Resolutions, pain and Happiness?

Resolutions

One of my resolutions for this year was to print my photos, frame them and display them in my home.  Last weekend I did just that.  Well.... I printed 9 photos with my new HP Photosmart printer (Christmas present from Sweetie) and I framed and hung 3 of them.  Its a start.
Earlier in the blog I was questioning how to pick which photo's to print.  Turns out when I really started looking through them all (oh My God, who took all those???)  I knew exactly which ones I want to look at every day.

This really is a photo I took of wild ginger in Hawaii.  I was playing with a demo of an online painter program and this is the result.  The printed photo is gorgeous.

With the same online painter program I turned a photo of Koi fish (taken in Hawaii outside our favourite Starbucks) into an oil painting.  The printed photo is good but it would look much better on matte paper.

Again, another favourite photo from Hawaii.  Do you see a theme happening here?  I also realized that not only do I collect tea pots I like to take pictures of them too!

Such a beautiful view.  The color of the water almost hurts to look at.  Hawaii again.  What a rugged land.

Mai Tai's at our favourite restaurant on Maui.  Mamas Fish House.  All I can say is YUMMY.

 Check it out:  Mamas fish house on Maui

And finally, the first picture I see every day when I get out of bed

5th Avenue, New York City.  The place where stone castles meet glass skyscrapers.  I will forever be reminded of this wonderful trip.

Pain

The pain is all about the carpal tunnel.  Crappy. I'm looking at surgery some time in February.  More on that at a later date.  Here's a little info though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

Happiness

Some time before Christmas I was on Amazon looking for the latest book by Elizabeth Gilbert.   I was so excited to hear she has written a sequel to Eat Pray Love.  I will read anything she writes, even a grocery list !   http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm

Along with Elizabeth Gilberts new book Committed was a recommendation for "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin.  The more I read about this book the more intrigued I became.  It hadn't been released yet and I wanted it.  I ordered two copies, one for myself and one for my sister.  They came in the mail a few weeks ago and I've been reading it and thinking about it ever since.  Check it out:  http://www.happiness-project.com/  I'm so taken with this idea that I am going to start at the beginning and read it over again, taking my time, bad habit, that speed reading.

New Year, new ideas?

I've been thinking a lot lately about blog themes.  Basically, trying to find my own voice.  The experts say the best way to do that is by reading other blogs and adopting or adapting what it is you like about them into your own blog.  I guess that's what I have a problem with.  We all want to be original, unique even.  But hasn't everything already been done?  I sure hope not.

Anyway, I am contemplating a theme for a series of photographs and one that appeals to me greatly is based upon color. How about "searching for aqua in life".  Since I could never choose between blue or green as my favorite color, I have decided that aqua it is.  Sometimes more blue than green, but always questionable... the color of beach glass or a favorite tee shirt. This could be a very difficult assignment this time of year in our climate.  If I said searching for grey in life, well then, there would so much more to choose from! 

While I contemplate what it is I want to do in a blog.... here are some new photos from yesterday.  Walking my favorite trail in the rain.  And why is it photos look so much better on rainy days?