A Day in the life....
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 5:00AM 
There's always a useful application when you have a spare skull with horns laying around!
It's staff meeting day and I'm busy getting food this morning. I'll post more in depth tomorrow!
Yours in Western Recycling!
AG out!
humor, photography in humor Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 6:31AM 
We drove 1800 Miles in 5 days. I know you're envious! My butt may never recover!
I'll have lots of stories and pictures to share.
But for now, I must go to work...
And that means finding some clean clothes...
And, unfortunately, getting back in the car.
Yours in mental disarray,
AG out!
photography, travel, vacation in travel, vacation Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 7:48AM 
The Asthmagirl family is on the move!
K2 graciously stayed home with the Brute Squad, while myself, K3 and The Old Goat hit the road. As of this morning, we're still not sure of our destination, but we are a far piece from the homestead!
We miss you guys!
Time to hit the road!
Love to all!
Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 6:52AM 
A certain someone told me just this morning that there is bravery and charm in being spontaneous and climbing in the car for an adventure (and bringing the passports in case we veer off into Canada).
While that may be true, I admit to being somewhat disconbobulated at that thought of not only not knowing where I'm going, but if I'm going!
So here's my plan...
I have no plan.
Seriously.
But I do have poetry...
An ode to the unprepared:
Mayhem, chaos, self preservation...
Traveling without reservations...
Spontaneous makes my butt cheeks clench...
But it makes the Old Goat's heart content...
The End!
What kind of traveler are you? Reservations? Or a full tank of gas and some clean underwear?
AG out!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 6:44AM 
One of my favorite shots (above) of a girl and my her dog. While I've been doing a lot photography for work, I haven't had "fun" with my camera in a while. Shots like this remind me that I need to quit leaving it in my car and bring it in at night.
I haven't been putting much into the blog recently. While there's a lot going on right now, I'm trying to be mindful of K3's privacy and just gloss over the surface.
Testing with the autism clinic has begun, and we sat through a 2 hour intake session last week where we discussed her disability and it's impact in detail. Over all, I like the psychologist. She doesn't quite "get" K3 yet (who would after only two hours?) but she was sensitive throughout the session and went out of her way to make K3 feel really comfortable with the process.
In the meantime, K3 and I continue to try to find the balance in other areas of her life. There has been talk of doing things she has not done before and I find myself really wrestling with decisions. On the one hand, I want her to do the things she's capable of doing, and on the other... I want to keep her safe. And yes, I'm still examining the decisions around letting her ride the bus last year and the accident. I know I'm not to blame directly, and I'm not sure I could have prevented it ultimately (it might just have occured in a different time or place) but my gut told me "no" and yet I wanted her to grow, to have the opportunity. So I said yes even though I had significant misgivings. Sigh...
That doesn't mean I can swing the pendulum the other way and allow my "gut" to be my guide. My gut would love to keep her safely in the house where supposedly, all would be well!
It does mean that I'm wrestling with basic decisions that concern K3 much more. And it's not just the accident... there was an incident a few weeks ago where a young lady (similar to K3) was killed by a neighbor boy that she knew. It's hard not to project that onto K3. It's harder still to talk to K3 about safety awareness when it includes people she is used to seeing in the neighborhood.
I'm happy to report, that through it all, K3 remains happy, funny and sweet. One of the biggest results of the accident is that she and I have grown much closer. And while I'm aware that she could end up depending on me perhaps a little too much, I think for now that closeness helps us navigate the next steps for both of us.
I love that kid.
AG out
K3, dignity, disability in Daughters, What's it all about? Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 7:02AM 
Last year we took K3 on her dream vacation to Seaworld!
This year it is looking like a road trip. But we aren't sure to where...
I feel a sense of impending doom....
AG Out!
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 6:39AM 
I'm going to be a Wheemaw again!
The Old Goat and I are pretty excited!
Babies are just so fun!
But I'm feeling bad for my little girl...
I'm pretty sure she's going to look like this again.
I'm sorry Baby!
And I love you!
And don't worry....
It's just as awesome the second time as it was the first!
Love you!
Wheemaw out!
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 6:46AM 
I'm posting a few additional shots TOG and I took last weekend. I find it interesting to shoot with TOG because he sees things completely differently than I do. Not in a bad way, just differently...
Take the shot above... TOG insisted I take this shot. When I hesitated, he explained that he loved the green of the bank of trees next to the water. I felt it wasn't enough of a focol point so I framed in the rocks in front of us as well to give perspective. Otherwise it would have looked like this...
Which is the shot TOG wanted me to take. Either way, I wouldn't have shot it. Which is why it's so entertaining to do photography with him!
Now this shot I took. TOG thought it was a bad shot. He's right. It's bad in that it isn't interesting at all. That's because it is the town I live in. Nothing happens here. Let me give you a tour. See the orange cone on the far right left? That's the entrance to the harbor. We don't have a boat, so it's not interesting at all. See all the condos facing the water? This is where we can't afford to live. They have a beautiful view of Maury Island and Puget Sound. See the tiny water tower on the far left right? That's the hill I live on... That's really about all there is in our town aside from a couple of dive restaurants, a few stoplights and good proximity to the airport and the main freeway to Seattle. This is the charm of our town, this little pocket of non-development so close to the "big city"!
This concludes our tour of bad photography!
AG out!
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 7:00AM 
One of the last shots I got Sunday was this immature eagle in one of the trees overlooking the pier.
He must have had lunch up there with him. He was being yelled at by the crows and was remarkably unaffected by their ruckus! No way was he stepping away from the buffet! (I know that feeling!)
Getting ready to get K3 up. We are off to her intake session this morning. She is not looking forward to the process.
Why do some people take something "this big" and turn it into something "that big"?
I really cannot recommend getting a Chihuahua unless you're on board with the "grape sized bladder". Something must be done!
I woke up feeling like someone rammed a railroad spike in my right ear. That's normal, right? That throbbing feeling should go away by lunch time?
I think my computer ate the paperwork I needed for this morning. I left it open and now I don't see it. Crap-sicles.
Can someone take over for me for the next couple hours so I can go back to bed? Thanks!
AG out!
cheese with that whine?, photography, puget sound in Ruiners, photography, whining Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 6:54AM 
Last Sunday, on the way back from seeing my step-brother off, TOG and I stopped at the pier. The weather was mild and the sky had a few high clouds.
I set the camera up so I could shoot into the sunny clouds.
It had the added advantage of creating some neat almost-silhouettes!
I love the contrast of the warm sun, blue sky and white clouds!
And yes, I did leave my camera in my office, I did lock my door, and this was why I wanted the darn thing, I hadn't even gotten to see the shots!
What have you forgotten lately?
Wishing you a lovely Wednesday!
AG out!
