busy busy busy

Oh my!  Life has been a whirlwind of photo shoots, photoshop, lessons, band practices and more.  It seems that our photography is becoming a fast hit and we couldn't be happier!  I simply adore taking pictures.  I love capturing real moments for people to cherish and frame.  We shot our friend Becca's family portraits last Saturday and posted the pictures Monday.  We were so pleased with the way everything went it has inspired us even more to continue with our little business venture.  Tonight we're going to our friend's gig at the Slowdown to try our hand at concert photography.  Wish us luck!

unveiling

It's official!  We unveiled our Facebook page and business page yesterday for Hooton Images.  Our fan base is expanding every time we check (and yes, we check often) and I am unabashedly giddy.  I can't get enough of taking pictures, editing them, posting them, researching techniques, photoshop tutorials - you name it; I love it all.

Currently the hubby and I are sitting together on the couch, swapping images and studying group portraits as we have several family photo sessions coming up in the coming weeks.  If you want to see some of the pictures, check out our Facebook or our official page!

design

Yesterday I spent the entire day designing, organizing, making, and remaking our newest undertaking - a website for Hooton Images.  This morning I am beginning again.

Actually it's very close to being done.  We've run a couple trials and now it's just down to which pictures should we put up.  So if you have a particular picture of ours that you especially enjoy, let me know and I'll make sure it goes up.

ukuleles

After another rousing and laughter-filled ukulele festival, I feel that I am falling deeper into the ukulele world.  To the point that JD and I have decided to start incorporating the uke into the majority of our band's songs.  The ukulele has such a great timbre, but it also comes with an even greater community of ego-less, fun-loving, big-hearted people.  Our hostess, Barb, has become our first Band Mom.  She was the most generous and considerate woman I think I have ever met, constantly forcing food and drink on us.  She even ran up to JD and I at the festival shouting, "My kids!  Where are my kids?"  to which we responded, "We're over here!!"  :)  That's the sense of belonging you get the uke world.  I will have movies and pictures posted soon, and you'll be able to see for yourself.  Until then, I'm off to learn uke chords.

Maybe one day you'll see The Mean Reds in big, ukulele lights.

books

Have you ever just kept reading a book even though nothing was happening in it and you were bored out of your mind, simply because someone you respect said it was amazing?


That's exactly what I'm doing.

wedding gift

Last night I took JD to see The Dave Matthews Band as his wedding gift.  It never occurred to me exactly how many bro-dudes would be in attendance at such a concert.  In fact, we were surrounded by them.  The girl next to me screamed incessantly, even when there was nothing going on.  The couple in front of us paid more attention to the other person's tongue than they did the band, and the group behind us made pointless and idiotic commentary (loudly) throughout the entire concert.


But the band, the band was awesome.  For those of you who think that they don't deserve the hype or are just another jam band, I must humbly disagree with you.  The drummer,  Carter Beauford, is one of the best.  His musical nuances with ghost notes on the snare, a constant driving pattern that can achieve highs and lows greater than any drummer I have heard before - that includes jazz, rock, folk, classical, anyone.


Enough about the musical ranting.  If you want more of it, the Mr. will give you an ear-full here.


After the concert we strolled the half mile back to Blue Line through the chaos of cars, came home and finished the bottle of wine from dinner and JD made his famous cheesy sauce.  All in all, a successful date night.

Why I love being unemployed

To set the record straight right off the bat, I am not really unemployed.  I'm less conventionally employed.  Meaning at this point I am only teaching voice lessons and picking up random shifts at España as a server or bartender.  JD was recently laid off from his job since they hired him as a "finisher" and there was nothing left to finish at the cabinet shop.  But the point is, I love being unemployed.


Of course we worry about money - that seems to be a universal attribute to Americans.  But we don't worry as much as you would think.  In fact, the majority of our time we have together - outside of looking for more vocal students and JD applying as a sound tech or studio musician to places around town - we spend recording music together, going over plans for our wedding together, making improvements around the house together and in general spending much more quality time together.


When we first started dating, JD and I were both in college and we had much more free time on our hands.  Mostly because we didn't necessarily go to all the classes that we should.  After getting a place together, JD got a full time job working late into the evening while I was going to school full time and working part time.  We didn't have any time to spend with each other and the time we did there wasn't enough of it to do anything but eat dinner and go to bed.  Now that we're both "unemployed" we spend much more time enjoying each other than we used to and it has been amazing!


The timing is both good and bad.  Of course it would be better if we were more financially stable as our wedding (and honeymoon) get closer and closer.  But we've been able to connect more and be together during this important time.  And as cheesy as that sounds, I love it.  So I am thankful that we're unemployed.  I am loving every minute of it.


Now who wants a voice lesson?