On top of the world

The only regret I have about this photo is that I can’t display it 50 feet high for everyone to see! It’s one to blow up without a doubt.

This one will go down in history as one of the most exhilarating photo shoots ever.  By all definitions, we were on top of the world. 

 

Full post coming soon…

Cosmo

As someone who has grown accustomed to life with mellow, ankle high dogs, moving in with a fully charged, hip high lab was an adjustment. His name is Cosmo. His youth is evident in his every leap and bound, his insatiable appetite for tug of war and his endlessly replenishable source of energy. Our dogs are like empty-nesters. They relish in a quiet evening at home with a book and an afghan draped over their lap. Not Cosmo. He’d prefer to kick things off with happy hour, hit the batting cages, go rollerskating, ride to the top of the space needle, hit the slots then rendezvous for dinner downtown and hit every dance club on the way home before topping the night off with a speakeasy after hours party. And of course, boldly shatter the calm of the following morning completely restored, with a hankering for a brisk morning jog. And we were lucky enough to spend almost two weeks with him over the holidays. By New Year’s day we were exhausted. In fact, I think all four of us, dogs included, aged a year and half. In dog years, that’s like over a decade or something. Lost. Completely gone in the name of a lab on the go.

But in truth, we loved every minute of it. He breathed new life into us all and renewed our sense of adventure.

So, here’s to Cosmo. He may sneak out of bed before you get up in the morning, but you won’t regret a moment of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t always about life in the fast lane. Sometimes our dogs would rub off on Cosmo just a little. He would lean over their shoulder to see what they were reading, try sipping a cup of tea, or just generally not move, tremble or fidget for more than 30 seconds. And sometimes, he even tried to imagine himself as a small dog. I can’t look at this picture without hearing Chris Farley in Tommy Boy singing “fat guy in a little coat”.

“Big dog in little bed…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My personal favorite…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Without further ado

As I mentioned in my last post, I now have two wonderful, hairless companions. The first being the beautiful, the amazing, the painfully charming – Haunches. She is going on 4 and is better than ever. But with the recent passing of my beloved cat Funk, I worried the loss would affect her while I was away.  So, we embarked on the adventure of adopting a dog, preferably one desperate to get off the streets and into a drug-free environment. After scouring many dark alleys and soup kitchens, we followed the sound of loose change one evening, only to discover a little gem named Huckleberry. With no direction or purpose, this homeless pup only knew life one hit, sip or puff at a time. It was up to us to rehabilitate this loner and remind him that smiles are free. 

I should note that none of this story is true, in fact. He was actually abandoned by a less than savory character in a huckleberry patch in the backwoods of Kalispell Montana.  I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure if you look up the words “heartless psychopath” in the dictionary, there is a black and white sketch of the man responsible for this heinous attempt at disposal. 

That said, and I’m sure to his surprise, Huckleberry has turned out to be a sweet, chubby, lil’ ball of puppy wonder who brings us buckets of joy each and every day.  So, thank you, heartless psychopath.  Oh and as the old saying goes, behind every adorable dog are two amazing women. My sincere thanks to Melissa and Susan of Tiny Tails Rescue for allowing Huckleberry to suckle the teat of their wonderful organization until a proper home could be found. 

Without further ado, I present Huckleberry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sober living

Revel in the moment

It’s been a while since my last post. And while I wish I were a religious blogger, I’ve come to realize that it’s just not something I get the opportunity to do every week, let alone every day. For some time now, this blog has been the only online avenue through which I can share samples of my photography and present my capabilities to potential clients and friends. While it’s been sufficient, a formal portfolio site has been long overdue and I’m happy to report that a beautiful new website serving this specific purpose is currently underway. It may be selfish, but I’m most excited for this blog to officially become more of a journal and less of a portfolio. I’ve always wanted a repository for the photographs that don’t always make the cut, the pictures that satisfy me in a way that a technically appropriate or portfolio-worthy image ever could. It is with this news that I’m prematurely indulging in a journal post, and sharing the photo below. It makes me happy from top to bottom.  

This is a window into the daily existence of my two dogs (That’s right – TWO!). Aside from their basic survival needs and our daily walks, all they require is a soft place to lay down and a space heater. They are hairless after all. And they don’t mind sharing, which breaks my heart into a hundred tiny pieces. They are bursting at the seams with love.  And they are chivalrous, which never occurred to me until I stared at this picture long enough.  The dog without the jacket is closest to the heater.  The dog with a jacket, who is presumably warmer, has taken the spot furthest away from the heat source.  

That’s like giving your friend who forgot their lunch your PB & J, because your mom had the good sense to provide you with more than just a sandwich. It’s selfless and unexpected and makes you want to wrap your arms around someone. 

So yeah, there are better photographs to showcase. There will always be a better shot, a cleaner composition, a more compelling image. And there are countless ways to ring in the new year, to celebrate the inauguration, to revel in good fortune and new opportunities. These days I’ve found it most fulfilling to acknowledge the moments that go unnoticed. Moments just like this one. Today I’m celebrating Dog Chivalry.