Look ma... lights in the sky 7/30/08
Goofy title for today's post, anyway's... Eureka was awesome last night a good season premier and I look forward to next weeks new episode. When I was getting ready for bed, the storm had begun, thunder, and so much lightning outside it almost looked like a light show in the sky. As I was falling asleep, every so often I would hear a loud "boom" and it would wake me, shortly after that I fell asleep.
I woke up this morning and I felt refreshed too! Tonight there are 3 brand-new episodes of House of Payne - another great comedy show. Lets see I went grocery shopping and got some food and when I came home, I made a pizza and gobbled up the whole thing and afterwards I ate 10 ritz crackers with cheese... At this rate of my recent eating habits, I should be gaining weight quickly.
A little catch up... 7/29/08
We launched our brand new company site the other day and the responses have been great. Make sure to visit our new site, click here. I worked a lot of hours this past weekend to finish it, so now I am playing catch up with some other minor projects. We sure have been busy at work, but its slow... so its not too overwhelming. Gotta run, Eureka starts soon!
Working overtime... 7/27/08
We are actually caught up with our work, that's not counting everything in the "programming side". I've been working extra hard the last few weeks and including on the weekends, pushing more than 40 hours - which is nice. Even though I say, I'm working "overtime", I still get paid the same amount, which is fine for me. This next weekend, we will be participating in the Northwestern Michigan Fair, so I'll be busy getting ready for it. Steve wants us to have a powerpoint presentation created, which will take some time to complete. In addition to this powerpoint, we are hopefully going to be releasing our new company web site too! Yeah, I am working hard, but also I am taking breaks and eating too.
Renovated and updated galleries 7/24/08
Well after some steady work, I was able to complete the navigation of the galleries. It's now much easier to jump from one category to another, but with some exceptions. When viewing any personal gallery year, you can easily switch to another year without having to start all over. In addition to the navigation updates, the galleries pages has been improved as well, along with some new "never before seen" photographs, a new category, and much more. Give it a try and see what you think! The month is not over, but I decided to put up pictures from the month anyway's. The Beni gallery has finally been updated, I finally got some pictures to share. Check out the updates.
Upcoming features 7/22/08
The galleries are making a transformation and this includes better navigation between each gallery. It's gonna be a long process, but when its completed - "it'll be much nicer to browse". All the galleries will be heavily tested before the release, so the estimated time for completion is unknown at this time.
Big updates coming soon 7/21/08
There will be a some what of a "BIG" update very soon. This update will include some changes and hopefully will improve the navigation through-out the galleries. It is a little difficult jumping between each gallery and I am planning to improve it. Also, the galleries will be expanding, by adding photographs, that many of you haven't seen before! On another note, this months gallery for July 2008, will be split up, due to the large size of it.
There are new pictures in the "Commercial" galleries, check them out! Some pictures have been removed and updated with newer better photos. Also, you can identify the new ones.
U-Pick, Lunch, and Rain 7/19/08
This morning, I woke up about 9am, got a drink of OJ, then took a shower. After the shower and I felt clean again, I did some laundry and shortly after left to go berry picking with the family.
We each picked $5 dollars worth, black raspberries and red ones too. The u-pick raspberry place we go to each season is located along the middle of the peninsula in Traverse City - always a good picking. We might plan on picking again next weekend!
On the way back to TC, we stopped for lunch at "Ham-Bonz". This is a small place at the corner of Garfield and 8th Street - this place has been here for a long time. The food was better then "Peegos", I got the BBQ Pull Pork Sandwich - very good in my opinion, a bit large though. After lunch, we all went home and shortly after that, I myself came home. Along my way home, I ran into the rain storm and I even saw some lightning - the rest of the day is gonna suck: wet, humid, and cloudy.
Pulled from my archives & big updates 7/18/08
I can't believe it, I found a couple more screen shots of previous versions of my sites, make sure to check out the updated list. These 2 screen shots are not labeled, but can you see the new ones - hint: a black one and dark blue one.
In addition, the portfolio has been updated again! I have been looking through my archives and have been finding sites that I worked on "years ago", so why not share them with everyone! Freelance category has been renamed to "Archived Web Sites", this category contains web sites that I no longer work on.
In addition to these updates, there is 1 new 2008 SWS Design that has been added, check it out!
If I calculated every single design in my portfolio (including all the versions of my personal sites), it comes out to about "157".
Movies and Commercial Free 7/17/08
There is a nice feature while having Charter Communications as my television and internet provider and that's "On-Demand". There are many new movies to choose from, which vary in cost, but in the free movies section, there are many great movies even though most of them are older. I have probably watched most all of the free movies under the "Flix" category and wow there are some good ones and others that are just plain weird. Tonight, I watched the movie under comedy "Fatal Instinct", it reminded me of the Naked Gun series of movies - it was different. Another great thing is there are no commercials!
Before and After 7/16/08
I finally cleaned up my office, I know for sure my dad saw how messy it was getting. Well, after about 3 hours, it looks very clean and much better organized (nothing is jammed into a small area calling it "clean" like many people do). Here are 2 photographs below for proof, it looks much better now! Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view.
New portfolio category added 7/16/08
You may be thinking, what else haven't I seen? Well, I have been digging around in my archives and I have decided to add a new portfolio category containing screen shots from all my personal site versions. Yes, I have most of the screen shots and even files from those old sites I have done, impressive! Make sure to click on each thumbnail to read its caption. Check out this new category.
Wow, did that backfire 7/15/08
We all regret doing certain things and today was the day for that certain thing to backfire. I sent out an email regarding a design and I didn't expect someone to show that person the email. It wasn't anything that horrible, but in the email I expressed my opinion, which afterwards actually backfired on me. Yes, I am truly sorry for the person who saw that email, it wasn't supposed to happen! Like I said at the beginning, we all regret doing something stupid and today was the day "for how I expressed my opinion, and I have learned my lesson".
Close to breaking my record 7/15/08
All the designs that I work on for work, well not all them get picked by the client - but we have it available for another client instead. Last year, I designed 50 web sites and so far this year I have recorded 39 as of today. Will I break my record, time will tell - we still have many months left until 2008 is history. Check out the 2008 SWS Designs!
Catching up after the weekend 7/14/08
Well, it was back to work - I had a good weekend, except for my allergies bothering me. My brother and I went to the movies and saw "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" and it was a good movie. I would also like to see "Hancock and Zohan" both of which look good, but I can always wait until it is released on DVD or On Demand.
On sunday, my parents and I went out Cherry picking, but the weather could of been better - it was cold, cloudy and just an ugly day. We weren't impressed with the cherry picking farm (different one this time), the cherries seemed small and didn't have much taste - but there were lots of people though. We only picked 2 pounds and then left.
Time to decorate 7/13/08
This weekend, I have been decorating the inside of my home with the help of my family. Yesterday, I went shopping and purchased decor that included: Pictures coming soon...
- red wooden vase
- 4 black place mats
- lots of fake floral pieces
- 4 foot japanese ficus tree
- decorative vinegar bottles filled with vegetables and fruit
- contemporary wall clock
- 2 contemporary runners for my hallway
All these recent purchases look very nice in my home and I plan to do more decorating soon. I also picked out paint chips and I'm gonna start painting soon!
It's that time of the season 7/11/08
My allergies have been bothering me for the last couple days, but today its not as bad and might be getting better. It looks as though I am crying, only one eye is watering, so I always am carrying a tissue with me just in case. I had done some reading last night and I'm sure its not "Pink Eye" but it might be "Hay Fever" - which it has something to do with the pollen and dust mites or something like that. I tell you what though, its annoying - but the rest of my body is fine. Hopefully I'll feel better soon!
That doesn't feel right 7/9/08
I had my 6 month check-up today at the dentist, all went good until about a few hours later, when something in my mouth felt "different". I called the dentist and they told me to come back so they could look at it. It only took me about 5 minutes from the office to get there and I was in and out of the dentist office within 10 minutes. I was right sort of... part of one of my fillings had suddenly been destroyed (during the cleaning) and was an easy fix with a few minutes of grinding down the tooth to make it "smooth" again. By the way... I didn't have any cavities today!
New feature... 7/8/08
There is now a brand-new feature on my web site that be found in the galleries or in the portfolio. My site has been in need of this feature for a long time and now it has arrived - remember those times, you would view the gallery or portfolio looking for the new additions and just start guessing... well - you no longer have to guess! The new additions now have a noticeable graphic displaying that it's new! Start browsing the galleries and looking for the new additions. Also take note - these notices will not be displayed on any of the monthly updated galleries.
Flowers, Art, and Blue Angels... 7/6/08
Today was another busy for myself, I went out this morning to a few places this morning and took some amazing shots around Interlochen and Lake Ann. In the afternoon, I along with most of my family except my brother all went to downtown to the Cherry Festival. It's not that exciting anymore, it must be more fun if you're out of towner. Yeah, its fun looking in the sky and pointing - because you can then point out all the tourists... much fun!! This year at least today, I didn't take many pictures of the air show, but more of how many people attended the festival. The festival actually just begun yesterday and will be available for 1 week. At the Arts and Craft fair, this was the first time "I ever bought something". Check out the photograph below to see what I got, it looks nice on my table too!
Michigan Road Trip aka What's There 7/5/08
Well, I got some pictures to present for part of the Michigan Road Trip, these photographs will be going on our site soon, after we remodel it! Click here to view those photographs.
Golf, Tourists, and Beer 7/5/08
It was another busy day for myself, I begun my adventure about 11am and now it has ended at 7pm. In the morning, I took a drive to The Briar in Mesick, and wow... there was a lot of traffic heading north - I was heading south. Walt the owner at the The Briar, complemented us on the set-up of the photos on the other course, I got my cart and headed out. There were lots of golfers on the course, but I finally made it through all 18 holes - it felt like I played the course. On my way home, there wasn't as much traffic unlike earlier in the morning.
I got home, cleaned up my house, worked on the pics and waited the arrival of the guests to visit me in my new home.
A few hours went by, then my brother and I went out to Cedar for their annual Polka Fest - overall, it wasn't that exciting... It was a bit expensive too - 21+ older only, $10 to enter, then you had to purchase tickets to get beer and drinks, and then food and ice cream was additional cost, what a rip! Well, since the economy is as bad it is, all the prices are gonna be double. I drank my beer faster than my brother, but that was enough for me!
After Polka Fest, we headed downtown to Tom's House, wow - what a mistake that was. Along the bay, I have never seen the traffic backed up so much! Yes, there were thousands of people, biking, walking (and many with long shirts, long pants - what's up with that?), boating, and the other stuff. We finally arrived to Tom's house and it is coming along nice, all ready have the second floor attached.
Happy 4th of July! 7/4/08
Like many people, you will be attending some type of holiday event today, but for me - No! I have been very busy all day today, since 9:30am - I was on the go until about 4:30pm. I took part of my Michigan Road Trip today, my dad came along for the ride, we first drove to Suttons Bay, then Omena, then Northport, back south to Leland, and then back home we went! We stopped many times throughout today's trip and I took photographs, everything from restaurants, boats on the water, to historic sites and many other things - it was a blast! I am reviewing my pictures now, and they look amazing. Tomorrow will be good as well, I got even more plans for another trip.
An interesting day, say cheese! 7/1/08
This morning, I heard that we got a new client and I was needed to take pictures. I arrived to the assisted living senior center and was greeted by Evon. Evon was nice, but the owner had to step out for a while - I walked around the center and took the usual shots - exteriors, interiors, etc... As I was leaving, one of the residents started acting goofy and it was making me feel uncomfortable - I am not used to that. I finished up the shoot and then left.
After leaving the shoot, I went to my parents house - had lunch and then took my grandma "Mary Ann" to the doctors. Once we arrived, I dropped her off at the door - then got a parking space. When I walked in, she was getting signed in and then seconds later they called her back - it's like they treated her like a "VIP". She didn't have to wait at all, now that's service - why I say they treated like "vip" is... the waiting room was jammed pack full of people. The whole appointment last about 45 minutes, not bad!