I don’t shop much for clothes, or shoes or make-up.

I don’t get my nails done, I don’t get massages or go to the spa.

In a rare moment, I buy something for the kitchen.  That is something I use, but it will benefit the whole family.

Of course, there are things I want, but being as I don’t bring in any “mula” for the family, I don’t feel like shopping for myself is really warranted.

That’s not to say I couldn’t name 50 things I would want, if given the choice.

The things I want more often, though, are things that relate to making art of some kind.  This is where I usually end up spending.

So, when I earned a “monetary thank-you ” from our  previous church, Graffiti for doing some design, I decided that this time I would be self-indulgent.  I decided that I would buy one of 3 things I’ve been wanting to add to my photography gear.  Choosing between a flash, a new lens and a tripod was a hard choice.  Each had it’s merit, and would be so useful.  But in the end, I chose what would be most fun.  A new lens.

I bought a Sigma telephoto lens.

I’ve had it for 2 days, and I’m already loving the ability to snap a closer look at the birds in my yard.

I will be posting pictures on my photoblog early next week, as soon as I get a chance to preview my photos, and pick the best ones.  Stay tuned for a more thorough review.

It’s great!  It keeps me in touch with people I know from all over the globe.  I can chat with a girl from Indonesia if I want to, and I can write an email to my husband, even when he’s next to me.

I can find out all kinds of information, about any subject under the sun.  I can self-diagnose if I’m a hypochondriac, I can learn all about the churches we will visit(provided they have a website), I can find out if a book is any good before I even start to read it.  I can also be inspired by many artist, and learn from watching their videos.  It’s amazing!

But it’s also terrible!  It sucks away my time more than anything.  If I sit down to “just check my email”, I end up staying there for at least a half hour.  It provides me with many excuses for not doing many other things that need doing, and many things I’d rather have done.

It also helps evil-intended people do many harmful things to others, and makes it too easy for people to forget what it means to have a real conversation, or a real connection with others.  It enhances people’s abilities to stretch the truth and live in their “la-la” land.

Yesterday, I came across something wonderful on the internet.  One of those projects that deserve to get looked at by everyone, cause it’s so cool, and clever and poignant.  It doesn’t hurt that one of the installations is about/in Brasil.

So check it out:

http://28millimetres.com/women/

Click on Brasil’s map to see it.  The others are interesting as well.

And let me know what you think, or if you have other sites/art projects to recommend.

In the meantime, good luck not getting sucked into the internet too much.

He gave me a macro lens for my camera.  I’d been wanting one, and I was trying to see if the rest of the family would pitch in and give me some cash toward it so I could buy one, but he went one over, and got me an even better one than the one I had set my eyes on!  What a guy!!!

Here’s what he got me…

This is an amazing macro lens.

This is the first good picture I took with it tonight, inside, in a kinda dark living room, hand held…

Notice the extreme depth of field, and focus only on one spot.

Now picture a flower or an insect instead.  That’s what I hope to capture more of, so stay tuned for more experimental pictures as I learn, and give me any advice about macros you might have.

Yeah!!!  Fabio, I love you!