A Book-a-holic's Dream!

I discovered a great used bookstore today completely by accident! I'm so excited. It's a bit of a drive from where I live, but it's close to where I'll be for a class the next 6 Thursdays as well as where a friend of mine is currently living. I'll definitely be going back to visit.

Though I was attracted by the Used Bookstore sign, I quickly realized most people pulling in to the strip mall were going into the Fascinations "Romance" store.

Turtles!

I've wanted to stop and take photos of the turtles in the pond by the building where my classes are located, but I'm always rushing to and from places. Since it was Friday today, I had a few minutes to stop. I only had my point and shoot camera with me, though. I still got some decent shots. I have a lot more than 1 shot, so I'll be posting them over at my other blog (http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com/) for anyone interested!

Dinner

It's been an exhausting week because of things going on at work. I didn't get home until after 7:30pm tonight so I opted for pizza as dinner tonight. It took longer than they told me when I ordered, but it got here...

In the Yard

I decided to go out in the yard to take some photos when I got home today. Luckily, I made it out there before it got dark and there were actually some flowers still out on one of my hibiscus plants.

Also, I took another photo of the hibiscus close up that I plan to post on my other blog, Random Ramblings (http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com/), sometime this weekend as well as more photos from this week.

Looking Down...

I planned to take a photo of my shelves of books I've bought recently, but haven't gotten around to reading, but I ended up liking this shot better. I bought this area rug at Target when I moved here and I love it! And you can't get a better price than at Target.

Cloudy Sky

I had to take my car in to the shop this afternoon, so I left work earlier than I usually would. Luckily, that meant I got to take some daylight photos. The weather was a bit stormy, so the clouds made for some nice shots (even if it was a bit bright).

Guest Bathroom

Desperation hit once again tonight, and I found myself wandering around the house looking for a photo op. Here's what I ended up with: a shot of my guest bathroom.

Driving at Night

I wasn't quite sure what to take a picture of once again today, but as I was parked and ready to pull out of a parking lot tonight, I looked down and saw my dashboard instruments lit up. I thought, hey why not?

I've always looked around at things with an eye out for things I'd like to photograph, but since I started this project, I find myself even more aware of the things around me. It's really paying off!

Light Fixture or UFO?

I was exhausted today after my first week back in class, so once again I found myself desperate for a picture at the end of the day. I went around the house and took some shots, but I was unimpressed. I ended up at my front door, and when I looked up, this is what I saw!

Math Lab Piano

For those of you who don't know, I'm a community college math teacher. When I went to our campus Math Lab (a math tutoring center with computers staffed by faculty) on Tuesday for my first shift of the semester, I found this piano as a pleasant surprise. I have no idea why there's a piano in the room. Maybe they offer piano lessons after the Math Lab is closed. The lab is, after all, just a classroom that we re-purposed for the use of the Math Lab and there have been classes in the room after hours before.

Anyway, I had a few minutes while I was in the lab today, so I decided to make it my picture for today! I also recently rediscovered the macro option on my point and shoot camera. I haven't used it in so long, I had forgotten it was even there!

Check Your Speed!

They've recently added these "Check Your Speed" signs to the speed limit signs in the residential areas nearby. I saw them for the first time yesterday but didn't have time to stop to get a picture. I made sure to leave work before dark so I could get a picture today. They definitely catch my attention every time I drive by them!

Around the House

I was once again desperate for a photo. I've been insanely busy with the start of classes, so it was down to the wire. I just started walking around the house and as I walked under the arched hall, I looked up and saw this in a corner. With the two-toned paint and different wall pieces coming together, I thought it might be interesting.

Bread!

I was a bit desperate for a photo today, so I opened the refrigerator and found this interesting pattern on the bag with the bread in it! I have multiple loaves because I'm doing an activity in my classes about making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Laundry Day!

Nothing too inspiring today. It was laundry day for me, so I decided to take a photo of my laundry room. It's a pretty small room, so it was a bit hard to get a good shot with everything in it.

Ocotillo Sculpture Fountain

I see this fountain every time I visit this strip mall near my house. I always think about taking photos of it, but I usually don't have the time or the light is horrible. I wasn't too sure about stopping today because it was a bit bright and the angle of the sun limited my choices of angle, but I gave it a try anyway. My favorite shot was of the top of the glass sculpture part of the fountain rather than the whole fountain, but you can head over to my regular blog, Random Ramblings, at http://lilikoi44.blogspot.com/ to see the whole fountain (and a few other photos).

Around Campus

Today was our last day of meetings/planning before classes start. I took this photo of Montezuma Hall, one of the main buildings on campus, when I was out in the main faculty/staff parking lot dropping off some copies I need for my first day of class.

At the Car Wash!

I left work too late to take the picture I had planned on for today which was my recycling bin at the curb since it's recycling day. I could have taken it before work, but as usual, I was running out the door to make my meeting on time this morning, so it just didn't happen. There will be other recycling days...

But that left me without a photo and once again unsure of what to do since I prefer taking daytime pictures because it's my comfort zone. I'd love to take more night pictures, especially of the moon, but it's harder for me and I really need a much better telephoto lens for that. I tried to improvise a tripod once, but it wasn't quite right without the lens. I do finally have a tripod thanks to my mom, but I haven't really played around with it much.

Anyway, as I was driving home from Goodwill (where I was shopping for books), I saw this sign and knew this was my photo for the day. It took some maneuvering because of course I was in the wrong lane to pull over, but I got the shot in the end. I'm becoming better at night shots and better with my digital point and shoot camera which is great. This project is really paying off!

Wildflowers!

I got really distracted at work today and didn't leave until 5:30pm. The only problem was I didn't eat lunch! I headed off to Wildflower Bread to get a roast beef sandwich and Caesar salad. While I was waiting for my order, I took this picture of the huge wildflower sculpture that hangs from the ceiling. The lighting made it difficult, but I finally found just the right angle!

Oops!

I fell asleep in front of the TV last night and forgot I put a can of Diet Coke in the freezer. This is what I found when I got home today and went to get a frozen mug. I'm just glad it didn't explode!

Desperation!

Today was the first day I came close to not making the deadline! I just didn't know what to take photos of today. So desperately at 11:45pm, I just started taking pictures from my chair in front of the TV. Once I started, I got on a roll! I decided to use this picture of my ceiling fan.

Favorite Color & Artist in One Shot!

I was having a hard time deciding what to photograph today. I still haven't put my Christmas decorations away (they're inside sitting on the floor), so I thought I'd get some shots of those. Unfortunately, the shots I took left me uninspired.

As I turned away, I looked up at the wall and this is what I saw! I bought this painting (unframed) for my 31st birthday (in October 2007) and I just love it. Tabora is my favorite artist and turquoise is my favorite color so it combines both. I just love everything about it! Framing the painting was a bit of a challenge (I had to go material shopping to get a color to match the painting for the mount between the canvas and the frame), but it was so worth it in the end!

In N Out Mania

I've been eating out a lot lately because I haven't made it to the grocery store since I came back from San Diego. In N Out is an inexpensive favorite of mine. This was my 3rd trip in a week!

Back on Campus

Today was my first day back on campus for Spring semester. Though classes don't start until January 20, we come back early for meetings and to get everything prepared.

Home Sweet Home

Here's a picture of my house on my first full day back in Avondale after Christmas. I finally took down all my Christmas lights and decorations.

On the Road Again

Here's my car just before I hit the road from Bonita back to Avondale...

Hamburger A La Michelle

I am a notoriously picky eater (and always have been), but I love hamburgers. I definitely have my preferences in how they're prepared, cooked, and served, though. Today's picture shows how I make hamburgers when I eat them at home (well, at my parents house this time since I'm still visiting them).

I mix Worchestire sauce, chopped or minced onion, and black pepper into the meat before I cook it. I even have a particular order/method to mixing it and I always do it by hand. I sometimes add a little Worchestire sauce as it's cooking as well. I'm the only one in my immediate family that does it, but I got it from my maternal grandmother. She used to mix stuff into hamburger meat, though not the same stuff. And she used to use fresh onions, but I tend to use dried chopped or minced onions to save time and tears.

I serve (well, eat really) the hamburger on a lightly toasted (in the oven) wheat bun with ketchup (spread on both top and bottom bun as well as on the meat patty itself).

Until We Meet Again...

I had a hard time deciding which photo to use today. I knew that I wanted it to be Round Table related, but had this picture and one of the pizza box.

Round Table is my favorite pizza of all time. Unfortunately there isn't one near me in Arizona. I've been lucky before now to always have one close by (except for the 8 months I lived in Dallas). This was my last trip to Round Table in San Diego before heading back to Arizona...

Back to Work

Even though I don't have to officially be back on campus until Friday, January 9, I've been working on material for my spring courses the last couple of days. Most of what I've done has been on my computer, so I fit 3 windows with part of what I've been doing on my laptop screen and took a picture. It was hard to get a good shot due to glare and lights on in the background, but this is the one that came out best! You can probably even read some of it if you click on the picture to see a bigger version.

Go Chargers!

Since I found out about this project the day after the game, I couldn't take a picture of me watching the game on TV, so I settled for the next day's newspaper. Also, since I'm still in San Diego visiting my parents, I figured it was a good representation of both things (my being in San Diego and my watching the Chargers win in overtime!)

A New Year's Resolution

One of my resolutions this year is to keep track of all the books I read in 2009. I've also joined the Support Your Local Library Challenge for the year. Here is a picture of the first two books I've read in 2009!

The Beginning...

I'm starting a few days late, but I figured a good place to begin is with a picture representing how I will complete this photo-a-day journal. I have 2 cameras and will use them both depending on the situation. I love my DSLR, but it is just too big to carry with me everywhere. My Powershot S80 is much more compact and takes better flash pictures. I don't have a camera phone, so these two cameras will have to do!