On Saturday I became a professional photographer

So I showed up at my friends wedding and after the ceremony we were all standing outside the temple waiting for the bride and groom to come out, the usual.  As I am standing there, I look around repeatedly and notice that no one has a nice camera but me (I am not a professional).  I kept looking around, and no one came.  Then out came Mary and Jake, and no one came.  So, I very quickly became the photographer.  The day went something like this:

Me: "um, how about everyone on Jake's side get in the shot, then smile"

"ooh, look what they did, lets do that"

"yeah, kissing seems like a good theme, try that again."

Essentially we walked around temple square and stole other people's photo ideas.  It was pretty awesome.  

And, sadly, the temple is crooked in most of the shots, you know, leaning tower of pisa style.  Luckily, they got exactly what they paid for.  Maybe even more because somehow my camera manages to take good pictures without my help.

Here are some of my favorites.  The little kid with the flowers definitely just pulled them out of the ground at the reception.  Then a little girl ran after him screaming about how he needed to give them back.  She got the flowers from him and ran around with them for a while.  It was great.

Preview

I am still painting my condo.  I am a slow painter.  And there are a few colors which makes everything more difficult.  But, I decided I would post a couple pictures so you can get an idea of what to expect when you come visit me.  And, you can weigh in on the elphaba-green room.

We'll start with the good, and move on from there.  I really love my blue wall. I think it is stunning.  My mom loves it.  My dad thinks it is ugly.

My mantle is going to match the blue wall.  It still needs a couple coats of paint.  Right now it has the antiqued look.

The chartruese (?) kitchen is one of my favorite parts.  It is just a fun color.

Note that the plant is still alive, it will not be long before it goes the way of all plants I own.

As we make our way down the hall we immediately notice the glow coming from my bedroom.  I was not exaggerating.  This picture is proof that my bedroom emits harmful radiation.

So here it is.  It looks all cute and fun in the pictures.  I still don't know how I feel about the color.

The doorway into my master bath.

Please notice that in this picture the green is different.  It really does change every second.

So there it is.  I still have to paint some more and peel off all the tape.  Which, by the way, when I started peeling the tape off it peeled some of the paint with it.  So, now I get to fix all the edges.  Woo hoo.

Elphaba green

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love Wicked.  I have seen it twice (broadway and chicago) and own the soundtrack.  I just love it.  However, I am not take-over-my-life obsessed with it.  So, when we painted my room in my new Condo I was a little overwhelmed when it came out as what I like to describe as Elphaba Green.

Yes, that is the green of my bedroom.  My dad keeps telling me the color is fine (he doesn't want to help paint it again.)  When I painted the first coat I got a migraine.  I am pretty sure that my bedroom glows in the dark.  And probably emits cancerous radiation.  I probably won't be able to sleep at all, because it will be like daylight all the time.  The color actually changes according to the lighting.  Early morning sun makes it bright neon green.  Afternoon sun it is less neon.  And in the evening it actually not too bad, a much darker shade of green.  It is a horse of a different color.  I am trying to decide if I am going to be able to live with the color choice.  I really don't want to spend another $50 on paint, but it is really bright.  There is also the option of texturing with white over the green to tone it down.  I will take a picture next time I am there so that you can get a better idea of the joy that is my bedroom.  The hall glows green if the sun is right.  Boy, is it fun.

canceled

My trip to Israel was canceled. I have mixed emotions about this. Part of me is relieved to have all the money back. The other part of me is just plain sad that I am not going on this amazing trip. Anyone want to go anywhere? I need an adventure. International? US? I am up for anything. Well, almost anything. I really want to go back to Europe. Any takers?

I may be dying

For the second time this week I had a weird medical experience.  I don't really know how to describe what happened in a way that you will fully appreciate what occurred.  Both Monday and again today I have suddenly developed a wide-spread rash.  We're talking, all over my legs and arms and back.  Red, itchy, raised rash.  Today I looked down and my legs were bright red/purple.  Along with the rash comes an intense itch.  Horribly itchy.  It is so bad that I cannot stop itching, literally.  On Monday all I could do was take a benadryl, take an oatmeal bath and then sleep it off.  Today I didn't have that option.  All I could do today was keep on keepin' on.  As in, I was at my Condo painting with my dad.  I told him that I wasn't sure what was happening, but that I might be having an allergic reaction to something.  He told me to stop talking and keep painting.  I said that I might stop breathing if it was an anaphylactic reaction.  He said to stop talking and keep painting.  I told him that I couldn't handle the itch.  He told me to stop talking and keep painting.  He is good like that.  He later said that if I had collapsed he would have just pushed me out of the way and kept painting.  The compassion is amazing.  We Johnsons are known for our compassion and caring.  I can't think of anything that was the same about the two experiences that would have been a trigger.  However, being the medically-minded person that I am, my mind immediately focused on all the horrible things that could be happening.  So, hopefully I am okay after the next spell (if there is a next time).  Otherwise, I will let you know how the hospital stay was.

South Bend and Chicago

I got back last week from my trip to visit my brother, sister (in-law) and nephew.  It was so much fun.  I took about 6.8 million pictures.  So, I will share with you some of my favorites. And, I uploaded them in no particular order, so enjoy the randomness.  I threw in a couple of funny ones to show that it really is straight-up luck that I get any good ones.

Most of these are of my adorable nephew.  There are more posted on The Book of Armaments (sorry if you can't see them because you are not an invited member.  I am elitist like that.

This one, as with all of them, is much better in full size.

He thinks he is funny.  So do I.

The basilica at Notre Dame.  It is gorgeous, and has a giant gold-leafed Mary on top.  Very cool.

I was supposed to get some good "family photos".  I like this one.

One of my faves.  He almost has the "who is this lady who won't stop taking my picture" look.

I don't know why, but this one speaks to me.

Although naturally very cute, this picture proves that I am not always able to capture that cuteness.  It is still good, just with funny eyes.

Check out those eyes.  I wish my eyes were bright like that.

More proof that I am not that good.  Or, maybe I am really good since I caught a face like this.  I fully expect to use this as blackmail at a later date.

Loving the slides.

This was about 30 minutes after they picked me up at the airport.  He still isn't sure what to think of me and my camera.

Good sun exposure.

Chicago was so great.  The weather was surprisingly mild.  And, as much as I love the boy, it was really nice to just have us girls and no stroller.

Since no one is allowed to touch my camera, especially random strangers, we have separate pictures at Wicked.

I let my sister-in-law touch my camera for this one.  She can count herself very lucky.  That is her coat, too.  I chose not to bring mine.  I almost chose to take this one home with me.

So, there it is.

And, by way of really simple review: Wicked in Chicago is excellent, but a slight step down from Wicked in NYC.

my estimated age is quickly decreasing

On the flight home from Chicago I had a great seat, aisle with an empty chair beside me.  The conversation that followed went something like this:

Flight Attendant: "Are you travelling alone?"

Me: "yes"

F.A.: "Would you like to sit in the exit row"

Me: "sure" (you usually get more leg room in the exit row)

F.A.:"Wait, how old are you?"

Me:"25"

F.A.:"Okay, great.  Follow me."

At which point I followed the flight attendant to the exit row.  And this other guy joined us on the exit row, and he took the aisle, so I had the middle seat.  And the seat was excrutiatingly uncomfortable.  So much so that I had to lean forward during the whole 4 hour flight.

While sitting in the exit row, I grabbed the little booklet to see how old you had to be to sit in the exit row.  15.  Not 18, or 21 or anything even remotely close to my age.  The flight attendant lady seriously thought I was quite possibly younger than 15.  Yikes. I was dressed well, minding my own business.  I was not acting like a teenager or a pre-teen.  Yet, even at my best, I look younger than 15.  Awesome.