Proofing done! Chicago here I come!

This time of year is so busy for me. Wedding after wedding, shoot after shoot. It's never-ending. I love actually going out and photographing and I love coming home and post-processing on my computer, but I really don't like the time it takes me to post-process. Man oh man oh man. So while I have been down one computer and online a ton less, I'm still attached to my other computer as I proof away. I pushed myself incredibly hard this week finishing up 2 weddings. One I proofed over 1,000 photos (yes, that many), and the other, being just a reception, I proofed about 500. I figured I spent about 50 hours thus far this week post-processing. I've learned this week that I am not charging enough for the time I put in to my work. ((sigh)) At least I enjoy it. Now if I could only figure out how to balance that time between home/kids and work. (As I work I always am thinking "how do those other women do it?". I wish they would tell me.)

The good news is that tomorrow morning we're packing the kids in the car and heading to Chicago for a long weekend. Saturday, my beloved Johanna, is assisting me in photographing 6 shoots. All downtown Chicago!! How incredible it that?! I'm very much looking forward to this experience. It's something I have always wanted to do, and now unbelievably I am! The day is suppose to be gorgeously perfect and I think (no, I know) Jo and I are going to have an amazing time.

The rest of the time I am spending it solely with my family. Neil and the kids will be with me. We have no plans. We like to go places without plans and do everything spur-of-the-moment. That's a true vacation, when there is no thought processing involved!, for us. We've talked about the Chicago Children' Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo again, we don't know. But it's Chicago, and where we stay each time we're up there, we're within walking distance to everything. So we have the Windy City right at our fingers :c)

So with that said, I'll see you all Tuesday! We are coming home late Monday. Hope you have a great weekend. Think of me Saturday and send me energized thoughts as I have a feeling come lunch I will be exhausted. I'm shooting till 7:00. Yeah, I'll be tired.This is where I'm shooting. And maybe here where Buckingham Fountain resides. (Katie, yes we would LOVE lunch!! Thank you for the offer -- incredibly thoughtful.)

Here's a peak into the last two weddings. More, as always, can be seen at my other blog or flickr.








p.s. I haven't received my new laptop yet. I'm thinking if I don't, it's actually probably a good thing. It means I won't have a computer to take with me and I can't work on anything photo-wise no matter what. What will I do with my time after the kids go to bed? Talk to hubby? Read a book? Watch Joel on The Soup? Watch the Ferris Wheel turn with it's beautiful lights at Navy Pier from the balcony? All sounds heavenly. ((happy sigh))

And I forgot I had this one. Myself in action doing that photo up there. (Wanting to draw an arrow right now to that picture.) Heather shot it. She's so funny. It's kinda fun, though, to see what I look like. One thing I learned by seeing this picture is that I won't be wearing that dress again. It looks like a Moo Moo. Ha :c)

macs are a sickness.

I just spent $3100 on a new computer. Thinking of all the money I have spent over the years on macs makes me feel sick, but at the same time, it's probably a sickness that makes me buy another one. It's a vicious vicious cycle. As they say, "once you go mac, you don't go back". Yup, it's true. But my stomach still hurts from the files I lost and the money I just forked out which make me feel even more ill.

At least the sun is shining, tomorrow is Tuesday and we leave for Chicago on Thursday. Things could definitely be worse, and now that I've lost files 3 times in the past 6 years, I'm taking it much better each time one decides to die on me. (Way to think positive, eh?!)

Happy Memorial Day. I know the week is going to get better.

(added: Question of the day -- why do you keep buying macs? Answers are in the comments. I should have made it a post. Thanks, Jenn, for asking. It got me to thinkin'!)

Worst Memorial Day. Ever.

It has not even been a year that this last happened to me. Is it even possible?! (Apparently so.)

While working on my desktop Mac doing some proofing, I also had open my macbook trying to open up a slideshow, when suddenly my computer (macbook) went still. (For mac users, you know that twirly rainbow circle? It just kept going and going and I wasn't even able to click on the blue apple or any program at all.) I restarted it and now it won't even turn on. Well, I take that back. There is a flashing folder with a "?" mark inside of it. Same exact sort of deal as my desktop a year ago. Remember me posting about that? Yeah, I remember that, too.

I'm beyond upset. This may be my 5th (FIFTH!) mac in 7 years. Is that possible?! Mac is going to hear from me. Not that they'll listen, but I thought these computers were suppose to be reliable?! Not any of the ones Val gets her hands on. This is horrible. Horrible!

Now the rest of the day I will be sick to my stomach thinking about all I lost. And tomorrow it's a drive to the "mac authorized repair shop" to pay for them to tell me that I lost everything.

I'm doing 6 shoots in Chicago this weekend. I have to have a laptop. I'm going to order one today and hope it arrives by Thursday. Ho-hum, another mac. I hate perfect ingenious technology. I hate macs. (Harsh word, I know, but I can't think of a better one right now.)

Hair catastrophe . . . with a happy ending

Before:


Our hair event went fine. I never imagined it would, but it did. I also prayed a lot going into it :c)

First of all, I was so scared Maia would fall asleep on our 30 minute drive to the hair place, but I was able to keep her awake. Falling asleep would mean a very cranky uncooperative child when we got there, as most of you can relate.

Then I was afraid Maia would not sit in the chair. My darling Heather went with us, and Maia wanted to sit on her lap. That worked out well and I am being completely honest when I say that my child did not move an inch. She sat there like a princess completely still, moving her head in the directions Kim asked her to, everything.

My 2-year old was a princess! I still can't hardly believe it because I was going into it pretty negatively thinking it would be a total waste of time. It was all good. I couldn't have been more proud of her!!

Going into the cut, Kim said, "what's more important to you? Keeping the length even or the length itself?" I thought about it for a second and said "probably the length itself".

I honestly did not want it cut up to her ears. She was born with long hair and I wanted it to stay long. It was hard for me to imagine her with short hair. Neil was actually more against her having short hair than I was. I think he was frightened he'd come home and she'd look like a boy. (He's out in Salt Lake City right now.) He kept saying "please let Kim decide what's best". He didn't trust me!! (ha!)

I honestly never imagined Kim could cut it, allow it to stay long and it still look decent. While it's definitely far from perfect because there's just no way to perfect the way Noah chopped her hair without cutting it all the way off, Kim did do a great job just making it look presentable. It's still noticeably got some chunks missing, but at least I can still put barrettes in it and pony tails. (All that really matters right?!) I am soooo very thankful for that. And I know it's "just hair" but at the same time "it's hair". I love hair, I love Maia's hair, hair expresses (I believe) so much. I just wasn't taking any of this hair ordeal very well.

I got a few snaps at the salon along with a before and after. Here's a before and here's an after!


You can see the salon ones and a few others here.

Thank you for the support with the emails and phone calls in relation to the hair catastrophe. It definitely had a good ending.

<3 Love Thursday <3

I'm thrilled! One of my favorite websites ever has featured one of my photographs for their "Love Thursday" feature photo section!!


I love love love Shutter Sisters as they are so inspiring to me every single day. Not just with the photographs themselves but also with the words that are written along with them. Every picture tells a story. But those stories always come alive once told in words.

I hope you take a moment to hop on over and check them out and stop by my Love Thursday. I will force you to go see what picture made it by not posting that picture here! (hehe) Give me a shout out while visiting and then come back here and tell me what you think. I'm so happy with the picture they chose. It's so very neat. I feel oh-so-special and warm and fuzzy :c)

Thank you, dear Shutter Sisters, it's a huge honor!

(p.s. Totally off-topic here, but I have to say this, YAYYYYY, David Cook won!!)

WW ~ A Place Like Heaven

This shot is extra special because it's not only a part of Wordless Wednesday, but also a part of It's 4 The Kids, an organization that my friend, Michelle B. began. Michelle is an amazing writer and artist. She has an incredible gift of illustration. You can see some of her work here, here, and here is a book she is publishing called Macy-Sue LaRue.

Anyway, this is by no means a sales pitch for her, but a shout out to her for her artistic gifts that I really adore. And these gifts are going to gift so many, specifically sick children with cancer.

Michelle's inspiration for all this began with a total stranger . . . Julian . . . "King Julian" they call him. Julian was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma during this 3rd year of life and just a few months ago Julian earned his wings in Heaven at the age of 4-1/2. He fought hard. And it was Julian who inspired Michelle so much that she had people all over the world aware of the situation and praying for Julian. He was such a fighter and such a beautiful little boy. No child deserves to go through what he did. Instead of just watching these little people fight for their innocent lives, we must do something to help them. And we can! We can raise money to fight the fight against pediatric cancer. And because of Michelle, this is more possible than ever.

(Take time to read about Julian's fight here and his descent with wings here and here.)

At It's 4 The Kids, we can make a difference. Artists from all over are selling their artwork, either at a set price or as a donation. I am one of those selling the photo above. I don't have a price on it. It's purely a donation cost, and 75% of it will go towards It's 4 The Kids. Please donate. Please please please.


Here's a little about how 4 The Kids came about. I hope you check it out. I urge you to check it out. This organization is so strong on her heart, as it is mine. Because of Michelle's passion for Julian and all other children suffering, she has made a huge impact on people like myself. Please allow her to make an impact on you. Visit It's 4 The Kids. Let's make a difference.

If you are an artist and would like to donate artwork, please contact Michelle at It's 4 The Kids.

Prelude to the final cut

We moved my mom and dad into their new house on Sunday. Neil and dad worked incredibly hard. What strong boys they are! :c) This adorable (I'm biased) picture is of my kiddies posing in the new kitchen. They love it at Grandma L and Grandpa B's new house. And Noah always reminds me that it's "right next to TARGET!". (And I say, "yes, I know, Noah...") I have a few other pictures, but I just had to share this one right now because it shows Maia with her cute ponies just 2 days ago. Say "bye, bye" to those ponies and her long pretty locks.

I got a call from my friend/hair stylist, Kim, this morning after my frantic email to her last night. She's going into her shop tomorrow for me. . .she is on maternity leave, however she feels my pain! She has a boy and a new baby girl. One day this might be Dawson and Ava! (I hope not for Kim's sake!)

Tomorrow Maia's beautiful hair will probably be all the way gone. I am not sure what Kim will do. My heart fills will tiny bits of pain when I think about it because there's one section that is way up about an inch from the scalp of her head. If Kim were to evenly cut it all the way around, she's have a boy hair cut. (wahhhh!!) I don't know what Kim will do to make this look okay. Think of us tomorrow around noon. We need some prayers that this mommy will make it through without crying and that Maia will sit still for the hair cut itself. It should be an interesting day. I'm already dreading it. Someone may have to drive me home.


Here's just one section where he cut it. It's different lengths like this cut all the way around her head. I can't disguise it because it really does look like Edward Scissorhands began something and didn't finish. Maia wouldn't let me take anymore pictures than this one . . .

Gone today, gone tomorrow.

Well, it happened.

I was sitting 10 minutes ago in my office working. I thought Neil was watching the kids. Boy was I wrong.

Maia comes into my office saying "mommy, Noah cut my hair!". Yep, it's cut. Yep, I lost it. Yep, I can't stop crying.

I know this happens to every little girl with hair at some point. But it was her brother, almost 5, who did it. HE KNOWS BETTER. And he KNEW he had done wrong because he was hiding under a blanket. I'm beside myself. And I absolutely totally know it's not the end of the world. I know that. But you know how long Maia's hair was and tomorrow it's going to have be all cut off. Tomorrow it's going to be all gone. And it just makes me sick to my stomach. So sick.

Make me feel better while I go cry some more. No amount of Matt Damon or Joel McHale is going to make this mommy feel better. I just need some hugs and some tissues passed to me please. And lots of them.

And I thought my Informant adventures were over . . .

I thought I was done with anything Informant-wise even though they were to continue filming at the courthouse in Decatur on Saturday morning. My personal "informant" called me Friday to tell me. But I had a wedding reception which I was shooting at 5:00, so I decided I didn't want to spend my entire day in Decatur just waiting in hopes of seeing someone famous. Not that waiting isn't fun, because it's one of the biggest thrills I've ever personally experienced. Maybe that says how completely boring my life is, I don't know? But still, I've really really enjoyed the past week of celebrity watching like hugely.

So I still left my house at 3:30 to meet my bestie (a.k.a. my wedding assistant), Heather, at her house before we went on to the reception. Of course on my way to Heather's I had to stop for some coffee at Starbucks. That stop really threw off my next plan. Pure craziness, I tell ya.

While sitting in Starbucks drive-thru, I see a big tour bus.
I knew it belonged to someone in the Informant. Not sure who, but I had seen it on location at the shoots. So what do I do but follow the crazy thing. It ends up downtown where they were filming at the courthouse and there I see tons of huge tents set up and all the same trailers and trucks that were there on Tuesday.
So I called Heather and told her I wasn't coming to her house, asking her to please meet me downtown because I had some other important business. (hehe)

I park my car and just walk up to the tents. There are no other fans or "regular" people there but me and two other women. I see these two women standing near two men who appeared to be looking at a paper and talking.
I walk up closer and realize it is Mr. Steve Soderbergh and Gregory Jacobs. They look up, see me, see that I have a camera and ask if I wanted a picture. I was thinking "um, yeah!", but said, "yes, please!". One of the two women standing there said "I was next!" really snottily. Hmph! Well, I'm sorry but, the nice man asked me himself! It's not like I was budging in line. Of course I let them go ahead. Mr. Soderbergh and Mr. Jacobs obviously intended to stick around for a picture for me. . . and they most certainly did! I asked some bystander to take the picture, which was a total risk, but I felt it was worth it :c) And so here it is . . .

Steve Soderbergh (to my right) who is the director (and who has also won an Oscar and has directed all the Ocean's movies, Traffic, to name a few). And then on my left is Gregory Jacobs who is the producer and was the producer for all the same movies, Erin Brokovich and so many others. This moment was almost as big as Matt Damon . . . possibly bigger . . . well, maybe not? :c) Here's Mr. Director doing some taping himself:

He also signed my book for me. Heather called me a 5-letter "b" word for this one because more than anything this is what she wanted. Even though I love her, she'll have to wrestle me for it. :c)


I then decide to just wait around. In the meantime, Heather is on her way and just about there. She makes it in time to see Scott Bakula from afar and Matt Damon before he leaves. Here's Matt with a group of young girls. He really like the children which is really awesome. Doesn't he look adorable from the back?? :c)
At least I got to see him one final time in person.

A few minutes later Mr. McHale comes out. He comes over to see us. Only a few of us there. A total flirt he was and so adorable. I think he is my new boyfriend :c) He asked why I was so dressed up and I said because I was about to go photograph a wedding. So he signed my book and here's what he wrote (mine's on the left):

Which was much better than what he wrote to this chick (on the right). I even got a "'heart' Joel" on mine. :c)
He squeezes me. Yep, he's my new boyfriend.
Heather and Joel.

What a fantasy brought to life all of that was. It really was incredible. I wish more of my friends could have been there with me, really truly. But now it's time to get back to reality. The crew of the Informant are now on their way to Springfield, IL for 2 days of taping and then on to Hawaii (Oahu, actually) to finish. What a great way to end filming, eh?! The actual movie comes out next March. I absolutely cannot wait, and even if the premiere isn't here, you can guarantee I'll be going to the movies in a red carpet dress anyways.

Thanks for sharing in this adventure with me. I've loved the enthusiasm you've all had for me . . . with me. :c) Now back to my life.

(You can see more of my pictures from yesterday at my flickr account.)

Putting Matt aside for a moment . . .

Some exciting stuff happened yesterday in this toddler potty-training home.

Maia went all day in her big girl underwear with NO accidents! Poo and pee all in the POTTY! I can just (not) hear it now . . . no more "cha-chings" at the cash register buying diapers!!!

I thought potty training was hard with Noah; he wanted to do it when he was ready and that seemed to take for-EVER. For Maia it's been back and forth, back and forth. And that's been tiring, hard and just frustrating. But what we did was stop buying diapers all together (minus night-times) so it's not even an option and suddenly, suddenly (!) she wants to be a "big girl"!! Night time is another story, but I know we'll get there. At least there is hope. 5 years with diapers and I may may may actually be done (knock-on-wood)!! WOW. :c)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Noah is a tiny bit sick. He isn't "acting" sick but he's been infected (very very mildly) with the Chicken Pox! (He thinks a rooster pecked him in the night!) Yes, he's had the vaccine, but there's always still the chance you can get whatever it is. And he did. Actually, most of his school has. I knew it was just a matter of time before we got it here. He has 6 spots. And he's doing fine. He can go back to school on Wednesday, pending there are no more outbreaks on him, just in time for his field trip to the zoo which his mommy is excited about :c)

Back to Matt. Susan, from WBNQ in Bloomington (101.5) has a blog and apparently she has been tracking Matt as well. She's got some great info and great pictures! And I read there that George Clooney is coming to town this weekend. (Really?! Seriously?? Oh please please!) I have a reception that I'm shooting downtown, and not till 5:00 . . . Heather and I may be doing some stalking beforehand! (It's not like we have anything better to do!) And I also read that the cute body guard who I have a few (dozen) pictures of, his name is Mark. And apparently Mark is normally Will Smith's body guard. Kinda. . . exciting :)

Off to work . . . lots of proofing to do. Check out VWC Photography's blog for the latest! (That is, if I can ever get anything done. Matt is all-consuming. He needs to leave town soon so I can get back to my REAL work!)

Informant fun facts (and observations)

Holy cow! I can't believe all the visitors to my site the last 24 hours. It's funny how it's all getting passed around, but then again, Matt is the Sexiest Man Alive. Too bad he didn't look like this on Tuesday:



I found that I've been linked by a Matt Damon Column, which is why I'm getting all this traffic. Kinda fun, eh? Welcome to all of you from the Matt Damon Column and to those I've seen referred to me through Google images and Google blog search! It's not normally that interesting around here unless you're looking for photography pointers :c) Thanks for stopping by and I'd love it if you commented and told me you were here.

Here are some personal observations from the two days among other facts:

• Joel McHale is actually quite cute, very goofy and as tall as Neil. He reminds me A LOT of Neil, but Joel is a little more "expressive"!
• Matt Damon is as cute as I imagined him to be, maybe even a bit cuter. But that may also be because he touched me and he has nice hands :)
• Matt Damon is very gracious. He took out loads of time for each person waiting to see him. He signed autographs, had his picture taken over and over, even took time to joke around. He spent extra time with those people with young kids and handicapped folks. It was about 40 minutes that he stood signing autographs and having pictures taken. (That's amazing.)
• Matt Damon's crew is very cute :c)
• Matt's wife is very very pretty. She is Argentine and according to my friend, Jo, the owner of It's a Girl Thing, she speaks to Isabella in both languages (is it Spanish or Portuguese?). It reminds me of my friend, Beth, who husband is from Brazil and they speak to their son in both languages. It's pretty awesome.
• I didn't know who Scott Bakula was at all until I overhead someone say he was on Quantum Leap. Then I remembered! I think my mom and dad watched that show! :c) Was it good?
• Hollywood spends a lot of money to put on a movie. For instance, I know that they "leased" the entire parking lot of the Decatur Club for their equipment and vehicles. They also had to pay the city to have extra security, to block streets, to use buildings, to rent parking spaces, to take city things down (like parking meters), etc. They also paid residents of Decatur $75 an hour to use their cars. They also paid the "extras", and I'm assuming even if they didn't actually work because they had to stand around all day long. And all that, of course, is on top of the actual props, all the crew (I would guess 50-ish crew members), and of course the actors.
• Hollywood people are like you and me. Luciana had on flats, jeans and a tee. Crew members wore Nike's and jeans. It's nice to see.
• Matt really likes Starbucks. This was the 2nd time I saw him with Starbucks coffee.
• Matt does not have as much security as I thought he would. He always had at least a driver and a body guard in the car. When he got out of the car, the body guard never followed him. Police weren't around him; just at certain "spots". Scott and Joel never had security with them - that I saw.
• they actually say "cut" and "that's a rap!". They also say "Rolling!!".
• Luciana knows what the sex of the new baby that she is carrying is. And the only other person in the city of Decatur that appears to know, other than Matt, is Jo, the owner of It's a Girl Thing. Luciana bought clothes for the new baby and she made Jo swear she would not breath a word what the sex of the baby is. And she's not! HOW COOL IS THAT?!
• My father-in-law worked for the same company as Mark Whitacre and was an executive at the time as well. I just found out last night by my husband's mom that the FBI came to their house for questioning. Kinda cool. It's especially cool because Neil's dad had nothing to do with the price-fixing. Phew!
• Neil works with Kirk Schmidt who is being played in the movie by Eddie Jemison (he was in all the Ocean's movies). Eddie looks nothing like Kirk which is pretty funny.
• I also learned that i could very easily become one of the paparazzi. I would do it in a heartbeat, actually. I really enjoyed snapping pictures of these people. I enjoyed the excitement and thrill. I totally understand why people do it for the money!! I'm now considering moving to California :c)
• Matt and the crew really like to eat at Bijou and The Beach House.
• I also just learned that they're going to Hawaii next for some taping for the show (not sure why?). That would be a great way to end traveling to Decatur, I suppose ;)

The big question of the day is . . . will the premiere of the movie be in Decatur?!?!

My 2-day Matt Damon journey

I'm still on this huge high! It almost doesn't seem real that I saw all the filming that I did and that my determination paid off with getting to see and meet a huge celebrity. Wow, what an AMAZING moment.

Here's a little bit more about the movie and the characters in it. A really big lineup of celebrities!

This taken from cinematical.com:

"There have been some questions raised about the accuracy of Kurt Eichenwald's account of Mark Whitacre and ADM, but whatever might be the truth, The Informant should make for a pretty darned entertaining drama. Imagine a man who becomes the highest-level whistleblower in US history, switches sides to work for the FBI for three years, defrauds his company, lies, and ultimately reveals that he suffers from bipolar disorder.

Paul Greengrass' film already has Matt Damon signed on to play Whitacre, and now The Hollywood Reporter posts that more cast have hopped onboard -- all of which, surprisingly, have notable comedic work. The new players are: Scott Bakula, Joel McHale (The Soup), Mike O'Malley (Yes, Dear), Andrew Daly (Semi-Pro), Adam Paul (Hollywood Residential), Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men), and "comedian-actors" Tom Wilson, Rick Overton, and Tom Papa.

If you think this looks like more comedy than could possibly be coincidental, you'd be right. A source told THR that Soderbergh wants the thriller to have "dark comedy elements. He chose comedic actors who haven't been overexposed on film, planning to have them play their roles seriously and have a humorous tone emerge naturally."

Bakula and McHale play FBI agents working with agri-business insider Mark Whitacre (Damon) to stop a price-fixing scam. Eddie Jemison plays Kirk Schmidt, a guy my husband, Neil, works with! It's crazy in a really cool way!

{ I took down the slide show because it was just slowing things down here. You can still see all pictures at my flickr. }

Mission Accomplished: Matt & Meaty Style

Welp, I did it. I'm burnt and red as a tomato and tired as a dog. But, I can't go to bed without posting these.




Full story with 200 pics tomorrow.


Goodnight from one very happy girl. :c)

Matt Damon Day 1

I'm off again this morning to see a taping of Matt Damon's filming of The Informant. I am a little obsessed I suppose but it's more like determined. He is in my town for 2 weeks! I am determined to see him, take a picture of him and possibly meet him! I must.

On a spur of a moment last night because of 2 phone calls I received from two of my personal informants (hehe), I went from yoga pants and t-shirt to a a presentable me in 10 minutes. I got Maia in the car (Noah had t-ball practice) and rushed to pick up mom and we headed to "the" special location. They were right on the money because the (huge!) crew was there and a crowd of people had started. We made it from the very beginning to very end of filming! It was very very cool. I got as many pictures as I could (they are very strict about pictures during filming) and stayed till they said the infamous words "that's a wrap!". Seriously, it was way cool.

Today my hopes are to actually get close to Matt Damon and take some pictures of HIM. Possibly meet him. I mean, he's in town for 2 weeks. I MUST meet him. I am so determined. Wish me luck!!!!

..Trail Mix..photography style..

There rarely seems to be a day where you don't find me looking like this:


. . . with a camera attached to me somewhere on my body. So here's what I've been doing on those days . . .

* Alexis and I had the best time ever Thursday night. Robbies, drinks, push-up bras and Matt Damon . . . not much can get better than that! (She should have a post on this soon - she took pictures - I didn't!)

* My mom and dad closed on their new house a few weeks ago. It's such a perfect home for them. I have more pictures of it but am not sure if mom wants me to let you see it yet? But here is a cute pic of mom and the kids the day they closed on the house, sitting on the steps of the breezeway . . .

Congratulations, mom and dad! We're so happy for you!

* This weekend we help mom and dad move their furniture in! I'm sure someone will document it . . . me?

* My wedding was wonderful. We had a such a great time. Mom, Heather and I stayed at a $60 hotel which was quite entertaining doing so. The bride, my cousin, was beautiful! Everything about the day was just perfect. I'm so happy I was able to be such a large part of it.

* I'm exhausted from the wedding. Driving 7 hours, going to bed late, getting up early, being on my feet all day long and running around non-stop is tiring! Yesterday was the best Mother's Day ever because I slept all day and did absolutely nothing. Neil fixed me a wonderful steak dinner and the kids were good to me. It was great! I actually didn't pick up my camera once!

* Right now I'm drinking some coffee and wishing it were stronger because I just can't wake up. I have an espresso machine but don't know how to use it. Go figure. Still haven't picked up my camera today. After I post this, I will be, though. Time to proof some pics . . .

* Tomorrow, Tuesday, I have an all-day date with MATT DAMON! ;-) Camera will be literally attached to my hand!!
Okay, fine, I'm obsessed!

* Last weekend my great friend, Jen, and her daughter, Addison, visited from Mississippi. Here's a couple favorite pictures from their stay. There are tons more at flickr. This is Addison's set. You probably have to be registered to view them? There are 100 or so!


I call this one "Baby Dolls":


A very funny spontaneous moment I happened to catch!:


"Just Like Mommy":


* Last week was a beautiful week with temps in the 70's. The kids and I had some really fun afternoons. Here are a couple faves from the past week. As I've said before, many more at flickr (this is the May 2008 set- you may need to be registered to view them all since 2/3's of them are "private") and will continue to be all week. I hope to proof my newborn session this week, the session I did with Addison and also my wedding. So much going on!



* Happy Mother's Day to my friends and family who are moms. Even those who are moms to furry friends. We know how they become a part of our family just as if they were our own children. Hope your day was fantastic. We all deserve it. :c)

Matt Damon . . . here??!

Never in a million years would anyone think that Decatur, Illinois could be famous for anything but Firestone (remember the recall?) and ADM's smog. But this week they are famous for Matt Damon. He is in town shooting a movie . . . in Decatur, Illinois . . . my hometown . . . it's pretty crazy. My friend, Vickie, knows a girl who is an "extra". And this morning I received all kinds of pictures from his shoot this week. He was downtown shooting a "snow scene" at an old Firestone tire shop that I've driven by a million times.

Remember the Ice Storm of 2006 and the apartment our family stayed in for 9 days? Well, that building back there behind Matt (I mean, "Mark Whitacre"), over his left shoulder, is where we lived.








Oh, why is he here? He is in a movie by Warner Brothers called "The Informant" based on the book "The Informant" which is about a man named Mark Whitacre, who was a top executive for ADM, my father-in-law and husband's company. Mark was an informant for the US Government for price-fixing in other big companies and in turn ended up being caught as a price-fixer himself. Boy, was he in trouble. He went to prison, blah blah blah . . . this was a big big thing. Not only because he committed a major crime, but also because he lived in a small farm town of 1800 people. This was BIG NEWS for our area.

Now, as you can see, it's turning into a movie and Matt Damon is the star. Sorta unreal, eh?

One of the craziest things of all is that Alexis happens to be in town this week and tonight she and I are heading downtown to "our" place for dinner. That is, if we even go to dinner. We know where he's staying, we both have our cameras, do you really think we'll go eat? Hmmmm . . . maybe ;c) So tonight should be interesting and fun and exciting and hopefully we're lucky and run into Matt . . . I mean, Mr. Whitacre :c) And we're going to ADM also . . . hmmmm . . . maybe we'll see him there? He is to still tape there . . . hmmmm. . . .

Oh my goodness, I am such a complete freak (as Alexis would say) :c) That's okay . . . gotta make the most of the exciting parts of life, right? :c)

Here's some more pics . . .





Update: I posted more info in the comment section!

Shelby

A Dog's Prayer

Treat me kindly, my beloved master
for no heart in all the world
is more grateful for kindness
than the loving heart of me.


Do not break my spirit with a stick,
for though I should lick your hand between blows,
your patience and understanding
will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music,
as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when
your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.


When it is cold and wet, please take me inside....
for I am now a domesticated animal. No longer used to bitter elements...
and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting
at your feet beside the hearth...
though had you no home in all the land...for you are my god...
and I am your devoted worshipper.


Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although
I should not reproach you were it dry,
I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.


Feed me clean food, that I may stay well to romp and play
and do your bidding, to walk by you side,
and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life,
should your life be in danger.


And beloved master, should the Great Master see fit
to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you.
Rather, hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands
grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest...
and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I draw,
my fate was ever safest in your hands.


My mom did one of the hardest things a human being can do. She chose selflessly to put our family dog, Shelby, down today. Shelby like many of our dogs, was a best friend. She was mom's best friend. She literally stood by her through some of the hardest times of her life even through today. Mom said the hardest thing she has ever done was put Shelby down. After 17 years, her body was wearing down. She could no longer see, could not hear well, and most likely had unbeatable health issues. Today was hard for me just knowing mom was doing it. I prayed as often as I could. I didn't want mom to feel alone, even though I did tell her I would go with her. But she wanted to be alone. Anyway, I can't ramble on because it makes me cry harder. But I can't just let Shelby go. She's been in my life for many years, too. I still remember the day we brought her home. My brother and friend, Kara, were with us. Shelby was the runt and Shelby just picked us. What an amazing little white ball of fur she was. I will miss her desperately, but I know my mom will miss her ever so much more. Please keep mom in your prayers. Letting go of a pet is not an easy thing to do . . .

Thank you, Shelby, for being the best "sister" I could ask for.

Shelby was always a good helper. Here is mom with Shelby by her side helping her plant flowers one spring :c) She was always always by mom's side. And she forever will be . . .