I’m going to hit the gym and then run down
to Children’s to photograph a homecoming session.
Danza’s twin sister, Joely Joy passed away
at Children’s in early January but Danza
has been a real fighter and is now ready to go
home and start her life. So exciting.
Thanks Chris Slater for switching around your
appointment with me so that I can fulfill a
request by this family.

Rusty is so funny. At night, when I put him
in the office he sticks his paw out from under
the door and rattles the door back and forth
just like Hobie did when he was a kitten.
It’s pretty funny! Then in the morning when
I let him out he stops and it’s like he doesn’t
know where to go first..again…funny.
I have to get a video recorder!

I actually have a pretty big hair day today so
I’m going to get rolling.

Nicki, are you ready for the city tour this
weekend!? I’m so excited!

I’m finishing up the Martin wedding today and
will have their proofs online in the next couple
of days.

Rusty had a big day out of the office yesterday
and has discovered new worlds beyond that door!

He still gets put in there from time to time and
sleeps there as well…he’s doing great but Hobie
and Katie are continuing their campaign to have
him ousted.

We had a lovely day yesterday…no rain!
The Austin’s came here for a yummy mixed grill
and mimosas! Gary is the grill master around here!

Then we each took a little nap and watched the
Players Championship at Sawgrass….pretty exciting
really. Sergio Garcia pulled off the victory in
a playoff.

Anne called and invited us to dinner at Outback.
Gary held down the porch and I went to meet them.
We laughed so hard and for so long I got sweaty!
Good times. Fun stories. Fond memories and great
food…Thanks Baker’s & Mom for a bonus end to a
Fabulous day!

Well, another Monday with lots to do.

Today, Danza, the twin sister of a baby
girl who passed away early January is
having surgery. She’s having a gastrostomy
feeding tube put in her stomach today (kind
of like Hobie’s PEG tube)
and then can finally go home.
This is a family that I served with NILMDTS
and they have requested that I join them
for the homecoming. How awesome it that!!!
I’ll keep you posted on Danza’s journey.

okay…check THIS out!

The Honorable Norm Coleman
United States Senate
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-2303
Re: For Photographers – Opens the Floodgates to Unauthorized Use

Dear Senator Coleman:

As a constituent, a photographer and a small business owner, I am writing to express my grave concern about The Orphan Works Act of 2008, as written in H.R.5889 and S.2913. I strongly oppose this legislation and cannot emphasize how devastating this will be to my business and to thousands of small business owners around the country if enacted in its current form.

First, I would like to make clear that I am not opposed to the use of orphan works by the cultural heritage sector for noncommercial purposes, or by museums and libraries for preservation and education. But this legislation, which is written so broadly, makes no limitations for these purposes, and instead, dangerously exposes my images to infringements while stripping me of any practical means to protect my work.

As a professional photographer, my work is my life.
My photos are reflections of my work. I love what I do and I currently have the protection of copyright.
I cannot imagine the loss I would incur if the Orphan Works
took hold. Please vote against this bill.

This legislation is the single worst development in the history of our medium and profession. I ask you to consider the very real harm this bill can do to existing businesses. Please vote against this bill unless it is amended to precisely define an orphan work as a copyright no longer managed by a rights holder.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit my concerns to you on the proposed Orphan Works legislation.

Sincerely,

Susan Austin

oh and lastly….

Rusty is staying in the office for now
with the door closed so that Katie & Hobie
can know of his presence, just not see him.
Then in a few days I’ll open the door and
“expose” the little darling through a gate.
This is what the experts all say is the
best way to introduce a new pet to the
existing ones.

Oh, and just so you don’t think that Gary
is against this…When I finally came to
bed last night, Gary had Rusty up in the bed
with him and he wanted him to sleep with us.
That lasted about 10 minutes!
He is just too cute.

I have way too much work to catch up on.
I have to go…..Here are some random shots
from the weekend…

Today I will attend the rehearsal for
this weeks event at Mystic Lake Casino.

Can I just say that it’s nice to have
Gary back home! I missed him this time.
Most times when he heads out on a trip,
I look forward to the quite…I mean,
sure I miss him and all but this time
it just felt different somehow. Guess
I’ll share that with him later today.

Hey, I did have some fun though and I
got so wrapped up in things yesterday
that I forgot to post these photos of
Saturday with the Bakers!

Emily insisted that we go outside for a
mini portrait session. So we did.
It was about 40 degrees and incredibly
windy so mini & quick!

Then we ran inside and grabbed a kitten
to warm up with!

Amanda got into the action too!

Then Anne thought it would be funny
to stuff them into my boots..UGG is right!

Back to work.

How could you POSSibly hide from these two…

Going to Excelsior to meet with Nicki.
It’s rainy so I told her that I was going to
wear my “wellies” and so we are both going
to sport our rain boots today. A pretty
good day for them and besides, Gary is not
such a fan of my fun boots but every time
I wear them, I get gobbs of compliments!

Did dinner (breakfast) at the Baker’s last night.
Then we had to race over to my mom’s cuz
Anne’s satellites were out due to the weather
and she can’t miss Survivor so I let Ben
drive my car (he’s still training~takes his
test this summer). He is sooo funny and I’m
so excited for him! I just wish he’d pull
his darn pants up!

Oh, I cut his hair, Emily’s hair AND Amanda’s
while I was there….I know….”aunt of the
year”!

Emily was so excited, she couldn’t sit still.
Almost 11 and she now has a big girl haircut.
Layer and “swoopy” fringe! We had to take a
picture with my phone and send it to the other
“mirror queen” in the family, G, to show it off!

Ya know…sometimes it just takes so little to
make someone happy!

Do something little for someone today!

I don’t feel too stupid, why Bert Blyleven
and I share the same birthday and he starts
his countdown the day after his birthday!

2 days and counting…..

The ball is rolling for both the Starkey Gala
and the RNC! I’m meeting with both in May.
Thanks Heather Lombardo for wanting to
come on board for both, it’ll be such fun
to work with you outside of NILMDTS!

Meeting with a Bella Pictures couple tomorrow.
Their wedding planner called me yesterday
and told me that they insisted on meeting me.
Their wedding is May 17, here in Eden Prairie,
and I can’t blame them for being proactive
about their wedding day and wanting to meet
their photographer! I’m glad.

Saw the kittens again the other day.
They are just growing so fast and they are
so darling. I’m trying to think of a good
“F” name. This is the year of the letter “f”
I guess (in the cat world). So, here is some
inspiration….

I will not accept “Furball”,”F’n” or “Fraidy”!
Well, okay, maybe Fraidy cuz that’s funny.

My website is soooo cool! I can’t wait until it
goes live. The new look is really great. AND
I have my own “favicon”…the little thing in
the browser that personalizes your url. so cute!
So relax, Kiki, it’s coming!
Sorry for the delay.

Looking forward to another warm day today.
It’s going to be about 60. It was almost that
yesterday!

See what happens when I skip a day of blogging!!

J is coming over this morning for a new do!
She is redeeming her Christmas gift with me.
She’s also bringing along her $165 Juicy bathing
suit she just got! I hope it covers a lot!
We may do a shoot with it when I’m done with
her hair!

Have a great day!

Here’s more kitten shots from Easter @ Baker’s.

Shhhhh…Gary agreed to let me take one and I
don’t want him to change his mind! It’s
better if he just doesn’t remember!
They are so darn cute.

Jacquie, don’t let Scott forget that I offered
to let Jet out. He can e-mail me or call.

One is pure white and the other will be a richer
taupe color. The teeny tiny “meow” that comes
from these two is just nearly edible. That’s
right, I said edible!

Here’s the proud mama…

here’s the all white one…

I think the smaller darker one looks like Yoda!

Mama feeding the babies and resting.