Photography Contest.

I won my first Photography contest! It was the first one I've entered and wasn't that huge, but I feel great knowing people like my work.
I won two movies tickets and gave them to my parents as a "Thank You".

Now, I want to start entering more, which means taking more pictures, which I'm cool with.

Here is the winning pic...

Soo.... I GOT AN SLR.

It is very exciting, and something I have wanted for quiet some time now.

andddd, the winner is..

Canon Rebel XSI (aka 450D).

I was stuck on the whole Nikon vs. Canon thing for awhile, but I am so glad I went with the Canon.

I love it.

It fits so perfectly in my hand and it's pretty easy to navigate. There is still alot I need to figure out on it still but so far it has taken great pictures, and has alot of room to manually set things.

So, that's my newest thing I'm working on... Figuring this thing out!

Oh, and I can check it off my Bucket List. :)

Dream Vehicles.

Here are a few of my dream cars....


First of all an orange vanagon type thing(the below pic is perfect!) with a moped inside
It's just... ahh.
Love it.

Second a Station Wagon. My family used to have one and I loved it. It would need the back seat facing backwards, cause that completes it.
I'm having a hard time finding a pic of the perfect one, but it's something along the lines of this... But cooler.
Much cooler.
And yes, maybe a little ghetto.



Last but not least a older(ish) Jeep Wrangler. But, not red... that's to predictable. Probably like an olive green... But, If it's a Jeep the color won't matter to much... Unless it's ridiculously ugly.A

All of them will definitley be loaded up with camping gear and have some place to make a bed in them. Also a kayak on top would be nice....

I can dream, right?

Sometimes I feel like a bearded lady.

Im in love with this song right now.

www.stephaniemabey.com

Most other guys keep their eyes on the tightrope walker
Or the hot little number on the flying trapeze
Love kept passing by me 'cause I'm just the bearded lady
But boy you bring out all the beauty in me

Most days I feel like I'm such a sideshow
But I could get used to your reaction
Your love's like a spotlight
And suddenly, for the first time
I'm the main attraction


None of our friends seem to get why we're both so happy
Your parents just think we're a couple of freaks
I don't care if they stare 'cause they're shocked
They've got to see love like ours up close to believe

(chorus)

When you let me know that the curtains won't close
Oh, my heart goes, heart goes ta-da (chorus)

The Catcher in the Rye- J.D Salinger

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger is on my book list. I just finished it, and liked it. I'm really bad a book reviews so I'm not going to even attempt. But it is checked off my list!

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be."

Working for the man.

I am now employed.
I work at Papa Johns.
I dislike Pizza.
I dislike making Pizza.
I permanently smell like Pizza, no matter how much I wash my hands.
Paychecks rock.
50% of Pizza rocks.

But yeah. I'm only working about 18 hour weeks so that's not bad at all. I've decided I really don't like working for someone. It pretty much sucks. But it brings money, which has been cool to have. I don't like being so tied down to a job, its a lot harder to plan things and go places. But, it's shown me if I want to travel and have freedom like I want I need to figure something out. Something that works for me, so that's what I'm going to do.
I admire all the people that do what they want to do and make it work for them. I'm going to be one of those people.

Oh, and did you know there is a certain number of pepperoni pieces you use, certain amount of cheese and certain order to put toppings on? Next Pizza you eat, appreciate it.

Alice in Wonderland.

I've kinda been obsessing over Alice in Wonderland lately. It's one of my new favorite stories. I'm totally in love with the quotes and wish I could go down a rabbit hole now. For real how cool would that be?

"Dear,dear! How queer everything is today! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've changed in the night?Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little diffrent. But if I'm not the same, the next question is "Who in the world am I?" Ah, that's the great puzzle!"

Books, Books and more Books.

A list of books I'd like to read at some point in my life. More will be added later.

That's all I have to say about that...

Catcher in the Rye- J.D Salinger

Call of the Wild- Jack London

My side of the Mountain-Jean Craighead George

The Walk West-Peter Jenkins

The Diary of a Young Girl- Anne Frank

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain

Alice in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking Glass- Lewis Carroll

Of Mice and Men-John Steinback

Lord of the Flies-William Golding

The Alchemist-Paulo Coelho

The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision- James Redfield

The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight-James Redfield

The Secret Life of Bees- Sue Monk Kidd

To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee

The Scarlet Letter-Nathaniel Hawthorne

When I grow up, I want to be an old Woman.

I've been thinking about all the woman in my life lately. The ones I admire... and the ones in some ways, don't. I've been trying to see what traits I would like to have that each of them have , and the ones I would not like. This could go for all people, not just woman. Look around and see who it is you admire and what it is about them that really stands out to you. Is it their courage? Their integrity? Their lifestyle choice?
I've been trying to figure that out.
Right now in my life is when I'm really shaping my future and figuring out who I really am and what I want to be doing. People who I really look up to are the people I need to surround myself with. Family and friends who I can learn and grow with.

Anyways, back to the woman.
There are always woman in your life, woman who are part of your family, woman who are friends, woman who are acquaintances. I'm lucky to have great ones in my life, ones I would love to be somewhat like someday. I'm really grateful for them, and I look up to them in many different ways.

So, let's just say... When I grow up I want to be an old woman. Not a certain occupation, not a certain lifestyle, and not a certain plan. Just a woman. That leaves allot of room for great things. Cause' we women kick butt.

Goodbye Chimo

Chimo is SOLD.
I believe it's a good thing.
I really, really did love him but I realized I was thinking too much ahead, not living in the moment. I still have dreams of traveling but maybe he's not going to be what I want to travel in. When the time is right I'll know and be able to find exactly what I'm looking for.

That's why I love Craigslist. I got him listed and the net day sold! A few people had come by for test drives but that night a cool little family came. They were a younger couple with a son and wanted to start taking trips while he was young, but still old enough to remember them. I thought that was great, because that is what my family has been doing for the last few years. I told them about our adventures and how rewarding it had been.
I feel good that a great family who will put him to good use now has him. Now on to new things!