Christmas 2005!

Christmas Eve Party!


**note the homemade ham biscuits, the literal VAT of cocktail style shrimp and the smiling faces all around!!**




**awesome shot of Q and Pa-paw!**


**W walked up to me with the mask on and said in his adorable little voice
"Aunt To'sina....I a BATman!" It was SOOOO cute!


Christmas Day!


**the boys all anxiously awaiting the handing out of the gifts!"







At The Skating Center the Next Day




"The Girls!



Home Again




**all holiday'd out!**


It was a wonderful holiday filled with family and food and laughter! I have the best fam in the world and I'm SO thankful for it!

Alright, Already!

The Singles Mixer

The main reason I attended was because it was stressed in the email invitation that you should bring business cards to hand out. So I thought, well, it's a Saturday night and I can sit home and work or I can get out and try to meet some people. So, I gussied-up a bit (not too much, mind you) and headed out.

It was a typical bar scene, but with the added awarenesss that everyone there was quite unattached, adding a certain hint of intrigue to the atmosphere. There were mostly women in their 40's-50's with secretary's spread and way too much makeup and men in their 40's-50's with paunches and 80's style facial hair. There were a few younger and a few older folks all sprinkled throughout. I did recognize one person I was accquainted with and spoke with him for a while. I mingled a bit, handed out a few cards, fended off a few advances and then eventually took a seat at the bar and sipped a coke and watched the bar room drama unfold.

Although I arrived only shortly after the event began, there was at least one fellow who'd obviously already quaffed a few. He was 40ish, had pretty-boy hair and was probably the handsomest fellow in the place. He was very aware of that fact. It really tickled me to see that by the end of the evening he was slow dancing with a cigarette-and-whiskey voiced lady in too tight jeans. The pickins were slim, but after a few drinks, I guess he thought she was lookin' good in them tight jeans, leathery face or no! Funny stuff.

And then there was a tall 50ish lady, all dolled up in a silky blouse with a fur lined collar, sipping Cosmopoiltans and loudly whispering derogatory comments about all of the other women, as she minced about in her ultra high heels. She was a hoot!

Of course, there's always something amusing to see on the dance floor. It's amazing how very cool people think they look when they dance. Especially when alcohol is involved. Now, being a wedding photographer, I have become somewhat immune to the inherent humor of drunken dance floor antics. But, I had to smile at the short, rotund fellow swiveling his hips to the beat and spicing it up with the occasional, saucy clap of his hands above his head. Call me mean, but that is just really funny to watch!

Well, I could go on, but my lunch break is over and I must get back to work. I'm pretty swamped.

Tat-ta, all!

Iced In

I've lost 12 lbs!!!

Of course the Fred Flintstonesque hunk of Prime Rib I consumed last night while dining out with the folks probably wasn't within the boundaries of my allowable caorie intake for the day. But it was SOOOO worth it. And I'm comfortably back on the dieting wagon again, now. I feel pretty certain that I can lose another 12lbs by the middle of January. Man it feels good to be working out and slimming down! :0)

I am currently trapped at my folks' house by inclement weather. Driving in the snow holds no special fear for me. ICE, is the problem. I will NOT drive in the ice if I do not HAVE to. So my 2 appointments today were rescheduled and I'm sitting here bored.Thought I would share my boredom with you all, heh-heh.

On the cyber-dating front, things are pretty quiet. I have spoken to several men on the phone and the callers have run the gamut from poor redneck to rich snob; from ultra sensitive man to rough and ready guy. I've encoutered everything from men who are "searching for a lifelong soulmate" to guys "just lookin for a chick to ho around with" (I'm paraphrasing here, but barely). I've been asked out a few times, but declined all offers, so far. You know, I'm not looking for perfect, here, just somewhat normal would be a nice start, though. *sigh*

I hunted on Tuesday, but didn't have any luck. Yesterday, Em brought the boys over and we ate lunch together and then played all afternoon. They are so cute and so adorably funny!!
Q is developing quite a strong artistic bent and we drew a zillion crayon pictures together. W is SUCH a mess! That little personality is just SO fun to watch!

I had 2 sessions planned while I was in town, but one cancelled and the other, now that it's done, looks like a non-paying affair. I think I do way too many of those, sometimes.

Well, I guess I'd better go and get a workout. Time to start burning off last night's indulgences.

Have a great day!

ICE!!!!!!!!

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Few Words, a Few Pics

The last couple of days have been very productive. Between work-outs, website rennovations, bridal portrait proofing, house reorganizing, etc., I'm a little drained. It feels good, though.

Yesterday was my first meeting with my Little Buddy. That's how the Big Brothers, Big Sisters people refer to the child with which they match you. I'm not an official "Big Sister", at this point. I'm beginning this at the Buddy level, meaning I spend one hour per week with my Little Buddy during school hours. This poor little girl with whom I've been matched is so in need of someone to spend time with her.She was so closed when we first started talikng. By the end of an hour, and with the help of hand puppets, she was opening up and showing little glimmers of her personality.

Having never done anything like this before, I really felt like a fish out of water. Upon leaving the school, I decided it might be a good idea to study up on child psychology. I'm only there to be a "role model" or "mentor", not a counselor. But I need to know what I'm dealing with and how to approach my time with her to make the most of it. I would appreciate any prayers and advice that anyone might like to offer up for me and my Buddy. ;0)

I've been chowing down on the venison sausage this week. It's very lean and I wrapped it in small (lower calorie *SIGH*) portions for freezing. I've had deer and eggs (well, egg) and cream chipped deer and Mexican deer omelets and the list goes on and on (don't worry, I throw a little roughage in there, too!). It's cheap, it's lean, it's tasty and I'm realizing more and more, VERY versatile. This is my 5th day of dieting and the venison has really helped me stick with it.

And now, to liven up this most desperately boring blog, I offer a bit of eye candy.

Highlights from Q's 5th B-day
















Have a good day, everyone!

A T-day, a B-day and online dating

I'm back!

Thanksgiving was wonderful, as always! Excellent food, prepared by the folks. Wonderful conversation around the table. Hunting prior to the meal and creme de menthe following it. AAAHHHHH!

I must pause here to issue an official statement of apology to Dy. For the first time ever, I didn't capture a single image of the Thanksgiving table, all brimming over with food. No pics! SORRY!! And after you made an official request for pics and toasted my family over your meal, too (hanging my head in shame, here).

As a small consulation I offer for your viewing pleasure our annual family photo( I know, I know , it's not food but it's all I've got, LOL!)





Saturday was Q's big B-day bash. He was SO cute! His little expressions as he was opening his gifts were just priceless. And of course all of the other little kids were gathered tightly around him with the wonderful, unaffected joy and curiosity of preschoolers. It was so fun to watch!!

There was quite a crowd of young'uns there ranging from about 18mos to 14 yrs old. They danced and skated and played in the FunZone and ate pizza and cake and candy (from the really cute bug-themed treat bags that Em had prepared for each little guest). I had a great time playing music and taking pictures! I'll post the images soon.

From Thurs-Monday, I spent chunks of each day in the woods. I didn't kill a single thing, but it felt SO good to get out there and reconnect with nature. I was soooo close to bagging a nice doe, but she just wouldn't come out of the thick underbrush far enough for me to get a clean shot. Wow, does a situation like that send the adrenaline pumping through your veins! It felt good.

Well, here's the other big thing going on with me, right now. I joined an online "match-making" service. That's right! I initially went on it, just messing around. It's free and completely anonymous so I thought, hey why not see what's out there? Then I began receiving ALL of these cyber winks and messages from local single men. Who appear, at least, to be "quality" singles. And I'm ready to make some new friends. So, I may eventually end up doing some dating. This terrifies me, slightly. You see, it's one thing for a someone to see a nice professional portrait of you and think you're attractive. It's quite another to meet them in person---no flattering poses or glamorous lighting!

Therefore. I am dieting for ALL I'm worth! LOL! I know, I know. It's pretty sad that it takes the thought of dating again to really light a fire under me concerning my appearance. But, there it is. If that's what it takes to make me get back into shape, so be it.

Well, I need to get back to work. Lots to do. Trying to stay busy so as not to think about the hunger pains. ;0)