I Believe

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . Relax . . .
And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.


I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have.

A Letter from an Independent to the CONGRESS

I was asked to send a letter to the CONGRESS today - so here's what I wrote succinctly -

"Please stop the bickering among the parties - we here in the middle class are hurting... we need your help! You are our last hope. It is ROUGH out here trying to make a living. I am a freelance Artist that has LOST 95% (there is NO UNEMPLOYMENT for me) of my income, please stop the insanity and begin the real work. Let this President lead our country into a successful new day!"

My First Flowers of 2010

My sweet husband brought these home to me. He loves it when he gets credit for bringing me the beauty to capture.

HANDBOOK 2010

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes? walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

The Artist's Way

10 Things to Live By

1. Throw out nonessential numbers and factors.
This includes age, height, eye and skin color, who your parents
are, past stuff and present stuff that you can’t change.
Don’t worry about what you cannot change.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
Who you are attached to will bless you up or mess you up.
Make sure that YOU are a cheerful friend and not a grouch.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts,
gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is
the devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.

4. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

5. Enjoy the simple things. Breath is one of the simple things.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. Don’t blame
others for your situation. The only person, who is with us our
entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family,
pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is
your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is
unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get
help. Your body is the most important vehicle you will ever own.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the
next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every
opportunity.

Feel young and live life to its fullest each day!

I am one of twenty-three

I am very excited to be a part of this [juried] exhibition... this economy has had an affect on my own life in many ways... not all positive - not all negative.

I hope you will join us on October 29th, 2009 for the reception at Chromatics - I'm sure it will be well worth it.

If I should die before I wake...

An email is received on Friday night that a new friend has died... a man that I only met twice - but who forever will remain with me and the funny story that he created on our last meeting.

FINNEY, Michael Dean "Rick" Was born in Nashville, TN June 8th, 1946, and died there on September 29th, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Sol Schulman, and beloved mother-in-law, Peggy "Me-Mama" Whitworth. Rick is survived by his wife, Eleanor Whitworth Finney; son, David Charles Whitworth; birth mother, Velma Dean Finney; father-in-law, Charles Bosley Whitworth, Jr.; brother-in-law, Charles Bosley Whitworth III, and his cousin, "Aunt Alice" Zimmerman. Mr. Finney attended old Woodmont Elementary School, Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, TN, The Bellefaire School in University Heights, OH and University of Tennessee. Rick lived his life in Technicolor. He adored the Whitworth family's "Gin Farm," and managed it with a true love of the trees, flowers, streams and animals, as well as the Turnbull Sports Club members. But Rick will surely be best remembered for his truly incredible voice and songs. From singing bass with Johnny Cash, to many voices for Disney and commercials such as the Pace Picante Salsa classic "New York City ... Get a rope!" to movie roles in Jim Varney's Ernest Goes To Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid, Coal Miner's Daughter, At Close Range (starring Sean Penn and Christopher Walken), Sam Stumpf'sThe Misadventures of Amy Everhart (Winner, Best Children's Film, Long Island Film Festival) and NBC's Elvis: The Early Years, as well as appearances in music videos with Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, John Prine, Keith Whitley, Dr. Hook, "Cowboy" Jack Clement, Hank Williams, Jr., John Hartford, Roy Orbison, Moe Bandy and Tammy Wynette. Many of his compositions were recorded by artists like George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Rich, Bobby Bare, Freddie Hart and O.C. Smith. Rick's velvet voice and larger-than-life personality made him the hit of any party. He even shared the stage of Nashville's "Night Train" with acts like Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Bo Diddley, and Chubby Checker. He still holds the record for being the main opening act at Nashville's Exit In with his humorous songs and friendly stage presence. While there, he met and performed with such artists as the B-52's, Dobie Gray, Clifford Curry, Johnnie Rivers, Jose Feliciano, B.B. King, Steve Martin, Asleep at the Wheel, Del Shannon, Johnny Winter, Bobby Bland, Linda Rondstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Willie Dixon and many more. As one of his multitude of friends said, "What a beautiful human being!" And as Rick himself wrote, "We will meet, but we will miss him. There will be one empty chair. We will linger to caress him when we breathe our evening prayer." Indeed, know that your Lambie, Pikachu, and all of your countless friends love and shall miss our one-of-a-kind "Ramie" ... A Memorial service will be held at St. George's Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 3, 2009 with family visitation and luncheon afterwards at the Finney home on Cornwall Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.

Big John

While working at the Tennessee State Fair as the Co-Chair of the Photography Exhibit, I met many interesting people. As the 22 days together progressed, I would make pictures of my fellow workers inside the Creative Arts Building - John was a favorite, interesting, and humble character of a man - a career Metro Works employee, now retired but works the fair every year.

John was the last photograph made - he held out till the final day - it happened spontaneously... it is my favorite.

Little Piggies

And the photographic fun continues - I LOVE this shot!

Boots

After spending a good amount of time with the "Mule Horses" (this city girl had never heard of this species...), I noticed this...

Kyle Brooks comes out to Play!

Ask and you shall receive! Kyle Brooks, a singer/songwriter friend of mine asked if he could come out and play inside our photography exhibition here at the TN State Fair - I pulled a few strings... and vua la! Here he is - he sounded awesome - I love his songs!

As always - CLICK on the image to see a larger version!

Funkie Chicken?

Never seen a funkie chicken like this up close. They move fast - see the blur in the red thingie hanging down... kinda cool.

The Couple Cuddle

After the wedding these two really needed a break - anything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong for their critically planned wedding. The rain did clear for the actual ceremony - than started almost immediately afterward. Thanks for clearing the skies during the ceremony God!

The Mother and The Bride