Featured Post

Spinning with Turkish Spindles: Singles to Plying

My second Fiber Arts related course through FiberyGoodness. This self paced course can be started at any time, and has three sections: S...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Driving Update

I just got home from practicing driving with Mom! I think it went quite well.. and I accomplished new goals and did better at some previous goals. Mom drove us out to her old neighborhood by Elmhurst Highschool. Accomplished a lot of new things and got better at some things I've already been working on. For one it was sprinkling and I haven't driven in that sort of condition so that was good learning experience.. and gave me a reason to drive slower LOL... Got to drive on some busier roads...or rather should I say tricked into driving into busier roads.. ok ok it was good for me and I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now. We spent about a good hour and 15 minutes driving. I think there was a good variety of environments including neighborhoods, busy streets, four way stop, curvy roads, school parking lot etc that made for great practice. We are planning on going out around the same area for practice Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this coming week.

Here are some new thing I go to do:

- Driving while it's sprinkling!
- Drive in a different neighborhood
- Practiced parking in an empty parking lot
- Drive on roads with stop lights
- Drive on a more busy road

Some previous goals that I'm getting better at:
- Driving the speed limit (around 25-30 in the neighborhood)
- Make better turns
- Remembering my turn signals
- Slowing and Stopping decently when necessary at intersections

EWM

Miko and Sami Videos

I don't have a whole lot to update you guys with however I have two videos of Miko and Sami to share. The first is part of a walk we had last weekend through the neighborhood and the second.. well it's example of how much excitement energy is released when my Dad stops over.. I'm not even sure excitement best fits the description of what absolute chaos follows.

Today is one of those rainy days but later I'm planning on doing some driving ... hope the rain doesn't muck up things too bad.





EWM

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Long Time No Hear

Yesterday night I got a surprising call from my best friend Peter! It's been quite a long time since I've heard from him. I keep thinking to call but end up getting distracted and end up not calling. We used to gather a bunch of friends on Friday night and go midnight bowling and then when bowling was over we'd hang out at Steak and Shake and play Apples to Apples until 2-3 am. Was great times never a dull moment LOL. Unfortunately with the busyness of school we haven't been able to hang out but luckily he's in from from Indianapolis for the week and we'll get a chance to hang out tomorrow and play some games. Looking forward to that it's been quite a long time since I've played any card games. One of my favourites is a Vietnamese game called Tien len also known as 13....hopefully I'm not too rusty hehe

EWM

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Rowdy Shiba Boy

Earlier this evening Mom was talking to my Dad about this cute male Shiba Inu puppy she saw at the pet store on Friday. Of course he was all excited about it as he absolutely loves our two Shiba girls and they in turn love him a gazillion times more they go absolutely bonkers when he stops by. It was getting late but we figure might as well stop by the pet store before someone decides to take him home.

We got Miko and Sami ready to go with their harnesses and pretty bandannas and headed out to check out the cute Shiba fluffball. When we got there the employees were all awwww your back again are you going to take the Shiba home with you? As adorable as he was we'd rather not purchase a dog at a pet store nor do any of us have a need for anymore pets we have our hands full as it is. We did get to play with the little fluffball in one of the little pens they have to let you get acquainted with the puppies.

So we get the fluffball into the pen and boy talk about ROWDY!!! Dad and I were in the pen while mom was holding on to the girls outside of the pen. I don't ever remember Miko and Sami being quite that rambunctious. He loved to run around and play tug-o-war with this dishcloth they had knotted up. I tried to pick him up a few times but he wasn't too fond of being held.. he kept bashing his head into my chin.



However!!! Dad picked him up and surprisingly well wait not really surprisingly seeing as how Miko and Sami go absolutely gaga for him.. anywho surprisingly the puppy allowed him to hold and pet him without putting up too much of a fuss.



Of course the pet store people wanted to see how well our two Shibas would get along with the puppy which we simply stated wouldn't work out. Last time this happened the little rascal we got to see was all over our girls and they were freaking out! We thought ok maybe if we hold on to this little guy that maybe we could see how that goes... HAH not quite the reaction we anticipated.. the little fluffball used the "Shiba Scream" scared both dad and me, our pupperoos as well as the entire store.. I'm sure they probably thought I was strangling the poor thing.. Not sure why it started screaming but we took the girls out right away.

Dad absolutely loved the puppy and I do think it would do him a great deal of good to have some sort of pet but unfortunately at this time he'll need to prep himself for it as he's not quite ready for one yet. Maybe some day though :)

I hope that whoever buys this little rascal enjoys him and takes very good care of him!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Learning to Drive

Over the past couple weeks I've been driving around my neighborhood with my mom learning how to drive.. so far it's going pretty good with the few slip ups here and there but nothing too major. Some of the highlights so far are driving 20 mph, drove 1 mile away from home to west state blvd and back, and parked in a parking spot and backed out of it.. yea I know nothing too big so far but making progress and that's what is important right?! Anywho thought I should post some goals up to monitor my progress better. Will add more when I think of them and will check things off as I accomplish them :)

Update 3.16.10
Drove around for about an hour :)
Turning and staying away from curbs is improved and got to park and back out once.

Update 3.20.10
Drove out to Aunt Carol's in the country from off highway 14 to her house. Manage to drive comfortably around 35-40 mph. On the way back drove from State down Eastbrook back home.

Update 3.28.10

Update 4.2.10

Update 4.4.10
Drove around Elmhurst and Indian Village Again. After we finished driving I drove from Elmhurst all the way back home about a 6.5 mile drive through town/downtown. Went better than I thought it would!

4.10.10
Helped mom out at her Shutterbug Show & Sale and someone had to take the dogs out and feed them during the show. Mom let me drive from Franke Park back home with dad and then back to the park. Went great with the exception of accidentally going the wrong way! Fear not I was able to turn around and head in the better direction hehe. It was the first time dad got to drive with me and he was quite impressed YAY!

Update 4.11.10

4.17.10
Drove Papi back home on the south end of town in the around 9pm. Went fairly well. :)

4.24.10
Drove over to Hobby Lobby so mom could pick up a few extra frames for her gallery show coming up this summer. Then we drove back home and then stopped over at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo to pick up Papi unfortunately his zoo photo day got rained out. Got to watch Serendipity one of my favourite movies and later that evening dropped Papi off back at his house and then drove over to the St Joe Hospital Garage to pick up my brother Pete from his work. Over all went pretty good even though the drive in the evening was through some pouring rain.

4.25.10
Drove over to Pet Supplies Plus and then off to the gas station while it was pouring. Then went to walmart to pick up groceries. Got to learn how to back up in to the drive way.. went better than pulling into a parking spot surprisingly..

4.29.10
Practiced parallel parking with a couple trashcans out in the parking lot for the Salon behind our property. Went decent enough for it being a bit dark out. Will be practicing more this weekend. ^_^

Driving Goals!
-------------
- Drive in a different neighborhood
Drove around mom's old neighborhood and Indian Village

- 40mph!
Handling 40 mph better but need to try better and keeping a consistent speed

- Driving proper speed limit
Getting better though.. I caught myself GOING over the limit (4.2.10) OPPS

- Dealing with weather conditions
Dealt with sprinkling decently (3.28.10)Dealt with pouring rain on 4.24.10 went over fairly well.

- Make better turns (ie turn into the right section of the road better)
Improving however need to do better at the speed at which I'm turning.. it's either too slow or a bit too fast.

- Stay away from the curbs!
Doing ok about the curbs but not as good at the staying off the side of the road on roads without curbs

- Practice parking and backing out
Improving

- Drive on roads with stop lights
Gone through a blinking red light all way stop and through a normal light intersection (4.2.10) Went through several while driving through town on 4.4.10 :)

- Drive in the country
Twice so far and getting better just need to stay off the side of the road!

- Parking lot driving
Once so far not too bad

- Backing Up
I've done a bit of backing up but need a lot more practice

- Drive with someone new
Got to drive with dad on 4.10.10 went really well!

- Drive all the way to New Haven (where the BMV is where I will take my driving test)
- Parallel parking dun dun dun...
Practiced for about 20-30 minutes in the parking lot of the Salon behind our property with 2 trashcans as fake cars.. went not too shabby for it being a bit dark out. Will practice more soon (4.29.10):)

- Reverse parking
A couple times backing up into our drive way.

- Changing lanes
Doing pretty good with changing lanes just need to make sure to be observant.

- Drive to Walmart
Went to the Walmart out on Maysville Road (4.11.10)

- Drive to PetSmart
- Drive to the Firefly

EWM

Thursday, March 4, 2010

OMG NEW CANON LENS... wait wait WHAT?

Just got word of a new canon lens.. wait what it's a COFFEE MUG.. you gotta be kidding. I CAN HAZ ONE NOW PLZ!



I reallllly reallly really want one O_O


EWM

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

About EWM

Thought I'd share a bit about myself! I recently graduated from the University of Saint Francis with a Bachelors in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography and minor in Art History. I took my first Photography class while in high school and got to use my dad's photography equipment. It was loads of fun only wish I had started photography earlier but better late than never! I specialize in Nature and Wildlife photography, but like to venture into other areas of photography if given the opportunity. My favourite places to shoot are nature parks, gardens, conservatories, and zoos.



I enjoy doing both pure photography as well as photo-manipulations digitally and traditionally in the darkroom.



Over the years, I have acquired an assortment of photography equipment and learned various photography processes. Toward the end of my time at the University I made a studio set up in my kitchen in order to use my dad's strobe lighting kit for both portraiture and floral still-life.



Despite my lack of enthusiasm for flash photography I've grown quite fond of using the strobes and every once in awhile I purchase flowers at one of the local florist shops to shoot with my parents. We all have loads of fun though I can imagine the neighbors are wondering what on earth is all that bright light coming out of the kitchen windows LOL...

Outside of my photography I am a Help Desk Rep for deviantART which is one of my all time favourite sites to browse around as there is just so much art to see and so many artists to meet.

I also enjoy knitting and spinning yarn with my spinning wheel!



Lastly I'd like to end with my two most favourite pets ever! My two shiba inu Miko and Sami. They just turned 3 and my mom decided to start making a blog for them to record all the fun things about them. You can check them out at "Shiba What?" :)




EWM