~ Nifty Level Fifty Reflection ~

~ NIFTY LEVEL FIFTY REFLECTION ~

So here I am, 50 years old and surviving during a global pandemic, surviving cancer, surviving in this UCP run province of Alberta. June 10th, 2023 I hit level 50, unlocked some pretty lame perks. Some of them involve waking up during the night for bathroom trips, when I get up things ache/hurt more than usual. My cats are hanging in there but definitely take a day at a time, as am I. 

Things are not normal, or were they ever? Seems like 2019 not only brought my cancer to the surface but with it the globe just went nutty. People seem so divided, everyone is on some kind of brink it seems of losing their marbles. As a teacher I have seen some really major changes and challenges come into the world of education. Basically, this world is never going to be the same as before 2019 and Covid. Not saying it's going to be bad and terrible, but it sure isn't looking positive on any fronts. 

With all the negativity surrounding it I have developed some plans on how I want to escape some of this chaos with some creativity and hopefully that can help keep my mental/physical/spiritual and emotional/social health strong. 

PHYSICAL HEALTH PLAN

• This one might be easiest of all, MOVE more!! I need to get active and hopefully yard work, photography adventures and just not being a complete potato will help here.

MENTAL/SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH PLAN

• Do the creative things I love: ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, GAMING
• Spending time with friends, cats and family (Always good for this improving all aspects of my life)
• Keep learning and striving to be a better person in my job, personal life and just don't let my brain get sleepy.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH PLAN

• Going to do all I can to reconnect with that higher power. "This is My Father's World", isn't just a song that helped me power up spiritually during my chemo treatments, it's a saying that reminds me how much I need God in my life and heart.
• Connect with my Bible, reading, appreciating the contents of a book that contains so much good for me personally. 
• Take time to go out into nature, it's here where I can see God's presence more and I plan to showcase this through my photography, art and share it in new ways (I got plans). 

I say this lots but I do want to blog more. It's fun just writing things down and seeing where this writing leads. I have been playing a LOT with Ai (ChatGPT and Mid-journey) and I will at some point add some Ai posts to this blog. It's actually amazing to see how Ai is developing so quickly, scary yes to some point. I mean Terminator movies basically built a franchise on scaring people with quick development of technology like Ai. 

Summer is here and I am excited that I have some holidays now to really focus on some of these plans. I will try and keep this blog going with updates. If not here, check my instagram, FB photography for updates. Search up Randy Pond Photography. I cancelled my website as it was always glitching and the company I hosted with wasn't being too cooperative so the randypond.ca is no longer a thing. 

Thanks for reading this far. I wish you all the best for this summer and feel free to leave a comment. 

 Leaving you all with a portrait of my FINNY and moi!!!! LEVEL 50 here I come!!!! 

-Randy

~ November 2018 Update ~

I have neglected you BLOG.....time write something new.  So here is a bit of an update.  I am currently fighting off a nasty old cold.  It wasn't fun, sick for a few days but I am on the mend.  Photography has gotten to be SO SO SO slow.  I am not shooting much TFP anymore and have been actually enjoying art a LOT lately.  Watercolor paints are so much fun and I am trying to spend more time with art.  I have also been playing a lot of Call of Duty (Black Ops 4) on my xbox one x.

I am hoping to get my studio lights up one day soon and find a model or two to come shoot here.  I think in a few more days this cold should be gone, just in time for my November break.  Tomorrow in the United States I am HOPING Americans can get it right and vote out some of those moron Republicans.  For me it comes down to tomorrow, if they don't go with the BLUE wave then it will tell the world that America is this toxic and Trump does represent current American values and attitudes...which is seriously sad if that happens.

My photography shares today are from the FLICKR feed, which has just updated it's PRO account.  It's a bit more pricey but I am so impressed with it's features.  Unlimited full sized images and a few more nice features for professional photographers.  I have used 500px less and less over the last few years.  I kinda have a soft spot for FLICKR as I was on it from pretty much the beginning of these photography shenanigans.  So back to the photos for today...these are some sunset pics, shot only a few minutes away from my house.

This wild and crazy world....

So I have finally started year 21 of teaching and still loving the challenges and learning I experience every day.  There is a LOT of potential for changes in my life right now but looking forward to what these changes will bring.  I love photography but lately I've been actually doing what I have said I would do for years, which is to pick up a pencil and some art supplies and create some art.  I added a link to my website to showcase my creative side more.  It's felt good to mess around with art and create without the camera.

I am trying my best to not worry about the world but it's been crazy.  Make America Great again and it looks like a dump.  The climate change that so many try to ignore is looking quite real.  So many terrible storms and wild fires.  It's tough to stomach news lately with the nutty things happening.  I am thankful for art, music and creative people.  Thankfully there are people trying to make the world a better place with their talents.

I will drop a few pics here of recent things I've been doing with my camera.  Gonna try and share more art as well.  Stay tuned and if you're reading my BLOG a huge thanks as I am a terrible writer and hoping posting a blog or two will help with that.  The photos in this blog feature a model I love working with: DESTINY and we shot them late summer out in Vegreville.  It's always fun to collaborate with her.  She's always been a great model and friend to work with.  She got me some amazing Oiler players to give me autographs!!! Spoiled photographer here!!!!

-Randy