Night Owl

Mom and I went shopping at The Paper Mill on the Lebanon square, and I bought my first Vera Bradley piece! I never thought I'd get into Vera Bradley, mostly because of the price. But once I saw the new "Night Owl" pattern, I couldn't stop myself. I justify it by thinking of the many trips I do take, and how I truly do need new, long- lasting, adult luggage. One of the pieces I wanted most, and was somehow one of the least expensive, was the laptop bag. Now my new laptop has a home! On the drive home, I just sat it in my lap and was content. Totally lame, but I don't care!

After I checked out, I spotted something else and walked over to it, then came back to the counter and saw Mom had bought the Zip ID Case for me! So now I have two pieces, both of which were high on my Wishlist for the website, and I got to move them to the "My Collections" part of the site.



This morning I checked the Capture Music City website and saw that of the 5 most popular pictures from the entire contest yesterday, I had three of them! Many of my friends and family have voted, but I have also made friends with other people who frequent the site, and they seem to also like what I have. I'm reluctant to upload too many, because I don't want low quality or repetition, but I decided to upload one more that I took of bright orange life jackets at 4-H camp into the Sports and Recreation category. We'll see! I'm just having fun voting and talking to people. I still have two weeks left in my break, I hope to get some more done!

Capture Music City contest

I mentioned that I have entered a photo contest for an art book that The Tennessean will put out in October called "Capture Music City". I started uploaded pictures on Friday, and now, on Monday, I have all but 1 of my pictures in the Top 5 of their respective categories! I cannot believe it!

To illustrate the chapters as of now, they show the top 5 photos in the category when you click on the chapter. Additionally, on the main page where each chapter only has one picture, they rotate the top 5 pictures to be that picture. Anyway! The point is, all but one of my 7 pictures is in the top - out of about 20,000 pictures!!

Here are screenshots of what I'm talking about. In case I don't get any pictures in the book, I want to remember that I did well for a few days! (My pictures are outlined in red).









I also just checked the "Daily Top Photos" section for the 5 photos that got the most votes yesterday, and two of mine are in that as well! Needless to say, I'm excited today.

In a few hours, I'm meeting Ashley at Opry Mills and we're going to see The Mummy. I'd say we're also shopping but I need to conserve!

Home for August

Keeping with my promise to myself to learn how to cook more things, last night I cooked Steak Fajitas and Mexican Rice. I've cooked neither of those things before, because I usually don't like rice, and although fajitas are just strips of steak, I hate the onions they have to be cooked in and never helped Mom with them when she made them all through the years. We also got a small griddle pan for the stove top, and used that for warming the tortillas. Since I don't usually eat rice, although I liked it, I didn't know if it was good, but Mom and Dad both said they liked it. The fajitas were good, we had lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and Dad had onions (yuck). I enjoyed making that and can add it to my recipes. Tonight is rib eyes with baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and bourbon baked beans. All of those things are things I have cooked before, and I love to grill, so it should be easy and very yummy.

I'm typing this blog on my new laptop! I'm absolutely in love with it. It's an HP, and I'm going to admit I got it at WalMart. It was $598, and although I will still have to purchase Windows Home and Office, I would have had to with most computers from any store, so I feel like I got a good deal. Wireless card, DVD burner, and it even came with a remote. I LOVE IT! I can't wait to use it at school, in my dorm. I keep saying it, but no more computer labs!



Last night, while rummaging around for things to look at on my new laptop, I found a contest called "Capture Music City," where people submit photographs in different categories that capture the Greater Nashville Area. Living about 38 miles outside of Nashville, I realized this includes me! So I made an account and submitted five pictures between three categories - Pets and Animals, Nature, and Music. Votes for each picture are taken, but you can only vote once, so instead of making it a popularity contest, it is more whether or not it is an exceptional pictures. So in case anyone is reading, take a minute to go to

http://www.capturemusiccity.com/people/iamahoot

and take just a moment to register so you can vote for my pictures. Once you're there, you can also mark that you "Love" them, and leave comments. This makes people more inclined to submit a positive vote. If you have spare time, tell someone else how to sign up and vote, too. I only uploaded just last night, and so far strangers and friends of mine alike have voted, commented, and made them favorites. Thanks to anyone who does this!

I saw The Dark Knight again today with my family. My Dad, who usually is enamoured with superhero movies, just thought it was ok. I absolutely loved it, and was glad to see it for a second time. I usually don't enjoy dark action movies, and I didn't even see the first one, but this was very well made and I plan on buying the DVD once its out. Heath Ledger deserves posthumous Oscar win, and I could see it again just to watch him. I loved it, and I'd encourage other people to see it in the theatre just for the experience.

Tomorrow we may go again to see the new Mummy movie. That may sound excessive, but going to the movies in the summer for me is like going to the the beach in the summer for other people. I love it!

Have a great weekend!