May 11th ...

Today is September 28th ... so, it has been a while between blog entries. Oh, not that a few things haven't happened.

Enjoyed a wonderful trip to see Jonathan and Summer -- and Emerald, Penelope, and Anna in North Carolina. One of the best memories I have ... We had an absolutely lovely time.

Found out I had Diabetes-II and have been working on that to get blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, eyesight, etc. -- within normal ranges. (Thanks to modern medicine and a somewhat altered diet that has been happening. Thankfully).

Enjoyed a very hot summer... well, kinda. Actually, I prefer cold and rainy. That's why we live in the Great North-Wet.

Went to Vegas to shoot wedding photos for Shavonne and Joshua. Also enjoyed shooting wedding photos for Leesa and Kevin in Portland and here. We had fun shooting the temple wedding for Heidi Vance and her husband Tyler Anderson. And, we just did a wonderful wedding last week with Liz and Will at the Rose Garden at Point Defiance Park and over at the Union Station with all the beautiful Chihuly glasswork there.

I bought some new lenses and camera this year and I think the results are amazing. May have to post a few here so you can see them.

Have enjoyed the fair this year. I am about "sconed" out. We bought a pass so we can go anytime we want. May have to make a stop this afternoon to say "good-bye". LOL!

Work has been good at West Coast Entertainment. Thankfully, people are still partying and calling us.

I have been working as an "ambassador" with the Tacoma Chamber. That gives me some community exposure and satisfies my need to be involved in something other than self. I'm going to do more of that this year.

Looking forward to Ashlyn's baptism in a few weeks and of course, the big Disneyland Trip for Jeannette's birthday on Halloween. That is going to be a kick!

OK. I'm off to shoot a family session with my good friend's daughter and her family at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. Should be fun.

Waiting ...

... to leave work on a Monday afternoon. Drive home from West Seattle should be agonizingly slow -- because it is sunny out. (As opposed to when it is agonizingly slow because it is raining.) Those seem to be my two choices.

Just spent the weekend in Washougal, WA. I have never been there before -- but I do like saying "Washougal" ... sounds like a car horn. "wa-shoo-gul" -- very cool.

We were at BMX course on Saturday-Sunday for son-in-law Drew's mini-Baja competition. Little school -- Western -- took on some of the top engineering programs in the country -- and out of 100 schools Western came out #5 over-all. It was a lot of fun to watch!

Their little Baja race car ran very well and when it broke they patched it up. Last fix was with duct tape -- the real man's tool. I knew they were out of options then. Ha! But it held together.

More later ... gotta get fortified for the trek home.

:) Dana

Once again ...

It has been a while since I've been on my blog. Seems like I think about it -- but keeping a daily journal just isn't something I can do. Or rather, want to invest much of my life's energy into doing.

I joined Facebook a while ago. Still haven't got the hang of it ... but I do like to read everyone's latest comings and goings.

So, here's a brief synopsis of my life the last little while.

Found out I have diabetes.
So, changed lifestyle. (Eating more fruit and veggies, counting carbs as well as calories, taking medicines, losing weight, ya-da-ya-da. Get used to sticking myself in the finger every morning and sometimes at night, look at nutritional info on EVERYTHING I eat. Yup. Fun and games all the time. I am like a giant chem lab experiment.)

Dad has been in hospital and the nursing care facility. He may be headed to long-term assisted living facility this week. I swear he looks better than I do.

Realized I couldn't see anything -- so now have new glasses. Real glasses. Not my $1 Dollar Store reading glasses. Sheesh! These things are expensive. But amazing how much I wasn't seeing.

Still busy with West Coast Entertainment. Selling like crazy. Still. I love it! I just keep pestering people. LOL!

Helped with Opera. Did some news releases. Took photos. I liked it. Paul Bryan got me involved.

OK.

So, had a few things going on.,

Oh yeah ... and I finished my taxes. Whoopee! That is always a burden. I'm thankful for Turbo Tax. Yes indeed-ee!

Sayonara.

:) Dana

Rainier Family Opera ...

Rainier Family Opera Presents Selections from “Carmen”, “La Bohème”, and “Tender Land”


Come join us!!!


The Rainier Family Opera will present selections from “Carmen”, “La Bohème” and “Tender Land” on March 20th and March 21st as part of their on-going mission to create sophisticated, family-friendly productions for audiences in Pierce County.

The March 20th presentation will be at the First Lutheran Church in Tacoma at 524 South “I” Street. On March 21st, the production will move to the Puyallup High School auditorium at 105 7th Street SW in Puyallup. The performances will start at 7:00 pm. Suggested donations are: $10 per person or $25 per family.

The musical selections from these three operas will provide first-time opera visitors – as well as more experience audience members -- an opportunity to enjoy these popular opera classics.

To help the audience members better understand the works, there will be an on-stage educational presentation to explain the scenes and the musical performances.

“Carmen” is one of the world’s most performed operas. Set in Seville, Spain in 1830, it features Carmen, a beautiful Gypsy with a fiery temper. “La Bohème” essentially focuses on the love between a seamstress called Mimi and the poet, Rodolfo. And, “Tender Land” has melodies that are charming and folksy. It is set in the American Heartland on a farm in the Midwest during the Great Depression.

Cast members include: Nathan Barnes, Ryan Bede, Grant Drees, Erin Guinup, Katie Hochman, Dave Holden, Laura Loge, Holly Mesarch, Marci Morrell, Greg Sojka, Ainsley Soutiere, Amy Stagno, Nancy Vancil, Denes VanParys, and children from the Tahoma Choirs.

More information is available at: www.rainierfamilyopera.blogspot.com

This is the second major presentation by the Rainier Family Opera which began last year with four objectives: 1) to create a concert season consisting of opera scenes and full operas; 2) to be involved in community outreach and school concerts; 3) to provide opera educational programs to encourage audiences to attend other area opera productions; and 4) to cast and utilize local artists.

Been a while ...

... I was having some symptoms of disease that were concerning me quite a bit. So, for the first time in about 7 years I went to the doctor. Turns out I have diabetes. Yesterday, 4,000 other US Citizens found out they have the same disease.

I am NOT thrilled to have this. But I am taking my pills and checking my blood daily now. Started on a new eating plan with Nancy, a new exercise program ... and hopefully will lose some weight and get this under control.

Thanks for any prayers you can send our way.

:) Dana

Been a while ...

I just wrote a brilliantly funny political commentary about Barrack Husein Obama and his cram-down economic plan.

It was very FUNNY!

Unfortunately, I hit the erase button by mistake.

Sheesh! Getting old is a lot tougher than I thought.

Now, I'm too tuckered out to re-write it.

Maybe tomorrow.

:) Dana

Been A While ...

Was on my own for about 35 days ... and that led to some bad habits. Way too much McDonald's ... way too much couch-potato time ... way too many Hershey bars. Sigh! And now it's over. LOL!

I am staggered by how much Obama has rammed down our throats so far, mainly by executive order. (I don't think he has a very good idea where he is going to put the Gitmo terrorists who want to slit your throats. Maybe he can work on that a bit.)

And, where does he find these people who cheat on their taxes that he wants to appoint? Is that what they do in Chicago? Find someone who is very dirty and make them a politician? (Oops -- Excuse me for stating the obvious.)

It caused me to write to my senators -- Mary Cant-do-well and Patty Murray -- or is it Sandy Murphy ... or ... Arthur Murray. I can never remember their names. Between the two of them, you might have enough powerful intelligence to light up one of those curly-cue phosphorescent 40-watt light bulbs. Maybe ... given time ... well, not really. I was just trying to be kind ...

So, I told them what I wanted -- they told me what they were going to do. Yup, if you think they work for you -- you are VERY wrong.

Welcome to America, Comrades!