| day 29 |

“You cannot open a book without learning something.”
---
Guess who only spent $357 on books today? =)

| week four |

One month down (sort of), and eleven more to go!

I know it's not technically one month exactly, but I'm going to say that every four weeks is a month. Yes, I'm aware if I do that, there would be 13 months in a year, but we'll just call that last "month" the final stretch =)

On another note, I am finally back at Shippensburg (obviously)! As happy as I am about this, I've come to realize that my project has increased in difficulty by...a lot. I've only done two days here, but I can already tell how hard it is for me to come up with something. Granted, I have been busy with yearbook and readjusting, but I know I'll soon be much busier. Hopefully I'll find a new groove to get into and things will be easier...

Other than that, I don't have much else to update on the project. Just, once again, all of you absolutely rock for supporting me through this. People I hardly know are encouraging me, telling me they could never do this themselves, and that it will be really awesome if I finish. I think because of that, I have reason to keep going. I really don't want to let myself and others down.

I love this =)

| day 28 |

"Yearbook - we do it between the covers."

| day 27 |

"SHIP happens!"

| day 26 |

“Every new idea is born drowning.”
---
Pushing it close again, and not the greatest picture, but I've been doing nothing but packing today.

| day 25 |

"Once I spoke the language of the flowers, once I understood each word the caterpillar said, once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings, and shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed. Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets, and joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow, once I spoke the language of the flowers...How did it go? How did it go?"

| day 24 |

"Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction, ice is also great and would suffice."

| day 23 |

“Now that my ladder's gone, I must lie down where all ladders start - in the foul rag and bone shop of the heart.”

| day 22 |

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

| week three |

It's funny, I didn't even realize it was the end of week three until several hours later.

Anyway, this week was kind of a blur. I'm starting to get into this pattern with my photos. They're beginning to mesh themselves with my daily routine, which is obviously a good thing, but I just hope it doesn't kill my creativity.

Speaking of creativity, I think it's necessary for me to accept the fact that I have 344 days to go yet - not every photo is going to be an epic work of art. Yes, I want to keep people interested in my project, but I also don't want them to bring me down simply because I did not produce an amazing piece of art on a certain day. The most important thing I have to remember is that I am doing this project for myself, and no one else. Where opinions do matter to me, I cannot let them control my mood and feelings toward this. I know this is going to be difficult for me.

I head back to school soon, and I know the project is going to let its full weight be known. I'm going to be much busier, have less down time, and less time for thoughts of creativity (unless I have a really boring class to daydream in!). I know people are busy, but I feel I'm going to be needing my first big push soon. After this week, I'll be hitting my one month mark - 1/12th of the way done sounds pretty darn good to me =)

Until next time...


-Erin
---
P.S. - Go see District 9, ASAP! It as absolutely amazing!

| day 21 |

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
---
I know it's another snapshot, but I had 7 hours of sleep in 72 hours. Plus, it was a really good day =)

| day 20 |

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
---
Photography or not, there are going to be days that I just need to do snapshots. Plus, I love these two to death.

| day 19 |

“No life is a waste. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.”

| day 18 |

"College lasts four years...yearbooks last forever."
---
2009 yearbooks are in!

| day 17 |

“Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.”

| day 16 |

---
I don't think today needs a quote.

| day 15 |

“A weed is no more than a flower in disguise.”

| week two |

14/365...phew.

At the end of this week, I must say I am much more satisfied with the majority of the pictures. I once again find that I do not dislike any of them and that I have more "favorites". Day 8, day 11, day 12, and day 14 are personal favorites. The favorite of the week though seems to be day 11 for everyone who is following me, haha.

I know it's only week two, but I am so scared I'm going to run out of ideas. The picture from today was one I've had in mind for a while, so I feel like it was a "fall back" picture. I have about two more of these pictures in mind..but after that, I'm literally going to be going day by day. Maybe when I get to school, I'll feel more inspired with all the new locations? I don't know, we'll see.

Once again though, I have to thank all of you. Your encouragement helps me so much. I have people texting me, IMing me, FBing me, etc. JUST to make sure I got my picture in for the day. It means a lot to me. Really.

I think I'm going to throw a mini shout-out to Sara, Mike, and Pam right now though. Sara, even though she is clear across the country, finds time to comment on almost every single one of my pictures and gives me sooo much encouragement - and we hardly even know each other! Mike, well, for cracking the whip and helping me decide on a picture. Sometimes I just need a different perspective, and you always provide it (I feel like I just won an emmy, what the hell). And Pam, just for giving me little pushes when I really don't feel I deserve them. Thanks guys =)

Now it's time for work! Blah.


-Erin

| day 14 |

“Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying.”

| day 13 |

"Mysteries are feminine; they like to veil themselves but still want to be seen and divined."

| day 12 |

“What is it that love does to a woman? Without, she only sleeps; with it alone, she lives.”

| day 11 |

"A person's a person no matter how small."

| day 10 |

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

“Everything speeds up and it's blurry for a minute...But you've got to have a little patience sometimes to just find a soft spot. There's always a soft spot in the defense, and it's your job to find it.”

---
My battery is feeling a little low today.

| day 9 |

"Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feeling. Everything will be dead inside you. Never again will you be capable of love, or friendship, or joy of living, or laughter, or curiosity, or courage, or integrity. You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty and then we shall fill you with ourselves."
---
Because there really is nothing better than classical music and a good book. I know it's not the most epic photo, and the background is distracting, but I still like it.

| day 8 |

“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”
---
My apologies for the lateness, but it IS still day 8. Day 9 will probably be up in a few hours so this doesn't happen again.

| week one |

One week down, 51.177457 to go.

By the end of week one, I have realized that...holy crap, I've got a huge challenge ahead of me. I cannot believe I'm actually doing this! But the awesome thing is, is that I'm really enjoying myself. I've only done seven pictures so far, but I can't say I really "hate" any single one of them (which is saying a lot considering I never like pictures of myself). I will say that day two and six are my absolute favorites so far though, hands down, and the failed humor in day three is mildly embarrassing.

I hope that all of you are enjoying this as much as I am so far. If there are any suggestions or ideas, I would absolutely love hearing them! Also, thank you for all of your support. I honestly did not expect this much encouragement, and I know I couldn't do this without all of your help. Thank you!!

Stay tuned for next week!...which is going to be posted in about 10 minutes ;)


P.S. - You guys can thank Jenn H./L. for the idea to do weekly "journals" about my project. Thank you! =)

| day 7 |

"I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness."

“A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always, always care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart.”
---
I know it's corny, but I don't care. It meant the world to me. Truly. Thank you for everything. You know who you are.

| day 6 |

"The rain to the wind said, 'You push and I'll pelt.' They so smote the garden bed that the flowers actually knelt, and lay lodged--though not dead. I know how the flowers felt."
---
Thank you for the help Bobby.

| day 5 |

“Sometimes the beauty is easy. Sometimes you don't have to try at all. Sometimes you can hear the wind blow in a handshake. Sometimes there's poetry written right on the bathroom wall.”

| day 4 |

"But this feeling isn't purely mental..."

| day 3 |

“Happiness is just an illusion caused by the temporary absence of reality.”

| day 2 |

"Acccept no other definition of your life, accept only your own."

| day 1 |

“I've spent so much time hiding how I feel. Now I want to be in the spotlight, and I want to make people listen to me.”