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I know how to take pictures in that I have a good eye for shots. Up until now, I’ve used a standard point-and-shoot digital camera with decent, but limited, results. What I don’t know (yet!) is how to fully control the taking of those shots when you can change as much or as little of the settings on your camera as you want. So I’ve been trying to read up on some tips, tutorials and other helpful how-to articles.
And, while this is nothing fancy, this is one of the things that’s so exciting about having a DSLR. I could never capture intentional motion blur before on my point and shoot. For example, you can’t get a waterfall flowing, you can only get it frozen. So when we were at Disney last Saturday for my birthday, I took two pics of the same fountain at Epcot to show the difference.
Here’s what the fountain would look like if you took it on a point-and-shoot. You “freeze” the water. Which is fine but it’s all you can do:
Whereas, this is what it looks like when you can tinker with f/stop and get a longer exposure:
Neat, right? (I think so!)
Of course, being able to “freeze” action can be cool too. And being able to adjust your camera for REALLY quick shots can lead to catching the drops of water as they fall in the sink. (I was experimenting in my kitchen sink the other day.) Something neat like this:
I’m still learning but I’m having a lot of fun doing it! 
Originally published at Given Eyes To See. You can comment here or there. Tags: m's birthday, photography and pics, walt disney world
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I have totally meant to make a post-birthday post for several days now but have been too busy to get to it. So here is a very brief (but photo-heavy) recap. More details to follow.
Wednesday 16th
My actual birthday. Love came home and surprised me by knocking on the door and when I answered, he had a cake with lit candles for me. 
I also got my gift. It’s a Canon EOS Rebel XS. (A model behind current, but still stupidly awesome!)
And, getting it factory reburbished, adding in some amazon gift cards I’d been saving from swagbucks and using the unexpected small bonus Love got at work, it took nothing out of the normal budget. Total cost was little more than a point-and-shoot! But it’s something I’ve wanted for years. To say I’m thrilled is an understatement. It’s an amazing gift I can enjoy and cherish for years and years.
After a quick dinner of leftover pizza (LOL so exciting right?) we ran out on a still rainy night to the theater to see the Avengers. It was really good; funny and entertaining.
Thursday 17th & Friday 18th
I don’t even remember now what I did those two days. The past week’s kinda a blur. LOL
Saturday 19th
We went to Disney to celebrate my birthday in an all-day sorta thing (since Wednesdays aren’t great birthday celebration days.) Enjoyed experimenting with my new camera. I’m still learning how to use it! I wore my tiara and everyone loved it. Guests and cast members alike complimented me on it. I figured with the year I had, I deserved to really celebrate this birthday.
Sunday 20th
Some errands and some lounging around because we were beat from walking around Disney!
Monday 21st
Today was the “family” birthday day. My sister has off on Mondays so my mom and I went down to her house and then all three of us went to The Clearwater Marine Aquarium. If you have seen or heard of the movie, Dolphin Tale, it’s based on a real dolphin named Winter who lives at the CMA.
(These two pictures are not Winter; they are Nick another dolphin that lives there. I did get pics of Winter – who is adorable – but none as impressive as these two so that’s why I am posting them instead.)
We also got some pics where they take shots on a green screen and put your image in with a background, so here’s one that sorta features Winter (plus my Mom, me and my sister) We’re holding one of Winter’s prosthetic tails. (She’s on tail # 18 at this point because she grows out of them and they refine them.)
After that, we went back to my sister’s house for cake! (Yes for those keeping track, my second birthday cake this year!)
I don’t have pics yet of my gifts from my mom and sister (mom got me a purse and two shirts and my sister got me a gift card to sephora!) because I knew if I stopped to take MORE pics, I’d never get this updated. It would be like next week before it got written up. LOL
So…whew!! That’s the quickie version of the past almost week of birthday goodness. Now it’s like 1am and I’m beat so I’m off to get ready for bed. I have a bunch of trees and orders to work on tomorrow. (The shop is looking a little bare right now but I’m working on restocking. If there’s something you want, just let me know and I can make a custom listing and put it at the top of the remake list!)
Big thanks to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes! (My facebook wall was FULL of wishes. It was awesome!)DSL
Originally published at Given Eyes To See. You can comment here or there. Tags: entertainment, family, general blather, love, phoenixfire designs, photography and pics, walt disney world
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Love & the Neurologist
Yesterday (Monday the 14th) Love had his follow-up with the neurologist. Turns out the CT scan he had done a few weeks ago was perfectly normal. See, Love has this “whooshing” which kinda pulses in his right ear. Had it for years. But, when the whole vertigo-turned-out-to-be-migraines attacks started a year and a half ago, the whooshing/pulsing got worse. And it seemed to throb more when an attack was eminent.
The general doc and the ENT dismissed it even though it bugs him. The neurologist thought there might be a small chance it was a narrowing of vessels in the base of the skull behind the ear. Even though he had previously gone through an MRI, the neuro said a CT with contrast (“CT-A” he called it) was the best way to see if Love had that problem. Turns out, nope, he doesn’t.
At this point, the neuro thinks it’s (a) unrelated to the migraines (b) not endangering his health nor indicative of health problems in any way and said there’s not really much more to be done. He said we can try following up with a different ENT for maybe a hearing test kinda thing but beyond that, there’s not really much to be done. As far as the neuro can tell, there is absolutely nothing neurologically wrong. Which is a great thing but still leaves us not knowing what the deal is with it.
The neurologist also wants to keep Love on the same migraine med (Propranolol) and at the same dosage for now since it seems to be doing a good job in helping prevent attacks. Love goes back in 3 months for re-evaluation. (Unless of course something drastic changes in which case of course we can call.)
At least though, it seems the migraines are under control and he’s now getting back to “normal” which is a nice relief for both of us.
May 16th & Hysterectomy
Tomorrow of course is my birthday. Yay? Boo? Eek? A little bit of all of the above and more I guess. This birthday is kinda stirring up all kinds of thoughts given it was the end of May last year when my whole what turned into my hysterectomy medical crisis started. It was May 29th when I wound up in the ER. So it’s strange to be almost a year later and comparing where I am now versus then and how much has happened in the past year. It’s almost overwhelming to catalog.
It seems like I’ve come so far in some ways and yet it seems like I still have so far to go. I’m 7 months post-op and mostly feeling pretty good. Though I know I’m still now 100%. Some days I get aches and many days my belly button continues to be cranky at me and it hurts but it’s not in the way that it was when this was new. It’s in the “old war wound” sorta way. You know what I mean? That old injury kinda way where it’s just not quite the same as it used to be.
For the most part, I don’t think about it a lot but I still have some melancholy occasionally. And getting another year old is a little difficult in that sad sorta way because some days I feel less feminine because of my surgery. I feel kinda…damaged. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret the surgery and it was the right choice. There’s just a little bit of sadness on bad days that it WAS needed if that makes sense.
Some days I feel like people look at me different now; like they can see I’m less of a woman. Which again, I know is absurd and illogical but those kinds of things wriggle around in my brain some days. So, getting older kinda reinforces that kinda of “less pretty” / “less feminine” voice. It’s like a type of grief in a way but it’s kinda like part of my brain versus the other part.
I don’t know. I just know that it being my birthday in less than an hour is stirring up a myriad of emotions.
Wrapping Up
So that’s about enough babbling for now I guess. This entry is too long as it is. Nothing much going on tomorrow. It’s a Wednesday so Love has to work. Saturday we’re heading over to Disney to celebrate my birthday then. And the following Monday, I’m getting together with my Mom and sister for a family birthday. Looking forward to both events.
And with that, good bye 34. See you on the flip side at 35.
Originally published at Given Eyes To See. You can comment here or there. Tags: hysterectomy, love, m's birthday, sickness and health issues
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As usual, I’ve been updating PhoenixFire Designs lately and I’ve added some new items and restocked some previously sold items. Here’s a look at what’s new and back in stock in the shop!
Dew Drop Necklace
Glowing blue micro-faceted Rainbow Moonstone Briolette is nestled on a verdigris patina brass leaf charm. On a sterling silver plated chain of 18 inches.
Summer Tree
This pendant is like summer in it’s fullest, more verdant abundance. The stunning rich, emerald color of dark green aventurine gemstone is set in sterling silver plated wire.
Steampunk Penny Farthing Brass Bicycle Necklace
This Steampunk necklace features a vintage inspired Penny Farthing bicycle charm in brass, accented with watch gears, roses, butterfly charm and crystal on 18″ chain.
Also, back in stock…
 
 
And, as always, custom orders welcome! All these and more available in the shop!
Originally published at Given Eyes To See. You can comment here or there. Tags: phoenixfire designs, photography and pics
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So my day started off like this:
Because at 6:30am as Love is leaving for work, he calls me and says his car won’t start. He’s got to get to work (obviously) so he’s taking mine. Boo. I worry a little but go back to sleep.
When I get up, I walk downstairs to the car and try to start it myself. whuurrr is about all I get from it. Even the dash lights don’t want to come on. Battery is clearly dead. But it is just the battery? Is the alternator ok? The starter? So I start researching the cost of batteries. Apparently, they’re a lot more expensive then I remembered. Nothing under $100 and some as much as $180!
Then it gets even worse because I realize there is only $89 in my PayPal account. And Love doesn’t get paid until NEXT Friday. The cheapest I can find is more than I have in my account!
So I post about the problem on facebook, hoping maybe someone was looking for an excuse to buy something. And someone did!
With fundage in my account, I called AAA. See, without knowing if it was just a battery or not, I didn’t want to try to jump it and drive it somewhere because if it needed more, I couldn’t afford it, then the car would be stuck and would need towing and…ugh. Mess. BUT…AAA has a mobile battery service. They come out, check your battery, alternator and starter. Then they will sell you a battery (if you want/need) and install it for you too – no extra charge.
Guy came out, tested it. Yup, battery was hosed. Good news though, the alternator and starter were fine! He installed the new one for us, helped us put in the security code thingy (part of the chipped key anti-theft thingy – yes, that’s the technical term) and I was able to pay him thanks to my sale.
And thus, Love has a functioning car again with a brand new battery (with 3 year free replacement warranty!)
Stressful day but a happy ending.
(Of course, my account is empty again and that was going to be money to spend towards my birthday but a functioning car is more important. And, I’ve got like aweek to get some more sales in the shop between then and now to hopefully replenish what we had to spend. Come on sales!)
Originally published at Given Eyes To See. You can comment here or there. Tags: car issues, customer service, finances, general blather, love, phoenixfire designs
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Previous 
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
I still get some deep aches & my belly button annoys me most days but I'm a lot more "normal" now 
