Candid Studios

I can't believe I've been so lax about keeping up with this! I've been really busy the last few months, so that's my excuse. I was making tons of new needlefelted things for a holiday craft fair, making Christmas presents, and I thought that I wasn't busy enough so I took it upon myself to take on a sign painting job and move to a new place, too. So, there. That's why I've been without words online lately. I feel terrible that I haven't kept up with my friends - and online is the only way that we have been communicating - and I don't know if any of them actually READ this, but if they do, I'm sorry I've been unreachable. I'll try to be better. :o)en

I'm gearing up (as best I can) for the Holiday House coming up on the 4, 5, & 6th of December. I recently (two weeks ago) messed up my back pretty badly, so I haven't been too into repetitive actions with my arm....which is what is involved when needle felting. I'll hopefully be posting more info later, but I have to rush off now to work on a sign painting that I'm getting paid for..... ....good thing too, because I need two more tires and I think my fuel line has sprung a leak. (crap.) :o)

My "reunion season" is officially over. I had a lot of fun at each one of the three reunions I attended. In some ways, they were VERY similar - and in others, very different. At the first one - in Spokane - the students put it on and the first night it was held at a "tavern" - but really it was held at the large gathering space OWNED by the tavern so it was cool that it was just the attendees, and not a bunch of other people randomly walking in and out of the party. They handed out goodie bags when you signed in - and they were specially made recycled bags printed with the school name and graduating year on them. Inside was a pint glass with the school name and "Class of 1989 Reunion" on them - a printed lanyard with a nicely made nametag that people could wear - a dvd of the photo montage - and some specially printed M&M's.... They had a huge table full of munchies (deli trays, breads, cheeses, fruits, and cakes) that people could graze on whi...

I know it's been a while since I've last posted...but my reader won't mind. I have now been to the three reunions - all 20-year, all high-school, all done. This last one was nice because I had no butterflies, no pre-conceived ideas, no worries about what may or may not happen or who I may or may not see. Of course there was a few people I would've really liked to see at this last one, but in my mind I knew they weren't coming, so it wasn't really that much of a let down. I took loads of pics at this one - well, "loads" more than I did at the others. I always find it awkward to take "candid" shots of people in crowds...only because you don't know who the flash is going to blind - you don't know if someone is randomly giving you the finger or making a face that tells the viewer of the pic (later on) that you should NOT be pointing a camera at them - and thank goodness for digital, because with a normal camera, you never know if you mo...

If anyone's in the vicinity of Newport, Oregon on Sunday, Sept.13, come by the yard sale!!! It's going to be nice to get rid of a lot of stuff I don't use or need...and the money I raise is going to pay for my trip to the third and final high school reunion in two weeks...but I'm at the point of being fed up with it. I still have to price everything. I was going to do it as I went, but decided that it'd take too long - especially if I kept finding duplicate things that in the end could be grouped together. Mom & Louise want me to sell some of their things, too. It should be a good sale....hopefully successful! :o)

I guess I should update everyone (or those of you who read this).... I'm over the angsty-ness of the picture fiasco. I had a good time at the reunion...and that's all there is to say about that. I'm a little less than one month away from the last of the three reunions this year. Really looking forward to the trip since I'll be able to drive all over the place in my rented car! Last time I was in Seattle, I had to either rely on a friend to take me around - or the bus. It'll be nice to be able to go where I want, when I want. I'm thinking about visiting some different places - maybe even venture up to Port Townsend for a day. Spend some time with my friends Michelle, Christy, and see my brother's family in Issaquah....and OBVIOUSLY go by the Buckaroo, since that was my home for four years! I'm in the process of "cleaning" my apartment - going through things - to prepare for a yard sale so I can raise money for the trip. I haven't given...

I thought that when someone points a camera at me and clicks the shutter, life is over as I know it. Well, that's only partly true. It's only over if they post the hideous photos online and everyone can see it. I don't usually EVER make a straight face if someone points a camera at me, and now I have proof that my tactics occasionally backfire on me. The picture in question looks as though the old me (from when I was about 19) got eaten by the me of today and the me of today can't make a straight face - but can definitely show off her massive neck muscles - because the old me gave the new me indigestion. Dammit. To those of you few people who are actually reading this, please don't EVER EVER EVER point a camera at me. I guarantee I'll make a face, and then i'll go through this whole cycle of self-loathing again. Please, as a favor to me. It's unbearable. At least wait until the me of today has digested the old me and is back to a weight that actually ...

I have another reunion tomorrow, but this one's here in town. It's actually a few yards away from my house (at least the picnic is)...so I won't have to worry about travel costs, etc. I'm hoping to reconnect with a few people, but with the internet, it's almost as if conversations will just continue on from when we last "talked" [online]. I was hoping to have the painting on the front of my car done by this time, but I've been so caught up with other things I've lost the motivation. Hopefully after a week or so, I'll get back on the horse and get it done. Just an update, nothing mind-blowing. :o)

I know in my last post I said it was hot...well, it got hotter. Luckily, I was smart enough to NOT go camping with the fam on Saturday and Sunday. It was supposed to reach something like 113 degrees where they were going. They eventually decided to rent a room at a hotel, but damn....that's just too darned hot. The reunion was fun...re-connected with some people....cleared the air between myself and someone who personality-wise resembled James Spader's character "Steff" in Pretty in Pink...and got to see a lot of people I probably wouldn't see otherwise. I'll be heading home tomorrow (Monday) EARLY, and I go to work tomorrow night...so hopefully I get home in enough time to take a nap. THEN, coming up THIS NEXT weekend is the second reunion of the three. Luckily, it's virtually in my backyard, so I won't have to go too far. :o)en

Trust me, that's not "hot" in a good way. I knew it was going to be hot when I drove over here, (newport to spokane), but I would've thought that somewhere along the columbia gorge - that's full of WATER - that some breezes might come off of it and cool down the corridor a little. I was SO wrong. I even stopped at Multomah Falls (had to use the facilities - which I didn't expect to be as much of a tourist stop...I just needed to pee)...and it was so hot there I had to catch my breath! I've been spoiled at the coast. If it hits 80 degrees, we're all complaining of heat. I had forgotten what heat was like! I've even been to Texas in the middle of one of their hottest summers (well, up until that time in 1994)...but I'm suprised that you can forget that kind of horrid discomfort! All I can think is "how am I going to try to look cute if my face is melting off!?" If you want to know how hot it is, look up weather and spokane washington...