tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69618183571653662282024-03-12T19:57:53.701-05:00Adventures in PhotojournalismElisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-67109662963303207012013-04-28T12:05:00.000-05:002013-05-07T00:06:12.278-05:00Spring Has Mostly Sprung...<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714452429/" title="Rolling in the Grass by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Rolling in the Grass" height="327" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8714452429_e7bf1f9483.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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So, after Mother Nature decided that the first part of 2013 will have crazy weather, she eventually let the sun come out. Riley and the boys hung out in the yard with some friends. Riley loves doing this, rolling around on his back - even in the winter time when there's snow on the ground. It doesn't help during flea season...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715545530/" title="_MG_6931a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6931a" height="250" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/8715545530_2c440a20b3.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714455171/" title="_MG_6992a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6992a" height="250" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/8714455171_f642db11df_n.jpg" /></a><br />
The tall grass is a signal that one of the worst droughts in the last 25 years is almost over. And despite my best efforts, the dandelions keep coming, courtesy of two yards over, a sea of them, practically the entire back yard. Left: Riley sniffs for bugs. Right: Mojo (back) and Dudley wander the yard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714435957/" title="_MG_6945a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6945a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/8714435957_5bf3b00dc4.jpg" width="350" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715563404/" title="_MG_6955a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6955a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/8715563404_49c32f77b6_n.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
Left: Lounging in the sun. Right: The girls sniff. The funny haircut on the Spaniel is the result of a freak accident and resulting surgery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715568396/" title="_MG_6975a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6975a" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/8715568396_8d458a1728.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-88706160864303271392013-04-21T19:30:00.000-05:002013-05-07T01:04:28.859-05:00At the Dog Park<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716872274/" title="_MG_6917a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/8716872274_07ab33bafc_z.jpg" width="640" height="349" alt="_MG_6917a"></a></center>
One of the things that I enjoy doing is photographing animals. Owning three dogs, I get lots of practice capturing their personalities in action. When the weather permits, I take them to the dog park and watch them play.<br/>
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714412973/" title="_MG_6911a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/8714412973_c632b677d5_n.jpg" width="350" alt="_MG_6911a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715515724/" title="_MG_6888a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/8715515724_8ac001a312_n.jpg" width="350" alt="_MG_6888a"></a><br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714396873/" title="_MG_6894a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7365/8714396873_f3ca0cd525.jpg" height="350" alt="_MG_6894a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714418491/" title="_MG_6922a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/8714418491_356d75fa28.jpg" width="450" alt="_MG_6922a"></a>
</center>Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-2884933394263583642013-04-06T11:04:00.000-05:002013-04-22T17:23:57.159-05:00Photos for a Church DirectoryEaster Sunday, I worked with a couple of other photographers to take pictures of the congregation of the Kansas City Church of Christ. I ended up standing close to the door, rather than right outside the sanctuary doors, which left me with a clean background rather than posing people next to one of the 2 small trees. Lighting was a little tricky, because it was a mixture of daylight and halogen.<br />
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Pictured:<br />
Top left: Rob and LaShonda Milner, Associate Minister and Associate Women's Ministry Leader <br />
Top right: Mark Hayward, Elder, his wife, Jodi, and their daughter, Ariana<br />
Middle: Mark and Dona Stephenson, Teen Ministry Leaders, and their children, Deric and Alyx<br />
Bottom: Ed Mejia, member <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646706231/" title="_MG_6879 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6879" height="310" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8646706231_95a71dd754_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646705209/" title="_MG_6874 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6874" height="230" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8646705209_c831be5330_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646703255/" title="_MG_6856 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6856" height="236" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8646703255_1cb99abae1_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
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For this project, was a forced to use my backup Tamron lens. I don't like it as much as my Canon lens, but my regular lens is currently busted and waiting on news from Canon as to whether it would be cheaper to repair it or just purchase a new one. Murphy decided to pay me a visit at a friend's wedding; I had put my camera down in the pew to get something out of my bag and the person sitting next to me knocked it off the pew. It hit the floor in just the right way so that the seating's bent and it will not focus. I usually don't use my Tamron lens, because it doesn't do as good or as fast a job of sharply focusing. So, despite my best efforts a few of my pictures were slightly out of focus:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646704263/" title="_MG_6860 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6860" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8646704263_1f0bfa93dd_n.jpg" width="282" /></a></center>
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Since it's going to be relatively small since it's going to be used in a directory, the soft-focus isn't going to be as noticeable, but it still bugs me! For the most part, the project worked out well and we were able to get most of the 300+ member church photographed.<br />
<br />Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-57324133218674379632013-04-03T21:51:00.000-05:002013-05-06T22:24:01.110-05:00An Empty Apartment...<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714383479/" title="IMG_0515a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0515a" height="409" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/8714383479_9d400fbc76_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
Just a few pictures that I took as I helped my friend, Taylor, clean her apartment as part of her move. She'd gotten a new job in Miami, Florida, so she packed everything into one of those moving pods and having it shipped to Florida.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714380265/" title="IMG_0510a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/8714380265_4e84ceaf5a.jpg" height="450" alt="IMG_0510a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715494336/" title="IMG_0496a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/8715494336_227b51293a.jpg" width="450" alt="IMG_0496a"></a><br/>
Molly didn't quite know what to do with herself, with all her sitting spots gone. She meowed a lot with complaints.<br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714371463/" title="IMG_0493a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/8714371463_7070984e97.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt="IMG_0493a"></a><br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715506248/" title="IMG_0517a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/8715506248_d06063afab.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="IMG_0517a"></a>
</center>Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-20646244092218717932013-03-23T23:24:00.000-05:002013-04-22T20:47:36.651-05:00Mother Nature Says Even Though the Calendar Says It's Spring--<span style="font-size: 16px;">Winter isn't over yet.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646630437/" title="_MG_6750a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6750a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8646630437_52360ef46a_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647733272/" title="_MG_6756b by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6756b" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8647733272_34d8783101_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
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Not enough to close roads, but enough to cover the ground with beautiful, beautiful snow.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646642831/" title="_MG_6762a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6762a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8646642831_b1f9c6ceea_z.jpg" width="600" /></a></center>
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The snowfall started, big flakes that weren't clumps but were those designs that you see when make snowflakes out of paper. I tried to capture the flakes with my camera, but I don't have a macro lens, so it wasn't so successful...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647750114/" title="_MG_6781a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6781a" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8647750114_7d2f22cb57_n.jpg" width="236" /></a></center>
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But I loved seeing those big flakes on the dogs' fur when they came inside:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646651143/" title="_MG_6776b by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6776b" height="348" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8646651143_ba8f816bdc.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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And the snow didn't just disappear the next day! It hung around. So that meant shoveling the driveway for the third time. I let the dogs hang out in garage while I shoveled, starting from the street in, until they decided to make a break for it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647755522/" title="_MG_6789a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6789a" height="334" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8647755522_dd4ca9b2f7.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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After I caught up with them, I made them hang out inside instead. Except for Dudley, because he actually listens to me and comes back when I ask him to. Just the promise of a treat is enough to get him to come back...<br />
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While I was shoveling, Duds decided to roll around in the snow, the way that Riley does. And then he rubbed his face in it, giving him a really odd moustache.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647756960/" title="_MG_6793a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6793a" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8647756960_4a48f00932.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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The view of the house:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8646658291/" title="_MG_6788b by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6788b" height="281" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8646658291_d571f2d74c.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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And my street:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647751568/" title="_MG_6786a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6786a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8647751568_ab96c48a16_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647753396/" title="_MG_6787a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6787a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8647753396_7d287be27b_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
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All in all, it was pretty beautiful.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8647760596/" title="_MG_6800a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6800a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8647760596_a14edea4a6.jpg" width="600" /></a></center>
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I really need to move some place where there's snow on the ground for most of the winter... Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-15299185512503269182013-03-16T18:02:00.000-05:002013-05-07T01:38:24.004-05:00Wedding of Jessica Miller and Kevin FetschSince my regular lens is currently out-of-commission (in need of fixing), when I attended the wedding of my friends, Jessica Miller and Kevin Fetsch, I used only my iPhone for all my images. Since it's not the latest, the sharpness is limited by its 5 mega-pixel camera, but I think I was able to capture the essence of the event. I instagram'd the highlights of my edit, with the #Mr&MrsFetsch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715111677/" title="IMG_0305a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8715111677_39581f0943_n.jpg" width="320" height="320" alt="IMG_0305a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716080248/" title="IMG_0200a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0200a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8716080248_308a469033_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716082568/" title="IMG_0202b by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0202b" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/8716082568_237df982fc_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716082780/" title="IMG_0210a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0210a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/8716082780_52cd6e60da_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716298710/" title="IMG_0086a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0086a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/8716298710_5d7e99ac6e_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716294430/" title="IMG_0082a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0082a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/8716294430_9e6bcf79be_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714959935/" title="IMG_0088a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0088a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/8714959935_4eb06ef783_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Scenes from before the start of the ceremony. I thought it was a runaway ring bearer, but it turned out to be his brother.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714959655/" title="IMG_0093a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0093a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/8714959655_a2b92eeb1d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714960867/" title="IMG_0099a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0099a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/8714960867_0d9cc7e4d6_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714960675/" title="IMG_0098a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0098a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8714960675_c37f9ca548_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
Entrance of the mother of the bride, Patty King; the bride and her father, and the groom's reaction to seeing his bride :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714961591/" title="IMG_0155a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/8714961591_ee9b87f60f_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="IMG_0155a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714961313/" title="IMG_0139a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0139a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/8714961313_858d26dc63_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8714962073/" title="IMG_0169b by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0169b" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8714962073_417ee562f6_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Various pictures from during the ceremony. There was laughter, tears...<br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716082252/" title="IMG_0201a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0201a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/8716082252_3826d76cc8_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716232960/" title="IMG_0312a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0312a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8716232960_a110da480f_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716232842/" title="IMG_0308a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/8716232842_2c98ff811f_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="IMG_0308a"></a> <br/>
Kevin and Jessica waited until their wedding for their first kiss. This was the moment where they smiled at each other after their first kiss.<br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716426746/" title="IMG_0287 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/8716426746_15e5952c0f_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="IMG_0287"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716232290/" title="IMG_0284a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/8716232290_4bf6951357_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="IMG_0284a"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715111501/" title="IMG_0273a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0273a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/8715111501_f650e5bfb7_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715112223/" title="IMG_0233a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0233a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/8715112223_08521c2ff4_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8715111613/" title="IMG_0294a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0294a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/8715111613_fcc1fce937_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8716233414/" title="IMG_0321a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_0321a" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/8716233414_3a425dfd32_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-6811303077083194372013-02-27T17:39:00.000-06:002013-04-22T20:48:11.788-05:00Finally! Let It Snow!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650251415/" title="_MG_6711a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6711a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8650251415_d4d37382a5_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Riley (left) and Dudley check out the yard after the big snow.</span></div>
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Punxsutawney Phil predicted that Winter would be ending early. And I groaned, because I like cold weather and we'd had so little snow this winter. While Phil said early Spring, Mother Nature had other ideas.<br />
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Within two weeks, she dumped two major snow storms on the Kansas City-area, the first brought over 12 inches of snow, the second another 12 inches. Kansas City being Kansas City, that meant road closings and I ended up with 4 snow days from work.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651379290/" title="_MG_6740a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6740a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8651379290_5cb1e326c4_n.jpg" width="380" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650278073/" title="_MG_6739a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6739a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8650278073_f793044938_n.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
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Because my dogs are so short, I had to dig out a trench along the side of the house that they could do their business in.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651381676/" title="_MG_6742a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6742a" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8651381676_43b6362af7_n.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651383974/" title="_MG_6746a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6746a" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8403/8651383974_4f6a964a95_n.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650287581/" title="_MG_6747a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6747a" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8650287581_afed7ff0b2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>It was a really nice snow, too, the kind that easily packs into snowballs and snowmen. After a few days, it settled into something solid, which a top crust that was stiff enough that the dogs could walk across it without breaking through. That was something, watching them run across the surface of all that beautiful, white snow without leaving any paw prints.<br />
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But when it started to melt, the boys started to sink (although it was very uneven *when* they would sink, which made it really funny watching them walk, especially Dudley).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651351250/" title="_MG_6715a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6715a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8651351250_ae3a36472e.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651354100/" title="_MG_6719a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6719a" height="208" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8651354100_577923106a_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651359402/" title="_MG_6723a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6723a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8651359402_102c796c55_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651360496/" title="_MG_6724a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6724a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8651360496_1a7dc0b0f9_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8651366864/" title="_MG_6730a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6730a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8651366864_0e48835702_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650271645/" title="_MG_6733a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_6733a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8650271645_60edb6bb51_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top: Riley, Middle: Cullen, Bottom: Dudley</span></div>
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Related Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.kansas.com/2013/02/26/2693277/winters-crushing-blow-levels-snow.html">Wichita Eagle: Winter’s crushing blow levels snow-weary KC area</a><br />
<a href="http://www.groundhog.org/" target="_blank">The Punxsatawney Groundhog Club</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/02/us/groundhog-day" target="_blank">CNN: Warm Temps Are Here, Punxsutawney Phil predicts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/groundhog-day-2013-no-shadow-for-punxsutawney-phil-so-springsaround-the-corner/2013/02/02/34e6e620-6c9c-11e2-bd36-c0fe61a205f6_blog.html" target="_blank">Washington Post: Groundhog Day 2013: No shadow for Punxsutawney Phil, so spring is around the corner</a> - this one has some interesting facts about Phil, as well as a list of other places in the US with Groundhog Day-like celebrations<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/punxsutawney-phil-wanted-for-fraud_n_2950827.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post: Punxsutawney Phil Wanted For Fraud: Maryland Police Look For Weather-Predicting Groundhog</a><br />
<a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/ohio-prosecutor-seeks-death-penalty-for-punxsutawney-phil/">CBS Pittsburgh: Ohio Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty For Punxsutawney Phil</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/punxsutawney-phil-beheaded-for-inaccurate-predicti,31712/">The Onion: Punxsutawney Phil Beheaded For Inaccurate Prediction On Annual Groundhog Slaughtering Day</a> - <i>The Onion</i>'s fake news story in response to all the foolishness.<br />
<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/03/punxsutawney_phils_handler_tak.html">The Patriot News: Punxsutawney Phil's handler takes blame for groundhog's faulty forecast of early spring</a><br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/26/175349796/dont-blame-punxsutawney-phil-handler-got-spring-prediction-wrong">NPR: Don't Blame Punxsutawney Phil: Handler Got Spring Prediction Wrong</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/03/punxsutawney_phil_off_the_hook.html">The Patriot News: Punxsutawney Phil off the hook for bad spring forecast, Ohio prosecutor says</a><br />
<a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/26/17475231-prosecutor-abandons-push-to-execute-punxsutawney-phil-for-botching-spring-forecast?lite">NBC News: Prosecutor abandons push to execute Punxsutawney Phil for botching spring forecast</a>Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-90164956768813561602012-09-05T15:59:00.000-05:002013-05-06T21:08:32.708-05:00Traveling to Chicago for Labor Day<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674887886/" title="Chicago_027 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_027" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8674887886_5ab1943b8f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
For Labor Day, I traveled to Chicago with my friend, Taylor. These are some Instagram images from the trip.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674888316/" title="Chicago_024 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_024" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8674888316_cb622847a2_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674889002/" title="Chicago_020 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_020" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8674889002_57e861c8b8_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674888606/" title="Chicago_022 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_022" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8674888606_bf82d1025b_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8673786383/" title="Chicago_017 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_017" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8118/8673786383_b1eb45d8f5_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Chicago architecture. Top left is one of the city's libraries. The bottom right is one of the glass buildings. As we were walking by this building, I realized that it was really the reflection of the building next to it that I was seeing. I thought that optical illusion was pretty cool, so I took a picture of it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8673784071/" title="Chicago_031 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_031" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8534/8673784071_f686ec112e_z.jpg" width="350" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8673786055/" title="Chicago_019 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_019" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8673786055_4408206ecc_z.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
Pictures of the Chicago skyline as seen from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurie_Garden">Lurie Garden</a>. The image on the right is of the Russian wedding party that was getting their pictures taken. It was interesting, to say the least, as one of the bridesmaids had had just a 'little' too much to drink and wasn't quite as cooperative as everyone else wanted her to be. It got particularly sticky when the guard (far right) for the garden was asking them to stop walking in the foliage and she couldn't see why it was a problem. They almost had to leave the garden.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674887400/" title="Chicago_030 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_030" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8674887400_ea945de0e9_n.jpg" width="350" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674889310/" title="Chicago_018 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8674889310_8e6222c9ca_n.jpg" width="350" height="350" alt="Chicago_018"></a><br />
I really liked the footprints. Taken while exploring Millennium Park with Taylor, her sister, Tamara, and Mark.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8673784655/" title="Chicago_028 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_028" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8539/8673784655_d61c304d04_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674888126/" title="Chicago_025 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_025" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8674888126_2d7b657af7_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Things that people do when taking pictures at The Bean at the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8673783765/" title="Chicago_033 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_033" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8673783765_b1b80e5aed_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8674886790/" title="Chicago_062 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Chicago_062" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8674886790_7498afc271_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Left, a picture of Taylor's cat, Molly. Right, a picture of dusk as I drove the 8 hours to Chicago.
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Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-55118352453512269382012-08-31T15:58:00.000-05:002013-04-15T16:34:24.756-05:00Portrait for Advances in Nursing Science Blog<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650340031/" title="_MG_5079a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_5079a" height="357" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8650340031_85dde5b724.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
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In the Volume 35, Issue 3 issue of <i>Advances in Nursing Science</i>, one of the faculty in the School of Nursing, <a href="http://nursing.kumc.edu/faculty/Bios/Baird.htm">Martha Baird</a>, had an article published, <a href="http://journals.lww.com/advancesinnursingscience/Fulltext/2012/07000/Well_Being_in_Refugee_Women_Experiencing_Cultural.7.aspx"><i>Well-Being in Refugee Women Experiencing Cultural Transition</i></a>. The article focused on her research which led to her development of the Theory of Well-being in Refugee Women in Cultural Transition, a situation-specific theory of wellness among South Sudanese refugees living in the Midwest. Along with the article in the journal, the research was highlighted on the <a href="http://ansjournalblog.com/2012/09/05/nursing-perspectives-on-culture-and-health/"><i>ANS: Advances in Nursing Science Blog</i></a>. The journal requested a picture for the blog and I was given the task of taking a picture of Martha and her friend and colleague, Rebecca Mabior.
It can be challenging to photograph darker skin tones, because the camera can meter wrong and then things are over exposed. I have much experience with it, so I was confident, when I took on the task, that it would not present too much of a challenge. I searched out a location in the School of Nursing whose background wouldn't be too distracting but would provide enough light to make a good picture. Martha and Rebecca liked the idea of the plant in the background.<br /><br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8650338845/" title="_MG_5077a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8650338845_2caa348642.jpg" width="500" height="346" alt="_MG_5077a"></a></div><br/>
These images were taken in the atrium of the School. I white balanced in-camera before taking the picture, so that I wouldn't have to do it in post-production. Dealing with their height was a little challenging, and I would have like to have a step-stool for Martha, but one wasn't available. I think they turned out quite well.</div>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-44331583572337218212012-08-25T12:41:00.000-05:002013-05-19T00:43:13.687-05:00Ethnic Enrichment Festival in Swope ParkPictures from my trip to the <a href="http://eeckc.org/?page_id=130">Ethnic Festival</a> in Swope Park. Put on by the <a href="http://eeckc.org/">Ethnic Enrichment Commission</a>, this "Taste the World" festival features more than 66 different cultures selling their native foods and crafts and performing ethnic music and dances. The festival is held during the third full weekend of August near the front entrance of historic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swope_Park">Swope Park</a>. All but the bottom picture are Instagram pictures.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8752877262/" title="17AUG12_0390 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="17AUG12_0390" height="500" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/8752877262_4376b0dc9b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The crowd walking toward the Ethnic Festival.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8752877956/" title="17AUG12_0391 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="17AUG12_0391" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/8752877956_cdc4fceb32.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
A picture of my rainbow shaved ice from the Hawaiian booth.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8752877434/" title="17AUG12_0389 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="17AUG12_0389" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/8752877434_fa86416d96.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8751755721/" title="17AUG12_0388 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="17AUG12_0388" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/8751755721_863804e383.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8663230199/" title="_MG_4787a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4787a" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8263/8663230199_4a4eaef6d9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Croatian singers perform for the crowd.<br />
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Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-75327894599268528562012-06-30T17:35:00.000-05:002013-05-06T21:33:24.374-05:00The Wedding of Melissa Goodell and Janus Abello - 24 June 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643581352/" title="_MG_2044 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2044" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8643581352_e1657e21f2.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The part of the ceremony officiated by Vince Hawkins, lead minister of the Columbia Church of Christ.</span></div>
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This past weekend, I traveled to Columbia, Missouri, to attend the wedding of my friends, Melissa Goodell and Janus Abello. Both the ceremony and the reception were held at Columbia College. They chose to have their ceremony on a Sunday, which is a little unusual, but I liked that I could drive down to Columbia after church.<br />
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I first met Melissa when she moved to Columbia to be closer to her then-boyfriend, Brandon. Being from Boston, we instantly bonded over our shared love of the Red Sox. One of my earliest memories with her is watching 'Fever Pitch' with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore and relishing thoughts of Fenway Park. That and helping her learn how to drive a manual-transmission car. And Janus, I can't remember when I met him, but I've known him for a while. He's originally from Anchorage, Alaska, and came to Columbia to study at the University of Missouri. I think it's pretty cool how God brought them both thousands of miles from home to meet each other, took them halfway across the world to Novosibirsk, Russia, for them to fall in love, and then solidify that love into marriage back in Columbia, Missouri.<br />
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Here's some of my favorites:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643573206/" title="_MG_2031 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2031" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8643573206_3c9c27efa6.jpg" height="300" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643602692/" title="_MG_2086 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2086" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8643602692_400373f5d0.jpg" height="300" /></a><br />
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Maks, the lead minister of the Novosibirsk Church of Christ, traveled to Columbia to be part of their wedding. He prayed in Russian (left). The vows portion (right) was officiated by the other minister in the Columbia church, Jason Touchatt. Melissa cries as Janus read his vows. I cried, too. They were great. He talked about how parts of Melissa's character initially scared him because they were so amazing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643644600/" title="_MG_2156 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2156" height="270" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8643644600_a88ef8f213.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643710326/" title="_MG_2296 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2296" height="270" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8643710326_8232f57cac.jpg" /></a></div>
Left: Their first kiss and Janus's first kiss ever. Right: Melissa's best friend raps a 'Melissa' rap. It included tons of teasing. It was great!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642619239/" title="_MG_2313 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2313" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8642619239_8c6b8aabdc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
This might not look like much, but this was the part of the wedding where Janus encouraged the teens present to abstain from physical intimacy before marriage. He gushed about how incredible his first kiss was and how waiting was worth it. Gushed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643737250/" title="_MG_2362 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2362" height="363" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8643737250_7a2834b0d3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
They smooshed the cake! I *hate* it when the bride and groom daintily feed each other the cake. My flash didn't fire (hence the blur) but I still like the photo.<br />
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Other moments from the reception:<br/><br/>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643842614/" title="_MG_2664 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2664" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8643842614_1230e4fa22.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643845116/" title="_MG_2673 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2673" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8643845116_78bca0e3c1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643784626/" title="_MG_2500 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2500" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8643784626_3615b2998b.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642749511/" title="White Tornado!!! by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="White Tornado!!!" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8642749511_8fa72f393f.jpg" /></a></div>
That last one is called the 'White Tornado.' You can see Janus laughing in the background. The dancer, Kevin Bamber, spins around using his arms rather than his legs to make himself move, which means his body contorts in lots of strange directions. Yes, girls, he is married. And yes, his dancing is legendary.<br />
<br />Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-33529448994205245462012-06-05T12:30:00.000-05:002013-04-30T01:32:02.177-05:00A Baptism in Omaha<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664225626/" title="_MG_1755a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1755a" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8664225626_b506ffb743_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></center>
While up visiting friends in Omaha, I was able to volunteer to photograph a baptism of Amanda Meyer. Beyond her salvation, the baptism represented the joining of the couple in a common faith.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664227892/" title="_MG_1767a by E1isa, on Flickr"><a name='more'></a><img alt="_MG_1767a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8664227892_95d1ed7151_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664230694/" title="_MG_1776a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1776a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8258/8664230694_071d0caf1f_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Amanda's friends share about studying the Bible together.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664232852/" title="_MG_1799a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1799a" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8664232852_e36dd08788_n.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8663136217/" title="_MG_1809a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1809a" height="320" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8663136217_93e5e5d618_n.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
After her husband shares and they embrace, Amanda thanks those present for their support and love (like family).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664236888/" title="_MG_1813a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1813a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8664236888_7bd5a8cc52_n.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664239146/" title="_MG_1818a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1818a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8664239146_026246d386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664283154/" title="_MG_1821a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1821a" height="213" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8664283154_6eb8978dc7_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664285026/" title="_MG_1828a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1828a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8664285026_e6b0242b7b_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Baptism = complete submersion<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8664287690/" title="_MG_1848a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1848a" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8664287690_b234c18cc0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Praying, thanking God for another soul saved.</center>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-84299509148148671832012-04-13T00:48:00.000-05:002013-04-13T23:24:36.077-05:00Not a Cough in a CarloadFunny the things that you find on the internet...<br />
<a href="http://lane.stanford.edu/tobacco/index.html" target="_blank"><i>Not a Cough in a Carload</i></a>, A image gallery of 50s adverts which promoted smoking using doctors, dentists, scientists, sports figures, and even babies.<br />
<br />
Here's some images.<br />
<br />
<center>
Endorsements from Santa:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643846303/" title="santa_01 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="santa_01" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8643846303_43661cab27.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644941766/" title="santa_03 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="santa_03" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8644941766_d731ede149.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643846545/" title="santa_05 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="santa_05" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8643846545_6f34257bd1.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644942052/" title="santa_46 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="santa_46" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8644942052_7f8297a1a0.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>If you love your Dad, then you'll give him cigarettes:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644941024/" title="daddy_01 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="daddy_01" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8644941024_c81c67599e.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643845751/" title="daddy_02 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="daddy_02" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8643845751_b09ce12525.jpg" /></a></center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
And if you love you kids, you'll treat them right by smoking these:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643845257/" title="babies_07 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="babies_07" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8643845257_8ea6e5e6c0.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644940750/" title="babies_11 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="babies_11" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8644940750_42f35a1229.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Doctors and Science agree that smoking's good for you:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644941510/" title="pseudo_02 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="pseudo_02" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8644941510_3f9f1591ec.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643845901/" title="lucky_20679 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="lucky_20679" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8643845901_3de211990c.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
And these celebrities think they're great!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644940846/" title="case_02 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="case_02" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8644940846_1e95411864.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644940926/" title="case_14 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="case_14" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8525/8644940926_a2aaa234e2.jpg" /></a><br />
It's ironic to know that lung cancer is the thing that killed John Wayne.<br />
<br />
But beware! Your life can be snuffed out by a cigarette!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644941368/" title="misc_03 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="misc_03" height="700" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8644941368_7f91ba5167.jpg" /></a></center>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-7057654811578574222011-09-30T01:23:00.001-05:002011-12-24T23:15:34.542-06:00It's That Time of Year Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJFPv5ylSk83WXMp1ojNCOoYLl5rtammRV4a-TfGobXCUuMSg82J7gkhd29Sx83mjRBDDshOtNg4x4S2JEe8xgyDV5sCs0EIhN1khMHh7I1MwcTCcXRlh06CQsTnuHQkagaD4G4cpmhOO/s1600/66_CPOY_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJFPv5ylSk83WXMp1ojNCOoYLl5rtammRV4a-TfGobXCUuMSg82J7gkhd29Sx83mjRBDDshOtNg4x4S2JEe8xgyDV5sCs0EIhN1khMHh7I1MwcTCcXRlh06CQsTnuHQkagaD4G4cpmhOO/s400/66_CPOY_Poster.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />
What time of year, you say? CPOY time.<br />
<br />
For the uninitiated, that's <a href="http://www.cpoy.org/?s=Home">College Photographer of the Year</a>, an international competition for photography students that is in its 66th year. I've been lucky to attend three years of judging; I learn something every year I go.<br />
<br />
This year, like all the years before, it was something that I procrastinated in choosing so that it came down to the absolute deadline before I turned them in. So my blood is pumping and the adrenaline is going and then I press submit.<br />
<br />
But, unlike last year, I submitted things in several categories. I'm sure, like last year, I won't win anything, but that's okay. <i>Really.</i><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Single Picture Categories - 5 images *maximum* may be entered in each of these categories.<br />
<br />
<i>01 Spot News - A picture of an unscheduled or breaking event for which no advance planning was possible. Examples: fires, accidents or natural disasters.</i> I submitted 5 pictures in this category.<br />
<br />
<i>02 General News - A picture of a scheduled political, social or cultural event for which advance planning was possible. Examples: demonstrations, staged promotional or political events and other daily news.</i> Also submitted 5 pictures in this category.<br />
<br />
<i>03 Feature - A candid picture of a "found situation" containing strong human interest, a fresh view of the ordinary or humor. In all cases the dignity of the subject must be respected.</i> Didn't do any of these this year. Nothing felt right.<br />
<br />
<i>04 Sports Action - A picture that increases understanding of and appreciation for sport through the capture of peak action and the competitive spirit.</i> Nothing here (or the sports feature either). Unlike some, I don't really enjoy photographing sports. <br />
<br />
<i>05 Sports Feature - A sports-related picture with strong human interest or pictorial quality that celebrates the role athletics play in the lives of athletes and fans. Examples: The joy of victory or agony of defeat, fan reaction and interaction, athlete portraits.</i><br />
<br />
<i>06 Portrait - A picture of a person that reveals the essence of the subject's character.</i> Submitted 5 images.<br />
<br />
<i>07 Pictorial - A graphic image that expresses beauty, tension, harmony, chaos and other abstract concepts through composition, tonal and color relationships more than through human interaction.</i> And I think I forgot to submit these ones. Of course, once the deadline has passed, you can't see what you've submitted, so I don't remember.<br />
<br />
Multiple Picture Categories - All multiple picture story entries must include a story summary. There is a limit of 5 entries per category.<br />
<br />
<i>09 Domestic Picture Story - A narrative picture story or thematic essay photographed in your home country that either reports on significant events, celebrates life, portrays sport or explores environmental, social, economic or political topics. 8 photos maximum per story.</i> I submitted 2 stories.<br />
<br />
<i>10 International Picture Story - A narrative picture story or thematic essay photographed in a foreign country that reports on significant events, celebrates life, portrays sport or explores environmental, social, economic or political topics. 8 photos maximum per story.</i> I submitted 2 stories, both featuring protest demonstrations.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-75703916138968450992011-09-24T00:02:00.000-05:002013-04-13T00:11:13.214-05:00In Honor of a Star Wars MarathonAs part of a marathon <i>Star Wars</i> watching session, we dressed up in our Halloween costumes - although only one of us embraced the <i>Star Wars</i> theme. The rest of us were characters from <i>Harry Potter</i>.<br />
<br />
It's Andrew as <b><i>Anakin Skywalker</i></b> and Taylor as <b><i>Luna Lovegood</i></b>.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187210973/" title="Andrew Bernitt as Andrewkin Skywalker by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Andrew Bernitt as Andrewkin Skywalker" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6166/6187210973_96978d799a.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187206979/" title="Taylor Stanten as Luna Lovegood by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Taylor Stanten as Luna Lovegood" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6172/6187206979_e6dedc3bda.jpg" /></a><b><i> </i></b></div>
<br />
Kyle as <i><b>Dean Thomas</b></i> and me as <i><b>Professor Trelawney</b></i>.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187204837/" title="Kyle Spears as Dean Thomas by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Kyle Spears as Dean Thomas" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6160/6187204837_861a9a06bf.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187733276/" title="Me as Professor Sybill Trelawney by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Me as Professor Sybill Trelawney" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6157/6187733276_38400eeda7.jpg" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
We did a few group poses:<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187714760/" title="_MG_8156 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8156" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6155/6187714760_598318511a.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187692814/" title="_MG_8124a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8124a" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6180/6187692814_2433de2df3.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187173525/" title="_MG_8125a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8125a" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6161/6187173525_22bfb89a13.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
And then some twosome poses:<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187705892/" title="_MG_8138 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8138" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6187705892_a66a1d32b3.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187711300/" title="A Fearsome Prophesy for Dean Thomas! by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="A Fearsome Prophesy for Dean Thomas!" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6187711300_d439cd5400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
"It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight... the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was. Tonight... before midnight... the servant... will set out... to rejoin... his master..."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187178237/" title="_MG_8130a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8130a" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6156/6187178237_e705acbe39.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187712772/" title="_MG_8150a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_8150a" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6174/6187712772_8f1d553f7e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then we started using the ability of the camera to 'stop time' to make it look like we were participating in wizarding duels:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187719736/" title="Duelling "Expelliarmus!" by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Duelling "Expelliarmus!"" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6169/6187719736_454e69890d.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/6187200657/" title="Duelling "Expelliarmus!" by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Duelling "Expelliarmus!"" height="385" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6174/6187200657_156c8551d0.jpg" /></a></div>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-12524640736511697642011-06-12T13:02:00.000-05:002013-04-13T01:25:42.410-05:00The Wedding of Jamie and Mark Roberts - 11 June 11This past weekend, I assisted my friend, Stacy, in covering the wedding of Jamie and Mark Roberts. Held at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Mo. (in the Kansas City Metropolitan area). Powell Gardens is a 915-acre botanical garden featuring 6,000 varieties of plants, with 225,000 plants in seasonal
displays. The wedding itself was held with the garden's small lake as its backdrop, and thankfully, there was a nice breeze and it wasn't too hot. (Most outdoor weddings I've been to have been on the warm side.)<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorites from the day:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644327506/" title="_MG_3985 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_3985" height="250" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8644327506_254e41a41e.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644328552/" title="_MG_3987 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_3987" height="250" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8644328552_6806e3e49b.jpg" /></a><br/>
One of the things I love to do when I cover a wedding is capture those unposed moments. These two images really highlight the playfulness of their relationship.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644331308/" title="_MG_4006a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4006a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8644331308_b46e8183a3.jpg" width="385" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644332726/" title="_MG_4012a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4012a" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8644332726_b83fc293e9.jpg" /></a><br/>
While we were walking around the garden, Jamie caught sight of a statue and decided she wanted to imitate it. And then Mark followed suit.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644338194/" title="_MG_4221 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4221" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8644338194_8c1b78fbde.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
As part of the ceremony, two of their friends, Lisa and Jeff, read some scriptures that had special meaning for the couple. This was taken while the reading was happening.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644329704/" title="_MG_4003 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4003" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8396/8644329704_1edd1bed83.jpg" /></a><br/>
One of the things that I love about a shot like this is how it embodies the new chapter that the couple is taking: before they were two, but now they walk together as one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643236799/" title="_MG_4021 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4021" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8258/8643236799_b22e4f2cd4.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
More couple goofiness. This one was posed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644336042/" title="_MG_4091 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4091" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8644336042_bf6a6a49f0.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
The bride and her mother's hands. Jamie remarked on how alike their hands were, which led to this picture.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643661558/" title="_MG_4307 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4307" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8643661558_4ea7c0d098.jpg" /></a><br/>
As the couple departed the wedding area, they spied me and did the 'We Did It!' pose. Then they hugged each other.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642551897/" title="_MG_4315 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4315" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8642551897_c306ec387b.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643599952/" title="_MG_4357 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4357" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8263/8643599952_fc6963d51e.jpg" /></a><br/>
This one started as a spontaneous moment, which I caught, but then we had them do it again so that it would look better... </div>
<br />
And here are some of my favorite outtakes:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643227537/" title="_MG_3959a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_3959a" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8643227537_42568fbdc1.jpg" /></a><br/>
They stepped in mud and Jamie wanted to make sure that her shoes didn't get dirty. Mark was holding the extra tissue.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643238791/" title="_MG_4064 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4064" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8643238791_2446c98da7.jpg" /></a><br/>
Mark embraces Jamie's mother, who loves him like a son :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643596776/" title="_MG_4359 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4359" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8643596776_319969a3dc.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
Taken right after the 'spontaneous' head kiss.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644334588/" title="_MG_4044 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4044" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8644334588_ac9f155fee.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
A turtle just happened to be sunning itself on a log in the lake.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643225433/" title="_MG_3867 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_3867" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8643225433_790461ceec.jpg" width="350" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643226145/" title="_MG_3891 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_3891" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8643226145_5b2fe3c4d1.jpg" width="350" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644337054/" title="_MG_4099 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4099" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8644337054_777b05d692.jpg" width="350" /></a><br/>
Around the garden...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644340478/" title="_MG_4457 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4457" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8644340478_0a74a9b628.jpg" width="385" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644339422/" title="_MG_4420 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4420" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8644339422_e7bb7b8251.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
And, of course, the cake. A little hot on top, but I like the composition.<br /><br/>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8644341628/" title="_MG_4468 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4468" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8644341628_f851eeb544.jpg" width="385" /></a><br/>
Two tired photographers after a long day!</div>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-12000179928073793432011-05-07T17:11:00.000-05:002013-04-13T01:31:04.709-05:00The Allen-Fugate Wedding - 30 April 2011On April 30th, I traveled to Columbia, Missouri, to attend the wedding of my friends, Monique Allen and Shawn Fugate. The marriage is a joining of two families: Monique and her sons, Vonnie and Shawn, and Shawn and his children, Corey and Kayley.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorites:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643967742/" title="_MG_1312 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1312" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8643967742_d0e4476ecd.jpg" /></a><br />
Monique's son, Shawn, right, and Shawn's son, Corey, serve as candle lighters. I love Shawn's concentration and concern over keeping the flame lit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643968970/" title="_MG_1368 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1368" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8643968970_264153626c.jpg" width="385" /></a><br />
Monique reacts to seeing someone in the crowd as she is escorted down the aisle by her father.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642873547/" title="_MG_1436 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8533/8642873547_73d7b54e89.jpg" width="385" alt="_MG_1436"></a><br />
Vince's expression says, 'hey!' during Monique's vows.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643971424/" title="_MG_1443 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8643971424_37c16d3481.jpg" width="385" alt="_MG_1443"></a><br />
Monique's other son, Vonnie, and Shawn's daughter, Kayley, were the ring bearer and flower girl. He got a little upset during the ceremony.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642880931/" title="_MG_1682 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1682" height="385" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8642880931_6fc253f1aa.jpg" /></a><br />
Father-daughter dance. I like this twist: after the bride and her father dance for a bit, they invite other fathers and daughters to take part.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642881861/" title="_MG_1863a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_1863a" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8642881861_280b9548a9.jpg" width="385" /></a><br />
Monique gets down. Love the red shoes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643979646/" title="_MG_2123 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_2123" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8643979646_3d401f87b3.jpg" width="385" /></a></div>
The couple being pelted with birdseed. The boy on the right is Shawn's son, Corey. It's always interesting to me how people believe that thrown rice kills birds. I don't know how the rumor got started (and <a href="http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/birdrice.asp" target="_blank">here's the Snopes article</a> disproving it), but some people I know swear that the rice will swell in their stomachs and cause them to explode. I've never bought into the idea, otherwise there would be no birds in Southeast Asia, where there are tons of unguarded rice patties and plenty of random rice to eat.<br />
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A few outtakes:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642878631/" title="_MG_1534a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8642878631_cbdd1b6c63.jpg" width="385" alt="_MG_1534a"></a><br />
Jason plays around with his daughter after the ceremony is over.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8643976084/" title="_MG_1550a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8643976084_120d9573f9.jpg" height="385" alt="_MG_1550a"></a><br />
What the kids did a the reception to entertain themselves. I think Shawn is the one trying to get up into the tree.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642876207/" title="_MG_1459 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8403/8642876207_9240e31f37.jpg" width="375" alt="_MG_1459"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8642877497/" title="_MG_1487 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8642877497_46e418bec1.jpg" width="375" alt="_MG_1487"></a></div>
As a photographer, I typically tune out people when they work weddings (except, of course, to make sure that I'm not in their shot). This guy was impossible to ignore. Besides wearing a bright purple shirt, he did not try to make himself inconspicuous at all. The wedding photographer should be part of the background as much as possible. I was not the only person annoyed by this. Don't you like how he's right there, blocking the view so he can get some shot? Have you ever heard of using a zoom lens? Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-20185626796052541182011-01-21T15:34:00.000-06:002011-01-21T15:34:26.503-06:00For All of You Who Think Dogs Are StupidYou should watch <a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/01/18/science/1248069571561/a-dog-nouns-and-verbs.html">this video</a>. It features Dr. Pilley and his dog, Chaser, whom he taught over 1,000 nouns, as well as the names of different verbs. <br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dI_4iyY-xZh1XApxJ-GQVGAsMyHxWou9IFcRTl25nbVfm6MNjFSOYQIliljE9OvMajeb6kixhbQf00dRYUnFlImaH93I-Q0LM7sWslHblfM-AbEwJg4rL8uE2AhnhF9T5QIxHxVKc0zm/s1600/Chaser_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dI_4iyY-xZh1XApxJ-GQVGAsMyHxWou9IFcRTl25nbVfm6MNjFSOYQIliljE9OvMajeb6kixhbQf00dRYUnFlImaH93I-Q0LM7sWslHblfM-AbEwJg4rL8uE2AhnhF9T5QIxHxVKc0zm/s400/Chaser_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><br />
Impossible, you say? Well, Dr. Pilley bought Chaser when she was a puppy and "started to train her for four to five hours a day. He would show her an object, say its name up to 40 times, then hide it and ask her to find it, while repeating the name all the time. She was taught one or two new names a day, with monthly revisions and reinforcement for any names she had forgotten." In order to remember all the names Chaser had to learn, Pilley wrote the name on each toy with indelible marker. In three years, Chaser’s vocabulary included 800 cloth animals, 116 balls, 26 Frisbees and a medley of plastic items. <br />
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One of the questions that Pilley also wanted to tackle was whether a dog understands a verb, like fetch, separately from its objects. In other words: Did she think of her toys as items labeled fetch-ball, fetch-Frisbee, fetch-doll, or did she understand the word “fetch” separately? Pilley found the answer by teaching Chaser 3 different actions: pawing, nosing and taking an object. She was then presented with three of her toys and correctly pawed, nosed or fetched each one depending on the command given to her. “That experiment demonstrates conclusively that Chaser understood that the verb had a meaning,” Pilley said. <br />
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Some might argue that Chaser is merely looking at Pilley for the cue to the right answer (like the famous horse <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clever_Hans">'Clever Hans'</a>). If you watch the video, however, Pilley is hidden behind a screen so as to not give any non-verbal cues to Chaser.<br />
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So take that, all you haters! Our dogs would understand more of what we were talking about, <b>if we just took the time to try and communicate with them.</b><br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkhHtEvRHBVjyibdhN6Tqaat0stPWjzv45tZannRtwjNdeRlfx1Q8FnNTlKMah01LLwqUUCvE9HmHuPvUBZlPm7U_KwwjHAkOLHdAq-F1Nbfh2uszE8bc-SDw5JsFGE54xG7sCUGAtcqj/s1600/Chaser_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkhHtEvRHBVjyibdhN6Tqaat0stPWjzv45tZannRtwjNdeRlfx1Q8FnNTlKMah01LLwqUUCvE9HmHuPvUBZlPm7U_KwwjHAkOLHdAq-F1Nbfh2uszE8bc-SDw5JsFGE54xG7sCUGAtcqj/s400/Chaser_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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Quotes from the <i>New York Times</i> article, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/science/18dog.html?ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=all">Sit. Stay. Parse. Good Girl!</a>, on page D1 of the New York edition on January 18, 2011. <br />
Both images by Cass Sapir/Nova Science Now.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-27806426816204087642011-01-18T20:51:00.000-06:002013-05-09T16:33:03.012-05:00Sightseeing for the First Time in Brussels<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722345602/" title="_MG_4525a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4525a" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/8722345602_1edd3f06e5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My first sight of the Grand Place. That's the back of Maureen and Natalie's heads.</span></center>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Brussels, I've arrived!</span><br />
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Well, I arrived on the 14th, but that's quibbling over insignificant details...<br />
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As planned, I visited the <a href="http://ecbxl.e-monsite.com/">Brussels Church of Christ/Eglise du Christ de Bruxelles</a>. They were renting a meeting hall that was quite nice. It's not obvious at all on the outside that a church was meeting inside, but they have a mobile sign just inside the door identifying themselves. As I expected, they gave a warm welcome. Interestingly, unlike in the States, the welcoming greeting consists of the double cheek kiss instead of the side hug. Its membership is around 35, largely married couples. In fact, there are only 2 single people: Maureen and Natalie. Maureen is originally from Peru, so his native language is Spanish. Natalie speaks mainly French. Communicating was very simple because of the language barrier.<br />
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The service was conducted in French. I was very encouraged because I understood most of what they were saying :) Pretty good for someone who hasn't spoken French in almost 10 years and hasn't studied since high school.<br />
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After church, Natalie took Maureen and me to the <a href="http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-grand_place.htm">Grand Place</a>, one of the touristy destinations in Brussels. It's easy to understand why. It's really a sight to see; its buildings are a mesh of Gothic, Baroque and Louis XIV styles, with gold inlay on many of the buildings. The <a href="http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-town_hall.htm">Town Hall of Brussels</a> is here. I don't think my words will do the place justice, so here's some images:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721226879/" title="_MG_4529a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4529a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/8721226879_d069c7ae13_n.jpg" width="350" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721236637/" title="_MG_4613a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4613a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/8721236637_4bd46a37ea_n.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721237975/" title="_MG_4614a by E1isa, on Flickr"><a name='more'></a><img alt="_MG_4614a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/8721237975_f1f236d154_n.jpg" width="350" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722358890/" title="_MG_4616a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4616a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/8722358890_a6d539ba62_n.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722354916/" title="_MG_4611a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4611a" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/8722354916_62ed6f8302.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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We ate at a cafe off of the Place, <a href="http://uk.eurostar.com/uk/travel-to-belgium/travel-to-wallonia/travel-to-brussels/restaurants/cafe-de-bruxelles-idp-3261890">Café de Bruxelles</a>. The food was excellent! I had <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1236/">la carbonnade à la flamande/Carbonnade Flamande</a>. Natalie had the meatballs and I can't remember what Maureen ate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721222409/" title="_MG_4514 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4514" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/8721222409_2c391cbd00_z.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
This still makes my mouth water!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721223565/" title="_MG_4516a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4516a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/8721223565_b92ba5f09f_n.jpg" width="219" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722341346/" title="_MG_4512a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4512a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/8722341346_754a8c82fb_n.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722344288/" title="_MG_4521 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4521" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7386/8722344288_20ca49fe4a_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></center>
Left: The view of the City Hall from the Cafe. Middle: Maureen with several different beers (they weren't all for him). Right: I ordered water and they brought it out with its own special glass.<br />
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After lunch, we left Grand Place to go see one of Brussels other famous landmark: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis">Manneken Pis</a>. For those of you unfamiliar with what this is, it's a bronze fountain sculpture of a little boy urinating. Guess where the water comes out...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722347732/" title="_MG_4565a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4565a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/8722347732_376d8759aa_n.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722370378/" title="_MG_4639a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4639a" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/8722370378_2308f461c9_n.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721261759/" title="_MG_4659 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4659" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/8721261759_96b8ff95ac_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></center>
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Manneken Pis has been around since the early 17th century and at last count had over 800 costumes. I don't understand *why* it's such a tourist attraction, but according to the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324595704578241290484358884.html">Wall Street Journal</a>, it's "A Naughty Little Statue in Brussels Turns Into a Big Marketing Hit." Beyond just the statue, they've translated it into souvenirs:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722380426/" title="_MG_4655a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4655a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/8722380426_649eb1ff61.jpg" width="350" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722389610/" title="_MG_4674a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4674a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/8722389610_e66872b67f_n.jpg" width="350" /></a></center>
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Other things that I saw around Grand Place:<br />
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<i>Statue of Everard 't Serclaes</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722366186/" title="_MG_4633 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4633" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/8722366186_def77907d8.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722367558/" title="_MG_4636a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4636a" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/8722367558_6dea731f7b.jpg" width="450" /></a></center>
The bronze statue, depicting Brussels hero, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everard_%27t_Serclaes">Everard 't Serclaes</a>, who rescued the city from a Flemish invasion in the 14th century. The memorial was commissioned in 1898 and carved by artist Julien Dillens. Tourists (like those in my picture) will rub the parts of the statue that are shiny for luck.<br />
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<i>Street Performers</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721259309/" title="_MG_4652a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4652a" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/8721259309_1cbcfd601a_n.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722349766/" title="_MG_4576a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4576a" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/8722349766_4d1d23583d_n.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722350638/" title="_MG_4590 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4590" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/8722350638_572e8a6d43.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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<i>Chocolate and Waffles</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722373608/" title="_MG_4643a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4643a" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/8722373608_73a0f1cf8c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721264591/" title="_MG_4666 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4666" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/8721264591_70216691dc_n.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721266395/" title="_MG_4671a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4671a" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8721266395_46023e99d3_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722387904/" title="_MG_4672a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4672a" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/8722387904_815ea0495d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<i>Les Schtroumpfs/The Smurfs</i><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8722391832/" title="_MG_4678a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4678a" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/8722391832_540123c1d0_n.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/8721274199/" title="_MG_4679a by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="_MG_4679a" height="350" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8721274199_14acf47536_n.jpg" /></a></center><br />
The Smurfs were created by Belgian Comic artist, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyo">Peyo</a>. The little blue creatures live in the forest, are named according to some personality trait (Handy Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Lazy Smurf, Clumsy Smurf), and replace different words with 'smurf.' Peyo came up with the term and idea for replacing words with Smurf during a dinner with fellow comic artist, Andre Franquin, where he forgot the word for salt. I loved the cartoon when I was a kid; I even still have my Smurf shoelaces.<br/>
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Additional Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-town_hall.htm">Brussels Town Hall</a> as described on the Belgium Travel Network website.<br />
<a href="http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/06/many-constumes-of-manneken-pis.html">The Many Constumes of Manneken Pis</a>, an article on Amusing Planet.<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/8550757/Manneken-Pis-costumes-worn-by-the-statue-of-the-urinating-toddler-in-Brussels.html">Images of Manneken Pis in costume</a> on the Telegraph website.<br />
<a href="http://www.demotix.com/news/2018429/brussels-manneken-pis-receives-costume-reporters-without-borders#media-2018420">Brussels' Manneken Pis receives costume of Reporters Without Borders</a><br />
<a href="http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm/4328">City of Brussels</a> article on Manneken Pis.<br />
<a href="http://www.ilotsacre.be/images/virtualvisit/manneken_pis.htm">Manneken Pis costumes for 2012.</a>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-55954949484979991102011-01-17T14:25:00.068-06:002013-05-09T17:01:35.386-05:00Project 365 - Week 41Week 41.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5479906352/" title="011011 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="011011" height="353" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5054/5479906352_7283e96fea.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>
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Monday. Watching BGS Championship with my brother. I got to watch a lot of bowl games with my brother. Maybe I should say had to, since there was only one TV and it was that or do nothing. <br />
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<b>None</b> of the teams I've routed for during any of the bowl games I've watched have won. And Oregon almost won. Auburn did play a good game. We got so excited, though, when they scored late in the 4th quarter to tie up the game (including a 2-point conversion). We screamed and whooped. And we thought for sure they were going pull it out. But then Auburn scored. <br />
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It was so frustrating. They kept running the ball instead of passing. And getting shut down. Their passing game was on. We couldn't understand why they kept going with what wasn't working instead of what was.<br />
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But, like I said, Auburn played a good game, so it wasn't so terrible. But I would have liked at least *one* team I rooted for to win.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5479306315/" title="011111 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="011111" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5059/5479306315_87015320c3.jpg" width="333" /></a></center>
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Tuesday. Taking pictures around the house. I really hate not having a car. I never realized how much I really like having that freedom. And I look forward to being in a place that has a metro and where walking places is the norm.<br />
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And I got good news today. My passport is on its way back to me and I shall be departing for Belgium on Friday. Yay! A week later, but finally I will get there. Right in time for my internship. And worshiping with the church on Sunday :) I really hope that my jet lag isn't completely terrible. I don't think it will be, considering I'm used to taking naps at what is 9-10 pm Belgium time. But, we'll see. And I'm used to doing an all-nighter, too, better than some kids half my age...<br />
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The picture above is of a sculpture that my dad made when he was a pilot in the Navy. The dog used to have a snout and the bulb on top used to blink. I've always liked it. <br />
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Wednesday. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! The snow storm that hit Columbia yesterday came here to Maine :) We got over 9 inches of snow, which of course makes me happy. It also means that we're not going anywhere (we were going to go to Paciarino but they weren't serving dinner because of the weather). Lots of places were closed because of the weather. And there was a parking ban in effect from 10 pm to 5 am for the streets of Portland. Which makes so much sense. Clear the streets so they can plow. And guess what? The very next day the streets were clear! *Amazing.* <br />
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This is one of my mother's tchotchke. <br />
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Thursday. Ate lunch at <a href="http://www.paciarino.com/">Paciarino</a>, which was a better experience than last time, but later that day I was burping all over the place. Uncomfortable!<br />
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After eating, while Alex decided to wait in the car, because "it's cold out here," I wandered around downtown Portland and took pictures. As I was taking one of my first pictures, the woman walking behind me said, "Oh, I'm sorry, did I get in your picture?" She'd been on the phone and hadn't realized I was taking a picture. I assured her that she hadn't, as I took photographs for a living. We started walking in the same direction and talking and it turns out she works for <a href="http://www.themainemag.com/">Maine Magazine</a>. We exchanged information and I'm going to send her a link to my website. When I actually finish my website. (Go, God, go!) And somewhere in our conversation, I was able to find out where a camera store was so that I could buy a filter for my new lens. Cost me more than I wanted to pay, but it's better than breaking the lens.<br />
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I thought about using this picture, but chose the other one because it illustrates just how much snow they've had in Maine. <br />
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Friday. I leave for Brussels. Yay! Finally. I had a layover in Washington DC and then on to my 7 hour flight.<br />
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This is a picture of some of what I did on my 7 hour plane ride across the Atlantic. The outside air temperature was around -62*F. <br />
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'The Social Network' wasn't bad; I just don't get why people raved about it. Granted, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/">Jesse Eisenberg</a> did a great job of portraying Zuckerberg, I thought it was a pretty average movie. I don't think that it deserved a review of "impeccably scripted, beautifully directed, and filled with fine performances, The Social Network is a riveting, ambitious example of modern filmmaking at its finest." It may be because I really didn't like the 'protagonist,' Mark Zuckerberg. He was a jerk in how he treated people through out the entire movie. No loyalty, completely self-involved. Unlike <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Cooper">Sheldon Cooper</a> on <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory">The Big Bang Theory</a></i>, it wasn't endearing because he didn't value any relationships. At no time did he talk to people like he considered their feelings. At least Sheldon sometimes worries about other people's feelings.<br />
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The sad thing is, typically people aren't going look at the film and think that it is inaccurate in its portrayal of people like Zuckerberg. Quotes of Zuckerberg portray him as someone very interested in connecting with people (and connecting people), something the movie does not portray at all. The movie's character is more concerned with taking advantage of other people's need for connection, not making the world a more connected and open place.<br />
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Saturday. My first day in a foreign land. Brian (right) is the other master's student that is part of MU's exchange program here in Brussels. He met the taxi when I got to the apartment and helped with my bag (thank you, Brian!). For dinner, we checked out <a href="http://www.davincenzo.be/">Da Vincenzo Restaurant</a> and ended up eating with an older couple, Henri and Rachel. It was a really nice way to start out my time in Brussels :) <br />
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Sunday. Sightseeing in Bruxelles.<br />
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My first Sunday, I visited the <a href="http://ecbxl.e-monsite.com/">Brussels Church of Christ/Eglise du Christ de Bruxelles</a>. As I expected, I received a warm welcome. Interestingly, unlike in the States, the welcoming greeting consists of the double cheek kiss instead of the side hug. The church's membership is around 35, largely married couples. In fact, there are only 2 single members: Maureen and Natalie. Maureen is originally from Peru, so his native language is Spanish. Natalie speaks mainly French. Communicating among the three of us was very simple because of the language barrier.<br />
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Natalie took us to see the <a href="http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-grand_place.htm">Grand Place</a>, which was originally established around the 11th century. It's really a sight to see; the buildings are a mesh of Gothic, Baroque and Louis XIV styles, with gold inlay on many of the buildings. This statue, a memorial of Everard 't Serclaes, who rescued the city from a Flemish invasion in the 14th century. Tourists (like those in my picture) will rub the parts of the statue that are shiny for luck.<br/>
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<a href="http://adventuresinphotojournalism.blogspot.com/2011/01/sightseeing-for-first-time-in-brussels.html">Click here to see more</a> from the trip to Grand Place.<br/>
Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-104243225501857952011-01-11T21:53:00.001-06:002011-01-11T23:37:18.324-06:00I Am Not on "the Twitter" but I Do Love Betty White<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5341805117/" title="_MG_4279 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5341805117_ba097fd33b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="_MG_4279" /></a></center><br />
Unlike many of the people that I interact with everyday on campus, I do not Twitter. I find it, as well as constant updating of one's Facebook page, annoying. Why should I be sharing or interested in the minutia of people's lives? Who cares what you are about to eat - unless it's something really amazing? And why are you wasting your time on this when there are other more important things that you could be doing (like blogging)? (That last bit (about blogging) was tongue in cheek. Although this seems more like a diary (especially since I seem to be the only one who ever reads it).<br />
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I don't understand why the Millenials have embraced it, but my theory is that it gives them the illusion of connectedness and deep relationships without actually having them. 'I have 5000 friends on Facebook' means I am loved and valued. People follow me on Twitter means that I am interesting. And none of this means that either of these statements is true. Or that you actually have to interact with anyone. Someone offends you, just un-friend them, don't deal with the conflict.<br />
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Maybe I'm cynical. I just think about how all this new-fangled technology leads us to 'connect' with people, but never actually connect with them. Case in point: this is what my brother does with his winter vacation. <br />
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It's <a href="http://www.callofduty.com/blackops">"Call of Duty: Black Ops."</a> <br />
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He's got several people that he plays with online that he's never met and probably never will, but they're the people he actively tries to play with. I'm not objecting to his playing the game, because he doesn't neglect other things to do it and only plays it for about 2 hours at a time. I'm merely saying that he's developed this friendship with someone he's likely never to meet and he likes that disconnectedness.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-30726887923121514062011-01-10T14:25:00.074-06:002011-01-11T22:10:25.348-06:00Project 365 - Week 40Week 40. Hello, Maine!!! I do love you so.<br />
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Monday. I don't know why I really like this picture, but I do. It's my mom pumping gas (if you couldn't tell).<br />
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Tuesday. A picture of a very old cash register at the needlepoint shop that my mom goes to. This day, we also went out to the mall and mom bought me a few jackets to wear while over there, since that appears to be a European thing to do. Finding jackets is a bit challenging, since the current trend is cut off close to the waist, rather than the traditional length of around your hip.<br />
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Wednesday. Today, the family sat down and watched <a href="http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/2012/">"2012"</a> together. My brother, Alex, had never seen it. My parents kept laughing at all the catastrophe scenes, which I found really amusing, too. If you can't tell, this is the scene where <a href="http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/calderas.htm">Yellowstone's caldera</a> is about to blow and the weird, pickle-eating, conspiracy nut, Woody Harrelson, is relishing being there as the world is about to end.<a name='more'></a><br />
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Thursday. A picture of my mom and step-dad. It actually turned out well. My mom does *not* photograph well. She will tell you that she typically looks <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/2425876651/">like she had a stroke</a>. My theory is that it's because it's not her 'real' hair color (which is dark brown).<br />
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Friday. Taking a picture with my Christmas present: a new Tamron lens. It's the same as the one I borrowed from Shannon Silvey, but I don't remember it acting the way that this lens is acting. I haven't used it outside, though, so we will see. I really would like to get a new camera, one with a higher ISO, because I really prefer not to use a flash. <br />
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Saturday. Another picture taken with the new lens. Still don't know if I like it. (The lens, not the picture. I like the picture.) <br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5342418410/" title="010911 - How My Brother Spent His Winter Vacation by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5342418410_512ba65a1a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="010911 - How My Brother Spent His Winter Vacation" /></a></center><br />
Sunday. What my brother does on his winter vacation: play <a href="http://www.callofduty.com/blackops">"Call of Duty: Black Ops."</a> And what do I do? Watch him play, since there's only 1 television in the house and I am basically housebound. I'm starting to get a little stir crazy since I'm pretty much doing nothing all day.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-6017530111472437722011-01-09T16:22:00.000-06:002013-05-09T16:45:16.376-05:00So I Love Sports, Just Not Photographing Them<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5056234127/" title="Foot Injury by E1isa, on Flickr"><img alt="Foot Injury" height="327" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5056234127_1bde94bcd0.jpg" width="500" /></a></center><br />
I'm not sure why I don't enjoy photographing sports. Maybe it's because I haven't practiced enough. Maybe it's because I don't have the right equipment (I need a better camera - as far as shot rate - and better lenses - like ones that can have an aperture of 1.4 or 2.8 and can zoom 200-300mm.). It could be that I don't really have any desire to shoot sports - which isn't a bad thing since there are plenty of people who love covering sports. And maybe it's because it just doesn't seem - with the exception of pictures like the one above (Kerri Strug) - stories of something meaningful beyond 'being a winner.'<br />
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Why did I think about this? <a href="http://www.film.com/features/story/summer-olympics-top-10-most/22258333">I came across this article</a> on Summer Olympics Top 10 Most Winning Moments.<br />
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Of the 10, the only one I don't remember is the one that happened in 1972: Mark Spitz winning 7 gold medals. Of the list of 10, the one I don't think should be included is the basketball "Dream Team" in 1992, the year they changed the rules so that professionals could participate in the Olympics and players like Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Scottie Pippen were on it. How is that fair? It might have been before Jordan or Bird turned pro, but after? I don't care if other countries pay amateur athletes' expenses like rent and food, etc., it still doesn't seem right. And it cheapens those events for me, too (which is why I wasn't impressed). How is it any different than watching a pro game? (It's not.) Wow, they get to play on a different team for a little while... And it cheapens the achievements of all those US Olympians who *were* true amateurs and still won medals.<br />
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<a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/olympics-winners-circle.html">Like these guys.</a><br />
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Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-42541726082555795412011-01-03T14:24:00.182-06:002013-04-11T19:09:11.548-05:00Project 365 - Week 39Week 39. Finished with Mary Street and off to Maine.<br />
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Monday. My niece, Allison, with Cullen. She has decided that he is her favorite. She also wanted to take him home with her, but that wouldn't be the best idea. I'm very grateful that Daniel and Kathryn offered to take him. I think it will be good for him, hanging out with Reece and Jace. Plus, being around Daniel I think will help him get over his slight nervousness around men.<br />
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I have to say, God worked it out really well as far as where my dogs are staying while I'm gone. Cullen's with the Smiths, where he will get to play with Georgie and the boys. Dudley's staying with Tammy in KC, where he gets to hang out with Jackson and a little girl (Elise) who loves to cuddle (and maybe he'll help Jackson to be less afraid of people). And Riley is staying with my dad and stepmom, where he gets to hang out with several dogs. My dad told me that he jumps up and sits with him often when he's watching TV. Thank you, God, for taking care of my boys. And thank you, everyone, for taking care of my boys!!!<br />
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Tuesday. I'm unloading suitcases from my car. The boys are watching me do it and waiting for me to come back inside. I won't actually get into those suitcases until right before I leave, but right now they contain some of the clothes I'm considering bringing to Brussels. I will eventually put clothes inside a briefcase and stick that in one of the suitcases. And, unfortunately, I didn't have enough room to bring my pillow with me. I just hope they have non-feather pillows, because I can't sleep on feathered ones.<br />
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Wednesday. The boys chilling on one of the two twin beds in the room I am staying it. It's interesting sleeping at night because everyone likes to sleep with me. It's been even more interesting since I've got a cold that's now settled in my chest and leads me to hack, hack, hack at night. And Riley has been extremely nervous the last couple of nights, so he doesn't let me sleep. I'd stick him in the garage, but it's below zero outside. He finally settles down when I 'watch TV' which means I watch Netflix on my phone. I don't know why that helps him calm down, but it seems to be the only thing that really works. Maybe it's because he thinks that if he really needs to, I'll be awake to let him out. I hate it - not because it keeps me awake (which I dislike) but because of the amount of stress it causes him.<br />
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Thursday. Back in Columbia. Taken after a very long day. I woke up around 6:30 and left KC around 8, which means I arrived in Columbia right around 10, and, save for a lunch break and a very short stop to eat something for dinner, I (along with my parents and niece) worked until around 8, and then I kept working until around 10. I am very grateful for my family's help because I would not have gotten it done without them in the time I had. All that's left is packing up a few more things, dropping off stuff at good will, taking boxes over to the storage space, taking out the garbage, and cleaning.<br />
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I took this picture because it illustrates how much Cullen and Riley are brothers: Riley lets Cullen rest his head on him anywhere, even on his head. They stayed like this for several minutes.<br />
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Friday. It may be December 31st, but the high was 62* that day. I decided to take a break from finishing everything and take the boys out to the dog park for an hour or two. There were lots of dogs there, so they got to socialize a lot. Cullen, for some reason, hung out with me most of the time. He usually tags right behind Riley (as in this picture) but most of the time, it was Duds following Riley. <br />
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I was glad I got to take them to the park to have some fun before they went to stay with other people. I wanted them to have a really nice day before I didn't see them again for 4 months. I 'know' that dogs don't think like us, and they live in the moment, so maybe it was more for me, but I like to think of them being really happy before they went to stay with someone else. <br />
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I quit working around 9:30 (with just a little bit to go) to head out to the New Year's Eve party at the church building. That was really fun. I played <i>Rock Band</i> for the first time. The drums are hard!!! Especially when the line came up - coordinating my leg and my arms. And having to concentrate. It was a little better when I was really clean on the beat. My best score was 78%. However, I scored 100% on the singing part when we did "Eye of the Tiger." Can you tell I like to sing? <br />
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Later in the evening we played 'Killer Uno,' a variation of traditional 'Uno,' where you take turns but with a free-for-all. Basically, the traditional color or number applies *when it's your turn,* but the rest of the time, if a number in your hand comes up, you can play it, even if it's not your turn. Play continues according to the last person to play. And what's even more crazy: the face cards (like the Draw 2s and the Skips) are cumulative, so if someone plays a Draw 4 and three more are played, whoever ends up drawing the cards would have to draw 16 cards. It was a blast. I didn't realize how much I missed playing cards with Melissa until we were playing, because she talks a little smack, but not in a mean way.<br />
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Saturday. One day, I think it would be cool to do a photo book on how America decorates their houses in celebration of Christmas. And this year, it seemed like there were tons of ornate loaded houses out. I wish I'd been able to go around and photograph, but with the move and everything, I was so exhausted at the end of the day, I just went home and went to bed. On the way home from the New Year's Party, I took some pictures of Christmas lights. Went to bed, headed back over to the house and finished cleaning the floors and got out of dodge. I should have taken a picture of the house empty, but I am so glad to not to ever have to go back there again (where there's a *hole* in the wall where the pipe for the kitchen sink comes in, where you can <b>see outside</b>, and even though I mentioned this to my landlord, he didn't do anything about it, or any of the other little problems while I lived there. And the mice - I did mention the mice, right? Just got some traps, rather than an exterminator. They probably came in through several of the holes in the wall...)<br />
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Sunday. A picture taken while on my flight to Maine. I thought about using one of the pictures I took of ridiculous LaGuardia Airport, but I decided to use this instead. It's nice and serene :) And LaGuardia Airport IS RIDICULOUS. I wasn't excited to be flying in there for my layover, because it's one of those airports that gets delays quite frequently. And when we get there, we have to walk outside (not so bad) but then we have to walk up about 30 steps to get to the main terminal. So I get to lug this heavy bag - heavy because <b>I've packed for 4 months in Brussels</b> - up the stairs. In the main terminal, it's extremely <b>crowded</b> and the food is lame and over priced. I ended up spending almost $10 ($9.47) for a hamburger and french fries. The hamburger was pretty good but the fries were not worth $3.95 plus tax. I was sitting there, tired (since I only got about 4 hours worth of sleep, due to figuring out what exactly I wanted to pack), and I needed more water. And isn't it convenient that the water fountain doesn't work. So I ask the flight crew sitting at the table, "Would it be illegal for you to watch my stuff while I go get some more water, since we don't know each other?" One of the guys says, "What's your name?" "Elisa." "I'm Michael. Now we know each other." We had a good laugh and I went and got my water.<br />
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I then walked back to my gate (5A) and looked for a place to sit down. I also looked for a place to plug my phone in. I found a plug and these two nice young 20-somethings decided to sprawl out across the floor and completely ignore me when I asked how long they had been charging their phone. Don't you love it when people have 'manners'? They took up the space that about *5* people could sit. I went and found another plug to charge my phone and the socket was so loose it wouldn't charge. But it would charge my computer, so I started charging my phone through my computer.<br />
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And how ridiculous is LaGuardia? They had 3 flights leaving through gate 5A within 10-15 minutes of each other. And when you go through your gate, you don't even go directly to your plane. No, you get to ride a bus to your plane. And I didn't even get to sit down. About halfway to the plane, we stopped and waited for about 5-10 minutes. Isn't that just great?<br />
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When I got to the airport, I got to wait for about 15 minutes for Alex to arrive. As usual, my parents (mom and stepdad) decided to hang out at home instead of coming to meet me. I pretty much ate dinner, took a shower and went to bed. And *WOW* did my body hurt. Everywhere. It hurt to move. Glad this week is over.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961818357165366228.post-69744219375385519032010-12-27T14:24:00.069-06:002011-01-11T15:02:54.083-06:00Project 365 - Week 38Week 38.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5342350320/" title="122010 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5342350320_a8a3b6ed7c.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="122010" /></a></center><br />
Monday. Cullen cuddling with Dudley on the bed. It's not my bed. It's one of the Bolls's guest beds (isn't that a great bed spread?). They have been kind enough to let us stay with them since I am now 'homeless.' All of my furniture is in their basement storage area, along with many of my boxes. One thing I really love about Photoshop is the way that you can use layers to highlight just one little area (Cullen's face) so that it's a little brighter and so that you can actually see the definition of his fur and eye.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5342424830/" title="122110 - Biometric Sensors by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5342424830_2d71f8f031.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="122110 - Biometric Sensors" /></a></center><br />
Tuesday. For the life of me, I cannot remember which research participant this is. Research participant? Well, it just about took forever for the USDA study that I was going to be working on with Paul to finally start. Originally, I was in charge of recruitment (which went very well - not one of the 14 people that came to do the study were students - which can be a feat since it's a college town with a campus of around 25K). But I ended up getting trained on how to place the biometric sensors and doing the study with participants. I made a few mistakes - like forgetting to do one final step for a few people at the beginning - but I also was able to figure out and fix why the heart rate signal was crazy (a bad sensor). The study showed participants 4 short 'commercials' on safely cooking meat and tracked their responses (both conscious and unconscious). Regardless of how she looks, it was neither painful nor terrifying.<a name='more'></a><br />
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The study also included <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45mMioJ5szc">this 'distractor' commercial</a>, which I really liked. It's Michael Jordan talking about all the times and ways that he failed while playing (missed over 9000 shots, lost almost 300 games, missed the game winning shot 26 times) the game and then concludes with "I've failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." I love that. (I also love <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s">this video with Larry Bird</a> that he did back in the day. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lePELkXcqs">They did a follow up featuring Charles Barkley.</a> And apparently, they updated it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrTDZy3f2M">with LeBron James and Dwight Howard, where Larry Bird takes the Big Mac at the end, and they don't know who he is!</a>)<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5342423922/" title="122210 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5342423922_4b4d0d74f1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="122210" /></a></center><br />
Wednesday. This is what I look like after killing myself trying to get my house finished being packed. That last 20% of stuff just won't get done. And this is what I look like when I haven't slept more than about 6 hours a night and am sick with a cold on top of all of that. I just want for it to be over.<br />
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Thursday. This is where and how Duds prefers to sleep when we're over at the Bolls. (And no snoring either.) I've dubbed it 'Duds' Chair,' even though I don't own it.<br />
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Friday. Leaving for Kansas City today. We got a bunch of snow last night - which was encouraging to think that it will be a white Christmas. Still not finished packing up the house but I need a break to at least start to feel better. I hate that my packing has cut into time that I was planning on spending in KC before going to Maine and then onto Brussels.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5341757553/" title="122510 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5341757553_eb37aa2cee.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="122510" /></a></center><br />
Saturday. Riley in the hallway.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15739028@N03/5342384832/" title="122610 by E1isa, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5342384832_f0bcc9ab79.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="122610" /></a></center><br />
Sunday. Riley outside. I just think that he is one handsome dog. I will miss him when I am abroad. Him and the rest of my boys.Elisa Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06624731309194087243noreply@blogger.com0