The DIET

A post or two I referenced the migraine diet and promised more detail. Here it is. If you don't get migraines or don't know anyone who does, you may want to skip this one.

Last August my dear friend Susan introduced me to Dr. Sanchez. After a 4 hour wait I was finally done with my initial appointment. His approach was rather straight forward. I got a daily preventive drug and I was to keep a food log. Ok. Easy enough, especially after he said he thought he could get me to a headache or 2 a year.

I dutifully took my medicine that night. The next morning I could not wake up. Everything was in slow motion. I finally rolled into work around 10 am. When I got there, I just sat there and looked at my screen. By 11 I realized this was not going to work. He suggested I cut them in two going forward. Evidently, I am quite sensitive to this stuff. Later a nurse friend laughed when I told her about it. "You were stoned!" I seriously don't get wh someone chooses that state if mind.

After about a month of logging every morsel, I headed back. I thought Janice was bad with her red ink. Yogurt, gone. Nuts, gone. That was two-thirds of my normal breakfast. He did let me keep the blueberries. My typical lunch was next. Cheese, deli meat, balsamic vinegar. All theoretically remover from the diet. Later it was beans, all pork, bananas, grapes, raisins. The list became ling but the final blows were the worst. Aspartame, sucralose and chocolate. I quickly informed him that I was willing to humor him, but I had to draw the line at chocolate.

He kind of chuckled and said he'd see me in two months. Some days I did well, others not so much. I just couldn't believe so many foods I love could be so painful. After about six months I decided I really needed to buckle. After enough pain even a Reese's cup isn't worth it any more. I did a good job sticking to it for about when I realized I was basically eating potatoes.

Enter the nutritionist Carol Ann. I can really tell a difference. I am almost brave enough to try to add some things back. I'll let you know how it goes but I did want to share that with you all. After about 35 years, it's kind of cool knowing that we're finally figuring out the cause.

Tour de Tuscaloosa-Crit

I think the Tour de Tuscaloosa is my favorite race. One reason is that it is such a lovely setting. It starts at the edge of downtown Tuscaloosa and then hits a dramatic turn into a long downhill with a sharp 90 degree lefthand turn. The very definition of "sketchy." As we made the drive over (ok - that's an entire other post...what should have been about three and a half hours turned into five), we talked about the race. James was very nervous about the Cat 4 race. It was the sketchy course and the prospect of rain that had him in knots.

We got there with time to leisurely get everything together and get him on his trainer set up. Rain was forecasted, but we sure hoped it would hold out until after he raced.

Part of the race is on Jack Warner Parkway, which runs along the Black Warrior River, a river known to attract tornadoes. The air had that heaviness before the race started so I went back and forth about whether to get my camera out. (Of course, I did.)

The juniors had a big field. James is racing against kids who turn 13 or 14 this year. I think this is the age group where you see the greatest spread in ability due to physical development. It's so tough when you just don't have the muscle mass the other guys do. (Zoom in on the thighs of the guy in yellow shoes. Wow. Brody used to be a teammate and has really turned into a great racer - he wins any 13-14 race he enters.) Here James puts on a great attack only to be caught pretty quickly.

The group of race age 13 stayed together for a sprint at the end. The kid on the right is a great sprinter and edged James out just at the finish line.

I don't know how in the world I didn't get a picture of Jim and Sue or Dave and Paula while we were there. Visiting with them is honestly what makes this my favorite race of the year. Jim and Sue "adopted" me when I was in school. Jim took all the calls that would have been to Daddy if he lived in the same city...things like my car won't crank. (No one ever told me I had to add water to the battery.) There were many late viewing of MASH and breakfast at the Waysider. To this day I do miss them both.

Then, there's Dave and Paula. Dave was in admissions at Alabama when I was in high school. He was actually at Charles Henderson our Honors Day. That was when I first met Dave. I've been through births and very sick babies and watching their girls grow up. We've been touch all those years and I so enjoy catching up with them. (He also always has all the scoop on any sport you want to know about.) Any way...they escaped getting their pictures made, but they was a big part of the weekend.

Did I mention the lovely setting? Since we were there last year, they have built amphitheater. I love how you can watch them go down that big hill and come across way down there below.

I started to say something nostalgic about The Tuscaloosa News, but then I saw the flag which said it was a subsidiary of The New York Times. I won't say anything at all.

While we were at lunch (the "we" being Dave, Paula and me) there was a tornado watch issued. Bad weather was all around. It started raining and James had to rush to the van. Poor thing. There was good news, though. The rain stopped and the road dried off before the Cat 4.

James was so nervous. I don't know why. He is only about a third the size of the other guys. He didn't want to start, but he did. He was having a decent race when the tire of a guy in front of him just exploded. Sounded like a .22. His recovery got the back of the pack separated and James was quickly off by himself. Coach Kelli told him to pull out, but he felt good that he started and was hanging onto the pack.

Tough course, but great for spectators. You 13-14s and Cat 4s better lookout next year!

Oregon

Ponderings

Ok, this is one of my stream of consciousness, random ponderings. I'm not sure when it started (the ponderings I mean) - I think a few Sundays ago when Randy was talking about the sin behind the sin and the motive behind the motive. I guess that a really super deep level of spirituality. I didn't totally know what he was talking about, but it did strike me.

When I was very sick at the airport on the return from Germany, a few people stopped to see if I needed anything...not many, but a few. One woman in particular was a saint. She had two little boys with her and they were waiting for their former au pair who was coming for a visit. She saw me puking my guts up in a trash can at the busiest part of the airport and came to check on me. She bought me a bottle of water and stood with me for a while. (Her little one was precious - even in my haze - he keep asking me why I was sick.)

Any way, I kept thinking about what made her stop and look after me. Strong maternal draw, feeling sorry for me, setting a good example for her kids, maybe she was a Christian? I have no idea.

As I passed my germs on to the rest of my family and I was up almost all night a couple of nights later, I started thinking about why I was staying up. What really was my motive? Was that what Randy was talking about? Was I up because I was the mom or because I felt guilty that I gave them the bug? Maybe I just wanted to be seen as being the martyr? I moved on to what should be my motive - yes, I had time to think about it even though I was really, really tired.

We're to do all things for the glory of our Father. I'm not really sure why I was up serving them. Maybe it was because I really didn't have a choice, but maybe at least I started realizing there was a higher calling and motivation. Isn't the first step realizing you a have problem or in this case, a motivation you didn't recognize?

Snow Day!!!

We got snow...big snow. It was so pretty - I haven't been so good about practicing my pictures lately, but I did try to get out and get a few. Short session, though, because it was sooo cold.

It is clear that my older son is more like me. He thinks it's cool, but enough is enough and it's time for spring to be here. We have had so much cold weather already. (He is getting mature enough to realize that before summer is over he's going to hate riding in the hot weather. Some people are just never happy.)

I am also confident that at some point my younger son will leave me to move far away to a very cold place. As much as I can do without really cold weather, he absolutely lives for it. He asks all summer if I think it will snow the coming winter. As soon as snow starts melting, he gets sad and immediately wonders if we will get more before summer. He comes with in wet and frozen, but happy as a little frozen lark. I'm going to miss him.

Maybe I'll muster a visit - it is pretty.

If you want to check out a few more pics, visit www. candisnaps.com

Surprise - New Post

Sights from the Beach

No particular order. Different cameras, different lenses and different photographers, but they are all in my favorites from our trip to the beach.

Sweet hubby took this one of the sea oats.

I think this one was by my mom or dad with their little Kodak. I just love those rich colors.

The "nice" camera with the "nice" lens. I can just feel the humidity again when I look at this.

Maybe a big kid's feet aren't as sweet as a newborns, but to a mom they're still precious.

Just love storm shots.

My fav of all. Snapped this really quick as we were unloading and Tropical Storm Claudette was headed our way for landfall. Just look at that water. Gorgeous.

If you've visited www.candisnaps.com, apologies for the duplication.

Not So Weekly Post

The beach just before a storm. Does it really matter which camera or settings you use?

Photowalk 2009

Check out www.candisnaps.com for a look at the shots that CBT and I took at Photowalk 2009 in Blue Ridge, GA.  We were part of a group of roughly 30,000 all over the world who took a walk and took pictures.

We had a blast.

What I've Been Up To

Yep.  I am pretty behind.  You can check out what I've been up to at www.norcrossamericanallstars.shutterfly.com and www.candisnaps.com.

Not sure I'll keep practicing here - there's enough practicing there.

Happy Picture Taking :)

Maybe when I said I would post something every week, I meant I would average weekly posts.  

I used to hate hydrangeas, but I have grown to love them.  There are so many different colors and variations.

This one came from our other house and it has bloomed for the first time this year (as have several others that we brought over).  It's truly summer time.

Took this with my 24-70 late in the afternoon...I think between 4 and 5.

Finally....something in Ps

I have been quite busy with CBT's baseball team.  Somehow I became the team photographer and have taken well over 1,000 photos with almost that many posted on a "team photo website."

Today I finally figured out how to do anything something in Photoshop.  It took me a long time, but I was determined to figure it out because I had seen it as part of an ad for the software.  I took the team photo today right before the tournament started.  Me Ra would cringe because it was about 11:30am and horribly bright.  You guessed it.  Out of the three shots I took (why did I just take three??), none had everyone with their eyes open.

After a very long time, I figured out how to layer two of the pictures of get everyone with their eyes open.  Unfortunately, not everyone had a least one "good" in one of the three, but I did get eyes (even if squinty.)

First shot - the two coaches on the right...closed eyes.

Next shot, virtually everyone else with their eyes closed.  But, those two coaches with their eyes open.

Go to Scott Kelby's Photoshop book, turn to page 295.  Tada...everyone's eyes are open.

Of course, if I had remembered his Digital Photography tip before I got back home I might not have to had to go through the 3 easy steps.  Oh, well.  Good learning experience.

It's Baseball

I have been so remiss.  Travel, crazy sports schedules and just being tired.  

Here's my favorite from the past couple of week of almost a thousand posted baseball pictures.  If you're really bored, you could check out the All Stars and All Stars Part II at www.norcrossamericanallstars.shutterfly.com.  Part III was more of a bust - I was tired of carrying around the 70-200 so I stuck with the 24-70.  Those distance shots just aren't as good.

Fast Fingers

I was taking a picture of the big group at the reunion and heard something like a very large bumble bee.  I looked around and saw two hummingbirds dive-bombing each other trying to protect the feeder.  Had camera in hand (only the 24-70, wished I had the 70-200).

Most were blurry - no suprise given how fast they move - but I did get one where one was still.  Wish it were more crisp, but I was happy to just to get it.

Tunnel Vision

Yes...it's been roughly a month since I've been here.  Travel, sickness, a wacky wireless home network, and more have all contributed to my absence.  

Admittedly, today's post is a little weak.  Another photographer told me about moving your lens, ie, zoom in or out, while you're taking a picture.  It is supposed to give you a sense of motion.

I tried it with my 24-70mm and got an interesting effect - I obviously need more practice, but it is kind of neat in its own way.

Unrelated note, Traci....can you send me what you told Molly about the focus not holding when you hold the shutter button halfway?  I have noticed that I am having the same issue.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, Y'ALL!!

CBT Pre-race

So....I've gotten a little behind on my once per week commitment.  I'll try to make up for it some with a bunch of pictures today.  Going to number then - curious in any comments.  These were pre-race yesterday between 10:30 and 11 am.  Used the 24-70mm L.  All the adjustment are in Lightroom.  I finally bought a book so I can figure out Photoshop.

#1  I applied Matt's Auto Adjustment (from Killer Lightroom tips) for portraits.   This is such a typical face for CBT.

#2  Used same preset.  It put a little more richness in the green of the grass and softened his face just a bit.

#3  Used Matt's Soft Focus Level I along with a slight exposure adjustment and some vignetting.

#4  Same soft focus preset as before.  He had definitely gone into "posing" mode.

#5  Christopher liked this one a lot.  "I've seen pictures like this before where the person isn't in the middle."  I think that was his way of saying it is slightly more artistic than mom usually is.  Used the Matt's Auto Adjustment again.

Maybe I can get back on track now - there are so many beautiful things around!

Easter Flowers

While we were out doing our Easter egg hunt, I tried to take a few other pictures.  I was contrasting taking flowers in sunlight versus shade.

These pink azaleas were awfully pretty.  I did find that I kept forgetting to adjust for the different light as I moved back and forth between shade and light. 

I definitely prefer the shade.  The color here is a little more washed out than the actual picture.  On this one, I kept going back forth on the aperture - between 2.8 and 3.5.  This one was with 2.8, ISO 200.

Tuscaloosa Flowers

I'm trying to take advantage of any opportunities I see.  I got these shots right after JST's race at Lake Lurleen outside Tuscaloosa.  This wisteria smelled wonderful.  I used one of Matt's presets (from Killer Lightroom Tips).

Love dogwoods.  The blooms are on trees so it was hard to get as close I wanted.  Using a 2.8 really blurred out the background so it didn't matter as much.

I find the underside just as compelling a flower as the topside.  When I have a more time, I'll crop them to see if they get any more interesting.

CBT#4 Revised

I liked Traci's idea so....

This is the original picture a.k.a. CBT #4.

Traci thought it would look good b&w.  She was right.  I just used the standard low contrast b&w preset in Lr.

While I was at it, I always tried the antique light.  I just love that you can totally change these pictures with just a click.  Thanks for the idea, my friend.

CBT#5

Last one.   Which one was your favorite?  Curious what you liked and didn't like.