17-365 lets never grow up!!!

The best part of the snow still on the trees is seeing Al get excited to knock it all off!!!!!!

16-365 back to the park!

I can't even describe how good it is to have my husband back home. Back to the park we went with Kai! We love it there! No matter what season, time of day, it's the best to be able to be outside!!! The snow is soooo beautiful on the trees!

15-365 home yet???

I had to work today (saturday) from 7-3:30. I figured Al would hopefully be coming home today so I would take him home after work. I was able to sneak over mid morning to say "hi" and check on him. It was so much fun to surprise him!!!!!! Of course it's a bit slow to get the paperwork going to get a discharge. This photo is of my hubby in his room, taking a photo of me! It's his photo of the day for his 365!!!! He's definitely doing a much better job at the 365 than me! But a definite inspiration!!!! Home we were, later that night, AHHHHHHHHHHH so happy to be home with the hubby!! This was taken with my blackberry camera!!! ;)

14-365 a loooooooong day in the hospital

My husband is such a good sport. Barely any sleep for him, ENT in to stick a camera up his nose at 5am and good old hospital food but still he keeps a smile on his face! I am such a lucky girl to have this amazing husband! I got there around 9:30 in the morning.....met with the team for the day, more IV antibiotics and morphine. Thank goodness for our amazing neighbors Kelly and John for taking care of Kai throughout all of this. We couldn't have made it without them!!!! Photo of the view from Al's hospital room....

13/365 to be on the other side of the hospital bed

so...my day started as usual, up at 5am, head to work. We just had the HUGE blizzard the day before so the drive to work was a little longer but nonetheless I made it in. Al was scheduled  at 4:40 for a Dr.'s appt to check what we figured was a sinus infection. He called me around 5:15pm to inform me that the Dr. sent him right to the emergency room. I am scheduled to work until 8pm so thankfully I was able to get out early to be with him in the hospital. He was admitted to the hospital down the street so all I had to do was walk a little bit to be with him ;)

We spent 7 hours that night waiting, testing, IV's, antibiotics, neurology, CT scan...eventually made it to the floor at 1:30am. I was exhausted and so was poor Al. Turned out he did have a sinus infection which lead to a cellulitis of his orbital space which lead to the top layer of his maxillary bone to become infected. He was in soooo much pain, it was the greatest relief when he got morphine. This photo was taken right while we were waiting to meet with the 1st of many Dr.'s that evening. It is so different to be on the other side of the bed. It only makes me want to be so much better as a CRNA to my patients and their families. You see things, feel things, know things, that no one else does until they LISTEN....and we all know many of the practitioners are so busy they sometimes forget to listen.....

12/365 IT'S A BLIZZARD OUT THERE!

the last big snow storm I had to get up at 5am and help my wonderful dear husband shovel and get on the road to make it to work in time. That is the hospital life, we don't stop for anything! But...luckily with this blizzard I got to sleep in and enjoy sipping my coffee while watching the HUGE flakes fall!!! It seriously was gorgeous today. I know many people didn't have electricity so hopefully everything has worked it's way out and if you need a place to stay come on over!!!!

Today I actually stayed inside while my absolutely amazing hubby shoveled twice all 2 feet of snow! We are in the process of refinancing so I had to gather all the bits and pieces of paperwork needed. Ughhhh, just wanted to let you all know, I had this "bag" of paperwork, some dating back to 2005, I CONQUERED IT TODAY! Gone, the bag is empty and can finally be used as a bag to carry things in! What a great feeling to be organized again! Good timing, all set for taxes now!

So, I did a late night CVS run for poor Al who seems to have a sinus infection. He has a black eye and his sinuses are so tender. I bought him some treats and a nettie pot! Yup, we tried it! Cleaned those sinuses right out! Ok, so not the biggest fan of flushing water up my nose but I feel 10X better, Al, well...he's going to the Dr. tomorrow, I think he needs antibiotics! Poor thing! At least the m&m's I got him are putting a smile on his face! So, this photo was from when I got home, I love snowy trees at night!!!!!!!!! Sleep well everyone, snuggle up!

I also want to wish my most beautiful and amazing schista from down under...Gabriela Gbyl a very happy happy birthday!!!  Love you Gabs!

11/365 1-11-11

So, for those of you who knew me in my soccer days, 11 was my number and has always been my lucky number, so I suppose this year will be a truly LUCKY year!!! I'm very excited for 11-11-11!!! So to this I have my SP on 1-11-11. I love this weather, I know it's a bit chilly but there's something so magical about snow and winter in New England, it's breathtaking!!!

10/365 our baby girl

yup, the current baby in our life, little ms. kai. It's been such a wonderful year having her and a definite practice until we have the real thing! We're not quite ready yet, but in the next couple of years there may be an actual little person with us!!!! For now, we spoil our beautiful girl!!

9/365 the things I love

Finally a day off! No work for me today. Al and I went to the Crowne Plaza, Natick for the most amazing brunch I have ever had! Al had an interview here to work for the next month before we leave for Australia. The food and bev manager was awesome! So much fun, so much energy, we felt like we were on vacation! It was a vegas themed brunch, we had free drinks, I had a mimosa, Al had a bloody mary, we played roulette and ate lots of yummy food! They even had a Sinatra band!!!!! Seriously people check it out!!!! They are doing new renovations over the next couple of months that I'm sure is going to be amazing! We are really excited to be a part of this and the fact that it's so close to home! It's right across the street from the Natick Collection!

So after brunch Al and I went out to the lake for Al to try out his new hockey skates and me to have a photo shoot! FINALLY! I have felt like I have been in withdrawal. I haven't had a photo shoot since December....the hospital has taken the priority but I have some plans for Australia photo shoots everyone! I'll send out more details on FB when I figure it all out!

The things I love: My husband! I have to thank Paola Peacock Friedrich for her quote on her wedding anniversary on FB: FOREVER NEWLYWEDS, I told Al we are adopting this phrase as well. We are definitely taking on being FOREVER NEWLYWEDS!!!!! 

8/365 things I love

This came in the mail today...I love everything from Anthropologie. EVERYTHING! I wish I could be an Anthropologie Photographer!!! It's so my style....ahhhh

7/365 Fred Fred

Last year's 365 our kitty Freddy never made it into a photo, so here he is, our beautiful 8 year old Maine Coon, he looks like a LION!! He's so special and such a character. Mr. I love to sleep on your chest! Thank goodness Kai and Fred Fred love each other soo much!!!

6/365 books...ah books...I LOVE BOOKS!

 I have to start this post by saying, I have definitely been taking a photo a day while I worked the past 4...just never got the time to post and edit, I feel good about that though. Working at the hospital is my toughest challenge and so far...so good. I think it's also helpful too that my hubby is doing his 365 and I LOVE ALL HIS PHOTOS!!!!!

This is a pile of books I wish I could read and it sums up a lot about me as well. Gandhi is the most phenomenal humanitarian out there. I completely appreciate all that he is and was. Being able to walk the footsteps of Gandhi in India last year was so memorable and moving. This book is on my to read list!

The girl with the pearl earring first intrigued me because it's written as a story based around the photo. I am always trying to tell a story from a photo!

Memoirs of a Geisha I've been dying to read since it came out..bought it...started it..didn't finish it! Ahhhh I do that all the time....

Yoga Masters=Awesome book...I bought this at Trinity Book Store on Newbury St. in Boston. One of my favorite book stores out there. I love nothing better than finding old books and being able to browse through them. I also love having a nice cup of coffee while browsing as well! mmmmmmmm So, this book is a healing book, a motivational book and it's all about yoga which I love. I just didn't finish the book yet! :)

A New Earth I bought as a part of a book club at the yoga studio. I never finished it. I think I read the first chapter...maybe. I've heard it's a great book...hehehehhehehe

5/365 recycle, reuse, rebeautify!

these are the pop tops from vials of drugs we use everyday at work. My friend Ann has been collecting them and making GORGEOUS bracelets, earrings, cuff links, bags, you name it, she can create it! I'm so proud of her, she's been raising money for the Child life services at The Children's Hospital Boston and it's a beautiful concept to use these pieces that we used to just throw away. She is an amazing artist, extremely creative and can definitely get things done!! Check out the fund raising site here:

Child Life Services Fund Raiser


and the photos are here:

medication cap photos

and so here is my photo of the day, from work before we left for the night, the wonderful pharmacy leaves these for us!!! Thanks for all your hard work, everyone of you that has been involved!!!!

4/365 it's here it's here it's here!

ahhh the D700, it has arrived and I couldn't be happier! Al and I picked it up at the post office today. We ordered it from Galaxly Camera out of Ottawa, Canada. It's where I ordered my 85 1.4 as well and had a great experience with them. Started reading the hand book....it's a long one, but I love finding out all these new and exciting functions. The best....best best thing are the 51 focus points! Planning on practicing with back button focus that allows me to fix a focus point on something outside the focus box range. I'm always saying that I wish I could compose the photo differently but can't get a focus point on that spot, manual focus for me is iffy, my eyes aren't perfect and I aim for spot on focus!!!! Any whoo, Al and I are so happy to have it and feel so blessed. We have had much support on getting this camera, from all those photo shoots over the fall, to an AMAZING Christmas gift from Australia ;)! We are so thankful and won't let you all down. We are going to use this camera to it's fullest potential! I took a photo today with ISO 6400, it isn't at all bad! Just a little grainy but man WOWZA! Seriously?? Don't need a flash for this beauty!!!!!!

My original plan was this photo and a photo of me with the camera...been sick all day with a silly head cold and just ran out of time...so here's the box, taken with the camera!!!

3/365 skin: a new year resolution

I made some resolutions this year. I don't usually but one I am going to focus on is my skin. The last few years I have dealt with issues with my face. My breakouts, stress, dry skin, picking, scars whew...it's exhaustive really. I went to the dermatologist many many times, was on oral meds (spirnolactone and minocycline) Retin-A ew ew ew ew ewwwwwww, it looked better but I was on so much medication I hated it. I quit cold turkey and had major break out. Finally after talking with the wonderful Pammi, Al's cousin who is an aesthetician, she guided me in the right direction. I use Dermalogica products now and my face is so much better!!!!!

So now I am going to focus on my skin health and the rest of my skin...the skin all over my body!! Meaning, lots of good yummy water and COCOBUTTER!!!! And of course sunscreen!

2/365 french alps?

oooohhh Chamonix Mont Blanc anyone?? Thanks Damo and Janet for such a beautiful condo in Jay Peak. It was perfect. Me, Al, Miles, Claire, Rebecca and Mike all spending a perfect weekend in Vermont! This is one of the canvases on the wall at the condo. It just looks so appealing. Skiing in the French Alps! Ah dare to dream! I took up snow boarding today. I LOVE IT! I have gotten much strife from my ski friends but seriously, I was never a great skier and I really like the freedom, the casual way of snowboarding. I loved when my instructor said to just chill as you board down the mountain. It felt good and it felt right so yes, I am sold on it!!!

alyson mclean photography project 2011

the reason behind the name:
super- "above"
cali- "beauty"
fragilistic- "delicate"
expiali- "to atone"
docious- "educable"
with the sum of these parts signifying roughly
"Atoning for educability through delicate beauty"
According to the film, Mary Poppins, it is defined as

"something to say when you have nothing to say"

That is what I think about photos...it's saying something without saying something...telling a story without saying a word...it's beautiful!

ok, so here it goes again. I failed last year. I began 2010 on Valentines Day, I think I made it to day 92...it just got so overwhelming, tiring, and I was sooo extremely hard on myself. If it wasn't perfect I couldn't put it up etc...but that's not what this is about. It's about being creative, learning new things and sharing my life, day by day through my camera. Even though the biggest challenge are the days that I work, I will work to make it happen!

Day 1/365:
I don't usually do landscapes, I'm more a people person but on our drive up to Jay Peak in Jay, Vermont, there are sooo many gorgeous old barns with silo's. Al and I just LOVE silos! There something magical, mysterious and unique about them. We love Vermont, it's breathtaking.