lizmorrisey.com

Well, it looks like my unemployment is finally going to run out in July. It’s been such a big help since getting laid off from my job in 2008. I am so thankful that I was able to get it as long as I did.

Thank goodness for Metromix and OutofDebtChristian and the work I am still doing for them. After the baby arrives in August, I’ll definitely take some time off but I look forward to going back to work after that. Maybe losing my job was a blessing because now I can spend more time with the baby.

I’ll be at several upcoming events around the Upstate for Metromix. Find me at:

Thirsty Thursdays at the Greenville Drive game tonight at 7 p.m.

Kentucky Derby Benefit at The Irish Pub Sat. May 1 at 6 p.m.

Spartanburg Spring Fling Sun. May 2 around 2 p.m or so.

Hope to see you there!

I will also be at a Local Author Day at the Spartanburg Library on Sat. May 1 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Come on out and support local authors and check out my new book!

You can catch me downtown tonight at Main Street Fridays shooting photos! Come down to the Hyatt and maybe I’ll snap your picture for Metromix!

I’ll also be heading to prom on Saturday night. Yep. You read correctly. I’m going to prom again. Gosh, my last prom was 1994! I’m sure things have changed since then. The Greenville News asked me to help with some photos of Greenville High School’s prom at the Carolina First Center. Should be fun! They will be put online and some will be printed in the paper. Exciting!

Just a reminder that you can purchase my book for a discount right now! Just click on the page to your right “Firm Foundations: A Tour of Upstate Presbyterian Churches.” There will be a link that takes you straight to the publisher’s website.

I visited Easley Presbyterian and Fort Hill Presbyterian this week. I really enjoyed meeting the congregations. Sold about 25 books all together. It’s really nice to be able to get out and visit with the churches that are featured in the book.

I have some good news! My husband and I visited Mast General’s corporate offices in North Carolina and showed them the book on Friday. They have agreed to buy some copies to have in their downtown Greenville store!! How exciting!

Thank you so much for your interest in my book!

Here’s a new series I’m starting. I am often at different events and restaurants in Greenville and other parts of the Upstate. See if you can catch me at these places. I’ll have my Nikon D90 with me and might just get some photos of you!

I’ll be at the Greenville Drive Home Opener game at Fluor Field Thursday April 8 at 7 p.m. taking photos for Metromix. If I snap a picture of you and your friends, they’ll appear on the Metromix website and maybe in Link magazine!

Hope to see you there. Stay tuned for my next assignment.

Take a journey through the Upstate and see our local Presbyterian churches. See their beauty and hear their stories from long ago. Firm Foundations: A Tour of Upstate Presbyterian Churches includes more than 30 churches from the local area that were established in the 1700s and 1800s. The book will include pictures from the past and present and the history of each church.

Upstate areas that are included in the book are: Anderson, Clemson, Belton, Easley, Greenville, Greer, Honea Path, Pickens, Spartanburg, Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster, Pelzer, Iva, Moore, Gaffney, Williamston, Wellford, Sandy Springs, Fountain Inn and more.

A pre-sale is currently being held and those who purchase the coffee table book ahead of time can receive it for just $20 versus the store retail of $24.99. The book is due to be released in April by Ambassador International. To pre-order a copy please contact the publisher at 864-235-2434 or email sales@emeraldhouse.com. Or just shoot me a message that you would like to purchase one.

Trying to find a steady job is exhausting. Like so many others who are unemployed I am constantly looking for work from part-time to full-time. I do get some money from unemployment but that won’t last forever. Recently, I applied for several jobs and was very frustrated when I didn’t hear back at all. Not even a “we aren’t interested in hiring you.” I’m waiting to hear back from a couple right now.

Good thing is I so have some money coming in from my gigs with Metromix and Out of Debt Christian. I am lucky. Many people don’t have anything right now. I’ll just keep working at it and hope something comes along that I would enjoy.

I am finally close to finishing up my book “Firm Foundations: A Tour of Upstate Presbyterian Churches”. It’s my first book! It will be strange to see it on the shelves of book stores and in the hands of friends. I am hoping to get several pre-sales at a discounted rate. I have sent all of the churches the information about the book.

It’s a great showcase of local churches with their histories and a variety of photographs. Getting that initial interest and excitement is the tricky part. All of the pastors are excited about it, but they need to work on getting the congregations excited. Even if just 10 percent of each church’s congregation purchases a book that will be great!

Stay tuned for more info!

Just went to a wedding in Richmond, Va. this weekend. I realized that when I arrived at the wedding I forgot my camera; however, it was actually nice to just enjoy the ceremony and not be distracted.

Richmond was pretty cool. We went to The Tobacco Company - a famous restaurant downtown. It is 200 years old with a dark ambiance, old elevator and great food. The 12 oz. filet my husband ordered was fit for a king and cooked just right. It came with mashed potatoes. I ordered a salad and it was so big I couldn’t finish it. It was a nice date night on a weekend away. The restaurant was romantic and had lots of character to it.

It’s so nice to get away for awhile and forget our troubles or whatever we are dealing with.

Just got my assignments for MetroMix. Only have one for the weekend, but I am finally getting paid for all of my work for the last month.

I shot my first concert this week. It was so cool being that close to the performers. I would love to do more of them! I took pictures of Creed and Staind in concert at Clemson. I was nervous at first to make sure I got the right shots. Lighting at concerts is tricky, but I succeeded and got several great shots.

Check out MetroMix to see them! Getting close to them and seeing their passion and emotions with each song was awesome. I need to play around with more settings on my Nikon D90. I am so glad I made the investment because now I am actually shooting photos more than I am writing. It’s definitely a switch.

The Nikon D90 photos are such better quality than the Nikon D50. The D50 is still a great camera but I can’t see going back to it now for professional shots.