Happy Leap Year!

Might as well get that out because it'll be another four years before I can say that again with gusto.

The Change Mug That Made its Way Home (sort of)

In early January I was standing at our dresser in the master bedroom putting away some socks and other folded laundry when I glanced at Jon's glass mug full of change sitting atop the dresser.

As long as I've known him he's had that mug, full of change, sitting on top of the same dresser. He had it at his place when we were dating, then it moved (along with the dresser) to our first home after we married, and now there it was, sitting on top of it's old buddy, the dresser, in our home in Washington state, twenty minutes from Portland, OR, home of the Rose Festival.

I don't know what prompted me to read the mug. It's just one of those things in your home that you get so used to seeing you hardly notice the details.

My eyes opened incredulously as I saw clearly for the first time the words "Portland Rose Festival."

What? I had to laugh. Who put those words on there? Surely it hasn't always said that.

I later mentioned to Jon, "Hey, you know your change mug says, 'Portland Rose Festival' on it."

"Really?" He had to go and take a look for himself and then gave a prompt "huh" once satisfied.

"Where did you get it?" I asked.

"I dunno. Somewhere in Colorado. Maybe. I dunno."

I don't know where Jon got the mug or how it ended up several states away from Oregon, but here it is, eight years later, twenty minutes from home.

1965 Polaroid "Swinger" Camera

This little commercial is too catchy and nostalgic not to post. It stars Ali MacGraw and the Polaroid Swinger Camera.

Polaroid announced on February 8, 2008 that they're ceasing production of instant film. Although there's something captivating about the jagged and painterly edges of a photograph taken with Polaroid film (with those those terribly intriguing yet telltale circles), I'm only slightly sad about this. I remember playing with an old black polaroid camera when I was young. Ah, childhood...Wish you could've been here just this second as I flipped through the pages of my mental album, viewing all the polaroids of the family from ages ago. ...Baby pictures... Mom and all the girls in the family playing dress-up, Mom and Dad before I was born...

And still recently Jon and I were in a thrift store before Christmas rummaging through ancient electronics tossed on a metal shelf when we found an old Polaroid Camera with film still in it. Granted, the film was light leaked but for some inexplicable reason I just had to have it. The chemicals had long since dried, leaving random bubbly designs on the front and back of each Polaroid. We eventually left after deciding there was nothing worth buying but I left that thrift store a happy girl with three little mysterious Polaroids tucked under my arm.

Well, goodbye Polaroid. There are ways to recreate things digitally, but I imagine it'd be hard to recreate something as tactile as the real thing.

And so the digital age moves on.

Beachy Rings

I have some friends getting married in a few months. They're getting married near a body of water.
On some sand.
Like, on a beach.
Not just any beach. A Hawaiian beach.

And I'm invited.

Of course I am.
I'm in the wedding party and apparently the wedding party is riding in a limo around the island taking pics in different locales on the wedding day. How sweet is that? Very sweet I tell you. So sweet I think I'm already getting a cavity. (....yeah...I'm just so funny...)

Anyway, yes, these are their actual rings. The bride's is super pretty! Very sparkly. And we girls know it's all about the sparkle. (click on the pic to get a better look, then hit your browser's back button to read the rest of this fascinating tale)

The groom's? Whew! I've never held a ring that heavy. It's like holding a car part. SO HEAVY!!! Jon would be going crazy with something that heavy on his finger. Good thing he doesn't have a heavy ring.

So anyway, the groom knows his ring is heavy, he picked it out. He just hasn't seen the actual ring in person. I don't know, man. That thing is super heavy. My arm would be dragging behind me. But it's a nice looking ring. Very sleek, stylish, and yet completely masculine.

A nice choice--a heavy choice--but nice.

Okay, good night for now.

Max Playing at Mt. Hood

Maxie at Mt. Hood

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Imago Dei Community Church

Imago Dei Community Church at Franklin High School in Portland, OR.

Jon and I and a couple of our friends went to Imago Dei yesterday (by friends I mean Jack, Nikki, Kessia, Josh, Kessia, Kessia and Kessia). Jon and I were in search of a true worship experience and we found it in the community at Imago Dei. What an awesome, awesome place. I felt like I was back at my home church in Texas. The atmosphere was great, refreshing and not full of stuffy, rigid traditions. Praise God for Imago Dei.

www.imagodeicommunity.com

Volkswagon Bug

I was photographing some fireman boots in Texas last week for a client in my friend's garage (yes, I know...how ghetto--I mean, "resourceful" of me). Anyway, she's got this awesome VW bug in her garage that just begged to be photographed. I love photographing old vintage things. Plus, the interior of the bug was this reddish color which made it even more fun and vibrant to shoot.

Yes, I enjoyed my time back in Texas. Thank you for asking. It was rainy and cold for most of the time I was there and everyone kept commenting on how strange the weather was and even mentioning that it was sunny the day before I got there. Uh huh.
I guess I brought some freaky weather with me from Washington.

Christmas is almost upon us!!

Choco Christmas Tree!

Portland After Dark

What do you do when you're on a dark bridge heading out of Portland and traffic's bumper to bumper? Whip out the camera, crank up the ISO (AKA "grain, grain, grain"), and start snapping, my friend. Yes, do whatever it takes to stave off the boredom of "parking lot traffic."

And wouldn't you know, traffic on the other side is always going faster than the side you're on. Hence, the mac truck whizzing past the window in the photo above.

It's just a law of nature that we all have to come to grips with.

I call this oh-so-sharp and fabulous work of art "Leaving Portland." Okay. So the quality's pretty crappy. But sometimes you just gotta snap a pic for your own sanity and therapy.

Leaving Portland. Ohhhh yes. That's what I'll be doing tomorrow evening. Leaving Portland and taking off for a much deserved time with family and friends in good 'ole Tejas. Thank you Lord!!! If I didn't get out every so often, I think I'd go crazy.

'Course I'll probably cry on the way back in...

Ah well. You win some you lose some. Give and take.

Christmastime

I love the Christmas season. I love the festive atmosphere, the lights, the mood...hot drinks & peppermint, gingerbread men. And ornaments. Oh how I love looking at ornaments. So many different kinds from fancy glittering pieces to the homemade. The season is full of creativity, color and smiles!

(on a sidenote...I'd normally take my reflection out of the ornaments but it's the Christmas season and who has time for that?!)

Thanksgiving on the Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast was actually quite beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery.



...and then some fun pics of the giant driftwood log on Manhattan Beach.

Jon & Melinda: Total Swingers

San Francisco, CA, Nov. 2007


When I was younger, I used to go to the park and swing a lot. But then I grew up and didn't swing as much.

Jon and I found a little bit of an oasis from the busy downtown scene in San Francisco. After visiting the always bustling China Town, it was great to swing amongst the skyscrapers and blue sky with my head tilted back and my hair flying all over. There was this relatively empty park with swings, benches, and this really springy rubber floor. I wish I could remember the name. St. something.

Simple pleasures. That's what life's about. What fun.