Have Camera. Will Shoot.

Day 365

2010-12-31T16:24:00.000-04:00

I did it! While everyone else is ringing in the new year, I will be drinking to never having to update this blog ever again. Thanks to all my real life friends for giving me subjects to shoot, my iFriends for the comments, and to the friends that overlap for not telling me to f^&* off the many times when I deserved it!

A special shout out to LJ and Donna for keeping me motivated. It was great getting to know you picture by picture!

Day 364

2010-12-30T19:53:00.000-04:00

The bungee jumping polar bears. I can't go bungee jumping due to doctor's orders, but if I did I would totally be like the one in the middle with my hands over my eyes. I probably wouldn't be brave enough to even peek. I think my mantra for 2011 will be to 'jump and enjoy the ride'!

Day 363

2010-12-29T20:47:00.002-04:00

Saddest tire swing I ever saw.

Day 362

2010-12-28T17:40:00.002-04:00

I could not figure out a way to make the Abacus Christmasy. Either I was cranky before Christmas (totally plausible, and most probable) or I have started to lose my decorator's touch. I guess 'decorator's touch' is sort of relative, as no one with real style would ever put a huge abacus above their fireplace.

Day 361

2010-12-27T18:51:00.001-04:00

We had a theme to our Christmas this year. Add in a few iTunes gift cards, and I am sure we had an effect on Apple stock. I think we are maturing. In past years, we wouldn't dare buy anything Apple in December in case something new came out during January's MacWorld.

Day 360

2010-12-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

His chubby cheeks usually standout, but with all of us eating like crazy we all have the chubby cheeks this week.

Day 359

2010-12-25T16:43:00.000-04:00

Best present ever!

Day 358

2010-12-24T16:28:00.000-04:00

The tree from my dog's point of view.

Day 357

2010-12-23T20:33:00.000-04:00

I am not much of a cake person, so for my birthday I usually do pie or this ever yummy tort. Of course, I had to whip out the Wilton clowns to make my very own tort wreck!

For those unfamiliar with the original, check out http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Day 356

2010-12-22T21:22:00.000-04:00

I will be in middle age tomorrow, but I still have no problems shaking presents to see what is under the tree. So far I have refrained from slitting tape and re-taping gifts. Maybe I am too old too peek.

Day 355

2010-12-21T20:47:00.000-04:00

My hands are always cold. Not just my hands, but all my extremities. My hands, my feet, and my butt. That is right. It is so big, I classify it as an extremity.

Day 354

2010-12-20T22:22:00.000-04:00

Clementines! The fruit of Christmas! I much prefer the chocolate oranges, but I don't think the Canada Food Guide accepts them as a serving of fruit.

Day 353

2010-12-19T18:18:00.000-04:00

The first time I got to write Aunt Zoe on something! I may have shed a tear over the occasion. Or I may have shed a tear over the pain from all the papercuts. Stupid wrapping paper!

Day 352

2010-12-18T20:34:00.000-04:00

I have a collection of Santa with the years marked on them, and the box tells how Santa was seen during that time. I always laugh at this one as it has AD after the year. Isn't that assumed? I mean, it is a Christmas ornament of a Santa. There wouldn't ever be a Before Christ Christmas tree ornament.

Day 351

2010-12-17T20:27:00.000-04:00

Don't be surprised if the next two weeks are completely of ornaments. Just warning you. ;)

Day 350

2010-12-16T20:23:00.000-04:00

Ah Christmas! The time when the front steps start to get icy or snowy, and I put stuff on the railing just to make it more difficult to grab on to. Why yes, I am on the safety committee at work.

Day 349

2010-12-15T20:49:00.000-04:00

Warm, buttery shortbread. It makes me want everyday to be 10 days before Christmas. You know, without all the stress of it being 10 days before Christmas.

Day 348

2010-12-14T16:22:00.000-04:00

It hit 14 and sunny today. I left work early and took the dog to the park. He was in a very playful mood. this duck wasn't.

Day 347

2010-12-13T19:34:00.001-04:00

A lot of babies were born in my social circle this year. These are a couple of recent thank you cards. I think I am maturing. My friendships usually never make it 9 months past the friend pees on a stick, so I don't usually get a thank you card.

Day 346

2010-12-12T14:39:00.000-04:00

My nephew and SIL. I am completely convinced there is a similar picture of my mom and brother, and he has that exact same expression on his face. This is the first picture where I thought they looked alike.

Day 345

2010-12-11T18:22:00.000-04:00

Well, I had Darren with me when I stopped to get groceries. The bill was $279. This is for a family of 2. Granted the family of 2 includes a person that likes fresh produce even in winter, a meatitarian that doesn't get meat very often, and a spoiled rotten dog. Next weekend is our Christmas shopping trip. I will leave Darren home, and I bet it will be less.

Day 344

2010-12-10T22:56:00.001-04:00

You knew it was coming.

Day 343

2010-12-09T18:15:00.000-04:00

I was out shopping today at lunch and saw this cute shirt for Callum. I thought it was pretty fitting after yesterday's post. I probably only bought it to fill the day's picture. I am totally grasping at straws for picture ideas. Don't be surprised if tomorrow's picture is of a straw.

Day 342

2010-12-08T20:17:00.000-04:00

We have a lot of birthdays in our family in December. It is what happens when you are an Irish Catholic family and it is 9 months after St. Paddy's day.

Day 341

2010-12-07T20:58:00.000-04:00

I ordered a few books for Callum for Christmas. They have a lot of pictures and very little words. Darren also likes pictures and no story, albeit different pictures :P.

Day 340

2010-12-06T22:01:00.002-04:00

Got milk? Cause I got 6 dozen cookies that need to be washed down.

Day 339

2010-12-05T17:55:00.000-04:00

Powder sugar can really fly!

Day 338

2010-12-04T18:47:00.000-04:00

I have been fighting a cold for weeks. You know the feeling. Scratchy throat. Chills. Feeling like you are on something, but you aren't. I have killed a lot of these trying to prevent that scratchy throat from turning into a runny nose or full blown cough.

Day 337

2010-12-03T21:38:00.000-04:00

The weekend flyers seem really weak for the first weekend in December. I bet this some weird indicator of the economy, like when lipstick or canned soup sales go up. I wish I knew what it meant, but I am really too tired to think any more about it. I will just sip my wine while I see what is on sale.

Day 336

2010-12-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

I call this the season of torture. I buy things for love ones that I want myself and then I torture myself by not buying duplicates of everything.

Day 335

2010-12-01T15:31:00.001-04:00

I have to bring a gag gift to dinner tonight. Nothing makes me gag more than a box of boogers.

Day 334

2010-11-30T21:21:00.000-04:00

The warm snap we recently had totally confused my spring bulbs. The frost will kill them right? I guess I shouldn't be disappointed that they don't come up in the spring. At least I will have something to blame other than my lack of a green thumb.

Day 333

2010-11-29T20:57:00.000-04:00

I am still disappointed that you don't get a toblerone bar with the festive special. Yes, I have a hard time adapting to change.

Day 332

2010-11-28T15:34:00.000-04:00

Those cheeks!

Day 331

2010-11-27T16:42:00.000-04:00

Well, I was having a craptacular week until I checked the mail. This cheque was waiting for me. I knew a cheque was waiting for me, but I did not realize it was this amount. I am usually really good with keeping track of money, but this one completely fell through the cracks. I will never make fun of friends who keep their investments in pesos again.

Day 330

2010-11-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

My joshua tree.

Day 329

2010-11-25T21:54:00.000-04:00

A couple of friends texted me wondering if I wanted to meet them for dinner as they were heading to my favorite pub in my 'hood. I had just finished dinner, but I am always up for girl chat and dessert. Both were much needed!

Day 328

2010-11-24T20:48:00.000-04:00

The leftovers when the carnivore in the house orders the pizza. Our dog has no idea how lucky he is to live with a veggie lover!

Day 327

2010-11-23T19:26:00.000-04:00

I bought a new lock, and because I am a grade 8 boy listening to Metallica and thinking of Alyssa Milano (I wonder what the 2010 equivalent to this is?) I had to put the dial to 666.

Day 326

2010-11-22T22:02:00.000-04:00

I love that in my neighbourhood Kraft Dinner is a graffiti worthy swear word.

Day 325

2010-11-21T19:03:00.000-04:00

Every time I buy fennel I have the same checkout boy. He never knows what it is. Today I told him it tastes like licorice. He then was interested. What is it about the Y chromosome that will only eat vegetables that taste like candy?

Day 324

2010-11-20T18:29:00.000-04:00

I guess I am going to have to accept that patio season is finally over. :(

Day 323

2010-11-19T19:04:00.000-04:00

The other Zoe in my boy's life. She is 12 weeks old and Max is completely smitten. And by smitten I mean he tries to hump her every chance he gets. She doesn't seem to mind, the tart!

Day 322

2010-11-18T21:51:00.000-04:00

His red haired mom cheated on his red goateed dad with Apu.

Day 321

2010-11-17T20:01:00.000-04:00

This is me warming my butt and hands against the fire. I got caught out in the rain while walking Max.

Day 320

2010-11-16T22:59:00.002-04:00

Henry out celebrating his mom's 40th birthday. He lasted an hour. Sadly I didn't last much longer.

Sometime after I've had a few drinks, I will tell you how I taught him how to stab himself with a knife. It was how "It was only a butter knife" became the night's anthem. Hey, at least I didn't push him in front of a moving car.

Day 319

2010-11-15T19:10:00.000-04:00

And the scrapping season begins.

Day 318

2010-11-14T19:04:00.000-04:00

I had my whole Sunday planned out, and then I surfed some house porn. I found a house and instead of Darren's usual response "um...wasn't there a stabbing there last week" he thought it looked nice. So we did a drive by, and this is a shot from the front lawn.

Day 317

2010-11-13T17:57:00.000-04:00

We have been nibbling at the last piece of pie all day. It was looking pretty straggly by the time we fought over it at dinner.

Day 316

2010-11-12T18:27:00.000-04:00

The bottom of a pringles can. If only it was bottomless. I guess it is a good thing, because if I had unlimited potato chips I would be the opposite of bottomless.

Day 315

2010-11-11T20:36:00.000-04:00

We have had heavy, torrential rain for what seems like forever. Today the sun was out. It was gorgeous. Especially today in a city that has a strong tie to the Navy.

Day 314

2010-11-10T21:55:00.000-04:00

We curlers know what is important!

Day 313

2010-11-09T20:24:00.000-04:00

Apparently anchor climbing is a concern here. Also not using the word 'the'.

Day 312

2010-11-08T22:21:00.000-04:00

This is the ladies' locker room at the curling club. Yep. That is underwear. You think rock stars leave a mess, you should see a hotel room after the Norwegian team takes off their pajama pants. Curlers put Charlie Sheen to shame.

Day 311

2010-11-07T18:28:00.000-04:00

The beginnings of a spicy soup.

Day 310

2010-11-06T18:22:00.000-03:00

Another dreary day. At least it is warm, but the whole city is wondering when this rain will stop. The faithful dog walkers out there are wondering even more.

Day 309

2010-11-05T22:36:00.001-03:00

A wet drive home from the curling club. I am so glad I am not driving, as I totally thought this was in focus.

Day 308

2010-11-04T18:56:00.000-03:00

I am trying to get him out for a walk before it pours. Not going to happen I guess. He is a little stubborn. Okay, a lot stubborn and due to his low center of gravity I have no ability to move him without his only motivator - food. Sadly we have so much in common.

Day 307

2010-11-03T21:51:00.001-03:00

Long evening at the salon! My evening consisted of a head full of tin foil and now my hair smells and looks like grape candy. I have no idea if it tastes like grape candy. I was thinking I would never know due to all the chemicals, and then I wondered which had more chemicals, the hair or the candy. I should never ponder life's big questions after a night of tin foil head.

Day 306

2010-11-02T20:48:00.000-03:00

My summer tires. I was just thinking this morning that this is probably the latest I have ever had the summer tires on. Of course this jinxed it, and we ended up with snow this afternoon. I had a moment of panic, thinking of driving home in the first snow of winter with summer tires. Thankfully the roads were cleared for the commute home. For some reason, a Purolator truck still managed to hit a taxi cab resulting in a crazy traffic jam.

Day 305

2010-11-01T19:25:00.000-03:00

I may have miscalculated the number of kids this year. I have lots of leftovers that will get me through the long stretch before the Christmas chocolates are out.

Day 304

2010-10-31T19:16:00.000-03:00

Callum did not like being a football. I think my brother's heart broke a little.

Day 303

2010-10-30T18:13:00.000-03:00

The witch stopped by for a visit. She was probably texting when the broom went down.

Day 302

2010-10-29T20:56:00.000-03:00

2 more days of willpower and then they will be the neighbours' problem.

Day 301

2010-10-28T20:49:00.000-03:00

It is raining out and the leaves are falling. It is days from Halloween. I should be searching for a warm scarf. Well, it hit the high teens today. I pulled out the sandals.

Day 300

2010-10-27T19:34:00.001-03:00

I never thought I would make it to day 300. It is all down hill from here! Of course that hill is scattered with wet leaves making it very easy to slip and fall.

Day 299

2010-10-26T21:00:00.000-03:00

Who would put two skulls in front of a big blow up ghost? A desperate housewife, possibly?

Day 298

2010-10-25T22:34:00.001-03:00

Nothing quite puts the fear in you like getting home to the business card of a mountie stuck in your door. Doubly so when you ignored the first card. In my defense, the first card didn't have note to call. It was a Friday evening, I was tired, and I enjoyed playing the game "where will I be deported". I took the second card seriously.

Day 297

2010-10-24T19:23:00.000-03:00

You can never have enough sock monkeys.

Day 296

2010-10-23T19:28:00.000-03:00

Spent the day in Moncton, aka the city that even the river left.

A big shout out to my bil and sil that I discovered today read this blog. It was great spending the day having a glimpse of our future. Old people - you gotta love 'em.

Day 295

2010-10-22T22:21:00.000-03:00

This is my winnings from last year's curling season. I guess you can now call me a professional!

No one will ever get rich from curling.

Day 294

2010-10-21T19:56:00.001-03:00

So my plan for this shot was to show the water drops on the lens and explain how it sucks to walk in the rain, because the droplets make it hard to see. Of course, once I take off my glasses I am close to legally blind. I thought I was focusing on the clear glass, but that is not what showed up. Not a bad picture for a blind person. At least I know that I can continue this hobby should I ever actually lose total sight. Although I suppose then I would have no idea what the photo would look. People would tell me it is awesome, because it is cruel not to be nice to a blind person.

Day 293

2010-10-20T19:51:00.001-03:00

It is funny that the end to a stressful day and the beginning of a fun night requires the same tool.

Day 292

2010-10-19T19:30:00.000-03:00

The money fairy showed up! I went to the bank machine on the weekend, but their server was down. I kept forgetting to go back, so I have been without cash for a couple of days. Then I put my hand in my hoodie's pocket and pulled out a ten! Woo Hoo!

I also like that the money matches my hoodie!

I also like that they are both purple! A good reminder for everyone that tomorrow is "Wear Purple To Commemorate the Suicides Caused By Homophobia".

Day 291

2010-10-18T21:19:00.000-03:00

When did the sweet potato fry replace the regular fry? I bet it was when restaurants stopped using trans-fats. They had to replace the delicious fat with sugar to ensure people would eat them.

Day 290

2010-10-17T19:29:00.000-03:00

I am trying to get Darren to eat healthier. The one piece of broccoli is his way of telling me to shut up.

Day 289

2010-10-16T21:10:00.000-03:00

"Daddy's finger isn't as good as Mommy's nipple, but it will have to do."

Callum was 1 month old today!

Day 288

2010-10-15T17:39:00.000-03:00

I guess this was a warning of the weather. Holy crap did it rain this afternoon.

Day 287

2010-10-14T19:52:00.000-03:00

Having a beach sign next to a changing colour tree is just cruel.

(My artistic take on this was that the sign is blurry as the thoughts of going swimming are getting further and further away. Totally planned it. Ah huh)

Day 286

2010-10-13T20:34:00.000-03:00

Not to sound too much like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory, but having the flatware at funny angles was a bit troubling. Thankfully the server brought the relaxing juice, aka red wine, to the table quickly.

Day 285

2010-10-12T18:46:00.002-03:00

I have an alibi, I swear.

Day 284

2010-10-11T15:53:00.000-03:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 283

2010-10-10T15:47:00.000-03:00

Today is 10/10/10. My big plan was to take a photo at exactly 10:10. And by big plan, I mean I got up early to be home from the dog park in time to get the picture. I took a couple of pictures before 10:10 to see if the lighting, exposure, aperture setting (insert other fancy camera terms here) was perfect, all the time thinking "man, I am totally rocking this photography thing". Then 10:10 came, and I was all ready for my big moment when the battery died.

Day 282

2010-10-09T17:06:00.000-03:00

My boys.

Day 281

2010-10-08T19:42:00.000-03:00

It isn't a good sign that the stuff marked intensive and rescue is being used before Thanksgiving. I will be one big skin flake by Christmas.

Day 280

2010-10-07T20:16:00.000-03:00

The teenager in me is thinking: The cupcake doesn't have icing and the coke is diet, so this is a totally a healthy meal.

The twenty-something in me is thinking: We will be adding rum to that coke, right? It is only 65 calories a shot, so do it.

The thirty-something is thinking: Don't even think about it. You will be up all night with heartburn and you need a solid 8 hours because you have a big meeting in the morning.

Can you predict how boring I will be by the time I hit my mid-forties?

Day 279

2010-10-06T20:02:00.000-03:00

Kind of early for Halloween decorations. I will give it a pass since they just moved in and are probably excited about the new house.

Day 278

2010-10-05T20:21:00.000-03:00

These flowers are mocking me! I planted them in the spring and with my fabulous gardening skills they died instantly. All summer, through every bbq, brunch, or drinks on the deck someone commented that the planter would be a great place for flowers. I should have kept the receipt from the gardening store, laminated it, and then put it on a stick in the planter.

This weekend, the first weekend in October, the flowers bloomed. It is too late in the season to invite anyone over for any kind of anything on the deck. Besides my dedicated readers, no one will ever see these flowers.

Day 277

2010-10-04T21:04:00.000-03:00

The look I got when I told him that his pool was going to be put away for the winter. I don't think he really understood, but he definitely didn't like the word winter. None of us do, Max, none of us do.

Day 276

2010-10-03T18:43:00.000-03:00

Watching the humans enjoy brunch.

Day 275

2010-10-02T18:13:00.000-03:00

I realize it is October, but I was in denial until I saw this.

Day 274

2010-10-01T19:57:00.000-03:00

I have no idea how old kids are when they need a bib. I have a lot to learn before they actual leave the kid at my house.

Day 273

2010-09-30T20:36:00.000-03:00

Fishermen's Friend. 'Tis the season.

Day 272

2010-09-29T21:34:00.000-03:00

I feel guilty reading a trashy paperback, but really Eric and Sookie are so much better on paper. That piano girl just can't act.

Day 271

2010-09-28T19:19:00.000-03:00

So this situation is a pretty good representation of my life. I can continue on the road home or take an exit, but no one will tell me where this exit is going to take me.

Day 270

2010-09-27T20:28:00.000-03:00

Normally feet gross me out, but aren't these the cutest?

Day 269

2010-09-26T17:43:00.001-03:00

This is a friend who is the lead in the female version of the Odd Couple. I didn't take a picture of her and the other lead together, because the other lead is a skanky bitch.

Support community theatre and all the drama that goes with it.

Day 268

2010-09-25T18:42:00.001-03:00

Max follows the person with the pie.

Day 267

2010-09-24T22:00:00.000-03:00

Yum!

Day 266

2010-09-23T21:00:00.000-03:00

A beautiful necklace by an awesome person!

http://www.etsy.com/people/shellbrun