tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32804335233367058012024-03-04T23:32:20.415-06:00The average everydayDamonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-78296244322580058122011-02-25T23:56:00.002-06:002011-02-25T23:57:58.809-06:00Crazy couple of weeksLittle did I know what was going to happen just 36 hours after my last post. Got up and went to work as I usually do. After taking a few calls and just going about my day, I check my email and notice I have a meeting notice from a manager that I spoke to back in December. Let's go back in time, shall we. We shall<br />
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<i>Picture it; October 2010. I have applied for yet another position. This one would have been a pretty big stretch to go into but I would have loved the work as a business analyst. I had a meeting with the hiring manager (Director of IT for Transportation; deals with the cargo ships and other areas for the company). By the end of that call (he is in Houston; I'm not) he tells me to expect a meeting notice from one of his employees here where I live. I met with him just 2 days later and he was only meeting 2 people from here (so me and one other). It came down to me and one other person; I didn't get the job. The guy I was against was already doing about 40% of the job already and is there in Houston (this would have relocated us). But I impressed the manager and his employee (who are both tough customers) such that the manager has now become my career mentor.</i><br />
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</i><br />
<i>Shortly after this interaction, he had me get in touch with a manger where I live, which turns out to be his brother-in-law. I met with him in November and he suggested that I meet with 2 of his supervisors below him because they will need people "next year". Now I have heard that before and that usually means mid to late year. So I didn't act on those secondary meetings immediately. About a month later I get an email from the senior manager here stating that a position was just posted and that he was not aware that I had met with his supervisors yet and that they are filling 8 position from that one posting. I read between those lines and quickly made the meetings. About a month after those meetings, I received a call from one of the supervisors stating that they cannot get my employee profile to come down and if I could send it to them. I did so and didn't think about it again.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
So I opened the meeting notice and all it said was "Corp Staffs job" for the subject and nothing else. So I just assumed that it was an interview meeting. I was wrong.<br />
<br />
The supervisor comes in and we chit chat a few minutes and then she says "I am offering you the position" and mentally I thought, "Huh?" Seriously. The fact that she was offering the position was not even on my radar. So after I agreed to say yes (LOL!) I was informed that starting the next day (Feb 8) I was going to start working 1/2 day in my current position and then the other 1/2 of the day in her group until the new pay period started (Feb 16th) and then would be full-time in her area. And the reason for this is that the person I am taking over for is retiring at the end of the month.<br />
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I also learn that one of the applications I will be now supporting is currently in a major upgrade project. Needless to say that the last 2 weeks have been fast, furious, and mentally challenging/exhausting because I have had to pick up on applications I have never seen and the upgrade project is not going so well. And I am thankful for the opportunities that come from it and from whom they are coming from.<br />
<br />
So I have moved into my new office. Who knew an office had color from wood grains and wasn't just slightly lighter/darker than the same shade of gray? I have the option to NOT pick up my phone if I am in the middle of something. I have a company card now for travel (and having to submit expense reports)as well as a company provided phone (OK, OK it is a Blackberry. And I like this one far better than I did Heather's when she got it). Now to some these things are not that big of a deal. But when you were not sure if an opportunity to move out of entry-level jobs and into one that has all of this, it is.<br />
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I think this is a funny situation:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhywyT06GkI45opy7avZUyp7zLVPy8c-K_dfh_4GkbNjRvlXg8v31Fz0URLw8A7-VHJCJA9jBiluUeoV2eKuHnMnr4j-nbnU1iSqjHr6X2skOPciM0sId_rjX3Y3L6vZYF_c7DRJGisxq/s1600/DSC_3670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhywyT06GkI45opy7avZUyp7zLVPy8c-K_dfh_4GkbNjRvlXg8v31Fz0URLw8A7-VHJCJA9jBiluUeoV2eKuHnMnr4j-nbnU1iSqjHr6X2skOPciM0sId_rjX3Y3L6vZYF_c7DRJGisxq/s400/DSC_3670.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">5 phones; 4 members of the house; 3 old enough to have a phone; 2 each of a Blackberry and iPhone for the adults = 1 confused 6 year old on why one of these isn't hers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-84042959631165194912011-02-05T23:24:00.002-06:002011-02-05T23:49:06.038-06:00It's about to get interesting in hereWe have recently started watching a show in Hallmark Channel called Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn (<a href="http://www.madhungry.com/">www.madhungry.com</a>).<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Lucinda is not just someone who loves to cook and got a show. Not by any stretch. She is the Executive Editorial Director of Food and Entertaining for Martha Stewart's empire.<br />
<br />
We have really gotten into how and what she cooks. Everything in moderation and nothing is off limits. Yet her food is easy, approachable, and can uses ingredients that be found in most (if not all) grocery stores. Seriously. For example. Her Basic Tomato Sauce is:</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>2 T olive oli</i></div><div><i>2 cloves garlic, minced</i></div><div><i>A pinch of red pepper flakes (or more if you like some spice)</i></div><div><i>1 28-ounce can of low-sodium (or organic) whole plum tomatoes</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>In a blender (or using a hand blender), puree the tomatoes to the level of chunky or smooth you like. Get the oil hot in a pan and then throw in the garlic and pepper flakes and cook just until you can smell the garlic (about 30 seconds). Pour in the tomatoes and bring up to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Now I add 1 teaspoon sweet basil in the last 5 minutes of cooking and that is it. Now a tip I learned from her is when to add the herb. If you put the herbs in right at the beginning, you will cook out all of the flavor. Instead, add it at the end and then the flavor will perfume throughout the sauce. Huge thing to learn and makes a difference.</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway. I was watching her show on DVR, as my wife and I do every day, my 11-year old son came in and sat down about 3/4 of the way through. He was quite intrigued by what was being made. He grabbed the remote to see what the theme was. You can only imagine what his reaction was when he saw that it was an episode on bacon. </div><div><br />
Shortly there after, he restarted the episode and watched it completely. Once the show was done, he went into the kitchen and grabbed my copy of her book (<a href="http://amzn.to/hTbkVg">http://amzn.to/hTbkVg</a>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV26-I4_ZMpiu7PHFUSIiOQVtSbIol4qW7vaLWzvy-E6YGV6gLxv4-HZDyrQmrAnvFfAjqlNH0oi9g3FDOoo5zRZ2Qe06-CfbCpUkM-SwHJnQTc5kkMT1gJShFoaWaDZofng-fNIplB9GD/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV26-I4_ZMpiu7PHFUSIiOQVtSbIol4qW7vaLWzvy-E6YGV6gLxv4-HZDyrQmrAnvFfAjqlNH0oi9g3FDOoo5zRZ2Qe06-CfbCpUkM-SwHJnQTc5kkMT1gJShFoaWaDZofng-fNIplB9GD/s400/photo.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studying Lucinda's book quite intently</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So when making the grocery list this week, he informed us that he wanted to make everything in that episode. So for breakfast - Bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://bit.ly/gdAaZq&h=02dec">http://bit.ly/gdAaZq</a>). And we are teaching how to properly clean the cast iron - now that we own some.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJeQ6aIrjPc6sstw2iSepjW0n8peCkKU61TbWVgYme9SAXTpb35rEIbFaHCcum0w2Nltm9wpmMEXMXOIOIB3ev7D6W6mYwvjqzLGHg9heGT4i5G9sHpjLtYr5qIbe70zfmO7h1MxFMWY/s1600/photo+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJeQ6aIrjPc6sstw2iSepjW0n8peCkKU61TbWVgYme9SAXTpb35rEIbFaHCcum0w2Nltm9wpmMEXMXOIOIB3ev7D6W6mYwvjqzLGHg9heGT4i5G9sHpjLtYr5qIbe70zfmO7h1MxFMWY/s400/photo+1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Making the eggs for the sandwich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7pj2SxXd1zu-G31U2IHryefsqo7vhMLC_o1TL54cnd_jkgZrWNMHqen2ZdGuKztmMNGqM4RH1tDylNDJJMSu8N0MQXteqRd4jWWg7oLqFotNzK6GtQrwISbEigAFKRGLl0va_EZe4NQk/s1600/photo+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7pj2SxXd1zu-G31U2IHryefsqo7vhMLC_o1TL54cnd_jkgZrWNMHqen2ZdGuKztmMNGqM4RH1tDylNDJJMSu8N0MQXteqRd4jWWg7oLqFotNzK6GtQrwISbEigAFKRGLl0va_EZe4NQk/s400/photo+2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed product</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Dinner was Pantry Bistro Salad (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://bit.ly/fqGgiJ&h=02dec">http://bit.ly/fqGgiJ</a>) and the Spaghetti Carbonara (with whole wheat spaghetti - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://bit.ly/e9dWFA&h=02dec">http://bit.ly/e9dWFA</a>). I believe I could eat this salad with her tomato soup (<a href="http://bit.ly/eLdMkV">http://bit.ly/eLdMkV</a>) every day for lunch. Without question! This was a really good dinner. The recipe says that the salad is 4 servings and the pasta is 4-6. For us, the pasta is probably about 8 servings. But I ate quite a bit of the salad (which has a poached egg on it - part of the recipe).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0KgqIFzBSagMQW1lCdJ15Q7mKGVGOXPcuV-af8BB-RnSOHVHe2j5949_uersfA4nWc8hBZol0tiuhRuIJxw7N6Aold11nroJDf6idqiV_n78KyjE31BYDnnAtgIli2vkW3ey_CImp-8J/s1600/photo+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0KgqIFzBSagMQW1lCdJ15Q7mKGVGOXPcuV-af8BB-RnSOHVHe2j5949_uersfA4nWc8hBZol0tiuhRuIJxw7N6Aold11nroJDf6idqiV_n78KyjE31BYDnnAtgIli2vkW3ey_CImp-8J/s400/photo+3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end results for tonights dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Even my 6-year old asked to try the salad and she does not do salads. I now need to get her other two books!</div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-41364921205771255922010-08-01T19:51:00.000-05:002010-08-01T19:51:25.034-05:00How Photography Can Make A Difference - Jen Lemen<div>I have really been working on my photography (with help from OKStrobist) and feel like I am making progress and getting more comfortable giving direction and how to make what I have work. I am getting stronger in Photoshop, etc, etc, etc. And I do think that becoming a "legit" photographer is still a reality. I may not have a BFA or all of the mastery of other togs, but I love what this message had to say. </div><div><br /></div><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q-B62Jo39jo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q-B62Jo39jo&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-17385163311144084552010-05-30T14:23:00.004-05:002010-05-31T01:21:37.362-05:00"Oh, that boy" or "You suck Dad!"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yesterday I took the kids to the new pool here in town.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABr8bCylt-PAdQ3MbvGedU_nqq8LH8zEBucpy2ZOuGQ2kc0FewayoV4oAMJHcmBf1SRL1SuAUIY_U6ThtdTZ9h6r8LixK_X7vcr3cW69gOh442kW91SWa_iqE3O_YR9CdXsCAc-TdJnds/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABr8bCylt-PAdQ3MbvGedU_nqq8LH8zEBucpy2ZOuGQ2kc0FewayoV4oAMJHcmBf1SRL1SuAUIY_U6ThtdTZ9h6r8LixK_X7vcr3cW69gOh442kW91SWa_iqE3O_YR9CdXsCAc-TdJnds/s400/photo.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJueHlvFoJzSth6Ez8LkBFGDKjyPzbpz0zTizXHPlrgbKPSxHaAbr7tdvdef53o2bhg7HGxos8R6viFhDUa7-BkFTbEkeC1oNz27Hdufu-d2wmYQMuoNPp_RLF4Dw6VpWROnYIx2FxTzk/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJueHlvFoJzSth6Ez8LkBFGDKjyPzbpz0zTizXHPlrgbKPSxHaAbr7tdvdef53o2bhg7HGxos8R6viFhDUa7-BkFTbEkeC1oNz27Hdufu-d2wmYQMuoNPp_RLF4Dw6VpWROnYIx2FxTzk/s400/photo+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going to the pool, I stopped to get drinks and lunch at Sonic. When we got there, I put the food in my gym bag because it was going to make it easier to carry and we carried in our drinks.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, Jackson saw on the wall a rules list that had "No outside food or drink" listed on it. When I went to pay our entry fee, the guy didn't say a word even though I had set my drink plainly in front of him. Well, I never saw the sign.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got in and got settled, and I started to had out our lunch. Reid munched along happily. But not Jackson.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked Jackson what was wrong, and he didn't answer. I asked him if he was going to eat or not because if the answer was no, lunch will not wait long on in the sun (even though it was chicken strips).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out, Jackson was so conflicted that he didn't want to eat. I mean, he was sitting practically in the fetal position on deck chair. His response "Dad, I don't want to knowingly break the rule and also turn around and do it in their face." I replied "Jackson, the clerk didn't say anything about it when I set down my drink" He fired back, "Just because he didn't enforce the rule doesn't make it right because it is posted." I was 1/2 way through my sandwich by this point and about choked. Nice.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't make him eat. But an hour later, his tune had changed and he was ready to eat the canopy. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to give the boy his convictions and principles.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More later...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-89600168885697961052010-04-16T00:22:00.001-05:002010-04-16T00:25:31.211-05:00More playing, but completely inspiredThis last weekend I was able to attend a workshop in downtown Tulsa, and I was on a high the whole time. The purpose was to learn how to work with studio strobes and other flash units off of camera. I had a great time the whole 5 hours it went. I cannot wait for another one. Here is some of what I took (giddy grin):<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Part of why I was so excited is that I have this idea (maybe a dream) of setting up a side photog business. I have been really frustrated and fed up with my job and the lack of opportunities to move. And I have had this idea for a while but have not felt very good about how to go about it and had given up on it because my efforts to get help were coolly rebuffed. I really have been struggling with all of that. </div><br />
After this weekend, I learned that what I thought could never happen is still a possibility. I learned where my weaknesses are but that Corey, Richard, and the rest of the group can help me with that. That is what they want to do. I'm going to use this as much as I can. I learned that while natural light is great, flash units and natural light can work together. Very, very well. I need to get through the next month with the children's choir, but then I want to put this into motion. If I can get this going, then I will find a satisfaction that can carry me through my current position until the next opportunity comes along.Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-23632993345143404012010-03-02T00:05:00.000-06:002010-03-02T00:05:00.387-06:00I got to play...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last weekend was busy. Jackson had a swim meet and I was able to play with my new toy. Yes, another one. But this one was sanctioned by the wife. Even better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What was it? My new camera - a <a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25464/D300S.html">Nikon D300s</a>. This thing is fast; it focuses quickly and shoots 7 frames/second. Perfect for swim meets. I am <i><b>very</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> happy with it. I should be for that price. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been making myself shoot in manual mode and I have gotten pretty good with it I think. Here are a few images from the meet. I'll post more later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-UVxGJ12994UjTCkqEMYQR4CujOPkuqOuLwAYzK5zTT6qlnv_iU3ujwci37lOEH1UCnuD4K15cxReyqoYtZm2ZfhH8jmzcFjbMij-PNdXTDhEstQQFGvEIBc9xju9mOaNg09QAtQzeLh/s1600-h/Blog+Board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-UVxGJ12994UjTCkqEMYQR4CujOPkuqOuLwAYzK5zTT6qlnv_iU3ujwci37lOEH1UCnuD4K15cxReyqoYtZm2ZfhH8jmzcFjbMij-PNdXTDhEstQQFGvEIBc9xju9mOaNg09QAtQzeLh/s400/Blog+Board.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEA7qxWy64ct9psMde3IiUj6aU32Sn25wU1zwS6h-nFrL6pUHJKyX-E4f2A8nPuIwmlqLArAvDEi5O1D1GB1XGDkZIB5Tk4_iVBNM2HCtfSOKJ0G8w8ioiLYOwk9phhyphenhyphenXx3edcuxvHTBBl/s1600-h/Blog+Board+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEA7qxWy64ct9psMde3IiUj6aU32Sn25wU1zwS6h-nFrL6pUHJKyX-E4f2A8nPuIwmlqLArAvDEi5O1D1GB1XGDkZIB5Tk4_iVBNM2HCtfSOKJ0G8w8ioiLYOwk9phhyphenhyphenXx3edcuxvHTBBl/s400/Blog+Board+2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have been reading Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and tried to put that to use. These were shot using a Nikkor 70-300 f/3.5-5.6 VR lens at f/5.6 & ISO 1600. I made some minor adjustments in Photoshop but very little. I love how clean they are at such a high ISO and have figured out that the lens is really not a bad one (I had gotten to be a little snobbish to any lens that wasn't a f/2.8). Now this pool has huge windows and allowed in a a fair amount of natural light but also had the indoor lighting. Shooting sports is hard. But I had a good time learning my camera.<br />
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More later.Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-8522438590329080352010-02-11T20:16:00.004-06:002010-02-11T20:35:15.824-06:00Sorry, long time no post<div>OK. So I'm not good at doing this regularly. January has not been good and we are not out of the woods yet. Let's just say that homeowners insurance has been used, someone else's auto insurance is getting charged (all in 1 weeks time) and we are thankful for health insurance. I was off 2 days this week for part of the health issues and was able to get Reid's and Jackson's valentines made for school. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reid's are flowers. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef8svz2mP50d25cuO2vXg33DJO-BaybJQBVTBzEf98fo30d7Y7ishGG9TTypGTz1_DZEF5i-OEEBy-wjtSLLVWfzW3vJKct8LE9m6Dpr2N3QMFaQWpHw3DXJnfVH9kO_hm-MlAq4E532H/s1600-h/IMG_0482+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef8svz2mP50d25cuO2vXg33DJO-BaybJQBVTBzEf98fo30d7Y7ishGG9TTypGTz1_DZEF5i-OEEBy-wjtSLLVWfzW3vJKct8LE9m6Dpr2N3QMFaQWpHw3DXJnfVH9kO_hm-MlAq4E532H/s320/IMG_0482+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437175512088016562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_IS9h4UyrdHiiLziQcZJr1H4SU37VtBJzkcHH5hz-KWMgeX-yIeYk-wd2OQmXmhSxbvOeAcOi_LxHhmtWB-H7Dcl74Phc726qxtx0F97rEqRmhfQJE6N1Ql20biJ8Wmu_Ffm1vv2OrHN/s1600-h/IMG_0484+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_IS9h4UyrdHiiLziQcZJr1H4SU37VtBJzkcHH5hz-KWMgeX-yIeYk-wd2OQmXmhSxbvOeAcOi_LxHhmtWB-H7Dcl74Phc726qxtx0F97rEqRmhfQJE6N1Ql20biJ8Wmu_Ffm1vv2OrHN/s320/IMG_0484+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437175504132841202" /></a>I figured out how to use Heather's <a href="http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=123&s=1&sc=1">Cricut</a> to cut out the flowers. The pattern from the design has a hole in the center so we put a Dum Dum through the center. Pretty cute and goes pretty quick.<div><br /></div><div>Jackson's were a little more intensive.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_xais8seW9Ozr1MnLPxILYFSUtCD2EGGUJvRQ74MJpLTzKonV_Memdx3VXJisC-NRKk_hieMEhu3Ksle87lu-ZHlcR5x6GaWWJrvFSqB9-yTIsiGk1-FP13G_R0O5HIirlqSZUrXvHPN/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437178797151857090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Heather has this pattern that will cut out a little popcorn box. So I cut out 26 of these. Heather felt good enough to glue them together. So this is what he is giving out. Thought it all worked out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More later. Promise</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-24070005244445666272009-12-08T23:00:00.007-06:002009-12-09T00:01:45.446-06:00Busy couple of months<div style="text-align: left;">So I have talked about the dining room and the rest of the paint projects and meeting The Pioneer Woman. Once that all died down, it was time to decorate for Heather's party. Let the chaos ensue: a total of 7 trees.</div><div><br /></div><div>First up: the living room</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtJcOoDX-5udUSEnZp1g2-AsJKGYCQJVZShyphenhyphen_oclZvJ0i9KvBGpprGbjkFUN5a3ugxNkbqDBGNST-s-IhMupPi_P3Eli5Kstv78fV6KmISlzYwE_dbobM4-6uNofPZQCvSt6CRVdKN0ku/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413099482955549714" /></div><div><br /><div>This tree the photo tree. It has wallet-sized picture frames hung with red ribbon on the branches along with 4x6 and 5x7 framed photos stuck into the branches. The small frames a silver and the larger frames are black along with red ornament balls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next is the dining room.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYcbapgWLqKww6rpwiqAjs7IENkABZU7LpxSBszP3MnzHLpayQveHZznVm0DsjhvA1LukaabJ_rlgidqa7okCQeBlURMbiVpkUv5mC7j7lNJhM36ngK4sGkmENkjO4ps_0OHyfYdcnafv/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413099490481781922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp0yrobZh6rrGefPoSYKBhfZ4bPj8oqUGpBKE1y_-1JIncHADUn67zEMh0YZ0SYHOdPDT2F7Ju0cAVnfuT2_RMWmDGnoQJQJTgD1MqLt9KC1wWHhy01N83wPHVeq4vAqJPltBeWdW0no4/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413099498797877394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></div><div>This tree has all of the ornaments that we have either been given, kept from childhood, or things the kids made that they want to hang. Heather calls is the Heritage tree. I call it the tree with all of the old stuff. Then in the middle of the dining room table is the wreath. We just pulled the table slightly apart and dropped the electric cord through. The cord is run under table and the across a small part of the rug with piece of plastic that is the color of the rug to hide it and for safety.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other three trees are a set of a 5, 4, and 3 foot trees that we call our forest. Then each of the kids have one. Don't be that impressed.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the day of the party this is how the room looked.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ff5zy5cay5xVc44qmoJhqNIhORGCN5_jeiYfOExMVJtIwD9wQjNPh60_eZZcxreXIx-E2wjhuSZt9OaCefgzJd9LJ4rG9JqCyX41iqaz1j0d14pihgad-524A18bNiNexvtPHEHcYGTc/s1600-h/DSC_0070.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ff5zy5cay5xVc44qmoJhqNIhORGCN5_jeiYfOExMVJtIwD9wQjNPh60_eZZcxreXIx-E2wjhuSZt9OaCefgzJd9LJ4rG9JqCyX41iqaz1j0d14pihgad-524A18bNiNexvtPHEHcYGTc/s320/DSC_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413099507794934642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div>The jars on the table look like this:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGD15jM9t3ROn0CJcGls9MzM-mYX_SR9rIdhNIGmc0drFz81EIQ_HE-ifNFNGyp2CI7zG614r3yH5Bk1u-Otiq8K392wcyD55zX9FrTuNhIuGmv5dmiQqomwzsZQkwvol9miJWZY94Q99/s320/Cookie+Jars.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGD15jM9t3ROn0CJcGls9MzM-mYX_SR9rIdhNIGmc0drFz81EIQ_HE-ifNFNGyp2CI7zG614r3yH5Bk1u-Otiq8K392wcyD55zX9FrTuNhIuGmv5dmiQqomwzsZQkwvol9miJWZY94Q99/s320/Cookie+Jars.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><div>You can thank <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">Bakerella</a>. It's all her fault.Heather made 30 of these. They weren't too expensive but you spend about $65 to make 30.</div><div><br /></div><div>So after that not much happened. Heather went to OKC this last weekend to see <a href="http://www.lproof.org/">Beth Moore</a> along with <a href="http://www.goingbeyond.com/">Precila Shirer</a> and <a href="http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer?pagename=abt_kayarthur">Kay Arthur</a> with several friends and had a great time. Sunday morning all of the kids in the children's choir had their performance and they did well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday was Heather's birthday. So instead of trying to go out to dinner last night, we went down to <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=36.379279,-95.912018&spn=0.94974,1.334839&z=10">Tulsa</a> and went to <a href="http://www.tedscafe.com/">Ted's Cafe Escondito</a>. The place was very good. Until....</div><div><br /></div><div>The waiter asked if we had been there before while Heather and Reid went off to the restroom. I answered "No, we are here for my wife's birthday". Heather and Reid get back and just shortly after getting our food, they came over and ...</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcxzyCavtRrKZOkvvbjUlMjmGwM0w2Q3mWOlY9vcGShGycCdA4GXI2Ad3s5-vlnu51f3KgovMyTWLFrx2bxKRGLeYdn2xsemLQj7JzOKh1p6_4dlNOdVFZTcKZ72M8XNDERaKnpp89hC4/s1600-h/IMG_0400.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcxzyCavtRrKZOkvvbjUlMjmGwM0w2Q3mWOlY9vcGShGycCdA4GXI2Ad3s5-vlnu51f3KgovMyTWLFrx2bxKRGLeYdn2xsemLQj7JzOKh1p6_4dlNOdVFZTcKZ72M8XNDERaKnpp89hC4/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413100516338934050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">began to sing. The sombrero was an unexpected, but welcomed side benefit. Shortly after I took this with my <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3g/">iPhone</a>, Heather yanked it out of my hand and took this:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHHdw7Vo5jmfrqJhshVZ4FLWZ_W_O-pn-NwxGjTT63e8fHrnzo4JHPvWoRgJI_Cn2UHyy2Em5rRwEk4jbKYQIln-oiBv28TEcXwd05Am6uNJrX0lFKzgGwyfpUlltb9mw6PjE9yUJ2vdl/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413100524133193618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " />This way there was evidence that I was at least having a good time before the bodily harm started. They needed a way to ID the body. But no, Heather decided that I should pay in other ways.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fbGvhP0Q2oqN4qiAUnc_f-p3YvzmSX2i0-1iUaG9Tg_xVUVDULSLOrcjrd0q6etUmfiGjp4UfTs6r78jBcMzKDGgEOHOzR1daile67YHFW6jWC8ipb0nOuYzd82Wp9BnGrBH5zLCE2Hl/s1600-h/IMG_0402.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My penance - purchasing her a </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fbGvhP0Q2oqN4qiAUnc_f-p3YvzmSX2i0-1iUaG9Tg_xVUVDULSLOrcjrd0q6etUmfiGjp4UfTs6r78jBcMzKDGgEOHOzR1daile67YHFW6jWC8ipb0nOuYzd82Wp9BnGrBH5zLCE2Hl/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413100532270522754" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone 3GS</a>. 32 Gigabytes. Black. So her device has 4 times the storage and has some features that mine doesn't have. I'm thinking that her tactical maneuver was more psychological than financial. So much so that I actually had a slip of the tongue when were talking about her phone: I said "my phone" instead of "your phone". She immediately said "Excuse me?" Oops. Bad Damon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The funny thing was as Heather was getting instruction on how to use the device, the kids were over at the iPhone display playing games that were on their demo devices. When we went to leave, Reid asks "Where's my iPhone? I want one!" I couldn't contain my laughter. Sorry dear Reid. Not any time in a future that you can comprehend at the age of 4 3/4!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had another doctor appointment this week for some follow ups. I think I have just one more but we'll see. Heather gets an MRI Thursday for her knee. Looks like she may be having some repair done on her menisci on her left one. We'll just see.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More later.<br /></div></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-56993149556366181132009-11-01T15:15:00.003-06:002009-11-01T15:43:37.601-06:00What fun...<div>The last couple of weeks have not been fun at hour house. Jackson got sick with the swine Flu. And just as Jackson hit rock bottom, Heather and I started down. Then I just ended up with bronchitis not two weeks later.</div><div><br /></div><div>The highlight was Saturday night. One, the kids did all my work of gathering candy so I would have something to snack on. Two. I got to meet Ree - <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman</a> at a book signing in her little town a mere 30 minutes away.</div><div><br /></div><div>As it turns out, I've already known her (I say that loosely) for a while before Cathy Zielske's web page led me to Ree's. I used to work at the hospital in the town I live in, which is Ree grew up; just 50 miles from her ranch. Her brother Mike worked there and he would talk about his sister Ree. It finally hit me one time when I was reading her blog and she was talking about her brother. I thought that the person she was describing was the Mike I knew from the hospital. Lo and behold, she was.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then. Jackson used to go to school with a boy at his old school who is now on his swim team. His mom, Vanessa and Heather are friends. Vanessa has an email address that is tied to her husband's business. Now I knew Vanessa's husband was in the cattle business, but there again was able to put 2 and 2 together. Just funny that way. </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Rqcv072_yW-S_cXt3h8Vr0ZGxhyphenhyphenN9I0OD4d0DMz5Y1kK8G6ibhfw9XGogaWqSV-6yRoNa8Cl_1aoFxgsqCAzOgUxukpq1w_Hx2dxTkwjs0Xt9GR6kTIxSNf9JwgZBHDNhp-fsqEb-o3-/s320/Ree+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399248392924913522" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I snapped the above picture with my iPhone. I didn't notice then that she had her camera right there on the table.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE50B2CdsXyn0CDfyFZCKNHDHoWS5KyXT4scWW1QewlQykTcxT6lh_-QBTOSw7jCwO5DBpkisA7JPjliG9Uxbccf3bilq1FU0MdSkiF8wZT6Nbg1OS0RNzqjU-f29mRyIdOlLUanO2_J_7/s1600-h/Ree+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE50B2CdsXyn0CDfyFZCKNHDHoWS5KyXT4scWW1QewlQykTcxT6lh_-QBTOSw7jCwO5DBpkisA7JPjliG9Uxbccf3bilq1FU0MdSkiF8wZT6Nbg1OS0RNzqjU-f29mRyIdOlLUanO2_J_7/s320/Ree+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399248409542148450" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn6liKczE3JJsOzcJC30t3xZ91iuaLtptdGZVbiKXkF1s_ZzezhZh21hoxsO1QlRiVsD9XQlc0rom6AzUp0w1geVbIX8iU8xJqc-s4YE2VFW7Km304iS0DNHJCurcxcZaqxKdnW3V1p5T/s1600-h/Ree+Signing.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsn6liKczE3JJsOzcJC30t3xZ91iuaLtptdGZVbiKXkF1s_ZzezhZh21hoxsO1QlRiVsD9XQlc0rom6AzUp0w1geVbIX8iU8xJqc-s4YE2VFW7Km304iS0DNHJCurcxcZaqxKdnW3V1p5T/s320/Ree+Signing.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399248404425151522" /></a><br /><br />So I waited in line and snapped the two pictures above. I changed the one to black and white using her actions. Not that she didn't look nice, but the B&W looks really good.<div><br /></div><div>So when it was my turn, I took my books up to her and she was very nice. I told her about I knew Mike and Vanessa. She did think that it was funny that we could not get more than 2 degrees away (the whole 6 degrees of separation thing). I noticed her Nikon D3 on the table and commented on it. She then said "Oh, pick it up and shoot a few frames and see what you think." She then commented on my "old" Nikon D70 (which is what her first digital SLR was) and said that it is a great camera. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, it was well worth making the little hop over there.<br /><br /></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-14265224819642273202009-10-19T16:44:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.685-06:00Done painting...for now<p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So my project as of late was to paint the dining room while of course led to the entry and hall. Then of course led to trim and doors.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This this the dining room before:</span></span></div><p></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBrJlBTWQFN9d0Aiqaks_RtR9K921bdhGwPjQDyUoWwDxzFEtHp5ZMiqrSS5EVOmi4SI1qzVCn_Pd7CVoMxH1tdhmKKzumzSNGIAkFb3oXzshqaoemKpNmeq_ARJMY7Ypq560zlP3tc0/s1600-h/DSC_0001-706707.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBrJlBTWQFN9d0Aiqaks_RtR9K921bdhGwPjQDyUoWwDxzFEtHp5ZMiqrSS5EVOmi4SI1qzVCn_Pd7CVoMxH1tdhmKKzumzSNGIAkFb3oXzshqaoemKpNmeq_ARJMY7Ypq560zlP3tc0/s320/DSC_0001-706707.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430416686693634" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It took me about a week to get it completely done. During that week this is what we tried to ignore (though it made the house feel trashed)</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h9Cp5FvVSGtidR7ll1KRFyx7pim7JOGLyaHCAucgz5OxvdTXcd7httDrhoPkIM7NS2JjaAfj5S9Wh9CqOQw66Wn0suZA_GdBK_-uP0CCRe6Kc9YiivIOKJbp_5tMip34GSX_D40HWQ0/s1600-h/DSC_0068-708474.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h9Cp5FvVSGtidR7ll1KRFyx7pim7JOGLyaHCAucgz5OxvdTXcd7httDrhoPkIM7NS2JjaAfj5S9Wh9CqOQw66Wn0suZA_GdBK_-uP0CCRe6Kc9YiivIOKJbp_5tMip34GSX_D40HWQ0/s320/DSC_0068-708474.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430427682917042" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_FgX2j1F22gHDbI5SlchRtPFgMqY3LRU5Tru4Zalsq21aDZr3KoSyycp2v7uWB7hASaxb4HzzwKwPfMmzTTbwdKpaWERQOSSrUr46_-PHm_25oOBiaemOf6ySus7LY2H30OARIiTHbk/s1600-h/DSC_0067-710116.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_FgX2j1F22gHDbI5SlchRtPFgMqY3LRU5Tru4Zalsq21aDZr3KoSyycp2v7uWB7hASaxb4HzzwKwPfMmzTTbwdKpaWERQOSSrUr46_-PHm_25oOBiaemOf6ySus7LY2H30OARIiTHbk/s320/DSC_0067-710116.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430436851358882" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the final result:</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLXO4MdFCY4aLlKme_eQY4akYdTIz1YOD9UJvNSw-Fz05RfSuCX_IoyY4oaEQPm1EXHNQ1KBnnvxcqUrAUizSTI8PGFGZcWoPLiNSGaK72oHI5yoiafKteIyfJKH3Ckb9KiRp-EKLmm8/s1600-h/DSC_0069-712156.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLXO4MdFCY4aLlKme_eQY4akYdTIz1YOD9UJvNSw-Fz05RfSuCX_IoyY4oaEQPm1EXHNQ1KBnnvxcqUrAUizSTI8PGFGZcWoPLiNSGaK72oHI5yoiafKteIyfJKH3Ckb9KiRp-EKLmm8/s320/DSC_0069-712156.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430444459450738" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc9N-qL6550iltwCNY9PmoPIyDXcxb_K03-d19p5-Fl8QwJ9zo2JI7PB4pLDegpIazAZkg-NWGxEc7k7jN4zCTtCcGchzmZA4hIdB2d7MmcgyV2lfKgZOPnQr3ApkBnVCLPoCZKg7Sqc/s1600-h/DSC_0070-714045.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc9N-qL6550iltwCNY9PmoPIyDXcxb_K03-d19p5-Fl8QwJ9zo2JI7PB4pLDegpIazAZkg-NWGxEc7k7jN4zCTtCcGchzmZA4hIdB2d7MmcgyV2lfKgZOPnQr3ApkBnVCLPoCZKg7Sqc/s320/DSC_0070-714045.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430451861875362" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I also painted the doors and trim in the entry and hall. They were just an old, stained wood door. They now match the trim in the bright white. My final project was the front door.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bBkQ_vHPSBvdakGDTGrREn47yp0kCW_Uk3oi76W9AjFEErMMssF3bAMncbr9tmScIC8Tidwci02sFKo17Y9oR4tDakHiu0N1DGIHx-tg6onBKUIfAnaLRgC9CHwbvpa3wIxUhDRC0KE/s1600-h/IMG_0359-715986.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bBkQ_vHPSBvdakGDTGrREn47yp0kCW_Uk3oi76W9AjFEErMMssF3bAMncbr9tmScIC8Tidwci02sFKo17Y9oR4tDakHiu0N1DGIHx-tg6onBKUIfAnaLRgC9CHwbvpa3wIxUhDRC0KE/s320/IMG_0359-715986.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430461753562578" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nothing special. Just a green door. After sanding and painting, this is how it looks now.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yX6LJDwR6ttCk6x9kUNfk5wEbeCZ5cJskYdNoI77VdY7ugFa9-x0TaoKopvZWdNlTnAASVg-3l3U72JvSxyXO6HmpZbq2aOAKHBobG8TpL1-UhXoLKo69IGBsiTx2Bokm6__X2_pxak/s1600-h/IMG_0362-717823.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yX6LJDwR6ttCk6x9kUNfk5wEbeCZ5cJskYdNoI77VdY7ugFa9-x0TaoKopvZWdNlTnAASVg-3l3U72JvSxyXO6HmpZbq2aOAKHBobG8TpL1-UhXoLKo69IGBsiTx2Bokm6__X2_pxak/s320/IMG_0362-717823.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430465873613762" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One would think this is just a black front door. One would be wrong.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmho_NGwWGVoiHmZ6y-6kXc9bSM2W-FftJYgVjCcJs8lbm765iVLva6wjtaeGLFTiMUhwsxie8iBf-B5m_Xr-163CEYi7UQJ1QCPRRchOsfQF0lqdrcVDT_m-B8y4fDV89fAnUNwI8Zk/s1600-h/IMG_0363-719666.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmho_NGwWGVoiHmZ6y-6kXc9bSM2W-FftJYgVjCcJs8lbm765iVLva6wjtaeGLFTiMUhwsxie8iBf-B5m_Xr-163CEYi7UQJ1QCPRRchOsfQF0lqdrcVDT_m-B8y4fDV89fAnUNwI8Zk/s320/IMG_0363-719666.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430475066046978" /></span></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A little closer.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00LwHL9SXU6g7t987DfkPEFozMxIVOmx6hZxW-Ce8-imbA01pIAbdxkS-o-5olBdhOu-yxhgnvLPq9NviE7ZcRmcXiHIc_zlrF6x6HSts1PB0j8WwChz87tycW6kCzXx-k3b7QZNWurw/s1600-h/IMG_0365-721688.jpeg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00LwHL9SXU6g7t987DfkPEFozMxIVOmx6hZxW-Ce8-imbA01pIAbdxkS-o-5olBdhOu-yxhgnvLPq9NviE7ZcRmcXiHIc_zlrF6x6HSts1PB0j8WwChz87tycW6kCzXx-k3b7QZNWurw/s320/IMG_0365-721688.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394430481699203826" /></span></span></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is covered in chalkboard paint! We made the word stencil using Heather's </span></span><a href="http://www.cricut.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cricut</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and some stencil material you can get for it as well as a leaf stencil. We love the way the door looks. There is a downside; on the wood, even primed and sanded, it can scrape off if you press too hard and if the chalk has a point like a pencil. It really doesn't take much pressure to get the chalk on the door. For the words, I just rubbed a little chalk in the stencil and then used my finger to spread it around within the template. This was so worth the effort!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More later.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UPDATE: Heather got out one of her Stampin' Up! stamp sets and rubbed the white chalk on a stamp and filled it in with some orange chalk. Very cool!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf-VEn0jFtQbSmFExXyuU4AwqBALrwuM6lyd8fOJd9rn-r-D5Ro_oekxdieOWZS_vC6ny6NE8hRYrBeRrQpPFw85nfERMfS-kMJFvUir6Vuourmvxpfn00VdX0PsgorwRmxprbrsWK5Y/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf-VEn0jFtQbSmFExXyuU4AwqBALrwuM6lyd8fOJd9rn-r-D5Ro_oekxdieOWZS_vC6ny6NE8hRYrBeRrQpPFw85nfERMfS-kMJFvUir6Vuourmvxpfn00VdX0PsgorwRmxprbrsWK5Y/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394440539632808450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></a></span></span></div></span><div></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-62544863421002081002009-08-28T23:45:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.685-06:00More practicing what I learned in Dallas.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwWLfQLuSXZnsxrbbjWkIU5L1jQinMsSmFlnpPRW4zEtWTdxoDgI52CjM_DVX8UC9OI-BTtDTbtKOTpgJwtuGJuTWZ6fWH7lQF7udv5_vOrpSNfohyEB-VliqJagRk2jh3K3khDvJCRQ/s1600-h/DSC_0360-717141.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwWLfQLuSXZnsxrbbjWkIU5L1jQinMsSmFlnpPRW4zEtWTdxoDgI52CjM_DVX8UC9OI-BTtDTbtKOTpgJwtuGJuTWZ6fWH7lQF7udv5_vOrpSNfohyEB-VliqJagRk2jh3K3khDvJCRQ/s320/DSC_0360-717141.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242697649062162" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAt1vs14El8QAAV0siFZzEIUMYy0kdVTHNguclQyTNLU9_ptKzQg7X-Q21nnt2z-CPc8_2CT3mmcXDsW3tbfjGa6C30fDGyahmq-_kgT3QFaYdaEdxiio394tUajoOKBWcQwq3m5PYBkg/s1600-h/DSC_0373-718851.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAt1vs14El8QAAV0siFZzEIUMYy0kdVTHNguclQyTNLU9_ptKzQg7X-Q21nnt2z-CPc8_2CT3mmcXDsW3tbfjGa6C30fDGyahmq-_kgT3QFaYdaEdxiio394tUajoOKBWcQwq3m5PYBkg/s320/DSC_0373-718851.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242703101031858" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMqOtH5-4WVWoOcigwhnK-11VeAZE7sNUmecalVmrg6R3D_pBmaXge4SQrWIZELbqoXAaZmlFKmXGdFcvZc8g17DZItAQb2jX7qjejVO1GXhuuyH4et_r_eXrJ3whdMwWbUKIkUHMEPQ/s1600-h/DSC_0376-720360.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMqOtH5-4WVWoOcigwhnK-11VeAZE7sNUmecalVmrg6R3D_pBmaXge4SQrWIZELbqoXAaZmlFKmXGdFcvZc8g17DZItAQb2jX7qjejVO1GXhuuyH4et_r_eXrJ3whdMwWbUKIkUHMEPQ/s320/DSC_0376-720360.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242710250547538" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEx386RXnNVXOVhlzDhAkeF5f9qaLJ4Qh7bNwEDEQtXHWgJtu_RsIDv0DSHlcEQCpX5Gm6jURrLjwkQEnaaOk7QSOrPamDwvHRH6MzBTk3CpemeoWFww5g4zfoaHg4abdLoV_ulFTNcc/s1600-h/DSC_0378-721487.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEx386RXnNVXOVhlzDhAkeF5f9qaLJ4Qh7bNwEDEQtXHWgJtu_RsIDv0DSHlcEQCpX5Gm6jURrLjwkQEnaaOk7QSOrPamDwvHRH6MzBTk3CpemeoWFww5g4zfoaHg4abdLoV_ulFTNcc/s320/DSC_0378-721487.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242716722752050" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnv3hUf_29youod0WnA1BeChdXdOelNuvjUjVyYNMHZtcepTLcY5xyrHpGdTOejcW0p_V8AAXhJnBNbFrOHsoaoi9v6MbtfGNIktFlv9pE8PcTUMhqYtCGcZaxRlHKgYc8XKpUh7APuA/s1600-h/DSC_0390-722761.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnv3hUf_29youod0WnA1BeChdXdOelNuvjUjVyYNMHZtcepTLcY5xyrHpGdTOejcW0p_V8AAXhJnBNbFrOHsoaoi9v6MbtfGNIktFlv9pE8PcTUMhqYtCGcZaxRlHKgYc8XKpUh7APuA/s320/DSC_0390-722761.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242721569403042" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbQWcmVvM66EkzFpzsPoiSOUjSQzPaVtfK0XFV5SbzPfudXTGoxb_xqd7HZpad0VXx_8Erfr7FciXTdMaBknWxYqYLn0Sl_JfuW38JykJWgkOeI2AQ8QHeat0Ie7WtC-2h-oJyT92mBg/s1600-h/DSC_0409-724560.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbQWcmVvM66EkzFpzsPoiSOUjSQzPaVtfK0XFV5SbzPfudXTGoxb_xqd7HZpad0VXx_8Erfr7FciXTdMaBknWxYqYLn0Sl_JfuW38JykJWgkOeI2AQ8QHeat0Ie7WtC-2h-oJyT92mBg/s320/DSC_0409-724560.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242730824169714" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn9RcstkLIrNv1OzHqZDMZMuO-u9K1AWb2kznK2QorntwrI53ExM9RMcMuJuhbOHaD5LNZAVv2Yxx4OGQGJlGlZXcjEIUj1durrfR36VCSUirGwa9sXxEFaql1BszzIbfV3QCs4voMaQ/s1600-h/DSC_0410-725986.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn9RcstkLIrNv1OzHqZDMZMuO-u9K1AWb2kznK2QorntwrI53ExM9RMcMuJuhbOHaD5LNZAVv2Yxx4OGQGJlGlZXcjEIUj1durrfR36VCSUirGwa9sXxEFaql1BszzIbfV3QCs4voMaQ/s320/DSC_0410-725986.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242737136371378" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSNGU2VMN3znWiRvkj6wcKdydmW71ediHPABWEOzAC0kT9GRsy0r4iWNTgeMcUCR5UBMTW7CvSIkqaktpdxtOcZyjwN3yF7L5TmNqPkzX9tSo_C9kB2r-laKYS7oXgNEAKiPwlU7NYI4/s1600-h/DSC_0411-727166.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSNGU2VMN3znWiRvkj6wcKdydmW71ediHPABWEOzAC0kT9GRsy0r4iWNTgeMcUCR5UBMTW7CvSIkqaktpdxtOcZyjwN3yF7L5TmNqPkzX9tSo_C9kB2r-laKYS7oXgNEAKiPwlU7NYI4/s320/DSC_0411-727166.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242743973154706" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCTXnp-wSInVwxzGgWAGDBHCtsKnebv7F3UcVHjSK3uBv0kGnN0IEN_tqyoMI46JgjER5ibU1VgyGv2BiWU2cI5ui1BUvmgh1vN6gEE21rH31iwhLm2fETkZ1ZM8X3CreU3SSvTi8vFQ/s1600-h/DSC_0414-728477.jpeg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCTXnp-wSInVwxzGgWAGDBHCtsKnebv7F3UcVHjSK3uBv0kGnN0IEN_tqyoMI46JgjER5ibU1VgyGv2BiWU2cI5ui1BUvmgh1vN6gEE21rH31iwhLm2fETkZ1ZM8X3CreU3SSvTi8vFQ/s320/DSC_0414-728477.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375242746003831602" /></a></p>So if the all-to-entertaining Sarah Goodman is reading this, I am so really trying to use manual more and more. I love how the images below (all shot in manual) really came out so much closer to what I saw with my eye. The color, the brightness, etc. None of these have been run <br />through Photoshop. All were shot on 400 or 800 ISO and auto white balance. I think I am getting there. Just more practice. And kids that aren't mine. I thought, "I'll let them be them for a while and then also get some of what I want" Yeah, no. Or not well. But that is not <br />Jackson. He was helpful. Now the 4 1/2 year old was a slightly different story.<p>Another problem is I am really finding that, yeah, the kit lenses do pretty much suck when you want natural light. I really wanted to argue with you and Candice Stringham, that indeed yes, you can get great images with a kit lens. But I am finding that the circumstances for <br />that have to be just right and I would really have lost that discussion. Oh well. I only have a wish list of about 3 lenses that are all constant 2.8 (I have a 1.8 50mm that someone is using). </p><p>Jackson one night noticed that I was looking at a camera and some lenses. The conversation went like so:</p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span></p><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jackson: What'ya doin'? Me: Looking at a camera and lens. J: How much it it? Me: $xxxx Jackson: Will that hurt my college fund?</span></span></span></h3><p></p><p>We won't discuss what that will do to a college fund, now will we.</p>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-60405261667168424342009-08-09T00:11:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00More playing with the camera.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKABO-viFBrzY2fJcY-JIwdUD6subAYoCkEw2fHY55yhIr-18I8-zbnGf9LHlAsvOlyMe0ZSYPhCWsevDBO5ks0KPjfrBZGe1usog0FMKXP9qCAqC7T-FRj8n1XuwptLmUeSmM1w3moZs/s1600-h/_DSC0340-710902.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKABO-viFBrzY2fJcY-JIwdUD6subAYoCkEw2fHY55yhIr-18I8-zbnGf9LHlAsvOlyMe0ZSYPhCWsevDBO5ks0KPjfrBZGe1usog0FMKXP9qCAqC7T-FRj8n1XuwptLmUeSmM1w3moZs/s320/_DSC0340-710902.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827838508979906" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgAXMdkzw1bHO0L9jsb5kwNkrb2VqUPSxGSwAsRVjbUzL5t0FezN0I35EsmDR5CwQcZ5xQHJwsT66Um4NFGRHnuX62Ke_N6gSmULk33EGtZeLYAP-v6a8DFKhD9B7PUQpQtZWN5yzGUg/s1600-h/_DSC0333-711679.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgAXMdkzw1bHO0L9jsb5kwNkrb2VqUPSxGSwAsRVjbUzL5t0FezN0I35EsmDR5CwQcZ5xQHJwsT66Um4NFGRHnuX62Ke_N6gSmULk33EGtZeLYAP-v6a8DFKhD9B7PUQpQtZWN5yzGUg/s320/_DSC0333-711679.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827841352022770" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgmItVR1PI_xxOey2vRTIhuh4WASNF-qiLf84KYKMmO5PWi6aTbgvRcwsV3PK0-hZqZvhzRJY5CH9J88qq77zRMKh9lCNUWE08zdBqf9uCDYAncTz7WCKq9UWL1RTSRlQ7Y3mZ9tcaQM/s1600-h/_DSC0330-712488.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgmItVR1PI_xxOey2vRTIhuh4WASNF-qiLf84KYKMmO5PWi6aTbgvRcwsV3PK0-hZqZvhzRJY5CH9J88qq77zRMKh9lCNUWE08zdBqf9uCDYAncTz7WCKq9UWL1RTSRlQ7Y3mZ9tcaQM/s320/_DSC0330-712488.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827846010595922" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlSaSo-4rLwZUIAuIaNoMc8d0608rbKXr3RcNTOIns9j2ESGZGwKhdYVAvOUC5ekhu5NeELLGgQSpjJkMsbJvOYLWXsxAH8sc3o-gUFhrUoNxy-RChHjA5j6Lx5RFK6P4jSUJ3mmiW6c/s1600-h/_DSC0327-713230.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlSaSo-4rLwZUIAuIaNoMc8d0608rbKXr3RcNTOIns9j2ESGZGwKhdYVAvOUC5ekhu5NeELLGgQSpjJkMsbJvOYLWXsxAH8sc3o-gUFhrUoNxy-RChHjA5j6Lx5RFK6P4jSUJ3mmiW6c/s320/_DSC0327-713230.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827850314941938" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ak-LwcyyRQ-0m20r7p2_G2PGOZGN9nvlvuJCEBUl6BwWhxnNWDx9GZGAeyQPSalvGSIR9VPsFPKX8eQvp7BCP07d8wytbxxL_yELE7l9J9KI4_rXT0x_7_O9xIOVyAlvtIuCmJ9C4EA/s1600-h/_DSC0324-714851.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ak-LwcyyRQ-0m20r7p2_G2PGOZGN9nvlvuJCEBUl6BwWhxnNWDx9GZGAeyQPSalvGSIR9VPsFPKX8eQvp7BCP07d8wytbxxL_yELE7l9J9KI4_rXT0x_7_O9xIOVyAlvtIuCmJ9C4EA/s320/_DSC0324-714851.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827853846526210" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wvgplpc3egQk6-UxH3Ty8bGLBJm4eX-9xw5ugAu1Q-7vPpdFZGEDL14V-gFIqxPwW7ziZBm3qiT4nz-YH42_LsuFtvIjJNk6IfHD2tWS24K-PFbV_jQMisSkL96Frl5XgsNoTT8f38E/s1600-h/_DSC0322-715582.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wvgplpc3egQk6-UxH3Ty8bGLBJm4eX-9xw5ugAu1Q-7vPpdFZGEDL14V-gFIqxPwW7ziZBm3qiT4nz-YH42_LsuFtvIjJNk6IfHD2tWS24K-PFbV_jQMisSkL96Frl5XgsNoTT8f38E/s320/_DSC0322-715582.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827857321747058" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTvuRRlh3cM38L1YGy9NwGxuZroRQApr2o99q3H8sFCVAOxbyj3jzWCm2eHLggU5M6JHEviG5tG_e906i1ivdt9J4yUhzhr3jXS_pBl3LY4usQ-UvvKPme5k5DcO-JmxrKJ3aXvKbjso/s1600-h/_DSC0321-716360.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTvuRRlh3cM38L1YGy9NwGxuZroRQApr2o99q3H8sFCVAOxbyj3jzWCm2eHLggU5M6JHEviG5tG_e906i1ivdt9J4yUhzhr3jXS_pBl3LY4usQ-UvvKPme5k5DcO-JmxrKJ3aXvKbjso/s320/_DSC0321-716360.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827862141172258" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0Fy7vOiP8JNwqiy7Vk00o9PyxqgFCEKUCDpWTdVepPKm19oXhYnxQmZbDOqqfQRPMAoxA-DVDsoy-x1AlkYwx6F6L4GxSe3qlHH7wl1sgQhCWbObo1GjyhdxEGmFXM3iRrBUyiWbcuw/s1600-h/_DSC0357-716907.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0Fy7vOiP8JNwqiy7Vk00o9PyxqgFCEKUCDpWTdVepPKm19oXhYnxQmZbDOqqfQRPMAoxA-DVDsoy-x1AlkYwx6F6L4GxSe3qlHH7wl1sgQhCWbObo1GjyhdxEGmFXM3iRrBUyiWbcuw/s320/_DSC0357-716907.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827861759954882" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHEj77gQEcEZ3FCjFKAi0GDDUpup8BTMsmXRa9R2YwLi52G293BL6GpxTtj4hbWe3tR2CFQmQwO9pVZdHXQQNwK5XAHuPFMoX6uaouHmpWKPwjMllZRnKRvQXhcKJyvY-IiqpOMHCEck/s1600-h/_DSC0354-717860.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHEj77gQEcEZ3FCjFKAi0GDDUpup8BTMsmXRa9R2YwLi52G293BL6GpxTtj4hbWe3tR2CFQmQwO9pVZdHXQQNwK5XAHuPFMoX6uaouHmpWKPwjMllZRnKRvQXhcKJyvY-IiqpOMHCEck/s320/_DSC0354-717860.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827869392393714" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3h4yXkyqwnsSb3e80IfMIU8_FneXV1zYz7ux42tP2_Xjk0AAEYwD1lNC09ZSEWyR43UB-huVVZiRseh8zg3OeGd_8M0uLSUl0MV2uEwILlrKCxQAsQKUxQZBmhUgqIk6cAmcHrie6FE/s1600-h/_DSC0343-718801.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3h4yXkyqwnsSb3e80IfMIU8_FneXV1zYz7ux42tP2_Xjk0AAEYwD1lNC09ZSEWyR43UB-huVVZiRseh8zg3OeGd_8M0uLSUl0MV2uEwILlrKCxQAsQKUxQZBmhUgqIk6cAmcHrie6FE/s320/_DSC0343-718801.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367827870188514530" /></a></p>So tonight the kids were outside playing on their bikes and scooters. <br>So I took the opportunity to play more with my camera in manual mode <br>and the different metering modes. I think i horrified Jackson and <br>confused Reid when at one point I was laying down in the street at <br>they passed by.<p>I used my Nikon D70 and NOT Heather's D90; using the D90 make me want <br>the D300 worse because of the speed and it is going to be quite a <br>while before that happens. All images were taken with a NIKKOR <br>70-300mm Zoom AF-S f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR lens.Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-48663607043034059912009-08-03T00:58:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00The Birthday<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y0mPIqQl0EKRVEH_Dw_dBzuaTIGFYkZf4MwvgHiWTnUE0ukNOmI0oMNh-k0X4c1M4b2Ht_o1EawtJKnmq4B_z8Z7v830ZxCzXnhHtLKwf-2PR_72yUtQqcfWTkWT8DuXLafDG_MjF0c/s1600-h/DSC_0171-746955.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365613081820951266" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y0mPIqQl0EKRVEH_Dw_dBzuaTIGFYkZf4MwvgHiWTnUE0ukNOmI0oMNh-k0X4c1M4b2Ht_o1EawtJKnmq4B_z8Z7v830ZxCzXnhHtLKwf-2PR_72yUtQqcfWTkWT8DuXLafDG_MjF0c/s320/DSC_0171-746955.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So another year has come and gone. Jackson is now 10. I am actually having some issues with this. He is no longer my little boy, but at the same time he is. The evidence of him turning into a tween has been more evident over the last couple of months. Pokemon is still in full effect, but watching shows like The Suite Life, The Wizards of Wavery Place, and shows on Cartoon Network Real like Build Destroy Build. And (I love this), he has finally told me to stop doing something because I was embarrassing him. Only one more school year and he will be in middle school.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">He had a good party at the ConocoPhillips swimming pool with several of his friends. His cake? It look like an Oreo thanks to a pan that we bought was Williams-Sonoma. After having his party we went to Red Robin in Tulsa for his dinner of choice. Of course, we had to get the Tower of Onion Rings. The rest of the afternoon he spent playing Will Sport Resort.</span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzJLHnHpHzuaz4ww9bfNx-lKp4bbR1TauYy_PURPrdAZBuaTfAJhY5Esskp5h6PqDUaS4t0bUwu9bTfbTGdZnNWgdhp_PuR_OSieGF6u-2mDg2k4IvFNTtJzg4n3xuL9ougHTOv6DkjQ/s1600-h/DSC_0280-747990.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365613088234537058" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzJLHnHpHzuaz4ww9bfNx-lKp4bbR1TauYy_PURPrdAZBuaTfAJhY5Esskp5h6PqDUaS4t0bUwu9bTfbTGdZnNWgdhp_PuR_OSieGF6u-2mDg2k4IvFNTtJzg4n3xuL9ougHTOv6DkjQ/s320/DSC_0280-747990.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgRGhg3VxAVv0LLQ8IPktOV7SzBQwGHrzOaePwAueoUzyekNqpZEbDka9aWVLaNQt-w7CcRmZ1fptoBsZvYAu5_WuqFtYMIndyMJXdO7RZY4W7LysqvK9IYck4pr1qj9iocACmBfcYHs/s1600-h/DSC_0272-749874.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365613092643151570" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgRGhg3VxAVv0LLQ8IPktOV7SzBQwGHrzOaePwAueoUzyekNqpZEbDka9aWVLaNQt-w7CcRmZ1fptoBsZvYAu5_WuqFtYMIndyMJXdO7RZY4W7LysqvK9IYck4pr1qj9iocACmBfcYHs/s320/DSC_0272-749874.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After having spent the last week in Dallas learning more on photography at the <a href="http://www.scrapandpapercorner.com/events/cpr/">Creative Photography Retreat</a>, I decided to put it to work. So I happened to be at Wal-Mart and saw this shower curtain and thought it would make a cool background. I look at the pictures above and, again it hits me that he is not so little any more. I'm not sure I can say that I have 2 young kids and that is strange.</span></span>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-41651022011863943512009-08-01T01:12:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00And the tradition continues<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9qXVqChaoyLPApJY9E3CjFNjIM8k6aNHQuym_GqKbr_JlEqfGwkRmWTB_-c2l_NX15Cp854RoLrCHyM7hNsiRwHTFVngf3rZ_1u9j2fYLAg7iSn2t96_eofEUzt0gnC9bN_lTzCi1Xw/s1600-h/DSC_0188-793583.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9qXVqChaoyLPApJY9E3CjFNjIM8k6aNHQuym_GqKbr_JlEqfGwkRmWTB_-c2l_NX15Cp854RoLrCHyM7hNsiRwHTFVngf3rZ_1u9j2fYLAg7iSn2t96_eofEUzt0gnC9bN_lTzCi1Xw/s320/DSC_0188-793583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364874978670284898" /></a></p>Every year since Jackson has been born, we put balloons up around his <br>doorframe - one for each year. We are now up to 10! 10! How is it that <br>he is 10. A decade. I don't feel almost 40 and don't look it (I don't <br>think, HA!). But, even though I may run 15 miles a week, blowing up <br>one more balloon gets tough. Once he hits 12, I think a balloon <br>bouquet will just be ordered and tied to his door handle.Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-1712424010445394902009-03-24T18:21:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00A little of Reid...I posted this on my Facebook but forgot to put this out on my blog. We had pictures of Reid taken where she got to wear a tutu and she was the only one to wear it. The photographer had a thing called Tutus for Wishes where the session fees were donated to the local Make-a-wish foundation. It was too funny.<div><br /></div><div>Evidence here:<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nboAFVcRBC0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nboAFVcRBC0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-26460045561115818262009-03-05T23:35:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00The reality of the economy<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">I know that what is going on in the economy is nothing new for anyone but the reality of staffing reductions (AKA layoffs) is really killing me.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">I work for a large global energy company that recently announced in the news that they are going to reduce staffing by 4% globally. So I thought, OK, globally that is not a large number out of 36,000 employees.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">Suddenly, the game changed and now my company is laying off 4% in Bartlesville and one of my close friends was in that 4% and this will go on through March. That brought this layoff thing roaring back into our lives. We survived my wife's layoff in 2006 6 weeks after moving into a new home and came out of it fine, but the emotions of potentially losing a job are just alive and raw today for her. Just before her layoff, things in our lives were starting to really click along; new house, reducing debt, etc. And now here we are. After Heather's dad died, we have been able to pay off all of our debt other than my car and put a large amount of money towards the principal of the house. Again, things finally seemed to get into place for us again. Then yesterday happened. And here we are looking over our backs.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">This is a new arena for me because I have never worked anywhere before where this was a ever a possibility. In my department, one employee asked to be laid off and she was granted her wish. There was another who I believe was blindsided.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">So I has a sit down with my boss to just talk this out. She understands what has happened to us before and sees my perspective. What she could do was say was to think about 2008 and how my review went and go from there. I did have a very high score last year so that relieved me somewhat.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande';">But, the potential is always there and the "what ifs" and "maybes" are just going to to make for the longest and possibly one of the most stressful of my life. Good thing I don't have high blood pressure issues cause this could kill me if I did.</span></span></span><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-66202301051992960062009-02-17T11:01:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.686-06:00New underwear<!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> <P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">OK, This may be a little much but too bad.</FONT> </P> <P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I am now down about 65 pounds and I finally had to break down and buy some new boxer briefs So I get dressed this morning and all morning I just field weird to wear clothing that actually fits my new size because the leg openings come up higher on my legs than they did in my Xl and XXL pairs.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Well, this morning, my daughter (age 4) comes in all concerned to my wife that I had thrown away my old underwear. </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">My wife was in sorting laundry and she said, "Mom, Dad's underwear is in the trash. What is he going to wear?"</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> My wife </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I tried to explain that it was too big and she said, "No, he isn't growing."</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> LOL!</FONT></P> <BR> Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-89983526129237546922009-01-09T11:39:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:001 year ago today...<span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">1 year ago I had enough. Enough of being tired. Enough of hating how I looked. Enough of...enough. I was at my breaking point and was done.<br /><br />I really think turning 35 in December of 2007 was a turning point. As I posted <a href="http://damon-crawley.blogspot.com/2008/07/its-anniversary.html">here</a>, I have said for the last couple of years that I need to do something and was not going to be like this at 40. And I half-heartedly tried. At the time I meant it and started off well but in the end I just wasn't at my breaking point where I was totally committed to change. The "commitments" were temporary at best.<br /><br />I found myself saying that I have 5 more years to get myself together. But then I realized that 5 years would essentially mean never going to happen. So I changed my statement to not be 36 and like this. I signed up on Jan 10, 2008. But this time was different and I knew it. My whole attitude about it was different and the reasons why were too. I was doing it for me. Not for my wife or for attention from other people, but for me. I was putting myself on the list of priorities. And it felt good. It still feels good to be on that list; everyday. And I have not regretted it.<br /><br />So where am I at on this mile-marker of the road of life? Am I different now that I am 36 (commentary: how strange is to say I am </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">36</span><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">; Shouldn't I be more "grown up" and responsible and in a higher level job making more and whatever else than I am?) Yes I am.<br /><br />At this time last year:<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG1VtMCx1HBq2AKuK9iE2FhlD2J-r47FuohsDNg4ZcN6ztkQTgRkIJjs_-dxNYfHiB4wyBZt9_7UFIPtl-xc8CryIpvEqTxztWqsXTtQRJGNoJQbBAIpYOYwESGfFa2QC_4Viu2GaGS4/s320/DSC_0044.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG1VtMCx1HBq2AKuK9iE2FhlD2J-r47FuohsDNg4ZcN6ztkQTgRkIJjs_-dxNYfHiB4wyBZt9_7UFIPtl-xc8CryIpvEqTxztWqsXTtQRJGNoJQbBAIpYOYwESGfFa2QC_4Viu2GaGS4/s320/DSC_0044.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="font-family:lucida grande;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">I weighed in at 263 pounds</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Wore XXL shirts and 44 waist pants</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">If there was any exercise, running lasted for 1 minute at 4.5 mph at a time (pathetic!)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Resting blood pressures were 120/80 and resting heart rate was in the 70 - 80 range</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Meals consisted of my plate plus whatever my family didn't</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Vegetable and fruit were hardly in the picture; unless it was lettuce and tomato on a burger.</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><br />There is a lot to say about the above picture, yet at the same time there is nothing that can be said. There is no way that I was that big, but there it is. What is the phrase, the camera doesn't lie? I didn't think that is how I looked. This is what 263 looked like and it wasn't pretty and wasn't happy. <span style="font-style: italic;">And I just didn't even know it.</span><br /><br />And now:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjmDuPs8SDotx_ZNKPEgUyBG-eWdYl6Bv-xiucO6Xcg6KB_ke-LobCZWlO48H8Mg1sVYBSTbNBQlhI09LK1x_lY-E-SR2NiHCez8HCar2i7APMOSp_7EuysQqEaHAiK02avG4UZJW0d8/s1600-h/IMG_0141.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjmDuPs8SDotx_ZNKPEgUyBG-eWdYl6Bv-xiucO6Xcg6KB_ke-LobCZWlO48H8Mg1sVYBSTbNBQlhI09LK1x_lY-E-SR2NiHCez8HCar2i7APMOSp_7EuysQqEaHAiK02avG4UZJW0d8/s320/IMG_0141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289379263244331234" border="0" /></a><br /></div><ul style="font-family:lucida grande;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">I weighed in today at 206</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Wear large shirts and 36/38 pants (mostly 36)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Exercise is at least 4 days a week and running lasts to where I can complete a 5K in just under 30 minutes and can last a boot camp style workouts.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Resting blood pressures are 80/40 - 90/50 and resting heart rate is in the 45-55 range (only 60 sitting </span><span style="font-size:100%;">here at my desk). I actually can get a little light-headed sometimes (not often) when I stand up.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">I eat my vegetable and fruits first before the main course, but I still like my burgers.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">My plate is my own; leave the others alone (98% of the time anyway)</span><br /></li></ul><span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">My original intention was to be at my goal weight of 180 (now rethinking that for maybe 190) by this time. But as life has a way, it got in the way for several months. I got to 200 at the end of August, but family issues had me traveling every weekend and I put back on about 10 over 3 months (not too bad)and was able to maintain and am in progress of getting back to business. So even though I did not make my goal, I am still in a far better place than I was. I am happier and most importantly, healthier. My son asked me the other day when I was going to go run and I asked why. He wants to go with me. How cool is that? Who says I am the only one benefiting?<br /><br />I watched The Biggest Loser the other night. While they were showing these guys their MRI compared to a normal MRI, all I could wonder is what had I done to myself all of these years. I am thankful God designed me so that my body tolerated as much as it did for so many years. I cannot ask to have been more blessed when I think about it and how he used those weaknesses about myself as a needle to supr my changes. I realize that even though I am a parent to 2 great kids (who are both under 10) and a husband to a very understanding but wonderful wife and have those responsibilities, I have to put time in the day for me. And it has to be more than just the TV. To think what I could possibly have missed or had to deal with had I not made changes just absolutely sickens me.<br /><br />These are just ramblings and may not mean anything to anyone else who may read this. They are for...me to look back and see just how far I have come.</span>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-37962877100166017572009-01-02T09:55:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:00The Senility Prayer<!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">--- Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman: "And<BR> what do you think is the best thing about being 104?"<BR> the reporter asked. She simply replied, "No peer<BR> pressure."<BR> <BR> --- The nice thing about being senile is you can hide<BR> your own Easter eggs<BR> <BR> --- Just before the funeral services, the undertaker<BR> came up to the very elderly widow and asked, "How old<BR> was your husband?" "98," she replied. "Two years older<BR> than me." "So you're 96," the undertaker commented.<BR> She responded, "Hardly worth going home, is it?<BR> <BR> --- I've sure gotten old.! I've had two bypass<BR> surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees. Fought<BR> prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't<BR> hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40<BR> different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and<BR> subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have<BR> poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet<BR> anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all<BR> my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driver's<BR> license.<BR> <BR> --- An elderly woman decided to prepare her will and<BR> told her preacher she had two final requests. First,<BR> she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her<BR> ashes scattered over Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart?" the<BR> preacher<BR> exclaimed. "Why Wal-Mart?" "Then I'll be sure my<BR> daughters visit me twice a week."<BR> <BR> ---My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my<BR> memory's not as sharp as it used to be.<BR> <BR> --- Know how to prevent sagging?<BR> Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.<BR> <BR> <BR> ---I'm getting into swing dancing. Not on purpose Some<BR> parts of my body are just prone to swinging.<BR> <BR> ---It's scary when you start making the same noises as<BR> your coffeemaker.<BR> <BR> ---These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart<BR> says, "For fast relief."<BR> <BR> ---Don't think of it as getting hot flashes. Think of<BR> it as your inner child playing with matches.<BR> <BR> ---Don't let aging get you down. It's too hard to get<BR> back up.!<BR> <BR> --- Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow<BR> old, You grow old because you stop laughing.<BR> <BR> --THE SENILITY PRAYER : Grant me the senility to<BR> forget the people I never liked anyway, the good<BR> fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to<BR> tell the<BR> difference.<BR> </FONT> </P> Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-73998637684662290402008-11-24T09:08:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:00Thanksgiving lesson from a kindergarten student - Humor from the Internet<p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">This will probably bring back many memories to any of us having had experiences with small children's conversations. For most people Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we've been given and to savor the scents of crisp autumn days and pumpkin pie, but for this woman it has a whole different meaning. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">One November afternoon when my daughter was in kindergarten, I picked her up after school. She bobbed out to the car and crawled into the back seat. "What did you do today?" I asked. She couldn't wait to tell me. "We learned that boys are different from girls" she chirped.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">Looking into the rearview mirror I could just see the top of her head. "My teacher told us that boys have a thing the girls don't," she added. "Well, yes they do..." I said cautiously. Then she piped up again, "That's how girls know that boys are boys. They see that thing hanging down and they know that he's a boy...".</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">I mentally calculated the distance home. Our five-minute commute already felt like an hour. "Did you know that when the boys see a girl they puff up?" My palms were beginning to sweat. "Um...well.." I was still searching for something to say to change the subject, when she asked, "Why do the girls like boys to have those things?" Well I didn't know what to say. I mean, what woman hasn't asked herself that very same question at least once?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">"Oh, well...um...", I stammered. She didn't wait for my answer. She had her own. "It's cause it moves when they walk and when girls see that they know they're boys and that's when they like them. Then the boy sees the girl and he puffs up, then the girl really knows he likes her too. And then they get married. And then they get cooked". </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">That last part confused me a bit, but on the whole I thought she had a pretty good grasp on things.<br />As soon as we got home she hopped out of the car, fishing something out of her school bag. "I drew a picture," she said. "...you want to see?" I wasn't all that sure I did, but I looked anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">I had to sit down. There, all puffed up so to speak, looking mighty attractive for the ladies, was a crayon drawing of a great big Tom Turkey. His snood, the thing that hangs down over his beak, the thing that female turkeys find so irresistible, was magnificent. His tail feathers were standing tall and proud. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;">She was a little offended that I laughed so hard at her drawing. I laughed until I cried. But I told her I loved it - and I did - and she got over her pique.</span></p>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-38533176164859259742008-11-13T13:18:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:00Who says church cannot be funny?<p class="mobile-photo">How can you tell if a Catholic is driving too fast? </p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD8jysTU0kJIl-adaa3bDC2exWqPmT9oDvqCpOkL9BtvjHk8DU-Q_bhoj_lu13L6On88F7fw9aheOnwbF9aaHNoji2jcIlYvTHcz0is0ObDng5J5l70tJHhmlaGC7nSbAS0bkqOFl76Q/s1600-h/Driving+too+Fast-713012.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223693764990162" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivD8jysTU0kJIl-adaa3bDC2exWqPmT9oDvqCpOkL9BtvjHk8DU-Q_bhoj_lu13L6On88F7fw9aheOnwbF9aaHNoji2jcIlYvTHcz0is0ObDng5J5l70tJHhmlaGC7nSbAS0bkqOFl76Q/s320/Driving+too+Fast-713012.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6RROrMRr5eVBV1TAIyZk_-9PFtYT7wTObVFr17DJF_MVzxaU2JvZVVIb3vWAdHWY9s4JZVtWNoq74uh45_ol8zFj5l1JQp1ulfwRchyphenhyphen8MTKsiOxCgfRERAImVm-Bt4uzMWprzbZrGWQ/s1600-h/Forgiveness-713485.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223693017294018" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6RROrMRr5eVBV1TAIyZk_-9PFtYT7wTObVFr17DJF_MVzxaU2JvZVVIb3vWAdHWY9s4JZVtWNoq74uh45_ol8zFj5l1JQp1ulfwRchyphenhyphen8MTKsiOxCgfRERAImVm-Bt4uzMWprzbZrGWQ/s320/Forgiveness-713485.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Q2ry_PzsDFf2z6JcWr3aAi3zs_HYse3WrnGvvXif8uX9DRnjAA5BDxUb-AQmRL91Nq0_F-d2z0jtTXt3UlK4_ij5PO4Cfrcxt7jJxaWGKeK0vecRp8TrLRpCq9ViNTbdf2gBO7-Rgc/s1600-h/Oil-714115.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223698468968594" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Q2ry_PzsDFf2z6JcWr3aAi3zs_HYse3WrnGvvXif8uX9DRnjAA5BDxUb-AQmRL91Nq0_F-d2z0jtTXt3UlK4_ij5PO4Cfrcxt7jJxaWGKeK0vecRp8TrLRpCq9ViNTbdf2gBO7-Rgc/s320/Oil-714115.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmfvBEBzfEB8gSlA7RNTrox9v-_dnRmIkBxFZY6GaojtT8UDB6qDMBBn_gEahBdMyKPTjZ2orL5psm9OMmRVVS-1tL980a4qwdbtFKybgtILOAZWmv1Cz6JZazAO1G1R0VqjqJ6VBkQk/s1600-h/Olympic+Swimmer-714935.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223697793600722" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmfvBEBzfEB8gSlA7RNTrox9v-_dnRmIkBxFZY6GaojtT8UDB6qDMBBn_gEahBdMyKPTjZ2orL5psm9OMmRVVS-1tL980a4qwdbtFKybgtILOAZWmv1Cz6JZazAO1G1R0VqjqJ6VBkQk/s320/Olympic+Swimmer-714935.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT64LZ2IWrcyiLUsFL1qz0_LyP7WKe_aD8fvZpz8Sqak4ALEEdvgz1l9QYsa8cesioCFd2AWlXWJkCdXWcaSSSkWdWKf9sJRD_K359DwT1jkenmpG16aMApkCO6PaMsp-Wq8tiR0sa0vw/s1600-h/AI-716755.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223706014096946" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT64LZ2IWrcyiLUsFL1qz0_LyP7WKe_aD8fvZpz8Sqak4ALEEdvgz1l9QYsa8cesioCFd2AWlXWJkCdXWcaSSSkWdWKf9sJRD_K359DwT1jkenmpG16aMApkCO6PaMsp-Wq8tiR0sa0vw/s320/AI-716755.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhAmOOI7VL5RKqzzP5pWPXCkuj9Llx-vWHaAkECPJCGKT3urBgxn5H55RYhGG8jWD2HFJ-O0I-KCqteo3K6zno5qO4YbBbnFgTponQBhkpQPMsztaCGMYVZ0hlG0N0WsejxVHeTLaau8/s1600-h/Bed-717524.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268223709676110482" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhAmOOI7VL5RKqzzP5pWPXCkuj9Llx-vWHaAkECPJCGKT3urBgxn5H55RYhGG8jWD2HFJ-O0I-KCqteo3K6zno5qO4YbBbnFgTponQBhkpQPMsztaCGMYVZ0hlG0N0WsejxVHeTLaau8/s320/Bed-717524.bmp" border="0" /></a></p><!-- Converted from text/rtf format --><p><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"></span></span> </p>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-83186439281244218102008-11-06T15:51:00.000-06:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:00Moving on<p>We are not coming back to church and we believe that we have been given the OK by God to go. Last night was Jackson and Reid's last night at Awana.</p><p>There is just not that sense of caring about others, overall, that there was 18-months ago. Because Steve is so self-centered and the cause of situations of conflict himself (as well as his wife), the flock overall has a tendency to follow the leader. That Wednesday night after the Heather's dad's service, very few said anything to Heather as to how she was doing, what is left to do, etc. when she was there for Prayer Meeting. Not even Steve. All he said was "Glad you're back." Only one person during that week sent her an email asking how she was. That whole week between getting home from the service and then turning around again that next weekend to go back was chaos. We needed to get to the store but had household things to take care of, work, kid activities, etc. That really was the week we needed supported but no one was around and that hurt. (EDITORIAL: that statement is not directed at anyone but just as a example of the bigger issue) To see what Steve has done to this church in just 18-months is incredible. Plus Steve has had another run-in with someone chewing them up and down over the phone and Donya talking down to Heather while yet saying she was sorry about the whole Angelia issue last summer when she should have been speaking in humility. It is not there. And when someone who has no ties to the church says "Oh, is that the one that is going Calvinistic like Highland?", that is not good either. The word is out.</p><p>I and others have tried to handle our conflicts as biblically as we could and came no where. The cold-treatment that we have been receiving by people because we have stood up combined with everything else just pushed the limit of tolerance. There are people who will not talk to us anymore! What is wrong with this picture? If it were just Heather and I, we would try to stick this out but we have to look at what is best for Jackson and Reid. Jackson is the only boy in his class and Reid is the only 3-year old. The last two Sunday's we have visited First Baptist and was just amazed at how distracted we had become and how nice it was to listen to a sermon that was teaching; not condemning. To have that weight lifted was huge.</p><p>This is not to say that there are not people that we still love and care about there and that we don't want to come back, but we just can't. It is bad when going through preparing for and dealing with a death is less stress than the situations we were in.</p><p>We are not moving our memberships for now. But it will take years to undo the damage Steve has done. And we don’t have the luxury of time to wait for the sake of Jackson and Reid.</p>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-4140468526973385932008-10-26T00:25:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.687-06:00More recent updates<p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The last couple of months have been rough.</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Heather's dad was diagnosed last year with lung cancer and there were some medical issues that came up as a result. We moved him to an apartment at a retirment village that could help him as he needed. There were issues along the way and the chemo (maintainence dosages) was conrolling the cancer but things really took a turn almost 3 months ago. We moved him from the apartment to the Assisted Living part of the facility because the facility stated that his capabilities had deteriorated to where he did not meet the criteria to stay in the apartment. About 2 weeks later, Heather received a similar call that his capabilities had deteriorated to where he needed to be moved to the nursing home care wing; could not walk on his own, they were having to feed or help feed him, etc, etc.etc. 1 week and 4 days later he was gone. It really seems that it was natural causes, not the cancer, that took him. Over that 3 month period we had been in Winfied, KS (where he lived) on weekends and home during the week. I may sound callous but it was a relief when he passed. His life over this last 6 months was not how he (or really any one) would have continued to live. And we could then quit wondering what the next phone call was going to bring. We miss him but he was not the same person for the last 6 months that he had been the last 78 1/2 years.<br />So it is weird being 35 (and 39 for Heather) and my dad being gone as well as both Heather's parents. Something is not right. I feel like Jackson and Reid are the ones getting short changed. Time will move on and there is nothing I can do for Heather about it but it still sucks.</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">So on to other things. Heather A. wanted a pic of the "new" car. And here it is. 2007 Honda Pilot EX-L.</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330473356411874" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJqCDYeK3_ELpEqiSglH-8Sq-DU4qKyOBf5blqcNOUtV2EgtbbWLC7Y5QaioEZN52mBycDtKF88lkcdL5hjZgdJhAhuYWp3XX5kQZA418cIDbN0ueh28q8ckgqE8rtBlNJUzoStw-6c4/s320/_DSC0123-759629.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmytCG_x7jVaI6vL4sLkUaGR3ra9P8IcyYcR21jG9uccN6x5QWR3k1_xQwmfHEp0iNnB-nMG044ZegX9e5371KWEMpC3k5fLXgFrJDZIkJJp_dE2ZjeOIeDIf5qNG4z4_I6kl4bS8pcI/s1600-h/_DSC0124-760775.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330475164251922" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmytCG_x7jVaI6vL4sLkUaGR3ra9P8IcyYcR21jG9uccN6x5QWR3k1_xQwmfHEp0iNnB-nMG044ZegX9e5371KWEMpC3k5fLXgFrJDZIkJJp_dE2ZjeOIeDIf5qNG4z4_I6kl4bS8pcI/s320/_DSC0124-760775.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I don't buy brand new cars; I cannot justify it. Yet. Once my kids are older, then we will talk. But this we could not pass up. The lady who owned it bought it brand new. She lives here in Bartlesville but teaches at OU. So she would drive to her apartment in Norman on Monday then back on Thursday afternoon and to get groceries. That was it. 32,000 miles of highway driving. She traded it in for a new 2009 Pilot Touring just because she could. Her loss, my gain. Price was $3000 better than I was finding in Tulsa for a similar Pilot LX (base model).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">So today I took Jackson to get a haircut at a place called Kiddoos. This place is crazy. There are TV's with PlaysStations for when the kids have to wait and a TV playing a movie. Plus at each station, there is a TV and a PlayStation with a small selection of movies or games the kids can play while they are getting their haircut. And for the littler kids, there are 2 Powerwheels cars attached to the chair lifts that they kiddos can drive and stomp the pedal (the batteries are charged and wheels will spin). There is a Hummer and a Mini Cooper. Too darn funny. There is a Glamour Gals area where Reid (who is almost 4) can get a little manicure. For Reid a haircut and a manicure would be $25 or so.</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf98CjWeZ77e3sVGP_ANJhCMNQOCscMwhaX2VOFXrkPv9tZqezEevJPz99IsLoNp-ocmnzw-lnzLCyZ13OE9_NB_OMGJVg4yC9VnZJraLbo1-kR2PzaVhTRWwnW7pfayQSCO7-GeGTfko/s1600-h/IMG_0090-761896.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330475348463826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf98CjWeZ77e3sVGP_ANJhCMNQOCscMwhaX2VOFXrkPv9tZqezEevJPz99IsLoNp-ocmnzw-lnzLCyZ13OE9_NB_OMGJVg4yC9VnZJraLbo1-kR2PzaVhTRWwnW7pfayQSCO7-GeGTfko/s320/IMG_0090-761896.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag1-EPyjbb0tJVVc6j3dlgNO2Ww92qygVg7BEKDLIj2ftinMDOiLvrHDbuqSKudHpHYTAvj7slRtuatILAYereA3uw55kiMmNC1E5ejxsbyKaQ3v4Wv25EWF9Mv5F7s3to5XVY_v1wHA/s1600-h/IMG_0091-762315.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330480672584002" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag1-EPyjbb0tJVVc6j3dlgNO2Ww92qygVg7BEKDLIj2ftinMDOiLvrHDbuqSKudHpHYTAvj7slRtuatILAYereA3uw55kiMmNC1E5ejxsbyKaQ3v4Wv25EWF9Mv5F7s3to5XVY_v1wHA/s320/IMG_0091-762315.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0kUQ5Y_Xy1M_AiWLSjVP6xSCPe-GWrXkAzTpaturvTyazscWqcYVJa4l12z03pSSrnckl84epMcPCG12JFN89yKOYO0_DUiaFjEaK7e0f3KmxvJW_r-qhVAya_7xYJDQT9cWKzMDyyU/s1600-h/IMG_0093-763820.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330486729637970" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0kUQ5Y_Xy1M_AiWLSjVP6xSCPe-GWrXkAzTpaturvTyazscWqcYVJa4l12z03pSSrnckl84epMcPCG12JFN89yKOYO0_DUiaFjEaK7e0f3KmxvJW_r-qhVAya_7xYJDQT9cWKzMDyyU/s320/IMG_0093-763820.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sDGfQaik9a1pxRGPzqDlvNiaA4B1OR2f7Y5cq1nkS472RreYf2MkBdjDCIwYxjik27AYSyCB9gnrkwir-70W8o0EdB_OS1QHQtLjbiiIAwTK2vMHZphSQc4b30OB149Wzmb5d0Bj6Oc/s1600-h/IMG_0097-764447.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330489697213138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sDGfQaik9a1pxRGPzqDlvNiaA4B1OR2f7Y5cq1nkS472RreYf2MkBdjDCIwYxjik27AYSyCB9gnrkwir-70W8o0EdB_OS1QHQtLjbiiIAwTK2vMHZphSQc4b30OB149Wzmb5d0Bj6Oc/s320/IMG_0097-764447.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Other than that, I cannot think of much else. Oh, yeah. We lost our minds today. We adopted a 8-10 month old chocolate <strong>AND</strong> yellow Labs. What were we thinking? Beethoven, our 11-year old daschund/basset hound mix, will just go toes up when Maggie and Lucy get here Tuesday. Maggie is the chocolate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsiZ49GqNK7jKCxdFC0JVUbk-LP0qDvr8ZARp3zvXagIMd4IDz0w2-afc4KSwjBIHk_Cp2tWLjApvqzfWNSAZm-uGJff9kYcQ3Ooips0fx8hsYlbQyY3MCCgK4y_PwgyYqpp1QbA-9kE/s1600-h/Chocolate-8742-764897.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261330488153341186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsiZ49GqNK7jKCxdFC0JVUbk-LP0qDvr8ZARp3zvXagIMd4IDz0w2-afc4KSwjBIHk_Cp2tWLjApvqzfWNSAZm-uGJff9kYcQ3Ooips0fx8hsYlbQyY3MCCgK4y_PwgyYqpp1QbA-9kE/s320/Chocolate-8742-764897.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I'll post more pics when we have them both. It will be fine. We went to look at Maggie and saw Lucy and just could not make up our mind. Jackson was really wanting to name one Sparky but we kind of vetoed that. Just cannot do that. So now, I'll have a dog, or dogs, I can take running with me. Beethoven is thankful since he moves so little around the house that I am certain that his heart only beats a couple times a week just out of necessity. He is that pathetic.</span></p>Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-4765544976846215842008-10-20T16:06:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.688-06:00Kids say and relate the funniest thingsSo the other day Reid was getting out of the new car. As she is crawling down, she sees the door scuff plate.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259345959230559202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqLarngwiCPGdbHiKmrOe3XLvEYSNiLv_v67IKdo1_GeWH7kcpeAVgG11CvW4ORgJUBdFOX4F3PQdJzSkJVhhlBXmeScZ_t_scva3GiVnE6pislZbShyLf6daUyzknJHzH3p1nxbLLNM/s320/IMG_0083.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />She states, "Oh, Cheez-it's"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieedfXP1O9kgNtZFmfFtYpKL9xu3OKtqOBUlC1h4zHKI1TakJlEXN_mbSQdyWW00ZBIuPo9NHW0FzJ3-ViK2uC6x8JRtbiB1vTsGlv8DrC275r3RLvWmuhU41JQOE1Pzs6N6Bc2fWAV48/s1600-h/gripz---cheez-it.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259345963417442178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieedfXP1O9kgNtZFmfFtYpKL9xu3OKtqOBUlC1h4zHKI1TakJlEXN_mbSQdyWW00ZBIuPo9NHW0FzJ3-ViK2uC6x8JRtbiB1vTsGlv8DrC275r3RLvWmuhU41JQOE1Pzs6N6Bc2fWAV48/s320/gripz---cheez-it.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look closely at the little items on the packge. How can you not laugh?Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3280433523336705801.post-78078916222673632402008-08-13T16:07:00.000-05:002009-11-01T14:04:51.688-06:00Sidelined again...So the ankle is acting up again. Guess the running will have to cease for a bit. Back to the bike. YUCK! Oh well.<br /><br />So an update, I am 57 pounds down. I waiver between 206 and 207 and really have not budged much. In time it will change, but still sucks. I can just taste 199 and it kills me. That means that when I hit 200, I will still have like 20 more pounds to go; totally awesome on one hand because I am that much closer to goal but also it is like "I still have 20 more!!!?!?!?" Oh well.<br /><br />Things with church have continuted to dicentigrate and I really think we are going to leave. Really do not want to but not sure there is any choice. "T<em>une in tomorrow for another episode of Days of our Church."</em><br /><em></em><br />Jacks started 4th grade today. How is that possible? That means that DD will be starting Pre-K next year. That is more than wrong. How again did I get to be 35 and with a kid who is over half-way through elementary school?Damonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04409577578985962007noreply@blogger.com0