Why Some People Should Not Be Parents

It is no secret  that parenting is a tough job. I would like to think that many of us who chose to become parents did not go into it blindly and expect it to be a cake walk, to smell like a bed of roses. Quite frankly it is often like walking on egg shells and reeks of shit! But if you are a good parent (not perfect...perfect parents do not exist and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) you know there will be challenges and you opt to make decisions that are in the best interest of your kids. You feed them a healthy diet, you provide them with all the necessities of life. Discipline is difficult but you do it because you know it will help your child to grow and become a responsible adult. You love you kids unconditionally. They are your world, your light, your everything. You would do anything (within reason) for your children. You do not abuse them physically or emotionally. You shower them with attention and affection. These actions and choices make you a good parent. Sure we often catch ourselves making poor parenting choices, but being the good person that  you are, you make sure it doesn't happen again. Your a good parent.

Then you watch the news and stumble through blogs and social media and are astounded that there are a large number of people out there that are just Horrible parents. Period. Too many to mention, too many to dwell on. From the idiot Mom who leaves her sleeping infant in the car seat while she goes shopping for 3 hours in sweltering heat, to the Dad who beats his toddler to the point that he suffers severe brain damage. There are way too many of these horror stories floating around out there. Which brings me to my next examples of poor parenting ( or just plain dumb ass people ). We have all seen photos like this on the internet. But I thought I would share a few with you anyway, just to drive home the point that some people are just crappy parents.

I am sure that the parents who took some of these photos thought it was cute or funny that the kid was playing with a bong or guns. Its all right to smoke a giant doobie while your kid sits on your shoulders...isn't it? It was funny putting the baby in the microwave. NOT! I firmly believe that people need to be licensed to have children.

Angry Bird

Spring is in the air, well actually at this point summer is on my door step. The weather has been warming up nicely and all the signs of mother nature coming out the play are here. The trees are almost all in full foliage, flowers are blooming, birds singing, robin's nest in my tree is full of eggs and the wild turkeys have been out and about.

I live in a wonderful location where I get to enjoy many varieties of birds and those big ugly wild turkeys like to come out every spring (I assume they are nesting). This is also the time of year when I always have my camera with me. One day in particular I noticed a man in his car pulled off to the side of the road watching something in the field. I caught glance of two wild turkeys, one male and the other female. I pulled over, rolled down my window and  pointed the camera at the male turkey. He immediately became defensive and moved in for the attack. At one point he was so aggressive I grew scared and rolled up the window. He pecked at my tires and the front end of my car. When he felt satisfied that he had slayed the mini van he proceeded to attack other cars that were slowly passing by! This psycho turkey brings a whole new meaning to Angry Birds!

Why I Love Photography

For as long as I can remember I have always loved looking at photographs. I would spend hours looking through old photo albums, looking at pictures in magazines and other bits of photographic art. When I got my very first cheap camera as a child, one of those camera's that use that 110 film, I loved to take shots and most importantly getting them printed to see what the outcome was. I was not good at it but I loved the process.  It was not until I became a mother that I realized just how important the  photograph was. For me, as for many out there, the picture is a way to capture time. It was a way for me to immortalize my children in their various stages of growing up forever. Let's face it, they are only babies, toddlers or teens once (thank goodness). But as a Mom, when the kids get older, you find that you often forget what they were like when they were 2 years old. With a photo I can instantly be transported back in time and be reminded of all the joy (or heart ache) that we experienced.

Photography makes me feel creative. I love knowing that I created something beautiful, even if it is in my eyes only. I have never been good with paints or sewing. I could not keep a garden looking lush to save my life. I don't write poetry, work with pottery or sculpture. For me, photography is one of the only ways to express myself creatively outside of the kitchen.

I love the feel of the camera in my hands. There is something almost sensual in it. I love fiddling with the dials to achieve better images. I love playing with the alchemy of light, shutter speeds, ISO, and aperture settings. While I am not the best at achieving greatly exposed or beautifully lit photos, I do enjoy trying!

Since I have become a lover of photography I find that I see the world differently. To others a building may look just like a building, but for me, I notice it's structure, texture and color. I immediately think of ways that I can photograph it to capture certain moods or ambiance. I find that when I watch movies now that I see them from a cinematography view point. I notice how scenes are lit, what special effects are used, the angles the camera are used. To me, everything is a photograph and can be beautiful.

When I first got my DSLR camera it was suggested that I join Flickr as a source of inspiration and learning. From there my passion for the art intensified.  I came to know people from all over the world who all shared one common interest, photography. Some of these talented people I have met in person and have gone out on photoshoots with. The people are great, they inspire me and have taught me a great deal about using a camera correctly. I have also encountered quite a few photography snobs, you know the type, the ones who feel intimidated because you know a bit about something that they think they are experts in. These are the folk, that when you ask for advice will ignore you or insult your skill. Those people I just brush off and stick to the ones who love the art and want to share it with everybody.
 
At this stage in the game, I would not consider myself a photographer. Meaning that I don't see myself as a professional. I still have so much to learn. How to expose and compose images better, how to see light and capture it creatively; the list goes on. But in my heart I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER. This is one hobby that will last a life time and always be rewarding to me and my family.

10 Reason Why I Love Fall

For as long as I can remember I have always loved fall. It is my favorite season. As the summer draws to an end I start to get excited about the new season that is just around the corner.  I compiled a list of my top then reasons for loving fall. What do you love about the autumn season?

10 Reasons Why I Love Fall

10. Pumpkin Pie! I don't need to say much about this fall time favorite except for YUMMY!

9. Scary Movies! I have always been a fan of horror movies and look forward to the autumn when a bunch of new scary flicks are released in theatres. I also enjoy viewing some of my old favorites like The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby. As it gets closer to Halloween my hubby and I enjoy fright nights and watch spooky films, drink hot apple cider all under the glow of candle light! Love it!

8. New TV season. I look forward to the return of all of my favorite show come September. I find that watching the boob tube in the summer is just awful so welcome the much needed entertainment at the end of a long hard day.

7. Fall Colors. I absolutely love the color of the leaves in the autumn. The bright reds, oranges and yellows are so enticing. I find myself at least once every fall finding a big pile of leaves that I can just jump into and smell that sweet decay. It is also my favorite time of year to go for long drives in the country or walks in the forest.

6. Fall Harvest. I love to visit farmers markets this time of year. It is partly because I just love eating squash and corn and all of the other great bounty, but again I love to see the colors and textures of the harvest!

5. Thanksgiving! This is a great time of year to get together with your family; immediate and distant, and share in some great food and great times. It is also a cue for us in our household to start thinking about Christmas shopping!

4. I feel creative. For some reason all of the great colors, food and crisp cool air bring out the creative mom in me. I spend a great deal  of time taking walks with my camera, decorating for Halloween and coming up with fun costumes for the kids (and myself).

3. Halloween! This is one event that we love in our family. Hubby and I take it very seriously. We look forward to turning our front lawn into a graveyard, having Jack-o-lanterns all over the house, spooky music, candle light and so much more. We thrive on taking the kids trick or treating in our neighborhood; I guess it helps that the community as a whole gets right into the holiday as well. Best of all, hubby and I love to raid the kids candy bags once they have gone to bed. Chocolate for me, chips for hubby!

2. Cooler temperatures means more clothing! Yes! I look forward to this point in the year when summer has ended and the requirement to wear less clothing comes to an end. No longer do I have the shove my wobbly bits into tiny sundresses. No longer do I have to wear tanks that show the blubber on my arms. Goodbye shorts that display all the cottage cheese of my posterior. Hello jeans and warms knits, hooray for hoodies. The best part is that it is not so cold that you need to wear winter jackets, mits, hats and all that stuffy fashion that winter requires!

1. The number one reason for loving fall so much...pretty obvious to a lot of parents out there....BACK TO SCHOOL time for the ankle biters!!! Its the most wonderful time of the year!

When Laziness Gets In the Way

I have to admit something very personal, it is something I am not proud of, I AM LAZY!
That's right, LAZY!

I often find myself dreaming up wonderful crafts to do with the kids, but often they never come to fruition. Why? Laziness. I don't feel like purchasing the supplies to do the craft. I would rather watch a movie with the kids than have to clean up the mess that would surely be involved in said craft making venture.

Not only does my laziness prevent me from being a good mother, wife and housekeeper, but it also gets in the way of my one true hobby, photography. As a budding photographer I have snapped hundreds, if not thousands of photos over the years. In the beginning I was 'gung ho' to get the photos developed. I filled at least 30 albums. As time passes though I find my interest in developing the images has waned.

The walls of my family room are a dedicated showcase for my photographs. 90% of those photos are of family or special places we have visited. Recently I was going through my deep archives of pictures on the computer and came across quite a few images that have not been printed and that should be on display in my home. I was embarrassed. One picture in particular is loved by so many family members who have seen it on Flickr, but I was too lazy to give them prints. I don't even have a print, not even a small one.

So I have vowed to get off my lazy ass and get multiple prints of this photo printed. I will also spend quite a bit of money to get 500 more photos printed. This sounds excessive, but when your a 'photographer' it is the least you should do!

Adventures in Italy - Driving

There are so many things to love about Italy. The food, shopping, architecture and history make visiting Italy repeatedly all worthwhile. But, and this is a big but, the driving leaves you with a really bad taste in your mouth (a mix of bile and blood from biting your tongue and being frightened).

When we visit Italy we like to rent a car for a few reasons. We do a lot of traveling and enjoy the freedom to do so without having to worry about schedules etc. The moment my husband steps behind the wheel of a car in Italy I see a change come over him. He becomes intense, on edge. He never smiles, never seems to enjoy himself. I am always amazed at the litany of foul words that spew from his otherwise polite mouth.

There is something about driving in Italy that requests that you have some level of insanity to deal with the streets and the folk who drive on them. Of course driving in big cities like Rome, Napoli or Palermo is always worse. The congestion is just mind boggling. Some streets are so narrow that barely two motorcycles can pass each other, but these roads are used by cars. We scraped our car mirrors twice, once in the medieval streets of Ragusa while looking for parking, and once in Napoli while a bus tried to pass us. Cars weave in and out of traffic with little regard for those surrounding them. If you are a pedestrian trying to cross the street, say your prayers and be quick and observant. I can assure you that drivers do not care that you are crossing the road, so you must be vigilant. On many occasions I saw senior citizens trying to cross the street. This one old fellow with a cane broke my heart. He stepped off the curb several times only to be nearly hit by motorcycles and cars who did not even consider slowing let alone stopping to let the old man cross. My husband stopped for this guy and the driver behind us honked furiously! I was surprised. I always thought Italians had great respect for their elders. I guess that when it comes to driving, they respect no one.

Then there are the motorcycle and vespa drivers. They may be the worst. They weave in and out of traffic, pass on the roadside, have little patience and seem to think they are invincible!  If you are stopped at a red light, the bikers all swarm like killer bees to get to the front. There will easily be 20 bikes that will jokey for first spot. Speed limits in Italy tend to be a bit higher than they are in Canada, which for a guy like my hubby, he loves. Regularly he will drive 130 – 140 km per hour. Like at home the right lane is intended for slower traffic, the left for faster and those who want to pass. One time, Hubby was driving at 140 km/hr when a motorcycle came right up behind us. He flashed his light, then not even giving us time to react, he passed us on the left...on the shoulder! Within half a minute, the guy was no longer visible. He must have been going about 200km! On the autostrada, everyone drives too fast, they tail gate and honk. When you give some passing driver the evil eye, they just shrug their shoulders as if to say “Meh” and keep on going.

Parking is a whole other can of worms. Parking is really difficult. Spots are few and small. The bigger the city, the harder it is to find parking, but that is not to say that the small towns don’t have parking problems too. When we were in Napoli, we tried to find a spot for a good hour. Thank goodness for GPS locating a parking garage, but even still, with all of those one way streets and aggressive drivers, if you miss your turn, it could take a good 10 minutes just to get back to the spot you originally wanted.  There is also a problem with double parking. There are those people who think they are so friggin’ important that it is ok to trap another car by parking on the road right beside the legally parked car! These are the bastards that drive me nuts. They make travelling down already narrow and congested streets a nightmare. Every time we found a parking spot with relative ease, we would be nervous. Italian road signs are often misleading and you are never quite sure if you are parked legally. We did give up a few times and acted like locals and parked illegally. We were never ticketed.

What bothers me most about Italian drivers are the seamless disregard for safety and laws of the road. My father in law, a native Sicilian, insists that there are laws on the road, but I have never once seen a driver pulled over by the police. I did see a police car on the side of the highway, with its “officers” sleeping in the front!  As a mother living in Canada, I am thankful for all of the laws we have to keep us safe. Car seats for our kids, seat belts,and children not being allowed to sit in the front seat until they reach a certain age or height and weight requirement. In Italy, I saw nothing like this...at all. As a matter of fact, we even saw some of our family members whipping around town with their very young children in the back with no car seat or seat belt. We saw the car seat sitting in a back room of my husband cousin’s house, not in the car. The number of times that we saw parents driving vespas with a young child standing in the front made me ill. It was not uncommon to see an adult in the front seat of a car with an infant in their lap either. Really, why not just strap the kid to the grill of the car; it is just about as safe!

And finally there are the road signs. Often you will find way too many signs bunched together. If you sit at the intersection to read these signs, surely you will piss off some motorist. My advice, use GPS and listen to it, even if you think it is leading you down the path to hell. You will get to your destination....eventually.

As I write this post, I feel myself becoming anxious. Every time I was in the car I felt anxious. So here is a word to the wise. When in Italy, seriously consider using public transit (if you can figure it out). You will be somewhat safer and have fewer worries!

Mommy and Gaby Time

My daughter wanted to take some pictures of us together the other week. We decided to make funny faces and share kisses. This is the adorable outcome .... much less depressing than my last post!

My Beloved Is On The Mend

Since I received my first DSLR camera 3 years ago, a Canon EOS 40D, I have been hooked on photography. The camera is with me whenever I leave the house. I have become one of those crazy stealth shooters, always sneaking up in my loved ones and snapping some dreadful candid shot. The camera has become my third eye if  you will.

I am sad to report that the 40D has decided she needs a break. For the last few months I was having difficulty getting shots. The camera had trouble focusing therefor the shutter would  not release. At first, being a newbie to cameras, I though the sensor needed cleaning. Then I started to second guess what I thought I knew about exposure and what not. I decided to put the camera through as many 'tests' as I could thing of. First I did some indoor shots using all 3 of my lenses, with and without on camera flash and speedlight. I used every single setting on the camera. The shutter would only release 1 out of every 10 attempts. So then I took it out on a nice sunny day and did the same thing. Still I had the same problem. I brought it into a camera shop and had the guy test it and he concluded (as did I) that there was a malfunction in the camera body, not a problem with me or my lenses.

I shipped the camera off to Canon and am crossing my fingers and hoping that the problem can be repaired. Thank God I still have warranty left on the camera, even if it is only a few months remaining!
I can't wait until my beloved 40D and I can be reunited. My shooting finger has got a terrible itch!

My Favorite Photoshop Actions - Help For The Busy Mommy Photographer

As a lover of photography I take many, many pictures. The problem is finding the time to edit them in Photoshop. One easy (perhaps lazy) way to get around this is by using Actions. While Photoshop purists may scoff at the idea of automating your editing because you don't really learn how to use the software, I say phooey and take the easy way out on many of my photos. Once you find actions that interest you it takes a few simple steps to add them to PS and then you are on your lazy ass way to producing some wonderful images!

How to Install Photoshop Actions
1. Download your desired action.
2. Select "Save File" from the pop up window. Click "Desktop" in the save location window on the left side and click "Save" at the bottom. This will save a ZIP file of the actions on your desktop for easy access.
3. Right-click the compressed zip file and select "Open With">>"Compressed (zipped) Folders." This will open the file in a new window.
4. Select "Extract all files" from the left-hand menu. This will open the file extraction wizard.
5. Click "Next" when the wizard opens. Leave the location set as the default in the next window (it will extract the files to a folder in the same location as the compressed file). Click "Next" at the bottom.
6. Select "Show Extracted Files" in the next window and click "Finish" at the bottom. Your extracted folder will now open in a new window displaying your ATN files. Depending on the actions you chose to download, there may be more than one file.
7. Select your action file or files by clicking on them once. If there is more than one, hold "Control" on your keyboard and click each one once. Now click "Control + x" on your keyboard to "cut" the ATN files. Close all windows.
8. Open your Start menu by clicking on the "Start" button in the lower left of your screen. If you are using Vista, it will just be the Vista icon. Select "My Computer" from the right-hand menu. If you are using Vista, it will be labeled "Computer" only.
9. Double-click your main hard drive in the new window. It should be labeled drive C:\. Double-click "Programs">>"Adobe" and locate your Photoshop installation folder. This may vary slightly, depending on which version of Photoshop you are using and what suite it is part of. It will probably be something like Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Photoshop Technical Communications Suite 2>>Adobe Photoshop CS4.
10. Open your Photoshop installation folder by double-clicking it. Double-click the "Presets">>"Actions" folders to open the Photoshop actions installation location.
11. Press "Control + v" on your keyboard to "paste" the Photoshop action (or ATN) files you "cut" earlier. Next time you open Photoshop, your new actions will be available from your library.

There may be a quicker or easier way to do all this, but this works for me just fine!

Now on to the actions! The ones that I am sharing with you are only the ones that I use often, my most favorite. I will toss in a link to a large collection though, so you can have a wide variety to choose from.

The actions I use most frequently are created by Rita over at Coffeetea Photography aka Coffee Shop . Her actions are fantastic and user friendly giving the user control over the settings which is a plus for me. Among my favorite actions available here are Creamy Chocolate B&W, Baby Powder Room and CoffeeShop Vivid 2. 













The Light's Right Studio is also another fabulous place to find actions. There are a bunch of them and they are also user friendly. I use TLR Tone Enhance the most. You can easily adjust the exposure of your image in familiar photographic stops. Eight actions take your image from -1 stop to +1 stop in 1/4 stop increments.  But all of the other actions are great.

The Pioneer Woman Photography  has an amazing blog. Not only does she share great recipes, but also provides free Photoshop actions that are easy to use and editable. Check out Pioneer Woman Action Sets 1 and 2.

Christabelle's Actions are also among some of my favorites. They are very subtle and ever so slightly lighten and brighten images, adjust color and much more. Some of them are free and some are for pay. I of course being cheap opt for the freebies and I love them.



Last but not least is a collection of 124+ photoshop actions to boosts your photos. Here you will find many fun and useful actions, although I must say that I find them a bit repetative. Just browse and see what sparks your creative juices. Oh and I forgot to mention, all of the actions I recommended here are free! That's right...FREE! Man do I love free! 
Enjoy!