3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Project 365

Day 71/365: Purses and Camera Bags

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Purses, Purses and more purses. A trip to my local thrift store, Bits N’ Pieces on a quest for a purse that I can convert to a  camera bag.

Thirft store shopping for a camera bag
Day 71: Thrift Store Shopping

I’m really not purse obsessed, but I do get bored with the same one and have to switch it out every few months. For that reason I can’t justify spending a small fortune on a purse, so I keep my eyes open for bargains at thrift stores. I’m on a quest for purses that can be converted to a camera case.

 BBP DSLR Camera Insert, Make Your Own Camera Bag – Orange

Now, if I were to go and buy a brand new purse it would have to be multi-purpose for me that means a combination purse and camera bag. I like to carry my photo gear with me everywhere, you never know when you’re going to see an amazing sunset, a bald eagle, or a perfect photo opportunity.

Red Tote & Shoot Camera Bag By

But, I don’t like carrying my camera bag separately. Nor, do I like using my plain, boring camera bag as my handbag. I may not have much fashion sense, but I do know that black does NOT go with everything. A camera bag can be stylish and functional at the same time.

Purse and Camera Bag Combination

Each one of these fashionable camera bags also has the convenience of extra pockets for wallets, cell phones, keys and credit cards. I haven’t decided which one I want yet. But so far I like the looks of the Tote and Shoot variety which has a separate zippered pouch to easily pull out your camera, it not only has the short straps but a cross-body strap for a “hands free” carrying option. Kinda like a messenger bag.

Kattee Canvas Cow Leather DSLR SLR VintageKattee Fashion PU Leather Canvas DSLR CameraGracie MintRed Tote & Shoot Camera Bag ByCosmos New Classic Vintage Casual Brown ShoulderKattee Vintage PU Leather/ Canvas DSLR CameraKelly Moore Posey 2 Women’s Multifunction CameraBlue Tote & Shoot Camera Bag By

Day 70/365: Elmwood-Murdock High School

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Day 70: Elmwood-Murdock High School

I’ve mentioned my kids high school a few times in this blog, yes I’m not only a proud parent, but a proud member of the Elmwood-Murdock community. This is the school sign outside the high school located in Murdock Ne. Murdock has a population of about 267 people, give or take a few, and is located in Eastern Nebraska between Omaha and Lincoln. The Village of Elmwood is just six miles south comprised of approximately 700 citizens.

As you can see sports isn’t the only area the students pf Elmwood-Murdock High School excel. Academic recognition is just as important and the FLBA (Future Business Leaders of America) has made it to Nationals every year since 1992. My daughter is in FBLA, FCCLA, Speech, Track, and Volleyball. With such a small school if there is going to be any activities just about everyone has to participate.

Participate they do, in a big way. It’s cool to be involved, fun, and from a parents perspective it really builds character, confidence, and skill sets that will take them far. Over 50 students participate in FBLA and more than 20 in speech.  The high school student body  is comprised of approximate 120 students from 9-12th grade. We have a 100% graduation rate, and an average ACT score of about 24, would have to check that again as two years in a row we had students that got a perfect score.

Anyhow, more to come on the school as the year progresses.

Day 69/365: It’s COLD in Nebraska!

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Day 69: Yes the thermometer is correct

Woke up one morning not wanting to climb out of bed. It was cold! Brrrr. Broke out my trusty iPod, (have I mentioned I love my iPod yet? Well I do!) and checked the weather. Yes, you read it correctly -2.1F, that is without wind chill which made it feel like -15 F, too cold for outside pictures, I think I’ll just stay under the covers and work from my iPod. I can do that, email counts.

The free App is @Thermometer, simple, but does the trick. I’m really addicted to Scramble, it’s like online Boggle. Don’t even ask what level I’m on, it’s embarrassing.

Day 68/365: Super Bowl, Go Packers

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Day 58: Go Packers

I’m not a big sports fan, I like college football better than pro, and normally only watch a couple of games per year of NFL Football. Doesn’t mean that I can’t follow a game and know the general rules, just don’t ask me what blocking is, I have still have no idea even though it’s been explained to me numerous times.

But I do like the drama and excitement of the Super Bowl. If it’s a close game, which was definitely delivered in Super Bowl XLV. I did have a favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. There is something about a pro football team that still has the guts to play in “real weather” the way football was designed. Rough, tough, down and dirty. Reminds me of the days watching football with my Dad when the teams played in rain, sleet and snow.

Roughing the quarterback wasn’t an issue then, it’s football, the goal is to tackle the guy with the ball. So, getting back to the Green Bay Packers. They are the only team still owned by a city, not by “fat cats” with millions of dollars and expensive sky boxes who just want to own a football team. This bonds the fans with the team and the players with the fans. Not to mention you have to be a little crazy to go shirtless in freezing weather to watch a game. That’s dedication. Lambeau Field is the oldest pro sports stadiums in the country and the proximity of the fans to the field is second to none. They can literally reach out and touch them. Better than that…

The Packers do this thing called the Lambeau Leap.  Many players after scoring touchdowns literally leap into the stands to be embraced by their fans. This is awesome!!!!

Day 67/365: Hastings Honor Choir

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Day 67: Hastings Honor Choir

Just a little bit about the Hastings College, High School Honor festival. It is the oldest honor music festival in the state of Nebraska, now in it’s 41st year.  The choir and band only accepts juniors and seniors, while the string orchestra is open to all high school students. This year the clinician was Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr. and the students spent 6-7 hours a day Friday and Saturday practicing their pieces for the concert on Sunday.

My son is in the middle of the above picture, a senior, and sings Bass II. Until a year ago he never tried out for honor choirs.  He was accepted for Hastings last year, ECNC last fall, the University of Nebraska Omaha BOCH Festival last month, and two years ago sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the Elmwood-Murdock choir in a mixed ensemble. Quite a set of accomplishments in the past few years. Yeah, and he hates for me to brag about it too. But what are the chances he’ll ever read this? Slim to none.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to him sing. In six months he will be leaving for Marine boot camp in San Diego, CA and starting a career as an MP. I am more and more proud of him every day. I hope, somehow, that he will find a way to continue singing.  Maybe on a base somewhere a group of them will start a group, enter a talent show, or just be goofing around one day with ditties and form a group like the 4 Troops.

Day 67: Extra, full Honor Choir

Disclaimer: I know, the top photo is not one of my best, very amateurish Photoshop eiditing. But hey, the purpose of this blog is to stretch not only my photography skills but to get better in Photoshop as well.  I was experimenting with layers, selecting colors, and skewing images. I accomplished that.  So my goal for the night was complete. Considering the lighting and the distance I thought the pictures turned out decent.  I tried to improve it in Photoshop but was only slightly success.

The second picture was photoshopped too…I removed a random trombone player intruding on the choir and pushed the bleachers together.