I am a camera carrying, yoga loving, small town girl living in the city running amok. I photograph everything under the Sun and now I blog about it too.
This morning Core Crossfit had a Memorial Day Workout . The workout we did to day is named, Murph. This workout is, 1 mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 air squats followed by another 1 mile run. In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005. This workout was one of Mike’s favorites and he’d named it “Body Armor”. It was later renamed after Lt. Murphy gave his life to save his comrades.
Before the workout Coach DJ told us a little bit about Lt. Murphy and his story. He told us about a book out, Lone Survivor written about the events that lead to his death. Lauren, one of the girls doing the workout today said to me, "I wouldn't be doing this workout if I hadn't read the book". It's a difficult and long workout.
After finishing I cheered on the other Crossfitters still coming in. Then Dave gathered a few of the people standing around to run the last 800 with Joe who was finishing up... I wanted to share that because it's that type of camaraderie that I enjoy at Core Crossfit.
The other day Presley came into my room while I had just put on Practical Magic. It had just started and I watched the scene above before scooting her off to bed...
Just the over day a friend gave me a rose to say thank you for some thing I did for her. The rose was dying and I let Presley pull the petals off. She then told me she wanted to make a spell come true. After placing them in a bowl and playing for a bit she asked to go out side and make them fly away...
Well we decided I would drop them from the balcony instead. I of course had to photograph it and share...
With all the chatter going on around me about the end of times, I had to write a quick morning post. It seems that today's end is a silly thought to most people. I'm not really going to get into that. What I will say that I'm glad the conversation has been brought up.
Today just might be a great day to take a few minutes and examine life. Is my life what I thought it would be? Can it be better? Am I what I thought I would be? Can I be better? Are the people I surround myself the type of people I want in my life? Am I doing the things I want? Ahh, the list of questions can go on! But don't let them. Just get up. Make it happen. Today and every other day after that.
So if you've read my blog more then once you must know (I think) I'm pretty funny. Or at least enjoy trying to have a laugh... This week we were suppose to use the time to catch up on any weeks we had missed. I missed several so that's what I have been doing.
Even though I was behind I really enjoyed the projects. So I decided I would take a photo for the project of me "catching up" on the project... So that's me in my dark office working hard to get current on my homework!
This project was put together by my friend and fellow photographer Leah. You can check out her blog here. I'm thankful for the time she takes to come up with topics and comment on our photos. Which is something all of the photographers participating do for each other. Here is a list of their blogs if you'd like to check them out.
I'm lucky that I have found a network of fellow photographers that support each other. I have along my journey had run in's with those that are in a scarcity mind set and not willing to work and grow together. I look forward to helping those around me and I love to support other small businesses like mine.
To look at my photography friend Audrey's click here.
This was a fun topic for me! I decided I was going to the light rail stop by my house and photograph there. I didn't have a clear idea for what I was going to photograph. One of the cool things about living in downtown Tempe is there are lots of means of transportation, bikes, skateboards, rickshaw, train, bus, horses (mounted cops) and car/taxi.
I decided to take this photo of my bike, Wally and the light rail buzzing by... I like it.
I was lucky enough to go to Luke Air Force Base for the first time in my life to photograph a CrossFit event that Core CrossFit athletes were participating in. Like most events it was a long list of grueling tasks to test your physical and mental toughness.
This team I photographed were the first to complete the obstacle course. One of the last obstacles was pushing a tractor tire through a mud pit... After completing the event they were all "playing" around jumping back into the mud. I ran over with my camera and asked if they would do it again so I could photograph it! They were 100%willing and I got these great pictures for my project.
Above is the website for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation.
I hope my post that your about to read makes sense. I try to keep them short and that sometimes makes for a choppy story... Ok please watch the clip then continue to read below...
I had a chance to hear Azim Khamisa speak several months ago while in California. I had planned on blogging about him then but had never sat down to do it... Today I was watching a show where I heard another Father speak about losing his 11 day old son. The comment that hit me was, "A bad day? Try planning your 11 day old son's funeral".
Those words really resonated with me. So often I get caught up in these silly situations that I allow to control my mood or perception of my day. When the truth is I have a life to be grateful for...
Azim's son, Tariq was going to college and working a pizza delivery job on the weekends. During his shift these gang members called in a fake order and shot/killed Tariq for the pizza when he attempted to deliver it. The boy that shot him was only 14 years old...
I was like most people surprised by Azim's ability to forgive his sons killer. I am very thankful to hear his message of forgiveness but another part of his story stuck with me. Mr. Khamisa is a muslim and I have almost no knowledge of the religion. What I did learn is that they have a mourning period of 40 days.
This stood out to me because as far as I know no other religion has this type of set mourning period. And for me when I lost my grandfather I was so hurt that I thought the longer I mourned him the more I showed I loved him. I remember crying, then I stopped. It didn't feel it was long enough, I loved him more then just a 10 minute cry. I didn't want to eat, how could I think of anything else if I really loved him. I couldn't watch t.v. and live my life uninterrupted...
All these ideas and confusion on how to show my grief was very frustrating and made the process more difficult. I find comfort in the idea of a time period to allow yourself to mourn. I also see the need to end it as well. My grandfather doesn't want me to stop living, that would not honor him. And I know that putting a 40 day period did not mean that Azim woke up on the 40th day ready to take the world by storm. It took him make more days and even years he said. But the 40 days I see as a way to us all to give ourselves permission to live again.
I lost my grandfather Andy years ago now. And I honor him by speaking of him and living a life he would be proud of. Now if someone could of promised me Presley would not of grown up to be a tall girl with a husky voice her name would of been, Andi (her Daddy is 6'5").
This weeks theme was f16, what that is (for all you non camera users) is a large depth of field. I was trying to figure out how to do this idea a little different then my first idea... I decided to shoot the moon (haha, I like the sound of that!). Now that being said, I didn't have the right lens. Yes, I needed a longer lens to make the moon appear closer and more in focus. However the lens rental was $85. which was a little more then I wanted to spend- for now.
I downloaded a moon app for my iphone. So the next full moon I'm going to have the lens rental and plan my location and make an event of it!
I changed my eating habits in August of 2010. I've been on the, "paleo diet/ caveman diet" Monday through Friday and I eat what ever I want on the weekends. And I have been pretty successful about staying with the food program. Not only that but I have seen my body composition change (decrease in body fat %) and I feel amazing. Now that all being said, I'm totally struggling with it right now. And I'm a walking infomercial for it!
It's a challenge. I don't follow the diet strictly either, I allow myself a can coke a day. I also eat pickles and some times cheese on my salads. I bend the rules enough to be successful but not too much that I'm just kidding (lying) to myself.
This past week I have found myself thinking more about "cheat" food then I think I did in the beginning... I'm sort of bummed out about it because a part of me wants to just allow myself those foods, chinese, pizza pasta, tortillas and bread. But at the same time I see all the progress that has been made and my 1 year anniversary (of starting this program/CrossFit) is right around the corner.
A part of me is wonders if it's some sort of subconscious way of self sabotage. I mean I do allow myself those food on the weekend, but there isn't enough time in the day. And honestly I don't plan my weekends around food, other then the bean burritos from El Charro in Mesa. I can't remember the last time I had pasta or chinese food... The tag line, "it's so easy even a caveman can do it" goes through my head more often then I would like to admit.
I don't want to waste your time with some crazy rant of mine (again). I just wanted to point out it's a struggle and I don't think eating healthy is always an easy thing (for me). It's a choice and it's a decision I make every day with every meal... This weekend I just might plan around food...
May 10, 2011
Please read and repost my last blog post, "This Mom is Fired Up".