So, I’ve been that annoying mom.

Facebook friends and close ones who have cell phones (wait, who doesn’t have one) patience were probably truly tested as I sent posts and messages saying vote for my lil’ tot because she is darling and in another photo contest.  I can proudly say, lil’ Miss Raina tied for first in the Parent Magazine Contest for Baby of the Year-the last week of 2011.  For me it’s not only exciting to see Raina celebrated, but interesting to see what photos these contests pick of mine.  What they see as a special capture.  The most intriguing part to me is, all the pictures I’ve entered are taken with my camera off my android phone.  No classic, clean shots.  Just, snapping while I can when she’s running around.

People have been telling me for years to do something with my photography.  No, I’m not claiming, I’m amazing.  But I’m always game to snap a pic and sometimes they turn out… well, good ya know.  So, I’m doing it.  I want to work on my hobby.  I’ve finally found my charger to my good camera (what does good even mean) and I’m ready to practice on my craft that inspires me through a lens.

I’ve been meaning to make a website for the past six years.  One that celebrates all of my artistic sides.  So, I’m gathering my best work in hopes that I get my website up and running in 2012.  It’s about damn time.

welcome back everyone… i’m alive.

so, last Thursday I was teaching my competitive lyrical class and I was explaining to my students that I needed them to perform the piece with a different feeling then they were giving me…

me: “you guys need to be more aggressive, i need to see in your movement that it means something to you…”

a student: “i really don’t think we should be kinky during this dance….”

me: (bottom lip on the ground, eyes bugged out… in shock.) “what?”

student: “i don’t think this dance should be done kinky, you said aggressive”

me: “that doesn’t mean… kinky.  wow, this is awkward.  aggressive means, be fierce, don’t hold back (show her moves done too flowy and mushy and then done aggressively) i need to see you are in pain from losing the love of your life, or losing a friend, i need you to move with purpose, i need the audience to feel like their heart just got ripped out, but they have you to turn to” 

another student: “kinky is sexual, like furry handcuffs”

original student: “oooooh, (mortified face) i had no idea that’s what it meant”

me: (repeat of former what-the-h face) “aaah, no seriously stop talking everyone… goodness you guys, this couldn’t be more uncomfortable”

…

that happened only two weeks after the following in my younger competitive jazz class:

me: “what should your performance be like?”

10 year old student: “we should be sexy”

me: “aaaahh, no, no, no… how do you even know that word… no, you should be confident and sassy, very showy… “

another student: “did she just say sexy” (eruption of laughter)

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now seriously, how do these kids come across these words… could you imagine if one of them said hey miss maggie said i should be kinky in my performance… wow… i would be devastated… 

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In the game of life it’s a good idea to have a few early losses, which relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season. 
 εϊз bill vaughan

so, corkie went with parker and i to his very first drive in movie… feature number one: Super 8.  now, if you know me, you are well aware i don’t do scary…  i have confirmation that my lovely lil’ bichon does not either… he was up front with us, but we let him lay down in the back… i looked back to check on him and he looked ok… but i had a feeling he wasn’t… i put my hand on him to reassure him and bingo, he was shaking… so i brought him up front with me, turned the volume down and we cuddled in the blankie as i rocked him to sleep… he was no fan of the loud noises from the movie, nor the scariness of it… because earlier he had totally been sitting up and watching… he passed out in my arms and did way better for the second feature: Hangover II… what a freakin’ doll … that ended our amazing adventure day, which you’ll have to wait to hear about another day…

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