Birthday at home

JaMarr spent today with his two-year-old daughter Mia on her birthday, the first ever she has spent with her father because of his tour in Iraq.

Nice night

I had a great night. I got to make some football photos in the day light (Always a gift) I ate nachos, one of the sports reporters bought me pizza, I got to watch my old marching band on the fieldat half time from the press box and I scored some senior pictures on the way to my car. It was a late one but well worth a night under the lights.

Eggs

My aunt hatched a batch of chickens this week. I'll get my pick come spring.

Happy

My dad got married on Saturday. It's good to see him happy.

More rain

Friday night brought more football and the rain. I waited in the rain shifting from one over hang to another inbetween darting out to snap a few frames of everything but the football action unfolding. her are a few of my favorites. There's stil nothing like the Friday night lights.

Pigskin

It's that time of year again when I give up my Friday nights at home to spend them making photos of the area's finest gridiron athletes. There is nothing else like Friday night football. I spent tonight at my first game of the season, man does it feel good to be back.

Carpet

Yep that's what was on the outside of this car heading east on Oak Street this afternoono while I was out driving aorund. I had to snap a picture.

All love

, "When I look back at my life, it's all been good" Clarence N. Cooper, 88 said while while visiting with a neighborhood stray sitting on the side stoop of his 11th Street home Monday afternoon. Cooper who has lived in his home for about 60 years visits with the cat every day making sure he puts out some dry food. "If it eats it will stay warm," Cooper said. "He's just all love," he said petting the cat with affection, "that's what he is."

Dutchman

This dude calls himself the Dutchman, his last name is Van Vranken and hes traveling from Minneapolis, Minn. on his way to New York City in his motorized wheel chair and happens to be passing trough Port Huron of all places. He called the paper yesterday to make sure we go someone out to cover him. Nothing like trying to toot your own horn.

This and that

Yesterday was donkey baseball I felt bad for the little guys. Today I visited a car show in the rain. car people are crazy.

A runt

These are a couple from today. A local barber shop argument and a concert at a local park. I've been in a runt and I know it shows. I feel like I'm just going through the motions, pushing the button and hoping something nice shows up in my little black box. I need to start making pictures again instead of just taking them. Tomorrow I'm going to try hard to start seeing again.

Impala

I photographed John Delay's 1965 Impala this afternoon. He was chosen by GM to display his baby at a site in Detroit during the Dream Cruise this weekend. It sure was pretty.

Lillian Peacock

I met Lillian by chance, fate some would call it. She was at the Smiths Creek Jazz Festival, one those events that used to be the one thing each summer that everyone looked forward to. There were memories of great music and even better food but for one reason or another the event just fizzled out. That is for a hand full of people who would show up every year even if there were nothing to see. After talking with the Peacock family I learned that they grew up neighbors to my relatives on Palms Road. When I asked Lillian how old she was I was surprised and thrilled by her response." I was born Oct. 12, 1922" she said. "Thats my birthday I said." "It was mine first," she joked with her old lady laugh. As the blues tunes started jamming Lillian got up to dance. "I've been dancing on stage since the age of 12," she said while shaking her hips like someone three times younger, " I ain't going anywhere till the good Lord takes me." I got her address, I think I'll send her a birthday card.

CURB SIDE

That was the slug on the assignment to photograph some furniture at some local yard sales. I just like this one.

Mike and Jeff

The Yale Music Fest kicks off this weekend. These guys are part of the Integrity Clubhouse band who will kick off the festival. The clubhouse is a place for adults with mental illness to spend their time. Mike and Jeff were hanging out while I was setting up my lights for the shoot. They make me feel good inside.

Rain

It rained Sunday. The first showers in more than a couple weeks.

Three-on-three

On Saturday I was assigned to go to an NCAAP picnic in town. Not to many people showed up but there was still three-on-three basketball. The kid on the left is calling the game waiting for his time on the court.

Lots of beans

This is David. He's a farmer with a lot of land. He was pointing out how far his bean field goes. David is one of those guys that don't get out much. It took me a half hour or more to make it back to my car after taking his picture.

Cats

I went to the pound Thursday to photograph the many cats that the county is forced to deal with on a daily bases. Turns out the county has so many stray cats that they don't have space to house all of them. This one was one of the lucky. He was healthy enough to be adopted.