Winter Doldrums

I have no pep, no zest for life.
The thought of taking photos nauseates me.
The internet bores me. (Gasp!)
I think I need some sunshine
and maybe a trip to somewhere I've never been.
Spring, please come soon.

Many More...

...from my photo-a-day project...


Sunrise through a hotel window in Louisiana. (My Grandma passed away a couple of weeks ago, and we traveled to Louisiana for her funeral.)


Grandma's House, Louisiana.


Aunt Linda's Kitchen, also in Louisiana.


Pit stop on the drive home from Louisiana. (The little wispy figure entering the store is my baby sister. She's almost fourteen.)


Guest room at home. (Basically my bedroom from my single days transplanted to our new apartment.)


Bookshelf in the guest room.


What happens when nobody feels like cooking.


My view from the sofa last night.


Currently reading The Letters by Fiona Robyn. I love this author, and it's not just because we have a name in common. If you read her blog, I think you will love her too.

So, Tagged

Dina tagged me this morning. I love her blog, by the way. It's not noisy, but it has a lot to say. See for yourself.

Anyway, as part of the tagging process, I have to show this here banner:

And, I have to tell you five random things about myself:

1. I graduated from college almost eleven years ago (and law school nearly three years ago), but I still haven't "picked a major".

2. Tim Burton and Woody Allen are two of my favorite movie directors.

3. Having long nails makes me feel icky when I type, so I keep mine short.

4. I'm going to need a new bookshelf soon. I love buying new (or used) books, but I don't love giving away old ones.

5. I laughed when I rode past the sign for Chunky, Mississippi last week.

And now I get to nominate someone else:
Tiara, Ahavah, you're it!

P.S. I don't know why Blogger won't let me double space after #5. I give up.

A Smattering

Some of the photos from my 365 Days project:

What's Ahead

Yesterday was my congregation's last Shabbat service. Originally, the last service was to be next week, but the leaders needed more time to get the building cleared out. My rabbi was clever--he didn't tell us until after yesterday's service was over that it was the last one. That way, we were not distracted by the fact that it was the last service, and instead fully paid attention to his talk on the week's Torah portion.

After the rabbi said the Aaronic blessing over us for one last time, we all hung around and just chatted with each other and enjoyed each other's company. It was a joyful time.

I'm excited about what's to come. Now is the perfect time for me to stop being lazy and take personal responsibility for my spiritual growth. You know how it is--you're less likely to do the reading yourself if you know that someone else is just going to explain it all to you anyway. Now is the time for me to be more intentional. To read the Torah (and haftarah) portions on my own. To delve into the entire Bible with more fervor. To pray and really seek God for His direction in our lives. To listen. To keep practicing my Hebrew.

It has only been one day, but I already feel a change coming.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
~Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)

Lesson #1

First lesson of 2010: Don't take anything for granted. On New Year's Day, I received the news that my congregation will be disbanding two weeks from now. Our rabbi had mentioned recently that the congregation was having financial difficulties, but I don't think anyone (except for the leadership) realized the extent of those difficulties. So, two weeks from now will be our last Shabbat service, and the building will have to be vacated by the end of the month.

I was shocked and saddened yesterday when I got the news. Our Shabbat service this morning was understandably more subdued than usual. But, I think the general consensus is that we are not viewing ourselves as victims of the recession. We are viewing this as an opportunity for God to use us in other places and in other ways. As for my husband and me, (most of) those other places and other ways have yet to be revealed, but we will definitely be praying for God's direction.

365

I'm sitting on my sofa, curled up under an electric blanket, trying to thaw my frozen toes. I'm watching Guy's Big Bite on the Food Network. And I'm daydreaming about one of my favorite things--photography.

I have decided to do another "365" project, in which I take at least one photo per day*. I've done a similar project in the past, in which I took a self-portrait (almost) every day for a full year. This time around, I'm expanding the scope of the project, and taking photos of different aspects of my daily life. So, the plan is that I will be taking more photos of places, things, and other people, and fewer photos of myself. Because, really, who wants to see my mug every day? I'm hoping that by the end of 365 days I will have grown by leaps and bounds in my photographic ability.

Interested? You can see my new (and old) photos on my Flickr page. I'm sure I'll also be posting some of my favorites on this blog from time to time.

And now, here are some of my most recent sources of photographic inspiration:

Shutter Sisters (Beautiful words and pictures every day.)

Rosina W's photos on Flickr (I feel especially inspired by her, because she created many of her gorgeous photos using the same type of camera that I have now.)

Wynona Robison's photo blog (Dreamy photos, often with Utah's natural beauty as a backdrop. These pictures will make you want to move out west.)

What new things will you be doing in 2010?


*Starting January 1, 2010.