tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61673125165249067682024-02-18T22:39:47.007-06:00Pixelated rants...Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-34298800494265091232017-12-20T12:04:00.000-06:002017-12-20T08:53:47.676-06:00Christmas Tunage...When delving into Christmas music there are all kinds of dangers you can encounter for Music is subjective. While you can love a song it may sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to others.<br />
This Christmas music list is MY list not yours, this is not a debate. If you think I am out of my mind great, so be it. If you hate something on this list and feel the need to comment realize you are also commenting on a choice that means something to me.<br />
What appeals to me in a Christmas song? For me personally it's a time of peaceful hope. Being a man of faith, it's a celebration of when Jesus came to Earth. On a humanistic side, faithful or not, it can be a time for humans to just step back and care for one another without looking for something in return, something we should be doing all year. If a song lyrically hits those targets, my heart takes notice. Musically, if it's a traditional carol, either stick to tradition or do such a unique cover and make it your own. If you do that then my ears take notice.<br />
I have 500+ Christmas cd's even I will admit that's too many. I am using my iTunes play count to guide me on what I've been listening to the most the past few years and see if there are any new additions... Let's get started.<br />
<br />
<br />
#1. <a href="http://www.lownav.com/music/xmas.html" target="_blank">Lowen & Navarrow's "At Long Last...Christmas"</a><br />
#2. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas/id404841731" target="_blank">Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn "Christmas"</a><br />
#3 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/david-grismans-acoustic-christmas/id2602930" target="_blank">Dave Grisman's "Acoustic Christmas" </a><br />
#4 <a href="http://noisetrade.com/rikimichele/come-let-us-adore-him" target="_blank">Riki Michele's "Come let us adore him"</a><br />
#5 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/smalltown-poets-christmas/id476117307" target="_blank">Smalltown Poets "Christmas"</a><br />
#6 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/django-bells/id6008328" target="_blank">The Gypsy Hombres "Django Bells"</a><br />
#7 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gift-acoustic-offerings-for/id723771081" target="_blank">Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumble "The Gift"</a><br />
#8 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/an-uncle-daddy-christmas/id405822506" target="_blank">Uncle Daddy "Christmas"</a><br />
#9 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/an-uncle-daddy-christmas/id405822506" target="_blank">Mel Torme's "Christmas Songs"</a><br />
#10 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/home-for-christmas/id716132264" target="_blank">Amy Grant's "Home for Christmas"</a><br />
#11 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-the-cowboy-way/id2471493" target="_blank">Riders in the Sky "Christmas the Cowboy Way"</a><br />
#12 A compilation, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bethlehem-skyline/id716071459" target="_blank">Bethlehem Skyline</a><br />
#13 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/behold-lamb-god-10th-anniversary/id343446118" target="_blank">Andrew Peterson "Behold the Lamb"</a><br />
...and quickly climbing my "plays" numbers is (just got it) <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-story-stories/id933344771" target="_blank">Carolyn Arends brand new "Christmas: the Story of Stories"</a><br />
#14 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/carols-of-the-nativity/id446452600" target="_blank">The Cambridge Singers " Carols of the Nativity"</a><br />
#15 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-songs/id291630734" target="_blank">Fernando Ortega "Christmas Songs"</a><br />
#16 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/peace-on-earth/id291831478" target="_blank">Casting Crowns "Peace on Earth"</a><br />
#17 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ultra-lounge-christmas-cocktails/id716262963" target="_blank">Christmas Cocktails</a><br />
#18 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-very-blue-rock-christmas/id755616435" target="_blank">A Very Blue Rock Christmas</a><br />
New for 2016<br />
#19 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-ep/id585300644" target="_blank">Colorfair</a><br />
<div>
#20 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-greatest-gift-ep/id1175613911" target="_blank">Ginny Owens, The Greatest Gift</a></div>
<div>
#21 <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/upon-a-winters-night/1187099058" target="_blank">Cara Dillon</a><br />
<br />
<br />
This should be enough for you to understand what my photo editing area sounds like during the holidays. If feeling stressed I will full admit I will pull some of these out even in the Summer. These tunes put me in a better place.<br />
Now I know there are hundreds of more artists and albums this is just my personal top choices.<br />
<br />
In this time in the world when there is so much hatred, there's a passage that can be implemented no matter what religion you practice or if any at all. The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or treat others how you would like to be treated, Not hard...<br />
<br />
Peace Y'all!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Q2gsA2LO9a64kY3JVCqKCvyE8tEQkCQ1a_aw7MwpTZVRk8_8eCpOd68DgVvSfjUzVj5fxPXve1BgZUrOrXkCAQCGbb6568nBNKCzqd7fPpUjTfF1TFyMK04K8r-1OrKEArTXdawzgA/s1600/Doug.Santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Q2gsA2LO9a64kY3JVCqKCvyE8tEQkCQ1a_aw7MwpTZVRk8_8eCpOd68DgVvSfjUzVj5fxPXve1BgZUrOrXkCAQCGbb6568nBNKCzqd7fPpUjTfF1TFyMK04K8r-1OrKEArTXdawzgA/s1600/Doug.Santa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-64541802487643919152017-01-30T10:43:00.000-06:002017-01-30T10:47:25.289-06:00Right out of a movie...<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mysterious bachelor uncle that may have shown up for Thanksgiving or Christmas or may be off golfing in FL, we never knew.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">My Mother's Brother Phil, never married. He was always alone. Growing up, we only heard from him a few times a year. At his funeral a woman showed up with a shoebox full of letters from the 1940s and gave them to us. Phil had amazing elegant handwriting and these were all love letters from Phil to this woman. I mean LOVE letters. She was Catholic and my Grandpa was a pretty tough Protestant who forbade the union. Phil's letters were full of "You are a good person don't listen to what my family says" affirmations towards her. All this while he's in flight school then stationed during the war. None of us knew this happened or that he was even capable of "love". I found a wedding announcement in his possessions from her saying that she married in 1946. I speculate that it had such an impact on him that he never married. Her husband passed and at the funeral, sobbing told us Phil was the only one she ever really loved... We were all shocked and saddened.
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">This seems like it should be a movie script but it actually happened.
The fact that this was all hidden until after his passing boggles my mind.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwZyjvSeKfO5Ncx8wW-r-wjkYCrlIx-hmqiDthF36s2K53dGPvRv3c5MTxqehiq6M-8KBZ0XIScllZUu5eUjY0fN9DUo_bFaNuN9bHfPnQv55TyOMuX808RBz9GwgZFWOW_VlTvAJr5A/s1600/Long+Archive+resize-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwZyjvSeKfO5Ncx8wW-r-wjkYCrlIx-hmqiDthF36s2K53dGPvRv3c5MTxqehiq6M-8KBZ0XIScllZUu5eUjY0fN9DUo_bFaNuN9bHfPnQv55TyOMuX808RBz9GwgZFWOW_VlTvAJr5A/s320/Long+Archive+resize-32.jpg" width="219" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDIpbP8ZRDbHjdrs26QT5l3ulKu6dIu7ZkFhufN2a84VY2hzGh0vDgS8TNA34v3XVxThB61sJia6uuUmliScY3mLtaaNEKDMnVq0_30LEmIRzEyeCSHnniFovQENkivZaCxa58NHeYlM/s1600/Long+Archive+resize-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDIpbP8ZRDbHjdrs26QT5l3ulKu6dIu7ZkFhufN2a84VY2hzGh0vDgS8TNA34v3XVxThB61sJia6uuUmliScY3mLtaaNEKDMnVq0_30LEmIRzEyeCSHnniFovQENkivZaCxa58NHeYlM/s320/Long+Archive+resize-30.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-9698769573833158182015-07-11T11:17:00.001-05:002015-10-23T12:25:39.490-05:00A Portrait... I've had people asking me what my recipe is for shooting head shots and portraits. I have no trade secrets. Most folks are confused when I tell them I don't need a studio to pull off the style of shots I take. All I need is about 10 feet of space and a couple of lights.<br />
I shoot 100% of my portraits with a 70-200mm IS L series lens from Canon. With that lens I can stand about 6 feet from my subject and blow whatever is behind them so out of focus that it becomes an instant backdrop. I tell people all the time "The world is my backdrop" I also use what's known in the industry a "hot light" except mine is cold. My wedding photographer Guru invented the <a href="https://www.theicelight.com/" target="_blank">Ice Light </a>and it has changed the way I can contour light and shadows.<br />
So you have your gear, you have your space and you have your subject. I will firmly say if your subject doesn't trust you, you are not going to get "the shot" Sure you may get some pics but the smile may be forced or fake looking. Getting people to let their guard down and trust you is 80% of the gig. Here's a story of a woman who started off our session by telling me right off the bat she hates getting her picture taken and isn't expecting much from the pics. I changed directions immediately and asked her about job and oddly, I happened to have a joke about her industry to which she promptly groaned, after a few minutes of just chatting I told her "let's just take a few and see what we get" I also assured her I would delete any image she didn't like right in front of her.<br />
She believed I was going to protect her image. After about five shots, she relaxed and I got what I felt was "the shot", I showed her and if I remember correctly her response was<br />
"hey, I don't hate that" we shot for another 10 minutes but none moved me like that one pic. Here's that image, beautiful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3UZNSh2E6eCs7xmM_9sKXSivMpFLeT_5R1c1sMCVHqp-osHgSh40w0aDg_PFLNJOO1wq-lrpiCAD7sXx1sda4vDsTwQW63yqygmQKc0v15sjhz6QyQv6JjYoru8ienHExYyiG7_Nuh8/s1600/Betty+Ann+resize-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3UZNSh2E6eCs7xmM_9sKXSivMpFLeT_5R1c1sMCVHqp-osHgSh40w0aDg_PFLNJOO1wq-lrpiCAD7sXx1sda4vDsTwQW63yqygmQKc0v15sjhz6QyQv6JjYoru8ienHExYyiG7_Nuh8/s320/Betty+Ann+resize-9.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I have shot hundreds of portraits and as of a few days ago, I may have technically shot one of the best of my career. Shot in a living room with a fax machine behind me and a dining room table behind him you would think I was shooting in a high end studio.<br />
Full 120mm lens, aperture f/4.5, exposure time of 1/100th of a second, ISO of 1000.<br />
White balanced of 5200K for the Ice Light, camera RAW, not .jpg<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zanK2M-mqWX4EcKW6t5Aa1iqm516LFCv-0Oogy6EqriNivHnwshwHL8AgLrg9o_Rxc-LyHrbaLglOSY6o6bH6RVprjk9kWN6ucrHS4XNvqMwVS4MKoIHmsp7wTByXTKdGkbTvVL7udI/s1600/Lance+H.+Haka+Ports+resize-60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zanK2M-mqWX4EcKW6t5Aa1iqm516LFCv-0Oogy6EqriNivHnwshwHL8AgLrg9o_Rxc-LyHrbaLglOSY6o6bH6RVprjk9kWN6ucrHS4XNvqMwVS4MKoIHmsp7wTByXTKdGkbTvVL7udI/s320/Lance+H.+Haka+Ports+resize-60.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a bigger version of a few from that session...<a href="http://www.prairieglenproductions.com/Portraitspgp/Lance-H/i-p8h2m4d/A" target="_blank">Lance</a><br />
<br />
The balance of technical and gained trust is what gets a great head shot. I will never say I've mastered either but I am loving learning every day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-32472306076206398002014-10-26T08:02:00.001-05:002014-10-26T08:57:17.545-05:00The Cell Phone...Okay here we go...<br />
<br />
What kind of society have we become that we can't get by without our precious smart phones for an hour or two? In shooting a wedding yesterday I spent more time trying to get the attention of the shootee's away from their phones. During the hair and makeup time the bridesmaids all had cute matching t-shirts, mimosa's, 4 hair and makeup stylists, fun music playing, pretty dresses ready to be worn and what are they all doing, sitting on the bed with their heads buried in their phones.<br />
A bit later the groomsmen were all standing around with their heads buried and I actually leaned into one of them and asked what we would do if we didn't have smart phones... "I dunno, maybe talk to each other?" then went back to his phone.<br />
Then comes the FABULOUS cameras we all carry now. I was hired to shoot an event that Matt Forte of the Bears was going to walk around and take pics with people.<br />
I was supposed to shoot the meet and greet shots BUT!!!! everyone getting their picture with Matt wanted it on their phone so they could instantly communicate with the world who they were standing with. The majority of the pics I took that night were of the group smiling for a cell phone then dispersing leaving me with no shot. Trust me I was making myself known, I'm hard to miss.<br />
When shooting weddings I always have to let who ever is there with a phone get the shot first. The people getting their pictures taken always know the cell phone holder better than me so of course they are going to pose for them first. So after 3 or 4 cell phone people, I can then try and get their attention back to me. I can't even tell you how much shooting time cell phones have cost me. Then comes the ceremony. People have no shame in standing in front of you to get their shot and because your screen is the viewfinder you have to hold it up for all to see to get that pulitzer winner. How many concerts have we been to lately that is just a sea of bluish glowing 4 inch screens. Forget the lighter, the cell phone is now our beacon of support. Now one area of a wedding I think is kind of fun for cell phone is the exit from the church. I actually like seeing a bunch of phones out capturing the bubbles or bird seed being launched at the new couple I'll admit, pretty fun.<br />
How about dinners, here's where I have point the finger at myself. I am guilty of food pics. I am also guilty of checking email looking for the next job. All too often when I am in a restaurant, I see couples more interested in Face Book than the person sitting across from them and not just a quick check, a full blown absorbed session. I heard once of a game. Everyone at dinner has to put their cell phone in the middle of the table in a stack and the first person to check the internet has to pay for dinner.<br />
<br />
Cell phone tip from a photographer.<br />
If you feel the need to take a picture and absolutely have to, your heart will just break of you don't get the shot, do it. Do it fast and do your best not to disturb anyone around you BUT FIRST!!!<br />
look behind you and see if you are getting in the shot of the pro, wait 30 seconds and they will have moved on. Be as discreet as humanly possible.<br />
<br />
Bottom line, cell phones are not going away anytime soon. Don't let em control your life.<br />
Words I am going to do my best to live by.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-55223446332509930152014-08-13T07:20:00.000-05:002014-08-13T07:37:29.789-05:00Backdrop?<br />
The beauty of shooting portraits with a 200mm lens is if you stand about 8 feet from the subject, the world becomes your backdrop.<br />
The following pictures were all shot in the same location with us just turning towards a different wall.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prairieglenproductions.com/" target="_blank">Doug White Photography</a> for more information.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5r59E_CknEYciOwQjuyloWYLiGa0FMxP3FynlvANayfaCHjqc0R11SP2RfowhEtXoeH2UMGNCx3dcOpNi1FWck_FlPwz6PE9fLKMsgPLF9lMjPCkbo0FnGRvZnYCWhlTMT5Q6YbPMUU/s1600/BT.PGP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5r59E_CknEYciOwQjuyloWYLiGa0FMxP3FynlvANayfaCHjqc0R11SP2RfowhEtXoeH2UMGNCx3dcOpNi1FWck_FlPwz6PE9fLKMsgPLF9lMjPCkbo0FnGRvZnYCWhlTMT5Q6YbPMUU/s1600/BT.PGP2.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGnpbhLjBh7KeUcARsNwXgsNpvRD92La-oXI3unUJteE3-rnv24Dl3WMsLR77I6n4msSenn3_Z6n1ZM_xnB4cKrTG5oRVjok2XQDkiwl4RAcpdiHP5TGnwdzyWXS5txweISXP4wTgIZA/s1600/BT.PGP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGnpbhLjBh7KeUcARsNwXgsNpvRD92La-oXI3unUJteE3-rnv24Dl3WMsLR77I6n4msSenn3_Z6n1ZM_xnB4cKrTG5oRVjok2XQDkiwl4RAcpdiHP5TGnwdzyWXS5txweISXP4wTgIZA/s1600/BT.PGP3.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjrLOdJdcjk5UM5zC38t7tCQMyM-SfxvwlU08trSxRavEpTBdVfG_P-51VrekqYlhaZP7lx8_L6bSoGLVC7qmXWYiz3pOPOvYnsS-fcXd_cfdU6urzzZBJ7HVTzayk-M9m8oOdd3Rsv4/s1600/BT.PGP4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjrLOdJdcjk5UM5zC38t7tCQMyM-SfxvwlU08trSxRavEpTBdVfG_P-51VrekqYlhaZP7lx8_L6bSoGLVC7qmXWYiz3pOPOvYnsS-fcXd_cfdU6urzzZBJ7HVTzayk-M9m8oOdd3Rsv4/s1600/BT.PGP4.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYrp-XdRRNotAdXDiYhc86Q9zIIRII5YBSnz16qxqM-pKuueLRUHhSfhmkCdxhKGOiJ7fNuhC0ktXIqUJ4nHIiCPFm-Isrjei4t8y2JMsGRkrwnvRvjc-f-xgkKHwnk1zGVICAkjlrmg/s1600/BT.PGP5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYrp-XdRRNotAdXDiYhc86Q9zIIRII5YBSnz16qxqM-pKuueLRUHhSfhmkCdxhKGOiJ7fNuhC0ktXIqUJ4nHIiCPFm-Isrjei4t8y2JMsGRkrwnvRvjc-f-xgkKHwnk1zGVICAkjlrmg/s1600/BT.PGP5.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtOISzZwHm2YnchuUXHPtLdY97baauMuDerTU8JuhbVEkSo3CjxwcGdrKzSdrzYDts0dEv13O-xliDIAUZCJgOKBzvLyHDMfosD0-B9bORbzGnNDE2jEKbXjU_S0pLTNdIF3I1g7D7xY/s1600/BT.PGP.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtOISzZwHm2YnchuUXHPtLdY97baauMuDerTU8JuhbVEkSo3CjxwcGdrKzSdrzYDts0dEv13O-xliDIAUZCJgOKBzvLyHDMfosD0-B9bORbzGnNDE2jEKbXjU_S0pLTNdIF3I1g7D7xY/s1600/BT.PGP.5.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOdyJAnhqnV8k4lI0FeAM29L35XV99w0z_cAGEo4EKKoWpdSpegb5vNWZpJoEFhulq5B7L7gepSMSaStfjh5UEsxX80l9WKTJDKhjLTxtnfD-g4MrNlDJLYisongag6ZbakveRW5KFAg/s1600/BT.PGP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOdyJAnhqnV8k4lI0FeAM29L35XV99w0z_cAGEo4EKKoWpdSpegb5vNWZpJoEFhulq5B7L7gepSMSaStfjh5UEsxX80l9WKTJDKhjLTxtnfD-g4MrNlDJLYisongag6ZbakveRW5KFAg/s1600/BT.PGP.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-79157411274729405832014-08-08T22:07:00.000-05:002014-08-10T12:26:18.052-05:00A surreal twist at the WI St. Fair... I made it quite known that I just had ZERO desire to work for the Cudahy Bacon Day at the Wisconsin St. Fair. We have to be on site by 5:30am, put in a long day in the Sun to have rude people grab bacon samples out of other peoples hands. Last year I vowed I wouldn't do it again.<br />
I soon realized I just am not at a point in my life that I can turn down work so I agreed to do it.<br />
This year was different because I was to stage manage for the bacon cooking demos and the live band. Much better assignment than the previous year, things were looking up.<br />
I then find out that <a href="http://www.waterdogmusic.com/index.html" target="_blank">Ralph Covert</a> was the act. I met Ralph years ago when his band The Bad Examples were playing in the 90's. He then came up with a brilliant music angle of presenting family oriented rock geared towards kids. That quickly caught the eyes of Disney and you can see <a href="http://www.ralphsworld.com/" target="_blank">Ralph's World</a> on the Disney Channel here and there. Playing Bass for him is an old friend of mine Brian.<br />
Here's why I'm talking about these guys. I know my Dad went to Ralph's studio a few times to help him with some French accordion consulting. I re introduce myself to Ralph and talked about a few of the same people we know and by the way, I'm Don White's son. His eyes lit up and he declared that he loved Don White. I told him of his passing a few weeks ago and he was so moved that he hugged me and didn't let go. We talk about Dad for a while and I was amazed at the impact Dad had.<br />
The band goes on stage and they are just kill'n it. Kids and parents dancing and really having a great time. Ralph then asks "Who likes a polka???", the crowd cheers. He then says we sure could use an accordion on this tune, This one goes out for one of the best, Don White.<br />
I'm trying to be all professional out in the crowd and I just welled up and was trying to clear my eyes throughout the whole tune. Head here and listen to <a href="http://www.ralphsworld.com/listen.html" target="_blank">Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka</a>.<br />
The day was very enjoyable and I'd do it again and thanks to Ralph for making it unexpectedly amazing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-38318733186647872482014-07-15T10:02:00.001-05:002017-02-09T12:11:26.935-06:00A special Sunday morning...<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">On Sunday morning July 13th, my Dad passed away.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">After 89 years of an amazing life he spent less than a week in Hospice care in our home.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Not having any medical experience, I was not sure what was going to happen or how so I didn't know what to expect and I have to say, I was pretty scared.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Hospice comes in with a few drugs for us to have on hand in case of breathing difficulties or anxiety and it wasn't</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">until Saturday evening we noticed his breathing was, for lack of a better term, controlled panting. The nurse suggested we give him a .25mg dose of morphine to calm that down. We did so but I wasn't sure if it made a difference. We stayed up with him for as long as we could before we fell asleep. I woke around 7:30, put on some music for Dad and he was in the same state but now 100% unresponsive or unable to squeeze my hand when asked to. Around 8:15, his breathing became more labored so I gave him .5mg of the morphine and within 10 minutes his breathing calmed, it was shallow but calm. Kim was working with Mom to get her ready for the day and as she brought her out she wheeled her over to see Dad. As she touched his arm I could notice his breathing was slowing to every 5 seconds or so, then 10 seconds, then...nothing. He just stopped breathing. No gasp, no twitch, he just ceased. Kim was on the phone with the Hospice nurse and I checked his neck for a pulse, it was over. I had not experienced anything like this. Was honored yet a little....uhhhhh, what do I do now?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Was there divine intervention for him to wait until Mom was by his side? I don't know but sure was amazing timing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Siblings were all called, tears were shed. An amazing peace for all of us. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">All four of his kids were able to see him before he died...win</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">No suffering....win</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Peaceful end...win</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-81875711050602036172014-07-06T21:35:00.001-05:002014-07-07T09:25:39.667-05:00Tiki Failure...If you know me, you know if I have a cocktail, it's about having the best one I can because I'm not having many to get inebriated. I am completely fascinated by the history and culture of different liquors and how they are used. Enter the kitschy realm of the Tiki Bar.<br />
The Tiki line of cocktails that you can find in many Asian restaurants has been taken to the next level by many people out there trying to use classic ingredients from the 30's and 40's.<br />
Usually Rum based with a bunch of sugar in them you do not want to imbibe too much for sugar and alcohol are the classic ingredient for a hang over, not good. One great Tiki drink with an Asian food dish is delightful, except tonight.<br />
Tong's Tiki Hut has been around my area for twenty or thirty years. I decided to have dinner there tonight. I ordered a classic Mai Tai. Not being a snob or anything but I know my way around a cocktail or two having made thousands as a bar tender. My drink arrives and I sip to find my Mai Tai was simply rum and pineapple juice. Fail.<br />
Dark rum, light rum, Orange Curacao or Triple Sec and the secrect ingredient...Orgeat syrup which is made with almonds, sugar, rose water and oranges. Granted I have yet to find a bar that has Orgeat in their rail. A fine substitute? Amaretto. It works just fine. PLUS people with nut allergies can have Amaretto.<br />
I push my drink aside and the server asked if I didn't like it. I told her it was just rum and pineapple juice. She replied "right, that not Mai Tai?" No, that's not a Mai Tai. "you want Zombie?"<br />
No, I'll just stick with the hot tea.<br />
<br />
The food? More than good...<br />
<br />
<br />
Mai Tai Fail...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiAf0Iar2KzM6dOsh2xlQ1dSKtzclHPIQQsMGHD4evOV61eMtFVXTD5W_ov6JAxhEEKi4AV1Fm9b8kE2YGL8f0FmCByNp9ecPVqWJhqZCZNDtQxMH0phSsieZDI-SCUHmm39HxWB_4Bk/s1600/Tiki+Hut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiAf0Iar2KzM6dOsh2xlQ1dSKtzclHPIQQsMGHD4evOV61eMtFVXTD5W_ov6JAxhEEKi4AV1Fm9b8kE2YGL8f0FmCByNp9ecPVqWJhqZCZNDtQxMH0phSsieZDI-SCUHmm39HxWB_4Bk/s1600/Tiki+Hut.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Not traditional but a fine substitute...<br />
In a Boston shaker with ice.<br />
1 oz dark rum<br />
1 oz light rum<br />
1/2 oz Amaretto<br />
1/2 oz triple sec<br />
2oz of OJ and a splash of grenadine.<br />
Shake and pour in a waiting, iced pint glass. Only thing missing would be the trade winds blowing through your hair...Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-30785217134929514752014-06-22T02:04:00.000-05:002014-06-22T02:12:49.937-05:00Events from tonights gig...What an odd odd evening...<br />
<br />
I was hired to run the technology for a high end fund raiser just outside of Milwaukee tonight.<br />
There were about 250 people for a sit down dinner in a room meant for around 200. It was very crowded with no room to sit to operate the gear for the presentation. My position was behind the bar.<br />
I will just start listing the weird things that happened.<br />
<br />
1. Being behind the bar and wearing a black tech operators shirt, I got asked to make drinks over a dozen times.<br />
2. A bartender dropped off a very over poured glass of Bourbon to a lady then walked away. The lady tried to get her attention but to no avail. I asked if there was something I could do. She wanted her drink split with ice in both glasses. Everyone else was busy so I just grabbed two rocks glasses, iced them and split the drinks for her then went back to my sound board (2 feet away) no tip.<br />
3. A woman dropped a glass out on the deck and a shard cut her foot, again being the only person behind the bar not doing anything she got my attention and asked for a bandage. I saw a med kit and grabbed a bandage. Her dress didn't lend itself for her to treat herself so I had her put her foot on a chair and slapped it on, again no tip.<br />
4. A woman standing at the bar with two of her girlfriends grabbed two handfuls of her own bosom, snarled and declared, "well now they're too firm!"<br />
5. A man at the bar talking to his buddies " What the "F"?? My handicap is now like an "f"ing" 23 or something...."F!!" His wife standing next to him must have been so proud. Oh the problems of the arrogant rich.<br />
6. During dinner, I did not have a place to sit so I went out on the deck and found a chair. About 5 minutes later 3 guys came out, pointed towards me and said "now THIS guy's got the right idea", came over and introduced themselves thinking I was one of "them". After 5 minutes of private school woes, import car repair expense costs, they looked at me and all I could say was, "you guys know I'm poor right?" I explained I was just a hired support guy for them. "You know what Doug? you're ALRIGHT!" Their wives then came out, joined in and eventually asked me to take a picture with them.<br />
Drunk rich folks like me, go figure.<br />
7. Again, while standing behind the bar, a woman comes up and asks me if I can turn the volume down. Now normally, that wouldn't be a problem for me, I always mean to please but I didn't have any audio playing. She was talking about the noise from all the people talking and cackling. Her request was valid.<br />
8. The car I'm driving now has the best quirk. The left headlight won't come on unless you open the hood and slam it, poof, it comes on. Well I get out to perform the required maintenance and sure enough, one of the guys I was joking with was in some number of BMW. He sees me slam my hood with the light coming on and all I could do was give him the "how you doin'" head nod, get in and drive away. I told him I was poor.<br />
<br />
crazy job.<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-87053866305441120562014-06-14T16:35:00.001-05:002014-06-14T16:35:08.949-05:00The Manhattan & Drunken Cherries...My stint as a bartender had me searching for a better alternative to the standard restaurant Manhattan.<br />
The original Manhattan was Rye, sweet vermouth and bitters. Most everywhere the Manhattan has become some sort of Whiskey, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_vermouth" target="_blank">sweet vermouth</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angostura_bitters" target="_blank">Angostura bitters</a> drink garnished with a candied maraschino cherry, often the same cherry you would find on ice cream. People have been drinking these for years and I served hundreds of them. Most every restaurant uses something like Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth which I have to say is just horrible. It might be passible for the first day it's opened but it's a wine based product and oxidizes very fast and "turns" making a very funky cocktail.<br />
There are other options in the sweet vermouth world. Many fine products from Italy and such but I have found the proverbial Holy Grail of Vermouths. <a href="http://www.vya.com/sweet.html" target="_blank">Vya</a> vermouth is a California product that is fantastic. Keep it cold and a bottle will last you a good month or so. It's around 21 dollars.<br />
Whiskey, where to begin. Personal preference, I enjoy a more spicy Whiskey. My Manhattans are made with Rye. A bourbon Manhattan is absolutely fine and I would never turn one down, Rye is just my personal preference. Blended Whiskeys like Canadian Club or something like that, in my opinion don't stand up to bitters and vermouth and get sort of lost. I'm only going to have one cocktail so it's going to be a good one.<br />
Bitters, yet another hotly debated issue so again I will give my personal preference.<br />
Angostura bitters can be found in most every restaurant out there. If you take a drop on your finger, give it a taste. It will remind you of Jagermeister. It has very similar properties.<br />
I have found bitters from Fee Bros and my favorite are their <a href="http://www.feebrothers.com/products/bitters/old_fashion_aromatic_bitters.php" target="_blank">old fashion bitters</a>. What a great combination of clove and anise. They make many different flavors and are fun to play with.<br />
<br />
On to the cherries...<br />
Frustrated by candied cherries, I set out to try and make my own. My first batch was 4 quarts of pitted cherries in a bath of Bourbon, Triple sec, cherry brandy, simple syrup and Vya.<br />
I then added a star anise and a cinnamon stick to each quart jar. A little goes a long way. In my future batches, the cherries will sit on the star anise and cinnamon for only a few weeks then get pulled.<br />
Let them "Pickle" for a couple of months and you're ready to make drinks with them. I gave some of the cherries to a bartender in Green Bay who said he liked them but they were very "boozy" and was looking for something a little sweeter. I could see his point and it made me re think my process.<br />
Right now I have 3qts sitting on half simple syrup and half triple sec. I am going to let those sit for 2 months and replace the liquid with my bourbon/cherry brandy mixtures and see how that works.<br />
<br />
My variation on a Manhattan.<br />
<br />
2oz Rye.<br />
1/2 oz of the aged cherry liquid<br />
1/2 oz Vya vermouth<br />
5 dashes of the Fee Bros. bitters.<br />
<br />
Combine in a pint glass with ice and stir.<br />
Pour into a martini glass or over ice in a rocks glass (your preference) and garnish with two of the cherries.<br />
<br />
Drink responsibly...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h32tdJcvR6ebO7OIckWuPQ6Bj9llUUrjbtM0geyklgx7JvrnAQekD6YQxl3BCi69AY6YmDevLAzyfI7BSefqPj8EQBeEHeo164Nk271xKh-8EATgFj0wn7MpTmph0RFXqa8YhVXbgXI/s1600/c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h32tdJcvR6ebO7OIckWuPQ6Bj9llUUrjbtM0geyklgx7JvrnAQekD6YQxl3BCi69AY6YmDevLAzyfI7BSefqPj8EQBeEHeo164Nk271xKh-8EATgFj0wn7MpTmph0RFXqa8YhVXbgXI/s1600/c3.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL4dCJT3Qz7Q4ETLieEXQx0rvgLxUgebT2obw60a_0JzZ2kIGnwCj3LgCe1mMD6NhlGYXS7u6m1oQzoTUETmwyvuucbgWCNYbcakf0hkyUES9tuPS3v72rvgW3R5hqyDJ72l1xQjOoxw/s1600/c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhL4dCJT3Qz7Q4ETLieEXQx0rvgLxUgebT2obw60a_0JzZ2kIGnwCj3LgCe1mMD6NhlGYXS7u6m1oQzoTUETmwyvuucbgWCNYbcakf0hkyUES9tuPS3v72rvgW3R5hqyDJ72l1xQjOoxw/s1600/c4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-77175173522652789822014-06-04T22:45:00.002-05:002014-06-04T22:46:15.399-05:00A first for me...Well this is a first for me in show biz...<br />
<br />
Arrive to a venue with a crew and a truckload of gear to set up for a one off visiting show by a separate division of a regular local client.<br />
Meetings, gear selection, phone conferences, yada yada the whole bit.<br />
A car pulls up with a trailer and starts unloading gear. Not unusual at all.<br />
What took us both by surprise is we started loading into the same ballroom. The other Project Manager and myself looked at each other with one eyebrow up.<br />
I asked who he was loading in for, he told me. Same client.<br />
I asked him if he was setting up for the vendor showroom. "No, we're doing the General Session"<br />
huh, interesting....so were we. We decided to have a quick game of rock, paper, scissors to see who got to do the show. I finally got ahold of my contact and questioned her about the gig. She cancelled us and hired a much cheaper DJ company from KANSAS CITY!!! who does work for them in MO.<br />
Problem, they never told us. I explained to her that I already had a hotel room, a truck driven to WI to pick up the gear and three techs to help me build.<br />
She apologized and told me to bill her...my response?<br />
"Oh, we will..."<br />
The funny part is the show is for 240 people. The biggest screen they had was 6ft x 5ft.<br />
Yes, I said 6 feet by 5 feet. That screen would be great for 6 people around a dining room table.<br />
Looks like the less expensive company has to do a little sub renting...<br />
Nice guys but, come on!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWFy5rtX4hXMtw8Ta7Qmx99iz6cGIbEToX9_pVZYW498APPzsdRJNqoxPSM7bS-7y4-x5z5SkxDiFCke6X_dTjnqfagX7QFOgI-0uKX1mwfL-ZW73ksAVaT93NOz4OIm4L3e71F9L4Rw/s1600/photo1-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWFy5rtX4hXMtw8Ta7Qmx99iz6cGIbEToX9_pVZYW498APPzsdRJNqoxPSM7bS-7y4-x5z5SkxDiFCke6X_dTjnqfagX7QFOgI-0uKX1mwfL-ZW73ksAVaT93NOz4OIm4L3e71F9L4Rw/s1600/photo1-4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-91262786915703600252014-05-13T14:00:00.001-05:002014-05-14T12:23:27.122-05:00Fr. John Guiney...Rebel with a clueToday we buried a true servant...<br />
<br />
Fr. John Guiney died this past week after a steady decline in health over the past year.<br />
Born a stubborn Irishman, he died the same way. He was ordained in 1961 and spent the next 20 years working in a leper colony in Liberia. He also helped farmers to form co-ops to help stabilize the local rubber, coffee and cocoa industry. In the 1980's with political unrest and some health issues he was transferred back to the America but I'm sure he left kicking and muttering.<br />
Kim met him around 24 years ago and was drawn to his servant heart and his complete love for children as evident of his knack for searching for Evan after church to always play and tease a bit with him.<br />
Here's where Doug enters the picture. As Kim was going through her divorce, a few well meaning Church folks questioned Kim's future relationship with the Church especially now being involved with of all things, dun dun dun...a Protestant.<br />
She was fearful of being denied communion....until she talked to Fr. John.<br />
Here's a very devout man frustrated by the Church's ability to turn on its own. He told her when the rubber hit the road for her to come to him and he will always give her communion. He told her "Kimmy, How do I know that your relationship with Jesus isn't better than mine?" That made my ears perk up. Just who is the rebel? This Priest who like to live by the motto for preaching...<br />
"Be blunt, be brief, be gone..." A man who said "I'd rather have an irreverent doer than a pious non doer". Kim worked with him in taking care of an invalid woman who was the wife of a childhood friend. Kim saw all levels of humanity from this man for the old woman could push every button he had. Once he pulled Kim into the living room by the arm yelling "I'VE GOT KIM AS A WITNESS" referring to the fact he wasn't going to help her anymore because she was so, shall we say, "difficult". He never followed through. Kim and Fr. John had many talks sitting in the garage of this woman's home and his respect for the Catholic Church and his ability to side step a few rules to help people gave Kim so much strength that I hold this man in the highest regard I can. He would then ask about me and tell Kim to tell me that he's sorry that I have to deal with her (Kim), knowing all along that I was the trouble maker. I remember stories of people telling on him to the Bishop because he wouldn't soft sell anything, no matter how delicate the subject and if he didn't see you getting your hands dirty, you'd hear about it. He was also more about meeting you where you were in your faith rather than making sure you conformed to where others thought you should be...I liked this guy.<br />
<br />
Kim went to his bedside last week and saw him in a contorted position and he just told her to pray for him...pray for him.<br />
<br />
The Church was full, standing room only, "more packed than Christmas" as Kim said.<br />
Many tears and many laughs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMkZXBqI44mF66-NAHApJq4sOVSx5ognjaNcK0w6n5ue5E2ecrPBooPhm2X5QiSI6iIeE54ae1wKDAp9x3DExlZv8s4qXY9lchZ9RkcSKnzuveZ4VXrmr6955ROIgw3FPISrkhcnaI5Q/s1600/photo1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMkZXBqI44mF66-NAHApJq4sOVSx5ognjaNcK0w6n5ue5E2ecrPBooPhm2X5QiSI6iIeE54ae1wKDAp9x3DExlZv8s4qXY9lchZ9RkcSKnzuveZ4VXrmr6955ROIgw3FPISrkhcnaI5Q/s1600/photo1-3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A packed house to send off "one of the good guys"<br />
<br />Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-33598972845934209012012-09-04T22:42:00.001-05:002012-09-04T22:50:45.791-05:00The Mind...In April of 2011, my parents moved in with us. Along with my siblings we knew it was time for some sort of needed hands on involvement in their day to day lives.<br />
My oldest sister started seeing Dad's lack of care in paying bills anymore, simple day to day tasks such as shaving, hygiene, proper nutrition were falling by the wayside.<br />
Several times I was being called to run to the South side to fix one or both of their televisions At one point Dad was ready to buy a new set but as it turns out he accidentally changed the input on the remote (a mistake that can fluster sane people).<br />
With the growing list of concerns, Kim and myself had been talking a long time about them moving in with us. Everyone pitched in to help purge the apartment of un needed "stuff", my sister preferred a different description and get them settled here.<br />
<br />
Mom's mind was slipping very fast, Dad was functional but did things that just made you look at him like the RCA dog. The need for adult diapers was recognized very quickly and soon just threw away all of Mom's under ware, knowing she could not wear them anymore. On the humorus side of things, when she does wet one she will sometimes try and wash them in the sink or shower. Those bad boys can hold a few pounds of water before they just explode leaving the insides on the shower floor. Dad has control of his bathroom functions for the most part so that's not an issue yet.<br />
Kim is pretty amazing in this area, she will often sit on the bathroom floor and guide Mom on how to clean herself "no, Jo, still need to clean yourself some more" very patient. Joanne doesn't live here or so her mind leads her to believe. We had to install locks on the kitchen door and a upscaled baby gate at the top of the stairs to try and thwart her attempts of her trying to get to her Mothers's house just a few houses down and to the right. Throw logic out the door, it does no good to reason with her on most anything. Even the time you think you make a break through, not more than 30 seconds after the conversation she's right back to her previous train of thought.<br />
Donna taught Kim and myself a word, <br />
<br />
Perseverate<br />
1. Psychology<br />
a. Uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.<br />
b. The tendency to continue or repeat an act or activity after the cessation of the original stimulus.<br />
<br />
Mom will zone in on the fact she has to leave the house for hours and hours at a time.<br />
She's very concerned about leaving her Mother alone. Now I tried to come at it from a logical stand point and explain how old she is and that if her mother were still alive she'd be like 243 or something only to be met with Mom patting my leg and looking at me reassuringly with the comment "you just don't understand". Kim will then step in and boldly say "Jo, your Mom is with your sister" and that will usually calm Mom down and she'll relax for a bit, sometimes a few hours but lately 10 minutes. I tried to lie to her in the same fashion but just started giggling for fear of being busted. Kim once again shows her strength.<br />
<br />
Let's talk about food.<br />
The parental units are beyond preparing meals for themselves. <br />
We take care of all meals unless they are being taken out. Dad's minset has reverted to a very selfish "ME" attitude that I have to say confuses me. He will get something for himself and ignore Mom standing right there. "Dad, are you going to get a snack for Mom too?" "No, she doesn't want anything" and walk away. He will use a knife to slice open anything in the fridge he wants and just leave it. We keep finding dried out cheese, meats, basically anything he thinks is his to eat. Frustrating enough that we are going to have to put a lock on the fridge just to keep him from ruining things. You can't offer suggestions to him, they are just met with "okay, you're right" and them proceed to go all jungle machete on the closest cheese package. Dad would eat Honey Nut Cheerios for every meal if we let him. He's a grazer... he just wants to eat all day then not eat a meal you put in front of him. Trust me we supply him with snacks, nuts, V8, diet root beer, coffee, sugar free candy and yet he'll still search the kitchen for something else. His latest "thing" is to finish a meal and then not more than 15 minutes later be pouring himself another bowl of cereal. After going through a gallon of milk every two days and box of cereal every three, we started taking the box away after breakfast and guide him to other things to eat. His obsession with Shrimp is amusing to some and annoying to others. Johnson's Door County Fish has a Shrimp cocktail he likes and Greek Isles has a tomato shrimp dish he craves. If we go out, it has to be one of those two places. Kim's not a big fan of either place so she misses out on the meals out....hmmm pretty smart girl.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if what I would do if Kim weren't around here. The level of care she gives Mom is beyond my capabilities. Kim had a high school reunion a little while ago and I was on solo parent duty for a few days. I found that if I call her Joanne and not Mom I can get her under ware on her much easier. I thanked Kim for coming home several times.<br />
<br />
Dad is slipping fast, he will do odd things like be watching a television program where it is snowing and then look outside truly confused because it should be snowing there as well. Dad's issues are a whole different post.<br />
<br />
So the mind...What? Why? Why are so many people afflicted with dementia?<br />
Is it to ease our pain in getting ready to say our Earthly goodbyes, helping us to let go? Is it to test our resolve in taking care of each other? I'm not really sure why this is all happening but I'd like to know why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fx4xdDB8mIkgAim6yI2dHN43bD_ykmlNGt-QmWk9NN6eBCLuWXfKiFGME-aYp9t2McTQ9rUOqtC32-1iFb95l4VHFAdHEnzCsrQylpNKpC3V8TBP4yTXJbkgUoCcZSFUZvMbDkf4258/s1600/Joanne+M+White+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fx4xdDB8mIkgAim6yI2dHN43bD_ykmlNGt-QmWk9NN6eBCLuWXfKiFGME-aYp9t2McTQ9rUOqtC32-1iFb95l4VHFAdHEnzCsrQylpNKpC3V8TBP4yTXJbkgUoCcZSFUZvMbDkf4258/s320/Joanne+M+White+re.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-61012090069050974172012-08-30T09:27:00.000-05:002012-08-30T09:27:58.231-05:00Catch up...Interesting, a guy walks past me at a wedding in MN and says,"hey, nice lens" and keeps on going. I find him on the grooms Face Book page and find out he's very involved in Scouting and teaches inner city kids film camera techniques. Okay pretty interesting. After several typed chats I realize he's pretty amusing and I ask if he blogs. He replies with "I used to but haven't in a long time". I came back with interesting, me too. He throws down the gauntlet of "I'll blog again if you do" I picked it up and slapped him on the face.
Last night, he struck first with...<a href="http://ironbuzz.blogspot.com/2012/08/hot-water.html">Hot Water</a>.
So here I am trying to figure out how to catch up on a couple years of absence.
Work:
I tended bar and continued to do shows for the past 3 years.
So much material came from the bar that I never wrote about, some sad, some funny, some twisted sad tales from customers that became regulars and some even friends.
Parts of the job I seriously enjoyed. Interacting with people and teaching about different aspects of beer and doing food pairings were the highlights.
Being the assembly line drink maker for 10 to 18 girls who some tipped well and some tipped well, not so well and being treated like I was just a dumb bar tender made up the majority of my negative feelings on the job. The shows came back and I started making money shooting pictures so I felt it time to take my departure from drink flinging...so far a decision I do not regret. Three Summers of nights away from Kim. It had to be done and I am thankful for Kim's understanding but no more.
Pictures you say? I re vamped <a href="http://www.prairieglenproductions.com">Prairie Glen Productions</a> into my commercial photography page. The seed was planted while doing a photographic project I called <a href="http://www.prairieglenproductions.com/People/Portraits/18436009_qGhqB6#!i=1743701136&k=SNVJvNR">Bar Shots</a> I had my camera and an off camera 8 inch soft boxed flash and did portraits while I tended bar. I never took more that 3 minutes to shoot a customer or client. It was met with many people actually fixing themselves up a bit to get a portrait done. Soon I was shooting actor & musician headshots, even spending time shooting members of the Lyric Opera in Chicago. Enough encouragement and a serious offer of money to get out of the bar made up my mind it was time to leave, do shows and now do Photography part time to fill the economic gaps. Very excited...
I was able to pick up some very serious professional camera gear and I'm doing my best to be responsible with it. Believe it or not all digital camera's have what's called an actuation life. Most cheaper cameras are good for about 100 thousand shots. Mine is rated at 150 thousand. Every shot counts. I do Event, family, portrait and children shoots. Weddings will come later, still learning that part of the biz.
So here's my re entry to the blog world, we'll see where this goes.Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-52361457369303826352012-01-19T10:47:00.004-06:002012-01-19T11:00:38.836-06:0021 hours...4:45am - (3:45 central) Up, shower, check email in South Bend IN.<br />5:30 - Show rehearsal call time.<br />7:00 - 10 Client show.<br />10:30 - 1:30 strike show and load truck.<br />1:30 - 5:45 - drive to Peoria.<br />6:00 - 12:45 - Set show for a 5:30 call that morning.<br />1:00 - 1:45am - Gin and Tonic, talk about the day with Schmitty, then bed.<br /><br />Long Day...Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-61704233832359694402011-04-14T23:31:00.001-05:002011-04-14T23:33:43.383-05:00NAPPNational Association of Photoshop Professionals...<br /><br />My portfolio there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/1359159">My NAPP Gallery</a>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-87130396812608900822011-04-09T23:31:00.001-05:002011-04-10T08:30:05.543-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mhKQtnH6NW5Wj1ZXrUVIqsro80dXhb-Wls9xn-Hi9aW3hBGyF4CdEMKg7efm43r-FQAcigUAz5DxjHfgw-XhvL_6WmZw2DYvwXJdRGFmAfsfGSB2rUP2rxr0hVNsN7dGrnL4TGTpL9M/s1600/Amelia.sepia2.rants.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mhKQtnH6NW5Wj1ZXrUVIqsro80dXhb-Wls9xn-Hi9aW3hBGyF4CdEMKg7efm43r-FQAcigUAz5DxjHfgw-XhvL_6WmZw2DYvwXJdRGFmAfsfGSB2rUP2rxr0hVNsN7dGrnL4TGTpL9M/s320/Amelia.sepia2.rants.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593946580467666818" /></a><br /><br /><br />Don't really even need to say anything...Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-87985265497766765392011-03-10T14:03:00.003-06:002011-03-10T14:28:39.920-06:00Missed February...So I missed it eh?<br />That's a wee bit embarrassing. Quite a few things have happened since my posting.<br />I spent over twenty days in February on the road for TriMarq. Very very thankful for not only the work but that I didn't get fired from the bar for taking so much time off.<br />I got stranded in Atlanta again but it was the snow storm of he decade on the Chicago end that messed that up. It was quite a sight to land at O'Hare seeing dozens and dozens of snow plows working the runways. Green Bay, Chicago and Pensacola rounded out the shows for what turned out to be a very busy but good month.<br /> The big news as it turns out is that my parents are moving in with us the first weekend of April. Mom's dementia is getting progressively worse and needs more attention.<br />They will basically take over the upstairs and with our work schedules, Kim and myself will be able to help them with the day to day tasks of living.<br /><br />More to come...Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-5955105003044393222011-01-31T10:26:00.003-06:002011-01-31T16:37:38.342-06:00Atlanta Rev.2A full crew a great show and no gear...<br />It's noon and we're all ready and assembled to do a show build and I see one of our lead techs with an odd look on his face, "we don't have our truck". Apparently, the driver bringing our gear down took the advance money and never picked up the truck. Our crew (8 peeps) waiting for the truck find out it's never left Milwaukee. The gear company who hired the guy, hired two guys that could drive straight through. We got the truck at 12:30 this morning. We unloaded and started the build around 1:15. I got to bed around 5:30. A full blown blended image wide screen show with all the bells and whistles set up in less than 4 hours with minimal griping. I love working with professionals that have the all for one, get it done mind set. The rest of the crew is resting and I'm manning my four breakout rooms. I'm tired but love the fact we nailed this set up.<br /> The weather is now saying horrible snow and cold when I am supposed to be traveling (again) I'm starting to think I'm a snow/travel jinx. Maybe I should hate snow more but I just can't help it, I love it!<br />Stay tuned to see if I make it home!Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-54608520071873884902011-01-24T14:49:00.004-06:002011-01-24T15:22:18.992-06:00Retro fishing post...I found a few old pictures and these three reminded me of an ill fated fishing afternoon with Steve Bailey.<br />We were in the thick of it...Fish and mosquitoes. Fish after fish. On one of my casts I pulled hard over a weed bank and got a hook caught in my shoe lace. I couldn't get it out so I just cut my line and re tied so I could get back to the action.<br />About 20 minutes later the mosquitoes were really attacking. One bit on my right calf and I scratched it with my left foot. Forgetting there was a hook in my shoelace, I embedded the hook deep in my calf. I was so shocked I couldn't even speak to tell Steve what was going on. He saw me hopping on one foot and ran over to help. He helped me get my shoe off and we made our way back to the car. I leaned on the car with a pair of fishing pliers and tried and tried to pull the hook past the barb. I couldn't do it.<br />Giving up I made my way to home to so Kim could take me to the ER. After some local pain killer, the doc whips out a cheap pair of pliers. 20 seconds later I was getting a tetanus show and was sent on my way.<br />Gotta love fishing! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHbHR9PRIlYtd3cZ4Lv8Q_Q9tVSvx2458jjNJ2GYbkdzR4EN9SVdqSdQuUrRMgjHcGFIBKP2gSRveWSJdecQelESA9otiyhzZ9lrQNhdMDZjV5fbb96x3D-vcucFflsrzuPn57UDG5DM/s1600/64028093.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHbHR9PRIlYtd3cZ4Lv8Q_Q9tVSvx2458jjNJ2GYbkdzR4EN9SVdqSdQuUrRMgjHcGFIBKP2gSRveWSJdecQelESA9otiyhzZ9lrQNhdMDZjV5fbb96x3D-vcucFflsrzuPn57UDG5DM/s320/64028093.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565865518826083938" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpObcTtSHYIweoZwnw0TRu4uRi2VG-LrLtPJNnqOWK_4IF-XHCDfRHyrryYlpUBefTzoPFJPciL9CTyjn8zqNIQ0_GFUZIdQ9BjAtkJFS6No4KFJa0jt_wwv7hLYAD2yiFUrPD-0zJW4/s1600/64027962.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpObcTtSHYIweoZwnw0TRu4uRi2VG-LrLtPJNnqOWK_4IF-XHCDfRHyrryYlpUBefTzoPFJPciL9CTyjn8zqNIQ0_GFUZIdQ9BjAtkJFS6No4KFJa0jt_wwv7hLYAD2yiFUrPD-0zJW4/s320/64027962.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565865658219814402" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmmDekfAXUjm8wdbnfw-l01GdWNnSLD0tWysRZ2W7hsqNIhyxZgjJQ0SSRlNiCAFzuwxyvLeIXNFVZw97jGVMPflqF0JlG6wrFIPMaCUEeaOsZyjkj_G3a07gd3-PUhaMKralW9Kxn_E/s1600/64027897.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmmDekfAXUjm8wdbnfw-l01GdWNnSLD0tWysRZ2W7hsqNIhyxZgjJQ0SSRlNiCAFzuwxyvLeIXNFVZw97jGVMPflqF0JlG6wrFIPMaCUEeaOsZyjkj_G3a07gd3-PUhaMKralW9Kxn_E/s320/64027897.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565865766558041042" /></a>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-59770099177938264942011-01-16T15:00:00.010-06:002011-01-18T17:14:01.633-06:00AtlantaWhat an eventful work week down in Atlanta.<br />I flew down to video interviews and floor exhibits.<br />I found it sort of sad that me, not being an agriculture type person, got to hang out with farm equipment while Kim stayed home to hold down the fort. Walking among millions of dollars of tractors and combines really made me stop and think about and industry that I've always taken for granted. The job? fine, how can running around getting B roll of displays and talking to a few people NOT be a good gig? After the first day I was able to have dinner with my cousin John White, his wife and son. One of the things I will always remember about my Uncle Len was his devious, sarcastic humor. Oldest son John carries the torch quite well. Great food and many laughs made for darn nice welcome to Atlanta. Met salt of the Earth farmers that most Americans take for granted.<br />Most of us are all about instant gratification. They want that burger, loaf of bread or salad....NOW! If any of us really knew the amount of labor, technology and passion it takes to provide us with the simplest of needs, we'd be ashamed that we don't support them more. As I finished my shooting duties, I thought my adventure was over...<br /><br /> The rumor mill around the show floor was of the upcoming rare winter storm to hit Georgia. Snow happens but melts pretty quickly. I made my way to the airport about 3 hours before my flight to make sure I didn't get caught in panic traffic. <br />Side note. 1 suitcase, a computer bag, a travel case for microphones, a camera bag and to top it off? a tripod bag. Checking three bags with Delta? 185 smackers, thank you very little. So where was I? Oh yes, flying home. The inbound flight from New Orleans was about 45 minutes late. By the time we boarded the plane, I could hear sleet hitting the jet way. Fifteen minutes later I was sitting in my seat over the wing watching snow accumulate with every passing moment. Thirty minutes passed and the pilot came on saying we are in cue for de-icing and to hang tight. Another thirty minutes passed and he comes on again with the same announcement. The whole time I'm sitting there I'm watching three inches+ pile up on the wing. I knew we weren't going to take off so there I sat just waiting for that announcement. Finally the pilot comes on and tells us that the flight is now canceled. We grab our things and get off the plane. It was very surreal watching thousands of people in the terminal all filing off the various planes at the same time. I went into "B" mode and called my boss to procure a car before they were all gone. I talked to an agent and he said the soonest he could put me on a flight would be Wednesday night. Hmmm..... Three days in the Atlanta airport just was not going to happen. Jim calls back with a car....phew.<br />I creep my way out of the airport I got to witness my first Georgia residents driving in snow. The good folks down there just don't get enough snow to be proficient snow drivers. I saw three accidents before I even got on the highway.<br /><br /> Turning on the radio, I find out that there are only eight plows for the entire metro Atlanta area so my hopes of seeing a plow on the highway weren't too high. Traffic is moving, it's slow but it's moving, the time? 11:30pm. The Toyota I have is doing quite well in the snow so I'm only worried about the other cars. I felt it necessary to try and get as far North as possible. I lost count of the accidents I saw but I just forged ahead. In the four+ inches of snow on the highway I could only get up to about forty miles an hour and maintain control. On my tedious drive I passed over one hundred cars on the side of the highway. No trauma anything just neat tire tracks showing these people just pulled over and abandoned them. Very odd indeed.<br />On an entrance ramp I slowed to see a jackknifed truck and a car sideways with 5 guys trying to right the car. I saw that there was enough room to squeeze by so as bad as I felt, I passed them all by and got on 85 heading North. The snow just kept falling and by the time it reached 4am and I'm haven't even hit Tennessee yet. I decide to give up and find some food and a bed. Turns out I'm only about 10 miles South of Tennessee so I decide to pull off. The first ramp I attempted had a stalled truck blocking it. The second had a four car accident. The third? clear. Across the street from each other was a Waffle House and a Holiday Inn Express. I took that as a sign. I ate and checked in. Nine thirty came and I woke to about six inches of snow piled up on my fellow cars in the lot. I only had one inch and it was still falling. I decide to risk it to get to my goal of Nashville. I get back on the highway and see a sign "Chattanooga 15 miles". There's a mountain highway towards Nashville that I was a bit worried about but as soon as I crossed the state line, the roads were clear. the GA/TN line was just that, a line, Georgia? snow covered, Tennessee? Plowed concrete. The roads were all clear and just fine. I was trying to figure out how much money TN could make by renting a few plows to GA...all very odd. I made to the Nashville airport. I checked in and had two hours to kill. I was so stressed that as I walked through the airport. I saw two establishments, a message place that had magic fingers and a airport bar that had Jack Daniels. Sorry fingers, Jack won. I made my flight, Kim picked me up at O'Hare and I spent two days getting my luggage back from Delta. Would I do that again?<br />In a heart beat... I love my job!<br />Notice there are no pictures? With all the video gear I had to take, I had no room for a camera, now THAT part sucked!Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-81990451009618392402010-12-28T06:57:00.017-06:002011-01-16T13:50:39.208-06:00Christmas in MN...We drove up to Austin to share Christmas with Kim's family. With Kim's brother coming up from Texas and us coming from IL, this was the first Christmas Kim's folks had all the kids together since Kim's sister Pam passed almost two years ago. Needless to say a very important time for the family. The drive up was uneventful until we got off the highway into Austin. The amount of snow on the ground was staggering. I now know why the Dome collapsed. Plow drifts of 6 feet+ covered the entire city. Here's a shot of a car from Paul & Carole's sidewalk.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhAmcVBdoD_ArhMz2xSF14pmnNa2AiYQ2YRkTo3rMutBSCgGzzGHh1n6sp2-SrON94_OMC_N_o2gkg4JpHkM-AaplAhlrv9KXQFWaLSEYQ-ftPXwDR1JFmWG1A6qk5X3ZgSPJ9BT8Dxk/s1600/SnowCarR.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhAmcVBdoD_ArhMz2xSF14pmnNa2AiYQ2YRkTo3rMutBSCgGzzGHh1n6sp2-SrON94_OMC_N_o2gkg4JpHkM-AaplAhlrv9KXQFWaLSEYQ-ftPXwDR1JFmWG1A6qk5X3ZgSPJ9BT8Dxk/s320/SnowCarR.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556173221462287314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkJ9_wQjl2Vr80tlRW8JhEe67Y5nNoE6L7SafndRN8Z6xke_Kel-smzPjSznUM9SK30MKibQnD_P2EHVl1iZCyH8zxrrq45-Ue180nkWCUBTIX3vjSLCQrCf76DNLdn0IFAeQtmfTcbY/s1600/Snow1R.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkJ9_wQjl2Vr80tlRW8JhEe67Y5nNoE6L7SafndRN8Z6xke_Kel-smzPjSznUM9SK30MKibQnD_P2EHVl1iZCyH8zxrrq45-Ue180nkWCUBTIX3vjSLCQrCf76DNLdn0IFAeQtmfTcbY/s320/Snow1R.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556173459775532546" /></a><br /><br />Not much to do with Christmas but the snow sure was impressive.<br />Everyone was so excited to see each other. Paul broke out some shrimp cocktail and the party began. So many people to talk to it was hard to know where to begin. I guess the biggest deal was that Kim's brother Eric brought a very sweet girl named Sarah up from TX. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSt713Ci2c1jBVhU3A5Uk9zUd4VZ-tT6YBmJzfHofGh8cT_Vgh9OJCbK_aMlbkSFluiqCZkiW_xGMoxI_uGoCB0jI_JjoyBj__bofLFExJkaKlfQDZs9PKFtVdv2MAPJjnz4hHwFpobM/s1600/E.S.1+CS5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSt713Ci2c1jBVhU3A5Uk9zUd4VZ-tT6YBmJzfHofGh8cT_Vgh9OJCbK_aMlbkSFluiqCZkiW_xGMoxI_uGoCB0jI_JjoyBj__bofLFExJkaKlfQDZs9PKFtVdv2MAPJjnz4hHwFpobM/s320/E.S.1+CS5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562867638285347522" /></a><br />She fit in just fine and I don't think we scared her too bad. Carole crushed the tip of her finger in the kitchen and Sarah stepped in with an extra pair of hands to help with all the food prep. The front door opens and in walks our nephew Derek, fresh from Afghanistan in a crisp Marine uniform. The young kid has already made it through an IED incident and we sure were glad to be able to have him around for a few days.<br />Some presents and then time for midnight Mass. We took up an entire pew and still had one left over. The choir presented about a half an hour of music before the service started and you sure could tell how hard they worked to get ready for it...well done. Back home for a few more laughs and one by one, people started heading off to bed.<br /> Christmas morning comes and slowly the house came to life. The first thing I noticed was the smell of fresh coffee. There's something about that smell that evokes a sense of peace and calm, a nice way to start the morning. Surrounded by family, food and laughs is one heck of a way to spend a holiday. <br /> Kim's mom sets a beautiful table and with so many of us this year we had to move the furniture to make room for all the tables. What a fantastic problem to have.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXchFwNW5h0XMtmJ2ZDLuRREz2RQDXSm0bHvjExVa_gLIvafeE96BZlySzw6qsADNQrWnYhjeViJvkXYg7KLZwwnSrd06p4LYkQfmihnZPSqkI-9KePYfOiY61riwWKS1V6QOsiVl9AaA/s1600/CH.2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXchFwNW5h0XMtmJ2ZDLuRREz2RQDXSm0bHvjExVa_gLIvafeE96BZlySzw6qsADNQrWnYhjeViJvkXYg7KLZwwnSrd06p4LYkQfmihnZPSqkI-9KePYfOiY61riwWKS1V6QOsiVl9AaA/s320/CH.2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562866846352739906" /></a><br />Kim's dad kept disappearing to lovingly baste the ham that he's pretty dang famous for. The smell of everything coming out Carole's kitchen was planting the seeds of desire to overindulge. The time came for Paul to carve the ham. I sensed he needed some help so I quietly followed Kim's brother Eric and Paul to the sacred shrine of pork to carve that bad boy. The gleam in Paul's eye was almost blinding as he carved a small sample for both Eric and myself...with approving nods and grunts the ham was carved and we all took our places at the table. All the effort put in to this meal did not go unnoticed,<br />I can't imagine a better compliment for Carole and Paul than to have the whole family that can't seem to shut up at all, quietly cramming all the deliciousness we can muster into our faces. Well done folks...well done.<br /> One devious thing Sarah helped Eric and I do was pick out a house of ill repute...huh?<br />Kim's mom has an amazing Dickens Christmas village collection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF-GEIoDfrViNVNYnx4s9sJRVqwK3pfbE-0VqoN8aL6pRZYYaKYXRVkWOLTjOBeaFNtnjf_fL03vQ5dBf4fYOhHbGwMz7rl0WBlta5nOKwr_b0iEW_apSDDxOVmwqRFW_8P2-3qgBZaU/s1600/CH.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF-GEIoDfrViNVNYnx4s9sJRVqwK3pfbE-0VqoN8aL6pRZYYaKYXRVkWOLTjOBeaFNtnjf_fL03vQ5dBf4fYOhHbGwMz7rl0WBlta5nOKwr_b0iEW_apSDDxOVmwqRFW_8P2-3qgBZaU/s320/CH.1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562867080223556242" /></a><br />She spends hours setting it up for us all to enjoy and we really do. On a run to the store we found a super cheap house with a gleaming red light to add to her city. I figured she wouldn't notice it until she was putting it away for the season. She sat on the couch and glanced over to the village, it took all of 15 seconds or so before she exclaimed "What is THAT?" I tell ya, the woman knows her village.<br />With the dishes done, the stories told and the memories shared, once again, we all slowly drifted off to bed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEEM1szbFxFZ8llDOiQpOFub6Zs6g582ycuQxdwdO6plA28jffmpTjCJK-zxjXYl6sbuLMo9_rQ-rUEUuBKlqStDBfwdmd0HrCrIZp9YUYgzw_siXVXyoYAwjL5V3yO2hRek6fRuXVms/s1600/CH3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEEM1szbFxFZ8llDOiQpOFub6Zs6g582ycuQxdwdO6plA28jffmpTjCJK-zxjXYl6sbuLMo9_rQ-rUEUuBKlqStDBfwdmd0HrCrIZp9YUYgzw_siXVXyoYAwjL5V3yO2hRek6fRuXVms/s320/CH3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562869911514159314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLV5Q0Py5At-KjU44_vljcRHJ55_ttEvrIXtqc3SKNKzydxkcxy7KeQJRbUsWQMkK-uRu4bkQqhKFsuuZiYpwl6LxvozowdiARQMqZ4EGMYgmUXcTDtdSyID20JArGhgDrxVFs_D7kYc/s1600/EngelsFam2Resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLV5Q0Py5At-KjU44_vljcRHJ55_ttEvrIXtqc3SKNKzydxkcxy7KeQJRbUsWQMkK-uRu4bkQqhKFsuuZiYpwl6LxvozowdiARQMqZ4EGMYgmUXcTDtdSyID20JArGhgDrxVFs_D7kYc/s320/EngelsFam2Resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562870148999517522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw33Kk42F0NKe0Ig7X9HcUkmhRpGiSx9vGRsJuC4ms_oUrAkeS64NHDbqOK2hegXtCT3czZQdDFDza1_uk7t979TV1ORguudDo5XgHFG0sGltQxeAwo8oY8sijU1sorNXvXI7PHPAPz5U/s1600/Fam+BestResize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw33Kk42F0NKe0Ig7X9HcUkmhRpGiSx9vGRsJuC4ms_oUrAkeS64NHDbqOK2hegXtCT3czZQdDFDza1_uk7t979TV1ORguudDo5XgHFG0sGltQxeAwo8oY8sijU1sorNXvXI7PHPAPz5U/s320/Fam+BestResize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562870336360865954" /></a><br /><br />The next day with a few tears shed we made our way back to Illinois to mark Christmas 2010 as one of the best we've had.Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-39663817485380815152010-12-08T22:29:00.002-06:002010-12-09T22:40:42.349-06:00Yet more kid pics...It was a good sleep over with the girls. I had a pro level camera for another shoot and thought I'd try and get a few pics of the girls. <br />The following are my favs...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRtLex1JwEHcFGjP0D1pMQHiegNLLxYS2VcmAEBAi2Q3HU38PBJjFyZJyXL9a-r0wUc9EaFo9QD9BuSikcw3Tco97VC9V2Ls-g0r3W_xr5cI9U4e2Cw5AMImQ45HqL6k3dqoEhKdCk2o/s1600/O.A.E.PJBlog.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRtLex1JwEHcFGjP0D1pMQHiegNLLxYS2VcmAEBAi2Q3HU38PBJjFyZJyXL9a-r0wUc9EaFo9QD9BuSikcw3Tco97VC9V2Ls-g0r3W_xr5cI9U4e2Cw5AMImQ45HqL6k3dqoEhKdCk2o/s320/O.A.E.PJBlog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548535938640045058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjAhF2RQV5o9kR-gLUaWvjmG0XNujQB_I-WeFMX_vEY3lTKSjkVBXg1KlFGRVSCBKwCAgqoJ4ohnd2mel5J1oB9zA6WgSqlPcGQFdRs2BCqNCYNnu2lQDCUYg27JngXX_2EWbydD28D4/s1600/Kim.Kids.Pj.resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjAhF2RQV5o9kR-gLUaWvjmG0XNujQB_I-WeFMX_vEY3lTKSjkVBXg1KlFGRVSCBKwCAgqoJ4ohnd2mel5J1oB9zA6WgSqlPcGQFdRs2BCqNCYNnu2lQDCUYg27JngXX_2EWbydD28D4/s320/Kim.Kids.Pj.resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908028193885106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl2SBwWuK9gWbLXof4OH5UCpnDz7wd2e7-GCoDoS5FgXmaMJ-FoZ3ODqTl_M-5-XsexyJUm20cEXlp-B2zp_DtxXaV1xuRFMZ9KcZfYTvX7joeH0EkS1nQvxSIoP3xA_vLTpOmoT64U8/s1600/Elle3resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl2SBwWuK9gWbLXof4OH5UCpnDz7wd2e7-GCoDoS5FgXmaMJ-FoZ3ODqTl_M-5-XsexyJUm20cEXlp-B2zp_DtxXaV1xuRFMZ9KcZfYTvX7joeH0EkS1nQvxSIoP3xA_vLTpOmoT64U8/s320/Elle3resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908176884026946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVuhH76Tgu7pacijmu9pfp04HRQUQDxJ-LyEQ6bsXM9Py6nle5BJZ8FZ6JFygWUsxDFBsE_prvtMijJgcv992jrsrbswP8XS5QUoEF9WOfBgcgLLFWipSoSBlzWLjJqlXtkt4pv1YXAw/s1600/Cookies2resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVuhH76Tgu7pacijmu9pfp04HRQUQDxJ-LyEQ6bsXM9Py6nle5BJZ8FZ6JFygWUsxDFBsE_prvtMijJgcv992jrsrbswP8XS5QUoEF9WOfBgcgLLFWipSoSBlzWLjJqlXtkt4pv1YXAw/s320/Cookies2resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908303808876178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbI7h9vqBRhxahVBv_a_yTQeNAB6I4D7s6iqi7hQb4zphzoDSljXscFStnReV2nVahEa3iCPu57NfPdJJdOv7nuL_0h9UknT9NFa9KM6Sr9XC4F6jwG2OT-Ao669v97OqzRipGdb809Q/s1600/A.O.PJ2resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbI7h9vqBRhxahVBv_a_yTQeNAB6I4D7s6iqi7hQb4zphzoDSljXscFStnReV2nVahEa3iCPu57NfPdJJdOv7nuL_0h9UknT9NFa9KM6Sr9XC4F6jwG2OT-Ao669v97OqzRipGdb809Q/s320/A.O.PJ2resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908442558968770" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbcC04DfAEDERWXzzLgKvnUSD5abVsq8IxRSNmRem-IkMq_jihfz3pc2xBmSBhVd2euRsLEi6tJnYY25LhNMTklCfOjj7mSUmBzCksB2JJ-yrWMo7QL9CJgDHIihlQ5tUe8fJBCiWlS4/s1600/O.A.PJ3resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbcC04DfAEDERWXzzLgKvnUSD5abVsq8IxRSNmRem-IkMq_jihfz3pc2xBmSBhVd2euRsLEi6tJnYY25LhNMTklCfOjj7mSUmBzCksB2JJ-yrWMo7QL9CJgDHIihlQ5tUe8fJBCiWlS4/s320/O.A.PJ3resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908655297710322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23JJK7iEC0OZJSoVza6tCUy3CjPIVtQlseGvyF-775TyVD0ZrWow5hKlxK_xNNT4CzXzWKufm1nL2fLw_teXF67ABb9U3ktoEfvU_6E28aA9Ol3nSzYVm-MjLP5zLH5P8yu6roTQjEWQ/s1600/OliveTurner12.10resize.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23JJK7iEC0OZJSoVza6tCUy3CjPIVtQlseGvyF-775TyVD0ZrWow5hKlxK_xNNT4CzXzWKufm1nL2fLw_teXF67ABb9U3ktoEfvU_6E28aA9Ol3nSzYVm-MjLP5zLH5P8yu6roTQjEWQ/s320/OliveTurner12.10resize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548908769512091634" /></a>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-37428374438154801132010-12-01T11:46:00.005-06:002010-12-01T11:57:47.377-06:00<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2iOVmLGKck">Kids Video</a><br /><br />Music by Uncle Daddy and Caitlin CoffeltDoughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167312516524906768.post-56838207931557928222010-11-29T17:58:00.023-06:002010-11-29T18:38:00.394-06:00Monday Funday!The girls spend Monday's here while Laura is in school. Today, Kim had a full day's activities planned and I just hung on for the ride.<br />First on the agenda? Tree Trimming!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zxnGxzB5iLYgXOMCH_LCrD2Ku67wmfN8BazUE1GBnEm02uRSyp1wmAWpV3NHv256zFlQuETJX4qRuw0J8ALdD98IWY07sptmTj53lhskeNnjM94FWdsMOC9vXz9hbqebfTITT-xy6eU/s1600/C2010.12.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zxnGxzB5iLYgXOMCH_LCrD2Ku67wmfN8BazUE1GBnEm02uRSyp1wmAWpV3NHv256zFlQuETJX4qRuw0J8ALdD98IWY07sptmTj53lhskeNnjM94FWdsMOC9vXz9hbqebfTITT-xy6eU/s320/C2010.12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545132271611563122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4n77FIp0hntFdK1tYlZ2TZxa5omhuXZhMoUfTkcE2s5ZFh_1u0AnAJXM5ohGHxkyI_mIDpAMqrS25pq6KNRPNopcvkleP9yXltpkg2e5nW0NhfSCIdQeepk6JRiGxSImUUKHcLiaUQg/s1600/C2010.7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4n77FIp0hntFdK1tYlZ2TZxa5omhuXZhMoUfTkcE2s5ZFh_1u0AnAJXM5ohGHxkyI_mIDpAMqrS25pq6KNRPNopcvkleP9yXltpkg2e5nW0NhfSCIdQeepk6JRiGxSImUUKHcLiaUQg/s320/C2010.7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545127930731563890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HRU5vDuXPXOvLGng-OvSj_kjIYWNzf5TO2liEkM8Bq5XGG00k6CVbh3Qr8rKG-7-amE-jwCPZQLIAieNTaDPOTDk7FenOrFfKKgjkFJ9zg9Tsc9BjQCSqco0-b9diFdonnbs19kI_Hs/s1600/C2010.16.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HRU5vDuXPXOvLGng-OvSj_kjIYWNzf5TO2liEkM8Bq5XGG00k6CVbh3Qr8rKG-7-amE-jwCPZQLIAieNTaDPOTDk7FenOrFfKKgjkFJ9zg9Tsc9BjQCSqco0-b9diFdonnbs19kI_Hs/s320/C2010.16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545130165184519106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tUk9Op_FE33mKD9gwrTEBNJ1k6Y-IB-3sHdqiKeguOy2FEcq1XURet5Lu6VGnGMjAPPnRdjI0yO1GpYoASAKN5A4Rosp82PnhvIjS9UOZwVCIG7_DbEzMJEOoZvOI0Dq0mmr_fpK634/s1600/C2010.14.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tUk9Op_FE33mKD9gwrTEBNJ1k6Y-IB-3sHdqiKeguOy2FEcq1XURet5Lu6VGnGMjAPPnRdjI0yO1GpYoASAKN5A4Rosp82PnhvIjS9UOZwVCIG7_DbEzMJEOoZvOI0Dq0mmr_fpK634/s320/C2010.14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545128145084000690" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCEmrYweuYjTfp4t_jTPyQMvAqdDb2JQOux-sy03ibGd0UC013wWZ1RxO-v7_Yg6F6ao6KHovSY5eXpvS20sAUBtJ9qjYFGpp5QOYu0b26ZkGJb2ExQ3QoYhbFYn_ciUXK9_sU7VFAaQ/s1600/C2010.8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCEmrYweuYjTfp4t_jTPyQMvAqdDb2JQOux-sy03ibGd0UC013wWZ1RxO-v7_Yg6F6ao6KHovSY5eXpvS20sAUBtJ9qjYFGpp5QOYu0b26ZkGJb2ExQ3QoYhbFYn_ciUXK9_sU7VFAaQ/s320/C2010.8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545128449353715970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdNHuevg-eO-fIygDmUgKQEUb2W2ROuUzcn4EHUfF6yTSrm6EYU2hJgSC8-_D7Yp6jrbjrlg_ueiXiSoX1nF_siUHPM02DGaB76oWanN19rZgaWdmJIaVUs75w2xDPhRiWIVd1JJScUQ/s1600/C2010.25.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdNHuevg-eO-fIygDmUgKQEUb2W2ROuUzcn4EHUfF6yTSrm6EYU2hJgSC8-_D7Yp6jrbjrlg_ueiXiSoX1nF_siUHPM02DGaB76oWanN19rZgaWdmJIaVUs75w2xDPhRiWIVd1JJScUQ/s320/C2010.25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545130792122809778" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3j-0_61wKfye3cg3HHlubvWSY8QC5DrJ0jacY9uf_exk-hqqA-i-11diI1UTWPxF2RIQcUIrx638_zGff0lHRtDBolFJ_4sInu7vsPdFaf46TsEGjZrW6xhQl-HiYqxrhdYGla0UsTs/s1600/C2010.5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3j-0_61wKfye3cg3HHlubvWSY8QC5DrJ0jacY9uf_exk-hqqA-i-11diI1UTWPxF2RIQcUIrx638_zGff0lHRtDBolFJ_4sInu7vsPdFaf46TsEGjZrW6xhQl-HiYqxrhdYGla0UsTs/s320/C2010.5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545128702789841858" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrTF5ROML35wkv29dEK4xYNaPU63ZySBDWUUkE8sTv3L5q-15QsK3DzEOOtSCaXucE0FbNwOcZmp-jZeNaXI8nowmLcCCnDsqKY6qJgMEdcxuRAbcUrZZGpMx80c5rqrhHnUf2vmsbCU/s1600/C2010.3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrTF5ROML35wkv29dEK4xYNaPU63ZySBDWUUkE8sTv3L5q-15QsK3DzEOOtSCaXucE0FbNwOcZmp-jZeNaXI8nowmLcCCnDsqKY6qJgMEdcxuRAbcUrZZGpMx80c5rqrhHnUf2vmsbCU/s320/C2010.3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545128895714692722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi4CWSPa0Welvt3BgRwY-JN99Jr5fe-N_nBkm_f_ZJia3t6L7dJrCiqN7wz070IAzBKWdSWlWXF44xxDQjio1hfRZk3SbgMaewpT6KoSgecJ7pUM8pIZRNE0MOYRISnoUAEnKdGR2ULs/s1600/C2010.4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi4CWSPa0Welvt3BgRwY-JN99Jr5fe-N_nBkm_f_ZJia3t6L7dJrCiqN7wz070IAzBKWdSWlWXF44xxDQjio1hfRZk3SbgMaewpT6KoSgecJ7pUM8pIZRNE0MOYRISnoUAEnKdGR2ULs/s320/C2010.4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545129053578019042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqvfsFHhyphenhyphenXwlHatzJ_FeEH6fWHgGTFh498Jyp_FzIZ9SmiVYoYWg1S8j4Zvvl9lZPsboGjENSHpDduIFmKegiWvDUxKslBPLmbi733xQPvLffYMuOwwUYpbEu62bUZCnPAV48CB3Yn2E/s1600/C2010.6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqvfsFHhyphenhyphenXwlHatzJ_FeEH6fWHgGTFh498Jyp_FzIZ9SmiVYoYWg1S8j4Zvvl9lZPsboGjENSHpDduIFmKegiWvDUxKslBPLmbi733xQPvLffYMuOwwUYpbEu62bUZCnPAV48CB3Yn2E/s320/C2010.6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545129225569196898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwIO3Nsp5FzqnKagfKox4k9nGVQo-yad6-ldxNr_Hq7Jp8wln-TG9TPq0lLin9QjLBhrcSSuYOicM07134Hj-Dwcd3W7EPYNMWp6WNhbS-74rlRoSn55GKzlZ3GTM97pPLWgzRP18-es/s1600/C2010.13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwIO3Nsp5FzqnKagfKox4k9nGVQo-yad6-ldxNr_Hq7Jp8wln-TG9TPq0lLin9QjLBhrcSSuYOicM07134Hj-Dwcd3W7EPYNMWp6WNhbS-74rlRoSn55GKzlZ3GTM97pPLWgzRP18-es/s320/C2010.13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545129544754678914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZG2khZydKoTXiGctbYN6RefDpq0344RwwhgmmXahCUuYte97nxkmrOOUpR4iXjqO_HUg7_od9YS7wWSykBUt2M5BZ1LmzQUOJuPE4sokcusj7XKw4j1jFg7VoQTWhnM3dawW_DLTOpE/s1600/C2010.1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZG2khZydKoTXiGctbYN6RefDpq0344RwwhgmmXahCUuYte97nxkmrOOUpR4iXjqO_HUg7_od9YS7wWSykBUt2M5BZ1LmzQUOJuPE4sokcusj7XKw4j1jFg7VoQTWhnM3dawW_DLTOpE/s320/C2010.1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545129841240420450" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XBPXtobJ15MyZxAfI9HKsOSMG5dji4S2vDP23U_QzDqDx88dZusGe9gL9oNK2QNtYaTJ0R8zMfRFCWfuCEEjjBNRQIQZtI1DsilNP9V2reTRVrbe-scsc_eTQG-WDjV-2yOxBnrNoDc/s1600/C2010.22.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XBPXtobJ15MyZxAfI9HKsOSMG5dji4S2vDP23U_QzDqDx88dZusGe9gL9oNK2QNtYaTJ0R8zMfRFCWfuCEEjjBNRQIQZtI1DsilNP9V2reTRVrbe-scsc_eTQG-WDjV-2yOxBnrNoDc/s320/C2010.22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545133757198600562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4R8__wzWCmBzL9zuNs1qYe9YnZP1DvtsQKMUNEoA15eRT6XSXHoF-VSioJgBkCvxmkg9Fs9a0G_oTt5hyphenhyphenH41LqB7f4QjJG3cp7BQQ4gPv2j63GF8bysUw1lhZhTJDMrDX5ch2fzQVs8/s1600/C2010.23.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4R8__wzWCmBzL9zuNs1qYe9YnZP1DvtsQKMUNEoA15eRT6XSXHoF-VSioJgBkCvxmkg9Fs9a0G_oTt5hyphenhyphenH41LqB7f4QjJG3cp7BQQ4gPv2j63GF8bysUw1lhZhTJDMrDX5ch2fzQVs8/s320/C2010.23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545133960723497330" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT_YzXQwdj1jrVLXPH2043W2wKdk1Q74jYSpKcOdpO2qZ4BItIPmNHuwua92qXuSAErPMF2TYJ2lku2XcUA9K4dO51Vs_6NVBSr1epRs4WDNnYYYfFsfjaH3b6QpbJsJRA94vC2qN48o/s1600/C2010.15.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT_YzXQwdj1jrVLXPH2043W2wKdk1Q74jYSpKcOdpO2qZ4BItIPmNHuwua92qXuSAErPMF2TYJ2lku2XcUA9K4dO51Vs_6NVBSr1epRs4WDNnYYYfFsfjaH3b6QpbJsJRA94vC2qN48o/s320/C2010.15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545131058075457090" /></a><br /><br />On to sewing with Meema time!<br />Kim let them pick some fabric out and made them quick bags...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNu6V_pultVPl7tzBeebTCx_Y_W5Kzt8mMuzYAce2zvQkP4nn8Mkh_GwUVIuEoqI7bwslYbnvNscXDf8xS_1KNZNxLgWCtI1_RvAnWnBYN_mm3pZrXSK1nkuzwHsuCm-m5snUuC-Gn1w/s1600/C2010.19.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNu6V_pultVPl7tzBeebTCx_Y_W5Kzt8mMuzYAce2zvQkP4nn8Mkh_GwUVIuEoqI7bwslYbnvNscXDf8xS_1KNZNxLgWCtI1_RvAnWnBYN_mm3pZrXSK1nkuzwHsuCm-m5snUuC-Gn1w/s320/C2010.19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545131786339899378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_CyGZewuFxud9viOMDDL7L4PiVYoTlPbpmmJC7i0hzlzxgQIlaB1AnStsHYF2WxtTqWbPAFg-ZBQbbkdRzyfo4faebOh-fMsFZGZ272S3OU32wWxMMxp_yULMLtQx2iL2nbElAFCtuA/s1600/C2010.20.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_CyGZewuFxud9viOMDDL7L4PiVYoTlPbpmmJC7i0hzlzxgQIlaB1AnStsHYF2WxtTqWbPAFg-ZBQbbkdRzyfo4faebOh-fMsFZGZ272S3OU32wWxMMxp_yULMLtQx2iL2nbElAFCtuA/s320/C2010.20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545132102665146674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZ5W-UMkkogGiIFSJ6oxU4qoMvnWTrNSBJXYTRBup2HoE2IkO4cgrm69g0BUbeacC-_P1l82NV-dUWUx01MYosryYYGLv2ucWJWSf8l2g7rxd5LooCY0EUnPMNRtWT6m85O3TE76N3I/s1600/C2010.26.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEZ5W-UMkkogGiIFSJ6oxU4qoMvnWTrNSBJXYTRBup2HoE2IkO4cgrm69g0BUbeacC-_P1l82NV-dUWUx01MYosryYYGLv2ucWJWSf8l2g7rxd5LooCY0EUnPMNRtWT6m85O3TE76N3I/s320/C2010.26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545133074276770338" /></a><br /><br />Then some craft time...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m8HxuFEa_rXvsmTJifdenAV-6s3n1OpI6qC9km9nDPckAf_Nv8A5R7BxTvYOiobM_1bhQt4lyfqRM1-czlFGT6t-pSMWYozx5OhovWwY07-7I4JHjT2DV2iQk5dXgMBfSI940-1kEVg/s1600/C2010.21.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m8HxuFEa_rXvsmTJifdenAV-6s3n1OpI6qC9km9nDPckAf_Nv8A5R7BxTvYOiobM_1bhQt4lyfqRM1-czlFGT6t-pSMWYozx5OhovWwY07-7I4JHjT2DV2iQk5dXgMBfSI940-1kEVg/s320/C2010.21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545133375248904850" /></a><br /><br />No compound in any of our carpets so it's a win!<br />What a great day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTY8dFq3U8ijmqs5QITBMqoTIdYlww_8-yPf8ydh_Y80vySUibOLjGNlChc4ZnL_4cjuHYpctiyM3i8IGkpKEKIs4QGxPsruhO_hHeQ6VA2O54AbJWukBKJza48GT5_3DLoR1SSXQ1TM/s1600/C2010.11.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTY8dFq3U8ijmqs5QITBMqoTIdYlww_8-yPf8ydh_Y80vySUibOLjGNlChc4ZnL_4cjuHYpctiyM3i8IGkpKEKIs4QGxPsruhO_hHeQ6VA2O54AbJWukBKJza48GT5_3DLoR1SSXQ1TM/s320/C2010.11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545135058361794066" /></a><br /><br />Meema is still going...Papa needs a beer.<br /><br />CHEESE!!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz94XaiSlhCHwmEVMzwsGOSG2pxO8LPu8-xnH7wO77dOTU1fpThNTm7YP7KobWUQRssHy0pilUAuwdlML1NUvtHA7XpA3rJ4SEEhD0LRTMrAyer5nIJKguljN4rmJ6vvTobdEdF02wb4A/s1600/C2010.10.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz94XaiSlhCHwmEVMzwsGOSG2pxO8LPu8-xnH7wO77dOTU1fpThNTm7YP7KobWUQRssHy0pilUAuwdlML1NUvtHA7XpA3rJ4SEEhD0LRTMrAyer5nIJKguljN4rmJ6vvTobdEdF02wb4A/s320/C2010.10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545135203775987826" /></a>Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00701587443784003004noreply@blogger.com1