Turning my pictures into art

I have recently become a bit obsessed with turning some of my photos into canvas art.  Unfortunately a lot of those are photos were taken with my iPhone and I am a bit concerned I will spend money to create the canvas and the iPhone just will not stand up.  I am still in the planning phase, but here are a few things I have been thinking:  Where to purchase the canvas?  I have done a lot of research comparing quality and cost, and have come to the conclusion that CG Pro Prints are the way to go.  Plus they are based out of Colorado!

Some groupings I am considering printing are landscapes.  These would probably be fairly decent sized.

 Alki Beach in July

 Deception Pass in September

 Mt. Baker in January

 Mt. Baker

 Mt. Baker

Seattle in August

Shelter animals.  I wouldn't want to make a very big print, but maybe some smalls ones.  If I do this I might need to track down some photos of kittens that I fostered in Colorado.

 Peaches at Walk for the Animals

 Karina

 Patrick during a Dog Behavior and Socialization (DBS) shift

 Jake during a DBS shift

 Cowboy during a DBS shift

 Pongo during a DBS shift

 Bentley

Dugg

Phinney

Flowers, leaves and berries.  I don't think I would print any of these until I need to match colors in a room.

(I recently starting watermarking my photos, I found this to be the best way.)

Changes to my blog

Change number one, I will actually be attempting to write on my blog.  I am currently looking for a job, so I have a bit more time than normal.  Why not start the habit of blogging along with my increased workout routine.

Change number two, I am going to combine my two blogs.  When I started the Flex with Rex blog there weren't as many options to add pages to a free bog, but now there is.  I don't feel like I post enough on the Flex with Rex for it to be its own separate site.

I am not a runner

If you saw me huffing and puffing down the street you definitely wouldn't think, "wow, look at that girl go!"  However, I love participating in races.  Each year I run in a handful of 5ks, a mud run or two and a couple swims.  I don't do these races because I am fast and win some great prices.  I do these races for the sense of camaraderie between the participants and the joy everyone has for challenging their bodies.
What happened in Boston today sickens me.  That someone could hurt people who are challenging themselves, or encouraging others to do their best, is horrid.  This will not stop me from participating in future races, but I know I will have that much more love and respect for my fellow competitors as we line up to run together!

Lap Swimming

As someone who swam on a swim team through most of my elementary, middle and high school life I have specific expectations of other swimmers when swimming together.  Almost every time I have swam since I have found these expectations tested.  So I thought I would list a few suggestions:
1.  If you are swimming at a pool that lists speed by a lane try to pick the lane that matches your speed.
2.  As a general rule, if you are a male and swimming in swim trunks then you probably should pick the medium or slower lane.
3.  As a general rule, if you are a female and swimming without a cap then you probably should pick the medium or slower lane.
4.  If you are either male or female and swimming without goggles then you probably should pick the medium or slower lane.
5.  If there are more than 2 people, or if you expect more people to join your lane, then you should swim down on the right and back on the left, always keeping the lane dividers on your right.
6.  If you are being passed on a consistent basis then you should move to a slower lane.
7.  If you have been passed by someone don't start swimming again as they come into the wall, they may not be stopping and your are cutting them off.
8.  Don't block the walls.
9.  If someone is close behind you as you swim into the wall then do not continue to swim, stop and allow them to pass.

Drivers in Washington

I was browsing through twitter today and found a link to this blog.  Although I don't drive in downtown Seattle all that often, it is too frustrating and much easier to take the bus, I do agree that the drivers here are some of the worst I have experienced.  I have a few issues I encounter on a daily basis of my own.  Unfortunately I don't have video or picture evidence.
1) I will be driving down I5 when it isn't too busy and pass someone on the left, usually this person doesn't have anyone in front of them.  After I pass them that person gets into the left lane.  Why?  You were going slow enough for me to pass you in the correct lane, why would you move to a faster lane?  Even more frustrating is when they get into my lane and cut me off, again with clear roads in front of them and often times no one behind me.
2) Driving in the rain.  It rains a lot here, why do so many drivers slow to a crawl as if they have never experienced the phenomenon of rain.  I passed someone going 20, 20!!! on I5 today, the speed limit is 60 and the water wasn't puddling on the interstate.
3) Imagine the snow!  I have seen people slide into a 360 and we were going 10 mph.  I am fairly positive I would have to crank my wheel and slam on my emergency brake to accomplish this.
4)  Using a on ramp, or exit ramp, lane as a passing lane.  For example:  On I5 before you are able to get onto the West Seattle Bridge there is an on ramp with 2 lanes that merge to the one exit only lane.  On a daily basis someone who is already on the interstate will pull over into the far right lane to pass that one or two cars and then merge back over.  Often times this person isn't even exiting so then they will wait until the last minute to merge left, often times causing you to wait for a space to open for them.  Yes, apparently the world does revolve around you!

What bad driving trends have you noticed in your cities?

Snow in Seattle

Sometimes I forget about the differences between living in Washington state versus Colorado.  There is always the obvious ones such as missing families and different friends, but today I am reminded about the differences in weather.

It snowed while I was visiting Colorado for the twins birthday.  The snow started about 4 pm on Monday night and snowed until around 10 pm and there was probably around 4 inches of accumulation.  There was no obsessive talk about the snow at the twin's party on Sunday.  There wasn't even much news coverage of the snow.

I was nervous driving in the snow for two reasons.  One, I don't drive in the snow as much as I used to.  Two, I would be driving my parents' nice car.  However, I still went out (although I met my friends, at their apartment and rode with them) and my friends still met me out for dinner.  After dinner I still went to watch The Bachelor with my sister and drove home safely (after 3 attempts to get the car up their steep driveway and into the garage).  The next morning the sun was up and shining bright, but the snow hadn't melted at all yet (and the roads didn't appear to have been plowed).  My mom and I still went to the Loveland Rec Center to work out.
My point being that life continues as normal after snow in Colorado, unless the snow is so deep that you actually can't get your car too move through it.  

Compare this to Seattle.  I have been hearing the coverage about the all the snow that existed and was coming to Seattle while in Colorado.  United Airlines canceled their last flight out last night due to the snow, it would have arrived around 10:30 pm.  While we were preparing for landing our captain warned, "In the rare event of an emergency evacuation" which I assumed meant treacherous conditions on the runway.  So, imagine my surprise when we landed and there was no snow.  Alright, there was a tiny dusting on some edges of the road.  The roads and sidewalks at Seatac, by Southcenter Mall and our house were all just wet, if not dry, when I arrived which was between 7:30 and 10 pm.  Also, Seattle Public Schools had a late start and an early dismissal yesterday!

This morning when I woke up there was snow.  It has continued throughout the day and despite Big B and I's efforts the sidewalk outside our house is not clear.  But it still astounds me when it snows here because everyone seems to react as if the world is coming to an end.

Lastly, while I was reading Happiness Is, a blog by another Seattleiete, I saw this YouTube video.  Pretty accurate.

Quick Recap of Books I Have Read Recently

Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith
This book was about the middle daughter in a family dominated by women.  There were some great relationships in the book and I didn't want to stop reading it.  There is a very strong Christian message in the book, but that made me like it even more.  
The Long Run by Mishka Shubaly
This memoir about a man with a very addicted personality.  He stops doing drugs and drinking pretty much cold turkey and starts running.  I found the book inspiring even if I don't have the vices that Mishka obviously has, nor the ability/determination to run as far.
Ryan's Return by Barbara Freethy
Another romance that is well written.  The book is about a family in a small town near a river.  The story follows a man and his estranged family.  Again there was some mystery and excitement that kept the book really interesting.
Mrs. Jones by B.A Morton
This is the first book I read on my new Kindle Fire.  
**As a side note I LOVE my kindle.  It is very similar to an iPad, but much more reasonably priced.  I can read both of my magazine subscriptions on the Kindle.  Also, because I am a Amazon Prime member, I can borrow books and movies for free.  All the books above I read for free, which is great because I am really trying to cut back on buying books.  I have been trying to save the money, and more importantly space, by borrowing.  The only thing I don't like about the Kindle is that I cannot share the books with my family and friends.**
This book was a romance, but one of the better ones I have read.  There is a lot of mystery in the book plus some of those "aww" moments that come along with romances.  Plus who wouldn't like a book with the name Jones in it!!
In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
In The Garden of Beasts was for our December meetup.  This book was also a nonfiction book.  This book was about William Dodd and his a part of his life in Berlin right was Hitler was beginning to take over Germany.  I am not a big fan of history in general, but this book read more like a fiction book!  I really enjoyed reading it and learning at the same time.  Although it is important remember that the book is pulled from letters and might be the truth for William Dodd and those around him.
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
November meetup book was Packing for Mars.  This is a nonfiction book about astronauts.  I found the book really interesting and found out a ton information that I did not know before reading it.  However, if I am honest I scanned through some of it instead of actually reading it.  Because of the book I am really interested in reading another book by Mary Roach.
The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie
This book was for the October meetup book club.  Although I thought the book was good it wasn't really my type of book.  There was quite a bit of violence and was actually a book I recommended to Big B.  It did have some nice twists and kept me interested.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I feel like everyone knows about The Help, but if you haven't read it or seen the movie (which I have heard is good, I haven't seen it) than you should!
Kindred Spirits by Sarah Strohmeyer
Kindred Spirits was the book for my online July meetup.  I really liked the story about friends and how they are there for each other despite how your lives may change.  To be honest though I didn't read it in July, but our club has a blog.  When we had some discussion questions up Sarah actually commented on our blog.  I thought that this was so cool that I HAD to read the book and I am glad I did!
Personal Day by Ed Park
This book was for my July meetup book club.  This book is about an office that has been laying their employees off after the last couple years.