30 days of gratitude :: Day 2 :: Smile ... like you mean it. Ha! I cannot even think of the word without singing a little tune. So what am I smiling about? So many things! Mostly that I am alive, healthy (for the most part), have a job that I like (most of the time) and have had incredible opportunities to meet outstanding people and visit the most beautiful places in the world. What are you smiling about?
Today I am starting a new photo challenge - 30 days of gratitude. It's supposed to be via the iPhone Instagr.am app, I was thinking I would use the new camera ... but since everyone else is working the iPhone angle, I figure I should do the same, so here goes ...
Are you a Living Social member? Well, I signed up a while ago and rarely buy any of the deals. But when I saw one for a shooting range, I had to find someone to go with me! I have always wanted to shoot a gun, don't know why, but I have. I talk with my military friends and they always say they will take me to the range, but just hasn't happened yet. So, thankfully, my friend Beth was all in for the "shootin' and drinkin'" deal!
Once we were done there, it was off to Round Barn Winery for the "drinkin'" part of the adventure. Round Barn has a winery, distillery and brewery all on the property. We only had an hour there so we decided to stay in the winery. We liked the Cab Sav, Cranberry and the Redel Doux, both on the sweet side - not my usual taste, I tend to lean more toward dry wines. I think everyone on the bus ended up purchasing something to take back with them, so that had to be a big win for the winery!
We started the day with a HUGE breakfast at KOA Pancake House (yum!) and then headed to Ko'Olina beach (lagoon 4) to catch some sun… it was stunning and beautiful for the first hour we were there and then this giant gray cloud moved in *frown." We met our friend Mark and just sat on the beach chatting, hoping that damn cloud would leave… but it didn't.
So we packed it up and headed to pick G up from school. We tossed some sandwiches into a cooler and headed for the North Shore. Stopping at the Dole Plantation to pick up some goodies along the way.
So while I snapped iconic photos of the Hawaiian sunset, B & G explored the tide pools finding all sorts of wildlife. B found an eel, and fortunately this time from afar. No medical attention needed unlike my last trip. Wheew!
I have about twenty shots in various angles and such of this beautiful spot and honestly they barely do the real thing justice. The light. The surfers paddling along the still water. Palm trees make the most beautiful sound with a little wind blowing through the branches. And then there were these assholes - mucking it up!
Then kept climbing on top of that stump talking about how the other person(s) should take their photo. Laughing. Being loud. "Now take a video of us down here and pretend we're mermaids." Really? Come on people. Let the rest of us enjoy this stunning sight in peace. It not only annoys me when people disrespect this type of moment, but makes me sad that it's completely lost to some… Look around you. Take it in. This is nature at it's purest and most magnificent. Aloha!
(30) self portrait :: Hate to end on an iPhone pic, but I'm on a jobsite for a couple of days... so it was my best option.
Had the row to myself on the plane this afternoon, so got a rare chance at the window seat - I'm typically and aisle girl. I travel, a lot. I love seeing and experiencing different places and cultures. Traveling for work kind of sucks though. You're in and out of a city and not really able to experience it. Flight times are terrible and the whole travel experience (security, food, gate changes ... )is dreadful. Even so, the art of plane travel is not totally lost on me... still amazes me that we can fly.
We were flying between two cloud layers and I spotted this rainbow ring of sorts ... I have no idea what it was reflecting from, but how cool is that??
I had a great time with the 30 day challenge. Looking through everyones photos was so much fun. I loved seeing how people translated the theme for the day. And I have certainly found some fabulous photographers to add to my RSS feeds. I want to thank everyone for their incredibly kind comments and for having me as part of the challenge! Looking forward to the next one. Till then, keep the photos coming!
(23) sunflare :: I LOVE iPhone lens flare! I purposely shoot directly into the sun with my iPhone because I love the awesome bursts it produces. I had to pick my boss' daughter up from school today and we made a quick pit stop at the Baha'i Temple to get some shots. It's an architectural masterpiece. That's her in the funny hat covering her face with cheddar booty container - no, don't take my picture. I don't like to have my picture taken ... Kids!
(15) silhouette :: this was as good as I could do given the super %^&*$ day that I've had ... looking like a rough week ahead my friends.
Spent the day on the south side of Chicago for the Dave Matthews Band Caravan with my music bestie, Robin. Took us almost two hours to get into the venue, so needless to say we were ready to hear some music and enjoy a beverage or two!
We got there just in time for Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, but were so far back (see photo above) that you could barely make them out. There weren't any screens on the two smaller stages, that was a bit of a bummer. They sounded great - even with all of the chatter going on around us.
I cannot even begin to describe how many people were there - I'm guessing 30,000 or more. And this posed a real problem. There was plenty of space - the stages were spaced just far enough apart that if they were both playing music there was no interference. BUT, it was impossible to bounce from stage to stage factoring in trips to port-o-potty's and the long wait times for food and bevs.
AND the biggest problem ... not enough water stations. It was a beautiful summer day and the sun was out in full force - 85 degrees with a little breeze and a few puffy clouds. Staying hydrated is a must when you are out in the middle of a field for almost 10 hours! They had promoted free water from 'filling stations' - bring your own bottle and fill it up - which was a great idea, but there was not anywhere near enough of them. We waited in line for ONE HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES to fill up our water bottles. I consumed a full (purchased) bottle of water and two beers in the time I was waiting in this line. We chatted up some guy in line with us - a bartender from Madison, WI who had made a whole week of concert going in Chicago (U2, then DMB Caravan). During this wait we missed Liz Phair and G Love. (boo!)
Most people had actually planted themselves in front of the main stage to get good position for Dave. That meant we were going to be pretty far back, but we had a great view of the screens and the sound was fabulous. Once they went on stage all was well - the sun was setting and the breeze from the lake was fabulous. And the music... exactly what we came to see!
The new lakeside venue could be really nice if they put a little more work into it. It was a major dust bowl - we had dirt and grime everywhere! The photo below doesn't really show how bad it was... but let me tell you it was nasty!
We only did the single day ticket and are so thankful for that. I don't think I could have done three days worth of the dust and grime - I'm still sneezing from just one day!
Yep, it's that time again. Time for ten photos in ten consecutive hours on the tenth of the month! And hooray for not having to work today!! I am traveling back to my hometown in Kansas for my twenty year high school reunion (yikes!). I did manage to get the photos done all via iPhone (camera + app) - sorry for the late post ladies. I look forward to seeing all of your days!
10 AM leaving a cool, very foggy Chicago
11 AM waiting for my plane
NOON some in-flight entertainment and refreshments
1 PM arrival at Kansas City International Airport and ran across this cute little Hertz guy on the way to pick up my rental car
2 PM a swing over to Habitat to do some shoe shopping - picked up some Bensimon sneaks and these crazy string tie Sseko sandals that are so comfortable, so cute and for a great cause all in one! Was thinking about the beige heals, but ended up not taking them.
3 PM hit up Dean and Deluca for a late lunch - these parmesean fries were HELLA good
4 PM picking up some last minute groceries for Mom - Aren't these Shatto Milk bottles the cutest you've ever seen?
5 PM driving into the sticks - not really - but I have to go thru some rural areas to get to the P's house
6 PM hanging with mom and grandma for a few before heading to the meet-n-greet. This photo makes me so sad, seeing my grandmother like this is pretty depressing. My mother is doing an amazing job taking care of her - but she's got to be in a pretty low place. She just turned 92 and the room is filled with cards, flowers and baloons from her friends - hopefully that helps to keep her spirit strong!
7 PM off to see my old classmates - so excited my BF teeny weeny tiny E made the trip in from Amsterdam and brought her adorable sister, Robbie - love these two girlies. It was a great night - literally closed the bar down! More posts about the reunion coming ...
