light, color, saturation, shading

If you ask me about gmail, I will tell you the wonderful amazement that is google. Gmail comes with a web album and a picture program you can download. I've just recently realized that you can edit photos on the Picasa program from google. I wanted to do some editing on photos I've take recently so I went looking for some effects and what not. Since I found the edit function on Picasa, I've been going through some pictures of mine that I liked to see if I could make any improvements. 

I also wanted to edit some photos me and the ladies took for my Mom's 50th birthday. When I went to Oklahoma for Kelly's graduation the sisters decided we needed to take some pictures together. One of Kelly's friends was nice enough to take some pictures with us (with her nice expensive camera). We had a lot of fun doing it. Here are some I edited (except the first one is all her)

This one actually took a bit of climbing

I love this one because it shows off the gorgeous natural colors in Oklahoma. 

This one is from the river valley out by Cooper's Landing (not Oklahoma). It was taken some time ago. 

One thing that catches me eye in some photos is the saturation of color, like in this one. The one above too.

This is the barn we took pictures around. Nobody seemed to mind, the gate was open.

The windmills in Oklahoma are so fascinating. They are massive and eerily quiet when you get close to them. They are also sooo much bigger than they look like in these pictures. If someone were standing at the base of the windmill in the foreground, I doubt you could make anything out besides a small blob.

I like the way this one is framed, the curve of the gravel and the blades specifically.

First Aid

So this seems kind of a silly thing to blog about, but there are reasons for telling you about the first aid kit I put together today! I was going to just buy a first aid kit. They have a wide variety of things I wouldn't otherwise think to have or know where to get. Like a glow stick, a pair of gloves, a cold pack, tweezers, first aid tape, a finger splint, or a "survival wrap". The survival wrap looks like a piece of aluminum foil. Its label said it can hold in heat, block out sunlight, or reflect light to catch the attention of passersby, particularly cars. Useful I suppose, but a little strange. But I'm making mine for my new apartment so its kind of like my medicine cabinet. Its not strictly for emergencies like many are. Its my go to kit for anything medical. So I got a few extras.

Here is my recipe for a first aid kit:

1. Johnson and Johnson Red Cross first aid kit. They are like 8 bucks at Wal Mart and a steal just for the band-aids! Its got regular and finger band-aids (great for me because I often miss bagels and slice the tips of my fingers instead) small band-aids, gauze, a guide for what to do in various situations, individual packs of Advil and Tylenol, Imodium AD, and Neosporin. 

(plus lots more!)

2. Mucinex. Not cough suppressant, not decongestant, but expectorant. I am not a fan of the others because they work against the natural immune system functions in the throat. There is a very specific purpose for mucous-its a good thing! There is a purpose for coughing as well, so suppressing coughing or mucous itself is slashing the tires of the immune system. Mucous is naturally trying to get out of your body,thats what it does: blob itself all over the pathogen and ooze it outside the body. The expectorant helps it get out easier. Mucinex is awesome and works fast. Totally worth it.

3. Acid Controller. Like Pepcid AC or Zantac or whatever.  I just buy the Wal Mart brand. Yes this is good for heartburn, but its also good for an upset stomach. My prescriptions leave my stomach  sour often times, and the acid controller can help a lot. I think a good replacement or addition to this is Pepto. You never know when a hang over is going to reach pepto level (especially if your boyfriend is a frat boy who drinks lots of beer) Oh I also have a bottle of tums in there. My Dad's side of the family is big on the tums, we all get heartburn. Its always a good thing to have around. 

4. Antibiotic ointment...aka Neosporin. A must have for cuts. There are only a couple small packs in the first aid kit I bought, so a tube addition is necessary for the purpose I have for it. This also goes back to the bagel/finger problem. Cuts on the tips of fingers are really easy to get infected and they don't like to stay closed very long and heal right, so the neosporin helps its extra long recovery time.

5. Elastic bandage. You never know when you are going to hurt an ankle or some drunk girl is going to trip on your floor. Be prepared if you are hosting a par-tay! It also sticks to itself so its good for random purposes in weird situations.  Take advantage of this stickiness.

6. A big ole bottle of ibuprofen. Why get Advil when the Wal Mart ibuprofen is the exact same thing for cheaper? Advil is the pain reliever of my choice, my must have. Particularly good for headaches and menstrual cramps, its also the ideal for swelling. So when that drunk girl sprains her ankle, she can pop a few advil to keep the swelling down. Oh also a must have for toothaches! This is why ibuprofen is my favorite, it works best for me for just about any hurt.

7. A cute bag to put it in!! Preferably clear so you can see what you've got without digging around in there. I bought a set at WalMart for cheap. Using the big one for first aid, and smaller ones for make-up and hair stuff, as well as travel.

This is obviously fit for my tastes and needs in terms of medical care. Take some time to think about what you might need to add. Be smart about the drugs you use because they have different purposes, and pros and cons.  

 
Man I'm a nerd!! All this health care stuff...no wonder I want to go into Public Health!!                

Persia aka the Islamic Republic of Iran

A couple of weeks ago the main focus of Newsweek was Iran. The various articles were about a number of things; nuclear power and what it means to Iranians, the numbered days of President Ahmadinejad (The elections are being held on friday), the balance of power with the president and supreme leader, Obama's attitude toward the Iranian people, Rahm Emanuel's hopeful connections to the mideast, and simple photographs of what Iranians look like, who they really are. 

Reading these articles was fascinating. It frustrates me that I know so little about so many of the mideast nations. I think the fascination started early on when I read Kite Runner. Iran as an Islamic nation has a rich history of religion and culture mixed with power and terror all at once. Its a beautiful land that can at times look terribly dark to the West. I think this only aides in my fascination. Its a beautiful exotic country that is completely different from anything in the West. 

Although I don't really know much about Iran as a whole, this election and these times are fascinating to me. The biggest challenger to President Ahmadinejad is Mir Hossein Mousavi. A reformist who was a political leader in the 80s after the fall of the Shah. He left the scene in 1989 and became...an abstract painter. (lol)He's been out of the political spotlight for 20 years. Well when these elections came around Khatami, another reformist candidate, urged Mousavi to run, but he refused time and again. Instead Mousavi threw his support behind Khatami, even campaigning with him. Then something made Mousavi change his mind and he joined the race a little late. 

Now Mousavi has more support than his friend and is on his path to replace the president. Why? Well.... Ahmadinejad made a lot of promises for social rights, especially to women. He failed to live up to this, even sending out morality police to force women to wear headscarves that completely cover their hair.  He also promised to fix the economy and instead kept flirting with western media, taunting the US. Needless to say, the Iranian people are pissed. They aren't preoccupied with western relations, they want someone to fix their country, to focus on them, and to leave social norms like head scarves out of government. Its almost pointless that Ahmadinejad even taunts the US because the Supreme Leader is the one who controls foreign relations, including the decision to go to war whether it be nuclear or not. His flirtations with the West merely gives off an inaccurate impression of Iranians. Yes, the have nuclear power, so do we, so do numerous other countries. At this point, the people no longer see him as their leader.

Mousavi is a reformist. He has plans to do those things that Ahmadinejad promised. He has a large amount of support from the young people (a staggering majority of the population in Iran) and women. Women who are very unpleased with the former president. Mousavi is adamant about bringing more women into the government, even his cabinet. The young people and women are eating it up. So Mousavi is doing much better than Ahmadinejad. Some say he has 50-80% of the populations approval. We shall see on friday.

There is better information in these articles, I thought they were wonderful, so take a little read.

About the Iranian people

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199147

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199144

Photos of Iranian people

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199011

About the upcoming election

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199150

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105190617

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/09/gerges.iran.election/index.html

About their nuclear power

http://www.newsweek.com/id/199149

Love and Marriage

This weekend Matt and I went to a wedding. Actually its the first wedding we've gone to as a couple. (big damn deal) Anyway...he was the best man so he was a little busy. We had a really good time, although the day was exhaustingly long, especially for him. Irish Catholic weddings are full of religious and cultural traditions that make me miss church. I miss religion as a whole, and I remember it every time I'm at a religious ceremony. Problem is I'm just not devoted to it. I'm not yet willing to do the work it takes. Whatever. Anyway, it was nice to see those traditions. And Irish Catholics certainly know how to throw a good party. Cajun food + lots of booze + 40 year old women out on the dance floor = an entertaining and delicious evening. What more does a wedding need besides delicious food, some beer, and a dance floor? Oh maybe a cake too. It was very relaxed and enjoyable. Surprisingly Matt and I were only asked once if we were married. I thought it would be more with all the socializing outside of the fraternity. I guess its a good thing. 

I like weddings. I like watching people on that day, not just the bride and groom, but their friends, their parents, their families. I want to get married, but furthermore I want to have a wedding because I want to spend that day with my friends doing the things married people do. I want my closest friends to be at the front with me watching me get married. I want to take pictures with the people closest to me. I want it to be fun. Most of all I just want to do these things with people I care about. I want to share in the experience with my friends and family. I think weddings are self centered but not in a bad way. Its a celebration of your relationship. Just like your birthday, people are there to join you in celebrating something. Although I think your wedding is more important than a birthday, a wedding anniversary is not as important to everyone else as your birthday is. Back to the point. I definitely want to have a wedding. At some point, not in the near future. I always told myself that I wouldn't get married before I graduate with my bachelors. I had to wait until at least grad school. Well, even waiting until after I have my bachelors seems too soon. 

In completely UNRELATED news....

Its been one year. One full official year. Its not to the day or anything, our anniversary is a mild controversy in relationship etiquette. When does it count anyway? I claim the month of june. The day doesn't really matter does it? I don't know the date anyway, we kind of slid into it so I only remember the month.

Anyway.. we've made it a year. Without a break up or break down, at least not the way it was during the first year. lol. Its kind of amazing the places you never thought you would be. That moment when you realize thats where you are, its almost scary. Its never as easy as you think but somehow, it's a richer, fuller experience than you'd ever anticipate.