#50 - Lens Problems

The other day, my lens gave out on me. The auto focus no longer worked properly. Everytime I'd turn my camera on, it would make a nasty noise because of the auto focus being so messed up. It was just weird though when it first happened because I was using my camera, turned it off for less than five minutes, and when I turned it back on, it made a loud grinding noise. Ugh. So I took the lens to Best Buy the next day, and the Geek Squad took it to send off to get it either fixed or replaced. It definitely sucks that I don't have my lens - especially since my MIL and I took the boys to the zoo yesterday.

However, I did order a new lens from B&H Photo last night for my camera!! My damaged lens was an 18-55mm, and the one I just ordered last night is an 18-70mm lens. It should be here by/on Thursday!! I really hope that it is - because over the weekend, my dad, my sister, Michael, and I are going to meet some of the players and coaches of the Cleveland Indians!!!! Yeah, what is up!! HA. I'm definitely going to need a smaller lens [rather than my 75-300mm lens] for that event!! It's going to be fun!! I can't wait!!

The Good & The Bad That Turned Into Good

THE GOOD:
My books for two of my first three classes were suppose to arrive here today, but I was very happy to see the UPS man yesterday leaving a box by the front door!! Yes, that box had my books in there!! I was very excited!! Last night, I even started to read the first chapter of the art history book!! I haven't gotten to any of the incredibly interesting stuff in the book yet, but I'll get to it soon enough.

THE BAD [that turned into GOOD]:
Yesterday, I was getting ready to go outside with Michael while Brayden napped. Just like I always go, I grabbed my camera to take outside with me. I saw that my lens was a little smudged, so I wanted to clean it real fast. Now, I normally don't do this, but I was in a hurry to get outside because Michael just flies out the door the second he's asked if he wants to go outside - but I grabbed the bottle of Windex and lightly misted my camera lens, went to get a paper towel, then wiped off the lens. Everything looked fine, and I went outside after Michael. About 10 minutes later, I look at my lens because something seemed a bit off. Yeah, the Windex got in my lens!! I was so upset!! The Windex wasn't even on my lens for 5 seconds after I sprayed it!! I called the Geek Squad, then went to Best Buy to get it replaced. I get to Best Buy with my sister, and I go to Customer Service. After 5+ minutes of standing there, waiting for them to tell me what's going on, they inform me that I didn't have the protection plan and replacement plan!!!! I was FUMING because I definitely told the guy when I bought the camera that I wanted every little bit of protection/replacement plan and the longest warranty possible for my camera and all of the extra stuff!!!! They then told me that I would have to pay out of pocket for a new lens, but I might be able to get up to 30% off on that new lens. I go back to the camera section of the store, talk to someone who's working in that area, and they tell me that they don't sell my lens separately there, but that I'd have to go through Sony to get a new lens!!!! Are you kidding me?! I was about to lose it - right then and there!! My sister and I just decided to walk around Best Buy and look at pretty much everything else there. About 5-10 minutes later, I take my lens cap off to look at my lens, and guess what - my lens had completely dried out!! There was no more Windex in my camera lens!!!! OMG! I was so excited!! I was so excited that I decided to look at the iPods and accessories. [I've never had my own iPod. I've always borrowed Mark's, but can't now since he took it with him on the deployment. I told him I'd get my own while he was gone.] As I was looking at the iPods, some guy there was buying an iPod and talking to a worker at Best Buy. The worker told this guy about this iPod bundle deal that they have going on. I only heard bits and pieces of it, so after they were done talking about it, I asked the worker what the deal was. The deal was amazing!! It was an 8GB iPod nano, $15 iTunes gift card, iPod wall charger, and iPod arm band for just $179.99!! Yeah, pretty effing amazing!! The 8GB iPod nano is $149.99, the wall charger is $24.99, the arm band is $24.99, and the gift card is obviously $15!! So how could I pass that deal up?! I ended up getting that stuff, and I was so excited because they had only one blue 8GB iPod nano left!! Of course I got the blue iPod because blue is absolute favorite color!! I was so pumped though because that deal was absolutely amazing!! Also, I bought season three of "How I Met Your Mother" while I was at Best Buy. "How I Met Your Mother" is my favorite show!!!! I now have the first three seasons on DVD, and can't wait till season four is on DVD!! I have been watching that show since the very first episode aired on TV. I am a huge, die hard fan and know just about everything about that show!!

I'm just so happy that my camera lens dried out!! I don't know how long I'd have to wait for a new lens to come in and how much money I'd have to spend. I would be a major crab till I got the new lens if I had to get a new one!!

One Month, One Day.

In one month and one day, not only will I be turning 22 years old, I will be starting school!! I am seriously looking forward to it!! I am so ready to be going to school for photography!! I feel that going to school, especially through The Art Institute, will definitely help me become a great photographer and help me get at least a decent photography job when I'm finished.

I called the school today because I had a question to ask. I wanted to know when I would be getting the "voucher" for my software since I got the one for my books. I was hoping that I'd get it real soon, but I won't be getting it till after I start my first class [which is just an "orientation" class]. That blows that I won't be getting it any time soon!! I was really hoping that I'd get it within the next week or two. Oh well, I guess. I just can't wait till I can get the software for school!! I am going to have so much fun editing photos and learning new things on all of the different programs I'll have!!

So I got an e-mail today letting me know when my books should arrive. I should get them in five days [June 17th]. I can't wait to get them and start reading them!! [Yes, I do love reading school books in my spare time. HA. I have school books that are at least 5 years old that I occasionally pick up and read.] I am definitely looking forward to getting my book for my History of Art in Early Civilization class. I love history!! History has always been one of my favorite subjects, and to learn the history of art is really exciting to me!! I still have to order my books for my Computer Literacy class, but that class doesn't start till August 20th. But I need, like, five books for that class alone - and two of them are for the Adobe CS4 series. Those books will definitely help me out with two of the Adobe editing programs I'll have to get for school.

I am getting more excited about school as each day goes by!! This is going to be absolutely amazing!!

"Two out of Three ain't bad!!"

HA. I love Meatloaf!! Such an awesome singer!!

So, my first three classes for school are scheduled!! AND, I ordered my books for two out of the three classes!! I'm just going to be taking one class for the first 5.5 weeks, then take two classes the next 5.5 weeks. [The Art Institute divides their quarters in half, which makes each class normally only 5.5 weeks long.] I am just so excited about this!! It's absolutely amazing!! I can't wait to start school on July 13th [my 22nd birthday, BTW]!!

Right now, life has been really good to me!! I don't know the last time I had so many days in a row where things just felt right!! I love this!! Hopefully this is a wonderful sign letting me know that things are only going to get better - even though it doesn't feel like things can get much better!!

Photography School...HERE I COME!!!!

OMG!!

This is way exciting for me!!

I am almost ready to start school NEXT MONTH!!!! Really!! Today has been one busy, yet amazing, day for me and getting things taken care of with the school!! All I have left to do is schedule my classes, then order my books and software!! Holy crap!! AND, I will probably have my classes scheduled within the next few days, which I will then be able to order my books and software!! YAY!

The only thing I hate about going back to school - loans!! Yuck! I hate money!! Money is the root of all evil, I kid you not!! Going to The Art Institute is way expensive - so much so that I won't have enough money through loans to cover the schooling by quite a hefty chunk of money!! Ugh. But I know that things will work out - as long as I keep my head on straight, work toward my goal, and stay on track with everything. I'm just going to have to start working on a portfolio ASAP so I can network myself and build a reputation and get clients. That way, I'll make money, save it, and use it in any way possible toward school and loans.

I am so ready for this!! I am going to make the absolute best of this experience!!

ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!

In one month, I'll either still be on my way or already in INDY!!!! Ah, so exciting!! It's going to be simply amazing!! I so look forward to watching 5 days worth of swimming [which will be aired on NBC, BTW]!! I really look forward to taking some hundred [maybe even over a thousand] photos!!!! I really do hope, though, that I do get to meet some of the swimmers there!! That'd be such a HUGE thing to happen to me!!!! I'm not even kidding - I'd be happy for the rest.of.my.life!!!! Of course, there are a certain few swimmers that I am dying to meet!! [::cough cough:: Ryan Lochte ::cough cough:: Dara Torres ::cough cough:: Aaron Piersol ::cough cough:: There are a couple others, as well, but those are the three I'd love to meet the absolute most.] I am just so ready for it to be July 6th, so my sister and I can be on our merry way to Indy, then wake up bright and early on the 7th and haul ass over to the Natatorium!!!! It's going to be so amazing photographing and watching the swim meet - for 5 days!!!! It'll be so cool having photos of Olympic swimmers [some of which are Olympic gold medalists]!! Those photos will definitely be cherished - as well as on display in our house once we move back down to NC!! Plus, those photos can be passed down to my kids, grandkids, etc., and they'll be able to see that I was able to go watch Olympic swimmers swim at a meet. I think that'd be really cool.

Also, in a little over a week, I'm planning on going to another Cleveland Indians baseball game!! I hope to get some really cool photos while I'm there. [Maybe Grady Sizemore will make a diving catch at this game, and I'll actually be able to get a photo of it.]

I love going to sporting events and taking photos. I really want to be a sports photographer!!