Without (photography contest)

The theme of the contest? Without. You interpret the theme however you'd like to and enter up to three photos that are so themed. The first prize is a blog makeover by me (that includes a header, background, button and signature- perhaps something more if I feel so inclined). I will decide upon the second prize depending on how many contestants enter (the more the better!).

So how do you enter?

First, follow my blog, if you don't already. Go on, click that button over there to the right! --->
Second, grab the contest button found below to display on your sidebar.

Third, choose up to three photos that you think fit the 'without' theme. Then write a short description for each photo, including why you chose it and how it fits the theme.

Fourth, post the photos on your blog and link the post up to my blog, either by commenting or by clicking on links to this post.
Fifth (you're almost done!), let your photographing, blogging friends know of this contest and encourage them to enter! The more entries the better and the more prizes there will be.


The contest ends in exactly two weeks, at midnight, central time on September 13th. I will post the results as soon as I earthly can- I start 8th grade next Tuesday and will naturally be much busier.


Questions? Comments? Concerns? Complaints? Leave me a comment or contact me using the link on my menu bar at right. I look forward to viewing your entries!


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Header Dilemma

I recently added another element to my blog... a menu bar in the sidebar! I am still planning to change the fonts- both in the titles and in the actual posts- to something calmer and sans-serif, maybe adding a signature and post dividor, making a button, and, of course, adding the header! (But that will only be added once I finally find that perfect blog name.) I'm in a bit of a dilemma here, with the header. I have two possible designs, one of which I like a tad more (but I won't say which). Here are the two possible header designs:

Design # One:

Design # Two:

The picture on the second design courtesy of The Graphics Fairy. Papers in both and frames in the first design courtesy of Shabby Princess. The photos are taken by yours truly :).

And of course neither of the headers above have writing yet, since I don't have a blog name at the moment.Which header do you prefer? Which will look better with my background and menu bar? Vote in the poll at right to let me know. The poll will close in a week.

I have also been toying with the idea of starting my own blog design blog. Designing blogs really intrigues me, and, what can I say, it's very fun to finally get something (like the menu bar) done right. I would post tutorials and some occasional freebies as well as maybe do some free custom designs for people who'd want it. Because of this, the prize for my photo contest will be a custom blog makeover or any element the winner would like- for example, a blog button to match their already existing blog, a menu bar, just a header, just a background, a background and header combo, signature, etc. The photo contest will open on Monday- I'll post about it then. Get ready and let your photographing, blogging friends who don't follow this blog, know! I may also be making a prize for Breanne's contest.

In Liberty's Shadow

Here is, as promised, the NYC/New Jersey part of my trip. First, we spent three pointless hours crusing the streets of Jersey City. First, there are all these one way streets with no way to turn around. Seriously. We went at least four miles in the wrong way before finding a way to turn around! The hotels are all hidden where no one can find them. And the people- well, the drivers are just BEYOND courteous! NOT. We saw a minimum of four middle fingers and heard at least, I dunno, thirteen honked horns. Granted basically all the middle fingers came from the same idiot, as well as at least four of the honked horns. Anyway, we spent 3 and a half hours combing (ish) the city for a Super 8 motel. There is one in Manhatten, but who in the world wants to pay 250 bucks a night (even if it's only for a night)? In our wanderings, we found ourselves at the waterfront, at a dead end, with an enormous monument before us. What suprised us, is what the monument honored.

Katyń- the slaughter of 20-something thousand Polish officers and intellectuals by Russians. Sure, back then they were Soviets- same thing. We had no idea a monument to Katyń stood in Jersey City. It is amazing that this monument to the thousands of lives brutally lost in the Russian wildnerness, actually stands- that it is allowed to stand.

It is a beautiful, true monument. Anyways, back to Jersey City. After hours of searching, wrong turns and middle fingers, we decided to stay at a Days Inn we saw in our wanderings instead of the Super 8 we couldn't seem to find. Our room was on the 8th floor.... and from the window, guess just what we could see in plain view. Yep, the Super 8 Motel.  Turns out it was just up the hill from us, out of view from the main street. We made do without free breakfast, though. The Days Inn offered a trolley to Manhattan. Of course we signed up, but by the time we found the hotel and knew about the trolley the next time available was going to leave us wandering NYC in the dark. Fine with me- Times Square is amazing. Seriously. The library has such long hours! Like until 11pm- my neighborhood library closes at 8 at the latest. Bryant Park has the coolest trash cans in existence, plus an awesome 'sunlight' from a nearby building. Bike buggies (or whatever the name is) are everywhere, as are honking taxis. And people. Including half-naked girls wearing only a cowboy skirt and hat and tiny decals you-know-where. And sporting a guitar. Also including bucket drummers and people with pit bulls with insanely awesome ears. We even saw a cockroach scrurrying across the sidewalk (don't worry, not in Times Square but nearby). And.....

This insanely awesome live camera thing above the Forever 21 store in Times Square! Can you find me? Here's a hint: look above the yellow word 't-shirt' at the bottom on the picture (near the right end of the word). I'm in a colorful striped shirt holding a black camera up to my face. My dad, mom and brother are standing around me. Still can't see me? Look at the bottom of the big blond girl's yellow camera, then go straight left. Can you see me yet? This is basically the only worthwhile picture of NYC there is to share. The D3000 isn't good on low light, even with flash. I must admit, Chicago has NOTHING on NYC at night. New York never sleeps. Chicago does.

Anyway, we came home on the 11pm trolley, though it left 15 minutes later because *someone* (no clue who, s/he didn't show up) didn't come to the trolley. Yeah, the driver had a list. The trolley was packed on the way back the the hotel. On the way to NYC, we were the only ones (plus the driver).

When we got back to the hotel, I went to get something from the car. Then I saw these cats to the end of the parking lot. I went closer.... and there was a kitten! I have been having a recent obsession with cats, and this kitten was adorable. Gray and white. The adult cats ran off real quick to hide from me, but the curious kitten stayed, watching the oddball carrying a pillow (in other words- me). My dad made me go inside, though. Sigh. However, I had a perfect view of the area where the kitten had been, from the window. Too bad it was too far away to see much. I did see what must have been a cat moving down there- maybe it was the kitten. That was the last I saw of the kitten.

The next morning, we went to Liberty State Park. Ever since I wrote an article about the Black Tom Explosion of 1916, I have been dying to go see the site, which is in Liberty State Park. Grrs, but I didn't get to go. I did, however, see Ellis Island and Lady Liberty. Here's a tip: if you ever go to Ellis Island, don't buy their vanilla ice cream- it has no flavor at all. Too watery. Bleah.

I rode on this ferry to get to/from Ellis Island, to and from the Statue and to and from the mainland. Not this one specifically- there were at least 3 ships like this, named things like Miss New Jersey, I think- at least it was something like that.

This amazing flag of faces was in the Ellis Island museum. When you looked at it from one way- you saw the American flag. Another- hundreds of faces.

A tree of words listing American words and the country or people they originated from.

A view of the building on Ellis Island as we departed on the ferry.

I called this picture Enlightening Lady Liberty.

 

This one... Under Liberty. (I took the picture from on her pedestal :)

This last picture is far from my favorite. But I love the title I bestowed upon it- In Liberty's Shadow. So simple, yet can be taken two ways. The literal one- being in the space upon which the shadow of Lady Liberty- Liberty Enlightening the World- is falling. The more meaningful one, of being behind liberty. Without liberty. In the shadow of those with liberty, yet unable to reach it- the fate of too many people, both in America and out of it.

Out of My Mind

No, I'm not out of my mind. It's the title of the most inspiring and touching book I have ever read. Ever. And that is saying a whole lot.

Originally I was planning a post about my trip to NYC today, but this book absolutely cannot wait.

 

 Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is about a girl-Melody- with celebral palsy. She cannot speak, walk, write, eat or even go to the bathroom on her own. But eleven-year-old Melody is very gifted- she is extremely intelligent, has a photographic memory, and remembers things from her early childhood. But mostly, she remembers words- all of them. Every word her parents spoke to her or about her, even when she was a few months old. But then she discovers something that will allow her to speak. {I know I can't write good summaries}

Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the book:

"Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes- each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.

Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs...

But only in my head.

I have never spoken one single word. I am almost eleven years old."

This book has touched me so much. We take so much for granted- things like walking and talking, eating and going to the bathroom by ourselves. Some people just can't do that, but that doesn't mean they're inferior. Like one of the 'normal' girls in the book says about Melody, "I'm not trying to be mean- honest- but it just never occured to me that Melody had thoughts in her head." And several kids nodded along.
So many people think that- when someone can't communicate, that they can't think. Maybe for some people, that is true. I don't know. Only God does. But for others, it must be horrid, trying to find a way to, somehow, show someone what you mean. Like "living in a cage with no door and no key."

At my school, there are lots of special needs kids- mainly deaf students. My school has a special deaf department. And most of us honestly don't give much thought to the special needs students, I'm ashamed to say. Some of us know some sign language, but most of us know too little to understand what someone is trying to sign to us. I VERY highly recommend this book. It really opens your mind to life and being grateful for these blessings that just about everyone takes for granted.

This book was released in early March this year. It is a bit costly (17 dollars hardcover, no softcover I'm aware of), but well worth it. I got it secondhand from Half Price Books and Records (a chain store, you should check it out) for, what else, half the price.