Little did I know that by the time I got home, I would realise just how HELPLESS I was going to feel; How LONELY I could feel, after a wonderful evening.. My spirit just fell flat..

I checked my email when I got home, only to find out that a kid in my community has passed away that morning. She’s been battling cancer for just under 2 years. She was 15 years old. She was a fighter, she had a love of life and clinged to every moment that brought joy to her, her parents and her sister.. You just have to sit back and realise how precious life is and to take it a day at a time and live it to the fullest.

After dinner, we walked down under the Manhattan Bridge. We took photos (I didn’t have a tripod) but I still managed to get some very nice shots of the Bridges..

However, this photo just eminates what I was feeling last night. I can only imagine what her mother is feeling. I know I couldn’t survive.. This thought scares me and I push it aside.

HUGS

Pix

Not much going on today in New York, it’s been raining since yesterday. Kinda crappy but just so you know, it’s also Thomas Crapper Day, so it goes hand in hand, i guess. O_o

One of the things I enjoy about the rain is taking rainy bokeh shots. So i decided to use that for my post-it photo.. HEY!! no comments – it is my blog afterall and I can do whatever I want.. so there! I know it has nothing to do with National Chocolate Day..

Ok, confession time – I was so exhausted yesterday after my workout. Everything hurt. I just wanted a warm shower and my bed. I did have an idea for the Chocolate Cake photo but gave in to sleep. BUT it will all be worth it. I will look amazing for Carnival.. OH YES!! I’m going to Trinidad for Carnival..

Woke up this morning and remembered I needed my photo.. A quick set up and three shots and viola.. I present CHOCOLATE CAKE!! I love using bokeh in my food shots, it just seems to make it more enticing. OH MY GOODNESS, did I just link my photos with Bokeh?? Boy, I’m good

~ Cake mixes are among the many important products of the Industrial Revolution and first hit shelves in the 1920s. Without chocolate cake mix do you know how many steps it would take to make yourself a chocolate cake today? No? Well my mom used to make a cake from scratch. I’ve never done it and neither has my daughter, she uses the box ~~

It’s Friday!! enough said. Who wants to read a boring blog post about chocolate cake anyways.. Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend.  Oh and if you happen to have Chocolate Cake, try pairing it with a Raspberry Port.. delicious..

HUGS

Pix

Our spouses ARE there because they have to be – pure and simple. Let’s face facts.. HAHAHA!!!

I’m seriously beginning to question who comes up with these holidays.. Why, tell me why do I need a “Spouses Day”.. I’m married – everyday should be spouses day.. He should be happy he has me.. mwahahaha O_o  Although, we are talking about him, maybe throwing in a holiday once ina while as a reminder is not a bad idea.

Today, do something nice for your spouse. Don’t go overboard okay. I’m setting the bar pretty low, so please don’t outshine me. I’m thinking that I’ll make a fresh cup of tea..

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Yesterday, I went to the Vivian Maier Exhibit at The Howard Greenberg Gallery, photographs from the Maloof Collection. What an enchanting and inspiring exhibit of her work. I absolutely love that she was aware of her surroundings. I love her photography work but was even more intrigued by her 8mm movies. I sat there and watched her record some contruction guys.. Her compositions were just fantastic; I did have a favorite.. She recorded a tornado and her stills from that were WOW!!

Okay YES, I’m a fan!! I’ve been from the first time I heard her story.

My main photograph today was taken yesterday, after the exhibit, as I sat in Starbucks.. I’m not sure if they were even a couple but that’s the great thing about photography. I can let you believe what I want you to; I can let you see what I hope you will.. It’s all perception..

Maybe they decided to meet up after work for coffee and take the train home together.. I don’t know. I’m reaching for want of a reason to use my photo because I enjoyed my afternoon.. I didn’t want to post a wedding/couple/inlove shot to portray “spouses day”..

So there you have it folks, another random silly holiday posting by Pixel..  I am happy I was able to relate it to Vivian Maier though because I truly enjoyed seeing her work. I don’t have her book yet, will pick it up tomorrow at the powerHouse when I go to last viewing of my photo on Exhibit there..

HUGS to all

Pix

1.  situated, placed, or lying face to face with something else or each other, or in corresponding positions with relation to an intervening line.

2.  contrary or radically different in some respect common to both, as in qualities, direction, result, or significance

It just didn’t make sense. ONE LITTLE WORD can be so annoying. So I enlisted my daughter’s help and we had such a fun afternoon over debates that flowed into dinner with the hubby.. I decided to shoot with #2 definition in mind.

~ The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet.  Andy Warhol ~

Fire and Water -  This one was fun to shoot, until I realised my kid was enjoying it a bit too much O_o…

So don’t celebrate by doing the opposite of what you mean to do and saying the opposite of what you mean to say. Then again, if you don’t want to do something you shouldn’t do just because it’s the opposite of what you should do, then consider what you don’t want to do the thing that you do want to do, then you won’t do what you don’t want to do and you will do what you do want to do and everything should work out fine.

Confusing huh?? Well this was basically our conversation, as to what my main photo should be. I didn’t want to do faces next to each other nor the opposite ends of a pencil.. Two colors of something – only meant two different colors NOT opposite (atleast that was the kid’s argument).. So I was stuck…

Then I got it!! My daughter is a math wiz and a brilliant writer (in most cases, it’s one or the other). She’s a smooth dancer and an agressive figure skater.. She can dress couture Betsey and grunge skateboarder..

She is her own OPPOSITE!!

Imagine doing that in 6″ heels, well she makes it look all to simple. So at the end of the day, I got to spend some quality time with my daughter, had some good laughs and got a photo I liked.. Not Bad at all..

I found this quote, not sure of writer:  “The opposite of love is apathy, and hate is really the same as love. If you’re so consumed by hatred for someone, you might as well be loving them, because you’re thinking about them for the same amount of time.”

Well that’s my take on “Opposite Day”.. Kinda lame if you ask me but I gave myself this task and I shall see it through..

Have a great day

HUGS
Pix

Yes folks, today is all about the Beer Cans.. Kegs are too much work. Bottles are breakable and may require the help of an opener. But Cans— yes, they’re just there when you need one.. HAHA!!  What the hell!!!!!

OK, even I think that this one is a bit ridiculous.. Who takes the time to appreciate a BEER CAN? At home we usually have Peroni, Dos Equis or Corona – all bottles. So off I went on my “beer can” adventure.. to get a photo of a beer can. *insert giggles here* I couldnt’ find it at the supermarket.. Ended up having to ask someone. They were on a shelf by the produce.. huh?? really??

Grabbed my camera, stuck my post-it and took a few shots.. But I still needed a main photo.. I just thought I’d wing it somehow, it always works out..

I decided to find you guys some BEER CAN facts… AH YES!! The power of the internet…

BEER CANS are the main ingredient for “beer can chicken” duh..  We’ve tried this and honestly, it is delicious and something you should try.

~~disclaimer: we didn’t follow that recipe~~

Hmmmm.. The old “use Beer Cans to practice your Sniper Shooting skills” .. while this actual video is a bit disturbing in itself, the guy is pretty accurate.. And of course, I’d take beer cans over animals any day…

~~disclaimer: didn’t spend much time researching video, just picked the first one~~

The Power of the internet, it just so educational O_o      – I give you the Beer Can House

~~disclaimer: i’m soo soo sorry for instigating your procrastination today~~

So on that note, I’ll end this really dumb post.. Well yesterday was Chinese New Year, we didn’t go out, instead my hubby brought dinner home.. I decided to take this pic after the fact, thinking I’d combine both holidays.. (note the Japanese beer and not Chinese beer)

After explaining to him what day it was, he jumped off his chair, proceeds to his “hoarding closet” and pulls out and old Shaefer Beer Can.. SCORE!! How cool is that!!  But you see folks, this only happens in my house.. who the heck does that??

At the end of it all, I must say.. I’m not thrilled by having to appreciate the Beer Can.. I actually don’t enjoy drinking out of them and always pour into a glass. However, seeing the old Shaefer can stirs up my inner antique nerd feelings and it’s kinda cool..

Well that’s all folks.. Let’s see what the rest of the week brings to my table..

HUGS

Pix

How many of us have gone days without even writing a single note??  Think about your everyday life, some of us no longer write checks, it’s all online. Grocery lists are now on our smart phones. Letters are now emails.. Even in high school, the kids are required to hand in most homework typed not hand written..

The art of penmanship is becoming a thing of the past, which is a shame. My daughter has beautiful handwriting and I hope that it’s something that she continues to use throughout her life.

My handwriting is not that nice. My hubby’s handwriting drives me crazy. He combines upper and lower case in his script.. very very annoying.. lolol (i’m always picking on him)…

I remember growing up in Trinidad and our school desks had holes for inkwells. Not that I used them, but I remember always being intrigued by the idea of using a feather with ink to write with. I wrote with a fountain pen or ink pen, those were such a big deal and you felt like a fancy grown up as they were on your list for high school.. However, that thrill quickly faded when we discovered the erasable pens.. HAHAHA!!

Anyways, this week, i’ve decided to search out random holidays and use them as themes for my photos.. Just to mix it up a bit, so I don’t get stuck.. Hope you guys enjoy my random bits of information…

~ The art of writing, is the art of discovering what you believe. — Gustave Flaubert ~

HUGS

Pix

This weekend we made a pot of sauce, smoked some beef ribs and made a zucchini and tomato pizza..  I love zucchini! Maybe even as much as I adore mushrooms.

I love being snowed in. It means my hubby can’t go outside and do whatever it is he does.. Hehe!! When he’s forced to be indoors, he focuses all his attention on FOOD. This is what binds our family together.. plain and simple.. it’s the love of food. One of the basic need of mankind. It is the reason we sit together every night and have conversation.. FOOD - eating it, preparing it, sharing it – brings us joy.

We’re pretty close to coming to a decision about re-opening a restaurant. We both want to. It is what we desire. I think we may start with a supper club. Probably trying to host our first one within the next two months.  If you are a New Yorker following my posts and are interested just let me know..

Shared the most delicious bottle of ShareCropper Pinot 2004. Held up amazingly well..

HAPPY SUNDAY!! Talk to you all tomorrow.. GO GIANTS!!

Pix

I was so excited to hear snow in the forecast, especially knowing we’d be in Connecticut all weekend. My haven, becomes my Winter Wonderland.. I knew i’d wake up to a blanket of snow covered trees and couldn’t wait….

Not much to do on a day like today, not that we had anything planned.. We started a pot of sauce – homemade meatballs, sausage (spicy and sweet), pork and beef mixture.. I think we made just over 2 gallons this time.. We’ll share with the family

I also spent most of the day, just bird watching.. I think we were the only “restaurant” in town because we had hundreds of patrons.. Blue Jays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Finches and a bunch I have no names for.. =p

I actually got quite a few amazing shots of the birds in flight.. So I was very happy.. Took some photos of my daughter also and she of me.. Then it was to sit back and sip on  a glass of Chianti and say “oh what a life”…

Still enjoying my wrath on my daughter but slowly getting back to ‘normalcy”.. We had tea together – that always makes things better.   She knows i’m disappointed but I know I can’t harbor.. So yes, things are good…

Hoping everyone is safe. Enjoying your Saturday evening..

Wasn’t going to log on but I really wanted to upload my photos…

HUGS

Pix

Because when she does push the buttons, we are thrown for a loop. It is just so unexpected. We wonder if we really know the person we hope she is.. We had a major incident last week.. It was bad (atleast in our eyes), and now we’re dealing with the consequences, punishment, etc etc… Her phone was taken away, no more FB. The whole speech on “well this is your life, you do as you choose”

BUT that’s not who we are.. We are a FAMILY!! We have to figure out how to move on. We have to learn to Dust off our shoulders

Learn how to push past this ONE incident.. Get back to some sort of normalcy.. She has to accept that she was wrong but at the same time, we have to accept that she is only doing her job as a teenager.. It is what they do.. We have to figure out how to………

Pick up the pieces

I will not let this dictate who we are as a family.. Everyone who reads my parenting posts know that I will NEVER give up. I will fight for my kid, while holding on to what I believe to be right. I am the parent and these are my rules. It doesn’t matter what other kids do or what their parents allow them to do.. They’re wrong..

So this weekend, we’ll be in our CT home. Try to work things out.. I’ll be off the internet, so will catch up on my 365 on Monday.. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Apparently they’re saying snow..

HUGS
Pix

I went home with the idea of photographing popcorn popping.. YEAH, me.. mwahaha!! Somewhere inbetween nagging teenager, needy cats, dinner and not feeling too well, I really wanted to try this. It was a disaster.. Oil splattered everywhere – Popcorn under every crevass – Burnt popcorn – house smelling of burnt popcorn… HAHA!! luckily the neighbours didn’t come knocking..

BUT i did get a shot I liked.  DID YOU KNOW - On average, every American consumes 52 quarts of popcorn per year.

Hubby came home and said “smells like burnt popcorn” O_o..  He loves popcorn. Infact, he can eat a large popcorn at the movies but he’s very annoying. You know that guy that makes alot of noise eating popcorn? yeah, that’s him..

So sometimes along the way, let your creativity nurture itself through inspiration. Find ways to make your Project365 work for you. Wishing everyone a great day.

HUGS

Pix