traci in the swamp

I'm behind the times, I know

I've never played with Second Life (although I have read a number of very interesting articles) or any other type of virtual world and the closest I've come to avatars are the ones in Wii. But it is a relevant subject often discussed in my classes and is the subject of lots of research.   Anyway, a classmate sent out a link to Portrait Illustration Maker creating your own avatar for free and I took advantage of the opportunity.  So here are Matt and Traci in avatar form.

Photoshop and me

A few weeks ago, Matt and I went to the Herlong Mansion in Micanopy to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. I've talked about Micanopy before, it's one of the oldest inland communities, whose motto is" "The place where time forgot".  It is the home to Blue Highway Pizza.  We enjoyed our time and felt "pretty" (I use this term loosely, long story) relaxed.  When we were pulling into the Mansion, I noticed this old beat up Dodge and I wanted to make sure I got a picture of it, so I snapped one before we left the next day. 

Now, I love taking pictures and I also love Photoshop.  One of my former co-workers and good friends gave me a copy before I left my old job.  I'm not great at it, by any means, but I've mastered a few skills that can help make pictures look pretty neat.  Here's what I did with the Dodge - what do you think - better before (one on the left) or after?

Finding new blogs...

I really enjoying blogging (working on my own and of course, reading other people's).  I'm not totally sure why though.  Maybe it has to do with being able to read about the inner workings of other people's life and maybe it has to do with being a ham and getting my life out there.  It makes me realize, I'm not totally alone with my thoughts.  I stumbled upon Speedcat Hollydale's blog when I first started and added him to my blog roll.  Speedcat provides a very different perspective, since he lives way up North and is a guy (I'm obviously a girl, so we are obviously different....)  From his site, I found Faking Smart! in Corporate America, another funny site that takes an ironic and witty look at the working world (I can always use a good laugh!).  Finally, just recently I found Stacie's Blog (and her sister site: Where am I going?  Who am I?)  I really like both her blogs, because it reminds me of the questions I often ask myself.  And the same thoughts I had when I was just a few years younger.

Of course, Matt's blog helped me start this all.  So I really have to thank him!

What is your favorite blog?  And why?

My favorite comic strip

I'm a comic junkie, I have my Sage feed set up to catch a couple of my favorite ones (especially For Better of for Worse - which is my soap opera) and of course, my favorite Unshelved. 

I love sarcastic (witty!) humor, although it does get lost on a lot of people, so if you have any comics that are like that, please send them my way.

Heading back to school - Go Bulls!

I've always loved school.  The first day, new books and new notebooks, in a Jansport backpack although nowadays, the totes are the the cool thing.  Either way, school was something that that I always looked forward to. 

In college, although I had a less than the traditional approach to finishing school - graduating two years later than my high school peers from USF with my BA and then graduating two years later with my Masters degree from the University of Central Florida, I still looked forward to going to school.  Even though, I often complained since school meant going at night, when I would much rather have just been lazy and done nothing.  I still loved it.

So here I am again, getting ready to return to school - to my Alma Mater - University of South Florida to start my Masters of Library and Information Science.  Libraries have always played a role in my life.  This is where I would visit on Saturdays, with my poor father, who became the designated book holder, since my little hands couldn't hold all of them.  This is where I researched information for a book report on some obsecure topic such as Singapore or Amelia Earhart (using encyclopedias - gasp!) .  Back when I was growing up, the Internet may have existed, but not to the masses.  It wasn't until I was in high school, that I even knew what AOL was, and we suffered with dial-up.  I was actually one of the cool ones, because most of my friends didn't even have that.   

I'm looking forward to starting this program and the possibilities that are before me.  I get to combine my love for technology, especially the Internet with books.  Hopefully, I'll even be able to instill in a child the love of books that is so ingrained in me!

Living among the trees

Part of the new life in a house involves things that are new to Matt and I.  Mainly the  neat little patio that we can (eventually) enjoy.  I say eventually, because we do need to wait until it gets a little cooler before venturing out there longer than a few minutes.

We even have a few cigars, that I'm sure we'll enjoy come this fall. 

Also the 80 foot trees that constantly shed leaves and the hedges outside that need a trim.  Matt's going to tackle those this weekend - I'll be standing by with a camera.

P.S. I also got my first real link and mention from Speedcat Hollydale.  Cool - thank you!