I am Back

My trip home was great. I was homesick (for hubby and pooch), but my trip seemed to fly by. I crammed in two Northern Michigan wine tastings. I have determined that I like white wine that is made in stainless steel barrels instead of oak barrels better. The main objective of my trip was to help my friend, Kari, organize her house. She has 3 children, 6, 4 and 9 mo. WOW! I was exhausted!!! I dont think I have ever seen so many kids clothes and toys. Although, there was more I wanted to get done for her (shoulda skipped one of those wine tastings:-)) we got all three kids rooms done and a converted coat closet into a activity room for the kids.
To all of you parents, you are awesome. It is amazing the amount of energy I needed to get through the day. My quiet reserved life is so much calmer.
This is what Michigan looks like in the Fall...

I would love to take credit for the picture, but I stole it from here. She is from MI too. I learned a very valuable lesson as a new photographer. Make sure your battery is charged and/or bring your battery charger. These fancy cameras dont take just any kind of battery. I did not get many pictures. I did lug the camera and the big lens with me in my carry on. Lesson learned.

My trip there was terrible. I have always hated Delta airlines and was very disappointed that Northwest merged with them. After sitting on the plane for about 3 hours they cancelled our flight due to "weather". Interesting the next flight left an hour later for the same destination with no delays. This was after we were in line on the tarmac to take off and had to return to the gate because our flight crew would be over their 14 hours by the time we reached our destination. I couldnt get on a flight until the next day and they wouldnt give me a seat. I decided to rent a car with a fellow passenger and drive the 4 hours north from Detroit. It was miserable, but I arrived safely. I will be writing a letter to Delta requesting reimbursement for my flight since the flight crew delayed and ultimately cancelled out flight since I guess they don't know how to read the clock BEFORE they pushed away from the gate.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Sorry about the bad image, not sure how to increase the size without making it blurry. Leaving for the possibly snowy north for 10 days. Leaving the husband with the high maintenance pooch. Made dinners for 10 days with two homemade apples pies. He should be full and happy.

Hopefully, he will miss me too!!

Models

My class was awesome!! Very informative and hopefully some of what I heard will have sunk in and will be able to use when needed.

Jarrad Lister Photography is who hosted our class and shared all of his secrets of success with us. I met some really great people and hope to stay in touch with them. There was a wide range of experience and cameras. It was great to here other advice and questions from fellow up and coming photographers.

Well having this lady as your model for the day wasn't difficult. She is beautiful and made our pictures look great even if they weren't. Amanda Pennekamp Bluestein was Miss South Carolina 2004 and 1st runner up at Miss USA 2004. She was so nice and personable. She was gracious and kind, she stood for hours and let us all get in her face. Isn't she beautiful??

After my class, I went to a friends house and got the chance to photograph Doc's brother. It is amazing that dogs can look so much like their siblings and parents. CRAZY!!

Meet McCray.....

oh and his little friend Toby.....

Frame of Mind

Here is the frame of mind I have been in. This camera demands all of your attention. Believe me you have to read the manual on this one. It has been a little overwhelming but exciting trying to figure it all out. It is a Canon 50D and it is a great camera. Maybe a little more than I need at this point, but hopefully I will have it mastered.

Espically after next Saturday when this courageous professional photographer offers to teach us subpar photo experts what the heck to do with these cameras we bought. You know we all want to capture that picture that puts us in the history books:-)

Here is my model. He is so patient and willing to please. He doesnt care what the photo actually looks like just that I am paying attention to just him. He doesnt mind that he gets pushed and pulled around the yard as long as it means I am touching him and he isnt far from me at any given point. He loves me regardless.

Oh yea and the tire in his mouth, he loves that too. Of course, he is a Lab and has to have something in his mouth at all times.

Here, well he is over being the model. He has dropped the toy and just wants to go inside. He was playing hard to get. Pretending that if he doesnt look directly at me I will get the point and let him go.

You were the best model Doc. Just wait until I really learn how to use this camera you want to eat, you will be printed and posted all over the house!!

A Different Kind of Pain

We have talked about getting tattoo's in honor/memory of Walker. First we waited until we designed or found the perfect one that meant something to each of us. It seemed like it took us forever to really find one that fit each of us perfectly. I have to give Jennifer Nettles credit for mine, but of course I adapted it to fit me by adding the W in the center.

So Jeff designed his and the artist helped him tweek it some. It looks perfect!! You may have to turn your head to the side so you can get the full effect.

We love and miss you so much Walker. You will be forever etched in our hearts and now on our arms.

Fall means Football

This is my favorite time of the year. The cooler air, leaves changing and FOOTBALL!! I love college football. My wonderful husband prefers NFL, but either way it is that time of the year.

Here we are supporting our "home" team. Although we are there any more we try to support all teams from Michigan.

Our beloved Lions need everybody's support since they are sorely lacking in the winning category. Oh well, we still are fans!

Who is your favorite team?

Tired

Tonight I am extra tired. I finished reading a book and it hit me really hard. It was about a man engaged to a women he was "supposed" to marry. Of course he meets his soul mate and breaks off his engagement. There were fields fire (rural Kansas) and the fiancee' severely burned and the soul mate died. The fiancee' died in the hospital and was revived. Long story short while she was down, the soul mate came back in the fiancee's body when she was revived.

I didnt really do the story justice, but it touched my heart to the core. What a story! I couldnt help but think of Walker. Some days it overwhelming how much I miss him and wish that he was here living with me in some form. I completely broke down. It was uncontrolable sobbing. It must have been long overdue. Now my eyes are completely swollen and I am exhausted.

Along with this mini-breakdown, I have not been feeling well. My last IF treatment was the end of May. They take a real toll on your body and hormones,but it has been months so they should be out of my system. I have several different blood tests, but nothing seems to show up. I am tired, slight weight gain, emotional, etc. Plus, no AF for two months. Yes, I have been tested and No I am not pregnant (unfortunately) Never ever in my whole life except when I was pg with Walker have I ever missed a period. I started my period about 5-6 weeks after I had Walker and was breastfeeding. When we lost Walker and I was in serious grieving and stress I had a period. Every 28 days, always.

So there is no rhyme or reason to what is going on with me, but I don't feel good. I am going to have my thyroid tested and see what comes of that. Anybody out there had anything funky go on with their bodies??

Or am I just specially weird:-)??