and her teacher told me she had some nits (eggs) left. Nits are stuck to the strands of hair about 1/4" from the scalp. They're TEENY (1/2 of the head of a pin) and whitish/clear - read as "hard to see". The piece of crap plastic comb I got with the rinse does NOT remove the nits. My fingernails do. Still finding live bugs. ACK. Now I'm being told that this is a problem at the school (lots of kids have it) and I keep Mia home because the mamasans (Japanese women who clean the rooms at the school) aren't cleaning sufficiently and properly to eliminate a lice problem. I'll tell you right now - I'm NOT going through this again. My kid will sooner wear a swimming cap for the rest of the winter until this is over than I pick another nit.

Thursday; did the rinse again, still finding live bugs. Friday morning SERIOUSLY attacked her head. Have I mentioned how THRILLED I am that we cut her hair? That makes my job easier - but I kinda wish she were a boy because if this wasn't getting better I could consider shaving her head.

Today was a good day. She woke up and after breakfast I only found 3-5 eggs. Not bad. No live bugs. Exhaling - as there's a metal comb worth a crap on the way from my mother (THANK YOU) and a doctor friend who offered to get me a stronger shampoo to kill the bugs if they don't go away. Now I just have to get over the fear of sending her back to school because I don't feel that all the cleaning people and other parents are NEARLY as anal as I was about eradicating this! Also big thanks go out to Kaho - wonderful friend who speaks Japanese and helped me try to find a stronger shampoo & better comb at the pharmacy out in town. Everyone has been great, I'm so lucky.

So... it seems to be better on Mia's head now, thankfully, but the story is slightly to be continued.

In other news, because I was trapped inside dealing with this all week, I wanted to get OUT today (Saturday) and go to the Okinawa Prefecture Museum. (brand new - opened in November) It's raining and chilly - nothing new for the last six freaking weeks - and we drove down on great directions that we didn't follow properly and got all turned around; and by the time we figured it out it was 4pm and we bagged it. SIGH. Maybe tomorrow.

Lastly - the highlight of my week (considering the week I had, even something lame would be good, but it's not!). I went to Suwanee's photography reception today at the Foster Library and met a fan. Of little old me! What? I know! A fan of my photography & my blog! Talk about humbling - so HI there, K - and all your SAHM friends!! Please do comment sometime, I'd love it! I want to hear what you dig and what you don't - and what you want to read about or see that you aren't. I'm blown away that I've now met two prior strangers (once before at the commissary) who told me they know me because of my blog and photos. And that's to say nothing of the several comments I've received from other people I don't know who found me in a variety of ways.

Wow, minor MINOR celebrity status on Oki, but amazing and encouraging nonetheless! K - we will so get out and take some pictures, I'm down to help you practice and help you with some Elements when you upgrade! So great meeting you!

And a big hello and thanks SO much to anyone & everyone out there for reading and watching the adventures of lil' ol' me and my family - that's just such an added bonus to blogging. It was truly just to keep the friends & family back home aware of what's up out here, and I love doing it and it's taken a really interesting and fun direction now. Big fat warm fuzzies and love to you all.

Flickr Fiend

I've become a bit of a flickr.com hound recently. I started uploading there, and now folks can check out my stuff, and I can check out their stuff - and if you are a member (FREE) and an acknowledged friend or family member of mine in flickr, you can order prints of my stuff too.

So I've foregone all other viewing & print sites (uploading all these pictures was getting to be a pain - so no more Kodak, Shutterfly, .mac) and will be uploading the creme-de-la-creme to my flickr page. Find it HERE or search aviva.bowman on flickr.com. Even if you just wanna poke around what we've been doing. Family-related stuff (birthday gatherings, holiday pictures, etc.) I will still put on Kodak Gallery for folks to get prints.

IF you order prints on flickr and find them not to be great quality, or have a bunch of trouble, I will reconsider this. So keep me posted.

I'll still post some good ones here, sometimes from the point & shoot camera or sometimes pictures I don't post on flickr because they're not exactly show-worthy. Like these for example.... here is a "tree" made out of plants. I think it was for New Year's because the origami birds symbolize health and success for the future.

I know - blurry drive-by photo taking. But I love the Grateful Dead shirts here - totally Japanified. Should really read "Jerry Garcia is Everwhere" b/c it's copyrighted 10 years after his death....

Mia waiting for our food to come in a restaurant that has a double-decker BUS. We're sitting on the first floor of the double-decker here. Pretty neat.

Another drive-by photo - but this was on the road to Nago yesterday with the point & shoot (PS). I know, I cut off part of Nemo #2 there, but hi - how cute, lovey-dovey flower-covered Nemo & Nemo-ette!


We stopped by the pineapple park because it was on the way back anyway. Outside of the market, there's a guy who makes & sells these balancing dragonflies, they're made out of wood & painted really pretty. Here is the sweet man loading up each of Mia's fingers with dragonflies. (See the BIG one on her index finger?)

After he removed a couple from the kid, Craig got in on the fun.
This is the one we bought - he insisted she test it out.
More soon!

Cookies & Photography

Goodness - the mind reels. So many fabulous things swirling in my head these days - at least it's all good!

First of all, I'm happy to report I got the project for my old job finished, that went smoothly.

I've also decided to share with you that I've been shooting with a new camera. Did anyone notice by the pictures? Craig (after admitting he never should've bought the 40D - NOT because it's a bad camera, it's a WORTHY update to the 20D & 30D for sure, and worth every penny fantabulous DSLR - I just was ready for a full-frame camera) oh so generously gave me a 5D for a belated Christmas present. He then quickly and efficiently sold the 40D and the lenses that would no longer work with the 5D on fredmiranda.com.

So... now I'm a spoiled brat who is falling even more in love with taking pictures. If that's possible. Though we have had a string of bad luck with one lens (the first one had a crack, as reported in a previous post - version #2 came and the second time I used it the aperture locked up closed! GRRR. So I'm waiting for lens #3!), I'm enjoying my 16-35 and my 85mm and 50mm primes. and of course my 70-200.

Yesterday Mia had a day off from school and we spent the afternoon with Sena (mom of 2 sweetheart who lives a block away and used to live in San Diego with her hubby) and her kids, Aidan and Alani. She's the aforementioned pastry chef (actually culinary genius in general, and one of the sweetest people you'd ever wish to meet). She had made some gingerbread hearts for the girls to decorate in anticipation of the big V-day. Aidan accompanied the artistic efforts with his rousing renditions of "The Star Wars Theme" and "Little Drummer Boy".










In the early evening, Craig and Tony (Sena's hubby) joined us for a meal prepared by Sena. (I hosted last time and made fish tacos - very authentic, honestly only missing Rubio's salsa - alas, they do not ship.) Sena made an amazing spinach salad, followed by a fabulous Thai soup (I cannot remember the name of it, nor would I spell it right - but it had coconut milk, lemongrass, veggies, rice, and just the right amount of spice. Delectable. Lastly she made an amazing beef stir fry (and showed me some wok tricks so that I don't end up boiling meat and veggies in the future - SO helpful), which was served with rice & lettuce wraps. Wow, heavenly meal! And a great time was had by all - kids included.

Today I went on base to a craft fair of sorts. I knew that Annya_Okinawa and Suwanee Lennon would be there showing and selling their photos. It's like our own local photographic celebrities were here to TALK to and everything! Well, I'm thrilled to say Craig & Mia & I headed over there around 11:30 and bought a few prints and chatted it up with them. Not only were they so sweet, modest, inviting, and did I mention sweet & modest... they asked if I wanted to come shoot with them sometime! Are. You. Kidding. Sadly for moi, Suwanee is leaving in a few months to go to Spokane (her hubby's next duty station) - though she should be excited, it's 4 hours from Seattle and in general a great area to live. Lucky for moi, Annya will be here for 2 more years, and though she lives across the island, she and I would both drive to find the photography & have some fun. DARE I DREAM - they also travel to take photos, and Craig said he'd make it happen if I wanted to island hop for the love of the photo hunt! Can you just imagine - "here are pictures from my long weekend in Thailand... or Cambodia... or...." oh my gosh so many wonderful thoughts flooding my head!

So that was my happy fabulous day. DO check out Annya & Suwanee's talents if you're interested, they're amazing. Happy happy joy joy!

Tomorrow we're waking up a bit early to check out the cherry blossoms. PLEASE say a "no rain" prayer!