.. and here we go!

It sounds crazy doesn't it? My sudden desire to start reading again. To some of you reading is like eating or sleeping, I just chose to spend what free time I could find in other ways till now. So I went to the Library last night, which is a block and a half up the road, perusing the isles hoping a book would just jump out at me. I had no clue what I wanted to read.. non-fiction? Fiction? Mystery.. what? I didn't know. I almost walked away with some Stephen King, cause I love Scary, but then one book did jump out at me, The Other Boleyn Girl. I hadn't seen the movie yet and thought what a perfect opportunity to read the book first and follow it with the movie.

Brian got a couple of books too. Mostly to find inspiration so he could up one on Mikes blogs.
So we came home last night and read. Kind of felt odd reading next to each other in Silence instead of talking about the day or other gibberish but it was peaceful at the same time. Jackson couldn't stand the silence and decided to read a bit, then went up to play on his playstation. Josey grabbed a book and pretended to read too. It made for a nice relaxing evening.

So what do I think of it so far. I am only on the second chapter, which is a long chapter I might add. However, I had a hard time putting it down. So far it is very easy to read and keeps you wanting more.

Read-a-thon anyone

Okay, so I have decided to start reading again. Doesn't that sound funny, start? I can't tell you the last time I have picked up a book and read the whole thing all the way through. To be quite honest, it has probably been years. I am an admitted workaholic and I fill my spare time with editing which is quite pathetic. I even feel like work has dumbed me down a bit. I am not stimulating my mind at all, just mindlessly editing away in hopes that at some point I might catch up.

I think I am going to give myself a realistic goal of one book a week.

I haven't decided what book I want to start off with first.

Any suggestion?

LOVING MY JOB

One of things I enjoy most about being a portrait photographer is being invited out to peoples homes. For one it breaks away from the norm of the typical parks and locations that I choose along with offering the challenge of unfamiliar territory. Usually my customers already have certain ideas in mind or props they want to use which poses even more challenges. Every so often you might even come across unexpected photo opportunities as well especially if they have animals.

Its not just for those reasons that I love my job or that I am doing what I trully enjoy, but I get the opportunity to know and meet so many people. Enjoying them individually or watching the dynamics of one family to the next, it's trully satisfying.

I, like many, have complaints every so often about this or that, my complaint mostly being about the many hours of editing that goes unrecognized to get those perfect pictures. But at the end of the day all is over looked.

It all started 9 years ago, and with patience and practice, many years of hard work, I can finally say that my perserverance is paying off.

When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."~Author Unknown

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. ~William Feather

Caillou should be banned

Just a short note about Caillou... the kids rented Caillou from the Library and I actually sat down and watch it with them. I quickly learned that Caillou is very whiney.

"She has my toy mommy!! Give it back!!!!" Caillou yells to his little sister. Mommy nicely says, "(sisters name) give Caillou his toy back."

What is wrong with this? What happened to "Caillou, you need to talk nicely to your sister and politely ask for your toy back. Don't yell at your little sister."

Caillou wines, "Daddy, I wanted to go the park today!" Slightly throwing a fit. Daddy changing all plans for Caillou, " Okay, well I'll tell you what Caillou, that sounds like a great idea, we will go ahead and go." WHAT?!!! Seriously, is this show catering to giving in to tantrums and whininess?"

Caullou is banned from our house. Seriously, that little rugrat annoys me.

Part II of Chicago

I was gonna blog about the whole trip, but I'm not in the mood for long windy discriptions of this and that. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves and keep it as short as possible. The above is at Milinnium Park as is below. NO I wasn't working while I was there but this couple was doing wedding pics in front of the bean and I couldn't resist.
The Bean.. can you find me?

I love street performers in any city.
My Cuz Julie.. posing with her cowboy.
Aunt Linda and Julie on the free trollies in Chicago. . What Kansas City Needs!!!

Just a few pics from Chicago

Here are just a few pics from Chicago. There will be more to come soon. This was probably one of the cheapest trips that we have taken. We paid for gas and mostly everything we did was free. We ended up driving up there and because gas is so high we opted not to take the explorer, instead we crammed in our stealth. We spent a total of $165 in gas. Woo hoo!

The first day there we arrived about 5:30pm. My aunt Linda lives in a suburb of Chicago called Weaton. Once we got there we drove to My Cousin Bryans condo in Chicago. Very cool place! Makes me want to move there. It was Bryans birthday so we had Chicago YUMMY pizza and cheesecake. There was only two things Brian and I required we do on this trip and that was to have Chicago pizza and Chicago Hot Dogs. We were able to check the Pizza off our list. This picture is of Bryan and his wife Leighann. Of course, Bryan is sporting his grub gear.

We stayed with my family which was the point of the whole trip, to enjoy them. We woke up to coffee and breakfast every morning. Thanks aunt Linda. The next day we drove to Lincoln Park zoo. It was gorgeous out for a July day. Linda had packed a lunch for everyone to eat there. This was our second trip to the zoo. The last time we were there I got some tiger lily pics that I have actually sold to customers. When I seen them again I couldn't resist taking more pics.

I didn't spend a lot of time taking pics of the animals. I have loads and loads of those types of pics at home. But this monkey, ape, whatever, was posing for me so I couldn't resist.

My Jackson and Josey.. it's not often that I can get a pic of them both smiling at the camera. Yay! Chicago is Jackson's favorite city! I don't think we can come here enough!

This was under an overpass. The bridge was decorated in mosaic glass..very cool!

On the way home Jackson decided to ride with Leighann and Bryan back to my aunt Lindas house. We got half way home and received a call from Bryan. They had got in an accident. The car was totalled and Jackson was being taken in an ambulance to the hospital. Bryan was very calm and let us know that Jackson wasn't hurt too bad but had banged up his Jaw, perhaps just bit his lip. They were all calm and in turn I tried to remain calm, but it's very hard when all I wanted to do was be with my son. We got to the emergency room and he was pretty upset but doing good. Standard procedure is taking anyone under 18 in ambulance to the hospital. That shook him up. You would think a kid would be excited to ride in an ambulance, but not when they strap you down where you can move a single muscle in your body. It was pretty intense for my Jackson and shook him up quite a bit. Good news was that he only bit the inside of his lip, he bit it pretty bad, but no stitches or medication was needed. So they released him from the emergency room. Bryan and Leighann were fine but shaken up too by the way. And off we all were to head home eat some BBQ and watch some fireworks.The lovely totalled car.

More to come!!!

rage

My heart is pounding

Blood boiling

I want to be the better one and Silence my Rage

Say nothing

Be still

Breath

Reason with my thoughts

Stay calm.

Frustration builds and my soul is flooding with emotion

Drowing in my reservations

I Explode!

Why do you provoke me?

Why can't you leave me alone?

Never allowed Peace but always on edge

Not heard

My words are void in your ears

But say your peace

And leave me unhappy

Frustrated

Empty with out expression

Forgiveness? How can I forgive when my words are not heard.

Did you win by leaving me with this Bitterness?

You expect to go on like nothing was said, but I am left with out Closure

Swept under, buried beneath

Until you provoke me again.