Month: September 2008

Budding Photographers

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Big Girl’s camera is the purple Kodak…Little Girl’s BRAND SPANKING NEW camera is the silver Fujifilm.  We are doing our level best to raise photographers!  Big Girl bought her camera about two years ago with her own savings.  Little Girl bought her’s last night with all of her birthday money (and a little extra thrown in by Mom and Dad.)  They both picked them out on their own with just a little guidance from us.  (Unfortunately the “prettiness” of the cameras were the deciding factors for each of them!)  But Zan and I figure that for their first “real” cameras, as long as they are easy to use, portable, and affordable, just about any will do.  As they get more experience they will learn what they want and need in a camera. 

Little Girl has been using a Flip video camera since Christmas and has gotten some of the best videos with it!  Seeing the world through her eyes has been FASCINATING and hilarious!  I’ve watched Big Girl develop her eye for shots as well…she captures details that I don’t think I would’ve even noticed at her age. 

I’ll be highlighting some of their photos here in the near future.  In the meantime, here’s my first photo in weeks. 

My poor camera got all dusty sitting on the table.  😦  But it’s back in use, and should get a workout over the next few weeks with Balloon Festival, apple picking, and pumpkin picking escapades!

Airing Grievances

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So, the Top Ten were revealed on America’s Got Talent.  Here’s the list and their “talent”:

The Wright Kids: kid group singers
Neil E. Boyd: singer
Queen Emily: singer
Paul Salos: singer/Sinatra impersonator
Jessica Price: singer
Kaitlyn Maher: cute  er, I mean, singer
Donald Braswell: singer
Nuttin But Stringz: psycho (in a good way) violin duo

Eli Mattson: singer
Joseph Hall: singer/Elvis impersonator

Raise your hand if you see a pattern…

Now, Queen Emily has a very good voice, as does Neil Boyd, opera guy.  I suppose the Sinatra guy is okay (he’s very adorable) but since I never cared for Sinatra, his appeal is a little lost on me.  Eli is somewhat entertaining, but…….

I truly don’t think any of them would make it through the auditions for American Idol.  (Wait…maybe Queen Emily.  She reminds me a bit of Latisha and Mandissa.)  And since we all know how difficult it is for even the most talented singers to carve out a successful career after the wildly popular American Idol, I’m not sure how the producers figure any of these pseudo-caliber singers will be able to sustain a successful show in Vegas.  They’re competing with the likes of Celine Dion and Bette Midler, not to mention Elton John.  Even Elvis impersonators are a dime a dozen in Vegas.  Ah, well, perhaps their “Vegas Prize” will amount to singing in a back street bar lounge three nights a week?  Unless of course, Kaitlyn Maher wins.  No bars for her since she’s only four.  (I might add that it would not shock me if she did win…I’ve had more hits on my Kaitlyn Maher tag than on any other.)  I’m not trying to minimize the heart these people have, and Lord knows I give them credit for chasing their dreams, but…I find the final ten results puzzling.

Now, to the real question…America appears to value singing talent above all others, even if it’s mediocre singing.  Why? 

Anyone?  Anyone? 

Bueller?

He’s Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

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My Zandic is off to Indiana to see a Michigan vs. Notre Dame game!  He’s making a weekend of it with my Dad, our brother-in-law, and brother-in-law’s brother.  The four of them flew out this morning, and plan to attend the Friday pre-game festivities as well as the Saturday game. 

While the women of the family cross our fingers that they all come back, not only alive and well, but also still speaking, we have some girly plans of our own.  Homemade stromboli, pints of Ben and Jerry’s, and a movie are on tonight’s agenda, and I assume tomorrow’s activities will include shopping…after all, what girly weekend is complete without shopping?

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!  🙂

As We Remember

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I had planned a memorial post today, but when it came to publishing it this morning, I couldn’t hit the button.  I guess I felt that I didn’t have the eloquence to put into words what I feel every September 11th when I open my eyes to the morning.  A heaviness revisits my heart, and I’m sure I’m not the only one so affected on this day.  So instead, I went to the World Trade Center website and chose to look at what will be instead of what was.  I hadn’t seen these renderings before…I hadn’t gone looking to be truthful.  The memorial pools which will preserve the footprints of the fated buildings really are quite beautiful.  I share the link with you, and invite you to take a look at the plans for the site if you haven’t already done so.  It did my heart good, and I hope it does yours too.

http://www.wtc.com/media/images/wtc-renderings

Freaky Fringe

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So we watched last night’s premiere of Fringe.  I said to Zan, “It’s The X-Files on crack!”  Not sure what the heck to think of it.  It was very strange…good strange or bad stranget?  It’s too soon to tell.  I’m not loving the leading lady all that much…on the other hand, Lord Denethor as the crazy, yet brilliant doctor is perfect casting.  

Despite it’s freakiness, there is a bit of comic relief thrown in now and then.  Example, crazy doctor just gets out of the mental institution, and is riding in the back seat of the car, exclaims “Uuu!”  When asked what’s the matter he responds, “I pissed myself….just a squirt.”  Delivered by John Noble, priceless!

The story line jumps ahead quickly…at times I felt I missed something and could’ve used a bit (okay, alot) more backstory and character development.  Strange circumstances seem oddly contrived for apparent shock value.  Perhaps these weird twists and fantastic situations are done a bit tongue in cheek (hopefully.)  I also think they squeezed a whole lot of setup into this first show so they can dig right into the weirdness.  (From the previews of future weeks, it looks as though this first episode was mild in terms of freakiness.)

So I reserve judgement and leave the DVR set to record this show until I can figure out how I feel about it.  Worth a watch?  Maybe.  But must see?  Maybe not.