SUPER because I won 200 bucks! I never win anything! It was Raju’s money though, so I gave it back to him. Pretty decent return on $10 I think. Maybe I should manage the money 🙂

Tiffany came up this weekend – visiting on Super Bowl weekend is becoming a trend. We had a great time at Khartoum (not just because I won the money, but that didn’t hurt). Raju enjoyed some perfectly poured black-n-tans. I was impressed, so I had to take a pict (top pict).

A great time was had by all — as you can see from my goofy grin…

Filed under:
Day in the Life by Courtney

Yes, it is a new year. And there’s no more James Brown. And I’m now trying to plan a wedding. Wow, is 2007 different. Even the weather is different. It is a beautiful day — 69 degrees officially, but my south facing porch’s thermometer is reading 93 (no way it is that hot — I’m sitting here in jeans and I’m comfy).

I’ve been lazy. I had lots of thoughts swirling through my head for pictures, but now they’ve all flown the coop. I didn’t write them down, so I guess I’ll just hope they find their way back home, and that next time I won’t be so lazy. I also had goals to reach. Goals to get the shop up. Goals to get websites built for friends. Goals to get Gigis Finds back on line. Goals to save money (I have, a little), to pay off debts (I guess I have, a lot, but it doesn’t feel like it), to sale some photos through stock photography sites, to shoot every day, to start painting, to re-grow my herb garden, to learn French.

Note, these were all goals, not resolutions. I don’t make resolutions for the new year — they seem doomed to failure. But, then again, my goals aren’t being reached either 🙂 So maybe I should try something new this year.

I’ll think about that some more tomorrow. For now, I’ll enjoy the sun…

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Day in the Life, Observances by Courtney

Maybe I will now be able to post a little more often. Between being sick and making presents and getting clothes out of storage to head home with, pre-Christmas was a tad hectic. But, the holidays were good, great, fantastic. My aunt and I made a wonderful Christmas dinner, including that cake you see above that about put everyone into a coma once they crashed from their sugar rush.

Christmas at Dad’s was great, too, and we got what my be the first family portrait of us, and I tried my first bite of hamball which was wonderful, despite the name. Mary also made my favorite cookies (which took me a while to try many years back) – ritz crackers with peanut butter and almond bark.

I arrived home to a wonderful dinner cooked by the boyfriend. We received great presents from our friend Chris:

We finished dinner and opened presents. Milo enjoyed his toys and treats. We were relaxing and enjoying Christmas tunes when Raju asked, “Will you marry me?”

Of course I said yes! We don’t remember which Christmas tune was playing, we just know it was not Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. 🙂

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Day in the Life, Life Changing Moments by Courtney

Thursday was spent stuffing ourselves silly — well, not really. I never got extremely full like I usually do. So let me revise… Thursday was spent grazing on oysters, grits, and bloody marys, cheese, wine, mashed potatoes and gravy, prime rib and pie. It was a good day, not hectic, not rushed, not stressful. The antithesis of my usual day.

We did get out of the house this weekend, and took Milo to Lighthouse Field and the Beach to frolic with the other dogs. After 4 pm he’s allowed off his leash there, and man did he love it. Well, he loved everything except my favorite part — climbing around underneath the large trees, playing on their branches. It reminded me of being a child, when I would play under the rhodendron bushes in Roan Mountain.

I managed to get a few pictures at Lighthouse Field that turned out nicely. I don’t shoot nearly enough anymore, and I’m not sure I will ever adapt to the digital camera age. Checking my shots as I shoot is such a bother and sucks the fun out of it. Of course, had I done this, I might have noticed I still had my ISO set to 1600 — which was fine later in the evening. I actually discovered one of those happy accidents. When using the higher ISO on the digital camera in light conditions (well, fairly light, it was dusk) you get grain that resembles film grain… I love film grain. This is definitely something I will play with again soon.

Of course, while playing, I’ll fail to check any of the photos I’m taking. Thus the nature of “play”.

Filed under:
Day in the Life by Courtney

It’s been a while since the last post. I’ve been a busy bee, yet I haven’t produced much 🙂 I have a lot of things in my head though, and I’m through with the weddings and such.

In the meantime, enjoy the above pict. Life is one of my favorite games — as a kid I loved the board because it was 3D (and that noise the spinner made). Fortunately real life is actually much more fun than the game.

Filed under:
Day in the Life, Reminiscences by Courtney