Saturday, May 31, 2008

T- minus 15 minutes

First glimpse!

I'm at Amber's home!

Prep for an all day wedding.

Wow, everything is charged, packed and
ready to go..even a cooler full of water.
I'll head to Amber's home this morning to
photograph her getting ready then I'll take
her to see John. Then it's off to the races!
Well, the gardens, really. The forecast is
for some late afternoon scattered storms and
I won't have that! Please take a moment to
pray that the weather holds out for us until
at least 5 or 6 pm when we are all safe
inside at the reception out at Crown College.


Boo is home, happy and wants to play.
We have to protect his little tender paws
though, for a couple of weeks. Hobie pawed
at the office door...so cute! He wanted to
see Boo! I'm afraid we have to start all over
with Katie...she hissed at him last night!
Boo sounds like a little tiger cub when he
wakes up and he head butts and kisses you
all over...LOVE him!!

If you went to see Sex and the City last
night for the premiere, I'd love to hear
what you thought. I'm going on Monday.

I'll post some images tomorrow.
Have a fabulous Saturday!!
Oh my gosh...it's June tomorrow!! WOW!!!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Boo comes home today.

I can't believe how much I miss my new
little guy! I'll pick him up on the way
home from the gym later this morning.
And believe it or not, I think the elders
miss him too (Hobie & Katie)!

I'll be gone all day shooting a wedding
tomorrow so Gary has agreed to be with
Boo tomorrow...

Here's my sister's new salt water tank.





I am shooting several Bella weddings in
June and the Lab packs keep piling up at
my door! I freelance for Bella and I really
enjoy it. Tomorrow I'll be at Noerenberg
Memorial Gardens and then Crown College for
the reception. I'm excited to meet Amber
and John. I'll be picking Amber up to take
her to see John for their "first glimpse"
at a park near her home tomorrow before we
head off to Orono.

More on them over the weekend.
No Hilton Families today but I am on call
Sunday for NILMDTS.

I hope the sun comes out today. That would
be a nice change from the cool gray skies!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Better late....

Boo had his procedure this morning and did
terrific! He'll stay there tonight too and
then I'll pick him up mid morning tomorrow.
Poor fella.

Anne & Pete had some fish delivered today for
their 120 gallon salt water tank. The first
batch of many. I went over to watch and took
some shots of the tank. They got 2 clown fish...
"nemo" fish...sooo darn cute. A crab, a star
fish, some snails and some live coral...very cool.

Gary's got men's league golf today...it's not
very nice out...60, cloudy and a bit drizzly
at times..yuck.

I finally got my shootsac cover delivered that
I won last month...I just love it (SPLENDID is
the one I had them send out)! Thanks Vu Bui
for holding my hand through the process! And
Thanks Jessica Claire with Shootsac for selecting
me as a winner!

Oh, my sister and I hit all the garage sales
in her neighborhood, I was looking for some
props...I found this really great toboggan.
It feels like it could snow so I thought, why
not..it was only 5 bucks and it is in fabulous
shape...an LLBean. Nice.
I'd like to take Owen & Reese's photos on it
this winter!!

Well, keep praying that the rain holds off for
Saturday for Amber & John...We'd all appreciate it!

One last thing...I had a visitor yesterday, her
name is Molly. She's a Shi-tzu...a very BIG girl too!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

May 28th

Today, actually, marks our 13th anniversary.
Gary and I "hooked up" 13 years ago today.
It was over Memorial Day weekend. WOW!
I think I might smile all day long today!

Lots of hair to do today and then I'm taking
Boo up to the vet for an overnight stay.
I know, I know, it's bad but I'm having
Boo de-clawed. It's totally different now
than it was 12 years ago when I had Hobie
& Katie done so Dr. Toogood sort of talked
me off the "ledge" about the whole ordeal.
I'll miss Boo tonight and tomorrow morning.
He'll be back tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow I"m going to head out to Crown College
to take a look around the grounds there.
I've never been there and I want to be
prepared for my Wedding on Saturday. And if
it should rain, the ceremony will take place
there, I want to know where the best place to
do a photo walk will be. No surprises!

No Minnesota Miracles this weekend. That's nice.

Still looking for a home for Boo's sister.



She is a full bred Birman. 13 weeks old.
DARLING!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

I missed my Monday.

Memorial Day and Labor Day I get a little
messed up~because Mondays are always my day off.
So, when the world stops to observe those 2
holidays, I lose my day off. Can't get anything
done. Therefore, I march into Tuesday with the
rest of the world and lose a day of office time.
Today is a Packed hair day for me. I have to
forgo all my photography tasks and beautify the
world one client at a time.

Now, I've made attempts in the past to move
away from hair but have just simply caved in
to demand. I love to do hair. Photography and
hair are a terrific marriage of talents and
I'm happy to say that I really enjoy both.
I'm also happy to say that money coming in from
both vocations has afforded me much in my life
and I truly can't think of a better way to
go through life than to do what you love and
get paid for it.

That said, I am going to go forward and keep
Tuesday and Wednesday as all hair days.
The remainder of the week will be filled with
photography. Wedding and Senior season is now
in full swing and I need to utilize Thursdays
right now for portraits. I will on occasion,
allow for some hair on Thursdays so the rotation
will benefit everyone.

No one knows better than me when it comes to
having your hair the way you like it. Mine,
right now, is in a pony. Gary takes me
for granted sometimes..."hey, what's the chance
that I can get a haircut?" I say...
"the chances are always good, I know how to cut
hair and we have a salon in the basement!"

This will be a busy summer for me and I just
want to remind those of you that see me for
hair that you may want to check with my schedule
in advance and book a few weeks out so that
there won't be any disappointments.

Have a great, short week!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Emily's birthday shoot in Minneapolis

Oh my gosh, did we have some storms yesterday!
The town of Hugo got hit really hard. A 2 year old
boy was killed. Many homes there were completely
destroyed. The weather here in Minnesota in the
spring is so terribly unpredictable. Hail the size
of GRAPEFRUIT! Incomprehensible.

Despite the crazy weather, Emily and I managed
to get downtown and get back to her home safely.
It got up to 84 here and it was a juicy 84 too.
I showed Emily the 35W bridge construction, the
Lock & Dam system and she hadn't ever seen the
Mississippi River from there either.
We walked along the Stone Arch bridge and of
course we made our, much anticipated, trip to the
painted wall.













Today, Memorial Day 2008, Gary and I are going
down to his brother's home for a family BBQ.
Machie is in town for the weekend from LA and
we haven't seen her since Christmas so I'm
anxious to hear all the stories from her job
at THE ANT FARM in Los Angeles.

I'll be recharging all of my batteries and
getting everything organized for my wedding
next Saturday at the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens.

Happy Memorial Day to all!
OH, and Happy anniversary to Ron & Cindy!!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Mr. & Mrs. Pezic!

God brought a very special couple together
yesterday in a fabulous Cathedral surrounded
by an intimate collection of family and friends.












Off to the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden
Where Nemanja endured my goofy side.



Then to Ichiban's Japanese Steak House in Mpls
for some spectacular food fun with our chef "Juice".



Congratulations and Best Wishes Maria & Nemanja!
I adored every moment we spent together yesterday!
Let me know when the Baby comes! :)

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Loring Park-Crazy Busy!

Gorgeous day 4 a wedding!

The Basilica of St. Mary

I'll be shooting in Minneapolis later today.
First, the ceremony at the Basilica then a
short limo trip to the Walker Sculpture Garden
for a private photo walk with Maria & Nemanja.
I cannot wait to get started. It's been a few
weeks since I've shot a wedding and a few years
since I've shot a wedding at the Basilica.
So be sure to check back next week for some
dazzling images from my day today.

As for yesterday..my gosh, what a beauty.
Got some work done early, then lunch with Gary
OUTSIDE at Champps in Eden Prairie (who by the
way are having a huge patio party on the 6th
of June...Tim Mahoney AND Boogie Wonderland!).



Then off to the Hilton...here's Connor doing
a little BED JUMP for me!



Then off to Becky's birthday party at their home.
We had a little bean bag tourney goin'..it was
great fun. Never underestimate the power of a
simple, childhood game. Well, then you add
adult beverages and it takes the competition
to a whole 'notha' level!!




Steve's secret to holing 4 in a row...
pinch the bag in the middle and toss thusly.
You're so gay, Steve!



Thanks Becky and Steve!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Lunch with Gary @ Champp's

Starkey Gala 2008!

I forgot to fill you all in on my involvement with
the Starkey Hearing Foundation Gala for 2008.
I was involved last year as well but due to a
wedding that I was shooting in South Dakota, I had
to miss the actual Gala but was afforded some pretty
awesome assignments leading up to that so I was
grateful to be included nonetheless.

Well, the lovely Cheryl MacLennan came to town and
we got together to go over the assignments for the
photographers. In that I have covered the Bass
Challenge
for Brady Forseth (of Northwestern Health
Sciences University
) in the passed and know all
those folks, Cheryl plugged me in for this event.
Pray for awesome weather!

This is held on Lake Minnetonka and the Hearing
Foundation thought that this would be a wonderful
addition to the events of the week leading up to
the Gala.

Here's Brady (r) with Mark Zeigler, President of
Northwestern Health Sciences University.



Then, the night of the Gala I will be positioned
on the RED CARPET!! With Bill & Tani Austin.
This is quite an honor for me and I am just so
excited to cover this event.

Originally I thought that Sir Elton John would
be the main performer but this year it is, in fact,
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood! Tickets are
$1250 (keep in mind this is a fund raiser!)
There will be 1900 people in attendance and the
live auction will be amazingly incredible!
I think I had better pack some Red Bull!

Go HERE to get more information.

Now, I have to share with you some photos from
Boo's visit to see Dr. Rodney Toogood.

Anticipation...



How much do I weigh with just one leg?....



Heart sounds good!



Lungs sound good!



Teeth are......SHARP!!!



Clean bill of health for Boo!

Hilton later today for 1 family and then off
to Becky Chepokas' birthday bash!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

On Call...

Today I elected to be placed on the "on call"
list for NILMDTS. This will fulfill me for the
month of May. It really works out great!

James Ryan's mom, Laura, came by yesterday to
pick up the CD & images that I had printed at
WHCC. She said that it's just what she needed!
To get out of the house and drive...a gorgeous
day! It was nice to see her altho' I wasn't so
sure that she should be out driving around
2 days after delivering a baby but she assured
me that she was fine. Here's an image off that CD.



Well, it's kind of official...I will be the new
NILMDTS Coordinator for Minneapolis Children's
and for Fairview Southdale. This means that I will
be the liaison between those hospitals and the
appropriate affiliate photographer to serve the
session. The new "On Call" list makes that job
a whole lot easier! I am so proud to have been
asked to fill this position. And to my family,
friends, clients and therapist ;).....this does
not mean that I will be taking anymore calls to
cover sessions than normal. I just may have to
stop what I'm doing and make some calls. And I
can tell you first hand that this is a small task
compared to the reality that these families are
facing!

Okay, changing gears..here's more shots of Emily
at her Track & Field day...







Today, Boo is going to see Dr. Rodney Toogood.
Yes, that's his real name! We are contemplating
the dreaded "de -claw"...I know...I hate to do it
but...it's just a reality, really. It's no wonder
animals hate the vet! They have these things called
"soft paws"...they are like little Lee Press On Nails
for cats that cap the nail and prevent them from
doing damage. Hey, I've seen Hobie chew is rear claws,
OFF! I don't think that these things could possibly
stay on...ANYway, we're heading in this morning to
talk turkey and do a little blood work. I love him!
The other day, tho', he hopped up in bed and started
to nurse my face...weird, right? pushing my cheeks
and sucking my upper lip....I digress.

My sister is coming over today to help me get my
office organized...this is going to be fun!

OH, be sure to go to the Today show and vote for
Tom & Annie for the Race to the Alter! They are
too cute!