sick

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These past few days have been very odd. My hubby is on vacation... which in itself.. it a small miracle... but he has also managed to become sick... which is not good. He had started a new medication for his high cholesterol... and within 3 days... began peeing blood... having muscle soreness... and a slight fever. Needless to say... he has stopped the medication (and the doctor is aware).
So... while we are technically on vacation... we have not really gone anywhere. This is fine with me, as I have also been sick... so it has been sort of a "stay at home vacation" time for us.

Plus... my son and his wife are expecting their first child any day now... so perhaps it is a good thing that we are staying in the area.



Just over a year ago... I put a camera on lay-away at a local shop. This year has been really difficult financially... what with me traveling back and forth to PA so much... that I had barely made a dent in the payments.
However, my hubby surprised me and paid the camera completely off!!! ... and today I got to play with it for the first time. My daughter and I went out on the west mesa to the volcanoes... and tried to get a couple of photographs. It was very quickly getting dark... and it was severely overcast as a major storm was rolling in...



Having not even looked at the manual for the camera (*yah... I know)... I was sort of shooting blindly... and was really surprised by some of the shots when I got them unloaded and onto my computer tonight. This last one became my photo for the day :)


*all photos by Elaine A. Russell

58:365


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)

10:365


Somehow this weekend really got away from me. I love the photo above... because it reminds me to slooooooow dooooown my everyday activities... and to really appreciate what is happening in the NOW. I took this photo last week while running errands.. and I need to go back sometime and take a more leisurely shot.
The one of the snowman --- I took while driving down I-25 south ... heading home. It is a huge mass of tumbleweeds, fashioned into a snowman; facing the highway. It is fabulous.



And this one I took just a few minutes ago.... of my beloved Sabrina... waiting ever so patiently *not* for me to get off the computer... and take her for a walk. (which I will do )





Sometimes life feels like a series of snapshots. Here one minute.. gone the next. And it is..... and yet... if we try hard enough... we can learn to appreciate those moments in time. Maybe stretch them out a little.... savor them like a fine wine.
My honey is still sick. I am going to make a fire in the fireplace, heat up some wonderful pot roast leftovers, and put on a movie. Maybe I will make hot toddies....wrap him up in a warm blanket and forget about the world for a bit....

Living Simply tip for the day: If you can afford to; and have the ability to... adopt a pet. I realize that alot of living situations are not conducive to having a pet.. and not all people are able to have a pet (allergies, economics, etc)... but if you can....
Studies have shown that owning a pet can provide significant health benefits.
Pets can decrease your: Blood pressure, Cholesterol levels, Triglyceride levels, Feelings of loneliness, stress levels, and more.
Pets can increase your: opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities, as well as for socialization.

I know on a personal level, how very much having Sabrina in my life has increased my overall health.. and I would wish that on everyone....