#July4th

It was a pretty low-key Independence Day for me. No BBQ, no pool party, no keg stands and no fireworks in the driveway.

I decided to take a short drive up to Table Rock in Boise. If you live here or have visited, you'd probably recognize it by its gigantic florescent Jesus cross. Fortunately for my legs and lungs, a security guard at the gate informed us that we could drive all the way up (which is COOL because that gate is never open anymore).

So, instead of battling the crowds at the old Boise Depot hill or in Ann Morrison Park, we got an AMAZING view of the city lights throughout the Treasure Valley, our fireworks as well as distant fireworks on the horizon AND we had perfect weather with no strong winds.

I put together a (bad) short video put to music. Tada!

DIY Pop-Up Camera Flash Diffuser

Sometimes I'm all about "DIY"...after all, it saves $$$, and most of us can agree that the legal tender is in short supply these days. So, thanks to Photojojo.com user natuurplaat, there's a simple and surprisingly effective way to soften the normally harsh effects of a photo taken with a pop-up flash on many consumer SLR's and what I call "wannabe SLR's."

Note: Go to your local Walgreens, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Kroger or any store that has a photo processing dept. You can usually get the translucent film canisters free. They want to get rid of them anyway.

Another Note: Don't try this on a Canon 40D. I tried and I was disappointed that the pop-up flash is too wide for the canister *pouty face*

THE INGREDIENTS LIST:

* Camera with a pop-up flash
* White film container
* Ruler (or whatever)
* X-acto knife (regular scissors work fine, too, I found)

Step 1: Measure your flash



Measure the width of your flash so you’ll know how wide to make the cut in your film container.

Step 2: Cut the film container



Using a sharp blade, carefully cut a notch in the side of the film container (take the lid off first). Make the notch just slightly wider than the depth of the flash. Click on the photo to see the finished result.

Step 3: Slide it on



Slide the film container onto your flash, and put the lid on to hold it in place. If the fit is too snug, make the cut a little wider. If it’s too loose, a little tape should keep it on.

Step 4: Go take pictures!



Take photos as you would normally. The film container will diffuse our flash’s harsh light. Your camera should automatically adjust exposure to make up for the reduced light output.

You’ll be everyone’s favorite photographer once they see how good you make them look!

Before: Shiny & Pasty



Harsh flash washes out skin and highlights flaws. Seriously, you can see stains on somebody’s soul with that thing.

After: Lovely & Pleasant

Photo/Content Source: Photojojo.com

The End of An Era: So Long, Farrah and MJ...

On the 25th, we all received word that the legendary Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died...Farrah from her long battle with cancer and MJ from cardiac arrest, possibly from medications administered to him by his personal physician. Just a couple of days prior, on June 23rd, Ed "Heeeeeere's Johnny!" McMahon also died at the age of 86. The news of Michael's death spurred a fury of online searches causing a virtual web traffic jam. Our Charlie's Angel and our King of Pop are now gone, may they finally rest without pain and paparazzi.

Yesterday, as I was on the way back from a fun event...I was called and told that the iconic pitchman for so many of our "as seen on TV" miracle products, Billy Mays, had died the day after a hard US Airways landing. I was able to catch his most recent episode of "Pitchmen" which I found to be funny and enlightening to the true gentle nature of this loud and seemingly annoying personality on tv. He was anything but. He was the father to a 20-something step-son and a 3 year old daughter that adored him as much as he did her.

This is not to say that I feel more sorrow for celebrity deaths as I do for those closer to me, as this isn't the case at all. They are simply shocking losses of people very much in the public eye, especially as I was growing up (except for Billy Mays). I feel so sad for their family and dear friends, and it brings many things into perspective for me. What will it be like when I lose someone close to me, now that I am an adult and can truly understand the reality, impact and emotions behind it? I don't look forward to that day.

P.S. if you Twitter, you probably encountered some serious Fail Whale.

I've Got a Pillow With YOUR Name On It!

11:59am, Saturday May 30th, 2009.

It was a bright morning and already warm enough to break a sweat doing small chores. Downtown Boise's Saturday Market spanning 8th Street all the way down to The Grove was bustling with foot traffic. Everyone examining, taste testing and purchasing local faire, from baked goods to freshly-grown produce to handmade glassware and crafts. People were happy to be out among the living, soaking up the sun and enjoying the casual atmosphere. Few were aware and observant of the growing unsettledness nearby that would quite suddenly erupt into chaos at the stroke of twelve noon.

GRAB YOUR CHIL'ENS AND GET OUT 'THE WAY!!! PILLOW FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHHTTTT!!!!

No innocent people or participants were injured, however the inner remains of a pillow or two were found at the scene concluding the event.

If You're Not A Cat Person, Do NOT Read This.

My cat, Smokey, came in from a few hours outside in the sun, laid down next to me on the floor while I was sitting in my desk chair in the office bedroom. He 'pet' my feet with this tail softly and looked up at me lovingly with a breathy purr. Smokey is 10 years old this month (or next, I can't remember that far back) and he's still the love of my life.


This beautiful, gentle and loyal creature is less a cat in my eyes than he is a son of my own flesh and blood. He and I seem to understand each other, much like the bond many people have with their dogs. To some, their pets are their kids, their family, their siblings. It's not weird. If you have any respect at all for them, you'd raise them like you would your own child... manners, punishments, spoils and all.

- "What is 'overboard' ?"

Everyone has their opinions of what could be considered going overboard on the care (or exploitation) of your fur kid. I, personally, would never consider clothing my cat simply because it's adorable or stylish. He already has a coat. I don't teach him party tricks for the entertainment of others. Not that he would, because, c'mon...he's a cat. They don't partake in such 'foolish' triflings. (his words, not mine)

The most we spoil him is with an enclosed pet stroller so he can join us at the park and outdoor festivities. I tried training him on a leash when he was a kitten, but he never took to the idea. Dogs are good with the collar/leash thing, which makes me wonder why those pet strollers are really designed for dogs? Shouldn't they be WALKING by your side if they physically can? I also got him a $27 white leather blinged-out collar that makes him look like Elton John in a cat suit.

Because he was practically raised on the road, he gets full roam of the car when I go on trips. It's convenient because he's pretty much self-contained during travel. I rarely take food and bathroom breaks and Smokey just uses the portable kitty litter box when he has to go. He also bathes himself and always smells good. The really nice thing about him is that he doesn't have fleas, puts me to sleep when he purrs by my head, is great to cuddle with, hasn't had any health issues, never once has scratched anything up or 'sprayed' on anything AND he doesn't bark. Barking is bad for my P.T.S.D., so he really fits my personality and my lifestyle. Independent, chill, loving and low maintenance. Anyone that meets him instantly loves him. My upstairs neighbor, Astrid from Venezuela... she always calls him "DELICIOUS!!" because he's so squishy and soft. At least I *hope* that's what she means by it.

I say all of this in a blog because I love him more than anything and it's his birth month (I think), so this is in honor of the greatest guy in my life, next to my Dad. Thanks for being so awesome, Smokey...Mokey...Moke Moke...Bitty Bo....Buddy...Beautiful Boy.

Shamwow Dude Photo Comparison

Discuss.

Cape Cod & P-Town Weekender

[REPOST from my MySpace blog on Jun. 20, 2005]

Ohhhhh sweet recovery! I just drove over to Cape Cod to visit a friend for the weekend and I somehow made it back alive. lol The first day was reserved for hanging out at her restaurant and helping her cook dinner for her patrons. The restaurant sits right on a big marina near Hyannis and Yarmouth overlooking a river that comes off of the Atlantic Ocean. Must be tough going to work, day in and day out, getting a tan, feeling a nice breeze off the deck as the water in the marina twinkles with each ripple.

Anyway, for the first afternoon/evening on Friday, I helped her out at the restaurant and got to know her employees. They are a great group of people and they've all been with her for all 8 seasons. For dinner, I had Alaskan King Crab legs, special-ordered for me (plus she got a great deal on them thru her supplier) and, since she got several pounds of it, she also made it a dinner special... and it has been a hit with customers so far. When her over-the-top flamer gay guy friend stopped over at the restaurant around closing time, he gave my friend the keys to a little resort room nearby so we wouldn't have to stay at her cottage with her roommate and another friend who is sleeping on the couch (going thru a bad breakup). Apparently her gay guy friend uses that room from time to time because there were no towels for a shower or the jaccuzi and his swim shorts were sopping wet on the floor of the shower. Oyyyy... LOL Before heading to the room, though, we stopped by a couple of bars. Her best friend's car was parked outside of a chinese restaurant/bar, so she turned around to go see him. Some drunk guy from South Carolina tried flirting with me with no success. Her bud was in a crabby mood so we left to check out another bar she knew well. There was a cover band playing and I wished I had taken pictures of the musicians -- the electric guitar player and lead singer both looked like they were straight out of an '80s hair band, the drummer looked 80 years old and the bass player was as nerdy as they get. They were pretty bad but after two drinks and two large Cuervo shots, they were sounding damn good. LOL By the end of the night, I can honestly say I have never been so drunk!

The next morning, she got in touch with a couple of her friends and we drove up to Provincetown (aka: P-town...aka: Gay Town USA) at the end of the Cape, which was only maybe 40 miles tops. We all got a room above the Vixen night club (which, btw, only has a one-night minimum) right smack in the middle of downtown. Wow, was that a shameless plug or what! After walking up and down Commercial Street, checking out shops and bars all day, we decided to go back to our rooms and take naps. My friend napped but her friends and I didn't... so when my friend woke up, she was ready to hit the clubs again but we weren't. We ended up getting talked into going out for a little while but our friends went back to the hotel after only half an hour or so. So while the bars and shops were closing up, my friend and I decided to walk around a little more. She saw a big ship at the end of a pier that she wanted to check out earlier in the day, so we walked out there to see what it was used as. The night watchman at the marina there told us that it was a soldier's barracks boat in WWII that was pushed or pulled by a tugboat where ever it went. My friend tried and tried to let the guy allow us on the ship to look around, but to no avail. While chatting with the marina guy, another man who was hanging around found out that my friend owned a restaurant that he knew of... so despite his wanting to go to bed, he instead invited us on his yacht where his wife and another couple were aboard just winding down the evening. We took our shoes off before entering the "livingroom," they offered us a glass of wine and we sat down to chat for a good hour. My friend and everyone on board had some mutual friends and enemies, so they talked about that for much of the hour. It seems like everyone I met while in Cape Cod owned some kind of company or business. I suppose that's how they afford to live there. I think I was the only one who had a regular little job, but that was cool with them. I didn't sense any snobbery...really nice people, all the way around.... even if some of them were on the tipsy side.

I woke up the next morning on Sunday before my friend did, so I took a shower and went into town for breakfast at the Post Office Cafe. Met up with the other friends while walking around and we shopped for swag. After my friend woke up and our other friends had left P-town for an appointment, we hopped in her truck and headed to a couple of beaches...wishing we could've used the firewood in the back of her truck for a beach fire under the stars with our friends, but due to fog, we cancelled those plans.

All three days on the Cape were, for the most part, absolutely gorgeous and I hope to go out again soon. They're trying to contact their friends with boats so we can have a big party out on the water one of these days, and I am SO in! I'm happy to be back home, though. It was a wild weekend and it's just nice to be back to some normalcy again but, unfortunately, back to the grindstone, too.