Want in one hand.....

So, a few years ago, i broke down and bought a nice digital camera. It wasn't FAB-U-LOUS or anything, but it was a few hundred bucks and i loved it. I loved taking pictures with it and had delusions of grandeur about being able to take nice photos. About a month after the extended warranty expired, I turned it on and got "System Error". Turns out, this is a major malfunction of the camera and a $250 fix by the manufacturer. Uh.. i could buy a new one that is better for that or equal. So thus started my hunt for a new camera.

Now, I am really wanting a camera. Have had serious urges/inclinations for about 6-8 months now. I looked and researched and turns out, I'm a gadget nerd and still have the same delusions of grandeur that I had about being able to take some fabulous shots of stuff. I live in Colorado for shit's sake -- there is beauty all around right? Surely even "I" could take a picture.

Which ultimately led me to the decision: I will not buy a piece of crap point and shoot camera. I want a real deal Digital SLR camera with some lenses and options and you know, another hole to throw money down. So, for about the last 6 months, i have been completely committed to buying a decent, entry-level DLSR. I have been researching and comparing and still have it narrowed down to 2 different models. But every time i look at them, and read photography websites and look at pictures I want it even more. But, in contrast to that, i always have the nagging "thats a lot of money to spend on shitty pictures"

It is my hope that WHEN i get my camera that it will be a motivator to get out and walk around and just take some pictures. To do things, to go places. To drag the honey and kids and dogs with me. It has been so hard the last couple years, being physically unable to actually do anything, that i am bored to tears and think that I can take a decent picture and the beauty will motivate me to get off my ass.

I guess, until i get my camera, i will keep living in my pretty picture world and keep my hopes up that not everything i point the camera at (when the time comes) will look like a colorful turd on paper.

6 months already ?!?!?!?!

Wow, it has been 6 months since i posted last. I totally can't believe that time has gone by that fast. Seems like just last week I was getting ready for summer vacation. Well then, lets catch up.

• Our friends from MO came out and we had a good time. There was some kind of drama that i'm not really sure of, but we ended up not seeing them as much as we hoped and they ended up kinda not talking to us anymore. The honey couldn't talk while they were here, and i think that had something to do with it. All in all, i'm glad they came out; i'm very sorry that some sort of bullshit happened. I still just don't know what.
• My sister and niece came out. We had an awesome time. My niece is a precious little princess. I totally remember when i had my baby princess. She was so cute.
• The Princess left with my sister on summer vacation. The day after she left, we ended up buying her "her car". Its a 07 Kia Sorento. Which was super great deal, but maybe not the smartest for the gas crunch times. She loves it and drives all over.
• I had my nerve test in may and it showed i had some nerve damage that was contributing to my pain. I ended up having another surgery in June.
• The Boy went to wrestling camp for a week and loved it. he had a great time and did awesome. He then left on vacation for a month.
• Summer was generally uneventful for Honey and I. Roommate got back in touch with his daughter and I am super stoked for him. The re-establishment of this relationship has been all-consuming for him, but awesome. Hopefully she will be coming out to visit for the holidays.
• The Ex and his wife/girlfriend (i really don't know) moved here. They tend to ignore the kids until its convenient to guilt them. They live about a mile away from us but don't actually contribute to the kids expenses or every day life. This is frustrating for me and its hurtful to them.
• Honey and I are going to his parents for Thanksgiving. The kids are staying here with their dad. I think we are having christmas at home. Maybe even get a tree. This will be exciting.
• Back in physical therapy and it hurts, but generally improving. Still can't do much with out extreme soreness or pain. Still afraid to try much of anything as far as exercise go.
• I did get the Wii Fit for my birthday and its nice to do yoga stretches and some core balance work, but nothing actually strenuous.
  
• The Boy had his birthday --15 already!!! He and some friends had a sleepover. 6 teenage boys in the house was crazy. They ate 8 pizza's and a huge cake!! We ended up getting the boy a couple video games that he wanted and some other stuff. His dad actually bought him something (wrestling shoes) for the first time in about 7 yrs. I almost passed out.
  
• My birthday was uneventful and basically a non-day. Honey and I had a date the weekened before. We didn't have cake or anything.
• Work has been slamming busy. I have a new boss and my idiot co-worker is backstabbing and kissing ass to maneuver his way into my job. He just makes himself look a fool. He will eventually work himself out of a job.
  
• I turned down a promotion. Honey took a promotion. Its been over a month and he still hasn't seen any raise. That is frustrating.
• The economy makes it a hard time for the non-profit business, but i'm still here and so is honey. Don't see any layoffs coming for our department, but maybe for some other. Who knows.
  
• The game has had renewed interest for me recently due to some changes. Also, this week the expansion with a whole bunch of new content comes out. It begins another leveling grind, but oh well. It should be fun.
• The honey has 2 weeks off starting next week. I have a week and a half off starting Next wednesday.
• We have had unusally warm weather for this time of year. Still dreading the snow and driving on ice, but its been great so far.
  

Listening to: What is Happening by Alphabeat

As the crow flies....

Seems not like 4 months have passed since i posted last, but alas it has. Here's whats been going on.

• Princess got her driver's permit. Now I have a chauffeur every where I need to go.
• The Boy has gotten his act together and no longer wants to live with his dad.
• The Honey hasn't been traveling too much, but work has kept us both slammed.
• Ex and the bitch have decided they are moving here in the summer. I am not thrilled at all.
• The Boy and Princess went and visited for 4 days over spring break and seemed to have a good time.
• I had my 2nd neck surgery in March. There was little to no effect and I am still in chronic pain. I am still on very limited physical activity, still not back in physical therapy. I have a nerve test coming up on the 14th to test for nerve damage in my neck. It is supposed to be a little like acupuncture, but still not looking forward to it that much.
• In 2 weeks, the Honey and I will have visitors! I am sooo excited that our friends from MO are coming out for Memorial Day weekend. I don't know how to entertain them just yet, but i'm sure beer will be involved and we will have a good time.
• At the end of June, my sister and niece are supposed to come visit. I am excited about this too.
• We are looking to buy the princess's car sooner rather than later so that the honey can stop filling up the expedition to commute to work. Princess doesn't get her license until January, at which time we'll turn the new car over to her.
• The Boy graduates 8th grade in 2 weeks. They aren't having any kind of ceremony or anything, which i find really sad and weird. I wish he could experience it.
• I got new curtains for the living room, which i think look nice. The downstairs bathroom is mostly finished, still needs some paint and accessories, but its functioning which is awesome.
• Still not made progress on de-cluttering the house. I plug along at it, but not being able to do any kind of physical work does not speed things up. I am soo frustrated at this accident injury bullshit it makes me cry somedays.
• Drama in my game has caused it to lose its luster. Looking for another game, but until then, just plugging along with my friends and having fun. Trying to stay out of the drama and bullshit. Damn, people are queens sometimes. It's a fucking game. I know I have contributed my share, but I honestly believe mine is reactionary. I obviously think I am above generic drama for the purpose of drama, but probably not if you ask others.

Until the next time, hopefully after my nerve test.

In Review.......

Well.. this isn't going to be a year in review type of things, but i will catch up from the last post to current..

• The birthday was alright
• The kids had a blast on Halloween and the princess and her friend had the cutest superhero costumes. They were batman and superman, wearing tights with underoos over them (yes, little boys underwear), insignia t-shirts with tight, long-sleeve shirts underneath, and capes. It truly was one of the best girl superhero costumes ever. The boy was Bart Simpson and they both that a great time at their respective trick or treating/parties.
  
• The boy got his cast off and all is well with the hand
• The boy is failing school and generally has his head up his ass. His solution is to go live w/his dad, rather than change his attitude or fix his shit. I am at my wits end with his crap. His dad is only marginally helping the issue.
  
• Thanksgiving was totally uneventful and we had tasty food with nothing exploding or burning.
• One of my best friends in the world is moving back to AZ. I will miss him greatly. I concede his reasons for doing it, but not sure it is the best. However, he hates CO, and getting out of here is something that I respect if you just don't like it.
• A former friend (she's been blogged about before on here) and her husband are divorcing. She has also moved back to AZ. He has moved to Seattle.
  
• The puppy is potty trained FINALLY!!!!!
• The Princess is getting her driver's permit tomorrow.
• I am committed to hopefully upgrading the crap status of my house. Decorating, trashing shit, etc. I just need MONEY
• The downstairs bathroom is 2 days away from being finished. I just need to find those 2 days.
• Spent 2 weeks at the in-laws. God i love them, they are the nicest people, but holy shit, i die with the slow pace of small town. Its great to relax, but sometimes, being rushed is a good thing.
  
• Took a longer route home to meet some friends for the first time in KC. The visit was awesome and i wish we lived closer. The honey and I have been playing our online game with them for close to 3 years now and we stopped in for a visit. The dogs, kids and us had a great time with them. It was just an overnight visit, and in the end, that was just too short.
• The honey got a 22in widescreen flat panel monitor for his b-day.
• New Years Eve/Honey's B-day was uneventful. We had just gotten home from vacation the night before and were exhausted.
  
• I still have major panic/anxiety attacks when driving/riding in ice/snow/shit weather. On our return trip, the last 150 miles were chock full of 40-50mph blowing snow, white out conditions, icy icy roads, hyperventilation, uncontrollable shaking, and crying. Honey was a saint through it all, trying to keep the truck on the road and not stuffing a sock in my mouth and tying me up (or knocking me out).
• I have been playing my online game a lot. I have found a new side of it that makes it like a new game altogether. The downside to this is that I get guilt trips from people who i don't play with much anymore. The upside is that it has renewed my interest in the game, and i'm having fun again.
• I am still having trouble with my neck and knee from the accident. Holiday shopping did nothing to help and i found that shopping is no longer as pleasurable as it once was. Traveling was horrid for my neck and i am still recovering.

I hope that things improve healthwise for me and attitude-wise for the Boy. The Honey is great and we both need to watch what we eat. For me to lose weight and him to lower his blood pressure. The Princess needs to keep up her good grades and positive attitude and the boy needs to take a less from his sister.

All is well. Happy New Year to all!