Art & Life of SwarDrawS

with Photography that is....film. I have been in a rut for awhile with my DSLR (which btw is broke again, got to send it back in). Maybe going square format with medium format film is the answer.

It started with me buying a Holga camera which is considered a toy camera, a piece of junk actually but it is medium format (120 film) and all the little lightleaks and vingretting is charming, it is very artsy. I said, what the heck it is only $20. I ran my first roll of film in it yesterday. Now I just need to get it processed (eventually I will do my own).

Now it is starting to get pricey. Last week I bought a new scanner so I can scan the 120 film in. What I really have been Jonesing for is a nice classic medium format camera...a Rolleiflex. I was watching 3 auctions for some on ebay and yesterday one of those auctions was down to its last hour so I decided to jump in and won! I think I got a pretty good deal.

Of course now I am nervous that this guy is going to take my money and run. His ratings were a little iffy when he sold something and he won't accept paypal and he doesn't mention any return policy. Well what do you expect when you try to be spontaneous? Hopefully he will come through. Ack.

Posted by swardraws at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last weekend we went to Terre Haute to my cousin Jeff's house for the weekend. It wasn't as awkward as I thought it might be since we don't really know them but I was surprised that we didn't do a thing while there. On Saturday, a beautiful fall day, we really never left the house! I don't know what I was expecting, maybe visit a fall fest or pumpkin patch, something. I did finally suggest that we go for a walk. Hollace didn't even want to go since she was in the throws of one of her brainstorms, making a paper zoo or monkey house specifically. The whole weekend was just us sitting in the dining room talking. RAW was in his element and I could never get a word in cross wide (ack, I had that phrase then I lost it... I couldn't get a word in---what?). My aunt Jody and her partner decided to come and stay for a visit that weekend as well. It was nice catching up.

Posted by swardraws at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lets see, need a new couch, dresser, Adobe Photoshop and Flash upgrade, computer, kitchen remodel, main door, garage door opener, dishwasher...eh um, I need to win the lotto.

A former co-worker approached me for a freelance gig which I reluctantly took. I am very stingy with my free time and really the project was a little beyond me (which I quickly redid at more my speed with similar results). Anyway, I got that money coming and potential other freelance work.

At work another former co-worker wanted me to pass along her resume. I did and she got the job! My company has a job referral program that if you referred someone to a job and they got hired, you get $1,000. Yah! Then I read the rules, it said that the person you referred had to have been away for 18 months. I asked Mia and she said it had been 15 months. Aww come on man, 3 months separates me from $1,000. Oh well, we will see if they let it through. I can only hope.

And one more stab at $1,000. My company had a photo contest of all things. I entered 29 photos. On Nov 1, they announce who wins the $1,000 first prize. I doubt it will be me thought because the images I entered were more in line with stock images which really prompted the contest in the first place. I am sure the winner will be some breathtaking sunset or something. I could still see some money in the yet to be established price they will pay for non winners that they still want to use. We will see.

Posted by swardraws at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week Hollace became a scientist and the head of Out of this World lab. She started off discovering a new galaxy called Kikowaka. It had quite a few distinct planets and a star on top for its sun. She made a model and could tell you details about each planet.

Later on in the day she conducted tests of acid from the main planet on different objects. Apparently rocks from the galaxy broke up upon contact with the acid (she even showed me one such experiement) but she was disappointed when most of her other tests came out negative. Such earth objects like paper, glass, skin, cat didn't react at all.

Posted by swardraws at 10:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I keep meaning to get over here to update. I had lots to say but can't remember much anymore.

Today we went to mom and dad's for a visit. My grama kept saying that Hollace is getting fat and it was pissing me off. I finally told her that comments like that are what is making girls develop eating disorders. But it wasn't until I finally just told her to shut up that all of a sudden she started saying that Hollace had a perfect shape. She was worried that since she "was fatter" than the last time she seen her that she was going to be a fatty. She then went on to say that when she was in 4th grade she weighted 140 lbs and 160 by 6th grade. Hollace is 73 lbs in 3rd grade. I say she is just right.

That said, I have began to wonder if she is gaining too much weight. She isn't fat by any stretch but I have begun to notice she has a little tummy where she use to not. Also I noticed her thighs are fuller. She even complained the other day that her thighs were chaffed by her thighs.

According to the charts I just looked up, she is in the 75 percentile for both weight and height. She is 54" which made me realize this week that she doesn't need to be in that darn booster seat in the car. When I got that car seat I made a mental note that the limit was 80 lbs. And I recalled that the law mentioned something about 8 year old. But looking up the law on line, the rule is 49". As I just said, she is 54" and over 8.5 years old. So I ditched the car seat. Hollace is thrilled.

Even though she is far from a fatty as grama kept saying, I need to keep an eye out. She has been enjoying one too many pizzas lately.

Posted by swardraws at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)