Behind the Door

Life is a challenge!

The other day a good friend of mine told me she wished she could find a project she could be enthusiastic about.

Being in rather odd space myself, I understand what she means.

I have been dealing with some health issues and some daily-day-in-and-day-out-drama- of-did-I-really-sign-up-this?, that I find myself someplace between “wanting to understand” and “thinking I just don’t really care” So I guess you could say I feel all over the place, especially when it comes to wasting my energy on something not worthwhile.

I just want to be inspired……………… do you ever feel that way? Inspired by something in life. To feel that what I am putting in might actually feel like it is worth all my efforts….. or benefit someone else in the long run. To feel like there is actually something good behind the door.

For the past few years, I have sponsored a little league team of 10. They don’t wear my company logo or even know my name. It is not a competitive league they play in, it is not about box scores, hits or homeruns. It is a place where they learn that in life there is a higher value placed on character than on wins and losses.

That is my kind of team!

So back to trying to find a way to get interested in actually getting out of bed. I am hunting for a challenge.

Last month I sold something that I had stored in my garage for $75, I decided to challenge myself and see how much I could turn it into in a month’s time. So I made myself a little mini business plan and in 30 days I had turned that $75 into $400.

So it has me thinking what if you gave yourself $100 and 1 year. What could you do?

I know from my own experience you can do a lot in one year. I took over 10,000 photos in one year. And I managed to publish hundreds of them here in my blog and in other places. Could you at least prove to yourself that you have the character to succeed. To take something and turn it into more.

So that is my challenge I have given myself and anyone that wants to join in the fun, it only takes getting your hands on $100.

One Hundred Dollars and One Year!

You can do something that only you benefit from, perhaps you will use it as some kind of seed money for a project that turns into something more. Maybe in the end you pay off a dreaded credit card, maybe you help a family in need or your favorite charity. And maybe, just maybe, you might just start the next big thing.

I realize for some who read this $100 is really nothing, but for some of us, it is something and that can lead to something more.

What will you do?
How will you challenge yourself?
It could just change the way you see things and the way you value things.

Busy Nothings

Interstate 5 Truckin' 8.9.10

Just a reminder "there is no off season" 8.10.10

Handle 8.11.10

Foggy Bridge 8.11.10

So I wish I could dance 8.12.10

Reflection 8.13.10

My starry night 8.14.10

Scoreboard 8.15.10

First Fruits of the Garden 8.16.10

These shoes were made for walking 8.17.10

Heirloom Beauty 8.18.10

View from Above 8.19.10

Late Night Drive 8.20.10

Blue Waves and Yellow Rays 8.21.10

Love this Color 8.22.10

“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.” ~ Jane Austen

Yep. That has been my life. A quick succession of busy nothing. A little bit of freaking out because I had not updated this blog in a while. So seeing this quote reminded me I am not alone.

Busy. Just. Like. Everyone. Else….. breathe, breathe, breathe.

Somehow as the summer ends, getting ready for school, fitting in that last vacation, work, charity work and willing my tomatoes to ripen, I got so busy I did not post, I was even afraid I had forgotten to take my photos, but it appears I was on auto-pilot and did them. I am stunned by that a little bit. But then again this is what I am suppose to be doing right? Enough with being stunned.

Well I won’t take up any more of your time, because you have way too many photos here to look at.

Enjoy the view!

-MJC

destination is never a place

Calling it a day 7.25.10


Family Game night 7.26.10


Key to my Heart 7.28.10


Poppy 7.29.10


So Proud 7.30.10


Heading South 7.31.10


Yummy 8.1.10


Hard Rockin Sunshine 8.2.10


Umbrella Man 8.3.10


Wave Runner 8.4.10


Sweet....Tart 8.5.10


Palm 8.6.10


Night sky 8.7.10


Palm Springs Bougainvillea 8.8.10

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -- Henry Miller

I have been away for a bit, but I did not stop capturing my days. Here are just a few, I have some more to edit for this weekends post. I have been playing with the new hipstamatic app on the iphone. So fun making all your photos look like old photos.

Enjoy the view!

mark everyday

How vertigo feels to me 7.18.10


White Petals 7.19.10


Green Goodness in the Garden 7.20.10


Nightlight 7.21.10


Shadow 7.22.10


Russian River 7.23.10


Cherries 7.24.10


“You have to mark everyday- not just the best moments.”

the things you are....

Lamplight at night 7.11.10

Woody outside my office window 7.12.10

Neighborhood rooftops and Moonlight 7.13.10

Western Boy 7.14.10


Public House Kegs 7.15.10


Purple Petals 7.16.10


Sonoma Sunset 7.17.10


“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~ Kevin Arnold

So true, so true.

Memories are so powerful, the songs we hear, the breezes we feel, the air we smell, the things we see, they are all landmarks within our memories of days both recent and past.

When I started my 1st 365 project, I never thought about the memories I would be making when it did it. But I have to say I am so thankful for those 365 days of memories, more than any other year of my life, I can remember so much.

Like the subtitle of this blog, brief intervals of time, that is just what memories are, but they mean so much more than that. They are the markers of our lives. So take a moment and remember something small or big, your wedding day, the first house you lived in as a child, your favorite vacation spot, the day you cleared your inbox, or the best waffle you ever ate.

Go ahead, take a moment and escape. You will be glad you did.

What you know and what you can do.......

Bokeh 7.4.10


Maple Leaves 7.5.10


Hot in Healdsburg 7.6.10

Love that smile 07.7.10


Santa Rosa Sailing 7.8.10


Painted Lady 7.9.10


Manolo 7.10.10

Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Reggie Jackson and me.

Yep, me, you read that right. I have something in common with those guys. They all wore the number 44 and so do I this year.

When I completed my 365 project in the summer of 2009, I was thrilled, relieved and proud. But it did not take long to realize how much I missed it, so now I begin again, year 44, just me doing what I love and feel I should be doing, taking pictures……and if you are wondering why I would do it again. It is simple, because it makes me happy, after all the number 44 is a happy number. And who does not need a little happiness these days.

~ Know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do. ~ Menander

So please feel free to sign up and join the journey, I will try to make it a good one.

-MJC

For more interesting facts about the number 44, check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_44