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Today is the beginning of what will be a sad weekend.  I’m saying goodbye to a friend I’ve known for over three years.  A friend that I’ve lived with.  A friend that I’ve snuggled with.  A friend that I don’t know how I will live without.

And I am sad.

I don’t care that this friend will return in four weeks because I don’t want it to leave at all.  Yes, I said “it”.

Hey.  You.  Get your mind out of the gutter.  Thank you.

You see that stud on the right?  The hubs?  I’m saying farewell to his beard.  His wonderfully snuggly goatee.

WAHHH!!!!!!!!

Why?  Because of work.  He will be traveling next week to a plant that requires all employees and visitors to be beard-free.  Because of respirators.  That cover the nose and mouth.  And a beard would keep it from fitting correctly.  Which is important if his life in danger.  But that doesn’t make me any less sad.  Nope.  Still sad.

It took me 2 months to get used to that beard and now the hubs is going to be baby-faced for the next month while it grows back into place.  I’m still trying to talk him into keeping the mustache though.  Because that could be funny.  We shall see.

Fingers crossed he doesn’t shave until I get home.  Because I want need to take before – during – after photos of my friend’s departure.  I know it’s just hair but I think he’s so darn handsome with it.  And I love those bearded kisses dammit.

What’s a girl to do?  But grow her own.

I’ll admit that I didn’t take very many photos on my quick trip to NashVegas with the pals.  However, I did keep the kahuna in my lap while on the road.  Just in case.

Nothing cool or fantastic or out of this world happened but I took photos anyway.  And after sorting through them, I’ve decided they are pret-ty-bor-ing.  But I ain’t got nothing else right now.  So it’s either keep my big fat mouth shut for today or… well I can’t keep my big fat mouth shut.

So I present to you: The Road Trip.

Nashville.  About a 3 hour drive from Louisville.  Not too shabby considering all you have to do is head south on I-65.  But 3 hours leaves a lot of time for discussion.  Like boys, music, gummy worms – you know, all the good stuff.

BG is the mile marker that told us we were almost there.  It is also the mile marker where Sweet Child Of Mine started playing and I did my best Axl Rose impersonation.  You’re welcome, fellow passengers.

You KNOW you’re in Nashville when you see the Batman Building.  Which Abby shared with me that her work buddies make fun of her for calling it the Batman Building.  I asked why and she said because it’s actually the AT&T Building.  To which I replied, “But it looks like Batman’s hat, Abby!!”

She agreed.

It was BEAUTIFUL outside.  Absolutely wonderful weather.  Windows down.  Radio up.  But I’m a lame-oh and developed a migraine and passed *GASP* on the opportunity to walk the streets of down town.  I needed a nap.

My fear has happened: I’m getting old.

I believe this is Broadway.  Chocked full of shops and honky tonks and traffic.  And sunshine.  And headaches.  Boo brain, boo.

So we did our nap.  We did our getting ready.  We did our going out (which was SO MUCH FUN). And we did our sleeping.

Now, I could tell you a very humorous story that involves one friend and one pair of undies

And then we woke up and went home.  The End.

I had a wonderful time with my gals.  It’s stuff like this, the conversations, the jokes, the missing undies that make me realize I’ve surrounded myself with special people.

Thanks for the great time, Abby & Kelly.  Now I can officially say “BRING ON BON JOVI!”

… they say it’s your birthday so I’ve scoured through all of my flickr photos and realized I have not stuck my kahuna in your face since Christmas.

And that is unacceptable.

But I did find these.

Mrs. Rev is a wonderful hand model, no?

Happy Birthday, friend.

OK, so I already stole a glance at the flickr group, and well, all I gotta say is great minds think alike.

With puzzle, I was limited.  I didn’t have an interpretation that work and to be honest, I was limited on time this week.  Lame excuse, I know, but I don’t lie.  You should see my house right now – on the verge of being classified as shambles.  But I forged ahead and with ideas I did have.

Here is my puzzle:

Yes.  A crossword puzzle.  I actually carry this book in my purse with me.  Because many times when I’m meeting people, I have to wait.  Because many of my friends are slow piddle take their time getting from A to B.  And I get bored easily.  So I puzzle to make the time fly.

Next week’s challenge is “suitcase.”  I have zip for now.  But I hope to get something pretty groovy for next week.  Don’t forget to check out the flickr pool’s photos or click on the challenger roll to see everyone else’s photos.  And if you’re up for a scavenger hunt, join the Weekly Photo Challenge.

I went to Nashville with my pals Abby and Kelly this weekend.  Well, really only Saturday.  One day.  To get in some shopping, dancing and good times.  We succeeded.

Our bar of choice?  Tin Roof.  Located directly across the street from our hotel.  No worries about cabbies.  And since the weather was awesome, no worries about coats either.  We hopped, we skipped and we trotted through the door.  And didn’t leave until something like 2am.  Because of these guys.

This is the Chris Weaver Band.  I have to say, never heard of them before but they ROCKED.  Seriously.  They played rock-n-roll, country, alternative, oldies, Neil Diamond… Journey… they ROCKED.  So we didn’t leave.  Until the crowd got so overwhelming that I could no longer stand in the spot I’d been in for the past 3 hours.  Because the wild tramps were pushy.  Boo wild tramps, boo.

I know these are dark.  I know these are blurry.  I know these aren’t that great.

But these – in my opinion – take you to the moment.

It was dark.  It was blurry [because we were dancing like crazy].

The only difference was that it was great.  And we belted along with them.

And then some wild tramp had to come and… hold on… oh, my bad…

… I didn’t see you there, Abby.

Let’s hug it out.

Paco – my handy little point and shoot camera – has been getting some major love lately.  Paco usually sits on the back burner while the kahuna gets all the attention.  But not last week.

Some of it had to do with the weather – I didn’t feel like carrying an extra bag through the snow.  So I tossed Paco in my bag just in case the urge hit.  Which it did.  We practiced some macro shots.  We practiced some night-time shots.  Which, I believe, turned out to be pretty cool.

Mmm, bokeh.

Paco even got to party.  In NashVegas.  With the girls.  But I still have to sort through the dozens of blurred photos.  I have a feeling a couple are going to be blog worthy.  But that tiny camera did more than just take photos.

Thank you, Paco, for having an excessively bright flash to annoy the wild tramps that stepped on my feet and spilled their drinks on me and my Little Skipper.  That – coupled with the awesome band and incredibly awesome company – made my night.

Because, well, I have no excuse.

I find myself funny and force my humor on to you.  You are that lucky.

You, lucky duck, you.

And because I can.

Happy Friday.  Make it a good one.

I have had so much fun with the weekly photo challenge so far.  And now we’re half way done – 26 more subjects to photograph, 26 more weeks of posting.  Six months didn’t feel like a long time but seemed like a long time.  That makes no sense.  Then again, I don’t usually make sense.

But with 26 weeks behind us, I feel that I have begun to understand my photography better.  Especially with people.  Before, I wouldn’t really photograph people because I didn’t like the finished product.  That’s beginning to change.  I can’t get enough.  Eyes, hands, skin… every part of the human body is intriguing for me.  I suppose because it’s a lot of “firsts” but by golly, I’m having a damn good time with it.

My favorite challenge subject to date?  Lingerie.  I had a wonderful friend model for me and though we did nothing but laugh and make jokes, the shoot was fun.  With nothing more than a dimly lit bedroom and a brazier, we were able to get some pretty fly photographs.  Of course, only 14 out of 200 something were in focus but those 14 were fun and different and, dare I say, sexy.  The 14 were narrowed to four and which was narrowed to one for the challenge.

My original idea for lingerie: light up the side of my model’s body and capture her reflection in the mirror.  Seriously, this was my original idea.  I have a drawing and everything in my little polka-dotted notebook.  And my submission for the lingerie challenge.

But the other three.  I really really like them and so does my model.  But I’ve been hesitant to post.  I don’t know why – maybe because it’s a bit more revealing?  Maybe because she’s a bit more nekkid?  But what the hell.  shutterboo could use some sexing up today.

I like the reflection.  I think it makes it more intimate, more real… gives me more light to work with.  So we played around the mirror a lot.  Different poses, different angles, different DOFs.

Some that make you feel like you’re the fly on the wall watching a beautiful woman get ready for a night out on the town.  I look at this now and get the feeling that I really wasn’t there.  But I got the proof.  Right there.

By the way, it’s stuff like this, images like these that make men think that all we do is prance around in our panties when they aren’t there.  Which we totally do.

This next one was my favorite.  The harsh light and shadows did it for me.  I love it.  It’s sexy but discreet.  But I didn’t choose it as my “lingerie” photo because… well…

… that’s a lot of ta-ta.

I know she’s covered up and I know I just described it as “discreet” but I chose the other one.  Maybe because I was proud of myself for having an idea actually work.  Maybe because I was afraid my Mom would call me and give me down the road for posting naughty pictures.  Maybe because I didn’t feel like beating the hubs’ friends back with bat when they inquired about the model.

Eh – it doesn’t matter.  I think it’s kickass and ready for another go round.  And I’m sure my friend is too.  Maybe we’ll try leaving her clothes on this time.

What?  Why the sad face?

First and foremost: CONGRATULATIONS!  We’re halfway through the Weekly Photo Challenge!  And there’s only 26 more weeks to go.  To be honest, I think it’s passed quickly.  Maybe having a different assignment every week makes the time fly.  Yeah, I think that’s it.

Moving on…

Up.  So many interpretations.  Looking up: literally and metaphorically.  Moving up: elevators and escalators and stairs.  Pointing up – arrows and… arrows.  Acronyms: Union Pacific, UPS, University of Pickles.  Pin ups.  Mix ups.  Pick ups.  Break ups.  I could go on but I’m starting to run out of ideas.

Me?  I just looked up.  Literally.

Here is my up:

Well, I actually laid on the floor on my back and then looked up.  This is the clock tower in our office and it’s round and full of windows and lovely old fireplace and mantle.  But I chose this view because of the roundness.  And I’m pleased with the outcome.

However, I was dying to get out on the sidewalk and aim the kahuna up a building or up river or up something outside.  But it’s cold.  And there’s snow.  So this gal didn’t bundle up and face the elements.  Instead I stayed indoors and crawled around on floors.  At least there wasn’t snow.

Go check out the flickr pool’s photos or click on the challenger roll to see everyone else’s photos.  I’m rather excited to see what people cooked up this week.  Next week’s subject is “puzzle”.  Can’t wait to see those either.

I finally read one of the darn books listed on my Literary Quest page.  Finally. 

#29 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

And all I have to say is Alice is an annoying, snot-nosed little twit of a child.  If I met her, I’d scream “off with her head” myself.  I could have totally interpreted the story incorrectly but Alice really needs to learn when not to speak.  DAd always said “children should be seen and not heard.”

But I’ll still be seeing the movie.  Fingers crossed Tim Burton makes Alice more interesting.