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Persistence

Late to the Potty

Teaching is a two-way street.

Mind you, the signage isn’t very clear, and sometimes visibility is low because that one inconsiderate neighbour at the corner doesn’t like to trim his hedges, but it’s a two-way street all the same.

We’re entrenched in the battle for toilet supremacy, with us on one side of the battlefield and our daughter on the other. She’s attending an understanding daycare facility that seems to be very tolerant of the pull-up situation – that’s something at least. But our little one has decided that this potty thing may not be the best course of action, as there is no benefit in her mind other than the fact that we seem to throw parties every time she takes a tinkle on the porcelain throne.

I can understand her point of view. We encourage her to be unique; to think for herself, and that’s precisely what she is doing. The down side of this, of course, is that using arguments like “your friend so-and-so is using the toilet” will not really work.

It is a procrastination ploy – one that she may very well employing far better than most adults that I know – and it is driving me batty.

That is, until I thought about it this morning.

I do the same thing. Not in the sense of waste expulsion, of course. No, in my case I have been meaning to do so many things around the house and for myself and instead end up throwing up my hands and pursuing everything in a half-assed manner.

This blog, for instance, used to be updated much more frequently. I have been pushing out creating a DVD of my kid’s second year (with the third year looming). There are stacks of things I need to review for this site and a number of entries that need to go up here (although, I’ve been better at that lately).

I wonder if my little wonder picks up on the fact that her parents are expert procrastinators as well?

Either way, I am going to be trying to turn my own situation around and combat the stagnation of all of my hobbies. Even if it doesn’t help her use the toilet faster, it will definitely rule out that my own laziness is contagious.

Plus, I will get more things done.


Evolution

Tough Call

Back in 2001, Mrs. Jorge gave me a most generous engagement gift. It was a Canon EOS Elan 7E; a wonderful SLR with the ability to track your eye to focus on various parts in your field of view.



Canon EOS Elan 7E.
Click to Enlarge…


It was a great gift. It was an expensive piece of technology that was very much worth it, as it granted a great deal of control over composition. It was also something that I had wanted for a while, and was carefully saving up for (I ended up buying another lens for it later on with part of that savings money). It really helped me grow as a photographer, as it was a challenge to learn how to use properly (I still don’t know if I ever managed to use it to its full potential), and it gave me more confidence to know that I had really great optics at my command.

I used the hell out of this thing. I have been very meticulous about keeping track of all of my negatives, scanning them for printing and filing them in protective sleeves and storing them chronologically in binders. I entered exhibitions and photography festivals, knowing that this camera would help me capture what I saw with my eyes and share it with people the way that I wanted to.

But nowadays digital photography seems to be far more popular than film. The place where I used to take my film to be developed (Film processed, copies on CD, index print, uncut negs), has changed their hours. I also find the quality of negatives coming back from most places increasingly poor. Streaks on the negatives, lots of fingerprints, scratches and the like. It’s as if nobody really cares about film anymore; it seems like nobody cleans the machines. Even scanning the photos with the dust/scratches filter doesn’t compensate for that sort of thing.

The last straw was when I was doing a shoot for a friend. The photos were good but the negatives were covered in streaks. I had to spend quite a lot of time in Photoshop cleaning it up, which was very frustrating as I took great care when I took the photos to do my best.

So this week, after saving my pennies, I now have a new addition to my camera family…



Canon EOS 50D.
Click to Enlarge…


This thing is incredible. There is so much functionality built into it that it makes one’s head spin. While not a 5D or a professional camera, it will allow me a high degree of control and creativity with my shots. The bonus, of course, is that the viewing screen built into the back will give me the chance to review the photos that I take and make any corrections if necessary.

It also came with a 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS lens. The Canon IS (Image Stabilized) lenses are awesome. While not eliminating the need for a tripod, for those of us with steadier hands it is a powerful tool. I tested it out by shutting off my flash and opening the aperture as much as possible to take a photo of a friend’s painting in a dimly lit room. The results are breathtaking.

It has been a very hard decision. On one hand, the camera that Mrs. Jorge gave me was instrumental in my development as a student of photography. However, it is harder and harder to justify paying for film when the results are not as good as they used to be. Also, the inconvenience of developing film is very apparent when you have a child. In 2009, I took 5 rolls of shots. For those who know me, this is definitely below the average.

I am looking forward to getting acquainted with my new acquisition. I am very sure that this will bring back the means by which I can pursue something that I am very passionate about.



The Camera Shelf.
Click to Enlarge…


Looking Back

Fallen Off the Wagon

Talk about sparse. My Blog in 2009 has tumbleweeds rolling across it and wolves howling in the background. There is something to be said about procrastination, but then there is also something to be said about being busier than a nickel whorehouse on silver dollar payday.

2009 was a busy year.

In May, I was tapped on the shoulder to be laid off in July unless I could find something within the company (nothing like more people looking for jobs internally than there are jobs to be had). Luckily for me, a most excellent associate managed to get me into her organization. It was conditional, based on whether or not I was a good fit, of course. However, I really enjoy what I am doing now, and the team I am a part of is awesome.

On top of that, I was asked by my Sensei to grade for Nidan, which was an honour. Certainly a different vibe than Shodan, but I really enjoyed the grading and the two guys that I graded with for Nidan were great.

My daughter is growing so fast it’s unbelievable.

Lots of relationships lost last year, as well as a few being strengthened. Then, of course, there are those stalwart folks who have been with me for what feels like a lifetime. I love all of these people.

I also write a bit for this site, which means that I play a lot of games when I can. A pleasant kind of busy, that one.

And there is still so much to do.

I don’t know what I am trying to say here, really. I think I just really needed to get the ball rolling by typing something. Momentum, right?

The More Things Change…

Painful Reminders

While I’m not really in a particularly regular mood, I thought I would update my blog with something that’s been circling around in my head for a while now.

I’ve been pained to observe a number of situations that involve people experiencing things in their lives that should be causing them to reflect on themselves, perhaps improving things in their own development cycles.

Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be the case for a lot of them. In most cases they go back to being the way they were in the first place. In others, they seem to become worse.

I’m not perfect. Nor do I have the right to judge. All I have is my opinion. I suppose that it most likely means nothing to most people.

I want to end on a positive note though.

I applaud those who have taken adversity and beaten it senseless. These people I look up to and I wish them all the best. They carve out happy niches for themselves and create positivity, which the world needs more of.


Brilliance

Quotable Quotes

Every once in a while a friend writes something that just catches my eye. This gem is too good to keep to myself, so I’m writing it here in hopes that you follow the link to some very entertaining writing…


Real life is mostly outtakes.
NotYetaWino