If you knew what I used as equipment to get those pictures, then you'd REALLY think I was talented!! Let's just say, it borders on "white trash" to be going to a shoot & using your duvet cover as a backdrop! LOL
So, now we've been trying to figure out the timing for making the rather large purchase that acquiring this "proper" equipment can be. But my pride is such that I was going to have to start turning down jobs for strangers that were being referred to me, if we didn't get it.
Tangent finished... now back to Ebay...
So, I'm drooling away over a couple of lots on Ebay which include (I'm just gonna use technical terms here, if anyone wants more clarification - message me) 2 continuous light double flashes with umbrellas & stands (& heavy duty carry bag) & a 10' x 10' backdrop stand with 2 - 10' x 20' foot backdrops (& heavy duty carry bag) - the prices are pretty decent but as you can imagine, the shipping is pretty brutal (not exactly small, light objects)...
when suddenly *GASP*... Does that say "shipping from Vancouver, BC"?!?!
...A few emails back & forth later & we had come to a VERY reasonable price for BOTH items & I could drive out there (it's actually in Richmond) to get it (NO shipping) & they would even let me look at it before I bought it! WOO HOO!!
Therefore, today's plan was as follows...
A) Get up, get everybody ready, load all 3 kids in the car & leave house by 9:15am - quick stop at bank machine for the cash & head out to Richmond for 10:30am meeting time at warehouse to get "new toys".
B) After seeing & hopefully purchasing equipment, make a stop at my mother-in-law's (AKA - Nannie) work to say Hi - cause we would be nearby & I'm just a GREAT daughter-in-law ;)
C) Head home & hopefully be there in time for a late lunch...
A little ambitious?? Perhaps, but I've done worse than that in a day before... heck, I've traveled to my mom's in Olympia, WA (about 3 hours away) by myself with the 3 kids a couple times before, so what's a piddly little 50 minute trip to Richmond??
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Problem #1: We sleep in. Do not ask me WHY but when there is something to be done in the morning, before I go to bed, the conversation I have with myself (in my head - I'm not
totally nuts) before I jump into bed goes something like this:
"Should I set the alarm?"
"Naaa, the kids have only slept past 8am like 6 times in their LIVES."
"Ya, besides I don't really know how to set the alarm anyway" - Graham is still out of town remember...
So I am of course SHOCKED to wake up this morning & roll over to see it is 8:50am!! So, the rush is on to get everybody dressed & out the door - Forget breakfast! We'll hit Tim Hortons drive thru on the way!
So we back out of the driveway at about 9:38am - not too shabby! We turn out of our complex & get to the first intersection light when I realize...
Problem #2: I left my bank card in my other jeans which are in the hamper in my bedroom! So, I drive around the city block back home, park in front of our place & run in to get it... on the way out I grab the stroller which I realize hadn't been reloaded in the van yet. On the road again by 9:45am... alright we might be a couple minutes late, but still ok...
Problem #3: We arrive at the drive thru (have I mentioned how much I LOVE drive thrus??) bank machine, only to be told by same machine that I have exceeded my daily limit for withdrawals with this request... daily limit?! Hubba WAAA? GREAT! Now, I have to turn around & drive halfway BACK through town & go INSIDE my bank with THREE children to get the money... I probably should have just packed it in then... Have I mentioned how MUCH I wanted this stuff???
At the bank, the kids were fine, but I was the NEXT person in line & watched THREE staff close their wicket (I think that's what it's called?) right after helping their current customer... must've been break time - GRRRRR- until FINALLY I get some service & my money... back on the road...
Problem #4: We arrive at Tim Hortons drive thru & find out the only flavor of filled Timbits they have is... lemon. This is devastating information for my children, who whine for a few seconds, then settle on chocolate glazed instead. Why do they even MAKE lemon filled donuts??? Gross!
Finally, we are on the road & manage to ACTUALLY leave Abbotsford!! Uh oh... it's already 10:10am... DEFINITELY going to be late... oh well, she'll be making a sale - it'll be worth it for her... hopefully...
The drive goes relatively smoothly, aside from continuously squelching the road rage that comes on when you know your going to be late for something - I mean, COME ON! Doesn't that stupid cement truck driver KNOW I'm late!?!
Until...
Problem #5: We are about 10 minutes away from our destination when I hear "Blearcgh... SPLAT" from the back seat. OH MAN!! Averie got car sick!!!! She has had issues with this in the past (like when she was around 2 years old!) but has not had an incident in like a year and a half... somebody up there is hating me today!! - Oh & for the faint of heart, let me remind you that the only thing she has eaten this morning is... that's right - CHOCOLATE glazed donuts!!
So I tell her to hang on for another minute until we get to Lansdowne Mall. I pull in by Zellers, get her out & clean her up as best I can (we always keep a roll of paper towel & a large container of baby wipes in the van - thank GOODNESS!), get the stroller & everybody else out & head in for a change of clothes... it is 11:15am!!!
Problem #6: Evan is 2, well almost 3 but he can be a REAL challenge in certain situations. Heading into a department store after an hour & a half stuck in his car seat & without a cart to contain him is DEFINITELY one of those situations. Lets just say he barely made it out of Zellers alive!!
And we had to make a potty stop, change Averie's clothes... back on the road again... it's 12 noon. Eeeep. Well, we came all this way... I am going to meet with SOMEBODY & get my stuff!
Problem #7: I got lost. Not
really lost but that SUPER annoying kind of lost, where you KNOW you're in the right place... all the numbers say it should be here, but its NOT here. Now I know what you're thinking... ripped off by Ebay person - fake address, but I haven't PAID for this stuff yet! Makes no sense!
I finally think I find it after about 15 minutes of driving up & down the same small patch of road a dozen times or so. Get the kids out, we all walk into this sort of office building...
Problem #8: I don't speak Chinese. Or Japanese. Or any of the other languages that might have made someone willing to answer my questions about the place I'm looking for. I finally walk up to a woman who is standing near a desk & reading the paper.
"Excuse me... could you tell me where GL Distributing is??" Nothing. Literally, you would have thought she was deaf. Didn't look up, in my direction... nothing. I'm a little dumbfounded & not sure what to do when she looks up.
"Oh! Were you talking to me?!"
"Um..." I look around the lobby that is completely empty except for me, my children & her.
"Yaaaaa...."
"Sorry, I thought you were talking on a phone."
Okay, I guess I can understand that - at least I don't have to punch you now.
So she tells me I am in the wrong building, but just one door down - we are FINALLY there!!!
It is 12:45pm. Oh ya. It was THAT kind of morning...
The girl I was supposed to meet is gone, but another person shows me everything & it's great so I BOUGHT IT!!! YIPPEE!!!
We stop in for a visit with Nannie just as Brynlea completely LOSES it! Poor thing was SO sick of her car seat :( So she gets a little break, a bum change & a bottle while we visit with Nannie for a bit. Everybody at her work loves & fawns over the kids so they get a bunch of attention & then we head home.
Of course, the drive home is completely uneventful (besides a stop in Aldergrove for gas & slurpees) & we get home around 3pm.
I unload the car, IMMEDIATELY set up my equipment *giddy giggle* - and took these pictures...
Needless to say, I am excited about the possibilities... and dare I say, it was worth it???
Welcome baby, Rowan!
