Mission Accomplished

This morning I got up early (I'm running on less than six hours of sleep here, so if this lacks a bit in the coherence department, you'll know why) and started to sort through photos again. I had previously settled on three I wanted to use, but I started to look again and came across one that I had forgotten about that I really liked, so I ended up using it and two I had previously decided on. I printed several more that did not make the cut, though I still really like them. I printed the photos, trimmed them, and mounted them on the mat board. I filled out the entry form and headed up to Salt Lake. We stopped by my parents' house and showed them to my mom before heading off to the fair grounds. Once at the fair grounds, I took them in, paid my fee, and they will be shown in the fair. The girl who helped me with my entry info was very impressed by at least one of the photos, so that was nice. We'll see what happens soon. We plan on going back up to the fair next Saturday.

It was kind of funny this morning. As we were leaving, I realized that I felt the same way I feel when I have a job interview. I was very nervous about entering the photos. Both Merilee and my mom reminded me that part of it was the fact that I am offering up something that I have put a lot of work and effort into for others to judge. I agree with that. Part of it was also that I really want to win a ribbon. I feel silly, but I really want some recognition for my art. I love photography and I think I take some amazing photos, but it would be nice to have some outside recognition. Even better would be having one of my photos selected to be part of the traveling exhibit they put together from the fair entrants. That would be truly amazing; even better than a ribbon. But I really want a ribbon. I keep telling myself that is not likely because I do not want to work myself up to the point that I am disappointed. I try to look at it as a type of gallery showing and let it go at that.

Tonight I also posted some photos to enter a contest the Audubon Society is holding. I entered seven photos (I could have entered eight if I had had that many bird photos I felt were pretty good), one or two of which I personally really like. One is of a red-winged blackbird in flight through the grasses around Utah Lake. I also have a couple of wild turkey photos and a yellow-headed blackbird that are quite good. Here is the red-winged blackbird:

The print is much more impressive. I really do not expect to win anything, but I felt like I should enter, so I did. We'll see if anything comes of it.

And finally, I though I would respond to the NoBloPoMo prompt for today - "How did you feel about the start of the school year growing up?" I was one of those weird kids who looked forward to school every year. I really liked getting all the new supplies and I looked forward to being in school again. By the time school started, I was ready for summer vacation to be over. I always really liked school. It took me eight years to graduate from BYU partly because I just love learning. It's a part of having that sense of wonder I have talked about before. I always have enjoyed learning new things, and I still do. I sometimes wish I could afford to go back to school and get a bachelors in geology. I have even toyed with the idea of online photography courses, but the present financial situation does not allow such luxuries. Anyway, to get back on topic, I was always glad to start a new school year. I actually miss it more often than I will admit.

That's about all for tonight. I am very tired and should be heading to bed. I hope I can sleep tonight.

Pushing The Deadline

Well, another Friday and another tough night for Timp High Football. I still enjoyed the game and having a night out with Merilee. It was especially nice to unwind after what has been a truly awful week at work. It ended with me being yelled at by an entitled New Jersey resident. Unbelievably bad day. I am very much looking forward to the long weekend.

Tomorrow morning I am taking a couple of photos up to enter the into the Utah State Fair. I am trying to look at this as a way to get my work seen, not to try to win any ribbons, but deep inside it would be really great to win a ribbon. I will confirm here that they have been delivered. Now I will have a very good reason to go to the fair next Saturday. Wish me luck.

Seeing that I need to get up early to get these photos mounted, I better cut this short. Also, I need to get it posted while it is still September 2nd. That makes two deadlines I'm pushing. More tomorrow.

New Month, Round Two

Here we are, September first. This could end up being a rather good month. Labor Day weekend is this weekend. The Utah State Fair starts next weekend and I am taking up a couple of photos to enter on Saturday. We have a camping trip planned for the 21st (though this may change is Merilee's ankle doesn't get better by then). I have training during work at the end of the month that will take me off of the phone for a couple of days. Then there's my birthday. All in all, it could be a fun one. Now if I can just get through one more day of work.....

I openly admit that yesterday's entry was kind of phoned in, as it were. I just wanted something short and to the point. It was nice to actually accomplish the goal. What I wanted was really big letters, but I had to settle for the largest the blog would allow. It is a bit hard to believe how quickly the month passed now that it is over.

I know this is another slow start, but this week at work has been completely draining and I should really get some sleep.

Day 31

I DID IT!!!!!

That is all.

Another One Of Those Days

I think maybe I should start a blog just for writing about work. I could keep in totally private so no one saw it but me and that way I could keep work separate from this blog. I say that because I come to this post having survived another of those difficult days at work. It seems when I could use a nice, calm day the most, I get just the opposite. Today was very stressful and I am very glad it is over. Just three more days until a long weekend, then maybe I can relax.

Tomorrow is the big day for my blog. For the first time ever I will have posted something every day for an entire month (can you tell I am stretching for things to write about tonight?). It shows I can really meet goals I set for myself; I just need to be realistic in setting them. I like to write, so this one was not as difficult to obtain as others (exercise, for example).

The weatherman says we will have a cooler day on Thursday and I am looking forward to it. I am glad that we have not had a repeat of blistering summers of the past, but I am also eagerly anticipating the cool Autumn nights. It will make sleeping easier, for one thing, and I enjoy the warm days followed by the crisp, cool nights. I know I have said it before, but Autumn is my favourite time of year.

Seeing as I really don't have much else to say, I think I will sign off. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening.

A Little Food For Thought

"There's no permanency in economy that takes a hundred from nature and gives back one. There's no survival value in such an operation, which is certainly the business of systematic and organized looting--the very opposite of making a fair exchange with the earth. Above all, it ignores the ancient doctrine of man's obligation to "quicken" the earth that bears for him. The old Jewish teaching is that Adam had a right only to that portion of the earth that he "quickened", on which he labored with the sweat of his brow. Let us not confuse the ethic of work with the ethic of plunder." - Hugh Nibley

I have just started to read 'Approaching Zion' by Hugh Nibley and I have started to find that there is a very sound doctrinal basis for many of the things I have believed for quite some time now regarding the reckless way so many people treat the earth. Here's another quote, and then I'm calling it a night.

"It is significant that in the oldest traditions and records of the human race all those men who turned against God and man are represented at the same time as making war against the animals, the birds, and the fishes, and destroying the forests and defiling the pure waters. This is told of Satan in the beginning, of Cain, of Ham, of Nimrod, of the Egyptian Seth, of the mad huntsmen of the steppes, of Nebuchadnezzar, of Esau, of Caesar, of Assurbanipal, and so on, all of whom sought dominion over others, over all others, and to achieve it in only one way--by force. The code name for such an order of things and such a program is Babylon." - Hugh Nibley

Family Sunday

Tonight we spent the evening up with my family up at my parents' house. We do this once a month and it can be quite the event. My mom usually comes up with a theme and everyone brings something. Tonight is was more casual with no real theme. I spent about 90 minutes making a steady stream of quesadillas (my nephew alone ate four with shredded beef). It meant that I spent more time cooking than visiting, but it took a load off my mom. It was a fun night, though not everyone was there this month.

During the drive home, we were treated to quite the fireworks show my mother nature. The lighting in the south end of Utah Valley was quite spectacular. I haven't heard any thunder yet, so I don't know if it is heading this direction or not. It has been awhile since I have seen such strong lightning. It brought to mind the storms that we would sometimes get in North Carolina when I lived there. I would go out at night and watch the lightning dance from cloud to cloud, purple and blue and green and yellow. It always fascinated me to watch it.

Tomorrow morning it's back to work. At least this week I have a long weekend to look forward to. I am hoping it is not quite as draining as the last couple of weeks have been. I am hoping for a good night's sleep tonight. Last night the power went out and I was so concerned about possibly losing thing in the fridge that I could not fall asleep. The power finally returned at about 1:30AM, only to go off again for about 30 minutes. I finally fell asleep some time after 2AM, so I am rather tires tonight and hoping for some sleep. Work seems so much longer when I have not had enough sleep.

Only three more days and I will have succeeded in an entire month of entries. I'll be going for two in a row in September. I think this will soon be a habit. Good night.