Eternal Beauty..... Revisited

Thursday, I left work early because it was slow. That afternoon, I went out with my camera to work on my FOCUS photo assignment that is due in February. After taking pictures around town for a couple of hours I went home.

Later that evening I had to go back to the office to turn in my timecard and mileage because I was taking Friday off. I walked into the office and turned on my computer to download my photos. While my photos were downloading I walked into the photo office to take off my coat. I noticed something on the counter. I walked over to it and it was a picture frame with a note attached. The note had my name on it. I took the note off and looked at the photo in the frame, it was cut out of the newspaper. I recognized the angel photo instantly (the photo above). It was part of a photo essay that was published in the newspaper where I work at July 2004. The photo essay was called Eternal Beauty (It was named that because all of the photos were of cherubs/statues taken at cemeteries around Lenawee County).

When I saw the picture I was confused. Why would I want a picture cut out of the newspaper, when I have the original at my home? I didn't understand the thinking of the person that left me the frame. On the back of the note was the woman's name. I read the name several times. I asked co-workers still at the office if they knew the woman. They didn't. I asked my husband today if the woman's name sounded familiar. It wasn't. So, another dead end.

My question is that the picture was printed in the newspaper July 2004, why would she finally give it to me December 29, 2005? Why the long gap of time? Is she sick of looking at it? Did she not want it anymore? Maybe she thought I would like it? I don't know. This is like a big mystery that I must solve! Alright gang, to the Mystery Machine!

When I return to work on Monday morning I will ask around to see if the woman gave a reason of why she left me the photo and if anyone knows who she is. If you're wondering, no, I didn't bring the picture home. It is still sitting on the counter at work. I have no intentions of bringing it home either. It is a beautiful picture, it can stay at the office and make the place look better.

A slow workday

The week between Christmas and New Year at the newspaper I work at has been slow. There isn't much to do. Besides being a photographer, I'm also a photo technician. The fancy title means I tone photos, process color ads, burn cds, file contact sheets and so on.

It is not just boring for me, its bad for most of us working there. This week and the month of January is slow for the advertisers and the newsroom. Governments, courts and schools shut down on break, we scramble to find something to do, or at least look like we're busy. We find ourselves surfing the web, walking around the building or just reading the newspaper. I was doing all three of these things this morning. Besides toning photos I do have some downtown during deadline so I read some newspapers online, Detroit Free Press, USA Today, Toledo Blade and New York Post. But what do I do when I finish with all of them? I read other people's blogs, Runner's World, University of Michigan and Michigan State athletic sites. After I read everything, I closed the internet browser. There is only so much surfing that I can handle.

I'm the kind of person who if there is nothing for me to do I work, I don't want to be there. Why sit around at work and collect hours? I can web surf, watch the news at home. I don't need to be sitting at my desk just staring up at the TV screen. Once I got bored with the internet and TV, I got up to talk with people. That did kill some time, but not enough.

Around 10 a.m. I actually had some work to do. It was time to pull the pages. It is my job everyday to copy today's newspaper Quark documents onto my computer and make cds for storage. After pulling the pages off of the server a press worker brought me a copy of today's paper. Well, I had nothing to do might as well read the paper at my desk. So that is what I did. Finished reading the newspaper I walked into the photo office (I share this with my staff photographer co-worker and its where all negative/contact sheets, cds and newspapers are stored). I found some possible photo assignments for the upcoming month to write on our calendar. While writing those down another fellow bored employee saw me and said that I get to go home soon. (I told her earlier that I wanted to leave at 10 a.m. It was now 10:13 a.m.) I told her that I was staying at work until 10:30 a.m. I filled the rest of that time writing more possible assignments on the calendar.

The thrilling excitement hit me at 10:30 a.m. when I grabbed my coat, scarf, photo vest, cell phone, cds and camera and walked out of the building. I was so happy that this long work week was over. Next week, my workday can get back to normal. Government, courts and schools will be open again. Sports assignments will fill my week. Ads will be piled on my desk. I know there will be more work for me to do next week, but I would rather have something to do then not do anything. Having photo assignments, ads or something to do just makes the workday go by faster.

So its come to this.... New Year's Resolutions

Every year I have a couple of New Year's resolutions I try to stick to. About five years ago my resolutions died within a couple of months. Two years ago, I wanted to run more constantly. I have. Last year my resolution was to lose weight. I have. With the running and changing of my diet I have lost 25 pounds.

I wanted to lose weight because after high school I gained some (who doesn't right?). I was a runner in high school and I wanted to get back on a regular schedule of running. During college, running and I went on separate paths. But we found each other once again and I know now, that I'll never give it up. In 2003, I started to run more on my own and started to participate in 5k's. I never really kept track of my time because I didn't keep a journal. When I would get done running I would write my time on the dry erase board in my kitchen. After a week all of the times would be erased. Starting the year of 2004, I wanted to know how many miles I would run in a year, so I kept a running journal. Ending the year 2004, I ran 318.6 miles. Now its getting close to the end of 2005. I want to finish this year over 350 miles. I know I will make my goal. I just need 5 more miles to reach it before Saturday.

My 2006 resolutions. There are only three. Sorry to disappoint.

1. Continue running - Running is a major part of my life again. I know I will ever give it up again. Within the next couple of years, I would like to run a marathon.

2. Stop eating at restaurants so much - This year my husband Mike and I both agreed to cook at home more. I hope to continue that trend in 2006. During the summer, we started to eat more of our meals at home and saved a bunch of money. Also, Adrian doesn't have too many choices to pick from so eating from the same place once a week gets a little boring.

3. Continue to drink water - I'm Catholic and for Lent this year I gave up pop/cola/soda. (In Michigan we call it pop) I haven't drank pop since February. I thought after Lent was over I would go back to drinking pop. Once it was over I realized that I didn't thirst for it anymore. I hope my days of drinking pop are far behind me.

I plan to stick to my resolutions in 2006, do you?

Nothing in sight

The week between Christmas and New Year's is very slow at work. I work at a newspaper, so that's not good. Not much going on. Schools, businesses and city/village offices are closed. Sometimes it feels like the whole county shuts down. During this time, it is a big struggle to find events to photograph. But every other week of the year is also a struggle.

The staff photographer called in sick today. I assigned the event written on our desk calendar to one of our freelance photographers. While on the phone with the staff photographer I noticed that there is nothing written on the calendar for Wednesday. I told him that I would find him something to shoot.

I'm a woman of many sources, so I first went to the city park and recreation winter activities book. All of the events that the city sponsors starts back up in January. Then I searched the visitors bureau website. There are no events listed for tomorrow. Most of the December listings left on the calendar are for New Year's Eve. That doesn't help. I looked through a week's worth of newspapers for anything. There was nothing for Wednesday, but I did find something for Friday. Its bad, so if we're desperate, we will shoot it. My final plea, I went to the reporters and asked if they knew of anything going. One reporter said, "school is on break." Meaning he didn't have anything. Another reporter said the Boys and Girls Club. We were already there a couple of weeks ago, so that is off limits. We can't repeat the same place within a month or two. I left the reporters with no ideas.

While driving to a weekly assignment at the Humane Society, I saw construction. I thinking he can shoot that tomorrow. Unfortunately, the weather forecast tomorrow is calling for rain. But I'm hoping the rain will stay awhile, at least for the staff photographer to get what he needs. If it does rain and the workers aren't outside working, then we are back to square one. Nothing to shoot and no signs of a lead anywhere.

FOCUS photos

The paper that I work at has an extra five sections printed the last week of February called FOCUS. It gives the paper to showcase reporters, photographers, community members and school kids best art projects. This next FOCUS edition will be the second year that the photography staff has the chance to show off some of our best photos. Last year we all had one common topic. This year we could pick our own, my topic is mostly architecture, but I love to shoot abstract objects as well. I take photos of everyday things/objects, showing people that there is beauty in everything.

I finally started my FOCUS project last week. That only gives me about a month to finish. Here are a few photos that I really love that were taken around the city of Adrian.



Mausoleum door at Oakwood Cemetery
c. 2005 DCO



St. Joseph Catholic Church
c. 2005 DCO



Downtown Adrian
c. 2005 DCO

Merry Christmas

May the blessings of peace,

the beauty of hope,

and the spirit of love be

your gifts this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Deloris, Mike, Kelly and Blitzkreig

Its been a thrilling day already.... not really

I was so excited for this day, Friday, to come. Friday meant it was my "holiday" day off from work. It was a day that I didn't have to get up at 4:20 a.m. to get ready for work. I was going to sleep in.

Last night, I couldn't help myself. My husband and I were eating dinner around 7 p.m. and I started to yawn. I knew that was a bad sign. I forced myself to stay awake during the 8 o'clock hour because at 9 p.m., two hours of Seinfeld was on. I started watching Seinfeld and around 9:15 p.m. or so, I fell asleep on the couch. I awoke around 10:30 or 11 p.m. and went straight to bed. So much for staying up late. Crawling into bed, I didn't set the alarm clock. Since I fell asleep so early, I knew I would just get up very early the next morning. I said to my husband that I know it will happen.

Boy, did that prediction come true.

I woke up at 4:45 a.m. I went and used the bathroom and talked to my husband who was still up playing games on the computer. He asked me if I was going to stay up or go back to sleep? I told him it was still early, so back to sleep. I went back to bed and couldn't fall back to sleep. I just tossed and turned until 6:15 a.m. and decided it was time to get up. I cashed my check Thursday, so I got online to check my checking account. I wanted to see if the money that I deposited was in my account already. The balance reflected it was. My money was waiting to be spent. I got dressed and headed to Meijer first because the mall didn't open until 7 a.m. to finish my Christmas shopping.

I arrived at Meijer and found a pair of sandals and two DVD's. I knew that I still needed to buy two more items at the mall and then I would be done with Christmas shopping. I get in a checkout lane and the cashier scans my items. I pull out my check card, slide it through and say "Master Card." The cashier then whispers to me, "insufficient funds." I tell her that I checked my account online and it said the money was deposited. She looks at me and says, "what do you want to do?" I tell her to cancel it, then I leave the line. I walked a few lanes over then I realized I had enough money in another checking account to buy at least one item. So I walked back over to the lane I was just in and said, "I want to buy the sandals." After paying for them, I drove my car straight to the bank and checked the balance in my checking and savings accounts. The balance shows the purchase I just made from checking account 1 and the other checking account shows a balance without the money that I deposited yesterday. I withdraw money from my savings then head for the mall.

I got there before 7 a.m. so I hung out in my car. At 7 a.m. I walk into JC Penny and get the last item I need for my husband. When I'm waiting to pay, I look out into the mall and see all of the gates are down on the other stores. The cashier tells me that the other stores don't open until 8 a.m. I'm thinking I swear I read that the mall opened at 7 a.m. I walked by a sign that lists the hours and it does say that it opens at 7 a.m. on Christmas Eve, not December 23. Perfect! I walk back to my car knowing I have time to kill before 8 a.m., so I head back to Meijer to get the items I had to put back.

I find the items and walk around the store to pass the time. At 10 till 8, I pay for the two DVD's and go back to the mall. At 8 a.m. I go to Waldenbooks and pick up a gift certificate for my sister. My Christmas shopping for 2005 is done!

After wrapping presents and watching the DVD I just bought, I grabbed my camera and headed to downtown Adrian to start my FOCUS photo essay project. I park and walked across the street from the burglar alarm that I'm going to take a picture of then this older lady walks up to me and says, "are you a photographer with the paper?" I tell her I am. She asks, "are you taking a picture of the snowman?" I tell her, "no, just stuff." Meaning get away from me. Then she rambles on and tells me a story of a photographer from the paper that took a picture of her and her friend walking down the street while it was raining. And also, how she get got her hair done. I just smile and say that's nice. I'm really thinking that I don't care. She finally walks away and I take my picture then walk down the street to take a picture of some lightposts and a window then end up back where I started.

I wasn't too excited with the first pictures I took of the burglar alarm (its from the 40s or 50s and huge, that's what makes it interesting) and this guy and his son approach me. The dad says, "Do you work for the paper?" I tell him yes and it is my day off. Then he asks me to do him a favor. He says, "you see the barber over there in the barber shop? Could you walk in there and tell him that he is sexy and you want to take his picture?" FUCK NO! I tell him no thanks, its my day off. The guy is disappointed and says thanks anyways and gets in his vehicle.

Why do people come up to me and ask that? Is there a sign on me saying that I will do anything for anyone? I'm out shooting on my day off, this is my time. Not time for me to do shit for you. It has already been a strange day and its not even noon yet. How is the rest of the day going to turn out?

My half day off

After working 5.5 hours this morning, I got to leave and call it a week. Tomorrow, is my "holiday" to make up for the fact that I have to work Monday morning when most of my co-workers get the day off. I have already been to the bank to cash my check. All of it besides 57 dollars went towards bills and finishing Christmas shopping.

So with the rest of the day off, my husband and I went to see The Family Stone this afternoon. We were two of six people in the theatre. I guess people don't like to see movies in the afternoon, or most adults are still at work? Who knows. I liked the movie, it was cute. I don't know if my husband did. He never said. He took me to see Star Wars III against my will, I made he come with me and see a chick flick. I guess it all works out. After the movie we had to stop at the mall and pick up a gift for our mothers. Waiting at the Piercing Pagoda, my husband smelled marijuana. He walked over by two teenagers and says really loud, "Yup, its them. Seems like they would be in the food court with the munchies." I just said stop it and we walked into another store, found what we needed and came home.

My next plan is to run on my treadmill. The repairman came to fix it on Tuesday (See The treadmill saga). After he fixed it I ran on it. I was so happy! It saved me from running outside in 20 degree weather. The problem was that some screws near the motor became loose.

Well, I got to run. Literally.

Hello... we were in the middle of a conversation

I had to photograph a basketball game at Adrian High School last night. I got there during the JV game to talk to the sportswriter, because I haven't seen him in a couple of days. We were having a conversation, then out of nowhere comes this guy that the sportswriter knows. He walks over to the sportswriter and said hi and sat down and started talking to him. Hello? We were not talking? The sportswriter was turned to his left talking to me and you, the douchebag, barge right in and start talking. The friend that barged in talked to the sportswriter for 5 minutes or so. During the conversation, the sportswriter turns to me and rolls his eyes (he also finds it annoying and sometimes he really doesn't want to talk to them). Finally, the friend got up and went to sit with his family.

This isn't the first time that has happened and it won't be the last. At every game that I'm talking to that sportswriter, people will come up and talk to him. Do they not see me talking to him? Or they just choose to ignore that fact?

If I have to break into a conversation, I say, "sorry to interrupt", get what I need, then leave. Obviously these people don't even think to do that. I don't mind that people that the sportswriter know want to stop say hello or chat with him. But please, if you walk up and stop our conversation at least say something to apologize for interrupting. Thanks for understanding.

Friends who will always be there

I used to dislike Sex and the City. I only had basic cable, so I didn't know what all the fuss was about. When my husband and I moved into our house, HBO came in a special from Comcast. We were happy.... we could watch The Sopranos. (My husband and I were hooked on that show thanks to DVD's at the video store)

On a late Friday or Saturday night, my husband was at work and I didn't have a game to shoot. I was just flipping around the channels. I landed on HBO and a rerun of Sex and the City. I watched it for about 5 minutes and decided that these ladies were the biggest whores ever. Seeing just a few minutes of the show, I didn't know what was going on, who the characters were, so I just ended up changing the channel to something else.

Fast forward to six months later, again it was a late Friday or Saturday night, my husband was at work and I didn't have a game to shoot. Flipping around the channels, I stopped at HBO's Sex and the City. The show was just starting, so I wanted to give it a chance. After watching the show, I realized that these weren't just some whores (like I thought earlier). These women were best friends, had interesting stories lines and the show was really good! After seeing the show, it changed my life. Now, I was on a mission to rent the series DVD's, so watch it from the beginning. Unfortunately, the local video stores didn't even have season 1. I had to start with season 2. While watching season 2, I didn't understand why Carrie was so upset, why Samantha was concerned about her boyfriend's small dick. All of these questions had answers that could be found in season 1.

Since the video stores didn't help me out, I now knew what I had to do. Buy the series. I went to Meijer, Kmart, Sam Goody and didn't see season 1 anywhere. Finally, I went to the place I feel like white trash at.... Wal-Mart. Walking into the store, I saw what I wanted immediately. Sex and the City season 1 on a display. I bought it, watched it. loved it and decided I must have them all. I bought all of the DVD's that were released. I had to wait for Season 6, because Part 2, had yet to air, so I watched along with America when Carrie was in Paris and made her choice, Big.

I'm glad I gave the girls of Sex and the City another chance. They cheer me up when I have a bad day. They make me smile and laugh. And anytime I want to visit, they are always there when I need them.

The treadmill saga

I love to run. During the spring, summer and fall, I'm always outside running different routes. Winter, that is a different story. When it gets below 40 degrees, I can't stand running outside. I don't have the right kind of clothes to run outside. One time before getting a treadmill, I thought I would be warm enough with a shirt, sweatshirt, shorts and pants. I didn't wear gloves because my hands get too warm and end up taking them off. During the course of my three mile run, I developed terrible stomach cramps. That forced me to walk. While walking, the sweat started to dry, making it very cold for me. It was a long, cold walk home. That story proves that I'm a wimp when it comes to run outside during the winter. Since I don't like to run in the cold I run inside on my treadmill.

The treadmill is located in my basement. To me keep me entertained while I run I watch TV. It seems to help when I'm running six miles. Sunday's is one of the days that I run on. I like to run in the afternoon, so I can finish housework, read the paper and maybe catch a nap. Yesterday I walked down to the treadmill, started it and waited for it to get up to speed before stepping on. I ran the first lap ok, then the unthinkable happened. The belt started to slip. The belt slipping on me is nothing new. A few months ago that happened to me, so we had to get a guy from Sears to fix it. I was so angry that it happened again! I wished I would have ran in the morning, so when it did happen I had the option of running outside. It was cold Sunday afternoon, but sunny. Since I waited until evening, it was too dark and cold to venture outside.

I was thinking of going outside to run today. I'll pass. It is only like 20 something outside. Just a little too cold for me. Tomorrow, I know that I will have to force myself outside. I can't go too long without running. If I do, I feel so lazy. Hopefully, the repair man will be called today to set up a time. But I know that is too much to ask for to get him here this week, since its close to Christmas.

I will just have to hope for the best that the repair man will fix my treadmill as soon as possible. Until then I will miss the warmth of my house and the glow of the TV. I'll just force myself to go outside and just get my run in.

UPDATE: The repairman is coming tomorrow. Please save me from the cold!

VH1 Marathons and Snow

Have you ever had one of those days where VH1 is having a marathon of some program and you happen to watch it for the entire day? That happened to me yesterday afternoon. Flipping through the cable menu around 2:30 p.m. or so I came across VH1 America's Next Top Model. I love that show. I pressed the info button and see that it is Cycle 4, meaning last year's show. I see how long the program lasts, it continues until 9 p.m. I had to photograph a wrestling match later at night, that meant I could watch ANTM for a couple of hours.

It had been snowing all day, schools were closed and the roads were bad, I wanted to know if any sporting events would still be held. I turned on the radio at 3 p.m. to see if my co-worker Mike C.'s wrestling match had been cancelled. The radio station went through a bunch of dance classes, nursery school cancellations and then announced that Mike C.'s match had been cancelled. And a surprise for me, my wrestling match had also been cancelled! What a joy to hear. I'm not a big fan of wrestling, so I was happy to hear the news. It was also good news because that meant I could continue to watch ANTM a little longer.

My husband Mike continued to work on the entry way and the stairs (i.e.- blog entry: Paint, dust and dinner....Oh my!). He started to hammer the trim back on the windows and the walls. With my eyes glued on the TV, I kept asking him if he needed my help with anything. (You know to be nice, but I really didn't want to leave the couch) Some time later, he was hammering a long piece of trim up. I asked if he needed me to hold it. He did. I went over to the stairs and held it in place for him while he put in the nails. After Mike got some nails in my assistance was no longer needed. Back to the couch I went. Another half hour went by and Mike was ready to put the railing back on the staircase. Mike asked he to hold the railing in the middle while he screwed in the bottom. After getting it secured to the wall, he went to the top of the stairs to do the same there. He finished and said, "thank you". My work was done. Back to the couch.

Mike told me that he had a union meeting at 6:30 p.m., but he needed to leave at 6 p.m. to Xerox some stuff. He said that he would try to get home as soon as possible to have dinner. During his meeting, I continued watching ANTM but I did leave the couch several times. I had to let the dogs in/out of the house, use the bathroom and check my email. You know, important things. Time flew by while sitting on the couch. Mike came home after 8 p.m., and started dinner. We ate around 8:30 p.m. and that is when the girls on ANTM were walking in a fashion show to determine the winner of Cycle 4, it was between Naima from Detroit, MI and Kahlen from Broken Arrow, OK. Tyra announced Naima the winner of America's Next Top Model and it was 9 p.m. Time for me to go to bed.

I can't believe I watched almost 6 hours straight of TV. VH1 is very smart putting marathons of shows on all the time. Once you watch one hour, you can't stop. It is so addicting!

Paint, dust and dinner....oh my!

When my husband and I bought our house in 2001, we knew we would have to redo most of the rooms. Right away we started tearing down the nasty wallpaper that the previous owner had in every room. (There must have been a huge sale because every room had the same wallpaper.) Once that was done, we painted the living room, the bedroom and the dining room. Earlier this year, my husband has redone the upstairs bathroom and the porch. Currently, his project is the entryway and the stairs.

Normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but on Saturday we are hosting a family dinner. Earlier this week, he tore all of the wallpaper and the backer off the wall. He then put joint compound to patch the walls. After letting it dry, it was time to sand the walls. When he started to sand the wall I thought it snowed in the house, fine white powder covered everything . I finally just dusted. It took a while to just to clean up two rooms, I still have many to go. Yesterday, my husband finished painting the walls and some of the trim. As I type, the trim is laying on newspaper on my dining room table. He now wants to go to Lowe's to buy more trim to add to the bottom of the wall. Looks like more time that the room will not be completed. He told me last week that the project would be finished before the dinner on Saturday. Now he is saying that it won't. GRRR!

I know that it does take time to paint and fix up a room but I'm a clean freak and the house needs to be in order! I hope by Saturday that the trim is off of the table and maybe on the walls and windows were it belongs. He took today off and has tomorrow off so he could have time to work on the room. He now has two days and counting.......

Basketball games and students

I'm a photographer. I usually cover sports. Most people, I hope, like to do their job without being interrupted. In my line of work, that rarely happens. I get the stupid questions like, "What kind of camera is that?, Is that digital?, What kind of lens is that?" I know people are curious, but get away from me. While working I like to concentrate on what I'm doing. No time for questions, please!

I covered a small class D school basketball game last night. The gym is really small. You know it's small because if you are sitting on the bench your feet are on the court. I stood in a corner that led into a hallway to more seating. Standing in the opening of the hall gave me a little bit more room to move around and get shots. Since I was standing in the hallway that lead to a seating area, I have to deal with people walking in and out of the gym going to the restroom, concession stand and so on. Most people tried to walk behind me, some waited until I finished taking a picture and the other people just walked right in front of me. Usually the people walking in front of me were students. Adults walk behind me or wait. Do students/teenagers not pay attention to what is happening around them? Do they have blinders on? I have the camera up to my face. No, I'm not taking a picture, I just like to hold it there. GRRR!

Not only does the walking in front of my camera irritate me, but also when they are walking by and a body part hits my camera, lens or flash. Could you not bump into that? Last night, two teenage girls walked by me and one of them hit my flash. She said sorry. That's nice but does it help if the shoe that holds the flash on my camera breaks? I mean how hard is it to walk by without hitting or bumping into my camera? My equipment is very expensive and unless you plan on paying for repairs, be careful or just stay away.

Two for Monday

Two funeral viewings at two different funeral homes in one night, talk about memories. (insert sarcasm here) I haven't done the two funeral homes in one day since friends of mine died in a car accident on Thanksgiving Day 1997.

The first viewing was for a man that I knew growing up and would see at church. My husband and I walk into funeral home number one and talked to his brothers, his children and his wife. His wife told me that he was out in the driveway clearing away snow and he collasped while she watched from the window. After telling her how sorry I was for her loss, I started looking at the flowers that were sent, looking to see if I recognized any of the names. Finally, I walked over to the casket and looked at him for the last time. He looked really good and then I looked at the casket. It was a beautiful oak casket and it reminded me of my dad's. As soon as that thought entered my head, I knew it was time to leave. I could feel the tears starting to form behind my eyes. So we said our goodbyes and then headed off to the second viewing for my husband's relative.

The second funeral home that my husband and I went to was the same one where my dad's funeral viewing was seven years ago. Of course, the viewing was in the same room as well. I thought I have left the memories of dad at the first funeral home, but I was wrong. Walking into the room, brought back everything from the day of his viewing. Looking around I remembered where I sat, flower arrangements and visitors. While my husband talked with family members and friends, I left the room. I walked around the funeral home and collected my thoughts.

After the walk, I sat down on a chair in the lobby. Sitting down in the lobby helped me realize, yes, I still have memories of that day, seven years ago. But, I'm sitting here on the outside and not in the viewing room. Maybe someday, those same people will be back at the exact funeral home having the same feelings as I did. I just know, that the seat in the lobby is better then the one in the viewing room.

The dog and the table leg

My husband Mike and I got married in 2001. We grew up with dogs and wanted to get our first family pet. But living in an apartment our first year of marriage we knew we would have to wait because no large animals were allowed. When we bought our house in 2002, we decided to wait until the following summer to buy a dog. Finally, in the summer of 2003, we bought our first dog Blitzkrieg, an all black male German shepherd, from a friend.

Blitz is a great dog. I love how he housetrained quickly, would lay on the couch with us and circle around us during dinner hoping for some scraps. We knew Blitz probably wanted another dog to play with, so he wasn't too lonely while we are away at work. This summer Blitz got a sister, Kelly, a black and tan German shepherd that was adopted from the Humane Society.

The first couple of weeks at the house, Blitz ignored her. He didn't want to be in the same room as her. Now, the two go everywhere together and a doggie best friends. Somehow over time, Blitz started to develop a bad habit. He mostly grew up alone at our house and didn't have to defend his territory, now he thinks he does. A couple of months ago, I caught him urinating on one of the dining room table legs. I quickly cleaned it up and disciplined him. Blitz didn't like the I was yelling at him and he growled at me. Nothing new, he loves to growl at me. A week or two later, caught him again doing it on a different leg. I cleaned it up again and disciplined him again. I told Mike what he was up to, so he could also keep an eye on him. Mike finally caught him in the act, yelled and disciplined him.

For a month or so, Blitz scratched on the door when he wanted to go outside, just like before we brought Kelly home. No urinating on the table legs. Last night, I went by the dining room table and noticed that the overhang of the table cloth was wet. I knew the instant I saw it. Blitz struck again. Blitz got in trouble and he and Kelly were forced to sit outside while I cleaned it up. The tablecloth will immediately be washed because I don't want that near food when Mike and I host a Christmas dinner this weekend. I guess if I want Blitz to stop his bad habit, Mike will have to discipline him more often. Blitz always seems to listen to him, without growling too much.

Happy Birthday Frank

If Frank were still alive today he would turn 90 years old Monday. He was the greatest singer to have ever lived. His music was so powerful and emotional and it still holds true today. I first noticed Sinatra while watching E's! True Hollywood Story: Frank Sinatra in 2001. Before seeing the program I knew who Frank Sinatra was, but never really cared. After watching the two hour program I was hooked on him and his music.

Seven years after his death, I crave to know more about the man. His music and acting bring him to life for me through the countless books I read, his many CD's and movies. Sinatra may be gone, but he will always live on in through his fans.

Frank' s signature song is "My Way." Sinatra didn't rate the song too highly, but this is my favorite song. "My Way" is about a man facing death and is looking back at his life and deciding that he's satisfied with the way he lived it. I hope when it is my time, I will be satisfied with how I lived my life.

My Way

And now, the end is here

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and ev'ry highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do

and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course,

each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way

"For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels

and not the words of one who kneels

the record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Yes, it was my way

Francis Albert Sinatra

December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998

Random things......

Tonight, I had to photograph a basketball game at a Christian school. Before the starting lineups are introduced, they do a prayer then the National Anthem. A woman with a lovely voice was on hand to sing. She started out alright, "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, by the time she got here, she was in trouble. Instead of singing, "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?" She sang, "And the ramparts," and stopped to say that she forgotten the words in which people laughed. She took a moment to compose herself and finished. I know we can't be perfect all the time, but if she would have continued singing and not said, "I forgot the words," she could have saved herself from being embarrassed.

I finally started my Christmas shopping. Usually I start shopping on December 23rd. I figured while my husband was at work tonight, it was the perfect time to go. I picked up a few items for him. I still have to buy for my hubby, my sisters, mother, and nephews. That will be continued on another day.

Walking into the mall to go shopping, I noticed a girl in a dress along with her date. The girl was posing with her date while a parent was taking their picture. I assumed the couple finished eating dinner at Garfield's (a restaurant in the mall) and decided to walk around and take pictures. I never understood why anyone would want to walk around the mall in your dress/suit/tux before a dance? Is it because the girls want to show off their dress? Walk off the big meal before the dance? The dance hasn't started yet? Or is it because the couple really doesn't want to waste their time at the school dance? Ahhh, high school.

Snow and a prison break

Thursday evening a huge snow storm passed over Michigan. Before it left it dumped seven inches of snow in Adrian. At work this morning, another photographer went out to photograph people shoveling snow or doing something involving snow. While on his way back into the office and talking on his cell phone with me, a prison break is announced over the police scanner. Two men escaped from Gus Harrison Correctional Facility and were now seen running away at Adrian Landfill (which is down the road). The dispatchers then said that the two escapees were now in a car with a civilian driving them seen driving on US 223. (Later, we find out that the two inmates kidnapped an old man and made him drive).

My coworker calls me from the road saying that he is behind police cars heading toward Blissfield. While trying to get there, he gets stuck behind a county snow plow. Lenawee County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police and Blissfield Police Departments are now involved in a chase to catch back up with the inmates. The inmates pull into a grocery store parking lot in Blissfield and are caught very quickly. One of the inmates fell and hurt his leg and had to be taken to the hospital.

So it was a good morning. The police get their men, we got awesome photographs and we had breaking news on the front page. Not bad. Not bad at all.

America's Next Top Model and Me

Last night, one of my favorite shows America's Next Top Model finished its season. I was really happy to see Nicole from South Dakota win. I love to watch that show because I'm into fashion photography and modeling.

At the end of the program when the credits were running, it said if you would like to try to be on America's Next Top Model cycle 7, go to UPN for details. My husband looks at me and says you should try. I tell him that the height requirements call for people that are 5' 7" or taller. Poor me, I'm only 5' 6".

At work today, I downloaded the application. I can fill out the first three question all right. Question 4, I would have to stop. It requires you to write down height and weight. Couldn't we just skip that? Who cares about height? The fashion world does. Bastards. So now I can only just pretend to fill out the application and send it in. It would be interesting to see if I actually got called to be a finalist for the show, granted if I made it that far. It would be awesome to fly to LA for a week and meet Tyra. If I was on the show, it would be really nice to be away from work for a couple of months. I could live in a house with 12 strangers and talk about my life and talk behind others backs, like every girl does. If I made it to the final 5 girls, I could be flown to exotic location to participate in multiple photo shoots. If I won, I could leave work forever, travel and see the world. That would be the good life. I should stop dreaming because it will never happen. I'm too short and how could I go that long without a paycheck coming to me? And besides, work would miss me.