As we were out for our daily, evening walk tonight, we followed our usual route.  Around the  neighbourhood, downtown and back home.  Downtown there are several cute, local owned high-end shops.  We also have Lazer Video.  The local convenience store/video store/ice cream shop.  I know - I'm making Elmira sound smaller than it is.  But it's true.  It's really the only ice cream place in town.  So when we walked past, Joe laughed at me because I said I couldn't wait to walk down with the kids on a hot, sunny summer afternoon and get an ice cream.  He actually laughed out loud.  I'm not sure why he was surprised.  Ice cream is one of my favourite foods...okay my very favourite food.  I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner...and I have.  The sad thing about this post is that I currently don't have any ice cream to eat, or take a picture of.  Here is a shot of my second favourite food.  I guess I can suffer tonight and snack on this.

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

 "Say Cheese".  As a photographer I strongly dislike - ok - hate that expression.  The result is a (pardon the pun) "cheese-y" smile that's fake and unnatural.  I'll admit when photographing kids I'll ask them to say "cheeseburger" but the goal is that they find it funny and laugh - naturally.  So how do I create natural moments for my clients?  I talk, laugh and interact with them.  I tell them stories, tell them horrible, awful jokes, and let them interact with one another.  With their children - they play.  With their fiance - they play.  With their spouse - they play.

Here are some of my favourites.

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Today, it takes more brains and effort to make out the income-tax form than it does to make the income. ~Alfred E. Neuman

This weekend, I started - and finished my taxes.  It has been on my to do list for some time now.  As I sat down at the computer, Joe was working on the other side of the room marking tests from a course he teaches.  I didn't realize that as I was going through the online software, that I was doing so out loud.  I was reading everything to myself, but I was definitely interrupting Joe.  At one point he asked if I could be quiet.  That lasted a few moments.  Then he asked if he should move somewhere else.  "No, No" I said, "I'll keep it to myself".  I'm not sure why I felt the need to read everything out loud.  I don't read books or the newspaper that way, why this?  I'm sure it's because I find doing taxes stressful.  I mean, who wants to make a mistake - which would result in an audit.  This is what I think about while I do my taxes.  What if I had to explain this to someone else?  Anyway, I'm just glad it is over, done with, and complete for this year.  I didn't even care that I had a small payment.  I was just so glad to scratch it off my list.

Photo of the Day - March 21-25

This week I wandered around and just found things to shoot.  Nothing too inspired or special...just stuff.  Even still, I hope you enjoy my images.  And no you didn't miss the past 2 weeks photo of the day blog...I did.

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 March 21, 2011

My newest best friend

Worst cold ever...enough said!

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 March 22, 2011

Phone

We have 2 old rotary phones which are fun to use, but a pain for 10 digit dialing - especially when you get a busy signal.

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 March 23, 2011

Dunke St. S

Major, major snowstorm.  This was the view out my front window.  Nothing but snow.

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March 24, 2011

Chair

The back of our dining room chair - nothin' special.

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 March 25, 2011

Ribbon

Maria decided to pull out an entire spool of ribbon and leave it on my desk.  Thanks for the mess and inspiration.

The event of getting married is a lot of fun. It’s a party— you plan it, everybody comes, they celebrate... ~Dr Phil McGraw

One of my favourite things to shoot are weddings details.  I love getting close-up, shooting angles and capturing those really creative things that make each couple so unique.  When I got married, I feel like I spent a lot of time on those puny pieces  - the things that had my ... er...our mark on them.  The things that (I hope) made our guests say "oh wow...that's great" or something equally nice.  I love shooting those items at weddings because I know the work that goes into them, the thought, the time, the energy.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~World Health Organization, 1948

So ... I've been sick.  A nasty, yucky, face splitting cold.  I know it's just a cold.  I really shouldn't complain.  People get colds all the time, right?  But this has got me down - exhausted, spent, and feeling kinda useless as I lay on the couch in the evenings leaving life up to Joe.  By the end of the week, it's all I can do to make it through the day.  I stop taking photos, stop blogging and just rest when or if I have the chance.  So my plan is to get better...soon.  And get back to things.

The boy who expects every morning to open into a new world finds that today is like yesterday, but he believes tomorrow will be different” ~ Charles Dudley

My boy...my William.  His vocabulary has recently... um...exploded.  He repeats everything I say.  The other day we were out for a walk.  The 2 kids in the buggy and me pushing behind.  It was tough.  This time of year the sidewalks are less than passable.  They are covered in snow and ice - partially melted.  It was a bumpy ride.  As the 2 kids were jostled around, William thought it was appropriate to giggle and say "whoa, whoa, whoa!"  I didn't even know he could say "whoa", let alone use it in proper context.  Yesterday I caught him playing peak-a-boo in the mirror in the hall.  Moving his body from side to side, like a boxer.  And I hear "ha ha".  Not as in a giggle, but the actual words "ha ha".   He makes me think.  He makes me realize the importance of simple things.  So here are my lessons from William.  1-When experiencing a bumpy road in life, it's best to giggle and exclaim "whoa, whoa, whoa" - it will pass soon.  2-Every once in a while, you should laugh at yourself in the  mirror.  You probably will enjoy it.