Start at Go

Start at Go. Don't you wish life was that simple? Like a board game?

And who says we can't have pink 50 dollar bills?

I've gone through this metamorphosis where I am officially starting anew, with everything. All my life I have never really finished things, I was always the support, always hanging on that rung of the ladder that really wasn't quite where I wanted to be, but it wasn't as high either so it was safe and I knew I could do it. Told that I was needed, but then when I gained confidence, was brought down by my leaders and told I was "almost there". I'm sorry but you don't stay almost anywhere for years at a time unless your really not good at all. But I am good, and I am watching the prime of my youth slip through my fingers.

NO MORE!!!

It starts here. Seems like all my life I was waiting for someone to tell me "Ok, N, you start here, this is your beginning" but I have found it's not that way. It's like having a baby- you can wait until your "ready" but you'll be waiting forever because your never really ready for what life throws at you. Otherwise, we'd see what was coming miles ahead and life would be pretty dull. I am pretty good at applying this logic to other aspects of my life, but when it comes to careers and such, not so much. That changes now.

Here's an example: Doll Collectors are pretty hardcore, most of them. They'll collect all kinds of dolls but they especially cherish NRFB dolls.

NRFB (Never Removed From Box) (and I only know that from watching an episode of Dexter's Laboratory on Cartoon Network one day probably 12 years ago)

I am an NRFB professional. But I am not scared, I am cherished, prized. I am in the prime and I will do what's right for me and share my joy with the world through my craft that I have worked years to master.

This is my time!

Don't ever let someone, especially someone you look up to, try to tear you down. It's usually for their benefit alone that they do this and they are probably afraid of your success. It is crushing when someone you admire or apprentice declares to your face that they believe you will fail, almost like they wish that for you. Don't let it discourage you. Especially if you are young.

Remember Age does not bring talent. Talent knows no age.

If you are young and you want something that someone said you were to young to achieve, block them out and listen to your heart. Your true friends and family are probably waiting by to cheer you on. THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED.

Make a plan, pray about it, dream about it, and then...

do it. And be great.

Wow of Silence

So I know it's been a while, but I've been very busy. I can't remember if I mentioned if I am a photographer, but I am. That's what I do, professionally, for a living.

It ain't no hobby!

Anyway, this weekend was supposed to be the busiest weekend of the year for me. I was triple booked! Let's do this thang!

From Thursday of last week until Wednesday of this week, I was out of town meeting my boyfriend's family for the first time ever! I missed a Dave Matthews Band concert to do it, so it really meant a lot to me. It was great! I couldn't be happier, and I am so thrilled at the idea of spending the rest of my life with this man that I love and being a part of his wonderful family!

While some of my friends asked if I came back with an engagement ring (alas, I did not), I did not come back empty handed! I have what the doctors are calling "Big Hot Potato Boys". My tonsils are swollen to the size of quarters and covered in blood and puss!

Yay.

As you can imagine, I can't talk, and I spit up blood regularly. Blood is all I taste, it's all I smell. I could NEVER be a vampire. I hate the taste of blood.

You'd be surprised to know just how much a photographer uses their voice at a wedding. I stay very quiet, very "fly on the wall", but during the portraits I am the loudest person in the county! (Think about on Thanksgiving when you have to organize your entire family, immediate and extended, into seats and distribute food- now add alcohol to the mix and imagine getting everyone together for a respectable photo- are you cringing yet?)

If you are married and you thought your photographer was bossy and loud during portraits, I bet you loved your photos, if they were mellow and quiet, I bet your photos left something to be desired. Am I right or am I right?

So I was taken off yesterday's and today's weddings, which kinda sucks because I really do love what I do. I miss it. I love looking into the camera and smiling at what I see.

Photography is the most rewarding and humbling profession in the world. And if it were easy, everyone would do it. But it's like singing, some people just have a calling for it, a knack. I like to think I have that calling, that knack.

For now, I have a knack for not speaking. To be perfectly blunt, it sucks, and I miss my voice. What I miss most is not being able to tell my boyfriend that I love him.

I doubt I have any readers, but just in case I do, please pray for me.

Thanks :)

-N

French Butchers

Listen, I've got a beef with all you French Butchers out there.

Allow me to clarify- when I say "French Butcher" I'm referring to ignorant people trying to be clever by using the French language to further their point and butchering the language in the process.

I was reading reviews on trip advisor and this ignorant man had left a poor review. My first clue to his stupidity should have been that he was shocked at check-in that his room was in the other building. Many hotels are like that. In fact, I'm pretty sure every hotel on Disney property has multiple buildings. And let me tell you, Disney knows how it's done.

Then this snarky idiot goes on to sarcastically praise himself for "finding a new use for a wet towel". He prefaces this comment with (and I quote) "Walah!"

People of the world, there is no such word as "Walah".

The French have a word for "there you have it!" and it is "Voila". There is no "w". Anyone who says "Walah" or spells it like that is an ignoramus and you should disassociate yourself from them as soon as humanly possible.

I studied 5 levels of French for 4 years and went on to use it after my studying. It's things like this that make us look lazy. I'm not going to apologize for America (like a certain socialist president) but I will try to help make it better with sound advice and a stable mind.

Remember folks, you are only as good as the company you keep. What does your company say about you? And do they say it in French?

Beware the French Butchers!

Hukilau!

It's coming...

It's the HUKILAU!!!

June 10th-13th in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

You can still get tickets! Show some love to the vendors and sponsors!

www.thehukilau.com

Numba One!

So this is my Blog. Ta da...

I started it because sometimes I have thoughts that make me space out. Sometimes my friends will ask what I'm thinking about in these fits of trance and I really hate explaining my whole train of thoughts just to get to the immediate thought which isn't really important enough to explain.

But it is important enough for a blog.

One of these incidents in question happened the other day. I was snapped out of a pleasant trance by a friend of mine simply to explain that I had been wondering who the first person to use the word "bling" was. And when they said "bling", was it accepted right away, or was there explaining to be done? How long did it take to catch on exactly? And is that person still saying "bling" today? Do they even know they coined the phrase?

See, you'd be falling asleep in your martini right now if I were telling you all this. Maybe you are. I certainly don't have a problem pairing booze with the internet. Perhaps that's what will make my blog more interesting...

Anyway, the title is Confessions of a Tikiholic because I'm really into Tiki and Polynesian Pop Culture (hereafter referred to as "Poly-Pop"). So I thought it might be cool to throw that stuff in too.

I am also interested in purchasing a Wii as a means to physical fitness. I'm not fat, I'm just not as fit as I'd like to be. As of January 2011, I will be taking Hula lessons, so that's fun. I just can't go to a gym. I don't learn anything from running on a treadmill, but with Hula, I can tell you about a hurricane that fell in love with a volcano without saying a word. Now that's a skill! I got pretty good a DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) when I was in high school, so I think the Wii thing will work out nicely and the Hula thing is just downright awesome!

I also like vintage things. I collect vintage barware and tiki mugs. I'm a big fan of vintage clothing.

Spoiler alert: you won't hear gossip, drama, or extreme details of my life. You will never learn my name or age. This is just for fun.

Besides, I just started, I'm not sure how I feel about the whole blogging thing yet...