The end for now

I was so disappointment with the finale of America's Next Top Model.

Down to the final 3, Saleisha, Chantal and Jenah, went into the panel and Tyra asked the question that I can't stand, "Who has the most potential to be ANTM and who has the least?" Why does this question even have to be asked? The girls usually gang up on one girl and last night it was Jenah.

Watching the video of the Cover Girl commercial that they shot, the panel said that Jenah had an attitude. I didn't see it. I thought her commercial was the best. As for her Cover Girl photo, I thought Jenah's was the best of the three. During deliberations Tyra even said that her photos were the best all season and that they rivaled models working today. As soon as the girls were called back and Chantal was picked first, I knew Saleisha was going to win. I thought that getting rid of a stronger Jenah meant the final runway show would be a cakewalk for Saleisha. And it was.

I hope next season, ANTM can do something different. This season was boring and the editing always gave away who was going home that episode.

On another note, Monday afternoon I watched the second to last episode of Dexter. It was very good, just like all season has been. I've mentioned before in this blog, that I have to know what happens next. I love to read recaps and spoilers before seeing the show. It in no way ruins the show for me. This week I found a bunch of spoilers online. I read them and was pleased with season two finale of Dexter. While reading the spoilers there were postings saying that the season finale was leaked online. For two days I searched high and low for any link to the finale. At the end of day two, I struck gold. I found a link.

Later that morning, I entered the address and it took me to the page I wanted. I found episode 12 "The British Invasion" online and I watched it. I won't post any spoilers for people who watch the show. But I have to say that it was a great show and it ended the way it should have. I can't wait until Season 3, but who knows when that will be.

Photo Credit: CW

Angel hanging from the stairs - Adrian, MI

I can't picture that

Over the weekend, I ended up watching a Chuck Norris movie on cable. Chuck was took down an entire gang of guys by himself.

The next day, I searched his profile on The Internet Movie Database. When I finished looking at Chuck Norris, I typed in Kurtwood Smith. Kurtwood is mostly know as Red Forman from That '70s Show. Back in the day, I only knew Kurtwood as Clarence Boddicker from the movie RoboCop. In the trivia section of his profile I found this: Won the role of "Red Foreman" on "That '70s Show" (1998) when the original choice, Chuck Norris, was unavailable due to his commitment to filming "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993).

Can you image Chuck Norris as Red Forman? I told my husband about it and he said that he couldn't image Chuck Norris saying, "How would you like my foot in your ass?" "It's about the rules. And without the rules we might as well all be up in a tree flinging our crap at each other." Or saying to Hyde, who wants to quit school and go to New York, "What are you going to put on your resume? Dumbass?"

I'll leave you with an awesome Chuck Norris fact: Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Partially frozen - Adrian, MI

Frozen - Adrian, MI

Random things

Over the weekend, I finished my major Christmas shopping. Saturday morning I traveled to the mall and finished shopping for my husband. I came across so many good deals that he actually got more items then I intended to buy. He will have 10 items under the tree this year. By the way, this has to be a record. I have never finished Christmas shopping this early. I am the person that waits until December 23/Christmas Eve to shop.

Now that my major shopping is over, I still have to finish up the small things. My nephews still need gifts and I need stocking stuffers for my brothers, sisters and husband. My husband or he claims "Santa" fills my stocking every year with loads of candy and other gifts. This year I think his stocking will be stuffed by Santa.

I finished making my Christmas cards Saturday night. I will be sending those out this week. I hope everyone likes them. It is a lot of work, but I love doing it.

This morning all of the schools in the county were closed due to freezing rain and ice. I always wish that my job would close due to the weather like schools do. Yeah, that will never happen. Because the news never stops.

Door in the alley - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward KlineLeni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, Donald Spoto

Currently Reading: Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Anthony Summers
Up Next: Sinatra, Earl Wilson

Boarded up - Adrian, MI

Rusted on the ledge - Adrian, MI

I like fake names

Every sports season, we take new photos of the athletes. It is a typical head shot. I stand them next to a wall they write their name on a paper, hold it up and I take a pictures. Sounds easy huh? Not so.

I went to a boys basketball game last night. I got there before half time to take the head shots. I walked over to one team and asked them to go in the hall with me so I could take their photos. They were really cool about it and followed me into the hallway. It was orderly and the photos were done in two to three minutes.

I walk back into the gym and go over to the other team. I ask them if they could come out into the hallway with me for head shots. The team got up and followed me. The first couple of guys did like I asked and wrote their name on the paper. The next guy did not. I put the camera up to my face to take a picture and I noticed a famous name. The boy wrote Michael Jordan. I lowered my camera and said to him, "You're name is Michael Jordan?" He said, "Yeah it is. The guys make fun of me all of the time." I really didn't believe him. I looked over to his teammates and asked if his name was Michael Jordan. A teammate looked at me and said yes. I really didn't believe him so I just took the picture. After shooting the last of the team, I gathered up my gear and went back into the gym

I sat down on the bleachers and opened up the program. I looked for MJ. Of course there wasn't one. I saw that school's athletic director sitting in the stands so I went up to talk to him. I told him that I just took head shots of the varsity team and a player wrote down the name of Michael Jordan. He laughed and apologized to me. I pointed out the kid, he told me his real name and then I went back to my seat.

While naming the photos this morning, I came across another famous name. A kid wrote Steve Prefontaine. It made me mad. Why are these seniors in high school lying about their name? Since I didn't know who the kid was I had to go over to the sports desk and find the roster. By process of elimination I got the kid's name. I guess they thought it was funny to lie to me. I didn't think it was very funny. Nice senior leadership.

Gas station restroom in Color - Adrian, MI

I couldn't decide which one I liked better. The black and white or color.

So adult

I did it.

After saying goodbye to myspace a couple of weeks ago, my facebook account has found the same fate. I did more then deactivate my account. I had it permanently erased.

I found a website of how to permanently erase facebook. I read it and followed his steps. I was so glad that I never spent too much time on that site. Before submitting my email to the company, I had to delete all of my personal information, writing on friends walls, pictures and last but not lease, my friends. Of course before I deleted all of the writing on my friends wall, I deleted them. Stupid mistake. I emailed everyone that I wrote on their wall and asked them to delete my text.

A day or two after submitting an email to facebook telling them that I deleted everything on my end, I received the email saying my account was closed. Thank you so much.

Gas station restroom - Adrian, MI

Christmas cards

Over the weekend, I was working on my Christmas cards. I have been making Christmas cards since 2001. It is something that I enjoy because I can use my artistic abilities. And personally, I think it is satisfying when people see how much work you put into making their card.

Currently I have made 44 cards made with 11 different designs. I will be making more cards today or tomorrow to get the total number up to 50 or 52. I don't know if I will really need 50 cards this year, but I don't care because they are fun to make.

I have posted two of my favorite cards that I made this year. Very simple, elegant, fun and cute.

Chair on counter - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

Currently Reading: Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, Donald Spoto
Up Next: Library trip

Semi-famous. Not really.

Last Friday, I was at Ford Field photographing a state football final. In Michigan all of the state football final games are broadcasted live on Fox Sports Net. To cover the game, I was standing on the sidelines near the visitors. Since I was near the visiting team that meant possible TV time. Most of the cameras were set up on the home side of the field facing the visitors side.

Before I left for Detroit, I set my DVR to record the game. I wanted to see myself on TV. Who doesn't want to do that? During the game, I received a voicemail from my sister. She called to say that she saw me on TV. Next the day I watched the recorded game and I saw myself numerous times on TV. Granted I wasn't the main focus, but you could visibly see me in the background.

All this week, people have been saying to me that they saw me on TV. My husband and I were eating at a restaurant Tuesday and an acquaintance let me know he saw me on TV. The topper was yesterday while photographing a high school wrestling match. The official for the match was walking around the mat before starting. He saw me, walked over and asked how I was doing. I told him I was doing well. He then said,"The last time I saw you, you were standing on Ford Field. You were on TV a lot." After he said that he walked over to the center of the mat and started the match for the 171 pound weight class.

Sometimes its nice to be recognized.

Brick wall - Adrian, MI

Goodbye to you

I did something last week that I have been wanting to do for a while now. I've had it for a couple of years and in the end it just wasn't the same. In the beginning I was using it constantly. Lately I only checked it once every couple of weeks. So I decided to get rid of it forever.

I said goodbye to myspace.

I liked leaving comments on friends pages, adding photos, finding high school friends and answering the typical survey. Over time, my friends weren't on all of the time and gradually I wasn't on all of the time. Finally it became a chore to check my account to see if there was anything new. Usually there wasn't besides the fake profiles trying to be your friend. I decided it was time to give it up.

I now have the same thoughts about facebook. I have an account. I only check it once a week or two. The last time someone wrote on my wall was October. The only recent activity I have participated in is super poke. I don't think that is a reason to keep my account. This will make me sound old, but I really don't know how to use it. That is my fault because I guess I didn't care to learn. I think my facebook account will have the same ending as my myspace account very soon.

Junk - Adrian, MI

The ending they didn't want - Detroit, MI

Members of the Blissfield Royals football team walk off the field November 23, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. The Royals were defeated in the Division 6 state football final by Saginaw Nouvel, 12-7. The Royals finished their season 13-1.

Books read in 2007

Last year I read 39 books. Right now I'm in the middle of reading book 38. I think it will be no problem to read 2 or 3 more books before the end of the year. The last couple of books I read, it only took me a day to finish them. The current book and the next book will be fast reads. I could finish them faster if work didn't get in the way.

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

Currently Reading: Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Up Next: Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, Donald Spoto

An early gift

Something very nice was delivered to our home yesterday. A front loader washer and dryer.

When my husband and I moved into our home in 2002, the previous homeowners left their old washer and dryer. Over the years the washer started to wear. The agitator didn't work properly. So our clothes were washed, but not like they should have been. For the last couple of months, we have been looking for new ones. We had some picked out and in blue. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, a hardware store had an unbeatable deal. We, actually my husband, went with the great deal. The only bad part of the new washer and dryer is they are not blue like we wanted, they are white.

After they were delivered and hooked up, I had the chance to look at them. They are fantastic! I said to my husband I couldn't wait until Sunday to use the new washer and dryer. I'm such a geek.

Chain gang - Detroit, MI

Chain crew for the Division 6 state football final

Ford Field - Detroit, MI

Could that be any louder?

I went to a local dealership this morning to get an oil change. I handed over my keys and walked to the waiting area. I brought a book with me. Last time I waited for my car the selection on the television was The 700 Club. No thank you.

I pushed the door open and found an empty seat. I sat down and opened my book. The first thing I noticed was the television was really loud. I looked around and noticed I was sitting in the waiting area with older people. I really wanted to walk over to the television and turn it down. But I stayed in my chair because they probably thought the sound was OK. I started reading and I noticed that I was not really reading the words. I was listening to Rachael Ray on TV. I like Rachel and watch her shows daily, but I really wanted to read. I reread everything that I was skipping over.

On Rachael's show, she was making steak. I like steak, but I concentrated on my book instead of watching the cooking segment. A couple of the older people watching the television were making remarks, "I like steak, but she ruined it with that tomato sauce." "I wouldn't eat the steaks with that sauce." OK. I get it. You don't like tomato sauce on your steaks. You don't have to tell the entire room about it.

After making the steaks, the show went to commercial. After the break she had a segment "So You Think You Can Cook?" One of the older women said "no" really loud. Keep your comments to yourself. At this point her husband came back from wandering the halls of the car dealership to sit with her. As soon as he sat down, he kept clearing his throat. It went on for a couple of minutes. It was gross. If you're going to do that for an extended period of time, go to the restroom and cough it up. I didn't know how much more I could take between the loud TV, the throat clearing guy and the unnecessary comments. It was at that point my name was called and I could leave.

Maybe that is why I always drop my car off for an oil change. When I drop it off, I don't have to hear the loud TV and the comments.

Gateway to an alley - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad

Currently Reading: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Up Next: Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

What did you say?

Friday afternoon three reporters and I were walking across the street from a parking garage to Ford Field in Detroit. A worker noticed our finals press passes and offered us help.

Worker: "You see where the group of signs is?"

Saturday morning I was watching Food Network while running on my treadmill. I heard something odd.

Chef: "You should see how this smells."

Falling apart - Adrian, MI

Spray painted skull - Adrian, MI

Random things

My husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my side of the family. So many little things that need to be done and finished before everyone starts walking in the door tomorrow. Earlier this week, I noticed the kitchen curtains were really filthy. I mentioned to my husband that they should be washed before Thanksgiving. Before going to work, I took down the curtains and my husband put them in the washer. When I woke up this morning, the clean curtains were hanging on the rods. They look like they did we they came out of the package, clean.

I woke up this morning for work at 4 am, went in at 4:30 am. I stayed at the office only until 9:30 am because there was nothing for me to do. I finished all of my work earlier. With all of this free time, I still have time to catch a nap before starting some Christmas shopping.

When my husband finishes with his work this afternoon, we will get in the car and drive to Toledo, Ohio. We are going to start Christmas shopping for family and maybe get something for ourselves. Before driving home to Michigan, we are going to eat dinner at Famous Dave's. I think I'll have the bread pudding for dessert. YUM!

I need to find time today or early tomorrow morning to go to the store and pick up appetizers for Thanksgiving. My husband was going to make a cake for my sister's birthday for dessert after dinner tomorrow. But we didn't want two pies and cake for dessert after dinner. Cupcakes will be a perfect little treat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Books read in 2007

Now that engagement and wedding season is finished for the year, I have more free time. Besides work and running, I have been reading alot. I just finished a book yesterday in just over a day. Maybe with all of this extra time I have I can start making my Christmas cards.


A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler
American Spy, E. Howard Hunt

Currenty Reading: Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad
Up Next: Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay

Back of Apartments 116 & 114 - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler

Currently Reading: American Spy, E. Howard Hunt
Up Next: Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood, Suzanne Finstad

Alley - Adrian, MI

Miles run in 2007

Five hundred.

After completing my three mile run this evening, I have run over 500 miles this year. I couldn't be happier! My New Year resolution was to run over 500 miles and I did. I did it this year by trying to run over 10 miles every week. With just over six weeks left in the year, I should run about another 60 miles. Hopefully.

Miles run through November 16:
2007: 500.2
2006: 426
2005: 313.8
2004: 259.6

Apartments 116 & 114 - Adrian, MI

Seeing. How overrated.

This afternoon I had my yearly eye exam. I had to read the lowest line possible on the wall, cover one eye and had a bright light shined in both eyes.

It had been a year since my last appointment, the doctor dilated my eyes to look at my retinas. She left me alone in the room for five minutes for the drops to take affect. At this time, another lady was looking for my prescription for new contacts. A couple of minutes later, the lady who was looking for my contacts said that only the left lens was in and they would have to order the right lens. At that time, I was asked to put in my old contacts so the doctor could look at my eyes since the dilatation drops started working.

The doctor came back in and I realized something. I had to photograph a girls basketball team later that afternoon. I asked the doctor how long do the drops last. She said about four hours. I told her that around 4 pm I had to photograph a team. She said I should be fine by then.

I got in my car at 4 pm to drive over to the school. I noticed my vision wasn't good. I could see far away fine, but right in front of my face everything was out of focus. Not good for a photographer. When I got to the school, the portrait photographer was taking individual photos of the varsity players. I decided to sit on the floor and do tests with my camera. My camera shows a green circle when things are in focus, so I practiced on my shoe that was in front of me. After I took the picture, I looked at the LCD screen. I had to hold the camera way back to see if the image was in focus. It was. The real test was still coming.

All of us waited for the boys to finish practice. When they were finished the team, the portrait photographer and I went into the gym. While the other photographer was setting up the team, I continued to play with my camera and try to get things in focus. I had to rely on the dot inside the viewfinder to let me know when they were in focus. To me that was very hard to do. I know its not like a wedding where you only have one shot at a photo. But I always like to do my best. As I took the team photo, I made sure the green dot was visible. After the team photos I had to take head shots of the girls. I had them stand in two's against a wall. Since the girls and I were so close, they were out of focus. I took two photos each of the girls. I hope they are all usable. If they aren't that would make me feel bad. Tomorrow when I download the photos at work I'll find out how well I did.

AS - Adrian, MI

Random things

Not much has been going on with me lately. Here are a few thoughts that I had.

Project Runway season 4 starts tonight. I won't be watching at 10 pm because I will already be in bed. Even before I watch the season premiere sometime tomorrow, I will be reading an episode recap on one of my favorite sites, TV Squad.

Is it just me or is this season of America's Next Top Model boring? I start watching the show every week but I find myself turning the channel frequently to other programs. I guess I'm tried of Bianca always talking about Heather and her handicap. Get over it Bianca, she is better then you. I really hope ANTM does something to make the show more interesting. If it continues to be this boring for the rest of the season, I may not be back for the next season.

Thursday is Michigan's opening day for gun season, white tail-deer. A few years ago I was the lucky photographer to take photos of all of the dead deer and the proud hunters. This year it is someone else's turn. Every year when a hunter pulls into the lot with his trophy, most of the employees inside run outside to look at the deer in the back of a hunter's truck. I've seen plenty of dead animals growing up on a farm, but I don't like looking at the dead deer. Even though they are dead, it seems like they always have a sad look on their face. The tongues are always sticking out and blood is dripping everywhere. Not exactly what I call a good time.

Trashed - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford
Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor

Currently Reading: Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler

Up Next: American Spy, E. Howard Hunt

Closed and locked - Adrian, MI

New project on the table

I've started my new photo project. I found out I won't need it by February. The special section of the paper it was supposed to run in got dropped. Now this has become a project that is just for me. Besides my love of cemeteries, mausoleums, statues, deteriorating buildings (apartments, houses, industrial) and ballet, I wanted to add something new. My new project is graffiti.

After working this morning I got in my car and drove to a spot where I noticed graffiti. It happened to be spray painted near a old gas station that is for sale. The gas station is in bad shape with peeling paint and broken windows. It was a perfect subject to be photographed. Once I finished with the gas station I walked to a building behind it and started with the graffiti. A lot of names and swears were spray painted on the back of a neighboring building. When I was in the back, I noticed a boarded up apartment building next to the old gas station. All of the years that I have been driving by that location, I have never noticed it. Its probably due to most of the trees covering the building and the fact that there is no reason to be looking over to the left when I driving. The outside of the apartment building was in not good condition. All I could think is how much I wanted to get in. The only way to get in was broken windows on the second floor, unless I have a ladder with me that isn't going to happen.

Once I left the gas station/apartment, I drove to the industrial side of town. Didn't see anything worth stopping for because there was hardly any or someone painted over the graffiti. A couple of the buildings that I had in mind to photograph were recently painted over. I was mad that I didn't get to shoot it before it was painted over.

So my new project has began. This will probably continue for a long time. I'll add it to my stash of favorite things to photograph. Now that it is in my stash, I will always be on the lookout for it.

Today's Daily photo is from the gas station that is waiting to be sold.

Hole - Adrian, MI

Light switch - Adrian, MI

Random things

In downtown, people act like its almost Christmas. While driving to work this morning, Christmas was as far as the eye could see. Christmas lights in the trees, wreaths, bows on light poles, downtown businesses with lights in the windows. Do they realize Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away? Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, I consider it too early.

Anyone have suggestions for Thanksgiving appetizers? My husband and I are hosting for my family this year and I would like to make something different. In 2005 we hosted and I made fried ravioli, which turned out well. They all disappeared from the serving tray in record time. I want to make something that is quick, easy and won't hog up oven/stove space from my husband when he is cooking the rest of the dinner. If I get no suggestions then I will make my awesome fried ravioli again.

As of now, I am 16.5 miles away from my goal of running 500 miles this year. Around 5 pm I will be running 4 or 5 miles on my treadmill. So that will knock it down to 11-12 miles to go. Its only early November too, I will be finishing the year with high number of miles.

Friday the weather is supposed to be in the 50s. It will be a nice day to go on a photo shoot and start my new project. I'll keep it under wraps until I think I will have enough photos to make it into a great series. If I don't it's back to the drawing board. Which I hope won't be the case because I need it to be completed by late February.

Another broken window - Adrian, MI

No one to dial - Adrian, MI

It's cold inside

When I get to work in the morning, it is cold outside and inside. I'm cold from the walk in from my car and once I get settled, I warm up.

This morning there was no warm up.

Before 7 am, I walked into my office to grab my scarf. I wrapped the scarf around my neck to warm up. I thought about putting on my coat, but I really didn't feel like answering the question, "Are you cold?" Every time I wear my coat in the office someone who is passing by will say that to me. Usually, I'm one of two people that are always cold, but today a male co-worker said he was cold also. Once he said that I knew it just wasn't me, it was really cold in the office.

An hour later one of the office managers walks over to the thermostat that is located on the wall behind my desk. He looks at it and tells me that the air conditioner is on. He asked me why I didn't turn it off. I said that we are not allowed to touch the thermostat. But why is the air conditioner still on in November? A couple of weeks ago I suspected that it was on, but I never said anything. I was wondering why it was always so cold in the office. At least the heat is on in the building. Maybe I can keep my scarf hanging with my coat when I'm at work.

Not a good sign

My husband and I voted this afternoon for the city commission election. When the machine sucked in my ballot I read the number to see how many people voted before me. I was the 11th person in my precinct to vote for the entire day. The election official said the polls have been open since 7 am. How sad.

Broken fence - Adrian, MI

Weekend update

Friday night, I photographed a district football championship game. The home team won 14-13 and will play again this week. If any of the three teams left in the playoffs win this Friday they will be a game away from the state finals. The only state football final that I photographed was in 2003. The team that I was covering for the newspaper lost 28-14. That was the last Michigan state football finals held at the Silverdome. It would be nice for a county team to make it to the finals, I would love to photograph a state final at Ford Field in Detroit. But these teams have to make it through this week first.

Saturday morning, I drove to Michigan International Speedway to photograph the state cross country finals. The county had runners in 6 out of 8 races. So it was a long day. My first race of the day started at 10 am and the last race that I had to shoot started at 2:30 pm. The highest that any county runner finished in the state meet was 12th. All of the races that I saw were good. Maverick Darling a Ovid-Elsie senior, ran the fastest time of the day with a 14:52.8 in the Division 3 race. He was 40 seconds ahead of the second place runner. He verbally committed to run with the Wisconsin Badgers next fall. It will be interesting to follow his college career at Wisconsin and see how he progresses.

Sunday morning, I ran my last race of the year the Souper Run 10K. It was a nice morning, not too cold but just right. My 5K time was around 33 minutes. I was really doing well then I fell apart. One of the toughest parts of the course is the hill near the end of the race. Starting the hill I knew it would be hard, my legs were very tired. I was still running but if anyone saw me it probably looked like I was walking up the hill. After making it up the hill I recovered by running slowly. Following the slow run, I started running a little faster to finish the race with a good time. I finished in 1:10:55. That was my fastest time ever running that race. Yea me!

Bike trail - Adrian, MI

Halloween things

People at work asked the other day if I was going to hand out candy for Halloween. My answer was no.

For the last five years on Halloween I always had to photograph a game. Last night was the first time I didn't have to work My husband, who loves Halloween, had to work. Since he was working we didn't buy any candy. To make sure that no one would mistake my house as a stop, I didn't turn my lights on in my house until a half hour after trick or treat started. After I turned on my lights, I noticed all of my neighbors sitting on their front porch handing out candy. I wasn't on my front porch so children passed by straight to the next house.

A co-worker this morning mentioned she received Halloween presents from her mother. She asked me if I ever received a present at Halloween. I haven't. I have never heard of anyone buying Halloween presents. Is this something we have to do now, buy presents for every holiday?

Random things

I photographed a pre-district volleyball game yesterday outside of Ann Arbor. While sitting in my car in the parking lot students were getting in their vehicles to leave the school. Some of the students were driving brand new Saab's, Hummers and Audi's. When I was in high school I was driving a very used huge boat, an Oldsmobile Delta. I guess times have changed.

This Friday will mark the end of DCO's Photo Gallery. That blog has been with me since the beginning of 2006 and I love it. I post 5 days a week at DCO and only a couple of days here at click. With shutting down DCO, I can still post my daily photo here and if I have something to write, I can post it. At least there will be something new Monday-Friday. I don't know why I had two blogs, I should have just used click the entire time. Oh well. Instead of stopping DCO what I really wanted to do was merge both blogs into one, but I guess it is difficult with blogger. The blogger help group solution to merging two blogs was to copy and paste all of DCO into click. Sure that would be fine if I had only a couple but I have 490 posts and I'm not going to do that.

Sunday is my last race of the year. I will be running a 10K. After the race is over, I do all of my winter running on my treadmill. I will continue running a lot of miles over the winter. I have to get ready for next season's races. One race that I know the date for sure is the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon will be run on October 19, 2008. That will be exciting.

Weekend update

Its football playoff time in Michigan and Friday evening I had to photograph two games. The first game, mostly every play was run up the middle. When teams run up the middle, it makes my night harder. I can say I was definitely struggling to get good photos, or any photos at all. With a scoreless game, less then 15 seconds to go in the second quarter a team drove down to the endzone to score a touchdown finally. I didn't good a good photo from that because it was a quarterback sneak up the middle. My photo was a pile of football players. I don't think I could even see the QB in the photo.

The second game I went to the home team was winning 22-0 at halftime. When it was the start of the third quarter, I wasn't really into the game. The first game depressed me because I really wasn't getting good photos. After seeing a half of nothing but up the middle, it was a nice change to have plays that actually run to the outside. With plays on the outside I actually got some were you could see the players face. Both home teams won and I will be seeing one again this Friday for the District championship.

Saturday morning, I awoke to a lovely gray sky. It really wasn't lovely, I had to photograph an engagement with rain on the way. I arrived first at the session and my couple was running late. While I was waiting for them it started to rain. Normally in those conditions I would cancel, but the couple is from North Carolina and drove all the way here. So we continued with the session. I had fun with the couple and they didn't complain about the rain. After they left I met with another couple. This couple was from the area so we rescheduled for a later date. Next time we meet the weather is supposed to be sunny. That will be a nice change from the cold rain.

Saturday evening, I ran in the Haunted Graveyard 5K. It was a bit chilly. I was only wearing a hat, dri-fit short sleeve and long sleeve shirt and dri-fit shorts. Once the race started I was fine. Before hitting the halfway point at 1.5 miles, I got stomach cramps. A guy that I passed probably a 1/4 of a mile back, passed me. I slowed down the left the cramps pass. While slowing down I tried to stay with the guy that passed me. Finally around 2 miles the cramps went away and I pulled even with the guy. We ran together for a while. I usually never run with people but it was nice to run side by side with someone at my pace. We ran up the first hill together, but I lost him at the second hill. He was beside me but once I got over the crest of the hill, he slowed down. I thought we would run together until the end because I really wanted to out kick him. But I found myself alone. I caught up with a girl because she was running and walking. Once I got to her, she started running. But it didn't last long. She stopped at a water station and continued to walk and drink water. As I was getting closer she started to run but then stopped. She wanted to finish her water. I kept going and tried to put some distance between her and the guy I passed. Those two really didn't get close to me and I finished with a huge gap between us. My time was 32:48.

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Diana, Sarah Bradford

Currently Reading: Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor
Up Next: Ingrid, Charlotte Chandler

I got nothing. Look at these pictures.

Nothing exciting happened to me yesterday or today. Wait I take that back. I went to the dentist for a cleaning. I'm sure you all want to read about that. Instead I posted photos that I love from my shoot at Kathy's house Sunday.

Road fun

Don't you love it when you're the only car on the road? You're cruising at a speed of 62 miles per hour, no one ahead of you or behind you. Then a truck pulls out in front of you instead of waiting because no one is behind you and drives slow?

Yeah, that happened to me the other night. I was cruising at a wonderful 62 mph and a truck pulled out in front of me. Of course since he was driving slow I caught up to him in a hurry. I stayed back because I didn't want to tailgate a guy in his truck. This guy couldn't decide how fast he wanted to go. First it was 60, then 55, 65, 50, and that bothered me. I wanted to pass him, but I couldn't. Every time we came to a passing zone traffic was coming. I decided to be patient and wait for the upcoming passing lanes.

Once we approached them the truck didn't indicate that it was leaving the fast lane. When I saw that he wasn't moving over, I merged to the right lane. The truck decided at the last second to do the same. When he did that I pulled back over in the left lane and started to pass him. He didn't like that. I was up to 70 mph and the truck started to mirror my speed. Then the driver decided to go about 90. I didn't want to get in a road rage incident with him, so I jammed on my brakes (no one was behind me or even on that stretch of road besides the truck) and let the truck go.

The truck continued his high speed until he got caught behind some traffic. I caught back up to him a couple of miles later going 62. We were both stuck behind a bus and we entered a passing zone and the truck made its move to pass. I followed him and passed as well. Clearing the bus, I put my cruise control back on. The truck continued at his high speed. Again, a couple miles up the road I caught back up with him at a stop light. The light turned green and we went. On a two lane road, I actually passed him. He didn't like that so he sped back up. Unfortunately I had to slow down because a van was in front of me, but I didn't mind because my turnoff was just ahead. So the truck and his friend, who probably thought it was funny the entire time, drove away from me down the highway. Hopefully he will play that game with another person and a cop will be nearby to stop and chat with him.

Weekend update

Saturday morning my assignment was moved back an hour. The time was changed late Friday. Since I didn't know, I went by what I had on my schedule. I arrived at the site and no one was there. That should have tipped me off, it didn't. I found out about 20 minutes later and it didn't make me happy. To pass the time I walked some of the trails and took pictures. That made the time go by faster. I didn't finish working until after 2 pm and that made my husband and I rearrange our plans for the afternoon and evening.

After I got home from work Saturday, I saw my sweetest day gift on the dinner room table. It was a bouquet of sunflowers and a card. A couple of years ago I told my husband that S.D. wasn't really a holiday, so we really don't buy each other gifts. The flowers were really pretty and now they are in a vase of water brightening up my dining room.

We then got in the car and drove to Toledo, Ohio. Our first stop was to the new Fallen Timbers mall outside of Maumee. It was really nice. Some of the stores/eateries weren't open yet, but there was still a great turnout at the mall. We walked around that mall for a half hour and drove back to Toledo. We stopped at Bed Bath & Beyond to find a toaster. We didn't like the ones that were in stock so we left without one. The next stop was to Franklin Park Mall. I bought some books at Borders with a gift certificate from my birthday. My husband bought shorts for both of us at Dick's Sporting Goods. We looked for toasters at the mall but didn't find any. After a couple more stops at Best Buy and a furniture store, we had dinner at Outback Steakhouse.

Sunday morning I drove up near Lansing to visit my friend Kathy. I took photos of her and her family. It was great seeing them again. It is so hard to visit when they live so far away. I stayed at their house for two hours. When I got home I didn't do much. I downloaded my memory cards, took a nap, ran and watched Dexter on DVD. It was a busy but great weekend.

One of my favorite photos of Kathy

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin
General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson

Currently Reading: Diana, Sarah Bradford
Up Next: Hitch: The Life and Times of Alfred Hitchcock, John Russell Taylor

TV matters

This morning at work I glanced up at the TV to see "After the Onions Rings" in big letters across the screen. I knew that they were going to talk about The Sopranos. Since the TV is turned down in the newsroom because it annoys people, I had to find the link and read about it. I was lucky to find it in the New York Post. Sopranos creator David Chase said Tony lives! I read so many postings about the final episode, everyone thought Tony was killed. I didn't. I hoped that he was still alive in TV land. Today it is true. Maybe Chase will make a Sopranos movie down the road like Sex and the City. Who wouldn't want to see Tony and the gang five years from now?

The show that I have have been getting into is Showtime's Dexter. I loved Michael C. Hall in Six Feet Under and I love him in this show. Who doesn't love a funeral director and a lab technincan/serial killer? I recorded the season two opener with my DV-R and have been hooked since. Of course I had no clue what was going on, but I still loved the show. Through Netflix, I've watched Dexter season 1 through episode seven. I will finish the second DVD this afternoon, send it back and wait for the third disk of season 1, patiently. I know that the series is based from the book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. I usually don't read fiction, but I will be picking up this book and the rest of the series. I'm obsessed with TV!

Photo Credits: HBO, Yahoo TV & Showtime

Miles run in 2007

I did run after my soccer game last night. It was an easy two miles on the treadmill. I was hoping to run today and tomorrow, but I can't. Early this afternoon I have to drive to another soccer game which is about an hour away. So I will have to wait until Thursday for my next run. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. It has been a while since I ran outside. I would like to get in a long run outside before my upcoming 5 and 10K races.

Miles run through October 17:
2007: 450.2
2006: 386.9
2005: 280.2
2004: 234.4

Random things

It is supposed to rain all day. I'm not too excited about that. I have to photograph a district soccer game later this afternoon. I'll be the one holding an umbrella and taking pictures at the same time.

I'm hoping I'll be motivated to run after my soccer game. I wanted to wait until tomorrow to do my first run of the week, but I may have to photograph a game instead of having the afternoon off. It is either run later tonight or tomorrow afternoon during nap time. The good thing is if I run tonight I will pass 450 miles run for the year. My New Year's goal was to run 500 miles. I'm getting closer and I have two and a half months left in the year.

A couple of days ago I mailed in my race forms for two upcoming races. The first is a 5K that is going to be held in a cemetery in the evening. The cemetery is very hilly. It will be a challenging run. The second race is a 10K. For the last two weeks, I have been running 6 miles on my treadmill to prepare for this race. I really like this race but the last hill with less then a mile to go always gets me. My goal for this year is to run strong up the hill and continue that to the finish line.

Engagements and traffic

I had an engagement session with a fun couple yesterday, Casey and Matt. We met at a park in Taylor, Michigan. The engagement session started out dry, but it didn't stay that way for too long.

After we walked to our first location, the gazebo, it starting raining. You wouldn't know it, but the photo posted with this entry, they are getting wet. They were awesome and didn't complain once. I was also thankful they were both wearing dark colors. It helped hide the rain drops from being seen in the photos. For the rest of the session, it continued to rain off and on.

On the way home, I was going smoothly on I-94 West. Over by Metro Airport, my speed dropped from almost 80 miles per hour to 60. I thought there was a crash or a cop pulled someone over, so I waited patiently while it felt like we were crawling. After continuing on for a couple of miles, none of those listed above were the cause for the slowdown. Everyone just slowed down for no apparent reason.

About a mile away from my turnoff to US 23 South, I tried to get around a slow semi. I merged into the most right hand lane. I saw the US 23 exits in front of me. But then I realized it was the wrong US 23. The lane I was in was an exit only for 23 North. I wanted 23 South but I was blocked in. I turned on my blinker hoping the car behind the slow semi would let me in. A Saab was the car behind the semi. The woman driving the Saab didn't let me in. I was forced to take the wrong exit. Twenty minutes later, I was finally back on US 23 South and going in the right direction towards home.

When I arrived home I was so tired. I do not envy people that have to drive on the interstates everyday. My drive was 133 miles round trip and it wore me out. I had no energy the rest of the night. During dinner I couldn't stop yawning. By 8:30 pm I could hardly keep my eyes open. I went to bed at 8:45 pm. It was a good day except for the three hours I was stuck in my car driving.

Random things

Monday I watched The Next Iron Chef that I recorded from Sunday night. The chefs on the show are competing against each other to be named the fifth Iron Chef. All of the chefs chosen for the program are professional and very successful. I thought it would've been nice to see head judge Chef Tom Colicchio from Top Chef compete on this show. I know he is a chef thanks to Padma when she introduces all of the judges. I googled Tom and found out he is Chef/Owner of Craft Restaurants. As judge on Top Chef, he is always critiquing food, I would like to see him go head to head with some great chefs and see what he can make.

I photographed a college soccer game Wednesday afternoon. The temperature around game time was 50 degrees and it was windy. With that, I wore my winter coat and hat. After standing in the cold and wind for the first half, I went back to download the photos. People made comments about how bundled up I was. One person said, "She must be cold." You would be cold to if you had to stand outside for an hour photographing a soccer game.

After the game, I went home to run on the treadmill. Around 1.5 miles, my lunch made a surprise visit. I threw up in my mouth a little. It was nasty. For the rest of my run all I could taste was onion rings. Gross.

In a couple of hours, I have an engagement session. It is a very cloudy day, windy and 50 degrees. I hope the rain holds off until we are done.

Colors

Blue and Brown.

For a while now, I have been loving those colors. I see them everywhere and I think that they look good together. My husband is really not a fan of these colors. Especially brown. He dislikes brown because it is the color of his uniform for work.

Yesterday, he took me to Lowe's to pick out floor tiles, walls and a color scheme for the laundry room. After picking out the tiles and the wall boards, it was on to my favorite part: color. I went straight for blue and brown. I picked out nine color swatches of different blues and browns. I told him that I wanted a room in our house to be these colors. I don't know if I will win on the laundry room, but there is still the kitchen and the full bathroom that needs to be redone. I still have a 1 in 3 chance to have a room in my dream colors.

Weekend update

Saturday morning I photographed a cross country invitational. It was so hot and humid. I felt bad for the runners. One team that was there, all of the runners collapsed at the finished line. They all needed help from the volunteers to pick them up. Two people made comments to me saying it was like that team was trained to do that. I doubt that they were, but it was odd the only runners that collapsed were from one school.

One of the oddest things seen at the cross country invitational was two boys running to the finish line together. They were both neck and neck. One of the runners thought he could beat the other runner to the line by sliding head first. I wanted to tell him it wasn't baseball season and the finish line wasn't home plate. Come on who slides head first through the finish line at a cross country meet?

In speaking of hot and humid weather, a Michigan police officer died running the Chicago Marathon and another runner collapsed and died near the finish line at the Pentagon during the Army-Ten Miler in Arlington, VA.

I decided over the weekend I will train for the 2008 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon. I have over a year to get ready for this race. I can do it.

Watch your step

I saw an older man stumbling around on a sidewalk in downtown. I noticed him while waiting at a stoplight. I thought he tripped over something on the sidewalk. He regained his balance thanks to a wall of a building. Once he got his balance he tried to walk again. This time he was stumbling all over. This guy just didn't trip, he was drunk. He was drunk at 7 pm on a Thursday night. My question is who gets staggering drunk around 7 pm on a Thursday evening? Apparently that guy.

Random things

I've been watching America's Next Top Model regularly since Cycle 4. I have caught the first three cycles thanks to marathons on VH1 and MTV. Every season has a bad girl. This cycle it is Bianca. I always hope for them to leave early but they never do. Last night Bianca was in the bottom two. Of course she got a second chance and someone else was sent home. It always seems like the bad girl always escapes elimination until the final 5. The last couple of seasons that was the way with Renee, Melrose, Jade, Bre and Keenyah. They all made it overseas to different countries. The bad girls probably get to stay to create drama and keep the show interesting. I'll admit it does keep the show entertaining.

Last night was the live finale of Top Chef. I haven't watched it yet, but I already read the recap this morning. I know Hung won. I really liked Casey and Dale, but I had a feeling that Hung would probably win due to his technique. This season why did they need to have three finalists instead of two? Whatever. I'll be back for Top Chef 4.

***SPOILER ALERT - Sex and the City***
Earlier this week, I read on Page Six of the New York Post that Sex and the City was going to be filming at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Carrie and Big are getting married. Then this morning I saw the pictures. SJP looks lovely in her dress, but what is with the feathers? Come on where are the photos of Chris Noth?

Krista still needs help raising money to run a marathon with Team in Training. Please donate to a worthy cause.

I've been tagged

The rules:

1. Post these rules before you give you the facts.
2. List eight random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) someone and list their name (linking to their page).
4. Leave them a comment on their blog letting them know they’ve been tagged!

Eight random things about me.

1. I'm the youngest of seven children. All of our first names start with D.

2. I grew up on a hog farm. My brothers, sisters and I showed hogs at the county fair until we were all 18. In 1995 my hog was Reserve Grand Champion. It sold at auction for over $1000.

3. I love the smell of coffee, but I hate the taste. Once I was getting my car fixed and the auto shop made a fresh pot. It smelled really good so I poured myself a cup. It was gross and I threw it away. It could have been gross because it was coffee in a auto shop.

4. I eat Applebee's nachos at least once a week.

5. Most of my friends drank during college. I didn't. My first drink was on my 21st birthday.

6. During the summer I always wear my watch when I'm outside. I like the "watch line" I get on my left wrist to see how tan I am.

7. I am a clean freak. Everything around me has to be clean and in order. If is not, I straighten it up. Sometimes when talking to a co-worker I'll start cleaning her desk. I just can't stand to look at filth.

8. In college I didn't pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts because I was afraid to defend my work in front of the art professors.

I tag BCal, Kris and Erin.

Dog in the window

Just before 7 pm this evening, someone knocked on my front door. I wasn't expecting any company so I walked into my bedroom to look out the window. I saw a SUV parked in front of my house. Whoever was at the door kept knocking. I just finished taking a shower, so I had to make myself decent to answer the door.

I walked downstairs and opened the front door. It was a man and a woman in their early 20s. They said they were from Company X and they are going to be opening a office in town. After this I stopped listening because my two German Shepherds were knocking down their gate that locks them in the kitchen. When I heard the gate fall down, I stepped onto the porch with them and shut the door. She continued on with her spiel. Next thing you know my 120 pound German shepherd Blitzkrieg was standing on the window sill barking. The two people on my porch backed up because they were frightened of my barking dog. I told them that my dog doesn't like visitors. With that she asked when would be a better time to come back. I told her tomorrow. I really wanted to tell her not to come back, but I wanted to be nice. When they come back tomorrow they will be talking with my husband. I'm sure he will shut the door faster then I did.

Books read in 2007

A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, James L. Swanson
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon
Leni Riefenstahl, Rainer Rother
From Here to Eternity, James Jones
Cultural Warrior, Bill O'Reilly
Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing, Lee Server
The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, Marvin Kitman
Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel
Notorious, Donald Spoto
Katharine Hepburn, Barbara Leaming
Empire: The Life, Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes, Donald L. Barlett
Diana, Andrew Morton
Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Leni, Steven Bach
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote
The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen
Henry Ford and the Jews, Neil Baldwin

Currently Reading: General Patton: A Soldier's Life, Stanley P. Hirshson
Up Next: A trip to the library