Blizzard ~ Nashville Style!!!!!

Sorry I’ve been gone a while.  I use Windows Live Writer as my bloggin’ tool of choice.  It makes uploading of text and photos so much easier.  Well, something happened over the last few weeks, and Live Writer decided to take a break.  I finally uninstalled and then re-loaded the program, and all seems well with the world!  Or at least it is in my little part of the world!

Nashville finally got our first blizzard of the year last week, if you can call it that.  When we get snow, the city just shuts down.  For people that live where, you know what I mean.  Shoot guys, we did not even get an 1/2 inch and the schools closed!  What’s up with that?

I did get out and play a while in it though.  And of course, you know I had my camera!  So, I hope you enjoy the snow, at least it’s all gone now! :)

 

We had a lunch date set up with some friends, so I asked Beth and RJ if they would be all right leaving early and getting some shots of the snow.  We came across some kids out sledding.  To me it looked as if they were “surfing on leaves” instead of snow.  All that matters is they had fun!

 

Just to show you how bad it was…Nashville had to bring in special snow tires for the trucks to run.  OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but I thought it made a cool shot!  I don’t think the animals had a problem though.

 

      

Well, I guess that’s it till the next “Nashville Blizzard”!!!

Have a nice day!

Blogger Labels: Blizzard,Nashville,photos

Family Portraits from Christmas 2009

 

 

This is of course, my wife Beth, my son RJ and me!

My sister and brother in law Jim.  Melissa has also had weight loss surgery, and has done tremendous!

My brother and his family!  Top right photo bottom row: Ashton and Ryan (my niece and nephew).  And then on the top row is Keith my brother and Marliss my SIL.

Now this is the “Maxwell Gang”.  Watch out, these guys might be the next “James Gang”!  Looking at the sepia colored photo, top row: Jim and Melissa (BIL and sister), then Lisa and Michael (nephew and his girlfriend/fiancé).  Bottom row is Tiffany and Trevor (my nephew and his girlfriend/fiancé), and one of Tiff’s daughters Tessa.  The other one is Tinslee (pink outfit in Mom’s arms).  Tinslee was getting a little tired and did not want to participate!  Which is understandable when you young!

My nephew Michael and his girlfriend/fiancé Lisa.  It seems we are waiting on a date to be set, and then she will not be his girlfriend anymore!  ♥♥♥

Now, let’s talk about these guys!  They are truly a hoot.  This is one of my sisters and her husband .  Sherry and David are nothing but fun, and I really enjoy the times we have together!

Last but not least is my nephew Trevor and his girlfriend/fiancé Tiffany.   Just like Michael and Lisa, we are waiting , and waiting, and…you get the idea! ♥♥♥  Tiffany’s 2 girls are really a beautiful addition to our family.  You can’t help but love both Tessa and Tinslee. I really like the top photo where Tinslee is sitting to herself and pouting! I have fallen for these girls hard.  Especially since they have given me a special nickname…

Uncle CooCoo! 

What’s even more coincidental is, Tiff’s dad is one of my best friends from High School!  What a small world!

 

The only family portrait I did not get was my Dad and Stepmom.  But that’s Ok, because I have several photos from Christmas Day that includes them.  And if you really want to see my stepmom, click here!

 

More photos to come shortly!

Wishing you and yours…

…a Very Merry Christmas from Bald Is Beautiful!

Christmas Support Groups and how I've spent the last two weeks!

For a long time on this blog, I’ve talked about support and what that means. Well, over the last 2 weeks, I’ve been reminded how lucky I am to have support. Throughout my journey of “extreme proportions”, I’ve met and befriended several people, not only here in Tennessee, but on the internet as well!

Over the last 2 weeks I’ve been busy. Busy gathering with family, friends, work and my support groups! Heck, there’s even two support group functions did not make this year! But through these gatherings, I’ve found friendships that not only have pulled me out of the darkest pits of depressions, but also allowed me to scream from the mountain tops how lucky I am!

I was noticing on the Obesity Help Boards the other day how someone from my own state was looking for support in her area. I found that odd, but then thought of my friends in Washington, California, and even Germany, who do not have the privilege and pleasure of meeting with people of like minds on a regular basis!

Anyway, my new hobby of photography has allowed me to capture these moments, and I thought I would share them with you. Sit back, grab a cup of java and enjoy!

Recovering Fatty Christmas Breakfast (RF06.com)

Obesity Help Dinner Club Christmas Party (OH TN. Forum)

Obesity Help Lunch Bunch Christmas Party (OH TN. Forum)

I have also put these photos to music, so turn up the volume, and enjoy Denver and the Mile High Orchestra!

I Heart Faces~Pet Challenge

I’ve only entered a couple of shots over at I ♥ FACES, but thoroughly enjoy them, and use all I’ve learned with my photography. If you’ve never checked the site out, stop what you're doing, put down that cup of coffee, and click your way over there right now…OK, I’m waiting. Just remember to come back when your done! LOL!

OK, now that your back, here’s my entry for this week:

This is my terroristic little one named Prissy!

Prissy is suppose to be a mix between a Chihuahua and a Shih Tzu. My thought is there is a little Doberman Pinscher mixed in as well. As rambunctious as this pup is, she can be just as sweet and loving!

Now Prissy is my entry for the week, but I also have to share the other one we have as well. This is Chi Chi. Notice how calm she is. These 2 are polar opposites. The nice thing, we love them and they are part of the family!

C Ya Next Time!

Fix-It-Friday - again!

Well it’s time for another Fix-It-Friday from I ♥ Faces.  Today’s challenge was a lot of fun, and I really like the results.

 

Here’s the original photo from Hotomom.  What a cute young lady!  Head on over and check out some of Hotomom’s photos.  She’s got a really cute family!

 

Now here’s my fix for this photo.

1) Opened the original and adjusted the exposure, added a little warmth, and rotated the photo in Lightroom 2.5.

2) From there, I went on to edit in Photoshop using an “Eye Pop” tutorial from Jessica Sprague.  I also used the healing brush to take away a few blemishes.

3)  At this point I went back to Lightroom 2.5 and used an adjustment brush to smooth the skin.

4) I also adjusted or added clarity, vibrancy and a post crop vignette in LR.

5) The scrapbook page was made for “Pink Lemonade” from Jessica Sprague also!

 

I really enjoy Fix-It-Friday.  It gives me an opportunity to practice new techniques and make the ones I know better.

I have a son, and he’s all boy!  When Beth was pregnant with RJ, I did nothing but buy girl clothes, but that’s another story for another day!

 

Halloween 2009

Well, it’s come and gone.  Now it’s time to skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas.  Can you believe the speed this year has?  It’s moving along like an out of control snowball rolling downhill toward the depths of Hades!!!!!!

Tradition is something that all families hold dear.  For us, heading to my Mom and Dad’s for Halloween is one of those traditions.  With RJ being older, I thought we were all but done with the idea of schlepping through the neighborhood dressed as who knows what, begging for candy!  Heaven knows, I don’t need candy in my house at this time!!!!!!!!

Well, as much as I thought we were finished, RJ decides that we need to go.  Not for him mind you, but so we would not hurt his grandmother’s feelings.  Every year, Mama Jo makes a big pot of chili, and RJ has loved it from the get go.  When we get there, Mama Jo ask if I brought my camera, then says, “Oh, wait minute, is your arm attached to your body?”  Kind of like the old proverbial question, “Does a bear @%$ in the woods?”  I can’t believe it, she wants me to take her picture!

For years, I’ve told everyone that my mother (and her 2 daughters) were witches.  No one would believe me.  Now I have proof!  Here she is, in all of her glory mixing a cauldron of potions!    You got to have at least one ghost picture on Halloween! 

RJ said he was to old for the ritualistic begging of candy!  Those were his exact words…”ritualistic begging:.  When did my boy grow up?  Anyway, when Mama Jo gave him a bag of “seed candy”, he was off to the races.  Heck, she even gave him a Jeff Gordon football jersey to wear for his costume.  It was funny, I was taking pictures and the neighbor boy came over for his candy.  RJ asked if I was ready, and I told him no, I was staying here taking photos.  The neighbor Dad told him to come on, he could go with them.  RJ said he now understood what it was like having a younger brother.  He then politely  but firmly said “DON’T WANT ONE!”

Now, I believe this is one of the best pictures I have taken of my mother.  She looks as if she is in her element (dressed for the part and all!)  But there is a reason, she has never asked me to take her picture before… 

And this is it….

Sorry Mama Jo, I couldn’t resist dragging out an oldie but goodie!