Pain

Once again, my back has been killing me. Really, the pain never stops. I average, yes average an 8 on a scale of 1-10. I have good days, but really, my good days would be anyone else's "ouch, that's a bitch days".

Linda, apparently feeling awful hearing me wake up in the morning, squealing in pain just to turn over, had enough of it. She scheduled us both for a consultation at a chiropractor down the street from work. I was thinking, "Ok, free massage..."

Well, the guy was awesome! Not only was he knowledgeable but very personable. We hit it off immediately, but beyond that, I was still skeptical. He was still a quack chiro guy after all is said and done. The initial consult, which for me was extensive (Linda took 10 minutes), was thorough, and x-rays were taken.

We went back for those results today, and for our first adjustment/therapy session.

I was stunned. Apparently I have a broken vertebra. As he stated, it likely happened in my last major vehicle accident... 14 years ago!! That kinda injury doesn't heal without some help. It only gets worse, if untreated, for like 14 YEARS!!! I've had x-rays, and been to see people for my back before... never heard of anything being broken... BROKEN! Doctors are supposed to find this shit, and make it better!!

I have hopes that this new guy will do just that. I've been in pain for far too long, and I have so much life still left in me to just sit down and stop. Hopefully my next update will be that I'm feeling better and that my back is on the mend.

Final GTP - Levitate

I planned on a GTP... I have the song, and partially completed picture.

What escapes me are the words to truly convey to every single one of you, just how much you've lifted me up over the years. I've hit bottom... bounce a few times, settled in, and yet you found a way to... yes, levitate my spirit.

I love and appreciate you all, more than I can express in what little time we have left here, so I'll just say, THANK YOU!

Keep levitating!!

Picture Perfect - Grand Finale - Yesteryear

While I lost most of my saved photos recently, I was able to save some that I had used online, or kept elsewhere, but the one I won PP for, Urban Decay... I seem unable to find. :-(

I have always been sporadic with PP... I've been a part of it since Y360, I believe. It wasn't until much later that I was thrown in to the world of photography, thanks to a wonderful woman, and dear friend. Joining in this brought me to the MonoMonday Plus, and a favorite of mine, Gator's Triple Play. I think I've done more of those than I ever participated in PP.

One of my favorite shots ever was taken on one such shooting adventure... (my first of many...)

This was taken with my simple Kodak easy share point and shoot. I loved it, and I believe it was one of my first PP submissions.

More recently was my trip to San Diego with my son Logan. I love this statue, and the iconic image it's modeled from.

This was taken with the next evolution in my camera journey... a Fuji FinePix S700. A great camera that I used for 4 years, religiously. It survived falls, bumps, and dings... until the final fall/bump/ding.

Now this last one, I know I used for PP, and which one. Close to Home. I loved this one so much I actually had it done on canvas and it's hanging in Linda's house.

This was taken with my newest of cameras, a Sony a330 dslr. I love it!!

I have loved the journey with Picture Perfect, and the meeting of many of you. I only wish I could meet so many more... I thank the wonderful cast and crew of this wonderful adventure for always being so creative and thoughtful in choosing themes to challenge us, and your selfless administering of this site.

I look forward to seeing what the next chapter, in the next place, brings us...

Keep shooting!!

Cleveland's Fabulous Food show - November 9, 2012

I love food. To look at me is to see the truth in the statement. ;-)

I also love to cook food. Good food, not just tossing something on the grill and calling it a night. I love to create and learn techniques... I love to experiment with different flavors, and I seem to have a palate for this. I am far from professional, or even a home chef caliber, but the passion and love of it is all there. I am learning.

Part of this learning is going to food shows. It's not all about the stars you will see there (and you will see them), but also about seeing what's new in the industry, or seeing equipment from now old friends.

I love going up to the Ergo Chef guys like I've known them for years, and with a demeanor that THEY should know that I've bought their knives, or "like" them on Facebook... I'm a fan, dammit!! Acknowledge me!

I love going to places where I am not the only one expressing this passion of food, and food related products. My friend Jo, we've gone to the last two together, is one who loves it too. We oogle and drool over the Vitamix, and the knives (ok, that's just me). There are others there with a passion that may just exceed mine...

I give you Cupcake Lady, or upon closer inspection... Cupcake LAD! That's a passion for... cupcakes. ;-)

Even Mrs. Claus has a passion for food... and, well...

... as she put it, "Don't tell Mr. Claus about the vodka in the cup... All those kids, ya know!"

The artistry presented was amazing! Such wonderful talents and creative minds live in this world of food. I am impressed...

Yeah, it's Ohio State, but we ARE in Ohio afterall... :( (Look, they are projecting that they will beat Michigan this weekend...)

There were actual cupcakes there too... and they were yummy! (I had to have one!!) One was peanut butter chocolate, and the other was pumpkin spice with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Mmmmm...

And yes, there were stars there too... :D

I do love Anne Burrell. <3

And Guy Fieri making a lil drink. :D

It was a wonderful time, and a day packed full of fun, passion, and excitement. Can't wait until next year!

Not funny

I know this shit is real, but when I read things like this, I imagine in my head... real puppets. Like the Thunderbirds.

"We do not hide (the fact) that the revolutionary armed forces ... including the strategic rocket forces are keeping within the scope of strike not only the bases of the puppet forces and the U.S. imperialist aggression forces' bases in the inviolable land of Korea, but also Japan, Guam and the U.S. mainland," KCNA said.

"Puppet forces and the U.S. imperialist aggression forces..." That's the part that gets me. Who really says those things and is taken seriously? North Korea, evidently.

Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes: Columbus Step Out

Please help... I am a diabetic. My mother is a diabetic, I'd like to see my kids NOT be diabetics... this can be accomplished through education and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

The American Diabetes Association can help provide the needed education but only through the donations and funding it receives from us.

Anything you can do will help. $1, $10... even the $26, which represents the 26 million Americans with diabetes. If you can't afford to donate, then find a local walk event and raise what you can locally.

Walk with us, walk for us.

Click on the link above and it will take you directly to my donation page.

Thank you in advance.

Picture Perfect - Aglow

I haven't been out shooting much lately. I got the bug the other night that I wanted to catch something different... I haven't been to a cemetery since that warm Savannah night, so long ago. A lifetime ago, it seems. Linda was interested in see what kinda cool stuff we could find/capture... and with a full, Harvest moon on the rise, I was bound to catch something...

I found this to be AGLOW with a radiance all its own.

We didn't stay long... I snapped what I could and had to get out. I'm happy with what I got though.

Stop by and visit the other Picture Perfect submissions.

Camera	SONY
Model	DSLR-A330
ISO	800
Exposure	0.8 sec
Aperture	4.0
Focal Length	28mm
Flash Used	true