Fitting a Round Peg into a Square Hole

When my sons where young I watched them figure out a simple toy that had colored wood blocks in various shapes.  Frustration the first few times playing with this toy would occur but once the shape & which hole fit it; then it was onto new and more exciting toys.  

In life there are days when the peg just doesn't fit into the hole you are trying to get it into. 

It's a choice one makes each day how they are going to view the day & it is as different as each of my readers are. 

Sometimes my view is square and other times I'm have a full circle view.

In my life I work with folks constantly battling the round peg fitting into a square hole dictated by society. I see the frustration and attempts to learn ways to fit  into society.  

It's not much different from those days long ago when I watched two little blonde hair boys work their way through fitting a square peg into a round hole. 

What's your view for the day?

Surrealism

 

Every now and then we all have one...a week that is just surreal.  A Mish Mosh of random happenings.

A call home I find out my second to youngest brother is staying at Mom's - major knee surgery.  A call from a friend we have known for over 20 years just to let me know he is sorry that the St. Louis Cardinals got bumped out of the playoffs...HA he wasn't sorry he was rubbing it in.  My great nephew who is 12 is still in hospital but out of Critical Care Unit but 3 weeks of a hospital stay for this little guy is not good - So if you can spare a prayer for him please do so!  I donate several of my framed Photo's for Hope Community Resources Annual Dinner Auction.  Had to go to doctor yesterday for my eye - turns out I've gotten Pink Eye (yes adults get Pink Eye also; it's not just a kids illness).

Crusty eyes is not my ideal of fun for a day off.  After tackling every door handle, knob and surface I have touched in last week with Lysol Disinfecting Wipes I settle in my mind for a day of fun.

First off  I lounged about watching TV.  Daytime TV is rather boring.  Two naps didn't improve TV watching.  Didn't even have the energy to work on Greeting Cards, plus I didn't want to have an accidental tear fall on the work to contaminate it!

Putting eye drops into one's own eye every 3 hours is tricky...hitting my nose with a cold drop of fluid is rather startling.  By evening I was acing this small feat the drops were hitting the eye on first try.

Then watching the late evening news we hear of Steve Jobs death.   I've always wanted an Apple computer.  They are to me the epitome of  Geekness.  The laptops are a fashion statement of beauty.  Slim, sleek, and can make a runway of jaunty teens giggle and swoon.

I'm seriously considering getting an iPad2 this next payday.  They are in my price range.  I have a friend who owns a iPad and loves it.  She even has a portable keyboard for it which is handy for those who do a lot of typing!

Then I think back to the last few weeks that I am saving for a new digital camera another dream of mine...

Dreams - the surrealism of life.

Fall in Anchorage, Alaska

September 5th  for Alaskan's means putting up the summer toys and bring out the long winter gear.  Usually for Anchorage by mid-September there is frost on our windows in the mornings and snow on the mountains.  None of this has happen until a few days ago! 

This year I proudly say it has been the most beautiful month for Fall I've ever seen while living 21 years here in Anchorage.

Flowers are still blooming, the leaves of the Birch are golden yellow even though now laying upon the sidewalks and yards in my neighborhood;  many of those golden leaves have just fallen off the limbs within the last couple of days.

Balancing Acts

Since  ole Missy Fishlips has returned to work – I've been in training all week and will be again in training next week. Then I've be doing what is called 'Shadowing'.  Sounds a bit scary doesn't it.  I do believe I will just keep you all in suspense to what it is also. 

I let my 3 times weekly posts on my blog just slip away which makes me sad.  I'm sure you all have opions on it.

  

Maybe you all are happy to have the relief or maybe you miss my rambles.  Either way:

I am trying to figure out a system so that I don’t stop my ramblings just because I’m not home during the day to madly type away. 

 

You all know how much I love my writing it’s not something I can just casually cast away – 

I will work it out and once I’m settled in my job my blog postings will return to a set schedule so you don’t Miss Me!

Here are two kaleidoscope of the same original photo showing their different results.

Creative Types

Are you a gambler trying new and wild things?  Do you jabber away while creating that next Mona Lisa?  Or are you a silent type whose yearnings can only be read in your eyes? 

I have to admit there are various days that I could be one of the three. 

                  

I’m sure you can add more to the list of ‘creative types’.  I’m just hitting the top of the iceberg for those whose passion is some form of art or crafts!

Many of my friends on Facebook and Twitter are the creative type.  It is so enjoyable to see pictures of their latest creations and even pics of their old stuff.  

Artists across the world seem to encourage each other, tease and taunt each other, plus sometimes even become sponsors for another.  That makes me so glad… in this day and age of so much pain and grief that one sector of life remains constant – art and those who encourage folks to be creative.  

Art is a passion.  You either love it or you don’t.  Once it has its hands around your throat there is no surrendering.

Challenge of Color #2

We start the new color challenge March 1, 2011.  For the next 15 days you are invited to challenge yourself with the color YELLOW.

Yellow is not one of my favorite colors although a wide variety of flowers are found in this range. I seem to fight with myself when snapping photos of flowers because they show up so strongly plus it seems to me they dominate gardens.  Some of my best photos are of yellow flowers.

So for me this challenge is going to be difficult in the fact I must find items that bring me out of my comfort zone.  And isn’t that what Challenges are all about?  Taking one out of their comfort zones and inspiring them into a whole another realm!  

Thank goodness it is winter time making this challenge a tad bit more interesting since the gardens of Anchorage are under a foot of snow.

                                                     Child's Carnival Ride @ Fur Rondy 

                                                              Anchorage Alaska

                                                                    2-26-2011

Digital Photography

As a photographer I dearly enjoy taking a photo.  My passion is playing within my Photoshop Elements and turning an  ordinary photo into a new something I feel is fun, exciting or totally different.

I just discovered a whole world of additional Plug-in's for my Elements program. 

It is so much fun to discover new ways of making a photo 'sing' to me.

 

this filter gives an old world look to the photo

If you haven't been to the your local book store lately and visited the magazine aisle - my advise is: Do It As Soon As Possible.  A new photographers rag is out!  C'T Digital Photography.  It's printed in the UK cost $14.99us

Since Borders Books is closing over 200 stores across the United States, I took advantage of the 40% off and got the launch issue (first issue) for this new rag!  Love it!  If you can find it at your local book store get it.  Has free CD crock full of fun things for one to play with in various photo programs!

Copyright Law

Today I want to mention a law that is very important to anyone who creates an image.  By creating this item it’s an expression of you; so therefore you have a right to this item being covered by the copyright law.

A Federal law:***Copyright of all images stated by the laws of the United States (January 1,1978 Title 17, U.S. Code and further in Section 106 of the Copyright Act) T...here is a fine for this copyright infringement per image involved and another fine per image to the person/and or business that reproduces, copies, or prepares derivative works for another person. "No images on this site are to be reproduced or copied in any way. Infringement will be prosecuted in an Alaskan court of law".

I create photos which I call art.  They are covered by law just for the mere fact I created them as an expression of myself.  All my online shops mention coverage of the copyright laws to all my products.  

A watermark ‘AS2Designs’ is on each of my photos that I put online so anyone looking knows this is copyrighted. 

I charge a price for my art.  I expect a payment for my art if you wish to display it anywhere in your home, office, school, or mode of transportation.  This also means your computer, your cell phone and any other device that is connected so that you can download a copyright item or place onto these devices.

Most folks are not aware of copyright laws.  Nor do they understand the law and how it pertains to art.  And gasp big time - many do not care about the law.

I will tell you dear readers this – the times are changing - folks who create items are tired of those stating they are not aware of the law, and especially about those who do not care about the copyright law and Artist are fighting back very strongly against those who just help themselves to our creations.

Permission is needed if you wish to put one of my photos on your blog either just for displaying or discussing the photo.  Permission is needed if you want to share it on a social network (example I’m on Facebook but you are on Myspace and want to show your friends my photo there)…written permission covers both you and the artist Do It the Right Way!  

All art must also define (acknowledge) who the artist is if displayed.  A good example would be ‘Blue Moon over Anchorage’ by AS2Designs you would list next to photo or under it so that all who look know who actually created the piece.  It’s even better to say: with permission by artist AS2Designs ‘Blue Moon over Anchorage’, that eliminates any doubt to viewers.

My advice is simple: 

Do Not download photos for your personal use as a wallpaper or anything else on your computer it’s a Super Big No No!  And do not download to use to create another piece of art!! 

Pay for the item is the correct and moral thing to do.  Remember you were raised better than to steal and be labeled a thief. 

Do it the right way instead of the wrong way so that you never have to worry about being contacted by a lawyer, charged as a criminal, and paying huge fines.