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.