#NEIPPpeeps

Yesterday was the first day of NEIPP.  The New England School of Professional Photography.  I am presently in Cape Cod.  And yeah, that is my white van.  I drove in on Saturday night.  I am glad I did not wait until Sunday morning.  It’s not the first time I have come down here in the snow.  But I got this!.  After all, I am from upstate NY.

Photography has been my passion since I was 18 years old.  My dad gave me his old Kodak Retina Reflex with Schneider lenses.  I was traveling to England on a summer exchange program with the Girl Scouts.  I went with my Girl Scout buddy Elaine whose dad had a darkroom and he took my passport photo.  Back in the 70’s he saved me some $.  You could not go to Walgreens and stand in front of a screen and walk out with your passport photo.  I wore Bonnie Bell bronzer… Nuff said bout that!

So, since 1974 I have had a camera in my hand.  Over 40 years!  I have studied with some fabulous teachers.  I am blessed.  So here at NEIPP, we have a word of the day and we need to gather votes for a prize.  You can follow along by typing in #NEIPPpeeps. Yesterday’s word was shapes.  I posted this.

That is shape! Right???  Well, that shape is not “in” the building so it does not count.  It was a tongue in cheek entry. But this group of people, while we study hard we also have a sense of humor.

So this week I am sitting in class, enhancing my photoshop skills, meeting new friends and renewing old acquaintances all while attending the only PPA affiliate school in the North East.  The instructors are all first class.  It’s hard to choose which  class to take each  year. And yes, my knitting came along.  Just one project.  The socks that are taking forever to finish.  Tonight is “family” game night.  We #NEIPPpeeps work hard during class.    But I am ready for tonights games.  I got this!

Panic!

I have a conference coming up.  Actually, it’s my yearly educational sabbatical.  Every April I attend a conference/educational class in photography.  I have not started my pre-class homework, ironed any clothing or checked the weather report to see what layering strategy to use.  I need to pack not only camera gear but extra off-camera flash gear so if I find a partner in crime we can play and shoot after class.  Batteries!  Yikes!  I need batteries!  Why oh why did I  dye my hair Monday, get it cut on Tuesday, do my taxes on Wednesday ??  Then trot off to a 10-hour shift each day?  Nonsense.  Now that it’s Friday, I guess it’s time to panic!

The only high point is that the gussets on my current pair of socks are finished! I am onto the foot.  Now I really believe that one knitting project will be enough but will it?  DO I want to take that baby sweater with me?  Or should I just wind off another skein in case I want to throw another pair of socks on the needles?  Decisions, decisions.  I also went through my Ravelry library and I already own Antler.  So now I have another sweater pattern to read.  AND last, I cannot find my mother’s Nova Scotia Tartan Plaid shirt for the “What NOT to wear to a family portrait” party.  I do have my old screen printed woodsman’s team shirt from my college alma mater. But it’s a solid color and I had my heart set on the plaid.  Krikeys!  I am in a pickle!

At least, I got my k-cups ready and cups and creamer.  The coffee is all taken care of. I decided to leave no later than noon.  As I was thinking about it while waking up I thought that I need to leave the house no later than 11:30.  So I can get gas.  Then I realized that I need bottled water for the Keurig,  and since I do not know where a darn thing is in Cape Cod I now need a supermarket run before I go to work today.

I am done with my first cup of coffee.  It is time to hunt suitcases and begin packing.  I can accomplish a lot in 2 hours.  Off to the races my friends!  Have a peaceful day!