So many thoughts...

Firstly...

What a lousy week for Illinois politicians!

First Dick Durbin's daughter died of a congenital heart disease...

Then Barack Obama's grandmother died.

Gah. Dudes, I am so sorry...

Secondly...

For those of you who watched Barack Obama vote this morning and were wondering why it took so freaking long? I have an answer for you.

We in Illinois vote for the retention of Circuit Court Judges. There are a billion of them. or so it seems. We have a goofy, oversized, clownish ballot (11"x17") (see that giant thing in Michelle Obama's hands?) So when I say a billion judges, understand that the entire back of the ballot is covered with judges names.. and the ability to chose yes or no. Exactly. It takes forever.

Also we have to fill in the middle part of an arrow to complete our ballot. That means that I am always paranoid that I have not properly connected my arrow.. so I spend a lot of time coloring. Why? paranoia.

Thirdly,

The Chicago Tribune was a bummer this morning. Along with the news that Madelyn Dunham had passed, I learned that some woman dropped dead at a Blackhawks game. They (whoever "THEY" are) identified Steve Fossett's remains... as I recall the bones were scattered because he was "et" by animals (hopefully post-mortem). ew...

And finally, Jennifer Hudson is a corpse kisser. I don't know why this has be reported. But I come from a family of corpse kissers. Well, ok, just one. My Gram. Aunt Rosie and Aunt Pat freak out whenever she does it... Their concern is formaldehyde poisoning. I think that they are over reacting. But whatever!

My friend Richard's mother used to photograph the corpse. He loathed that, but I thought as a tribute, he should have photographed her in her casket. It would seem right. And along those lines, I plan on kissing my dead grandmother if I happen to outlive her. Which is not a given as Gram is 101. So Jennifer? I get it. really I do.

Oh, and go and vote, eh? I did.

Enough Already!

It has been a leafy week here for me as I take the multiple versions of the decorative leaf for the Stammbam from the Auld Sodd.

Now, not only do I have to meld 6 different pictures together but it would be swell if I can show all the most important features of each individual. Oh, and do I mind splitting apart people who are in the SAME picture so that they can be moved to more appropriate places? Grrr

I have accomplished them all. But I swear I will freak if asked to do more. I am irritated at this point. Particularly as Fun Daddy is complaining about all the other things that I am NOT accomplishing.

I think leaf side 2 looks better over all. Not only for my improved photoshopping skills but also because most of the people in the picture do look like someone peed in their cornflakes that morning. (Christmas Eve, 1951 to be specific)

The first round of the second side of the leaf was met with complaint that it was too wide and my MIL was too far from the center. Can't I crunch people in together more?

Now I am hearing that I failed to show Uncle Carl's rank. When he was in the Army. During WWII. In the first half of the LAST CENTURY. Oh and when the engravers start their work they will probably be able to spread apart the people in the image right?

Because when you have melded 7 clips from 6 photos which include two brides, a soldier, a guy in sunglasses, two bedraggled children and two floating heads the main issue is to not cut a stripe off the soldiers sleeve from sixty years ago.

DONE!

Yeah Me!

I never get to say that.

But today? I am a published photographer.

Was I paid? No, but it was a favor for my friend, Rory, Sommelier Extraordinaire over at VinoVerve.

Did I get a credit in the magazine? No. But I know that I took the picture! In fact, it was was night of the big ghost siting!

The magazine, David Burke Magazine, isn't available online yet, but I have a copy over at VinoVerve!

Yeah ME!

Well...

really,YEAH Rory!

His 777 Wine Events are scheduled for June 2-6 and December 1-5 and will benefit Common Threads, which educates children about nutrition and cooking. The program was recently featured on Bravo TV's Top Chef.