Running for the Board

So, I have a bit of an announcement to make.  This Saturday I will be running for the Board of Directors of CAPEX. While I have had issues in the past with the direction the group was headed, I have decided to step up and try to make a positive impact on the group. Towards that end, I have submitted my self nomination form to run. It will be a good challenge and I hope that I am allowed to serve this organization.

Wish me luck.

MV

Update: Well I lost this round, but two great people won. I wish them luck in the future.  I did toss my hat into the ring for a special election in February. Only a 5 month position, but I would like to win. Wish me luck again.

Service Book of Days 1/18/10

v Outside my window… (weather, what do you hear, what do you see?)  It is a beautiful day out.  I went out for a run and the weather was cold but not brutally so.  Perfect weather for running.

v my thoughts…are open and accepting.  It has been a year since I have been Master’s slave and I am choosing not to look back but to look forward to more.

v Today’s Quote… 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a and 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails….And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

This is one of my favorite quotes.  It shows how love for someone goes past the emotional phase.  Being in love with someone takes active participation.  It takes living.  It takes growth.

v i am thankful for…my life and being alive.  For the struggles and being fortunate enough to love and be loved.

v From my service training…(any skills, training etc; notes you want to share this week) Grace and inner peace.

v From the kitchen…(menu for the week, what are you cooking?)  Planned menu for the week will include, baked chicken, fish, spaghetti.

v i am wearing…my comfy clothes with fuzzy socks

v i am creating…(crafts, sewing etc;)  I am a work of art being molded and formed by Master.

v my adventures this week…(where are you going this week?)  No adventures this week.    Fixing the house to sale.

v Becoming well read…(What are you reading this week?)  I have been listening to a podiobook written by Scott Sigler.  He does great  horror podcasts.

v i manifest and co-create…(what are your hopes, dreams, and prayers this week) Peace and tranquility in my house and with my children.

v Today’s Melody…(what music are you listening to? even if it’s just the sound of a bird…) No tunes today.

v One of my favorite things… has become the endorphin rush from working out.  I always love to just get out doors and run.  Such a freeing experience.  There is always a challenge to be met in running so I never get bored of it.  I am glad that with my physical limitation I can get back outside and run.

v further plans for this week…Continuing to fix the house to sell.  It has been extremely windy on the east coast and such wind tore pieces of siding from my house.  Sighs…something else to add to the list.

v Still….life(share a picture you’ve taken OR a picture you found online that speaks to you)

This is another picture taken by my daughter when she went to the butterfly habitat.

Want to start something different for the new year.  Here are the directions:

Once a week on Monday you will respond to the above prompts.. more is better. Post your response on your blog or website.

Mention my blog (service savoir faire) and offer a link back to the main page of the blog. This way others can participate in the project as well!   www.servicesavoirfaire.blogspot

So now that you know how, please feel free to join me. 🙂

Leather Working 101: Basic Tools Pt. 3

Photo by Meralain on Flickr. Some rights reserved. Used per creative commons.

Ok, I have showed you how to cut, sew and put holes in leather, this time we are going to see some of the basic tools you need to add things to leather.

Rivets, Grommets and Conchos

When you have your leather cut, you need to do something with it.  Rivets are used to hold two pieces of leather together, or to hold some sort of cosmetic item in the leather. They come in a wide variety of shapes and appearances. You will need a mallet (which I discussed in pt. 2) and a rivet setter. This is used to strike the rivets and and set them in place. Basically you are causing a small piece of metal to deform lock into place with a metal holder.

Do not use them when safety requires a strong hold to bind two pieces of leather together. I find they are more for appearance sake. Instead, either sew (which I showed the tools needed in part 1) or use Chicago screws.

Grommets are used to reinforce a hole in leather. Use them when you want to run a rope or lace through a piece of leather where wear may affect it. Or use it for appearance sake too. You will need to use a grommet setter as well as your trusty mallet.

Conchos are very decorative items that are set using either screws or like a rivet. They are almost always to improve the appearance of the item, though they can hold the leather together as well.

MV

Service Book of Days 1/11/10

v Outside my window… (weather, what do you hear, what do you see?)  it is dark tonight.  I got home a little bit late due to work and the gym.  Eventhough it was cold out it was not as brutal cold as it has been.

v my thoughts…are positive.  I am living in my present…not someone elses.

v Today’s Quote… When you relinquish the desire to control your future, you can have more happiness.      Nicole Kidman, in The Scotsman

I know I put this in for last week but I am still meditating on this and will leave it for another week.

v i am thankful for…for my family.  For being able to live life out loud J

v From my service training…(any skills, training etc; notes you want to share this week) Grace.    Speaking respectfully but openly.  This is harder than it seems because I have had to make sure my words are not accusatory.  So something I would normally say, such as you do this, is changed to say

v From the kitchen…(menu for the week, what are you cooking?)  Have not bought my new crockpot yet.  I am going to check around some garage sales…maybe I can find one.  I have started my goal of teaching my kids how to really cook a meal as opposed to popping  something in the microwave.

v i am wearing…my workout cloths.  Keeping true to my goal of not gaining my winter blubber…LOL    So far so good on the fitness goal.  I did not gain weight over the holiday break and I am still feeling good (backwise) J

v i am creating…(crafts, sewing etc;)  I am a work of art being molded and formed by Master.

v my adventures this week…(where are you going this week?)  No adventures this week.  Getting back into the groove or being at work fulltime.

v Becoming well read…(What are you reading this week?)  Okay, I have been taking the easy way out of actually holding a book and have been listening to books on the iphone Master gave to me.    My most recent podiobook was about an internet company being bought out by Zombinc.  Zombinc employees Zombies only.    LOL

v i manifest and co-create…(what are your hopes, dreams, and prayers this week) Peace and tranquility in my house and with my children.

v Today’s Melody…(what music are you listening to? even if it’s just the sound of a bird…) Was listening to a really funky house beat while working out.  Then started listening to Incognito.

v One of my favorite things… has become the endorphin rush from working out.  I always love to just get out doors and run.  Such a freeing experience.  There is always a challenge to be met in running so I never get bored of it.  I am glad that with my physical limitation I can get back outside and run.

v further plans for this week…Continuing to fix the house to sell.  It has been extremely windy on the east coast and such wind tore pieces of siding from my house.  Sighs…something else to add to the list.

v Still….life(share a picture you’ve taken OR a picture you found online that speaks to you)

Want to start something different for the new year.  Here are the directions:

Once a week on Monday you will respond to the above prompts.. more is better. Post your response on your blog or website.

Mention my blog (service savoir faire) and offer a link back to the main page of the blog. This way others can participate in the project as well!   http://www.servicesaviorefair.blogspot.com

So now that you know how, please feel free to join me. 🙂

Photography Tips

I found an interesting series of videos on how to shoot models. I figure it will transfer pretty well to shooting pics of people tied up too, which is what I am starting to do. If you are interested in getting better results when photographing your partner(s) then watch below.  One note: audio quality sucks, but the info is very good.

One tip I have learned, use a long lens when shooting to replicate what the Pros do. Professional photographers often use a 200mm lens to give their lens a special look. While expensive, it does get great results.  If you notice, the camera the photographer is using has an extra long lens.

Good luck,

MV