christabelle.com

Hello children! And how are you today? ………. GOOD!!

So, another posting here on my safety raft that is christabelle.com. I haven’t been coming in here much lately as I’ve fallen victim to the FaceBook forum. I joined, and I like it. There. I said it! My name is Christa, and I’m a FaceBook-aholic! (hears in head: “Hi, Christa.” from the other junkies!) I’m enjoying connecting to people I haven’t heard from, nor seen, in years! I like that part of it. But, I don’t like that an hour or so has passed, within what felt like five minutes, as I sit there looking and searching. It’s a bit of a life-sucker. I need to practice control. Make a schedule, if you will, as War-N does. He’s always a good guru to go to when I’m feeling all fuzzy and uncertain. One of the many reasons I love him!

Aside from that, I will be meeting with an editor in a couple of weeks to give him a few chapters to edit and proofread as a sort of test for both him and myself. If I like what he does, he’ll edit the whole thing. If not, then I guess I find another editor, yes? But, I don’t think that will be the case. I just have a good feeling about him. So, I’m excited about that! I’m anxious to get “Days with Indigo” off and running. Right now, she’s just sitting there waiting to be revised and perfected. At least she’s not going anywhere. That’s the beauty of a story. There’s really no rush. It’s not all that time-sensitive. It’s still a story, and it will be years from now as well. It’s only me that is impatient. Not the book.

In Hungry Lucy news, things are really going well. I won’t say much more than that, but we’re nearly done with all vocal recordings now. Only two more to go. Woo hoo! Oh, the album got a new title. It was going to be “The Standing Ones”, but that time has passed. It spoke to us in a new voice, and therefore, gave War-N a great new title. I think his choice was a good one. I like it much better with the new name. But, I shan’t spoil it. No more news. I’ll wait until it’s finished now!

Speaking of HL, I really miss doing the podcast. But, you see, there’s a glitch. War-N doesn’t. He’s happy to be done with it. So, what to do? I have had thoughts of making my own podcast with just me and a few guests now and then, but I don’t know if it would be well-received after so long out of the podcast world? People are used to the duo, so would they embrace me as much as they did the two of us? I don’t want it to sound “hollow” or one-sided. A lot of thinking to do. What to do… what to do?

In photo news, I’m anxiously awaiting a new lens for my D300! I had ideas of photos in my head that would require me to get a wide angle lens. I’ve wanted one for years, but never did anything about it. So, no better time than the present! Plus, I will need it to shoot some new HL shots soon. Oh darn! I had looked into the Nikkor AF 14mm/f2.8D ED lens, but it isn’t really meant for the newer version Nikon cameras (which the D300 is), since it was made in 2000. Because of that, there’s a 1.5% differentiation from body to lens. Within that, the 14mm then becomes a 21mm and doesn’t offer the ultra-wide angle that I desired. Not to mention it was very high in the cost department! But, it would have been worth it. It’s an amazing lens! So, I went to my friend Pete at Cord Camera, the one in Kenwood, and he steered me in the right direction, as he always does! I have ordered a Tamron SP AF10mm-24mm/f 3.5-4.5 Di-II LD lens that will make the same 1.5% difference, but then equals a 15mm angle. Not far from the 14mm I was searching for. Make sense? Oh, and because I still have my older Nikon cameras, they WILL work with the 10mm for any film work I want to do. Awesome!! Plus, I get an added expandable option with a short zoom. Flexibility is always nice. With the money I’m saving, I may just get a new flash to go along with it!! I’ve got some good options! Thanks, Pete!!

All in all, things are happily busy at the moment. But, we still take time to relax and enjoy being “War-N and Christa” and not spending all of our weekends as just Hungry Lucy. There is a big difference. We recently went down to the Serpentine Wall at the edge of Cincinnati and walked over the Purple People Bridge to Newport. It was a lovely Saturday together at a place we both hold dear. We should do that more often.

Hope you are well and happy out there, wherever you are. I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to Fall! And with it, many new exciting happenings!

Much Love,

Christa Belle