so close and yet...

so far away :(


My commercial site is 95% done and I am READY to open shoppe. I await my domain company to officially launch me on their end with my correct web address (imagesby138.com).

I received my new 4GB Quad Core Dell yesterday but have had nothing but trouble trying to make the switch. First, I failed to keep the original, full PS software CD so I had to spend an hour with Adobe so they could verify ownership and give me an additional serial code. THEN, at some point after loading 5 or six other programs, my machine decided to crash, leaving me with blue screen errors at start up or a wallpaper with no toolbar and no way to even right click for anything. After 5 hours of this last night, including 2 on the phone with the Dell rep, I quit and am now back on my old Gateway.

This would be less painful if I had my brand new gorgeous Eizo ColorEdge CG monitor. But alas, the company that I ordered THAT from finally told me (2 weeks after I made the order!) that it was Eizo-backordered 3 weeks. Ai ai ai. What is a small business to do with such problems?! Murphy's Law seems to occur in 3s and in close succession. Hopefully, this will pay me up for a smooth and successful holiday card season ;) let us pray...

a.birthday.ballerina

At the risk of spoiling the invitation, here is the photo I used on E's invitations this year. I left it full color on the invites but was inspired to handcolor and age it as so after reading a cool new mag I just got in the mail.

1st Day of School

I can hardly believe this is my baby...

let.the.games.begin

1st game of the season :) GO #7!!!

AMERiCAN GiRLS

Guess where we went today for my niece's 7th?! Too much fun! GOOD food, too!)

active

I have been having thee WORST time with my color management the past few months! It is utterly useless to process any photos on a monitor that does not match what shows up when you print. SO here are 2 SOOC files (maybe the 1st ones I have ever shown!)

Cross your fingers that I can choose a monitor soon... there are 2 that are neck-and-neck in the running. I have so much to catch up on!!!

***UPDATE Aug23rd: I've decided on a monitor and on a new computer. AND I put my name on the D300 preorder list. I also updated the soccer photo of Shels with a SLIGHTLY PS'd one...

LB [again]

I know, I know... alot from this day. But I was happy to have "relaxed" a bit, technically speaking.

My 2 shrimps:

ABOVE: 1) Shark egg: they slit the top layer of the egg so we could see inside. This one was a tiger shark that was due any day now; 2) lorikeet; 3) duck: half in, half out; 4) the girls at the tide pool touch center.

L.B [cont.]

Day Trippin': Long Beach

We visited the Aquarium of the Pacific yesterday afternoon. MY! has it changed down there from a few years ago! I loved how all the shops and restaurants are within walking distance from the aquarium. Here are a few shots...

Len & I reminisced (sp?) our days of youth together, like the time we went to Catalina with too little money and no room reservation and almost missed the last boat back. It was also on that trip that a woman in her 50s asked Len if she could touch his calf...

Speaking of strange people, this man was definitely strange but very nice to the kids. He even pulled out a bit of magic before he called it quits for the night (and Daddy gave away his secret!) The girls watched from a bench front & center while they ate their ice cream cones.

Parker's Lighthouse (I'm lovin' my 18-200mm!)

more photos to come...

read.something.every.day

I took a break from my color management issues to take the girls to the Cerritos Library today...

FYI: I'm thinking I might start playing soccer again next month on an over 30 league. I'm just afraid it may kill me - or at least my knees!
I'm also going to take a photography class at the local JC. I'm hitting my head against the wall over here/// I may be too late to register for the latter... we shall see.