Love for all my watchers

IT SNOWED!!!OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

IT SNOWED!!! HERE, IN HOUSTON. SNOW IN HOUSTON!!!

And it was absolutely, positively, completely and utterly BEAUTIFUL!!!

And it wasn't just some pussy snow, it was actual snow snow, covering things in white and perfect for snowball fights

It started during school, and some of the teachers were cool enough to let us go outside and just fool around

When it was snowing the heaviest, I didn't have my camera (

), but I still managed to get a few pictures from a friend's camera, and some later

They're mostly just pictures to be added to memorabilia from awesome events, but I'll post a few just because
IT WAS SERIOUSLY THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME THIS YEAR!
After all the bull, some respite

I believe my connection to the Power That Is has been reestablished, at least for now
I froze my patootie off though
Glad that I did 
FeaturesCheck them out in the "Feature" box/widget on my page
My contest ends in less 3 weeks, at midnight (00:00) CST on the 25th of December, 2009. I'm anticipating your entries
GET THEM IN! 
Also, I would really, really appreciate any more prize offers. Subbies, features, anything that you can give

'Tis the season of giving
Poll and Thank YouLast but probably most importantly, please check out my poll if you haven't already. It directly affects a really nice friend, and he needs your support
Also, I am so very sorry to all those who have/have been faving my deviations, and I haven't said thank you or dropped by your page. I'm really overwhelmed by all my activity messages and deviations in my watchbox, so please accept my gratitude here

This doesn't mean I won't keep trying to thank you individually, I just might take longer than planned.
ContestKeep reading below for information regarding my contest,
Nomadism and TranscendenceContest: NOMADISM AND TRANSCENDENCE
All entries can be found
hereAnd here's the news article! -->
[link] Please fave it so the word can be spread

Hello all you wonderful people!

Hope everyone has something to be happy about

But if you dont, heres something to cheer you up: Im holding a contest !

Yes, thats right, an official, full-fledged competition for all you photographers out there

Most of you probably already know from my poll, and because I see interest and hope for good things, here is a more elaborate explanation with rules and things
TYPE OF CONTEST: Photography. An apology to all my friends who arent photographers, but there is no rule against starting an adventure into the photo realm with this contest in mind

All you need is imagination

That being said, if this contest works out, maybe the future will see contests with different types of media involved
THEME: the heart of the matter is: Nomadism and Transcendence. On my poll, I got a couple of I dont get the theme answers, so here is my poll response and some more info about it:
Here are formal definitions and my take on the theme:
Nomadism: Way of life of peoples who do not live continually in the same place but move cyclically or periodically. It is based on temporary centres whose stability depends on the available food supply and the technology for exploiting it. A hunting and gathering society is a type of nomadic group. Pastoral nomads, who depend on domestic livestock, migrate in an established territory to find pasture for their animals. Tinker or trader nomads, such as the Roma (Gypsies; see Rom) and the Irish and Scottish Travellers, are associated with a larger society but maintain their mobile way of life. Nomadism declined in the 20th century as urban centres expanded and governments sought to regulate or eliminate it. (Britannica Encyclopedia)
Transcendence: Lying beyond the ordinary range of perception.
Nomadism, in simple and broad terms, is traveling from place to place, without a permanent destination. Transcendence is rising above or moving beyond the tangible. Because of the inherently open nature of these two topics, a lot will be left up to your imagination and interpretation.
Basically, what I want to see in your photo is something that depicts travelling, impermanence, journeys etc (nomadism), or something showing spirituality (there is a difference between religion and spirituality; if you have any questions, feel free to ask), rising above perception, something otherworldly, ethereal, or something that simply shows me how your subject transcends/goes beyond the norm (transcendence). Examples could include someone walking across a vast plain with a bundle of belongings, a sudden revelation (dramatic or subtle, both work), a train or bus with passengers heading somewhere mysterious, the streets with pedestrians who look like theyre on the go 24/7, the bright light at the end of the tunnel, a gypsy camp etc etc.
Imagination is the key people
RULES:Heres a list of all the necessary evils:

Photographs only. Standard modifications (light, color, contrast etc) allowed, so is HDR and multiple layers. If you want texture, try to incorporate it into your photo
pre-processing, but I will accept entries with textures from an outside source. Please credit the person who the texture belongs to though.

Two entries per deviant allowed (because the theme technically has two concepts.
Note me your entries, with the subject line stating "Contest Entry"
The photographs can incorporate either one or both of the concepts. While it should be clear from the photo which one you chose, please indicate which one your piece is based on in your artists description


Please link back to this journal in your artists info, and fave the contest article once its up so that the word can be spread


Your entry must be in the photography category, and
must be related to the theme.

No pornographic/hateful/racist entries please. This contest is about the beauty of human life, not the flaws of society


Anyone, watchers and non-watchers, can enter. However if you dont watch me, you might want to keep checking back just in case there are any modifications

USE YOUR IMAGINATION! I can tell you now, the most important factor will be impact. Get me and the judges to feel, see, think what you felt, saw, thought, and you are that much closer to winning

Deadline is at 12:00 oclock midnight (00:00) on the 25th of December, otherwise known as Christmas 
This gives you ample time to think about the theme and come up with something awesome

If I can harass the judges enough, you might even find out if you won by New Years

The deadline may be subject to change, but not without notice, so dont worry about that
JUDGINGThere are three judges for the contest:

and me

The final decision will lie with me

PRIZES 

The first place winner will get a
1 Month Sub, generously awarded by

All winners will get journal features from:

I will also make a news article of all the entries and winners!

I have high hopes for more prizes as the word gets around

I will update this section as I get more offers
Please note/comment on my poll [link] if you can donate a prize (features, subs etc). I would be extremely grateful 
With all that out of the way,
have fun and enter, no matter what you think of yourself or your photography. One mans trash is anothers treasure, and beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder

Ask questions, no matter how silly they might sound to you. Use your imagination. Make an impact. Take me to where you are
Now go brainstorm!