deviantART: by:Argocat8

Holidays, Christmas, and all that jazz!

`Argocat8 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:30:02 PST

I've been very busy with work and family over the last 5 mths since my last journal. I've moved to a new practice, and settling in has been pretty good. There are always hiccoughs, but generally it has been great. From January I'll be working in one place, about 5 minutes away from home; it's bright, modern, natural light. Excellent!

I'm definitely looking forward to a break from work though, since I've been working so hard. 10 days off isn't much, but it'll be a chance to get some odd chores done around the house, catch up on sleep, catch up with friends that we've neglected, and of course, do the whole "Christmas" thing. My brother and his wife will be staying with us, so that will be great.

Amongst all this stuff, I've barely had time to pick up a camera. grrrrr. Hoping to capture some nice pics when I visit Margaret River in late January. A friend is getting married so a few of us are taking some extra days to do some sightseeing, food and wine imbibing! If any Aussies have any suggestions on places to visit in the area, let me know. I would love to see that big ol' jetty at Busselton, and get some shots there. We'll see.

Anyway, for those that celebrate it, Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy New Year to all!

Back from Japan

`Argocat8 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:45:07 PDT

Well, as you may have noticed from the gallery uploads, I'm back from Japan.

It was hot and humid, which was a bit of a rude shock to the old body, after leaving an Adelaide winter.

I've always been very curious about Japan. So much culture, tradition, beautiful scenery, and yet high technology and metropoli. The Japanese people I met were INCREDIBLY polite. Right through from the maid in the hotel, to the professors I met at my meeting. And efficiency. I caught one train in 10days that wasn't to schedule, the rest, you could set your watch to! Everything so clean.

The language barrier was occasionally difficult, but everyone tried to be helpful. My partner D. ended up joining a random party, after a guy in the subway saw he was lost, and invited him along. D lost his mobile phone that night, but he had plenty of great sake, and even performed his first (and probably last) karaoke!

Sapporo in the north is well known for its snow and skiing, but in the summer it is a bit cooler, and in fact rained for most days I was there for my medical meeting. Such a lovely city.

Kyoto was hot, and gearing up for the Gion Matsuri. I'm sorry we missed the main parade, but we did manage to see the displayed floats downtown, which were hugely awesome. Kyoto has more temples than you can throw an incense stick at, and I'd love to visit again to see more. We did a zooming 2 hour walking tour through the Gion district, which was really interesting and a tiny peek into the Kyoto of old.

Nara, 45 minutes train ride out of Kyoto was incredibly hot the day we visited, but the Nara Park, with its tame deer, and amazingly giant Todaiji Temple was worth it. A deer bit D. on the tummy, but hey, you get that!

We then caught the shinkansen (bullet train) back up to Tokyo. After a few days we figured out the subway and trains, and did a bit of exploring. Unfortunately it was a bit too hot and humid for me, so we did a little less than I would have liked. Because it got bright so early however, it was really easy to get up at 5am to go to the Tokyo fish market (Tsukiji) which was fascinating. I love sashimi, and D. is a keen fisherman, so we really wanted to go here. The tuna auctions were exciting, and the wholesalers markets outside were an incredible array of all types of fish - tuna, prawns, crabs, eels, turtles, you name it! And because it was all so fresh, it didn't even smell fishy! I definitely recommend it.

Finally, on our last night, Mike (=rubberman542) and his lovely wife took us out for dinner. Some of the best food we had in Japan, and wonderful company! Mike and I have chatted here on dA for some 5 yrs, and it was great to finally meet!
This is one of the best things about deviantART...discussing art and life with people all over the world. I love Mike's photos. Some of my favourites are below.

Gotta love it.

Now excuse me, whilst I catch up on some sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzz

A Collaboration between *sedART & *petercui

Here and now...

`Argocat8 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:08:12 PDT

This dA journal skin feature is neat!

This design is by *sedART and *petercui What clever deviants they are! Thanks for putting this up. Very fresh.

So what's been up with me? Not much. Had two weeks off work to have some minor surgery on my ankle, which is healing up well. Still a bit swollen on the bit that got sliced, but at least I'm walking independently and wearing regular shoes! Crutches and big velcro boots are not a fabulous look.

I'm heading to Japan for a whirlwind trip in two weeks. Will be in Sapporo for a couple of days, then down to Kyoto and then back up to Tokyo. I hope I can handle the hot weather, since winter has settled in here, and I'm COLD! brrr

So how weird has the news been in the last day? Poor Farrah Fawcett dies from cancer after a long struggle, but the news is totally overshadowed by Michael Jackson dropping dead. I'm old enough to have had some of his albums on cassette! And to have watched him on the American Music Awards and the Motown reunion doing the moonwalk...

God I'm old.

Haven't really had much time to take photos lately, which is a sin, but will be taking lots of shots in Japan of course, so will definitely share them when I'm back.

Hope you're all well, and having fun with life and your art. Check out some sexy submissions from my devwatch...

A Collaboration between *sedART & *petercui

I wanna new Journal CSS design

`Argocat8 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:15:30 PDT

Hello folks.

Well, I'm back a bit...well not really. Crazy busy with work, and definitely looking forward to a short break of 5 days over Easter!

I'm going to Kangaroo Island with D. and we'll finally get to spend some quality time just sitting on our backsides doing nothing!

Might take some photos I want to go to Little Sahara and play on the sanddunes!

Oh yes, some of you may have noticed I got a new camera. Canon 50D. Very nice feel, not much different to my 20D, but more megapixels, sensor clean, liveview on the monitor thingy (might be handy on the tripod), and very different "clunk" on the shutter sound. I think it performs not too badly on high iso either. Only hassle is that iPhoto on my old Mac PowerPC doesn't like the new Canon RAW files, so I have to convert them with the Canon software to edit. For some reason the iPhoto updates for the 50D don't work I need a new desktop!!!! nooooooo

Anyway, I'm getting a little tired of this journal CSS, bit too minimalistic for me now.

If anyone can make me a new one (preferably in the dA green would be nice...I'm still for clean and minimalistic!), or find me a good one on dA, I'll see about getting you something from my print account.

Any takers?

oh, and you'll have to be prepared to give me really really basic instructions on how I use it, since I have noooo idea.

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

What's new Pussycat?

`Argocat8 — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:56:40 PST

Some parts of Australia have been doing it hard this summer.

You may have heard about the dreadful bushfires in southern parts of the country in the state of Victoria. More than 200 people have died, and there are still many missing. Hundreds more are homeless and have nothing.

If you are moved to do something, donate to the Red Cross appeal [link]

Ironically, the northern-east parts of the country are experiencing some of the worst floods ever. There are worries about dysentery in some areas, dengue in the far north, and so many farm animals have died.

Such disasters...makes me feel lucky to be alive and safe.

On a personal note, I've been super busy with work. To the point where I'm just hanging out for some time away, so my trip to San Francisco couldn't come at a better time. Hope to have some time to take some pics with my new 50D. And some all important shopping! Oh yeah, and learn some stuff at the conference...and eating! I'm doing a walking tour of Chinatown, which should be interesting, so hope to catch some cool sights.

Catch you later, alligator
(As you wish, jellyfish)
_{a kid said that to me a couple of weeks ago. Made me laugh!}

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Ridiculous heat

`Argocat8 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:23:34 PST

So we down here in Australia are having summer. Yes, yes, all you people up there in the midst of a cold winter are wishing you were having some warmth.

Well, here in South Australia and in Victoria (Melbourne fyi) we are in the midst of a heatwave, which will probably last a week. Last year we had 14 days of temperatures over 35C (95F).
That's nothing compared to this year. We had 45.5C (114F) today, and it's forecast for over 40C until the weekend or even into next week. Hottest temps in 100yrs.

We're already in a bad drought. The Murray River is drying out, and the lakes at the mouth are dying.

Antarctica's ice shelf is melting.

And some people think that global warming/climate change isn't real?

I have no air-conditioning, and my refrigerator is offline (there go those nice steaks I had frozen in there), because a local transformer blew, and we're only on Phase 1 power (we need phase 3 for the big stuff).

Roll on summer...

whinge whinge I'm going to be a grumpy shit at work tomorrow

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Two Thousand And Nine...

`Argocat8 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:04:40 PST

Happy Belated New Year!

I hope you all survived the holiday period, and all the usual festivities. I ate too much food! ha what else is new? And Chinese New Year is only round the corner and demands I eat more!!!!

I sometimes make New Year's resolutions. I rarely keep them
This year I have three.
1. To stand up straighter. My posture is crap, and led to many a neck/back/head pain in 2008. No more drugs! (well, only the good ones...)
2. To get fitter, and if I can lose 10kg.
3. To strive to be happy. That means getting over myself (ie I'm too serious), getting my priorities straight (my well being, and that of my loved ones is paramount), and having more fun.

So what resolutions do you have for this year?
What resolutions have you made and spectacularly broken/missed/forgotten about?

Oh yeah, I should resolve to take more pics...but only if I feel like it! haha
I'm thinking of getting the 50D hmmmmm

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Another Christmas...the year that was 2008

`Argocat8 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:50:34 PST

Just a quick hello to say Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you might celebrate this time of year.

I'm having a short break from work, so this is a great time of year. A time for eating good food, spending time with friends and family, and catching up on reading and sleeping!

Thanks to all my fellow deviants for your continued friendship, and to my new watchers, thanks for adding me! I hope I have more pics to put up next year, which are worthy of attention.

Hobbes is going to a Feline Resort for Christmas, since my sister-in-law is allergic. He's going to have a fabulous time though. A gym to play on, a la cat menu, a daily MASSAGE!!!! I'm jealous!!!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

teh AWESOME. You gotta be in it!

`Argocat8 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:41:20 PST

contest details

do yourself a favour...check it out

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Hay hay hay...it's the fever!

`Argocat8 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:29:23 PDT

Hiya fellow deviants.
The usual excuse for not being here very much...work, work, work and lots of it. I've got patients coming out my ears! I can't complain though. I usually deal with very nice people, and I get a lot of satisfaction from (hopefully) helping them. My day job is such an interesting contrast to my photography.

I do my photography for me. Selfish? Perhaps...

Sure, I might take photos for friends or family, but ultimately I get the satisfaction from how I get the shots to turn out. When I get the chance I get to do more artistic shots, for pure fun. When I travel, I take photos to remind me of what I've seen, and how I've felt. The way I take pics is not to please anyone else. If you don't like what I make, bad luck.

The other weekend my partner and I, and his family, had an afternoon picnic. There are four adorable kids in the respective families, and the challenge was to get some photos for the grandparents for Christmas. What do they say about working with animals and small children?
Naaaah, they were great, even the little one. And I'm pleased with how they turned out. I hope the grandparents like it too, but hey, when I walk into their house I'll be happy with the shot I've made for them

My partner, D. is very photogenic (well, actually I think he's hawt ) He smiles so naturally, and in every shot he just nails that smile, dimples and all. He's had lots of practice with me sticking a camera in his face all the time I suppose!

I find portraits quite challenging. You see plenty of fabulous portrait photos on dA. I can't even begin to name my fav photographers who manage to somehow capture that special something in a person. I need more practice. And I need to take more time, not be so rushed.

Anyway, enough of the monologue. Have fun!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

The importance of thermals

`Argocat8 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:38:35 PDT

When travelling to the South Island in New Zealand in winter here are some handy hints.

1. Buy really good thermal underwear. You're going to wear it every day.

2. You're going to need a hat, scarf and gloves. And even if you think you look like a dork in a hat, brain freeze is far worse than the embarrassment of hat hair.

3. Snow freezes on wooden boardwalks. Slipping on ice isn't fun.

4. 1 degree celsius makes your bare face hurt. Invest in a balaklava or wrap that scarf.

5. Get a ski instructor who can speak your language.

6. Ski goggle tan is not a good look. Use sunscreen on the slopes if you don't want to resemble a raccoon.

7. Snow is wet. Especially when it gets up your ski jacket and into your pants.

8. There is no such thing as real food sold up at a ski field, only overpriced facsimiles. $8.50 for a "hot dog" which resembles a turd is not right.

9. Learn to laugh when you fall over (10x) on the beginner's slope. Crying is useless. Also the 5 yr old skiing past you without poles will only point and giggle.

10. New Zealanders are amongst the friendliest people on the planet. Don't laugh when they say the number 6. Or fish and chips.

11. They make really good food and wine in NZ. Eat and drink plenty. It'll keep you warm.

12. The weather can be fickle. Don't always count on your plane being able to land.

13. Don't forget that camera batteries drain quickly in the cold weather. However hiding an SLR under your ski jacket can make you look 30 weeks pregnant...

14. Snow bunnies don't feel the cold wearing miniskirts. They are freaks of nature.

15. If you have the means, really really have a go at a helicopter trip. It is WILD. The same goes for snowmobiling.

16. Watching people bungey jump is quite amusing, and way safer than actually throwing yourself off a great height attached by a long rubberband.

17. Vow to visit again, because New Zealand is a helluva lot of fun. I'm gonna walk a glacier next time. The weather has defeated me twice!

Ciao!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Ultra wide view

`Argocat8 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:54:59 PDT

Heeeellllooo. So what do you mob think of dA version 6?

I don't mind the layout, seems pretty easy and intuitive. I like the ability to choose the buttons up top on the toolbar. And the message centre looks pretty spiffy. Will take some getting used to, but I like it already...

Tell me what you like or dislike about v6!

On the photography front...well, there isn't much. Working hard and tax time (urgh!) makes it hard to use my spare time for anything artistic. Yeah, OK I'm lazy, it's winter, and there are Sex and The City DVD's to watch. I got the box set, and OMG did those first couple of seasons look weird.

Going to New Zealand in a few weeks. Hoping to learn how to ski for the first time (without breaking my arse or any other vital bits of my anatomy). More importantly I got a Canon 10-22mm lens for some hopefully awesome Queenstown scenery! I've been before in summer and it was an amazing place. We're going to do a snowmobile tour, and maybe do some day trips...and fall over in the snow!

So don't fear, I'll take some pics to share.

'til then...

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Hey cool!

`Argocat8 — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:20:35 PDT

I've just discovered that posts on your userpage now appear in your message centre! FINALLY!!!

I'm in Sydney this week for a conference. The city is putting on some nice weather, although my hair doesn't really like the humidity.

For the first time I haven't brought my dSLR, because it's too bloody heavy, as well as a big bag, AND my laptop. Did bring my little digital, so hope to catch some pics of friends and maybe get some time to see the sights. My Canon IXUS has quite a nice wide angle lens, so it's quite handy for holidays.

Haven't really been able to take any photos lately. I feel bad. Very uncreative. But my professional life and social life have become more busy, and my playtime gets squished to the bottom of the barrel. Bad for the soul
With winter coming on I'm going to have to get more creative! Maybe I'll take up that painting that I've been talking about for 2 yrs!

Anyway, I've got to go a prissy up for dinner! Hope you're all well.

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

eeeeh...yah.

`Argocat8 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:26:26 PDT

The results are out of `Davenit's Create A Feeling contest [link] Check out the specky winners!

He's holding another competition in the future, so keep an eye on his journals.

As for me, what am I doing? Not much right now. Working hard, spending time with friends, eating too much, enjoying the autumn weather. Would have liked to have gone to the Adelaide Devmeet, but ended up going to Melbourne instead for D's mate's 40th birthday. That was fun!

I got this pic made up as a canvas print at Digital DaVinci. There was 20% special on in April, so it was considerably cheaper. I'm looking at making a giclee print of "La Mer" but still deciding on how to display it. They are going in the dining room, so it will feel a little like sitting in an aquarium whilst we're eating hehe.

Haven't been out much to take photos. Last proper trek was out to capture the Northern Lights during the Adelaide Festival, which was very cool. Made me yearn for a wide angle lens though. Might consider getting one when I go overseas later in the year. Will need it then anyway!

Many thanks to all those people who still manage to find pics from my gallery that they are willilng to fav or feature, either in their journals, collections or News items. I'm very flattered, and glad you enjoy checking them out.

Ciao for now!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

You have to be in it to win it! Details released!

`Argocat8 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:38:49 PST

Create A Feeling 3 contest by `Davenit

`Davenit is holding a no-holds barred Conceptual Art dA contest!

SEE DETAILS HERE [link]

The categories are open slather, photography, digital art, traditional art, etc....and whoa, the cash prizes are so amazing.
Wait for it...US$500 for first prize! And another US$500 in other prizes.

The man is a nutter.

To quote the guy himself "Let the world know that conceptual art is the bomb baby!!!"

What a generous guy!

So guys get onto it. It's open to new and existing pieces.

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Just a few days in Paradise...

`Argocat8 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:02:49 PST

Wow, I haven't really been around dA for a while, but hey Christmas, New Year's, Chinese New Year, and holidays overseas got in the way. haha!

My boyfriend and I went to the wonderful Cook Islands (some of you may know it was the site of "Survivor" (in the USA) or "Shipwrecked" (in the UK). Basically I had seen the amazing waters, beaches and people on a travel show "Getaway", and Catriona Rowntree had said it was her favourite travel destination.

We spent 10 days in glorious hot humid weather, met some friendly locals, ate some lovely food, swam in pristine lagoons, and generally lay about like lazy sloths.

When I get round to getting all my files on my computer, I'll get to editing and posting.

In the meantime, check out my first shot...taken with my little Canon IXUS wearing it's waterproof housing. I love it!

Happy Year of the Rat! woohooo

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Whoa is it that time alreaady??

`Argocat8 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:01:42 PST

I can't believe we've reached nearly the end of 2007. The year has just flown. (eeek that's what oooold people say! haha)

It's been a good year for me, professionally and socially. Artistically...maybe a little distracted. More observer and documentary of where I've been and what I've done, rather than squeezing those creative juices and finding opportunities.
It doesn't matter though. Being happy, content and busy works for me

Bought myself some Christmas Deviantart presents! (taking advantage of the 10% off sale! How does that work for the artist? I'm presuming dA took the cut and not Aaron )

I got two of my favourite painter's pics. Only wish I could own the real thing, but I expect someone with more mulah beat me long ago. No matter though.

Priests of Preoccupation

aaaaand...

Fish And Me

Now just have to find time in the New Year for the framer, and then find a drill to make some place on my wall. I love `jasinski's paintings. So colourful, striking figures, wonderful quirky, often hilarious subjects. Check out his stuff.

Sooooo fellow deviants, catch you on the other side of Christmas and New Year's. Blessings to you and your loved ones. Thanks to everyone who commented, fav'ed, looked, supported, laughed etc.

tata

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

yoooohooo!

`Argocat8 — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:41:47 PST

It's the weekend. Yippeeee!

Yikes! The last time I posted a journal was back in September. That must nearly be a record for me here on dA.
Life is generally busy, with work, being social, more work....I need a holiday!

Finding less time for dA. Haven't been out to just take photos for a while, but with D away on a fishing trip this weekend, I thought I might go out and do some pics. hmmmm

Little things are changing on dA. The addition of film, subtle changes with browsing links (I quite like the ones for linking back to a journal when you click on featured thumbs), old deviants grumbling about stuff (as usual hehe).

I still pop in here from time to time, but just find that wading through the masses to find something that interests me is too time-consuming and downright frustrating. Time was, I'd find myself while away an afternoon doing policy violation reports, or browsing and commenting randomly. Maybe my attention span is getting shorter (or maybe I'm just plain tired all the time.)

I've just spent the last 1/2 an hour browsing "newest photography". Yes, it's a small sample, but it's all my brain could handle on a Friday night after a full day of work. Disappointed? Maybe. But the gems you find in the rough, are still precious. I'll let you be the judge.
Don't know how much longer I'll do the sub thing....although I really do like using thumbs in journals. *sigh*

And check out these deviant's galleries. Quality all round.

Aveagoodweekend!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Hay...fever!

`Argocat8 — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:48:03 PDT

Spring is springing....yippeeee!

Although I should be saying....bring on more rain! *sigh*

So I'm not on dA so much these days, I feel rather guilty. Work, life, friends, more work, and yes, that dreaded SpaceKook website take up so much of my time. Oh yes, and football. OMG who knew that I would end up really enjoying watching the footie

GO THE POWER hahah

Going to Queensland next week for a conference, so might take the opportunity to dust off the camera and take some shots. I might be doing some portrait stuff for D's family soon too which will be interesting.

Sooooo, here's some stuff from the devWatch. If you're into doing yourself a favour, add these guys to your devWatch.

So now I've gotten THAT out of my system....hehe. On to featuring some gorgeous pics. All great photos and one very cool painting!....talent abounds. Enjoy!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the

Spending hours with my D. Wishing the weekend would never end........

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

AAAAh winter.....

`Argocat8 — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:27:21 PDT

Edit - Hey guys! Check out ~photo-class
This is a great tutorial account, and their best stuff has been updated!

Ah well, the last few hours of the Queen's Birthday long weekend are here, and I spent it in warmer climes up in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
It was sooooo nice and warm up there (T-shirt weather...in June!), and back home tonight it's cold (yeah, OK you northern hemisphere lot can laugh, but it's cold for us )

Went for some lovely walks along the beach, the river and in the Noosa Wood (at the end of Hastings Street). Ate some nice food, and didn't look in one shop! ha!

Visited some friends up in Buderim, and drove through Maroochydore, which is just getting huge.

Took a few photos, mostly personal, but I've shared a couple with you guys. Motivation not high, but hey, I've got a stinker of a cold, and I'm tired, so bleh.

Caught this one shot, and had to just laugh...A jetski had just sped past and this is what happened in the split second after (check the fullview and tell me what you see!)

Well, back to work tomorrow. I suppose the good thing about a long weekend, means it's a short working week. Yay!

Hope you folks are well. Enjoy your summer/winter brrr

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

OMG is that the time????

`Argocat8 — Tue, 22 May 2007 22:15:15 PDT

Edit - Hey guys! Check out ~photo-class
This is a great tutorial account, and their best stuff has been updated!

Holy month of May, Batman!

If anyone knows the meaning of the word "exhaustion", tell me...or better yet, wake me up and tell me.
Busy busy busy, giving talks, attending our annual conference, held here in Adelaide. Getting up way early, and going to bed way too late.
And working hard, and occasionally socialising hard too

As you can tell from some of my pics, I've been up to the McLaren Vale wine district this past weekend. Cold and wet, but lots of good company, and some lovely wines to sample. Mmmmmm sparkling shiraz.

Brrrr, it's turning cold here, and lots of rain thank goodness. We need more though, and in the pastoral areas.

Hey, anyone see these.....?

If you're into buttons, these look very cool. I kinda like buttons, but don't really have any place to pin them, well, without looking a bit silly They are really good value though, and you get 5 for about AUS$6 !

Anyway, hoping to have a bit of time off in June. And I really need to get out there and take some pics of stuff without people in them. I'm getting rusty, and the Adelaide Show photography exhibition deadline is closing

Hope you're all well. Keep safe

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Friday Fumbs...

`Argocat8 — Fri, 04 May 2007 05:52:24 PDT

Holy moly, TGIF

Tired, and a busy weekend to look forward to. I'm giving a talk (well actually a quiz) tomorrow afternoon at a conference, and then attending the conference dinner. An opportunity to dress up and network Hope it's good food too!

Anyway, here are some wonderful pics from my devWATCH. Check out these photographers and artists; they are just amazing people

I'm toddling off to bed, and going to try and sleep in

'Aveagoodweekend

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Runaway feline...

`Argocat8 — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:35:27 PDT

Hobbes had an adventure last night.
After returning from drinks down at the beach with friends, I went out to turn on the sprinklers. About 1/2 an hour later I noticed that I hadn't seen or heard Hobbes for a while, and he didn't come running with the usual shaking of dry food in his pink bowl (yes, such a macho cat dish!). I looked everywhere, even in desperation in the fridge (Yeah, ok, a long shot, but I was getting panicked by this stage). OMG I had accidentally let him out into the big scary dark wide world!

Anyway, we looked high and low, next door, on both sides, and finally he turns up in the driveway, all panting and wide eyed.
Thank goodness he didn't get run over, or stuck in a tight place (fat fluffy thing he is!). We'll never know what he saw or did in his hour of freedom.

Hobbes is a pampered house cat. He ain't no street cat.

I actually had spent the afternoon taking photos of him; he was sitting on me whilst I was lying on the couch, after having a run through the garden. Funny cat.

Anyway, that was enough excitement for one day.
I'm thinking of getting a screen security door

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

More holidays....yes please!

`Argocat8 — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:01:12 PDT

Post Easter fatigue...

4 days off, spent lounging around, watching DVD's, sleeping, eating too much Haigh's chocolate, spending time with family and loved ones, one day driving down south to Pt Elliot, and climbing the Bluff at Victor Harbour, and going to a workmate's wedding one afternoon. Jam packed! Managed to fit in some Peking duck too....mmm duck...

Did a tiny bit of gardening, put in some drought resistant plants (with some splendid help from Hobbes!)

Warm weather even though we're supposed to be in autumn. 30C...in April? Weird.

Going to the movies tomorrow. Depending on how I feel, we'll either see 300, or Hot Fuzz. Epic graphic drama vs full on comedy, hmm.

Anyhow, have a good week people.

I need (another) holiday....

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Internet n00b

`Argocat8 — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:32:26 PDT

I've been using the interwebs since 1998, which is kinda cool I suppose. 9 years of being online. From dialup to ADSL2. God, how on earth did I handle that way back then. Initially I got hooked on online quiz chat rooms. Bigpond used to have some good ones hosted in Australia, and even on dialup, I was pretty good. Don't know what happened to them, but after a while they just disappeared. I tried other chats for a while, but none seemed as fun as that original one.
ICQing was fun, with friends overseas and interstate. That too, fell along the wayside.
The net just became more of a place to do research for work and study, thanks to online dermatology atlases, free Medline and textbooks, a place to do my banking *bored*.

Then a couple of years ago (back in 2004) I started looking online for skinning things, to make my boring little Compaq laptop look more pretty. Atomic Magazine had a free CD with a link to some sites, and eventually I found my way here, good ol' deviantART.

Who knew that dA would get me back into photography, teach me all sorts of things about my camera (and lead me to buy two new cameras!) and my computer? I kinda get what html is, but I can't do it without help, and CSS is cool, but I have no idea.
I learned about "young people" culture and how to use the lingo (hahahah yeah alright, I still don't know what you're all saying), and what emo, and anthro and stuff mean. I still don't get some anime, and if someone can explain in plain language what oekaki and inflation art are all about....well I suppose still some stuff to learn eh?

The net has come a long way since I first heard that melodic little noise of the modem crank up.
Now it's the Web 2.0, with YouTube, and MySpace, and Blogger and Google (which is spying on you if you believe the hype)...and the largest art website in the world...deviantART. The universe of internet stalking, and dating...and the of course, porn (good one Paris, Pamela et al!)

Don't know what I'd do without the internet. Email is my life. I communicate with colleagues around the country and the world and patients from remote areas can contact me. Now if only I could get an ATM to work for me online!

Anyway, thought I'd share some links to stuff I've been surfing. Does anyone say that anymore? Surfing the net? sounds so archaic.

Soooo.... if you're interested...Check out...
Philinthecircle - definitely check out his YouTube videos on how his stuff is made.
The Wine Kone - not as popular on YouTube as those Smosh boys, but I giggle at Tony's kinda sad (and I mean "sad" in a weird way) commentaries.
Free Hugs Campaign - soooo cool, and I'm now a Sick Puppies fan.
OK Go - hey they won a Grammy ! And they are my latest favourite band too.
magne f - the "artistic" member of Norwegian supergroup a-ha....yes, a-ha. If you laugh, I slap you. I just think his website is cute
Softpedia - free Mac downloads
Battlestar Galactica on SCIFI.COM - so I can keep up with my favourite TV show...and watch some videos of stuff now that Season 3 has finished
CD WOW - where all good girls buy their DVD's, with free shipping
Amazon - a good place to compare products, surprisingly a good place for free mp3's, and American medical textbooks.
Strawberrynet - omg, why would I buy stuff full price, when it's this cheap with FREE SHIPPING! (I love free shipping...yeah, OK I'm a stingy git)
The College - yeah, just a plug for the profession. Actually a nice website for those interested....all 2 of you

well, I could go on, but you'll all just at me.

Tell me your in...

OOOOh a LEG!

`Argocat8 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:19:31 PDT

Anyone remember the movie where that line is from?

You'll get a if you know it.

Anyway, the reason why I used that line is coz I stuffed my leg last night. Doing side-to-side shuttle runs with my friend during gym training. We're joined at the waist by this strappy thing with a breakaway velco doohicky. We're both quite competitive so there's a bit of trash talk. I stop to blow my nose, and while looking to put the tissue somewhere she says "Well, stuff it somewhere you need it...your bra!" hahah yes, my bewbies aren't that big hahah, one symptom of losing weight. (She paid out my Asian flat arse the other week ). So back to it....so I'm like "OK you're gonna get it!" and I take off, and BANG! I feel something pop in my right calf muscle, and almost thought someone had whacked me with a stick or something.

Major pain in the leg, can't walk, can't drive....hobbling like a and having to use a walking stick. Fun!
Slowed me down at work, but at least the patients were sympathetic Feeling much better today, which makes me think it was a massive muscle cramp (I've done minor ones before). Oh, the hazards of physical exercise

In other news, waiting for stuff in the mail is exciting! Things coming sooon....

1) New dA series 7 T-shirt. I have a "I Heart dA" one but I've misplaced it when I moved house. When I get round to it, I'll go find it. So this one maybe will get worn...at the gym haha

2) Photograph print from `zerocomplex We did a print exchange...hope he likes mine!

3) Battlestar Galactica - the miniseries, Season one and two on DVD yipppppeeeee.

gee I'm a

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Full guts

`Argocat8 — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 00:49:52 PDT

Weeeell, it's Sunday, end of daylight saving, and even with an extra hour's sleep, I'm soooo tired.
Had a late lunch, and now my tummy kinda hurts...in a good way.

Hobbes vomited three times this morning after we (that's me and boyfriend, not me and Hobbes) got back from a beach walk. Nasty work...I was gaggin' whilst cleaning up, and I got no help!!! I just HATE puke. Hobbes just looked all sorry for himself. Poor thing - he's getting old.

Anyway, it's a beautiful autumn afternoon, and there are some lovely pics in my devWatch to savour. So enjoy...and have a good rest of your weekend folks!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Grumpy boots

`Argocat8 — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:49:39 PDT

Not much to say (reason = title)

So just peek into some of my devWatch offerings, and drift away to someplace happy

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

I'm so tired....

`Argocat8 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:36:42 PDT

Tired of playing the game
Ain't it a crying shame?
I'm...sooo....tired.

Fans of Blazing Saddles will recognise those lines

Keep waking up at 230am, 430am, and then have to get up a 630am. And it is now so frackin' dark in the morning.

And I rowed about 2.5 km on a machine yesterday, and let's just say my arse/ass/gluteus/posterior/derriere hurts. Ah well, all in the mission to keep it looking good in shorty shorts.

Speaking of shorty shorts (reaaally short) some friends and I went to see an Open Night at LadyLove Exotic Dance studio (for those of you who know Adelaide, it's on Morphett Street, just across the road from the Nighttrain dinner place, and the big Adult xxx store, and round the corner from the Crazy Horse! Pole-dancing!
OMG those girls are so talented. Really strong, flexible, and all in toweringly high heels. Imagine a girl holding herself, about 6 feet up a pole, upside down, and walking on the ceiling.
And who's up for lap-dancing classes? Hmmmm. I think I'll stick to gym

Friday tomorrow....yay. The weekend can't come soon enough. And it's starting to rain...yaaaaaay!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Orly...?

`Argocat8 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 04:05:08 PST

So today marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations. Not that I did anything particularly exciting, but it's nice to know that the Year of the Pig is now in full swing. It's going to be a good year.

My mum reminded me that today is Chap Goh Meh which in my Chinese dialect means "fifteen tail". Read the associated Malaysian tradition....it's hilarious, and one that my mum was describing to me.

Anniversaries are funny things. We're supposed to remember them, but as time goes on, we manage to get distracted and forget. I only remembered one 2 days later, and funnily enough, it didn't bother me one bit. Ha! Then again, it's not important to me anymore, so maybe that's a good thing.

What's the best day and the worst day that you'd like to remember forever, and forget always, respectively?

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

MMMM Bacon tastes good....

`Argocat8 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:34:42 PST

Happy Lunar New Year

It's the Year of the Piggie

I'm a Pig

Have fun and eat lots of yummy food!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Happy Commercialised Lovefest Day

`Argocat8 — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:33:08 PST

haha, cynical I am not

Naah, for all you lovers out there *cue Barry White music*....Happy Valentines

What you get?

I'm not telling

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

The Return to Real Life...

`Argocat8 — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:35:51 PST

Ah well, 2 weeks just flies when you're having fun.

Flew home this morning from a fortnight of relaxation, fun and discovery. I've gotten way too tanned, very tired, the brain is slightly scrambled (in a good way), but it's nice to be home.

We went to Melbourne for a few days, then Singapore for a day, and then on to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, on the island of Borneo (Malaysia).
I've taken a few pics, and even bought a new little digital cam [link] I'll post a few from it too once I get through the mess

Anyway, back to work tomorrow *groan* and to losing the few kilos I put on in weight from all the WONDERFUL FOOD. Satay

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

A Vacation...

`Argocat8 — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:29:53 PST

I never thought that the working week would finish Struggled through the last few days, with lots of work, tying up loose ends and making sure I've got all my important things to take on HOLIDAY

2 whole weeks of not thinking about work, stress, and all that stuff.

Some of you know where we're going, but I'll let you know when we get back, hopefully with some good photos. Been a bit rusty with the camera lately, so cats and spiders is what you get!

On the more sober side, some medical colleagues round town committed suicide in the past month, one just last week. I'm still really shocked over the latter chap's death. Seems so senseless, such a waste, and such a huge blow to his family. God knows what demons must have been clawing at his soul. I just can't understand what forces would push a person to kill themself, and in such a nasty way (I'm not giving any details...urgh). All we're left with are questions...
Wish I was going to be home for the memorial service on Monday. I'm sure it will be massively attended. Strength and support to his family.
Doctors are a funny lot. We study hard, we play hard, we work hard, we love ... ? hard. We're expected to be compassionate, to be infallible, to be towers of strength. The general public forgets we are people, with feelings and weaknesses. Sure, some doctors are crap (I know a few!), but on the whole, most have gotten into the profession to help people. So be nice to your doctor!

So I'll see you folk when I get back. lemme do a holiday again. wooohoooo

Some holiday thumbs from my devWATCH. God, I'm so bad at commenting these days guys. Please forgive me.

Oh yeah, and I changed my avatar for 2007...tee hee

Reset...

`Argocat8 — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:44:12 PST

So 2007 has swung around, and I'm still here...well, not as much as I used to be, but still lurking around the place
Can't believe how huge the place is these days...just saw that we've notched up over 30 million deviations. I remember when it was less than half of that, way less

New years are interesting. We start out with the best intentions, to be good to others and to ourselves. 2006 was a great year for me, a new start in several areas of my life. So this year is going to be even better I feel, a year of consolidating, reinforcing, breaking new ground, building stuff. I like where I am, and I want to stay here.

So here are some brand spanking new thumbs, from the Browse in the last 24 hrs or so. Getting harder to find decent photos in just cold browsing. Enjoy...and Happy New Year DeviantART peeps (uh, I didn't say that aloud did I? )

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

What's all this then?

`Argocat8 — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:31:27 PST

Well, I've jumped on the bandwagon and done the CSS thing.

This is a nice minimalist one by ¢mynti. She's a clever cookie.

I've just had a good feed (Peking Duck ) and a little too much red wine. Typing whilst is never a good idea.

The New Year will soon be upon us....gosh, will have to think of some resolutions to make and break.

Tell me some I should include in 2007

Maybe drink less?

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

The Christmas Rush

`Argocat8 — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:59:50 PST

Tomorrow is my last working day before Christmas holidays. 'twill be full-on busy as everyone tries to get stuff squeezed in before we close. Also hopefully a bed will be delivered so my brother and his wife have something decent to sleep on when they come home to stay with me. Another Christmas dinner with work colleagues, another evening to dress up and put on (another) LBD... And try to forget the harsh realities that try to intrude...sad news, bad news and the hurt that goes along with it all. Why does shitty stuff happen before Christmas?

Soooo looking forward to a week off work. I've been really really really really tired, not sleeping well, and generally mentally and physically exhausted.

Doing the family thing for Christmas is slightly weird, but nice. Will be a bit different this year, but hopefully some new traditions will be started and continued. Stressful, but good.

It's starting to rain tonight - hoping for a good thunderstorm to water my (half-dead...or fully dead) plants. The breeze coming in through the window is heavenly. Better go and bring in my awning otherwise the house might take off in the wind!

Anywho, to those that celebrate it, have a great Christmas. To those that don't....have a good weekend.

Sorry for the slightly down tone, but this time of year isn't one of my favourites.

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Melbourne is mad...

`Argocat8 — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:07:31 PST

Well, on my last day in marvellous Melbourne, and not really wanting to go home yet. It's a really surreal time though, since there are huge bushfires in Victoria right now, and there is a gigantic smoke haze over the city. I'll post some pics when I get home.

The AFI Awards were a fun evening. Got frocked up, enjoyed some champers, sat next to some um...interesting folk, and did some celebrity spotting. The TV network indulged in some false advertising! Hugh Jackman wasn't there, but his missus Deborah Lee-Furness was presenting. I had a close encounter with her in the loos.
Also saw Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain, Casanova and other disasters...sorry not a fan) at the after party.
Geoffrey Rush was an entertaining and witty host, and we were dazzled by some gorgeous stars presenting various awards - Cate Blanchett (who is just luminous!), Eric Bana (rather spunky), Sam Neill, Baz Luhrmann, Abbie Cornish, Claudia Karvan (one of my fav Aussie actresses) and some others I can't remember.
My sister-in-law has scored the L'Oreal goodie bag which was in a cute mini hat box.

Oh yeah, and some people won awards - the AFI statue looks like a lucite pepper grinder

I've had some great meals as per usual here - I highly recommend Vue De Monde on Lt Collins St, and Movita for tapas opposite Federation Square. Going for yum cha today, so it'll be exercise compensation week coming up! Have to try and fit in some shooting today too...uh too hot and smoky.

Hope the weather is more favourable for the Country Fire service men and women. Keep those brave guys in your thoughts. Today's going to be a scorcher

Edit - check out the smoke over the city yesterday and today. The tall building is the Eureka Tower apartments. Nasty

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

The Red Carpet

`Argocat8 — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 15:58:23 PST

Yay, it's December, the weather is warm, summer is here, and Christmas hols are only a few weeks away.

Haven't been doing much shooting except of some friends at lunch on the weekend. Really should get into some portraits, but finding willing models and settings isn't that easy.

The AFI (Australian Film Institute) Awards are on this week. A friend and I are hopping over to Melbourne to attend, so should be fun!
We're going to the dinner, the Awards ceremony (being televised on Channel 9 at 930pm just in case you're interested ), and then the After Party. Wooohooo.

My friend and I are going to get frocked up and get up to some mischief. hehe two girls, too many celebs, and somehow I'm going to get a camera in there hehehehehe.

I'll let you know how we go. Bleah if only I was Chris Weeks with a rangefinder weeeelll maybe not literally...sorry Chris

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Hot favourites

`Argocat8 — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 20:26:41 PST

Only one more month until Christmas! I can't believe the year has flown by so fast. I must be getting old haha

Went to the Norwood Christmas Pageant this morning. Haven't been to see it in years, but it was fun, especially since my godson's dad ~secretagent777 was on a camel, posing as a Wise Man From the East hahah. The camel looked quite well behaved, and I hope Steve didn't kick it too much like last year!

I've put up a few pics I took at the parade, taken with Steve's Nikon D200 with it's smashing Nikon DX VR 18-200 mm F3.5-5.6G Zoom lens. The VR worked well, but I can see how the batteries get chewed up. Heavy camera too, which got a bit tiring in the heat.
Nice to do some shooting though, haven't been active for ages (the cat pics don't count haha)

Thought I'd share some of my favs with you. I don't fav lightly. The photo needs to speak something to me. Whether it's colour or B&W something has to touch me personally...and basically that is what photography is all about. How can the pic touch you or someone else, not only in the mind but in the heart?

So open your minds, and fling open the heart....

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Channelling Madonna....NOT

`Argocat8 — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:24:03 PST

haha

yes, rather an obscure reference, but I've been thinking about holidays. (And you'll have to be of a certain age to remember the Madonna song "Holiday" )

I haven't had a proper holiday for quite some time. Usually when I do trips away from home I pack in a conference or medical meeting so that I can justify the cost (my accountant approves). But now I want a real holiday. A couple of weeks of doing nothing....nada, nix, zero activity.

I'm looking for suggestions - either home or abroad, all options considered (but probably I'll be limited to here in Australia or SE Asia...further afield will be too expensive)

But don't hold back - tell me your best holiday destination that you've experienced....and then tell me your DREAM holiday place. Where would you like to be right now?

Fire away!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Shuffle to the left, shuffle to the right....

`Argocat8 — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 02:30:20 PST

ooooh yeah, it's charging as we speak

I can't believe it's so...

tiny!

going to take her joggin' tomorrow morning...oooh yeah!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Bits of fluff

`Argocat8 — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:20:42 PST

Haven't cold browsed dA for quite some time, and this afternoon, instead of writing a talk, I decided to have a look at the Domesticated Animals section in Photography.

So here goes *drum roll*.....prepare to be...hmmm "fluffed" ain't the right word

um....enjoy the Fluffies

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at

Pinch and a punch

`Argocat8 — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:23:20 PST

...on the first of the month!

So another step further to the end of the year is taken. What a year!

I really love calendars. Especially ones with beautiful photos that showcase somewhere I'd like to go. I currently have a drug company one on my wall which has some gorgeous pics. *sigh*

However my good friend Gianluca =nasht-01 has made a stunning calendar showcasing his wonderful work

Tuscany Sky and Earth

Do yourself a favour, check it out, and I dare you not to press the Buy button

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Ye Olde Baggie

`Argocat8 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:28:23 PDT

Yay me.

It's my birthday today. I'm officially old. How old? hahah over 21

If anyone can guess (and those of you who actually know can't say!) I'll give you a or two. If you guess too high, you get a

Actually not too unhappy about getting old. I'm in pretty good shape, my friends and family are healthy and happy.

Life's good_TM

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Prints heaven

`Argocat8 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:28:40 PDT

Another weekend has come, and really nearly gone. I need a 3 day weekend...really One day to wind down, one day to let loose and enjoy, and then another one, just for good measure.

The weather today is PERFECT. I've already been down to the beach this morning for a good walk, and everyone was there, with and without doggies

This week, got a trio of fabulous prints framed. Two are for me, and one is for my manager who is going to put this one from *indorock on the wall above her desk

This one by `londonxpress is on the wall upstairs on the landing

...and this one by =nasht-01

...is on my wall above my bed.

I'm chuffed. Nearly run out of hooks in my house! I'm very grateful to these three talented guys for sharing their work with me and all of you too.

Avagoodweekend

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Yay for the weekend

`Argocat8 — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:30:25 PDT

yeeeha it's Saturday, and after a dastardly nasty Friday, I'm very glad. Spring is here, the weather is fine, I'm happy!

Most importantly I have broadband back, but little time to browse my dA message centre (damn paperwork and tax!) but I'm hoping to spend time with special friends and recharge...ready for next week bleah

Went to the Florey Medical Foundation art exhibition the other night. About 250 artists were given a canvas and asked to paint a picture anonymously. All paintings were $250, so if you picked up a well-known artist (and some sell similar size works for $4000!) you got a bargain. One of my friends got one she wanted, but of course others missed out. The artists were a wide range of people too, from celebs to art students to schoolkids. One of my patients is a visual arts student and one of his works was up.
Unfortunately looks like it will be the last time the event is held, which is a pity, but it was a fun night...and I think I got my photo taken to go in SA Life magazine

Catch you later folks. Keep up the creativeness...I'll try to wade through my devWatch...sometime...eventually

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

I'm moofed!

`Argocat8 — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:31:19 PDT

Check out `zerocomplex's Story contest [link] A sexy contest for photographers with a film scanner up for grabs! Sounds like a ripper...

Yah, so I'm in my new house and ever so chuffed. It's like being on holiday, but I get to live here!

The movers were good blokes. Funny how removal guys are not necessarily big huge fellas. It's all about the technique of lifting heavy objects.

Anyway, will be a few more days without internet; just catching up on 100 messages at work ()

Will be away for the long weekend, after seeing The Devil Wears Prada tonight, so catch you all later

Thanks for all your lovely comments, favs and watches. Muchly appreciated!!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Damn Telstra to ...wherever bad telcos go

`Argocat8 — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:13:48 PDT

Check out `zerocomplex's Story contest [link] A sexy contest for photographers with a film scanner up for grabs! Sounds like a ripper...

Well, I wake up this morning and I have no ADSL2

Have to go to work so when I come home to deal with it later, it's still off.

My ISP says that Telstra have cut off my connection because I'm moving next week. They just do that randomly...cut you off 1 week EARLY!

Have you TRIED browsing dA with dialup....it...is...frustrating

so I won't be here much in the next few weeks...oh yeah, because my ISP doesn't connect me back for 3 WEEKS!!!!!!!!

x10000

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Fav feature

`Argocat8 — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:23:19 PDT

Check out `zerocomplex's Story contest [link] A sexy contest for photographers with a film scanner up for grabs! Sounds like a ripper...

Mood: hmmm

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

AFI wha?

`Argocat8 — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 01:32:41 PDT

Check out `zerocomplex's Story contest [link] A sexy contest for photographers with a film scanner up for grabs! Sounds like a ripper...

Mood: yay it's the weekend

The other night I joined the AFI. What is that, I hear you ask?

It's the Australian Film Institute and I'm already enjoying the benefits. The 48th Annual AFI Festival began this week, and I get to see the nominated films for free...so I see about 4-5 films and I get my money's worth. Plus cinema discounts and major reductions on film magazine subscriptions (like Empire, which I gave away since it was a bit expensive)

And I get to attend the AFI Awards in Melbourne in December. Rubbing shoulders (or at least gazing adoringly on the red carpet) at all the Aussie movie celebs and a good excuse to frock up.

I've seen two of the nominated films already - "Last Train to Freo" and "The Book of Revelations". Both way better than I expected, although the latter is R-rated, and will shock those who can't handle explicit male nudity and sex. I did have to cover my eyes at one point, and a little old lady left during the next bit. Really really intense film, but really really good too. The lead actor, Tom Long was incredible, and well-known supporters Colin Friels and Greta Scacchi were good too. Cinematography compelling (and as a photographer, some wonderfully composed scenes) and good music score.
So if you're old enough, go and see them

I love movies. If I wasn't doing what I do, I would be a movie reviewer. I have too many DVD's, and I watch my favourites over and over again. It's an escape for a few hours from the real world.
Some of my favourites? Too many to list -
Leon, The Professional (by Luc Besson, and starring a marvellous Jean Reno and Natalie Portman in her debut),
Elizabeth (starring Cate Blanchett),
Pulp Fiction,
Blade Runner (dir. cut),
Traffic,
Fight Club,
The Motorcycle Diaries....argh the list is so long.
And all the Sean Connery James Bond films.
..and yes, I'm a Trek movie lover.
And occasionally when I'm in the mood, those lame-oh RomCom's that make you cry eg. Love Actually, Four Weddings & A Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, The Joy Luck Club.

So who else loves movies? What are your top 5 all time worn out DVD's?

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Triptych tales...

`Argocat8 — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:24:09 PDT

Mood: tired

Check out `zerocomplex's Story contest [link] A sexy contest for photographers with a film scanner up for grabs! Sounds like a ripper...

These past few days have been emotionally quite intense for me. Dealing with emotional stuff is a pain. Not only when you deal with your own crap, but when others unload on you too, it's doubly difficult. Especially when it's someone you care for, but you wonder whether you can help or only hinder.

On top of all that I'm moving house, which is kinda exciting, but dealing with all the paraphenalia of it is grinding. I particularly hate (HATE!) being put in a queue on utilities phone lines. "You have progressed in the queue. Please hold, your call is important to us." Right!
Meh, it'll be all sorted soon though, and then I can shift out of this piece of freezing crap I've called home for 10 yrs and on to the NEW! Also a good chance to clear out some paperwork that has accumulated on my floor, and maybe reassess my wardrobe hehe.
Hobbes will have plenty of room to explore too, so it's all good.

It's cold and rainy again...hope we get some more rain that we missed out in August. We're heading for drought

That's about it for today folks...dull as dishwater I know, but hey, I'm an old lady...cut me some slack (that looks like he's bashing the granny )

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

emo shit

`Argocat8 — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:48:51 PDT

it's my late dad's birthday tomorrow

6 yrs since he's been gone

I'm depressed

later....whatever

I'll probably regret this in the morning

3rd Sept Edit - Thanks to my dear dA friends for your hugs and words of support. I had a rough day yesterday, brain worked way overtime about my dad, and other confusing stuff. In the end though it was a good day.

Hobbes kept me company at my desk for a while (he did seem to know I was in a bad mood, putting his warm little paws on my shoulder...but maybe he was just thinking "Milk for me?"),
took some photos (thanks for the inspiration a-m!!),
did a 200km drive down south in perfect weather,
played Coldplay too much (no Radiohead for you Mark, sorry),
and had a lovely dinner with a friend up at Windy Point.

Sometimes you have to have the bad, to recognise the good...

I'm probably off to the Royal Show this afternoon (I got a free ticket nah nah!). For all you South Aussies, maybe see you there! I want to catch the dog show, and of course see if any cute cats are going to give Hobbes some competition.

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Big Night with Hugh

`Argocat8 — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:04:27 PDT

Mood: woohoo yeeeehaa

Well, I saw the delicious Hugh Jackman in "The Boy From Oz" last night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Yes, the tickets were expensive, but WORTH EVERY CENT!!

Hugh was amazing - singing his guts out, pitch perfect, high kicks, camp jokes and entirely taking on the persona of Peter Allen. Some local content (he put a Crows shirt on, changing onstage behind the coats held out by his backup singers ) which I bet he does in every town. Also dragged a guy from the audience onstage....very very funny.

The songs were amazing...teared up a bit during "I Still Call Australia Home" and the finale "I Go to Rio" was high madness.

The best bits? The final encore with Hugh alone on stage singing "Once Before I Go" and singing his heart out, and the high-kicking chorus line with the Rockettes "Everything Old Is New Again" (with some very amazing looking Rockets in amongst the girls! God, some of those boys have great legs!)

Just confirmed to me that Hugh definitely deserved his Tony, and is one of the most talented performers to come out of Australia in a long time.

If you can GO SEE IT!!!

Hubba hubba HUBBA!!!! Oh and Murray Bartlett who played Peter's partner Greg, is hot too!
Oh and Chrissie Amphlett, Colleen Hewett and Angela Toohey were pretty damn great too

OK enough fainting....cya!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

Panorama Contest Results Released!

`Argocat8 — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:21:47 PDT

stamp by =lukeroberts

`londonxpress and `designgeek have come up with an incredibly sensible and bright idea for finding deviants who actually want critique. We all have the option to select how much critique we'd like on our artwork, so why not have an option to be able to browse by this criterion? Smart eh?
Have a peek here at the concept and comment here with your thoughts/suggestions.

Join the Comment Revolution!

Well $pachunka has come up with a clever idea called the Launching Pad to get unrecognised deviants out there and ...recognised . It's just at a concept stage right now, but it sounds like a good idea. For a good description of how it might work, have a look at ^superkev's journal I'm sure any suggestions to improve or tweak the Launching Pad would be welcome. I think anything that helps to promote less popular artists is a good thing. Finding some exposure amongst thousands of other people is hard!

Mood: woohoo

The results are in! Check out `londonxpress's journal here

Here are the winners and boy was it a difficult task to pick!
I hope you agree though, the winners were worthy ones. Stunning photos, amazing stitching and wonderful subjects to capture in true pano stylin'

I posted this as a News Article as well, but formatting isn't so great, and I couldn't figure any way to link offsite to make bigger thumbs If anyone can tell me for future reference I'd appreciate it.

Sooo the weekend is here
The sun is shining!
I'm going partying tonight (cheap drunk here I come!) yeeeha!

Love,
Karen

don't forget to......
create, dream, hope, enrich.......

Check out the =thebigpicture - a photography club with attitude

Have a peek at - deviants from ...uh, Adelaide, oddly enough!

I don't remember shooting that!!!

`Argocat8 — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:15:36 PDT

stamp by =lukeroberts

Join the Comment Revolution!

Mood: gah

On the weekend I flew in/flew out of Sydney, one of the best cities in the world to visit (live? meh I can do without the smog, the traffic, the high prices, but the food and shopping is good dammit!). Unfortunately most of my visit was spent struggling to keep awake during a conference meeting (wow, how many glasses of water did I chug? And did I eat the entire hotel's supply of Mentos???)

The nice thing though was that the organisers chose the Hilton...yes, nice hotel to have a meeting, but more importantly, handy for conference attendees to duck next door to the Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall for some retail therapy!!! Poor old credit card

I alway have difficulty sleeping in a new place on the first night away from home. I stayed at the Swissotel round the corner from the Hilton. Nice place, and I would stay there again. The bed was a bit hard though, and I think contributed to the strange episode I will now retell.

Has anyone ever taken a photograph in their sleep?

I brought my camera along as usual, but didn't want to lug it along to the meeting, so locked it up in my room safe. Next day on the flight home, I'm showing my friend on the plane some photos I took, and we come across the image below. Now I don't remember taking this photo, and oddly enough my camera in the middle of the night was taken out of the safe and ended up on the bedside table.

Hey I shoot in portrait and in manual in my SLEEP! And half blind, since you can see my glasses in the shot!!!

I'm so cool.

Edit - got my report card from the Royal Show Photography competition. One of my pics (below) was chosen for exhibition. I'm pretty happy. For those of you who go to the Show this year, check out the Photographic Gallery, Mezzanine Level, Ridley Centre, Wayville Showgrounds 1st-9th September

Brand spanking new?

`Argocat8 — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:23:55 PDT

stamp by =lukeroberts

Join the Comment Revolution!

Mood: yawn

Soooo, welcome to deviantART version 5.

I'm not going to do a critique on the new site design. Already commented in a few places about what I don't like...meh. I'm too busy and apathetic this week. It'll probably take me some time to explore a bit, and find some things that are new and improved. There appears to still be some work to do, so I'll reserve full judgement until then.

Judging for the Royal Show Photography Exhibition was last weekend. Quite an eye-opener. I don't think any of my photos got picked for display Will wait for the report cards. IMO the judges were a bit conservative and hey, how about some FEMALE judges? Somehow I don't think the opinions of 6 middle-aged men is particularly broad I didn't agree with some of the winners (hello! How is a photomanipulation so manipulated it looks like an etching count in a photography competition??? ), but hey, I'm not a judge.

My photography teacher Tim agreed with me -

Me - "Tim, it's like apples and oranges! You can't compare those pieces! Even though I think it's a great artistic submission, it's not a photograph! It's meat vs vegetables" (to take a metaphor and completely run with it hey, I was tired!)
Tim - "No, it's food vs dog poop"

Onya Tim! hahahha
Record submission total for the Show this year, well over 1100 photos. Now you know why I'm so tired. I'll never look at a Post-It^TM note the same way again!

Anyway, I've decided maybe to avoid camera clubs this year. I'm taking photos for me and my friends. Don't need the angst, and the photo-snobbery. If anyone wants to prove me wrong, go ahead, I'm listening.

Went down to Pt Willunga on the weekend with a friend. Adelaideans will remember how marvellous the weather was (it's raining this morning yaaay). Had lunch at the Star of Greece, and then went down to Victor Harbour, for a saunter, coffee an...