by Lucky Red Hen on July 7, 2007
This is my daddy (hi, daddy). I am very proud of my dad.
He married my mom when I was just 5, moved us around the country (California, Florida, New Mexico 5th grade through junior in HS & Washington for senior year plus a couple years) and out of it (Germany for 3) while serving in the armed forces long enough to retire a Lt. Colonel (he once had a job that was so top secret that his office was in an actual vault – pretty dang cool).
He graduated with his bachelors degree from the University of Washington in his early 20’s, flew as a navigator in fighter jets (went to the REAL “Top Gun”) and aerial refueling tanker aircrafts. He worked with the DEA tracking drug dealers and was offered a job as dean of a state university (but it was in a farming state so I’m glad it didn’t work out because I thought I’d have to walk my cow to high school). His nickname in the military was “Doc” because he’s so friggin’ smart. With all that experience, expertise and training he decided after retiring that he’d go get a job to keep him busy, supplement the retirement pay and have fun with people… so he went to a casino to be a game dealer.
Craps is our family specialty but he can deal anything. Seriously, what some call “family night” we would set up the craps table downstairs and double down and yell for 7 or 11 :o)
Anyway… he didn’t last long dealing (which is too bad because he has fun doing it) and soon moved into supervisory type positions because he was over-qualified.
Long story short he decides to sell the house in Spokane (Mead, technically, but more people have heard of Spokane… just like we say we’re from Seattle but really it’s Redmond or Woodinville), move to Reno, Nevada (Fernley, technically), and attend UNR to get his MBA, concentrating on Casino Management plus work full-time at a casino.
On May 18, 2007, my dad graduated with a 4.0 as the TOP SCHOLAR (number 1, as in no other nor a tie) in the MBA graduate program, summa cum laude, at UNR.
I wish I could’ve been there cheering him on but since I wasn’t I dedicate this post to my daddy.
“Way to go, daddy!”
by Lucky Red Hen on July 6, 2007
Daisy… look over here.
Now smile, Daisy.
Daisy… smile BIGGER!
by Lucky Red Hen on July 6, 2007
I set her up with…
him on the 4th of July as a blind date.
I think they look pleased with my selection.
He was subjected to all her extended family at a BBQ (and survived) then they went to the Stadium of Fire in Provo for Brooks & Dunn and fireworks.
by Lucky Red Hen on June 30, 2007
“How’d you come up with the name Piper?” I get asked that often when people hear her name.
With Jack, it was easy because my grandpa Jack was dying when I was pregnant and he never had children of his own (married my grandma when her kids were older). Luckily, I was able to ask him if we could name our baby after him if we found out it was a boy. He was pleased and said yes.
With Piper, it was much more tricky. I wasn’t thinking of using a family name (no particular reason, just wasn’t). Pouring over movie credits (am I the only one that does that?), book authors, newspaper articles, fictional characters, books and online… I burnt Ben out by asking him too much (at least 3 names per day). He finally put his foot down and gave me the duty of picking the name and didn’t want me EVER to ask him what he thought of a name again (I was pretty bad). Well, that was even MORE pressure and I got more absorbed into the meanings and history of names. I kept a list of names that were possibilities…
- Greta
- Janie (thought I could get a discount at Janie & Jack children’s clothing store)
- Jillian (Jack & Jill — too much but I almost did… then thought of Lillian)
- Perri
- Simone
- Adde
- Livi (or Liv)
- Clarisse (too bad Hannibal Lecter ruined that name because it WAS pretty)
- Viane (pronounced vee-ann)
- Quinn (“wise” and Shannon means “old wise one”)
- Addelade
- Ava
- Cloe (what the… that doesn’t look right)
- Chloe
- Ivy
- Demi (Ben really hated this one but it was in my top 3)
- Julia (“youthful”)
- Juliana/Julianna (I had crossed out the 2nd N so it’d sound like yawn not ann)
- Emme
- Lyla (“from the island”)
- Lexy (one letter off sexy)
- Lexi (“valiant defender of mankind” and a former nickname of mine)
- Ella (“beautiful fairy woman”)
- Carmella (“golden” – my grandmothers name was Carmen)
- Carlie/Carly (“little, womanly”)
- Georgia
- Marilyn (too Manson these days)
- Sammi
- Dior
- Deja (too Déjà Vu like the strip club)
- Avalyn (might be a book title or township in Europe)
- Piper
- Luca
- Adela
- Mae
- Adel
My mom was at the airport on her way here when I called my dad and told him I thought of the name Piper out of the blue (didn’t read it or hear it although I have heard it through the media long ago). He liked it and called my mom at the airport to tell her the name. Before he could say it SHE said she just thought of Piper as a name for the baby. Doo do doo do!
The next day she and I took Jack to Park City to kill some time. While at the toy shop I found some handmade alphabet bead cubes and spelled out P I P E R to show my mom how cute the name looks. On a whim, I decided to spend the $2.50 and buy the beads whether or not that’s the name because it’d be a fun story to tell later.
The next day was my baby shower. One of the activities (I love to play games) was having the guests suggest baby names. Well, some of the names were ridiculous; Joette wrote down her name, Aunt Diane wrote “Princess Anastasia Diane” and a good neighbor writing Cere (like it’s short for Cereal).
Ben saw the list on the counter when he got home. Glancing through the suggestions, balking at the silly ones I mentioned, he said, “Who wrote Piper?” Because of our little rule about not asking about names I said, “Why?” He replied, “I LIKE it! That’s what we should name the baby – Piper!”
by Lucky Red Hen on June 29, 2007
by Lucky Red Hen on June 28, 2007
[edit]
WARNING: SPOILER (do not read if you don’t know who was cut this week)…
Do any of my readers watch So You Think You Can Dance?
If so, how’d you feel about tonights elimination of Jessi Peralta?
I am disappointed about her being eliminated so soon. Her performances have been strong and I absolutely love watching her and Pasha together. There are other girls that are better dancers on the show, and she is not my favorite, but she is at least 2 weeks away from being cut in my opinion.
Wish the judges would’ve given more insight in their decision making process because I just don’t get it. Is it because she has fallen for Pasha, the emergency incident yesterday or her desire to be an overall performer and not JUST a dancer?
Dangit. That bums me out. Somebody want to make me feel better here?
by Lucky Red Hen on June 26, 2007
I know it’s silly, but I have a thing for the Mac vs. PC commercials and now I have a favorite song for the week.
by Lucky Red Hen on June 22, 2007
This is for all the photographers out there. I am going to this workshop and so can you! When Jose Villa told me about this months ago (at the very memorable trip to California), I committed myself to going. Luckily I have a very supportive husband that trusts my judgement to send me solo to Mexico (where I’ve never been before) for a week with a bunch of strangers hahaha. Each attendee is responsible to pay for tuition, airfare & room accomodations but everything else (including ground transportation and food/beverage) is included! The registration just opened so if you’re interested in having an unbeatable life experience, vacation in Mexico and hang out with me (all the information is listed in this post) then click on this next line (hurry!)…
Jose Villa Fine Art Photography Workshop in Mexico
with special guest speakers Jesh de Rox and Dennis Orchard
Sponsored by Fuji, Cypress Albums and Richard Photo Lab
November 11-14 (the June 2007 Singapore workshop SOLD OUT)
Limited space available (only 12 people)
Fly in to Guadalajara, Mexico airport (need your valid passport)
Reserve the free 30 minute shuttle ride to hotel by emailing Jose Villa your arrival date, time & flight #.
Hacienda El Carmen Hotel & Spa in Ahualulco, Jalisco Mexico
$140.40/night pp double occupancy or $190.71/night pp single occupancy
(the regular rate is $187.20 and $257.40 respecitively; prices include fees & tax)
- Sunday
5pm dinner Meet and Greet at Hacienda El Carmen Hotel & Spa
- Monday
9am introduction, Jose Villa portfolio, overview of schedule
11am leave for 1.5hr drive to 400yr old private Hacienda La Sauceda for ½ day model shoot
- Tuesday
9a special guest Jesh de Rox “Passion Behind the Camera”
Jose Villa on marketing, advertising and client meetings
- Wednesday
9am special guest Dennis Orchard from the UK & WPPI judge “Print Competitions”
Photo shoot in the market place of Tonoia, Mexico (30 minute drive from hotel)
Critique from Monday’s photo shoot at Hacienda La Sauceda
Magazine submissions; what the editors love to see and what they’re not telling you
Question and answer session
Other topics that will be covered during the workshop:
- how to book Destination Weddings
- keeping it simple with composition
- finding a style that works for you
- creating a niche market for fine art weddings
- developing relationships with vendors so they do the talking for you
- one on one portfolio review
- using natural light to create fine art images
- it’s all about art… let’s talk about it
- how to get the word out; marketing and advertising
- now that you have the art, sell it
- the easy way to anti-pose a couple
INCLUDED IN TUITION:
ground transportation to/from Guadalajara airport and photo shoots
food (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and beverages
models, their dresses, make-up and floral arrangements
unlimited Fuji 220 and 35mm film (400 and 800 iso) for film shooters
one 4gb SanDisk compact flash card per digital shooter
50% off first Cypress album
50% off all processing and printing of workshop images at Richard Photo Lab
EACH ATTENDEE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR & ARRANGING:
Tuition: $1000 deposit to reserve your spot; $950 balance due by October 10
Airfare to Guadalajara, Mexico and room accommodations
Jesh de Rox:
Jesh is one of the most talented Fine Art Wedding photographers I know andI am super excited to have him present at the Mexico workshop. We have becomegreat friends over the past year. You don’t want to miss this amazing opportunity.
– Jose Villa
Dennis Orchard:
Dennis is an award winning UK photographer and one of the top judges at WPPI.He will also be joining us and presenting on competition submissions, what thejudges look for and what is up and coming in our wedding photography industry.Dennis shot a wedding with me in Scotland and we’ve become great friends.
– Jose Villa
This is my daddy (hi, daddy). I am very proud of my dad.
