Memorial Day weekend at Limekiln Lake

May 25th - 28th, a bunch of us went camping up at Limekiln Lake in the Adirondacks.
(Me, Jim, Stan, Krista, Amanda, Bryan, Mark, Mike, Deshanna, Jon, and Becky) We really had a great time!
This is my little campsite, with my new Coleman 3 person Tent. It's FANTASTIC.

Amanda insisted on swimming in the FREEZING water.

I took some portraits of Stan and Krista at the Lake.

We are BEAUTIFUL.

Limekiln Lake is even more beautiful though.

Mark brought his canoe and took people out for rides.

We drove down to Old Forge to rent some Pedal Boats.

Stan made some good fires.

On the way home I stopped in Inlet to take a picture of the memorial where my "Aunt Jo" has a spot.

She worked right near this pier for years and years. She passed away a few years back.

Around Town

Mike, Heather (his beautiful wife), Fathi, and I decided to walk around Syracuse on April 29th and do a little photoshoot for school. I have yet to upload my black and whites that I took for the assignment, but I did take a bunch of color digitals. Here are just a couple pictures of the area.
This is outside the Landmark Theater.



The Dinosaur Barbque



A beautiful tree in Clinton Square.



This is what I look like on a photoshoot. 2 cameras in hand.

Playing catch-up

It's been a while since I have bothered to write in this blog. I've been up to no good as usual ::evil laugh:: No, really..... I have been so busy this last month it isn't even funny! Not to mention, I was living without internet from home ::GASP!::

1. Everything with Kevin is over and has been for quite some time. I don't want to talk bad about anyone, but let's just say this... Some people seriously need to grow up. Surprise Surprise. I'm really glad I didn't waste too much of my life before I figured THAT out. I don't want the "oh, I'm sorry" comments. Really. I am QUITE fine :)

2. My job is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. I really love the girls that I work with. I feel like I fit in for once. You all know me... I don't generally get along with girls too well.

3. I got my finances all under control. I am now going through a debt management company to assist me in lowering my payments, etc. A couple years and I will be DEBT FREE!

4. Erin is graduating from JCC soon! I am so proud of my girl! She will spend 2 months this summer at the Toronto Zoo.

5. In the next couple of weeks Erin is moving in with me. Eventhough she will be in Toronto, when she comes "home", "home" will be my apartment. When she is done up there, then she will be here all the time until she finds a job or decides where to go from there. I can't wait to have Erin around a lot more!

6. I went Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian a few weeks ago. So far I am loving it! I do miss my Filet Mignon, but I feel like I'm doing my part for the animal population. Not to mention, I am doing a lot for my own body. I haven't lost weight yet, but that will come soon.

7. My gym membership begins Monday. I will be going to the gym right next door from my office at University Hospital. YEY. I also joined a pilates class that meets Tuesday nights in May. This would be right at work as well. How freaking convenient is that?!

8. I can't wait to go rock climbing!!! I just bought my first pair of climbing shoes and I am psyched. Who wants to go ?!!? Rock climbing at the Jewish Community Center in Syracuse is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Thursday may just be my night.

9. I feel some of my friendships growing stronger. I have become close with a couple people these past few months, and now I can't even imagine my life without them in it! (yea, that's you SHREK!)

10. This semester is over. PHEW. Next week I have 1 final and that's it. It will be sad not to be with my fellow photo students.... I will be getting a Community Dark Room membership instead. Either that, or Jim, Mike, and I will be creating a dark room in Jim's spare bedroom. YAY. I am not sure what I am doing with school anymnore. I need to find a direction and just go with it. Problem is, I want to be happy- school for the past couple of years has been bogging me down mentally. They're lucky I never went postal.

To see some of the stuff I've been working on, check out My Flickr! Photo page, or Jill Rachel Photography on Myspace.

Portraits

So I've been working hard at my photography class this semester. I just wanted to share some portraits with you folks... These are just some digital ones- the ones for class are all black and white and I will have to scan them in one of these days.

If any of you would like portraits done by me, please contact me at jillrachel@gmail.com and I will let you know the prices, depending on what you are looking for. I'm really trying to get this business started!

Enjoy :)

Models: Heather and Mike







Model: Shayne


Models: Stan and Krista




Model: Walter

Vegetarianism???

So I've been doing a lot of thinking... Should I go vegetarian? I am a hardcore meat lover, but lately I just feel bad for eating the foods that I do. I think on occasion I will still eat some seafood when I go out for sushi or to my mothers house, but this will definitely be a rare thing. I must say goodbye to meat.....

I've been reading up on sites such as Vegetarian Dining, Happy Cow, Scott Young, and the Vegetarian Society. I really want to become a healthier, happier person, and maybe this will help me? I think I am going to do a 1 month trial starting NOW to see if I like the lifestyle change. It definitely helps that a bunch of my friends are vegetarian or vegan- I know there will be good moral support!

Any suggestions on sites to go to or recipes to make?? Please help!

Happy Bloggerversary!

Today marks my 2 year blogging anniversary. Yay me. I really need to get on here and blog more. I'd like to blog at least once a week, if not more. Maybe this will be the start of it!

Happy Spring People!

Jobs and Finances

I still haven't started working yet. Surprised? I'm not.

Upstate called today and apparently the HR department has many stupid rules. Once a job is posted, no one can "officially" be offered the position until it has been posted for 10 days. Thankfully, this includes weekends. The Administrator said that on Monday, she will call me and *possibly* offer me the position. She laughed.... At least she knows how lame this rule is! We discussed salary, benefits, and our next step after *hypothetically* getting this job. The next hospital class is on April 5- If all goes well I will be starting that morning.

I would like to find a serving job that is 2-3 nights a week for a while. Just something for extra cash. I will probably end up at the Outback Steakhouse on Rt.31 in Liverpool, The Bluewater Grill on Rt.48 in Baldwinsville (why does it not have a website???), or some local joint. Now that I know more about the hospital job, a serving job will be easier to get.

I am really frustrated with finances lately. Without working, I have completely depleted my checking, savings, and credit cards. Go me. I applied for a Bank of America debt consolidation loan, but I was denied. Excuse me.... but how can they deny a consolidation loan when you NEED to consolidate? That makes NO sense to me, especially since BOA is a company that I owe money to. I think I found a way to borrow some money for a while so I can pay off my debt and not accrue intrest. We shall see.....

For those of you who would like to donate to the JILL IS POOR FUND, please email me at jillrachel@gmail.com I take paypal and money orders and of course, CASH!!! I'm *almost* kidding about this....

Stuff, and things, and well, you know how it goes.

After 1 month of interviewing at Upstate, I finally got a job! Well, pending my references.... It's not the job I applied for, but they basically created a position because they wanted me in their office. I will be working with Dr.Hodge and Dr.Hall (the new Chairman) at Upstate Neurosurgical Associates. Basically, me Debbie (the administrative assistant) will be in charge of these 2 doctors. I am her assistant. We will be doing all of the administrative and clinical work for Dr.Hall, and all of the clinical work for Dr.Hodge. This probably sounds like a bunch of jarble to some of you, so I apologize. This job will bring me out of the night shift, and on to the 830-430 shift (approximately). I will have time for night classes and a 2nd job if I choose to get one. To celebrate me getting this job offer, Kevin took me out to dinner Ichiban's and we brought Mark along. I ordered the Crystal Bubble (sushi) and the steak/scallop hibatchi, Mark ordered Tempura Vegetables, and Kevin ordered this Sushi dinner- all raw fish (eek!) The sushi chef, Chris, also gave us a ton of free sushi samples. Of course, hot Sake was a must as well.


So the weight loss.... I've lost 5.2lbs in 10 days. Yey. Let's just hope I can keep it up! Having a job where I'm way more active will help me a lot. Lisa wants to meet at the park a couple nights a week to go running/rollerblading after work. As soon as the money starts rolling in I will be getting a bike and a gym membership too.

Next week will be the start of uber-busy Jill!

Classes are going well.... My photography class is wonderful- I love shotting rolls of B+W film then having the satisfaction of developing and printing myself. When I have a house I AM getting a dark room!!! I don't care the cost. Math class is okay... I'm a math nerd, but I'm finding myself very frustrated these days. I just can't get with the program! It's like, if I don't get enough sleep or enough nutrients, I can't concentrate on my math. There have been many occasions that I have left my computer, taken a nap, and returned to do the math about 4 hours later. I just keep telling myself- less than 2 months left.....

Noah has been working hard on his first musical, ANNIE JR.! I've been going up to the school to help him and the other boys with their makeup and costume changes. I really miss doing theatre- maybe I will do some this summer.
This is how mom does his makeup.

This is how I do his makeup.

Here are some pictures of the dress rehersal:




Take a bow!

Tonight is opening night- there are other performances saturday night and sunday afternoon. I'm so excited for him! He plays Mister Bundles, a servant, a NYC man, and the sound effects man. He does such a great job!!

On the knitting note.... I'm almost done with the birthday scarf, and I'm almost done with 1 of my socks out of the AWESOME yarn I got at Rhinebeck. No current pictures, because you can't really tell when only a few inches have been knit. I will post pictures when they are completed.

I think that's all for now.... Syracuse people- enjoy this burst of good weather!!