Tagged by Kim

Well, I got tagged again...this time by Kim! It was only last week but I'm just now catching up with posting my seven random things so here goes.

Random Thing One:

Before I was into photography, I used to do collage. Before that, I was a rubber stamp artist. I read the magazines, went to conventions, shopped, swapped, joined online groups and yes, I made plenty of art with rubber stamps. For 15 years I shared this hobby with my Mom, who now houses almost all of the collection we amassed. We stopped counting how many we had when we passed the 20,000 mark...and that was only the wood-mounted stamps (we also had unmounted rubber stored in binders).

Random Thing Two:

One of my favorite things to eat is sour cream. Besides potatoes, I like it on all sorts of cooked veggies, in recipes and as a base for a fruit salad from my Mom's recipe--so good!

Random Thing Three:

I have yet to visit The Grand Canyon. This is one place I would like to see, and it is on my short list along with any other of the National Parks in the USA of places I would love to photograph.

Random Thing Four:

I enjoy short stories. I am amazed at the ability some writers possess to create a coheasive story with well-developed characters--start, middle and finish--in such a limited format. Only drawback is I always want the stories to keep on going...which rather misses the point.

Random Thing Five:

I used to write poetry. Mostly in my high school days and I kept it in albums. I wrote over 200 poems, sometimes two or three per day. I still have the albums in a box in my garage.

Random Thing Six:

I love Paris! The city, not the celebrity. From the time I was old enough to know where it was, I've harbored a desire to experience Paris and perhaps even live there for awhile. I am sure that I, like many, may over-romanticize it but I feel an affinity to The City of Lights--even more so since I've been studying Art History as my major in college.

Random Thing Seven:

I have a fear of deep water. For some it's spiders, others it's heights. For me, it's deep water. The ocean is inspiring and beautiful but I have no desire to be out on (or in) it. Give me a river, lake or pond anytime and as long as I can see land on at least one side of it, I am good to go.

So, there's my seven. Here are the folks I have chosen to tag to share their seven:

Cheryl at Al Ain Notebook
Dennice, author of fringe

Pam of housemartin
Chelsey over at Paper Lady Invites
Lupe of Art Garden

Char who posts her Ramblins...
Emmy Lou aka the Pointless Nostalgic

The Tagging Game "Official" Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog; some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name and a link to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The photos displayed in this post are from sellers of handmade goods and art on Etsy. Visit their shops at the links listed below and enjoy!

Camera Buttons by Barrel of Monkeys

Simply Scrumptious Sour Cream Coffee Cake from Retro Art Chick

Angel's Landing fine art print by Lee Everett Robinson Photography

Plain Spoke, vol 1, no 1 by Life on Europa

Obsolete by The La La Theory

Burgandy Paris Blues beeswax collage from Jack & Cat Curio

Surf by Tina of Pfeiffer Photos

Surf photo and text for this post copyright pfeiffer photos 2008 - all rights reserved.

Second Time Sophomore

"Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!"

~ Jul Brynner as King Mongkut of Siam in The King & I

In spring of 2007, at age 38, I lost my last JOB and my new husband of 4 months encouraged me to put down the want ads and pick up the school books in search of a CAREER.

Looking back at my work for the last five terms at community college, the thing that stands out most now is the increase in my confidence level to achieve my goals. I remember at the start I would approach each assignment with a fair amount of apprehension and then slowly make my way through the process. My fingers were figuratively crossed each time I finished a piece of work and submitted it for review. Afterwards I would find myself wishing there was more time to spend in the text, more questions to answer, and more time left to write and to share.

L to R: El Grande Cowl by Fringe, Leaf Earrings by Spotted Octopus Jewelry, Cranberry Crossover Cordoroy Tote by Camille Star

As I've progressed through each course I have learned to be more precise in what I want to convey. I've grown beyond surface statements, simple declarations with nothing to back them up, and learned to add detail and to better explain my ideas. I try to be very honest in both the written and visual work I produce and to ensure that what is in my head comes out on the page (or screen) in just the way I intend.

This Sunday is the first day of Fall. Next Monday is the first day of Fall term for me. A mixture of excitement and nervousness builds as I cross each day off my calendar and we inch toward the 22nd. I look forward to learning but I am nervous about meeting and interacting with new people.

L to R: Tree Landscape Cuff by TigerLilyShop, Vintage Spectator Tassel Heels from Nerdybird Vintage, Grass by Pfeiffer Photos

I found this video clip today on YouTube (see below). It's not only a fun piece of cinematic memory and a happy song, it gave me a little boost in my spirit for these weeks to come.

Whatever you're undertaking that is new, and in this time of many folks feeling some uncertainties, I hope it brings you a smile!

My back-to-school picks are featured in the photos included in this post. These items are the quality handmade and vintage goods offered by our fellow small business owners on Etsy.com. Please click the links for more info and to view their shops--thanks so much!

"I Whistle a Happy Tune" by Rodgers & Hammerstein from The King & I - 20th Century Fox, video clip via YouTube.

copyright pfeiffer photos 2008.