28 Days!!!

I'm getting closer to the end of the semester, but more importantly, I'm getting closer to my Camino.  Things are coming in that I need for my trip...

The order of the Mass in English and Spanish

My Pilgrim's Passports (I need two, since I will be in Spain for so long).

I'm gathering my things for my trip, and I'm figuring out what I'm planning taking on my trip.  Things will be a bit different this time around as I will be teaching online for the duration, so there are also a few things that I'm going to need to take with me that I didn't the first time around. I'm using what I learned from the first time around and my backpack is weighing in at 13.6 lbs, including everything in the following picture:

The only thing missing is what I will be wearing, and some of my meds.

My packing list:

• one Osprey backpack with a rain cover
• one pair Oofos for wearing after my hike is done
• one fleece sleeping bag and net case
• one silk sleeping bag liner
• one sarong
• one neck pillow
• one massaging ball to help with keeping my feet in fine form
• half of a composition book (for taking notes while grading speeches--I will be throwing away paper as I use it, so that it will be less weight as I go along)
• one lightweight jacket
• one water resistant windbreaker
• one emergency poncho if it really starts raining
• 2 sets of clothing containing:
• one thin pair of socks
• one thick pair of socks
• one sports bra
• one pair hiking underwear
• one short-sleeved running shirt
• one pair of running capris
• one gallon size ziplock bag
• one old-fashioned ice bag (to help keep my feet iced--ice is readily available at the bars and cafes along the way)
• One collapsible water bottle
• 2 journals--One in my backpack, and one in my fanny pack for while I'm writing in it.  I will send it home once the first is full.
•  One quart size ziplock bag full of toiletries: 
• one full bar of soap
• one full size bar of solid deoderant
• one razor
• one toothbrush
• one travel size toothpaste
• one travel size shampoo
• one travel size conditioner
• leftover bug spray from my last camino
• one bottle sun screen
• one comb
• 2 hair ties (in case I lose one)
• one bandana
• One rosary
• One baseball cap
• All of my meds:
• qnasl
• cetirizine
• Allegra
• ranitidine
• singulair
• epi pen
• fingernail clippers
• pocket knife
• shell
• charger for my phone that is compatible with europe
• fitbit charger
• about 12 safety pins
• one extra gallon ziplock bag
• hiking poles

And my fanny pack:

• English-Spanish order of the mass
• one glue stick
• earbuds for my phone
• pencil sharpener
• colored pencils
• epi-pen
• six sharpie pens and a mechanical pencil
• (journal that I talked about earlier)
• Passport and pilgrim's credentials
• 1.40 in euros from my last trip to Spain
• chapstick
• prescriptions of meds
• Passport
• credit card and debit card.
• Sunglasses
• pnone (not shown--it will be my camera/tablet/laptop/ipod on my trip)

I will have on my person:

• my trail runners with orthopedic inserts inside
• one set of clothing (see above)
• my fitbit

It looks like a whole lot, but it feels like not a lot of stuff at all.  My guess is that my skin out weight is about 20 lbs, but I haven't put everything on to check. 

I will be flying out of Houston on June second, which doesn't give me a whole lot of time to be ready for this.  Hopefully, I can get it all done in the time that I have--June second will come whether I'm ready or not, though.  

The benefits of having a treadmill, or why I have running on the brain.

Me at the finish line to the El Paso Half-Marathon this past Sunday. My official time was 3:12:07.99, which is 19 min and 17 seconds slower than last year.  My shirt says, "Forget the glass slipper. This princess wears running shoes."

Last night at about 11pm, I realized something rather disturbing, and it was that I have running on the brain.  I came to this conclusion when I had been laying in bed for close to 2 hours, and still wide awake.  At that moment, I started thinking, "hmm. I wonder if going for a quick run will help me to get to sleep.  Maybe pounding the pavement will help me to relax my brain enough to quiet my thoughts, and then I will finally be able to drop off."  I even got out of bed long enough to think about the logistics of running at that time of night:

1. Find sports bra
2. Put on running clothes
3. Tape feet
4. Put on shoes
5. Find some sort of light to run by
6. Think of route that would be safe at this time of night
7. Remember house key...

I even thought that Ginger might be egging me on, because she kept getting in my face like she was expecting me to play with her--I obviously wasn't asleep.  After standing in the middle of my room for about 5 minutes of indecision, I crawled back into bed, mainly because I don't have a light that I could run by.  At that moment, I realized that treadmills have a valid place in the grand scheme of things--had I had a treadmill, I seriously would have run for a few miles.

I have to admit, though, that I have a hate-hate relationship with treadmills.  I can run around a track with impunity, and run on a road/local running trail for hours.  And this is in spite of the fact that I often will go out and back several times to get the mileage that I need.  But, put me on a treadmill, and all of a sudden, I feel like this:

Treadmills seem to have copied the same concept for human consumption...

Or maybe like this:

Look at 1:37 of this clip to understand... (on a side note, I really like this movie, especially the Georgio Moroder version which was set to classic rock).

I can run 5-6 miles easy when I am running on the road, but when I step on a treadmill, I end up struggling to finish just one mile!  On top of that, treadmills act like clothes hangers for me--they accumulate clean clothing on their arms and other horizontal spaces, and eventually, they look something like this:

Yes, I owned a treadmill once.  I decided that more hangers used up less space.

So, I'm probably not going to run out and buy a treadmill any time soon.  However, I am planning on buying a head lamp with my next paycheck on the off chance that I get the notion to go running at 11 pm some other night.  Come to think of it, I may just create a bundle of running clothes in one of my drawers so that it is easy to find everything on another night of chronic insomnia.  I need to try it at least once, just to see if it will really help me sleep!

13 days!!!

I recently got a text from my sister, and my last piece of gear arrived in the mail today...I now have everything that I need for my Camino, and I'm beginning to get excited!

I am beginning to feel this way...I'm just glad I won't be walking in snow!

• I have also talked to my bank and let them know that I will be in Spain during that time so that they don't lock my debit card.  
• I have new epipens to take with me.  
• I have begun to make a list of things to complete before I leave, such as clean my bathroom and put everything that is chewable out of my dog's reach.
• I have been working on eating all of my perishables so that I don't leave anything to rot in the fridge.
• I'm slowly but surely working my way through all of my courses so that I can  (hopefully) complete all of them before I leave.
• I found a passage of scripture to memorize: Isaiah 54
• I have begun making a list of intentions to take with me to pray about while I am gone (If you have something specific you want me to be praying about, please email me about it).
• I bought catastrophic health insurance for while I am gone
• I have been working on my Spanish with co-workers
• I have been making a list of phrases that I'm going to ask one of my coworkers to translate for me.
• I will be renewing my lease at my residence first thing next week, since my current lease is up at the end of the month.
• I have been collecting pebbles from friends and coworkers to take with me, and will have a way to keep them together next Thursday!
• I will be seeing the chiropractor and my counselor one last time before I leave.

I'm also getting nervous...I'm beginning to worry about the following:

Typical sleeping arrangements in Alburgues--hence my worry about snoring...I am taking earplugs, but still!

• Is my sleeping bag warm enough?
• Will I have too much gear? not enough gear?
• Should I wear a non-hiking outfit on the plane, or one of my hiking outfits?
• Do I have enough money for my trip? (according to most calculators, I do--actually 2-3x what they estimate, but I'm still worried it won't be enough!)
• Should I take a travel pillow, or just plan on using my clothing as a pillow?
• Will I be able to find enough to eat while I am gone? (related to food allergies--most traditional walking food like bread or nuts is out for me....I suspect that I will be eating a lot of Tortilla!)
• Will I be able to find hot tea, or will I be stuck with coffee for the whole trip?  Should I pack some teabags with me?
• Will I have the stamina to walk 300 miles?
• Will I be the person who keeps everyone up with her snores?
• Will I be able to sleep with everyone else's snores?
• Should I take more than one pair of shoes beyond my hiking boots? If so which one?  My running shoes? My sandals?
• How important are shower shoes? (DestructoDog chewed my flip-flops up, so if I really need them, I will need to buy a pair).
• How likely will it be that I lose my backpack when I fly?  (I have insurance for this, but don't want to start my Camino by replacing all of my gear)
• Will I be able to find friends on my trip, or will my introvertedness and inner feelings of awkwardness get in the way (Most social situations make me feel like the awkward, geeky 13 year old that I was in middle school)?
• The litany of questions goes on and on....

I know that many of them will depend on how heavy my pack is once I put everything in it.  I'd really like to be lighter than 15 lbs, but anything under 20 is acceptable.  Also, many of my questions are questions that I will just need to leave up to the Lord.  Even so, I am spending more and more of my time contemplating these questions instead of focusing on the preparations at hand.  I hate to say it, but I think my brain checked out on Camino about a week ago, even though my body is still firmly in the United States.  

To get my Compostela, I have to walk from Sarria on, no matter what.

It is too late to do so at this point, but the one thing I regret is not ordering a patch from the Camino Forum I am a part of.  It would have been nice to have added that to my pack.  Even so, I will be buying a shell as soon as I arrive in Burgos to attach to my pack.  Once I arrive in Santiago de Compostela, I plan to find and buy a small silver shell with the St. James cross on it to add to the necklace that I wear every day.  I'm not sure what I will be getting friends and family members as souvenirs from my trip yet, but I know for sure that I want this particular souvenir for myself.  

In the meantime, I need to get back to work...Focus, Ruth, Focus!!! You have to get your work done!!!

ULTREIA!!!

So, it looks like I will be going on my Camino earlier than I thought I would....In fact, I will be leaving on August 29th in the afternoon, arriving in the afternoon on August 30th, and then returning on September 23rd.  So, I will be in the below picture in 108 days!

I'm not sure where  on the Camino this picture was taken, but I loved the way the clouds look--A lot like rainy season here at home!

I won't be going the whole 500 miles from St. Jean Pied-de-Port (SJPDP), either, but I will be starting my Camino in Burgos, which is just a little less than 300 miles from Santiago de Compostela.  Including rest days, I will be on the Camino for about 21 days, and I'm starting to get really excited, especially since I'm not going to have to deal with the awful weather that I was expecting in December.  Besides, going a shorter distance means that I have an excuse to come back at a later date!

It also means that I won't need near the amount of gear that I thought I would.  In fact, I have pretty much gotten all of my gear at this point.  I am still debating about whether I need to buy a poncho, since northern Spain stays pretty wet year round.  In fact, there is a member on the Camino forum whose signature says,

There are Liars, Damn Liars, and there is My Fair Lady--The rain in Spain falls mainly in Galicia!

So, I'm thinking that getting a poncho is still a good idea, but will likely pick that up once I'm in Spain unless I can find a really good deal online.  Rather than take an extra device, I'm getting a Skype account that I can use on my tablet in order to stay in contact with people back at home.  This lowers my costs, and it will allow me to be able to talk to family/friends for free. Please e-mail me with your Skype account if you want me to contact you while on the Camino.  I will be buying my ticket first thing in June, so that is the next major purchase, and I got my passport photos taken last night.  I will be sending in my application at the end of the week.

It is still too early to get my pilgrim's credential, but have it on my calendar so that I remember to order it from the American Camino de Santiago Pilgirms office at the end of this month...I can't request one until I am under 3 months from going.

This is a picture of a filled pilgrim's credential.  It will be my proof that I have walked as far as I say I've walked...They will look at this when I get to Santiago and won't give me my Compostela unless I have the right amount of stamps--specifically from Sarria onward.  

Once I knew that I would be leaving sooner than I originally planned, I bought a book that tells of some of this history of the Camino, as well as important points of interest along the way, but I already know about a couple of places that I plan to visit for sure.  The first is the Cruz de Ferro.  It is a big cross that is along the trail that was erected in order to mark the Rabanal pass, which is also the highest point on the Camino.  It is close to the 2/3 mark from SJPDP, and it has become a place where you let go of your worries, sins, etc. on the trail, usually represented by a memento or pebble that you have carried with you from home.  I still haven't found the rock that I'm going to take, but will pick one up in the next few months on one of my hikes.  Anyone who wants to give me a pebble with your name or other message on it, I will pray for you along the way and leave your worries at the foot of the Cross as well (both figuratively and physically!).  Please just keep it small, as I have to carry that weight with me for most of my trip!

This is a picture of Cruz de Ferro.  

The other place that I know that I'm going to stop at is O Cebriero.  This is the spot of a Eucharistic Miracle, so it is a priority for me to go there.  It is because of the doctrine of the Eucharist  and John 6 that I am Catholic, so Eucharistic miracles hold a very special place in my heart.  Visiting Lanciano, Italy is on my bucket list of pilgrimage sites, so being able to go to the site of another Eucharistic miracle is very important to me.  It was one of my greatest concerns about going in the winter, as O Cebriero is near the top of a mountain pass and is often snowed in in winter.  I'm really glad that this is no longer an issue, and that I can safely expect to be able to visit there.

This will probably screw up the training for my Marathon in October, but in the end, it is totally worth it.  I can always try again at the next El Paso Marathon if I end up not being able to finish the one in Albuquerque.    Besides, even if I'm not running, I will be walking between 20 and 32 km per day with about 15 lbs on my back, which translates to between 12 and 20 miles a day.  If that doesn't help my endurance, I don't know what will!!!

I don't know why anyone would want to abandon their boots while still walking the Camino, even if they ARE incredibly uncomfortable...it makes for an interesting picture, though! This is one of the many trail markers on the Camino.

P.S.--In case you are wondering, Ultreia is one of the traditional greetings given to pilgrims while on the trail...from what I understand, it means something like "further," and is an encouragement to keep going.  Really, that is what a pilgrimage is about--moving further in your journey to your destination, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

Gear update!

So, I took some time today to look at the gear I have and see if I can fit it into my backpack and/or how much it is all going to weigh.  Based on what I have learned and what I have bought, I currently have the following for my Camino Trip:

This is everything on the list below.

Basically the clothes/personal items

Outerwear and backpack/sleeping bag

Toiletries and my new shoes!

Socks, 8 pr (4 pr regular hiking, 2 pr thin hiking, and 2 pr fuzzy socks for night)
1 pr long underwear
1pr running capris
1 pr running tights
cetirizine (allergy meds)
Scrubby sponge
Flip Flops
comb
razor
glue stick
head lamp
bandannas (2)
Waterproof matches
Insulated mug
Water bottle
Camera
ballet shoes
fleece jacket
Long sleeved shirt (2)
Short sleeved shirts (3)
Sports bra (2)
Fleece Scarf
Gloves
Beanie hat
Towel
Dr. Bronners
Soap Caddy
Soap
Journal
Feminine Pads
Airtight container
ziplock bags
First aid kit
Ear plugs
Toothbrush and toothpaste
knife
sunglasses
writing utensils
fingernail clippers
hand sanitizer
phone
hiking shoes
knee brace
wind breaker
backpack
Sleeping bag and compression sack
iPad
Emergency Blanket

I still need:

Drinking Bladder
Waterproof/woolen gloves
Gaiters
Rain Coat
Poncho
Hiking underwear (2-3 pr)
Hiking skirt
Running tights (1 pr--would replace the long underwear since I could wear them without anything on top of it)
Hiking gas stove
Blister care
Power converter
Extra batteries/rechargeable batteries and charger

Total weight of everything I have BEFORE the gear that I still need:  20.5 lbs.  Now, about 2 of that are my shoes, and another 1-2 lb will account for clothing that I will be wearing.  I need to try to pare down what I have to get it lighter, which will probably mean that I will need to get rid of some duplicates.  I also forgot to get my hiking poles out of my car so that I could weigh them and pack them....they add about a lb each.  I should also try to find a lighter journal, since the one that I was planning on taking weighs 12.5 oz.  It has the benefit of being free, but I am going to need to shave off more weight, not to mention space!

I could barely fit everything into my backpack that was laid out.  I have absolutely no idea where I'm going to find the room to add a drinking bladder, a rain coat, and a poncho, not to mention gaiters!

Even though I really didn't want the weight of bigger pack, I'm thinking that I really should have gotten one that was at least a 40 liter.  Instead, I got an Osprey Sirrus 36.  I'm also going to need someone to teach me how to pack this thing, as it just might be my bad packing skills that is causing my gear to barely fit.  I'm most surprised at how much of my pack is taken up by my sleeping bag, even in a compression sack!  I would say that it probably takes up 2/3 of my pack, so space is really at a premium, and unfortunately, it will only fit in my pack oriented vertically rather than horizontally.  Part of me also wonders if it will take less space if I take it out of the compression sack completely...I suppose I could see if I could find a different compression sack, but I really doubt that it can be compressed more than it is in the compression sack that came with the sleeping bag--I am amazed at how much air can be squeezed out of it as it is...Down is a wonderful thing!

My sleeping bag: a Big Agnes Fria, rated at 15*F, and only 3 lbs!

These wouldn't fit, but I expect them to be on my feet and face, so that isn't a problem!

In spite of being a good 5 lbs heavier than I wanted it to be, I'm glad that I went to REI and got fitted for the backpack--it is surprisingly comfortable when on my back.  At the same time, I haven't taken it hiking yet, so just putting it on around the house doesn't really count.  That will be the next step--taking it for a hike while it is weighted down.  I just want to get the rest of my gear first, though, so that I can know what the grand total is, as well as to figure out how to make it all fit into my pack!

Me with the backpack on.

and me with my backpack on from the back.

I have also come to the conclusion that, even though I would really like to use this backpack when I eventually through-hike the Appalachian Trail, it probably won't be big enough, especially when you figure in the 5-10 lbs of food that you need to have with you when hiking the AT.  In fact, even though it will add weight, I'm thinking that I might need to return my pack to REI so that I can get one that is slightly bigger, that way I have a little bit of breathing room for gear if I need it.  At least the sleeping bag is a really good one, so I can probably continue to use it for the next 10-12 years or so. I will just need to add a sleeping pad if I ever use it when camping. Since I will be staying in the Pilgrims' Hostels the whole trip, I won't need it for my Camino, though.  From the research that I've been doing, Big Agnes is one of the better companies that create light and ultralight hiking and camping gear. 

Things are starting to come together, and for that I'm incredibly thankful.  The next step is to buy my plane ticket and renew my passport....I will be renewing my passport in May, and probably won't be able to buy my plane ticket until July/August.  I'm really hoping that there is a sale about that time so that I won't be paying $1200 for the ticket, but I'm not really holding my breath....The price has held steady since January!

I am so excited about how the Lord is making things come together!!!  The only thing I could wish for is someone who could and would walk with me.  Even so,  it is going to be a trip of a lifetime, and I get to share it with all of you, so I will just have to carry all of you with me.

New Gear, New Digs, New Ideas, and New Beginnings

This week has been a week of changes. Sunday evening, my niece and I switched rooms, since she needs more space for doing her hair, and the easiest way to give it to her was to let her have the master bedroom. Then, I ordered/bought my three biggest gear needs (I will post pictures once all of them arrive)--my backpack, my hiking shoes, and my sleeping bag. I also got some of my small gear items, including my head-lamp, some merino wool hiking socks, and a hiking towel. I used the hiking towel this morning in order to test it out, and I was pretty impressed by it--the micro-fiber material doesn't move very well across the skin, but it definitely dries you off well!  It wasn't really even that wet even though I was dry, so I bet that it really does absorb 8x it's weight in water!  I'm also wearing the hiking socks today, as I was worried that I might react to the wool, and so far so good.

On top of that, I've come to realize that I just MIGHT have enough ideas in my little brain to make a career out of being an academic. I know it is probably stupid, but it has always been one of my concerns about getting a Ph.D....can I think of enough research products to continue to publish? The fact that there are so few full time faculty jobs also gives me pause, but I could also stick with some sort of staff position, so it is a thought, anyway. I have also been intimidated by the idea of writing such a long paper, but my boss gave me a great compliment earlier this month...He said that I wrote better than one of his dissertation advisees! I don't know if I will pursue a PhD or not, but I have time, since I can't begin until August of 2014 at this point, which means I don't have to apply until february of next year.

And, this week is the beginning of a new year for me. I don't really feel like I'm 37...In fact, I have to say that I feel much like I did at 25 or 30. Well, that isn't entirely true...my knees are creakier, and I have more grey hairs and wrinkles, but inside, there isn't much difference. Maybe a little more wisdom, and hopefully a better knowledge of who I am....fundamentally, the same core is there. I am also happier, more at peace than I was a year ago, but that is more a product of my divorce than a fundamental change in me.

What do I hope will happen this year? That is a really good question, and I'm not sure that I can answer. I do know that I want to continue healing from my divorce, as well as from some of the scars from childhood that I discovered as I was writing my annulment application. I also want to build my mental toughness through continuing to run, racing, and then finishing my Camino. I need to prove to myself that I am able to go the distance....both figuratively and literally! The demise of my marriage has shaken my confidence in myself to do so--even though I knew within 2 weeks of my wedding that I had married the wrong person, I never expected to be single again. My great uncle used to always say that one should wait to get married--if you married the right person, it would be that much sweeter, and if you married the wrong person, you would have less time to endure it! And that is what I expected to do--in many ways, I felt that my marriage was penance for my bad choices, and I sometimes feel guilty for being so happy and at peace now that I am single again.

I think that I will leave what happens in this coming year in the Lord's hands. More than likely, my plans will be changed by Him anyway, and it will keep me from fretting myself to death. Honestly, the way I feel about this year is the same feeling you get at the beginning of symphony concerts--you know that heartbeat of time when the Concert master has just finished making sure that everyone is in tune and the conductor has just raised his baton? We all tend to hold our breath, waiting for that first note to be played, or I do, at least! That is what this year feels like to me...a transition from cacophony to beautiful music, a pause before the main event. I have a feeling that anything that I plan will be paltry compared to what the Lord will give me anyway, so I am holding my breath for the first glorious note, even as I continue walking in the direction I know that I should.

Learning to use my camera

I got my camera earlier this week, and I have been playing with it for the last few days.  In the process, I'm finding that I'm really not that good at taking pictures.  Below are a couple of the pictures that I took that first evening...

My nephew is quite a cutie--he is pretending to be shy.

 I forgot to turn on the flash, and the above picture is really dark.  I also didn't center him all that well in the frame.  At least I didn't cut off part of his head.

My niece as she studies her least favorite subject--the reason why she is frowning!

 This one is better, but I think it would have been better if I had used a different angle.  maybe more head-on so that we see her expression better, or from the side, so that we see her in profile.  I've been reading about photo composition, and I'm beginning to understand it a little bit, but I'm not there yet.  Besides, I'm probably going to have a lot of pictures on the Camino that are not people, so I've been trying to be better about framing still-life's.

She's staring at a moth that is hovering around the bulb of our lamp....she caught it about 30 seconds later.

 I think this picture would have been better if I had gotten at least part of the lamp in the picture.  Instead, you see her staring at something and you wonder what it is.

"You will get this computer only after you PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!!"

Again, I think this might be a better picture if I had used a different angle.  This picture is OK, but it just isn't really anything spectacular.  If I'm going to be going on one of the most important trips of my lifetime, I want to have pictures that people can see and feel what I feel.  I can't do that if I just do mediocre photos.  One of the websites I have been reading says that I should FART (Feel, Ask, Refine, Take) first, and I've been trying to do so since I have read the advice.  That being said, I am also taking a lot of pictures in order to get a feel for what different angles do to the composition.  I've also read about the Rule of Thirds, and have noticed that the pictures that I really like tend to follow this already. 

This was an accidental picture--I was trying to view the pictures in my camera and hit the shutter button.  It is an interesting picture, though, and it follows at least some of the principles of the rule of thirds--both feet and ball are on the horizontal axes of the rule of thirds.

I don't know that this necessarily uses the rule of thirds, but it does use the principle of light and movement.  I really like this picture, mostly because I really like the way that the light bounces off of the bars. 

I really like this picture, too.  This does follow the rule of thirds, and it also uses light pretty well.  It is amazing how a different angle can change the very same object!

Another picture that follows the rule of thirds.  I saw this from the third floor balcony, and thought that it would make an interesting picture.  Unfortunately, the picture isn't as bright as I would like, mostly because my flash didn't reach to the first floor.

This is a picture that one of my friends from work took to show me how the Rule of Thirds makes a camera more interesting--his point was that having the bookcase in the background allows the viewer to create a story from the image.

This is a pretty boring picture.  For some reason, when I saw the bike rack, it hit me as something interesting to take a picture of, but the picture itself isn't all that interesting.  I'm still not sure what would make it more interesting, but will try again tomorrow. 

One of my colleagues, who is a graphic designer told me that I shouldn't need to use my flash at all--that it can ruin pictures.  She also said that I should play around with angles of a subject.  Of course, this is probably true of a more sophisticated camera, but I'm just taking my little point and shoot camera, so I want to work within its limitations first.  Some of my pictures are coming out really nicely, but I want to be consistent with this before I leave, instead of the hit or miss that I'm working with.

My boss through his window.  I meant to have him being in focus, instead of the window, but I'm still learning.

Glare because I had the autoflash on.

The shot I was trying to get...Some pigeons on a window sill.  They look cute, don't they?  I find it interesting that the university has those spikes everywhere in order to keep them from roosting, and they still manage to do so anyway!

The plum trees outside of my office building.

I was trying to get a picture of the bees buzzing from flower to flower, but couldn't seem to get them into the frame.  The flowers are pretty, too, though!

A niche in the botanical gardens.  I just liked the way the rocks and wall framed it.

One of my better shots today.  I can't quite decide why I like the picture--I think that some of it has to do with the fact that the doors frame the pylons so well, but also the feelings it evokes from me.  It is an invitation to walk through!

The sunset from my driveway.

This is the best angle I have of this particular bush.  I took several pictures of it, but really like the way that the bridge above and the drainage channel below surrounds the green of it against the rocks.

The thing I like about this picture is that the sunset reflecting on the parking garage gives it a much richer color palate than I normally notice.

I like how the ladder and the crane are leaning in opposite directions.  I think I want to go take some more pictures of the construction, as I think it will make some interesting pictures.

My 13.1 sticker.  I couldn't resist!

 I'm still working on being better at taking pictures, and I won't inflict all of them on you (I didn't today, as I took close to 100 pictures since I got my camera), but I wanted to show some of the pictures that I've been taking lately.  If any of you have any pointers for taking better pictures, I'm open to them, especially since I really want my pictures to be interesting.  Who knows?  Maybe if I get good enough, I can enter a few photo competitions with my pictures!  If I get good enough, I may buy myself a little bit better camera eventually.  The one I have will work for my Camino (especially since it is so lightweight), and learning how to be good at using this camera will give me some basics that I can use with any equipment, so it is worthwhile. And, it will mean that I will actually have a camera at family gatherings, since it's place will be in my purse for the foreseeable future!

Possible New gear Item...

I'm currently thinking about adding this nifty little device to my list of gear, in spite of the $100+ price tag...
It is basically a GPS tracker that I can add 10 people to in order for them to be able to track me as I hike, as well as to send pre-set "I'm doing ok" messages.  In addition, it has an "SOS" button that uses the satellites to call emergency medical personnel to wherever I am.  If I were walking the Camino during the spring, summer, or fall, I wouldn't hesitate to go without something like this, but there will be a lot less traffic on the Camino in winter, so I think I need to plan accordingly.  I think it will make my mom less worried about me, just as it will allow family and friends to be able to see where I am as I travel.

What do you think?  Will this be a worthwhile piece of gear to add to my list?