Yeah, you’d still be sickly

SP: If you were an animal, what kind would you be?
FP: I don’t know-something sly.
SP: Like a fox?
FP: No, something cooler, like a cheetah.
SP: Yeah, foxes are kinda cute. I’d be a panther.
FP: Yeah, but a black and white one.
SP: No, just a black one.
FP: Yeah, it’d be too cold. [Wtf?]
SP: No, I don’t really think I’d be something like that.
FP: Well, what would you be?
SP: Like a giraffe. You know, they have no natural enemies. So I could just eat leaves and chill.
FP: Yeah, your asthmatasies. [aka asthma]
SP: What?!
FP: [Laughs] Because you wouldn’t have to run. So your asthma wouldn’t matter.
SP: Why can’t I just be a healthy giraffe?
FP: Because it’s suppose to be you.
SP: But if I’m going to be something else anyways, why can’t I be healthy? [Clearly offended and hurt at this point.]
FP: [Laughs] Okay, you can be a healthy giraffe.

I was totally that close to that giraffe. (BTW, this was from the zoo in Madrid. Kick ass.)

OMG, I’m a crazy bitch

So I’ve had a lot of down time at work. I’m not complaining, just saying I am running out of work-environment appropriate ways to entertain myself. I’ve been reading blogs and thought I can do that to entertain myself. Now, this definitely isn’t the first time this thought has crossed my mind at work, but then I start remembering all the blogs I’ve abandoned in the past. (I didn’t even realize at the time how far the rabbit hole goes). I have abandoned two blogs on blogger recently, so I decided to try wordpress. After trying to register with two different email addresses I realized I had an account or two but deleted the blogs some time ago. The worst part was that all the blog URLs I wanted were taken. So I decided to try alphabetsauce because it’s my fail safe I-know-no-one-else-would-use-this-ridiculous-name-in-all-of-Internet-land. It was taken!! So I went to alphabetsauce.wordpress.com only to find another abandoned blog of mine. I was just gonna delete it and start over, but then I read the posts and they are entries I don’t want to lose. I think my problem is that I’ve tried to blog about specific topics, like photography. Themes are important, but I find then limiting especially since I dont have any goal but to ramble. And they’re already a billion topic blogs. So I’m gonna try to stick with this one blog and keeps the ‘rules’ to a minimum. I don’t apologize for my randomness, because well fuck you. (jk, but I won’t apologize for doing what I want in my little corner of the interwebs).

Song of the Day: Aint No Rest for the Wicked– Cage the Elephant

Photograph of the Week

I am going to try to post a new photograph from a new photographer every so often. If you’d be interested in having your photo shared, please send me a message.

Special FX

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” John Lennon

I thought after Labor Day Weekend I’d have some cool mountain photos to post, but my camera did not make it with me. I had a great, relaxing weekend though so no regrets. Until I actually get my act together and post some pictures, I’d like to continue adding some resources for your enjoyment. Here is a link for a few photoshop tutorials that help you add some cool artistic flair to your pictures. 11 Great Photoshop Photo Effects Tutorials I have yet to use the tutorials myself but will update when I get a chance.

One a Day

“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” Andrew Carnegie

Shuttercal is a fun, one-a-day, photography calendar website. The main idea is to find one picture that represents that day. You can choose to upload each day; however, you can also choose to upload in batches and assign pictures to days. Like most people, I would choose the latter simply because I am busy/kinda lazy.  You can browse, look at other calendars, and make comments. Likewise, other people can leave comments on your pictures. You also have the choice of choosing “CalFriends.” I won’t lie–I signed up at the beginning of the year when life wasn’t in full gear, and within a week I had forgotten about it. Despite that, I decided to share this website because I’m sure others will enjoy it.

HDR

“Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free.” Billy Mack Love Actually

High Dynamic Range
For now, I’ll just give you my version of this topic, and you can research it yourself to learn what it’s all about. High Dynamic Range photos can be easily created, but as with everything, that definitely does NOT mean easy equals good. Usually created using 7 different exposures of the same scene, these pictures are able to capture a high degree of richness and vibrance. I figure by playing around with this technique, it’ll give me a chance to learn about my camera’s settings and play with photoshop a little… and maybe end up with some cool photos.
Examples of HDR
More (Better) Examples of HDR
How To

America!

I have been back in Auburn for almost a month now. I am loving the American food… and the refills! School started shortly after I got back. It isn’t so bad. I have just fallen behind with my math homework which is due Wednesday. =/ I have a business calculus test and a macroeconomics test this week. Arg. Macroeconomics will be over in two short weeks though I think. Seth and I went to see Cirque du Soleil: Delirium Friday night for our anniversary. It was pretty awesome. I would definitely love to see some of their other shows one day. Last week we went to Gulf Shores for the weekend with his family. We had so much fun. I haven’t vacationed at the beach since elementary school. I hope we go back some time this summer. My mom and younger brother are staying with me for the entire month. It isn’t so bad necessarily. I just don’t particularly like it. Auburn is my home. My space AWAY from my family. I have lived without them for two years now. I guess I’ll just have to deal with it and hope they don’t come back after this month. I am afraid they are going to think of it as their home and come back whenever they feel like it. Anyways, I have a bunch of movies I’d like to go see, but I never seem to get around to it. I have so many things I would love to do with my time, but I always feel like I should be doing homework or studying. I am definitely taking next summer off! I have been taken classes without break (except for spring and winter breaks) since August 2005! I hope it will be a good summer anyways. I guess it’ll be what I make of it. I also chopped off all my hair when I got back to Auburn. I like it for now, but I probably won’t ever get it done this way again. It’s fun for a change but not really my style. I am also looking for a job. I have NO money. =/ I think have the option to go back to my old job, but I REALLY don’t want to go back. I guess we’ll see what happens.
Home Again!
Song of the Day: Hey There Delila –Plain White T’s

I am leaving…

on a jet plane, and I don’t know when I’ll be back again. [WARNING: I am just warning you before you waste your time reading this entry. It is confusing and contradictory. If you've been through this before, you'll completely understand. If you haven't been through this, you couldn't possible understand. I also hope it doesn't come off emo. =p] Perhaps, that is what is making me the most sad. What if I never come back to Aix? Aix has become more than just a place on a map. It’s where I live. It’s my home. I’m not packing up to go home. I am packing up to leave home. Anyone who has gone away to college (the right college at least) knows how I feel. It doesn’t even take an entire semester to realize this is home now and this is where I belong now. At the same time when you leave your “hometown” to go away to college, you feel like you are leaving behind a chunk of yourself and all of those wonderful memories, places, and friends that it took you years to find. The nature of studying abroad, especially in a foreign-speaking country, makes you find all those memories, places, and friends in a matter of months rather than years. IAU threw together a bunch of kids who didn’t know anyone on the continent and thus “forced” us to build bonds so quickly. I met some of the coolest people here, and I don’t think it fair that since my program has an end date so do my friendships. We are all Americans, but the US is so large, and the future so uncertain for a bunch of college kids, we may never meet again. I am going to miss the French. Although they can be intimidating, they are never boring. They never cease to surprise and entertain me. Even though I currently hate my underground apartment, soon it will be someone else’s cave for them to hate. I am going to painfully miss my random and spontaneous weekend jet setting off to crazy, new, and fun European locations. If I do return to Aix, it’ll never be the same. Despite all my blubberings and complaints, I don’t regret a minute of this place. It was the hardest and best thing I could have done for myself. Thanks to everyone who made it such a wonderful semester. Just as the weather has turned to that spectacular, encouraging, rejuvenating kind of weather that only really occurs between seasons, I have to say goodbye to beautiful Aix-en-Provence. I am leaving the day after tomorrow…according to the countdown 1 day, 12 hours, and 2 minutes until my plane departs Marseille airport. I feel so bipolar. I don’t want to leave Aix now or ever, but I can’t wait to see Auburn again. Auburn is such a beautiful place too. I have great friends there too. (More than here, in fact.) My man, my dog, my school, and my future are waiting for me at Auburn. I guess the only thing one can do is make the best of her present situation. But the view from here on the future sure is looking good.

Song of the Day: “Hands Open” —Snow Patrol

Ireland and Beyond!

Spring break was so much fun. I’ll leave out most of the details because what happens in Ireland stays in Ireland. The first three days were spent in Galway. We, Ashlee, Kaitlyn, and I, took a day tour to both the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands. We also got some great Irish food, music, and dancing in the mix. The last three days were spent in Dublin. We were slightly more intoxicated and less productive there. We took a ghost tour which was entertaining at best. It was pretty overpriced and cheesy. We also did a day tour to a castle and the north coast. Whether it was the great Irishmen and women or just the fact that they spoke English, it was a nice break from France. On the Wednesday following spring break I climbed St. Victoire with Kaitlyn and Mike. Because of where our bus dropped us off, we ended up walking the wrong way and wasting about an hour. Afterwards we proceeded to climb the mountain on the hardest path. I knew I was out of shape and a bit soft before but St. Victoire showed me how badly out of shape I really am. The view was pretty but not spectacular. However, the feeling of accomplishment made it so much better. I have seen views like that before, but I really earned it that time. Thursday evening I left for Geneva with Kaitlyn and Mike. It was pretty relaxing. We enjoyed great weather. While there wasn’t a ton to do, it was still fun and relaxing. The UN tour was uninspired but at least I can say I’ve been there. The Red Cross museum was also a bit blah but I really enjoyed the photo exhibit they had. The people of Geneva, for the main part at least, seemed to be exactly like French people in Aix but nicer and happier. Maybe it can be attributed to the weather—je ne sais pas. Although I did have a nasty encounter with the man who sold me an ice cream bar. I mean, come on, if you sell ice cream to people you should be required to make it a good experience. Happiness loves ice cream. Ice cream loves happiness. Anywho, I have droned on for long enough. I will be home in approximately eleven days! I don’t have anything planned between now and then. I just have to study for exams and write a psychology paper which I am putting off at this exact moment. My next update may be coming to you from the United States of America!

Song of the Day: “Your Song” –Moulin Rouge soundtrack

Cliffs of Moher

When in Rome

The weekend of March 30- April 1 I went to Rome. Rome is such a cool place. Thousands of years of history smooshed right up next to modern day life. I went alone, so that was kind of a bummer. Being in a country where I didn’t understand anyone plus I was all alone was rather tough. My favorite part of my visit was probably the Vatican museums. I took a tour with other English-speaking people so it was nice to talk to people. One girl, also a study abroad girl—London, was visiting with her parents. It made me miss the family. It was rather odd though the differences between Rome and southern France. They have a lot of similarities, but Italians—much like Americans—are very loud and passionate. The majority of French seem to be more reserved. It was nice being around loud people again, although not understanding a single word coming out of their mouths was somewhat intimidating. I returned for a week of school. The following Thursday night I left for Madrid. I was somewhat worried about it not being so much fun since I was travelling alone again. I took a taxi from the airport to my hostel. The whole city was lit up and it was absolutely beautiful. I fell in love with Madrid immediately. The rotonds have huge fountains or statues. The city is beautiful, spacious, and clean. I was so surprised at how clean it was especially compared to Rome. The metro system in Madrid was the cleanest I have ever seen. It looked to be fairly new. I went to the museums and did a bus tour. Yada yada, I did all the other touristy stuff. One of the museums had a Chuck Close exhibit which was very cool. I had watched a video on him and his technique in one of my art classes, but it was much more impressive seeing his work right in front of me. Well, I woke up early one morning to visit a monastery which I new had very limited visiting hours. After finally finding it, I found a note in Spanish on the door. I was able to make out that the monastery was closed for the entire weekend for Easter. I had all day and it was my anniversary (Love You!) so I wanted to do something fun and not really so cultural. I looked on Madrid’s tourism site and saw that they have a zoo. I am a super dork and love going to the zoo, so I decided to go. The zoo was in the middle of nowhere. I thought I could walk there but decided not to for some reason. Thank god—it was about a half hour metro ride outside of the city. Once I got off the metro it was about a fifteen minute walk to the zoo. I loved it. I think I was the only English speaking person in the whole zoo. I also think I was the only single individual. It was all families or couples. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had dolphin, seal, parrot, and raptor shows. Of course I went to all of them. It was rather funny to see that animals understood Spanish whereas I don’t understand any. During the shows the announcer would say something, the animals would react, and all the audience would laugh. Of course I had no idea what was just said but it was comical nonetheless. Another personal highlight, I had Starbucks twice! Tomorrow I leave for week with Kaitlyn and Ashlee for Spring Break 2007 Ireland!

Song of the Day: “Holiday in Spain” —Counting Crows