Happy Birthday, Mama!

Today is my sweet Mama's birthday.

I am so blessed to have a Mama like her.  

Happy Birthday, Mama!!  I hope your day has been wonderful, and I love you bunches!

Hope

So true.

For so long I have hoped.  I have hoped for a psoriasis treatment that will work for me, that will give me my life back.  I have severe psoriasis and it keeps me from doing a lot of things I used to enjoy, including dressing comfortably for the seasons.  I wear long sleeves and pants year-round, even through miserable, hot Georgia summers.  This week, I started a new treatment called Stelara, and it seems to be the most promising yet.  I'll know in a few weeks if it will work for me.

I had my first injection yesterday, and Brian snapped this photo.



That's just a little snippet of my skin.  Those spots you see?  There are many, many more.  They cover me, make me miserable and I'm tired of them.  So, please do your thing, Stelara!

Even through failed treatment after failed treatment, I will not despair.  I will choose hope.

A couple years ago, I created this bust for Scrap n' Art.  It still represents my struggle with this disease.  August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month, so I wanted to share it.  Creating art is very therapeutic for me.



This bust represents "My Two Psides," meaning my two identities or sides of living with psoriasis.  There is a clear side, with smooth, beautiful skin.  I haven't seen that side of myself in well over a decade.  The other side, or "pside," represents the ugly, inflamed skin.  Red, burning, itching, scaling, flaking, miserable.  The two wings represent freedom and imprisonment.  One wing is free, ready to fly.  The other is tethered, tied and confined.  Held down by this disease.  The key represents my search for a treatment that will work for me.

It represents hope.  And I cling to it.

Be Happy

Today is my Daddy's birthday.



Daddy, you are a one-of-a-kind, amazing person.



Be happy.















Thank you for being so wonderful!  I love you and wish you every happiness, today and always.  Happy, Happy Birthday!!

Here Comes The Sun

What a difference a week makes.

Happy Birthday, Ginger!!

Today is my sister, Ginger's birthday! I have never known a time without her, since she is several years (we won't say how many) older than me. :D I am so thankful and blessed to have always had her presence throughout my life.
She was my first friend (along with my brother, Ricky).  Although I was a really small, bratty, annoying friend.  :D

And now she is my best friend.

We have so much fun together.







I celebrate her, today and always.



Happy, Happy Birthday, Ginger!!  I love you!!

Father's Day And Early Birthday Fun

Yesterday, we had our Father's Day celebration and we also had Ginger's birthday celebration a little early (her birthday is the 24th).  We had such a great time!  Here are some pictures from the day.









































What a great day!!

Embrace The Current Season

Gabrielle Blair said, "Embrace the current season of your life."  OK, Gabrielle, here goes!  It's almost officially Summer on the calendar, and I am pleased to say that so far, Summer has been on her best behavior.  Mild temps, mostly in the 80s, and those have been welcome!  But the local weather man says Summer is about to bust out some mid-to-upper 90s foolishness later this week.

You know what, Summer?  That's ok.  Bring your hotness.  I will embrace it.  I can't say that I won't oftentimes be embracing it inside in the air conditioning, but I will embrace it all the same.

I will live life, savor it, cherish it, and not wish away the precious days that Summer brings.  Even if they are hot and uncomfortable, those days are still important.

So, here's a little photography of life lately.  On the cusp of Summer.



















Just a few shots I took with this:




It's an old Minolta film lens that Brian found in our local Goodwill for $7.07!!  A 50 mm f/1.7 prime.  I have been wanting it, and was going to eventually order it.  For $150!  But instead, I got it for seven bucks!!  This one is in mint condition, with clean glass and just a small bit of cosmetic wear.  We just could not believe our luck.  I shoot Sony.  No, I'm not a Nikon or Canon girl.  I'm a Sony girl.  I have a Sony dSLR, and since Sony bought Minolta back in 2006, I can use all the old Minolta film lenses on my Sony dSLR.  I think this is super-duper cool, because there's just a different quality to film lenses that is really amazing.  The coating on these lenses was optimized for film, which just gives it a different look and feel.  But they're still usable on a digital camera, so it's like the best of both worlds!  Amazing, vibrant color reproduction and sharpness.  I have a Sony 50 mm f/1.8 that performs beautifully, so I am ecstatic to have two amazing "nifty fifties" in my arsenal.  I also have an old Minolta 24 mm prime, which is excellent as well.  Oh, and I'm not a zoom lens girl, either.  I shoot only primes.  I love the lightweight, small size of primes and the wider aperture capabilities.  They are sharp and excellent in low light.

I am looking forward to embracing the rest of this season.