Here is the latest installment of Fame and Shame—a small peek into my life!

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• Politics: I am referring to our national stage all the way down to my local political stage. I think it’s completely okay to disagree with one another, but when did it become acceptable to just scatter lies and propaganda? Why is it that we are more hellbent on proving our point than we are on telling the truth… the absolute truth? If we are to take any steps forward, we must do so without fearmongering, without fear of losing power or without sake of someone else getting ahead. It’s sad that our nation has to experience something as awful as 911 to force us to hold hands, if only briefly, to become one… “one nation under God.” But, I’ll liken that to childbirth. We quickly forget how painful that day was and that we are all in this together. It doesn’t take us long to resort to our old ways. I want to live in a world where all ships rise. I really do. There is enough happiness, money, longevity, positivity, wealth, freedom, progress, creativity, and opportunity for us all. 
• Hackers: I don’t understand why anyone would want to install a malicious malware on my little Web site. I’m just sitting over here minding my own business and showing pictures of pretty people. But you did, damn you. You found a way in and made it impossible for me to get in. I couldn’t even access the admin panel on my own site. You didn’t really break anything, you just ended up costing me time and money. You gained nothing. You are an internet vandal… and a dumb one at that. I was unable to update my site for about three weeks, so that meant no blogging. However, I finally managed to scrub my site clean and move to a different, more secure server with daily backups. I really hope that this solves my problem. Go away, hackers.
• Gymcations: I don’t know how or why I manage to take an extended break from the gym every year. That is never my intention. It always starts out innocent and then BAM! It’s been over two months since I’ve stepped into the gym. I intended to take a week off after hiking around Arizona for 45 miles in September. I didn’t intend to also take the next week off. And the next week. Before I knew it, it was October and I had three weddings to shoot. I couldn’t start back up in October and show up to shoot a wedding with sore muscles. It’s November now and I don’t have an “excuse.” I just can’t/don’t want to get out of bed in the morning to go to the gym. I’d rather drink coffee. I need to get back asap. Can someone drag me there on Monday, please?

• Photography Workshops:  I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop in Boerne (literally in my backyard) at the beginning of November with not one, but two Master Photographers. Nik Pekridis (of Greece) and Salvatore Dimino (of Italy) taught a three-day, intensive workshop hosted by Linda Rukavina Photography. I am really appreciative for this opportunity. There are not many, really not ANY, educational opportunities of this caliber so close to home. And the fact that I got to learn from TWO Master Photographers during the workshop… that was just mind blowing for me. As Kevin Vandivier would say, “As long as you got one golden nugget, the workshop was worth it.” Well, I got a few. I had a few eye-opening, aha moments. I’m also ready to go back next May for a workshop taught by Vicky Papas Vergara (of Australia). 
• WPPI and WPPI-C: I’m already getting super excited for my annual trip to Vegas for the WPPI conference. I’m registered, got my hotel and airfare booked. I’ve chosen two PLUS classes and trying to sort out the rest of my classes. I’ve registered three high school senior entries into the 16×20 Annual Print Competition and I’ve got Rocco Ancora working on the printing and matting for me. The only thing I am lacking is trying to complete my WPPI certification by the time I get there. I purchased the course at last year’s WPPI and until about two weeks ago, I hadn’t even logged in. I am hopeful that I can complete the certification in time. Please wish me luck.
• Video on Demand: Thank you Amazon Prime and Netflix. When I decided to lower my Dish Network bill from $160/month and try one of their Skinny Packages, I managed to get it down to only $100/month. It’s laughable, really, to pay that much for a service that I don’t use. I basically watch three channels and only one of them when Game of Thrones is on. So, for much of the year, I will pay $50/month per channel and I only watch for maybe a few hours when I crawl into bed each night. That’s ridiculous. But, back to my point. My point is for $99/year for Amazon Prime and for $10/month for Netflix, I have watched some pretty good stuff. Frankie & Grace, Catastrophe, Good Girls Revolt and Downton Abbey were all wonderful. I was able to rewatch the entire ten seasons of Friends. This Thanksgiving holiday I’ve already watched some fabulous documentaries: Audrie & Daisy and The Hunting Ground. I wonder how I can get away from satellite TV all together? Hmm. I could add Hulu to the mix and still not pay as much as I am paying for my Dish service. I hear This is Us is fabulous.

Until next time, be positive, happy, healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

The post, Fame & Shame #23, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.