Chapter Two

Strange.

I knew by the way my new clothes fit me that I wasn't fat. I could even see my waistline, and the beginnings of a six pack carving its way into my stomach. I could trace my jaw line with my fingertip, where before it laid buried under layers and layers of fat. My cheekbones jutted out sharply, and my hipbones were becoming more and more prominent every day.

It was almost like I was the Wicked Witch of the West. Melting. Melting. Melting...

That night, after returning home from graduation, I stood in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom and sucked in what was left of my gut. The black skirt that I bought especially for the occasion dipped lower around my waist, and the front of my blouse hung loose and limp. Then I exhaled, pushing my stomach out as far as I could. The skirt tightened uncomfortably, digging into my flesh. The thin fabric of my blouse stretched, causing the buttons to strain dangerously against the single loops of thread that held them in place. After a minute, I inhaled again.

Fat. Thin. Fat. Thin. Fat. Thin. Fat...

I cocked my head, examining my reflection. "Still fat," I muttered, shrugging out of my dress clothes and into a pair of sweats. As I tightened the laces on my running shoes, I could already feel my heart rate speed up. My blood pulsed a steady beat in my ears, and my muscles twitched anxiously. Just thinking about the amount of fat that was left on my body was enough to propel me forward.

I had the urge - no, the need - to move, move, move.

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"For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I'm surprised where the journey takes me."
-- Jack Dann

Love Rats... All Things.

This little gem is from the shoot I did last weekend with Julie and her family... And it's one of my favorites.

This photo captures her true essence and is just the purest representation of who she is: a passionate lover of all things - big and small... For instance - she spends her vacations doing volunteer work with various animal rescues across the country. Her next scheduled stop is with Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. How much cooler can you get?

Oh, and on a side note... She's one of the prettiest people I know. :)

* Julie & Izzy

** For more pics of Julie and her family, click here.
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"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."
-- Ashley Smith

I Appreciate... Old Stuff.

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"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart."
-- Native American saying

Saturday's Shoot

A few of my favs from Saturday's shoot with Julie and her fam. :)

Okay, so maybe that's more than a few... ;)

Thanks, Julie, for sharing your family with us yesterday. We had an absolute blast!
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"The family is one of nature’s masterpieces."
-- George Santayana

The Victor

Love this... So inspiring. And so true.

The Victor
by: C. W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you like to win but think you can't,
it's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.

For out in the world we find
success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are out classed, you are.

You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of your-self before
you can ever win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go
to the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or later, the man who wins
is the man who thinks he can.

** For more pics of Julia, click here. :)

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"The power of imagination makes us infinite."
-- John Muir

Impatient...

I've never been very patient.

Hurry, hurry, hurry. Quick, quick, quick. Now. Now. Now...

When I'm fired-up about something, I feel the immediate urge to scale the highest mountain or climb up to the highest roof top and - by yelling, screaming, jumping, or busting a righteous move - enthusiastically let the world know, in no uncertain terms, that I'm way beyond super-excited.

Seriously. I mean, there are times when I can hardly contain myself.

It's a bit ridiculous, really.

Here are some shots from a photo shoot that I did today with Julia. Not surprisingly, I'm too excited about these pics to wait until I'm officially done editing to post them.

So I'm doing it now.

Right now.

Enjoy!















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"When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?"
-- George Carlin

A Sunday Shoot

Fun with Fiona Rose...

Pouting... It's tough being two.

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"Courage, determination, pride...that's what little girls are made of."
-- Author Unknown

Happy Halloween!!!

What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night! With what wistful look did he eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the waste fields from some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with snow, which, like a sheeted specter, beset his very path! How often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! And how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scouring!

- - - Washington Irving (a quote from "The Legend of Sleep Hollow")

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Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days.
--Author Unknown

Happy Thursday!

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Dean: "You know it's kinda funny talking to a messenger of God on a cell phone. You know, like watching a Hells Angel on a moped."

Castiel: "This isn't funny Dean! The voice says I'm almost out of minutes!"
-- from Supernatural, "The End"

Driving to Escape

It was strange. Just three of us in the Jeep.

There should have been four.

Two humans. Two dogs. Two of each. For the last six years, that's how we defined our family. Chris, me, Molly, and Dehlia. Just the four of us. Inseparable.

And for the last six years, road trips had always been one of our favorite things to do. The dogs loved the sites and the smells of the road. Chris and I loved the excitement and the change of scenery. Hitting the road was absolutely liberating. The constant hum of the tires against the pavement was soothing, and all four of us would be more than relaxed by the end of the trip.

We had a system - sort of. Sure, there were some chaotic moments. (Okay, many chaotic moments. But with two lively, energetic dogs, how could there not be?) But it was always worth it. Every insane, seemingly unmanageable moment was complete and utter bliss. Because we were together.

Today, we still love road trips. They're still exciting, liberating, and relaxing.

But now we're split. Our Molly has moved on, changed form, and is now swirling beyond our grasp. Just out of reach. And I'd give anything to be able to align with her again. Right now. I know it will happen eventually. Of that, I'm absolutely certain.

But I'm also impatient.

Last Saturday, on a spur of the moment whim, the three of us piled into the Jeep and drove. Drove to forget. Drove to remember. Or drove just to get our minds off the fact that, one week ago to the day, we laid one of our own to rest.

This is where we ended up. Lake Chelan. It was our first visit to the area, and the little bit that we saw took our breaths away. We made it to the lake less than an hour before nightfall, so we didn't have time to stop and explore. But the views from the road were enough - at least for the time being. We definitely plan on going back.

Chris. Dehlia. And me.

The three of us.







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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-- Author Unknown

Dehlia (a.k.a. Black Velvet)

Faithful:
With eye upraised his master’s look to scan,
The joy, the solace, and
the aid of man:
The rich man’s guardian and the poor man’s friend,
The only creature faithful to the end.
--George Crabbe.

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"God ... sat down for a moment when the dog was finished in order to watch it... and to know that it was good, that nothing was lacking, that it could not have been made better."
-- Rainer Maria Rilke