A little bit of Runway, A little bit of ANTM

Chloe Dao won Project Runway Season 2. I was disappointed that Santino didn't win Season 2. Oh well, I was happy with his collection. I wrote yesterday that I didn't understand Chloe's collection and I still don't after seeing it. The outfits with the big puffy sleeves, I just don't see someone from the Midwest wearing that. Maybe women in New York, LA or Houston wear that, but I don't think I'll see that look sprout up in Michigan.

Besides watching Project Runway this morning, I watched the new season of America's Next Top Model. The first episode they always have 32 girls fly out to meet Tyra. After meeting her then the 32 gets cut down to 20, then finally 13. A girl, I think named Dani from Texas, was just saying things without thinking. What she was saying made her come off as a racist, but I don't think she really is one. Hello, treat everyone the same, no matter the race, religion or background. She didn't make it to the final 13.

Even though Cycle 6 just started I like Nnenna and Sara. Right now I'm not liking Jade so much. She is a diva already. This should be a interesting season.



Finally, is this a picture of Tim Gunn and Andre's date at Red Lobster? Thank you Santino.



Photo Credits: www.bravotv.com and www.upn.com

The beginning and the ending

Tonight is the night I will definitely need the VCR. Besides photographing a District boys basketball doubleheader in Morenci, I have to tape another doubleheader of sorts. Today marks the beginning of America's Next Top Model: Cycle 6 and the season finale of Project Runway.

On America's Next Top Model, we start with 12 new girls. I'm sure sometime during the season we will see a catfight between some of the girls, it always seems to happen. Anyhoo, during the two-hour premiere the ladies have their first photo shoot and they will be bald.

On Project Runway, the season finale will be the runway shows of Santino, Daniel V, and Chloe from Olympus Fashion Week. So far, I love Santino's designs. Chloe's, I don't understand and Daniel V.'s, very bland. I know that Santino didn't do very well with some of the challenges, but the dresses that were shown on last week's show, were very beautiful. Give Santino enough time and he can create a stunning outfit. If you couldn't tell, I want Santino to win.

Random things......

This morning while getting ready for work, I grabbed a white t-shirt to wear under my sweater. Unfolding it, my sock that has been missing for a week fell from the shirt. I was so happy to find that sock, the pair is complete. Now, only to find my husband's missing green dress socks.

Last night I covered two boys basketball district games in Morenci. The first basketball game of the night was Sand Creek versus Whiteford, I photographed only the first half. After getting a slice of pizza and a water during halftime, I sat with the reporter in the bleachers. During the third quarter, someone sitting behind me was tugging my ponytail. Not knowing who was doing that I turned around. To my surprise it was an older woman. She kept tugging my ponytail and said, "Your hair color is pretty and mine used to be like that." I just smiled to be nice. Then the woman tugs on my ponytail again. The woman says, "My hair was that color a long time ago." Again, I just smiled at the woman. Why do people feel the need to tug on my hair? Yes, its long. Yes, I have red hair. Yes, it has natural curl. I don't mind if people tell me that they love my hair color. I don't mind if they say I have such long hair. But if and when you tell me that, please don't tug my ponytail.

Finally, after working today until 11:30 am, I have the rest of the day off! I usually don't get too many nights off, so I will be using my time wisely. Things to do today: Do some homework, read a book, run 4 miles and hang out with my husband who also has today off. Outside, it is sunny and above 40 degrees. Today might be the day for my first run outside for 2006.

The sock mystery

Last week while folding the laundry, I discovered one of my socks was missing. I thought that maybe it was stuck inside a piece of clothing, nothing to worry about. I was hoping it would turn up when I did the next batch of laundry. It never did.

Yesterday while putting the clothes into the washer, I remember seeing my husband's green dress socks. After the wash was done, I remember putting those green dress socks into the dryer. Once the dryer was finished, I started folding the clothes. I folded pants, t-shirts, shorts and socks. I noticed that there was nothing else to fold. No green socks in sight. I checked the trash by the washer. Nothing. I looked between the washer and dryer. Only dust bunnies. I checked the washer again, it was empty. I remember getting the socks out of the washer. I took the folded clothes upstairs to the dining room table and started going through the bulky items to see if the socks were stuck inside. No green socks. I put the clothes away with the help of my husband, I looked through the clothes again. No sign of the green socks.

What is going on here? Last week, it was one of my socks. Yesterday it is a pair of my husband's socks. Is the dryer eating them? Is there a sock monster stealing them? I hope to find an answer before more socks disappear.

Books read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell

Currently Reading: Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Next Up: Mr. Capone: The Real and Complete Story of Al Capone, Robert J. Schoenberg
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

FOIA, Marilyn and the FBI

I'm currently reading The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell. While reading Churchwell, she had a footnote about documents. The footnote said that Marilyn Monroe's FBI papers were on the FBI's website under the Freedom of Information Privacy Act. While covering for the weekend photo tech who was on assignment, passing the time, I found the documents and started reading them. Or tried to read what was left that hasn't been blacked out with a marker.

The FBI - Freedom of Information Privacy Act website has a Famous Persons Listing, such as Frank Sinatra, JFK, John Wayne, RFK and Henry Ford. It is an interesting website, I know I will go back to it.

SOURCE: Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The document posted is from the FBI. The pages on the website (97 pages) are articles, pictures, documents about Marilyn Monroe's alleged affairs and circumstances surrounding her death.

Almost to the end of Season 2

Yesterday I watched Project Runway on tape. It was part one of the season finale. When Santino, Daniel V. and Chloe came back to New York, Tim Gunn looked at the final 12 outfits. I agreed with Tim's comments on Santino's, he did have some beautiful dresses. I also agreed with Tim about Daniel V's collection. He didn't have much to say about it, either do I. I really didn't like his handbags. They looked like that they were made in woodshop class. Chloe's collection, I didn't understand the poofy outfits. I guess I have to see them on a person before I make my call.

Can't wait to see the runway show next week.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent. Today, I was supposed to fast and whatever I ate the entire day had to equal one meal. I thought I could get through the day with no problem. This is how it went.

At work this morning, I drank my breakfast: water (4 cups). When I came home at 11:30 am, I was so hungry. In my Fat Tuesday post yesterday I said that I would stay away from the Little Caesar's leftovers, but I didn't. I got the box out of the refrigerator and tore the pepperoni's off a slice. Cold pizza never tasted so good. That really made me full. After going to Ash Wednesday mass, I came home and woke my husband up around 1:30 pm. He got dressed and asked me where I wanted to go for lunch. I told him I really couldn't eat much today, so I would go and watch him eat. We got in his car and he drove to Subway. I couldn't resist. I was hungry. I got a six inch tuna sub. It was so good and filling.

To make up for the fact that I ate more then I should have, I didn't eat dinner. I had to photograph two district volleyball games and that forced me to miss dinner with my husband. Since I haven't eaten since 2 pm this afternoon, I'm hungry. I know when I get up for work tomorrow, I will be looking for something to eat right away to make the stomach pains go away.

Fat Tuesday

Here it is already: Fat Tuesday. The year of 2006 has been going by quickly. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which means here comes another Lenten season that I'm not ready for. The fasting, the no meat on Fridays, and the confessions!

This year for Lent I decided to give up the wonderful vending machine at work. Most times I refrain from buying from it, but recently my favorite cookies in the whole wide world have been for sale: Keeber Fudge Stripe. YUM! I love those cookies! At work this morning, I wanted to go vending machine free today, but I couldn't. The fudge stripe cookies were stocked in the machine. So I broke down and put the 65 cents into the machine and eat the cookies. So delicious! Goodbye fudge stripe cookies. I'll see you after Easter.

After running 4 miles on my treadmill tonight, I was thinking of what to make for dinner. My original thought was to have canned ravioli. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to get something else for dinner. Today is Fat Tuesday and I'm supposed to eat a lot because tomorrow I have to fast. I decided to get a Hot-N-Ready, an order of Crazy Bread and sauce from Little Caesars. I had a couple pieces of pizza, bread and now I'm full. Tomorrow, I can't eat the cold pizza because of the pepperoni: no meat on Ash Wednesday. I could always pick off the pepperoni, but I won't. I'll just have to stay away from my refrigerator or I'll just ask my husband to eat the pizza, because if he doesn't I know it will be very difficult to keep away from the leftovers.

Marilyn

These are thoughts I had after recently reading the books The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by Donald H. Wolfe and Marilyn: The Last Take by Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham. Both of these books said the Marilyn Monroe did not die from an overdose, she was murdered.

Marilyn had affairs with the Kennedy brothers, John and Robert. When John stopped seeing Marilyn, she turned to Robert. Both books stated that Robert got upset with Marilyn because she couldn't keep up with current events during their conversations. That led her to write everything down in notebooks, including government secrets. When Robert broke it off with Marilyn, Robert's brother-in-law, Peter Lawford was forced to break the news to her. Marilyn wanted Robert to personally give her a reason why he stopped seeing her. If she didn't get a reason from Robert, she was going to hold a press conference to expose everything written in her notebooks. That obviously scared the Kennedy administration.

The night she died, Peter, Robert and a doctor were pulled over by a police officer near Marilyn's house because they were speeding. The officer let them go only with a warning. A couple of hours later Marilyn was "found" laying on the bed, face down, holding the phone. Her filing cabinet locks were picked and all of her notebooks and FOX paperwork was gone. Marilyn's death is said to be the biggest cover-up in Hollywood. If the Kennedy's didn't want Marilyn to go public with her notebooks, why didn't they just steal the notebooks and destroy them? If they just stole the notebooks and Marilyn went public about the affairs and the secrets, do you think the press would have believed her? She wouldn't have the proof to back up her claims. By killing her and covering their tracks by making it look like an overdose was the only way to silence her forever. With Marilyn dead and her notebooks destroyed, the Kennedy secrets were safe.

Its a shame that she died so young. She was beautiful and a great actress. Who knows what she could have accomplished if she had more time.


Marilyn Monroe
June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962

Books read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham

Currently Reading:The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Next Up: Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

Random things......

My husband finished painting the living room trim and started to nail it back onto the walls. I'm so excited! I can't wait to have my house back to normal again. I'll have to post some pictures when everything is hung on the walls and when the furniture is moved back.

Saturday, February 25 is my belated Valentine's Day. My husband and I both had to work February 14, so we decided that our makeup dinner would be the February 25. On Valentine's Day, we did exchange gifts. There was no way I could keep his gift hidden for another 11 days. I just wanted him to have it so much, a beautiful white casual shirt.

This year I started to notice a trend in high school athletes: sweatpants. When I was in high school almost 10 years ago, you wouldn't catch any of us in sweatpants. Sweatpants were sooooo 1980's. We wore windpants and so did the entire world. I hate sweatpants, I have always hated them and you'll never catch me in them. Just wearing them makes me feel like a slob and it means that I have just giving up (Thanks Seinfeld). Now its all the rage with the high school crowd. Probably in another 10 years the kiddies will be wearing windpants because sweatpants will be out again and they will say, "Sweatpants, that is so 2000".

I'm a photographer so I see a lot of stuff that just makes me wonder. Why is it at volleyball and wrestling tournaments do parents bring a banner that reads "School's name and sport"? I see parents dragging them to every tournament to hang in on the bleachers. I just don't understand why someone would have paid money to make a banner. When I go to tournaments or any game, I have to bring back a program. The program usually lists what schools are participating. So, why is the banner needed? Is it for school pride? It is to show people that this team is playing? Whatever it is I'm sure the players aren't looking up in the stands for their school banner.

I taped the Project Runway Reunion show Wednesday and watched it Thursday after work. Heidi and Tim sure did talk to Santino a lot. Santino answered a bunch of questions. He talked the most on the reunion program. So does that give us a hint to who won the show or not? At the end of the program, they made Santino, Daniel V. and Chloe leave so they could ask the other designers who they wanted to win. I was surprised that Nick chose Santino to win because they butted heads quite a bit during the show. I hope on March 8, Santino will be declared the winner of Project Runway. I want Santino to win because he always took and chance and rarely played it safe. I hope that helped him for his runway show at Olympus Fashion Week.

Books read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe

Currently Reading: Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
Next Up:
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

Nap time

I get up for work around 4 am on the weekdays. Most nights I get a good night sleep. Sometimes I don't. Reasons for that are working late, playing on the computer, watching TV or talking with my husband. Since I get up so early, usually by 11 am, I'm ready for a nap. I would like to take one everyday, but that doesn't always happen. I thought today would be a good day to catch a nap, my husband went into work before noon and that's when I left work. I stopped at Little Caeser's for an Hot-N-Ready, an order of Crazy Bread and sauce. I went home, ate lunch and watched last night's episode of The Shield.

After lunch, I cleaned my dishes and sat on the couch to read my book. I read a couple of chapters and thought I could catch a nap for a half hour or so. I layed down to go to sleep and my dog Kelly, kept pawing me. When she paws me that means she wants to go outside. I got up and let her out and my other dog Blitzkrieg didn't want to go outside. Laying back down on the couch I started to drift off into sleep. About 15 minutes later, Blitzkrieg started barking. He loves to sit on the stairs, look out the windows and bark at anything that moves by the window. He wouldn't be quiet. I tried going back to sleep, but it was no good because my cell phone started ringing. A co-worker wanted to ask me a question, but before I answered he already knew the answer. After hanging up with him, my husband two-ways me over the NEXTEL. We talked for 5 minutes then he had to go back to work. Probably 20 minutes or so I received another call from a different co-worker curious about his assignment tonight.

I swear everyone, plus my dogs know when I'm trying to take a nap. When I'm laying on the couch that is when I receive most of my phone calls for the day. That is also when the dogs want to paw me or bark loudly over and over. Next time I try to take a nap, I'll lock the dogs in their pen and turn off my cell phone, maybe I'll be able to sleep longer then 15 minutes.

(Photo of Blitzkrieg and Kelly, they like to bark and paw me while trying to take a nap)

Word Cloud

I got this from MWGirl's blog. I thought it looked pretty neat. If you want to make one from the text found in your blog go here.

Living room repairs

Tuesday will mark one week that my living room/entry way has been in the process of being repaired. Tomorrow the construction guy is coming back to sand the drywall. Finally! That means that the ceiling and new wall will be ready to paint. That is very good for me. I'm the type of person who likes the house nice and tidy. With almost my entire living room in the dining room, that is not tidy.

Last week, I was so frustrated because I came home and the kitchen floor was dirty from the dogs tracking in dirt. I wanted to sweep the floor, so I grabbed a broom and swept it up. When I finished I needed the dust pan. I looked for it in the usual spot in the basement staircase, it wasn't there. I walked around the house several times. I looked in the porch, the basement, the living room and the dining room. It wasn't there. It finally got to me and I yelled, "Can't I just sweep the floor!" My husband was sleeping upstairs and that woke him up. I gave up on the dustpan and grabbed a magazine, that was my new dustpan. That really didn't work very well. After using the magazine, my husband came downstairs and said sorry the house is a mess. It is only for a while and by doing this we are improving our house. What can you say to that? I knew he was right, but I can't stand the mess and clutter.

Sunday, I was folding towels and the cabinet that they are stored in is in the dining room. Since all of the living room furniture is being stored in the dining room it is like a maze to just to get to the cabinet. First you have to walk around the love seat, squeeze into a narrow alley between the dining room table and the wall and then work your way around trim that is blocking the door and hanging off the table. All the while trying to get to the cabinet, knocking over trim and whatever else is laying on the table. GRRRRR! Can't I just put the towels away?

My husband is right. This new drywall and ceiling is improving our house but I want it back to normal. In my mind, a clean or tidy house is a happy house.

Did Santino advance to the final three with help?

An article in the New York Post today suggested maybe Santino was kept in Project Runway because he created drama. Is that true producers of Project Runway? Whatever the case is, thank you! Santino has made this season of Project Runway very interesting.

Random things......

Today at Daytona International Speedway was the Gatorade Duals. My favorite driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was in the first of two 150-mile qualifiers. Dale Jr finished third behind the winner, Elliott Sadler and Carl Edwards. On the final lap TNT, decided to show the lesser known drivers who were trying to race their way into the Daytona 500 on Sunday instead of showing the tight battle for the win. Good job TNT! Losers.

I had to tape Project Runway on Wednesday because I go to bed around 9 pm for work. I watched the tape today and found out Santino made it to Olympus Fashion Week. Well, I already knew that. I was just wondering why on the official website for Olympus Fashion Week did they show Santino, Chloe, Daniel and Kara? Kara, by the way, was sent home. I would like to see Santino win, just in my opinion.

Stuck upstairs

Today was the day that a construction company came to my house to rip down a four foot section of the living room wall. When my husband and I bought our house four years ago, we knew about the leaking in the living room. This winter during the heavy downpours of rain, not snow, the ceiling was really leaking bad. My husband and I knew we couldn't delay repair anymore.

I came home from work around 11 am or so and saw drywall missing. The wood behind the drywall was very wet, still. The construction guys said, down the road we might have to replace drywall on the second floor our of house. Great! Along with the drywall, we had the guys rip down our ceiling tiles in the living room and entry way as well. Bye Bye ugly tiles! Man, the previous owner must have been smoking crack when he picked that out. Besides the pattern being nasty, when he installed it, if you want to call it that, the tiles weren't even straight. Loser.
After lunch, the construction guys came back. That was time for me to go upstairs, check the internet and continue reading, The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by Donald H. Wolfe. After reading five chapters, I was getting tired. I took a nap around 1:30 pm and woke up around 4 pm. I guess I couldn't sleep through all of the banging around downstairs.

I really want to go downstairs, but there is nowhere to go. The construction guys and my husband are working in the living room and the entryway. All of our furniture has taken over the dining room. There is only a small path leading to the bathroom and kitchen. Blitzkrieg and Kelly, our two German Shepherds are outside waiting to come back in. Now, I sit waiting at the computer desk upstairs. How much longer? I don't know.

Five years later........

I grew up a NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt fan. Five years ago on February 18, 2001; NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhard died on the last lap of the Daytona 500. NASCAR.com has a nice Dale Earnhardt Tribute.

Photo Credit: NASCAR.com

Picture Frames and the AOSEPT search

After getting out of work this morning, I went to the craft store in town to pick up the two photographs that I had framed for an upcoming gallery show. This past Saturday, I went to the craft store to sign the matte's. I found out the frames were on sale starting on Monday, I decided to wait for the sale. I went back to the framing department and rang the bell for service. A guy that works in the framing department walked out of the backroom. I told him I needed to pick up my frames. He comes back and said that they weren't put together yet. He said he could do them in 10 minutes. I groaned and walked around the store for the next 10 minutes. I come back to the framing department and he is still not done with them. I wait and wait. Twenty minutes later he is finally done. It took him almost a half hour to frame two 12x16 frames! Mr. Framing employee, please don't quote me 10 minutes again to frame anything again because I know you can't do it.

After finishing up some work at home. I decided to go to Meijer to buy some groceries that we needed. I bought some milk, chips, Dial refill and garbage bags. After picking those up I had to go to the other side of the store to pick up AOSEPT Clean Care solution for my husband and me. I got in the eye care aisle and they were out. I didn't think anything of it, because it has happened before. So I took my cart to a cash register, paid and decided to drive to Wal-Mart to pick up the Clean Care.

I got to Wal-Mart's eye care aisle and they were out too. I asked a associate if they had anymore and she said they had about 10 and they just flew off the shelf. She told me K-Mart should have some. I left Wal-Mart and drove to K-Mart. K-Mart was the same as the other stores, none on the shelf. I was leaving K-Mart and was next to Country Market. I stopped to see if they had AOSEPT Clean Care. They didn't have any either. After leaving Country Market, I stopped at Rite Aide and Walgreen's. They were out as well. I decided to get another brand, I think I remember my eye doctor gave me some free samples of it before. But it just wasn't the same.

I drove to a total of seven stores and they were all out of AOSEPT Clean Care. What's up? I checked their website to see if they had any information on why no stores in Adrian had it on their shelves. Nothing! Hopefully whatever problem they had or are havingis fixed soon because I'm not a fan of change.

Books read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White

Currently Reading: The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Next Up:
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

Olympus Fashion Week

Spoiler - If you're watching Project Runway and don't want to ruin the season finale, stop reading.

Twice a year during Olympus Fashion Week, I like going to the official website to look at the designers clothes. This week while looking through the schedule I found Project Runway. I just had to know who made it to the final three. I had to know if Santino made it. I was pleasantly surprised. The page showed four designers: Santino, Chloe, Kara and Daniel V. I thought the final outcome of everyone looked really good. Now, I can't wait to see the rest of their collections.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Today's edition of And now a random fact about Chuck Norris....

Chuck Norris can get soup from the soup nazi on the first try.

Thanks 4Q.cc

Random things......

Since my book is still on backorder, I had to go to the County Library today. I brought home three books. The book that I'm reading now is Portrait of Myself by Margaret Bourke-White, my favorite photographer, and two Marilyn Monroe books. Both Monroe books are about her last weeks before she died. I swear that I already read one of them, but I'll read it again. Well getting back to the book by Bourke-White. I remember checking it out in college, but I didn't read it. I skimmed the book looking for information so I could write a paper about her. Today while flipping through the pages, I found a sticky note on a page. On the sticky note was my handwriting. I put that sticky in the book about 8 years ago when I checked out the book for my Intro to Photography class. It's sad that no one has checked that book out in 8 years.

Last night while printing my contact sheets of a girls volleyball game that I photographed I wanted to check my email. I logged on and a page popped up saying that due to an internal problem I couldn't check my email. I thought it was just the computer at the office. I went home and tried again. No luck, the same screen appeared at my house. This morning I went to work and tried my email. It was back to normal and I was checking it all morning long. Around 10 am, I got home and wanted to check my email. I logged in and the screen said the page cannot be displayed. Since 10 am I haven't been able to check my email. GRRRR!! Very frustrating!

My husband left today for a conference up near Saginaw, MI. Since he's gone for a couple of days that gave me the opportunity to drive back down to Toledo, OH to my new favorite store, The Men's Warehouse. When I walked into the store, I knew exactly what I wanted and I had the sizes that I needed. I bought him two items but I really wanted to get three. I bought him a multi striped blue sports jacket and a shirt. I really wanted to buy him a pair of denim jeans to go with the outfit. Last week when we were picking up his suits, he said that he liked the outfit expect for the jeans. He doesn't like them because he hates dark jeans. The associate that put that outfit together for us a couple of weeks ago told me that dark jeans do look best with the outfit. I have a while yet, his birthday is in a couple of months. Who knows, I could still buy the jeans and make him wear them.


Margaret Bourke-White photo from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Today's edition of And now a random fact about Chuck Norris....

Everytime Chuck Norris leaves a room full of people the song There Goes My Hero starts playing out of no where.

Thanks 4Q.cc

Fire and the waiting game

Today, a reporter and myself went to go cover a machine shop fire. It was a big fire. Three or four fire departments came to put it out. I took many photographs of the fire and I figured I was done. The fire was mostly out, now white smoke was filling the sky. The reporter that was with me needed to talk to a fire chief. Sounds simple right? The fire chief he needed was still helping out with the fire. While waiting for him, my ears were getting cold. I decided to go talk to the Sheriff Deputy I knew at was at the scene. He said I could sit in the backseat and warm up. About 5 or 10 minutes later, I got out of the car and got more pictures of what was left of the shop. The reporter I was with still had no luck getting ahold of the fire chief. While the reporter was waiting I decided to play with my camera and take pictures of myself in the hubcap reflection of one of the pumper firetrucks. I thought the picture turned out alright. What a beautiful blue sky.

Ralph splits

I found you in 1993. You were a very bad man, but I still liked
you anyway. I watched your every move and knew you were
great. No, I'm not a stalker. In 1993 Ralph Fiennes portrayed Amon Goeth, commandant of the Nazi concentration camp at Plaszow, in Schindler's List. I love that movie. I could watch it everyday because of Ralph. Last weekend, I decided Saturday night would be Ralph Fiennes night. All night long, I would watch his movies. I got through The End of the Affair with no problems. After that was over I decided on The English Patient. Halfway during the movie, the sandman got me. I finished watching the movie Sunday morning. Ralph, brillant as usual.

Earlier this week Ralph Fiennes split with his long time girlfriend Francesca Annis. You can read about it here. Ralph now that your single, you can be my boyfriend. I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind. He knows I already have about 4 pretend boyfriends. One more wouldn't hurt right?

Today's edition of And now a random fact about Chuck Norris....

The first lunar eclipse took place after Chuck Norris challenged the sun to a staring contest. Chuck Norris always wins.

Thanks 4Q.cc

Books read in 2006

Once I finish a book the list will be updated. Over the next year, you'll be seeing this list frequently.

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt

Currently Reading:
Next Up:
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

And now a random fact about Chuck Norris

While I was still in high school, every Saturday night I would watch Walker, Texas Ranger. I didn't have much choice, I grew up in a house without cable. I went 22 years without cable. Every week, someone would be in trouble, they would get Walker's (Chuck Norris) help and he would kick their ass. Awesome acting week after week! It was a great show to watch and have a few laughs.

In December 1996, I met a guy named Mike and he asked me out on a date. We went to a movie and then dinner. At dinner, we sat in a booth and I just happen to be facing a TV. At 9 p.m. we were eating and talking, then I saw Walker, Texas Ranger out of the corner of my eye. You know on first dates, that there are breaks in the conversation, so when there was a break, I started to watch Walker. Mike would talk to me and I would answer then my eyes would drift back to the TV. Damn you Walker! After dinner was over, I went back to Mike's for a while then he drove me to my car. (We met at his workplace.) He asked me out again for a second date. I accepted.

While on the second date, Mike told me that he didn't think I liked him. I asked why. It was because I kept watching TV and not paying attention to him. He almost didn't ask me out for a second date. Walker! Almost ten years later, Mike and I are married and sometimes I will stop and watch Walker, Texas Ranger when flipping the cable channels, mostly to hear Chuck Norris sing the theme song. Chuck Norris you had me at "In the eyes of a ranger........".

Visit And now a random fact about Chuck Norris. The facts aren't real but very funny. Here is a "fact" about Chuck from that site: When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Thanks www.4q.cc/chuck/index.php

End of Principal Dancers Series

Today is the seventh and final posting for my Principal Dancers series. I had fun shooting photographs at Dance Studio and Encore Dance Studios in Adrian. Part Six and Seven covered Encore's rehearsal and recital. I had a good time backstage shooting at talking with the dancers. After watching the dancers practice their routines multiple times, it was great to see them performed on the big stage with their costumes.

I have four cd's worth of images from the dance studios. Maybe sometime in the future I can post more. Tomorrow, I think I'll post some of the photos that I took in the junk yard last week. I would like to get back to the dance studios soon and continue photographing. As of right now, I really don't have much free time. But I hoping that during the summer when high school and college sports end I can get back in the studio and build my ballet/dance portfolio.

Every girl goes crazy for a sharp dressed man

My husband Mike was elected to the city commission back in November 2005. After getting elected, he bought himself a black suit, many new ties and dress shirts. Last week, we went down to Toledo, OH to buy more suits. We first stopped at Westfield Franklin Park. We tried JCPenny's, Dillard's and Marshall Fields. My husband didn't see anything that really excited him and most of the suits were very expensive. After leaving the mall he wanted to stop at The Men's Warehouse.

When we walked into the door, a young man greeted us and then had a woman attend to my husband Mike. She looked at him, took a few measurements and then told him the size suit he wore. She picked one off of the rack and he tried it on, it fit perfectly. She picked out 4 suits that really looked yummy on him. When he would slip on a suit jacket, he would turn and look at me. I would tell him I liked it and he would walk down to a mirror and see how it looked. What I really wanted to tell him is he looked hot. I didn't want to say that in front of the sales associate. Finally Mike decided on 3 suits. She took us over to the dressing room and I took a seat to wait for him. While waiting, the associate asked if I wanted water. Nobody has ever asked me that while trying on clothes. I accepted. I felt like Miranda in Sex and the City when she took Steve suit shopping and she wanted to buy him one for a party she invited him to. The saleman handed her a glass of water. I'm such a loser. Anyhoo, maybe I got excited for the wrong reason. She knew he was buying a couple of suits, lets butter up the wife with glasses of water. Yeah, that must be it.

Mike came out in the first suit. He looked very good. The associate helping us said that the fit was very good, especially off the rack. Then he tried on a couple of more suits and then he decided which ones he was going to purchase. The pants needed to be hemmed, they were a little long. The taylor came over and made his chalk marks on the pant legs and then our shopping experience was over, I thought. After Mike got dressed the associate led us to a table where his suit coats were laying. The other associates at the store put together outfits for him to wear with the coats. She should us suspenders, ties, and dress shirts. I know its all about the add ons, I worked at Finish Line and Waldenbooks before. I thought the presentation was wonderful. I loved the variety of colors of the shirts and ties. It was the color pallet brought to life. I like the mixing and matching of colors. Mike decided on a tie. Then she told us to turn around. On the table behind us was a casual look. I loved everything on that table. A beautiful striped blue sportsjacket. A beautiful white dress shirt and casual jeans. Mike he wasn't too fond of the jeans. I loved them. I thought he should have got the casual look as well but he decided against it. He said it wasn't him. But I will make it him.

He said, "My birthday is coming up soon." Yes it is. I think someone might be getting something from The Men's Warehouse.

Our Space

Every Monday and Thursday the gang from The Post Show have new shows. Last week, the show called Our Space was really funny. It makes fun of myspace. I do have an myspace account and I would never use this guy Bradley Cummings, a Professional MySpace Image Consultant.

Bradley did do a great job with a emo group called the Screaming Teardrops. They were a bluegrass band until Bradley came along and helped fix up there image. Now, they are the best emo band ever with hissing.

Project Santino

Since my bedtime is 9 p.m. on weekdays, I will have to tape one of my favorite shows Project Runway and watch it tomorrow. Right now, Santino is my favorite designer. He graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. When he designs an outfit he loves to add as many details as possible and the judges don't always like that. Santino started the show out great and is very talented. He won a couple of challenges and now his designs are going downhill and are becoming mediocre.

I would like see Santino, Nick and Daniel V. get to the final three and be able to design their own line for Fashion Week in New York. Hopefully Santino will get his designs back to the way they were when he started the show: pretty.

The junkyard and me

Today I went to a junkyard to photograph some old buses, trucks and whatever looked exciting. I know the owners because I used to take my car to their auto body shop every other week. I wanted to shoot at the junkyard to find something to go along with my FOCUS project idea of decaying Adrian. I've shot a number of buildings and my beloved train engines. I thought the the junkyard would be fun.

Once I drove around the junkyard I first went looking for my father's truck. After he died in 1998 we sold his truck to the junkyard for parts. I wanted to see it again. I found some trucks that looked like his, but his was gone. I was a little disappointed, but I continued on. After looking for my dad's truck my attention went towards the old trucks and buses. Sure there was a bunch of cars, but most of them didn't interest me. They were just too new. I was looking for something old. I pulled to the back of the junkyard and found a very old truck with branches of a tree growing on it and around it. I photographed that from all of the angles I could then I moved on to some old buses. I photographed abut 4 buses. I felt ok with what I shot.

I will post pictures of the junkyard on my photo blog next week. This week at DCO's Photo Gallery is my Principal Dancers series.

* The picture is of my reflection in a side mirror of an old tow truck.

Parents and sports

When I was in high school I played basketball and ran track. I liked basketball and my teammates. I'm not going to say that I was the greatest player on the team. Sometimes I didn't get off of the bench to play. Sure that made me mad, but there was a reason for that. I wasn't as good as other players. I never once told my dad to talk to the coach to get me more playing time. I never asked my dad to go to the Athletic Director to complain about the coach. That is how I was and still am.

Today, I'm a photographer at a newspaper and I mostly photograph sports. Almost 10 years out of high school (10 year reunion next year - Class of 1997) and I don't play basketball anymore, but I still run. Anyhoo, I'll get back to the topic. I shoot high school/college and even some professional sports for a newspaper. I swear this year is the worst ever for parents!
For the last month, I have heard about more and more parents bitching about a high school coach. Their biggest complaint is their daughter(s) aren't playing. They've had meeting with the coach and the AD. After the talk with the coach the girl in question has the opening lead in a story. Um, how did that happen? This girl went from never playing to the lead in a fucking story? I just want to say, "I hate parents." If your little girl is terrible, she shouldn't be playing. Parents need to back off. If the girl in question isn't getting much playing time, why doesn't she ask the coach in person is to why? Or practice over the summer, go to a team camp? Do something to improve in the off season. These people go home and complain to their parents and then they yell at the coach, and most of the time, get their way.

Parents need to be seen and not heard. If the coach is abusing the players, then the parents should get involved. But if lil Susie isn't playing then telling the coach that she is the most terrible coach won't help either. If you said that to me, I wouldn't want to play your kid. If they sit on the bench during most of the game, there must be a reason. If the players are younger there is still time to improve. Do something to help yourself, without your parents help.

What kind of American English do you speak?

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

15% Upper Midwestern

10% Yankee

5% Midwestern

0% Dixie

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

http://www.blogthings.com/amenglishdialecttest/

Books read in 2006

Once I finish a book the list will be updated. Over the next year, you'll be seeing this list frequently.

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt

Currently Reading: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Next Up: Nothing as of yet. Have any suggestions? Leave a comment.

On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder.

Photo Friday - Vanity

I started to participate in a weekly photo challenge from Photo Friday. Each week Photo Friday posts a photo assignment. Me, being the photographer is to post a creative interpretation of the week's topic. I pick a photo that I think best represents the theme and then post the picture on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery and submit the link to Photo Friday.

This week's challenge is Vanity. This photo was taken during rehearsals for the 2005 Lenawee County Fair Queen's Contest. The candidates for the Queen's Contest were practicing the choreography of the event.

Principal Dancers series

Last spring, I photographed two local ballet studios; Encore Dance Studio and Dance Center in Adrian, MI. I spent at least a month in both studios shooting classes for an photo essay I had running in the newspaper I work at. I loved my photos and I have many to share with you. Over the next week or so, I will be posting pictures on my photo blog DCO's Photo Gallery of the different classes I went to at both studios and a recital.

Today's posting is from Encore Dance Studio's Senior Ballet Elite class.

End of the Eternal Beauty series

Last week over on my photo blog DCO's Photo Gallery, I started a five part series of my cemetery stautes/cherubs. Today is the last day of the series. The last post of the series is from two pieces at St. Joseph Shrine in Brooklyn, MI. One sculpture was of two women praying around Jesus while he was on the cross. The second is of Mary holding Jesus after he was taken off of the cross (last picture in the post).

Check back at my photo blog tomorrow I will be posting a new series of photographs.

Books read, Continued

Books Read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin

Currently reading: The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Next Up: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
On Hold: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder


I finished Shopgirl in a day, I needed something to read. I'm the type of person that loves to buy books. I like the feeling of owning books. I'm not a big fan of library books. Since my reading taste is different then most people in the county, the books I want to read are never on the shelve at Waldenbooks. When I find something I want to read from Amazon.com, I write down the name of the book, author, and ISBN (book id number). I take my list to Waldens and they order the books for me. Yes, I could just as easily order them on line, but I like to use my Borders Reward cards. Within a week, I have the book in my hands.

Recently I just ordered three books. I have received two of them. The third book is on backorder. GRRRR! Over the weekend, I went to Walden's to check on the status of the third book. The manager Susan told me it was on backorder and she didn't know when it was coming in. Doesn't sound promising. BOO! I needed something to fill my Saturday night. My husband was at work and Comcast doesn't carry the CMT channel. I was disappointed because I really wanted to watch Miss America. I walked around the bookstore for a half hour and decided to go with Shopgirl. I read most of it Saturday night and finished it on Sunday morning.

I wanted to read another book, but I didn't have one. The book I want is on backorder so I went to the library in downtown Adrian. I was at the computer card catalog for 20 minutes. I was typing in code words for books that I like. Nothing. I gave up on the search. I was disappointed. I left the computer and walked over to the new non-fiction and looked over the titles. BORING! Could this library have the worst books ever? Then I found The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt. I picked it up and read the flaps on the inside of the dusk jacket. It sounded interesting. After putting it back on the shelf three times. I finally decided to go with it. Once I got it home I read 150 pages. I guess that I like it, or maybe its the fact it has to be back at the library in two weeks? I don't know.

The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt is what I reading right now. It may not be the book that I really want, but it will have to do until my book comes in from being on backorder at Waldenbooks or finally break down and order it from Amazon.

The Dogs

Its a job that I haven't done in three months. Its something I didn't want to do, but it had to be done. Today was the day to take advantage of the beautiful weather. I mean who wouldn't want to be outside with sunny skies and 40 degree weather during January? Today was the day to rake up all of the dog shit that has been piling up in my sideyard for three months.

I have been saying to myself I should have done it already. But its not fun and games raking that stuff up. Since the weather is nice, my backyard is muddy. The winter here in Michigan has been like early spring weather. We have gotten snow, but it has melted. My dogs have torn up most of the grass and just have a muddy area to run around in. We have grass, but it is behind some gardening fence that Kelly (German shepherd two) likes to jump over. Blitzkrieg (German shepherd one) doesn't jump over anything, but he will break through the fence to get to the grass.

When I got home from work this morning, I walked over to the side of the house to see what the sideyard looked like. Terrible is the only word I can use. About 95% of the sideyard between our house and a tall fence was covered with dog shit. I knew today was the day to get rid of it. After eating lunch, I put my shoes on, got out a shovel and rake and started. I started to rake the crap into piles. My original plan was to rake everything to one pile. That didn't work out. There was just so much of it! I ended up with five piles. FIVE!

I grabbed a garbage bag and started to scoop the crap. While scooping, I managed to step in some. GREAT! That blended right in the all of the mud that was on the bottom of my shoes from the yard. After about 10 or 15 minutes I finished with the first pile, it was on to the second. The bag was really heavy, just from the first load. After putting half of pile two in, I got another garbage bag. The second garbage bag was able to safely secure the last three piles. My whole point of raking the shit up today was to put it out with the garbage (today is garbage day). Of course the garbage truck came to my house while I was still with pile one. Now that means two bags of crap are stuck at my house until next Monday. BOO!

Before my husband left for work I told him we need to rake every other week. I can't rake up another five piles of crap in a couple of months, its so gross. Raking up one is bad enough.

*In the photo is my husband Mike and our two dogs (from left to right), Kelly and Blitzkrieg.

Books read in 2006

The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin

Next book: Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in Twentieth Century America, Gary Laderman - currently on backorder. I hope to get it soon, if not I'll find another.

Oh, what a night

While driving to photograph a high school basketball game I was following a car in the right lane of a five lane road. I wanted to pass the car ahead of me, but another car was in the left lane driving about the same speed as the car ahead of me. I was behind this car for about two miles and it was driving me crazy. The driver ahead of me was just driving below the speed limit of 50 m.p.h., and the other car in the left lane was doing about the same. We were approaching a stop light, I thought I would have to follow this slow car to my destination. Just at the last second the car merges over into the left lane. The right lane is a turn lane only. If the driver knew they wanted to go straight before the stop light, why did they just get over now and not two miles ago?

Once I was away from that slow poke driver I encountered another. The road I turned on has no speed limit signs posted. The speed limit is 55 m.p.h., but no one seems to know that. I learned back in drivers ed that if you are on a road with no sign posted it is 55. People must think because there are a bunch of homes along the side of the road it must be 45 m.p.h. Well, its not. I got behind another car and they were doing between 45-50 m.p.h. Come on, pick a speed and stay with it. While crawling behind this driver, they turn on their blinker to turn into a party store. This person almost came to a complete stop to turn right into the party store. I came to a complete stop so I didn't hit the car. While making my stop for the party store driver a car pulls out in front of me at the next intersection. The person was going slow and I immediately caught up to them. I was stuck behind this car all the way to my destination. I guess that they didn't know the speed limit either. Going below the speed limit is awesome!

I arrived during the third quarter of the JV game. I like to shoot games from the corner of the court, so I sat on the bleachers near where I wanted to shoot. Halfway during the fourth quarter the visiting teams cheerleaders all come down to near where I'm sitting to take pictures, talk, and practice their cheers. During the game they keep getting in my way, but I didn't say anything, because its only a JV game. The school that I was at has a spot on the side of the court where the cheerleaders normally stand. But since the varsity squad had about 20 girls they wouldn't fit in that spot. I heard the coach say that she wanted the girls to stand on the baseline underneath the basket or form an L shape with some on the baseline and some on the sidelines. When I photograph games that is where I like to stand. That means I would be battling cheerleaders for the sidelines. When I heard the L shape, I knew it would be in the corner that I wanted to stand. So I picked up my coat, photo jacket, camera and moved to the other side of the court to get away from the annoying cheerleaders.

Once on the other side of the court I saw that town's newspaper photographer sitting in the stands. I told him I was going to shoot on the other side but the cheerleaders were going to be over there. Once the game started he grabbed his camera and stood underneath the basket. The cheerleaders then walked over and formed their line. After five minutes, the cheerleading coach runs over to him and tells him he has to move because the girls can't move their arms during the cheers. He stood his ground and told her he was staying. The coach got mad and went to go find the Athletic Director. The AD comes down and said something to him, but he stood in the same spot. After the first quarter was over, the other photographer said something to me and grabbed his gear and left. I wish I would have heard what he said, but the music was too loud.

That incident brings me to ask this: Why does there have to be cheerleaders? During the game these girls were cheering to the court. No one sitting in the stands was paying attention to them. The only people who look at the cheerleaders are their parents and the coach. Nobody else cares. Also, why do the cheerleaders from the home school go over and talk to the visiting squad before the game? At halftime we have a routine that is killer!

It just irritates me.

Eternal Beauty - Part One; Oakwood Cemetery, Adrian, MI

Back in 2004, I started photographing statues and cherubs found in Lenawee County, MI cemeteries. I picked the topic because I have photographed some in the past and I really thought the statues were interesting. Before I started the project I thought I would use some pictures that I took before and just take a couple of new photographs. I was wrong. This photo essay turned into something else. I printed out a listing of cemeteries, got into my car and drove to a number of them. Some cemeteries only got a drive by because there were no statues or cherubs in sight. It wasn't worth my time to actually stop. I photographed cemeteries for a month straight. Every available minute I had, I could be found at a cemetery. Laying on the ground getting the best angle for my photographs. I just loved finding a statue and shooting it from all angles.

Over on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery, I'm starting an Eternal Beauty series of my cemetery photographs. I'm picking a few photographs that I love and I'm sharing them with all of you. Today, the first post is from Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian, MI. Enjoy!

(** The last Oakwood photo is of a masoleum door in the cemetery. I loved it so much I wanted to include it in the series. For the rest of the series, the photos should only be of statues and cherubs, unless I have another kickass photo like that. - DCO)

Random things 3......

While leaving a basketball game last night at Adrian High School, the heater in my 2004 Grand Prix decided not to work. It was a great drive back to the office with no heat and the windows fogging up. This morning while brushing the heavy wet snow off of my car, the heater was working again. When I left work today, it wasn't working again. I hope it will work when I drive to my assignment tonight. If not, that will be one cold car ride. But I shouldn't worry my car has an appointment tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the dealership. I'm really glad that I got the extended warranty when I bought the car last summer it will come in handy Thursday.

This afternoon my husband and I returned to the abandoned apartments in downtown Adrian. I wanted to get a few more photos and retake some that were out of focus. To view these pictures visit DCO's Photo Gallery.

Abandoned Apartments

Last week, I photographed the second and third floors of the Democratic Headquarters and produced some great pictures. Right next door is another building that I thought would be great to shoot in. Yesterday, I asked the owner of the building if I could shoot in the apartments upstairs. The owner told me that those floors were just recently condemned and if I went up there it would be at my own risk. That did bother me, so she told me I could go up and look at the apartments. I thought I saw some potential in the apartments, so I told the owner that I would be back; with my husband.

The first apartment was upstairs. The roof is leaking and the walls and plaster are coming down. The people that used to live there left everything, except for the TV. Clothes, shoes, purses, toys, couch, bed, mail and etc. It was like they were told to get out and not take their stuff. The second apartment I went to was just the same. Clothes, toys, mail, furniture were all over the apartments. The owner told me that homeless and teenagers go to those apartments because they aren't locked (or don't have doors).

The condition of the upper floors was just terrible. How could people live there? How could all of the owners, past and present, let the building get in such horrible condition? The roof is leaking, the windows are broken, bird shit all over. It's just sad to see what was probably a beautiful building go to hell.


To see more photographs of the apartments go to DCO's Photo Gallery.

Are people that lazy?

Things observed at work today:

How hard is it to change the toilet paper roll when its empty? This morning at work, someone left the empty cardboard roll hanging in the stall. It will take you two minutes to throw away the cardboard roll, rip the cover off of a new roll and place it on the hanger. Difficult! Are you in that much of a hurry to get back to work?

At work I always park in the first space when pulling into the lot. I park there because I won't get blocked in my newspaper carrier drivers later that morning when I leave for home. Today, I pulled into my usual spot. Around 7 a.m., one of the press guys comes to my desk to relay a message from a truck driver with a delivery to move my car. The truck driver can't backup because my car is in the way. I go out to the lot and move my car over to the right in the original spot I parked at. I figured he just needed a couple of inches to get by my car. After moving it, I return to my desk. While I was moving my car, the truck driver was outside. Five minutes later, a lady from up front says the truck driver needs me to move my car. I tell her I just did. I walk up to the truck driver and told him I already moved my car. When I was outside the first time why didn't he tell me to move it to another spot? He just mumbles something and we walk outside. Then the truck driver said, "If you want me to hit your car, just leave it there"..... And he just trailed off. That pissed me off; hit my car, the cops would be called. First of all, the parking lot is empty except for 3 cars. You have the entire lot to back up and move around. Besides, truck deliveries are made everyday at my office. All of those drivers can back up to the dock without having any of us move our cars. Go back to truck driving school and learn how to go in reverse in your freaking semi!

Baptism

My nephew Jack was baptized today. From the looks of it, I don't think he enjoyed his baptism.

Blue skies with no clouds in sight

Today in Adrian it is an unseasonably warm, 51 degrees . The sky is blue, very blue. Since it is such a great day, I left the office building at 11 a.m. to pick up on my FOCUS photo assignment.

Walking down the tracks to photograph train cars, I saw what was left of a building. It had been spray painted and it had old tires stacked to the side of it. I walked up to the building to take a closer look. It was like I hit the jackpot! Photo opportunities everywhere I looked. Broken glass, a shoe, two chairs, a very nasty couch. What most people would see and look at would be garbage, to me it was just beautiful and perfect. I took a few photographs but I know I need to return and spend some more time there.

This afternoon, I photographed the second and third floors of the Democratic Headquarters in downtown Adrian. I was so excited to see those floors. On each floor contained suites of offices. I was so thrilled to see the paint peeling. But I was disappointed because all of the windows were covered up with wood. With the wood covering the windows, I could only shoot so much because there isn't any working lights on those floors. The pictures I took are with natural light and my strobe. I got a few pictures out of there that I love. Those photos are posted on my photo blog DCO's Photo Gallery.

It was a good day. It was 50 degrees in January and I got a few more photos to add to my FOCUS essay.

Speeding + APD = Fun

While on my way to cover a basketball game, I had to stop for a red light. There was a vehicle two lanes over on my left that I noticed kept inching forward at the line. Being the freak that I am, I had to beat him off of the line. The light turned green and I stomped on the pedal and before long I was up to 40 m.p.h. Granted, I know that the speed limit on this street is only 25. While driving I usually look around at the different headlights, to spot a cops. Driving 40 m.p.h. I noticed an Impala on the side of the street parked. As soon as my headlights hit the side of the car I knew it was an Adrian Police car. As I passed him, the car turned on his headlights and followed. When that happened, I knew what was coming. The APD officer followed me to a stoplight. With no where for me to pull over, he waited until I was through the light. He lit me up and I turned on the first side street there was.

While he was flashing his spotlight on me, I started collecting my registration, insurance and license. I kept looking in my mirror to see if he was out of the car yet. I finally turned and saw him standing at my window. I rolled down my window, he asked me where I was going. I told him I was going to a Clinton basketball game. He asked who was playing, and then realized he already knew the answer. The APD officer said Clinton. I told him Clinton was playing Addison. Then he asked me if he knew why he was pulling me over. I told him I was speeding. He asked if I knew what the speed limit was on back there and I said 25. He asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I knew I was going 40, but I either said 35 or a lot faster then 25 (I can't remember). He said he clocked me at 40. Then he told me to sit tight and he would be right back.

I knew I had to be getting a ticket. I was doing 40 in a 25. There was no way I was getting out of this. The APD officer came back and said," here you go." I saw there was no ticket. "Just do me a favor and slow down." I said thank you and I was back on the road to my game.

In my entire life, this was only the second time I have been pulled over for speeding. The first time I was speeding in a school zone. I was doing 35 in a 25 m.p.h zone. I was given a warning. The second time was last night. I was speeding again. Do you notice a trend? I was going 40 in a 25 m.p.h zone and got off with another warning. Next time I get pulled over, I might not be so lucky. Third time's the charm. Or so I hear.

DCO's Photo Gallery

Today, I created a new photo blog called DCO's Photo Gallery. I shoot alot of photos outside of work and it would be nice to share them with others. A few photos are posted now, but this weekend I want to post more for people to enjoy.


Go to DCO's Photo Gallery

Vic Mackey returns tonight

One of my favorite TV shows premieres tonight on FX for its fifth season and maybe its last season, The Shield. I didn't used to watch the show, until my husband, the cop, got me into it.

Michael Chiklis (Vic Mackey) is a great actor and in the show he does anything to get his man. I thought he got robbed on the Golden Globe nominations. Why do they keep looking over him? It is because he is on basic cable? Come on, how could he not be nominated?

If you don't know about The Shield read a review from today's Toledo Blade. If you like what you read, watch it tonight on FX at 10 p.m.

The Saturday from Hell

This past Saturday, I felt I wasted my entire day.

I was scheduled to photograph one game at a volleyball tournament. I thought it would be simple, so I took the assignment. On Monday, I called the host school's Athletic Director and asked him when the only two local teams would be playing each other at the tournament. He said that the schedule wasn't completed, he would call me on Friday.

Friday morning, I still haven't heard back from him, so I called and left a message. The AD called me back while I was attending a funeral lunch. He said in his message to call him later that night or Saturday morning for the schedule. Like the freak I am, I called him Friday night and Saturday morning.

Saturday morning, I got out of bed around 7 a.m. I thought by 7:30 a.m., I should get in the shower, because the two local teams could be playing as early as 9 a.m. After my shower, I sat on my couch to watch TV. After 8:30 a.m., still no call from the school's AD. So I picked up my cell phone at 8:45 a.m. to call him. The AD said he would call me back in 20 minutes to give me the schedule. Well twenty minutes turned into a half hour or so. Finally, the AD called me back and said that the two teams would be playing at approximately 2:20 p.m. I thanked him for calling me back and hung up the phone.

After talking with the AD, I knew I had a couple hours free to do stuff. Around 10 a.m., I went to the office to move the Saturday pages over to my hard drive. Upon completing that, I went back home to read my book. While reading, I couldn't concentrate on the words. I was tired. I decided to take a short nap until it was time to wake up my husband. I woke up around 12:30 p.m. by a call from a co-worker. After the call, it was time to wake up my husband.

I woke him up and told him that he needs to get up soon, because I had to go to work. He told me to start lunch. I went down the the kitchen to start browning the meat for tacos. When the hamburger was cooked, I dumped out the grease and added the seasoning. My husband finished making lunch. After putting the hamburger in the taco shells, he filled up the pan I cooked the hamburger in with soap and water and balanced it on the sink to soak. My husband and I were eating tacos in the living room and one of my taco shells broke, meat, salsa and cheese went on my pant leg and the carpet. I grabbed cleaner for the stain on the carpet, it came right out. The salsa on my pant leg was there all day. My jeans were dark, who would notice?

Finishing lunch, I went into the kitchen to do dishes. I lifted up the pan that was soaking and dumped out the water and soap. Suddenly water splashed up out of the sink and on my jeans. My husband asked what was wrong, and all I could say was, "I just can't win today." Once I finished the dishes, I went to the bathroom to blow dry the water spot on my jeans. After drying them it was about 1:30 p.m. I felt it was time to go to my game.

I arrived at the school about 2 p.m. I walked into the gym to see what teams were playing. Looking at the teams, I saw one that I needed. Hoping that the two local teams were about ready to play I looked at the schedule on the wall. I was so wrong! They were two fucking hours behind schedule! I was so pissed. How can a fucking tournament be two hours behind? I decided to sit down and watch because I wasn't driving back home. Watching one of the volleyball games, I realized why they were running two hours behind schedule, its is because all of the teams were terrible. These girls could not play volleyball. I'm used to the fast pace of the game and fast was no where to be seen. It was like watching junior high volleyball. Just terrible.

Watching the first terrible game, I went outside to make a phone call because there was no reception in the gym. I called a co-worker and told him that they are two hours behind. He said he didn't know why we were covering it, they are the worst teams in the county. Finishing the conversation I went back into the gym and sat down. While waiting some volleyball players were behind me talking. Some of the memorable quotes are: "My step-dad is a douche" and "My brothers look like girls." I wasn't really interested to hear their conversation but it was better then the games in front of me.

Two hours after arriving it was FINALLY time for my two local teams to play. This game is one of the worst volleyball games I had to cover. After the first match, I had only taken about 15 pictures. I thought if it kept up like this I would just end up with 30 frames. This game is the first time I had ever seen players serve underhand. Underhand at the varsity level? There was hardly any blocking or kills. Those skills are part of the game, you can't just keep sending free balls over the net and expect to win. Both teams finished the day with identical 0-3-1 records.

After watching the crapfest I arrived back at the office at 5:30 p.m., downloaded my shit and left the building at 6:30 p.m. My reward for getting fucked on Saturday a 40 oz bottle of Smirnoff Triple Black. After drinking the 40 oz, the memories of the day's events went away. But I will soon not forget them, this Saturday, volleyball and wrestling tournaments are scheduled at two schools. The other sports photographer is off this weekend, so that means its just me shooting these events. I hope not to get fucked again by sitting around all day waiting for events to happen. Give me a time, let me shoot what's happening and let me go. I just can't put up with another Saturday like that again.

Pallbearer and a free lunch

My husband received a call the other day from his mother that his grandfather's friend had passed away. My husband was told that the funeral was Thursday at 12:00 p.m., so he left me a note to call and wake him up at 10:30 a.m. I had a photographers meeting at work at 11 a.m., so I couldn't make it to the funeral. After my meeting I went home around 11:30 a.m. and my husband's car is in the driveway. I park my car, walk inside, set my camera down and say to my husband, "That was a fast funeral." He said that his mother told him the wrong day. The funeral is Friday.

Work on Friday is always slow. I was finished with my work early so I left the office before 10 a.m. I went to a local gas station and regular was at $2.44 a gallon. I thought that was a little high, so I decided to go to another gas station. When I was getting closer to the next gas station, it also read $2.44 a gallon. I wanted to check one more station to see if it was cheaper. I pulled up to the last station and it read the same as the first two. I finally filled up. After buying books at the mall it was almost time to wake my husband up for the funeral.

I get home and wake him up. He gets dressed and before leaving he says that he will let me know what is going on for lunch. Around 12:30 p.m., my husband two-ways me on my Nextel and says that he was asked by the son of the deceased to be a pallbearer. My husband said yes, but seriously who picks pallbearers the day of the funeral? He said that they were on the way to the cemetery and after it was over that he would pick me up because lunch will be provided for us at an up-scale restaurant. Hey who can turn down a free lunch at a great expensive restaurant? I told him that I would go with him to the restaurant. As I say that, I'm wearing a sweater and jeans. I asked my husband if I should change my clothes. He said it wasn't necessary.

While riding in the car, I looked at my husband's clothes. He was still in his suit. And here I was, sitting in jeans. I felt bad still wearing the jeans because first of all this was a lunch for the deceased and second lunch was being held at an up-scale restaurant. My husband told me don't worry about it. We walk into the restaurant and everyone is dressed up really nice. I just felt so out of place. I tried to stay behind my husband so no one would notice my jeans. If they did, they didn't say anything. I felt bad showing up for a nice lunch dressed in jeans. Everyone had nice dress clothes on and here I am wearing scrubby clothes.

As soon as I knew where we were sitting, I had a seat to hide the jeans under the tablecloth. The family selected a menu that had a soup or salad, main course and a dessert. If you went there for lunch and ordered all three different courses it would probably cost about $40 or $50. The sons of the deceased paid for all of the 30-40 people in the room. In addition to the lunch, the red wine and the pop had to be paid for as well. I guess today, money isn't an object.

We sit down and order our soup/salad and it is 1:30 p.m. By the time we finished dessert it was 3:30 p.m., could this lunch go any slower? Before getting talked into a free lunch, I had every intension of going out and shooting (photographing) more buildings for my FOCUS project. By the time that my husband and I left, it was getting dark and the wind was blowing . That doesn't make a great day to shoot. No light and windy. Not a good combination.

When my husband and I were walking out of the restaurant, a couple passed us on their way in. My husband looked at them and said that I shouldn't feel bad about wearing jeans. The man that just walked pass us into the restaurant had on a pair of jeans also. That made me feel a little bit better. But on the other hand, I knew that they weren't going to a funeral lunch either. Oh well.

Train

It started to flurry outside, I'm still dizzy/sick (since this morning) and I still have to work tonight? Could it get any better? Since I'm not feeling too good, enjoy some pictures that I took of train engines in Adrian Wednesday.

East Side Factory

These are some photos that I took today on the eastside of Adrian.

Random things....... Continued

Some of my recent posts had questions that needed to be answered or that I just want to follow up on:

Eternal Beauty....... Revisited: A woman dropped off a picture in a frame for me. Monday, I asked around and found the co-worker who received the picture from the lady that brought it for me. A co-worker said that the lady came into the office to pay a bill and she had the picture with her. The lady said she was a fan of mine and loved my pictures. I asked the co-worker if the lady was all there. She said the lady was "loopy." Mystery solved.


Lance Henriksen, you had me at Frank Black: I just can't get enough of Lance or Millennium. I got home from work today at 11:30 a.m. and I have watched 4 episodes already. I need help. I know if I didn't have to work tonight I would be watching all evening to finish Season 3.

Its New Year's Eve....... so?: My husband bought me two 40 oz bottles of Smirnoff Triple Black. Sadly, they are still sitting in my fridge. I hope this weekend I will drink them.

Lance Henriksen, you had me at Frank Black

In 1996 a show called Millennium aired Friday nights on FOX. This show was unlike anything I've seen. It was so dark, violent and powerful. The show was about a former FBI profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) that moved from Washington DC to Seattle, where he joins the Millenium Group, a mysterious organization of former law enforcement officers, committed to battling a crime wave which grows as the turn of the millenium approaches. I was a huge fan of the show. Every week I would watch. Unfortunately in 1999 the series was cancelled. I was upset, I'd lost Frank Black forever. But life goes on, Lance has appeared in many movies since then. Those characters don't stand up to the character of Frank Black. Frank Black always had the answers and who could see in the mind of killers and psychos. Would we ever see a character like that again? Up until 2004, no.

In 2004 while cruising Amazon.com I saw that the show was coming out on DVD. I was excited. I could watch one of my favorite shows over and over. Then I knew, I must have it. When it was released I bought my copy. I took it home and watched them as quick as possible. It was good to see and hear Frank Black once again. I didn't buy Seasons 2 and 3 because I never saw them at the stores. I knew they were released so I kept them on my gift list hoping I would receive them. Christmas 2005, I got my wish. I received the final two seasons as gifts from my husband.

Since Christmas, every spare minute I had I have been in front of the TV watching. Sunday morning I finished season 2. All 24 episodes. After season 2, I took the plastic wrapping off of season 3 and started to watch. This afternoon I made it to disc 2, episode 2. That is 6 episodes since Sunday. (Man, I need a life.) Probably later tonight, I'll watch more.

I love this show. I love Lance, his dark husky voice, how cases wrapped up in 45 minutes and the awesome green jacket he always wore. Millennium may have went off the air in 1999, but since I have the DVD's, Frank Black will always be on my TV screen.

Its New Year's Eve...... so?

When I was younger, New Year's Eve was a big deal to me. That meant I could stay up till midnight to watch the ball drop in Times Square. Now I find New Year's Eve to be just another night to me. Because of my work schedule, I'm used to getting up early and going to bed early.

And New Year's Eve 2005 was no different.

I'm not a party girl, but I do drink at the local bars. Just because it is New Year's Eve that doesn't give me the excuse to get drunk. First of all, I've never really been drunk and second, my husband is a cop. On New Year's Eve, my husband did buy me alcohol. Unfortunately, it is still sitting in my fridge, unopened.

My husband had the night off of work, so we decided to stay home and watch some DVD's. We first watched The 40 Year Old Virgin. That was funny and cute. When it was over around 9:15 p.m. or so he wanted to watch Batman Begins. I started watching it with him because it has two actors that I like: Liam Neeson and Rutger Hauer. Within minutes I was asleep on the couch. Around 10 p.m. one of my dogs, Blitzkrieg stuck his cold wet nose in my face. He wanted to go outside. My husband Mike lets Blitz and Kelly outside. While he does that I go back to sleep. Around 10:30 p.m., Blitz does it again. He puts his nose on my face. This time he just wants attention. I tell him to go lay down while I continue sleeping on the couch.

Around 11:30 p.m. I wake up and watch Dick Clark's Rocking Eve with my husband. We both felt bad for Dick because the stroke effected his speech. After 25 minutes of filler from Ryan Seacrest, the ball in Times Square started to drop. My husband was counting down with the big screen. When it struck midnight we kissed and hugged. I then heard in the background "New York, New York" sung by Frank Sinatra. I love Sinatra, so I listened to the song, then it was off to bed.

That is how thrilling my New Year's Eve went. I wanted to go to my favorite bar in town but they were closed. My husband and I were going to go to a party, but the host decided not to have it but go to Canada to get drunk up there. So my husband and I were out of options, that is why we decided to stay in.

My big fluffy couch gets me every time. Almost every afternoon, I put in a DVD and five minutes later I'm sleeping on the couch. Maybe next New Year Eve I should go out or if I don't at least stay away from the couch. If I stay off the couch maybe I can make it through the night without falling asleep and actually drink the alcohol that was bought for me and not leave it in the fridge.