#17 Photography... my other love and frustration

My mind is very good at capturing images that will last a lifetime.  Creative, brilliant shots that would amaze even the most established photographer.

Unfortunately, my camera operating skills do not translate from my mind to my finger.  Nor do my photo editing skills.

Regardless, I trudge along to Camera Club on freezing Thursday nights and I persevere.

The next competition I am entering is titled "Performers".  I managed to coax two friends - one a Julia Gillard impersonator and the other a budding magician - to pose for me.  Here are some of the results.  I'd love your comments. 

Which four would you enter?

#16 Peru Countdown

I began this post when my iPhone app told me there were 28 days to go before I fly to Peru.  As per post #15, my iPhone no longer tells me anything, but luckily for me, I can count.  In thirteen more sleeps, I'll be flying to Peru!  

Flying, aside from turbulence and plane crashes, would have to be one of my all time favourite pasttimes.  It combines all of my favourite things:  sitting down; warm socks; food and drinks; movies; and, sleep.  There is no guilt when you fly.  You can't be doing any housework; exercise; work; visiting elderly family members.  All you can do, is sit.

Today I packed.  Packing helped me procrastinate from writing or editing photos.  I love packing.  It means I'm going somewhere.  Packing also starts me imagining all of the situations I am going to find myself in while I'm away - all of them exotic, cultural and exciting.

I have 24 hours in Los Angeles to rest up and soak up the atmosphere.  I've been planning my Hop On/Hop Off stops and where I'll shop and eat dinner in Santa Monica, not to mention where I'll have breakfast on the beach before flying to Lima in the afternoon.

I'll be able to explore Lima over a week in between my conference workshops which I am really looking forward too.  And then, the highlight of my life.  Three days in Cuzco including my day trip to Machu Picchu.  I literally stop and sigh every time I think of it.

My hosts in Cuzco have organised my entire three days and have proudly informed me that by the time I leave I will have seen 85% of the region.  I think I'll be in need of some of that Coca tea!

Ah travel.  You complete me.

#15 Careful what you wish for......

I spend the majority of my Friday nights wishing for a weekend to myself, to write.  Fortyeight hours without human contact, not leaving the house, cosy, comfortable and content.  That's my fantasy.

Now don't get me wrong.  I love my friends and family and I adore spending time with them, which is why I say yes to every invitation that comes my way.  Unfortunately, it doesn't take many yesses to fill a weekend and before I know it, I haven't written a word.  Again.

Last night, I had similar thoughts.  Imagine the bliss of a telephone that temporarily didn't ring.

For the most part, I can be fairly absent-minded but after my 'man flu' the week before last, I feel as though I have coasted through the past week in a haze.  Not quite sure how I made it actually.  That is my excuse for what happened this morning.

Bounding out of bed (not!) I scooped up my doona cover and swiftly deposited into the washing machine and set the cycle in motion.

It wasn't until about an hour later that I went looking for my phone and realised the unthinkable.  My phone entered the spin cycle about the same time.  Time cannot pass any slower than it does when one awaits the end of a front loader washing cycle.

Luckily I've had experience with this kind of thing and was prepared with my bag of rice.  Approximately 12 hours have passed now and I have resisted all temptation to see how it's going.

I found the majority of the day to be relatively peaceful with my reason to disconnect, but to be honest, I'm feeling a tiny bit lonely now.  I tried to watch the Paper Boy.  What is that all about?  Then I watched Safe Haven and enjoyed it.  Can't be a good sign.  Now I'm writing, but not really writing what I want to be writing.  I'm such a procrastinator.

The irony is that instead of fantasing about a phone that never rings, I'm not starting to fantasise about a time my phone will ring again...... hopefully in about another twelve hours time!