I didn't pose him, I PROMISE

This guy joined my family the day I met Nate... His name is Maxx... He's 11 and is an Ole' Enligsh Mastiff...  He is such a great dog.... I was coming out of the kitchen, turned the corner and there he was... snuggled up with Tigger.  I couldn't resist....

New Year

Sooo... Making some changes in the upcoming new year... After all, isn't that everyones goal;  reflect on the year past and see what can be done better or different for the upcoming year?  Maybe to some maybe not to others... Doesn't matter... it's what I'm doing... :)  

This blog didn't really end up the way I had an anticpated and that's no one's fault but my own... So, I think I'll keep this one and this will focus on things with Nate and I (mostly my bragging on Nate :)  )  but, I'm starting a new one too... The new one will be more of just ramblings and inner thoughts... Hopefully I'll be joined there and conversations will be envoked...

I'll keep you posted.... :)   I'm pretty excited ...

Chick Flicks and reality

Typically, I just don't like watching "chick flicks" .... I think they can set a false expectation of reality.  Really???
Yes, I know movies are movies and not reality... after all, I'm not watching a documentary... I'm an adult, I know this... yet still, I believe it can plant the seed... and start the questionings... could it really be like that??? Really? 
Then the comparison start... reality vs the movie and the questioning of why isn't it like that??? Why can't it be like that???
I count my blessings every single day and I try and learn from my faults every day... I've done alot of growing,( and aging ) lately ......yet, I still hold the hope of what I am wanting, and needing... and the questioning of not necessarily why isn't my life like "that" but why can't I seem to make things happen or find my right direction ..... I don't dwell on the feelings when I get them... sometimes I'll just escape and watch the unrealistic movies... and sometimes the timing is perfect and I just sit back and enjoy the escape from reality....
I'm doing just that... watching "Love Happens" ... so far so good... I hope after watching the entire "flick" that I still have "feel good" feelings... I don't know... maybe it's just the soundtrack that I'm enjoying...

What is your opinion?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XInj3WyRerI&feature=related

Water Rescue 2 class and Nate

Water rescue 2 class was last weekend... Here the boys learn about unloading, docking and loading water rescue vehicles.......  Here are some of Nate during this training:

Nate giving instruction to the newest Probie~~Tyler

Tom, Tyler, Instructor Fry, Nate and Hitchy

Practicing backing in the boats to the dock

Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association (DVFA)

I don't think I've posted much about this... Which isn't surprising, this blog didn't quiet turn out as I was anticipating... Like much of my life right now.....  September 16 2010 was our DVFA conference where Bill Tobin was sworn in as the new president....

Nate is still a "probie" but attended the conference to support President Tobin as well as to support DVFA in it's entirety... He and another probie, Clint were asked at the last second to be the Stair and Color Guards... Very unexpectedly .... I was able to attend the very end of the conference as I had to work that day.   I wasn't the photographer of this particular event thank goodness because I didn't have all my equipment with me... here are a few of what I was able to capture...

Nate on your left Clint on your right

  

He looks really sharp in his dress uniform... They weren't made to wear the jackets at this event

  

Newly elected President Bill Tobin (left) with Terry Jester Chief of Memorial 89

(Nate on the right, behind Chief Jester)

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Picture below and above... The Memorial 89 Ladies Aux. and many of our officers and a few Probies

Emily & Memorial 89 Slaughter Beach Fire Department

Nate is doing really well with his Firefighting Training.... Which I will blog some updates about that in my next post... Firefighters like Policemen develop a "family" unity due to the nature of the job.... His department has taken me on board as their photographer... It's nice to have the oppourtunity to use my camera since I can't seem to get out there and take many pictures anymore... Within this "family" bond it has also given me the oppurutnity to practice portrait taking as well... I'm not taking this pictures as a professional obviously but as a hobbiest... It's a great time... and I'm learning in the process...
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Here is Emily.... she is a senior in high school this year and was wanting some outdoor "senior" pictures... I don't know how to really do that so we found a compromise.... I'll photographer her as part of my learning and she can keep all the pics... I know we will be getting together alot more...  :)

Slaughter Beach is a very special place for Emily.  She has been a part of that location all her life.  Her father is the Deputy Chief at the station.

The majority of these shots are very "typical"... the more Emily and I grow to know each other, the more artistic flare and personalization will be able to be added to the photo's.... Here are a few on the beach

Then we started to move across the street to take some with Engine 2...

Now to Engine 2.... I started to lose my lighting... and now have learned throughout all this, I need to invest in a reflector.... I love how much I'm learning thanks to Emily  :)

                        I know this one is blurry but there is just something about this picture that I just love

Here she is on top of Engine 2 with her Dad's helmet

She wanted some pictures with the sunset behind her... LOL... although these pictures turned out NOTHING like she wanted... it was sooooo much fun... Please pardon the blurriness, I'm working on it :)

Photoshop isn't just to "save a crappy photo" as I was once told.....

I am shocked that it's been over a month since I've written.... I had a lot going through my head in July... and I'm finding the right way to put it into words.... working on developing a new page for a fresh start... but while that's a work in progress.... I still wanted to put something up :)

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We attended my Mom's family reunion this weekend... it was SOOO much fun... which I have photo's I may post later.... but what I wanted to post today was pictures of my cousin Tara. Tara had absolutely no idea I was going to take her "hostage" and photograph her... Actually, I had no idea myself !!! LOL
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She and I were talking and catching up, it had been 2 years since I had seen her... She has grown up so much... She is a senior this year in high school and is hoping to attend a culinary college after graduation.... She had been swimming prior to my arrival and really, she was just ready to get back into the pool ... BUT, then I happened... LOL
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She was hesitant for only about.... a hot minute... and then she was all for it... :) ... neither of us cared that her hair was haphazardly pulled up and that she had very minimal make-up on... I actually was happy for both.... So, around the farm we went..... I have to say, I am VERY happy with how these turned out...
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OHHHHH... and before I go forward... I was once told that I use photoshop because my pictures aren't so good and I try to mask them and hide behind photoshop and try to be something I'm not....
So, I've come to realize that isn't true.... I've never claimed to be a "professional photographer" and I've never had a class... So I KNOW my pictures aren't top of the line... BUT they are from my heart and soul and the best ability I currently have to capture memories for myself and everyone.... I use photoshop to help me express a different type of art from the photograph.... I like my pictures just fine without these affects(effect??? ugh I get them confused)... but I chose to add them because I like them.... and I just love what I do.... :)
Now.... on to Tara... a good sport and a great person

~~See the difference in the next two effects?? I just couldn't chose my favorite... I love them both for such different reasons

~~ So the next one... I saw that old disassembled car and just had to use it... but I have to say...I can't take full credit for the next picture.... My 4year old Nephew actually took it... !!!! I just added an effect I liked to it... he did a pretty good job

~~now this next one.... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT... I know it's all blown out... but there is just something about it that I just really really like....

Wesley is 4!!!

My youngest nephew turns 4 today... Tommy and Rachelle celebrated it yesterday with a carnival theme... They had many "stations" set up in the backyard for the kids to play carnival type of events and win tickets for prices... it was so cute and a ton of fun...

There was face painting:

His sister Hailey wanted a butterfly... so a butterfly she got... looks pretty good to me...

Hailey even talked me into it... She knows me so well... she automatically painted a dragonfly... LOL

The cake was baked by my sister in law Rachelle,  she has amazing talents with cakes

And then there was Wesley's "big" gift ... boy have times changed... This thing is powered not by pedals.. seat belts and everything... Now I wonder if I should trade my car in for one of these!!!!  It's nicer than my car... LOL

His reaction when he came out and saw what was there

And the radio was a TRUE radio.. amazing

Judging by his best friends face and the look of  "I'm on a mission get out of my way" on Wesley... I think it was the right idea to stand to the side of them  LOL--I LOVE this picture

Happy Birthday Wesley... I love you so much...