Wanted to share my birthday lunch with y’all!
Thank you Nicki for the wonderful Lunch & Candle!
Thank you Anne for the Lovely flowers & the Cake!
Thank you Scott for filling in as buss boy! 
And Mom, thanks for being there as well but most of all
thanks for having me! 3rd time’s the charm, right!?
Each and every year Gary hosts a Final Four Party
at our house. Kind of a nice way to get all the spring
cleaning out of the way!
This year we have the pleasure of unveiling our newly
remodeled lower level at the same time.
Here’s a short video of the final results for those
of you that can’t make it to the Par-Tay!
I am soooo, soooo sorry for not blogging.
Bad blogger, BAD Blogger, BAD BLOGGER!!
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!
Tonight is the annual Twin Cities Professional
Photographers Association’s holiday party.
This year it’s at Jax Cafe in Minneapolis.
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…
More of the white stuff on the way.
Gary will drive right into it on his way
home from South Dakota. YIKES.
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.
Mike, Ben, my aunt Cindy and I left my mom’s
room for a bit so the nurses to do some
routine stuff for my mom.
We hit one of the waiting areas that had all
this fun “kid” stuff. My nephew, Ben, decided
to take his life into his own hands (at my
prompting…don’t tell his mom!) and do some
handy “cube jumping”.
I mean, hey, we are in a hospital, right?
So, what if he falls and breaks a bone…
the ER is like~~right there!
Ben is an avid skateboarder and I challenged
him to flip the cube like a skateboard.
My brother, Mike, caught it on his phone.
Gotta love a collaborative
Here’s the Olympic trials for “padded cube jump”!
I still laugh my ass off when I see this!
Thanks Mike for sending it on to me so I
could share with my loyal readers!!
Sorry, I thought the sound would come through.
Let’s review…..
My mom has just come out of surgery where
Dr. Michael Wengler performed a “disc-ectomy”
and we, loving family members, converge in
a family waiting room (no one is there but us
by the way) and begin to egg on my nephew.
He is always up for a challenge…he’s our
resident “Johnny Knoxville”..Love you Ben!
Ahhhhh…good times.
So, check this out (wow, I sound like
Randy Jackson!)…
Melissa Chepokas, sister to Mitchell of
The Miracles of Mitch Foundation, recently
turned 18 and decided it was time.
Click HERE…kind of makes me want to
get a tattoo now!
Oh, wait, can’t…just got a kitten.
Oh but it could be a kitten paw!!
OMG!!
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….
