I'm Going to Succeed Because I'm Crazy Enough to Think I Can

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Gotta Keep Typing

(Just a few recent pics off my phone.)

To put it mildly, life has changed drastically in the last 4 weeks.
I don't mind. I'm really enjoying the changes!

I couldn't find who the artist/sculptor was who did these two sculptures. But they were actually at 2 different museums. I'm assuming they were done by the same artist. Because what are the odds otherwise?

The most bizarre of all the changes is that I've developed (for the second time in my life) callouses on each of my fingertips and a bruise on the bottom of one wrist from so much typing.

I'm working daily for Meridian Magazine again, writing freelance articles, writing for the Motley Fool, building a new website, and when there are few spare minutes in a day, working on writing 2 new books.

About 2 years ago I complained that I was typing, on average, about 20 pages a day. And I'm easily back up to that again now. No wonder I'm getting callouses from all the typing!

(And yet we call this unemployment.) 

Aging

I'm fairly used to the fact that I look a little young for my age. I don't mean this in any sort of bragging way. If anything, I wouldn't mind looking a little bit more mature just so I could get a little more professional respect. When people think you are half your age, you get treated that way (and paid that way).
But truth be told, I'm starting my mid-life crisis. And I'm attending my 20th high school reunion this weekend.
It's so cliche to say it, but it's hard to believe it has been 20 years since I graduated from high school. How is that even possible?
I mentioned to someone today that I would be going to the reunion this weekend, and he responded that I still look like I am in high school.
Ha.
That's just what you think!
I may look 18 now (really, I don't think I do. I think I can pass for mid-20's, but 18? not so much.), but I promise you, I did not look like this at 18.
Shall we go to the photographic evidence? And mock my awesome looks in the 80s and 90s?
Here I am at age 18 and my high school graduation. Please note: I did not exactly have the blond, golden locks I have now.

I would be the short one in the graduation white robe. My younger sister Natalie is taller than me. (Has been for many years now.) Sidenote: today I was mistaken for the little girl I am holding in this picture. That is my baby sister Stephanie, who was only 4 years old when I graduated.

As you can see, my natural hair color  back then was a much, much darker blond, bordering on brown.
Next we have a lovely picture from my college years.

Don't ask why we are posing with Citrucel. It's a ridiculous story.

This picture was taken a few weeks before my 20th birthday. (And was before I discovered eyebrow waxing/tweezing.)
And just for good measure, here's what I look like now-

Me and little cousin Lexi Doodle. Who doesn't love a little kid missing their teeth?

Okay, now I realize I haven't really proven my point very well. Apparently my hair has changed, but not much else. In my mind, I really don't look anything like I did when I was 18. But in these pictures it is hard to prove that, other than my hair. But really, at 18, I was 50 lbs lighter, very flat chested (often went without even wearing a bra), had short, curly blond-brown hair, and would never dare have left the house without makeup and earrings on. Now? I might wear mascara if I didn't get much sleep the night before. I can't remember the last time I wore earrings. My hair is light blond and elbow length. And I wear bras that come with gravity defying money-back guarantees.

And now, just for fun, here are some fun 80s pictures of my hair for you-

Behold my 8th grade class picture! I worked hard to get my hair to wing out on the sides like that. 

And 9th grade! Complete with perm and tall bangs! And an acid wash pleated jean skirt. I should be so ashamed, but mostly I'm just greatly amused. I thought I looked totally rad in this outfit!

And no self-shaming high school post would be complete without a prom picture. I was 17 in this picture. And clearly already showing my not-big-on-glamor side.

With all of this humiliation out of the way (not really. i really don't care what i looked like back then.), I am totally ready for my high school reunion.

Photoshop lies. Guidebooks lie.

I was looking at pictures of Cambodia on Pinterest today, and found myself a bit confused. One scene seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. I had to do a little bit of research to figure out what the picture was of before I recognized it.
Let it be known, this is a post about how guide books and Photoshop lie.
What I found on Pinterest (and Flickr)-

Looks pretty and inviting, no? (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixfrix/page2/)

Here's what it looked like when I was there-

 (ahem, I'd like to add that I've lost 15 lbs since this pic was taken. also, i was hours away from the worst illness of my entire life. but really, i admit i looked this bad.)

Photoshop lies. Guidebooks lie.

Hey You! Check out my new novels, "You Heard It Here First" and the sequel "This Just In!"

World War II Memorial in Washington, DC

It is hard to believe that in just one week I will be waking up in Cambodia. I've already started packing (and unpacking, and repacking, and unpacking). And to prepare for the inevitable jet lag that lies ahead, I've begun waking up earlier and earlier each morning (today was 4 am), and going to bed considerably earlier each night, in hopes that when I arrive in Cambodia, my jet lag will be minimal. (On the day I will leave for CAM I will have "naturally" woken up at midnight my time, which is noon their time.)
Yesterday I had to drive to Washington, DC (4.5 hours away) to expedite the renewal of my passport in person. It was a VERY long day. I had a few hours to kill and decided to go practice my photography at the WWII memorial. I am not naturally a very good photographer, and figured it couldn't hurt for me to practice a little bit before my big trip. Here are a few hits and misses from my one hour photo session.

The next three pictures are perfect examples of why sometimes a little practice can go along way.

Attempt #1- bad tourist shot. And I swear the Monument really does look like it is leaning to the left.

Attempt #2- standing in the same place as attempt #1, but trying to zoom and get artsy. My cheap little automatic just isn't allowing the focus to do what my imagination wanted it to do. Really lame picture.

Attempt #3- taken just a few feet away from the other two shots. IMHO, a much better photo. This is an untouched shot. You don't see clear blue skies like that in DC very often.

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial and US Flag

I had to crop this photo to make it closer to what I wanted it to be. I had envisioned it more focused on the flag, with the pillars leading up to it. Again, sadly my camera just isn't as fancy as my vision

World War II Memorial Fountain

I love taking pictures of fountains. I know I have some friends out there with real photography talent. Anyone have any advice for me on how I could have made these photos better?

Seriously, I need advice. Otherwise, there's going to be a whole lot of pictures like this one coming back from Cambodia. And really, I think we can all agree we don't want that, now do we?