Friday, August 28, 2009

Happy Birthday Robin...

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“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

- Abraham Lincoln
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My daughter Robin just turned 18.

Happy Birthday baby girl!


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“It takes a long time to grow young.”

- Pablo Picasso

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Fotographic Phriday...

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“Our task must be to free ourselves...by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”

- Albert Einstein
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Little to say, in fact I'm not sure which photos I'll be posting. I usually gather 'em up and hold them in a folder until I'm ready to post. So... pardon me while I dig thru my virtual pile of photos and find some recent goodies. I'll be right back...

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ok... these are all recent.

And seriously? The photos scattered throughout the Morning Donut's archive are for sale as prints, and I could really use the money. I could use a lucrative shooting assignment as well. Heck, even a moderately good paying schtick would help. So contact me... anyway... here ya go, enjoy:

Shot at Portland's Saturday Market. The fellow with the accordian was great. I went and met a friend for lunch (Hi Cinde!) and was amazed at the quality of the street musicians... I'm not much on Arts and Crafts so I have no idea about the merchandise there but I sure enjoyed a perfect Sunday afternoon of Portland summer weather.

The couple here is from Brazil. They asked if I would take a picture for them on their camera and I said "sure, as long as I get to take one of you two for my blog." I didn't even get their names but as you can see they were enjoying their NW summer visit and more than happy to share their day with me/us.




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The Ems continue to be a wonderful venue for my work. These two shots represent a couple of different aspects of the game for me. The first, of Ems' manager Greg Riddoch, is another image portraying the human, family oriented aspect of minor league ball. The player is left-handed pitcher Nick Greenwood, introducing his dad to Rid. These guys may look like men but they're really young men - kids - and no amount of talent will serve them better than their bonds and relationships and the quality of people they encounter on their road thru (or out of) the minor leagues.



This second shot is Ems' catcher Jason Hagerty tossing his bat aside, just taking off for first after launching a pitch for a hit into the outfield. The pose is classic sports photography and it's so cool to be able to grab that specific split second. Just like Chick Hearn, Jim Murray and Vin Scully (I'm a west coast guy so forgive the obvious territorial nature of the examples) are classic sports voices, there are those moments where image wise, it all comes together. Others have done it, obviously, but within a game there are really only a limited amount of visual moments to capture and they're repeated game after game after game so it's natural to see similar images throughout a sports history.


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The rest of today's pics are from here at the farm.




























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The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.”

- Albert Einstein

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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Life, and death...

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“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one”

- Kahlil Gibran
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Walter Cronkite Dies

So long Uncle Walter, thanks for the memories... I was there pretty much the whole way. Of course journalism has changed and few it seems are those in mainstream media today who are real journalists.

Of course if you want a news desk that talks, a talking head that makes sense, I'd recommend the Daily Show's Jon Stewart. He's funny, topical, accurate, has great guests... and probably next in line for the title of "America's most trusted man." But that may just be me...
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One of my problems in posting was that my niece has just lost a baby. His birth and death are the same day. The family gathered at my sister's house for a memorial service last weekend. It was not a raucous affair but it was good seeing the family get together. My siblings and I get older. Our kids are adults (or soon-to-be adults) and there are more little ones than there were a few years ago.

I may post the photos from that service but not today. I've already loaded the ones below and I need to select the ones I want to post here. Here is Kyler's obit:

Kyler Jay Frichette

Born in Seattle, Washington on Jul. 27, 2009
Departed on Jul. 27, 2009 and resided in Elma, WA.

Kyler Jay Frichette of Elma, died Monday, July 27, 2009 at Swedish Medical Center, Seattle. Kyler is survived by his parents JD and Kirsten Frichette of Elma. He is also survived by his brother and sister, Carter & Keira Frichette of Elma and grandparents, Peggy Frichette and Lori & Curt Rupe.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Gary Frichette and great-grandparents, Sig & Vivian Erickson, Mary & Floyd Rupe and George Novotny. According to the family “Kyler Jay- the son we lost too soon, but will forever be in our hearts”.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the March of Dimes. A private celebration of Kyler’s life will be held 2PM Saturday, August 8, 2009 in Elma.


And I was asked to write a poem for my unseen and unmet nephew. Here is that poem:

Kyler Jay Frichette


aaah... little one

spark of life,

spark of love,

spark of hope...

dimmed so soon
so much too soon
but no regrets
please know my tiny nephew
all is love

a mother
a father...
family all around
who will miss you
weighted not by what wasn’t
but buoyed by loving,
sharing grief
and us all wishing you well

in peace please go
and greet
those gone before
who know our love
and will bless you just the same

In life... a glow

in the void?

who’s to know
but here...
... your light remains
the essential spark
of light
come anew in dark

Blessed babe
down the road
may we all meet you
with a smile...
a hug...
and the quiet recognition
that makes us say

“aaah...”
little one

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And here's my current offering of photos. Yep, the guy on the hay bale is me (my daughter took the photo).



















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“Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state. There is as little reason to deplore the one as there is to be pleased over the other.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

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