Photography Instructor

Normally, I am much more patient when it comes to my instructors. I know that the probability of them having more than one class and since each class often times has 27 students , I try to give them time to grade my assignments and get back to me via e-mail if I have questions. But today, I have had it with my photography instructor. In fact, I am so pissed at her that I can't even work on any homework for her class. This is quite possibly worse than the Astronomy teacher who dumped me from his class after I missed three weeks because of a stomach infection despite me having all the homework and the final project finished and ready to turn in before the final test, and knew it because I got told him as much, several years ago.

I fell a week behind in class after a week and a half where I could barely stay away, much less move, or go out to take photos. This was because I was having a particularly bad period (PCOS strikes again) and my fibromyalgia flared up as well. I emailed her and let her know what was going on and she said everything was fine, get things in as soon as I could. So I did that. 

In the last couple of weeks, due to the raging fires in my part of the country- which she knows about too- I have had trouble getting out to take photos and got a little behind again. I'm sorry, no photography assignment is worth me risking my health or that of my 'model' via smoke and dust inhalation. I also had my model's work schedule to contend with and have a day where I wasn't in a too much pain to go out and get the shots I needed. I have been working to make those assignments up as well and had managed to get caught up. 

Well... *insert rage fit* This woman leaves comments in the grading section where in she tells me that the instructions from the beginning were that I needed to submit my files in PDF form not JPEG. Which is really fucking hysterical because I e-mailed her about this very thing since all my other classmates were submitting things in JEPG form. Her response to that e-mail was that she was confused about my confusion and didn't bother to try and clarify. On top of that, I have been submitting all my short answer quizzes in .odt files, which for those of you who don't know, is open office. So she gave me an BIG FAT ZERO and said that I needed to resubmit it the quiz because she can't read the file. *SCREAMS* Are you fucking kidding me?!!!! She also gave me 2 points out of 27 on my critiques for my other classmates stating that all I did was tell them that their photos were great. Bullshit! Yes, I told them that their photos were great, because they really truly are but I also discussed composition and use of deep and shallow depth of field. I mean really? Do I need to screen shot every single post and e-mail?!

My neighbor wants to do just that and send it all to the Dean of my college with a letter of complaint. I probably should, but why do all of that and waste more of my time, when I can just wait for the instructor eval form to come up and make my complaints there. I figure by the time I go in and "fix" everything and finish out this last week, I will at least pass the class. Then I can call adobe and cancel my 30 subscription because that was a bit of a nightmare (they charged me twice for one month) and be done with it all. 

I just need a fucking break. I need a week to decompress and do some things that I have been putting off. I need to breathe. I need to start writing again damn it!

Some Photography pics, Ghost shows, and Cats...

Freyja

Homework for today was still life and playing with light. My subject of choice was my statue of Freyja. I set up a tri-fold presentation board in the dining room- because we have a large window to let in natural light-, threw black fabric over it, and darkened the room for some shots. I used an LED flashlight for other shots as well. 

I really like this one because of the overhead direction of the light

For this one I used a table cloth I found in the craft/dining room. 

Narcisa

While I was setting up with the table cloth, Narcisa decided I had made the scene expressly for her.

She didn't even want to move when I set Freyja down. She's kind of giving me cross eyes as if to say "Pbbt!"

Ellie wanted to have her picture taken too. 

I picked up the Witches & Pagans magazine this month. So far I have read the Heathen articles, an article on Hestia, a reader's spiritual journey article, and one on Green Magic. I have a couple more that I want to read as well. There was an advertisement for Hekate's Sickle Festival. Taking place on Halloween/ Samhain weekend, it looks really interesting and fun. I would love to go, but Amanda and I don't think that we will be able to manage it this year. Perhaps next year. The magazine is accepting submissions for a couple of things and I might submit something eventually. I am going to keep an eye on what they want and go from there.  

So while I am doing homework today; tonight my ghost shows come back to SYFY. I've been watching Ghost Hunters and Paranormal Witness for several years now and enjoy them. It's time for fall when they come back on the air with new episodes- although I have been feeling the pull of autumn for a couple of weeks now. 

Well, I am taking a break from my photography class for the day in favor of writing my new media publishing final paper. 

Voice mails, crochet, and procrastination... story stuff!

For my next project, I am going to make this. And I am going to make a cowl that can be worn with it or separately. Truth be told, I kind of want to make a hooded cowl that has either cat ears or bear ears on top. I know, I'm a 31 year old woman, but cowls like that are so cute!

All of this crochet talk stems from me getting on facebook today and asking one of my Stich n Witch friends about the picture above. She sent me to the actual pattern on Ravelry and then I spent the next hour or so chatting with her and looking at Halloween and Gothic patterns. I would really like to make some shawls and I found a really adorable vampire Amigurumi pattern.

Of course, I haven't made anything like that before, so it will probably take some time and practice. 

Since I have been chatting with a friend about crochet and perusing Ravelry, I've kind of pushed off my homework for the day. And... I am still doing so by writing this blog. But then again, I am still getting something I want to be doing done, so it's worth it to me. 

However, my adviser from SNHU called and wanted to catch up. I only know this because I listened to the voice mail he left when I didn't catch the call. Anyway. He s concerned about my grade in my photography class. I'm not. I will get everything caught up and turned in before the class is over. Actually, I'll probably get it all done early next week. I don't care if I get an A, I just want to pass the class. 

Back to the subject of voice mails. I sometimes miss calls from my Mom, so she will leave a voice mail message for me. I generally keep a couple of her voice messages because I haven't seen her in over a year and even though I talk to her over the phone a couple times a week, I still miss her. So, if I have a moment where I am missing her a lot, I go listen to the messages she left. I have one from my Dad too. I know it's sentimental but sometimes, it really helps on a bad day, especially when I am not able to call my parents. Which has become a little tricky since my Dad is working the night shift. 

Okay, story stuff. I need to write a short story with Witches or a Witch as the theme that's young adult to submit to a magazine in September. I also have to rewrite, add to, and polish an adult Witch theme story I have for submission to another magazine.  Aside from that, I have a lot of work I need to do on one of my novels (well okay, I have a lot of work to do on all three of my novels but I am focusing on this particular novel at the moment). I basically need to get my shit together, write out all the notes, make diagrams, charts, timelines,  and family trees, and tack them all over the tri-fold display board I bought for this project. Then it will be available for easy reference when I need it. 

Yeah, it's a lot of work and on top of all of it, I want to work in making tarot bags, crochet more, get my sewing going, and do some art stuff too. Meh. I'll get it all done in my own time. Except for the writing, that needs to happen asap. 

For now, though, I am going to take a nap before dinner. I made a veggie-hamburger stew and used tomato juice for the, I guess you call it a broth. It smells good. 

  

Fires, Smoke, Insanity, Cats, and Homework

That is not fog, that is smoke

The other day, after we'd taken a friend to Sasquan- the World Science Fiction Convention- we were out and about in Spokane and Spokane Valley, Wa. It wouldn't have mattered if we had been 25 miles away back home in Post Falls, the sky and air quality was just as terrible. In fact it was so bad that another friend of mine who has asthma was forced to ear a face mask and still have trouble breathing. We couldn't run the air conditioner in the Jeep or even really have the windows down. It was a hot, disgusting, miserable kind of day. We spent most of it in various places like the library, Barnes and Noble, and at a friend's house. Not that it mattered much at all, you could still smell the smoke on your clothing and in the buildings. To put it plainly, Washington and Northern Idaho are on fire. We are fortunate that we haven't been asked to evacuate but if we don't get some serious rainfall soon, who knows what will happen.

Yesterday was not so bad smoke wise. Today, it was back with a vengeance. I can't see the mountains. 

If you look really hard, yo can see two eyes and a nose, even a tail. That's Narcisa, or rather that was her yesterday morning when we were getting ready to leave. She loves to curl up in bags but I think she also wanted us to either stay home or take her with us. We've been in and out of the house so much lately, even gone all day for several days, that I think she really missed us. 

Speaking of being in and out of the house. We have been, all this week. It's really run me ragged and I was quite thankful for a quiet day at home. With all the company and places we've had to go this summer, and one more batch of company coming, a bachelorette party, a wedding, and IEPG events, we've had and still have a lot to do. But more than that, Amanda and I haven't really had a lot of time to spend together. We watched a movie this morning and we are planning to watch another one in a few minutes. I don't know what, but we have a lot on our Netflix queue. I am hoping that we will get a date day or date night squeezed in somewhere but for now, I think we are just enjoying being home. 

Homework has been driving me batty and that's putting it mildly. Almost did I call it quits on my photography class and purposely fail. My teacher is nuts, she can't decide what she wants, and just, no, I am not going to bitch about it. Let's just say, I am pissed, frustrated, and so happy that I only have two more weeks of this class. One more week, if I can pull off the rest of the homework this week. I desperately need the break week that comes between terms. That said this is one of the photos for my photographic essay. Amanda was my model and she was playing the part of a water nymph who comes out to turn on the water at the city fountain, on a hot day for all the kids to play. I got some really good pictures of her even though the air was smokey. We went to Riverfront Park in Spokane for the shoot. It was nice barring the fact that I was in a lot of pain and not moving as well as I wanted to move. 

In all of the mess of back and forth, in and out, company and homework, I've made a new friend and become better friends with a sweet fun-loving couple. I also learned some disheartening things about a woman who asked if I wanted to go to a bridal show. She did not ask me to go because she was interested in getting to know me better or establish friendship but rather she asked me to go so she could try to steal me away from a friend and use me to hurt said friend. I am not a pawn. I find what she's already done to said friend and her intentions to use me despicable and I won't participate. In fact, I won't tolerate it. 

Oh two more things. I think, depending on how much it costs and all the rigmarole that goes with it, that Amanda and I might have found the spot we will get married at. It is beautiful! I will get some pictures of it because I plan to visit it again soon. But if it doesn't work out, I have a couple of back up ideas.  

Lastly, I am going to start making some tarot bags. I already got some fabric and just need to cut, sew, and embroider them. What I am putting on them, I haven't a clue, but it will be witchy. 

Bye for now, I'm off to watch a movie with my honey.

It was a nice day and then...

Today began early. Fiona came over and we went to Wal-mart, Starbucks, and then to Spokane Valley for an IEPG council meeting and potluck picnic in the park. The meeting went well as did the potluck picnic. Afterward we went to Birdy's parents garage sale (Birdy is a new friend). I found a brass planter I full intend to clean up and make into a cauldron. 

When we came home, I had to update my computer, so I went next door to Felicia's. She told me about the book she'd been reading and we chatted for a few minutes. Of course after that I had to come home and get my homework started for the day. Everything was great until Amanda's parents began to hound her about this or that. Really when they hound her, it just stresses me out that much more and make me want to throw up. I asked Amanda if dinner was finished since she cooked tonight. She said to check it in 30 minutes to which I playfully whined "But I am hungry now". Her dad piped in saying that I should go next door and mooch off the neighbor again because she might have something more to my liking. WHAT THE FUCK?! 

1. I do not mooch off Felicia. She and her family are no better off than we are and I keep trying to offer her stuff from my house when she's trying to figure out what to make for dinner. 

2. I only eat at her house when she shoves a plate of food in my face and invites me.

3. We share snacks on gaming nights. We get some and she gets some. 

4. Her inviting me to dinner is her way of paying me back for the times I babysit her kids for her. Ugh!

Needless to say, I am so upset that I can't focus on homework and am angry enough that I want to actually break something. That's okay, I honestly didn't want to do homework today anyway. 

In other, much happier note, I got my replacement engagement/wedding ring. The previous one's plating came off so fast and it was clear what a cheap P.O.S. it was. Won't be buying anything from that company ever again, that's for sure.  The replacement came from a company I trust, mainly because my mother has purchased several pieces of jewelry and jewelry making supplies from them. Also, my ring was on sale. 

It has the blue diamonds in the middle that I wanted. My mother's replacement wedding ring is blue diamond and I wanted us to match. I know that's silly. this ring also has black diamonds so I still have my black and then there are white ones too. I liked this design because its kind of got a vintage-y look. I love it! 

More goodies that I have recently acquired are a small 10 gram bag of Baltic Amber beads, a small bag of 100 charms, a couple of books, and my text books for the next term. Another purchase was a shirt that actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Serenity, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Castle) designed for a charity campaign. I can't wait to get it!

I am hoping with the end of this term nearing, I will be back online and posting more frequently. But for now, I am going to eat dinner and then get on with my Nerdy/geeky self and play D&D tonight. I'll worry about homework tomorrow. 

Scatter brained, caught up, and smokey

Narcisa found the punch bowl.

I'm going to keep this brief because I am terribly distracted. 

We still have forest fires going all around us and as a result, our air quality is awful! Today it wasn't so bad, but for a few days off and on we couldn't see the mountains. Saturday the sky had an orange-yellowish hue, it was really disconcerting. 

I ended up falling behind a little with my homework but I did get caught up this week. As it turns out I really don't like my photography class. It all boils down to the contact sheets. I know how to make them but adding in the camera settings or meta data has been hell! I tried to add it in in light room, in bridge, and in photo shop and had to e-mail my teacher. Its supposed to input it a certain way. She said to do it manually- which I had thought of doing- but wanted to get it formatted right. I know there has to be a way to do it but after several days (off and on mind you) of watching youtube tutorials, no dice. So that was frustrating and my teacher is a bit frustrating too.

For my new media publishing class, things are going really well. I had to create a website for my writing as the class project. I will be doing other things with it and adding to it a the term continues. 

Here is the link, don't get confused, I am using a Pen name because there is another Hannah Richardson in the world somewhere who is also a writer. I don't want to get confused with her. So my pen name is Hannah Proviance. Proviance is a family name from one of my ancestors. 

This summer is weird. It was really hot and dry and then it was kind of nice out. Now we are back to the yucky heat. I am ready for it to be over and relish fall. It has been so hot in our house, even with the air conditioner (because the lay out of our apartment is so stupid). Amanda and I can sleep with the fan on full blast and still be miserable and sweaty. So we moved our bed out into the living room, something that really bothers Francis, her dad. Tough shit! Last night was the first night that I actually slept nicely. I even got a little chilled. 

Company.

Oh company. This is another reason why I am ready for school to be over. We've had people in our house almost non-stop. We've had several people at once even. I really need some time with Amanda. I really need some time to get my shit together without feeling like I have to entertain someone. I need to get my bedroom picked up and put back together, laundry caught up, that sort of thing. 

Well, cousin Kitty-Kat is here and we are watching The Vicar of Dibely and later Les Miserabe or Dracula Untold. I'm off!