Life with Fishlips

There are days I hate myself. 

I expect the most from myself; and when those days I don't match up to my own expectations...I can really give myself a talking to. 

Mostly I love myself.  I am truly happy being me.

I also don't usually posts pics of myself...This is a favorite...happy, relaxed, on vacation!

I was born during a blizzard in Brooklyn, NY.

November 17 is my exact date of birth. Yes I am a Scorpio.

Scorpios are the sign that knows within moments of meeting a person if they good or bad, happy or sad, truthful or a lying thief,  trustworthy, physical & mentally healthy; and someone I should allow into my life.

As a Behavioral Specialist I got to become friends with several special peep's through my employment

I love each of the them very much.

the ones who taught me Patience

as I taught them to Enjoy life without Anger:

The Best Coworker's I could ask for:

Cling Stamps and Journals

On a never ending quest for things to occupy my desire to be creative can land one in trouble.

A run to Michaels and JoAnn's stores over the quiet weekend lead me to finding several items that captured my imagination.

One of my past times that I find relaxing is making Greeting Cards.  So I purchased a few new stamps sets.  So many new and wonderful type of stamps are available nowdays.  I drool in that aisle.  Thankfully I knew what I wanted and my decisions were fast and furious. 

Plus once I move into the position of Home Alliance Coordinator I'll be able to enrich the lives of Hope Cottages clients with crafts if they are so incline to learn about stamping and making greeting cards!  Or just having fun with scrap booking! A perfect excuse don't you think for my purchase?  I'm sticking to that reason when I explain additional stamping sets to an already overflowing box of them.

I will be making cards for the next several days to keep me busy while my hand heals from the sprain. I plan on utilizing some of my kaleidoscope prints as the background incorporating stamping and other items onto the card.

The stamps set I purchased are vintage inspired along with some 'Steampunk' theme's.  I'm in stamp heaven right now! 

I also plan to use the stamps within my Journals.  A lovely book by Linda Woods and Karen Dinino, titled 'Visual Chronicles' has enlighten my choices for different and amazing options for journals.

Color Challenge of Black, Gray, and Brown

March 16 through March 30 our color challenge shall be in a range that is not normally worked with.  For photographers who enjoy the rich tones one finds in black and white photos this challenge shall be a snap!

The muted colors of black, gray, and brown will add softness to our creation process.

My view of the world is at times – black and white.  Although we all must acknowledge nothing is just black and white…life is full of understated hues that can blind us to the brilliance from the influences around us.

As many of my readers know my beginnings in photography was in black and white film with a Pentax SLR camera.  Camera is long gone but I still have the 150-300 lens and flash that were part of the camera.  Maybe one day I’ll purchase another ‘film’ camera to go along with the digital cameras I’ve picked up along the way.

Jinxed or Aced

In today’s job market I must say some of the pre interview tactics have changed to fit the modern world.  Why am I stating this…Well; I had an interview today for a position with one of Anchorage’s businesses. 

I arrived my 10 minutes early to fill out some last minute paperwork that the Human Resource person had stated would be there for me when they called to arrange the interview.

After filling out the paperwork the receptionist lead me to an alcove that had to two computer monitors.  She stated that I needed to watch a short video; when done let her know.  

I was happy to watch the video except the monitor I was sitting at was in Frozen Mode.  I alerted the receptionist, who tried a couple of things but nothing worked.  So she had me move over to the next station.  She opened the video and walked away.  

Once again I sat there and the video did not proceed.  Once again the monitor was frozen.  This time I slowly walked back to the receptionist and stated “I’m sorry to bother you but this one is not working also.”

I was being to feel as if I was jinxing my interview.

Once again the receptionist played with the mouse and then said “oh I’ll get the Human Resource person to come out and see if she can get this to work."

The Human Resource person also played with the two computers, then hummed and hawed.  The computers had to be rebooted; which I would have gladly done if they had been my own. Finally the video loaded and I was able to watch the 5 minute clip about this business.

I can only hope that my answers to the interview questions were better than the mishap with the computer’s video and that I soon will be part of their organization.

I decided to return to work for several reasons but two priority reasons: one being I miss the daily interaction with people.  I have realized for the last couple of years I have become a home body relying on summer or holiday shows to fill that void.  The second reason is spending money.  Retirement income does not go up but our daily living expenses are going up at a faster rate than we like.  After bills are paid there is little left for extras.

And the extras such as my printer ink, cameras, computers, photo paper and other extras are what make me happy.  I'm not happy when I can not afford printer cartridges.

Winter's Solitude

There are times when I have no desire to step out of my studio. 

I have no need that requires me to hop into the car 

to make a mad dash to another destination.

My studio is my little cocoon – 

sheltering me from the harshness of the world.

Winter seems to be a good excuse for my reclusive like attitude. 

Since I did not venture out for the last two days 

I worked on several older folders for my Yellow Challenge. 

I found a few flowers that I had ignored but 

now is the time for them to shine.