Happy New Year!!
We had an eventful 2007 and we’re looking forward to a great 2008.
We wish you memorable new year with good health and happiness.
To ring in the new year, I would like to introduce you to MakaKoa.org! Woo hoo!!
Enjoy!
Did you just cut that wire?
Our garage door is really temperamental. When the sun is out at a certain angle, it’s impossible to close the garage door without having to physically pull it down. Jesse usually has to unlock the chain, pull down the door by hand, push the remote again, and then wait for the track to close the door all the way down. I think it has to do with the way the sunlight hits or reflects onto the sensor. Anyway, it’s been doing this for a few years now and it’s quite a pain when you’re trying to leave the house between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
So, today after we washed the car, I found Jesse hunched over the sensor with wire cutters. He cut the wire and attempted to switch the sensors around. I stood there watching and scratching my head and I was so ready for the garage door to be completely toasted for good. After a mere 10 minutes of tinkering with wires and connectors, the moment of truth arrived. I pushed the button and the garage door went down!!! Woo Hoo!! You should have seen the pride oozing out of Jesse’s eyes and ears and a grin that went from ear to ear. I think he was more impressed with himself than I was. Good job, handy man!
maple project
It’s been 4 weeks in the darkroom now and I finally came home with some worthy of keeping. What’s funny is that none of it came from a negative. I made what is called a photogram.
I made this one by laying maple leaves on the paper and left it out in the sun for 20 mins. Then I stuck it in a black bag and put it in the “fixer” when I got to class yesterday.
I made this one in the darkroom by using the first photogram as the “photo negative”. Basically, you lay one photo on top of another sheet of photo paper and blast it with just the right amount of light. I also added a filter to the lens for added contrast.
This one was made by laying maple leaves on top of photographic paper in the darkroom. I played around with the amount of light and did some dodging and burning to get it just right. What fun!
Our next project is to shoot a few rolls of film to find the right photo to print and enter into the Orange County Fair’s annual photo contest. I have a couple subjects in mind but we’ll have to see if they work out.
summer school
After searching near and far for a Thai class, I gave up and decided to take Beginning Chinese. Yep, I’m going to summer school at Irvine Valley College to take Chinese 1A. It’s 6 weeks long and starts the first week of July. I was about to sign up for the one that starts in May and then take 1B in July but there’s no way I can survive going to night school 2 nights/week AND surviving the end-of-the-school-year craziness. Jes and I were already hoping to take a trip to Beijing and Shanghai in the next year so I figured it might be good for me to at least understand the basics – even if it’s just asking where the bathroom is. Anyone interested in joining me?! It’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm.
I want a Corona.
Today I went to my last painting class and I finally got to use my blues. I tried to keep it simple and painted one of my photos from Hawaii. I think it turned out alright. I’ll have to finish the clouds/sky a bit but otherwise I’m happy with it. I really do think my favorite color is blue.
Just call me “Rebel”
I went to my painting class today and didn’t really like any of the pictures that were on the table so I chose to paint/interpret one of my photos from Thailand. My instructor said it was fine and helped me get started. Midway through my painting he came by and said to me “I think you chose a really difficult subject but it’s coming along.” I think that was his way of saying, “You’re suckin’ but oh well.” So here is my painting. My instructor had nothing good to say at the end of the night but I like it.
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