Post Processing


So, I've been lounging most of the day and taking some time to tinker with my new laptop. It was nice hanging out in bed this morning whilst having the ability to try out my new program on some photos I've been dying to manipulate. The above photo is from the Stone Mountain Set, if you have seen the original then you know how dramatically this photo has changed. Personally, I think it looks pretty awesome this way, although the original had a completely different appeal since it was complimented with a brilliant blue sky. As my friend "B" pointed out I've always been somewhat of a purist when it comes to my photography, meaning I never really spend a whole lot of time altering my photos since I generally like them the way that they are. Now this photo reveals to me that a little post-processing never hurt anybody.
Let me know what you think, which one do you like better?! Click on the link above to see the original.

Captivating Encounter

“I didn't ask for it to be over, but then again, I never asked for it to begin. For that's the way it is with life, as some of the most beautiful days come completely by chance. But even the most beautiful days eventually have their sunsets.”

Stone Mountain Falls

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”

~ John Burroughs




*Good new: Cody went to work today after about 3 weeks of not being on the job. I'm going to miss my stay-at-home boyfriend! Today, as well as the next week will serve as somewhat of a trial period to see how it works out. Our roommate Steve is the one who found the job for him doing trim work, on the plus side, if this works out he will be making more than before and he will be the envy of all who must work outdoors in the frigid winter months. Please keep your fingers crossed that he will be a good fit with the new crew.
Other news: I forgot to tell everyone about my Acupuncture last week, sorry. It went pretty well, was weird though. According to the lady I am carrying a lot of heat around my neck and shoulders which is why my muscles and skin are constantly inflamed. So, they worked out a treatment to help with that, they put about 10 needles in my hands and feet (no neck or back) to try and release some of the heat. Since Friday I’ve noticed a difference as far as my skin goes, the inflammation has significantly gone down! I have another treatment today and maybe then they will proceed to work on my neck and back this time. The cost is on a sliding scale based on your income, and I only had to pay $15 for the treatment!!

Starts with a Seed

A wise man once said, "Lance Armstrong wasn't winning Tour de France on his tricycle!", and as I couldn't stop laughing hysterically when Cody said this something about that statement rang so true in my mind. What he was trying to tell me was basically that everything comes in time, and essentially we must take baby steps to reach the status of ones who put their heart and soul into something and alas conquered. True, sometimes it comes easier for some while others struggle to accomplish such feats. In one day I can be encouraged and discouraged just as easily and in equal amounts. I see things that compel me to create but then I will also see some things that makes me wonder whether or not what I have to give will be as widely accepted as I hope. And when I'm sifting through the seas of the many other artist amongst us I can't shake the feeling of intimidation I have about putting myself out there like them. It seems as though it's a constant battle trying to convince myself that this is where I take that leap of faith and hope for the best. It's all a matter of perception, and yes, there will be those that like my work, and there will be those that don't. Plain and Simple..........but not really.

Orange Blaze.................

Achieving the things that are important to me can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I have been in this mode where ideas and projects are abundant. For me it is hard to pour everything I have into something that I have yet to determine what the outcome may be. Being scared of the unknown is something that has held me back quite a bit in my life, but I have done my best to shed the habit of not having enough faith in all that I am and all that I have to give. As time goes by I let go a little more and I worry a little less. I always want things to happen a lot faster than they usually do and as a result my patience wears thin. On the other hand I know these things take time and I understand our paths are not always ones of least resistance, and where I am today is not where I thought I would be had you asked me 4 years ago. This goes to show exactly how much and how often we deviate from our paths. That brings up another point, are we deviating from our paths or is that precisely where we are meant to be? I suppose I agree with that statement a little more than the previous one. I have always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and it's that adage I have referred to on many occasions to get me through some very trying times. Even if at the moment I was telling myself "Everything happens for a reason" and I didn't necessarily trust it at the time I still knew deep down that it is what was true. Now I am at a crossroad, ready to pursue my next path as I desperately try to decide which way to go so that I may realize these dreams that seem so far out of reach. As I am unsure of what each may bring I will simply do my best to keep my dreams alive...................

Sticks..............

It's the Journey that's Important
by John McLeod

Life, sometimes so wearying
Is worth its weight in gold
The experience of traveling
Lends a wisdom that is old
Beyond our 'living memory'
A softly spoken prayer:
"It's the journey that's important,
Not the getting there!"

Ins and outs and ups and downs
Life's road meanders aimlessly?
Or so it seems, but somehow
Leads us where we need to be,And being simply human
We oft question and compare....
"Is the journey so important
Or the getting there?"

And thus it's always been
That question pondered down the ages
By simple men with simple ways
To wise and ancient sages....
How sweet then, quietly knowing
Reaching destination fair:
"It's the journey that's important,
Not the getting there!"

Stone Mountain State Park

A shock to me as well as Cody but things got a little out of hand on Saturday morning and the days events didn't go exactly the way we planned. I attest that how I chose to handle the situation was probably not the best and I see that now; I realized that not to long after it happened but when you're in too deep it's hard to turn back. So, since I've built you up I'll just tell you what happened - we went to the dump and once we left we decided to go back to the house to drop off a mower we picked up and so that I could get some Aleve. Instead of going left, he went right which made the trip home much longer than it rightfully should have been which didn't sit very well with me, as I was extremely irritable at that point. By the time we got home I was fuming and in no mood to hang out with Cody, whom is usually always my most favorite person in the world. I reacted instead of allowing myself time to calm down and subsequently left Cody to stay home while I went to Stone Mountain State Park alone. I was truly lost without my sidekick I quickly learned, I mean literally - I got lost! hahaha The trail I took was confusing at times but it was still a nice day although it would have been much better had my cohort been in tow. And to give you a clue as to how foreign it was for me to be alone on the trail, I would look back as if Cody were behind me at times then I realized he wasn't there like he normally is. I felt bad about the whole thing, I told him that was the old Jessica taking over. The next morning we were able to discuss the situation, convey our feelings rationally (as irrational as the other thought they may have been), and even laughed about it afterward. Lessons learned, I daresay that was probably the biggest and worst misunderstanding we've had during the course of our relationship, and if that's the case - I think we're doing pretty good.
*Sorry babe, we'll go back to Stone Mountain together :)