Weekend update

Not all University of Michigan teams got hammered this weekend like the football team. Saturday the Michigan women's cross country team had seven runners place in the top 10 at the Indiana Open in Bloomington, Indiana. Michigan's Erin Webster was the winner of the race.

After watching Michigan lose to Oregon, I was upset again when Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s engine blew with six laps to go at the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in Richmond, Virginia. With that DNF, Junior finished 198 points behind Kevin Harvick for the final spot in the Top 12 and is locked out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. I hope he can get a win before the season is over, but if not, I hope he does better next season with his new team.

While Junior's engine was blowing up, I created a slideshow from Brian & Theresé's reception on September 1. To see it, go here.

It must be a miracle! The Detroit Lions defeated Oakland Raiders Sunday 36-21. My favorite player Jason Hanson had three field goals good from 46, 46 & 23 yards. Next week the Lions play Minnesota at home. Let's see if they can do it again next week.

I agree with Daniele, Zach was acting smug when she was talking to him in the Head of Household room. He has been a floater all season, not taking sides. I don't want him to win. I want a Donato to win. Dick and Daniele have been playing the game best all summer. I can't wait until Daniele uses the Power of Veto on herself Tuesday and sends Jameka home. Then its down to the final three.

Something new

I bought a slideshow a couple of days ago. I wanted it so I can create nice slideshows for clients. After two days of trying to get it loaded, I finally did this morning. To see my first slideshow from Dan and Laura's wedding, go to Deloris Clark-Osborne Photography and select blog or just go here.

Weekend update

Friday, I didn't drive to Dexter to watch the University of Michigan cross country teams run in the Wolverine Open. I decided to stay at home to do work. I really didn't do work. I took a nap, ran 3 miles, ate nachos, read and watched TV. That was a productive day.

Saturday morning I went to work for an hour and a half. After work, I came home and ran 3 miles on my treadmill. Since I couldn't see Michigan lose to Appalachian State and I really didn't care about the other football games on TV, I took a nap before going to photograph a wedding reception. The couple got married earlier in the week down at the Cayman Islands and waited until they got back for the reception. The hors d'oeuvres, dinner, cake and chocolate treat were wonderful. I did feel bad for the bride. Before their first dance, one of her bridesmaids was carrying a glass of red wine. She walked around a corner and collided with the groom. The wine from her glass ended up on the bride's dress. Not just one spot. All down the front of her dress.

Sunday I watched the final day of IAAF World Championships in track and field from Osaka, Japan. I actually watched all nine days of competition on NBC and VS and it was awesome. The United States won the most medals with 26, 14 of them were gold. Russia came in second with 16 medals. The races that I was most interested in was the 1500 and 5000 meter run. Bernard Lagat from Arizona became the first man to win both the 1500 and 5000 at the World Championships. He was also the first American to ever win a medal in the 5000. Besides watching track, running 4 miles and reading, I actually did work on my computer like I wanted to all weekend. I'm designing a wedding album for a couple and I completed six pages in just over an hour. Today I want to keep working on the album and maybe finish it up tomorrow.

Books read in 2007

Instead of working on my computer this weekend, I was on my couch finishing another book. I eventually got around to working, only after my 4 mile run this afternoon.

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

Currently Reading: John Wayne's America, Garry Wills
Up Next: Jack and Jackie, Christopher Andersen

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

Currently Reading: Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford
Up Next: John Wayne's America, Garry Wills

Random things

With Tuesday's terrible run, I have run 361 miles so far this year!

This afternoon I get to babysit the dogs upstairs in my home office, while a company comes over to talk to my husband about air conditioning and a new door. My dogs are not fans of visitors.

Since it is Labor Day weekend, I'm photographing a high school football game tonight. With the game being tonight, that means I have Friday night off. That is rare during football season.

I'm debating on whether I want to drive up to Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter Friday to watch the University of Michigan cross country teams run in the Wolverine Open. I would love to watch the cross country teams, especially the women, run but I do have to finish work on the last wedding I photographed. So what's more important, fun or work? Tough call. I'm make the decision tomorrow.

University of Michigan has their first home football game Saturday at the Big House in Ann Arbor. I won't be able to watch it because the Big Ten Network doesn't have a channel on my cable provider. I guess I will have to settle for highlights. BOO!

No work on Monday, Labor Day. YAY!

Ten years already

Today I just RVSP'd to my 10-year high school reunion dinner. It doesn't seem like I have been away from high school that long. It will be great seeing all of my high school friends again. When we went to college, we all went in separate directions and eventually lost touch. Now we can spend a nice evening together and catch up.

Miles run in 2007

Most of the week was very humid. I ran inside on my treadmill to stay away from the humidity, but I think I did sweat as much as I would have if I ran outside. Sunday was nice, it wasn't hot or humid. I ran outside. The first mile was good, no problems. During the middle of the second mile, I developed stomach cramps and my right knee hurt. I was less then a mile away from my house and I thought I should just go home. But I didn't. I continued on and eventually the cramps and my knee pain went away. I finished my 5.1 mile run about 10 minutes slower then I should have, but I know I did slow down during that second mile.

Miles run through August 26:
2007: 358.0
2006: 322.9
2005: 232.9
2004: 204.0

Try it again

I have to wait one more day for my first football game of the season. The game I was at tonight was delayed due to a huge storm of heavy rain and lightening. After it stopped raining, we had to wait a half hour due to lightening strikes. The home and visiting football head coaches went into the school to look at the radar to see if more storms were coming our way. Both coaches decided to go ahead with the game. After the decision we still had to wait a half hour and then go through 48 minutes of warm ups. About 15 minutes after the decision was made to try to play the game, both coaches agreed to postpone the game until Saturday evening at 7 pm.

Tomorrow, I will definitely see my first football game of the year and I hope by then the rain will have cleared out.

Just one day away

Friday marks the beginning of the high school football season in Michigan. I can't believe a new season on one of my favorite sports starts already. I really enjoy the first couple of weeks during of the season because I can wear shorts without being cold and the sun doesn't set until halftime or after. With the sun still in the sky, I can shoot without my flash and a faster shutter speed which makes for better photos.

Tomorrow should be an enjoyable day for football. The weather is supposed to be 89 degrees, humid and a 40% chance of thundershowers. I hope the rain stays away. I would like the first football game of the season to be rain free.

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

Currently Reading: Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann
Up Next: Princess Grace, Sarah Bradford

Weekend update

Friday - I drove to Ann Arbor to photograph a wedding. I drove 45 minutes north to meet the bride and her bridesmaids at 11:30 am at the hotel. They were late, the bride apologized and said there were problems at the alteration place. Once we were all in the bridal suite, the hairstylists came. They did everyone's hair and then came the second issue, how to pay. Most of the girls had credit cards, but they didn't accept them. They only took cash or check. The problem was solved when the bride's mother paid and everyone agreed to pay her back. Later, I was already at the church, but the limo was stuck in traffic due to a crash. The groom's sisters were late because they got lost. We waited for them because they were both reading at the wedding. The wedding was delayed over a half hour. Since the wedding was delayed, the reception was delayed. After the wedding I tried to hurry along everyone with the photos. I think I was successful. The start of the reception was a half hour after it was supposed to start. When the bridal party was seated, the toasts were given and dinner was served. The rest of the night went by smoothly and I walked into my house at 11:30 pm.

Saturday - I had to be up early to photograph the Cross Country Preview in Tecumseh. It was the first cross country race of the season and I was excited to photograph it. The XC preview is divided into two groups the Freshman-Sophomore and Junior-Senior race. The first race didn't start on time, which didn't surprise me at all. But once it got going, it went by fast. Watching the races, it was obvious who put in the miles over the summer. There were some great times for the first race of the season. After editing my photos, I left work at 12:30 pm. After work, I ate lunch and watched TV. Later I took a nap on the couch before going to church. Once church was over I had all intensions of running. I never ran. I put gas into my car, called a local restaurant and placed an order for nachos. After eating those, there was no way I was going to run. I decided to try to make it up on Sunday.

Sunday - I did run, but not as much as I wanted. My legs were tired from standing most of Friday at the wedding and I only ran 3 miles instead of 5. I completed the week with 11 miles run. I was supposed to run 17 miles for the week, but I missed running days of 4 and 5 miles because of work. This week, I plan on running 17 miles to make up for last week.

August 15, 1998 - Nine years ago

John Wayne Clark

April 10, 1942 - August 15, 1998

When My Father Died

by Edwin Brock

One the day my father died

All of the hoops in the neighborhood rang

Skate wheels shrilled on summer pavements

And I in my blakey boots clanged one foot in each gutter

On the day my father died

Girls were running autumn eyed, with wild hair

And hands of silk; peg tops had come round again

And in the sky the angels were as plain as wings

But on the day my father died

White faces fell from every window

And every house found rooms of tears to hide

While I, joy - jumping, empty eyed sang on the day my father died

Now my father dies a little every day

And the faces from each window grow like mine

I miss you

Stuff about me

Jobs I've Held:
Marking room (I used a pricing gun to tag items in a grocery store), Salad Bar Prep, Shoe salesman, Bookseller, Photo Lab Assistant, Freelance Photographer, Photo Technician, Photographer, Business Owner

Movies I Can Watch Over and Over:
Prefontaine, Patton, Notorious, Quiz Show, Silence of the Lambs, Fatherland, North by Northwest, The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Ocean's 11 (1960), The American President, In The Line of Fire, All of the President's Men, Rocky IV

My Guilty Pleasures:
Big Brother

Places I Have Lived:
Adrian, MI

Shows I Enjoy:
Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Big Love, Six Feet Under, Family Guy, The Shield, Project Runway, Top Chef, America's Next Top Model, Big Brother, Seinfeld, Feasting on Asphalt, The Next Food Network Star, Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Millennium, 30-Minute Meals, Everyday Italian

Favorite Foods:
Steak and Applebee's Nachos Nuevos

Websites I Visit Daily:
Detroit Free Press, The Toledo Blade, USA Today, NY Post, Fox News, Google News, TV Squad, TVgasm

Blogs I Visit Daily:
A Reporters Ramblings, A Serving of Life, Adventures of Badgergirl, Angry Feminist Runner Rants, BSC Headquarters, Conversation with Myself, Diary of a Police Officer, Dooce, Greek Tragedy, Jurgen Nation, Look at me, Maliavale, Nabbalicious, Poppy Cedes, Something to Look Forward To, Tara Whitney, The Johnny Law Chronicles, The Thoughts of a Future Donut Addict, This is Life, Yesterday.Today.Tomorrow

Body Parts I Have injured:
I have twisted both ankles severely several times

Nicknames I've Been Called:
D-Red, Doris, Delo, D-Lo, Dee, Red

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

Currently Reading: The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger
Up Next: Cary Grant: A Class Apart, Graham McCann

Don't tempt me with that

I haven't drank a pop, soda, etc. for over two years. I have never thought of actually going back to drinking it. I was tempted to yesterday.

My husband was drinking a cold Sprite. I asked to smell it. He gave me the bottle and it smelled so delicious. He told me to have a sip. I said no. He said that I have enough self control to only have one sip. I said no again.

Later, while he was at work I was thirsty. I opened the refrigerator and saw the bottle of Sprite. I grabbed it and twisted off the cap. I kept thinking that I have enough self control for one drink. I had the bottle up to my lips, but I couldn't do it. I knew if I had this one drink it would be over for me. All of the hard work of giving it up. Living without it. It would be over. I twisted the top back on the bottle and put it back in the fridge. So I found the next best thing to quench my thirst: Smirnoff Wild Grape.

PS: Happy Wedding day Krista!

Posts that almost were

Not much has been going on with me this week. I tried everyday to write a post, but they were not exciting. Here are the highlights, if you want to call them that.

- Monday I did everything that I could think of to avoid my four mile run. I watched TV, checked my email, read blogs, surfed the web and talked on the phone. I finally just laced up my shoes, ran on the treadmill and got it over with. I debated on whether or not I should run outside. I chose the treadmill due to the fact it was over 90 degrees and humid outside.

- Wednesday I covered a junior golf tournament. I almost got hit in the head by a golf ball on three consecutive times by a foursome. The first golfer hit it straight off of his tee to the fairway. The second, third and fourth golfer hit their ball a couple of feet over my head. The second golfer laughed. Yeah, I didn't think it was that funny.

- This morning, a heavy rain came down and flooded some city streets. I was asked to go take some pictures. Walking to the flooded street, three boys on bikes were standing on the sidewalk. When I saw what I wanted to shoot I took my camera out of my raincoat and starting taking pictures. The boys saw my camera and started waving and asking me to take pictures of them. When kids say "take a picture of me" in my book that automatically means I will not take their picture. I wasn't going to take their picture in the first place, but when they yelled that at me I just went about my way and walked away from them. They didn't like that so they kept yelling at me. "Do you work for the paper?" "Do you hate your job?" I never answered them and they finally rode away on their bicycles.

Exciting News

Friday afternoon I received a Bridal Guide Magazine in the mail. As a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), I had the opportunity to have my name placed in a PPA advertisement in three issues. Besides having my business named in the ad, information is also listed on their website. When I filled out the paperwork for the ad, I also submitted a photo. One photographer would be selected to have their photo placed on the PPA ad.

When I received the magazine, I looked through it until I found the ad. It was exciting to see my business name in a national ad. After seeing my name, I put the magazine on my end table. When I got home Saturday evening I saw an envelope with the Bridal Guide logo on it. I knew it was the receipt for my payment. Along with the receipt was a copy of the ad. I looked at the ad and folded it back up to put it back into the envelope. But I stopped. Something on that page caught my eye. I opened the letter back up and saw my photograph on the top of the page. I was so happy that Bridal Guide chose my photo to use with the first PPA ad! My wedding photo was used in a national magazine. I've never been so thrilled!

Thank you Angie and Lance for giving me such a great photo!

Photo taken at Toledo Musuem of Art - Toledo, Ohio.

Not that I'm weird, but it is interesting

I was reading an article this morning on newspaper's website. It was about OJ Simpson and someone commented on the story. This is what Gone Fishing wrote:

Actor Robert Blake (Beretta; Our Gang) found "Not Guilty" of murdering his wife with a gun.In addition, not enough evidence to put Actor Robert Wagner(It Takes a Thief; Heart to Heart) on trial for the murder of his wife, actress Natalie Wood(East of Eden; ) who he was alone with on their yacht adrift in California waters when she "fell overboard" and suspiciously drowned. Actor William Shatner (Star Trek) never charged with wife's death whose body was discovered drowned in their house pool and he was home. Album producer Phil Specter (Beatles albums) charged lately with murdering a night club girlfriend he took home and she was found shot in the head by a handgun. Actor OJ Simpson(Towering Inferno; Naked Gun) found not guilty of murdering wife, Nicole Simpson.

I read the list and saw Robert Wagner's name. I didn't know he was married to Natalie Wood. So I looked her up on the Internet and read about her life and about how she died. Another link to Wood was Find A Grave. It is a website that has pictures of famous people's graves. I was probably on that site for an hour or two. A co-worker came over to my desk to chat and asked what I was doing. I showed him the site and he started giving me names to type in. I looked up so many people today. I looked up Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, George C. Scott, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Howard Hughes, Dale Earnhardt, George Peppard, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Gen. George S. Patton, Natalie Wood, Alfred Hitchcock and more. I think its interesting that all of these people were so big in life and most of them have small headstones. Nothing to say that they were any different then anyone else.

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

Currently Reading: Leni, Steven Bach
Up Next: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote

Miles run in 2007

Now that my 5K is over and my shins don't hurt anymore, I can get back to my training schedule. Two weeks ago when I was following the plan, I left off running 13 and 14 miles a week. This week my plan tells me to run another 14 miles. Today I'm planning to run 4 miles probably on my treadmill where it will be cooler. Next week it jumps up to 17 miles. It should be fun.

Miles run through August 1:
2004: 180.4
2005: 218.5
2006: 292.7
2007: 301.6

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

Currently Reading: Just Jackie, Edward Kline
Up Next: Leni, Steven Bach

Weekend update

Saturday morning, I ran the Hudson Booster 5K Cross Country Open. I was a nice morning, just a bit humid. For the first mile, I ran with Onsted High School's assistant cross country coach. I told him if he left me during the race that would be OK. At the mile marker, he said goodbye to me and went on his way. That is when I developed stomach cramps. I started to slow down and I heard footsteps behind me. I never turned around to see who was behind me. I knew I didn't want them to pass me. Around 1.5 miles, the cramps went away and I picked my pace back up. I never heard the footsteps again. After seven hills I was tired, but I sprinted to the finish line. I finished 164th and placed second in my age group with the time of 35:45.7. That was my second fastest time on that course.

Saturday afternoon, I had a photo shoot with a model. A recent high school graduate that I know, she agreed to be my model for an hour. We were walking on a sidewalk in town when a car load of guys drove by and whistled, screamed and did cat calls. We laughed and walked onto railroad tracks to set up her shot. About thirty seconds later, the same car drove by two more times yelling and whistling. I love teenage boys!

Saturday evening, I finally opened my birthday present from my husband. It was Nike dri-fit clothing from Eastbay. He bought me a couple of new tops that are in the Pre Lives collection. After I opened my present, we drove down to Toledo, Ohio to eat at Texas Roadhouse. I had a steak and my husband had ribs. It was very good meal, I especially loved the dinner rolls with the cinnamon butter.

Sunday, I finished a book and ran. That was the fifth time I ran in a week. I usually never run five times a week. The reason I ran is that I was four miles away from the 300 mile mark. I only ran two miles, but today I will go over that mark when I run later this afternoon. I'm getting closer to my New Year's resolution of 500 miles run for the year, only 200 more miles to go.

28

Today is my 28th birthday. Thank you everyone for the kind words that I received in the past two days.

My husband and me at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, MI.

Running and birthdays

This week I'm trying to take in easy with my running. I have a 5K this weekend and I don't want overdo it so I'm tired during the race. Now I have a new problem. Over the weekend my left knee hurt. This week it is shin splints.

While running on my treadmill yesterday, my shins were in pain. The few half mile was the worst. After that the pain was minimal. Later that evening I went to the county fair to see my husband at his merchant's booth. Around 9 pm, I left the fair and began walking back to my car. I was walking across the dirt horse race track and I started to run up a small hill. At that point my shins were screaming at me. How could I have gotten shin splints now? I haven't had them all year and now I have them with three days to go before my 5K. I'm still going to run that 5K, with shin splints and all. Besides the shins there will seem to be another problem: rain. The weather man predicted rain Saturday morning. Now that will be interesting: shins splits + hills + rain = FUN!

Thursday, July 26, is my birthday. I will be 28. My husband, a couple of friends and I will be having lunch tomorrow after work. Yes, I am working on my birthday. I know most people take their birthday off, but I didn't. To me, its not that big of deal. Other then the lunch tomorrow, my husband and I will be celebrating Saturday evening with a dinner. I don't know what he got me for my birthday. I did drop hints about more running clothes. I guess I will find out later.

Weekend update

Its over. I already miss it. Staying up later then normal. Sleeping in. Those days are over for now. My vacation ended Sunday. I had a good time, but now its back to work.

Thursday morning, my husband and I headed up to Dearborn to go to The Henry Ford museum. There was so much to see. I think we were in the museum for five or six hours. When we first arrived at the museum, my husband stopped to read most of the descriptions in front of the objects. Near the end of the visit, we mostly looked at things and kept walking. My favorite pieces of the museum was the train engine/cars, doll houses, JFK's limo that he rode in the day was assassinated and Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre.

Friday morning I decided to run on the hotel's treadmill. While my husband was still sleeping, I stretched and walked down to the fitness center. It really wasn't a fitness center, it had a step stepper, treadmill and a bike. I got on the treadmill and started running. It felt weird. The belt was jerking and it really wasn't smooth. Since I didn't like the treadmill, I only ran a mile.

After our delicious hotel breakfast, we checked out and headed to Greenfield Village. It was fun walking around looking at the old houses and businesses. Some of the houses had actors in them portraying life from that time period. They cooked meals and attended to work in the barns or gardens. My husband and I took a break before lunch to ride the train around the village. A woman, son, her mother and three friends sat in front of us. Every conversation was about this woman and her life. I'm doing this. I'm doing that. My son named all of the trains at the roundhouse. My husband and I kept rolling our eyes at each other. We were so happy to step off the train and get away from them. We stayed about six hours and saw every house, business and shop at the village.

Later that afternoon, my left knee was in pain. It hurt to bend it. It didn't help any that we went to a Detroit Tigers game later that night. There was hardly any room between the seats, so my leg was in a awkward position all nine innings. Besides my knee being in pain. It was so windy and cold, especially in the upper deck. I only brought a light jacket with me and it didn't help. The wind was blowing right threw it. The Tigers were getting hammered 10-2 and I kept saying "Get Out". I just wanted the game over so we could go back to the car and warm up.

Sunday I decided to run only a couple of miles on my treadmill. My knee and calf did hurt while running. Slowly the pain went away, but I'm still playing it safe. I don't know how much I will run this week. I have to get my knee better for the 5K race coming up Saturday. If my knee still hurts by Saturday, I will still run. But not as fast.

The training program

So far so good.

For the past three weeks, I have been sticking to the training program I put myself on. The first week I ran 14.1 miles. Week two I stayed inside for most of my runs and only ran 13.1. Week three is still in progress, but I'm at 7.5 miles. I still have two more days of running this week, Saturday and Sunday. Next week I will alter my schedule because of the upcoming 5K race that I'm in. Week five will be back to normal.

My run yesterday was horrible. I told my husband I was going for a four mile run. He asked outside? I said yes. It was a mistake. I ran slow because it was so humid outside. Besides being so humid my legs felt like jello. Every step I took it amazed me because I was still running when my legs wanted me to stop. Around 3.4 miles I kinda gave in. I stopped at an intersection waiting for traffic to clear and taking a breather. When a truck and van left the area and no other cars were coming my way, I started running. About .40 of a mile later, I couldn't continue. I stopped and walked. The minute walk break was nice. At the last intersection that I come to on that route, I had the don't cross signal. I waited for traffic to pass then I walked through the intersection. I walked until the next block and ran the rest of the way home. After the 4.1 mile run I was surprised that I ran for so long when my legs felt like crap. I guess that is the distance runner in me that says keep going when you don't want to.

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

Currently Reading: Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson
Up Next: Just Jackie, Edward Kline

That's that way to say goodbye. Take a chuck of my arm.

It was a glorious day Tuesday. The sun was shining and it wasn't too hot. I went for a nice 3.4 mile run in the morning because my husband and I had plans for the evening. I actually had plans, my husband had to attend a city commission meeting. My plans were hosting a jewelry party.

Before the jewelry party my husband put harnesses on our dogs, Blitzkrieg and Kelly. It was time for them to be taken to the kennel for their doggy vacation. Both dogs were so excited to be going somewhere in the car. My husband rolled down both back windows so they could stick their heads out and smell the air. With the back windows rolled down, dog hair was circulating the car and getting all over my husband's dress pants. I suggested rolling the windows up, he did. And Blitzkrieg went crazy. Usually when the windows are rolled up he thinks its almost time to get out of the car. Blitzkrieg was whining in my husband's ears. He rolled the windows back down and Blitzkrieg stuck his head out the window again.

Our drop off time at the kennel was 5 pm. We arrived ten minutes already. We got out and let the dogs walk around, relieve themselves and sniff. During the course of waiting to check in our dogs, Blitzkrieg kept wrapping his lead around me or my legs. I did my best to untangle myself and the leads. After the fourth or fifth time, Blitzkrieg didn't like that. Next thing I know he is jumping up and he bit my left arm. Blitzkrieg left five marks. My husband pulled him back and asked if I was okay. I was. The stinging was bad. I was holding Kelly's leash, so I took her back near the car to sit on a bench. My husband asked if I was bleeding. At first I said no, then I looked again and said I was. That dog made me bleed my own blood.*

Finally the kennel owner came out to let the dogs in. She asked Blitzkrieg if he remembered her. He just sniffed her and ran into the kennel. Blitzkrieg and Kelly were so happy to be there. We walked through the kennel and she opened the backdoor to the fenced in area. Blitzkrieg and Kelly ran all over and marked their spots many times over. The kennel owner let them in from the yard and they went right in their cage. It was at that point I asked the owner if I could clean my bite marks in her sink. I put soap on it and it stung. She asked what happened and I said Blitzkrieg bit me. I'm glad he just went after my arm and not hers. We said goodbye to the dogs and got back into the car.

When we got back into town, my husband dropped me off in front of our house. My sister was already inside setting up her jewelry displays. I needed to get ready for the party. I got out the delicious cheesecake brownies I made that morning and stirred the nacho dip. I got out all of the supplies for the deep fried mac and cheese. I got some ready for the oil and put them into the pan. The squares were supposed to be in the oil for a minute. Not even a minute later, smoke is rolling out of the pan. I burned the bottoms of the first batch. The oil was too hot and also there wasn't enough. At this point almost every room is filled with smoke. I decided that there wasn't enough time to finish before everyone started arriving. I aborted the project. We already had ham/turkey subs, chips, nacho dip and cheesecake brownies. There was enough food to go around.

The first half hour of the party everyone just ate. When my sister Diane, who is a nurse, saw my dog bite, she instantly went into nurse mode. She put some cream on my arm and asked if I washed it out. After that my sister Denise, started her talk on Premier Designs jewelry. She had a nice display of jewelry. She would talk about a piece then pass it around. After her talk, she handed everyone a book to look through. Everyone bought something. With enough sales at the party I received some free gifts. I picked out two necklaces and earrings. Diane and my mom each bought me a necklace for my upcoming birthday, July 26. So I made out from the party, four necklaces, earrings and a free hostess gift. All for free! It was pretty sweet.

*Reference to the movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Random things

Vacation is really nice. I've enjoyed going to sleep later then 9 pm. I have been going to sleep around midnight every night. Before I had a full-time job that required me to be at work around 5 am, I always went to bed late. Its nice to actually go to sleep when it is dark out, not when it is still light out like I have been doing the past six summers.

While watching the Next Food Network Star last night, I was surprised at the final two. Rory and Jag. After the judges told Amy that they were going to let her go, the TV screen went black and this is where the twist happened. Jag lied to the judges about his past. He said that he graduated from culinary school and served in Afghanistan with the Marines. Both were lies. When he met with the producers in a face to face interview he said he did go to culinary school but did not graduate. He also served in the Marines, but never went to Afghanistan. It was at that point he withdrew himself from the competition. The judges had no choice to bring back Amy for the final two.

I didn't understand why they got rid of her in the first place. She was better then Jag in all of the competitions and when they cooked live on the air on the Rachael Ray show. Next week the votes will be in and we will find out who will get their own show on the Food Network. Hopefully it will be Amy. I love to watch the Food Network, especially when I'm running on my treadmill. It makes the time go by faster.

Besides the jewelry party that I'm hosting today, the dogs will get a surprise. They will be going on their own doggy vacation. This afternoon, my husband and I will be dropping them off at a kennel. The kennel has air conditioning and a huge fenced in area. Unlike our backyard, Blitzkrieg and Kelly will actually be able to run around.

Tuesday my husband and I planned to go to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. But we might put off that trip. It is supposed to rain and there is a chance of thunderstorms. That wouldn't be good to drive almost two hours to see the rides closed. We will have to check weather.com later today and tonight.

The 2007 Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant photos are loaded onto my instaproofs website. To view or purchase please go to http://www.dcophotography.instaproofs.com/. Over on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery, is the 2007 Miss River Raisin Festival, Melissa Brown. Tomorrow will be the First Runner-Up Amanda McKinney.

Miss River Raisin Festival

Tonight is the start of the River Raisin Festival in Blissfield, Michigan. For the past few years, I have always photographed the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant for the newspaper. But not tonight. As I'm sure you already know, I'm on vacation. I will still be in attendance and with my camera.

I have already told my husband that we must leave early to get to the festival. I have to be there early to get a spot on the grass right next to the stage. The pageant is held on a stage and there are no seats. Everyone has to sit on the grass or bring their own chairs. Its not just me, other people find a place to sit an hour before the start.

Monday I will be posting photos of the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant over on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery. The order of the photos will be the 2007 Miss River Raisin winner, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up, Third Runner-Up and the rest of the contestants in alphabetical order according to their last names. To let everyone know I don't post on weekends. If you don't see a certain contestants photo, don't worry it will be posted only between Monday and Friday.

I will be posting all of the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Pageant photos my instaproofs site for viewing and purchase. This gallery will be available shortly after the pageant. The address is http://www.dcophotography.instaproofs.com/.

PHOTO CAPTION: Miss River Raisin 2005 Erin Chlebowski, left, and Miss Michigan 2006 Angela Corsi officially crown Miss River Raisin 2006 Elisabeth Dorman last July at the River Raisin Festival in Blissfield, Michigan.

I love it when a plan comes together

At 11:30 am this morning, I turned in my time card and left the building. I'm officially on vacation! I'm just so happy that this day has finally arrived. Eleven months between vacations is too long.

Party food

Next Monday I'm hosting a jewelry party. My sister who is a teacher is selling jewelry to make money during the summer. I thought it would be fun to host while I'm on vacation. Then my sister told me I had to supply the food.

Supply the food?

My first thought was to go to the grocery store and buy a bunch of appetizers to make in the oven, microwave and deep fryer. My husband and I had to go to the store to pick up a few items, so while we were there we walked through the frozen food aisle. I had a bunch of frozen treats picked out like mozzarella sticks, mini tacos and pizza rolls. My husband said maybe I shouldn't get foods that could all go in the deep fryer. I agreed that I should have some variety.

Now my party menu will include a Subway 3-foot party sub, nacho dip and fried mac and cheese. As for the sub, I have to give them 24 hours notice for them to make it. As for the nacho dip and deep fried mac and cheese, I will be making those. For dessert, I will be making cookies or brownies. I got the nacho dip receipe from a co-worker. She brings to work often. It is very good. The other recipe is from Paula Deen. The recipes are below.

Nacho dip

1 cream cheese brick
1 bag of shredded cheese
1 can of Hormel Turkey chili without beans

Place cream cheese brick in bottom of a crock pot and mix it up. Add the can of turkey chili then the bag of shredded cheese. Turn the heat on high for one hour. Mix before serving.


Deep Fried Mac and Cheese
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Peanut oil, for frying
1 recipe "The Lady's Cheesy Mac" prepared, chilled in the refrigerator overnight, and cut into 15 bite-sized squares, recipe follows
Flour, for dredging
1 egg, beaten Plain bread crumbs, for dredging


Heat 2 inches of oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.

Dredge each Cheesy Mac square in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs to coat. Fry for about 1 minute on each side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.


"The Lady's Cheesy Mac":

4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained
2 cups grated Cheddar
3 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Once you have the macaroni cooked and drained, place in a large bowl and while still hot, add the Cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni mixture. Pour macaroni mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese, if desired.

Random things

After completing housework Sunday morning, I decided to go running. I'm so glad that I didn't wait until later in the afternoon to run. By the time I got outside at 9:30 am, it was already 76 degrees and rising. After my 4.1 mile run, my dri-fit shirt was drenched in sweat and my arms and legs glistened from sweat. Around the time that I usually run on a Sunday afternoon, the temperature in town was 96 degrees.

My husband informed me this morning that he has the next two weeks off. Two weeks! That upset me because I still have to go to work until Thursday! Its just not fair that my husband gets more days off them me. I swear he never works.

I put the check in the mail today for the Hudson Booster 5K Cross Country Open. This time I can't oversleep.

Miles run in 2007

I know I'm behind last year's mileage at this point and would like to catch up. Earlier this week, I decided to try to follow a training program. Its really not a big deal, but I wanted some structure in my running. On days when I run, I decide in advance how far I want to go that day. Now I have this program that tells me I should run X amount today. I have been following it all week and I like it. Today is supposed to be a scheduled day off, but I want to run. Who knows I may want to run tomorrow morning as well.

Miles run through July 5:
2004: 164.7
2005: 210.2
2006: 264.6
2007: 254.2

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

Currently Reading: Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman
Up Next: Shadows of a Princess, P.D. Jephson

December 18, 1999

Krista asked the married ladies to tell their engagement stories. Here is mine.

I thought it was a normal Saturday. It was like every other Saturday in my life. My boyfriend and I had our three year anniversary on December 15. We decided to celebrate on that Saturday because our anniversary date fell on a Wednesday and I was studying for final exams in college.

A letter was given to me by my boyfriend. I opened the letter and it was the start to a scavenger hunt. The first place I had to go was a park in town. The clue I was looking for was taped to a light pole and had a cassette tape inside with the letter. The letter said that the tape was songs that we both enjoyed and to listen to it while driving. I couldn't listen to the tape because my car didn't have a cassette player. So old school! The next clue lead me to a Mexican restaurant that my friend worked at. I had to walk in the door and say that I loved my boyfriend to get the next clue. After I said the phrase my friend gave me the next clue.

I drove over to the next location, which was a out of business go-kart track. I got stuck there. I couldn't find the letter. After five to ten minutes looking for it, I called my sister on my cell phone. I told her that I couldn't find the letter. She told me to keep looking for it. I hung up with her and continued the search. I still couldn't find it. I called her back and said that I would keep looking, but if I couldn't find it where was the next spot on the scavenger hunt? She told me that the next stop was the mall. I hung up again and looked all around for it. I finally found the letter. It was in a white box hidden in the white snow. My boyfriend made it hard to find.

I read the letter and drove over to the mall. The letter told me to go sit on Santa's lap. I walked to center of the mall to see Santa. While waiting my turn, I noticed my family and my boyfriend's family all nearby. My sister came and stood next to me at the bottom of the stairs leading to Santa. When I was standing there, I noticed a photographer that I worked with at the newspaper standing near Santa. Finally I knew something was up. It takes that to realize that something was up. After I figured out I was on the exit steps to Santa, I went to the other staircase and walked up to see Santa.

I sat on Santa's lap and he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him that I wanted a bunch of new camera equipment, like a couple of new lenses and camera bodies. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and there was my boyfriend wearing a suit and holding a dozen white roses. He sat down on Santa's knee, handed me the roses and he told me to look at the camera. The elf helper took our picture sitting on Santa's lap. When this happened I thought to myself, "I went on this scavenger hunt all over town just for roses!" I wasn't too thrilled about that. You can see it all over my face in the above picture.

After the picture was taken. My boyfriend stood up and reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a box, then opened it. It was a diamond engagement ring. I later found out that he had it designed just for me. I remember he said something to the effect of wanting to spend the rest of his life with me. I only thing I actually remember him saying was, "Deloris, will you marry me?"

We got married on September 15, 2001.

Wine tasting

After dinner Friday, I asked my husband if we could go to the liquor store in town to buy: Wine. My husband and I are not wine drinkers and I thought we could try something different. At the liquor store, we found the refrigerator that held the tiny bottles of wine. We picked one brand and bought four different flavors. The four flavors that were picked were Merlot, White Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Before we left, I walked in the non-refrigerated wine aisle and looked at the bottles. I mentioned to my husband that I saw a commercial of one on television and the wine looked good. I found the brand I was referring to and picked up a bottle of White Zinfandel. I asked my husband what if we didn't like it? He said it wasn't that expensive so it was OK.

When we got home, my husband got out small glasses. He picked White Zinfandel. He poured the same amount in both glasses and then we drank it. The first taste was OK, then there was a horrible aftertaste. I wasn't fond of this drink. Our dogs, Blitzkrieg and Kelly, really wanted to try some. I couldn't choke down any more, so I dumped some in Kelly's dish. She licked it up and wagged her tail the entire time. My husband and I agreed that the wine had a bad aftertaste. We know we won't get that again.

Sunday evening I was taking out my contacts and getting ready for bed. My husband asked if I had brushed my teeth yet. I said no. I wondered why he asked and I walked into the living room and saw him with two glasses and the small bottle of Merlot. He poured equal amounts into the glasses and we started to drink. I thought there really wasn't any flavor to it. But the good thing was the Merlot didn't have the aftertaste that the White Zinfandel had. But I still wouldn't go out and buy a bottle. I finished my wine and walked to the kitchen to wash my glass. My husband got out the big bottle of White Zinfandel from the refrigerator and opened it. He poured some in both of our glasses. I took a drink and loved it. This Zinfandel tasted good and didn't have an aftertaste. After I downed my glass, I said to my husband "Now I could drink a bottle of this."

We still have the Chardonnay and the Pinot Grigio yet to go. If I don't like those I can just finish the rest of the White Zinfandel bottle and then go to the store and get more. I'm hooked on it.

Plates and vacation

We've been together for eight years. We've seen changes together and yesterday I had to let you go. You're not where I want you to be, but your still with me. I should be able to let things go, but I didn't want to part with you. The state told me otherwise. Goodbye friend......

When I bought my own car in college, I was given a Michigan blue license plate (blue background, white letters). I liked the plate because it was mine. It was registered under my name and not my dad's, like all of my previous cars. The letters were memorized by me and others and it has been with me through three different car changes. In 2006, the state of Michigan passed an act saying all blue plates had to be replaced in 2007. Since my birthday is in July, I waited patiently at the Secretary of State Friday morning for 45 minutes to get my new plate.

When my number was called, I handed my info to the SOS worker. She said the blue plates were being eliminated and I had to choose a new plate. My choices were the standard plate of a white reflective background and blue lettering or the Spectacular Peninsula plate. The spectacular plate features cityscape's, forests, the Mackinac Bridge and the Great Lakes. The plate also costs five dollars more. Since I was spending $95 to renew my tags, I passed on the spectacular.

Now 'ol blue is gone and replaced with clean white. I'm still not fond of it, but I shouldn't be. It is a only just a license plate.

July is a good month. It has the 4th of July and my birthday. Besides those, this year it also contains my vacation. My last vacation was the first week of August 2006. It has been 11 months since my last vacation and do I ever need one.

Besides my full-time job at the newspaper, I own my own business. I've been working non-stop and I need a break. That break comes on July 13. My husband and I are going to take some day trips closer to home. One day we will be going to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio and another day to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. My husband and I haven't been there since we were both in elementary. The last stop on our vacation is going to a Detroit Tigers baseball game. It should be fun.

The official countdown has begun. My vacation starts in 12 days.

Photo Illustration credit: www.michigan.gov/sos/

The shirt and the ring

At work this morning, something was different about my polo. I looked down at my sleeve and noticed my shirt was inside out. I went to the restroom to turn it right side out. I was walking around with my shirt inside out for two hours. I'm such a dork.

Besides wearing my polo inside out, another thing happened today. I got something back. I had a voicemail on my cell phone yesterday from the jewelry store. The jeweler said my engagement ring was fixed and I could pick it up. My husband and I drove to Tecumseh to pick it up before lunch today. I was so happy to get back. I have been without it for two weeks. Now my finger is happy again.

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

Currently Reading: Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming
Up Next: Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend, David Shipman

Weekend update

This past Saturday, I photographed a wedding. I felt bad for the bride. Things weren't going her way.

I get to the hotel at 2pm and ask the front desk clerk where the bride's suite was. He asked why. I told him that I was supposed to shoot the bridal party there. The clerk said that they weren't in that room. He added he didn't know where they were either. He said he would call the mother and see where the bride was. He talked to her and hung up. The bride was still at the hair salon. After 10 minutes of waiting, he told me he would call the mother again. He hung up the phone and told me that there wasn't an answer. The front desk clerk then called someone else and found out which room the bride was moved to. He asked me if I would like to go to the room or stay in the lobby. I said the room.

We walked down the hallway that led to the bride's room. While walking through the hall, I noticed a smell. Why do most hotels have smelly halls? Anyway, it wasn't plesant, but we arrived at the room soon after that. He opened the door and let me in. Once I was in the room, I unpacked what I needed and started to work. The bride had her veil on the bed, so I took photos of that. Not much else was in the room. After I was in the room for 10 minutes, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw two women dressed nice. They were the mother of the bride and her friend. They weren't sure if this was the correct room or not. I let them in and we all sat down. We all chatted until the bride came in about 10 minutes later.

The bride said that they got behind at the hair salon and there were other problems as well. The hotel double booked her original suite. That forced her to get another room. The second room she got was smaller. With the smaller room, all of the bridesmaids had to get dressed elsewhere. The placards for the reception still had to be finished. After they were finished, someone had to drive to the reception site about a half hour away to set the cards up. At this time, a bridesmaid went to go get copies of the program. The store said that they couldn't get to them Sunday. She told the store that the programs were for a wedding later that afternoon. Last I heard, the store started making the programs around 4 pm. The programs never made it to the wedding. In between moving to different rooms, things having to get done, the bride forgot to pack double-sided tape. Not to worry. Her mother's friend drove to a store nearby and picked some up. After the bride got her dress on, she put some of the tape underneath her dress. The tape wasn't sticking. The bride said she didn't have time to worry about it and let it go.

Once it was time for the wedding, everything was going according to plan. The wedding, formal photos and the reception happened without any problems. I felt bad for the bride. It was her big day and she had to worry about things that went wrong and weren't finished.

A while ago I blogged about running a 5K. I didn't send money before hand, because I missed the early registration. The race was Sunday morning. I figured that I usually get up early on Sunday's and I would have no trouble getting up for this race. The night before I got home from the reception around 10:30 pm and didn't go to bed until after 11 pm. Sunday morning, I woke up and looked at my alarm clock. It read 8:30 am. I totally missed the start of the race. I felt bad, I have run this race for 4 years.

I had a good excuse, a wedding the night before. Later in the day, I did run on my treadmill while watching a NASCAR race. But it wasn't the same as running in a race. Checking out the other runners before the start. Standing at the start line getting ready to start my watch. Hearing the gun go off. Hearing the sound of other runners feet striking the road and clapping and cheering when you cross the finish line.

I will be running a 5K at the end of July. This race is on the best high school cross country course in the county, lots of hills, swamps and woods. When I say I will run this race, I will. It is the toughest race and I love it.

Random things

On Tuesday my husband and I went to a restaurant on 35 cent wing day. After we ordered a hostess walked around the corner to seat some customers in the area we were sitting. First around the corner is a mother holding her daughter. Behind her is her mother. The mother was wearing curlers in her hair. She didn't have a scarf on her head or a hat. Her hair was long and the curlers were only on the ends of her hair. She was wearing them like it was no big deal. Did her daughter say anything to her before they left the house? Or does she not care? If my mom was wearing curlers in her hair in public I would be embarrassed. But this woman didn't seem to mind that her mother had them in her hair. I think wearing curlers outside of the home could be the next fashion trend. Why hasn't New York picked this up yet?

While eating at a BBQ place down in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday, I managed to drop food on my lap. I was holding my pork BBQ sandwich above my platter and some pork fell out bounced off of the platter and landed on my shorts. I had a many barbecue stains on my shorts. After dinner I order dessert, bread pudding. My husband doesn't like bread pudding so I ate half of it. I got a box to put the other half in. When we were driving back to Michigan, I had the box on my lap. My husband happened to knock the box over on my lap. I thought nothing of it. He pulled into a gas station to fill up his car and I looked down at my shorts. The other leg had a big bread pudding stain on the leg. The delicious topping leaked out of the corner of the plastic box and right on my shorts. Not a good day.

At work today, corporate sent speakers to the office for a conference. The photographers' speaker was Justin from The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois. He had a great power point presentation about documentary photography. It was nice just to get a refresher course on everything. After his talk he had some tips on Photoshop to help me tone my photos better. My seminar was the last one of the afternoon. It would have been nice to have more time with him to talk more about Photoshop.

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

Currently Reading: I will visit the library Wednesday. I hope I'll find books that aren't over 600 pages long. I enjoyed Empire, but three weeks is a long time for me to finish a book.
Up Next:

UPDATE:
Currently Reading: Diana, Andrew Morton
Up Next: Mrs. Kennedy: The Missing History of the Kennedy Years, Barbara Leaming

Weekend update

Friday, I spent most of my afternoon and evening standing on pit road at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI. The afternoon started with the Citizens Bank 400 Time Trials for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. I didn't get to see my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in person. I saw him on the big jumbo-tron in turn 4 and driving around in his car during his qualifying lap. Sadly, Junior didn't qualify in the top 5. Only the top 5 in qualifying park their cars on pit road. After his lap he pulled straight into the garage.

After time trials, was the ACRA RE/MAX series Michigan 200. The big names of the race was IndyCar driver Sam Hornish, Jr and female driver Erin Crocker. The race was pretty boring and Hornish and Crocker finished second and third.

On Saturday morning I woke up dizzy. Everywhere I looked the walls were moving. Usually on Saturdays if I don't have an early morning assignment I run. I considered running, but I didn't feel up to it. After taking a shower, I really wasn't feeling well and threw up three times. I had an assignment later in the afternoon, so I had to get better. I snacked on some crackers and started to feel OK. My husband made hamburgers for lunch. I started eating it and felt like throwing up. I kept the food down, but I didn't finish it. My dogs Blitzkrieg and Kelly were thankful for that. They got to split what I didn't eat.

Later that afternoon, I got in my car and drove to Battle Creek. A local team, Tecumseh Indians, were playing the Division 2 Softball state finals. When I arrived at Bailey Park, I found a parking spot and collected my photo gear. It was a hot, sunny day and I was still not feeling well. I knew it would long day.

The media box that I stood in was right on the field to the right of the batter box on the third base side. I have covered a lot of games before but never that close. During the 3rd or 4th inning, a new photographer came down to the field and stood outside of the box. After the inning was over, the umpire behind the plate told the photographer the he needed to be in the media box. He asked the photographers near him to move down and only two of them did. I was on the other end of the box at the chalk line, I couldn't move down any more. The two photographers on my left didn't move at all. Since they didn't move and there was no more room in the box, the umpire told him to leave the field. I kind of felt bad for him, but if he wanted to shoot on the field he should have been earlier, like at the start of the game. The team that I covered, Tecumseh, won the state championship 3-1. It was nice to drive 1.5 hours to see a team win it all.

I took Sunday off. I could have been at MIS photographing the Citizens Bank 400, but I gave it to another photographer. During the race I worked on wedding stuff and got a lot taken care of. Later that afternoon I ran on my treadmill. The first half mile was terrible. I felt like I was running with cement blocks attached to my shoes. It was hard to run. I stopped at a half mile and took a breather. After that, the rest of the run was good.

Random things

Over on my website, Deloris Clark-Osborne Photography, a blog has been added. On this blog I will be posting my favorite photos from my sessions. I have a couple of engagements posted right now. I will be adding the weddings and teens that I have already photographed this year soon.

While in Tecumseh yesterday, I decided to get my engagement/wedding rings cleaned at the jewelry store that made them. I handed my rings over to the employee and she went in the back to clean them. She came back and handed me the rings. She then asked if the ring was bought at the store. I said it was made here. She went on to tell me that one of the prongs holding the diamond is cracked. She said that it wasn't an emergency to get it fixed, but it needed to be repaired. My husband asked how long it will take to fix the engagement ring. Two weeks she said. My husband told me its either two weeks now or two weeks later. It needed to be fixed so I reluctantly handed over my ring. I still have my wedding band, but now my ring finger is lonely without its diamond.

I heard the rumor last night. Now it is not a rumor, it's fact. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be driving for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.

Loud talkers

Across the street from my house is another house broken up into apartments. Those apartments are like revolving doors. People move in a out all of the time. Currently, a couple of college age guys live over there. During the day, I never see them. It is only at night when they become a problem.

Between the hours of 11 pm - 3 am, they like to sit on their front porch and talk. There is nothing wrong with that. When it becomes a problem is when one loud mouth guy likes to yell, scream and swear as loud as he can.

This morning around 3 am I woke up due to the loud mouths across the street. That one guy started yelling. A few minutes later, a car with a loud radio drove by and he started yelling again. Excuse me dude, but when is yelling at 3 am such a good idea? Some people, ME, actually have to get up at 4 am to get ready for work.

When my alarm went off, I got out of bed and walked downstairs. My husband was still awake sitting on the couch. I asked him if he heard the loud mouths yelling around 3 am. He said he did and called the cops on them. I asked if the cops came when they were still outside. He said they didn't because they went inside. He called dispatch to let them know that the loud mouths weren't on the porch anymore so the cops didn't have to stop. The dispatcher told my husband that someone else also called about the yelling and the cops were going to stop and talk to the people.

Do these people just not get it? It seems like every week that the cops get called on them. How many times do the cops need to talk to you? I'm looking forward to the day that they move out so the 3 am yellings will stop. That day is not soon enough.

Weekend update

Friday night I had to cover for a co-worker in the office, while he went to a photo shoot. I left work around 9:30 pm and was hungry for dinner. I decided to go to a sandwich shop a couple of blocks away.

I pull up to one of the driveways leading to the restaurant while I wait for traffic to go by. When I'm waiting a truck pulls into the second driveway. He pulled in a weird angle and decided to park over two spots. Just a guy and his wife in a truck not hauling a trailer park over two spots. I pulled into the lot and pulled up to the front of the restaurant to an empty spot. As I was getting out of my car, the jerk beats me in.

I wait in line behind this guy and he orders two sandwiches. Of course he has to have double meat, cheese and get them toasted. Once his sandwiches came out of the oven, he had the fixings put on. The lady behind the counter didn't hear him, either did I, but he asked for a gallon of mayo to go on first. She starting putting the veggies on the sandwich and he told her that the mayo went on first. She picked off toppings to put the mayo on. While he is getting both sandwiches made, his wife walked in to tell him to get her a certain kind of sandwich. What you didn't tell him before he got out of the truck?

Finally both sandwiches are made and then he asks for a box of cookies. Could you make your order take any longer? The lady gets all the cookies around and then gives him his total. He gave money to the lady and she gave back change. He is about ready to walk away and stops. He tells the employee that he didn't get some of his pennies back. Pennies are you serious? She said sorry and opened the drawer to get them. No pennies were in the drawer. She had to go to the secret stash and break the pennies open from the paper roll. Leave the pennies jerk and get out of my way! GRRRRRRR!

Last night I stayed up to watch the series finale of The Sopranos. I thought it was a good episode. I was happy when Phil Leotardo got shot in the back of the head. I laughed when his wife got out of the SUV after Phil was shot and left it in drive. The SUV rolled over his head. It was awesome. The last five minutes was a big build up. The Sopranos were going to meet at a restaurant to eat dinner. Tony is alone at the table and flips through the tabletop jukebox and picks a song, "Don't Stop Believin" by Journey.

While Tony is waiting, he keeps looking around at the others in the restaurant. Carmela is the first to arrive, then AJ. A guy walked in the restaurant door before AJ and sat at the counter. Tony, Carmela and AJ are waiting for Meadow, the guy at the counter keeps looking at Tony. Cut the scene to Meadow and she is outside trying to parallel park her car. It takes her a couple of tries before succeeding. Before Meadow comes into the restaurant the shifty eyed guy at the counter gets up and goes to the restroom. Meadow opens the restaurant door, walks in and looks at Tony, then the screen went black. I thought my cable went out, because it has done that before. Then a minute later the credits rolled onto the screen. I was pissed! I thought I missed the last scene. I hit rewind on my DVR and all I saw was the black screen. I set the DVR to record another Sopranos later that evening because of the black screen.

Before going to bed I checked a TV website and people were saying "worst episode ever", "I want that hour back" and "I waited eight years for this!" I noticed that other people wrote that their cable went out as well. This morning when I read newspaper stories and saw the ending on cable news shows, that is how it ended. My cable didn't go out. After knowing what I didn't miss, I am OK with the ending. The Sopranos is about Tony's family and it ended with a nice family dinner. I was glad that Tony didn't get shot. With Tony living that always leaves the door open for a movie down the road, just like Sex and the City. I can't wait to see that movie!

Photo Credit: HBO

Race debate

For the past 4 years, I have run the in the Hospice of Lenawee Run, Walk and Bike Tour in Blissfield, MI. Last year I ran in the 10K instead of the 5K. I was excited to run that. I made the time to train for a 10K and I wanted to run something different.

The day of the race, it was extremely hot and humid. That made running the course a bit harder. I finished 4th in my age group at 1:11:16. When I crossed the finish line, I promised myself that I would run the 10K again in 2007.

Fast forward to 2007 and I will break my promise this year. I haven't had the extra time like last year to train for the 10K . Most of my time this year has been decided to my photo business and my full time job. I debated on whether I would even run in the race this year. But I decided that I will run the 5K.

I'll see you'll on the course, but only on the 3.1 mile one.

Attack of the Blitzkrieg

When my dog Blitzkrieg has free reign over the house, he tends to get into trouble. While you're in one room, he is in the other doing something he shouldn't be doing. The best example is from last night.

While working on my computer in the upstairs office, Blitzkrieg walked upstairs, layed down beside my chair and chewed on a bone he brought with him. I got up from my chair and Blitzkrieg dropped the bone and followed me. When I walked back to the office, my other dog Kelly, walked over to the bone Blitzkrieg was chewing, picked it and started on it. Blitzkrieg layed down and watched Kelly for a while then got up and walked downstairs. A minute later, he walked back upstairs into the computer room and layed down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw he had something in his mouth. The object was a light cream color, so I thought it was another bone from downstairs so I continued working.

After a couple of minutes, I looked down at Blitzkrieg and he wasn't chewing a bone. It was my husband's hat. I got out of the chair and tried to grab the hat. Blitzkrieg picked it up and ran with it. I cornered him at the top of the staircase and tried to get it away from him. He stood and growled at me with his front paw on the hat. To get the hat away from him, I kept repeating dog treat names to him. Blitzkrieg and Kelly know the names to their treats. I said "Ol' Roy" and "Pig's Ears" Blitzkrieg calmed down and stopped growling at me. I picked up the hat and saw the damage. It wasn't too bad. He chewed the inside flap of the hat. I took the hat downstairs and put it on a shelf. To keep Blitzkrieg from doing that again, I leaned a pet gate in front of the shelf.

I walked back upstairs and continued working. Then I heard Blitzkrieg scurrying around downstairs and I ran down as fast as I could. Blitzkrieg now had my library book about Howard Hughes in his mouth. When I reached the bottom of the steps, he dropped the book on the floor. I tried to get my book, but Blitzkrieg started growling again. I knew just saying the names of the treats wouldn't get me anywhere. So I tried something else. I walked over to the cabinet where the treats are stored and got out the pig's ears. Blitzkrieg and Kelly then ran over to me jumping up to smell the bag. I walked with the bag in hand, picked up the book and put it on a table where he couldn't get to it again. I shouldn't have given Blitzkrieg a treat for being naughty but since the bag was out, I gave them a pig's ear.

This is not the first time or the last time Blitzkrieg has done that. He tries to get his paws or I should say mouth on newspaper, bookmarks, paper towels, Kleenex, books, money, checks, receipts and VHS tapes. He has eaten a lot newspapers, paper towels, bookmarks, Kleenex and chewed the front cover off a cook book. As you can see he likes paper and also likes to eat it.

Barking alarm clocks

My husband and I have two German Shepherds. When it is time for me to go to bed, they both know. When I get up and close the entertainment center doors, they know it is time for them to go to their beds. My two dogs sleep together in the gated kitchen.

Two nights ago, I got into bed around 9:15 am, about a half hour-later both dogs start barking. It was still early, so I really wasn't mad. I hoped they would just calm down and be quiet. After a couple of barks, they both stopped. Not even five minutes later, both of them are barking again. They didn't stop after a minute or two, so it irritated me. I got out of bed and opened the door and yelled at them to be quiet. Once they heard my voice they stopped. I closed the door and layed back in bed.

Right after I got back to sleep the dogs started barking again. Besides barking they were jumping all over the back door. Usually when they jump on the back door, it means that my husband is home. I got out of bed and walked over to a window. No sign of my husband or his car. So I didn't know what they were barking at. I walked downstairs to try to calm them down. I walked up to the gate and Kelly is wagging her tail. I look at Blitzkrieg and he started growling at me. I turned on the light and he continued growling. I told them to quiet down and finally Blitzkrieg backed away and stopped growling. I went back up to bed and fell asleep. I stayed asleep until my alarm woke me up the next morning.

When I walked downstairs to let the dogs out, I had a surprise at the end of the staircase. Both Blitzkrieg and Kelly were sitting at the bottom of the steps. I walked over to the kitchen and turned on the light. They both escaped by knocking over the gate. I'm sure when the gate fell over it was loud, but I didn't hear it.

This morning, the dogs woke me up with their barking. This time it was 2:45 am. I got out of bed and told them to be quiet. I shut the door and crawled back into bed. That didn't stop the barking. Blitzkrieg continued. His bark was quiet, not as loud as his regular bark. I knew what that meant. He needed to go outside. When I walked downstairs, Kelly and Blitzkrieg were wagging their tails near the gate. I said, "Do you want to go outside?", and they both ran to the door. There is nothing like waiting for dogs to finish there potty break at 2:45 am when you need to get up for work in an 1.5 hours.

I guess that I shouldn't be mad when the dogs wake me up. I would rather have the dogs wake me up with their barking then my loud neighbors. With the dogs, I can tell them to be quiet or take them outside to calm them down. With the neighbors, they don't quiet down unless someone leaves or if the cops are called on them.