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I dug out my old professional film camera a couple nights ago, and realized that I still have 6 rolls of film in the camera bag: 3 color, and 3 black and white. I think the film is at least 6 years old or so.

I wonder if I should try to use it. I would hate to have film go to waste, but it is probably well past its prime right now.

I can't believe it's been so long since I used my film camera. Sometimes I just prefer that over digital, especially when I'm shooting black and white. The last time I used this camera was when I shot all those black and whites of the old steam locomotive across the street from our house on Am Bahnhof.

So...methinks a photography excursion will soon be in order. I need to find a place that would look excellent shot in black and white...in case the film is still decent.

Hmmm...need to think about that. That will be a challenge. The next outing I'm planning is to Pike Place Market next Saturday, and I don't want to lug that huge camera around all day. Plus, the market is too colorful. It would be a shame to shoot it in black and white.

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I finished reading Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford last night. Fabulous. I absolutely loved it. It truly gave me a sense of both the allure and terror of Henry VIII's court. I need to write up a review in the next couple days or so. I requested 4 more titles from my editor last night. Pretty soon, I'm going to need to buy another bookshelf. I'm running out of room for my books. I don't think of this as a bad thing.

Also - I HAVE A PROJECT! The deadline is Wednesday, although I feel I will be able to finish well within that time frame. I'm going to print out the essay first and go over it multiple times with a practiced eye and a red pen. Then I'll go into Word and track everything I find into Word so that I can just attach the file and send it back. I hope this all works out well, because I would like him to refer me to his colleagues and/or students, and that would really get the ball rolling for me again. I prefer writing to proofing, but I'm a natural at proofing, so why shouldn't I do it? I'm one of those people that feels tempted to take a red pen to every published book, correct all the mistakes that the editor overlooked, and send it back to the publisher. I don't...but I always feel like it.

Anyway, I need to get to the commissary this morning and do our grocery shopping. Thankfully, I don't need much. I have plenty of meat in the freezer right now. I need to restock the pantry. I need to get some things for my birthday barbecue on Thursday. I love love LOVE Trader Joe's garlic fries, but I'm not running out there on a special trip just to get some, so I hope I can find a reasonable substitute. We're doing steaks, garlic fries, and probably one of those pre-packaged salad mixes that come with the dressing and croutons (I'm thinking the BLT Caesar).

Talked to Lance this morning. He's been crazy bored all weekend. The Wi-Fi's been down at his hotel and he's had NOTHING to do. He's going over to see our friends Christy and Dave for dinner tonight. I haven't seen them since right before we all left GK...they left there about a month or so after we did. And he has tomorrow off as well - nothing planned. Then Tuesday is the altitude chamber, which is the only reason why he's still there. And then he gets to come home.

Puppy got me up early this morning, even though I wanted to sleep in. Now...guess who is still awake and guess who is curled up napping on the couch? Brat.

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Lance has fallen in love with another dog on Petfinder (although to be fair, I'm the one who found Reece...Lance was reluctant to even go see her because of the sad puppy face in her photo *points to icon*...he thought she would be a sad puppy all the time).

This dog's name is Bella. She's 2 years old. She loves households with other dogs. And she's also a Lab Mix. Personality-wise, she seems a lot like Reece. I think she would be a good companion for us and for Reece. She can match Reece in energy and temperament.

My concern is that I'm not entirely sure we can afford 2 dogs at the moment. Extra vet bills, extra set-up costs (another crate, food/water bowls, leash and collar, etc.), more money for doggie day camp and boarding, twice the food. Lance thinks we can manage it just fine. He doesn't think it will be that much more than what we're spending on Reece now.

He wants me to come up with a pro/con list and email it to him. He already has one that he will send me once I send him one.

I can think of one pro right off the bat. Reece just dropped a slobbery Kong on top of my laptop and got my laptop monitor and keyboard all wet. If we have another dog, they can fight over the Kong and leave me out of it. I don't like playing tug of war with slobbery toys.

In other news, I bought prezzies for the nieces today. Claire is getting an outfit (I hope to God it fits her...she's a big girl and I was unsure of the size) and a gloworm that lights up and plays lullabies. Eva is getting something that's kind of like a Mr. Potato Head, only it's a dog. It has snap-on accessories and 2 little outfits you can dress it in.

And now...my burning question for this week.

For my birthday breakfast at Wild Wheat Bakery & Cafe, shall I order the mixed berry blintzes or the smoked salmon omelet? They smoke their own salmon out behind the cafe. Oh...but the blintzes sound so good too. But then again, Lance and I are having crepes at Pike Place Market when we go there on Saturday, and those are similar to blintzes.

What to do...what to do?