The Week in Photos!

Wow, it's been a crazy week. I've been busy at work, and believe it or not, I've actually been going to bed at a normal hour-- like before midnight every night so far this week!

Anyway, I've been taking my pictures daily and I finally got them uploaded and posted to my daily photo blog ()-- well through yesterday anyway. Today's photo will have to wait.

I found myself taking quite a few photos on some days this week, so I thought I'd post them here. Enjoy!
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Here are some shots of the turtles in the pond on campus near the building where I have my classes:

Can you spot the turtle in this first picture?

They really loved this incoming stream of water. It was so funny watching them!

Hibiscus flowers in my front yard

Looking back at campus as I'm leaving on Friday...

Clouds from Monday

Monday Music Mania: Disco Mickey Mouse

Okay, I still can't seem to get away from my childhood memories theme. I started out doing a disco themed Monday Music Mania, but got sidetracked when I got to my Disco Mickey Mouse songs. While they are "disco," they are just not quite the same as the other disco songs, so I decided to make my favorites from the album into a Monday Music Mania of their own!

I loved this record (yes, I owned it as a record) as a child. A few years back, I was able to locate a used CD on half.com for a reasonable price and snapped it up! I know they're kind of cheesy, but I still love listening to them and singing along :-)

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Monday Music Mania: Babyface

We stopped taking regular family ski trips once I reached junior high since it was just too hard to keep me out of school for so long and have me keep up with assignments. We did take one last trip during our winter break when I was in 8th grade though. We went to Whistler, British Columbia just before Christmas and then we spent Christmas in Oakland with my dad's brother and his family. And that year, we actually flew.

Back then, we could listen to portable electronic devices (a walkman for me) on take-off. So I listened to my new Babyface album "Tender Lover" on the plane and an in the car on the drive up to Whistler from the airport. So naturally, any time I hear the songs on that album I think of that trip!

Here are some of my Babyface favorites, including many from "Tender Lover."

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

More Favorite Commercials!

I usually don't watch the commercials on TV because I watch everything delayed and fast forward through them. I have caught a few recently though. Here are a couple of my favorites:-)

Happy 2009 From Pepsi

What if Delivery People Ran the World?

IBM's Why Do We Need Math?

New Photos!

I can't believe I haven't posted here since Monday! How time flies. I've been taking my daily photos for my photo journal and have been pretty good with posting them to my Daily Photo Journal blog (or at least catching up every few days).

Today, I had a couple of photo options for my daily photo and my favorite ended up being just a piece of the Ocotillo Fountain. Here is the fountain and the close up of the top of the glass sculpture that I chose as my photo of the day:



I've also been meaning to post this photo for quite a while. I took it at a little Mexican restaurant my parents frequent in San Diego. I hadn't seen one like it before though I'm sure they're out there!

Monday Music Mania: Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie is another artist that brings back memories of those same ski trips that I posted about last week with the Quincy Jones playlist. The actual album we listened to was Can't Slow Down, but I've added a few other of my Lionel Richie favorites.

And I realized I'm not the only one who has memories of these two albums. I'm actually writing these posts and creating the playlists ahead of time while I'm home for Christmas. Just now as I was playing the music, my dad said to me "Remember we used to listen to this as we were driving to Park City!"

Anyway, enjoy the Lionel Richie playlist. There will be one more ski-trip-memories playlist next week and then maybe I'll move on to other memories :-)

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Sophie Under Cover

I've been back in Arizona now for a couple of days. The first couple days back are always the hardest. I miss having my parents and Sophie around, though I don't miss not having much privacy and the constant allergy issues I seem to have when I'm around Sophie.

I have a few photos I took at the end of my trip that I didn't use for my Project 365 Photo Journal, so I'll be uploading them here. I decided to start with Sophie and her crazy antics.

We adopted Sophie from another family who originally got her in Hawaii. It's obvious that she loves the tropics because she craves the sun and being warm. She likes it so much that she'll do just about anything to stay warm in the winter. Now, keep in mind my parents live in San Diego so it's not like it's snowing outside.

Anyway, when she just can't get warm enough, she likes to burrow or hide under covers, blankets or anything that will keep here warm.

Here's a few pictures I took of her burrowed under a blanket on my parents bed. Obviously, you can't see anything but the lump, but she's there. We can always tell by the way the covers are disturbed and the lump. Also, if you touch call her name, she'll often meow at you from under the blanket.



The night before I left, I caught her trying to burrow under the blanket on my parents sofa. After her first try, she gave up because the blanket was falling off the sofa. I picked it up and she tried again, but she gave up because I think the leather under the blanket wasn't warm enough for her. I was able to catch a few of her tries as shown below:







She was not a happy kitty there at the end. Poor Sophie.

Project 365: Another Challenge (of sorts)

I heard about Project 365 at Angie's blog earlier today (well, yesterday now) and thought it was a great idea! Basically, the project challenges those involved to take a photo every day for 365 days and post them somewhere online. Read more about the project here (or by clicking on the project name at the beginning of the post). I'm joining in a few days late, so I had to go back and take photos that represent my first 3 days! There's still time if any of you would like to join.

Because it will be a daily thing, I've decided to start a separate photo blog (http://michellebphotojournal.blogspot.com/) for that project. I'm still planning to use this as my primary blog (both for photos and other regular posts). Knowing me, if I have to take 1 photo every day, I'll end up with a ton more that I can post here. I just didn't want to confuse the posts at this blog with my Project 365 posts.

In 2008, I really neglected my photography. I think it was the first year my camera bag actually had a chance to gather dust! And I've always wanted to keep a journal, but I'm just not good at writing every day. Hopefully by participating in this project, I'll end up with a great photo journal of 2009 and even the years after that.

Again, if you'd like to follow my Project 365 photo blog, you can find it here (http://michellebphotojournal.blogspot.com/).

If any of you decide to join in, please let me know!

Monday Music Mania: Quincy Jones

For those of you who've read my Monday Music Mania posts or my other ramblings on music may have noticed that I tend to associate songs with memories. When I listen to a certain song or album, it brings up very vivid memories for me. I don't know why it is that certain memories get cemented to certain songs and albums when I listen to them many times. Anyway, for me music is a complete experience beyond just listening. I not only listen, I enjoy, re-live memories, and often times sing along :-)

Anyway, the reason for my ramblings is that for the next few weeks, I plan to focus my Monday Music Mania posts on artists/albums that bring back memories from childhood, particularly those from winter times.

This week's spotlight is on Quincy Jones. When I was in elementary school, my parents took us out of school for 2 weeks after our winter break to go skiing (of course we'd take all our homework along). Instead of flying, though, we'd drive from San Diego to Utah or Colorado. One of the tapes (yes, tapes) we listened to a lot during those long car trips was Quincy Jones's The Dude. I included some of my favorites from that album (along with one other) on this week's playlist.

Enjoy!

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

99 Things Meme

I saw this over at Anne McAllister's blog (well, via Google reader really) and thought it would be fun to do. You all get to learn more about me and I have something to blog about!

I won't tag anyone in particular, but feel free to do it. Let me know if you do decide to play along so I can come read your list :-)

THE 99 THINGS MEME

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped. (no way with my fear of heights!)
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (not really sure on this one, but I'll leave it as something I'd like to do)
15. Adopted a child. (I'm undecided on this one)
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables. (I have a black thumb)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. (not that I don't want to, but I doubt it will happen if it hasn't already!)
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke. (if I can ever get up the nerve!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted. (I don't think I could sit still long enough)
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (I'd like being on the water, but skip the fishing part)
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (I learned things are much farther away than they appear from the top of the tower)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. (again, not sure about this one-- maybe with my photography)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood. (needles and I don't mix)
65. Gone sky diving. (don't think so, though I'd rather do this than bungee jump!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (for how long???)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar. (ewwww)
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. (again, undecided on this one)
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Support Your Local Library Challenge

This year, as one of my New Year's Resolutions, I've decided to keep better track of the actual books I read in 2009. I'm going to try to post which books I've read at the end of each month.

I've also decided to join the Support Your Local Library Challenge as well. Since I moved to Arizona, I haven't even applied for a library card which is really quite amazing for me since it's usually one of the first things I do when I move somewhere new. I think this challenge is a great way to get better acquainted with my local library!

Since things tend to get crazy quickly for me, I'm going to start off small and do the 12-book challenge. I'll post the books here on this post as I read them!

1. The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Clean Laundry Radar (and Happy New Year... a little late)

Happy New Year (a day or so late!) I'm still home in Bonita for the holidays, but I go back in just a few days. I can't believe how fast time flies.

Anyway, since I've been home for a while, I've had to do laundry. With all of us (my sister, her boyfriend and me), I had to finish the load of towels my mom started before I could finish my own load. The second I walked in from the garage, Sophie, our cat came walking down the hall. She absolutely loves laundry fresh from the dryer (especially dark clothes which she gets her light hair all over!) And we've noticed that no matter where she is or what she's doing, she knows exactly when the laundry is coming out of the dryer. We call it her clean laundry radar.

And given the chance, she will sit on the laundry as you fold it. Sophie (being her usual self) followed me to the master bedroom where I went to fold the towels. I knew she was going to try to sit on what I folded so I purposely started with a big towel (a pink one that you can barely see behind the basket) that she could sit on. Here's what happened while I was folding the other towel for her:





Did I mention that she gets very territorial with laundry? If you try to take it away from her, she makes this throaty growly noise and often tries to bite you. So instead of moving her, I ran for my camera :-)

And here's one more of her that I took on Christmas:


She loves to be warm, so my mom bought her a warming bed. It's currently on the fireplace (and not plugged in). She slept in it a lot since all the people took over her usual spots (on the sofa or in the chair with the nice warm blankets).