Uploads from blogrodent, tagged michigan, with geodata

Snowshield

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:00:34 -0800

blogrodent posted a photo:

A week or so ago we had a nice fluffy snowfall that was perfect for making snowballs. But rather than get my hands cold with a snowball or snowman, I got out my iPhone. When I got into my car I saw that the snow still looked quite fluffy, even from the inside.

Since it was nighttime, I also grabbed my mult-bulb LED wand and held it outside the windshield with one hand while composing and shooting with the other.

No snowmen were harmed in the production of this photo.

Lone

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 01:17:34 -0800

blogrodent posted a photo:

Just a tree I spied one afternoon on my way home. I am always happy when I can find a lone subject standing against an empty sky—hard to do, even in the suburbs.

The bonus here is the cloudcover. It's always nice when the skies comply.

Leather & Carpet, 1 of 2

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 02:41:54 -0800

blogrodent posted a photo:

I really don't have a clever title for this one, I was just sitting and enjoying a nice rest after services at Ada Bible Church when I decided to catch a couple shots of the leather and carpet nearby.

Christmas Bounty!

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:15:38 -0800

blogrodent posted a photo:

This was the sight that greeted the children and the rest of the family when we awoke on Christmas morning last week. Wow! Four families and gifts for over a dozen people really adds up fast!

And, yes, we confirmed that Dollar Store gifts take up just as much space as anything from Saks Fifth Avenue! It's a Festivus miracle!

Memories of a Warmer Day.

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:12:16 -0800

blogrodent posted a photo:

I took this a few weeks ago, just before the start of the cold – really cold – season here in Michigan. I was playing around with the new camera app, KitCam, by the makers of one of my favorite editing apps, PhotoForge2.

I'm a little undecided about it. I don't really see myself using it as a camera app – I had hoped to be able to import photos to use the editing tools. But, apparently, the importing is not working for me. We'll see, maybe a future update will address this before I delete the app for much-needed space.

Bilingual children better learn more... Or else!

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 13:35:34 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

(But bilingual editors should learn more better.)

It's all about the artistic vision.

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:53:31 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Just paused whileadministering Caleb's shave to explain the look that she is going for – I think she wanted to see what he would look like as an aging man with a very receding hairline – with a pinkish hue.

Meanwhile, we were all getting itchy under our collars because hairs were flying around and we all felt like they were getting down our shirts. Even if that wasn't the case, just a suggestion of it was enough to make us all feel like we were wearing burlap.

Just thinking about that now makes me feel itchy!

(This is one of a set of images I took while celebrating Jessica this last Sunday with a handful of her coworkers and friends. Jessica is who is fighting breast cancer right now, and we've got her back.)

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Birthday Girl!

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:38:45 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Today, we celebrated Julianna's fourth birthday. She has completed the first four years of her life's journey, and now begins her fifth. This was a great birthday for her – now that she is able to communicate so much more effectively than before.

For the last year-and-a-half Juli has been going to public school as a pre-preschooler because she has had speech development difficulties. At the end of the last school year, we met with her educators and school staff to conduct her Individual Education Plan for this current year. At that time, we agreed that her developmental delay was still significant enough to warrant another year in school. But, somehow, over the summer she grew enormously in her ability to communicate effectively. Along with her speech skills has come an explosion of personality and vivaciousness! The little girl she is today is almost unrecognizable in personality from the little old girl she was one year ago.

Seriously: A year ago she needed an interpreter. Today, she makes her opinions known on everything!

Fortunately, she's still at an age where a trip to the dollar store can supply endless hours of birthday entertainment and much-appreciated gift-giving. I am enjoying that while it lasts, for sure!

Happy birthday, Juli!

(PS, On her first day at school this year, her teachers said that if it weren't for the IEP and the legal requirements to follow through on its recommendations, she would no longer need speech therapy. Yay!)

In Tribute: Michael Clarke Duncan

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:06:10 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Hollywood and the entertainment world lost a bright and gentle star this morning when Michael Clarke Duncan died from complications due to a heart attack he suffered several weeks ago on July 13.

This Chicago Southside native came from humble beginnings and by all accounts never lost his sense of humility even after he finally achieved his childhood dream and became a Hollywood star in his own right.

A college dropout, he returned home to care for his family and worked as a gas company ditch digger for several years – his coworkers often called him "Hollywood," and taunted him, saying, "Bruce Willis just called and wants you to audition!" in fact, Bruce Willis did call, and he did audition (for Frank Darabont), landing his breakout role as John Coffey in "The Green Mile."

Every account I've read of this gentle giants life and relationships indicate that he was as humble and gentle in person as his character was on "The Green Mile." I well remember seeing him the first time on that film and being deeply impressed with this stage presence, his emotional delivery, and thinking that I hoped I would see him in future films. I was delighted when he was cast as a costar on the TV series "The Finder." I enjoyed watching him in every episode and loved his brilliant, penetrating smile that seems genuine and always full of warmth.

He died so young – he will be missed.

Grand Rapids First Assembly of God

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:19:16 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Shot this photo as I walked into church – wonderful clouds!

I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-McDonaldian

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:45:04 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Ellie, escaping the heat at McDonalds.

Chillin' at McDonald's

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:19:48 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

It's too hot at home--too hot outside!

Chucklehead

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:07:37 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

I amuse myself, apparently. :)

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Seven completed (4 of 5)

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:16:54 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

She's big on unwrapping presents. This was an art set, I believe, which turned out to be a big hit.

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Seven completed… Oooh, pretty! (2 of 5)

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:11:54 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

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Seven completed and wish made (5 of 5)

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:16:02 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

This is some kind of cake with sparkly Jello topping with a cleverly carved rabbit made from an egg (mixed metaphor, I know).

We celebrated Ellie's seventh birthday last year at her favorite restaurant: Red Sun Buffet. Why is it her favorite? It's because she's enrolled in "Chinese Immersion" language study at school and when she comes here, they treat her like a princess, call her by her Chinese name, and generally make a fuss over her.

As do we all. :)

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Seven completed, Chopsticks Mastered (1 of 5)

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:09:41 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

We celebrated Ellie's seventh birthday last year at her favorite restaurant: Red Sun Buffet. Why is it her favorite? It's because she's enrolled in "Chinese Immersion" language study at school and when she comes here, they treat her like a princess, call her by her Chinese name, and generally make a fuss over her.

As do we all. :)

(2011-03-31-ellie-birthday-01978-new)

Seven completed, wishes to contemplate (3 of 5)

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:12:06 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

Making a wish!

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Ped Xing

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:08:55 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

I think she's modeling for me. But she might also be waiting to cross the road — and she might be waiting because I'm lying it it looking for the perfect shot.

Silly dads.

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Private Joke

nobody@flickr.com (blogrodent) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 11:08:56 -0700

blogrodent posted a photo:

This is AJ at Ellie's seventh birthday, at Red Sun Buffet in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I really have no idea what he's smirking over, but it was too priceless an expression to pass up.

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