UGH
When I got home from the hospital they had wrapped me up in this wierd ace bandage type stuff... only the bandage was sticky... it was wrapped ALL THE WAY around my body, under and above my breasts. I gathered the point was to help support the breast and perhaps take some of the pressure off of the incision areas. The doctor had told me that I could remove it yesterday. The experience was excruciating. It was like pulling a bandage off an open wound. It took forever as I went slowly. Debating the whole time whether it would be wiser to just let it rip. Since I didn't quite know where the actual incisions were, I decided I couldn't do that and slowly I went. So slowly...
By the time I got it all off, I was wishing I had just left it alone... forever. It definitely did it's job... gravity is not your friend when you are dealing with post mastectomy recovery. I can't even tell you the state of my mind when I actually looked in the mirror. I look horrible. My breasts looked pretty damned good before and, now, well, now, they look horrendous. Granted they are swollen and distorted from being operated on but I am scared. I know this is silly... but my drugged out brain has replaced Julie's Rational Brain and here's where I'm at.
I woke up in the morning at 2:30 in dire pain. Sobbing... I couldn't get the lid off the pain meds. The Husband finally heard me and helped...why I can't ask for help more easily I don't know.
I've decided that for my birthday (September) I want a camera; however, since I can't practice, I want the camera now and I want to learn to take nice pictures. I am debating between the Canon Rebel and the Nikon D50. I can't afford either. This surgery has taken every last dime I had to my name... I asked my mom to pitch in and she's willing. The Husband said he's going to pay for some of it. Now if I could only find a really good deal on a camera or some way to pull it off... I'd really like to focus on learning this while I'm off practice, giving my mind something to do, my heart something to lean into. Silly maybe but where I'm at. Any thoughts on the Canon vs. Nikon? Advice, contributions or admonishments kindly accepted :) If I get one, I'd love to practice taking some beautiful yoga shots. Perhaps I could come to the studio one day and practice picture taking, wouldn't that be fun!?
Tiff brought me some beautiful flowers from herself and Hanuman yesterday. Orange, my favorite color... a wonderfully beautiful thought. THANK YOU. She also brought me a bag of chocolate covered raisins and almonds. There goes my ass. The Best Friend then brought my FAVORITE chocolate and a lovely card that meant a lot. I was so drugged out when I saw them that I have a vague recollection of saying thank you (so if I didn't say thank you, I thought I did ;>).
Comments
I've got a Canon Digital Rebel XT and I love it. If it's your first SLR it probably doesn't matter which one it is - but when you start buying accessories for it you're kind of locking yourself to a certain brand... also if you know someone who owns one it's good because then you can get help using it. SLRs can be a bit overwhelming at first, but definitely worth it once you get the hang of it.
Posted by: kolibri | July 31, 2006 4:10 PM
Been thinking about you heaps Jules.... strong women. I will talk to C about the camera thing and what might be best for you.... about how much do you want to spend all around for body, lens, etc....?
xxxSMN
Posted by: smn | July 31, 2006 5:53 PM
The Canon is what I'm leaning towards and what basically everyone has recommended. It's expensive though so not sure I can pull that off... it would be an awfully nice birthday present ;) The Nikon is cheaper so it may come down to $$$ all the way around.
Yes it would be my first SLR... I got a big book of photography today to read through. I got lots of reading time on my hands!
Posted by: Julie | July 31, 2006 7:56 PM
So what is your favorite chocolate? Dagoba?
Posted by: Don Livingston | August 1, 2006 9:25 AM
Pentax also makes an SLR that very many people are happy with - they just don't get the press that Canon and Nikon do. I've been lusting after a DSLR for quite a while but they are just way too expensive. I was SO wanting one last night backstage at the International Folkloric Festival here in Zacatecas.
My advice is to head to Flickr and scope out photos and you can really learn a lot there. I have a link to Flickr from my website, but I'm sure you already know about it. They have lots of groups where people will critique your photos; some mean, some not.
Lastly, I'd head to slickdeals (let me see if I can just put a link here)
at http://forums.slickdeals.net/forumdisplay.php?sduid=108161&f=9 and search on the cameras you're interested in. Also, if you just search on DSLR you'll get lots of threads of not only deals, but links to DSLR websites and recomendations and reviews of different DSLR's.
So, if I were you, I'd spend some time at slickdeals while saving up your money and they you'll know where to get the best deal. I believe that the last slickdeal on the Pentax DSLR got you the body and sufficient lenses under $1000 and I think it could have even been under $700. You're looking at about $6-700 for just the Canon or Nikon body.
Good luck, Julie. I know the DSLR lust. :) Also, can you get someone to re-wrap you? If the Ace bandage was providing such relief, certainly someone could re-do it, no?
Posted by: kathy | August 1, 2006 9:41 AM
Oh, re-reading that sounds so egotistical. I meant that I'm sure you already know about FLICKR, not my page on Flickr. Ugh. sorry.
Posted by: kathy | August 1, 2006 9:43 AM
Oh, and lastly, how about the Canon S2 IS? The last slickdeal had it at $280 (YES!!) and you have 12x zoom and nice DOF. I'm actually leaning way towards the S2 IS because I don't think I can ever justify $1000 for DSLR body and lenses unless I was making money off it.
Search at Flickr for S2 IS (the IS is image stabilization and they do a great job of it) and you'll see some amazing DOF and captures.
Now you've got me perusing a slickdeal for that Pentax again... :)
Posted by: kathy | August 1, 2006 9:48 AM
Seconded, Flickr is the place to go - my photos, including some yoga photos I've taken on my teacher training course, are there too if you want to see my Digital Rebel at play.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dejahthoris/
Posted by: kolibri | August 1, 2006 4:06 PM
Posted by: hunter | September 14, 2007 6:39 AM
Posted by: hunter | September 14, 2007 6:40 AM
Posted by: hunter | September 14, 2007 6:40 AM