the simple joys in life...

--Taking a shower that uses all the hot water in my apartment's little hot water heater
--Garlic
--Smiling at a stranger and receiving a smile in return
--Hot food/cold ice cream
--Dean's old t-shirts/sweat pants
--Phillip
--The perfect driving soundtrack
--Seeing the static electricity in the covers after the lights are out
--Having my phone scream "CHICKEN NUGGETS" in my nephew's voice whenever my sister calls
--Bernard the teddy bear
--Long phone conversations
--Short phone conversations
--Rex the flashlight

that coffee feeling...

Today could have turned out to be a very bad day... I woke up several times and had difficulty getting back to sleep... and me with interrupted sleep does not equal a happy me.  On top of that... the internet that was supposed to be connected today can't be... and I got poor Phillip stuck in the ally.  Can it be spring yet please?  I even started my spring cleaning in hopes of tricking the weather into being less snowy/icy/sleety and more sunny/warm/wonderful.

But... April in her infinite wisdom... or just in need of some caffeine herself... decided we needed Starbucks.  And with that wonderful coffee feeling I put on my new pants that came in the mail today... remembered I finally have an appointment with the doctor... and smiled the rest of the day.

"Did you say poison ivy?" - A friend shoot :)

So... 

this shoot was a challenge... 

it was hot... 

we were tired... 

AND... 

my lovely photo assistant Miss Dianna got poison ivy so bad that she had to go to the Dr!

But we got some good photos and had some fun all the same :)

 

 

 

Love these two girls for getting through it all... but I must admit... my favorite photo of the entire day... the photo that is now going to be the background for my home AND work computer is the one below :)

They were DONE with the balloons!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!

I love her...

... she is awesome :)

My Happiness Project

Like I said in my last post... I feel like I've been on autopilot since I moved to Indiana.  I want that to change now.

I stole a resolution from my friend Joe this year.  He attempts to read 25 books per year.  Now to some... like my best friend Kimmie Jo... 25 books can be read in a month or two easily... but for me... the girl who works in a library but only read one book last year and thought she was doing great...25 books is a daunting task.  Over Christmas I found an author I love through audio book.  On my 4 hour... or 5 hour when the weather is bad... drive to my hometown I like to listen to audio books.  Joe says audio books don't count but it keeps me awake and alert when driving such distances.

BOOK 1 - Sloane Crosley: How did you get this number

 Awesome book... love her... great essays that kept me interested through all 288 pages.

BOOK 2 - Gretchen Ruben: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

 Another great read... and the inspiration to get me out of my autopilot funk!  The author of this book spent a year working toward resolutions that would improve her overall happiness... and though I'm not on as strict of a deadline as she was... I'm going to make resolutions that I will strive for and force myself out of my cozy little comfort zone that seems to be holding me hostage.

Title of my project: Grownup adventures... in a baby car.

My resolutions:

Find Janell.
Don't let fear keep me from doing things... especially the things I love.
Be a grownup about money.
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

What I hope to achieve:

Become a runner
Always try to feel pretty
Eat as if Dean were watching
Plan a grownup wardrobe
Wear heals once a week
Read 25 books in 2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Stop being afraid of the laundry mat

Spend less time in bed... more time @ desk
Be tidy
Get rid of things no longer needed
Get internet
Go to the Dr

Move to Korea
---------------------------------------------------------------------

College debt plan
Buy new camera equipment

Plan for Phillip (baby car) while in Korea
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Blog 3x a week 

Carry camera everywhere

Become expert in Photoshop 5
Become expert in Lightroom 3
Be an intern

Blog @ wordpress - upgrade to new website + prophoto

Things to remember:

I am VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY blessed.
Don't get discouraged.
8 hours of sleep = not mean Janell
Good food + regular schedule = not mean Janell
One day at a time.
If I'm willing to put in the work... God will make amazing thing happen.

an experiment in autopilot

Retrieve remote from file cabinet
Go to Jeff's office
Press lock on file cabinet
Start
Shutdown
Turn computer off
Turn off lights
Move Dotson
Close door

Lock door
Unplug coffee pot
Turn on copier
Grab clipboard
Write date
Write initials
Write "End #"
Press user functions
Record number on clipboard
User
Shutdown
Yes
Open PRM door
Shut PRM door
Push in chairs @ microform stations
Shut down microform stations
Shut down microform machines
Recycle excess paper at Printer 6
Grab any books/magazines on trucks by Current Periodicals
Set down books/magazines/remote
Straighten Non-fiction Best Sellers
Straighten Fiction Best Sellers
Straighten New books
Pick up books/magazines/remote
Recycle excess paper at Printer 10
Check bulletin board
Turn off TV
Mark items used
Truck books/shelve magazines
Grab smart card box
Retrieve "tokens"
Write number of "tokens" on piece of paper with date
Rubber-band "tokens" with piece of paper 

Put "tokens" in smart card box

Turn off laptop

Unlock door
Open door

Set smart card box on desk

Close door
Lock door

Unlock Computer

Send memos

Put memos in envelopes

Put folder, memo envelopes, and remote in file cabinet

Check lockers

This takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes of my night at work... and sometimes I'll get home and think... "did I lock that door?" or, "did I shut that X down?"  Oh autopilot you help me find peace in the ability to shut off my mind and go through the motions... but you ultimately frustrate the bejesus out of me.

My entire life since I moved to Indiana has felt like an experiment in autopilot.  Maybe it's the weird schedule... maybe it's fear... maybe it's both or maybe something else... but I had so many GREAT plans when I moved here that I've not set into action... but that is all about to change...

Christmas Insomnia...

So now without sleep... here is what have I learned about myself...

1. Since I end up alone a lot of the time I tend to talk to inanimate objects... giving them personalities... ie) Phillip the car, Kevin the plant, Bernard the Teddy Bear... the list continues to grow...
2. I enjoy making up songs about the inanimate objects... singing them often... ie) "You are a little white car - Phillip - you like to drive so far - Phillip" and "Phillipy, Phillipy (repeat)"...
3. I like order a LOT... but still somehow am a VERY messy person...
4. I am terrified of moving to Korea... but am excited at the same time...
5. Stupid stupid STUPID things make me cry... ie) Commercials, sitcoms, country songs...
6. Favorite quote...
   me: have you gotten Coop warmed up to being a sheep yet?
   Kendra: Not a chance....mom even tried to trick him saying... "Ah buddy, you get to be a white tractor" ...no way... as soon as we tried to put the lamb hat on...he freaked out and threw it on the floor, "Ma-maw that's the yammie hat....I don't yike the yammie hat (sad face)."
   I laugh out loud EVERY single time I think about almost 3-year old Cooper saying this...
7. I cannot spell to save my life...
8. I get cold very easily... please be 80 degrees the rest of my life world...
9. I miss photography and don't take photos anywhere near as much as I should...
10. Life has been pretty boring... pretty safe... and I'm finally ready for a challenge...

In My Bones

It’s a funny phrase really... one I’m not sure I've said before... not like this anyway.  It’s a feeling.  I, in my bones, know this is what I want to do.  I’m tired of taking the “safe” road, the “easy” road, or the “so far out there that could never possibly happen but you already know that so you can’t be disappointed” road.  I need to stop trying to do things that take all my energy and effort to produce uninspiring results.  I also need to stop doing things that leave me uninspired.  I went to school to be a photographer... & that is what I am going to do.

MOVING MOVING MOVING

It was moving week here in my world... which meant filling Phillip up to the very top!  I don't know how many trips I made in my little white car... but I was pleasantly surprised at how much could be packed into a Liftback Yaris.

Now Phillip and I have a new home and I know I love it.  It's the first time I've ever lived on my own.  It's just a small little studio but it's more than enough room for me.  & they even fixed the ally behind my building so Phillip doesn't mind it too much either :)

Now all that's left is the UNPACKING UNPACKING UNPACKING... & all the sorting that comes along with it.

Phillip's theme song!

Phillip's theme song as sung by Miss Sassy Pants and me

Phillip's theme song as sung by the Coop Monster