Seattle Photographer - Lisa Sorbe Photo

Awake

2012-02-06T09:52:00.000-08:00

The end of 2011 was a time for good-byes. For finished chapters. I didn't necessarily close the book on a few of my dreams, but I did tuck in a bookmark.

I will no longer be pursuing photography. Honestly, I didn't really pursue it much at all in 2011 anyway, what with school taking up much of my time and energy. It's an art that I will always love, and I have no intention of putting my camera down completely. However, I don't feel quite the pull towards it that I used to. Perhaps it's because I never really had the money to advertise or purchase new (read that "better") equipment. I always just worked as best as I could with the little bit of gear that I had. And for awhile, that was enough. But, like everything in life, you get to the point where you want to evolve your trade, your skills, and in order to do that, money was necessary. And, right now, it's just not an investment that's possible to make. I'm reminded of what Harry Connick Jr's character said in the movie Hope Floats: "You find something you love, then you twist and turn it trying to find a way to make money from it. By the time you're finished, you can't even remember what it was you loved." And that's kind of sorta where I'm at with photography. Will that change in the future? Very possibly. But, for now, it is what it is.

I also bid farewell to college because, once again, the funds to continue just weren't there. And that's okay. It was a bit of a blow at first, but if I allowed every let down to get to me, I'd be a basket case right about now. Plus, I'll be honest, it was strange to be an adult back in the classroom. I've worked in the "real world" since I was fourteen. I know exactly what it's about and how to maneuver my way through it. And it was slightly amusing, yet a bit of a time waster, to hear the professors ramble on and on about life in the workplace and just what "we", as college students, could expect. (And sadly, most of the time they were very, very far off the mark.)

There were a few other dreams that I bid adieux to as well, but school and photography were the big ones. Lack of finances to properly pursue a dream can be a real hindrance. And that got me thinking. What could I actually do that didn't cost any money? What goal could I strive for that no one could deny me except myself? No financial aid counselor, no bank, no loan agency, no economic recession...

And in one breath, the answer hit me.

Health. Fitness. Run a marathon. Conquer a triathlon. Be the best physical me that I can possibly be.

On January 2nd I popped in a Tae-Bo DVD. I turned up the volume to a level that successfully drowned out the ever-present chatter in my head. I kicked. I punched. I swore. I sweat away every bit of rage, anger, and frustration that I had felt in 2011. When I was finally done, heaving and panting, I clicked the play button and did the DVD again. By the time I was done, my body was ready to collapse, but my spirit... my spirit was soaring.

For the first time in a long time, I felt alive. I felt powerful. And, perhaps most importantly, I felt... hopeful.

Since then, I've faithfully kicked, punched, lifted, and ran my way through January and the beginning of February with an energy and determination I never knew I had. Or, at least, with an energy and determination I haven't experienced in a really, really long time.

Ninety minutes of Tae-Bo. Two miles on the treadmill. Twenty minutes running stairs. An hour on the elliptical. Lift weights. Repeat.

This is how I spend my time. Now.

I really don't know where this frantic need to exercise, exercise, exercise comes from. I'm sure a shrink would say that it stems from my need to busy my mind and occupy my thoughts so they can't dwell on what was lost. And maybe that is the case.

But I think it's more than that.

For so long, I worked at getting my mind aligned with my spirit. Thinking positive. Meditating to gain peace. Changing my thought patterns from guilt and worry to acceptance and hope. But I never worked on my body. Not with near enough dedication and commitment that it really deserved.

I'm finally understanding why the greatest spiritual teachings encourage the alignment of mind, spirit, and body. No matter how much attention you give one area, if the other two are lacking, you might as well be doing nothing at all.

This blog will be sort of dead for awhile. I really don't feel the need for it anymore. Maybe once in awhile I'll post some photos of the beautiful area we're lucky enough to call home, or something along those lines. But other than that, this is one chapter of my life that I feel like closing. At least for the time being. To the two or three people out there who actually read this little blog, thanks for the support. This tiny corner of the internet has been a great place for me to pour out whatever was in my head, my heart. It's never been very professional (this rough and choppy post alone is a testament to that), and I certainly didn't start it to impress anyone. Just an online diary to appease my inner artist and seeker.

With a sigh and a huge feeling of relief, I'm turning my attention towards 2012 with an open heart, an open mind, and a mantra of que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.

** This 2011 ad from the Wyoming Office of Tourism sums up the way I hope to live my life beautifully.

________________

"Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go."
--Herman Hesse

Mornings

2012-01-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

Morning is my favorite time.

The quiet. The solitude. Nothing but Dehlia’s steady, rhythmic breathing and the occasional rustle as I flip the pages of my book.

The smell of coffee, flavored lightly with vanilla and cinnamon, wafts up from my cup and tickles my nose.

Soft white light creeps in through the windows and stretches slowly across the living room floor, bathing the room in an ethereal glow.

The shadows recede, and the day presents itself.

Like clockwork. It’s a pattern. A cherished ritual.

7 AM.

_____________________

"Morning is when the wick is lit. A flame ignited, the day delighted with heat and light, we start the fight for something more than before."
-- Jeb Dickerson

Snowmageddon

2012-01-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

_________________

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"
-- J.B. Priestley

Snow Day

2012-01-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Our lush green backyard has turned a stark white. The winter sky, normally gray and saturated, is now bleached and flecked with shimmering bits of white fluff. Ice is spreading across the windows, blurring our vision and casting a silvery glow over the outside world.

Seattle has turned into a winter wonderland.

And I, for one, am completely thrilled about it. :)

___________________

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
-- John Ruskin

Compl'i'mentary Colors

2012-01-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

The sky from our porch last night.

Unedited.

Source at its finest.

________________

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."
-- Henry David Thoreau

To-Be-Read Pile

2012-01-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

What's on my nightstand...

1. The Forest of Hands and Teeth
2. Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here
3. The Hunger Games
4. Moonwalking with Einstein
5. Steve Jobs
6. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
8. God is No Laughing Matter
9. Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later

______________

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiration (in many forms...)

2012-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine on facebook posted this today, and I felt compelled to share. It's a quote I've heard before, but today the words just really hit. Hard. Lately, it sums up my life beautifully.

And, speaking of inspiring things, check out this amazing video from Klara Harden. Beautifully filmed, this documentary reaffirms my desire to live a life that's free from monotony. And to always, always make time for adventure.

________________

"Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives."
-- Tony Robbins

Good-bye, 2011...

2011-12-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

Hello, 2012. :)

_____________________

"The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul."
-- G. K. Chesterton

Reading Challenge: 2012

2011-12-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

I devour books. Devour them. Sort of like chocolate.

I, uh, just can't get enough.

*Sigh*

Anyway, with the new year fast approaching, I thought it'd be fun to track all the books I digest in 2012.

(Again, I'm talking about books, not chocolate.)

I've set a goal of 125 books for the year. I can't wait to get started.

Happy reading!

_________________________

"It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it."
-- Oscar Wilde

Couch Potatoes

2011-12-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

What we’ve been falling in love with lately.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

We saw this for the first time on Christmas night and loved it. (Loved it!) As a kid, I was fascinated with The Planet of the Apes movies and relished their sci-fi goodness. Having what one of my grade school teachers called an "intolerable, overactive imagination", it wasn’t a stretch for me to believe that, hey, this could actually happen! And after seeing Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the little girl in me practically squealed, See?!! I told you so!! Plus, it was nice to see Tom Felton break free from his trademark role of Draco Malfoy and dive into the part of the equally sinister Dodge Landon. When he spat Charleton Heston’s famous line, "Take your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape!" and Ceasar (speaking for the first time ever) shouted back, "No!", well… I got chills.

Shameless

With the season six finale of Dexter a few weeks ago and ten whole months to wait before season seven, it’s a good thing that Chris and I discovered the gem that will be taking its timeslot in January. Shameless is, well, shameless. And it’s soooo good. Raw, gritty, and real, this Showtime original kept us glued to our TV for twelve hours straight as we caught up with season one. The actors are superb, the writing is magnificent, and the whole thing really is shameless… In a really, really good way. Season two premieres on Sunday night, January 8th at 9.

Horrible Bosses

I’m lucky. I’ve never had a boss that I wanted to kill. But if I ever do, I now know how to do it. This is without a doubt the funniest movie we’ve seen all year. All. Year. We laughed so hard we cried. And then laughed some more.

I AM

I’m giddy about this documentary. Giddy. I’ve been waiting for close to a year to see it, and it lived up to all of my expectations. I just can’t find the words to do it justice, so here’s the trailer to give you a better idea of what this must-see flick is about. (Thank you, Tom Shadyac!)

______________

"Look, if you want a promotion, you gotta earn it. Now, what do I keep saying? Life is a marathon and you cannot win a marathon without putting a few band-aids on your nipples. Right?"
-- Dave Harken (via Kevin Spacey) from Horrible Bosses

Taking A Moment

2011-12-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

Reminiscing.

The holidays usually bring that on.

Today, while sipping tea and remembering Christmases past, I pulled out the few pictures I have of my youth. Flipping through them, gently fingering the worn edges and savoring the memories, I felt a tug on my heart.

It's hard. Being alone. Well, of course I'm not really alone. I have Chris. And, aside from D, he's my world.

But what I'm talking about are parents. A mom and a dad. My own dad died when I was fourteen. I've been estranged from my mother for close to seven years now.

And it's hard.

There are times - especially after having an unusually rough day - when I'd love nothing more than being able to call people who really, truly, from-the-bottom-of-their-hearts cared. The freedom to vent to a mother who listens and sympathizes. Or the security of having a dad to lean on when life gets hectic and tough.

Always having that support. That helping hand. That refuge, love, and connection.

That feeling that, no matter what happens, you're never, ever alone.

I miss that. Like crazy, I miss having that.

I've come to terms with the fact that my life is the way it is, and that it's the way it is for a very good reason. And after the holidays, I'll be able to perk up and go on with it without a hitch. Because, in all honesty, my life really is good. And I'm thankful that I have the common sense to realize that.

But for now, just for a moment, I'm going to allow myself to remember.

__________________

"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles."
-- C. JoyBell C.

Ho-Ho-Ho...

2011-12-21T16:02:00.000-08:00

Still feeling a bit Grinchy this year, but managed to whip up a holiday card for the masses. :)

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

____________________

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."
-- Amy Lowell

Kalaloch Beach

2011-12-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

My favorite place. Ever.

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"The name Kalaloch is a corruption of the Quinault term k'–E–le–ok, pronounced Kq–â-lā'–ȯk, meaning "a good place to land", "canoe launch and landing", or "sheltered landing". The site was one of the few safe landing sites for dugout canoes between the Quinault River and Hoh River.[1]"
-- Wikipedia

Sweet Dreams

2011-12-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

Dulces sueños.

Lately I’ve been dreaming.

In Spanish.

I’ll be at the supermarket – the local QFC down the street – searching and searching for mushrooms when I suddenly blurt out to the produce guy, “¿Donde se los champiñones?” He laughs at my frustration and hands me an onion. “Prefiero la cebolla.” And then I get really frustrated (because I’m not looking for cebollas, I’m looking for champiñones) and wake up – muttering to myself in Spanish.

And then I get really excited because I realize that I’m muttering to myself in Spanish!

Speaking a second language fluently has been on my bucket list for years. And while I’m nowhere near fluent yet, the fact that I know enough to dream in a second language is, to me, a step in the right direction.

On a side note... I'm thrilled that, even though I'm no longer able to attend college, I don't have to stop learning. We can all be our own teachers... :)

Que tengas lindos sueños.
__________________

“Try not to let school get in the way of your education.”
-- Albert Einstein

Chena and Her Boys : )

2011-12-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

Chena is amazing. The kind of person that, when you meet her, already feels like an instant friend.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting her boys. And they're equally amazing.

So what do three amazing people add up to??

One freakin' amazing family.

Thanks Chena, Dominick and Lukas for a great morning!!

__________________

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." -- From the television show The Wonder Years

Candy Cane Antlers

2011-12-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Straight-out-of-the-camera goodness.

_______________

"Boy, noun: a noise with dirt on it."
-- Not Your Average Dictionary :)

Inspiration

2011-12-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Smile. Exercise is addicting.

Especially Tae Bo.

Billy Blanks... I heart you. :)

_________________________

"The body only profits a little from exercising but the spirit profits a lot."
-- Billy Blanks

Baby Steps

2011-12-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

So often times, I want to be somewhere other than where I am. I want to go somewhere that is so far from my current position - whether it be a state of mind or an actual location - that I can actually feel the pull. But, when I heed the call, I find myself not really all that far from where I actually started.

I want huge leaps. Gigantic leaps. Enormous progress. I want to bound across that chasm of contrast and into a whole new way of being. Into something so brand spanking new that, if I were to look back, I wouldn't even be able to see where I came from.

And I want to do it all... right now.

In a perfect world, we'd be able to leap into our desired reality with one single bound. Fat to thin. Disease to wellness. Poverty to prosperity. Lack to abundance.

But our world isn't perfect. And maybe that's a good thing. Because, if it was, how could we determine what we wanted in the first place? And if we didn't experience the dark - as so many wise ones have said - then how can we possibly appreciate the light?

I think the movie What About Bob? says it best.

Baby steps.

You gotta take baby steps into your dreams. Press forward with small but determined strides. Make tiny but deliberate changes. All of these seemingly insignificant actions will eventually add up to that brand spanking new reality.

Granted, this is all easy to write. It's easy advice to give. It is, however, harder to follow. I do my best daily and try to keep the impatience at bay. Some days are better than others. But when it comes down to standing still or moving forward, I'll take moving forward. Even if it means baby steppin' the entire freakin' way.

My most recent baby step? Incorporating green drinks back into my life. Before school started last January, I guzzled these smoothies regularly. But once my schedule became so overloaded with classes, studying, and commuting to and from campus, I regrettably replaced these priceless nutritious drinks with pricey vanilla lattes from the cafeteria. My life is now, however, heading in a new direction. And instead of fighting the flow, I'm choosing to go with it. Even though I have absolutely no idea where it's headed.

So here's to my attempt to get across the chasm, to the place I want to be. My baby step toward a brand spanking new reality.

Cheers.

** In this drink:

Spinach
Blueberries
1 Banana
1 Orange

__________________

"...baby step onto the elevator... baby step into the elevator... I'm *in* the elevator.
[doors close]
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
-- Bob Wiley (via Bill Murray) in What About Bob?

Sun Break

2011-12-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

I'm a person who loves clouds. Rain. And dreary, gray, chilly weather.

I guess you could say that I'm living in the perfect place.

Lately, though, I've been missing the sun. So much so that - when it peeked its head out from behind the clouds this afternoon for its daily five-minute sun break - I stepped outside and snapped a picture of it.

Let the sun shine in.

___________________

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
--Anthony J. D'Angelo

A Reminder

2011-12-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

I wasn’t going to decorate for Christmas this year.

In fact, I was going to go one step further and not celebrate it at all.

With everything that’s gone on recently, celebrating a festive holiday such as Christmas… Well, I just didn’t think I had it in me.

As I’m unemployed, there will be no presents. And because the miniscule amount of family that we do have is at least half a continent away, it will (like always) be just the two of us at our holiday dinner table.

In the past, I’ve always made an effort to celebrate holidays – despite whatever chaos was going on in our lives at the time. (Financial concerns, layoffs, lack of family, etc.)

But this year… It all just seemed like such a hassle. Hauling out the holiday boxes, digging through the decorations, setting up and trimming the tree… When considering all this, the only thing I could think of was, Ugh. We’re going to have to take all this crap down in a month. Why put it up at all? And no one will be here to see it, anyway…

One night in early November, I mentioned my reluctance Chris. Channeling my inner lawyer, I argued my case. “I’m the one who decorates every year anyway and why bother because it’s just the two of us – well three if you count D but she doesn’t know the difference – and we just have to take it all back down again after the New Year which, by the way, is a huge hassle, and we’re not going to be able to do gifts – again – this year, so why bother…”

My run-on argument went on and on. And on.

And Chris agreed. Or so I thought.

Until last Friday, when I walked out of the bedroom to find our surprisingly realistic pre-lit Christmas tree half assembled – and Chris standing next to it, happily fiddling with the one strand that always refuses to light.

He hugged me, passed me a box of ornaments, and shrugged. “Two people constitute a family.”

So for the rest of Black Friday, we decorated. We listened to Christmas music, reminisced over each ornament we placed on the tree, and hung our holiday stockings. I draped the fireplace mantel with a ten foot roll of yummy sweet-smelling cedar garland while Chris wrapped twinkling white lights around our garage door.

It’s important to make the best with what you have. To appreciate what you do have instead of focusing on what you don’t. I know this. I do. I’ve written about it before. But, like every other important lesson in life, it can be easy to forget. Sometimes you just need some help remembering.

Thank you, Chris, for reminding me.

So am I now completely caught up in the holiday spirit? Not entirely. But I’m getting there.

** Enjoy a delicious rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by She & Him. (And, well, who doesn't love a little She & Him??!) :)

__________________

"Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times."
-- Kate L. Bosher

The 30 Day Challenge

2011-11-30T10:41:00.000-08:00

I never back down from a good challenge.

Kayaking through sea caves on Lake Superior during the windiest day of the year?

Done it.

One entire month without caffeine?

Piece of cake.

Meditate for 30 minutes a day for 30 days in a row?

Not hard at all.

Walk through Reptile Gardens without freaking out?

Okay. I almost failed that one.

So when Chris instigated this most recent one, how could I refuse?

30 days away from Facebook.

I’ll be spending the next month completely disconnected from the social networking site. I won’t even pretend that it’s not going to free up an enormous amount of time. (During which I have a long list of things that I’ll be diving into: a huge stack of books, Tae Bo DVDs, Spanish tutorials… Not to mention training for a St. Patty’s Day marathon, taking long walks with D, and spending quality time with Chris.)

Facebook is a good thing. It allows us to easily stay in touch with loved ones, maintain friendships that would otherwise be lost to time and distance, and promote the things we love – i.e. small businesses, art, music, etc. See? All good, right?

But I also think it’s something that needs to be used in moderation. I’ve seen people so glued to their Facebook or Twitter screens that they miss the beauty of the moment: a breathtaking sunset, a touching scene in a movie, a wild performance at a concert, a drive through the Cascade Mountains, a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit, time with a loved one – just to name a few.

And lately – this is where the challenge comes in – I noticed that I was becoming caught up in the madness. Me! Logging onto Facebook instead of picking up that book I’ve been meaning to read. Me! Scrolling through status updates instead of hitting the treadmill with Chris. And, perhaps the most ridiculous, jumping up during movie-date-night to comment on a post in my newsfeed… Pathetic, huh?

Yep. I’d say it’s time for a break.

So I’m taking a month off. To focus on life. Without distractions.

I’ll update my status later. :)

__________________

"Life is sweet when you pay attention. When it doesn't seem sweet, put a sticker on your nose and do a funky dance."
-- Whitney Scott

Thankful

2011-11-24T17:54:00.000-08:00

He looked at me carefully. His eyes were guarded, and I knew right away what he was thinking.

Dare I ask her?

But I smiled at Chris over the steaming turkey and nodded. “It’s all right,” I said. “Let’s do this.”

Every year, before we start chowing down on our Thanksgiving feast, we tell each other all the reasons that we’re thankful. This year, however, with the (very) recent and abrupt turn of events that has my life now spiraling into a new, unknown direction, Chris wondered if asking me what I was thankful for might just be the push that hurled me over the edge.

I can't say I blamed him for being nervous.

This year, I’m thankful for a life that’s never dull. I’m thankful for the willingness to constantly push forward and maintain a positive outlook, despite current circumstances. And to know that, no matter what, the power to be happy is – and will always be – mine to control. I’m also thankful for the enormous amount of strength and appreciation that the recent events have instilled in me. What started out as a powerless situation has now become, thankfully, something that I feel I can do anything with.

Right now, I’m not looking back. I’m not even looking forward. For the first time in my life, I’m going to just be. I’m not going to force my way through or to anything. I’m going to stop seeking my future and, instead, allow it to just... happen.

As the old saying goes: Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.

And for the first time in my life, I’m not going to worry about it.

_________________

"You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving,' Charlie Brown."
-- Marcie (A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving)

"Lovesong"

2011-11-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

I don’t always live in the now. Although I do try.

But sometimes thoughts – either concerning past events I can’t change or worries over future events that might not even happen – clog my mind and stifle my present.

Especially lately.

So anything that can break into those toxic distractions and pull me back to the present moment is priceless.

Today this song literally smacked me over the head and shook me out of the doldrums I’d fallen into. Relaxing into that sweet wave of relief, I paused, closed my eyes, and allowed myself to be swept back into the present.

Originally sung by The Cure, this is one of my absolute favorite songs… And until today, I had no idea that Adele had given it a whirl. But with her exquisite voice, I couldn't help but rush home and add it to my play list.

Enjoy.

____________________

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A New Adventure

2011-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Well, here goes.

When one adventure ends, do we weep? Do we throw the covers over our heads and refuse to get out of bed in the mornings because something that we wanted to work out, in fact, didn't?

Yesterday I received notice from the financial aid office at my school informing me that I don't qualify for any sort of financial aid - grants, loans, etc - at all. And, to put it bluntly, I cannot continue to attend college without those loans. After spending the last eleven months of my life attending college, proudly making straight A's and being extraordinarily grateful for finally (finally!) finding a career that I can love, hearing this news was like a punch to the gut. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. For a brief moment, I actually struggled to breathe.

For a good hour, morbid thoughts shot through my mind. Wrapped themselves around my brain and choked my heart. What am I going to do? What are we going to do? Is this how it's always going to be? Get so close to a dream, close enough that I can almost reach it, only to have it cruelly snatched away? To finally reach the end of the tunnel, see that little pin prick of light and feel for the first time in a long time hopeful, only to suddenly be roughly pulled back as a gruff voice laughs viciously, Not something you can have. Never something you can get.

So be it. I guess a college degree is something that I will never have.

It's funny. So many people (not all, but surprisingly quite a few) with college degrees seem to be, well, not really so bright. More like pompous jerks with enormous egos who have no idea how to look past the end of their own noses. Able to thrust a diploma in front of them at dinner parties and, because of said piece of paper, be escorted to the finest table full of all the right people. I've seen exceedingly creative individuals be turned down for jobs merely because they're lacking that same piece of paper. And I've also seen less talented individuals get those same jobs just because they have the piece of paper.

It all just seems so... wrong.

I'm not really sure what direction my life will take now. Other than I know what direction it will not take. All I know is that I have been thrown (rather forcefully) into a new direction. And honestly? Seeing my world from this new vantage point isn't exactly as heartbreaking as I might have feared. But it is scary.

Perhaps the lesson to be learned from all of this is to be okay with where I am. To realize that I'm not better or worse or less-than for not having a college degree. To finally figure out that I'm worthy enough just the way I am. And to accept the fact that I'll always be a little incomplete - perhaps beautifully so.

I have no choice but to keep on keeping on. Life doesn't quit, and neither do I.

My wonderful husband stared at me misty-eyed when I told him my time at college was over. Sliding next to me on the couch, he grasped my hands, touched his forehead to mine and said the kindest words. "I've never met someone who perseveres more than you. I've never met anyone who's had as many road blocks put in their path as you have. Yet you never give up. There's something to be said for that. We'll be fine. You'll be fine."

And of course he's right. I will be fine. But I do have to admit that there's a little part of me - okay, maybe all of me - that's ready to be more than fine. That's ready to finally catch a break and, just for once, just for a little while, sail through life with the winds and not against them.

So we'll see. It looks like one adventure has ended. And I managed to get myself out of bed today.

There's something to be said for that. Or so they say.

So now I'm on the hunt for a new adventure. Because, like Chris says, I never give up.

Bring it.

___________________________

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye."
-- Helen Keller

Fun with Friends :)

2011-11-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

I never get to see Julie enough.

So I have to lure her out with my camera. ;)

Thanks Julie, Jason (aka Jeff!), Victor, Harrison, Sidney, and Isabel for a fun, Harry Potter-filled afternoon!!

(Click here to see more Olsen family fun!)
______________

"Time is making fools of us again."
-- Albus Dumbledore

Expelliarmus!

2011-11-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

Count my lucky stars... I got to play Harry Potter yesterday. :)

_______________________

"In dreams, we enter a world that's entirely our own."
-- Albus Dumbledore

Silly. Happy. Love.

2011-11-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

_____________________

“Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly.”
-- Rose Franken

Ten Years

2011-11-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

The years are rushing by. When I think back to when we first met, I'm amazed by the stretch of time that has passed.

Ten years.

*Shakes head in complete and utter disbelief*

This month, Chris and I are celebrating ten incredible years of togetherness.

Throughout the last decade, we've been through a lot. Numerous moves, several states, countless jobs, layoffs, career changes, family feuds, fair-weather friends, sicknesses, the death of a loved one, and struggles that have tested and tried our patience with both ourselves and each other.

Yet we're still here. Right now. Together.

We made it through everything unscathed. Because we stuck together. And we'll continue to make it through life unscathed because we have each other.

That cold November night nearly a decade ago, when Fate intervened, I had other plans. Other plans that involved someone else and another life altogether. At the time, I truly thought that I had everything figured out. Who I was. What I was doing. Where I was going...

Then I met Chris. And my world suddenly, irrevocably changed.

I'm happy to say that we're not the same people we were when we met ten years ago. Hell, we're not the same people we were a mere five years ago. (I say this with great tenderness, however, as I'll always be proud of who we were during every chapter of our lives.) The fact that we can take the negative and create from it the positive has allowed us to continually press forward with a new awareness. We're changing, growing, maturing... We're becoming not necessarily better, but bigger and perhaps more brighter, more alive, than we've ever been.

When I look back at the last ten years and all we've been through, I can't help but be grateful for every single moment - the good and the bad. And this breathless appreciation has me more excited than ever about the next ten years to come... :)

* Dorky pics of us as kids. Nerdy-cool even then... ;)

__________________

"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end."
-- Author Unknown

Fifty Dollars

2011-11-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

If you had asked me about a month ago, I would have said it was a lot.

Fifty dollars.

As an unemployed college student who lives in one of the most expensive areas of the country, fifty dollars is hard to part with. In fact, it’s damn near priceless.

In America, fifty bucks doesn’t buy much. A full tank of gas, a meager bag or two of groceries, a pair of no-name jeans, a haircut, a night out at the movies…

At the Faustina Akua Dufie Preparatory School in Sayerano, Ghana, however, fifty bucks buys a lot.

Education. Hope. And a future.

The tuition for one student to attend the school for one full year is fifty dollars. That’s it. Unfortunately, it’s a price that most children in the area can’t easily afford. If they can afford it at all.

Education is something that I’m extremely passionate about. It’s something that I think all people – regardless of what country they live in – should have the right to pursue. For a child to not even have the option to attend school is absolutely heartbreaking.

If, a mere month ago, someone had asked me for fifty dollars, I would have – in the politest way possible – refused. On the grounds that I needed it way more than they did.

However, after talking to my brother and learning about the school and its story (he’s friends with the school’s director), my opinion has changed. Suddenly fifty bucks doesn’t seem like much at all.

I just sent off a check. And because of that, a little girl named Abena Sandra will get to go to school tomorrow. Beautiful, isn't it, how such a small amount can make such a big difference? :)

** There are, at the moment, approximately twenty or so hardship cases at Faustina Akua Dufie Preparatory School. If you’d like to help, please contact me and I'd be happy to pass some info your way. The donations go directly to the school for the kids - there's no middleman or company or spokesperson to pay. Also, I'm currently putting together a book list for the school (as they have none) and am looking for used/new book donations as well. I do have to specify that the shipping costs to Ghana from the US are pricey, so any donations toward postal fees are much appreciated as well!

___________________

"An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves."
-- Lydia M. Child

Smooth Sailing

2011-10-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

Life isn’t always smooth sailing.

But I’ve learned that it’s possible to navigate through even the most treacherous storms if you just learn to forgive the wind and befriend the fickle tides.

_______________

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
-- Henry Ford

Photo of the Day: Just Laugh

2011-10-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

_______________________

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose."
-- Woody Allen

Beachy Keen

2011-10-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Cloudy with a chance of... marshmellows.

_____________________________

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”
-- Thoreau

The Gemmer Family: Sneak Peek

2011-10-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

____________________

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad."
-- Author Unknown

An Apple a Day...

2011-10-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

___________________

"Why not upset the apple cart? If you don't the apples will rot anyway."
-- Frank A. Clark

Crazy-Slow

2011-10-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

Life is crazy. In fact, there are a million ways in which life can dish out craziness. Crazy-busy, crazy-scary, crazy-amazing/wonderful/thrilling...

But all crazy, nonetheless.

Sometimes you just need to slow down. Slow down so you can catch up.

This is where Chris and I go to slow down. From our crazy life. It's where we sit and catch up. With our day, with each other. With ourselves.

Over the clank and clatter of silverware, we share our thoughts, discuss our dreams, and plan our future. The surrounding patrons' humming voices slowly buzz down to nothing, and before long, it's just us. Alone together. Slowing down and catching up.

Crazy-slow.

_____________________

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."
-- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Wish List

2011-09-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Summer's over. The leaves are burning crimson on the trees and, on our nightly walks, the chill in the air forces us to pull our jackets tighter around our bodies just to stay warm.

Oh, and school is starting again.

Lately I've been thinking. A lot. Wondering what the heck I'm doing going back to college. I'm 34 years old. Technically, I'm a grown up. By society's standards, I should already be situated comfortably in my job, in the career field of my choice. Chris and I should have already popped out one kid - if not two - and, because said children need to spend time with family, we should be spending our one free week a year vacationing back in Iowa, where we grew up. I should be making decent money (as opposed to no money at all) and we should be busy planning for our kids' futures, our retirement and our next big purchase. Like a boat, or something.

That, however, is not our life.

I'm going back to school because I couldn't bear the thought of working one more job that ripped apart my soul. I couldn't spend one more day doing something that I hated; refused to spend one more night dreading the morning.

Chris and I have pushed society's wish list aside so that we can create our own.

And what's on our wish list?

Happiness.

That's a pretty small list, huh?

Our wish list doesn't contain expensive trips, a five bedroom McMansion, or even a white picket fence encompassing the 'perfect American family'. It doesn't list the newest electronic gizmo (I still don't have an active cell phone) or a vehicle straight from the 2012 production line.

Now, I'm not going to be so Buddha-like and pretend that I wouldn't accept any of those things if they were offered to me. Because I probably would. A few of them, at least. (After all, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty MW3 Edition is soooo choice!) And some days we'd love nothing more than to be parents to two adorable kiddos. (Mia Lisette and Samuel Dean, respectively.) :)

But let's face it. If we couldn't be happy until we got those things?? Well, let's just say we'd be living in an unfulfilled state of depression and lack for a long, long, loooong time.

Happiness, however - that's something we can have. Right now. Happy is something that we can be. At this very moment.

The sky is gray. Night closes in earlier these days. The air is crisp and cold.

And we're... happy.

__________________

"If you want to be happy, be."
-- Leo Tolstoy

Birthdays Past

2011-09-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

My birthdays are quieter now.

Way back when, before the axis of my life shifted so abruptly, my birthdays were loud, colorful, rowdy, and full. Full of people, food, music, laughter, presents, and hugs. Because I was born as summer was dying, there was usually still enough heat and humidity left in Iowa to celebrate by throwing a grand pool party. (My mom always knew how to throw the best pool parties.) When I was really little, the attendees were mostly my parents' friends. Fun and wild, they'd park their cars in the street and flip-flop their way up our drive, around the side of the house, and through the back gate leading to our little oasis - the Wickey Family's tiny piece of heaven on earth. Truth be told, I loved those people. Always smiling, always laughing, they made my young life exciting. When my parents' friends were around, the air buzzed - literally pulsed - with excitement.

After my dad died, however, most of my parents' friends stopped coming around. Now, I'm not going to start blaming anyone or pointing fingers. I'm sure they were probably uncomfortable around Mom and I right after Dad passed, and maybe that was why they drifted away. Whatever the reason, the people that I used to see almost every day up until I turned fourteen suddenly vanished.

But that was okay. By then I had my own group of friends - both from high school and softball - and a better group of girls you'd be hard pressed to find. In fact, when my dad died, they were my lifeline. The only people who could really make me forget the pain of losing not only my dad, but my life as I'd known it. Because after my dad died, things got dark. I don't think my friends back then knew how much they helped, or even suspected how wrong things were in my life, but they were all - every single one of them - lifesavers to me. We celebrated our birthdays together, usually circled around a phone, spooning cookie dough shamelessly into our mouths and laughing big belly laughs while making prank phone calls to complete strangers. (Poor, poor Phu Van.)

Today is my birthday. There's no pool party waiting for me. No loud and rambunctious friends to celebrate with, for all of my lifesavers have gone on their separate ways. My family - what's left of it - are far away, on the other side of the country. My parents' friends have evaporated as completely as the water has in our old pool. (From what I hear it's now nothing but a dilapidated concrete hole in the ground.)

I'm not writing this post to invoke sympathy. I'm writing this post for myself. To honor birthdays past and to remember that joy and celebration can come in a multitude of ways. Whether it's twenty people laughing and lounging around a pool or a group of girls snacking on cookie dough, sharing jokes, and making - gasp - a few prank phone calls, there's no right or wrong way to celebrate a birthday.

It's whatever fits.

Tonight will be a quiet night. Chris and I will settle down for the evening like we always do - read a book, watch a movie, get lost in an episode of Supernatural. And then tomorrow we'll wake early, drive up into the mountains, and hike to our hearts' content. I'll take in the views, feel his hand in mine, and appreciate where I am in my life.

And that, just that, will be enough.

_______________________

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."
-- Author Unknown

A Day at the Lake

2011-08-30T19:30:00.001-07:00

Photographs help us remember. They tell a story.

This is Ayla, Jeff, Kimbo and Mac's.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. :)

_________________

"I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation, I don't find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges."
-- William Albert Allard, "The Photographic Essay"

Picture Taking and Great Company

2011-08-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Summer finally hit the Seattle area yesterday - just in time for fall. Bright and buttery, the late morning sun spilled over Bothell Landing and infused everything it touched with a warm, shimmering glow.

Including Chena.

(Although, I think it's safe to say that Chena glows even on the cloudiest of days!)

_____________________

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within."
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Sneak Peek: Chena :)

2011-08-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

____________________

"If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never have got anywhere."
-- Marilyn Monroe

The Couple That Hikes Together - Round Two

2011-08-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Chris and I have always been close. Like, extra-special close. But, like any other couple, we're also guilty of getting stuck in a rut. Of getting so caught up in and hypnotized by the monotony of everyday life that we fall into an overwhelming state of the doldrums and forget to appreciate. There are days when we all too easily undervalue the little things - waking up next to each other every morning, watching our favorite television shows while curled up on the couch together every night, the half hour or so after Chris gets home from work where we shut off the TV/computer/phone and just sit, share a drink and talk about our day...

Like every couple, there are times when we just forget to appreciate... each other.

And then we go hiking.

Immersing ourselves in nature and sucking in the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest centers us, restores us and, without fail, reminds us what's really important in life. Our concerns and troubles suddenly become less burdensome. We feel positive, hopeful and - dare I say it - even expectant. We're a team, out there on that trail, and just knowing that we have each other's back draws us even closer together.

Yes, more often than not we do come home sunburned, tired, sore, and scratching more bug bites than we can count. But we also come home smiling. And that's really the important thing, isn't it? :)

** A glimpse of what we saw yesterday while hiking the Old Sauk River Trail.

_____________________

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
-- Mignon McLaughlin

Lifestyle Portraiture: Family Time :)

2011-08-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

_____________________

"A house is not a home until it has a dog."
-- Gerald Durrell

The Couple That Hikes Together

2011-08-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

It's no joke.

The couple that hikes together, stays together.

Yesterday Chris and I embarked on a wonderful adventure - a hike to Snow Lake.

I honestly, truly, and hands down do not think a more beautiful Alpine Lake can be found - crystal clear blue-green water reflecting the surrounding peaks in its glass-like surface, a soft eggshell-blue sky lightly streaked with wispy, barely there clouds. It was... breathtaking. And the almost four mile trek up the mountain to get there? Equally amazing. Views of the neighboring mountains' snowy peaks broke through the thick forest after about a mile and tickled our vision the rest of the way up.

This hike made me fall (if possible) even more in love with my husband. Because without him, I think - er, actually, I know - that I wouldn't be here today.

Okay. So right about now Chris would cut in and say, "Lisa, stop being sooooo overly dramatic." (Hmmm... Sounds like he says this a lot, huh?) But, in all fairness, I'm not being overly dramatic. Not this time, anyway.

I have an overwhelming fear of heights. And this trail, with its steep switchbacks and narrow rock strewn paths, is almost more than a person with a height phobia can take. There were moments when I was mere inches from the side of a cliff, so close to the edge that I could actually feel the drop off. The vast emptiness just one wrong step away was practically tangible. There were several moments on that trail yesterday where I froze. Completely.

And then Chris offered me his hand.

With gentle and sweet words of encouragement, my husband graciously saw me down that mountain. He got me to laugh (many times!) in the face of my fear, and before I knew it I'd scrambled not only three and a half miles down, but well past my paralyzing phobia as well.

Chris and I have been through a lot together. Adversity can either make or break a couple. Luckily, in our case, it only makes us stronger.

Here are a few shots from our amazing day yesterday. We're so blessed to live surrounded by beauty such as this. :)

_____________________

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
-- John Muir

Halloween Word Art

2011-08-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know it's a bit early, but don't hate. And please don't put me in the same category as the grocery and superstores that start promoting and selling their Halloween merchandise / candy at the beginning of August.

However, with that being said...

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, and I usually start getting psyched about it sometime around... now.

That's right. It's only the middle of August, but already my mind is thinking warm and cozy thoughts: crisp autumn temps, falling leaves, fluffy sweaters, hot apple cider, roasted marshmellows over bonfires, hayrack rides, pumpkin patches and, of course, Halloween.

Because my brain has already checked out of summer and situated itself comfortly into fall, it's been focusing on and pumping out projects that relate to that lovely time of year.

This print is now available on etsy. More fun holiday prints to follow!

** Now I think I might stop by the grocery store and, uh, check out some of that Halloween candy... ;)

____________________________

"I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween."
--Author Unknown

Wisdom from Dr. Seuss

2011-08-12T13:26:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge book nerd.

I'd rather read than watch TV.

I carry a book (or two!) with me wherever I go.

And I love words.

So it's not surprising that this quote from Dr. Seuss is one of my absolute favorites.

I started this little project awhile ago. But, as I was in school at the time, I got so wrapped up in life and homework that I quickly forgot about it. However, thanks to a little reminder from Jen Sorbe yesterday, I revisited this long forgotten idea and had a ton of fun wrapping it up. I plan on wrangling Chris into helping me build a floating frame for the black and white one this weekend. (All I have to do is mention the words "Home Depot" and he's in!)

For anyone else who is as passionate about books as I am, these prints (along with others) will be available in my etsy store soon... :)

** Playing around with these yesterday has me super anxious to dive back into my graphic design classes this fall. *Sigh*

____________________

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book."
-- Author Unknown

Photo Bliss: Smooth Sailing

2011-08-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

__________________________

"He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed."
-- Albert Einstein

Let's Go Back to the Beach :)

2011-08-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

_____________________

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."
-- Oscar Wilde

A Song's Message

2011-08-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

The day of my dad's funeral is mostly a blur. In fact, the entire week following his death is somewhat removed from my memory. I can recall tiny bits and pieces, fragmented images that flee from my grasp almost as soon as I think them - holding his limp hand in the hospital room, the tear that rolled down his cheek as he passed away. The relatives - most of whom I had never met - avoiding my eyes at the funeral. (Or, to be fair, maybe I was avoiding theirs.) A steady stream of creamy casseroles, sympathy cards, and phone calls that continued for weeks on end...

All of those memories are blurry, incomplete. Just momentary glimpses into an incident that wrung me dry, cut me open, and changed me from the inside out.

But there is one memory, one moment in all that mess that stands out vividly. Crisp and clear, it's this memory - or song, rather - that I cherish more than I can say. To this day, just hearing it fills me with an intense, almost overwhelming feeling of peace.

This song played on our car radio as we drove to the funeral. Strange, but the moment the car started, the radio clicked on, there was a split second of black silence, and then... This. I'd never heard the song before, and I've rarely heard it on the radio since. It started as we pulled out of the driveway of our house and lasted all the way to the church. As my mom tucked the car into a parking spot, the song ended, and a peaceful silence fell.

I knew as I listened to that song that my dad was with me - right at that moment. I knew then that he would always be with me. The voice on the radio wasn't his, but the message was.

"Just think of me, and I'll be there."

__________________________

"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality."
-- Emily Dickinson

A Short Attention Span = A New Direction

2011-08-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

Some would say that I have a short attention span. That I lose interest in things quickly. And that I jump - constantly - from one thing to the next.

And... they'd probably be right.

But I prefer to think of myself as, well, inquisitive. Maybe even plucky and spirited, adventurous and quirky. And above all else, I consider myself to be passionate. Passionate about life, love, and art.

To those peering in from a distance, it might seem like I don't finish a lot of the things that I start - and I admit that following every single project or idea through to the end is not my strong suit. However, I think it's fair to point out that I do take on and try out a lot of different things. Life, in various instances, has often pushed me down roads that I never would have considered on my own. Literally forced me to look in new directions.

And that's okay. I'm not scared to try something new and fail. My only fear is to not try at all. Period.

Yes, my resume (which contains employment in the automotive, banking, legal, and veterinary fields) may seem, at first glance, to point to someone who is flighty, indecisive, and hasty. But upon further inspection, I like to think that same resume describes someone who is loyal, hard-working, and passionate.

I may not be the Jack of all trades. But I am, at the very least, the Jane of quite a few.

I've been thinking about this flaw of mine quite a bit lately. With the decision to resurrect my previous desire to share my photography on Etsy, it's made me realize not only how far I've actually come with this craft, but how many detours I've taken along the way. When I first entertained the idea of pursing photography, the only thing I was interested in shooting was animals. Dogs, specifically. A year later, almost on a whim, I decided to give photographing people a try. Immediately I was hooked - people, with their vast array of emotions, personalities, and quirks provided for me unlimited inspiration. There can be, I thought firmly at the time, nothing else I'd rather shoot.

Well, that was roughly a year ago and, lo and behold, my thinking has evolved - yet again. I'm now completely, totally, and desperately passionate about shooting landscapes. In retrospect, this obsession was bound to hit sooner or later - what with living in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. (Yes, I'm a bit partial to the Pacific Northwest.) Chris and I have lived in this paradise for a little over four years now, and yet there are still times when we find ourselves struck speechless - absolutely and completely breathless - by our surroundings.

This life, this world, this universe, is so full, so ripe that it's absolutely overflowing with new joys, ideas, treats and pleasures. It's a literal Smörgåsbord of delights and surprises. It's juicy goodness is endless. And the paths to happiness - if you're daring enough to take that first step - are infinite.

Last night I listed my first photo on Etsy. (Click here to see!) I was so excited about creating this first listing that, after clicking the "submit" button, I actually let out a little squeak of excitement.

Hey, it's the little things, right?

** The first image is available now, the others will follow shortly... :)

___________________

"Growth is the only evidence of life."
-- John Henry Newman, Apologia pro vita sua, 1864

Puppy Fever.

2011-08-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

___________________

"Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life."
-- Richard Allan Palm

New Shop! :)

2011-07-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

A glimpse of what's (soon) to come! (Click here for a quick peek!)

________________________

"If your dream is big enough, the facts don't count."
-- Don Ward

A View: Friday Harbor

2011-07-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

____________________

"Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life."
-- Buddha

Who Says You Can't Go Back? ;)

2011-07-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

My first three years in Washington were spent here. At Woodinville Animal Hospital.

It was one of the hardest jobs I've ever, ever had. It was here that I learned to draw blood, prep for surgery, work an x-ray machine, overcome my aversion for vomit (yuck, I know) and... knit. (Yeah, you heard that last one right. Thanks, Bobbe!) I kissed and snuggled puppies and kittens, rough-housed with energetic dogs, treated cat scratch after cat scratch and, after especially difficult euthanasias, always waited until I got home to cry. After working at WAH, I gained a fresh perspective regarding animal health and, perhaps more importantly, discovered a whole new appreciation for veterinary doctors, technicians and staff. These people work their "tails" off (all right, a little pun intended) and deserve some major props for their skills, hard work, and compassion. After all, it's in their tender care that we trust the health of our beloved pets.

So special thanks to the staff at Woodinville Animal Hospital for a wonderful afternoon of picture-taking, reminiscing, and good coffee. Truth be told, I owe a great debt to this clinic... Because without my time there, I wouldn't be who I am today. :)

__________________________

"Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem."
-- Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

In a New Light: Ashley & Adam

2011-07-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

__________________

"I like her because she smiles at me and means it."
-- Anonymous

Scenes from the Washington Coast

2011-07-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

_______________________

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mini-Session: Beautiful Brittany!

2011-07-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

______________________

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."
-- Mae West

Sneak Peek: Brittany :)

2011-06-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

_____________________

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Countdown to the Weekend

2011-06-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

In just a mere two days, I'll be able to check something off my (ever-expanding, always-evolving) Bucket List.

Camping on the beach.

Yep. We're going to spend one long, glorious weekend basking in the rugged beauty that so defines the beaches of the Pacific Northwest.

Ah... Life just doesn't get any better than this!

_____________________

"We now no longer camp as for a night, but have settled down on earth and forgotten heaven."
-- Henry David Thoreau

Winter in the Cascades :)

2011-05-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Okay. So please, please keep in mind that this is my first attempt at compositing photos. But when I saw the image of this fireplace in Luxe magazine, I couldn't help but immediately think of this photograph I took of Lake Wenatchee. (Winter in the Cascades is such a beautiful time!) Putting them together just seemed.... natural. And even though I'm fairly certain that photography is no longer going to be a part of my future, because of fun photos like this it will always, always be a cherished hobby.

________________

"As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do."
-- Zachary Scott

Libby: Lifestyle Portraiture

2011-05-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

It's on her arm. Scrawled in black ink. A tattoo that says:

Saved by grace.

And Libby is. Pure and absolute grace.

Her dreams are simple, yet enormous. And they're full of grace. Her one desire in life is to get back to Africa (where she recently lived for a year and a half) so she can spend her days basking in that awe-inspiring country while helping others achieve and realize their dreams.

To achieve our own dreams is amazing. That feeling that comes with seeing a dream through to fruition is intoxicating - there's almost nothing like it. But to have a dream that also inspires others to achieve theirs? Well, there's just nothing better than that.

______________________

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-- Anne Frank

Sneak Peek: Libby

2011-05-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

__________________

"Gracefulness has been defined to be the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul."
-- William Hazlitt

Fun with Nora :)

2011-05-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

When April responded to my plea for help with a design project at school and offered up her daughter Nora as a model, I was ecstatic. (Okay, more than ecstatic. I actually did a little jig when I got her message.) Because really, Nora is just about as cute as they come.

I've had the privilege of shooting Nora once before (click here for those awesome images) and was thrilled to have another opportunity to capture her amazing spirit. This little gal absolutely belongs in front of the camera. I mean, seriously... Just take a look. :)

___________________

"Always jump in the puddles! Always skip alongside the flowers. The only fights worth fighting are the pillow and food varieties."
-- Terri Guillemets

Sneak Peek: Nora! :)

2011-05-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

_____________

"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."
-- Chili Davis

What Makes a Mom?

2011-05-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

Am I a mom?

No. At least, not in the traditional sense.

But in the untraditional sense, I am. A mom.

My daughters have fur. Four legs. Floppy ears. And tails.

And yes. I am their mom.

Okay, most "real" moms out there are probably snorting into their coffee cups right about now. Her? A mom? Children are so much more different than pets. She's not a mom. No way. No how. And the kicker? She didn't go through ten/eighteen/thirty-six hours of labor like I did!

So what makes a mom? Over the last few years, I've had to think long and hard about this question. Tense times with my own mother has left us estranged - we haven't been in each other's lives for nearly six years now. And that fall out (of which there were many over the years, truth be told) makes me wonder just what, exactly, makes a person a mother? In, you know, the traditional sense.

Warm. Kind. Nurturing. Compassionate. Understanding...

Those words float immediately into my head.

A mom is someone who will never - no matter what - turn her back on you. Who loves you unconditionally, wholly, and without judgment - until death-do-you-part. Unlike a spouse, a mother doesn't have to take an oath, because loving you is just in her blood. It's a part of who she is. It's a connection that she cherishes and never, ever lets fade away.

I am a mom. I supported my girls when they were young and wobbling little puppies. I got up at three o'clock in the morning when they had to go outside. I've sat through bouts of sickness, cleaned up messes from said sicknesses, petted away fear, taught compassion, celebrated their victories, and cuddled needing hearts.

I researched medical therapies, struggled through let down after let down, and experienced sleepless nights when Molly got sick. Four months of sleepless nights. I felt a sickness of my own when I realized she couldn't be saved. And I sat right there with her and held her head in my hands when, at last, the needle went in.

As a mother, I still feel that loss. That unbearable emptiness. Even today.

So yes. I am a mother. In all the ways that truly matter.

I know from experience that family isn't always related to you by blood. Sharing a common lineage does not always a family make. And biology? Biology most certainly doesn't determine who your family is.

But love does. Compassion does. And where those two things exist, there exists a family.

________________

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."
-- Richard Bach

For Friday: Musicial Inspiration

2011-04-29T09:58:00.001-07:00

I love this song. It pulls at my heart and takes me back to a simpler time - where cell phones weren't buzzing with text messages every thirty seconds and when kids stayed (safely) outside until long after the lightening bugs came out.

Absolute and uninhibited. Freedom.

The Naked And Famous - Young Blood from The Naked And Famous on Vimeo.

_____________________

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness."
-- Henry David Thoreau

Hannah & Jamie: Lifestyle Portraiture

2011-04-26T09:53:00.001-07:00

Hannah's gorgeous. (I mean, obviously.)

Jamie has the whole James Dean look going for him.

Together, they're smokin' hot. :)

And I just couldn't resist throwing this one in... ;)

____________________

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."
-- David Viscott, How to Live with Another Person, 1974

Photo of the Day: "Dulce Amore"

2011-04-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

__________________

“Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.”
-- Unknown

Sneak Peek: Hannah & Jamie

2011-04-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

_________________

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
-- Franklin P. Jones

Photo of the Day: Beach Bum

2011-04-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Craving some beach time...

_______________

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”

--Thoreau

In Need of a Getaway

2011-04-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of a place that's far away...

Well, not that far away. (One of the perks of living in Western Washington!) Only two more months left of this busy Spring Quarter and then I'll be partaking in mucho beach time. Three months of beach time, to be exact. Simply heaven.

*Sigh*

Is it June yet? ;)

___________________

"Play in the sand; splash in the water; get dirty; get wet. The beach is the only place my mom doesn’t get mad about me doing that stuff. Of course I love the beach!"

-- Dixie Dykens (age 5)

Diana: {Sneak Peek}

2011-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

_________________

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-- Mark Twain

Random Rambling: What's In a Name?

2011-04-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

I honestly have no idea how or why my parents came to the decision to name me Lisa. I'm not named after anyone in particular. My dad didn't lose a bet, bequeathing him with the four-letter L word. There wasn't any specific reason that my mother preferred Lisa over, say, Elizabeth. (I love the name Elizabeth, by the way. So many things you can do with it: Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Liza, Ellie...) The one time I did ask about my name, the only response I got was, "Your godmother picked it out." Not very exciting.

When I was in grade school, I would fantasize about changing my name to something more exotic. I longed for a glamorous name like Isabella, Josephine, Madelyn, or Natasha. A grand name with a lot of letters that I could sign with a dramatic flourish of my grape scented, unicorn eraser-topped pen. (My name just didn't have the autograph quality that I was looking for back then.) And, to make matters worse, most of my friends' names came with unique variants, making their lives seem significantly more important and way cooler than mine: Angela was Angie, Melinda was Mindy, Miranda was Mandy, Melissa was Missy, Leticia was Tisha, Antonia was Toni, Jennifer was Jenni. And I was, as usual, just plain... Lisa.

I specifically remember one day in the fifth grade when, as an assignment, we were all supposed to use and call each other by our middle names. For one entire glorious day I was Marie. (I made my parents carry on the assignment at home that evening.) Wonderfully different, beautifully exotic Marie. Needless to say, it quickly became one of the best days of the year.

These days, I don't really mind my name. Is it exciting and different? No. But thankfully I've gained some perspective since grade school and have come to realize that a person is a whole lot more than what he or she is called. It's what we choose to do with our lives that shows the world who we are and not, fortunately, our names.

** And, just for fun, here's a little muscial treat from Noah and the Whale to brighten up your Friday... Enjoy!

______________________

"Name is a fence and within it you are nameless." -- Samuli Paronen

What's In My Bag

2011-04-01T11:02:00.001-07:00

My purse is a liar. If opened by any stranger, it would confidently boast about my neatness, my organizational skills and, all in all, convey to the observer that I am one put together woman. At the moment, it would reveal a modestly small interior containing only the bare essentials: two books, Evolve Your Brain by Dr. Joe Dispenza and The Right to Write by Julia Cameron, with a ragged mint green Chinese take-out menu sticking out of the latter, a black Bic pen, a barely used tube of ChapStick, and a "secret" pocket containing my check card, credit card, and driver's license.

And that's it. Simple, neat, compact and completely free of unnecessary clutter.

The fact is, I don't own a wallet. And I hate to carry a purse. When out and about, I'm usually with Chris, and his wallet serves as my wallet. It holds my driver's license and credit card - on the rare occasions that I even bring those two items along on our outings. When I do leave the house on my own, I transfer those bits and pieces back to the pocket in my purse, toss in my current reading material, and hit the road.

So would the contents of my purse give someone an accurate picture of who I am? Absolutely not. I'm not, in reality, a neat person. (Granted, I'm no slob, but keeping a neat-as-a-pin house isn't my number one priority.) Am I organized? Not really. What about clutter? Well, you should see my desk. Enough said.

So what does it say about me? Well, I think it conveys the message that I don't like attachments. I strive to keep my life as simple as possible, forgoing dependency and other unnecessary items. I don't carry pictures of family members, and no sentimental objects travel with me from place to place.

And just what would that person not be able to deduce by rifling through my meager belongings? That I grew up in Iowa, but spent the last fourteen years living and working in places like Hawaii, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Washington. The items in my purse would in no way reveal that I love animals and adore zombie movies. My identity as a photographer would escape them, as my purse holds no reference to my business. And finally, this stranger would have no way of knowing that my aversion to attachments has to do with the fact that I've lost more loved ones over the past eighteen years than I care to count.

If misplaced, would I wish for a Good Samartan to box it up and send it back? Probably not. It doesn't, when it comes down to it, hold any emotional value for me. Except for the books. Yes, I'd most definitely want those back.

I guess, when all is said and done, I do have some attachments after all.

_____________________

"If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."

-- Benjamin Franklin

Kayli: Lifestyle Portraiture

2011-03-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

Kayli's such a trooper. Rain, clouds, and the dreariest weather that Seattle's seen in days??

Not a problem. Nothing gets her down.

In fact, Kayli has the amazing habit of bringing her own sunshine with her wherever she goes... :)

________________

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
-- Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

I AM...

2011-03-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

... a bit flighty.
... a bit of a loner.
... spacey.
... a free spirit.
... an Iowa girl at heart.
... smitten with anything sci-fi.
... obsessed with the television show Supernatural.
... newly obsessed with the television show Fringe.
... completely infatuated with old country music, Willie Nelson, and the 80's.
... an intense fan of both Green Day and AC/DC.
... partial to dive bars, cold beer, and live music.
... addicted to chocolate.
... constantly craving Taco John's, but haven't actually eaten there in five years.
... sometimes sad that I don't have a big, loud, rambunctious family to depend on.
... happy that I can depend on myself.
... completely, totally, and over-the-moon in love with my husband.
... waking up. More and more. Every day.
... happiest when I'm taking pictures or reading books.
... a huge Harry Potter fan.
... someday going to live in Latin America. (Chile, Panama, or Nicaragua... *Sigh*)
... always going to be a dog person.
... not yet sure if I ever want to be someone's mom.
... no longer waiting.
... too sensitive. And I'm okay with that.
... and will always be a little bit... incomplete.
... (almost) okay with that.

____________________

"People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates."
-- Thomas Szasz, "Personal Conduct," The Second Sin, 1973

Christy & Dan: Lifestyle Portraiture

2011-03-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun session for me.

Christy and I go way back, and it's hard to believe that it's already been three years since we worked together at the veterinary hospital. Back then, we were both thinking our futures lay in animal science. And now... Well. Not so much.

Amazing how much the trajectory of a life can change in just a few short years, huh?

Christy's life is a whirlwind... She's just about to graduate college and has immediate plans to fly away with the Air Force come summer. Her boyfriend of two years, Dan, has similar aspirations - he's joining up with the Marines in May. Luckily, if things work out, they'll both be stationed near each other in good 'ole California - where their romance can continue to flourish in drier, much sunnier surroundings!

__________________

"But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door..."
-- The Proclaimers

Sneak Peek: Christy & Dan :)

2011-03-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

_________________

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."
-- Ingrid Bergman

Ashley & Adam: Lifestyle Portraiture

2011-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was obvious from the start that I was going to like Ashley.

Her facebook messages were filled with enthusiasm for her upcoming shoot and I, of course, immediately found myself carried away by her excitement. I mean - excitement about photography?! Excitement about life?!? I'm in!

*Sigh*

I love happy people.

Ashley and Adam are high school sweethearts (insert "awwww" comments here) and are just about the most adorable couple you can find. They made this session easy. None of this affection was staged - with them, what you see is what you get. Two people. In love.

Absolute perfection.

_____________________

"Love is friendship set on fire."
-- Jeremy Taylor

Sneak Peek: Ashley & Adam :)

2011-03-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

___________________

"We loved with a love that was more than love."
-- Edgar Allan Poe

Music: The Civil Wars

2011-03-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

This video made my heart skip a beat.

Simply breathtaking.

*Sigh*

_______________

"Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself."
-- Henry Ward Beecher

Blurred...

2011-03-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

This is sort of how I feel lately.

Blurred. Out-of-focus.

Like I'm so close, yet so far away.

It's not altogether a bad thing. And, as I remind myself often, as long as I'm moving in the right direction, it doesn't matter how close or how far away I actually am.

All that matters is that I don't stop. That I keep moving. Forward.

And, most importantly, that I enjoy the ride.

________________________

"Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Life Lately: Craving Color

2011-03-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it has anything to do with my cabin fever, but lately I've been craving color.

Bright, bright, vibrant, sunshiny colors...

Sort of like these.

I love that Spring is right around the corner. :)

_____________________

"Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn."
-- Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

Mini Portrait Session: Dahlia

2011-02-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Dahlia is one of the most beautiful, mature, intelligent, and fun fifth graders I know. Despite the frigid temps and light scattering of snow, she eased into our session with the sort of grace that usually only comes after years and years of experience. Hanging with Dahlia reminded me of my own youth, and I left our shoot with the urge to call every one of my girlfriends over for a slumber party - complete with junk food and old movies like Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Can't Buy Me Love.

Ahhh... Fifth graders have it made. :)

** For more info on my Mini Portrait Sessions, click here! :)

________________________

"Promise me you will always remember – You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
-- Christopher Robin to Pooh

Portrait of a Family Man ;)

2011-02-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

__________________

"To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions."
-- William James

Valentine's Day Wonderland...

2011-02-14T14:40:00.001-08:00

Just a peek of what I walked into after coming home from class this afternoon...

Best. Surprise. Ever!

Hope everyone is having an absolutely fantastic Valentine's Day!

** If you're in the mood for a little cheesiness, check out this (old) blurb about how Chris and I met. (Click here if you're feeling extra lovey-dovey.) I could write a whole new post about Chris and how much I love him and how meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me... La-la-la... But I, uh, have a Valentine to attend to. ;)
________________________

"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end."
-- Author Unknown

Georgie: Lifestyle Portaiture

2011-02-13T14:16:00.000-08:00

Meet Georgie.

She says that she doesn't like to have her picture taken. But... I'm not so sure she's telling the truth. ;)

This little gal loves the camera. And, obviously, the camera absolutely loves her. Spending the afternoon with her and her mom was like a much needed breath of fresh air. Running around outside, playing on the swings, and laughing nonstop was just what I needed to shrug lose of the cabin fever that's been gripping me since December.

I don't think I'm alone with I say... C'mon, Spring!!

But until then, enjoy a few shots from my session with Georgie. It'll most certainly brighten your day...

P.S. Georgie's mom, Joanne, runs Best Friend Rodent Rescue. (Click here for their site.) Make sure to check them out if you're looking to rescue a furry critter!

_________________

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
-- Anne Bradstreet

Sneak Peek: Georgie :)

2011-02-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

____________________

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."
-- Author Unknown

Seeing: Scenes From a Car

2011-02-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite things to do out here is drive through Seattle's sprawl and just soak in the sights.

Lake Washington. The Puget Sound. Alki Beach. Quirky neighborhoods. Busy city streets.

The architecture, the boats, the cars... (All the cars, cars, cars, cars, cars!)

Seattle is a busy city. And an artsy one. There's always something to see, and there's never a dull moment.

I love it here.

_____________________

"The question is not what you look at, but what you see."
-- Henry David Thoreau

Photo of the Day: "Windswept"

2011-02-03T17:05:00.001-08:00

Sasha revisited. Enjoy!

_____________________

"I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm."
--Anonymous

Rain-Speckled...

2011-01-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

_________________

"Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet."
-- Roger Miller

My Life Lately: Exhaustion & Tea

2011-01-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

I'm tired.

These past few weeks have been enlightening, exciting, and... exhausting.

My schedule this quarter is rough. I love all my classes, but there's a lot of work involved in each of them. I've dozed off more than once while doing homework and had to be shaken awake by Chris, telling me that it's time for bed. Or time to eat. Or, you know, time to go to class. Again.

The craziness won't end until mid-March. And then a whole new sort of craziness will start up. Along with photography and school, I'm thinking of getting another "day" job. You know, just to spice things up a bit. Um, yeah. Although, with the amount of with-it-ness I've been experiencing lately, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. (While deeply involved with writing a paper for one class and thinking about a project for another, the phone rang and I answered it by saying "Woodinville-Animal-Hospital-this-is-Lisa." Mind you, I was at home and haven't worked at WAH in over six months. With-it-ness?? I say not!)

So tonight, I'm going to finish my last assignment of the day, brew some tea, curl up on the couch, and do what too many Americans do too much of - watch TV. I'm going to start with Wings, then maybe throw in few House Hunters episodes, before signing off with Supernatural. I'm not usually a fan of zoning out in front of the television but, well, tonight - pass the remote, please.

Adios! And may your Friday night be filled with a lot less TV than mine... :)

** The tea I'm settling down with this evening was recommended to me by a friend from my math class... It's scrumptious! (Click here for more delicious details.)

*** My brain is so complete mush... even this post sounds lame. Doh! :/

_____________________

"Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."
-- Catherine Douzel

Photo of the Day: "De Bon Augure"

2011-01-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

_________________

Prosperous; fortunate; as, auspicious years.

Today's Funny: Pachelbel Rant

2011-01-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

I was introduced to this clip in my Design class today.

Yep. You heard that right... In class.

Art. Is. So. Much. Fun.

___________________

"What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul."
-- Yiddish Proverb

Holiday Mini-Session: Critter Crazy!

2011-01-20T08:10:00.001-08:00

It's always been my belief that pets are part of the family. For as long as I can remember, dogs, cats, fish - even the baby birds we'd find on the ground who had fallen out of their nests - were all welcomed into our home with big, wide open arms and made immediate members of the Wickey clan. And now, as a Sorbe, I've carried on the traditon that, thanks to my mom and dad, I learned at a very early age. (Chris doesn't mind - he's become quite the animal lover himself!)

So it's when I run across a family like Julie's, who embrace their furry friends by treating them like one of their own, that I'm reminded just how compassionate humanity can be.

These shots were taken months ago, during a holiday mini-session at Julie's house. (There's so much love at that place that it's practically bursting at the seems.) I absolutely adore Julie and her family - and all their critters! In fact, being around them reminds me of what it was once like to be around my own family - wayyyy back when.

So enjoy these shots of Julie and her fam... And feel the love. :)

(And p.s. - all these critters live together... in harmony. True story.)

* A special word about this last photo... Julie initially had the idea for the family to do a rather stoic, stern pose (i.e. old depression era family photos) for their holiday card. However, her son, Victor... Well, let's just say that with him around, it's impossible not to laugh. Ah, well. We tried. ;)

___________________

"The life spark in my eyes is in no way different than the life spark in the eyes of any other sentient being."
-- Michael Stepaniak, quoted in Joanne Stepaniak, The Vegan Sourcebook, 1998

Calling All Juniors!

2011-01-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hey, Juniors! The school year's half over and that means it's time to start thinking about... Senior Pictures! Book your session (for whatever month you want!) before February 14th and receive a 10% discount! Contact lsphoto@comcast.net for more details... Thanks! :)

__________________

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
-- From the television show The Wonder Years

Happy Morning

2011-01-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

Hmmmm... Not a bad way to start off the day. ;)

___________________

"The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there."
-- Monica Baldwin

Take It One Day At A Time :)

2011-01-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of reality TV. I usually avoid it like I avoid going to the post office around the holidays.

No way. No how.

It's the drama, really. The unnecessary drama. The housewives that have nothing better to do than complain about their superficial lives and scheme against those around them. Or the attention seeking women who shamelessly clamor and scheme (there's that "s" word again) to woo a guy for the sole purpose of having their fifteen minutes in the limelight. (Sorry friends of mine who love The Bachelor. I forgive you.) I mean, I strive to keep unnecessary drama out of my own life. Why oh why would I want to invite in someone else's?

There is one show, however, that I do watch. One reality television program whose ups and downs I welcome with wide open arms.

The Biggest Loser.

Yes, there's drama. But there's also purpose, healing, determination and... hope. I watch The Biggest Loser because, at the end of the show, I don't feel the need to take a shower in order wipe away the contamination of other people's destructive energies. At the end of The Biggest Loser, I feel hopeful.

Last night began another new season and, as usual, Chris and I tuned in for the premiere. I admit, within minutes I was sobbing right along with the contestants. There's Dan (or Don, I can't remember which - they're twins) whose son passed away a few years ago, the shock of that sudden loss causing him to regain his previous weight loss of one hundred pounds. (Don, or the other twin, also has a heart-wrenching tale involving his own son.) Then there's Rulon, a 2000 gold medalist who now tips the scale at a whopping 474 pounds but still has the heart of a champion. Next is Sarah, who wants nothing more than to be a mom, but whose weight has cost her several pregnancies. And finally, Arthur, who, at 507 lbs., is literally fighting for his life and is the biggest contestant the show has had to date.

But amidst the doom and gloom of the scale is hope. Despite their size, these twenty-two courageous people show up on The Biggest Loser ranch with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts. Their eagerness for a new beginning, a new life, is contagious. The excitement on the show is almost tangible and, last night, I found myself overflowing with love and hope for these brave souls.

One of the things I like most about the show is that every episode leaves you feeling super-charged, revved up and in the state of mind that anything is possible. After all, through each of the two hour episodes, you see these people - most of whom have never worked out a day in their lives - sprinting on treadmills, bend and twisting into various yoga positions, and lifting weights that push them to their limits.

But do you ever hear them complain? Well... Yes.

Last night, after a particularly trying workout, Arthur (the biggest contestant ever, remember?) hit a wall. The excuses were many: My leg hurts. I'm too fat. I have too much weight to lose. (Three hundred pounds, to be exact.) I can't do it. He was collapsing under the pressure of having to shed in body weight what he termed as "losing my dad." (His father, Jesse, weighs 293 lbs.)

Yeah, I'd say the challenge of having to lose what amounts to an entire person in body weight would be a bit daunting. I mean, how do you see the end of a journey like that? How is it even possible to celebrate a weight loss of 31 pounds (which is what Arthur actually lost during his first week on the ranch) when there's still so much more to go? It's like a drop in a bucket. A really, really big bucket.

Well, insert Brady moment here. (You know, how at the end of every episode of The Brady Bunch one or more of the kids learned an important, extremely moral lesson that would completely alter life as they knew it. "Gee, Mom/Dad. I never thought about it that way before! You're sure swell!")

Bob, a tough trainer with a heart of gold, took Arthur aside for a pep talk, during which he made a point that resonated with me on every level. He encouraged Arthur to "take it one day at a time." To, instead of focusing on the hefty number or getting sidetracked by peering down that long, hard, seemingly impossible road ahead, place his attention on his Now.

I think that is such good advice. After all, it's easy to become overwhelmed when faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable. When something in our life isn't as we would like it to be, we want it fixed... now. The thought of living with unwanted conditions for a few years, months, days, even hours, often times propels even the most positive souls into deep states of worry and despair. Thoughts like Why even bother?, I can't do it or, perhaps even worse, It's too late. It'll always be like this filter through our minds like a cracked record, needling over and over again until we believe them.

But a simple change in tactic, just looking at the same obstacle from a different perspective, can make an enormous difference. For example, instead of focusing on a certain number of pounds that need to be lost, a person can set his sights on just getting through today's workout. Or, rather than dwelling on a lay off and worrying that she'll never find work again (and therefore she'll be broke and lose her apartment/house/vehicle/family/sanity/respect/future - see how it escalates?), a person could put her attention instead on what she could do now to make the most of her time: update her resume, browse monster.com, make a few calls to friends and family and see if they know of anyone who might be hiring, take a breather and remember just how talented she really is...

When we worry about things that haven't happened yet, or become overwhelmed by the long road ahead, we unintentionally sabotage ourselves. By leaving our Present Moment, we place ourselves in a state of complete and utter vulnerability. Outside of our Now, we project our fears, worries and uncertainties into our future experiences.

But if we can just remember to be Present, and to take it one day at a time, we can easily get back on track and meet even our most challenging goals.

I love this world. I love how little bits of wisdom seep through the gaps and inspire me to live my life in increasingly better and better ways.

Okay, that was one rambling post, huh? Wow.

In honor of those people who have the faith and determination to pursue their dreams, despite how out of reach they may seem, I'm going to leave you with this: an amazing clip of an amazing man with an amazing voice pursuing his own (amazing!) dream. :)

____________________

"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."
-- Unknown

A Year in Review: An Addendum :)

2010-12-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I forgot to add these images of Tess to my favorites post... Sheesh. Where oh were is my mind lately??

Hmmm... I think it's looking forward to the new year!!@$!@#!$

Here's wishing you all a very happy New Year and a wonderful, wonderful 2011!! And to those of you who were gracious enough to step in front of my camera and allow me to document your life - thank you!

Feliz año nuevo!

________________

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."
-- Helen Keller

A Year in Review: 2010

2010-12-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

For me, 2010 flew by in a flurry of photographs.

In fact, if this past year had come with instructions, it would have read:

Click, click. Edit. Repeat.

I loved 2010. Some dreams were fulfilled. Even more were discovered. Yes, there were tears, struggles, and uncertainty... But there was also love, triumph, and discovery. And, perhaps most importantly, the contrast that 2010 provided has altered the trajectory of my life so completely that, if you had told me at the beginning of the year about all the changes it would inspire, I probably would have laughed.

Well, I guess the joke's on me. :)

Here are more than a few of my favorites from this past year. Each and every photo fills me with a memory - like how, after Shelley's shoot, Chris and I stopped for breakfast at Chinook's where we had the most delicious scones we'd ever tasted. Then there was the night we got home from Emily's session - sweaty and dehydrated from the 90 degree temps - only to find that our mammoth old school television set had finally (finally!) died and we were therefore "forced" to buy Chris' dream TV.

Or, perhaps the most monumental, was the drive home from Danie's shoot, when I was struck with a sudden and intense desire to go back to college. (I start classes January 3rd!)

But all memories aside, each and every one of these pictures makes me smile. They are all my dreams come true. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

__________________

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
-- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

An Afternoon of Bliss

2010-12-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

** Lake Wenatchee

___________________

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more."
-- George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage