Fun with photoshop

i am still getting cheap thrills out of turning my picture from this.....

to this!!!
i seriously LOVE this effect. last week after i lamented how Spring is nowhere to be found in Berkeley, flowers like these started blooming at certain spots on campus. i believe they are some kind of cherry blossoms... so... armed with my digicam days later i set off to record their transient bloom... hehe. traces of the week-long rain can be seen on the petals.... :)

my 'cute cute meimei' (that's what she calls herself!) asked if i wanted to be her piano accompanist (if there's such a word) for her violin exam this September.... i felt so touched that i was asked! (considering how lan4 i prob am now) i am SO rusty now that i fear i might wreck her exam.... hehe. perhaps it will motivate me to pick up piano all over again when i get home. =)