Category: Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop

A Capture of Me

On By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography, Life is what you make it., Mama Kat's Writing Workshop26 Comments

Mama’s Losin’ It
4.) Share a photo that was taken of you, that you think really captures who you are.

This week we were asked to share a photo that really captures who we are. And what could be a better capture than a photo taken by a photographer? A photo taken just last week on an impromptu photo walk in Fort Worth.

As a person, I feel like I am constantly changing. Usually, my life changes are shaped by my current obsession. This current obsession is photography. I would live, breathe, and eat photography if I could.

Unfortunately, I can’t. Not right now. I have a “main” job that keeps me very, very busy with very little time to have fun. But I try. Oh how I try to keep the sparks and dreams alive of being the best photographer I can be.

I love these captures because, I am doing what I love to do.

Exploring through the lens….

Shooting….

And laughing.

Of course, I am many other things; Mom, Step-Mom, wife, and friend. I love all the things I am, but truly, being a photographer is a reward far beyond what I ever imagined.

Creeping Creepers

On By AngeliaIn Mama Kat's Writing Workshop, Mon Dieu! and all that stuff.22 Comments

Giving me the jeepers!

The time I was almost scared to death.

Let me set the scene.

The players…my gorgeous daughter.

And my sweet girl Salem.

Also, my husband was in on this “plan”.

See how in this photo, the chair has it’s back to the windows. Those windows are the back door. Straight in front the chair is the front door. So, if say…I was SITTING in that chair. I could not see the backdoor, but I could see the front door. And really? I don’t have to worry. The dogs go ballistic when someone comes to the door. Anyone! Even me.

So, imagine me in the chair pictured above. I am watching TV and minding my own biz. The dogs are lounging (remember I have three). Then, they set off to the front door, but not barking. I thought maybe Jason and Sydney got home, they had dropped the little kids at their mom’s. Is it possible they knew it was them and didn’t bark? A miracle!

Turns out they were just doing recon. They just kinda stood around, and didn’t seem to “sense” any presence. My biggest dog, Salem, turns around from the front door to the back door and immediately her hair STANDS ON END. And she starts barking like I have never heard her bark in my life. It’s like paws down, back up, and every muscle tense in fight mode. Her bark is at full roar.

In my mind, I thought… OH MY GOSH, she is barking like someone is at the back door.

That’s when I turn around and I SEE FACES at the backdoor.

I, nearly, lost it.

It was just Sydney.

And Jason.

Laughing at me while I clutched my chest about to keel over.

And that is the time I was MOST startled in my life.

Someday…..I’m going to get them back for that.

Mama’s Losin’ It
2.) Describe a time you felt startled.

My Year in Blog

On By AngeliaIn Mama Kat's Writing Workshop24 Comments

Do you ever have those days? I’m too busy to talk, just read my blog? I found a image on Pinterest for that.

And basically, this post is for those who can’t read my blog and just want a yearly recap.

I’m linking up to….Mama’s Losin’ It….and the prompt I chose……

    1.) This year in blog posts…choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share.

I always do a year in blog posts. It is AMAZING to look back on the journey. You can click on the links or the photos and it will take you to the post.

I started out blogging every day in January, but the one post that has stuck with me is a writing piece called Bass Tower. I have been so involved in photography, sometimes, I forget that I can write when something possesses me when I have time. The story haunts me, because it’s just the beginning. I encourage you to read it, and let me know what you think. It features two of my favorite things. Snow and the apocalypse.

In February of this year, we had more of my favorite stuff SNOW with the not-so-favorite-stuff ICE. It led to many days of not being able to get out of the driveway which may be why we totally lost it decided our dog was the TOP PET (model that is). Oh my poor Anna! But goodness, I love her expressions.

March is when we visited the hill country and took a side trip to Fredericksburg, not to antique shop, but to climb Enchanted Rock. I really and truly thought I was going to die and as pretty as that rock is……I ain’t climbing it again. I am AFRAID of heights. When am I ever going to listen to myself?

Our spring is full-blown heading to summer in April and that is why we took the kids to their first Drive-in Movie. A little celebration of almost summer. This post was Freshly Pressed on the http://wordpress.com home page for a day. I loved that they picked this one, because it is a reminder of old times, and ones our kids can still be a part of.

A lot of stuff happened in May, my daughter turned seventeen, and that was awesome. But the most craziest thing was the snake in the house. Yes, you read that right. A snake. IN the house. The hallway to be exact and I stepped on it. Yes, I have nightmares. I post about the tragic event and those Zombie Dreams in the Unapocalypse.

I blame Jason for this event. Here is why…. about two weeks earlier there was a snake bigger, but just like this one, on the back patio at the back door. Of course, I ran and took pictures of it. Jason says, he is leaving the snake alone. He doesn’t mind it being there as long as it doesn’t come in the house. SEE! His fault!

In June, I posted the vintage portraits I took of the girls for their mom. It was most definitely the most popular post and everyone loved the old-fashioned photos.

I really bombed blogging in July. I only posted three times. I am going to blame non-ending rash of over 100-degree days (IN A ROW!). I think my brain fried. But I learned Photoshop. At least that stuck in my brain, probably, it melted there.
Photo By Lindsey MIller

August was just as hot as July (maybe hotter), but I managed to make a post Smile. Or, at least, the people (and animal) in it. I turned forty too!

The youngest

I love smiles.

Summer is still strong in September, but we caught a day or two break from the heat. I started posting my California vacation pictures. It is HARD to choose one post, but I have to pick Point Loma Lighthouse. The sea and I…we have this thing going and I don’t ever want it to end. Put me in lighthouse forever, and I will be so happy.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

I almost got my blogging mojo back in October, but come to find out, it was just a warm-up for the next two months. We celebrated our anniversary of being married one year. We said good-bye to summer (yes, finally in OCTOBER). And I took the girls for photos at Hall’s Pumpkin Farm. I was hot and I thought the photos would be terrible, but I could be wrong (sometimes).

I blogged thirty days in a row for November. I am not sure how I did it, or what made me decide to do it. I just did. And I’m glad. It’s not easy to blog every day (and do photos like I do), but I accomplished it. The most popular post was my Weekly Photo Challenge for Windows. I must admit. I love reflections. I love glass. And I loved doing this windows post.

Now, we are in December! I am choosing a recent post – Weekly Photo Challenge: Between. I like this post because it combines my two greatest loves. Photography and writing with vision and purpose. I am constantly seeking the flow of what I do and this is as close as it gets.

At the end of year, I like to look back, then I can move fresh into the new.

How are you ending your year?

Facebook Teenage Angst

On By AngeliaIn In the lives of children, Mama Kat's Writing Workshop22 Comments

Back in my teen years there was no Facebook. No immediate social interaction with boys across the country, or globe. At the most you could be pen pals, remember those?


(source)

But if you didn’t like them anymore, or moved on to the next pen pal romance…..no big deal. Just stop writing. This was the 80’s.

Today…..


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Facebook completely changed things. You have immediate connections. Friends in common. Pictures to peruse and many, many other crush worthy items from her bio, to music, to interests. She likes silly bandz, she likes COOKING, she likes Hot Topic, and the mall. We are just alike….I Facebook HEART her. The boy creeps hard on her page, and her online hangouts. They can be from the same town, school, or even from across the country; like New Jersey.

From the Facebook platform communication can progress to text messaging, chat, and skype.

Then, when a teenage girl decides she doesn’t like a crushing boy. How does she lose this creep? It’s very similar to my day. Just stop texting skyping chatting talking facebooking. Simple.

Not so simple for him. He is still crushing on his Facebook teen idol.

Her. My daughter.

But she has moved on and is not looking back.

Teenage angst ensues.


(source)

And you would think that is the end. Crush over. He moves on.

But, noooooo!

See, Facebook gives you the option of listing your PARENTS on your Facebook page and if there is one thing a teenage crushing boy knows is his stalked’s page forwards and backwards (because he creeps it).

The boy emails the mom. In this case, ME.

And what could he possibly say?

He says, “Sydney is in a bad place and is cutting herself.”

What?!?!?

Oh, and please don’t tell her he sent me a Facebook message. He is just trying to get her in trouble save her.

I’ll admit, I had a bit of angst myself. Did I know my child? Was she EMO? Was I missing something? Was I completely freakin’ BLIND?

Um. No.

This girl cries from a scratch that doesn’t break the skin. She points, and points to a tiny mark. I squint to see it but can’t. Mooommmm, it hurts. What hurts? I can’t see a thing!

Cutting? I don’t think so.

But I did learn something. Teenage crushes snuffed on Facebook cause great ANGST.

Poor guy.

It was pretty sneaky to facebook message the parent listed on her page. But, I didn’t fall for it. And he is soooo busted. Please, move on to your next victim crush. Sydney is just fine.

I don’t just Facebook with her. I live with her.

I know I sound old, but my how times have changed….

See what others are saying about angst on Mama Kat’s Losin it writer’s workshop.
Prompt 2) Angsty