lifestyle changes

For some reason I feel like I should be writing, perhaps only because it’s been months since I have last written.  My excuses are not even that there’s nothing to say, or even that there’s too much to convey.  More simply, that I haven’t bothered to write; my discipline has been spent elsewhere. For a time, when we first moved to Arizona, I dedicated myself to writing and to my photography. Later, towards the New Year, I dedicated myself to healthy habits; mainly – eating better and getting into the habit of exercising.

Magic and Joy

So the pictures I had printed are now on my wall, looking great, I might add.  The pictures of my cousin’s (now) bride getting ready for the wedding turned out pretty great, not amazing, but then I’m a solid photographer, not an amazing one.  And to top it off, I just finished a photography book!

"Operation: Gallery Wall Project" Underway

Received multiple pictures in the mail yesterday, just normal random family pictures (a few of the puppies), mostly ones I've taken.  All meant to fill empty frames we've had around for months.  Now that we own a house we’re finally putting up lots of things that have been waiting around for a long time just to be displayed.  The pictures arrived and they happily looked as good as or better in print than they did on the monitor. 

Empty Arms

“Why do you think it’s cute?  You don’t have kids.”  Easily some of the most unintentionally hurtful words I've heard directed at me about my lack of children…

New Projects

Moving to Arizona put a hold on so many things for me – the hardest being my photography.  It’s been months since I've really sat down and processed any pictures and longer since I’d sent any to be printed, or even taken any pictures.  Months since I've thought about any of the projects I had planned.  Yet for the past couple weeks I've been anxious to get started.  Why hadn't I?  This, that, or the other.  Mainly because we weren't quite settled yet, so there were (and still are) so many chores, little things that need to be done.  Today, I’m chomping at the bit to be able to set up my computer and monitor and have at it.

Holding Pattern

Jeep not ours, front slightly unfinished.

Owning a house and being in Arizona is awesome, I love it.  Those are the two big changes that have happened in my life over the past few months.  I’m in my sixth week of permanently working from home, and I love that too.  It’s just, I almost feel like I’m in a holding pattern, despite the fact that we've gotten so much accomplished.

Ten Years

Ten years ago today I never thought, never expected, never once imagined, that I’d be able to look forward instead of backward in time.  Ten years ago today, this evening to be more precise, my world was torn apart.  It had begun long before that moment, but the final strand snapped that night.  In the years since, I've spent every 20^th and 28^th of May pondering how it could have all gone so wrong and wondering despite everything I know, if I could have done something, anything to change the end result, and knowing nothing I did or said would have changed anything at all.