Shoots, Crops and Edits...

Several weekends ago we decided it was time to take some pictures in Taylor's Baptism dress while it still fit her. We again (see Easter pictures) ventured across the street to our neighbors house. I've really begun to appreciate the virtual outdoor photo studio her gardening hobby provides. Taylor did great even though it was very warm and I just know that dress had to be uncomfortable. Here is a selection of photos from the afternoon.

Baptism Dress

In an attempt keep up the evolution (and hopeful improvement) of my small corner of the internet, I'd like to unveil a new feature of "Not Too Bad..." I'm not sure if this feature is really required, but we'll give it a shot and see if anyone wants to keep it. What I've done is crop some print and frame (4x6) ready photos from the above album. There are portrait and landscape versions. I also included another photo from the day that I really liked. (we took a few extra pictures that same day) These are basically for those who have pictures of Taylor and would like something more up to date. Obviously the target market for this feature is pretty small, but hopefully it fills that niche.

4x6 Frame Ready Pictures

Directors Re-cut: There was a very positive response from the short movie I posted earlier. For that I say "Thank you." With influence, I've decided to share it with a broader audience. My nature wouldn't allow me to undertake such an endeavor without first sanitizing the film for mass distribution. There are only a couple of revisions but I do think the movie works better in it's new incarnation. Basically all I did was remove the "Not Too Bad..." reference and edited the final song. I took out the photos that I was uncomfortable with random strangers seeing and added some others. Also the timing and order of the photos were reworked to fit the music better. Nothing earth shattering, but if you're interested the final product is below.

Crossing A Threshold

"Not Too Bad..." has been an opportunity for me to get in touch with quite a few people with whom I'd lost contact with. It has also served as a creative outlet, and a place where I can express thoughts that under normal circumstances never make it past my verbal filter.

Today it serves as a platform to show a short movie I put together. I hope you enjoy "Crossing A Threshold".



Last week we got a little pool for Taylor to play in. At first I was planning to create some sort of creative packaging to release the pictures. A week has passed and the creative iron is still lukewarm. So.... I'm going to sneak them into this post to make my life easier, while fulfilling a promise to publish the pictures in a timely manner. Here are the pictures, sans fanfare.

Pool Party Gallery

A Mother's Day Wish

Just wanted make a quick appreciation thread on this Mother's Day.






To my Mother Sandy. I never got a chance to know you. I never appreciated what you gave me during the time you knew me. I've thought about both of those things more times in the last year then I ever have. I've come to appreciate everything you meant to me in my first year of this now almost 39 year voyage. I've wondered how I would be different if you had been able to spend more time with me. I've also grown in my appreciation of what Dad had to replace after you were gone. I can't imagine what I would do if I was put in that same situation with my wife and Taylor. I just want to say "Thank you."

And that brings me to my wife, Linda






To Linda. Watching you this past year has really been very special. It's amazing how close you are with Taylor. How much she looks to you for everything. I know she loves her Daddy, but her Mommy is on a whole different level. I truly mean that as a sincere compliment. I joke often (to your dismay) how Taylor wants her Mommy when Daddy just can't seem to make her happy. Take that as my everyday recognition or noticing how much you do for Taylor. I can only hope to become as close. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a Mother. Thank you for taking care of me when I refuse to take care of myself. I know I can be stubborn (as I've proven with my medical health track record.) Thank you for continuing on with everything my Dad taught me about life and giving it that woman's touch. Thank you for nurturing our Daughter in ways I'm unable to. Thank you for teaching me to become closer so that one day I will hopefully exhibit that same nurturing nature.





To Linda's Mother. Thank you everything you've done in raising Linda. You did a spectacular job and ultimately taught her how to raise Taylor in such a wonderful way. You've acted as a Mother to me even though I know I'm not the easiest person to get close to. I can't promise I'll soon be the most emotionally open person, but I do promise that I appreciate everything you do.


To all the Mothers out there, at least the good ones. And I'm sure all that are reading this blog fall under that category. Happy Mother's Day, I hope you day was much better then "Not Too Bad..."

Pictures of Mom

Pictures of Taylor's Mom

The History Channel Presents...

Merriam Webster defines procrastination as;

Function: verb

Etymology:

Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare, from pro- forward + crastinus of tomorrow, from cras tomorrow

Date: 1588

transitive verb : to put off intentionally and habitually
intransitive verb : to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done

For some reason when I look at my dictionary the definition is a bit more basic. It basically goes something like this...

Procrastinator; see also Mirror.

Ignoring the obvious sarcastic nature of my dictionary, I can't really argue with it's insight. It's been over a month since I last made an entry in this locale. I wish it could be said my absence was due to a month long walkabout and I've returned with numerous harrowing tales of excitement and intrigue.

As in most cases the truth is much less interesting. While I think a lack of interesting posting topics is one tooth in the gear that causes me to disappear for these stretches of time. Other teeth include; lack of inspiration, bouts with feeling depressed and therefore not doing much of anything, being overloaded with work (this is a current problem, although one I'm definitely not going to complain about), among a plethora of other reasons. Being honest with myself, when all the chaff is removed we're just left with a bunch of excuses.

What really happens is I have a hard time just making a simple "keep everyone up to date" post. So I wait to be inspired to sit down and write, and I wait... and wait. Before long there are so many pictures and little things to talk about that I start feeling overwhelmed and unable to find a starting spot. It's not that I don't want to compose these posts, they're actually very therapeutic. I guess the best way to describe the feeling I'm attempting to convey would be akin to finding the starting point on a roll of scotch tape, but you're wearing mittens. Once you get it started, it's really not difficult to pull off the tape, it's the getting started that I have problems with.

That being said. I'm going to try to quickly get you caught up with the past months activities. I'll attempt to keep the words to a minimum and just provide some media to chronicle the events...

Taylor got her first Easter basket filled complete with books, bubbles, bunnies and shoes. We took some pictures in the neighbors back yard since I didn't think weeds and dirt would make a good backdrop, or comfortable sitting area for Taylor.

Easter Pictures

Linda's parents came to visit April 15th to the 22nd. It was a very nice visit enjoyed by everyone. It was nice to see Taylor interact with them being a little more aware of her surroundings then their last visit.

Andy and Beth drove over from Panama City for the weekend to attend Taylor's Baptism. We fit some bike riding and golfing in on Saturday and they had to leave on Sunday after church to get back for work. All the visits were too short, but it was nice to have some family around for a short while.

Family Visit and Baptism Pictures

Thanks to Nate for taking video of the baptism for us:



Here are a selection of other pictures taken since the last installment of this blog. As with all pictures there are stories behind them. In the interest of brevity I will save everyone the commentary let them speak for themselves.

Taylor Pictures

That should bring everything pretty much up to date on whats been happening around here lately. On a side note, I've not forgotten the results of the last poll. I will get around to making an entry on Dog sledding in the near future. Don't give up on me... I still hope to make this an interesting place to visit.

TNN Update

Taylor News Network (TNN) has noticed recent activity on this blog has become very Tomcentric. We scroll down and see nothing but words; this will not stand. We would like to apologize to the segment of our audience that has been patiently awaiting an update from the Star of this show, the incomparable Miss Taylor Sandra. Without further ado...

TNN would like to welcome you to this edition of "Taylor News Update" :

"Simple Pleasures..."

One of the times when Taylor is in her best moods is just after she gets home, but before getting unbuckled from her car seat. We tried to catch a bit of her antics. It's often difficult because she is enamored with the media hounds. I'm not sure if she has inherited her fathers camera shy gene, or if she is just trying to figure out how to play to the camera. More on this story as details develop.



"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here..."

Taylor was spotted out at the club spinning her favorite tunes. We tried to get some video footage for this report. Unfortunately she spotted our camera's and decided the show was over. The crowd gathered at the Saucer Command Center asked for an Encore but Miss Taylor rules with a fist of iron, and she said "Show over." We, still love her. We understand even the biggest celebrities can't be on stage all the time.




"Medium Rare Please..."

It looks as if she may share her fathers love of a good steak. As proven by this footage, caught at her favorite steak house, located at the Saucer Command Center.



Finally, we would like to offer a sampling of what our esteemed photography crew has been able to capture in recent weeks. Your senior staff editor makes a cameo appearance in this batch. There's a story behind the gorilla. Remind me to tell it one day.

Taylor Photos