Heather (35/365)

365 Days of Me's, Heather, gave Ralph quite a scare...

He had to have a drink to calm down!

Photo by Amy of Snow Globe 365

In the Lens (34/365)

"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." 

(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Collaboration (33/365)

Last night was absolutely fabulous!

A group of about 12 Richmond 365'ers gathered together share stories and motivation.  We were also lucky to have the original 365'er himself, Noah Scalin, and his lovely fiancee drop by to encourage and inspire us.  What a treat! I am so looking forward to these monthly meetings, as I am sure they will keep the creative juices flowing, so to speak.

While together we not only shared stories, but took part in some collaboration.  Below are some shots from the night, along with some collaborative shots of Ralph with other 365'ers.

Enjoy!

Collaboration between Kelly St. Claire of Creative Fusion (Tarot 365), 

Heather Addley of 365 Days of Me, & Ralph

The lovely Kelly St. Claire of Creative Fusion posing with Ralph

The fabulous, Beth, of The Year of the Written Word, imitating Ralph's fish face

The gang!

Puzzling (32/365)

I got to thinking about puzzles and making one using Ralph.  This is what I came up with.  Can you do the addition?  What do you think goes in the blank?

Hint:  Ralph does not enjoy the activity he is helping to spell...

One Month Down (31/365)

My friend, Shannon, posed with Ralph for a few shots while we were at Gallery 5.  Although the first shot is somewhat blurry from my shaking during the shot, I love it.  And I love Shannon for being a great friend who always lends a helping hand when I need it.  :)  

Blurry from my shaking & slower shutter speed due to no flash.
The effect, I think, lends some mystery.

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." (Audrey Hepburn)

With flash.
Less blurry, but less mysterious

Headache (30/365)

Today I am home from work with a splitting headache.  

Ralph is having sympathy pain.

* Photo taken with Sprint HTC EVO

Sesame Fish (29/365)

This morning I found Ralph playing with the bagel's leftover sesame seeds.

It seems he made himself a friend.

Unseen Fish (28/365)

"It is the unseen and the spiritual in people that determines the outward and the actual." ~Oswald Chambers

Circle of Friends (27/365)

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."

~ Albert Schweitzer

* Photo taken with Sprint HTC EVO

Paperclip Fish (26/365)

Gossip Fish (25/365)

Oh, the secrets Ralph told...

"Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction,

compared to the tongue of a Gossip."

(Richard Steele)

An extra note....

Tree in Jackson Square, New Orleans
It reminded me of a naked woman...
(No Ralph is pictured)

I just wanted to pause to say that one way this project is changing me is by making me feel as if I am a part of a community.  Some of you that "follow" this site are doing your own projects and I know you "in real life," others I have come to know through this project "virtually."  Regardless of how I know you, I feel like we've created our own sort of 365 family!  :)  It feels good to have encountered such a supportive group and the encouragement that flows back and forth between us is so nice to see.

Thank you for being a part of my circle!

Peace.

Sewing Fish (24/365)

Honestly, I'm just trying to get through right now...not much thought given to this shot.  

The Happy Homemaker - A Collaboration (23/365)

I did this collaboration with Madonna Dersch and her inspiring 

365 project, The Happy Homemaker.

Reflections (22/365)

While wandering around, wondering about where to take my next picture of Ralph, I started thinking about how some of my other 365 friends have been thinking outside the box.  I've seen pictures of snow globes reflected in faucets, rabbits made on the inside of toilet tissue rolls, and trees promoting peace. What, I wondered, could I do with Ralph?  It was at this point I stumbled across a glass cake holder.

After taking yet another fish picture that bored even me, I wondered what would happen if I took a picture from above, straight through the round knob on the top.  It was made of glass, so I figured Ralph would somehow reflect through it, although I wasn't sure how.  Turns out, one of the first pictures I took from this angle led to me realize that the glass would reflect Ralph "backwards," which was pretty cool.

Pushing it one step further, I aimed lower and got the shot I was hoping for.  One where, Ralph is in the picture, reflected in the glass knob, but he is (almost) completely altered.  Slowly, I am learning to think outside the box...

Vintage Fish (21/365)

It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. 

~ Tony Visconti

*Photo taken @ Gallery 5

Papier Machete (20/365)

Gallery 5, a great art gallery and performing art center in Richmond's Jackson Ward, is currently hosting the exhibition, "Papier Machete."  My absolute favorite part of this exhibit are the two flapper-like dolls made completely of paper!  If I had the $600 the artist is asking, I would completely scoop one of them up.  However, as it is, I must be satisfied with a picture.  I will admit, I took many pictures of the dolls and not one of them turned out how I would have liked.  However, this one will have to do, as I am too in love with them to not post about them at all.

By the way, the exhibit runs through February 18th, so go check it out!

GYT, Pap Fish (19/365)

Susan, preparing to do my pap,
Ralph & speculum in hand

"Rates of curable STD cases in the U.S. are the highest in the developed world.  Women are up to 5 times more likely to become infected and suffer serious consequences.  We need women to be aware of this information so that they can make informed decisions about their health."

~ Carol Carrozza

Oh, no she didn't! 

Oh, yes I did!  

I posted a picture of me getting my pap smear, ladies.  Yep.  I'm not ashamed, why should I be?  It is something that EVERY woman should be doing at least YEARLY.  One of the best things about working part-time at the local Planned Parenthood is that I have become much more aware of the importance of women taking the time to care for themselves and have routine GYN testing.  I have also become much more versed in women's healthcare/STDs/etc and, for good or bad, have become a resource for my friends when they have problems "down there."  

I love VLPP and, although with my health insurance I could go anywhere for routine GYN care, I choose to go to Planned Parenthood.  I support their mission and believe that the staff there is absolutely lovely, caring and professional.  The physician, the nurse practitioners = AWESOME.  Yeah, it used to be a bit awkward to get my pap by Susan (she's the one in the picture above), who is also my coworker and friend, but whatever...we all have the same parts!  

Go on ladies, Get Yourself Tested (GYT)!!!

Routine blood testing, in addition to your pap, is important!

Don't forget to wrap it up!

*My thanks to VLPP and Susan!!!

Fish Tights (18/365)

"These feet are made for walkin' and walkin's what they'll do..."

Do you know how hard it is to find a good pair of tights?  I mean, seriously.  I buy a pair and they have are so tight they can't be expanded to fit over my foot.  Or, they get all twisted and it takes six attempts to get them on straight.  Hum...maybe I'm the only one with this issue?  Well, regardless, it is wintertime and I have cute dresses I want to wear.  I've been wearing them as if it were summertime, bare legs and all.  It's cold.  Very cold.  Think: cold breezes up your dress.  Not good.  Anyway, where is this random rambling going, you ask?  Well, I am excited to announce that I have found an online shop that sells the perfect tights!  And, they have, like, a zillion different colors to choose from!  Personally, I like the magenta pair best (and so does Ralph).

Iron Fish (17/365)

There is nothing I like more than something that makes me think of New Orleans and there is nothing that makes me think of New Orleans more than iron.  Everywhere you walk in that city you see iron - from the centuries old iron work on the Pontalba balconies to the iron work you find surrounding crypts within the St. Louis Cemeteries.  Therefore, imagine how much I enjoyed finding this iron work encasing a window here at home, in Richmond.  I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do.  It is my new favorite.

"And what advice would you give to an aspiring photographer? 

'To fall in love.' Lartigue replied.

~ Jacques Henri

Stairway to Success (16/365)

"There is no elevator to success.

You must take the stairs."

Fin Frame (15/365)

Today I decided to step outside of the norm, think outside of the box.  I actually have no idea what caused me to think about framing the bottom of the shot with Ralph's fin, but I kind of like how it turned out.  This was taken at the Carillon in Richmond.  Actually, the next few days will consist of shots taken around Dogwood Dell and the Carillon.  I'm excited to share them!

Can you find Ralph in the above shot?  I promise, he's in it!

Caution (14/365)

"Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things. In a world where we are so certain to incur them in spite of all our caution, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousness on their behalf."
~ William James

Tree Fish (13/365)

"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.  Which road do I take? she asked.  Where do you want to go? was his response. 

I don't know, Alice answered.  Then, said the cat, it doesn't matter."

(Lewis Carroll)

Quack! (12/365)

So, Ralph made a friend.  This lovely duck resides at Byrd Park and I enjoyed taking shots of him for about an hour the other day.  He got so used to me being there that he allowed me to approach within less than a foot of him.  He really was a unique character, with red blotchy things all around his eyes and bill.  One friend described it as looking as if he had gooseberry cereal all over his face.  Since he was such a unique and beautiful duck, I decided to see if I could get him to let me back in his world long enough for a shot with Ralph and he did.  This is the result.

And here is a close-up of the duck, sans Ralph...

Duck....Duck....Goose... (11/365)

Byrd Park

Richmond, VA

Footprints (10/365)

Friend or foe?

Links in the Chain (9/365)

"Happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind, 

and has given up worrying once and for all."

~ Ovid

Yesterday, I started seriously questioning my ability to complete this project. I suppose the doubt was bound to appear at some point. As I have stated before, I'm not a professional, nor do I have a track history of sticking with a project for any extended period of time. However, with a pep talk, or kick in the ass, from Amy (check out her awesome site, Snow Globe 365 - link to the right), I am forging on.  

Today's pictures were taken in Richmond's Byrd Park, where "Ralph" and I had fun playing with the ducks and freezing our (well, my) ass off on the cold ground in order to get the "right" shot. The above pictures are the result and I am quite pleased.  I believe there will be several more pictures to come from future trips to the park!

Darkness Falls (8/365)

I should be sleeping.
Goodnight.

*Photo taken with Sprint HTC EVO cellphone

Rainy Days & Mondays (7/365)

"Rainy days and mondays always get me down."

(The Carpenters)

Okay, so I cheated.  I took this picture yesterday while it was raining, thinking how it would go good with the "Rainy Days and Mondays" lyrics.  I was hoping it would still be raining today when I posted it, but alas.  

I am pleased with this picture and excited to share it today.  So far, this picture and the shower shot are my favorites.  

One week down!

Strummin' (6/365)

The most important part of my religion is to play guitar. 

~ Lou Reed

Binary Days (5/365)

Kick up your feet.  Relax. 

It's a new year and, as a friend pointed out to me this morning, 

the first binary day of the last binary year of our lives.

Sorry for the fuzziness, but so is my mind after last night's festivities.
So, fuzziness and pixilation are appropriate, you're seeing through my eyes.

*Photo taken by a Sprint HTC EVO cellphone