tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59233950895753547782023-11-16T08:11:37.988-08:00Sandra Lynn's PhotographyJournalistic photography, Where photos tell the stories...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-36643562180358675262014-02-26T10:58:00.000-08:002014-02-27T06:44:30.468-08:00Sometimes Life Gets In The Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN92F3Dfz5ACKVxeRfZ4mYpXKhc12AfoGyyiik-pZPz_Qd8AOCfEl9mjYvyb2ZTuxf9l6xuCLbhMAsDm6D51UO_oFe_GozMGY5EQJJLsqsmVaZJZeCwi_M2iP1_SNEpJMkUB3Mf4nqYQ4/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN92F3Dfz5ACKVxeRfZ4mYpXKhc12AfoGyyiik-pZPz_Qd8AOCfEl9mjYvyb2ZTuxf9l6xuCLbhMAsDm6D51UO_oFe_GozMGY5EQJJLsqsmVaZJZeCwi_M2iP1_SNEpJMkUB3Mf4nqYQ4/s1600/me.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
It's been far too long since I have been on here. Sometimes life gets in the way. I am back and in full force! I am going to try to get on here each day and post something!<br />
<br />
It may be a positive thought, it may be a recipe or it may be what happened during the day... I am not quite sure yet.<br />
<br />
I have a lot to share with the world and I can't quite cover it all while writing for Eugene Daily News. <br />
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I have gotten wrapped up in living. Trying to get by. Both financially and emotionally. It's been a rough couple of years for me to say the least. I am not trying to be on a pity party by any means, I know we all have our "stuff". I have just gotten away from what makes me happy. <br />
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Writing.<br />
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It's been a joy to me my entire life. I think of it constantly. I just wish I had an awesome way of recording what I come up with to write about when I am away from pen and paper, computer, any thing to write on or speak into. These thoughts and quotes come to me when I am least expecting it and by the time I reach for something it is gone...<br />
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The next wave of technology perhaps. <br />
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Have a beautiful day!<br />
<br />
It's good to be back.<br />
<br />
~SAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-28199658893378995942013-04-25T19:46:00.002-07:002013-04-25T19:46:53.147-07:00Learning To Drive A Stick<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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Learning To Drive A Stick</h1>
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I have had many people over the years attempt to teach me how to drive a manual transmission. It has never ended well. Either someone was kicked out of the vehicle, tears were shed, or worse the car ended up in the ditch…true story.</div>
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I think there are three basic rules to learning how to drive a stick shift (manual transmission).</div>
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<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The person who is teaching you must have a sense of humor. No ifs ands or buts about it.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You must believe in yourself.</span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You should do it on an empty stomach!</span></li>
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With a borrowed car, my friend took me to a secluded parking lot up the McKenzie highway, <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">determined to teach me how to drive a manual transmission</strong>, explaining what she was doing along the way. I watched her feet and hands as she drove. When we arrived at the park, my stomach was pretty queasy! I started to get nervous and say forget it! But with her encouragement we switched seats.</div>
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Im in the drivers seat now and she explains the clutch to me, the mechanics of the gears. While Im holding the clutch in, she has me move the stick into the different gears so I will know where they are and how it feels going in to each position.</div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If you have to force it, it’s wrong”.</strong></div>
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I purposefully wore my Vibram Five Finger shoes so I could really “feel” the peddles. I am glad I did.</div>
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I push the clutch in, put it into first gear, she nods and tells me to slowly release the clutch as I am slowly giving it gas, the same pressure with each foot. I do as she says and it is almost as if I know what i’m doing. Without a hitch we are rolling through the small cramped parking lot and my senses soar! Im doing it! Wow, what a feeling!</div>
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I feel the urge to shift (my favorite part) and ask if it’s ok. She gave me the go ahead. In with the clutch, off of the gas as I gently slip into second, off with the clutch and on with the gas. I feel so important now! I drive around the curbs, stopping occasionally to go over what I have learned. Wanting to start from scratch I turn off the ignition. A very important thing to know; how to turn the machine on and off. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I try reverse and I am scared. I can’t quite put a finger on why this is.</strong></div>
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There are a few cars that enter the parking lot and I get a little nervous, They must realize what is happening and vacate as quickly as they came.</div>
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I am feeling confident in my abilities and drive over to the second part of the lot. I had avoided this area as there were actual people standing outside of their vehicles. (I just knew that I would all of a sudden forget how to drive, swerve and hit them or kill it right in front of them). I put my big girl pants on and just went for it and acted like I owned the lot, which I did! I rocked it.</div>
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I was done playing and felt I had had enough excitement for the day handing over the controls to my instructor. “You did much better than I thought you would Grasshopper” she say’s to me with a smile. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inside I’m doing the happy dance!</strong></div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Day Two</strong></div>
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I tried my hardest to avoid driving! I didn’t push for it because my stomach would begin to twist and turn at the thought of trying to get out of first gear! But my trainer prevailed.</div>
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I decided the Pacific Source properties in Springfield would be a great place to practice. This proved to be well utilized as there were plenty of turns, with enough room to use all gears, ensuring a lot of shifting, braking, down shifting and a slight hill I wont ever try again. Seriously. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be a 4th peddle just for hills! Or an easy button.</strong></div>
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My trainer was very encouraging and even talked me into getting onto the road! My heart was in my throat at the thought, but then again, what is the worst that could happen, right?</div>
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So after a little coaxing and few swigs of water, I pushed in the clutch, found first gear and slowly gave it gas as I let the clutch out and away we went. No cars! Whew. Thank heavens for small miracles. I took a left and drove like I knew what I was doing, using my blinkers and everything. The back roads were not very long, so I found a side road I could take. I ended up on a dead end, with not much room to turn around. I tried with everything I had to just loop around, but to no avail, I was going to have to back the car up. Not my most favorite thing with a stick.</div>
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I don’t know why, but it seems harder for me with the gas and clutch in reverse and in my mind, I know there really is no difference but direction.</div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My leg is shaking and I feel as if I will somehow shoot myself and my passenger into oblivion, never to be seen again if I mess this up.</strong></div>
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I push the clutch in, find reverse and give it gas. The car starts to rev high! ”What is happening” I ask. My leg shaking even more at this point.</div>
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Turns out I wasn’t letting the clutch out. An important little step.</div>
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I started over. Clutch in, I find reverse, <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">out with the clutch in with the gas and I peel out backwards! It’s funny now, but it scared me, my life flashed before my eyes</strong>. We happened to be on dirt, so the affect was even more dramatic. I slapped it into first gear and away I went. Im driving! all by myself.</div>
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Well, my instructor is sitting beside me, but I ask her to please act like she is on the phone with someone, this makes me feel as if she is not focusing on me and my new acquired abilities. I just feel more at ease, and it worked.</div>
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I drove further down the street, around a round about and into a new parking lot, where I practiced stopping, turning off the car and starting all over. I was digging this whole thing!</div>
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Then it happened. I didn’t give it enough gas as I let the clutch out, <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the car not knowing what to do but the cha cha with two helpless passengers along for the ride</strong>! There we sat looking at each other laughing until it decided it was done. That my friends was not a comfortable feeling. The good news is it was the only time I did it! Yay for me.</div>
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I parked the car, feeling as if I had done enough for the day and we decided to call it good. Once my trainer was back in her seat and we were securely fastened in our seat belts, I asked her a few questions, reviewing what I had learned, the last being: ”Do you know how to peel out?”</div>
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Without hesitation and before I knew what was happening, she looked me in the eye and right there in the parking lot laid some rubber down! Boy did that get my heart rate up! I laughed for a couple of minutes with tears running down my face! That was the icing on the cake for me.</div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rule number 4. Your instructor must know how to peel out properly.</strong></div>
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I went into this a little nervous but with so much more confidence in myself. I was able to do it without anyone getting hurt or crying. Right now, I feel as if I can take on a race track!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-89828416349877798342013-01-26T12:32:00.003-08:002013-01-26T12:32:56.590-08:00Bellage'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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<h3 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: bold; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.3em 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Jamrul, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://eugenedailynews.com/author/sandyharris/" rel="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #dd0000; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Sandy Harris">Sandy Harris</a></h3>
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Sandy Harris is a writer for Eugene Daily News. Currently a resident of Brownsville, Oregon. Sandy grew up on an island in the Alexander Archipelago in the southeastern region of Alaska. Her life's passions include writing, photography, and cedar carvings. Follow her on Blogspot (http://sandralynnsphotography.blogspot.com/).</div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8908.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IMG_8908" class="alignright wp-image-90317" height="186" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8908-495x232.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="396" /></a>When you walk into Bellage’ Day Spa, Salon & Wellness, a sense of serenity over takes you. You are greeted by soothing music and welcoming staff, promising a warm and relaxing stay. </span>Krysta Albert, owner of Bellage’ has created a place of relaxation and comfort coupled with familiarity in a warm and inviting space.</div>
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The meaning behind the name Bellage’ <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Now is her time”</b> or the Italian translation is <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“strong and beautiful woman”</b>.</div>
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<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8928.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Krysta Albert of Belllage' Day Spa, Salon & Women's Wellness" class="size-medium wp-image-90325" height="278" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8928-271x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="271" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 10px; font: normal normal normal 0.7em/normal verdana, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Krysta Albert of Belllage’ Day Spa, Salon & Women’s Wellness</div>
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Amenities offered at Bellage’ Spa’ 2700 square foot facility are skin care, anti-aging treatments, hand and nail care, an intimate 3 station full service hair salon, waxing services, massage therapy, reiki, reflexology, naturopathic services, chiropractic care and acupuncture, with plans to offer body wraps in the near future. You can even enjoy complimentary appetizers and sip champagne or wine while you relax as your feet soak in their custom Japanese Foot Spa.</div>
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<i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The primary focus of Bellage’ is relationships – it is our goal and desire to hold each client with familiarity of their likes, preferences and needs and to anticipate what those needs may be.” </i>Albert states.</div>
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But Bellage’ is not only a place to be pampered, it also provides free women’s health screenings under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP).</div>
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<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8922.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IMG_8922" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-90323" height="278" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8922-185x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="185" /></a>The BCCP was created to help low-income, uninsured and medically under-served women, as well as patients that have a high medical deductible, gain access to life saving screenings for early detection of breast and cervical cancers. As hard as it is to believe, some insurance companies <b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">still</i></b> do not cover preventive medicines or women’s health check’s. BCCP provides services to women ages 40 to 65.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BCCP has been in around for approximately 20 years and is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Oregon, SW Washington Affiliate and the American Cancer Society. </span>Each year, approximately 7000 eligible individuals receive screening services, who may not have otherwise been able to afford these screenings.</div>
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Christina Whitaker, Physicians Assistant at Bellage’ has helped diagnose 13 women with cancer over the last two years.</div>
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<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We teach women how to do self breast exams. You don’t need to know what to look for, you only need to know what is normal”.</i></b></div>
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<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8934.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IMG_8934" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-90326" height="278" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8934-173x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="173" /></a>According to Whitaker, funds are allocated to facilities based on the number of patients that are treated quarterly. There are always available slots and funds for patients to be seen.</div>
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<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I always tell my patients, seeing you today, ensures another sister will be seen tomorrow”</i></b> Whitaker states.</div>
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Bellage’ and BCCP will help many woman, who without this service may not seek medical treatment or could go undiagnosed because they lack financial ability or insurance coverage.</div>
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<b style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Women drive two hours to come and see us for this program, some as far away as Portland, Bend or Coos Bay, as there are fewer clinics offering BCCP, or the wait list is simply too long”</i></b> Whitaker points out.</div>
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Bellage’ works with Peace Health Labs, Oregon Imaging, physicians offices and hospitals in their screenings. If there is a diagnosis of cancer, treatment is covered 100%, allowing patients to focus on getting well and not medical bills.</div>
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<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8905.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IMG_8905" class="alignright wp-image-90315" height="222" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8905-457x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="366" /></a>After completing BCCP, which include the woman’s check up and mammogram, the woman are referred internally to the the New Leaf Program lead by Carrie Janes, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner of Bellage’, providing cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, along with nutrition and exercise counseling. Bellage’ accepts insurance, which sometimes covers other services at the spa such as therapeutic massage.</div>
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Bellage’ Day Spa, Salon & Women’s Wellness is located at 2868 Willamette St. Eugene, OR. Located at the Market of Choice shopping center. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with plans to open on Saturdays. For more information please call (541) 684-3988.</div>
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To find out more information regarding BCCP please call Bellage’ today or visit www.healthoregon.org/bcc</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-5771237722894765972012-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:002012-12-04T20:06:06.363-08:00SocksIt has to be said...<br />
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I figured out why I love summer so much, besides the obvious; warm weather, beaches, flip flops, shorts, tank tops, sunshine, vitamin D, hot sultry days sipping iced tea with my feet up because I am simply too hot to want to move...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VKdvBWCKFEODFg9XtWwFvxYj2N4PcIcuE8WK4JOTo4kp4dxUF_BUZZ4VYIvLKQC-wVX2pgGmUWr0cjMGPYatCd0yR1gS4Vw7VmYdmYf02K4R36ZxzSr0Lrmifbx2hHFQ_Zt11mJGVro/s1600/IMG_5461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VKdvBWCKFEODFg9XtWwFvxYj2N4PcIcuE8WK4JOTo4kp4dxUF_BUZZ4VYIvLKQC-wVX2pgGmUWr0cjMGPYatCd0yR1gS4Vw7VmYdmYf02K4R36ZxzSr0Lrmifbx2hHFQ_Zt11mJGVro/s320/IMG_5461.JPG" width="320" /></a>What it really comes down to is that I don't have to wear socks! <br />
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I <i><b>HATE</b></i> them! <br />
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Now, I know, some of you out there may be saying to yourself, "hate is a very strong word" Yeah, it is, and it has muscles when it comes to my feelings about socks!<br />
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Let me break this down. All summer, I spend so much time trying to keep my feet looking nice and pretty, painting my toes fun colors, (sometimes spending a little too long in the polish section because I can't decide which colors I like best). Sometimes I even decorate my toes with rings, and it's fun!<br />
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We pay other people to pamper and spoil our toes, even giving them the pleasure of painting them for us. Hmph!<br />
<br />
Right now, as I type this, I am barefoot and I love it, even though my toes are freezing.<br />
<br />
I HATE socks. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxYXZgyYi5tw53SAJCR7AcQ8Nl-GKK4MlKsxY6VUqNyr3b6oTVPmtpQVERco0WmMCuPLbLM4aRZl-81dKSH817x60jqhyKVGgjURuTi9MV_1IjRR4aO6FOfsFalxUXJn6S77sTyniosc/s1600/IMG_4685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxYXZgyYi5tw53SAJCR7AcQ8Nl-GKK4MlKsxY6VUqNyr3b6oTVPmtpQVERco0WmMCuPLbLM4aRZl-81dKSH817x60jqhyKVGgjURuTi9MV_1IjRR4aO6FOfsFalxUXJn6S77sTyniosc/s320/IMG_4685.jpg" width="213" /></a>A few reason's, and I know I am not alone in this. The dryer eats my socks, they don't come out in pairs, folded and ready to put away neatly in my drawer, my cat is playing tricks on me and has a secret stash of them somewhere inside my house or there is a sock thief in the neighborhood. Believe it or not!<br />
<br />
<br />
I have a pair of Vibram Five Finger shoes, and I love them! I feel more connected to the earth, but best of all... I don't have to wear socks with them! :O) This makes me so happy!<br />
<br />
Now, I just need to find some Five Finger rain boots, and winter boots.<br />
<br />
I mean come on! all summer long, and now I have to hide my toes, with mismatched socks because I can never, never find their mates... Im holding out as long as I can. If you should ever see me with different socks on, you will know why.<br />
<br />
Thanks for coming by. :O) <br />
<br />
I just had to get this off my chest.<br />
<br />
S<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-71191843411356970052012-11-16T21:39:00.000-08:002012-11-16T21:39:35.995-08:00Loneliness<br />
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To have your arms wrap around me, to feel the warmth of your body pressed against mine helps me to feel whole, to feel loved, and to feel not alone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHHGdjr5GFSOpMM-2hw3VQnC6xDqsqRr4O4F4CYKXOjrIFufMwajmvL2KZVpVeTsaRcQgSoGj79QyvasP-0KubUK4wedkJXCO9Fmir_GeF8rLHJMBg7w8VEiza-DvSKVEv6dV07ZwwaU/s1600/eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHHGdjr5GFSOpMM-2hw3VQnC6xDqsqRr4O4F4CYKXOjrIFufMwajmvL2KZVpVeTsaRcQgSoGj79QyvasP-0KubUK4wedkJXCO9Fmir_GeF8rLHJMBg7w8VEiza-DvSKVEv6dV07ZwwaU/s400/eyes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These things I crave deep into the depths of my very being. </div>
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It is not that I am not complete without companionship, it is the feeling of total connection with another human being that I long for.</div>
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It is not that I can't warm myself with blankets and clothing and fire, it is that I yearn for the heat of your heart.</div>
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It is not that I can't find laughter outside of my world, it is that I lust to laugh with you.</div>
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It is not that I can't enjoy a meal alone, it is that I hunger to share life's flavors.</div>
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It is not that I don't shed a tear when alone, it is that I want for your arms around me, knowing it is much to much to ask, afraid to even think it aloud, am I even entitled to ask.</div>
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It is not that I can't succeed alone, it is the fact that to share with someone my dream in life being fulfilled, </div>
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it is not the same alone.</div>
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It is the thought of a kiss, I never knew I would forget </div>
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the feel of another's lips</div>
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upon mine.</div>
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It is this loneliness that is consuming me, wondering where you are you wondering if I even exist at all.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-46014853755436175602012-11-16T08:21:00.000-08:002012-11-16T08:21:49.030-08:00Upstart Crow...My latest story in the Eugene Daily News... I am reaching out for my friends and asking for help for them. Please help if you can. Such a worthy cause! The owner, Eularee collects no money, yet she has some how kept this place going for 13 years! Amazing she is. I had the utmost pleasure of meeting her. I told her how lucky the children are to have her and Upstart Crow... She replied... It is I who is the lucky one.... <br />
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<a href="http://eugenedailynews.com/author/sandyharris/" rel="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #dd0000; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Sandy Harris">Sandy Harris</a></h3>
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Sandy Harris is a writer for Eugene Daily News. Currently a resident of Brownsville, Oregon. Sandy grew up on an island in the Alexander Archipelago in the southeastern region of Alaska. Her life's passions include writing, photography, and cedar carvings. Follow her on Blogspot (http://sandralynnsphotography.blogspot.com/).</div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7028.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-83012" height="167" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7028-e1352856262830-492x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" width="295" /></a>Upstart Crow Studios is a non-profit youth performing arts organization. Teaching and inspiring hundred’s of children, in music, vocal, dance and acting, who may not have had an opportunity to learn and perform without them.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upstart Crow Studios was founded in 2000 by Eularee Smith and her daughter Sarah Beth Byrum. They started the company out of frustration for the children who did not test high enough on the TAG system (Talented and Gifted (TAG) Education serves the purpose of providing instruction that challenges high-end learners and meets each students learning needs. Resources and support materials for districts, schools, teachers, parents, and students are included) in their schools.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7043.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-83015" height="222" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7043-451x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_7043" width="361" /></a>“Every child is gifted and talented. No child is turned away at our school of theatrical arts. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If they audition, they get a part regardless of talent, challenges or financial need.</strong> We fit the child to their particular strength. In typical auditions, you try out, all but one is eliminated for a particular part. Our goal is placement, not elimination. We may need to get a little creative if we have 10 Cinderella’s, but we manage.” Smith smiles at the thought.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Our students know they may need to be the strength for the next person”</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Behind the name: A jealous critic of Shakespeare called him “an upstart crow, made beautiful with our feathers, believes he can bombast out a verse as the best of you.” Crows are seen as ordinary black birds. Well, that’s who our kids are; <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">everyday kids, ordinary, until they step out on a stage and prove to the world and to themselves, there is more to them than meets the eye.</strong></span></div>
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Upstart Crow performs approximately 6 “full scale Broadway shows” per year. Show’s that are performed on Broadway, are performed on stage at The Crow. Show’s such as Annie, Legally Blond, Sweeney Todd, Aladdin, and Peter Pan to name a few. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All of the performers are children, ages ranging from 5 years up to the age of 18. Upstart Crow is unique in this way, Broadway show’s have adults playing adult rolls and children in their age group. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In it’s first year, Upstart Crow started with 10 children and now have approximately 300 students per year.</span></strong></div>
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Eularee Smith founder of Upstart Crow</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eularee took me on a tour of their facility and it is quite evident her feelings for these children. She pointed out to me pictures of children that are now adults, who have either graduated or will be graduating high school this year. She has literally watched them become young adults. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summer of 2013, Upstart Crow will begin their first adult theatre.</strong> This was decided after graduating students voices were heard. They didn’t know what they would do without The Crow, as it has been a part of their lives for so long.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In their early years, they were nomads, moving from facility to facility, temporarily finding places that they could call home. Upstart Crow found it’s permanent home 6 years ago in the Whitaker neighborhood.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We found a home where we were needed the most.”</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Making improvements to the building over the years, they are getting closer to their goal. There are however a few very much needed improvements remaining on the list. They are in need of a new stage floor. The one they have now is functional, but <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to have a safer floor for the performers is vital</strong>. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The entrance to the theatre needs to have wheelchair access. The theatre is accessible from the front door; however attendees must go through class rooms in order to get to the theatre, this may pose a problem when a class is being held during a show. A panic door is on the list of improvements. They have a contractor in the wings donating his time to relocate and install a new door once it is purchased.</span></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_83019" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 306px;">
<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_6992.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-83019" height="278" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_6992-296x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_6992" width="296" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 10px; font: normal normal normal 0.7em/normal verdana, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Upstart Crow’s current monitoring system</div>
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Lastly, they are in need of a monitor system. <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are pretty much blind back stage as to what is happening on stage</strong>, limiting performers on their cues to enter the stage, communication, you name it. Their current monitoring system is a small television set, and a small camera mounted in the theater, capturing only a small part of the stage.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
They have learned how to manage by trial and error, but it is quite obvious how they would benefit from a new system back stage. As Smith put it,</div>
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“the show must go on, but it would be much nicer of course to have a monitoring system in place.”</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upstart Crow is funded by student tuition, private donations, and grants, however the grants are quite small as the organizations give more money to the larger companies. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They also rent out their studio and theatre space, whether it is a one time rental or an on-going event. All That Dance is one company that rents space from Upstart Crow. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7016.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-83011" height="222" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7016-435x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_7016" width="348" /></a>Scholarships are available (which many children are on) as well as a sliding fee scale for children or families who can’t afford the tuition. No child is turned away. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As you walk through the studio, you will see signs posted, reminding people to turn the lights off when leaving a room to conserve energy and costs.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“it is hard keeping the lights on at times, but we manage” Smith states.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few students wanted to share their experience with Upstart Crow:</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I only graduated last year and have been with the theatre for over six years. There’s so much I could say about the Crow, they’re more than a theatre for me. Upstart has been a community of support, a family, a home.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They’re the nicest people you will ever meet and they give you so much more than an opportunity;</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they give you a place you belong</strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The studio will literally do anything they can to help someone succeed, and I hope that everyone will take this chance to help them fulfill their dream too.” – </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Holly Flora</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Theatre at Upstart Crow is fun and rewarding. It helped me realize my passion for the stage.” – Aidan Ziegler-Hansen</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I started at Upstart Crow when I was 7 years old and they have taught a lot about how to be a better actor, singer, dancer, and person. They opened my eyes to the passion that I had for acting. They gave me the opportunity to be in my first play, Aladdin, as a second grader. Over the past 8 years I’ve become a confident actor and person because of what I’ve learned from them.” </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– Conner Criswell</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is evident the impact Upstart Crow has made on the lives of these children.</span></strong></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_83009" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 243px;">
<a class="fancybox" href="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7013.jpg" rel="gallery" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cd1713; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-83009" height="278" src="http://eugenedailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_7013-233x278.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="IMG_7013" width="233" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 10px; font: normal normal normal 0.7em/normal verdana, arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
Artwork done by artist from the Restorative Justice program – working to keep juvenile offenders out of jail.</div>
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You will see artwork on the wall’s, painted by an artist from the Restorative Justice Program. There is so much talent out there that goes un-recognized, because these children don’t “fit in”, whether it is social, economical or grade point averages. Upstart Crow is changing that. </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Every child’s voice is heard when they walk into the crow” Smith stated.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The next performance at The Crow is The Elves and The Shoemaker showing December1st – 2nd and 8th – 9th.</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upstart Crow needs our help. They need to raise $6,500.00 in order to get that stage floor, the panic door and monitoring system for these children. They </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">must </em><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">reach their goal by November 22nd, otherwise no money changes hands.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kick starter is a funding platform for creative projects. Launched in 2009, it is an all-or-nothing donation platform. If the goal is met, or exceeds the goal, then all credit cards are charged and a check is issued to Upstart Crow.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Donations can be made at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/890933933/the-crows-nest-project-feathering-the-nest.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For more information please feel free to email or call Eularee Smith at 541-688-8260. Visit their website at upstartcrowstudios.com </span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upstart Crow Studios is located at 855 W 1st. Avenue Eugene, Oregon.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-33726633390303624502012-10-09T11:32:00.001-07:002012-10-09T11:32:20.457-07:00Touch, when there are no words.Touch,<br />
<br />
We can't live without it.<br />
<br />
Our first touch is from our mother while in the womb, we feel her caress when she rubs her belly, swelling with our growth, loving us beyond belief, finally she holds us in her arms.<br />
<br />
We grow up with touch, from our family and our friends. We learn relationships, we have ups and downs, we cry... we need hugs, we laugh... sometimes we need hugs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQG6ezuE_JcTysqgGwFdVzV2BCQnpM2pp2uTJF8EfcHwVDUS1Kxvd8XPE8SR_M0GBbhFg4vMY2Wr1yT4fJpN6aIbymzkJ97yumI-yyU_PhbFmCUg9CeCGGv6abLV5bbo2OEgEwll1bXM/s1600/IMG_9965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQG6ezuE_JcTysqgGwFdVzV2BCQnpM2pp2uTJF8EfcHwVDUS1Kxvd8XPE8SR_M0GBbhFg4vMY2Wr1yT4fJpN6aIbymzkJ97yumI-yyU_PhbFmCUg9CeCGGv6abLV5bbo2OEgEwll1bXM/s320/IMG_9965.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Sometimes when we are in a relationship, we take those touches for granted, until they are no longer there, and what a shame if they never were to begin with. What we would sometimes give to feel those arms around us once again.<br />
<br />
Touch can reach right into the depths of our being and take hold, once again helping us to feel whole, possibly filling a space that has been empty for a while. Giving us courage that we didn't know we had.<br />
<br />
I recently went to see my friend Marli. The first thing I did was take her hand into mine and squeeze. I remember how delicate and pale and warm it was. I looked into her blue eyes so I would see her and she could see me, the touch not going unnoticed by either of us, more powerful than words, not needing more attention than that.<br />
<br />
We spoke for a little while, a smile had changed the tone of our conversation for the briefest moment of time and then it was time for me to leave.<br />
<br />
I didn't want to go.<br />
<br />
There were unspoken words in that room and my heart was breaking. I wrapped my arms around her, cradling her head in the palm of my hand, holding on a little longer this time as I whispered.<br />
<br />
"I will see you later"<br />
<br />
I didn't want to let go, and that turned out to be one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life.<br />
<br />
I felt her squeeze me a little tighter at that moment. I looked into her brilliant blue eyes one last time and without a word I was gone.<br />
<br />
I will never look into those eyes again, nor hold that hand. My friend passed away only a few short hours later. I will miss her dearly. But I will always remember those moments between her and I, when no words were needed.<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
S<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-25113400166698124472012-09-04T18:15:00.000-07:002012-09-04T18:15:49.403-07:00Time.A recent conversation with my friend made me think about time and what it means, or what is it, if that makes sense?<br />
<br />
Really, if you stop and think about time, it gets pretty deep. Or in my opinion, it's pretty simple. My first order of business was to google it!<br />
<br />
Time rules our lives, it rules when we plant and harvest our crops, it measures the length of our lives and it measures the distances that we travel in our lives or across continents.<br />
<br />
Time guarantees almost to the second how long to cook an egg (which I still can't figure out how to make the prefect egg without a green ring around it) to it's perfection, whether it is soft boiled, hard boiled or over easy.<br />
<br />
We wear funny gadgets on our bodies and place round fancy objects on our walls to help us keep track of time. We have time machines on our phones, on our computers (did you just look to see what time it was?) in our vehicles and cooking appliances and sometimes even in our showers.<br />
<br />
Our bodies are dependent on time. We eat, sleep, shower, and work by time. We make time for others, some times people don't have the time to make for others, we have our alone time and we have our down time. Children today, even have time out.<br />
<br />
We measure our seasons by time when the sun sets and when it will rise again.<br />
<br />
We celebrate our births each year with a round orb and lit sticks of wax stuck in it, marking our time here on this wonderful planet we call home.<br />
<br />
If you remember, about two minutes ago I wrote that I googled time. This is what I found; you may be surprised, I was.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia: Time is a dimension in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future....<br />
<br />
"I told you it was deep"<br />
<br />
In old sailing movies or nautical movies, you will see candles burning or that have in past times, been burned, the wax melted down the sides of the candle, frozen in time.... you are seeing this picture in your head now, I know it! :O).<br />
<br />
In all my years, I thought it was because they had no electricity! Probably so, but they were also used to measure time.....<br />
<br />
Some of the most ancient "time pieces" were found in the tombs of great Pharoahs. Was this to measure the time that it took to get to the other side?<br />
<br />
"Time heals all wounds"<br />
<br />
I would really like to know when that time comes! Because sometimes it feels like an eternity before I will once again be able to breathe, once again feel like I can smile without crying, once again feel whole.<br />
<br />
"Time has been kind to her" or "he has had a rough time of it" or "got a sec?" or "do you have a minute?"<br />
<br />
We have all said these things or thought them or heard them at one point in our lives.... That really is all we have, isn't it?<br />
<br />
We have the time from the moment we are conceived until the time we exhale our last breath.<br />
<br />
The question then becomes,<br />
<br />
What will you do with your time?<br />
<br />
Cherish the time you have and how you spend it, and take nothing for granted. It's that simple.<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
Sandy<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-52243777923643283422012-08-08T23:50:00.001-07:002012-08-08T23:50:17.419-07:00A box of apples<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ947mrGYuf4OdBw5338L0JGOZJKLh3qtiXjeJkdXv2626YFx9G48IuAEtUCS5cDOOTZPJ768Tj5887X-Ehyul6XnMYasaVXipiLjGx61I8zLjo3D4iaJbew599-S35qK4cCLbgliDxX8/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ947mrGYuf4OdBw5338L0JGOZJKLh3qtiXjeJkdXv2626YFx9G48IuAEtUCS5cDOOTZPJ768Tj5887X-Ehyul6XnMYasaVXipiLjGx61I8zLjo3D4iaJbew599-S35qK4cCLbgliDxX8/s200/IMG_3395.JPG" width="200" /></a>It has been a couple of weeks since I have been on here, writing for me and for you. You see, the way this works is it comes from my heart. Anything and everything I do, comes from the deepest part of my heart, otherwise, it doesn't mean anything to me and it won't truly reflect who I am.<br />
<br />
As some of you know, I am now freelancing for Eugene Daily News and I love it! I get to do exactly what I love! I love people, I love information, I love writing, I love photography and I love to share it.<br />
<br />
This is exactly why I started my own blog. To share what I love so much. I love deeply. You may have heard me say that a time or two, and sometimes I love a bit too much maybe, is that possible? No.<br />
<br />
My story begins this last Thursday when my landlord (I really hate that term but it's all i've got Scottie!) and friend Sonja came walking across my yard carrying a brown box.... Hmmmm, my mind was reeling, what could be in there I wondered in the few moments it took her to cross the great expanse of green.<br />
<br />
The box was half full of the palest light green apples I had ever seen!<br />
<br />
"I have all these apples and was wondering if you would like them to make applesauce, have you made it before?" she asked.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI162eS5yLWCQn1MbwOOoryX9KxldtHlB4SbDO-k3L5XWaAtq9xthqgXp0N3nAjGzZg5ejG3FWJu4wm9COYfJ-lr5gDcpl_FEK3PtcrKUEUMPPUvwSlE7nSxONA81PN53WXdGcwvcA_s/s1600/IMG_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXI162eS5yLWCQn1MbwOOoryX9KxldtHlB4SbDO-k3L5XWaAtq9xthqgXp0N3nAjGzZg5ejG3FWJu4wm9COYfJ-lr5gDcpl_FEK3PtcrKUEUMPPUvwSlE7nSxONA81PN53WXdGcwvcA_s/s200/IMG_0303.jpg" width="133" /></a>"I can learn!" I replied with a smile on my face, showing my excitement. She really liked my response!<br />
"I can learn!" she repeated with a smile.<br />
<br />
I can learn anything or at least I am going to give my all and see how it turns out.<br />
<br />
The weekend went by with record temperatures for the year at 104 degrees... too hot to heat up the kitchen, so there my apples sat, waiting and calling my name, and I looked into the box every time I came in and went out of my front door, promising to get to them.<br />
<br />
I would... but im scared! I have never done this before! what if I mess them up? I always look at something from every angle before I jump in to make sure I jump in at the correct spot! (I think it's a Libra thing.)<br />
<br />
Today, when I woke, I decided to go for a bike ride when it was cool and get my exercising out of the way (I had been going in the afternoon or evening, which nearly gave me heat stroke) It was a bit chilly if you don't mind my saying! I road hard and fast trying to get home, ignoring the pain in my ear's as the wind pounded thru them, and the burn in my thighs as I peddled up the hill's.<br />
<br />
Later that morning Fed Ex had arrived with my recent order of photographs that needed to be delivered to town. I needed groceries so I made a trip to the store as well. (I was brave and passed by the bismarks! and the chips! and the cookies! I have will power when I want it It's all about the goal)<br />
<br />
I am getting way off subject, well kind of, but you will see in a bit where I am heading.<br />
<br />
I loaded my groceries into my car and took the cart back, and before I closed the car door, I peered into my paper bags to make sure I didn't buy any snacks I had forgotten about, just in case for the ride home. No, just full of fruit and vegetables! I closed the door and I must have looked like a little girl who had just lost her balloon. I got in my car and drove the 40 minutes home.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzBZKD5vNakh4bLYYtcaCHEF_N7qPRdRR8TydBSNXzGE6P5yX1RjDLa7DG0Ms2ggkIvyiMOYvziD3Wwe47Q17tHJ3GKDyfLDzhMtF3illJVyk0iAAZ8YOnEr6QonvZyGNdFsNt5rbltU/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzBZKD5vNakh4bLYYtcaCHEF_N7qPRdRR8TydBSNXzGE6P5yX1RjDLa7DG0Ms2ggkIvyiMOYvziD3Wwe47Q17tHJ3GKDyfLDzhMtF3illJVyk0iAAZ8YOnEr6QonvZyGNdFsNt5rbltU/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
A friend of mine called and asked if he could swing by with a magazine he wanted to give me.<br />
"of course!" my light is always on, but I can never guarantee the maid has visited that day (sometimes she has really fun stuff to do).<br />
<br />
Dennis came by with the magazine as promised and he brought a bag with beautiful yellow squash and cucumbers from his garden. I love vegetables! We chatted a moment, I thanked him, I got a hug and off he went.<br />
<br />
As I closed the door, I looked down, and what did I see? A little brown box full of apples staring right back up at me!<br />
<br />
So this is it! I said to myself. I put my CD of Yanni in, poured myself a glass of chardonay, picked out the prettiest apples I could find, rinsed them as I put them into the sink, put the lemon juice in a bowl, got my cutting board and my peeler and knife out and I was ready to rock this applesauce!<br />
<br />
I couldn't do it! They were so pretty I couldn't bare to slice into them!<br />
<br />
"Are you kidding me?" ahahaaha.<br />
<br />
I seriously had a hard time deciding which apples to make into applesauce, and I started to get teary eyed, ok, it was a little bit more than that but for the sake of the children who might read this, I need to keep it clean. I grabbed my kitchen towel to dab the tears and I hear a knock on my door!<br />
<br />
Are you kidding me? right in the middle of my meltdown over which apples to peel and dice for applesauce? quickly I tried to compose myself and answered the door.<br />
<br />
There stood my landlord Sonja with vegetables from her garden for me! I nearly lost it!<br />
<br />
I told her I was just having a meltdown trying to figure out which apples to use. We went thru her instructions for the applesauce real quick once again, all through sniffles and smiles. I thanked her again and inside I went.<br />
<br />
How I decided to work through my heartache of which apples to cut up; I decided to go for the ugly ones! Brilliant, don't you think? No, they were even uglier on the inside! So I grabbed my peeler and grabbed the biggest prettiest apple and went for it!<br />
<br />
As I write this, my applesauce is simmering on my stove, cinnamon and brown sugar melding with the apples and the smell of apple pie is wafting through my house, and I am extremely proud of myself! It is a beautiful thing!<br />
<br />
I realized, it was not the apples I was crying about. Yes, they are pretty and the only thing they would ever be good for is... applesauce. <br />
<br />
I was crying because I am truly truly blessed in my life. I am doing what I have ALWAYS wanted to do, always! From the time I was a little girl and I have always had to put myself and my dreams on the back burner. Now, it is my turn.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPpvEuS3FkGvWVa0f8SN5tTnmclRZFRqdRFK7v6Hhl-ti3Rnp6ROtR5cCG3QVwd9Ht_1xb_xpJ_YEGgxPYm-RXDf9t6lI11_2Tqg5CbpRLb90WpjLN-UxueVJG_VLTZUZMAWrjGo3qto/s1600/IMG_3900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPpvEuS3FkGvWVa0f8SN5tTnmclRZFRqdRFK7v6Hhl-ti3Rnp6ROtR5cCG3QVwd9Ht_1xb_xpJ_YEGgxPYm-RXDf9t6lI11_2Tqg5CbpRLb90WpjLN-UxueVJG_VLTZUZMAWrjGo3qto/s320/IMG_3900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These past few years have been rough, don't get me wrong, but the people I have met who have been there to encourage me, to give me a hug when it was obvious I needed one, to bring me vegetables from their gardens, to trust me as a complete stranger, to let me cry and to simply hold me when I did, and to take a chance on someones dream, I thank you.<br />
<br />
I am truly blessed to have you in my life, and for those of you who are not here with me now, I have not forgotten you and I think of you often. It saddens my heart to know I can not share my dreams with you right now as they come to fruition, but please know that you played a very important roll in helping me get to where I am right now in my life.<br />
<br />
What have I learned today? That life is like a box of apples....... eventually, you will reach your goal, there may be tears along the way, but you will get there. I promise.<br />
<br />
Hugs ~<br />
<br />
S<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-47211970949199591842012-07-19T12:51:00.001-07:002012-07-19T12:58:48.411-07:00Hay Fever...My whole life I have endured summer allergies! Hay Fever to be exact! I remember once upon a time, I had it so bad, my mother and father took me to the hospital. I could hardly see out of my eyes, they were so swollen. I remember it was such a scary place for me, the hospital!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBK2BvqVBr6wylZapoQoVbN5gMCvpH-xOp33PEjmsc0J5rurbm7oZyO02z75QQCoP6VnWNQYlxpJbRUzaW42nhW3d_cZUE1kdQrelzOXMr_ir15t2YQcFnXL8nYmJ_YiuxTuijQ2hwso/s1600/IMG_9494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBK2BvqVBr6wylZapoQoVbN5gMCvpH-xOp33PEjmsc0J5rurbm7oZyO02z75QQCoP6VnWNQYlxpJbRUzaW42nhW3d_cZUE1kdQrelzOXMr_ir15t2YQcFnXL8nYmJ_YiuxTuijQ2hwso/s320/IMG_9494.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hay Fever.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also remember the doctor coming at me with a needle that was atleast a foot long! Im not kidding! even today, I remember it like it was yesterday.<br />
<br />
Another vivid memory I have is my sister and I on the bus, heading home from school. It was our last day and I was crying. I didn't want to say goodbye to my teacher, Mrs. Schaver. I had just completed my kindergarten year and I felt like my world was coming to an end.<br />
<br />
My big sister, who had just finished first grade, held me in her arms while I cried, warding off the other classmates, as they made fun of me for crying! "It's her Hay Fever!" She told them and to leave me alone.... She was my hero that day, and I can tell you, I remember as if it were only yesterday that she had me in her arms.<br />
<br />
It is that time of year once again, but now I have a different kind of Hay Fever......<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMi2cA2nU56qUmGRsSJws4gssSIw8FoOPApdlbLJ6auhEuhihria_TDvYviAFIkKwwlzmfFbTENJDjADh_uuFD3sg4IfhUB6zCyCCt70-qF_nq1mWlJwi_b0mTSwKembnsmabWRGx-6Q/s1600/IMG_9838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMi2cA2nU56qUmGRsSJws4gssSIw8FoOPApdlbLJ6auhEuhihria_TDvYviAFIkKwwlzmfFbTENJDjADh_uuFD3sg4IfhUB6zCyCCt70-qF_nq1mWlJwi_b0mTSwKembnsmabWRGx-6Q/s200/IMG_9838.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
I find it quite, how should I put this delicately... Hot! to see those huge farm vehicles plowing the fields, the men in their wranglers or Levi's or what ever it is that they wear, and their stained tee shirts, soaked from the summer sun, and the endless hours behind the wheel of their hay rakes and balers and such oh my!<br />
<br />
To see a convoy of farmers in their farm rigs coming towards me on a country road takes hold of me like no other. I can't quite explain the feeling that comes over me, but I would like nothing more than to pull over, grab my camera and record every second I can.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2gbNZCo0-MdamICF0TYs1ookPucssuh1oewjPk6gLvgH2OOBNxzJApfdQdZSOGL8C_h1XbdlSwvAr437ju6Du3ExXMZSD-vocIEr_hij92bqIgqz71fbB-lDYv8vbeOjziY2pvSW8oQ/s1600/IMG_9858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2gbNZCo0-MdamICF0TYs1ookPucssuh1oewjPk6gLvgH2OOBNxzJApfdQdZSOGL8C_h1XbdlSwvAr437ju6Du3ExXMZSD-vocIEr_hij92bqIgqz71fbB-lDYv8vbeOjziY2pvSW8oQ/s200/IMG_9858.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGadTwRzP7o9k1hrDhJMgs_yHxIL2-0pYLUwKG7m_7BBCkeZvdMlNMZP0QEztLjOIZBC3kAlFE6l0z4FDXn1u2dAQjMFQ5P2xfHexse7eQcJ8c18mSj2Sy25UFYL3QeyYkzhEJ60wYz5A/s1600/IMG_9568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGadTwRzP7o9k1hrDhJMgs_yHxIL2-0pYLUwKG7m_7BBCkeZvdMlNMZP0QEztLjOIZBC3kAlFE6l0z4FDXn1u2dAQjMFQ5P2xfHexse7eQcJ8c18mSj2Sy25UFYL3QeyYkzhEJ60wYz5A/s200/IMG_9568.JPG" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gypsy, looking for her dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent a summer with my uncle while he cut and baled his fields and filled his barn to put up for the winter for his cattle during the cold winter months. <br />
<br />
It is very hard work. I have hefted a bale or two (the small ones) and they are each about 60 pounds! I have a high respect for all those who put on their boots and gloves and hats despite the heat of the summer sun every year and do what they gotta do, and do what they gotta love.<br />
<br />
I can't imagine a farmer who would be doing it because he or she hated it.<br />
<br />
So the next time you see a farmer driving down a country road, with his flashers on his rig, whether it is an antique or the newest model on the market, pull over, give a slight nod and enjoy the view!<br />
<br />
Thanks for coming by,<br />
<br />
S~<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-30397549710211072112012-07-12T17:41:00.000-07:002012-07-12T17:41:41.173-07:00Life...Life, it's better when you have someone to share it with....<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tYtJdFYOayd0nttPOrGYWJ_Xrz-W6FiUXhG-iqpbb6_8Dbq9waHKHAMwlyCrqCHFx1rLMuWHQpfrIPgxP82LnwSyPH_veP6vT9Rjv1jeyw9tis6z9_SkkfNSg_dbkLgSnlvc4rwueRM/s1600/IMG_8836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tYtJdFYOayd0nttPOrGYWJ_Xrz-W6FiUXhG-iqpbb6_8Dbq9waHKHAMwlyCrqCHFx1rLMuWHQpfrIPgxP82LnwSyPH_veP6vT9Rjv1jeyw9tis6z9_SkkfNSg_dbkLgSnlvc4rwueRM/s320/IMG_8836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I have had such a full week! House / cat sitting while taking care of me own house and me own adorable kitty Saphira, two birthday parties, of which both celebrated milestones and a family reunion!<br />
<br />
Whew!<br />
<br />
They kept me busy!<br />
<br />
MaryEllen celebrated her 90th birthday this week! Oh.... the things she must have seen in her lifetime. The changes she has witnessed, the technology, the presidents she has seen sworn into office, Halley's Comet has come around twice since she was born!<br />
<br />
She has seen her sons grow into men, and they in turn have raised their own families and her legacy continues.<br />
<br />
When I arrived at MaryEllen' party, I hugged her and wished her a happy birthday. She looked into my eyes and with a smile said "I was hoping you would be here, I would like some family pictures" I smiled back at her and said... "I think I can take care of that for you".<br />
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<br />
MaryEllen,<br />
<br />
There are no words to describe the impact your words had on me at that moment. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I wont apologize, as this is who I am, but I kept the tears inside and me heart grew a little bigger in that moment!<br />
<br />
You made me feel welcome from the moment I met you, and I thank you.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday sweet girl, I hope all of your wishes have come true.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Life, it's better when you have someone to share it with....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
<br />
S ~Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-76899330129489616262012-07-01T23:37:00.000-07:002012-07-01T23:38:13.611-07:00World Beat Festival 2012World Beat Festival 2012~<br />
<br />
It is all "worlds" coming together in celebrating us, as a "whole" people. We are truly all the same. We have different back grounds, we have different beliefs, we live in different parts of this planet that we call Earth, and we are all the same.<br />
<br />
We are one in the manner that we all require the same things in order to live and to survive. We all require nutrition, we all require the warmth of the sun, without it, we could not survive as it is as good for our bodies as it is for our fields. We require water to sustain us, and sometimes, it just happens that it separates us from our neighbors. We require love and affection, without that, we will not survive as a people. We as a people love, and bleed, and hurt, and grieve.<br />
<br />
I took my camera to capture some of the intimate moments in peoples lives, people from all walks of life, who came together to share their story, their culture with anyone who would care to take a moment and see.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlccX-WcCjgnxuylSZXg5NSA0Qo13OfMN_qiApyfTNkBiOrWa-PFoiFbTitNIpJNpI3GV3W8eAUiCc1xHUEgbWCJkxTB3WEbjCUJWueHjqfmweKZophO9YDEyi6XeK9xge_PJetSr2rEA/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlccX-WcCjgnxuylSZXg5NSA0Qo13OfMN_qiApyfTNkBiOrWa-PFoiFbTitNIpJNpI3GV3W8eAUiCc1xHUEgbWCJkxTB3WEbjCUJWueHjqfmweKZophO9YDEyi6XeK9xge_PJetSr2rEA/s200/IMG_8134.JPG" width="154" /></a><br />
There were people from all corners of this planet at the festival. <br />
<br />
Two women were walking by, dressed in their "regalia", so bright and colorful. I grabbed my camera and snapped a photograph of this beautiful woman. Our eyes met as soon as I took the camera away and set it in my lap, and she thanked me. I was speechless. I bowed my head ever so slightly to her in the only way I could say you are welcome. I wanted to cry, if I was alone, I would have. We were two people who live worlds apart and we had such an intimate moment only her and I could share.<br />
<br />
I was now bent down on one knee taking photographs of dancers from Africa. Such beautiful people, and very sensual. I don't know exactly for sure what their dances meant, but from what I could gather in my own mind, they were saying they were ready for a mate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6-3uOe0Y8la6cI4GIVdud9oDptC0DXPtKgEiqHHIpRUpTAt5I283hNH-TCC6V7-GxJxhdOrsL8QUzeMapEWQoe_koBF0uPpUZjOg5gKGyu-WB05jAPPtzz3cDu0xWi76Wxby7LD0eXM/s1600/IMG_8220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6-3uOe0Y8la6cI4GIVdud9oDptC0DXPtKgEiqHHIpRUpTAt5I283hNH-TCC6V7-GxJxhdOrsL8QUzeMapEWQoe_koBF0uPpUZjOg5gKGyu-WB05jAPPtzz3cDu0xWi76Wxby7LD0eXM/s200/IMG_8220.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
While I was taking the photographs, I noticed this little girl in her mothers arms, her mother set her down on the ground and she came to me and put her hand on my knee as she looked into my eyes and smiled. My heart got a lot bigger in that very moment. She snuggled right in and watched the show with me, as if her and I were from the same family. It was comfortable and it was right!<br />
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I learned that her name is Maria and she is 16 months old and her father is from Africa. I would like you to meet them as they were so kind to let me take their photograph and let their baby girl comfort <i>me</i> for a while.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLmZlB39Rf1wF41V-2q-MxiEn80iFC4pXGIE_T71PalRnCdRJBEhnkGKYqbq5MVpJl-fmvXAxTG7JO-icv5erzP6E1gc1Xk5OBZaAxZ1gWNFye6CuY6V_Bux70evs69fE0xLpxtCdLiE/s1600/IMG_8227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLmZlB39Rf1wF41V-2q-MxiEn80iFC4pXGIE_T71PalRnCdRJBEhnkGKYqbq5MVpJl-fmvXAxTG7JO-icv5erzP6E1gc1Xk5OBZaAxZ1gWNFye6CuY6V_Bux70evs69fE0xLpxtCdLiE/s200/IMG_8227.jpg" width="155" /></a>We as a people are not alone in this world. Sometimes water and land separate us. So we build bridges and roads. But mostly beliefs and ignorance are the biggest problems we face and it must stop.<br />
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While I was there at the festival, there was no prejudices. There were people, celebrating each other, and all the while I was trying to figure out how I can get to these other places like Africa and India, and will that ever happen for me. I hope so.<br />
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It does make me sad that I will probably never see that beautiful woman again, or Maria and her family. What does life hold for them, and will they think of me?<br />
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I hope you have enjoyed my blog. I am posting a lot of pictures on my facebook fan page (too many to post here. you can copy this link and paste it into your browser) or search Sandra Lynns Photography in your facebook search window. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandra-Lynns-Photography/271691662904788 if you would like to see more of what I saw. <br />
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Thank you for coming by and truly, love your neighbor.<br />
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Hugs, S ~<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-23272592188427100662012-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:002012-06-22T22:06:57.253-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c4FPDoYi6QTAlC0ma63s3RErxGSdMxGMohtoRBlCUkPDV0rg8nAq7dvdJ8N4E5QKGOFpf7Yg4s-B3ao3xbWg_HLrvMF3hidvO3OwfAgCWXd6el2_xhRQK4mVujGDM2gvb_SLp-hzd1U/s1600/IMG_6011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c4FPDoYi6QTAlC0ma63s3RErxGSdMxGMohtoRBlCUkPDV0rg8nAq7dvdJ8N4E5QKGOFpf7Yg4s-B3ao3xbWg_HLrvMF3hidvO3OwfAgCWXd6el2_xhRQK4mVujGDM2gvb_SLp-hzd1U/s400/IMG_6011.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-79188308417955124552012-06-09T16:04:00.000-07:002012-06-09T17:06:26.240-07:00The dock from Misawa Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFbcnmkSFOIIDpJeMTvKFRn6H7lNRsm3QBf-DES01AHxzLWlWu5RgMAbsyY7Mg70X-WUdcqQGbMl4WaWIJ775Ob8zCJY-GXw4nWfoVV6UlTt78EgZbK1IasfR8oJaGMm8HikQ9vaICyk/s1600/IMG_4672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFbcnmkSFOIIDpJeMTvKFRn6H7lNRsm3QBf-DES01AHxzLWlWu5RgMAbsyY7Mg70X-WUdcqQGbMl4WaWIJ775Ob8zCJY-GXw4nWfoVV6UlTt78EgZbK1IasfR8oJaGMm8HikQ9vaICyk/s200/IMG_4672.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I drove to Newport Oregon yesterday to get some photographs of the dock that washed ashore from the tsunami that hit Japan last year.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7P6BsQmlzx2wo05gt3YI-MngL5-M2WeY5yMOdpWiSo4zxlsYlPKo0Ge_nRRUdZD_LPOvbxpL3Rol35p35QrfWQAhYA10x_8ND1SkWq3wmVc9qa3NrZJqkkS4IoDrRNaJALHlRXo_8Gw/s1600/IMG_4693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7P6BsQmlzx2wo05gt3YI-MngL5-M2WeY5yMOdpWiSo4zxlsYlPKo0Ge_nRRUdZD_LPOvbxpL3Rol35p35QrfWQAhYA10x_8ND1SkWq3wmVc9qa3NrZJqkkS4IoDrRNaJALHlRXo_8Gw/s200/IMG_4693.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn...</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't have television, and I rarely watch the news, as most of the time it is depressing. If it hadn't been for Yahoo listing it in their ticker part while I was going to read my email, I may not have known about the dock until someone perhaps mentioned it to me. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYk7Ma9zEqzcBB5W6xFsjIiLnu5-IAXgdFwDZcXKUnM5EWIe75Ev9FRaa31NYvTc0GVUMgyQAuHHqm7IosA9O8DBIqDW9pbi9C67rV-FIrwhYWMD8qv2iN1zZKU1kzRuDengrybOP5UM/s1600/IMG_4709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYk7Ma9zEqzcBB5W6xFsjIiLnu5-IAXgdFwDZcXKUnM5EWIe75Ev9FRaa31NYvTc0GVUMgyQAuHHqm7IosA9O8DBIqDW9pbi9C67rV-FIrwhYWMD8qv2iN1zZKU1kzRuDengrybOP5UM/s400/IMG_4709.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dock from Misawa Japan after 5500 mile Journey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh_OzHcg4h5cYwuRet-XeOudooYsBrV3yR2O6wk-eCbIYvASdh8wXZIg3hY1wBN8x5kDobvEs4BAQtt6sSkhgX_4NvdBzx0tQzt_GEHb0MXvRbL1w0woeG5B_D9aiY4UjNEPrVUr0sWE/s1600/IMG_4742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh_OzHcg4h5cYwuRet-XeOudooYsBrV3yR2O6wk-eCbIYvASdh8wXZIg3hY1wBN8x5kDobvEs4BAQtt6sSkhgX_4NvdBzx0tQzt_GEHb0MXvRbL1w0woeG5B_D9aiY4UjNEPrVUr0sWE/s320/IMG_4742.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coast Guard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORJHkI_49imVmQyrMF_2d9uxXNfVQeL4ueRlpbW4TXh7ytV-FqPOnxcN5XAdNRNA7RQrrA90c8S3xYDA9Z4_kR3yoDSCqtWpBq3l-uVrDklvfGnkeySku_El2vSUixk2jJAJ8STSsNQ/s1600/IMG_4683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORJHkI_49imVmQyrMF_2d9uxXNfVQeL4ueRlpbW4TXh7ytV-FqPOnxcN5XAdNRNA7RQrrA90c8S3xYDA9Z4_kR3yoDSCqtWpBq3l-uVrDklvfGnkeySku_El2vSUixk2jJAJ8STSsNQ/s200/IMG_4683.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agate Beach</td></tr>
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<div>
So, I decided to take a day trip to the coast and see what kind of photographs I could get, and document a little piece of history for myself. I knew I should have waited to go until the following day. The weather promised to be a tad nicer, but I was excited to get there. Who know's how long it would be there. The tides brought it to us, they had the power to take her away again.</div>
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She landed on Agate Beach. I kept my eyes open for the Agates, but was a bit difficult as the wind was blowing my hair into my face, I had my snood on, pulled up over my nose, blocking the infamous coastal winds, the warmth trapped inside my snood which in turn was escaping out the top of the snood, fogged up my sunglasses! :O) good times for me :O) I remembered the pony tail holder I grabbed just before leaving my house and whipped my hair up into a tail. Yet still, there were no agates to be found.</div>
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There were tons of tracks in the sand, it's funny how I only noticed the tracks leading to the dock. The motto "build it and they will come" came to my mind as I, my friend Janet and many people, with their dogs in tow and some in the lead made their way across the hills of sand to the "dock from Japan". There were women in dresses with clenched fists holding onto their skirts in order to preserve their modesty with the wind wanting to make sails out of them, there were children, well, being children in sand, there were boots and sandals and there were feet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxXxDn38LnqMzII1RreqQX4rxj5PGe-9Hg9umPeR2g00PEzT7nSq2AGOa51dP7EeQq8GEWcUXqVG4VPorfEQDL6iSsDLuUR7rdXsZMge_iEFlPgx50aewEKeIkEaR6RBh-23EuNScpYc/s1600/IMG_4726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxXxDn38LnqMzII1RreqQX4rxj5PGe-9Hg9umPeR2g00PEzT7nSq2AGOa51dP7EeQq8GEWcUXqVG4VPorfEQDL6iSsDLuUR7rdXsZMge_iEFlPgx50aewEKeIkEaR6RBh-23EuNScpYc/s320/IMG_4726.jpg" width="213" /></a>By the time I got to the dock, I was amazed to find it was solid! solid concrete! I have been trying to figure out, how this massive, 66 x 7 x 19' beast was able to float at all! There she sat, pointed towards land and sea for us to wonder.</div>
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By the time I had arrived, the scientists had rid her burden of sea life. </div>
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How, over a years time had she gone unnoticed? how many islands had she seen? how many birds have landed on her? so many questions. Most important and maybe what we have forgotten, are the people from whence she first came and the reason behind it.</div>
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Will the scientists leave her be? If she decides to continue her journey, will they try to stop her? Is it their right?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9vp_mDUnIYeGaoURS5-VZaNiVWBpb_j0qfoT8gb-x3D7OUl9M1-UY80t_Ig1KexB2HgeuJ_GQsXXKFvMeuOMBza0sR9Rz2pwNSgLyhWtsrBb5_JBfdHf7s1ybtml_zl8JKKFaj5GbvA/s1600/IMG_4747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9vp_mDUnIYeGaoURS5-VZaNiVWBpb_j0qfoT8gb-x3D7OUl9M1-UY80t_Ig1KexB2HgeuJ_GQsXXKFvMeuOMBza0sR9Rz2pwNSgLyhWtsrBb5_JBfdHf7s1ybtml_zl8JKKFaj5GbvA/s200/IMG_4747.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I captured as much as mother nature would allow and headed back the half mile to my car, and this is when I noticed the tracks, leading back to a life more certain. Remnants, now, our past.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-10789250225221756042012-05-28T16:12:00.001-07:002012-05-28T16:12:29.787-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Memorial Day 2012</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q29eOMDNq2QSlAgHMnH_ndq_8c_lpgsmhxCziaz0jgTed67Neait3S4quHzAWk_UHnZIQ1Vh-hYcdKxo1_jzG9fchcGhSdjJ7CrqSN2jfW07tR75USeYkul-oG59chUaHM5uveNWngo/s1600/IMG_3698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q29eOMDNq2QSlAgHMnH_ndq_8c_lpgsmhxCziaz0jgTed67Neait3S4quHzAWk_UHnZIQ1Vh-hYcdKxo1_jzG9fchcGhSdjJ7CrqSN2jfW07tR75USeYkul-oG59chUaHM5uveNWngo/s320/IMG_3698.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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I attended my first Memorial Day service in a small pioneer cemetery in Brownsville Oregon.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EsjcyAScl0fRFMDYHVnlCGxAldTOXIEA51vt_uZR1zSiTsSbwCdxgxffaXFG6Y-QG7zZEO6pES70qtnME6YJcVvcK9R7sTq-yPVkzpZWCtVWA_stFi-1pXswnZq7_EdlS1dRG7lIDoo/s1600/IMG_3705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EsjcyAScl0fRFMDYHVnlCGxAldTOXIEA51vt_uZR1zSiTsSbwCdxgxffaXFG6Y-QG7zZEO6pES70qtnME6YJcVvcK9R7sTq-yPVkzpZWCtVWA_stFi-1pXswnZq7_EdlS1dRG7lIDoo/s320/IMG_3705.jpg" width="221" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xAGXUUuHHSXPn5O615-2Xph4ubaM07eFE3pBEkZh9VJ7Zx2PbenDt3rzk3lUgJ6cFCYK5yuIj_NqbX74GHr1J3dBBgHUlH3U9oxruxdLmnkQjGMkLU9yIPeHPh-VZKoOy7gcQe8Sl0w/s1600/IMG_3735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xAGXUUuHHSXPn5O615-2Xph4ubaM07eFE3pBEkZh9VJ7Zx2PbenDt3rzk3lUgJ6cFCYK5yuIj_NqbX74GHr1J3dBBgHUlH3U9oxruxdLmnkQjGMkLU9yIPeHPh-VZKoOy7gcQe8Sl0w/s320/IMG_3735.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Guard</td></tr>
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In Flanders Fields the poppies blow</div>
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Between the crosses row on row</div>
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That mark our place; and in the sky</div>
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The larks, still bravely singing, fly</div>
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Scarce heard amid the guns below.</div>
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We are the Dead. Short days ago</div>
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We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.</div>
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Loved and were loved, and now we lie</div>
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In Flansders fields.</div>
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Take up our quarrel with the foe:</div>
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to you from failing hands we throw</div>
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The torch; be yours to hold it high.</div>
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If ye break faith with us who die</div>
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We shall not sleep, though poppies grow</div>
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In Flanders fields</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7uxemjUN96COndqagj4QHq-TjUfnTVUNJXhXrItxKRlMj6wXSxVNJ_NVzUgY9CHBSeI2XgTU55iDLtI2aZRk2jb1IxdCCUMeXkC1ers_t8Mi-HCRkqIjrMJlBZN0KM1ObsIHbcqLSlg/s1600/IMG_3751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7uxemjUN96COndqagj4QHq-TjUfnTVUNJXhXrItxKRlMj6wXSxVNJ_NVzUgY9CHBSeI2XgTU55iDLtI2aZRk2jb1IxdCCUMeXkC1ers_t8Mi-HCRkqIjrMJlBZN0KM1ObsIHbcqLSlg/s320/IMG_3751.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A life time ago, yet, only yesterday<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_SbYC1itwgg4Fssc8fztVPoQXDt3mUk_N-lo0VIhjpfEuJWFDtctVjsuD6dSTACU73g_vsHpIVuzrULmBtsv7P-UQ341tBLVohayRHQA-ak3vXJtn5VRdITQA2iJu8ARRHxID8finLU/s1600/IMG_3763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_SbYC1itwgg4Fssc8fztVPoQXDt3mUk_N-lo0VIhjpfEuJWFDtctVjsuD6dSTACU73g_vsHpIVuzrULmBtsv7P-UQ341tBLVohayRHQA-ak3vXJtn5VRdITQA2iJu8ARRHxID8finLU/s320/IMG_3763.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remembering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa2PZljX8FF9HG-URSvv6uOP-GHW0xEQHy2YnDrsg0Fpad1xbQlVBpwmuj1fcPyv4M2WLige4hyphenhyphenywjEomagANthMlcCXn5xa3KHJe4JhnHnesSRsHfOwXo8JtaobTeY8HiJBQ08vp1XE/s1600/IMG_3770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa2PZljX8FF9HG-URSvv6uOP-GHW0xEQHy2YnDrsg0Fpad1xbQlVBpwmuj1fcPyv4M2WLige4hyphenhyphenywjEomagANthMlcCXn5xa3KHJe4JhnHnesSRsHfOwXo8JtaobTeY8HiJBQ08vp1XE/s320/IMG_3770.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Memoriam 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A-ZYwt4ao-u3ObdsJIXNF0FBzgQ1L3VbECyKN_nb7G_DwTNqL3NH5Qbxs56CLzcqkUJK6MHtqeCRqVLmKaQWW8AiN-Ok-eMG4b-ES_kMJqHhOlCqW3So3kc9-V08sUXuKqeOFkFFTbE/s1600/IMG_3772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A-ZYwt4ao-u3ObdsJIXNF0FBzgQ1L3VbECyKN_nb7G_DwTNqL3NH5Qbxs56CLzcqkUJK6MHtqeCRqVLmKaQWW8AiN-Ok-eMG4b-ES_kMJqHhOlCqW3So3kc9-V08sUXuKqeOFkFFTbE/s320/IMG_3772.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paying Tribute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAmLg-giIoo2Y4JZWjTCQcQ6QHo_lDaRFjgwnCOUrQOwvYJRQsJkTh5A8l-whpmCwfYZ2saE2YUlPXRgbYBJbKjrkYSbjcSO9F4Mp0X07lVqdbw0kpMqXpGA9bkRl4IbwqrAfEU1GcfI/s1600/IMG_3778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAmLg-giIoo2Y4JZWjTCQcQ6QHo_lDaRFjgwnCOUrQOwvYJRQsJkTh5A8l-whpmCwfYZ2saE2YUlPXRgbYBJbKjrkYSbjcSO9F4Mp0X07lVqdbw0kpMqXpGA9bkRl4IbwqrAfEU1GcfI/s320/IMG_3778.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing Taps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I went up to the cemetery the day prior, to get photographs of the flags that were placed at the headstones of the veterans who served our country.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix30CC-47BYFquRYw63Ww-1m1fdjd1ltAx-7q24OMOsl_2d0TzU48WlTOlZk6F8qpfQsT0GOw31KKHsyV88K6zkZaqOCyWOyB8s_JTSlIdD4SGUH_xp5uJ4yffMhQY7w_tQ5O-I_Gjs_U/s1600/IMG_3640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix30CC-47BYFquRYw63Ww-1m1fdjd1ltAx-7q24OMOsl_2d0TzU48WlTOlZk6F8qpfQsT0GOw31KKHsyV88K6zkZaqOCyWOyB8s_JTSlIdD4SGUH_xp5uJ4yffMhQY7w_tQ5O-I_Gjs_U/s320/IMG_3640.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
While I was walking through, and listening to my own thoughts and the wind and the silence, I began to see the lives of these people, and the families who let them go, for us.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I came across this flag, marking the grave of one of our soldiers. Alone.<br />
I couldn't help but cry.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivYGO70ChUK-UifD9qOg5tvHbZgZbjs_Zf1-EJBKLoQqSVzVITYgCvNsn_hBrie7XQp_Ic_jq-XK9GNV2q42y52QyL837PuH3f9ywryEr34fNlNkURdo_VrV8xdXF_9rlolprTs0ajnw/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivYGO70ChUK-UifD9qOg5tvHbZgZbjs_Zf1-EJBKLoQqSVzVITYgCvNsn_hBrie7XQp_Ic_jq-XK9GNV2q42y52QyL837PuH3f9ywryEr34fNlNkURdo_VrV8xdXF_9rlolprTs0ajnw/s320/IMG_3786.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God Bless America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When the ceremony was about to come to a close, one of the coordinators said they don't usually have such a big crowd, but they would like everyone to take and hold the person next to them, their hand.<br />
<br />
As everyone sang God Bless America.<br />
<br />
We thank our veterans on this special day, we can not forget the families either, as their sacrifices have been just as great.<br />
<br />
This will not be my last service.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-12425037716000108552012-05-22T17:51:00.001-07:002012-05-22T19:56:42.431-07:00Rhody Fest 2012<br />
<br />
I spent the day in Florence at the Oregon Coast this last Saturday with a couple of my friends. I have lived here in Oregon for 12 years now, and only learned about the Rhody festival over the last couple of years.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r-hAxhEcahFSIMKVqiH9RtB2Kh6f1zl2CeIvNpy_Bbv3Zwwf5xjDtGD1np2EVpiU9XqEBJ3LqeDbq5ry8XXnawRg-uMVvwT4kZAXrKiYXnzHsZfI9zvOhPu8TJTDTTtA98BWnRCK5xI/s1600/IMG_0881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r-hAxhEcahFSIMKVqiH9RtB2Kh6f1zl2CeIvNpy_Bbv3Zwwf5xjDtGD1np2EVpiU9XqEBJ3LqeDbq5ry8XXnawRg-uMVvwT4kZAXrKiYXnzHsZfI9zvOhPu8TJTDTTtA98BWnRCK5xI/s320/IMG_0881.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhody Fest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And all the while, I was under the impression it was in celebration of the Rhododendrons in bloom!<br />
<br />
Ketchikan, the small town I grew up in holds a Blueberry Festival every year, in celebration of the Blueberries, so I assumed this festival being held in Florence was the same type of thing. It makes sense right?<br />
<br />
Everywhere you looked, you would see a motorcycle! and if you didn't see one, you were sure to hear one! There were old and new and fancy and not so fancy. There were Harley's and Ducati, there were green ones and blue ones and red ones and even pink for the ladies.<br />
<br />
And all that leather! Oh My!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLMpMNa0RlKgNGaZGan4c3K09IC7YnMx4uNiILXHeIos2xJQhCfShhm95x45Y8QcbtpZgZPEyUR6eIdqPjriwpmbAB8Bgxeo2F-BRP0bA6iq23-lK1t65EU5imPXSrecFQp7UEqmnHDk/s1600/IMG_0762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLMpMNa0RlKgNGaZGan4c3K09IC7YnMx4uNiILXHeIos2xJQhCfShhm95x45Y8QcbtpZgZPEyUR6eIdqPjriwpmbAB8Bgxeo2F-BRP0bA6iq23-lK1t65EU5imPXSrecFQp7UEqmnHDk/s320/IMG_0762.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence Or. Rhody Fest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a little research, yes, it is the festival of the Rhododendrons in bloom!<br />
<br />
<br />
The first annual festival was in May of 1908! and it consisted of a clam bake on the beach and a parade through town. I am inserting the link from which I found the information.<br />
<br />
It states the Rhododendron Festival, (Rhody Fest for short) was started in order to attract business.<br />
<br />
The "bikes" started showing up in the 80's which was fine by them, as it afforded even more revenue for the township.<br />
<br />
So the Rhody's, whether flowers or bikers go hand in hand.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
http://www.northwestmagazines.com/oregon_coast_florence_rhody_days.php<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-80207789245264143832012-05-20T21:51:00.001-07:002012-05-20T21:51:18.065-07:00Eclipse,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUbsowQF9YHFgT2ICjV8QskErf-KAN-lSIwP-Hrx8wGb2hsuCI2nU6KeebekwwX9txKBC36bdt_1BBA4cLUyKZP4dad38M4oeBTNtISyiuXH3djN3yzULjg7Ly3Dl1ySMGNNJ7RUn4WQ/s1600/IMG_9465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUbsowQF9YHFgT2ICjV8QskErf-KAN-lSIwP-Hrx8wGb2hsuCI2nU6KeebekwwX9txKBC36bdt_1BBA4cLUyKZP4dad38M4oeBTNtISyiuXH3djN3yzULjg7Ly3Dl1ySMGNNJ7RUn4WQ/s320/IMG_9465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I gave it a good effort to watch the eclipse this evening.<br />
<br />
The sun peeked out of the clouded sky, so I made my home fashioned eclipse viewing box and followed the instructions, but alas, it was not meant to be.<br />
<br />
I do wonder if I will ever see one in my lifetime.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje97-MfDhxhhp1YhTS2bPrD-ELDl2NmGOdga00-psN8iVhRhMKdWoODseOLcJe83Y2yXHyn8UxYjjNpGWdJl1BQbiw7WRicXur-qbNZiCrj6ziMEZlWQq_Nfe0fhNZnnkgAEAz7txn4b8/s1600/IMG_9466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje97-MfDhxhhp1YhTS2bPrD-ELDl2NmGOdga00-psN8iVhRhMKdWoODseOLcJe83Y2yXHyn8UxYjjNpGWdJl1BQbiw7WRicXur-qbNZiCrj6ziMEZlWQq_Nfe0fhNZnnkgAEAz7txn4b8/s320/IMG_9466.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Going through my photo's, I came across these and thought they would be nice to share.<br />
<br />
I took them during our super moon a few weeks back.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. The Willamette is a pretty place.<br />
<br />
S ~<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18G9LDREt0pBXgCOM1SX3Mw_ue7jI-m1fdONl685l9w7GdS0Nn91LgRyHAwIKWP5z2sp54OUIcbPoKeBVc-e3jC45bbeCA3gh0bsTgm9h5Vh3WLoLL75gJiMv1xH4egCsl1k6WIU5Vns/s1600/IMG_9474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18G9LDREt0pBXgCOM1SX3Mw_ue7jI-m1fdONl685l9w7GdS0Nn91LgRyHAwIKWP5z2sp54OUIcbPoKeBVc-e3jC45bbeCA3gh0bsTgm9h5Vh3WLoLL75gJiMv1xH4egCsl1k6WIU5Vns/s320/IMG_9474.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-44563149168600171992012-05-17T09:34:00.001-07:002012-05-20T21:51:42.346-07:00<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow" </span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - Imogen Cunningham</span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGOrFKT5DIu0wEG2mwNV8mfmQsHH49xflAJ6tiQATgsyhVivejt_ZojIxwfWKOBLPAaJ-0t3kvXBRriyW46t1Kv4VVWErNU3WawObbKsGYEqtrDYNeXxlgPMhMJrTHXQXoLzm8cwM_w/s1600/IMG_4099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSGOrFKT5DIu0wEG2mwNV8mfmQsHH49xflAJ6tiQATgsyhVivejt_ZojIxwfWKOBLPAaJ-0t3kvXBRriyW46t1Kv4VVWErNU3WawObbKsGYEqtrDYNeXxlgPMhMJrTHXQXoLzm8cwM_w/s320/IMG_4099.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between land and space<br />
the wind whispers her beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have to agree, because I can't seem to get the next shot off of my mind, and I have no idea what it will be! Photography is always ever present in my mind.</span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wonder where I will be, what I will see or more importantly, what I won't see! I am constantly aware of my surroundings, will there be a place to pull over to take that shot, and if not, will it still be there when I turn around and come back? </span></strong><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Will I have lost the moment? or is this the perfect moment?</span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photography is about moments and it is about light, and it is about being who you are. When I have my camera in my hand, the world disappears. My worries or troubles or past or future are simply gone, and it is simply me in that moment of space and time. And my biggest joy is to share what I see with you.</span></strong><br />
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-53688662356838498232012-05-15T16:01:00.000-07:002012-05-22T19:57:27.908-07:00Daisies,<br />
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Those who know me, know that the ever beautiful Daisy is my favorite flower! I guess I am kind of like them in a way. They are persistent at times and don't give up easy!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-yBG7Bq_Mv6nD5CVfRmmKMOn7O3NlY1-wdRn2gkPZ7FYbaHe5YaDjsDNsQKtH-Y44I13RW0u6UPtaG7RID-U5q33T-J6FVXVz8OATog8OpAhge4LXO6PEAjshEC-W8E5WVVfVWBsYhc/s1600/IMG_0227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-yBG7Bq_Mv6nD5CVfRmmKMOn7O3NlY1-wdRn2gkPZ7FYbaHe5YaDjsDNsQKtH-Y44I13RW0u6UPtaG7RID-U5q33T-J6FVXVz8OATog8OpAhge4LXO6PEAjshEC-W8E5WVVfVWBsYhc/s320/IMG_0227.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Gerbera Daisy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You know those cute little daisies that grow just a few inches off the ground? They were taking over my yard. I felt just horrible, but there I was, this spring in my Ketchikan sneakers, coat, gloves and hat walking like a duck back and forth in my yard, digging up every single one who dared to show their pretty little white petals!<br />
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I was determined to win! And I did.... until it started to rain more and more, and there, from the safety of my home I watched on a daily basis as they came back one by one, and I decided to let them be.<br />
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I still love Daisies, don't get me wrong, but some things are meant to be admired from afar.<br />
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I took this photograph from a friends gorgeous patch of Gerbera Daisies, yellow....my favorite color!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-20866077885121539362012-05-14T13:59:00.001-07:002012-05-17T07:02:14.997-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Back in the Saddle</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqs9YWlRKvy7KCjbwwNmOVAljjOtR76orTlqDUX2403Pcse1E_rhauYMY-ERQ9spLwXaAJWoWx0u9L5g01j3UwJv7uVyIfLbR7zopIiLNuK2RJlCbv_50X89Py1fXV2k0ACQI1GJ9peA/s1600/IMG_9189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqs9YWlRKvy7KCjbwwNmOVAljjOtR76orTlqDUX2403Pcse1E_rhauYMY-ERQ9spLwXaAJWoWx0u9L5g01j3UwJv7uVyIfLbR7zopIiLNuK2RJlCbv_50X89Py1fXV2k0ACQI1GJ9peA/s320/IMG_9189.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Lights</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9ga1B35Vii9IZ6vDyPd1ybOnBRvHpexNoOk1CXBtROiXR7JhwPVy99sB6fpKNsydEduW1mkQvaHPKgGTavo9HkPYpW-fJDEHbmY6iu72VHSJKxQu-kMrkYW8BEE8ShUr1o5pvUbbmC4/s1600/IMG_9675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9ga1B35Vii9IZ6vDyPd1ybOnBRvHpexNoOk1CXBtROiXR7JhwPVy99sB6fpKNsydEduW1mkQvaHPKgGTavo9HkPYpW-fJDEHbmY6iu72VHSJKxQu-kMrkYW8BEE8ShUr1o5pvUbbmC4/s320/IMG_9675.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giddy~Up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTQMzg1G4qQDxIgNKWGyYsVHwvRz9hGXfE6vRgO9fCNFTWMmNrAnzcdT4FSZ9pr9ai3vPx3DvD4JKqcI0cCl9_B86MViJjWGK8ratHXDvN7LlLo9P8knb_ECXTJTFQ-mPAQkuEGhVSbk/s1600/IMG_8552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTQMzg1G4qQDxIgNKWGyYsVHwvRz9hGXfE6vRgO9fCNFTWMmNrAnzcdT4FSZ9pr9ai3vPx3DvD4JKqcI0cCl9_B86MViJjWGK8ratHXDvN7LlLo9P8knb_ECXTJTFQ-mPAQkuEGhVSbk/s320/IMG_8552.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's been around the block a time or two</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4Trl5YruqtiEjy6DqZBzRWrGUB2XRSwgvXywKxBlbMC2adq6KRPCKzLo_BgQTUhHpZ32eqailpFmlqiIg8bxvlxH25176rOCUgPA6mY3A4BCbvrkaJlcQlwonseUEnxYMpzbSfDUids/s1600/IMG_9299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4Trl5YruqtiEjy6DqZBzRWrGUB2XRSwgvXywKxBlbMC2adq6KRPCKzLo_BgQTUhHpZ32eqailpFmlqiIg8bxvlxH25176rOCUgPA6mY3A4BCbvrkaJlcQlwonseUEnxYMpzbSfDUids/s320/IMG_9299.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paying the undertaker in advance is required</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aO8lXSiGugiuBfAEwOimtYutP0ZcdMgJ9wWKadyyeLk19spPF0MRJaUszI3Y0IJp3ov7fNNlh_heXFf_Y1nCEGRD3VpgP-bKcgqlLW4n6xk7MGbu2RXX8XffTHY4x70-PYagiTJq4io/s1600/IMG_9280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aO8lXSiGugiuBfAEwOimtYutP0ZcdMgJ9wWKadyyeLk19spPF0MRJaUszI3Y0IJp3ov7fNNlh_heXFf_Y1nCEGRD3VpgP-bKcgqlLW4n6xk7MGbu2RXX8XffTHY4x70-PYagiTJq4io/s320/IMG_9280.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Undertaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT2sJ94FE2jEdJnVBTijHC6QGWqIQjs7xc2Wswynacql1olxpCh3oEcJEvHLB_m4Sk0EFwovoF9X4E28zwrVMWEtFS-qDNAF-mz859USHYIFd2Um-9Srr0OuJUIvNOjuYQHUGMIfrPPw/s1600/IMG_0206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT2sJ94FE2jEdJnVBTijHC6QGWqIQjs7xc2Wswynacql1olxpCh3oEcJEvHLB_m4Sk0EFwovoF9X4E28zwrVMWEtFS-qDNAF-mz859USHYIFd2Um-9Srr0OuJUIvNOjuYQHUGMIfrPPw/s320/IMG_0206.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lifetime of memories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A6omxYh3bsG08gEKE20KekH5uqoOCWMYWIGAYh9xH_7lIYThdKhDkJx2_vYlka52NEhF7Ep0z6z2slN4AMGq_btyI3w0hXtU_0yOXO0OYNvt_ujbSXjyoNCn00UbzBmEd8_XP2L_g3o/s1600/IMG_9765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A6omxYh3bsG08gEKE20KekH5uqoOCWMYWIGAYh9xH_7lIYThdKhDkJx2_vYlka52NEhF7Ep0z6z2slN4AMGq_btyI3w0hXtU_0yOXO0OYNvt_ujbSXjyoNCn00UbzBmEd8_XP2L_g3o/s320/IMG_9765.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves me...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj989MAnlzp0Fb4VAUfRRWavtxswAkEQHTcjcFAYPc_EuGkIiQriWj5AG6fqUHExDrWOGvKsvSzH2YIXBu5-FR8hRwq4zdCUUuRNNguqIjF27MLu278oGZEBvPBc6-9XFsZuThpZHCu0/s1600/IMG_9579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj989MAnlzp0Fb4VAUfRRWavtxswAkEQHTcjcFAYPc_EuGkIiQriWj5AG6fqUHExDrWOGvKsvSzH2YIXBu5-FR8hRwq4zdCUUuRNNguqIjF27MLu278oGZEBvPBc6-9XFsZuThpZHCu0/s320/IMG_9579.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for my prince to come</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0cW8Uc4mpSbVeeAepWZrzs0LQH0SpHRq3FtXEoDQeACEu-c3jBxMUHTMyhnjgKl1xpGV4HY46d8mYfFGuuw7VVErqLJSbyzt8SY8KpfGpMqGE4Ywb8ohHSpGpmKWWNYxYlN4RQnlqwg/s1600/IMG_9794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0cW8Uc4mpSbVeeAepWZrzs0LQH0SpHRq3FtXEoDQeACEu-c3jBxMUHTMyhnjgKl1xpGV4HY46d8mYfFGuuw7VVErqLJSbyzt8SY8KpfGpMqGE4Ywb8ohHSpGpmKWWNYxYlN4RQnlqwg/s320/IMG_9794.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The town I live in is quite active during the summer, there is always something going on. The most recent photographs I am listing are from the Carriage Me Back celebration held every year.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcduu2uadKbFggXV49XiysL2uNmRUd5KOU97NIJqT4QLW-I7kfA6D2eoKfshKzAbUE6FIDL5WS3SqnnkhHTxSUbVFGqyNSsV2hs0vYuPxUMGZTMjlS69ScCHj-S2jghsliMJz1mU2Fy8o/s1600/IMG_9793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcduu2uadKbFggXV49XiysL2uNmRUd5KOU97NIJqT4QLW-I7kfA6D2eoKfshKzAbUE6FIDL5WS3SqnnkhHTxSUbVFGqyNSsV2hs0vYuPxUMGZTMjlS69ScCHj-S2jghsliMJz1mU2Fy8o/s320/IMG_9793.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strolling in the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ41TITHJMMT6oVRxnatxf7SBvAAsKqkpvUgpJ5oO_oiFB-KuEu_57EOiEIdvUHL9wrMygUpndLN8GOku6i9YWg524QRjrg5HgjGKdC15fXNDEX8PWluKFmUT1uKH6tqEsLQyUi1Y9W2k/s1600/IMG_9816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ41TITHJMMT6oVRxnatxf7SBvAAsKqkpvUgpJ5oO_oiFB-KuEu_57EOiEIdvUHL9wrMygUpndLN8GOku6i9YWg524QRjrg5HgjGKdC15fXNDEX8PWluKFmUT1uKH6tqEsLQyUi1Y9W2k/s320/IMG_9816.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He sure could play that harmonica!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQZSg4eNzurh9ZDnEvqssVEkBIfIhgOrC42ONrfBw36u2KQ0Mmk_6wMwFALjysbYQ7gRMUOCAfTwtD_yfbuwjZ59kcqD82RjS4zqTgLvuJw8916BuCUk6dSWKu-cDJt995SnHVRw9FA/s1600/IMG_9975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwQZSg4eNzurh9ZDnEvqssVEkBIfIhgOrC42ONrfBw36u2KQ0Mmk_6wMwFALjysbYQ7gRMUOCAfTwtD_yfbuwjZ59kcqD82RjS4zqTgLvuJw8916BuCUk6dSWKu-cDJt995SnHVRw9FA/s320/IMG_9975.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a cool wheel!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4sThwiuuoIsLXA5fVrUDghP5F9QlHBRGs-AnlkQKSHu2kU7RPEVxvEja7RKJWbe0YcGWNl9Y8hbG3oX_JuAKQ7C5jAhTp-BEV3BfSc3Fm4tMpfi24K9TOx_xPYnYsHDARWqqEQwSU2E/s1600/IMG_9864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4sThwiuuoIsLXA5fVrUDghP5F9QlHBRGs-AnlkQKSHu2kU7RPEVxvEja7RKJWbe0YcGWNl9Y8hbG3oX_JuAKQ7C5jAhTp-BEV3BfSc3Fm4tMpfi24K9TOx_xPYnYsHDARWqqEQwSU2E/s320/IMG_9864.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody's new baby!</td></tr>
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After having to take some time off I am back in the saddle! I wanted to share some photographs I have taken over the past month.<br />
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I can't seem to get enough time behind my lens!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-74870177137357113192012-04-11T10:21:00.000-07:002012-05-22T19:58:00.179-07:00The Little Things in Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good Morning,</div>
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I would like to introduce you to my cat Saphira.</div>
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Well part of her anyhow! I think that we get comfortable with the familiar in life, and sometimes, forget about the obvious.</div>
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This shot of her say's so much I think! </div>
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Her pink little nose helps her to find her way home and the treats that I leave on her dish.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAelMLADVJgdzB8DRUcX9bNh18N4DCK6wtMlJl5NeRlXxLomnYfZApG7fGdzrDNgC6FnEIBVWiPi95XducqNe7Mjiqu-VxQt5AQIaMYt9lkuKfEtNeEByH2WRZCELIAWCy3Jex5I2Jqbg/s1600/IMG_8457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAelMLADVJgdzB8DRUcX9bNh18N4DCK6wtMlJl5NeRlXxLomnYfZApG7fGdzrDNgC6FnEIBVWiPi95XducqNe7Mjiqu-VxQt5AQIaMYt9lkuKfEtNeEByH2WRZCELIAWCy3Jex5I2Jqbg/s320/IMG_8457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saphira</td></tr>
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Her whiskers help her to know if she can fit inside of a certain place (a strategically placed paper bag) when she want's to hide and pounce on her prey... (that would be me).</div>
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Her cute little mouth that tells me all about it (her life) once I have gotten home from an extended vacation or a trip to the store.</div>
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And of course, her fluffy white fur that helps to comfort me if I have had a rough day.</div>
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They seem to love us no matter what, and somehow they know when we need a little extra love.</div>
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Think about the little things in life.......their meanings are huge. :O)</div>
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Thank you for coming by!</div>
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Sandy</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-59642380834826771732012-04-08T10:58:00.001-07:002012-05-22T19:58:28.194-07:00EasterHappy Easter,<br />
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Today is April 8th, 2012. It's a beautiful day here in the Willamette Valley, with a forecast of sun and a high of 66. Who couldn't smile on a day like this? :O)<br />
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I am going to give it everything I have to smile all day, and remember the blessing's in my life, the journey's I have taken, and the people who have taken me there.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWdqrgQ8UmFv8_JDYHjJKJQt5eRBsoBwogZM9pLQ332Cb17dEy2q_qdrOMGqjFRird7xwJQqVbU_0X6fuUenlhmNf3vFKYpHm5N1BvHHSpZx7SHE8ROZ8g19-VCvsdSt_XgLJW-iH6gc/s1600/IMG_8519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWdqrgQ8UmFv8_JDYHjJKJQt5eRBsoBwogZM9pLQ332Cb17dEy2q_qdrOMGqjFRird7xwJQqVbU_0X6fuUenlhmNf3vFKYpHm5N1BvHHSpZx7SHE8ROZ8g19-VCvsdSt_XgLJW-iH6gc/s320/IMG_8519.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs</td></tr>
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Sometimes, life is hard and I really don't think it is ever easy. Maybe the road is just a little smoother than normal some times, and once in a while there is a dip in the road. But if you keep going, you are sure to come out of it.<br />
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And you may not get what you want out of life, but you will always get what you need.<br />
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Yes, I took that from a famous song :O) but it is true. Sometimes not a very easy thing to swallow, but true.<br />
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I wish you a wonderful day.<br />
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Hugs,<br />
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Sandy<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-59452298834189568972012-04-06T11:26:00.001-07:002012-04-06T11:26:25.496-07:00Well, getting used to coming here every day and not twice a month will have to be put onto my things to do list! :O) like everything, we have to get used to new things. <br />
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I wanted to list some photographs of my recent work, which I am pretty proud of!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwued-p0OClv7Byb_ibDYklyhI3SicBfde1X11HV6wTdsMGjL0AN-0s4yqpUe78MsvzcWTweK5ObbMNPnrJJQwHfiRcV80G_HU5_zuoTalCGxgUey28EwIYoyUa0n9PLltaf9S-W88gbg/s1600/IMG_9310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwued-p0OClv7Byb_ibDYklyhI3SicBfde1X11HV6wTdsMGjL0AN-0s4yqpUe78MsvzcWTweK5ObbMNPnrJJQwHfiRcV80G_HU5_zuoTalCGxgUey28EwIYoyUa0n9PLltaf9S-W88gbg/s320/IMG_9310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordyn</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVHJ4xwNJQELCFfSuKW3raQT3RZf-U0F1lJLkdRCa0zvAAuZkPa-CVs-ilBkGImvG-Mw4pxiFkw1bVHZ9u2wijvul5kn8NXTHhvXrSyonjP876ww3gngCOfNHitkJG_vRD76ZjRKjYaA/s1600/IMG_6636+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVHJ4xwNJQELCFfSuKW3raQT3RZf-U0F1lJLkdRCa0zvAAuZkPa-CVs-ilBkGImvG-Mw4pxiFkw1bVHZ9u2wijvul5kn8NXTHhvXrSyonjP876ww3gngCOfNHitkJG_vRD76ZjRKjYaA/s320/IMG_6636+-+Version+2.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husband and Wife</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qoMtK4DP-DuI-CA9by6edaLtIkWgX3WymTFQMiz_nrljxaGqzVuvJlwWCfVae-xQmmmJ8UyVr85QhS7_BcnemhrlV4FHnHNlwvbdt52tZybNcpfje62pnZ_oQ083kwDwATM_AzwtwfI/s1600/IMG_6495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qoMtK4DP-DuI-CA9by6edaLtIkWgX3WymTFQMiz_nrljxaGqzVuvJlwWCfVae-xQmmmJ8UyVr85QhS7_BcnemhrlV4FHnHNlwvbdt52tZybNcpfje62pnZ_oQ083kwDwATM_AzwtwfI/s320/IMG_6495.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Groom</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvrPtKty8n3HF0RxujgJ3SYsowVlMnFlopUkN2kxGu3YUIo_9YFRkmHtPYCsjEBmqMFHG5btbgAAQo6PS7vRFv37DV6jtve2M8VfQ228B6VfRvHD6zA7hc_PJ6AcM3GwtmlS17b6ismI/s1600/IMG_6719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvrPtKty8n3HF0RxujgJ3SYsowVlMnFlopUkN2kxGu3YUIo_9YFRkmHtPYCsjEBmqMFHG5btbgAAQo6PS7vRFv37DV6jtve2M8VfQ228B6VfRvHD6zA7hc_PJ6AcM3GwtmlS17b6ismI/s320/IMG_6719.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNNlNWuaMifAe2VYnrsg63R3yzhmlcM3pUcDTKmGDnFQ3Su34oxp6weCFjIqq97V0UZDKdcA87G9djBFj7gxNHYKYW8CEjtoL-Ykdg1Qzu7H9wxceFNxYMMdW0pgf6QLl66hVpsF2QQU/s1600/IMG_6352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNNlNWuaMifAe2VYnrsg63R3yzhmlcM3pUcDTKmGDnFQ3Su34oxp6weCFjIqq97V0UZDKdcA87G9djBFj7gxNHYKYW8CEjtoL-Ykdg1Qzu7H9wxceFNxYMMdW0pgf6QLl66hVpsF2QQU/s320/IMG_6352.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thought</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZbQXaccbZYXEydnJaEnYI91iEgBS2bqA9i2QSIueEK9kOd6vI2Z9M3uFKVt45EAq3MNSKC4Ja2BrOAP8QQ8k_lZo5-GOemTGoeYxiqqN45MmYHlQvKLdpUzJjtkJXrQsnBSIcCgiG5o/s1600/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZbQXaccbZYXEydnJaEnYI91iEgBS2bqA9i2QSIueEK9kOd6vI2Z9M3uFKVt45EAq3MNSKC4Ja2BrOAP8QQ8k_lZo5-GOemTGoeYxiqqN45MmYHlQvKLdpUzJjtkJXrQsnBSIcCgiG5o/s320/IMG_6685.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bouquet</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LJPKKfrTlys8njKcGRbRz39EjICK3FeSYUTaQTeRzx_1tsCwlpACCAcGYofci1oJ01gRdKr6UFsECR26sriRtqlxkEwFg05_WbSD0iIY9zgGZ3BU1EvGinCs3DNURIRcOxDxWbfTbyk/s1600/IMG_7482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LJPKKfrTlys8njKcGRbRz39EjICK3FeSYUTaQTeRzx_1tsCwlpACCAcGYofci1oJ01gRdKr6UFsECR26sriRtqlxkEwFg05_WbSD0iIY9zgGZ3BU1EvGinCs3DNURIRcOxDxWbfTbyk/s320/IMG_7482.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VWx8ELXkfOeNQ8yoyTPEE_8w0h2iq9DXzcPCe3BtIYdLZNZBrKOrka-bIDPURCwl02hy37nYAGYMheZge6HszVLtlB0JP6YhmuLVa_BL23f1nukLszmvzr0vLYW3aicZcfdEMNfxZBM/s1600/IMG_8313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VWx8ELXkfOeNQ8yoyTPEE_8w0h2iq9DXzcPCe3BtIYdLZNZBrKOrka-bIDPURCwl02hy37nYAGYMheZge6HszVLtlB0JP6YhmuLVa_BL23f1nukLszmvzr0vLYW3aicZcfdEMNfxZBM/s200/IMG_8313.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmFq3CswgVNLGQmDBXtmYWmTDdP4jVBNCL30ucav3_f8kTYlWFjtsX2r4yayRzHnlA31FHBj4YZUdfCdpWLZ6_-vAKyK_a83lNdyLBnJhxdaLdiQMBlYpDttMZxyc59x0oqt2fJpy0CE/s1600/IMG_8422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmFq3CswgVNLGQmDBXtmYWmTDdP4jVBNCL30ucav3_f8kTYlWFjtsX2r4yayRzHnlA31FHBj4YZUdfCdpWLZ6_-vAKyK_a83lNdyLBnJhxdaLdiQMBlYpDttMZxyc59x0oqt2fJpy0CE/s320/IMG_8422.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healing<br /></td></tr>
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My photography is candid. I love people as natural as they are... being themselves. <br />
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I hope you have enjoyed my photographs. </div>
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Sandy</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-54698997467611559322012-03-15T09:00:00.000-07:002012-03-15T09:00:47.601-07:00Weddings and Camera'sWeddings and Camera's<br />
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Well, it's been a few days since I have been on here. I had a wedding to photograph and was preparing for that, as well as life happening all around me, so I am back in the saddle.<br />
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The worst case scenario happened at the wedding! My camera died, right there in my hands, 2 hours prior to the wedding! I made sure I had back up batteries, flashes, charged batteries, you name it! What I didn't have readily available was a back up camera! FAIL!<br />
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I called a friend, who in turn called her son and within an hour and a half, I was back in business! Can be a little stressful learning a new camera in half an hour, and keep your composure at the same time.<br />
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Who wants to freak the Bride and Groom out on their day? (There was time to freak out in the privacy of my own home later on!) They hired me to get their memories and precious moments on film, it was their big day, as well as mine!<br />
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My day started at 7 am - one hour drive to their home - shooting began shortly after I arrived at 10 a.m. Camera died at 11 am - back up camera arrived 12:30 p.m. wedding at 1 p.m.<br />
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Pretty much non stop shooting from 12:30 to 6:05 p.m.<br />
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Home at 7:15 and bubble bath at 7:20!<br />
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I didn't even look at the photos until the next day! I was exhausted. Emotionally. I didn't know what was wrong with my camera, my baby.<br />
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The photographs turned out great! The bride and groom love what I had captured for them. (Please see my photos on my wedding page.)<br />
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It turns out that my shutter had blown. The tech that looked at my camera said he had never seen anything like it. My motto: Go Big or Go Home! :O)<br />
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So... a few lesson's learned: ALWAYS have a back up camera. I don't care how many batteries you have! :O) Borrow a camera if you need to, but have a back up :O)<br />
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second lesson: Believe in yourself.<br />
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Till next time~<br />
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Sandy<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13436509132689961754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923395089575354778.post-60736426191050505182012-02-22T11:23:00.000-08:002012-02-22T11:23:58.696-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good morning! :O)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is another wonderfully wet day in the Willamette Valley! Overcast skies, raindrops dotting everything in sight, offering reflections of time passing by.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am about to put on my Ketchikan sneakers and head outside into natures beautiful light box and see what I can find.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For those of you who do not know what Ketchikan Sneakers are, here you go :O) I took these photo's of my reflection in the door of my car one afternoon while at my local park. You see, Ketchikan averages 15-18 feet of rain a year. Yes you read that right! feet! so, extra tuff boots are commonly known in Ketchikan as sneakers :O)</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUWuqk7aKbvt6LNwjE23FXiSkgH10rLODo2ENHnk5UChs9ra4eikbv-g5ksV0jToH229-EqvO7Ze7x5NmJCNAupM1YNZqZSAGO4tX1XJaQyz0t9v7rVAjow809SgvhnFiBpL-N8HzjdI/s1600/IMG_7175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUWuqk7aKbvt6LNwjE23FXiSkgH10rLODo2ENHnk5UChs9ra4eikbv-g5ksV0jToH229-EqvO7Ze7x5NmJCNAupM1YNZqZSAGO4tX1XJaQyz0t9v7rVAjow809SgvhnFiBpL-N8HzjdI/s320/IMG_7175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, you may hear it rains quite a bit here in Oregon and in the Willamette Valley, but.... it averages about a third of the rainfall as my home town!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5w9dyFbsLm6MTNEYJDEbxgja3Hq2YNNPcFL5ZoCjDpZxeBDlh4H_h6MRxoNPuJHUjjm9z_tWAwCR-7jNysGV8pMhr-96gUJlns3qg0-b-3atNWaF0vB8gg6cgfgz4ryA5-J4Ab877kA/s320/IMG_7180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ketchikan Sneakers</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5w9dyFbsLm6MTNEYJDEbxgja3Hq2YNNPcFL5ZoCjDpZxeBDlh4H_h6MRxoNPuJHUjjm9z_tWAwCR-7jNysGV8pMhr-96gUJlns3qg0-b-3atNWaF0vB8gg6cgfgz4ryA5-J4Ab877kA/s1600/IMG_7180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I still find my boots to come in handy once in awhile. We had some pretty serious flooding not too long ago, I am pretty sure we even made the news.... I don't have t.v. so don't quote me on that one ;O)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sexy, aren't they! :O) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hope you enjoy my photos, I will check back later with my finds!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sandy</span><br />
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