Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas....

Wow.. another Christmas is here... how time does fly. It's been a good year for the most part. I was able to shoot a good many pictures for pleasure and even some for profit. I was able to buy a few new toys (100-400mm L lens) for one thing and I have enjoyed it so much.

It wasn't so long ago that by this time the house would be full for noise.. the voices of little girls screaming ... 'Look what Santa left me' it's a much different house this morning.. it's very quiet... just the puppies here. It's not a bad thing.. I've very glad the girls are happy with their own families now... My girls, how I love them... We were all together last night and watching them gave me a very good feeling... The love they have for each other and the way they care about each other just gives me such a feeling.... I guess Ginger and I did do something right... NO we did a lot right... as crazy as it may look from the outside looking in we are still a family...

I can't wait to go see the boys and see what ole Santa left them... oh the joys of having little ones on Christmas morning...

Here's wishing everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR..

What do they see?

Jonathan’s Dad passed away Wednesday afternoon, but Melissa did not want to upset Gage (who is only 5) so they tied to go on with life as much as possible. Thursday gage had his Thanksgiving lunch at school and I had the joy of meeting Melissa there and eating with him. Seeing the look on his face when he saw his Mom made my day and this little bit leads me into another… Jonathan, Melissa, and his Mom had to go to the funeral home Thursday even to make arrangements so Gee-Gee was keeping the boys. I went over to see Gee-Gee and talk with her about the flowers and to see the boys. Little Noah was all over me and as soon as Gage finished eating so was he. If one could bottle and sell the feeling I get from being loved like this…anyway Lauren came over to see Mom and the boys… I was holding Gage because he was tired and wanted his Mom and I looked up and Lauren had her head in Gee-Gee’s lap and that’s when I hit me…. It’s something I’ve always known, but there was just something about it Thursday night that really touched me. You never out grow Mom’s love and the need to be held by Mom no matter how old you are.


Melissa can to get the boys and I talked to her for a little and I came on home and shortly after so did Melissa and the boys. Well, I was talking to Melissa yesterday morning and she told me this story… now keep in mind Melissa and Jonathan at this point have not said anything about PawPaw Tolbert passing away… Melissa said she and Gage were talking on the ride home and Gage asked her.. Mom, who’s that man waving at us up in the sky. He has on a yellow shirt and white hair”… now remember Gage is only 5.

What today may bring

We wake-up and go about our lives,and for the most part we never think about what the day may bring or how it may end.

This fact hit close to home yesterday afternoon. Jonathan's Dad passed away suddenly at home. Jonathan has been with Melissa for so long it's like he's one of mine and he is ... I feel for them today. It's going to be hard for them and the part that hurts me the most is there's I can do to take the pain away. I think this is a Dad's worse feeling... the feeling of being helpless when it comes to our kids.

I try to make a point every day to let my kids know what they mean to me and how much I love them. I never what them to question my feelings for them if something like this should ever happen to me. They are my life and even when I'm gone from here... I will live on thru them.

Jonathan, son, there's very little I can do, but ALWAYS know I'm here for you. I'll be keeping you, Melissa, the boys. and your Mom close to my heart.

Halloween

Another month is gone.. we're heading into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season and it feels like only weeks ago we had did this.

I'm at a lost of words this morning. There's so many things going on all at once and I just can't rap my arms around it.

There was a time not so long ago I looked forward to go to work each day. It was always something new and exciting for me to do. How I wake up in the middle of the night on Sunday and dread over take me. I feel as thro I'm being used and used up... I feel as thro I'm being eased out of things, yet there isn't anyone willing to try to lean what I do. My work is just the day in, day out stuff I know.. but I don't think anyone knows just want goes on in one of my days... how many calls I get for special one time reports. No one cares yet.. but when I'm gone -- someone is going to see just what I did. Sure I would like to work with new systems and learn new things... but when it comes down to it.. it's the day to day things that will make or break...

Maybe it's the time of the year that makes me feel like this... I really don't like the holidays... I'm sorry I just can't help it...

I'm trying to ease into my business.. I'm going very slow, but I feel like that can be a good thing...I'm trying to build a rapport with the people I've worked with in hopes they will in turn show others my work and I can build from there. I'm in no rush... my goal is to trun out work that has emotions ...

I did a shoot not long ago of a new Dad with his new baby... I could see the love and also the fear in his look... not fear as one would think of it, but just being afriad of holding such a small little thing and knowing that you are responsible for this little thing... I know the feeling very well... this is what I want other to see and feel years later when they see the prints...

As I have stated before, photography is not a job for me... it's a passion ... A passion that I hope I never lose...

I hope you have a good day and that you have or will find your passion for something..

Oct...

Dates on a calendar mark the passing of our days… yet there are some days that want pass. They stay with us forever it seems and are constant reminders of the past, for good or bad. The third weekend of October is such a date… I’m reminded that it was on this weekend that we buried my Grandpaw Roberts, I remember this weekend every year that my brother Gene and I would camp out at Beauvoir and enjoy Fall Muster. Then Jeff got involved with the Sons of Confederate Soldiers and he would camp with us… The memories of those good times… Then there are still other memories that haunt me about this time…dark and cold days… I guess we all have times we would like to erase, but if erasing the bad would remove the good I think for now I would like for things to stay as they are… for now. Time does heal all wounds, but even time can heal the scar the wound left.

The coming of October means that the holidays are getting close… and there’s a part of me that can’t stand the holidays… I guess no matter how hard I try I can’t enjoy them… I know people may find this hard to understand and it’s my hope that you never understand it or even worse come to experience this feeling.

Passing of Time

Almost 2 hours has passed since I got out of bed this morning. Time that I can remember, but can never get back.

Last weekend we went up to see Mom and Dad and while we were there Gage wanted to go walking. He loves to walk down a little road while we have always called the 'Dummy Line'. Melissa, Lauren, and Mary walked with us and as we walked Melissa got to talking about how she and Granny Lee would walk up and down the old road. To me it was like yesterday that Granny was holding my hand and walking the old road with me.. that was almost 50 years ago..

So many times, I think, we take time for granted... that we are always going to have that second chance... We shouldn't feel like we have that chance.. Yesterday Gage wanted me to come over and get him... It's beginning to be a Saturday morning thing that I take him to McDonalds... and I think it's great. I like to do things with him so I asked if he would like to do this and that and finally I asked if he would like to go to the flea market in Mobile. We went over there and althro the flea market isn't one of my things I enjoyed it so much. The thing that made it so much fun was having Gage alone and just he and I talking. Don't think a 5 year old can't tell you somethings.. hahaha

We talked about school.. about the playground... about his new friends.. and the games we made up as we went.. we took the back roads this time just so we could see things and some of the things he saw... it was still pretty early and the early morning sun was shinning on the trees... Gage said something to the effect that he liked the way it looked... I may have my photography buddy after all before long. he already likes to take pictures... and I feel he has the eye for the art...

Little Noah is just my heart also... if I should ever get to the point where I feel that no one loves or cares for me all I would need is for Noah to see me. Yesterday when he saw me he came running calling out "my PawPaw" .... This is love in it's purest form.

At the end of my day I hope they will walk the same paths with their grandkids and remember the times they had with me... not for the things I got for them, but for the times I gave them.

My children.. my hope for all the tomorrows...

Black Publishers Cry Racism Over Wilson Outburst, Join Boycott of South Carolina - Political News - FOXNews.com

Why does everything have to be RACISM... From what I've read and heard Obama was lying...

Black Publishers Cry Racism Over Wilson Outburst, Join Boycott of South Carolina - Political News - FOXNews.com

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9-11 (8 years out)

Sunrise this morning 9-11-09

9-11-2001 -- Eight years ago today we watched in shock as we watched the planes crash into the World Trade Center towers. We watched as innocent workers died and then police, fireman, and EMTs lost there lives. I can not imagine what those that lived the event felt. I knew that day that the world I woke up in would never be the same and yet there are those out there that believe that the CIA has done things that they should be punished for. Not me, if anything I think they should have done more and gotten more info.. if it comes down to some terrorist or my family… well guess who is going to lose… There’s not place in battle for bleeding hearts… and we are in a battle every day and I’m all for keeping my little family safe at all cost.

On Sept 11. 2001 not only were the Twin Towers falling; things closer to me were falling also. It’s amazing how we can remember the smallest of things when there’s hurt involved. I guess it’s true what they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger..

9-11-01 – I’ll never forget that day or the days that followed… for a lot of reasons.

Needing to be loved on

To me, Lucy and Cody, are like my kids. They don't like it when I leave for work every morning, but they so excited when I get home every afternoon.

Lucy is kinda like me, middle aged now and just likes to take it easy... very laid back now. Cody still has a lot of puppy in him and is very playful and demands a lot of attention. Lucy just takes it all in stride.

Yesterday was a long day at work and I really didn't feel like being on Facebook much, so I went in the living room to watch TV. Cody was off doing what ever Cody does... but Lucy followed me as always. I picked her up and sat her by me and petted and loved on her.

I think at times we lose sight of the little simple things in life... this little simple act not only made Lucy feel good, but it made me feel good also... The act of caring for another living thing should always make us feel good.

The Old Lion is at rest

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was laid to rest yesterday after almost 50 years in the Senate. I felt bad for his family. Losing someone is never an easy thing to go thru.

Almost fifty years in office... this shouldn't happen. If the President can only hold office for 8 why should these people be allowed to die in office. I feel like 12 years should be long enough for them.. this would give them 1 1/2 presidents.

Most people in office, like Kennedy, has never had to work for a living they have no idea how it feels to live from paycheck to paycheck to put your kids thru school. Yet they are very fast to get laws passed that tax the working people so those that chose not to work can be cared for...

I feel like it's time that the "Kennedy's" in office are sent home and new blood in brought in with the understanding-- 'you are here but for a short time'. This lust and greed for power is killing us the working people. Our so call leaders -- local, state, and national--- all lead by 'do as I say, not as I do'.... I hope I'm wrong, but I bet everyone of them is willing to sell their souls to stay in office... Special interest groups with deep pockets... buy them... then they come home bragging about what a good job they did... yet because of their bargain with the devil 100's will lost their jobs... and because they did work guess what.. there's no help for them.. oh Mr. Jones I see here you made over $12,000 this year... never mind you had doctor bills, hospital bills and the likes... that YOU, Mr Jones paid out of pocket, we can't help you.... what's right about that??

We've teaching people what?? Why work... the Kennedy's in office will take care of us... all we'll have to do is cry a little louder..

I feel like it's time the crying stops... you know I cry every time I get a paycheck and see that 35% or better is gone before I ever see it... I really don't like the idea of people living the good life off my hard work.. .

What do we do?? I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing.. .VOTING... it's only one vote, but I feel like with that one vote I have the right to complain and voice my feelings.