I Like Rainy Days

Why is it that it takes rain for me to appreciate the sun? Why is it that I have to be driven to my knees instead of joyfully falling to them? What is it in my makeup that needs me to be hit with a 2x4 across my forehead before I get it?

I see The Son on the darkest of days. I wish that I wasn't this way. I wish that I could praise God more when my life is "together", when things seem to be going well.

Mercy Me has a song out "Bring the Rain". The chorus sums up how I feel-

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I draw closer to God in these times. I know that God is working in me. I know that all things work for good for those who love Him. I pray that I will be a good witness in the storms that I am taken through. I pray that Grace and Joy will be seen by others as the rains shower my head.

I pray for joy. I pray for peace. But if it praises you and draws me closer then BRING the RAIN.

Strange Thoughts from a Strange Man

Look at the picture and then read my thoughts and tell me who you think needs to increase their meds.

Ever wonder about those people who spend $4.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one enjoys it?

There are three religious truths:
a. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
b. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.
c. Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.

If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me ....they're cramming for their final exam.

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? toothpicks?

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

My First Gig

Well I covered my first shoot yesterday afternoon. It was a first round game of the Sectional Playoffs for boys soccer. What a great experience. I left work and traveled about 40 min to an area of that I had never visited before. I passed a couple of BEAUTIFUL waterfalls. I wanted to stop and shoot them but being my first trip to this school I wanted to make sure that I got there on time. I will definitely go back and shoot these falls. The trees are in peak Autumn foliage and I was in awe of the beauty of the scenery that God blessed me with.

I finally arrived. However I was about five minutes late so I missed opening kickoff. The action of the game was great, a bit lop sided though. This made for easy shooting. I shot close to 400 frames. I was told by some big time pros (Sports Illustrated) that I communicate with via email to make sure that I "take too many" shots. You can't go back and capture a shot that you missed but you can delete the shots that you don't want.

After the game I went back to the office to upload some images. I let the veterans show me what was expected and they were impressed with my shots. We went through my data card and eliminated the obvious (Out of focus, redundant, ball not in shot, etc) bad shots. This left me with about 200 shots to post. I was a bit surprised at the "kill rate" but they insisted that that wasn't a bad rate. What do I know I'm the rookie.

After all the shots are loaded they are submitted to the editor. He chooses the "lead shot". The lead shot is the shot that they post on the main page with the story or caption. I was not happy with the shot that the editor chose as my lead shot. But again what do I know? I'm the rookie.It definitely isn't one of the better pictures of the bunch in my opinion. All the other shots are then loaded into the gallery for moms,dads,grandmothers, or girlfriends to order. I'm not too happy with how they post those either (Am I starting to whine?). They don't edit them at all.No cropping. No brightness/contrast adjustments. Nothing. That is only done when an order is places. So if mom wants a shot of little Johnie, the picture is cropped in on little Johnie after the order is placed. One of the photogs (that's photographerese for photographer) works on the production team and does edit his photos. So his shots are tightly cropped.He however doesn't have a family to tend to and so he can stay up until 3AM editing 300 shots.( I am definitely whining now)

Anyway, I had a great time shooting, a wonderful time driving through the beautiful Adirondacks, and an educating time seeing the behind the scenes of production. I have already been assigned to the semifinal tomorrow night. I am also covering Kristian's 1st round playoff game on Saturday.

If you are interested in viewing my shots go to NorthCountrySports.net

Here is an unrelated photo to share with you...

Is Anybody Out There?!?

My past several post have gotten little or no comments. While I don't post to get the comments, they are nice to get as a barometer of how the readers feel about what I am writing or do I have any readers at all. Please, if you read my Blog take a second to say "Hi!".

I'm a Pro!!!!

Well kinda. I'll explain. A couple of weeks ago Kristian came to me and said "Dad, you need to submit your sports photos to North Country Sports (a local sports newsgroup). Your pictures are so much better then theirs." I replied "oh yeah? What do you want?" Then this past weekend I was shooting Kristian's game and Liz made the comment that I should send them some of my work. Well, I did. I got a portfolio together and sent it to the owner on Monday. He called me at home last night and was impressed with my work and offered me a staff position. I get to work the games that fit my schedule and I can refuse any assignments if it conflicts the rest of my life. I have my first assignment today. I am covering a soccer playoff game. I'm so excited!!!

I Sure am Proud

I am proud of all of my children but I want to highlight Kristian briefly. Kristian is a Senior this year and has decided to try a couple of things that he has never done before.

I have NEVER thought of Kristian as a very artistically gifted person. However, He decided this year to give art a try. He is interested in marketing and felt that having some art background would help. WoW!! The boy can draw. He is amazing. He has already won a contest.

The second thing that Kristian did to surprise us was try out for the football team. Kristian is an athletic kid but he has never played football at ANY level before. He made the team and, while he doesn't see much game time, he has impressed the coaches and they all (Kristian included) wish that he would have played before because he would have been amazing. He got in during a close game against a rival school the other night and had a sack (for 15yrds) and a couple tackle assists.

It isn't the success that has made me proud but the fact that Kristian stepped out. He stepped out of his comfort zone and tried something new. Way to go Buddy!!!!

Loss of a GREAT Friend

I lost a GREAT friend Saturday night. My 13 y/o chocolate lab, Cocoa. We rescued him from the pound 10 years ago when we moved here. This is the first time that I have been able to write about this loss without crying. He was a very friendly dog. He never met a petting hand that he didn't like. He would beat you to death with his tail though. Cocoa had epilepsy and was unable to hunt with me. Oh what a great duck blind buddy he would have been. He slipped away quietly, Liz on one side of him, me on the other, with our arms draped over his body as he let go.
Cocoa will be missed as much as he was loved...dearly.

M R Ducks

Duck season opened last weekend here in Northern NY. I went out over the weekend and had a wonderful time. Bird hunting for me is as much about the time spent jawin' with friends as it is about bangin' birds.

You can't carry on in a tree stand like you can in a duck blind. We told jokes. laughed about missed shots. Busted on each others bad duck calling. But there are serious times in the blind as well. Several times I found myself in awe of the beauty that was being created by the brush in The Masters hand. The sun played off of the Autumn leaves in such magnificent color. I watched as a pair of ringneck ducks shot over the tree tops and checked out out blind. Their blue bills were visible from a hundred yards. We watched in amazement as a flock of 50-75 Canada geese dropped in from the stratosphere and landed right in the middle of my handcarved decoys. I am thankful that it was not goose season because we took the time to watch rather than shoot.

As the sun continued to drop behind the trees, the swamp seemed to spring to life. Giant blue herons circled overhead looking for a place to rest. A small green heron passed by gathered up a couple of his friends and slowly circled back by. Teal screamed by like fighter jets on a mission.

You can't beat a day in the marsh. An evening of fun and a life time of memories.

Mom and Dad are Gone

What a wonderful weekend we had with Mom and Dad. It was a short visit but very nice. They were able to see the boys play their game (both boys did a GREAT job!). After Kristian's game went to see Devon's charcoal drawing. He was VERY happy to have his Meme and Pop here to see his work.
Mackenzie and Devon went to Homecoming Saturday night. Kristian wanted to spend time with his Grandparents. They looked so good. Mackenzie is so beautiful and Devon is such a handsome young man. I was glad that Meme and Pop got to see them dressed up. Devon especially because he doesn't get too dressed up too often.
I really love having them visit and I miss them so much already.