Random

This week didn't turn out exactly as planned.  Lots of unexpected things; some good and some bad so blogging took a backseat (and therefore, so did posting those photos that never made it to blogland.)

And I'm feeling kind of random today, so I've got random stuff for you (mostly answers to questions that people have asked.)...

- Josh ran the Cascade Lakes relay a couple of weeks back.  This is his third year running it.  Basically, he sleeps in a van and runs a total of three legs.  This year he ran an 8.7 mile leg, a 7.4 mile leg and a 2.4 mile leg.

- The white paint I use in my house is Betsey's Linen from Valspar.

- The white sweater I wore while I was teaching the other day is from INC. and I got it from Macy's.

- That flower shaped shell necklace I wear (all the time) is from some shop in New Orleans and I can't believe how many random comments I get on it even out in public.

- I'm not teaching a Fall online Photographers' Workshop so my next class won't be until Jan. 2011.  (Registration for that class is on Nov. 1st at 6pm Pacific time.)

- Josh was holding a jellyfish in that shot at the beach.

- Josh was on a flight home from somewhere and was talking to some guys that looked a bit different than the kind of guys Josh would normally strike up a conversation with.  But they were nice, so he just kept talking to them for awhile.  A bit later, people started coming up and asking for their autographs and then they left.  After they left, Josh and the old lady sitting next to him asked someone who they were.  Turns out it was the band Everclear.  Then the old lady next to Josh said, I can't wait to tell my son that I was sitting in a bar next to ZZ Top.

- Annie has no problem with getting her jumpsuits off in time to use the restroom.  No accidents (knock on wood.)

- Josh's headlamp is from Big 5 Sports.

- The book Josh has been reading is called A Patriot's History of the United States.

- I feel burned out on blogging and I hope that feeling goes away soon.

- Seems like anytime our dog shows up in pictures, I get lots of questions about her.  Her name is Shelby and Josh got her as a pup few months before we met.  So she's almost six.  (And if you look back through the archives of my blog, she's in the background of lots of shots.)

- I took the girls to see Ramona & Beezus the other day and they loved it.

- Someday I'll write a full post about it since there's always lots of questions but, Josh and I have a blended family.  When we met, I already had Ross & Coley and he already had Courtney Lee.  Then together, we have Annie.  I've always had full custody of the boys but we share custody of Courtney with her Mom (two weeks with us and two weeks with her mom) which is why Courtney Lee is sometimes absent from photos.

- Almost all of the clothes I buy for the kids, I get from Target, Old Navy and Crazy 8.  Occasionally I'll get stuff from Gymboree, Janie & Jack and Boden but in general, they're too expensive for me. (Actually, they're too expensive for my frugal husband.)

- Some unfortunate circumstances have made it so one of the gals who planned to attend the Cocoa Daisy trip to Greece can't make it and she's hoping to sell her spot to someone at a discounted rate.  If you're interested, email her (Louis) at LAllen341@triad.rr.com.  (I'll be teaching the The Photographers' Workshop in Greece and Ali Edwards and Jenni Bowlin will be teaching classes as well.)

- I'm sure I've missed some questions so feel free to post them in the comments section and I'll update this post with my additional answers in red.

And one of Courtney Lee from a few months back.

Comments

[Laurel]

We used Betsey's Linen as the ceiling & trim paint in our bedroom. We combined it with this awesome blue that is the color of the sky on a crisp fall day. I think it was actually called October Sky. Anyway - Betsey's Linen is a great shade of white!

My hubby is ready "A Patriot's History of the United States" too. He'll read it for a bit and then set it aside - I guess it's a bit much to read for a long period of time?

Hope things settle down and you can enjoy a peaceful fall :)

[karlalala]

okay, bad blog feeling... GO AWAY!!

[susan]

Karen just want to say thanks for being you! You are pretty terrific and hope you give yourself a little break. Take care, Susan

[Carol Sell]

I miss your blog and the wonderful pictures! It's OK, I hope you will take as much time as you need. How ever long that is, it will be worth it to see you back some day and know you are back because it is what you really want to do. Enjoy life, know you are loved, and be happy with your family.

[Ladonna]

Love reading your blog, but never commented before. I mostly lurk around to see your pictures--they are beautiful! Hope to take your photography class one day. Your last several posts make me feel like we're on the same wave length though (just lots of states away). My husband is reading A Patriots History of the US (I recognized it in the picture purely by its large size) and he recently finished (and I recently started) Andy Stanley's Character series and has been recommending it to everyone. God is so good to prepare us ahead of time for the tough stuff that He allows us to go through. Look forward to being able to have hind-sight to see exactly what He was trying to accomplish sometimes though.
I'll pray for your family--God knows why and that's good enough.

[viagra online]

This is truly a Revolting Development as William Bendix use to say on TV in a different generation or two ago. Maybe three. I'm thinking seriously now about Mac and also about selling my stock.

[Supra Shoes For Girls]

"Yes, and No" I replied. I made my way to closet and pulled open the door and crawled into Narnia. The sheets they'd hung from nails on the 2 x 4's were still there along with an assortment of stuffed animals. I started to weep. For a few moments I could hear the sounds of their laughter again, sounds muffled by the walls that stood between me and them all those years ago. Narnia brought me to tears.

Dave and Sarah came by as the sun was beginning to setasdf. Dave wanted a picture of us in front of the house. As Sarah hugged me and whispered in my ear, "Thank you..." I felt the emotions sweep over me again. The tears came uncontrollably.