Today is full of love and not because it is February 14th

I am just reaching the end of a horrible head and chest cold made worse by the fact that I am still unemployed and thus uninsured. My girls have been so busy with their own activities, and yet they have made the time to make this week much more bearable.
They are quiet when I need sleep, they offer up blankets when I am feverish, and they have kept up the household chores. And last night, the worst of the week they made me some chicken soup and kept me full of liquids. I love those girls.

Our house is full of flowers for the holiday thank you to my girls and my gifts to them.

As for the cold. I have nearly coughed up a lung. I have gone through a half box of tissues and my tongue is raw from sucking on vitamin C and cough drops. I believe I am now on the downhill slide however.

I applied for a job week before last and walked out of the interview really feeling confident. However, with over a week since the interview, I am losing faith. Job hunting can really take it out of you and make you feel valueless and un-needed. It is wearing on me.

Also this week was the final curtain on my daughters directing debut with the Phantom of the Opera production. I attended a second time on the final night with the brother of a long time friend of mine and his wife. I was deep into my cold, but went anyway. It was as fabulous as the first time. However, I was a bit amiss when the final curtain came, with the curtain call. As the actors each took a turn bowing in succession of  their roles. The cheers from the crowd filled the auditorium.
And then there were flowers and gifts showered on the drama teacher, the orchestra teacher and the choral teacher. With standing ovation! Well deserved.

Why was I amiss? After three months of daily practices, set build, wig and costume preparations, late nights, and long weekends; after dealing with complaints of the actors, last minute changes, technical issues and set repairs, my daughter, the assistant director was not even recognized. It didn't matter if she was given flowers, or gifts, but to not even recognize her hard work is inexcusable.

She was very possibly the only one in tears that night.
We discussed it. She had recognition from family. I also explained that recognized or not, she had been given experience and opportunities to last a lifetime. It was a small token but seemed to help heal the wounds.

She attended the cast party and all was forgotten.

And now on to her next project- Miss Strawberry Days!
Oy! Let this cold leave soon. And bring on the employment opportunities.

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

I received the most awesome Christmas present this year. So awesome in fact that I cannot seem to figure the durn thing out. 

Most of my childhood photos were taken with a Kodak Instamatic with a removable flash cube. Anyone remember those? Flash cubes? It was easy to use. Point and shoot and rarely a photo out of focus. The colors were pretty vivid as well. Without this camera, I would have a hard time remembering my 'firsts'. Our family never owned a video camera so the stills are our life in pictures.

I have been interested in photography since I was a young child. At the time I owned a Kodak Instamatic. The coolest at the time. Slim enough to fit in my pocket, and the flash too. The only problem was that it took 110 film so I could not snag my parents extra 126 film. Nor did their cube flashes work on mine. But so many memories made. Goofy pictures with my friends, family and school groups. Glad to have shared them at my 25th reunion. 

We also owned a color Polaroid instant camera. It was fun and instant but the film was expensive, and the quality was poor. Love the groovy rainbow though. These were great for parties and reunions when you wanted to share the images instantly... well within 3-5 minutes anyway. Shaking them, did that really help?

More recently we have owned a few digital cameras, which in the beginning to me seemed to be a bit of a pain. I used most of my pictures for hanging in frames and showing to relatives at gatherings. What did I need with photos that were only left in my camera and computer? Now? I admit, I do miss the old film developing. I do however love the conveniences of digital and have nearly mastered the art of printing them myself. Although without the aid of a true photo printer.

I have fiddled with photography more and more, attempting to produce creative and stunning art. I have a long way to go. Until Christmas this year, I have only owned point and shoot cameras. 

And now I enter an entirely new world. My first digital SLR camera.

I have very few photos of Christmas this year that are in focus. I have a lot to learn. I hope to learn and practice here so feel free to give your feedback on any photos. 

Here are some of my 'practice attempts' over the holiday's

   Our Bowling shoes

Blurry girl.  

Focus in all the wrong places!

Getting a little bit better

I also took all of the photos in my last post with this new camera. I am getting better but most times I end up back on auto focus. I also think I may need to invest in some change-out lenses of differing zooms.

But this is one think I am excited to learn. I need to learn about Aperture, zoom, focus and lighting.
More to come:

Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you you are not alone!

I attended the production of Phantom of the opera. My youngest daughters high school put on a fabulous production.
She had an opportunity in her first directing gig. Assistant Director. I couldn't be more proud.

They went way over budget but the sets and props and costumes were of the quality of an off-Broadway show.

I will be attending again next Saturday with the little brother of a long time friend. Here are some shots.

New year new beginnings

Note: to all of you who entered to win a copy of Life as we know it. on my previous post,

Please send me your address to this email address: sha,green@att.net by February 10th.
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Today could possibly mark a new beginning for me. Those of you who have been reading me for a while might remember the last post I wrote about job seeking and interviews. I have been lucky enough (or not) to have been through two plant closures and one reduction of force in the past 5 years. This following a twelve year stint at one job. It has been tough.

I have been unemployed and seeking for nearly 8 months and as a full time worker since age 18, am bored to tears.

Today I had an interview. There are more interviews to be conducted, but I think I may be offered one of the two jobs open. Although I am hoping for the higher position, I will probably get the slightly lower spot. It may mean a little less money than I have made in the past.... The funny thing is, I am ok with that.

The company seems to be a great atmosphere. It is a wholesome health product company and they practice what they sell.
The position itself is so much more my style than positions I have held in the past. It will be similar in many ways however the difference being, the freedom to express ideas. The freedom to collaborate with other teams, vendors and customers openly and suggestively.

The reason I went into the field I studied was for the artistic aspects. Aspects that have been stifled in my past. I am excited! There is also more than potential to move ahead and take on more responsibility but it was almost promised.

I will await the next week when the second interviews are taken before getting ahead of myself. But I truly feel free and excited and truthfully when it comes to work,  it has been a while since I have felt that way.

In other news- My baby girl, the one who just got back from the Shakespeare festival in warmer climates, will  debut her very first associate directing gig tomorrow night. I couldn't be more proud.
The school is putting on Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera' Masterwork beginning this week.

And my youngest has spent the greater part of the past month and a half ( yes through the holidays) coaching and mentoring and costuming and primping the actors in their parts and solo's. And also many weekends hammering and sawing and building the set. My other daughter and I will be braving the bitter cold snow and wind to catch the performance tomorrow night. I hear the Chandelier is stunning!
Pictures and review to follow.