Thank you Amy Zellmer for your patience with my fussy cat!

Final 4 party is tomorrow. The basement is
finished, just waiting on a couple of prints
to arrive today.

Got word from Canon yesterday that my old
work horse, Canon 10D, is repaired, cleaned
and on it’s way. I still love that camera!
It’s a fabulous back up camera and vacation
camera…I seriously love it.
And “no.” I’m not going to marry it.

It is so cold here in my house this morning.
Furnace is set to 68 but it’s 61. CRAZY!!!
So why is it that in like March when it’s 60
we run around outside in t-shirts and shorts
and today, in my home I’m wrapped up like an
eskimo and I have to continually re-heat my
coffee? BRRRR!

I tried to wrap some gifts last night while
Gary was watching the Cowboy’s vs the Ravens
but Boo had other plans. It’s seriously like having
a child…I’ll have to wait until he is napping!

I am going ice skating with Owen today.
I’m very excited. He’s been taking lessons!

I think that Jo has decided to come up here
tomorrow…maybe Tuesday. Both Albert Lea and
here have been getting dumped on simultaneously
the past few days so 35W is quite treacherous!
I’ll feel better having her drive up tomorrow.

Stay indoors if you can!

I’ve missed the last couple of programs for
TCPPA so I’m excited to go and see everyone!
Did I mention that I’m going to be a board
member in 2009? Yep, I decided to step it up
and get more involved. This is terrific
organization and these are some magnificent
people not to mention fabulous photogs!
Tonight will be fun!

Gary got home around 3 yesterday. He’d been
gone since Wednesday. He’ll travel out one
last time in early January…I think.

Boo missed Gary. It’s always fun to watch them
reunite after he’s been gone. This poor cat is
going to have a difficult time when we are both
away this winter…Yikes! I already feel bad
about leaving him. :\

Today is an anniversary for some new friends
of mine. This will undoubtedly be a tough one
for Kelly and Jeff. One year ago today, they
lost their little girl Aliah. I was the
photographer that responded to their loss
last year for NILMDTS. Pray for this family
as they gather with friends and family today
to remember Aliah.

Just 23 days until the big New Years Eve event
at the Airport MOA Hilton for the MOMF!
This is one big bash! I hope that if you don’t
already have plans that you will plan to join
me on New Years Eve for this money raising,
gift giving, family friendly night of CRAZY FUN!

Have a great Monday!
Oh, one more thing…

I’m officially done Christmas shopping as
of today. YAY! Well, that doesn’t necessarily
mean that I won’t shop more, I’m just done with
all the required gift buying!
Now it’s onto the fun stuff..ME!

Let’s see, I already got myself the flip video
camera which I am aDORing! But I think that’s
what everyone should do, just go out and get
themsELVES a little somthin’ somthin’ and call
it a day…I think that’s why the word “elves”
is in “themselves”..hmmmmmmmmm~ good one!

I’m posting a video that I shot with my flip.
It’s Boo and his first Christmas tree experience.

A teeeeeeny bit more snow overnight.
Not enough to shovel or plow but it
does add a fresh layer of white to
everything…pretty, really.

When Gary is gone, Boo gets crazy.
Gary is an early riser…me? not so much.
So this means that in the weeee hours
Boo gets bored. That’s when things
get interesting. First a lovely kiss
on the lips….yes, the lips (a terrific
exfoliating process for those dry winter
lips!). Then, when that’s not working he
gets a little more daring and paws at my
back~now I’ve had my lips done and a back
massage! I warn you, however, that this is
NOT programmable so don’t run right out and
get a cat just yet! I got lucky.
On to strategy #3…Boo leaps up on to the
headboard where he will locate anything
left there (remote, votive, phone, back
scratcher) and proceed to paw at it until
it topples and crashes on to my head.
It’s true what they say…”Third time’s the
charm.” ‘cuz that usually does it for me.
One day, I think he will figure it out and
go right for the remote! He’s mighty bright.

Today, I am on call for NILMDTS. Pray that
I don’t get any calls….that would be lovely!

I’m shooting an engagement session this afternoon
in the Uptown area and it’s a little chilly
today so I’m sure we’ll be venturing indoors
rather quickly.

HUGE news….my flip arrived yesterday!
Funny thing about shipping is if you ask for
2-3day shipping, it costs more but you get it in
2-3 days. If you order ground 5-7 days (less
expensive, you get it in 3 days…Niiiiiiiice!
I’m excited to start using it….poor Boo & Gary!

Getting together with the MOFAS folks again today.
They want to involve me in their “Hill Day” in
January so we are going to discuss what this
organization can effectively do to gain the State’s
interest and support in their fight to educate
the public about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome!
More to come on that subject, the date and my
involvement.

NACE event last night at the Bloomington Sheraton.
Always a great time. I won more stuff in the raffle
(no hotel stay) and bid on some really cool gift
baskets..I’m enjoying the coffee from Starbucks
right now and last night lit a bunch of candles
that rest on this glass (looks like ice) tray from
Crate & Barrel…um, do they have clothing at
Crate & Barrel? Cuz it’s just the beginning of
December and I already feel like a barrel could
be my next outfit!

Hey..thanks for reading…I promise to post photos
soon of all that’s been going on.

I’m planning some snow photos for some folks
for Christmas cards so this is cool.

Gary took off for South Dakota….aGAIN!.
So I’m in for some peace and quiet.
I have a ton going on over the next several
days. Tonight, my NACE Holiday gathering.
Tomorrow a MOFAS meeting, an engagement session
and I’m also on call for NILMDTS. Friday, a
snowy Christmas card session for Owen and Reese
and 3 cancer families checking in at the Hilton.
Then 2 days of R&R.

Gary managed to get the tree up before he left
but now it’s up to me to get the lights on
and place ornaments in places that Boo can’t
reach!

The tree skirt. A nostalgic Christmas artifact
that’s been in my family since 1981. A latch
hook that we all worked on. Every year I would
take it out and Katie would curl up on it right
away and stay there until i put it away.
Boo has decided that this will be his spot.

The drive home was much quicker with no rain.
Boo slept almost the entire way on top of
Gary’s sweatshirt in the passenger footwell.
The gray, dreary sky, cruise control set,
Boo sleeping and the wine from last night
made me a sleepy driver but, nonetheless, I
stayed alert and made it home safe and sound.
I dropped off Boo and all my stuff that I
brought along (Jo gifted me with a lot of things
as well), grabbed my camera and got back into
traffic and headed to the Hilton. Owen was
coming back for a second Minnesota Miracle
weekend. He and his family had a scheduled
MM back in April but Owen was just not up for
it so that weekend was cut short. The foundation
decided that they needed another crack at it
so this was the weekend. This one I covered
solo. The family requested that because they
had already experienced a MM recently that it
was not necessary to re-gift them with all the
usual things like balloons, gifts in the room,
Underwater World passes, Nickelodeon Universe
passes, VISAs, cameras, etc…BUT…we just
wouldn’t have it any other way! So up to the
room I went with them to get my usual “secret
photos” and with hugs all around I was on my
way..another wonderful family being gifted
with a weekend to forget about cancer…or at
the very least, be distracted from it!

Back into the traffic…it’s so dark now at 5:30!
I followed the sea of red tail lights home.
No stopping, just get home, into my jammies and
sit with my Boo.

Here are some shots from Boo’s excellent adventure.

Wiper blades were a HUGE hit!

“…Excuse me officer, but I don’t recall
there ever being a law against taking photos
while driving.”

Jo’s wheel chair was also a HUGE hit!

I brought Jo a stocking for her to have
at our house ‘cuz she’ll be with us for
Chrtistmas.

Lizzy let Boo on the sofa, but just for a bit!

Boo decide to make himself at home.

And before you knew it, we were on our
way back to Eden Prairie.

Thanks for all the hospitality Jo!
Please thank Flora and Lizzy for us too!

Tonight I’m going with Ron and Cindy to
the Timberwolves game!

Gary comes home tomorrow.

We did the official introduction of the cats and frankly,
they did pretty well. Mostly a little hissing but no big
blow outs.

Jo and I hopped in my car and headed to the grocery
store, hit the liquor store and ran back to her place
to be certain that the cats didn’t kill one another.
They were just fine. With that hurdle over, we got back
in the car and grabbed a bite at Applebee’s down the
road. I just love that “fiesta lime chicken”! Crazy good.

Boo has been a VERy good camper…he has settled in
and loves Jo and her place. He would like to be better
friends with Lizzy & Flora but…well, it’s a territory thing.
Boo is very aware of his boundaries and is accommodating
their needs. Daddy would be very proud.

Jo and I talked about everything…laughed about
everything and photographed everything.
We talked into the weeeee hours and knew that
tomorrow I would be heading back to EP

She’ll come up to Msp for Thanksgiving and
again for Christmas.

Jo is the new black.

I’ll post images tomorrow….

Boo, on the other hand, is doing great so we
got to rule out bad cat food, which was nice!

Tonight I’m going to visit all my PUG friends
at our local PUG meeting..I haven’t been in ages.
Looking forward to that. For those of you new
readers, PUG stands for “Pictage Users Group”
and they meet once a month all over the nation.
Pictage is an online partner for viewing,
buying and selling images. The photographer
uploads all of the images, clients and their
families get to view and purchase directly from
the site and Pictage does the rest. Nice.

Blog Action Day is Wednesday, October 15th.
This year’s topic is “Poverty”. I’m sure that
when they selected the topic, way back when,
they had no idea how much more poverty would
exist…here in America. Click on the Blog
Action icon to the right and get more information.

Thursday I get to meet Sylvia Weinstock. I’m so
excited. I love cake, I love to photograph
wedding cake…what could be better? I get to
meet her personally, do the photo op thing
and have a little private time too. I’ll be
sure to share images from that as well.

Oh, I also have a secret that I cannot reveal
until Wednesday. But I’m just BURSTING!
Oh, and mom? NOT pregnant! tee hee.

One last thing…I believe that today will be
the day that my new site will go live.
It’s not all FLASHY or anything..just fresh and new.
Tons of new photos. I hope you like it.

This day is going to be good.

This morning I discovered him in the living room
laying on his back just like Hobie use to.

I’ve never seen another cat lay like this so
I just had to go over and give him a big ‘ol
squeeze.

Okay, back to work.

Melissa’s Sr. portraits. Drop off a CD at the
House of Fun & Fur. See Cory (Web designer) and
Get to the darn Bank!!! Bills…oh, and pick up
some laundry detergent so I can begin to work
on the PILE of laundry!