fifteen days ago I posted and then I ran off. There is so much to say and share - i am overwhelmed at where to begin. Not mention a billion photos. Ok, not a billion.
I have finished my processing my New Orleans photos and am trying to reorganize thoughts before I post them. Kate and drove to West Texas over the weekend to photograph a few families and I am still working through those images. I had a wonderful session with an awesome couple in between those trips and I am finishing up their slide-show today as well. To top it off I hosted a photo-walk at the carnival that was in town - such a wonderful time. It was great to let loose and play with light and shutter speeds. i loved just shooting creatively - embracing the eerie feel of the grain and the blur of the motion...
I have those images done and posted on Facebook and on Flickr - it's candy for the eyes.
Putting all the traveling and photography aside, i am having a great time with Kate. I think we are both just really enjoying our time together despite each others occasional crankiness. I don't really have a schedule figured out yet....
um, oops the doorbell rang. off to bounce castle heaven with the cousins. pray kate sleeps this afternoon so i can catch up on posts :)
I will be heading West in November to San Angelo for a weekend session - I have some room to fit a few other sessions in, if your interested send me at email or contact me via my website!
Right now I have Saturday morning open and all day Sunday!
**I will also be in San Angelo in December (4th thru the 6th) but I am currently booked solid for this weekend. **
I am not one to pass along a billion videos, and i am so very critical of social causes - careful about what i appear to support, so i hesitate to share this video because I have yet to even find out who produced it and what advocacy it supports - BU...T the concept is geniunely great, the exicution superb, I love the photography and the genius behind this video. now i am off to find out whats behind the video.
*update: from what i can tell it's the advocacy is for preventing child abuse in aulstralia... very interesting website.
when i was in elementary school they installed televisions in the classroom and started piping in a TV program called Channel One.
I remember this not because of the amazement that the teacher was going to "make" us watch TV at school (which to a kids seems very strange) but because I my mom's reaction. She was not happy. Not happy at all. In my child-like memories this kicked off a trend that lasted through my junior high year and let to me being home-schooled in my high-school years. Granted had I been a little less deviant my mother would not have felt so overwhelmed with fighting the propaganda AND my sudden desire to get into as much trouble as possible.
There was the school TVs teaching morals, then science teacher telling me GOD didn't exist, then SEX ED classes that showed how to use a condom on a banana (i heard that from my friend Misty because mom opted me out and I spent health class in the library).Then there was the Clinton vs. Bush election where they had our school do a mock election. I remember being with a group of girls in Math class discussing who we would vote for. When asked, I said Bush and they just stared at me until one girl said "But he is so old and I don't think even plays an instrument." (Bush Sr.)
Obviously the MTV video of Clinton playing the saxophone we watched during out social studies did wonders for his approval rating because most of the 7th grade voted for Clinton.
I as a child I remember feeling a little left out when I didn't see what the class had even if I understood why my mom chose to opt out of subjects. I remember wondering why it mattered whether I saw things or heard things - mom and I could just talk later about it.... After all I already knew that the fact I believed in God made me different. I grew up and experienced amazing things and traveled and figured out that my mom made some pretty damn good decisions raising us. I even acknowledged that they were difficult decisions.
Today I feel the weight of just how hard those decision really were. Today I am the parent. This morning as I shop for Kate's school clothes I hear how our President Obama will be addressing students across America in their classroom. Pre-K to 6th grade student will be addressed in a speech that students will watch with their class. Not their parents, their teacher. I have no idea what will be said or how it will be presented. Granted the fact that I do not agree with 99.4% of President Obama's positions doe snot help but honestly I believe that same fear would have gripped my heart if Bush or McCain ( or any other so-called republican) had been the speaker.
In my car I was transported back to the halls on my junior high-school, only I am not a junior high-schooler. I am a Mom whose child starts preschool next week. I breathed a huge sigh of relief that this doesn't immediately affect Kate but my resolve to speak out is not diminished.
Upon coming home I have jumped on the computer and looked at the worksheet of directions for teachers regarding the speech. It seems their hear is int he right place but where are the questions that question Obama? There is a general feeling of you should or have to agree with the message. As a parent I would want to know what you are going to say to my child. If it is make good grade and stay in school - hurray. But I want to see it first.
I encourage you - check out the link below to see the document given to teachers. Be prepared to discuss with your child. Ask if you can go to the school and view it as well, or how you can view the speech from work or home. Ask to opt out if you are not comfortable! Do not feel cornered by this, you are still the parent. You can choose how and where your child views this message. Express your thoughts about this to your principle. At least stop and think about this event and know what your feeling on this are. The worst thing to be is apathetic and later wish you had taken the time to make a decision - if you don't decided "yes, my child can see this at school" or "no, I do not want the politicians speaking to my child via school" - you are letting society make that decision for you.
