PhotoHunter-Surprise!

Today's PhotoHunter theme is "Surprise." No one was more surprised than my fellow LUSTian, when she broke the conference record!

Stupid Human Trick: Pizza Face

I've never played along with Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, but there's a first time for everything! And besides, we Wisconsin bloggers need to stick together. Let me explain.

I awarded some bloggy bling the other day. One of the recipients, Mrs. 4444, said she would accept my award only if I participated in one of her blog's rituals. It's called Stupid Human Tricks.

I don't have a recent snap of this particular SHT, but I'm very good at it. Here is a shot of my best Pizza Face impression. Yes, the way I ate pizza as a 4-year-old has been improved upon only slightly, now that I'm 19.

And the Wisconsin connection? Candid Carrie and Mrs. 4444 call the Badger State home. I go to college here. Mrs. 4444 hosts Friday Fragments; Candid Carrie hosts Fx4. So there!

Hope this Stupid Human Trick is good enough for you, Mrs. 4444. If my friends ever see this snap, I'll be in big trouble!

Curvy Thursday

Today's challenge is "Curved." I don't have any digital photos of Lombard street and I don't think I have ever taken a photo of a curved building. I did, however, find this shot. Last summer Hurricane Hanna rolled through our neck of the woods, causing a local creek to flood. I love how the water curves around the tree. Happy Thursday! This post courtesy of Dale at Spun with Tears.

Bring on the Bling!

I've just received my first Bloggy Bling...from Melissa B. over at The Scholastic Scribe.

Amy, who blogs over at One Size Fits All, blinged Melissa B., and she passed this award along to me. Here are the rules for this throw-down:

1. “The Honest Scrap” award must be shared.
2. The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves that no one else knows.
3. The recipient has to pass along the award to 10 more bloggers.
4. Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5. Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.

I've never done this before, so please be patient and kind. First of all, a little about me:

1. I'm the youngest in my family; my Mom calls me Ella Numera Dos. "END"...get it?
2. My Mom has a blog. So does my Aunt in Wisconsin. So does my Aunt in San Francisco. And my Dad, too. I guess you could say we're a Blogging Family!
3. I've known Amy, the source of this Bloggy Bling, since I was 8.
4. I've always loved photography. My Mom just found a box of old photos, showing my earlier "work." Some day I might share. NOT!
5. I originally wanted to be a fashion photographer. The Virginia Tech massacre happened in April 2007. One of my Mom's students died in Norris Hall. Now I'm leaning toward photojournalism, or some kind of documentary photography.
6. I'm known as "Iron Butt" on road trips. I never want to stop, 'cause I always want to get there!
7. I love my cat, Patchy, more than anyone knows...
8. I've been a competitive swimmer since I was 5. I'm not quite sure if I love swimming, but I keep doing it. I swim for my college team now, the Lawrence University Swim Team...LUST for short!
9. I hate to be around other people who are chewing gum. The smacking drives me crazy!
10. I am a woman of few words. I like to listen more than I like to talk. I'm a great observer, which helps me in my photography, too.

OK, that's all about me. And now I'd like to give the Honest Scrap Award to a few of you bloggers who keep coming back to see me.

1. Keep in Touch with Mommakin
2. If Mom Says OK
3. Knit 1, Kids 4
4. Turtle Droppings
5. Pseudonymous High School Teacher
6. Half-Past Kissin' Time
7. Carma Sez
8. Eat Your Veggies!
9. Miss Jo's San Francisco
10. Bloggin' It From the Burbs

And I feel weird not posting a photo today, so here's a random one for ya. It's a snap of the LUST seniors at their last meet. I like the happy/sad emotion here...

PS: The Lens Day theme this week is "Flying." I think I can make the case that the bloggers I've listed all fly high...and the swimmers do, too. The emotion in this shot is off the charts, I'd say.

Always a Kid at Heart

My parents never took me to Disneyland as a kid. I loved (still do) the Disney Princesses and the classic Disney movies. So last year when we went to California for our winter break swim team training trip, I was thrilled to go to the most "magical place on Earth." The first ride was Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. My friend Tina opted to be the kid in the group; however, I am guilty of joining her. My trip down memory lane, courtesy of I ♥ Faces.

A Horse is a Horse; Of Course, Of Course

Ever see the movie Nights in Rodanthe? Well, if not, let me give you a quick overview. A woman, Diane Lane, stays at her friend's beach house inn in Rodanthe, North Carolina, after her husband cheats on her. A retired doctor, Richard Gere, is the only other person staying at the inn.

I'll spare you the sappy details, but at one point in the movie, Diane Lane's character tells Richard Gere about the Spanish mustangs on the beaches north of Corolla and how on a very rare and special day, they will come as far down the beach as Rodanthe. These are the lovely horses she was talking about; however, not way down the coast in Rodanthe.

Today's PhotoHunt theme is Ripples. Camera Critters...well, you get the picture!

Rain Rain, Go Away

It rained yesterday out here in WI. In fact, it rained a lot. Took this shot last time it down poured in the Nation's Capital. Today reminded me that some of the best shots are taken in the rain.

Blink in Ohio?

Readers of The Scholastic-Scribe already know we spent the past 2 days driving from North Carolina out to Wisconsin. On our trip across the grand state of Ohio, we saw something somewhat peculiar...a big ol' truck with the portraits on the members of Blink-182 on it. It was none other than the band's tour truck, the truck hauling all their stuff. Not something we would expect on the Ohio Turnpike. Enjoy these odd shots, courtesy of Odd Shots Monday.

"Here, Kitty, Kitty"

This is Patch, also known as Patchy. She is my baby and the subject of many of my photos. Took the first snap last week before leaving home for college; I won't see her precious face until November. Enjoy these shots, courtesy of Camera Critters!

Digging the Grave

Every summer I venture down to Duck, North Carolina, in the Outer Banks with the fam. On the drive down we see various "landmarks," signifying the beach is near. One is the great Grave Digger, a guy with a big ol' monster truck, not a character from Hamlet. On the 4th of July, Grave Digger takes a trip across the Currituck Sound, yes, in the water. Every year we drive by we say, "We need a picture of the Grave Digger," but we never stop. This year, however, we did. Enjoy!

It's Summer Time!

My summer in photos, courtesy of I ♥ Faces.

Summer for me takes place at our neighborhood pool, The Hill. This was my first year coaching and my last year swimming. My August birthday gives me the chance to swim for one summer after college because I don't turn 19 until the season is over. Anyway, take a gander at the snaps below. Enjoy my summer!

I spent the summer being a swimmer.

Arrrrgggghhhh!

I spent the summer being a coach, which involves dressing up in various outfits to show my team spirit. This is Cave Man Day. What do you think about Wilma and Betty?

I coached a group of boys who broke the league record for the 13-14 Boys Medley Relay, a record which stood for almost 20 years.

Odd Shots: I'm on a Boat...Sort of

I shot this with one of those Kodak underwater cameras. I think my Mom bought it at the local CVS. These kids are on my college swim team. They're celebrating the end of the conference meet. The title of the photo comes from our team's "theme song" from last season..."I'm on a Boat," by The Lonely Island.

Katney sponsors Odd Shots Monday.

Happy Birthday to You, Moo!

OK, freegal's Madre here. I've taken over her space today to wish the kiddo a Happy Birthday. Oh, also to show y'all that while she's the gifted photographer around here, others in the familia know a Superior Snap when they see one.

Here's a shot of freegal & her kitty cat, Patch, from When the World Was Very Young. If you'd like to see a more up-to-date snap, please visit The Scholastic Scribe. We could always use some more folks to help us celebrate!

We're also participating in Camera Critters. Although she's definitely getting up in years, Patch is still a pretty cute critter!