PLAYING PHOTO EDITOR

Woo! My computer is on its last leg and I'm hoping I can get through a blog post without it 1) shutting itself off, 2) shutting the internet down and 3) being as slow as a snail stuck in its own goop. I really need to step up and order a new one... it's driving me nuts!

Onto the fun...

Two weeks ago I took a photography course through Nikon. Although it was a long day - 8 hours! - and there were so many technical terms thrown at me I did learn a few things; like how to edit photos in JPEG or RAW format. RAW files rule for editing and now I'm all mad that I didn't shoot our Hawaii trip like that because of manipulations I could have done.

I've been playing with a program Nikon advertised (yay free trials, boo to have to buy it after 60 days) and have worked on a few Hawaii pictures... and here we go!

Byodo Temple, Oahu

Kyle and I have always liked Asian architecture so Byodo was a cool place to see in the middle of Oahu. There is also a Buddhist temple somewhere on the island that I plan on finding in June.

Kyle actually hates what I did to this picture but I told him he just doesn't have a "creative eye" to understand the beauty of enhancing the colors. Before the picture had grey, brackish water and I pepped it up! Okay, so the fish look fluorescent but still... I like it.

Carrying along the Asian theme we have Chinaman's Hat! I enhanced the shadows and brightened the green foliage to show what it truly looked like. Then I found a coconut (you put the lime in the...).

The last picture I messed around with was one taken at Kalama Beach.

Oh, how I missed this beach.

Manoa Falls

Kyle also hates what I did to this picture. WHATEVAAA!!!

And while I'm still here... I ordered my new computer between starting this and now. It legit took me five hours to complete this posting because of my Dell's new snail-like tendencies. Let's just hope it ships ASAP.

Ughh. See you on the new computer! TOSHIBAAA!

PUPPADOO DOES THE BEACH

The weather has been glorious this "winter" with a lot of temperatures being in the high 50s. Since it has been so nice outside and most people aren't hitting the beaches yet I brought Ember to the beach with a friend. It was her first trip to the beach (and certainly not her last) and it was love at first side with the ocean.

She also made friends with all the dead horseshoe crabs. Oh the barnacles!

I HATE YOU, DENTIST MAN

Growing up I had a lot of oral surgeries including tooth removal, wisdom teeth, tonsilitis, etc. I had braces for three years and I heard a lot of "you better start flossing". At this point, you would think that I'd be used to the dentist or at least able to tolerate their nonsense but, no... I am not a fan. I'm not sure if I'm glad I went to the dentist for the first time in five years (uhm, yeah 5) or angry because of the results.

Evil dentist.

I needed a root canal. A ROOT CANAL!

(plus an additional three other fillings to be done)

The night before, with impending doom looming ahead, I decided I needed a night on the town. A couple beers, some delicious food, you know... some relaxation. Until the panic attack hit me... I blame Kyle because he kept bringing up all of the things I'm afraid of - which won't be named here because I won't let any of you torture me - and it set me off.

The next morning I walked into the dentist office and paid the exorbitant amount of money necessary for pain and was brought back to the chair. I told them about my panic attack the night before and was immediately told to take an anti-anxiety pill (read: xanax) and put on nitrous oxide gas.

Once it all kicked in, I was feeling good.

The good feeling didn't last long though. Between the xanax, nitrous oxide and my emotions running high I was in breakdown, worn out, give me sleep mode. Oh, and did I mention I was in the dentist chair for FOUR HOURS?!!? Yes, 4. It must have been a serious procedure because the dentist even called me from his cell phone at 7:00pm that night to make sure I was okay.

Rough. Never. Again. HATE.


And now... a note from Kyle:

About once an hour, Christine has told me "I'm never going to the dentist again!!" She is already brushing her teeth 6 times a day.

When I walked in the door to the office to pick her up and saw her face, I wanted to laugh. The entire right side of her face was drooped down. She looked like she was about to pass out too, from all the meds and stuff, I guess. I have a special wife.

By the way, she is never going toe the dentist again.

* note four hours in a dentist chair cause incredibly sore gums and also causes your dentist to prescribe 800mg ibuprofen. if you take this, your stomach will hurt. if you don't, your teeth will hurt. CHOOSE WISELY. ugh. *