at Chick-fil-a: an original Chicken Sandwich, with no pickle and Chick-fil-a sauce.
at Smoothie King: a small Immune Builder (strawberries and bananas).
These are my three favorites, and when it comes to changing up my order at any one of them, it's not happening. I go with the tried and true, and I'm not all that interested in having a new favorite or discovering something I didn't know I loved. I am content.
But when it comes to change in other areas, I'm game. I don't thrill seek, so don't look for me diving off a cliff, swimming with sharks, or doing anything else that constitutes as a life threatening activity in my book, but in my own non-dangerous way, I like new things, new hobbies, new adventures.
So I've put a little thought into it, and I've come up with the one thing I would pursue above all others if time and money were not factors. I would take up photography.
Nothing beats a better-than-real-life picture of a piece of cake, or a sunset, or a baby. A good photograph can take something normal and ordinary and make it special. It is amazing to me how the right camera angle or lens can transform a scene into something that captures you. I know almost nothing about the art of picture taking, and I know even less about the lenses and cameras that are used, but boy would I like to.
Right now I'm working the point and shoot with everything I have, capturing almost artsy moments like this one,
or kind of cool, but maybe just weird, lighting, like this one
I know they are frail, and possibly down right poor attempts at trying my hand at moving beyond your most basic level of mom armed with an automatic, but it sure is fun! Maybe one day I'll feel like we can invest in some kind of camera for the beginning amateur and I can take a lesson or two on the basics-just enough to really be dangerous behind the lens-and I'll be on my journey to photographic artist!
That's my realistic dream.
Want to know my unrealistic one? You can probably guess. I would have a different set of vocal chords, and I would sing. And no, that dream has nothing to do with American Idol and the fact that we're down to the bottom three!! Nope, it's definitely a year round longing. I'm sure it's Nathan's year round longing as well since it seems I keep trying out the set of chords I've been given, keeping on hoping that something amazing is going to come out if I try long and hard enough =)
So since only one of those two has the chance of coming true, maybe I should focus on the photography. How about you? If time and money weren't factors, what would it be that you would do?
15 comments:
I'm right there with you, Angie. I'd love to take up photography . . . again. I took a B&W basic class in college . . . way back in a land far away now, but I've only dabbled in the art since then. I enjoy snapshots, but I have a dream of making "real" art from the shots I take . . . maybe even having it be a little business someday.
I'd also love to take a class some day on flower arranging. I love to see bouquets of flowers around my house, but I would love to make them look more attractive than just stuffing the flowers in the nearest open container.
Thanks for sharing your sweeties with us. The photos are darling. May your desire to pursue photography be fulfilled one day very soon.
A few weeks before my son was born I had the same thought. I had priced some professional photo shoots and saw that it costs a small fortune to capture those moments creatively and professionally, so I invested about $600 in a Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera and I became the wanna-be professional. I too know little to nothing about lenses, lighting and framing, etc, but the camera has made a huge difference. Of the 5,000 or so shots I've taken over the last 5 months, some look pretty darn professional to me! But then with my own baby as a star, I guess any picture looks perfect!
As for other "if I could do anything" aspirations... I have jumped out of a plane and swum with sharks, but my tastes have sobered up a bit as a mom. Travel is still one of my favorite ways to spend spare time... I guess I would hire a travel nanny (to make getting through airports so much easier) and take my son to visit new family, new places and new cultures as often as possible. Too bad those aspirations are currently tamped down not only by my pocketbook, but also my constant craving for one more hour of sleep or rest.
Thank you for your blog. Thank you.
I have really wanted to get into photography too. Especially since I've started blogging and have seen other mom take such fabulous pictures...mine seem so lame in comparison!
But, more importantly, no pickles!? Really!? That's my favorite part...I love it when they accidentally put on more than two!
I'd love to do photography too! I have a strange fascination with being a pastry chef too. Maybe I need to turn off the Food Network shows. I have zero talents in the kitchen. It isn't as if I work hard in the kitchen and dream of being a pastry chef. I'm just in awe of them. Same with photography. We can dream, right?!
What a fun post! I REALLY like photography. My husband wants to get me a nice camera and we're waiting on the funds to do so. He's so good to me! I've taken lots of photos for families and enjoy it so much. I don't want to be professional though- too much work/pressure and it'd take the fun out of it for me.
If money were no object, what would I do? Hmmm.....
1. travel the world
2. invest for my grandchildren's education
3. donate money anonymously to people with dire needs
4. Gather my children and grands several times a year to spend time all together in some special place
Wow! This is a revelation to me. As I've started to write, I realize that I don't want to do new things. I don't want stuff. I don't want something I don't have. I want to help people...make a difference...bring them a little joy. And that in turn gives me joy.
hey ang,
you should check out my good friends flickr stream. she has taken all her own photos of her kids and family and I think they are very inspiring. You might get some good ideas.:)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shuttermama/
If money were no object? I'd be trained to be a doula and do it full time.
I like the pic of Adrienne on her birthday. :)
Doing photography is awesome! It has been my hobby for years, and I want to encourage you to go for it. Now that we have digital, it is so much cheaper than with film. You can just take tons of pictures and then delete the ones you don't want. No charge. That alone has helped me be more creative and willing to experiment. You can get very good cameras of the advanced point and shoot variety that have settings which will enable you to add to your skills. You can set the aperture, shutter speed, etc. You can find online message boards that are a huge help with any questions you might have. Go for it!
Tricia
Well, I think I'd take up photography too but since I don't have kids (yet) and Belgium is, well, Belgium (not very many breathtaking landscapes. Brussels' nice though) there aren't many things for me to photograph.
If time were no object, I'd learn to speak Spanish and German as well as improve my Dutch a little.
I would also learn more about ancient cultures such as Ancient Greece...
Of course, since Organic chem and physics are taking up all the space in my brain, I can't do any of these things...Oh,well...
If money was not a factor....
I would adopt a child, quit my job, and be a full-time mommy.
ok so the part about wanting new vocal chords, Angie, I am so right there with you!! I love to sing. Especially when I find a new song that I just love. I'll listen and sing to it allllll the time. Sometimes thinking in my, "Hey I don't sound too bad." Well I was really curious as to what other people hear when I sing so I recorded myself. Yes, kind of a loser thing to do but I did it anyway. And yikes! It was not what I was hearing! I am just so thankful that any song that comes out of my mouth that is praising the Lord, He finds beautiful!! But man, singing is DEFINITELY not a gift that I have! And poor Jeremy he's stuck listening to my not so beautiful pipes.
I would fill my home with lots of orphans.
Angie, did you know that two of my favorite pictures of Savannah are ones you've taken???? The one in the pool when she was a/b 3-4 months old (i was holding her) and the one in her halloween costume sitting on your table. I think it destined to be, my sweet friend!
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