About Me

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I recently moved back to my hometown of Vale, to live with my father who is 79. It's a small, high-desert town in Eastern Oregon, whose residents are sturdy, hard-working people with strong ties to family and deep roots in the land. Quiet and peaceful, it's a place where a man can take the time to know his own mind and bond with his dog.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Portrait Photography and Working in the Basement

We're making lot's of progress in the basement. My sister-in-law is the Dungeon Master and the Mudder! Please say mudder real slow! The two bedrooms are finished except for baseboards and trim around the doors. The new floors look great. And it looks like we're going to be able to finish the ceiling, install the floor, and finish the painting this week on the Rec Room. I thought my family would like to see the picture of the Rec Room with hardly anything in it. They will understand what a miracle this is! Perhaps the rest of you won't, unless there is someone in your family that stacks everything from the past 40-years from floor to ceiling and wall to wall! Then maybe you too will understand.

It's been a wonderful project to work on. I have gotten to know my little brother and his wife Kim much better than ever before in my life. They are fine people and I have learned to love them very much. This project has been a joy to work on with them, if for no other reason than this.

This is the baby of the family, my little brother Tommy. I love the way he thinks things through. He just doesn't screw things up. Doing a great job!

And this is my Dad. He pitches in and helps here and there. I can tell he really likes the transition and is excited to have it put back together in a way that our family will really be able to enjoy it. We'll have a pool table, a dart board, air hockey, video games for the kids, and lots of sleeping spaces available for the many family members that visit during the year.

My niece Santana has had a visitor from Germany during the past month. Marika was a foreign exchange student last year and lived with Santana and her family. I told them I would do some portrait photography for them, and since this was my first attempt to do something nice in this genre I did it for them for free. I thought it would be nice if they had something to commemorate their friendship. They're BFF's you know. I was pleased with the results but have much more to learn. I think I need some studio equipment which I hope to be able to purchase this fall. Lot's of fun though. And the girls were great!