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Today has been an exhausting day... but an awesome one. Today has been a day for wonderful conversations... wonderful food... and a decadent nap (post benadryl for allergies-- which are really ugly today).

We went to dinner at Los Cuates... which was soooooo good. I really missed being able to get green chile ... and I took this photo (see below) looking out the restaurant window onto the sunny street. This was one of only 2 photos I took today... but I am happy with it.

I am discovering how sick I have been this year. ... and the past few days I have woken to massive bruising all over my legs. Twitches, tremors, headaches... close comrades of mine for the past few days as well. And so... I am on a quest to watch my diet a bit better. I did really well in PA despite all that was going on... but I need to be more dedicated if I am going to get back my strength and my health.

And in the meantime... I have been accepted to show a piece in a New York City gallery... provided I can get a piece of my art ready and in the mail in the next day or so... and so... back to ART!


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Migraine... (I actually went back thru my blogposts and discovered that it's day 10 of this horrible migraine). And it's going as well as you'd think it would be. However... I did help my mom get some financial stuff settled today... and we did take a drive... and I did get some photos... and I did visit briefly with a friend of mine from high school... and it was all good.

If I can finish the paperwork that needs done... and help my mom with a few things on the "To Do" list... then I feel like I will have done as much as I can for this trip. Not to say that I've done alot... as I feel like I have been pretty much useless (*but I have tried... I think it's just that I have been sick and I always feel pretty much useless when I am sick)... but right now I am overwhelmed... and ready to be going home...

(and in the words of my very wise daughter... it's time).

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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So ... February has been an interesting month.

I am applying for a photography grant... the deadline being in May. It is very exciting... and very intimidating at the same time. I have never applied for a grant before... so this is a first.
On the plus side... I was recently commissioned by a local group to take photos for them --- part of an on-going public relations kind of thing. This is extremely exciting, and I am so thrilled to be asked to participate... and today I worked on some photos for this project. Being as it is a potentially long-term project; it fits in nicely with my goals/ intentions for the grant. Funny how things work out like that.
And, provided I get the grant money... I will be able to replace at least some of the photography equipment I lost/sold last summer. That would be awesome.

I was "down" most of the month with my Lupus... which is frustrating... but not exactly critical. It had the bonus effect of forcing me to rest, re-group, reflect and re-organize a bit. I still have an awful lot I would like to do... and alot I am behind in doing... but at least I feel like I am moving in the right direction.

The book I was asked to participate in... and in which I have several photos being published...is almost ready to go to print. This is soooooooooo fabu. This will be my first publication in a book... but hopefully not my last.

I have been keeping steady with the FlickR 365 photo a day challenge, the 52 Weeks of Creations challenge, and the ECHO project bi-weekly photo challenges. It has been "challenging" some days... to say the least.... but I love photography, and these projects have been really encouraging me to stretch my creativity a bit.

But most on my mind these past few days have been family. My father was diagnosed with bone cancer... and recent reports from the doctors are not very promising at all. But I know my dad. I know that he is made of tougher fiber than most. In an essence, he said that he will "do whatever it takes"... in order to get better. He is strong, he has a great support system, and a profound faith.
My husband's sister was also in the hospital, very sick... with a staggeringly high blood pressure. She is home now... and hopefully well on the way to mending.
And I have seen 2 close family friends pass away this month.


Life is so short. Sometimes events make it feel even shorter and more precious. And that is good, I think. ... it keeps us from getting complacent... tired....weary... and numb of mind. For me, at least... it has encouraged me to keep life so much more sacred... to enjoy these moments... tough as they may be at times.

So. Here's to March. Let's see what March 2010 has in store....♥

(*photos by Elaine A. Russell)

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photo by Elaine A. Russell


Some days are darker than others. Today was a difficult day. Unfortunately... there are alot of things going on ... on a personal level...troubles coming knocking on the doors of people I care about... things I really have no control over... and I need to remember that... and have faith that things will work out in the best way possible.

Conversely... there are alot of really good things happening lately. Unexpected support and encouragement from "out of the blue"... kudos from people I greatly admire...positive feedback and opportunities. It's all been wonderful.

And... I am in a flare-up of my Lupus... which means I haven't been getting much done in the way of work that I need to be doing. SO... it is frustrating to say the least. I need to get better and get back to work. It is actually a good thing... as my body is forcing me to rest up and get stronger... to re-focus and re-organize...to solidify my aesthetic and forge on ahead.

And that is an awesome challenge... and one I am looking forward to embracing.

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Today has been a rough day..... feeling the pains of the Lupus. And so... beyond keeping up with the laundry, cleaning and dishes... I haven't gotten much done. Last summer I took a trip to see family in PA... and I have a bunch of photos from that trip on my computer. The photo equipment I had at that time was dying... and the lenses had spots all over them. As a result, all the photos I took on that trip need to be retouched... and it is something I have not made the time to do yet. So today, I worked on them for a bit.
These are some of those photos.

The pictures here were all taken deep in the forests of PA. I love it there. And I thought that ... being in the middle of winter... some greenery would be welcome. .. hope you enjoy....

all photos by Elaine A. Russell

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..............................................photos by Elaine A. Russell

well.... after much denial on my part... I think that I am having another flare up of my lupus. Not a huge deal... just something I have to deal with every so often. Lupus flares are characterized by (amongst other things)... severe fatigue, rashes, pain (particularly joint pains), fevers, stomach discomforts/ nausea, headaches, dizziness, mental fog, etc ... (Lupus Foundation website).


There are awesome perks to this though:

--It forces me to slow down

--I get to sleep more (I love my bed)

--It makes me prioritize and focus (if you only have an hour of energy at a stretch ... what can I get done)

--I can catch up on some movie watching and reading while I rest, etc

--I get to snuggle more with Sabrina

...............................and so.... another adventure begins.

So. I apologize for not posting a Gallery Sneak Peak this week... but I will hopefully do better next week. And... in my few hours of awake and up time today... I had an awesome date with my hubby. We had dinner at Flying Star, and coffee at Barnes and Noble while we talked and browsed through magazines. And ... we stopped at Krispy Kreme donuts on our way home so that we have sweets for breakfast ♥♥♥

sleep glorious sleep

--------------------------------------photo by Elaine A. Russell

I guess I've been doing too much lately. One of the good things about having Lupus is that if you are doing too much... your body just quits. No slowing down of the merry go round. We're talking full throttle stop. Sometimes you get whiplash from the neck jerk if ya know what I mean.

Anyway -- today I slept until 3 in the afternoon. Yep. Like 15 hours. Now, to put it in perspective a bit.. there are MANY nights that I can't sleep for crap. And, on the times when I do actually sleep.. I am broken up by nightmares and nightsweats.

So -- I know I woke up a couple of times with stuff... but dang.

I love my bed.