Photo Challenge:Day 14~Creative

creativity? or filth?

Usually, I am all for creativity and expressing one's self.

But in this case, I have to object.

It must be universal that public restrooms are the canvases to write some of the most lovey dovey ( I <3 Cody) and some of the foulest, non-sensical jargon ever.

At my secondary gig, I was in a rush to go.  There are certain stalls I prefer than others but those were occupied.  But when you have to go, beggars can't be picky.

And in this particular stall, I was so taken back by the amount of crap...everything from representing where you're from to...well you get the idea when you see the picture.

Of course, worse part about it, the culprits wrote it in permanent marker of some sort, so you know its' going to be virtually impossible to take it off.

However, people do things on a public scale, like deface a bathroom door, that they wouldn't do elsewhere, like write it in their parents' bedroom or in their own bathroom.

Shaking my head...

Photo Challenge, Day 13~Noon

Day 13: Noon

I was looking at this and it was very hard to tell it was noon.  You would think it was getting close to sunset by the looks of it.  I just found it very intriguing so decided to snap it.

Day Twelve, Photo Challenge~Beautiful

Day Twelve:  Beautiful

What can I say...I am a sucker for beautiful jewelry...more importantly, rings.  True, I only have eight fingers and two thumbs total, but I just like having versatility...I like having choices.  All of my rings have some sort of sentimental value to them but there were two rings I no longer have because of the memories associated with them.

I usually rock this one with the marquise cut
or by itself.

Genuine sapphire and diamond--had this ring since
I was 18...I actually worked to buy it for myself.

The black and silver rings I got for my birthday last year;
the diamond and gold heart I received years ago
from my mom

The silver & diamond I got as a present; the other
set belongs to my grandma...I have it to keep her close
to me so she never seems too far

Another shot of the previous two rings

Marquise solitaire...I usually pair it with the
three stone

High school class ring

Day Eleven, Photo Challenge~New

Day Eleven: New

These are slip resistant shoes I wear for my current part time gig.  It's a shame that besides these shoes, it has been so long since I've gotten anything new for myself.  I miss when my financial situation was where I could get something new without worrying about how it impacts anything else.  It will be a while before this worry is finally alleviated though.  I just have to celebrate the small victories.

Day Ten, Photo Challenge~High Angle

Day Ten~High Angle

I played around with this for a little bit and here is the result.  One of the rare pictures a certain person stayed still for....giggles.

Day Nine, Photo Challenge~Morning

Day Nine: Morning

I know you were expecting the sunrise....I was, too.  But unfortunately, my morning was spent in the ER.  

Reference:  Irregular

The pain was very bad.  I was trying not to go.  But it got to the point where I couldn't fully deal with it.  So I went....at around 2:30 in the morning.  The date and time on there was when I finally got out of there...with a suggestion to follow up with a ob/gyn.  Because although they took steps to stop the pain and to slow the bleeding...they couldn't give a synopsis on what was causing it.

So we will see what happens.

Day Eight, Photo Challenge~Foot

Very unique indeed

Day Eight: Foot

I know I could have taken a picture of my own foot but what would have been the challenge in that?  Plus, I was feeling too lazy to take off nail polish that is still clinging on since May.

So I had to be very sneaky and catch the sleeping giant (aka the sweetie) while he was sleeping.  It is one of the hairiest feet I have ever seen, to be honest.  But it is what makes it unique...and it being a hard to find shoe size adds to the uniqueness as well, since most shoe places stop at size 13.  Depending on the make of the shoe, he usually has to go with a 14, so it adds a bit of an extra challenge.

And a whole lot of chuckle.

P.S.  If you don't see another blog from me, he has kidnapped me and hid the body for taking a picture of his foot.

P.S. (2).  Just kidding.

Day Seven, Photo Challenge~Red

"What's in the red bag?"

My favorite red bag

Day Seven:  Red

I have an on again, off again affair with Red, I must admit.

Things I love in Red: flowers, cars, lipstick, nail polish, hair, oriental rugs, strawberries, cherry flavored Koolaid, cherry flavored Italian Ice or gelati, salsa

Things I don't like in Red: polo shirts (mainly because I used to work somewhere that the uniform was a red polo shirt, so it kind of turned me off to red), walls painted red, cherries (yes I like cherry flavored things but not the fruit..yes I'm a weirdo)

But what I do have that happens to be red is the bag above that I use as a laundry bag.  I've had the bag ever since 1999.

I was doing an internship in Richmond, VA, for Philip Morris, USA.  They produce the majority of the cigarette products (Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Benson & Hedges, Parliament...the list goes on and on...but not Newports, Kool's, or Camels).  Anyway, every once in a while, they would have this sale on products...like things a person could get if they had enough Marlboro points or what not.  So I ended up getting the bag for a whopping cost of $5.00 and have had it ever since.

I am not a smoker...but I love the durability of this bag.

Day Six, Photo Challenge~Home

Attic Apt. -Deemed 6th Floor

Day 6: Home

Home.

Well, not exactly.

But this is where I reside.  It is the attic of a house that is deemed to be in the historic part of Trenton, NJ.  I also nickname it the Batcave.  

You can tell I reside here because my style of decoration tends to be a bit eclectic.  Depending on which room.  I have a total of three rooms, one bathroom, and a small kitchen area. Where I could not afford lots of lavish paintings, I substituted images of people, things, slogans, concepts that I liked and weaved them together in my own little tapestry.

The year I moved into this apartment was the year of Obama.  It was a month before the November elections and I sensed this would be a historic event.  So, for a while, in one of the rooms, there was a tribute to Obama.  It has sense been taken down, not because of any disappointment I have in his performance ( I knew he couldn't turn around in three and a half years what Bush destroyed in eight) but because it was time for a switch up in design.  I took pictures of it for preservation.

But where I really consider home is the state I was born in (Mississippi) and the town I grew up in Summit.  It's where I got love and care from my grandparents.  Even though I've lived in NJ since 2003, I have never called this place home.  Even when traveling from MS to NJ, I always say, "I'm headed back to Jersey."  When I travel to the apartment, I say, "I'm going back to the apartment."  I never say "Home" unless I am talking about traveling to MS or traveling down South.

back in 2008; in MS

I hope I get back to some semblance of home very soon.

Day Five, Photo Challenge~Guilty Pleasure

Day 5: Guilty Pleasure

It is definitely my writing.  Has been my writing since I was twelve years old.  Even when at one point I wanted to stop writing, I still wrote.  So I'm addicted; I don't think I will ever want to be cured.

What you see pictured are two books.  One is an anthology in which I was the presenter (the one to the left).  The one to the right is one of my self published books, entitled Private Pain.

Day Four, Photo Challenge~Low Angle

Resident Cat-Ma-Maow

4.  Low Angle

Well, living in the attic of a house does have its' advantages.  It makes it a little easier to pull of a low angle shot.  However, one cannot predict whether your subject will stay still for his shot.

Ma-Maow is the resident cat...meaning that I'm just watching him until his original owners find a place that allows cats.  He loves to walk along the banister, which makes it hard to get a good shot of him.  But I did the best I could with him...guess it made for an interesting shot.

If anything, one can wonder what Ma Maow is looking at.

(laughs to self)

Day 3, Photo Challenge~Sweet

Day 3~Sweet

I know there are so many substitutes for sugar.  You have your Equal, your Sweet N Low, your Splenda.  I have tried these as substitutes for the taste.

Equal made me want to throw up.

Sweet N Low made me Unsweet and Mad.

Splenda...well, there's nothing Splendid about it, especially if you have to pay more money for something that advertises it tastes "just like sugar".

I know on some things, the substitutes will do, but on sugar, not for me.

Ain't nothing like the real thing.

Perhaps it's because of the Southerner in me.  The Southern style sweet tea.  When baking, always using authentic ingredients, from the flour to the vanilla extract.  Yes, a bit more fattening, but the flavor is always richer; the taste buds more satisfied.

I am using sugar but less of it.  I'd rather do that than to deal with all of these substitutes, and my favorite type of sugar to use at that (even though it's hard as heck to find it on sale).

Nuff said.

P.S.  I'm not opposed to Sugar in the Raw....that I can somewhat handle.

Day Two, Photo Challenge~Yellow

Light Yellow-entry way into attic

Day Two: Yellow

When I first moved into this apartment, soon to be three years ago, all of the walls here were stark white.  Not saying I have anything against brightness, but it seemed a very depressing white.  No matter how many pictures I could get to put up, I knew I wouldn't be able to deal with all of the walls being white.  

Luckily for me, the landlord did agree to painting, provided it would be with bright colors, since in the event that I decide to move out, it's easier to paint over lighter colors than darker colors.  At least that is what he told me.

So I did the bathroom in a periwinkle type blue; the bedroom is in a very light purple, and the walkway area...there's another stairway before you get into my apartment...is painted a light yellow.  My original purpose was to use that wall area as a showcase for some of the pictures that I had framed...kind of like an art gallery set up.

I received Power of Woman by WAK for my birthday last year and had it framed.  I think that the richness of the yellow in it and the earthy tones make an excellent compliment to the light yellow wall.  It calms me down, especially when I have had a rough day.

I go up the steps, make a turn to the left, and it's the first picture I see when coming in.

Day One, Photo Challenge~ Me, Myself, and I

Day One:  Me

I was debating which type of photo I was going to take for myself.  I usually do all types of photos...in some, I pose; in some I don't.  Just depends on what type of mood I am in.

Sometimes I feel like being glammed up, but this wasn't one of those days.  Other times, I feel like letting some of my other writing energy come out and play, but this wasn't that moment either.

I preferred to be bare.

So I just cleansed my face.  Only thing I did put on was a hint of gloss in the form of Vaseline and let my Pentax digital camera do its' work.

No Queen of Spades.

No Synful Desire.

No Da'Kharta Rising.

Simply Monica...and that's all right with me.

Up Next...30 Day Photo Challenge

Special recognition to Amber Fischer Photography, the host of the 30Day Photo Challenge as well as Icnonlybme for bringing my attention to it.

I deem my start to be on August 1st; I'm going to do this one as well as one I've come up with myself.

Hope to see you on my journey.