On my way back from taking some documents to their destination on Burrard Street, I spotted this horse and carriage and HOPED it was for a gypsy wedding! Finally! My dream of shooting a gypsy wedding would be realized and all I will have left on my dream wedding photo list will be a winter wedding where the bride and all the bridesmaids wear both capes AND muffs, like this! Please! If you’re out there! And you’re looking for the perfect photographer to shoot your capes and muffs wedding, PLEASE CALL ME! I’m standing by for your call!

Sadly, no gypsy wedding in sight for me. I think it was just for a movie because this horse ‘n buggy was parked right outside a government building. Ah boo. Oh man, if Johnny Depp was in this movie, I’m going to be so sad because I could have had my other photo dream paparazzi shoot fulfilled! In my dream, I wouldn’t be chasing him or anything, he just waves at me, makes direct eye contact and walks away. And that’s it. I wouldn’t have to talk to him or anything – perfect for me!

Dare to dream.

In other news, I accidentally created a photo of Howe Street that makes it look like I took it at least 60 years ago.

Whoa. My camera + computer = time machine!

It was a lovely day today. In fact, it’s time to get the fans out of the garage! It was pretty warmish in the house when I got home from work! Yeehaw! It’s summer time.

Strawberry season is right around the corner! Come on sunshine! We want big juicy ones!

I’m not quite sure how this happens…one day my craft room is totally usable and then the next day?

Disaster area.

In the rubble, I found some books that I scooped from work. One of the books contained a very poorly translated Chinese quote. I hope you enjoy this:

Whoa. Why on earth did the author decide to use a translator from the 1930′s? I checked the book a little closer and found that the book was self published by some company in Abbotsford in 1999 and I think I met this author in my last job as she was in the “career management field.” I think it’s best not to disclose any more details about this book, just in case. Just in case of what? I’m not sure. I’m just judging this book by that quote…and therefore, this book stinks! That’s my review!

But I did take the advice and rather than wait for roast duck to fly into my mouth, I decided to just take the action and clean up my craft room so I can make it usable again, rather than close the door and hope little gnomes will clean it up while I’m in the other room watching Sister Wives and Toddlers and Tiaras for hours on end.

Tada! The roast duck! It arrived!

Woohoo! Flying roast duck! It’s ready for me to start sewing again.

This is good news because I have signed up for a sewing swap that I need to start NOW. I have no excuses now! I have to get sewing! In fact, I have been given so much free fabric these last few weeks, I can’t not make stuff.

Consider next week a flying roast duck week. Roast duck will be flying EVERYWHERE!

I’ve spotted some Terracotta Warriors this week in various states of paintedness. They are a huge step up from those painted bears from years gone by.

If I were to paint a picture of Donner and Oscar swatting and batting each other, this is exactly how I would paint it – if I could paint, that is. Since I can’t, I sure am glad this artist painted these tigers slapping each other.

RAWR!

I should have taken a photo of the placard, but I’m pretty sure the artist is Kathy Zhang and the warrior is named “TWELVE”. I’ll verify this because I should be more diligent giving credit where credit is due. I’ll go back and do that.

In other news, I’m getting used to my new schedule – riding a half empty bus to and from work. It’s awesome. Even the streets are quieter just an hour or so after most people get off work. Tonight the weather was warm and smelled like almost summer. Fresh, warm, air.

At this time of year, I’m almost tulip-ed out, but I not where there’s a bowler hat involved in the background. I am REALLY enjoying seen the trendy men out and about these days. I cannot get enough of their bow ties, their high water pants, and their oldy-time hats. Quite enjoyable. Maybe an artist decorated a Terracotta Warrior as a groovy hipster. I will keep my eyes peeled for that one!

Yesterday, on our way back to the car, we spotted a gaggle of groovy hipsters walking across the street. I wished more than anything I had my long lens with me so I could get a close up of his jacket, but since the best camera is the one you have with you, I did my best with my short, manual focus lens. I also used the zoom function in the photo editing software. WE do have the technology.

Floods really are in style these days! Dude completely pulled this whole look off. I admire his confidence.

I think Don Cherry would want this jacket. And so does this guy’s friend. Why is she biting his sleeve? I can’t explain it.

Speaking of biting…this graffiti was on the wall (spotted by Lelainia – I walked right by it. GAH!) in the alley behind the Opus store.

Danger Sharks, indeed! Shark Week in the alley off Hastings!

I’ve been no a real streak of fun, lovely, and happy adventures lately. I attended Vivienne‘s demo today where she shared her Polaroids and showed us how she tricked the cameras into making double exposures. All that means is that you take two photos in one frame. The results are dreamy, overexposed and a bit ghostly. This is my favourite double exposure I made today.

That’s the Woodwards Condo building mixed with some graffiti from a nearby alley.

Vivienne also let us use a Polaroid with some black and white film. I’ve never used that before. I gave it a whirl. I liked the results, but I somehow made the photos underexposed, so all my photos came out very dark.

Are they chairs? Or is this art? It’s chairs, double exposed. I like how it turned out. I think it turned out dark because I took this inside. But I can’t explain why this one turned out so dark.

Graffiti in the dark? Or in the shade, I guess.

I also learned how I can turn my digital camera into, well, basically, a pinhole camera, which is cool and ridiculous at the same time. I didn’t try too many of those photos today, the Polaroids were way too much fun. I’ll try those photos with my own camera later.

After the demo was over, Lelainia and I roamed the nearby alley and I took two photos to mix together on Photoshop once I got home.

This isn’t a real double exposure, but 2 photos layered on top of each other. But I’ll remember to use this technique more often! It’s fun!

And here I am in ghostly, double exposure Polaroid style.

Booo! I make a spooky, smiley ghost!

I’ve been having a great couple of days and this evening was a complete surprise. I was invited by Lelainia to go to a book signing and I met her at a cute little tea shop in Vancouver after work. They had a lovely spread of French bread, cheese and salamis and I met the author of this book called, The Pulse of Mixed Media. Seth was so friendly, it seemed like I’d known him for much longer that the few minutes I spoke with him.

I’m so glad Lalainia invited me, because not only did I meet Seth, I also met a photographer, Vivienne McMaster, and laughed and chatted and totally networked! By accident! And it was most excellent. I picked up a copy of the book and will read it on the bus tomorrow.

Added bonus – Attention Sarah Harris! Seth Apter told me to tell you, Hello! He really did!

ADDED, ADDED BONUS:

The May desktop calendars are ready!

Here’s mine:

Here’s Cynthia’s:

Here’s Scout’s:

Enjoy!

In a surprise move at the job today, I was asked if I’d consider working from 10 am to 6:30 pm. YES PLEASE! Woohoo! I start my new schedule tomorrow morning, so I celebrated tonight by going out for sushi with my buddy Iris, had some birthday cake with another pal, and then toodled off to pick up Mike for his 10:30 pick up and now I’m up way past my usual bedtime. It’s okay! I don’t have to be on the bus until 9:10 tomorrow morning. Hooray!

As my friend, Iris, put it, “That job really suits your circadian rhythm.” Boy howdy, does it ever.

Speaking of circadian rhythms, we solved the mystery of the thumping at 5:30 in the morning. One morning it was so loud, Mike thought someone was trying to break into the garage. He got up to check, but everything was safe and sound. It happened a few days in a row…and then, Mike sent me the link to this video and I put it all together.

Oscar hadn’t gotten into the full run and smash mode when we figured this out, but he was definitely bulldozing the kitty robot with his head – I had seen him doing that before. The running full throttle would be the next phase of his attack on the food dispenser, I’m sure. I’ve seen him run straight at the laundry basket and push it until it nearly tips over, so I’m pretty sure he was just in training for kitty robut bust of 2012. SO, the kitty robut has been put behind closed doors and now there’s no punching in the mornings.

Now he just rubs his paws on the closest door he can find and makes crying sounds for his breakfast. So that’s much better.

At 6:00 am.

Oscar is going to have to learn to sleep in a little bit.

I thought these Bleeding Hearts were done for, kaput, gone forever. But nope! They’re back.

While they did arrive pretty late in the season – they used to show up in March – they did have to make their way up through a very thick layer of gravel the neighbours put down over a year ago now. And it is much bigger than this little plant has ever been. Oh no! They are hardy little fellers. EW. A corny pun. I’m so sorry for that.

All’s quiet on the western front today. I don’t have anything else to report except I think I’m going to see The Hunger Games tomorrow night. I need to see what is inspiring all the fan art on the internets these days from this movie. Also, I need to see what the fuss is all about AND, I’m nosy. I’m going to see this movie with the same person I saw Twilight with, so it HAS to be better than that. Please tell me it’s better than that. PLEEZE.

In other news, I’ve got to get cracking on Mother’s Day gifts. I’ve got a little something-something in mind, so I should get those out in the mail SOON.

Note to myself: Mother’s Day is May 13th this year.

Now I’ll remember!

DARN. Every time this year I think, “Why didn’t I plant tulips last fall? CRAP!”. You’d think there was no such thing as a calendar or any such thing as, “planning ahead.” But this fall? I’m planting the tulips! I’m putting it in my google calendar immediately.

I had a lovely restful day and have been playing a game called, “Castleville” way too much and watching all the Royal Family specials on the TLC (normally The Loony Channel in my books, but today it’s The Lovely Channel).

Tomorrow will be more productive as the lawn mower will be out of the garage for the first time this season, AND it looks like I’ll be cleaning the washing machine. I was wondering why the towels have been smelling funny after only one use and earlier this week I put on a shirt that smelled funny. Turns out it looks like it’s time to get the mildew out of the machine. It rains here a lot, so mold is not unusual in these parts. Rather than using bleach, which I’m sure I’d spill on my limited work wear clothes – I’m adding stuff like pantyhose (ew) and shirts with collars to my repertoire these days – I’ll be using this vinegar method. It looks easy enough. And hopefully it will resolve this off-putting, smelly problem. I don’t think I’ll be going as far as using vinegar as a fabric softener. I’m pretty sure that will make the smell problem worse. I do have a few more office mates these days than I did before AND Mike works on a floor with many, many coworkers, so smelling like something you dip your fries into probably won’t go over well.

Or, maybe it would. Maybe we’d make new friends that way! We’d be super popular on the bus, now that I think about it.

Four days in and it’s already graduation time! Cheerful time! Phew! We made it, time! I listened to some motivating speeches and clapped for all kinds of graduates, including some Traditional Chinese Medicine students.

I also got bonked on the head with someone’s camera. Seriously? Yes, I did. Sheesh. RUDE. I should probably consider a hard hat for future grad ceremonies.

Despite the bonk to the head, it was a lovely occassion.

Can you see this grad below smiling while being kissed by his mom? Or is it just me?

I think it may be a bit too blurry, but I can see the grad’s smiley face.

This will be my last lensbaby photo for the week. I’m starting to feel a bit seasick looking at them all during the editing process. I think I’ve hit my threshold for this style. BUT, just for this week.