In a distant land....

Hmm, what has happened since the last i posted? the only thing really exciting was our sister trip to egypt. We travelled the country for 17 days and saw ALOT of OLD shit! A trip like that is always welcome in my mundane world. It is a reminder of how easy we have it and how much America has to offer, not only in oppurtunities to succeed but also in its beauty and diverse attractions. We went to Sharm el Sheikh, a beautiful beach in the Red Sea...gorgeous in so many ways, and while there I realize that I travelled on 6 planes (from peoria, counting abu simbel) to get there and i was MILES from home...i thought of Florida and California...in my OWN country, I have something to offer so spectacular and yet I never take advantage of it. The trip is refreshing though, especially for my crippled self-image. Its nice to feel beautiful, even if it comes from horny egyptians!
Egypt was great, i love to experience other cultures and learn new languages. The middle east is so welcoming and friendly, especially in Egypt but 99% of the time its because they want to 1. make you their fourth wife, 2. get your into their store to buy something 3. because they are just plain friendly. I didnt meet a mean one yet! It was weird not to see very many women, but they were all at home being wives I suppose. It took me a while to get back in the groove of life, being sick didnt help and going pretty much non-stop for 2 weeks doesnt either. I think I am finally getting some energy back.
I think I got more appreciation of the trip after getting back. I sorted out my Egypt pictures and then my boss wanted me to show them to my co-workers at a pizza party. I relunctantly agreed. I worked out all my images in folders based on location and spent some time figuring out why the temple or location or person was so significant. So now i feel like I have a better understanding of where I went, what I saw and why people stand in awe of it. I have some pretty cool pictures too!

There are some for your viewing pleasure. Carol and Cheryl have been giving me a hard time because it has taken too long to get them their pictures...they should have them this week. I am planning on retouching some of them and either just printing them and framing them or making a hard bound coffeetable book. I think that would be cool to do for Israel too! I went last weekend and got some nice frames for my papyrus paintings, but now i have no idea where to put them. I have so much wall space and no idea what to do with any of it. Unfortunately I dont have a interior design bone in my body.

I have been thinking about going back to school to get my masters or my secondary teachers certificate. I am not sure what I want to do...i just figure that teaching is a perfect career for me because i love to teach others what i know, and i figure teaching graphic design or computer graphics is an up and coming teacher need. I also really like the schedule. It would give me more oppurtunity to market photography to seniors as well as getting holidays and summers off. I jsut think it would be a great mix for me. The idea keeps coming and going, the only downfall is the money aspect. I am sure that after school and getting degree that i would get a job making the same as i do now....but maybe i would enjoy it more!?!?!

I started going to a chiropractor for my back. It has been hurting me for a while but i am jsut the worlds biggest procrastinator and i keep putting it off. We now I am finally going and I feel better, although it has only been twice. I think that it will make me feel better in the long run and hopefully get rid of my headaches. I am also going to weight watchers. I was really diligent before egypt but then went i got back my buddy that goes to meetings with me was busy and then got sick and then had to have surgery so I have been on my own, and it sucks BIG TIME. She is a lot of fun and reminds me Cheryl, and we talk about the same things I would talk to Cheryl about. Hopefully she will be back on the wagon in a couple weeks, then i can show her up! I have lost a total of 11.5, which is good, but I could be doing so much better if I would jsut stay committed. We will see how it goes. I would just really like to get down to pre-marriage weight...I have gained nearly 25 pounds since i married him and 30 since i met him....that is WORSE than the FRESHMAN FIFTEEN!!

So I have started to walk the dogs. Sandy comes over sometimes to help, and granted I have only done it 3 times, its more than i would have! The girls are pretty good on leashes, except for sadie, she hates it and is constantly pulling on it. Its sorta cute and annoying all at once. Otherwise they are all really good...its good for them, cause they (ETTA ESPECIALLY) are OVERWEIGHT. Soon we will all be able to go around the block 4 times without loosing our breath!

I am trying to think of anything more interesting that has gone on in my life, and i honestly am at a loss. Life is day to day now and everything seems so mundane day after day. Jsut trying to get through without having a breakdown. Trying to figure out my life before it passes me by. Ill be 30 this year, and although i still am young and have the rest of my life in front of me, i was thinking that i would have accomplished something significant by now...and i guess I have to most, but there are goals that just never seem to get met and things i want to do that i feel like I am running out of time to get accomplished. I guess i just expected more.

So Nat is in school and working on the unfinished duplex across the street from our house that his sister bought. He will hopefully graduate from school this time next year, if everything goes as planned. The duplex is coming along well, but they still have ALOT of work to do...right now they are working on plumbing and electric, then insulation, walls, mudding, floors, painting, cabinets, doors,....i am tired jsut thinking about it. It has WAY more work to do than our house did...at least we had walls! They got a good deal on it, i jsut hope that get it done soon so that Nat will come back and finish our house! I think there will a lot of yard work in the near future. We are buying some trees with our income tax check and then we are going to work on the yard and landscaping (which i PRAY will help with the muddy floors from no grass, rain and dogs....).

Our house just need final touches...which i think is supposed to take a lifetime to finish. I would really like to get the basement done by this time next year, but I think it depends on the duplex and landscaping. I wouldnt imagine that they would start it before fall, that way boating season is over and its colder and there is really no excuse. =)
I have been trying to get outta debt, and that seems like the hardest thing to do. I am supposed to be using my check to pay off debt and I have it all figured out and how much i was paying with each paycheck and how long it would take. Unfortunately I had to revise my plan and instead of getting out of debt this year, it is going to be Jan 2010 and that is if nothing deters us. I hate/loathe/despise/abore debt...it puts such a strain on life and dreams and things you really want to do...and i know that once i get outta debt ill just use the money to buy more shit...but still....i will be out from under it. I have dreams of studio in basement with lighting equipment and tripods, backdrops and props, then dreams of furniture without teeth marks and hand-me-downs that will make our humble abode look like a house instead of a kennel. One day, my dreams will come!

Owning a house take alot of money....stay with the 'rents as LONG AS POSSIBLE!!

I havent had anything to do at work that last couple days, which makes the says DRAG on, and i would happily read blogs but there are many of you that dont write on a daily basis...you all should aspire to cindy's blogging skills! barely ever misses a day!! I am to blame as well, but life is just plain boring!

so you all should help me figure out my photography niche. Search out some really cool photoshop effects and posing and just unique ideas that no one else has really tried. I think i have a name, but give me some suggestions. I need to get my website built and get some clients under my belt and see if this photography thing will actually give me a decent salary/career...so any and all ideas are appreciated. I know Katies big idea goes something like "after taking pics of kid, show to parents within a year" sorry, babe, it doesnt help that you live in OHIO!! or rather i live in ILLINOIS....all well. when your child is 15, you may get back some baby pics!!! hahahah =)

One day I will be an award-winning photographer...ONE DAY DAMNIT!!

Id like to make the most of my trip while I am there for Becky's wedding so Cheryl and I are proposing to get a group together to go to LaRosas on Saturday night. Let me or her know if you are interested. I think it will be around 6-7pm. then possibly hanging out at cheryls after?!?!? Who knows!! LET THE NIGHT DECIDE!!

i love you all and think of you often
Mrs. P