Got Appeal?

Got Appeal?
Originally uploaded by ushwink.

I was working on an essay on "Blue Jeans" for a fun Photography class. I got a few interesting shots at the local mall.

Luckily for me, she obliged. I guess there IS a benefit to having a toddler in a stroller while taking pics of strangers; you have "harmless" written all over you! And rightfully so. Why do you think I kept her pretty face out of the frame?!

Oh, to be young and pretty!

The next time around, I'm going to pick a topic where I don't have to harass people. :-)

What was I to do??

What was I to do??
Originally uploaded by ushwink.

He didn't want to sit still, he didn't want to smile, and the stinky didn't want to be changed.

So...his diaper lying on the sofa, with light streaming from the window began to look more and more appealing. It was certainly more cooperative than he was!

No photographic value whatsoever...

…well, except maybe for the reason Photography was intended – to freeze a moment in time for posterity sake.

My son loved pulling out utensils from the cabinets while I was cooking. Being an equal-opportunity mom, I was inspired to build a kitchen for him. I call this my 2-dollar kitchen.

How difficult could this be, I thought. I started with cardboard knobs and burners and the next thing I know, I had Dishwasher and an Oven. Made of boxes I found around the house, it grew organically through the course of the day while I did other things. I got such a kick out of it, I had to stay up that night rummaging for old boxes in the basement to make a Refrigerator and Microwave Oven. Who knows, if I had this planned out, it would have turned out better. But then, it wouldn't have the spirit that it has now.

Needless to say, Jr. Chef loves it and so do the little girls who visit us. Notice, the lucky guy has stainless steel utensils; an egg carton works as a muffin tin and a mixing bowl is his sink. The cork from a wine bottle became his faucet. The Microwave oven and Oven even have a see-thru door. I got carried away, didn't I?!

Inspiration is a wonderful thing. :-)

The world beneath us

It doesn't look like it but everything that could go wrong in a flight did...tickets, seats, baggage, needy 15-month old, airport delay, lost stroller, 15-month old(did I already say that?)..but it was worth it 'coz the Pilot gave me a tour of the cockpit! I started up a conversation with him and next thing I know, we are the cockpit.
We were crossing Turkish airspace, there were planes flying below us, I could see the controls, security camera, the view was breathtaking, his food was much better than mine,...
No matter how many times you fly, there is a sense of wonder when you look out of the window,... the vast expanse of land and water, how much we have accomplished and yet how insignificant we are, how peaceful it looks... ..and then the food arrives and you're back to watching a "Cheers" re-run. 7 hours, 21 minutes left to reach destination. We are at least half-way there. Sigh!