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I like to revel in the victorious moments. I enjoy sharing them with the people I love most. Perhaps that's the synergystic relationship between pursuing a career following your passion and your personal life. Particularly in a path that is so flippin' competitive, it's so phenomenally important to have people who support and believe in you.
Well, some people seemed to have missed the memo.
I'm a huge fan of poking fun, joking around, jesting, teasing, joshing, what have you. I adore a good chuckle. But last I checked, there was a line to those friendly jabs. "Real friends are the ones you can make fun of and they love you anyway." Sure, to an extent. Nobody likes the crabby patty that gets all pickle-gilled when you toss a friendly joke in their direction. However, the phrase "Feel the room" exists for a reason. There are some topics that are just too sensitive. For example.
"Haha, you're a failure!"
... Um... Wow.
Don't get me wrong, I can take professional criticism. By a professional. Who knows what they're talking about. And being in the world of communication, you have to be able to get a concept of what other people are thinking, what they want, what will appeal to them, etc. Again, to a certain extent. When I was in college, I used the only sample I had available when assessing the photographs I took at a Men's Basketball game - my peers. The subject was seated in a half-time huddle, exhausted and defeated at the re-injuring of his ankle at the end of the second half. His face is seen staring off low and to the left, head hanging dejectedly, front and center of the shot, framed by two black-uniformed giants on either side.
"Where does your eye go first?"
"The butts."
... *blink blink* ...
Cue the idea that these "masses" don't know what they need, lack the education or the intuition to connect concepts. For example, when I was working at a school:
"Can we get a shot of 5 bajillion kids in this picture? All in focus?"
"Um. What's the concept for this poster again?"
"How we individualize curriculum to each student's specific needs."
.... *facepalm* ...
I want criticism. Constructive criticism. Constructive, professional criticism. I want to become a better visual communicator. A better communicator altogether. I want to learn. I'm eager to don the dunce cap to be awed by the experienced veteran.
Not by my critical compadre. Television isn't real life, here folks. Just because the characters in Friends could make fun of Joey's belly-flopping acting career doesn't mean it's a healthy technique for personal relationships. And now I shall belly-flop off of my soap box. Adieu.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
2013: My Grandma Could Have Done It Better
I remember sitting down in the fresh dew of 2013 and buzzing as I wrote down my secret resolutions (if they're secret, you don't have to be so ashamed when you forget about them ten days later), listing my fitness goals to recover from a foot injury and be the best damn soldier in the unit on my Physical Fitness Test. I resolved to improve with my photography, look into launching my own freelance business, and to have a disposable income by December.
Boy, was I ever a product of 1990's disney films. (Read about #genYproblems with reality here.)
I haven't run without significant pain in over a year. My income... Well. I don't even want to talk about it. I am not a soldier in the US Army, and, with my injury, have no plans to continue pursuing that option. I did launch my own freelance business, and now make enough to finance my car insurance. Not enough to fuel the car that is insured, but that's not the point.
2013 was a load of crap. That's the point. It was chock-full of disappointments and frustrations and crushed dreams.
So maybe resolutions are a load of crap too. How are you supposed to know what curveballs life is going to throw at you? A bogus leadership position in a team of photojournalists at an Army camp similar to the best summer of your life, for example. Or a myriad of downward-spiraling complications with your boyfriend's job that condemns you to an occasional meal with a zombie inhabiting an aging look-alike of the man you love. Equally frustrating, perhaps, a persistent debilitating nausea and waves of stomach cramps that seem to have no cause or solution but time and peppermint tea, to which the doctor prescribes "relaxation" and maybe this pill that makes you even more nauseous and conducts the cramps to a new level of orchestral pain.
You're thinking "Jeez, I didn't click on the link to hear you bitch for five hundred words."
I believe you. I wouldn't either. Let's get to the segway.
I couldn't have predicted these pitch-perfect doozies. No one could. I resolved for a flawless year...
While I was looking over the 70th chapter of an original cover letter for a job application I'm overqualified to take, I started to review the age-old interview questions "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?" (Cue video montage of the worst and best moments of 2012 and 2013, with a sappy 1980's love ballad - let's be serious, we all love them)
From working in a high standard environment for low standard pay with entitled youth and adults, I learned that I am capable of both diplomacy and patience. With a job description that was three pages long, I figured out how to outsmart my ADD with to-do lists, priority schedules, reminder alarms, and being overly prepared. Overworked, I still managed to update, organize, and give professional image to every single publication they needed - both print and digital - in less than a year.
Constantly being told my work couldn't compare to a geriatric at an annual celebration of cake and candles by a "professional" who not only didn't understand the proper use of flash on a cloudy day, but also rewrote the ethics of journalism, taught me how persistently I can pursue justice through a team-play attitude and that I strongly believe in producing a quality product in the face of adversity. I also scored publication in a national magazine.
Tenaciously pushing to develop a family-like camaraderie amongst a group of people so obstinently determined to be miserable brought out my faith in the resiliency of humanity, and it's capacity to sustain throughout the harshest of environments, if only given the opportunity for generosity and kindness.
I learned that real friends stand by you through tough times, ice cream, 48% liquor taxes, and even the occasional mood swing. They understand your insecurities, and never insert themselves before your dreams or the love of your life. Their support knows no bounds, no distances, acknowledges no times of disconnect. Their loyalty is priceless. It will not budge. Ever.
You see, perfection is obsolete. Because it's relative. 2013 sucked. But it was a perfect year. I flourished in 2013. I made friends I can honestly say I'll keep indefinitely. I developed skills that will not only enhance my durability for this crazy, roller-coaster Army life, but will assist me in becoming professionally successful, and happier overall. I networked. I persevered. Life bolted a curveball, and I'm currently in the process of knockin' that sucker out of the park. I'm surviving. Thanks to good friends, perspective, time, and an endless hopefulness, I'm climbing, honey.
And for all out there who are struggling with this new 2014 - a little hindsight like the above made all the difference for me. You should try the same.
Now, let's end with a few reasons why "My Grandma Could Have Done It Better" is a completely inept insult.
Grandmas are awesome. The End.
Boy, was I ever a product of 1990's disney films. (Read about #genYproblems with reality here.)
I haven't run without significant pain in over a year. My income... Well. I don't even want to talk about it. I am not a soldier in the US Army, and, with my injury, have no plans to continue pursuing that option. I did launch my own freelance business, and now make enough to finance my car insurance. Not enough to fuel the car that is insured, but that's not the point.
2013 was a load of crap. That's the point. It was chock-full of disappointments and frustrations and crushed dreams.
So maybe resolutions are a load of crap too. How are you supposed to know what curveballs life is going to throw at you? A bogus leadership position in a team of photojournalists at an Army camp similar to the best summer of your life, for example. Or a myriad of downward-spiraling complications with your boyfriend's job that condemns you to an occasional meal with a zombie inhabiting an aging look-alike of the man you love. Equally frustrating, perhaps, a persistent debilitating nausea and waves of stomach cramps that seem to have no cause or solution but time and peppermint tea, to which the doctor prescribes "relaxation" and maybe this pill that makes you even more nauseous and conducts the cramps to a new level of orchestral pain.
You're thinking "Jeez, I didn't click on the link to hear you bitch for five hundred words."
I believe you. I wouldn't either. Let's get to the segway.
I couldn't have predicted these pitch-perfect doozies. No one could. I resolved for a flawless year...
While I was looking over the 70th chapter of an original cover letter for a job application I'm overqualified to take, I started to review the age-old interview questions "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?" (Cue video montage of the worst and best moments of 2012 and 2013, with a sappy 1980's love ballad - let's be serious, we all love them)
From working in a high standard environment for low standard pay with entitled youth and adults, I learned that I am capable of both diplomacy and patience. With a job description that was three pages long, I figured out how to outsmart my ADD with to-do lists, priority schedules, reminder alarms, and being overly prepared. Overworked, I still managed to update, organize, and give professional image to every single publication they needed - both print and digital - in less than a year.
Constantly being told my work couldn't compare to a geriatric at an annual celebration of cake and candles by a "professional" who not only didn't understand the proper use of flash on a cloudy day, but also rewrote the ethics of journalism, taught me how persistently I can pursue justice through a team-play attitude and that I strongly believe in producing a quality product in the face of adversity. I also scored publication in a national magazine.
Tenaciously pushing to develop a family-like camaraderie amongst a group of people so obstinently determined to be miserable brought out my faith in the resiliency of humanity, and it's capacity to sustain throughout the harshest of environments, if only given the opportunity for generosity and kindness.
I learned that real friends stand by you through tough times, ice cream, 48% liquor taxes, and even the occasional mood swing. They understand your insecurities, and never insert themselves before your dreams or the love of your life. Their support knows no bounds, no distances, acknowledges no times of disconnect. Their loyalty is priceless. It will not budge. Ever.
You see, perfection is obsolete. Because it's relative. 2013 sucked. But it was a perfect year. I flourished in 2013. I made friends I can honestly say I'll keep indefinitely. I developed skills that will not only enhance my durability for this crazy, roller-coaster Army life, but will assist me in becoming professionally successful, and happier overall. I networked. I persevered. Life bolted a curveball, and I'm currently in the process of knockin' that sucker out of the park. I'm surviving. Thanks to good friends, perspective, time, and an endless hopefulness, I'm climbing, honey.
And for all out there who are struggling with this new 2014 - a little hindsight like the above made all the difference for me. You should try the same.
Now, let's end with a few reasons why "My Grandma Could Have Done It Better" is a completely inept insult.
Grandmas are awesome. The End.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Holiday Hero: Care Package Ideas for your Deployed Servicemember
There are few things in this world that knocks the breath out of me more than the knowledge that I will one day have to survive a long period of time without hugging Matt. It's a reality of this life that everyone who cares for someone in uniform has to come to terms with - and we all have our coping mechanisms. Most just don't think about it. Alas, I'm not a fan of denial, and I have always been one to over plan for the future - which, I believe, will be an advantage for us some day. Thus, since Matt took command, I've spent times when I miss him perusing the internet in search of ideas shared by the experienced military spouses I've come to idolize. I hide them away on my Army Strong Pinterest board, or amongst my dozens of Pages documents to turn to when times get tough.
For the most part, this is my only crutch to lean on. I haven't exactly gotten much guidance on how to adapt to this crazy, roller-coaster world, and the fact that Matt and I aren't married eliminates the majority of potential mentorship via degrading looks and the eye roll. So much for that whole "Army Family" concept? No. Actually, not no - but HELL NO. Through the ups and downs of Matt's current position, we are both taking notes on how we can improve upon our roles in the future, and I have very solidly established my number one priority for the rest of time I spend in love with this soldier - I WILL impart everything I learn. I WILL help those young wives, girlfriends, fiancees, moms, sisters, and whatever men happen to want assistance as well (despite how they never need help or directions, etc).
ESPECIALLY those who are experiencing their first holiday season away from their loved one. ESPECIALLY when the majority of the internet rewards your google search with a "Click here to donate $20 for a cheaply packaged, half-assed effort at a holiday gift basket for a deployed soldier!"
Eh-eh. Your servicemember deserves a personalized, lovingly wrapped, peppermint-scented bundle of holiday cheer. So, I'm sharing the list I've been keeping under my wing for such a circumstance for myself in the future, established upon research, brainstorms, and personal experiences of holiday care packages to friends in the past.
Stocking - personalized (officers can provide stockings for people on their staff)
Mini-tree w/ included lights (careful about the electricity - you CAN send batteries, just don’t list it on the items when you take it to the post office ;P)
Yarn/Tape to make a “christmas tree” on the wall, and paper baubles
Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc
A CD of holiday music
For Officers/Leadership roles: small, cheap, wrapped gifts they can play dirty santa with their soldiers
Holiday-Scented Candles
FOOD:
Holiday Meal-In-A-Can (non perishables - Spam, Black-eyed peas, Green beans, Cranberry Sauce, Dried Mashed Potatoes, Hot Chocolate, etc.)
Cake-in-a-jar (lots of recipes for these - make sure it’s air tight) - I think this works for Pie too
Holiday Candy (of course) - I’ve seen a box that was themed “Blue Without You” with all kinds of blue colored candy
Beef Jerky, all sorts of flavors. And more beef jerky. (Holiday-flavored beff jerky?)
Gatorade/Powerade powder packets
Homemade cookies/treats - in vaccuum seal baggies so they’re still fresh when they get there
Coffee w/ Holiday-themed creamer (make sure it’s in an air-tight container)
ENTERTAINMENT:
Water-proof playing cards (more resistant to sweat - gross, but necessary)
DVDs, puzzles, board games, and books are often provided through Adopt-A-Soldier programs, but if your soldier has a favorite, send it! (Access to electronics like TVs and DVD players depend on your soldier’s location/MOS) -- I’ve heard complete seasons of light-hearted comedy TV series are a big hit for office-focused jobs
ALWAYS NEEDED:
Duct tape - army green and digi camo are available in military outposts and at office depot, but fun stuff to decorate probably wouldn’t be frowned upon
Chewing Gum
Sun Block
Sun glasses
Baby Wipes - sometimes its the only shower they get
Toothpaste, Mouthwash
Eyedrops (to assist in getting sand out)
Easy-access medical supplies (Tums, Motrin, Band-Aids, Sanitizer/Antibiotic Ointment, etc.)
Five-hour energy or similar energy provisions
Personal Fan and/or hand/feet warmers
DO NOT SEND:
Alcohol (I’ve heard of people putting alcohol in travel hygiene bottles, but fact of the matter is, they get into TONS of trouble if they get caught drinking over there - so I don’t recommend it.)
Porn (it’s illegal over there)
Fireworks (they get plenty already, trust me)
Big, expensive, shiny gifts - What Matt’s parents did when he was there for Christmas in 2010, is they ordered the gifts early, took pictures of what they got him, and sent him the pictures all wrapped up in a box to open on Skype Christmas morning. If you want to send him something he needs or something small and cutesy, go for it, and keep the good gift for when he comes home.
FUN THEMES:
25 days of Christmas - I’ve seen someone take a small door organizer and theme it by stuffing it with small gifts and labeling each pocket for the 25 Days of Christmas (or the 12 days - whatever)
PUT EVERYTHING in plastic baggies!! Use Flat-Rate shipping boxes if you can! Baked goods should go in Vaccuum seal baggies!
WARNINGS: Chocolate will probably melt, so make sure it’s in a baggy by itself if you use it. Soda also has the risk of exploding from extreme heat/cold, so stick to plastic bottles.
REMEMBER: Holidays aren’t just a number on the calendar. Give your soldier the best Christmas you can over there, then have another one when he or she gets home. One of the best parts of this life is that you can have as many holidays a year you want. And if you have kids, how stoked will they be that they get to have Christmas twice??
And of course, to get it there on time: Check the post-it-by deadlines
Happy Holidays!!
SOURCES/OTHER IDEAS:
USAA
US Air Force
SpouseBuzz.com (military spouse network)
My Army Strong Pinterest Board - for other ideas on making lemonade out of the Military Life
For the most part, this is my only crutch to lean on. I haven't exactly gotten much guidance on how to adapt to this crazy, roller-coaster world, and the fact that Matt and I aren't married eliminates the majority of potential mentorship via degrading looks and the eye roll. So much for that whole "Army Family" concept? No. Actually, not no - but HELL NO. Through the ups and downs of Matt's current position, we are both taking notes on how we can improve upon our roles in the future, and I have very solidly established my number one priority for the rest of time I spend in love with this soldier - I WILL impart everything I learn. I WILL help those young wives, girlfriends, fiancees, moms, sisters, and whatever men happen to want assistance as well (despite how they never need help or directions, etc).
ESPECIALLY those who are experiencing their first holiday season away from their loved one. ESPECIALLY when the majority of the internet rewards your google search with a "Click here to donate $20 for a cheaply packaged, half-assed effort at a holiday gift basket for a deployed soldier!"
Eh-eh. Your servicemember deserves a personalized, lovingly wrapped, peppermint-scented bundle of holiday cheer. So, I'm sharing the list I've been keeping under my wing for such a circumstance for myself in the future, established upon research, brainstorms, and personal experiences of holiday care packages to friends in the past.
Holiday Care Package Ideas
DECORATIONS:Stocking - personalized (officers can provide stockings for people on their staff)
Mini-tree w/ included lights (careful about the electricity - you CAN send batteries, just don’t list it on the items when you take it to the post office ;P)
Yarn/Tape to make a “christmas tree” on the wall, and paper baubles
Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc
A CD of holiday music
For Officers/Leadership roles: small, cheap, wrapped gifts they can play dirty santa with their soldiers
Holiday-Scented Candles
FOOD:
Holiday Meal-In-A-Can (non perishables - Spam, Black-eyed peas, Green beans, Cranberry Sauce, Dried Mashed Potatoes, Hot Chocolate, etc.)
Cake-in-a-jar (lots of recipes for these - make sure it’s air tight) - I think this works for Pie too
Holiday Candy (of course) - I’ve seen a box that was themed “Blue Without You” with all kinds of blue colored candy
Beef Jerky, all sorts of flavors. And more beef jerky. (Holiday-flavored beff jerky?)
Gatorade/Powerade powder packets
Homemade cookies/treats - in vaccuum seal baggies so they’re still fresh when they get there
Coffee w/ Holiday-themed creamer (make sure it’s in an air-tight container)
ENTERTAINMENT:
Water-proof playing cards (more resistant to sweat - gross, but necessary)
DVDs, puzzles, board games, and books are often provided through Adopt-A-Soldier programs, but if your soldier has a favorite, send it! (Access to electronics like TVs and DVD players depend on your soldier’s location/MOS) -- I’ve heard complete seasons of light-hearted comedy TV series are a big hit for office-focused jobs
ALWAYS NEEDED:
Duct tape - army green and digi camo are available in military outposts and at office depot, but fun stuff to decorate probably wouldn’t be frowned upon
Chewing Gum
Sun Block
Sun glasses
Baby Wipes - sometimes its the only shower they get
Toothpaste, Mouthwash
Eyedrops (to assist in getting sand out)
Easy-access medical supplies (Tums, Motrin, Band-Aids, Sanitizer/Antibiotic Ointment, etc.)
Five-hour energy or similar energy provisions
Personal Fan and/or hand/feet warmers
DO NOT SEND:
Alcohol (I’ve heard of people putting alcohol in travel hygiene bottles, but fact of the matter is, they get into TONS of trouble if they get caught drinking over there - so I don’t recommend it.)
Porn (it’s illegal over there)
Fireworks (they get plenty already, trust me)
Big, expensive, shiny gifts - What Matt’s parents did when he was there for Christmas in 2010, is they ordered the gifts early, took pictures of what they got him, and sent him the pictures all wrapped up in a box to open on Skype Christmas morning. If you want to send him something he needs or something small and cutesy, go for it, and keep the good gift for when he comes home.
FUN THEMES:
25 days of Christmas - I’ve seen someone take a small door organizer and theme it by stuffing it with small gifts and labeling each pocket for the 25 Days of Christmas (or the 12 days - whatever)
PUT EVERYTHING in plastic baggies!! Use Flat-Rate shipping boxes if you can! Baked goods should go in Vaccuum seal baggies!
WARNINGS: Chocolate will probably melt, so make sure it’s in a baggy by itself if you use it. Soda also has the risk of exploding from extreme heat/cold, so stick to plastic bottles.
REMEMBER: Holidays aren’t just a number on the calendar. Give your soldier the best Christmas you can over there, then have another one when he or she gets home. One of the best parts of this life is that you can have as many holidays a year you want. And if you have kids, how stoked will they be that they get to have Christmas twice??
And of course, to get it there on time: Check the post-it-by deadlines
Happy Holidays!!
SOURCES/OTHER IDEAS:
USAA
US Air Force
SpouseBuzz.com (military spouse network)
My Army Strong Pinterest Board - for other ideas on making lemonade out of the Military Life
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Food Photo Games: Roasted Cauliflower Soup
CONFESSION: I haven’t blogged in seven months. *hangs head in shame* The truth is, I sat down at least a dozen times trying to think up something warm and fuzzy to write about. Alas, this summer was a hideous black cloud of rain. Literally. Fort Lewis is no tropical paradise.
Still, I’m perfectly aware that I’m probably one of the luckiest people on the planet. I have wonderful, caring parents who are endlessly supportive, and a boyfriend who makes me laugh (mostly at him) and reminds me of the joy in every day.
I know, I know. Finish your barfing noises and come back when you’re ready.
Good? Good. So the above portions of spectacular support and love birthed this beautiful baby - a brand spankin’ new camera. Which I had to play with. Immediately. Which means whatever is available to me must fall victim to the glass.
Since Matt has two states of being - (1) at work and (2) catatonic, and he wouldn't appreciate me posting a million photos of him zonked out, this means the only available victim is food.
I’ve had this recipe floating around from this blog I read, Two Peas and Their Pod. The writer/cook/spectacular food photog swears up and down that people who don’t like cauliflower will even like this vegetarian soup she made - out of cauliflower. I was skeptical. But, I have been trying to give people the chance to pleasantly impress me.
And she did.
Guys. This soup. Whole. Ee. Crap. Creamy, warm, comforting, cheesy goodness. Of course, Matt and I aren’t vegetarians. And I’m pretty sure that at the very least, if I tried to convince Matt to go vegetarian with me, he might trade me in for a new car. So I made some alterations. But I’ll have you know that the original is hers. And you can find the vegetarian version here (she actually measured mostly, which I don’t do. It’s a hereditary problem. We’re allergic to measuring utensils). Mine is NOT vegetarian-friendly, and I used what I had on hand - translating to no fresh herbs.
MY version will embark very vaguely, with the wonderful low-light capabilities of my shiny new Nikon D600. My flash is, of course, broken. And our apartment complex doesn’t believe in things like windows and happiness, so the fact that the D600 can manage a 2000 ISO without submitting you to a horror of grain just makes me so happy I could go help myself to seconds. I still claim no glories of having any variety of talent in the way of food photography. Some day, when the man I feed is actually home during daylight hours, and when we live somewhere with windows, I might put a little more effort into the sect. Until then, hire me to take photos for you so I can buy a new flash (smiley face).
I started out with some on-super-sale steamer bags of cauliflower (four of them). I tossed them onto a baking sheet (raw), sprinkled with olive oil (I really wish I’d had some PAM olive oil on hand - that would have been so much easier), thyme, rosemary, black pepper, and garlic powder.
I popped them in the oven at 400 for 25 minutes, checking on them halfway to make sure they were browning evenly. Then I pulled them out to let them cool a touch.
Meanwhile, I cooked a half of a diced yellow onion with a LOT of minced garlic (I use the stuff in a jar) in a pretty healthy-sized pot (it needs to be big enough for all that cauliflower patiently waiting for your attention. I’m guessing it was probably about a teaspoon and a half. Once it was cooked through, I turned off the heat and threw in some more rosemary, thyme, and pepper.
Then I scooped up those gorgeous brown-edged roasted pieces of white mystery and tossed them in the pot, poured some low-sodium chicken broth over the top until about 3/4s of the flowers were covered. Pop on a lid and tucker up the heat. Then I sat easy until it boiled ferociously. It didn’t take long for the cauli to be cooked through - fork easy.
If you have an immersion blender, I’m jealous. I had to scoop them suckers (onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broth) into a blender in parts, blend it on low until smooth, and pour it back into the pot.
Then I let it sit pretty, pouring in chicken broth to thin it out a touch more as necessary, and letting the spices marry into the flowers and broth. About a half hour before I was ready to die from starvation, I grated half a brick of white cheddar cheese (about a cup, shredded) and stirred it into the soup, saving some to garnish with later. Then I tossed some sliced fungus onto the same baking sheet I used for the caulis with some chopped turkey bacon and roasted them at 400 for 10 minutes with some olive oil, garlic powder, and rosemary.
Let me tell somshing to jou! - Garnishing with a scoop of roasted mushrooms, a spoon of bacon, and a wee pile of white cheddar took a beautifully delicious soup to another level.
Seriously, guys. Go to the grocery store and buy some cauliflower (I never thought I’d say that). I gotta admit, somewhere in the blending process, I was doubtful the pale creamy substance would be worth the effort. But I’m definitely making this again.
After I buy an immersion blender...
Still, I’m perfectly aware that I’m probably one of the luckiest people on the planet. I have wonderful, caring parents who are endlessly supportive, and a boyfriend who makes me laugh (mostly at him) and reminds me of the joy in every day.
I know, I know. Finish your barfing noises and come back when you’re ready.
Good? Good. So the above portions of spectacular support and love birthed this beautiful baby - a brand spankin’ new camera. Which I had to play with. Immediately. Which means whatever is available to me must fall victim to the glass.
Since Matt has two states of being - (1) at work and (2) catatonic, and he wouldn't appreciate me posting a million photos of him zonked out, this means the only available victim is food.
I’ve had this recipe floating around from this blog I read, Two Peas and Their Pod. The writer/cook/spectacular food photog swears up and down that people who don’t like cauliflower will even like this vegetarian soup she made - out of cauliflower. I was skeptical. But, I have been trying to give people the chance to pleasantly impress me.
And she did.
Guys. This soup. Whole. Ee. Crap. Creamy, warm, comforting, cheesy goodness. Of course, Matt and I aren’t vegetarians. And I’m pretty sure that at the very least, if I tried to convince Matt to go vegetarian with me, he might trade me in for a new car. So I made some alterations. But I’ll have you know that the original is hers. And you can find the vegetarian version here (she actually measured mostly, which I don’t do. It’s a hereditary problem. We’re allergic to measuring utensils). Mine is NOT vegetarian-friendly, and I used what I had on hand - translating to no fresh herbs.
MY version will embark very vaguely, with the wonderful low-light capabilities of my shiny new Nikon D600. My flash is, of course, broken. And our apartment complex doesn’t believe in things like windows and happiness, so the fact that the D600 can manage a 2000 ISO without submitting you to a horror of grain just makes me so happy I could go help myself to seconds. I still claim no glories of having any variety of talent in the way of food photography. Some day, when the man I feed is actually home during daylight hours, and when we live somewhere with windows, I might put a little more effort into the sect. Until then, hire me to take photos for you so I can buy a new flash (smiley face).
I started out with some on-super-sale steamer bags of cauliflower (four of them). I tossed them onto a baking sheet (raw), sprinkled with olive oil (I really wish I’d had some PAM olive oil on hand - that would have been so much easier), thyme, rosemary, black pepper, and garlic powder.
I popped them in the oven at 400 for 25 minutes, checking on them halfway to make sure they were browning evenly. Then I pulled them out to let them cool a touch.
Meanwhile, I cooked a half of a diced yellow onion with a LOT of minced garlic (I use the stuff in a jar) in a pretty healthy-sized pot (it needs to be big enough for all that cauliflower patiently waiting for your attention. I’m guessing it was probably about a teaspoon and a half. Once it was cooked through, I turned off the heat and threw in some more rosemary, thyme, and pepper.
Then I scooped up those gorgeous brown-edged roasted pieces of white mystery and tossed them in the pot, poured some low-sodium chicken broth over the top until about 3/4s of the flowers were covered. Pop on a lid and tucker up the heat. Then I sat easy until it boiled ferociously. It didn’t take long for the cauli to be cooked through - fork easy.
If you have an immersion blender, I’m jealous. I had to scoop them suckers (onions, garlic, cauliflower, and broth) into a blender in parts, blend it on low until smooth, and pour it back into the pot.
Then I let it sit pretty, pouring in chicken broth to thin it out a touch more as necessary, and letting the spices marry into the flowers and broth. About a half hour before I was ready to die from starvation, I grated half a brick of white cheddar cheese (about a cup, shredded) and stirred it into the soup, saving some to garnish with later. Then I tossed some sliced fungus onto the same baking sheet I used for the caulis with some chopped turkey bacon and roasted them at 400 for 10 minutes with some olive oil, garlic powder, and rosemary.
Let me tell somshing to jou! - Garnishing with a scoop of roasted mushrooms, a spoon of bacon, and a wee pile of white cheddar took a beautifully delicious soup to another level.
Seriously, guys. Go to the grocery store and buy some cauliflower (I never thought I’d say that). I gotta admit, somewhere in the blending process, I was doubtful the pale creamy substance would be worth the effort. But I’m definitely making this again.
After I buy an immersion blender...
Friday, March 8, 2013
Tutorial Times: Graphic Novel Effect
I've managed to stay functional all week, but I'll admit I continue to battle the frustrations of cabin fever. I try to chain myself to the apartment, my budget as challenged as the fiscal cliff, I attempt to limit my spendings on groceries and absolute necessary purchases. Of course I justify perusing the thrift stores - thanks to my new shopping techniques adopted from Beka (nothing is worth spending more than $5), its not the jump in logical explanation that the government is providing for cutting tuition assistance for our troops... (pardon my political commentary). After all, I have a summer internship coming up in Tacoma, WA, where the average temperature ranges from 40 - 60 degrees. I need layers, dammit!
As it turns out, I'm still forbidden from hitting the pavement as I battle a floating/wandering bone in my feet, instead limiting myself to strengh-training, yoga, and drooling. Thus I also can't permit myself to wander the streets of Augusta with a photo challenge. I can walk, and spend time on my feet, but I can't - in good sense - justify the risk when I don't feel I could outrun the criminals that inhabit Augusta's less savory areas. I must find other activities to occupy my time.
This week, between baking health-conscious muffins for Charlie Company's BK-dietitians/addicts and hunting for a green shirt to force on Matt for tomorrow's family St. Pat's dinner at my parent's house, I entertained myself with a few tutorials in photoshop.
One was an Avatar tutorial, which was in Spanish. And, as it turns out, does not work so well with a non-professional photo. Since I do not have permissions from people to publish altered photos of them, I was left with photos of Matt and myself to play with... which are not professional quality. So... I didn't finish it because the direction it was going in, as you can see, was very... off. Still, I'll link the tutorial I used. A forewarning, though, it requires you to hunt down your own tattoos and avatar eyes. Which I'm pretty sure is copyright infringement, but hey, don't use it for financial gain, and I won't tell, ok?
Anyway, what I did enjoy, and I believe turned out quite well, was a cartoon/graphic novel effect I kind of threw together myself. Per the usual way, I created my own technique the same way my mom creates her "recipes:" Take three or four different ways, and twist them together into your own creation. I'll link the tutorials I used below.
1. Start with a high - contrast image. If your image isn't high-contrast (ie: significant light vs. dark), you can doctor it with an Adjustment (using Curves or the Burn/Dodge tool), but it probably still won't look particularly amazing. The computer needs significant contrast to create an outline, much like your autofocus on your camera needs some contrast to set a focal length.
2. Duplicate the layer. (Right-click on the layer and select "Duplicate Layer" from the drop-down menu). Make sure the foreground color is black and the background is white. With the top layer selected, go to Filter > Sketch > Stamp. Play with the Light/Dark and Smoothness levels until you get something you're happy with. Click OK or Apply.
3. You should now have a black and white rough outline of your image. With this layer still selected, change the Layer Blend to "Multiply." This will mostly eliminate the white parts so you have a black outline over your digital image. I erased elements I thought took away from the image, like excessively baggy under eyes or phantom shadows. The finished product looks ok, but not really like somebody drew it.
4. Select the bottom layer (the original digital image). What I usually do when applying filters is make sure I always have the original still available in case I don't like my end product, so duplicate the layer again an rename the bottom-most layer "Original." Click the eye next to it so it becomes hidden and out of the way. Select the unnamed layer, rename it "Palette Knife" and go to Filter>Artistic>Palette Knife. Play with the settings until you get something you like. I'd suggest enabling the Preview so you can see it behind your black outline. Click OK/Apply.
I did this with a few different images, trying it with both Palette Knife and Paint Daubs effects to see which was more appropriate. I found Paint Daubs left more detail in the textures, where Palette Knife put more vibrant color in, so I think it just depends on what image you're working as to which effect you want to use. (Surprisingly, Watercolor just looked like a mess, which was the first effect I tried.)
5. Voila! Easy, quick, cartoonized graphic-novel effect.
Check it out: (Sources)
Avatar Tutorial - It's in Spanish. Why I chose to follow the one in Spanish is still a mystery, but I do think I'll end up trying it again when I get some good shots of people and get permissions to transform them into a fictional alien creature.... with my own twists/shortcuts, of course.
Cartoon Technique #1 - TechGuyTales, Youtube.com - This was the foundation of my technique. This guy goes into some intense color-over detail, but I wasn't particularly that patient at the time.*
Cartoon Technique #2 - PhotoShopDudes, Youtube.com - If you have the patience to stick with this guy through his oopsies, by all means. I can't blame him, but this is exactly why I don't make video tutorials. Joking smiley face.*
*Both of these tutorials use vaguely similar techniques, hand coloring in with paintbrush. Which I find to be a complete waste of time. If I wanted block color, I would use the Pen tool and create a Clipping Mask. Alas, Photoshop is a miracle time-saver and can do the coloring for you. So... why waste the time?
Cartoon Technique #3 - via Illustrator - Jesse Hora Dot Com via VectorTuts.com - This is the old, traditional way I have done cartoons in the past, it's more free-form, hand-drawn computer-style... if you like hyphens. I used this technique in my Senior Portfolio, and it turned out pretty well. This guy is a lot better.
As it turns out, I'm still forbidden from hitting the pavement as I battle a floating/wandering bone in my feet, instead limiting myself to strengh-training, yoga, and drooling. Thus I also can't permit myself to wander the streets of Augusta with a photo challenge. I can walk, and spend time on my feet, but I can't - in good sense - justify the risk when I don't feel I could outrun the criminals that inhabit Augusta's less savory areas. I must find other activities to occupy my time.
This week, between baking health-conscious muffins for Charlie Company's BK-dietitians/addicts and hunting for a green shirt to force on Matt for tomorrow's family St. Pat's dinner at my parent's house, I entertained myself with a few tutorials in photoshop.
One was an Avatar tutorial, which was in Spanish. And, as it turns out, does not work so well with a non-professional photo. Since I do not have permissions from people to publish altered photos of them, I was left with photos of Matt and myself to play with... which are not professional quality. So... I didn't finish it because the direction it was going in, as you can see, was very... off. Still, I'll link the tutorial I used. A forewarning, though, it requires you to hunt down your own tattoos and avatar eyes. Which I'm pretty sure is copyright infringement, but hey, don't use it for financial gain, and I won't tell, ok?
 |
| Originally, my idea was to black out the back and edit our clothes to look kinda bohemian, but the faces started to freak me out, so I abandoned ship mid-project. |
Anyway, what I did enjoy, and I believe turned out quite well, was a cartoon/graphic novel effect I kind of threw together myself. Per the usual way, I created my own technique the same way my mom creates her "recipes:" Take three or four different ways, and twist them together into your own creation. I'll link the tutorials I used below.
1. Start with a high - contrast image. If your image isn't high-contrast (ie: significant light vs. dark), you can doctor it with an Adjustment (using Curves or the Burn/Dodge tool), but it probably still won't look particularly amazing. The computer needs significant contrast to create an outline, much like your autofocus on your camera needs some contrast to set a focal length.
2. Duplicate the layer. (Right-click on the layer and select "Duplicate Layer" from the drop-down menu). Make sure the foreground color is black and the background is white. With the top layer selected, go to Filter > Sketch > Stamp. Play with the Light/Dark and Smoothness levels until you get something you're happy with. Click OK or Apply.
3. You should now have a black and white rough outline of your image. With this layer still selected, change the Layer Blend to "Multiply." This will mostly eliminate the white parts so you have a black outline over your digital image. I erased elements I thought took away from the image, like excessively baggy under eyes or phantom shadows. The finished product looks ok, but not really like somebody drew it.
4. Select the bottom layer (the original digital image). What I usually do when applying filters is make sure I always have the original still available in case I don't like my end product, so duplicate the layer again an rename the bottom-most layer "Original." Click the eye next to it so it becomes hidden and out of the way. Select the unnamed layer, rename it "Palette Knife" and go to Filter>Artistic>Palette Knife. Play with the settings until you get something you like. I'd suggest enabling the Preview so you can see it behind your black outline. Click OK/Apply.
 |
| Pay attention to what kind of detail you want to carry over in your effect. I'm paying attention to Matt's eyebrows and the color intensity/ brightness of his eyes. |
I did this with a few different images, trying it with both Palette Knife and Paint Daubs effects to see which was more appropriate. I found Paint Daubs left more detail in the textures, where Palette Knife put more vibrant color in, so I think it just depends on what image you're working as to which effect you want to use. (Surprisingly, Watercolor just looked like a mess, which was the first effect I tried.)
 |
| For this particular image, all the detail Paint Daubs effect gives me is held up with the stamp, so I ended up using the Palette Knife in my finished image. |
 |
| In all of the images I played with, I made several effect layers to test Palette vs Paint. The layer that held the detail I wanted is the one I kept. |
5. Voila! Easy, quick, cartoonized graphic-novel effect.
Check it out: (Sources)
Avatar Tutorial - It's in Spanish. Why I chose to follow the one in Spanish is still a mystery, but I do think I'll end up trying it again when I get some good shots of people and get permissions to transform them into a fictional alien creature.... with my own twists/shortcuts, of course.
Cartoon Technique #1 - TechGuyTales, Youtube.com - This was the foundation of my technique. This guy goes into some intense color-over detail, but I wasn't particularly that patient at the time.*
Cartoon Technique #2 - PhotoShopDudes, Youtube.com - If you have the patience to stick with this guy through his oopsies, by all means. I can't blame him, but this is exactly why I don't make video tutorials. Joking smiley face.*
*Both of these tutorials use vaguely similar techniques, hand coloring in with paintbrush. Which I find to be a complete waste of time. If I wanted block color, I would use the Pen tool and create a Clipping Mask. Alas, Photoshop is a miracle time-saver and can do the coloring for you. So... why waste the time?
Cartoon Technique #3 - via Illustrator - Jesse Hora Dot Com via VectorTuts.com - This is the old, traditional way I have done cartoons in the past, it's more free-form, hand-drawn computer-style... if you like hyphens. I used this technique in my Senior Portfolio, and it turned out pretty well. This guy is a lot better.
 |
| Self-portrait circa 2011 for my Senior Portfolio (Free-hand with photo reference in Illustrator), with one of my favorite quotes from my favorite book in high school. |
Friday, March 1, 2013
Photography Philosophy: A Lily in the Storm
I had trouble falling asleep last night. Matt had conked out by 9:30, having battled fatigue all week long as he hammered away at the pile of legal messes his soldiers had created for him. He snored not-so-lightly as I waited for sleep to come, finishing out a disc of How I Met Your Mother, and mind wandering to and fro, comparing the person I was two years ago to the person I am now, how different I thought my life would be now. At some point, I gave up on nodding off to one of Barney's long lists of rules or 83% statistics, and rolled onto my side, closing my eyes and willing the sheep to fly across my cranium. I dreamt I was photographing a large plain, a wide expanse of tall grasses, a storm raging in the distance. For whatever reason, the spot I set up my tripod was right in front of a callilily. Must have been a stubborn little bastard to survive in a dry plain, but who's to question the wanderings of my subconscious? I saw the expanse as if through a camera lens, adjusting the depth of field and allowing the autofocus to confuse itself between the darkness of the storm on the horizon, and the white of the calilily in the foreground.
I could write a six page philosophy about life and tie it to photography any day of the week. I'm a master of babble (suck it Mumford and Sons!) Not so surprisingly, I frequently think of at least a dozen philosophy of photography posts to write about simply while running through my facebook feed, or perusing the headlines every morning. Granted, I would probably get off a wee bit off topic and at some fateful moment, wander back into the oblivion of a "point" before, oddly exhausted and satisfied, click "Publish," lean back onto the couch and sigh... before then going back to re-read and edit the post six times to make it worthy of linking to Facebook and Twitter.
Lately, I've been trying to limit my blog posts to something more essential, and, because life has been batch after batch of lemonade in the last few months, it's been difficult to focus outside of my own struggles with this whole "positive attitude perspective." It's not that I've allowed purple dinosaurs to take up residence in my brain, with singing Koom-bye-ah and holding hands and hugging trees and whatnot; it's just that life is a little easier to pursue when I'm finding the silver linings, and being happy with the simplicities that make every day a little easier. The less-is-more concept. So every morning, when I get angry reading the ignorance and close-minded posts of my peers, when I'm forced to change the passwords of my e-mail accounts, and monitor my bank accounts because some bored selfish computer nerd in Romania decided to invest time in breaking into my computer so they could spam my friends and family, I start to rant, imagining a post stretching into a rambling abyss, angry at the world for it's idiocy, etc.
Then I have to calm myself down. I have to focus on the good things, letting my depth of field slip outside of the limited range of negative space, and refocus on the beautiful detail in the bigger picture. Readjusting the aperture to let the negative space blur. See, one of the beautiful things about photography is that you can control where the eye falls. You can decide, as the photographer, what the focal point of the image is. In my dream, I could have picked up the tripod, moved it a foot to the left, eliminating the flower from the frame, and focus a long depth of field on the approaching clouds. Or, I could shorten the depth of field, allowing the haunting light of a wide aperture illuminate the bud, the darkness blurring into a beautiful contrast behind it. Or, even still, I could set up a fill flash on the white petals, close up the aperture, and click the shutter, capturing this gorgeous scene of a single soldier of nature, standing out before a horrific tempest. In the latter option, it doesn't matter that the entire shot is in focus. The f/22 stop would give the viewer all of the information necessary to take in the whole story, yes, but still, the eye falls to the light part of the image. It's a rule of visual communications. A light spot surrounded by a dark contrast will be the focal point of the image. Our eye, with the big, dark, looming negativity in sight, will find the lily to be the most important piece of information.
And, that, friends, is why photography is so beautiful. It illuminates the human nature in us to withstand the cold. To focus on the positive space, even amidst the storm.
I could write a six page philosophy about life and tie it to photography any day of the week. I'm a master of babble (suck it Mumford and Sons!) Not so surprisingly, I frequently think of at least a dozen philosophy of photography posts to write about simply while running through my facebook feed, or perusing the headlines every morning. Granted, I would probably get off a wee bit off topic and at some fateful moment, wander back into the oblivion of a "point" before, oddly exhausted and satisfied, click "Publish," lean back onto the couch and sigh... before then going back to re-read and edit the post six times to make it worthy of linking to Facebook and Twitter.
 |
| Hiking in the woods of the South Carolina Foothills, Thanksgiving 2011. © Heather Cortright 2011. |
Lately, I've been trying to limit my blog posts to something more essential, and, because life has been batch after batch of lemonade in the last few months, it's been difficult to focus outside of my own struggles with this whole "positive attitude perspective." It's not that I've allowed purple dinosaurs to take up residence in my brain, with singing Koom-bye-ah and holding hands and hugging trees and whatnot; it's just that life is a little easier to pursue when I'm finding the silver linings, and being happy with the simplicities that make every day a little easier. The less-is-more concept. So every morning, when I get angry reading the ignorance and close-minded posts of my peers, when I'm forced to change the passwords of my e-mail accounts, and monitor my bank accounts because some bored selfish computer nerd in Romania decided to invest time in breaking into my computer so they could spam my friends and family, I start to rant, imagining a post stretching into a rambling abyss, angry at the world for it's idiocy, etc.
 |
| The eye falls on the brightest part of an image. Rites of Passage Ceremony, Fort Knox, KY, July 2011. |
Then I have to calm myself down. I have to focus on the good things, letting my depth of field slip outside of the limited range of negative space, and refocus on the beautiful detail in the bigger picture. Readjusting the aperture to let the negative space blur. See, one of the beautiful things about photography is that you can control where the eye falls. You can decide, as the photographer, what the focal point of the image is. In my dream, I could have picked up the tripod, moved it a foot to the left, eliminating the flower from the frame, and focus a long depth of field on the approaching clouds. Or, I could shorten the depth of field, allowing the haunting light of a wide aperture illuminate the bud, the darkness blurring into a beautiful contrast behind it. Or, even still, I could set up a fill flash on the white petals, close up the aperture, and click the shutter, capturing this gorgeous scene of a single soldier of nature, standing out before a horrific tempest. In the latter option, it doesn't matter that the entire shot is in focus. The f/22 stop would give the viewer all of the information necessary to take in the whole story, yes, but still, the eye falls to the light part of the image. It's a rule of visual communications. A light spot surrounded by a dark contrast will be the focal point of the image. Our eye, with the big, dark, looming negativity in sight, will find the lily to be the most important piece of information.
And, that, friends, is why photography is so beautiful. It illuminates the human nature in us to withstand the cold. To focus on the positive space, even amidst the storm.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Big Things Part 2 - My mom is usually right
DISCLAIMER: This post is to inform family and friends who had heard rumors about my "new job" about what's going on. I don't particularly enjoy re-telling stories. Those of you who are just happening across it, I hope what you take from the following is positive.
This morning I deleted the post I had been working on announcing my new job to family and friends: Public Affairs Specialist in the South Carolina National Guard. It still stings to think about the choice I was faced with, but, to assure all of you now, I know it was the right one.
Two months ago to the day, I got a call from SFC Cashion, an incredible NCO-IC (Non Commissioned Officer In Charge, ie: the boss-man of the enlisted side) of the Public Affairs team at the South Carolina National Guard. This guy had been fighting to get me on his team for months, and they had finally received word that one of their journalists was leaving, and I was the first name to mind as a replacement. I went in two weeks later to meet his CO (Commanding Officer) for a final interview, where they officially offered me a job, put me in touch with a recruiter, and introduced me to my future co-workers. Over the next three weeks, I filled out paperwork, met with recruiters, and started studying to prepare for Basic Training. My enlistment date was set for Jan 30.
I notified my future command that I was in a relationship with an Active Duty Officer, a Captain stationed at Fort Gordon, as suggested by Matt. He had already reviewed the AR (Army Regulation) four or five times to confirm that it wouldn't be an issue, but it's always a good idea to keep your command informed, just in case. The following Monday, Matt sat down with his own command to let them know I was enlisting. That's when the first shoe dropped.
"It shouldn't be a problem, as long as the two of you don't contact one another while she's in training," they said.
We chalked it up to being an illegal relationship because Matt was going to be commanding Trainees (brand-new soldiers, still in initial training to become full-fledged soldiers), and decided that since my training would only be six months, vs a lifetime of opportunity opened up for me, it would be worth it (our chalk was uninformed). But, just in case, I wanted Matt to check with JAG (military legal professionals) to be sure that it wouldn't have any long-term harm on his career if we were in contact at some point. While he tried to pin down some straight answers, I moved forward with filling out paperwork and background checks. Luckily, due to getting hit with a vicious cold virus, my enlistment date was pushed to Feb 1, a 24-hour period that may have saved us from a huge mistake.
On Jan 29th, Matt finally snagged a meeting with a JAG officer. He called home directly following the meeting, and with a grave tone in his voice, informed me that our relationship would be deemed illegal anytime I was called to Active Duty.
For any other National Guard unit, this wouldn't be a big deal. But for the PAO (Public Affairs Office), who are activated frequently (roughly 3-5 days every month, sometimes more) for missions both interstate, and abroad, who were due for a nine-month deployment in January of 2014, who are activated for any natural disaster (like Irene, Katrina, tornadoes in Kansas, etc), or any national interest (half his team were deployed to New Mexico for a nine-month mission covering border control), it's a big deal. Any and every time I was activated, we would be risking not only Matt's military career, but also his capacity to pursue a civilian career afterward due to putting him on the line for a dishonorable discharge (for an "inappropriate relationship between enlisted member and an officer"), and becoming unemployable. We did everything we could to find a loophole. My NCO consulted his JAG officers, Matt spoke with two more JAG officers on multiple occasions, I delved through dozens of legal briefs my recruiter e-mailed to me. The regulation was black and white - our relationship would be deemed illegal for the whole of my eight years serving as an enlisted soldier with the National Guard. It didn't matter that it was a pre-existing relationship; it didn't matter that we wouldn't be serving in the same units; the bottom line was that, not only did his command already know we were together, but his JAG office knew. All it would take is one slip-up - one wrong Facebook post that the FRG (Family Readiness Group, made up of military wives) saw and questioned what I did for a living, one awkward moment at an event where someone asked Matt where I was if I was on a mission or deployed, and he hesitated how to answer, one devious or vindictive coworker reporting us - and my dream job would challenge Matt's entire career, everything he has worked so hard for. It would challenge us, as a couple.
Sure, we had other options. But they were limited - 1) Break up or 2) Turn down the job. The Army was, for all intensive purposes, asking me to choose between the best thing that has ever happened to me, and my dream job.
 |
| Courtesy of Mr. Vaughan, Matt and I at his Battle Buddy/ our best friend's Change of Command ceremony last November. |
Well, breaking up wasn't even on the table. For either one of us, we didn't even discuss it. I had just moved in with Matt on Jan 12, we were (and are) infinitely happy together. And I had always believed that if you were doing something you had to hide, than you shouldn't be doing it. We didn't want to hide. And with literally no precedence to refer to on how harsh the punishments could get if we got caught, risking Matt's career just wasn't worth it.
So a very difficult, very late night discussing our options, with (I'm a journalist, so I'll tell the real story how it happened) several tearful moments buried into Matt's chest, I called SFC Cashion at 9:30 AM on Jan 30th (my original enlistment date), and told him I could not accept his offer.
 |
| Headed out on the town on our first weekend away together, in Charleston, SC. September 2012. |
Perhaps right now you're criticizing me; perhaps you think me naive, or immature; perhaps you think I've made a mistake. And that's fine. You're allowed. But, as my mom said in the midst of this whole mess: "Anyone who has seen you and Matt together would understand." And my mom is usually right.
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