The good and the bad...

So the good news is that I FINALLY got the chance to check out the brand new HEB grocery store/Central Market-type store that just opened. Let's just say that I was more than a little excited about going...and even made Jeremy go straight there after getting home from work last night. What can I say, it was the grand opening day?

So here's the bad part... I brought along my camera, because I wanted to fully document this exciting event. Jeremy was more than embarrassed to be taking a picture of me in front of a grocery store. So just as I was telling him to toughen up, and handing off my camera... in slow motion it fell from my fingers and then crashed against the concrete parking lot ground...ouuucch! So, yes, this is what it looks like now:


Let's just say the lens will never again retract to normal....bummer! Anyone know a good repair place? =)

We finally did get inside the store and it was pretty cool. Highlights included:

• The freezer section lights go on as you walk by, to help reduce unnecessary use of electricity... yes, Jeremy tested out the accuracy of the sensors a couple times.
• The "Food on the Run" section has some awesome pizza kits with dough, shredded mozzarella, pepperonis, and sauce, all ready to go. We're trying one out this weekend - I'll let you know how we succeed.

The place was humongous:

So I promised a good part too, right? That would be the very pretty dessert that I talked Jeremy into getting! I never try those things.

All in all, we have some fun foods to try out this weekend, but I still will mourn the loss of my little PowerShot! Have a great weekend!

Finding a Cheap Photographer

So I headed back to the Alma Mater this evening (Trinity) for a "Making Connections" event that they hold each year. Juniors and seniors come to mix and mingle (or get free food) with Alumni, in hopes of finding out about the perfect internship or job.

The night got off with a bang... or a funny twist is more like it. I met with an alumnae who was a professional photographer. We were discussing my new Nikon D60 when another alumnae (Alumnae #2) walked up and said...

Alumna #2 Guy: "Did I hear you say you were a photographer?"
Photographer Alumnae: "Well, yes I am!"

Alumna #2 Guy: "Great, can you take a head shot photo of me then?"
Photographer Alumnae: "Right now?"

Alumna #2 Guy: "Yes, see I brought my disposable camera!"
Photographer Alumnae: "Umm, okay... (two second pause)... Let's take it with you leaning over here by the fireplace. Cross your leg like this and lean into the mantle..."

... and then I proceeded to have to follow them around because I somehow was holding both of their drinks.... and we took another half a dozen shots in different poses while I was critiquing if he was holding a powerful pose.

It pretty much cracked me up a lot... this guy was forward thinking enough to know a photographer would be there...and even had the extra expensive kind of disposable camera with the flash! =)

And see, I was expecting a lot of that, "Hi, How are you? What do you do?" kind of conversation and what I really got was a chance to be a camera assistant.

For the rest of the evening I met with some timid students, gave them advice on life, job searching, career paths, and working for "the man." It definitely took me back to my senior year of college and trying to figure out what to do with your life....oh wait, I think I still might be doing that! =)

So here's a note to any of you headed to some making connection events - bring your camera, you never know who you can run into!