Hope you don't mind, Nicole, that I borrowed it. :)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Battlefield - dance
Holy moly! I totally got the chills as I watched this dance that I found on Nicole's blog. I've never really watched "So you think you can dance", but LOVED this dance. Wow! So powerful!
Hope you don't mind, Nicole, that I borrowed it. :)
Hope you don't mind, Nicole, that I borrowed it. :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Photography and me
{This post is strictly my opinion, and perception, so I don't mean to offend anyone.}
I love photography, no surprise there! I have always loved it. Even when I was little and didn't know anything about a camera I always LOVED looking at pictures, seeing different emotions in them; how they tell a story.
In the last few years as I've been doing my own photography I have a greater love for it. I love meeting people, I love capturing their emotions, their love, their happiness in pictures, helping people see how BEAUTIFUL they really are!
Tonight I had a realization.
I was waiting for my last session of the day to arrive at the location. While I was there I counted just how many photographers were also there.
about 8. All wondering around picking the next spot to take their pictures.
The realization that I came to was something I've known for a long time now, but man it really hit me tonight.
Utah is one competitive place! How in the world do people choose who they want to photograph them?
The interesting thing is that so many of these Utah photographers are Mom's, stay at home moms who want help bring in income, or who just do it for fun. Regardless, there are so many out there doing it. I often wonder if they do it because others are doing it, and being in Utah when one person does something, others follow. Or, is it something they really have a passion for?
I have known people who start their own photography business because their friends are doing it, and it seems like fun. Cool! More power to you!
I have known people who start their own Photography business because they found that they know how to change colors in photoshop and figure they can now start taking pictures and open their own business because of it. Even though they've never really done it before, besides the intro to Photography class in High school. Ok!
Again, Utah is saturated with Photographers. How can I compete?! It's tough, but I've been very blessed with amazing clients, and I'm grateful.
At times I wonder if it would be easier to move out of Utah and REALLY find out who I am as a photographer, and not try to be like the next person, but finding my own style.
There are too many of the same styles around here.
There are also SO many REALLY good photographers and I honestly wonder how I can compete when they're so dang good. I need much more practice and need some new ideas.
I love photography, no surprise there! I have always loved it. Even when I was little and didn't know anything about a camera I always LOVED looking at pictures, seeing different emotions in them; how they tell a story.
In the last few years as I've been doing my own photography I have a greater love for it. I love meeting people, I love capturing their emotions, their love, their happiness in pictures, helping people see how BEAUTIFUL they really are!
Tonight I had a realization.
I was waiting for my last session of the day to arrive at the location. While I was there I counted just how many photographers were also there.
about 8. All wondering around picking the next spot to take their pictures.
The realization that I came to was something I've known for a long time now, but man it really hit me tonight.
Utah is one competitive place! How in the world do people choose who they want to photograph them?
The interesting thing is that so many of these Utah photographers are Mom's, stay at home moms who want help bring in income, or who just do it for fun. Regardless, there are so many out there doing it. I often wonder if they do it because others are doing it, and being in Utah when one person does something, others follow. Or, is it something they really have a passion for?
I have known people who start their own photography business because their friends are doing it, and it seems like fun. Cool! More power to you!
I have known people who start their own Photography business because they found that they know how to change colors in photoshop and figure they can now start taking pictures and open their own business because of it. Even though they've never really done it before, besides the intro to Photography class in High school. Ok!
Again, Utah is saturated with Photographers. How can I compete?! It's tough, but I've been very blessed with amazing clients, and I'm grateful.
At times I wonder if it would be easier to move out of Utah and REALLY find out who I am as a photographer, and not try to be like the next person, but finding my own style.
There are too many of the same styles around here.
There are also SO many REALLY good photographers and I honestly wonder how I can compete when they're so dang good. I need much more practice and need some new ideas.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Customer service, and good people. (long post)
Ok, so I'm normally a really nice person. I'm not the type of person that gets mad at a total stranger; or I guess in a situation where I am the customer and they're serving me. I deal with customer service as a Manager at XanGo. I know what it's like when people get upset at me when I'm trying to help them, and they're completely unreasonable. I don't like being treated that way, therefore I don't treat people that way either. My parents always taught us to be kind to everyone.
However, lately I've been quite the opposite - not to the extreme by any means though. But the people who have dealt with me have been nothing but sweet, and then I always feel so bad. They don't deserve that.
This first example happened while seeing Lexus off at the Airport back in July. It was stressful. Poor girl didn't deserve that stress. She had missed her flight, and her mom wasn't happy to say the least. Poor Ryan, and poor Lex for being in the middle of it. I didn't like being a part of that stress either. I don't do well with stress. I don't like seeing people getting upset and frustrated. It makes me very tense and anxious.
I wanted to go and wait in the car several times, but wanted to support Ryan and wanted to see Lexus all the way to the end of her trip here.
When Ryan and Lex had to head to security, and after saying my goodbye's to Lexus, I decided to go and get the car and bring it around, since we had parked further then we wanted to (hence one reason to missing her first flight).
As I started driving to the airport gate where you have to pay I realized that I didn't have our ticket, it was in Ryan's pocket. "no problem, they'll understand. I'll just tell them what time we had gotten there, (about 4 hours ago)".
I get to the gate and proceed to tell the gentleman, I think his name was Ahmad. "you don't have your ticket?" he said. "No, my husband has it inside the airport, but we got here at 11am". He then proceeded to say something that was pretty much the straw that broke the camels back.
"since you don't have your ticket we have to charge you $28".
"TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS?!" I exclaimed. "Are you kidding me?!...then can I go back and get the ticket from my husband and come back?" I was not about to pay $28. NO WAY!
Ahmad proceeded to pick up the phone and ask someone who worked there what the best option was. At this point I couldn't help but become emotional. I think it was all the stress that I was feeling from earlier, and then to have this happen.
Ahmad got off the phone after a few minutes and told me that I would have to backup and go back to the airport. Umm, hi, there was a car behind me. I was too embarrassed to go through all this. At this point the tears were streaming down my face and I exclaimed..."Just take my card and charge me the $28, just take it!!!". More tears came streaming down as I waited for him to charge me, party because I was so upset that I had to pay that much, upset that I had snapped at this sweet gentleman, and just too stressed for my emotions to handle the situation.
After about 5 minutes of waiting and wondering what was taking so long for him to charge my card, and continuing to cry in my car, sweet Ahmad gave the card back to me and said,
"I'm only going to charge you $5, don't worry about anything."
I looked at him, stunned by what he was saying. "Really?! Are you sure?!" I cried out.
"Yes, no problem at all", he said.
"Thank you so much! I'm so sorry...it's been such a crazy day", I replied.
"You have a good day, Ma'am." he said in his best English accent.
I cried even more, and prayed out loud asking the Lord to bless this sweet man for his generosity and kindness, despite my outburst. And to forgive me for being snappy with him.
..........................
Last Friday I went to Iceberg just before work to get something for breakfast. I normally don't go to Iceberg, but that morning I was starving, and since Iceberg is right next door to XanGo that's where I was going.
I place my order of a breakfast burrito and could barely hear the lady in the megaphone. She had a very thick accent and I couldn't quite understand her. After placing my order I hear her say, "window". I guess that means proceed to the window.
I got there gave her a smile and she gave me my food and drink, followed by me giving her my card. After a few seconds she comes back and says, "no work, no work the card". Again, she had a thick accent and couldn't speak English very well.
"The card didn't work?" I asked, fear-full for a split second that there wasn't any money on the card, but there was. "weird - ok, well, try this one". I gave her a different card.
Again, a few seconds later she came back and said, "no work the card". I was feeling a bit aggravated by this time. I was hungry and I had to get to work.
"then something must be wrong with your machine because there is money on there, and on the other card".
She took the card again to try one more time. "No, it say no work. It say slide card". She said.
"Yes! You have to slide the card", I said feeling frustrated. "No, no work, no work". She repeated yet again.
I was fed up at this point and upset. "Fine! Here take the food!" I snapped as I passed the bag and drink out my window back to her. She could tell I was frustrated. I obviously didn't hide it well.
"no, no you keep food.", she said kindly. "No! I don't want the food if I'm not going to pay for it". I said.
"keep food, it garbage here.", as she said with a smile, meaning that if she was to take it back it would just go into the trash. "Are you sure?" I said. "Yes", she said.
"Thank you - I'm sorry". I said; regretting my behavior, and again saying a prayer of thanks for that sweet lady - and again asking forgiveness for my behavior.
Man, why do I do that?! They don't deserve that treatment.
I'm grateful for good people who help humble me, and help me realize that we're all trying our best and we should be more kind to everyone.
I'm grateful for those lessons, and for those good people.
However, lately I've been quite the opposite - not to the extreme by any means though. But the people who have dealt with me have been nothing but sweet, and then I always feel so bad. They don't deserve that.
This first example happened while seeing Lexus off at the Airport back in July. It was stressful. Poor girl didn't deserve that stress. She had missed her flight, and her mom wasn't happy to say the least. Poor Ryan, and poor Lex for being in the middle of it. I didn't like being a part of that stress either. I don't do well with stress. I don't like seeing people getting upset and frustrated. It makes me very tense and anxious.
I wanted to go and wait in the car several times, but wanted to support Ryan and wanted to see Lexus all the way to the end of her trip here.
When Ryan and Lex had to head to security, and after saying my goodbye's to Lexus, I decided to go and get the car and bring it around, since we had parked further then we wanted to (hence one reason to missing her first flight).
As I started driving to the airport gate where you have to pay I realized that I didn't have our ticket, it was in Ryan's pocket. "no problem, they'll understand. I'll just tell them what time we had gotten there, (about 4 hours ago)".
I get to the gate and proceed to tell the gentleman, I think his name was Ahmad. "you don't have your ticket?" he said. "No, my husband has it inside the airport, but we got here at 11am". He then proceeded to say something that was pretty much the straw that broke the camels back.
"since you don't have your ticket we have to charge you $28".
"TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS?!" I exclaimed. "Are you kidding me?!...then can I go back and get the ticket from my husband and come back?" I was not about to pay $28. NO WAY!
Ahmad proceeded to pick up the phone and ask someone who worked there what the best option was. At this point I couldn't help but become emotional. I think it was all the stress that I was feeling from earlier, and then to have this happen.
Ahmad got off the phone after a few minutes and told me that I would have to backup and go back to the airport. Umm, hi, there was a car behind me. I was too embarrassed to go through all this. At this point the tears were streaming down my face and I exclaimed..."Just take my card and charge me the $28, just take it!!!". More tears came streaming down as I waited for him to charge me, party because I was so upset that I had to pay that much, upset that I had snapped at this sweet gentleman, and just too stressed for my emotions to handle the situation.
After about 5 minutes of waiting and wondering what was taking so long for him to charge my card, and continuing to cry in my car, sweet Ahmad gave the card back to me and said,
"I'm only going to charge you $5, don't worry about anything."
I looked at him, stunned by what he was saying. "Really?! Are you sure?!" I cried out.
"Yes, no problem at all", he said.
"Thank you so much! I'm so sorry...it's been such a crazy day", I replied.
"You have a good day, Ma'am." he said in his best English accent.
I cried even more, and prayed out loud asking the Lord to bless this sweet man for his generosity and kindness, despite my outburst. And to forgive me for being snappy with him.
..........................
Last Friday I went to Iceberg just before work to get something for breakfast. I normally don't go to Iceberg, but that morning I was starving, and since Iceberg is right next door to XanGo that's where I was going.
I place my order of a breakfast burrito and could barely hear the lady in the megaphone. She had a very thick accent and I couldn't quite understand her. After placing my order I hear her say, "window". I guess that means proceed to the window.
I got there gave her a smile and she gave me my food and drink, followed by me giving her my card. After a few seconds she comes back and says, "no work, no work the card". Again, she had a thick accent and couldn't speak English very well.
"The card didn't work?" I asked, fear-full for a split second that there wasn't any money on the card, but there was. "weird - ok, well, try this one". I gave her a different card.
Again, a few seconds later she came back and said, "no work the card". I was feeling a bit aggravated by this time. I was hungry and I had to get to work.
"then something must be wrong with your machine because there is money on there, and on the other card".
She took the card again to try one more time. "No, it say no work. It say slide card". She said.
"Yes! You have to slide the card", I said feeling frustrated. "No, no work, no work". She repeated yet again.
I was fed up at this point and upset. "Fine! Here take the food!" I snapped as I passed the bag and drink out my window back to her. She could tell I was frustrated. I obviously didn't hide it well.
"no, no you keep food.", she said kindly. "No! I don't want the food if I'm not going to pay for it". I said.
"keep food, it garbage here.", as she said with a smile, meaning that if she was to take it back it would just go into the trash. "Are you sure?" I said. "Yes", she said.
"Thank you - I'm sorry". I said; regretting my behavior, and again saying a prayer of thanks for that sweet lady - and again asking forgiveness for my behavior.
Man, why do I do that?! They don't deserve that treatment.
I'm grateful for good people who help humble me, and help me realize that we're all trying our best and we should be more kind to everyone.
I'm grateful for those lessons, and for those good people.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
XanGo 5k, and 9/11
I started training for this 5k in July, by following the 'Couch to 5k' plan. I worked hard at this and was doing really well for about 4 weeks until bronchitis and plantar fasciitis crept up on me.
Running time was over for a few weeks, as I was trying to get better.
I started back up last week, and had a great jog the first day back. 40 minutes worth of jogging (which is good for me). I had a lot of energy and was excited about doing the 5k in a few days.
The next day I tried to do it again. Oh boy! No energy whatsoever. I jogged for 20 minutes (walking a bit in there) and then did the bike for 20 minutes. I was sore and not feeling well. Thanks Mother Nature for sneaking up on me like that!
The next day, Friday Sept 11th, was the 5k. I got my number and pinned it on my shirt. I felt nervous. I was cramping, and not feeling all that great, but had to do this!
We started the race at 9:30. I ran the first 5 minutes and felt like I was going to die! What the heck!! This is the moment I'd been practicing for but couldn't deliver like I wanted to.
I walked for a while, then kept jogging, walking, jogging, etc. until I reached the end.
I didn't have the best time. Let's just say the guy who won, who ran it in 20 minutes, could have done it twice and a bit more to get to my time.
Oh well. At least I did it. I was happy I did. Although my body has a different opinion.
I hurt.
After the race they gave out prizes! Last year I won a pair of 'Maui Jim' sunglasses for the best XanGo pride outfit. I looked funny.
This year they did random drawings for those who didn't place. And guess what???????
I won...again! Yep, I was one of the numbers they drew. I one a cool OGIO backpack full of swag and cool XanGo gear. WOOHOO!
This is the type of backpack, but just a different color. I LOVE IT!!!!!! There are 6 different zipper pockets. It's awesome!
Fun day! I love where I work.
------------------------------
Yesterday was also 9/11. I found this video on my friend Rachel's blog and felt it was more then appropriate to borrow and put on my blog.
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