Debby's Ducks

I have only been seeing these black ducks for the past couple of weeks since it has been raining a ton. Yesterday Michael and I saw the babies and after a downpour today, I knew I had at least a ten minute window to get some pictures. But as far as I know it hasn't rained in about two hours. I took a lot of pictures, but these are my few favorites:

The parent ducks kept "honking" at me when I got too close. The Mommy (or was it the Daddy?) duck fully jumped up out of the water before diving again and creating this splash above.

Before & Afters

I found a new photography website that I really like:  The photographer, Alex Beadon, is 22 years old and recently moved to London (she said her parents are from England, but she doesn't have an accent). She is very kind and positive and inspired by life in the world. Maybe I should actually read her posts instead of just skimming though her fantastic photos. Anyway, she posts a lot of "before & after"s, which I always find very interesting to see how much editing can change the feel. Here are a couple more that I went back to edit from Miriam's graveyard shoot in April:

I remember specifically asking her to just look at me for the top photo. I loved how her hair was around her face. The mix of highlights were pretty too. Normally I let her pose however she wants because she has the ability to keep effortlessly moving, like I imagine actresses and models must do on professional magazine photoshoots. It is quite an amazing talent, in my opinion.

Don't Step in a Poodle

I don't remember if I mentioned that on June 10th, on Michael's sweet way home from buying 25 blown up balloons to put around the house for my birthday (I wouldn't let him pop the big cupcake shaped one that is currently floating next to me), without noticing, his phone fell out of the pouch clipped on his belt and landed in a puddle outside. He didn't find it until 30 minutes later and even after drying, it wouldn't turn on. It has been raining so much lately, but it is hurricane season.. So the next day he bought an iPhone. Here are Michael's Instagram pictures that I have been meaning to post:

*please click the photos for larger versions! =)
The first four pictures are from when we went to the new mini golf course at CityWalk/ Universal on my birthday (two weeks ago)! We did the "Alien Invasion" half. There was a haunted house one too, but I told Michael I would prefer to do that one during the day. The fourth row is showing off the current project Michael is working on, which is related to the bottom left picture from Thursday last week. We were in Good Will trying to find a female version of the Penguin outfit for me. (From "Batman Returns", 1992.) Then tonight we had dinner again at Bob's Potatoes.

Sweet Babe

This sweet girl hasn't gotten her photo on my blog in a while. I was inspired to take these after spending a while on a pretty Tumblr page.

I know I need many more of Michael as well. My family.

25 Candles

Such a shame that my last two posts have been added one week late. But as always, better late than never. I wanted to post a couple pictures of my "cake" for my 25th birthday - I can feel the wrinkles forming already! We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I don't think I've ever had a bad slice of cheesecake. This one is Oreo, but we got a slice of Snickers too - both were delicious. This is definitely something I would splurge calories for to try more often. The carrot cake cheesecake sounded good too, but most of the time I'm in a chocolate mood, especially at night.

Rookie Blue

This new police show has taken up a lot of my down time. Not that I mind! I finished watching the first two seasons today (they only had 13 episodes each) and already saw the first three episodes of Season 3. I just edited some of my favorite pictures from last Saturday when my parents visited and we went to the Leu Gardens. The house tour was interesting too. I'll have to go back sometime. Here you go!

Also, Sana and I got our new schedules two weeks earlier than we thought, meaning we now work on each other's days off. I'm not sure when we will get a chance to hang out again. But I'm trying to find new stuff to do with Michael.. like having dinner tonight at BJ's Brewhouse!

Tropic Thunder

I had to post pone the outdoor morning adventures Sana and I planned, due to the fact that I couldn't fall asleep last night. (I won't mention the plans until Wednesday evening of next week, after they have happened.) But it turned out for the best because I woke up at 2pm to the loudest thunder I can recall hearing. The rain was blowing sideways again, I'm sure. (Flower photo taken at the Brevard Zoo ~ I've been meaning to post it.)

A couple weeks ago Michael suggested we eat at a pizza place called Brick Oven because he agreed that my "trying new places to eat" was a good idea. Unfortunately that date never worked out (& I had been there before), but tonight did invite me out to dinner after he got home from work and we did try a new place he had been told about:

Bob's Potatoes. It was close by and the online menu looked good. When we got there though the whole place was empty, while the neon sign on the window said "Open". The two people working came from the back and only seemed to speak enough English necessary to take food orders. They had 7 different items that they could stuff into the potato. We got the chicken and bacon served inside a huge "egg" of hashbrowns on a bed of lettuce. The medium size could easily serve 3 people, so of course we have leftovers.

Lunch Day

This afternoon after Sana's MRI for her car accident pain, I picked her up from her apartment and we went to lunch at Toojay's Deli. I got the California wrap with a side of fruit and I liked that the wrap wasn't one of those where all the meat falls out the other side when you take a bite. The food was very yummy and since Michael was close by getting dental supplies for his projects, he stopped in and ate lunch with us. Hooray! Notice anything interesting about this menu photo?

Our plans after lunch were to go to the Leu Gardens because its free on the first Monday of every month, but we got there too late. It was 4:05pm when we pulled up and the last entry was at 4pm. That wouldn't have given us much time to walk around anyway, assuming they closed at 5pm, but that's okay since I'll get to go on Saturday. We went shooting again at the range by Full Sail so Sana could use the rest of her bullets. I got in my 5 shots in, all in the orange spots this time! I needed to stop by Wal-Mart for some vehicle cleaning supplies and bought some new colorful pillow cases for the pillows I use. (Michael doesn't like me messing with his gross 5 year old pillows.)

Sana and I stopped by Jeremiah's Italian Ice for dessert before ending our fun day. We both got Gelatis. She got strawberry Italian ice with vanilla ice cream and I got mint chocolate chip Italian ice with vanilla ice cream (although I asked for swirl).. It was still good and I would go again. I was quite surprised that such a tiny building still had a drive thru.