I had it all laid out. I knew just how I would spend my 3 day weekend....
Scott and I would get up bright and early Saturday morning, (around 6am), and head to a nearby mountain trail. We would hike for about 3 hours, or so, enjoying the crisp, cool morning air. We would follow the trail alongside one of the many majestic mountainsides; pointing out unique rock formations to each other and marveling at the many varieties of cactus that blanket most of the area. We would stare up at the sky trying to take in the vastness of the clouds as they stretch along the mountain range and out as far as the eye can see; standing in awe of the beauty that The Lord our God created. Then we would offer up our words of praise and thanks to our mighty Creator before finishing the trek back to our car and into town.
Once in town, we would stop by one of our favorite spots for freshly brewed coffee and a hearty breakfast. It was to be pretty warm that day, so I figured we would come home for a short rest, and then head out to another mountainous hiking trail later that afternoon to catch the beautiful sunset that Arizona is known for. After a full day of hiking we would make our way back to our cozy little apartment for a light dinner before snuggling into bed for a blissful nights sleep that comes with such physical exhaustion.
On Sunday, we would get another early start and hit yet another hiking trail, then come home to shower & dress, and head off to church for a wonderful morning of praise and worship. After church, I would hang around for a couple of hours to watch the praise group rehearse, (as I am hoping to be able to join them soon), then go home, have a late lunch/early dinner; maybe watch some TV and just relax the rest of the day.
My husband didn't have Monday off work as I did, so I planned to just stick around the house and get some good writing time in and/or edit photos, (I am severely back logged on photos to edit), then having a quiet evening with my hubby once he returned from work. I would get to bed early so that I could awake the next morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for work.
Yep, I had it all planned out, but here's how it really happened....
Friday night as I sat at the computer figuring our budget and balancing the checkbook, I began to feel a bit strange. I felt a bit more tired than usual and my throat was a little sore. I thought it was due to a long work week and I would go to bed and feel better the next day.
When my alarm went off at 6am Saturday morning I made a really good effort to get out of bed. However, it felt as though my tonsils had grown twice their size overnight! It hurt to swallow, my head felt like it was in a pressure cooker and ready to explode, and my nose was so stuffy that I could hardly breathe, yet was about to run off my face! I still cannot conceive as to how these two things could happen simultaneously...ugh... As that was going on with me, my husband was fighting his own battle with a severe pain in his lower back. We laid on our couches for half the morning looking pitiful while we watched the Texas/OU football game, (it is the biggest rivalry game in Texas and I can never miss it); which didn't help me feel any better because we lost. =( So I decided we had better get to the store to get some supplies while I was still able to do so. I could feel the illness inside of me creeping up and I knew it would hit me hard very soon. I just didn't expect it to rear its ugly head at the store.
I stumbled around the grocery store like a drunk trying to hold myself up with the basket while already having to break into the box of tissues for my snotty nose. I got a lot of very interesting looks from people as well. As I struggled to stay on my feet with a dizzy, foggy head and woozy stomach, my sweet husband was shuffling down ales after ales, like an 80 year old man, getting as many things as he could. We managed to stock up on OJ, Mucinex, Tissue, 7-up and just enough food supply for the remainder of the weekend. I spent the rest of the day watching football in a medicated haze.
Sunday, I just laid on the couch, like a bump on a log, unable to do anything except shove medicine and a few morsels of food in my face. I thought I would surely wake up Monday morning feeling better and maybe, just maybe I could salvage that days plans, but no. After taking my hubby to work I came back home to shower, then I had to rest for an hour just to gather back what little energy I could. I rested most of the morning and got up around 1:30 to have lunch with my hubby, but really I just looked like a wondering zombie that sort of resembled his wife. Despite my total lack of energy we had a nice lunch, and then I returned home to my couch to spend the rest of the day recovering before going to retrieve him from work. I took more meds and was in bed by 8:30pm.
Thankfully, I felt a bit better this morning and was able to return to work. My head was clearer, (no more walking in a fog), but I still sneezed my head off all day and was blowing my nose every 5 minutes! I look like Rudolph for goodness sakes. Anyway, I'm glad to be feeling better. I guess my mountain hiking adventure will have to wait until this weekend, (hopefully I will be back to 100% by then). I hope you all stay well out there. Stay away from sick co-workers!!
Thanks for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Writer/Photographer
Scottsdale, AZ
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Fall Is Finally Here!!
One day I was sitting in my car, waiting for my husband to get off work, and I began writing a Facebook post about how excited I am that fall is finally here. As I wrote the post grew long and longer and I realized that my simple little post about fall was becoming a full-fledged poem. Fearing my crappy iPhone would freeze, (as it so often does), and shut down the FB app causing me to lose the entire thing, I hurried to copy and pasted it into my notes so that I could finish it later. Once I got home, I did just that. I decided to do what I so often did in the past...I decided not to share is as a post on Facebook. Instead, I will share it here; where all those who are interested in my writing come. I hope you enjoy my Ode to Fall as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Ode to Fall
It's the warm, fuzzy feeling I get inside my heart as the new season ushers in cooler breezes that ignite my soul as sunshine flows over my body, and the colder night air as it hits my face. It's the way I find myself amazed, yet again, with the spectacular beauty of the trees as their leaves turn a beautiful yellow, orange and red.
It's cruising up and down the aisles of my favorite stores looking for just the right decorations, and my home smelling like apple pie and pumpkin spice.
It's digging through my closet for the favorite pair of comfy jeans, sweat pants, and cozy sweaters that will cover my belly curves and make me feel skinny. It's football games and shivering in the stands wrapped up in a blanket while trying to sip hot chocolate without scalding myself.
It's filling my lungs with fresh, crisp air. It's camping without the pains of a sunburn, sitting by a bonfire or fire pit - drinking beer, roasting s'mores and making memories.
It's cooking my favorite comfort foods - homemade chili, mac & cheese, fruit pies - and not counting calories. It's making a mess while carving pumpkins that will greet all who approach my front door.
It's the fun of playing silly games at fall festivals, and partaking in their deliciously fried food offerings while sipping warm apple cider. It's watching joyfully as children run from door to door, in over-sized costumes that make them waddle, to collect their delightfully sweet treasures.
It's the smell of a turkey roasting in the oven while the parade is playing on the television in the background and waiting with great anticipation as my stomach rumbles and tumbles about. It's gorging myself on turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and deviled eggs - then falling asleep on the couch cuddling with my loving husband while watching football.
It's giving thanks for everyday lived on this Earth, for every person I love, and who loves me just for who I am. It's thanking my Lord and Savior for all the sweet blessings He showers over me everyday. It's lending a helping hand to a stranger and making others feel as loved as I am.
Thank you for reading, "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Writer
Ode to Fall
It's the warm, fuzzy feeling I get inside my heart as the new season ushers in cooler breezes that ignite my soul as sunshine flows over my body, and the colder night air as it hits my face. It's the way I find myself amazed, yet again, with the spectacular beauty of the trees as their leaves turn a beautiful yellow, orange and red.
It's cruising up and down the aisles of my favorite stores looking for just the right decorations, and my home smelling like apple pie and pumpkin spice.
It's digging through my closet for the favorite pair of comfy jeans, sweat pants, and cozy sweaters that will cover my belly curves and make me feel skinny. It's football games and shivering in the stands wrapped up in a blanket while trying to sip hot chocolate without scalding myself.
It's filling my lungs with fresh, crisp air. It's camping without the pains of a sunburn, sitting by a bonfire or fire pit - drinking beer, roasting s'mores and making memories.
It's cooking my favorite comfort foods - homemade chili, mac & cheese, fruit pies - and not counting calories. It's making a mess while carving pumpkins that will greet all who approach my front door.
It's the fun of playing silly games at fall festivals, and partaking in their deliciously fried food offerings while sipping warm apple cider. It's watching joyfully as children run from door to door, in over-sized costumes that make them waddle, to collect their delightfully sweet treasures.
It's the smell of a turkey roasting in the oven while the parade is playing on the television in the background and waiting with great anticipation as my stomach rumbles and tumbles about. It's gorging myself on turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and deviled eggs - then falling asleep on the couch cuddling with my loving husband while watching football.
It's giving thanks for everyday lived on this Earth, for every person I love, and who loves me just for who I am. It's thanking my Lord and Savior for all the sweet blessings He showers over me everyday. It's lending a helping hand to a stranger and making others feel as loved as I am.
Thank you for reading, "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Writer
Sunday, October 5, 2014
I'm Back!!!
Yes, it is true...I am back!! The truth is that, although it was good for me to stop for a while, I truly missed writing my blog. A lot has changed in the past several months that has allowed me to be back here, sharing with you. =)
First of all, I am no longer in culinary school. Half way through my schooling I began to notice that I took more of an interest in my academic classes than the cooking classes. While the other students were complaining about having to take the academics, I was getting increasingly frustrated because they were interrupting my academic education with their unwillingness to participate. All they wanted to do was cook. They could cook in school all day, work a 16 hour shift cooking at a restaurant and still want to go home and cook more. I noticed the same thing with the chefs in the culinary competitions I watched on Food Network. In those moments, I knew they possessed a passion for cooking that I did not. I do love to cook, don't get me wrong, but not like that. To be a chef, the passion for cooking must consume you. It will take more than 15-20 years working in multiple kitchens for barely above minimum wage to get to the level that most aspiring chefs want to be. It will take multiple sacrifices to get there. Many chefs have sacrificed any other wants, desires and even their families to achieve their culinary dream. That is not me. I don't "love" cooking like that. I learned all the basics I needed to be a better cook for my family and friends, and I will continue to learn from Food Network, YouTube and cooking books.
Since leaving school I have become employed back in Corporate America. Shocking...I know. After all, I said I so disliked the corporate world, that it was like prison for me and I would never go back. This causes me to reflect on the words my mother has said to me, time and time again, since I was a little girl... "Never say never, because that is when it will happen." Yes, she was right. Write it down mom! I actually said you are right! LOL I was injured while working in a kitchen and had to be put on light duty as I could not use my right hand for a couple of months. While on light duty I still had to work, so they had me shredding papers in their office. It was so freaking boring, but I loved the office staff and it made me miss being in an office. Also, working in the food industry, or any retail industry, requires days, nights, weekends and holidays. In other words, very very few days off. My husband works in an office and we barely saw each other nor could we plan any weekend getaways or family visits because I was constantly working. Lets just say the experience gave me a new appreciation for my corporate work, or I was just spoiled after having nights, weekends, and holidays off for so many years. Either way, I wanted it back. I now work for Bank of America and I love it. The people I work with are nice, helpful and MATURE. All things I struggled to find in my previous office job in Texas. I have come to realize that I was judging the entire corporate world by one or two jobs I held over the years.
Now I'm in a job I am enjoying and leaves me plenty of off time. I still have things I want to do and want to start up my own business as well. In this day and age, I don't want to depend on just one stream of income to get me through the rest of my life. The one thing that I love and keep coming back to is photography. I am absolutely fascinated by photography and always have been. I love the art side of it. I'm not a wedding or portraiture photographer...that's just not where my heart is. I want to capture people, nature, things and places as art. I want to highlight all the things that God has created and bring awareness to the things that so many people are just too busy to stop and notice on a daily basis. I'm also going to focus on doing some writing; which is something I started doing when I was just 13 years old and have always enjoyed. With being married and raising my children, writing took a back seat for a lot of years. I am so excited that I have now finally realized writing and photography are my greatest passions and I am ready to pursue them fully.
Hopefully, I will have many interesting things to share and show. It may take a few months as I need to make some rather big purchases to get started back into photography and set up a home office. This poor old computer I now use is so slow that I cannot do any photo editing. It can take me an hour just to edit one photo because the computer freezes so much. My first purchase will be an Apple computer. I've always wanted one and they are fabulous for photography. I will also need a desk and chair for my office and I am going to purchase a new camera along with accessories that I have needed for far too long. Until I get all set up, my posts may be few and far between and maybe a bit boring, but I will try my best to make them interesting...LOL
I'm so excited about my continued life journey, upcoming new adventures and sharing it all with you.
Thanks for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Writer
First of all, I am no longer in culinary school. Half way through my schooling I began to notice that I took more of an interest in my academic classes than the cooking classes. While the other students were complaining about having to take the academics, I was getting increasingly frustrated because they were interrupting my academic education with their unwillingness to participate. All they wanted to do was cook. They could cook in school all day, work a 16 hour shift cooking at a restaurant and still want to go home and cook more. I noticed the same thing with the chefs in the culinary competitions I watched on Food Network. In those moments, I knew they possessed a passion for cooking that I did not. I do love to cook, don't get me wrong, but not like that. To be a chef, the passion for cooking must consume you. It will take more than 15-20 years working in multiple kitchens for barely above minimum wage to get to the level that most aspiring chefs want to be. It will take multiple sacrifices to get there. Many chefs have sacrificed any other wants, desires and even their families to achieve their culinary dream. That is not me. I don't "love" cooking like that. I learned all the basics I needed to be a better cook for my family and friends, and I will continue to learn from Food Network, YouTube and cooking books.
Since leaving school I have become employed back in Corporate America. Shocking...I know. After all, I said I so disliked the corporate world, that it was like prison for me and I would never go back. This causes me to reflect on the words my mother has said to me, time and time again, since I was a little girl... "Never say never, because that is when it will happen." Yes, she was right. Write it down mom! I actually said you are right! LOL I was injured while working in a kitchen and had to be put on light duty as I could not use my right hand for a couple of months. While on light duty I still had to work, so they had me shredding papers in their office. It was so freaking boring, but I loved the office staff and it made me miss being in an office. Also, working in the food industry, or any retail industry, requires days, nights, weekends and holidays. In other words, very very few days off. My husband works in an office and we barely saw each other nor could we plan any weekend getaways or family visits because I was constantly working. Lets just say the experience gave me a new appreciation for my corporate work, or I was just spoiled after having nights, weekends, and holidays off for so many years. Either way, I wanted it back. I now work for Bank of America and I love it. The people I work with are nice, helpful and MATURE. All things I struggled to find in my previous office job in Texas. I have come to realize that I was judging the entire corporate world by one or two jobs I held over the years.
Now I'm in a job I am enjoying and leaves me plenty of off time. I still have things I want to do and want to start up my own business as well. In this day and age, I don't want to depend on just one stream of income to get me through the rest of my life. The one thing that I love and keep coming back to is photography. I am absolutely fascinated by photography and always have been. I love the art side of it. I'm not a wedding or portraiture photographer...that's just not where my heart is. I want to capture people, nature, things and places as art. I want to highlight all the things that God has created and bring awareness to the things that so many people are just too busy to stop and notice on a daily basis. I'm also going to focus on doing some writing; which is something I started doing when I was just 13 years old and have always enjoyed. With being married and raising my children, writing took a back seat for a lot of years. I am so excited that I have now finally realized writing and photography are my greatest passions and I am ready to pursue them fully.
Hopefully, I will have many interesting things to share and show. It may take a few months as I need to make some rather big purchases to get started back into photography and set up a home office. This poor old computer I now use is so slow that I cannot do any photo editing. It can take me an hour just to edit one photo because the computer freezes so much. My first purchase will be an Apple computer. I've always wanted one and they are fabulous for photography. I will also need a desk and chair for my office and I am going to purchase a new camera along with accessories that I have needed for far too long. Until I get all set up, my posts may be few and far between and maybe a bit boring, but I will try my best to make them interesting...LOL
I'm so excited about my continued life journey, upcoming new adventures and sharing it all with you.
Thanks for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Writer
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Closing Time....
I will be closing down this blog and no longer posting here. With school, a new job, and a busy lifestyle I found that I have been posting everything to FB. It's faster, easier and more people see it, so no more blogging for me.
Instead, I will be posting to my "Notes" in Facebook. You can find it all on my Facebook page:
Facebook.com/crystalcampbell55
Thank you all for reading, "All About My Business"
Signing off,
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography
Chef in Training
Instead, I will be posting to my "Notes" in Facebook. You can find it all on my Facebook page:
Facebook.com/crystalcampbell55
Thank you all for reading, "All About My Business"
Signing off,
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography
Chef in Training
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
So True And Yet So Sad
My Communications instructor gave us the following "Obituary" as an interesting, funny, true and sad read. I just had to share it because I know there are still some of us out there who would like to resurrect this dear departed loved one. Enjoy! =)
'Today we mourn
the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many
years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long
ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated
such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights,
I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame,
I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Author: Unknown
Thank You for Reading, "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Chef in Training
Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights,
I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame,
I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Author: Unknown
Thank You for Reading, "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Photographer/Chef in Training
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