Week 27

This week has been so good. I have felt good in my home life, good in my career (bein a mom, HA!), I'm working on my relationships with friends and family, and I'm feeling myself become more and more confident in my hobbies. I love it! I feel myself starting to level out, emotionally. I can feel my depression have a lessened effect on my overall self, and it feels so freeing!

My husband asked me to go on a date with him to a place that just opened up on The Strip, called The Linq. He thought it would be a fun place for me to photograph, and a really good way for me to practice using my flash. My husband enjoys doing video, so we thought it'd be fun to go there and shoot together. We don't get a lot of opportunities for that, so I was pretty excited.

When we got down there, I was just overwhelmed by all of the fun energy! I saw the HUGE wheel, called the High Roller, and couldn't help but to photograph that, cause.......well, it's pretty awesome!!

The High Roller taken from the back parking lot

We didn't get to go on it, because I just wasn't willing to pay $70 to go see a view of a city I'm from, and have seen a million times. Plus, I'm afraid of heights, and that was a bit too much for me. HA!

The pods of the High Roller. Apparently they are HUGE!

As soon as we got there, we headed to my now, favorite place, The Polaroid Photobar & Museum. It was so much fun!!! We were able to create a collage of photos I took, downloaded from almost any online source that I may have used, and print out Polaroid looking photos. It was so much fun! The photos were taking a long time to print out, longer than anyone anticipated, so the manager came over, out of the blue, and gave us free passes to the museum that was going in upstairs. We got to talking about the museum, and he offered to take us up and give us a tour of the museum. IT WAS SO COOL!! I couldn't wait to go back, and see it completed!

This is one of my favorite photos from this date. The clouds from the sunset look like a continuation of the wine in the glasses. I loved how it lined up.

After we got done there, Allan suggested I take my flash out, and he would give me different things to photograph. For instance, there was a fountain that had different colors being shown through the water that was being shot up. He sat down in front of the fountain, and said, "Ok, you have to get me lit, and I should still be able to see the color of the water, and all of the detail in the background." He was so patient with me, and just sat and smiled at the camera. After a little work, I got it!

My love

Once we were done there, and I was fine to stop shooting, went to a restaurant that was SUPER dark, but the architectural details were just so cool! So, I started shooting again, and practicing using my flash again. We must've looked pretty official, because then I had a line of waiters and the hostess asking if I would take their photos. HAHAHA! It is true, the bigger the camera, especially with the flash on, people just think you know what you're doing. HA! I did it, of course. HA!

We ate, and talked, and just walked around. At one point, I was just off on my own, while Allan was sitting again at the fountains. I looked over and he was just watching me, smiling, and looking so proud. I have loved how patient he has been these last few years. I have melted down, thrown things, said the most amazing cuss words possible, quit, and then unquit, about 30 times. I have yelled at him, and ignored him, and then went back and asked for help. It's been exhausting for the poor guy. So, anything I do right, I credit him to a lot of it. He's put up with a lot from me, while I try to find my way with the depression, and this new found love. I love how happy he is for me to have this. I love being able to show him what I'm working on, and hearing him say, "You hit it out of the park!" or "nailed it". I love how much he trusts me. I love how curious he is about why I'm shooting a particular thing, or a certain way, and then when he sees it, he's just blown away. I love how he's seen me grow in this, and hopefully, has seen how worth the work has been. Mostly, I love walking around at these places, and just being able to rise to any challenge he gives me, have fun with him with it, and watch him sitting back and watching me love everything about this. Photography, not only, has been a huge release for my emotions, and my heart, but it has also been a huge bonding experience for my husband and I. It has healed a lot of things that were fractured in our relationship, and has given us a way to have fun together again. It has allowed me to find myself over time, and has allowed me the ability to show my new self to my husband, through my photos....and he loves it!

For this week, I chose this photo:

It's not a stellar photo, but what it is, is a glimpse into me silly again. This night was a few hours where I was so blissfully happy. I had my camera around my body, my camera bag hanging from my shoulder, and walking hand in hand laughing and talking with my husband, while we sampled food, took photos, took video, and just sat and talked. In this photo, I am at my favorite place, getting ready to print off my own photographs, that I took, which was the first time I've ever printed anything off that I've taken, to hang up in my own home. I was happy! I was confident! I was at ease with myself. I was laughing guilt free, and out loud! I was in love!! I was myself again! I thought I lost this part of myself but, turns out, it took about 3 1/2 years for me to find it again, but it was there the whole time.

I am so grateful for this date. It was one of the funnest dates I have been on with my husband. It wasn't anything special, or expensive, or planned really. We didn't get dressed up, we didn't eat a fancy meal, and we didn't go see a movie, or see any friends. We just walked down a side walk, talked, and just allowed each other to be who they were. We enjoyed each other.

I loved this week. This week ended so incredibly happy. I don't feel like I allow a lot of happy moments to overcome me but, I'm changing that, and it's actually starting to take hold, and make a difference. I hope that it continues.