Pancakes, Castle, Bubbles, and Tea

Today was definitely more eventful than our usual Sundays. The days started with an invitation out to "tea" with a vegan couple that has 3 kids that we met at the NESX Vegan group we meet with occasionally.

Geli needed time to study, so we had some blueberry pancakes left over from yesterday and some hash browns for breakfast. Then Sophie and I had to leave so Geli could study, so I took her to the castle park. It was a lovely day, sunny and warm.

 

 

The castle park was packed, there was some boy/girl scout even going on. She blew some bubbles, got on a jumping balloon, played in the playground, fed some pigeons and ducks, and then headed back to the house.

I also saw, for the first time ever, people playing cricket. No clue what was going on, but I saw it haha.

We then left for "tea" to their house at 4. They only live about a mile from us, so that was convenient. We walked there. Geli was awesome and baked some chocolate raisin scones so we could take that to their house. It was dinner though, so I guess they say "Come over for tea" and that means dinner too? So we had dinner with them, Sophie played with their kids, kinda(she was kinda shy at first, and then she started playing with the toys, but not directly with them). And we talked to them, had tea(after dinner) and some scones and dessert(they had dessert too!). After a very pleasant time, and them giving us some Rhubarb from their garden to take home, we headed home. Pleasant Sunday :)

I think we might be insane...

I will try to keep this short...because it's such a bummer to talk about this. There are hidden complications in being vegan, and even more so when combined with the added rejection of mainstream manufacturing that relies on the exploitation of workers in other countries. We would like to think that this isn't a problem with us, but with everyone else(kinda like the atheist thing...). But sometimes it is hard to not wonder. Are we insane?

Vegan shoes...not the easiest thing to find. Make that vegan kid shoes, extra degree of difficulty. I guess not too many vegans are having kids. Or they don't care about what conditions the shoes are made in...

A pic from back in the day when we did not look into where our clothes and shoes were made...2008 I think. Check your Nike, Adidas, Reebok shoes, etc...The very definition of exploitation. Pay workers in poor countries close to nothing to make shoes, then sell them in western countries for outrageous prices.

It feels almost impossible to find a non-leather shoe, that was not also made in China/Vietnam/India/Bangladesh/Cambodia/Thailand....you get the point. Sophie and I went to 3 shoe stores today. The first had no shoes that did not have leather. The second had 1 pair of canvas shoes made in Vietnam. The last had about 5 pairs of non-leather shoes, but all made in Asia.

Really the plan was just go to the stores, get her shoe size(different shoe sizes in the UK than in the US), then we order her shoes online that are vegan and made in Europe. So really, I knew what to expect...it was just sad that we live in a world like this. A world that doesn't care how the workers that make the product you're buying are treated. That just cares about what they get...they don't care if a creature had to die for their shoes...or if workers get paid $15 a week to make their underwear in Jamaica, or even less to make their shoes in China.

We did find a store that makes shoes here in the UK, but they are not sneakers(here). So we will get her one pair of those, but we will still have to look for sneakers for her. We end up paying more for these kinds of thing, because they are considered specialty products. And one of the reasons is because it does cost more to get materials in a responsible manner(instead of say, using dead body parts to make shoes), and to pay workers a fair wage. But another huge reason is because there is not a proper process in place anymore for producing these products in large numbers. Because as the volume increases, the cost per unit decreases. So yes, sure, we would pay more than for the shoes we normally get at the department store now. But is paying a little more really an excuse for exploiting not just animals, but fellow humans? Them being far away does not make them any less human...

And besides, buying 2 or 3 pairs of shoes instead 5 or 6, or even more than many people have is a small price to pay for the better treatment of others. But apparently, we are crazy for thinking so.

Best Road Trip Ever!!!

We better do this! Seriously...it will be a trip that we can talk about when we're 80 years old and remember it vividly!

Unless any of us happen to get alzheimers, dementia, or something of the sort. But anyway, let's be serious! All are invited! The more the merrier! We just need to know who is serious, so we can plan accordingly! Book the hostels, van if needed, plan the restaurants, parks, the works!


LET'S DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We failed last year...in the words of Steven Wilson - "Nothing ever happens, if you don't make it happen"

and I leave you with that masterpiece:

Simple things...

I like taking pictures. Very much. Who knew? I didn't even think about owning a camera before I met Geli haha it just wasn't something I cared for. And now? I can't stop thinking about how and when we will get the 50mm portrait lens. The only reasonably priced lense on our wish list. It is about $120. All the others are way more than that. The 55-250mm zoom lens is about $250. The 10mm wide angle lens is $480. So yeah...photography is not a cheap hobby.

Sophie's toys...

Anyway, at lunch today, (which was 9am Milwaukee time, 3pm here in Colchester) we went shopping for organic spinach to the grocery store a little further out(Tesco's). The one near us never has organic spinach. We like the organic one. I thoroughly enjoy going out for lunch with Geli and Sophie. To anywhere. Castle park, grocery shopping, to pay the rent, whatever. It breaks my day in half and snaps me out of work mode. Makes my day way much more pleasant. We also got some avocado's from the rude lady across from Tesco's and Sophie was happy about that(the avocados, not the rude lady). Here is the evidence of that:

After work, Sophie demanded that we go out for a walk. So I took her, while Geli studied. She literally just wanted to be out, which is odd. She usually has a purpose for wanting to leave the house(to see the squirrels usually). So we headed towards the co-op grocery store. I did not expect it to be open, but it was. So we went in, and I just had to get the vegan custard donuts they have there! Couldn't resist. Also got some organic basked beans that were on clearance. And on the way out, Sophie wanted a rubber ball from those machines, not sure what they are called. We never get her any, so I did this time.

She really liked the ball, and the walk with her was a pleasant one :) Nice day...

More night shots?!

Okay, so I just needed to get out of the house today, and decided to take some night shots...I get out of work at 8pm here so its already dark by the time I am out of work.

Not very interesting subjects, I was hoping to see something inspiring on the way to the playground, but no such luck...so here is what I did. Let me know which you liked best and why! Or how I could have made them better! :)

Pic 1 - The "pavement"(that's what they call the sidewalk here) on the way to the park. ISO 3200, f/3.5, 1/4sec, handheld

Pic 2 - This one is not in perfect focus, but I had to use manual focus, and it was hard to gauge since it was dark. ISO 200, f/4, 15 second exposure, on a tripod.

Pic 3 - Just some benches, and Sophie's toy on the near bench. ISO 200, f/3.5, 15 second exposure. om a tripod

Pic 4 - Another view of the playground. ISO 200, f/3.5, 15 second exposure, on the floor.

Pic 5 -Sophie on the swing. ISO 200, f/3.5, 15 second exposure, on the floor.

Pic 6 - I'm a lion - Sophie decided to be a lion in the middle of this 15 second exposure. ISO 200, f/3.5, 15 second exposure, camera was on top one of the other games.

Pic 7 - Wide angle of the playground. 18mm, ISO 200, f/3.5, 15 second exposure, on a tripod.

Pic 8 - Middle of the road. ISO 200, f/3.5, 2.5 second exposure, on a tripod.

 

 

Sorry for the reflections/glare in some of the shots(like pic 8). I need a lens hood(ordered one though!). Don't be shy, tell me what you think!

Drains the life out of you...

Work...most of us hate it. 

We find other things in life to take our minds off the drag that work is. To make thing bearable. A hobby, TV, music, beer..Anything to clear our mind from the mundane daily grind.

Today I was IMing with a co-worker and it dawned on me, not for the first time, that the kind of work we do can be dehumanizing in a way. The calls never stop, you feel helpless, with little incentive to try harder. I mean a typical day at work there are 10-15 calls holding at all times almost. It doesn't even matter if you hurry up and work super hard there will be no end...the calls will just continue to be there. And she didn't even say this...

she just said "This is not a great place to work, I can't wait until the weekend to play my accordion." In response to a system issue, that would not be addressed, and we would have to deal with...

And it hit me...life shouldn't be like this. We shouldn't hate the majority of our day, to be able to finally escape that in order to go home for a bit then start over. Repeat. Again, and again. One huge regret I have is not developing a passion early on. Because it is clear to me now, that working in something you like is essential, not just to feeling great, but to your mental sanity almost. 

My workstation here at home

 I have a pretty sweet situation when it comes to work actually. I shouldn't complain much, most would say. I work from home. I can multi-task and chat with friends, read news, all while I work. Definitely better than "most". But is that really how we should measure things in life?

I plan to finally get off the phones which seem inescapable(working a job where I have to answer phones since i was 17!)...but I plan to. I plan to work in something I love...I will work towards that.

A dark sky is hard to come by...

I always want to stargaze, and seldom can....

I hope to be able to just stare at the sky all night sometime soon, in a dark place....I enjoy it, I feel at peace. Connected. Curious. Inspired. Excited. Amazed.

For now, the Canon will look for me...

Colchester night sky, from our backyard...

Something so idiotic was said or done that this artist felt like had no way of expressing how stupefying it was...other than making a facepalm monument.

Facepalm!

Perhaps he bumped into some creationists...

I saw this statue in Paris at the Jardin des Tuileries, near the Louvre. My favorite statue! haha

Night Shots!!!

For as long as I can remember, I have been amazed by night shots where the car lights turn into blurs of red and white. I can specifically remember an El Paso phone book, with a picture of I-10 with red lines of lights on 1 side and white on the other...I was a kid, I hadn't the slightest idea how they did that, but I liked it. I don' think I ever told anyone either, its always just been there, in the back of my head. And it hasn't been until the last couple of years that I finally realized that it was long exposures that cause that. 

And I could never get it to work how I wanted on previous cameras(not did I realize the exposures had to be so long(well over 10 seconds, for me to get the ones I do now). And now that we have a Canon dSLR(Rebel T2i/550D/Kiss X4, depending on where you are from) I can finally do it!!!!!!!!!

Check it out!!! :D

On a tripod, 30second exposure, at ISO 200 f/13

This is a nondescript colchester roundabout, a few blocks from the house, it was just the 1st location where I thought I could try this closest to our house! Expect these sort of shots anytime I have a chance now!!!!!!!!!!