Bingo Night

My friend from my mission, Sandie (Crook) Wetzel, invited Eric and I to join her and her husband at drag queen bingo night at a local baptist church. The bingo night event is hosted by the Matrons of Mayhem and held on the third Friday of the month. The money raised all goes to a charity.

We joined them and had such a freaking blast!! We laughed at the various jokes and other guests and comments from the queens. I will definitely be going again.

Unexpected Camera Upgrade!

My beloved Nikon D90 was broken by a little boy with a one in a million shot when throwing a toy. I took it in to be repaired a couple of weeks ago. It was still under warranty so I was expecting to get the camera fixed with no cost to me.

Well, I received a message that they were going to honor the warranty and replace the camera for me and I needed to come in an fill out some paper work.

When I was filling out the paper work, it was discovered that the store did not currently have a Nikon D90 in the store and I had three options: Wait three more weeks for a new on to be shipped in, drive out to Sandy and pick it up or upgrade the camera for an extra cost. Either way, I'd have to pay for a new warranty as the previous one was considered full filled when they are replacing it.

After a couple of days, considering my options, and a wonderful mother who insisted on giving me something (because she said that I never let her get me anything. She's right. I'm a bit too independent sometimes), we went in and picked up the upgraded camera.

Yay!!

So, meet my new camera: The Nikon D7000:

Yeah, I'm kind of in love with it. I'm a bit giddy and excited to put it to use.

Uncle Keith

My Grand Uncle Keith passed away this past week. I was sad to hear the news as he is my all time favorite grand uncle.
As I reflected on my memories of him I was happy that I have great ones. As I've gotten older, I haven't seen him as much as I did as a child.
The funeral was the single best funeral I have ever been to. It was exactly as a funeral should be: about the person who passed away....sharing happy, funny and sad memories. It left us all feeling that we had been in a presence of a truly great man all of our lives.
My second cousins shared the pulpit together and shared their stories and memories. Many stories I've heard before, but it's been so long I'd forgotten. I learned a lot about him and my grandfather (like: they were in the first group of the Utah National Guard.)
As a young girl I remember asking Uncle Keith about Pearl Harbor for a report. I didn't remember the details because I'd been a kid and that kind of thing didn't really sink in for someone my age. Now that I'm older, I see the significance of his experience.
He was the first person in 1940 to enroll in the navy from Utah. He was 17 years old. On December 7, he was stationed on the US Tennessee and he was on the harbor that morning, in training. He and his classmates had heard an explosion and assumed it was an oil tanker nearby and they went out of the front of the building. There was nothing there to indicate an explosion. Then they heard a second explosion and realized it was on the other side of the building...where the ships were. He and the others ran through the building and when they came out they saw the sky filled with planes.
My second cousin, Ken, said that my uncle never shared his emotions or many of the events that followed that moment. As it did for the entire United States, that day changed everything. That day changed my uncle's life...as it would.
When he came back to SLC, he married Aunt Velma.
After my cousins spoke, their kids shared their own experiences. My cousin Tom shared a poem that my uncle used to share. He'd had to memorize it as a kid as a punishment in school. I had forgotten all about it until Tom read it. And what I remembered is sitting at The Lake (Echo) around the camp fire while he told us the memorized poem:


The Little Orphan Annie
James Whitcomb Riley
Little Orphan Annie's come to my house to stay.
To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away.
To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep.
While all us other children, when the supper things is done,
we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun,
a listening to the witch tales that Annie tells about
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers,
and when he went to bed at night away up stairs,
his mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
and when they turned the covers down,
he wasn't there at all!
They searched him in the attic room
and cubby hole and press
and even up the chimney flu and every wheres, I guess,
but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned
and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin,
and once when there was company and old folks was there,
she mocked them and she shocked them and said, she didn't care.
And just as she turned on her heels and to go and run and hide,
there was two great big black things a standing by her side.
They snatched her through the ceiling fore she knew what shes about,
and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

When the night is dark and scary,
and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo,
you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,
and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears
and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,
or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!!

Those stinkin' goblins scared me to death! LOL!

What I remember about my Uncle Keith and Aunt Velma is that at the lake, we were always welcome at their fire, to roast their marshmallows, and chat with them about anything no matter how insignificant it would be for an adult to hear a child talk about their little lives.
I also remember going their house on Christmas and admiring their cookoo clock! I loved that clock!

Biggest Loser

On March 14, I joined several people I didn't know, in a biggest loser competition. I was invited by my friend Jessica (thanks, Jess) and thought that the $50 entry fee was pretty minor.
This wasn't going to be like a Weight Watchers program, where we meet to talk about the progress we're making. We'd be completely accountable to ourselves. We'd weigh in once a month, but that was it.
I was worried because, being self accountable hasn't produced the best results for me in the past, but this time would be different.
The first couple of months were slow as I couldn't decide how dedicated I was really going to be. I evaluated my eating and non existent workout habits. I made the list of why I wanted to lose weight.....but it wasn't enough. It was the same as always....lots of talk, but not enough action.
It's not like I don't know that I'm heavy; I've read and heard all the ways to lose weight permanently: it has to be long term. But who wants that!?
I'm a procrastinator....so time went by with not a lot of action on my part.
And then the moment of change came in a very embarrassing moment: In May Eric and I flew to LA for LA Rising concert and Six-Man. It was a lot of fun and I have wonderful memories.
On the way home, we flew on a smaller airplane. Eric and I didn't have seats by each other. My row had two seats. I always get a window seat because I am fully aware of my size and I am so careful not to spill over into the neighbor's seat.
When I found my seat, there was a lady sitting on the aisle seat. I took my seat and realized my seat belt wasn't big enough to fit around me. I had to ask for an extender and was mortified. While I was collecting and extender, the lady in the aisle seat was looking at the back of the plane making hand actions and mouthing words.
A few minutes later, she went to the back of the plane and an uber thin man came and took her seat. I could tell that he knew that I was fully aware of the reason she had swapped seats and he tried to soften it by telling me that her friend was back there and she'd wanted to sit next to her.
These two moments hit my heart to the deepest place and moved me to action.
In June, Eric and I began getting our fruits and vegetables from Bountiful Baskets (as I've mentioned on this blog before). I have loved trying new recipes, eating more fruits and vegetables, and eating healthier.
Fortunately for me, I have wonderful coworkers who are also taking their own journey to becoming permanently healthier. We have all been very supportive of each other. We walk during our breaks and bring healthy foods to work to share. But there's no pressure. You don't want to participate, all is well.
Our final weigh in for the Biggest Loser among new friends was this morning. I was a bit anxious to make sure that my own scale was accurate...and it was.
My final weight loss was: 19.1 pounds, which is 6.72% - Although I didn't place in the top 3 (which had winnings in the form of money attached) I placed sixth and I am very happy with how much better I feel!!!
Now to continue the journey!

Chance's 3rd Birthday Pictures

This year, Chance's birthday was celebrated at Sugarhouse Park with both of the families. It's always interesting to see the two families get together (a bit of a collision, really). Being a social person, myself, I never have a problem with either side. Thank goodness.

And if I DO have a problem with someone, the camera is a bit like a cigarette, in that I can always step out to "take pictures." LOL!

Here are the pictures I loved at Chance's birthday:
Alexis smiles at the camera:
Blowing out the candles:
Kirsten and Evan pose with Chance. It's nice that they get along:

Christina's Pregnancy Shots

In August I did two pregnancy photography sessions with a friend. Darren and Christina have been married for several years and this is their first child. In my eyes, they are a very stylish, sexy couple. I've never done this kind of photo shoot before, but when Christina asked, I decided to give it a try.

The first series was a lot more formal. Here are the ones i liked the most:

While Sandy and April were in town, Sandy and I did a second shoot with Christina and Darren. We took a more ethereal approach; then we went a more traditional approach on some of the shots: the ribbon around the belly, the heart around the belly button, etc.

We ended with a humorous approach: barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen: It was really fun thinking through poses, watching for lighting and doing what I love as my favorite hobby.