Well, as soon as I print some photos and get them in the mail that is.

Because then I can say that I will be exhibiting my photographs internationally! Thanks to an  invite from Moochin Photoman on the flickr Through the Viewfinder group, I am going to contribute to this  exhibit in Belfast:

Freakin’ Belfast!! How cool is that?!

OK, that’s not entirely true. What is true is that I sold the photograph I had up at this month’s Vox show!  (Man, I love saying that!)

Yep, that’s Chris, the reluctant model for one of the Utata Iron Photographer projects. And speaking of Utata, guess who is part of their new Code Ninja Strike Force? That’s right – me! And that is their title, not mine - these are my people! I’m told I’ll be paid in cake. That’s cool.

In other big news, in the paying gig world, I am the new Code Artist for Sweet Blog Design! I am so happy to be working with some of my favorite bloggers.

I sold a photo. I am a Code Ninja/Code Artist/geek. I think that covers it.

and I’m in the mood for… framing some art!

After having the month of January off (just couldn’t pull my piece together in time due to those pesky holidays!), I’m showing again in February’s Second Saturday show at Vox! Me and an intimate group of 35 artists! And you guessed it – the theme is “love”. I have no idea what I’m going to show.

Love…  I’m so sure

Like,  gag me with a spoon!

The rumors are true! I sold 2 of the 6 photographs I am showing at this month’s Vox Sacramento show.

//insert happy dance here!

Ah yes, the December show at Vox. Hey, you didn’t think you were gonna get an actual blog post did you? Maybe next week. Today I have to print the photos for the show. Tomorrow we hang! I was contemplating showing a painting this month, but I had to put my easel away yesterday to make room for the Christmas tree. So, no more painting for awhile. Luckily I didn’t pick up my dad’s habit of leaving the tree up until it’s D. E. A. D. dead. One year we had a particularly hardy tree up through the spring!

Anyways, they is light at the end of the “sorry I’ve been so busy” tunnel. Homework for my PHP class is done for the most part. I turned in the beta-version of the website I built for my final project last Thursday. This week I’ll review and comment on the sites of 2 classmates. Then I’ll get the feed-back on my site and turn in the final version by the 17th. After that, maybe my brain will stop thinking in “if/else” statements and I’ll have something worthwhile to say. Or a least a pic of Erin or two for the Ubers.

2 weekends ago we went to Santa Cruz. I double checked my calendar to confirm this because it sure doesn’t feel like I’ve been to Santa Cruz recently. We drove down Friday night as usual, got up Sat morning and drove down to Monterey and went to the aquarium. I took a few pics but most were slightly out of focus because we cruised through the place at break-neck toddler speed! I think we may have seen a couple fish. And Sunday we were back home. The whole weekend was a blur.

And then came Monday. It started out so promising… until my computer wouldn’t power on. In case you missed that – My computer, it would not turn on. I nursed an Elevated Level (that would be a nice DHS yellow) panic all day telling myself that my hard-drives were probably ok and it was just a broken On button right? RIGHT?! Chris had to talk me down several times during the day and that evening I drove downtown to hang the new show at Vox. Before I even got out of the car I took a Maxalt for my looming migraine. And that was my world until Saturday afternoon. Dead computer and a migraine. I was even too sick to go to the Artist Reception Friday night. I was not happy. But, our personal IT guy,Victor, ran some tests on my computer and declared the mother-board dead. I think fried was the term he used. But more importantly, both of my hard-drives were ok! So, Saturday morning Chris and Victor went to Fry’s and bought me a new computer. And that afternoon, while Victor was transferring my data to the new machine, my headache finally went away.

Coincidence?  I’m not so sure…

So, I got dressed, grabbed Kyle, and we headed downtown for Second Saturday and the Urban Landscape show at VoxSac! And it was fantastic – so many great pieces. And I had a blast talking with Jill, Jill, Lawrence, Chuck, Curtis, and Amy, and anyone else who would listen. Apparently I also chatted with Eric and volunteered to re-do their website! I told Chris this afternoon that in the future it might be prudent to keep me in the house for an additional 24 hrs after a multi-day headache.

And of course I took some photos at the gallery, but since I am still trying to find my way around Windows 7 and installing programs everytime I want to do something, it might be awhile before I get them online. Check out the photos from everyone else at the VoxSac Flickr group site.

Hey guess what! It’s almost next month and you know what that means right? A new VOXSac – Second Saturdy show! And yes, that is my name you see snuggled in there with the rest of the particating artists. Which means I need to get on it. Pictures to print, mats to cut… busy busy busy

I know, I know, this site has become a bit Vox-centric of late (maybe December will find no one in this household participating in that month’s show, but I hope not!). And I truely had high expectations that my next post would involve some actual writing, but – I’ve got nothing right now. And then Jill sent the flyer and well… here we are.

But have no fear! Soon we’ll be getting back to quality posts just like this one - old and bitter - an instant classic no?

Vox Sacramento’s Children’s Art Show opened last Saturday night and I managed to get a few pics of Kyle and his photographs up on Flickr. I like this one -

I think it really captures his enthusiasm for the whole affair.

In other Kyle news – he made the school basketball team!  Practices 6 days a week starting…  now.

Wow, the show this weekend was fantastic! Not only were all the photos amazing – it was great to meet and chat with the other photographers. And I would really like to thank the ubers who came up for the weekend, Rachel and Phil Valley and Cayle and Holly Little for all making it to the Artist Reception on Friday evening. For those of you who couldn’t make it – here are the images I have up.

I did manage to take a few photos on Friday evening and will try to get them posted soon. But first? another Barbie video. joy.

I know, I’ve gone quiet again. Sorry. And I hate to keep repeating myself, but I’ve been busy. Brain-busy. But don’t worry. My next programming class starts next week, and I’m sure I’ll have plenty to complain talk about then.

In the meantime, some updates:

Things I learned this morning – I need to have more phone conversations during the week. If not, one poor innocent caller will get all my pent-up ramblings thrown at her all at once. Especially if it is early in the morning and I’m over-caffeinated. So, for the greater good, you should call me. Often. And don’t forget to remind me to eat lunch.

Vox show is in 2 weeks and I’ve just finished cutting the mat boards so I can start framing the prints. Very exciting. I’m sure all you out-of-towners have already purchased your plane tickets to get the 2 wk advance discounts. You’re so smart.

Kyle started school last Thursday. I just found out he has already got his first detention! What am I going to do with that kid?! And while Chris was talking to the math teacher, I was on the phone with the band teacher. Oh I definitely got the better deal on that one. My conversation was about Kyle switching instruments. He will now be learning the tuba! And I’m all for it. Ya can’t march with an electric bass guitar. OOM-PA!

Erin is… nuts! I so need to get a video of her saying ‘Rock On’ in her demon voice (complete with goat horns hand gesture of course). And when her head is not spinning around, she is. Usually while wearing a pretty dress. She likes to dance around, spin her skirts, and she does a pretty mean arabesque. Thanks a lot Barbie videos. She’s also chatting up a storm and can now open the fridge. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – we’re doomed.

The majority of my time has been spent working on the HS Tourney site. I ended up stopping mid-build and starting from scratch using Drupal. All because of a random status update on Facebook by Scott of Lightroom Lab fame. 20 days ago I had never heard of Drupal –with its silly name and incredibly steep learning curve. Now, I am living and breathing Drupal. And as difficult as it has been, it was the right move. It is a very powerful web framework and I think the site will ultimately be better for using it. It’s just been a typical Dawn mind-bend. ‘Hey, I have a site to build, for a paying client no less, why not try something new. And if it’s extra difficult to learn, all the better!’

I have issues.