Journalhttp://charmarie.net/journal/en-US2008-05-13T18:51:42ZSquarespace Site Server v4.1.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)decisionshttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/13/decisions.htmlCharmarie2008-05-13T14:56:45ZLust for Stuff

I've made a decision about my camera...I'm keeping it for #1, someone asked via email that if I was going to sell it they would be interested (even after I dropped it), however it's in perfect condition and was in the bag when I did drop it. I'm going to rid of two of my lenses though because I think this is what my problem is. I'm constantly switching lenses and that I know it contributing to the dust in my sensor. I have a 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF and a 50mm f/1.8D (not selling this one she's my baby). I use these pretty much on the regular however I want the VR lenses instead. I have decided on the 85mm f/1.8D (this replaces the 70-300 & 18-55) and the 105 mm macro lens. I'm going to eventually sell them on Amazon or if anyone is interested let me know.

...I'm starting to think this camera is high maintenance.

]]>it's the little thingshttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/12/its-the-little-things.htmlCharmarie2008-05-12T21:04:49ZVainglorious Me

I have always done things differently. While most people go along with the flow I change gears. Mother's Day I don't actually celebrate because I am a mother 365 days of the year. My son and I had a good day yesterday even though he had two asthma attacks and a mild fever. We cleaned out his toy box, did some homework and reading together. I'm simple and try not to ask for too much just that my son loves me as much as I love him and he listens. S is the best thing that has ever happened to me, he's the one that can make me smile at anytime, he makes me feel my 4 hours of sleep per night are not in vain and I know that he unconditionally loves me. I did not spend Mother's Day with my son, I actually spent it with R, I wanted to just have a day to myself and relax, R took me to lunch at Gregorios's and I just spent the day doing nothing, exactly what I wanted to do. We ended up filtering through the wine rack and R's house and as I was polishing off my 2005 Petit Verdot, I happened to notice a 1995 Pinot Noir, that had way to much sediment in the bottle and so we had to rid of it. We also opened a 1997 I think it was a Cabernet Sauvignon, that was fiercely delicious.

I've been toying with getting my camera professionally cleaned. I have this speck of dust which I believe is living it's life on the sensor. I don't like messing with my camera to much taking in account what I paid for it. After looking at several of my recent photos she needs love. In two years I've dropped it twice and broke one lens...yeah I should be shamed but it happened. So needless to say she will be out of commission for about a week but it's going to be completely worth it. I'm going to investigate a few other avenues before my final decision. I'm totally bummed but in two years I haven't really cleaned her much either. R brought to my attention that Nikon has a new D60, it's smaller and larger megapixels, my first thought was ... I so need this, but I would feel really bad if I got rid of my D50. It would be a nice upgrade though...

]]>when it's worth ithttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/10/when-its-worth-it.htmlCharmarie2008-05-10T05:13:53ZDaily DeviationsThis week has been one difficult to sum up. I just know one thing, I'm drained mentally and physically. I've had insomnia two nights this week, three bad dreams, worrying about my grandfather's health and a myriad of other things. Sometimes I don't know how I wake up every single day and still keep doing this. I need a vacation and I'm not talking a two, three day get-a-way. I mean a real full fledged vacation with itinerary and all. I seriously am considering next year for a vacation like never before.

Work was really odd this week, it started off bad and ended even worse. Then company is in out busy season and let me tell you, this is my first ever busy season with them and by the end of today I wanted to shoot myself in the abdomen around 4:30, never mind I get off a 4pm. I'm one for committing when I say I'll have something done, I'll stay however long to ensure that it's done...except when it's Friday's. However I made the exception to stay and make sure the month was closed and everything was reconciled for April. This weekend I don't want to do anything but relax and do some more relaxing. I feel bad because I haven't seen my pregnant best friend, since she's been pregnant and I need to make sure I do so next weekend. I haven't visited my grandparents. I have oodles of paperwork to catch up on and I need to reconcile my own personal calendar to see what the hell is going on this month.

I need more time, somehow someway more time. Happy Mother's Day the following blogging moms to Irene, Chelle, Ana, Vixx, Mary and Krystyn.

]]>friday's feast #190http://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/9/fridays-feast-190.htmlCharmarie2008-05-09T05:54:36ZDaily Deviations

Appetizer

When someone smiles at you, do you smile back? Most of the time...

Soup

Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix? Hardwood...no time for carpet it sucks.

Salad

Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name. Can Cat call Char's cell?

Main Course

Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption? If you want to include Brangelina, sure.

Dessert

Name 2 blue things. The sky and the handicapped sign in my office (long story).

]]>painstakinghttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/9/painstaking.htmlCharmarie2008-05-09T05:46:39ZSlave to DesignOne thing about dedicating my soul to Squarespace is the fact that it is so simple to use. I am working on a blog for a friend, setting up her Wordpress and whipping up a very small simple design. I am realizing the following things:

How much I disliked Wordpress.
How much I disliked FTP.
How much I love K2, you know it loves you like a kitten.

I'm having a horrible time trying to figure things out again, I'm spoiled by Squarespace.

]]>the sliphttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/9/the-slip.htmlCharmarie2008-05-09T04:30:01ZLust for StuffTrent does it again...giving away "The Slip" NIN's new album, I'm downloading and uploading to my iPod as we speak. You'll never see to many if any artists doing this. Chelle, go get it.

]]>ask (tell) charmarie #17http://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/8/ask-tell-charmarie-17.htmlCharmarie2008-05-08T21:23:23ZAsk CharmarieI love concerned readers.

Char,
I don't like the white space on your site please add something to it.

Well reader I didn't like the white space to much either however I was using that time to figure out what I wanted to do. I am usually unsatisfied so here I give you my template as a work in progress. I only did this because you said please.

]]>my last memorieshttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/8/my-last-memories.htmlCharmarie2008-05-08T14:18:38ZVainglorious MeCompliments of Michele, being curious enough to care.

When is the last time you thought that you have heard quite enough about a certain celebrity, and what celebrity was this?

The Cruise/Holmes union. I was actually thinking I heard enough of Brangelina but they are gorgeous and I love them, at least more than the Cruise/Holmes union. I used to think Tom Cruise was my pseudo god, he was the hottest white guy ever to me and I watched Top Gun religiously to see his young hotness. And knowing he was only 20 minutes away from me in Miramar while shooting the movie used to give me great joy. Even eating at Kansas City Bar-b-que, where the ending bar scene with Kelly McGillis was shot was an annual festival for me and other lovers. Not anymore...his couch jumping weirdness, Ducati riding, Scientology loving persona does not wow me anymore. Oh and Holmes used to be cutsey now she looks like a Stepford Posh Spice.

When is the last time you wished that you had more house cleaning to do?

Oh that's a big never!

When is the last time someone invited you to a Please Be My Friend party?

I have never heard of such mockery, I hope no one ever invites me to one. That just sounds desperate.

When is the last time someone told you that you led a charmed life?

Someone who obviously didn't know me told me this. I responded back with "I don't lead a charmed life I live a glamorous life." You could imagine the look on her face.

When is the last time you complained about fuel prices?

I was swearing as I passed the gas station about 40 minutes ago...

When is the last time that you purchased a product because it had pretty packaging?

Does all the time count. I'm always suckered into the "pretty packaging"... hello I'm a girl.

When is the last time someone told you that your feet were sexy?

I always have my feet in a shoe preferably a stiletto or stiletto boot. However I've been opting for flats lately.

Michele is always so crafty with the questions...yes I know I went a little overboard with the first question.

]]>mindless productivityhttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/8/mindless-productivity.htmlCharmarie2008-05-08T00:38:59ZDaily DeviationsSometimes my job is a mindless myriad of numbers and today it was. I've researched, crunched and entered so much I think I'm on overload I can't wait to get home to work out today. I tackled my day with NIN by my side and believe me it was worth it, I needed those aggressive lyrics behind me to keep me focused and productive, nevertheless I tamed the beast called "inbox".

I've had a pretty good day all in all, a good friend of mine whom I'm sprucing up a blog for got very good news and I was dually excited for her. I've know her for a long time, she's a fellow blogger and friend, practically like a mom to me, no joke. I also received an email from another friend whom I haven't spoke to in a long time. Back before my son was born (whilst pregnant) I joined a group on MSN for single parents. The group consists of some of the most phenomenal people I've ever met. After two years of chatting it up and them watching S grow up we all took a day to ourselves and had brunch at the W Hotel Westwood and hung out all day at the Promenade in Santa Monica and just hanging out...wow the memories. I hear they are looking for a Cali Girls get together in the up coming months. I automatically said "I'm in!". There girls were there when my heart was broken and in pieces just as I was going to have a baby, alone. I was in one of the most desolate places in my life and they always had encouraging words for me and supported me. They are friends. Thanks Karleen for the email.

]]>obstructionshttp://charmarie.net/journal/2008/5/7/obstructions.htmlCharmarie2008-05-07T03:51:40ZIn My OmI read a portion of my Daily Om before I delved into a hellish day at work.

As vehicles for our mind and spirit, our bodies require proper maintenance. Caring for ourselves is like polishing--helping to clear away the accumulation of physical debris that keeps us from operating at our fullest capacity.

Sometimes I look over my whole day and see just how I may have applied a simple thought. This particular portion stuck out to me. I have neglected myself completely, I spend so much time doing what everyone else wants I tend to forget about me. I always complain I don't have time to work out and I've tried to with R but he likes to run and I really don't in spite of the fact I ran track for 6 years, I'm done. I've always been more of a cardio/yoga girl. I like the peacefulness and serenity of yoga and the results from the cardio. So I worked out today because I needed to release some work stress and instead of sitting in front of the computer staring into the screen or playing Sims 2 Castaway, I pushed my body hard and I regret it but I know I need it.

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