Blogging and Other Hobbies

I realize there hasn't been much content on this blog lately. There are two reasons for this: One, our lives, while incredibly full, have settled into a sort of groove where one day isn't that much different from the next. JP goes to school and spends every spare non-family time minute trying to get his company up and running. Landon goes to daycare where he dances and smiles and gets kisses from his girlfriend (though he apparently had a pretend picnic with a different girl yesterday, so there might be some drama there we don't know about). I go to work where I mingle with adults, come home to chase Landon and make him laugh, and then cuddle up next to JP on the couch with a good book while he works on spreadsheets I don't care to understand. It's busy, but quite wonderful the vast majority of the time and I've found I simply have less to say when things are going well.

The second reason is the opposite of the first. There is one relatively major thing happening but I can't write about it until it's official. And just to head off speculation, the news does not involve a Landon 2.0. Landon 1.0 is currently sprouting five new teeth and his mouth is swollen and sad, causing him to wake up every hour last night. That brief reminder of what our lives were like one short year ago eliminated almost all desire to procreate ever again. I'm sure it'll come back, probably as soon as I visit my friend's new baby again, but for now, we're good.

But never fear, for I do have other non-mundane, non-too-big-to-share news. I have decided to pursue a hobby. I know this is bold. I have free time, but very little of it is exclusively mine and even that is subject to the whims of my job, my toddler, and my body's occasional habit of forcing me to sleep. But I need something of my own to be excited about and to make time for. JP has his swimming- even in Chicago with investment banking, freezing temperatures, a non-sleeping baby, and a two hour commute, he always swam at least four days a week and still does. I find that both impressive and unbelievably irritating- there's so many things he doesn't have time for and yet he always finds (makes) time for a work out. I'll admit that a large part of my simmering irritation with his swimming is jealousy. I don't make time for myself like he does. Sure I can couch it in terms of not wanting to sacrifice time with him or Landon, or even more selflessly, I don't want to ask him to cover for me so I can get away, but the truth is I'm unnecessarily playing the martyr. JP gives up sleep and free time for his hobby and he's frequently offered to help me to the same.

So I'm taking up photography. I've long been an enthusiastic picture snapper- I'm probably responsible for 90% of my family's pictures of vacations and big events growing up. I even have pictures of my brother when he came home from the hospital- I was 5 1/2 and took them with my my blue plastic Fisher Price camera. I've graduated from Fisher Price to a series of inexpensive point and shoots, but I'm increasingly dissatisfied with their picture quality, especially indoors, and I feel it's past time for an upgrade. Plus, I'm now responsible for capturing the ever-changing images of my children; it's important work and deserves to be done well. Or so I kept telling myself to build up the courage to press "checkout" on the camera I spent way too many non-billable hours researching on Monday and Tuesday.

Here is my new baby (and it won't ever wake me up at 2 a.m.):

It's a Nikon D40 Digital SLR with 18-55mm AF-S kit lens and separately purchased 55-200mm AF-S VR lens. It shipped yesterday and I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a purchase. I've never spent this much on myself- it took all of my anticipated birthday money and I feel wonderfully indulgent. (Though I did find a great deal through Adorama- the camera and both lenses for $509!) I've borrowed photography books from a friend and in a particularly bold move, signed up for a digital photography class through UT's informal class program. For four Wednesdays in April I will need to be on campus by 6pm for three hours of lecture and lab and maybe even note taking! God I miss school. I just hope I can beat my work schedule into submissive cooperation.

I'm still researching camera bags, so if you have a suggestion I'd welcome it. I'm liking this Lowepro Fastpack for going out and about but think I'll also need a basic case to store everything in the house. Are there any other necessary accessories? I can't wait until my camera arrives next week so I can start playing with it and reading the manual (I'm a big fan of manual reading)- I'm practically squealing in my office. Happy early Birthday to me!