Vignettes by Monique

So True!

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:06:00 +0000

Just love how true this really is........

once you have tasted flight....

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Sonoma County Fair 7.28.11

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. ~Leonardo Da Vinci

being effective

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:13:00 +0000

If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito. ~Betty Reese

Just something to make you think a little bit on this warm night.

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 05:51:00 +0000

Just a little thougth to chew on....and on and on, I know I am.
Hanging in there and just trying to get by these days!
Happy Week Peps!

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:53:00 +0000

So one of my favorite things about new car is XM radio. (which Hubs got for me) You can always find something to listen to, funny jokes, the daily events and I have even been known to rock out for a few moments on to the 80's on 8 or the 90's on 9. But my son has found his favorite place, Radio Disney, now I can enjoy some bubble gum pop as much as the next parent. And lately there has been the new song by the cast of Glee, "Loser like me" playing a lot.

Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth……So everyone can hear Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down….Baby, I don't care ......Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out…You wanna be (You wanna be) A loser like me (A loser like me)

Well I was actually listening to the lyrics and I have to say, I like that little message. That song makes me realize you are not alone and for as much as people tell you they don't like you or the things you do, well that is just their issue. There are a lot of people out there who just hate on people because they can. I am not going to label it, just going to keep on being a loser like me.

And know that I am totally happy with what my life has given me.

in the beginning......

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:30:00 +0000

“In the beginning there was no baseball, but ever since there have been few beginnings as good as the start of a new baseball season”

In honor of the SF opening day, I figured I should share one of my shots from Spring Training last month. We traveled to Scottsdale, which is a great time, but we hit a little rain and only got to see a game and a 1/3rd, but it was fun anyway.

Here is Timmy, looking like the "BIG TIME TIMMY JIM" we all know. Here is to opening day and the boys of summer, may the torture continue in a good way!

friends

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:41:00 +0000

Had lunch with a good friend, it has been too many days, weeks, even months, but it was like we never missed a beat. Real friends are such a treasure.

Been thinking a lot about one of my dearest friends, going to stop thinking and pick up the phone. I think a lunch date is in order.

Behind the door

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 04:43:00 +0000

Life is a challenge!

The other day a good friend of mine told me she wished she could find a project she could be enthusiastic about.

Being in rather odd space myself, I understand what she means.

I have been dealing with some health issues and some daily-day-in-and-day-out-drama- of-did-I-really-sign-up-this?, that I find myself someplace between “wanting to understand” and “thinking I just don’t really care” So I guess you could say I feel all over the place, especially when it comes to wasting my energy on something not worthwhile.

I just want to be inspired……………… do you ever feel that way? Inspired by something in life. To feel that what I am putting in might actually feel like it is worth all my efforts….. or benefit someone else in the long run. To feel like there is actually something good behind the door.

For the past few years, I have sponsored a little league team of 10. They don’t wear my company logo or even know my name. It is not a competitive league they play in, it is not about box scores, hits or homeruns. It is a place where they learn that in life there is a higher value placed on character than on wins and losses.

That is my kind of team!

So back to trying to find a way to get interested in actually getting out of bed. I am hunting for a challenge.

Last month I sold something that I had stored in my garage for $75, I decided to challenge myself and see how much I could turn it into in a month’s time. So I made myself a little mini business plan and in 30 days I had turned that $75 into $400.

So it has me thinking what if you gave yourself $100 and 1 year. What could you do?

I know from my own experience you can do a lot in one year. I took over 10,000 photos in one year. And I managed to publish hundreds of them here in my blog and in other places. Could you at least prove to yourself that you have the character to succeed. To take something and turn it into more.

So that is my challenge I have given myself and anyone that wants to join in the fun, it only takes getting your hands on $100.

One Hundred Dollars and One Year!

You can do something that only you benefit from, perhaps you will use it as some kind of seed money for a project that turns into something more. Maybe in the end you pay off a dreaded credit card, maybe you help a family in need or your favorite charity. And maybe, just maybe, you might just start the next big thing.

I realize for some who read this $100 is really nothing, but for some of us, it is something and that can lead to something more.

What will you do?
How will you challenge yourself?
It could just change the way you see things and the way you value things.

all i ask.......

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:27:00 +0000

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” ~ Jackie Robinson

I have been thinking a lot about respect, it seems to be lacking everywhere I look these days.

This quote just seems to resonate with me, let us each respect people because they are human beings.

You don't have to be BBF's, or love everything they do or don't do, or be in agreement all the time. But a least respect each other.

We have to be around people all day long in our daily lives who are on "Team Non-Respect". Don't join that team yourself. Nobody likes that team and nobody is rooting for them to win.

DIY: How to make diamonds

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:34:00 +0000

colors 9.14.10

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure” ~~ Peter Marshall

Reading that quote reminds me not to bemoan the day and its stresses. It made me think that sometime life is just that way, full of stress, difficulties and pressures.

Everyone is under some kind of stress, has a full plate, wakes up on the wrong side of the bed or does not know what end is up sometimes. Your health may be failing, your job may a total pain, your mate may not be there for you, your children may give you a hard time. Add to that the economy stinks, the price of gas is up, your mortgage may be too high, the bills pile up faster than they go down…..the list goes on……. I am just saying, we all have something that affects us. As they say, we are not alone, we are just like everyone else.

So we decide. We can go with it, knowing something better on the flip side. We change it if we don’t like the direction or we can just simply do nothing.

Personally, I usually like to change the things I don’t like, but I like this idea that by coping with the pressure, I may end up with Diamonds. :)

so little faith in me

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:57:00 +0000

Do you know who I am?

I am the one person who has been behind you.
I look out for you, am concerned about you, worry for you.

I do this becuase I care about you.

It may not be in ways YOU can even see, but it is there, in each moment, everyday, each week, every year. And yet you find flaws in me, blame me, hurt me.

Shame on you for thinking anything but the best of me.
Shame on you for having so little faith in me.
Shame on you for not knowing who I am.

What is she up to now?

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Bokeh 7.4.10

Maple Leaves 7.5.10

Hot in Healdsburg 7.6.10

Love that smile 07.7.10

Santa Rosa Sailing 7.8.10

Painted Lady 7.9.10

Manolo 7.10.10

Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Reggie Jackson and me.

Yep, me, you read that right. I have something in common with those guys. They all wore the number 44 and so do I this year.

So I am sure you are asking what is she up to now. Well here is the deal. When I completed my 365 project in the summer of 2009, I was thrilled, relieved and proud. But it did not take long to realize how much I missed it, so now I begin again, year 44, just me doing what I love and feel I should be doing, taking pictures……and if you are wondering why I would do it again. It is simple, because it makes me happy, after all the number 44 is a happy number. And who does not need a little happiness these days.

~ Know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do. ~ Menander

So please feel free to sign up and join the journey, I will try to make it a good one.

You can find me at www.44monique.blogspot.com or the blog button on this blog will link you. You will need to subscribe if you want to follow me, since I will not be updating both blogs. I will continue to use this one from time to time, so don't delete your subscription to. But be sure to subscribe to the new one.

-MJC

For more interesting facts about the number 44, check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_44

the things you see

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:25:00 +0000

“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks”

In my travels here and there, I came across this little bit of advertisement while looking out the window of my plane. I just find it a funny place to advertise your website. If you double click on the photo you will see that there is a very small aa.com ad on the wing of the plane.

Enjoy the View!

average man

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:06:00 +0000

The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is.~ Robert H. Schuller

Sorry it has been a while since my last posts, somehow I got lost in the winter rains. Feeling like I miss my camera. Here are some of my favorite shots from March Spring Training and April Baseball. For more you can check them out on Flickr.com at http://www.flickr.com/photos/31415803@N03/sets/72157623750117100/

Gotta have Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:28:00 +0000

Right on the line, just shy of a goal, originally uploaded by www.monique42.blogspot.com.

Don't go through life without goals. ~ Hockey Saying

I have never taken any photos at a hockey game, basically because I had only been to one prior to this past weekend. But as a treat to my son, we went to see the San Jose Sharks play the Columbus Blue Jackets. My son has been very into hockey this past winter, says "he loves all hockey, boys hockey, Olympic hockey, even girl hockey". That last one makes my husband twitch a little bit.

I try to watch it on tv, but I find it hard to keep up with the puck, but it was much easier in person. This shot was one that the Sharks actually missed, I have a few captures and yes that is the puck sitting on the line next to the goalies skate. It never crossed the line.

It made me think about how heartbreaking it is to come that close to a goal and just miss it. Was it timing, did it require more effort or was it something more. It certainly makes you think, how close am I to my goals? Do I come close, to I give up? Do I blame others or outside things for missing them?

Whatever it may be, keep trying; having goals is a huge part of growing.

-MJC

Number 51

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:07:00 +0000

a flower worth a song (51), originally uploaded by J-EXPRESSION.

He is soooooo good, my nephew has started his own 365 project, he is just about 2 months into it and doing AMAZING!!!!!!!

Click on the photo about to see all his photos on flickr.

Keep up the good work Jon.

-MJC

Rainy days and Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:22:00 +0000

Rainy Day in San Francisco 12.12.09, originally uploaded by www.monique42.blogspot.com.

Since Northern California has been getting a lot of rain, it seems only fitting to capture some of it. The problem is water and cameras do not always mix. I was sitting in my car in SF playing with this app on my iPhone named ShakeIt. Gives photos that Polaroid effect and this one I just liked all the color. I love the red droplets.

Enjoy the view!

-MJC

same sky

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:33:00 +0000

“We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon”

things will happen

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:16:00 +0000

"But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." -- Conan O'Brien

In the times we live in, everything is changing around us. Some things are moving, where some are not. We may lose our jobs, our jobs may change completely, we may move or we may just move on.

One thing is constant, our record, what we have done, how we have grown, who we have touched.

-MJC

I guess people like Lincecum

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:18:00 +0000

Lincecum 05.29.09, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/31415803@N03/.

I was checking out my photostream on Flickr and found that the most viewed photo has been this one. I gues everyone likes to check out our #55.

It is a pretty cool shot, we got in early one day for batting practice and I was right down on the bricks watching the goings on. You can check out more of my Giants photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31415803@N03/sets/72157617091417926/

Enjoy the view, only 15 days till Fan Fest at AT&T. Before we know it baseball wll be back. Now that is a something nice to think about.

-MJC

everyday a smile

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:08:00 +0000

everyday a smile 1.13.2010, originally uploaded by CoOL ToAst.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

This guy never seems to amaze me with his interesting vision, I am not sure I would have ever seen this but I am glad I get to see it now.

Enjoy the view.... and smile.

-MJC

lights, camera, action!

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:22:00 +0000

AT&T Lighted Palms 12.02.09

These old ballparks are like cathedrals in America. We don't have big old Gothic cathedrals like they do in Europe. But we got baseball parks. ~ Jimmy Buffett

During my 365 project, I took a photo of these palms outside of AT&T park after a ballgame, last night I was down there again and they were lighting these for the winter, they were just so pretty, I could not pass them up again.

-MJC

Say Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Cheesehead photo, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/31415803@N03/.

Our cheesehead 12.01.09

Cheese, milk's leap toward immortality. -Clifton Fadiman

We all know how much we love all things cheese; I guess it is rubbing off on our son, just in a different manner. After hubs recent trip to Green Bay for the Packers game, this is our little guys favorite souvenir.

I took this photo with my iPhone using this great app a friend turned me onto. It is called ShakeIt photo. Makes it look like an old Polaroid shot.

Enjoy the views this month.

-MJC

Hallway of shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Hallway of shadows, originally uploaded by CoOL ToAst.

Another amazing photo by my nephew, he amazes me, what he sees at such a young age. And he is a computer wizard to top it off. Love it and him so much. Enjoy!

Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides. ~ Junichiro Tanizaki

expectations of fairness

noreply@blogger.com (Monique) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Getting all your ducks in a row 11.11.09

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. ~ Dennis Wholey