lately - exhausted

Hello hello everyone.. what a crazy last few weeks I have had. But first I need to take you back to last year.. Last year I had been asked to be one of the speakers for a women's event in our local mosque. The topic was photography and how the elements of a good photograph can tie into our daily life.

Thankfully the rest of the year went by quietly until a few months ago I was asked to take photos for a three day event taking place in early October.

Our community hosted a medical conference where doctors from all across North America flew in to participate. There were over 200 people who joined the event. I was to be one of the two photographers to take photos of the event. Now here's the funny part.. I don't do events. I don't like dealing with people. I am not good at instructing people about their poses. But you do what you gotta do for the community. It was an exhausting weekend leaving me with 1000's of photos to edit. 


There were multiple demonstrations showing the innovations in ultrasound technology and a station to brush up on your suturing technique and a lot more. I even learned a few things. 


Word spread and I ended up getting hired to shoot two other events on the next weekend.. also within the community and I know I know.. yay work but I now have another 800 pictures to edit and I have had no time to do anything else.. 

I have kids and meals and sports and M was out last week and I am exhausted. And after shooting all these events I am even firmer in my opinion that I do not enjoy photographing events. 

On top of all this is the incompetency of people around us.. 

D picked up bowling in high school.. it was time to upgrade his ball. So we got him one from the local pro shop.. all the man had to do was drill the hole. He didn't smooth out the thumb hole properly and it scraped the skin right off his thumb. Everytime it heals and we think he can bowl again the thumb becomes inflamed again. One hole and we are still dealing with the repercussions months later. 

Last week I had a doctors appointment.. there was a glitch with our insurance and I chose to self pay.. I couldn't afford to cancel the appointment (more on that later).. I asked for an itemized bill so I could get a reimbursement from the insurance company. The insurance company required three things mentioned on the bill and I have requested the bill three times and it never has all three things on it. When your job is billing wouldn't you think you would know how to create a bill the insurance companies will accept?

Okay.. enough complaining.. 

H loves to help me in the kitchen.. he has been asking to make full meals more independently.. so a few Sundays ago he made chili. Since then he has baked two batches of browning.. made a thai curry.. and I think a few more things but I forget.


and I am trying to encourage D to improve his kitchen skills.. currently he can make eggs and boxed mac n cheese and airfryer premade things.. so while he can survive but I want him to be better than just survival cooking. 


 He choose to make pakoras (potato fritters).



and I tired the viral lazy dumplings. They were very very easy.. and I would definitely make them again. 


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Comments

Margaret D said…
Oh I think it's important for young adults/teenagers learn to cook, what he has made looks nice.
You have been busy then, and specially chosen to take photos, good on you even though it created a lot of extra work for you.
Yes, you think they could get the Insurance necessaries on the bill, beats me!
Take care.
Jennifer said…
Ouch the thumb from bowling sounds painful!

Jennifer
https://curatedbyjennifer.com
I'm hearing you on "not doing events". They do sound exhausting to photograph. Nevertheless, they must have liked your work, if you were hired for two more events. Congratulations on that!
Learning life skills like cooking is the way forward! xxx
Joyce said…
Those lazy dumplings look really good. Hope you get all the photos edited and have a break from that task. But it's nice you were asked to do the job. I think we see so much incompetence or maybe it's just an 'I can't be bothered to do the job completely and correctly and cheerfully' attitude that's all around us. I had excellent service at two local businesses recently and wrote reviews because it was so nice to have people go above and beyond. That feels rare these days. The thumb hole sounds super annoying and can hopefully be fixed. Have a nice week!
The pakoras and lazy dumplings look delicious! I hope your time commitments return to a more manageable level soon!
Joanne said…
Ugh, yes, I feel like so many people don't really know how to do their jobs anymore and it's so frustrating. Good luck getting all the photos edited. That sounds like quite a job. It's great that you are encouraging your boys to learn more kitchen skills. It can be a real battle with those that care much for cooking--- I have two of them and it can be like pulling teeth to get them to do much of anything in the kitchen.
Kathy G said…
I will have to google 'lazy dumplings'-that sounds like my cup of tea! I encouraged each of my boys to know their way around a kitchen.
Kelly said…
At least you know you CAN do events when you need to! Clearly you made an impression.
It's always good to see kids learning ALL skills. And yes.... the world is filled with incompetence! I think we're on edge these days and more attuned to it.
Jeanie said…
No doubt you are a good photographer! I'm not surprised people wanted you. And well done, training your boys in the kitchen. Rick did that for both Greg and Kevin and both are pretty wonderful cooks. It will pay off for them well in the years to come.
Children need to learn how to cook, as well as laundry and general housework
Liz A. said…
Always good to let the kiddos cook. They learn a skill. One less thing for you to worry about. Sorry you don't like shooting events. It's good you have those skills for those who need it, but yeah, it sounds like a lot.
Strayer said…
editing photos is exhausting. Is that Ham and Eggs being ultra sounded? Sure looks like it!
karen said…
boy you have been busy!! All I do is see doctors anymore and some of the offices are run perfectly and others are quite lacking. I miss the old days when they used to answer the phones. I don't think my kids were in the kitchen much as teens, I cannot remember but both can cook as adults.
Ann said…
Dumplings look delicious and it's great that kids are learning how to do it - and yes, to doctor offices these days. I love ours and like how they respond by email - but to make an appointment is difficult. And then the endless texts - prepare, sign in, are you here yet !!!
Rissi said…
I hope you all continue to have fun adventures making new things in the kitchen! It's always fun to try new recipes and see if there is a new favorite dish to add to the weekly meal rotation. :) Thanks for visiting my list recently and I hope you are able to slow down soon.
Events ARE exhausting! Hopefully you get a chance to rest now. Love that you got to do this work, though.
Oh wow, I can imagine those events were already exhausting and then the editing work still comes after! Hope you'll get a bit of time to rest soon!
I'm glad the current generation of parents are teaching their sons to cook. I'm a firm believer in teaching boys and girls how to do the same survival tools of life. It wasn't always been that way.
Mary Kirkland said…
it's good for kids to learn to cook. When my 13 year old grandson comes over he helps me or his mom cook too. I showed him how to clean shrimp last month, he wasn't pleased about it though. LOL
Yvonne said…
Great pics! So nice that they can cook. It's important.
YUM! Those pakoras and lazy dumplings look amazing! I used to love when my boys helped me in the kitchen. Precious memories.
Don't get me started about insurance! Hopefully you get that issue figured out. Sorry that the event were tiring. Now you know not to do then anymore. Those dumplings look delicious!

https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
We taught our boys to cook and bake as well. Our youngest loved to bake cookies.
Sorry about the insurance ... it is such a mess. I know!! I have had my share of hiccups.
Penelope Notes said…
Hard work but an honour to be asked to photograph important events, and how lovely that your son has an interest in cooking. But annoying about all the incompetence from those we rely on.
Veronica Lee said…
I enjoyed reading about the boys' cooking projects. Making eggs is one thing, but pakoras are definitely a step up! The lazy dumplings look like something I would happily try too. Hopefully life slows down a bit for you now.
Melis said…
Well, no wonder you're exhausted! So glad you're being recognized for your talents, though! And glad your family time is offering up some lovely shared experiences and some yummy food :-) Rest up!
Theresa Mahoney said…
Good that your photography skills are appreciated, but I also agree that it is a lot of work. I hate shooting events and people, but food I think it fun.
Vix said…
That's brilliant that your photography skills are appreciated but it must be really hard work!
Being able to cook is essential for everyone, it looks like your boys have taken to it very well!
Wonderful photos! I hope your thumb is healing.
R’s Rue said…
You are amazing. Never forget that
Ashley Sapp said…
That does sound exhausting! It's great that your boys are helping with the cooking.
21 Wits said…
What a busy life, you are living each day as best you can and kids really do learn quickly when we show and have them help in the kitchen. trust me I know from experience. My boys and my daughter are all excellent cooks, possibly better than their spouses and their children have learned as well. it works!
Laura B said…
It sounds like you've had so much on your plate lately! I hope you're able to find a little time to slow down, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved rest. Sending hugs your way!
Goodness me, you have been busy.
So sorry to read about the various problems/issues you've had to sort.
Take time to re-charge your batteries.

In the meantime let the boys help out with the cooking it seems they are doing well with their cooking skills. I think it's important for young adults/teenagers to learn to cook . . . as my Grands also have :)

Take care and have a happy and stress-free as possible November.

All the best Jan
All that food looks delicious! Love some help in the kitchen!! That sounds exhausting to be photographing events and then the editing! The editing is the hard part for me.
Lisa Mandina said…
I was assistant bowling coach at one of the high schools where I was a librarian. NOt because I was a good bowler though, lol, because they needed a 2nd coach and I could be the "girls" coach with the male coach also there. That stinks that they didn't get the hole drilled the right way! I love all the food pics and this time they are home made! Yummy! Definitely sounds busy and exhausting with all those photos to go through now! I hope things slow down for you a bit and you can get rested up.
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