Ron Paul Rally , Pie, Puppies, and Art down the alley

I woke up at 6am. Got ready for work, headed out the door, and then got a text saying I wasn’t needed today. WOop-haw! Charley and I got a chance to visit his family for Christmas yesterday (we’re a little late) which means we got back at 2am. Extremely fortunate miracle? I think so. Which also meant I could attend the Ron Paul Ralley at College of Charleston today with the hubby and roommate.

It was packed with students ( I’m guessing there were some extra credit incentives to lure them out). I didn’t feel like getting all crazy and climbing on things just for a picture, so as you can tell it was a bit hard to see. Unfortunately I heard nothing either thanks to a loud group of talkers next to me and the poor acoustics ( and me being slightly deaf I’m sure didn’t help either). Regardless of not hearing, my vote is with Ron Paul: big fan of everything I’m reading. Small government, simple, conservative. yep. Of course if it can’t be, there's always Colbert…(who’s giving a rally tomorrow but I’m working…major frown)

…and after partaking in our politician’s presentation, we passed and proceeded to ponder on pie, and perhaps peddled past a pie peddler….

and by that I mean, the boys wanted pie, so we checked out a new pie shop around the corner called P.I.E

We were a little disappointed. The baked goods just weren’t that good. I had an éclair with gummy egg dough and presentation wise (other than the meringues) there wasn’t a whole lot of craftsmanship in the works. Sorry P.I.E we won’t be coming back.

The roommate ditched us to go exercise and Charley and I had lunch in Marion square since it wasn’t too chilly. We got some Moes.

and it was then that I spotted a puppy and it was all downhill from there. Being O so socially awkward, easily excited and not as shy about talking to strangers as I should be, I ran forth and yammered away, something like “oh mee ohh mmaa puuppyyy wwaaawww!!! please leeet me pet her aww cuddle it, take it home , wawww”. After getting over the initial shock, the pup’s owner was really sweet and we had a good conversation about being husky mothers. Did I mention the puppy looked exactly like Juneau? Pup’s mom was really cool and let me take a picture. Charley pretended not to know me from the bench.

Then we went to my favorite shop in town, the Artist and Crafstman Supply Co. I wanted to price some things and look around. They have everything you can imagine art related and so much more. (Like fine papers, book making supplies, tons of paint and plaster, whittling, calligraphy, carving, porceline and clay, canvas, dyes…everything). It’s run by super artsy laid back people who draw cartoons to advertise sales and such. I purchased a drawing board so I can sketch in bed and outside in the grass. Charley got some silly putty.

Our last stop was a quick peak into blue bicycle (mentioned here) just to say hello to the cat. Charley got a really neat book on pastry. They had a little homage to Colbert in the window. I really wish I could see him talk tomorrow but I’m glad Charley can go.

This is what I felt like all day long….

so back off…

(but I did recover after a quick post work nap)

Fwamily

My siblings and I took some pictures last year for my mom’s birthday present. Since we wanted a cheap heartfelt solution, I took them for us on the self timer. I found them again while sorting files on the computer and I thought I’d post them just because we’re a goofy bunch. The first shot is a pan of about 20 pictures of the wall right above Papa Jazz in Columbia. I had wanted to get it printed but I can’t find anywhere that will let me print it because of the odd file dimensions/ file size.

That’s my Spot

For Christmas, we pretty much did all of our shopping online from amazon since it comes to the house and we didn’t have  a whole lot of time or money to shop. The result was a multitude of cardboard boxes which I stacked under my desk to get out of the way until there was room in the recycling. (trash days around here are overflowing ..I’ve never seen people throw away so much but I guess that’s apartment life for you.)

The stash and shove was a good idea for getting to and fro in the tiny apt, but Juneau informed me that it was encroaching on her space. She likes to sit on my feet under the desk while I edit. Sometimes she likes to eat my feet under the desk while I edit. Somehow she crawled in the tiny hole left between the printer and the boxes.

and started to whine because she couldn’t get back out :

(she knocked the modem off the desk so that’s why the wires are a-hanging)

The boxes are thankfully out where they belong and my feet and Juneau are back to the former position. I ended up sorting our whole apartments recycling and making room in the trash cans so that the trash people would actually pick up.

we bums got a free dinner

thanks to the resort’s holiday party.

they had food, drinks, dancing, prize drawings and a photo booth..not bad. 

we tried to win an ipad2 but nadda.

A light and breezy beach house

I’m editing a couples wedding photos right  now and remembering what it’s like to be warm. Seriously, today was way to cold. We don’t use our heat at the apartment to save money (I know we aren’t the only ones) so I’ve been wrapped in a quilt at my desk with the space heater on full throttle. It might take off like a tiny jetpack any moment now.

I must admit, the cold mixed with how much I’ve been working and how much editing I’m behind  in is taking a toll on me this week. My insomnia is at like an all-time record. and watching kids on low sleep is the pits. God really provided today however because I got off a few hours earlier than I thought I would, letting me come back home to edit the pile. A little power nap and I’m back in action.

These pretty beach pictures were sending warmer happier vibes into the air and I thought I’d share (since I’m back and forth waiting for photoshop to process). I think beach weddings are my favorite because of all the wonderful available light. My dream home would be nothing but windows. Maybe one day, but for now we get the lovely view of construction and closely built apartments. For photographic reasons, I really miss our old glass door that led out to the backyard at the old house.

A gift guide for your fabulously geeky photography friends…

We know you have them. or maybe you are one. and yes, I’m aware that it’s after Christmas. what gives?

1. Photoshop Fridge Magnets

2.  The Lens Cap Strap Holder

3. Magnetic Photo Rope

4.  A pretty custom camera strap

5. a vintage camera

6.  a bag of perfection

7.  a paper floor sheet

Ew. What is that?

It’s cabbage. theme of the week because we were gifted a four pound bag of it. I’m not creative enough to think of what to do with so much cabbage but charley’s been busy. he made cooked cabbage with pork fat, and he canned some sourcroute. I’m sure we’ll have some col slaw and some spring rolls later this week. Any other ideas of what we can use cabbage in?

the Apartment Christmas Decorations

Space is limited but I couldn’t forgo the Christmas décor altogether. We didn’t want to take up any coveted counter/floor space with even a charley-brown tree so we splurged on a 4 dollar fake wreath from Michaels. When I made the ornaments for the kids I nanny to paint, I stuck a few aside for us and went crazy with the glitter. Just like the gingerbread cookies, I made a Juneau, a Bruno, and then the moose because hey, maybe we’ll get a moose pet one day! I made two Juneau's just to hint to charley that we should get a friend for Juneau one day when we have a yard. A really big yard with a whole flock of huskies!!