New Hobby

 
Lately I've been really enamored of taking pictures of strangers' feet in the subway.

So we all have that to look forward to.

The One with the Waggily Tail

At the 2008 Dachshund Spring Fiesta

The Pioneer Woman is having another photography contest today.  The theme?  Dogs.

I spent large chunks of my day staring at all these dog portraits.  Swooning & sighing over them.  They are heart-breakingly adorable and dear.  I have eighty-five most favorites, at least.

There are pictures of dogs running.  Is there anything more happy than a dog running?  Some of the photos show a dog holding something (stick, newspaper) in its mouth.  Is there anything cuter than that?  Some of the photos show a depth of emotion that you may never have thought possible in a canine.  Other pics are of dogs wearing hats and sweaters and cones-of-shame.  Some just have dogs sleeping.  Or riding in cars.  Or playing in snow.  So much cuteness - it's really been more than my little heart can bear.

I'm going to tell you something, but you have to promise not to judge me.  Ok?  Here goes: I've been talking to these photos.  Saying things like, "Aww, who's a good dog?" and "Hi, baby!" or "Look at da liddle precious schmoopy puppy!"  It's disgusting, admittedly, but I can't help it.  I just love dogs.

In fact, I almost stole one this weekend...

Ree-Deemed


A lot of things made me smile this weekend.

I went here and there, saw this and that and the other.

Plus, I am 75% sure I passed G.E. Smith (you know, as in "G.E. Smith & the Saturday Night Live band"?) in the Village on my way to church Sunday morning.

And then I topped it all off with a sweet evening spent watching the National Figure Skating Championships (more on that later).

* * *

But something else made me smile this weekend, too. Shall I tell you?

Ok, hang on to your cowboy/girl hats:

Ree Drummond (aka Pioneer Woman) liked my photograph.

Whhhaaaattt!!??!

Remember this sucker, from my ManhattanHenge post a few weeks ago? I submitted it in the Pioneer Woman's latest photo contest.

And she liked it!!

Duders, there were thousands of entries in this contest! And so, so many photos of absolutely breath-taking beauty. Photos that make you think "the God who made this is awesome, and the photographer who captured His creation in such a way has some mad skillz." That kind of beauty.

And Ree picked my little picture to be one of the finalists! She said she loved "the grittiness of the urban scene, man." Awww, shucks.

I'm going to feel super gritty and urban when I go to B&H to spend my finalist prize money: fighting my way past the paparazzo picking out their telephoto lenses, weaving through the crowds queuing at the pretzel-and-coke refreshment table upstairs, snaking over to the Canon kiosk and competing for a salesperson's attention, and then retreating back downstairs to nervously determine the correct check-out line to join.

To quote Jack Johnson (once again): This city's nitty-gritty, but it's so much fun."

Thanks, Ree!! I'm tickled pink (but in like, a gritty and urban way) that you liked my photo!