“The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” ― John Bingham

So I have some updates!

1. last year around this time, I started running [remember this?].  I remember being really excited about running a full mile without stopping [I texted Ronald when it happened :) and then blogged about it later HERE].

UPDATE -> I'm still running.  Not as often as I was when I was getting ready for the Color Run, but probably once a week at least [I mix in yoga, since there is free yoga Monday, Wednesday and Fridays in the park nearby].  Ronald, Keira and I ran the 5K at the Sunburst, which is a local run from downtown South Bend, to Notre Dame University Football Stadium on June 1st.  And, although I didn't keep up with either of the other two, I'm happy to announce that I didn't stop/walk at all either :).  My official stats are as follows:
Overall Place: 1796 of 3256
Gender Place: 735 of 1749
Female 25-29: 89 of 220
Total Time: 33:32:79
Total Pace: 10:30/M

2. last year also around this time, I was talking about how we paid off the car!

UPDATE -> We've now officially paid off our line of credit!  Hooray! Now onto saving, before paying off school loans :).

3. a few months ago, I talked about goals, and new patterns, etc. [HERE].

UPDATE -> Turns out 3 things each day is sort of hard.  I've since switched to do yearly things.  This year it will be reading the bible, since that's the one that I've continued to do, in a somewhat consistent way [I'm only 2 days behind now, and since the old testament part has been reading names/daddies/mothers/etc in Hosea, I should be able to catch up today or tomorrow (uhm, ya 'cause I don't actually read all the names, that just seems silly to me)].  Next year perhaps I'll do the German for a year and see what I can learn :).

ALL TOGETHER:

It's sometimes fun to see where you were a year ago and where you are now.  On a recent run with Ronald, he asked what I felt was different last year (when I was rejoicing over running a full mile without stopping), and this year, although sometimes I have to stop, I know I CAN keep going for 3 miles.  After thinking about it a bit, I answered with I thought my mind was stronger.... and my lungs.  I didn't think I would actually die/pass out now.... [okay, some days I still do, but whatever].

In comparing the debt list, while we still have a lot of debt to pay off, it's sort of awesome to see what all we've paid off so far [we've paid off a total of $19,000 in 2.5 years].  And to know that more opportunities will be open in the future.  If we paid that much off in two and a half years, in a few years we could be traveling the world without using a credit card.  Which is definitely a goal of mine.

Bible reading.  I'm almost half way through [since I started in March].  Which is pretty great.  Since I've never read the entire bible before, I keep coming across things that are cool/crazy [yeah, and definitely some things that pastors leave out of Sunday morning sermons].  And I think I'm getting a better understanding of history versus now.  People on the internet are always like, "What's this world coming to that this is happening"... and sometimes, depending on what "this" is, I think to myself, "actually, crazy shit has been happening for centuries. you think it's crazy that there's this dude eating someone else zombie style on the side of the road (and it is, totally), but have you read the part in the bible where the two women agree to eat their kids to survive?!?" [they were in the middle of a famine, you can read it HERE].

In any case.  There you have it, my updates.  And now I've got to get back to my job and edit some more wedding photos :).  Wedding down in Indy this weekend!

-mrp-

#4/30

It's been a while, sorry about that... summer = fun stuff = not a lot of extra time = more photography!.. [well, the paid photography that is :)].

So here's numero cuatro:

Mom moment :)

For those of you that have kids, I know you've experienced that moment when you are just so damn proud of your kid.  Like, when they go to a new preschool and the teacher says that they were a doll to have in class, and they're looking forward to having them around everyday.

You casually say, "That's so great!  Thank so much, we're excited to be here too!"

And then you get in the car, and you're like, "Thank the Lord they were good!"

I had one of those moments today.  I took Bentley to the groomer [ya, I'm liking my dog to your kid, whatev], and when I went to pick him up, they said, "He was really good, and a very charming little guy".

And I got in the car and thought, "I will come back to you, because not only did you say he was good, but you said he was charming".... which he actually isn't charming very often towards me, but I'm glad he was charming for them :).

Anyway, it was a mom-ish moment.  Especially because I had to warn them ahead of time that he hadn't done his business before we came this morning [I opened up the door, he took one step out and watched the rain coming down, turned his head back to me with that look, "Woman, you have got to be kidding!".  He knew.  There wasn't a damn chance I would want to go out there to pee, and I'm a pushover, so I wasn't going to make him go out either.]

-mrp-

woah!

Last weekends wedding was FABULOUS [I'll post more at http://blog.mrinaye.com in the next couple of weeks :)].

But I was looking at my fb page insites today, and WOAH!... doubled from my last big woah moment :).

I think I might be getting the hang of this whole photography business thing :)... I'm at least doing something right.

Summer wedding #2 is this weekend, and there's a 30% chance of rain... here's to praying it stays away!

-mrp-

The Parental Visit!

Whew... so when I visit places, especially for the first time, I like to DO things... and so, when people visit here, especially for the first time, I like to DO things with them :).

And it turns out that South Bend/Michiana are actually has a lot to do in the summer!  Here's a run down of our schedule with the parents:

Friday - parents arrive on train in Chicago, we grab pizza and have a picnic in the green area to the south of the Art Institute of Chicago [I got into Chicago early so that I could wander around this museum before meeting them at Union Station].... it was awesome.  We go check out the Bean in Millennium Park, and then head back on the South Shore train to get in fairly late to South Bend.

Saturday - Mom and I start the day with some free yoga at 8am, then head to the Farmers Market, have lunch, and then drive out to Amish Land for the best donuts ever, and to walk around the store areas in Shipshewanna.

Then we head home, make Fettuccine Alfredo, and then head to a baseball game, where we won! [hooray!], and it turns out it was the game making the Silverhawks the 1st Half Eastern Division Champions!  It was very cool.  A somewhat close game, and then all the players came out and did the dumping of the Gatorade over the coach, and jumped up and down, then went to the lockers and drank champagne, and then came out again in their sock to run the bases and run around celebrating.  It was cool.

Sunday - Church, dollar tacos, movie [Star Trek; Dad's choice for fathers day], steak/lobster/salad/asparagus for dinner.  SOO yummy.

Monday - BEACH!  We went to New Buffalo, where we had a picnic and then got dessert stuff at a place called Nancy's [which I of course took pictures of my mother in front of].  Then we went to ND to take a look at the Basilica and the Grotto, and the Main Building [it really is a beautiful campus].  Then took them to Pullrite to have a tour, and then mom and I caught some more free yoga outside at the park, before we headed to Fiddlers for some dinner.

Tuesday - Drove into Chicago to go to the Shedd Aquarium.  We got there at 9:30 [it opened at 9am], and there was a line out the door and down the stairs.  We finally got in at 10am, walked around, saw everything, and then had lunch there before I dropped them off in Midway to catch their flight to see my brother and his family in North Carolina.... which of course ended up being delayed.

It was SUCH a great visit.  And I'm sort of in that mode of, "I can't believe that it's already gone/over".

I'm really glad they came to visit, and see my life here.  There's just something about it that's comforting.  Maybe also in referencing things on the phone after this.  They'll actually be able to know what I'm talking about.

But now back to the grind.  Gotta prep for my wedding this weekend, and I have a list of other things to get finished and check off as well.

-mrp-

R

R: "When we get older, I think we should own a diner."
....
.....
....

Ya, that could be fun :)...

Uck. That moment when you've been having a bad day and to top it off you have to go to the grocery store and you give the most cheesiest fake smile ever to the clerk that's checking you out. F. She knows.

-mrp-

"....I like girls that wear abercrombie and fitch... I'd take her if I had one wish...."

Have you all seen this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/abercrombie-and-fitch-homeless-brand-readjustment_n_3272498.html

So I saw this link for the first time last night, and while it's unique and interesting... I'm not sure it's really that great of an idea.  While this is saying 'screw you' to A&F, it's also saying, 'let's give their clothing items to the opposite of the pretty people/cool kids'... and why would you want to say that?... It's sort of de-humanizing.

I'm all for sticking it to the man, especially that man... but perhaps there is a better way.

Perhaps we should make A&F products into baby diapers... because then they'd be covered in shit :).

-mrp-

#3/30

So part of this 30 before 30 is pushing myself to take not only 30 self portraits [which is a feat in itself], but to also make them interesting.  I'm going to assume that people don't actually want to see 30 selfies of me.... [boooooring].

I'm hoping that as I'm thinking, and the months go on, that I'll push myself to do things that are not traditional portraiture.  That are more art.

So today's image was created with that in mind.  I'm not 100% satisfied with it [I wish there was more space between my feet and the ground], but it's a start to better art portraits in the future.

*click the image above to see it larger.

-mrp-

ps: this was taken at New Buffalo beach.  I love the emptyness of the beach.  There will only be a few more weeks of emptyness I bet.

#2/30

Numero dos!

*mrp*

The Bentley...

*Bentley, running all over trying to get away from his weird smell [of flea stuff just put on his back].

me: Come here stinky dog!
*rubs puppies back and gives kisses
me: Do you not like how you smell?
Bentley: Grrrrr
me: But it's killing all the bugs!

***now he will go and lay in one spot for about 30 seconds before he gets up to move to a different spot, trying to get away form the smell... of himself :).

-mrp-

In a few weeks....

I'll be headed down to Indy to photograph a boudoir session, and then an event with School on Wheels, and then hang out with some photog friends, and then hang out with some church friends, and then meet up with a friends new [ish], baby!

I'm excited about it.

But I just e-mailed the friend I'm staying with, and she mentioned it was firefighters week in Indy [her Dad's a firefighter].

And I was like:

THE FIREFIGHTERS CONVENTION!!?!!?! [smile].  My favorite time of the year in Indy!!!! [well, when I was single :)]; it is like the first real sign of spring :).

-mrp-

ps: remember this? wahahahaha rofl... lol... ha ha ha

Munchkin...

Have you played it?  There are a lot of cards, and a lot of reading, but it's fun.

And there are a ton of different genres: zombie, space, regular, pirate, etc.

So looking for something that was challenging, fun and short enough I could do it every night [ish], and not be overwhelmed, I decided to start drawing from the munchkin deck.

Here we are so far:

I finished up another 5x7 sketch book with these images :).

*mrp*

Kindergarten

A few weeks ago I substitute taught a kindergarten class at a private school here in town [maybe I mentioned it here or somewhere?].

Anyways, at one point, we sat down to do journal time where I give them a prompt and then they draw a picture and write a sentence about it.

I can't even remember what my prompt was [it was supposed to do something with the story we read right before].

What I do remember is, as we are drawing, one of the kids picks up his paper, barely written on and says he messed up and needs a new sheet.  I inquire about how he messed up and encourage him to draw around it or draw it into the story, but he starts to crumble it up, while telling me their teacher lets them start over.  Which of course ticks me off.  And I say something like, "well, I'm here today, and while we'll do a lot of things like your teacher does, this isn't going to be one of them".

In the end he crumpled up his paper in a ball, and I had to have a talk about respecting teachers, and when they ask something he needs to do it.  I should have made him draw on the crumpled up sheet.  But I didn't.

I was thinking though, what exactly are we teaching kids with that approach?  Are we teaching them if they mess up they can start all over, and not worry about the first mess up?  I know this is one of those small nit-picky things where it's ridiculous to pinpoint what it really is teaching kids.  But to a certain extent, I think the small things like this do teach kids problem solving skills for the future.

Should we have kids, I want them to know it's okay to mess up, and inevitable that they will mess up.  But they can't just run and get a new paper every time they mess up.  Most times they have to figure out a way to make the mess up okay, or better.  And learn from it so that next time they have a clean sheet of paper they don't make the same mess up.

And hopefully that lesson will expand to all things in life.  You can't always just start fresh.

-mrp-

April 1st!

And, it's snowing outside.

Not an April Fools joke.

:/

Spring needs to fight harder to get here!

-mrp-

An Update :)

Goals Update:

It's been 11 days since I stated my goals here on the blog.  And I'm happy to say I followed through with a respectable amount of them :).

1. I read the bible every day since then [with the help of the bible in a year; which has daily readings].  I also journaled, and stuck with the idea that I don't have to write a long drawn out passage every time I journal.  It was nice to write one or two sentences a couple times.  Freeing.

2. I've drawn 7 of the 11 days.  That's more than 50%, so I consider this a win :).  I've also found something to help.  I've pulled out Ronald's deck of Munchkin cards, and have been drawing a new one each night.  It's fun, and definitely been a creative pusher to just get my brain to think more about art, and possibilities.

3. Duolingo.  Okay, so I've sorta sucked on this, but in my defense, Whit was in town from Saturday to Wednesday morning, and it's weird to do a half hour of language learning when a friend is in town :).  BUT, I did do it 5 times, which isn't too bad.

That's all.  Hope everyone is has an excellent Easter!

-mrp-

So Sad :(

It's so interesting to open up your facebook news feed and see 90% of your friends making a statement on something that's happening in the government.

It's kind of cool for the first inspiring day.

And then it's sad, when all the people opposed to that statement figure out clever ways to refute it [shrug].

What I want to say to most of my fellow Christians, is that you can both believe that God made marriage between a man and a woman, and also support equal rights in the United States of America.

Have you watched Lincoln yet?  Back in the day, the good Christian people had their panties all in a wad about freeing the 'colored' folk.  Some were adamant they were not equal to the white folk.  Same story about women.  Let the women vote!!! [ho-ly-shit-no!].  I believe it's the same story with the gays and lesbians.

Because marriage is more than just something that happens in churches, I wholeheartedly believe they need to be seen as equals in our government.  No one is asking for churches to marry a gay or lesbian couple.  No one is asking you to change your beliefs about what is right and wrong.  What they are asking, is that you give them the same rights straight people have [lifelong partners don't get to make decisions if their partner is in the hospital, they don't get tax advantages, they don't get to be recognized as a family unit].

I've only watched one talk about this on CNN [the video here], and it's just sad.  On all fronts.  It's sad that we can't come together and talk about it.  Just talk, without any hurt feelings, or bashing of each other [I personally think that Suze Orman did a SHIT job of being respectful of the other dude in the clip; and seriously, from someone who has been told she's wrong probably her entire life in her lesbian relationship, why would you want to turn around and do the same thing to someone else?  I mean, seriously, you're going to tell him he's not educated because he holds different beliefs than you?!].  sigh.

I hope marriage equality becomes a thing where all states and the federal government recognize gay and lesbian couples.

I also see both sides, and understand it's a scary situation for a lot of conservatives.  But it's just not fair.

-mrp-

30 selfies before I turn 30?

I might have added a new goal today... maybe.  I'm so bad at goals though, and trying to get through things [we remember how the alphabet drawing thing was... so good at first, and then I fell apart at V].... [I have plans to finish some day even if it's already more than a year later].

In any case, I took a self portrait today, and I love me some Cindy Sherman [her early work anyway, her later work is a bit cray cray].  But I'm getting close to my final year in my 20's [I can't believe the 30's are so close! Yikes!].  And to celebrate (?), I might attempt to share 30 self portraits before I turn 30.

So here's number 1.

-mrp-

New Goals...

So, when I was in middle school and high school, I was always checking out self help books from the library.

Saying that [well, typing it], sounds super lame.  But I don't actually think it was that lame.  It was just that I wanted to be better, and access my full potential! [which sounds so cliché!]

In any case, this morning, I'm wanting to once again create new habits, in order to be more tomorrow than I am today.  Because I truly believe I can be.  And if I don't ever start those habits, and get into routines, then I'll never achieve some of the goals which require more than a one time/one day commitment.

So I thought I'd share them with you.  I'm going to be using the pomodoro technique, if you haven't heard about it, and want to make better use of your time, you should totally check it out.  I've downloaded an app on my phone, but you can also use an actual kitchen timer.

New Daily Goals [which I've had on my hypothetical to-do list forever; and haven't actually done at all]:

* 1 pomodoro [25 minutes] of duolingo * [I'm learning German :); my awesome Onkel George died in Germany just a few weeks ago, and so a new determination has built up inside me to make this happen].

* 1 pomodoro of reading the bible and journaling * [Besides just actually gaining knowledge and thinking more about the things I believe, I think this will be really good for my identity in general, and writing out things I'm thinking about as well as ideas I have on making my business more than just a business, but also making it something that gives back to the community, and figuring out what I'm passionate about as well and how to make a difference in that part of the world].

* 1 pomodoro of drawing * [I took drawing classes in college, and I loved it (well, mostly, except for that one tool professor).  My one teacher made me promise I would continue to draw after the class was over.  My response was, "of course!"... but I've sucked at it.  So hopefully this will get me back in the habit, and more inspired].

And that's it, as far as daily goals.

An hour and a half with short breaks in between.

Totally do-able [not for everyone, I know, but I'm self employed, so it totally is for me].

In other news, we're turning in an application next week for a special house purchasing program [they help you out with the down payment, and there are special restrictions for purchasing their houses; which we currently qualify for (hooray!)].  Who knows what will happen with it, or whether or not we'll be accepted, but we're hopeful!

That, and I'm working at The Cove this summer in the box office :).  I'm sorta excited about it, and it's a good summer for us to stick around SB and not spend money traveling [no weddings, or other big things that we NEED to go to].  So instead, we'll try to make some extra money, pay off more debt and just plug into SB more.

-mrp-

pinterest

Pinterest is less offensive than facebook... I hope it stays this way.

-mrp-