I really can't figure it out, but somehow, June is just about over.
My workouts have kept me busy. I have finally adjusted to my shoulder workouts, although there are still days and exercises that are extremely challenging. Even though I have developed muscles in my arms, and this time, muscles that you can even see, my left arm is still pretty weak and not pain free yet. I am thinking about adding more days each week to my workout for the month of July.
I have also been enjoying watching the Red Sox this summer. They started out in first (for a day), lost a bunch of games, and then everyone wrote them off. As a Sox fan, I have learned to never give up on the Sox! They have fought their way back and as of today, they are just one game out of of first place! This really is an amazing feat, especially with all of the injuries this year, and when I say injuries, I am talking someone at just about every position being hurt. It has been unbelievable! There have been broken ribs, a broken foot, a broken thumb, hamstring pulls, as well as a variety of other injuries. Meanwhile, the new players brought up to take the place of the injured players have been pulling their weight and the Sox miraculously keep on winning! GO SOX!!!!
My photography started last week. This class is more of a creative class rather than a class on settings and how to shoot manual. For our first class, we talked about some of the elements that make a good composition. We need to choose a genre for our photos and once we choose our genre, we cannot change it. Even though I have had months to think about which genre to choose (we were told this during the last day of the previous class I took), I still could not decide. I took a ton of photos the past few days while still thinking about a few genre possibilities (beach, flowers, plants, lines, architecture). For our first assignment, we need to turn in just one photograph. I was up until 1 am Monday night trying to finally make a decision on my genre and then trying to decide on which photo out of the hundreds I took to turn. On Wednesday, when the photo is shown in class, we will need to defend it while everyone else critiques the photo. Talk about stress!
So, here is the photo I turned in. I decided on lines.
Happy last day of June!! I will try to catch up with everyone real soon.
*Update July 1st: Unbelievable! Since I wrote this post, two more Red Sox players have gone on the DL (disabled list). Another broken foot and a pitcher with a right forearm strain. We are out of catchers. There have been five total in just the past week! The blogs are going crazy with catchy titles and posts about the various injuries. No one can believe the bad luck. ESPN has been referring to it as the Sox injury bug, and that was before the latest two injuries occurred.
As far as my class went, I really enjoyed the variety of themes chosen by the different people in the class. I think I am going to learn a lot from everyone. I feel a little more relaxed now that I got my first photo out of the way. I received some nice critiques on my photo and my teacher said that my theme (lines in nature - had to make it a bit more specific) sounded like an interesting theme. Oh, and can you see a letter in my leaf photo? I didn't notice it until my teacher pointed it out.
Comments (8)
Hi Girasoli, I'm glad that you are adjusting to your exercises. I hope you continue to improve and that you can finally be pain free. Kudos to your Red Sox too for fighting through their injuries to climb back to 2nd place. They have a lot of heart.
Your photography class sounds so interesting. Great choice for your Lines subject. I need to try to dedicate more time to practicing my photography, but I always get so distracted. But reading about your classes and lessons is good motivation for me.
Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | July 1, 2010 5:51 PM
Posted on July 1, 2010 17:51
HI Kathy, I bumped my number of sessions up to 4 times a week. Today when I went in, they also bumped up my weight and time for each exercise. Tough session. I know my arms will get stronger eventually. They have to! I am hopeful that the pain will stop sometime soon.
Read my update on this blog post for even more injuries!! This team really does have a lot of heart to have not given up by now.
Practice is the key but it is so easy to get distracted. I hope I can be an inspiration for you. Happy July 4th to you too :)
Posted by girasoli | July 1, 2010 11:23 PM
Posted on July 1, 2010 23:23
I know, I can't believe it's July already. Love the photo and "lines" was a great choice. Sorry about your Sox!
Posted by Annie | July 2, 2010 6:45 AM
Posted on July 2, 2010 06:45
I see a giant "E" in your leaf photo, is that what your instructor was referring to? It's a wonderful shot, an excellent choice.
Glad to hear that the classes have started, they sound like a wonderful challenge/opportunity.
Your workouts sound pretty painful, but you have a great attitude. Hope they get a bit easier, or at least less painful, soon. I'm back at the gym tomorrow after a month off -- I returned home last night and today I just didn't have the energy for a workout.
Posted by sandrac | July 2, 2010 3:52 PM
Posted on July 2, 2010 15:52
Hi Girasoli, I'm sorry to hear about the additional injuries to your Sox players. But hope is a powerful energy so I'll hope the injuries heal quickly to at least give them an opportunity to make a run for the title. I'll also cross my fingers...
That's cool that you had some good comments on your photos. I had to look closely at your photo for the letter. Is it "E"? If it is, I did not see it either. No wonder he is a teacher, he has a very good eye. Have a great 4th of July Holiday.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | July 3, 2010 3:53 AM
Posted on July 3, 2010 03:53
Great shot! Hope the pain is gone soon. ENOUGH!
Posted by Palma | July 3, 2010 4:28 AM
Posted on July 3, 2010 04:28
I'm glad to hear that you have adjusted to the exercise routine and you are seeing improvement. That is great.
Good choice on the theme. I like your first photo. It took me a while to see the letter. When I was in South Africa, one of guest house owners was taking a photography class. The class assignment was to take a picture that showed a letter of the alphabet. She was doing really well. I thought it was just so tough. But it would definitely improve your ability to see and compose a photo.
Good luck - I hope you post more of your photos for the class.
Posted by Marta | July 3, 2010 6:21 AM
Posted on July 3, 2010 06:21
Annie, thanks. I think it will be a fun theme.
Kathy, yes! an E :) It was nice to hear some nice comments about my photo at my class.
Kathy & Annie, the Sox now have one player at each position on the DL! Amazingly they won again last night playing with a new catcher they just brought in. One of their other new rookies (replacing a player) hit a winning blooper. I don't think this team is going to give up. It has been fun watching them play this summer.
sandra, good eye! Yes it is an E. My class certainly is going to be challenging looking at the future homework assignments. My workout sessions are tough but the result of new muscles is motivating. I don't think they will be getting easier though because this trainer is tough. Once I finally start feeling like I can easily do an exercise, he ups the weights and the time! That's a good thing though, just not something I am thrilled about when I first see the change.
Welcome home! I hope you had a nice trip. I would not be going to work out either the day after returning home. I am sure lifting your luggage and all the walking you did kept you in shape while on your trip.
Palma, thanks! I know. It seems like forever that I have been dealing with this arm.
Marta, it wasn't what I had planned for this summer, but I think it has ended up being a good thing for me. I just hope I can continue on my own once my formal sessions are over.
I am glad you liked my photo. It took me forever to choose one. My teacher mentioned that idea of going out to take nature photos with alphabet letters in them, trying to find one for each letter.
Posted by girasoli | July 3, 2010 12:19 PM
Posted on July 3, 2010 12:19