What a Month

WOW!  That's just about all I can say about this past month.  So many things have changed over the past month that literally almost nothing is the same as it was at the beginning of the month.  That's not to say that everything that's happened has been bad...just stressful.

I've lost a friend and coworker and I have watched as my daughter struggles as she learns the finer points of crawling and vocalizing herself.  I've battled with insomnia and now I have a head cold (sinuses) that is just killing me.  All in all I really can't complain about my life but sometimes we all "need" to complain so that we feel that others understand what we are going through.  Of course the internet isn't a place for that, it's a therapist.  

WTF Dreams

Have you even had a dream that seemed so "out of place" yet during the dream felt so real? That has happened to me twice now over the past month.  I'm not sure what's going on nor what they mean but they kind of have put me in an odd mood for a bit after having them.  :(

Portrait Innovations....EH!

For our first Christmas my family and I went to a local photo studio for some portraits to be made. We asked around and heard nothing but good things about Portrait Innovations (henceforth known as PI) so we decided to give them a chance and see what they offered.

We set up an appointment which we later had to cancel due to Elizabeth getting sick.  On the second appointment we arrived early and were eagerly greeted when we entered the "studio" by the young lady who was to be our photographer.  The young lady was super nice and energetic which really helped to relax and have a good time since this was our first time as a family taking professional photographs.  I can not say enough how nice the photographer(s) they were all really good with Elizabeth.  After taking 20 minutes to take the photos, we all sat down at one of their super large computer monitors to pick out our package and poses that we wanted. The original picture set that the photographer started with was well over $450.  I told her from the get go that the price was WAY too much.  After much deliberation and conversation between Julie and I we worked the package down to about $250+ tax.  The entire time we were picking out pictures and poses the photographer (which turned into a sales person) kept pushing the fact that we needed to stay over $100 otherwise we wouldn't get the CD with all the poses and pictures.  After almost 30 minutes of discussion we choose to stick with our $250 package.  So we concluded our "session" and was told the pictures would be ready for pickup in about 45 minutes.

The pictures we picked up were really good and we are pleased with the quality of the shots and the printed pictures.  We took the pictures home and started to separate them out for each family member.  A couple days later I decided to put the CD that came with our awesome picture package.  When I put the CD in i soon realized that the HI-RES pictures were not accessible on the disk.  I then went to PI's website and found this listed under their Terms of Serve:

"Studio Portraits

Portrait Innovations retains full ownership of all right, title and interest in and to, including without limitation all copyrights in and to, any content and materials created, photographed or developed by Portrait Innovations in any of our Studios, including, without limitation, photographs and other images, text, graphics, videos, visuals, sounds, data, files, links, information and other materials (collectively, "Studio Portraits") at all times.  At our sole discretion, Studio Portraits may be available for purchase and accessible through the Services.  Upon purchase of the Studio Portraits, we grant you a limited license to use such Studio Portraits solely for your individual, personal use.  By accessing and using the Services, you hereby grant Portrait Innovations an unlimited, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free and fully-paid right to use, duplicate, alter, distribute, transmit, transfer, create derivative works of, and publicly display and perform (publicly or otherwise) such Studio Portraits, in connection with the Services, including the promotion of the Services, and for any other lawful purpose......   "

I take issue with a lot of what's in this section.  1.) I feel that they are broad stroking the copyright brush here and essentially stripping you of all your rights to the photos of YOUR family.  IF anything they should have limited copyright to these photos since they do not own you or your family.  Further more, I think it's shady that they do not clearly state this prior to your purchase with them and that once you have in fact purchased photos from them, you have granted them.."unlimited, irrevocable, perpetual" rights to use your pictures. 2.) For the price I paid I should have full HI-RES pictures that I can take anywhere to print.  I just feel that @ the price that I paid, I more than paid for the right to have full access to the pictures.

Would I use PI again?  I don't know honestly.  This has left such a bad taste in my mouth.  EVEN after contact their corporate office the only response I got was"

"...As for access to high resolution photos, you can email your request for a copyright release to: requests@portraitinnovations.com. Please include your session number, date, the image number you need rights to and the reason for your request."

I feel like the reason should be because they are mine! If their reprint prices weren't so high, that would make it better..but I don't know.  I think I'm more mad at myself for not putting the effort into doing research prior to picking PI to do our photos.  I guess it's my fault and I will just have to take it on the chin and learn from this mistake. Thank you life.  LOL

HOM3LAND

As usual, I'm late to the game when it comes to finding "new" TV shows but with this one I have a reason.  I do not subscribe to Showtime or any other add-on channels with my cable company.  I choose not to simply  because of the cost associated with supplemental channels.  All of that aside, I did pick up HOM3LAND Season:1 on sale at the local big box store this past weekend for an amazing price of $15.  And that was the blue-ray version which I rarely get anything in the blue-ray format.  I had been wanting to check the show out ever since I first heard about it, so needless to say I picked this up.

I am 3/4 of the way through the set and I have got to say...I'm pretty much hooked.  It's a good series and the acting isn't as horrible as I had feared.  I would really like to continue to watch this series but again I am not going to pay in order to see it.  Call me cheap.  I don't care.  I will continue to watch this when I can meaning when the seasons are released to DVD/Blue-Ray.

Letting It Go

This past year I've been through a lot and I'm still here.  I have had been rocked to my core by some of my closest friends actions and then by some that have seemed to forget us all together.  After much thought and talking with my people I trust I have come to the conclusion that I must let go of my frustration and hurt in order to move on.  A wise friend once said:

Remain hopefully optimistic that things can be and will be better one day but in the moment, let it go... it's the only way to truly live.  Use that pent up negative energy for something positive.  Sink all that into the time you spend with your daughter and all the joy that brings you.

So this is me letting go and no longer "worrying" about IT and letting what will be will be.
That is all.

Birthday, 30 down. Many to come.

So today is my birthday.  It has been a good birthday if you don't count the massive headache that I have had since lunch.  I spent the day relaxing with family and Elizabeth watching old movies.  Needless to say, it was a good birthday.  I will keep this short and say one thing I have learned during my life:

When you think you know someone, you really don't.  I have see people and relationships change over the course of just months.  All you can do it hope that friendships survive and feelings don't get hurt....too bad during arguments.  

Priorities

pri·or·i·ty

 noun \prī-ˈȯr-ə-tē, -ˈär-\

plural pri·or·i·ties

Definition of PRIORITY1
a (1) : the quality or state of being prior (2) : precedence in date or position of publication —used of taxa

b (1) : superiority in rank, position, or privilege (2) : legal precedence in exercise of rights over the same subject matter2
: a preferential rating; especially : one that allocates rights to goods and services usually in limited supply <that project has top priority>3
: something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives See priority defined for English-language learners »See priority defined for kids »Examples of PRIORITY

1. Reorganizing the sales force will be a top priority for the new president.

1. Getting the work done on time is a priority for me.

1. She decided to go to the party instead of studying? Where are her priorities?

1. I know you want to buy a new stereo, but right now, saving for college has to take priority.