The girlie and I were reading our nightly chapters and all of a sudden she heaved.  I grabbed a cup that was sitting beside the bed.  She began sweating profusely, and was burning up.  She vomited about two tablespoons worth, and cooled right back down.  Feeling fine again.  The whole thing lasted about six minutes.  Now she’s sleeping soundly  Have you ever heard of some type of bug that is lightening fast like that?  It was just crazy.  I’m very relieved she’s feeling right as rain so quickly…  but jeepers.

As for our other news, the puppies had a vet visit today.  They got their DAPP shot (their one and only shot), were weighed and inspected.  Deedee weighs in at a whopping 2.2 kgs (which is roughly 4.8 pounds) and Alice is a massive 2.5 kg (roughly 5.5 pounds).  Okay, so they are absolutely a perfect size for female Chihuahuas – and right about where I guessed they were.  But still.  They are big compared to the other two – especially Marnie, who may not be itty bitty for a Chihuahua, is pretty darn tiny compared to the rest of them.  In no other breed is size so wide spread.  Can you imagine another where you can show a dog who is 1/3 the size of another both in the same breed?  The vet said they are both in great condition, and was impressed by their temperaments as well.  What can I say, the girls are awesome!

Aphrodite is holding a contest for the mortal girls of Greece, when Lily-Ann exclaims “Hey!”

“Hey what?” say I.

“There can be two Goddesses of Love!  Aphrodite is the Goddess of love for the Greeks, and Isis is the Goddess of love for the Egyptians.  They don’t have to fight, they can both be the Goddess Girls of love!”

“Oh my goodness!”  I marvel at her wit, “You’re right.  I wonder what will happen next in the book.  Do you think they might figure that out?”

“I don’t know momma.  Keep reading!”

Seriously, is there anything more cool than the aha moments of a clever four year old?

A page or so later we read how Aphrodite is confiding in Ares, about how she feels about her part in the Trojan “incident”.  When another lightbulb goes off:  “Mom!  We’ve read about Odysseus before, in another chapter book.”

“That’s right, he fought in the Trojan war.  We’ve talked about him a few times, haven’t we?”  She nods her head enthusiastically.  “It’s neat when we meet the same characters in different books, isn’t it?”  She grins and nods again.

Lily-Ann asks “Do you remember the Trojan horse?” the wheels obviously turning, making connections.  Then she giggles over the brilliance of Odysseus and the lack of foresight demonstrated by the Trojans.

“I do.”  I smile at her and give her side a little tickle.  “Should I keep reading?”

“Yes Mom.”

We settle back in for some more cuddles and read on.

Is it any wonder this is my favourite time of day?   

Hmmm…  Now I have a choice.  Do I blog about how silly it is that I get all excited knowing someone cared enough to click like, comment, or rate my post?  How us bloggers are so very fickle and need our egos stroked constantly?  Or do I rant and rail against this pop culture version of ourselves that is likely to be remembered vs. the truth of ourselves?  Ooooo… there’s a third choice here.  I can turn to YOU, the folks who satisfy that need for attention, and ask you to weigh in.  Of course, if I put it out there, if I ask the question, and no-one writes back?  That would be crushing.    Well…  maybe not crushing, but it certainly wouldn’t feel good.

So, perhaps all I’ll leave you with is this, which is something I can admit to identifying with:

“I haven’t had an orthodox career, and I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!”

- Sally Field’s famous, often misquoted, acceptance speech.

A couple of days ago I had one of those fabulous “YAY ME!” parenting moments.  One of those moments where you know you got it right, in spite of it all (or, occasionally in spite of yourself).  And you can’t help but pat yourself on the back, mentally anyway.

I was watching the most recent episode of Glee with my husband while kid-kid was playing near by.  Hearing them begin a song she rushed over (she loves to dance and sing along – when it’s one she knows).  Afterwards she asked who Mercedes was singing about.  I replied “Sam”.  It was a love song after all, and the girl just had to have more info.  Not a fan of the show herself (she just enjoys the music) she, not knowing who that was, didn’t skip a beat asking me “Is that a boy or a girl?”.  All I could think was YAY!

Honestly, the fact that Lily-Ann didn’t automatically assume that since Mercedes is a girl that her love interest would be a boy just made my heart sing.  Yep.  It was definitely a proud “yay me!” type moment.  There is definitely hope for this generation.  The fact that it’s a complete non-issue for the kid is such an amazing thing to me.  Even though she is inundated with societies vision of a “normal” couple, a boy girl pairing, she knows that other couplings are equally normal and natural.  It’s a good thing.

Bad News

• If you are delivering news of a break up, do it in person.  It’s uncomfortable, so a meal is not necessary.  Just a quick get in, get out, meeting at a coffee shop works.
• If you are sharing news about a negative diagnosis or any kind of medical issues, do it in person.  A meal in a quiet restaurant, or take out in your dining room is best.  Food and wine always go a long way in situations like these.
• If a family member or loved one has suffered a tragedy or passed from this life, if at all possible that’s an in person encounter if I’ve ever come across one.  And this news?  There is no way for this to be good.  Do it at home, where you’ll both feel comfortable going to pieces.

Good News

• If you want to take your relationship to the next level (be it going steady, moving in, getting married, or what-have-you), that’s an in person conversation.  And it can happen in almost any context and end up pleasant.
• If you sharing news of your nuptials with individuals who mean a lot to you, but who couldn’t be there (whether you eloped, or just had a tiny service, whatever), totally something you do in person.  Invite the other party out to a nice restaurant.  Food and wine are definitely in order.
• If you’re having a baby, don’t break that news from a distance.  Head out to a nice brunch spot, share something light and yummy, and toast the new bun in your oven with a nice sparkling flavoured water.  Hugs, and potentially happy tears, will be shared!

So don’t let your sister find out from your Twitter feed that you’re pregnant, don’t tell your son over the phone that you had a private service and got married, don’t break up with someone via your blog, and don’t let your granddaughter find out you have three months to live by way of BBM.  There is just some news that is best delivered in person, whether it’s to share a hug, a toast, or a cry…  Certain news simply demands a meet-up.

As the Sparks would say: “Share and Be a Friend”.

Damon and I have been together for 15 and a half years…  and we have never gone on a vacation.  Not a real one anyway.  Not even a honeymoon.  We’ve gone places to visit family, or gone camping overnight…  but that’s it.  So this will be our first trip too.  It’s kind of an intimidating idea.

There are just so many things that we really need the money for, it makes it hard to think about spending that kind of cash on something that only lasts for a matter of days.  But there are only a few times in a persons life where the magic of a place like Disney World really is pure magic…  and that would last forever.

I remember going when I was nine (well…  to Disney Land though, not Disney World).  And already, by that time, I was very conscious about what was cool and what wasn’t.  As much as I wanted to go running up to Chip and Dale, I held back.  It wouldn’t have been cool for me to seem impressed by these costumed characters.  So I didn’t.  At nine, the magic was already waning.

All I know, is that if Lily were there right now?  If she saw Ariel and Cinderella?  They would really be Ariel and Cinderella!  They wouldn’t be women in costume, they would be the real princesses, and it would be magic!  If we can find a way to do that, how could we possibly consider not giving her that gift?

So…  we’re going to look into a Disney vacation.  If we can make it work, and we’re going to give it our very best, then we’re going to do it.  Because those things that need our attention will always need our attention, but our little girl won’t always be our little girl, and the magic of a place like Disney World won’t last long.

Post number 600.

I’ve been blogging here for a couple years now, almost daily (generally not on Fridays).  600 posts though, that seems like a lot.  Granted I don’t always have something interesting to say.  I’ve posted ridiculous things like a snapshot of our refillable slurpee cups at 7-11.  But I think I’ve also covered a lot of serious issues too.  Generally, I’m happy to log on after putting the girl to sleep, and just share whatever happens to be on my mind…  and, as I’ve mentioned, sometimes there’s not a lot there. 

My point?  Well…  I just wanted to say thank you.  Thanks for sticking through it with me.  Thanks for the “likes”, for the stars, for the comments…  thanks for the love. 

It’s been a ride!  (and no, I’m not going anywhere…  just feeling kinda pensive about the whole thing)  LMAO

I’m trying to be a supportive person.  Trying to encourage others.  Trying to support my fellow women doing what they believe is best for themselves and their families…  but really?  It’s a slap in the face to dedicated professionals when someone just decides to photograph people because clearly anyone can do it.  Ugh.

So please don’t brag to me, or anywhere you know I’ll see it, about the cool props you are buying (real photographers don’t rely on props – they are the tools of fauxtogs and momtogs).  Please don’t tell me about the “how to pose babies” books you are hoping to buy (real photographers don’t rely on posing techniques – they are for Sears, Walmart, and other fauxtogs).  Please don’t expect me to get excited about the huge money you’re going to make with a limited time/money investment (sorry, but that’s just not the way it works, photography is an expensive art form to be involved in).

I want to be supportive of you.  I know you aren’t trying to be insulting.  But please, please don’t expect me to say I think this new venture of yours is great…  because it’s just not.  And in my years of working as a dedicated professional I’ve seen so many “FLASH” in the pan fauxtogs come and go, and every one of you makes my work more difficult.  Every client you disappoint is that much less likely to put their trust in an actual professional photographer in the future.  And those you fool into thinking your stuff is great?  Well…  boy…  that doesn’t make it true.

I’m sorry if I sound bitter and jaded, I really do want to support you in your choices…  but it really is insulting when you figure that just by buying a semi-decent camera that you can do what it has taken me years and years of experience and dedication to learn, understand, and create.  So yeah.  Forgive me if I don’t throw you a party.

Ugh.

Of course, WordPress isn’t protesting on behalf of gender issues, it’s doing so to help prevent the potential screening and censoring of content on the web.  Another important issue that could affect us all.  But in all honesty, these repeating black boxes got me thinking.  Children are essentially raised to be censored.

As a society we don’t raise our children to be radical free thinkers out to change the rules and defy convention.  We raise our children to fit in, to maintain the status quo, to work within the system, to be censored – by us, by society, by themselves.  It’s a sad state of affairs.

Colour within the lines.

Present yourselves as society deems appropriate.

Working on the Power of SHe project has been challenging if for no other reason than I am forcing myself and my models to defy convention.  There are many shots that I have set up in my mind, but finding women brave enough and strong enough to participate with me is hard.  I don’t want airbrushed, magazine ready bodies.  I want real women, PERFECT in their natural, untended, and even derelict form.  Mother’s aprons, scars, celluloid, stretch marks – part of lives well lived.  Time for them to be celebrated not censored.  Love yourself in your decrepitude.  It’s time to teach our daughters a new standard of beauty, one free of censored black boxes and filled with the rosy pink hues of love.

Get involved!  I need you!  Please.

You can drop me a line any time to volunteer for this project – photographer at tobi-dawne dot com

Let’s break free of the black boxes society insists on using to mask and muffle us.  Embrace all it is to be a Woman, and celebrate in your own flesh!

The last information I can find about George comes direct from the Galapagos Conservatory website:  http://www.galapagos.org/2008/index.php?id=270 – but it’s dated almost a year ago, January 21st 2011.  The big news was that they’d be pairing George up with a couple new females who they think may turn out to be a better genetic match for possible reproduction purposes.  Here’s hoping!

But still, for a giant tortoise who is so loved all over the world, to just drop off the radar seems a little odd.  Does anyone have any information from the last year?  Any idea how things are going for George and his new girls?  Any further information on Tony and whether or not his genetic testing confirmed his species?

I was hoping to have something new and interesting to bring to Lily-Ann.  After all, a little girl asking questions about an animal that is one or two individuals away from extinction can only lead to good things.  I certainly hope to propel her interest forward, but it appears I may need some help digging up some new information on our old friend.

photograph of Lonesome George by A. Davey