TP: 2009, The Year That Was (Boys and Dogs)

Oh yes it was!

TP: 2009, The Year That Was (XBox360)

I love this theme, I love the idea of the project containing a phrase! Mostly though, I love how thoughtful and reflective I've become over my photographs and photography, through the Thematic Photographic project.

My boy, Hayden, spent a good many hours invested in gaming.  In years past, he's focused on World of Warcraft (this mantle has been passed to Scotty and his Amazing Snarf), this year was his XBox 360, the HALO franchise, and many many other games he's tested and beaten or discarded. His friends have been those he can gather with locally (for gaming, strategizing, or creating art on controllers/consoles or from cardstock) or those whom gather each evening on XBox Live (HeyHay98) to eradicate the common enemy. He's taken me down paths with twists and turns I've never anticipated and for which I shall be eternally grateful. Supporting (and accepting the lack of full understanding on my part) his gaming as a valid and worthy investment of his time, energy and other resources, has been a gift that continues to give to the both of us. daily.

Though the houses have changed and the boy has aged,
2009 ends much as it began: controller-in-hand, smile-on-face.

TP: (steamed) Feet

Sitting beside the cave that contains the spring that feeds these pools, my corporal Self could bear merely to dip my toes into this flow. I could feel the power of the magma, so deep below the surface, super-heating this water for our enjoyment.  Others felt far more comfortable with parts far more sensitive than feet in this pool. Not me, I'll meecha two pools down, where at hotter-than-hottub temperatures, it's downright cool in comparison!

TP: Feet (Ready to Dance!)

A pre-concert huddle of love and mutual adoration. Or a totally staged photo because I liked our shoes. OR both. The world may never know.
Our second Bowling for Soup concert together; we subbed Emma for Hannah, who came along the first time. 

Unconscious Mutterings, 361

This week's special host, Rowan's friend Frank (Bob) (Junior):
I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Classified :: Withhold
   
2. Praised :: Glory
   
3. Censored :: slippery slope
   
4. 2010 :: End of first decade
   
5. Lamp :: Fishnetted leg
   
6. Alternate :: Options, options, options
   
7. Script :: Feminine
   
8. Handsome :: Strong
   
9. Eager :: Beavers 4-H
   
10. Meeting :: Quakers
    

TP: Feet (with names)

Combining Christmas monies with some Birthday cash, Hayden bought Worst-Case Scenario: Game of Surviving Life for us to play. In this game, wrong answers result in the loss of body parts. At one point, under threat of losing a second arm, Hayden cries No! Not Louisiana! I neeeeeeed Louisiana! You named your arms? I ask.
Nah, just the fists, the left one's Louisiana and the right one's Betsy. Louisiana? She's my left hand man!! His feet? Alabama and Hawaii. Worst-Case Scenario this night? Soda spraying out the nose for laughing too hard... Merry Christmas indeed!

TP: (Hannahbear) Feet

'twas a sleepy morning in September of 2004 when we rolled into a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, Illinois. Hannah's feet happened to be against the window, which happened to pick up the trees' reflection, which happened to all be noticed by our accompanying photographer, David Warren.Again, my heart fills with gratitude for having such a picture in my life; such a moment in my memory.

TP: (Dead Guy's) Feet

I'd never thought to photograph someone's feet for posterity.
Yet for this photograph of Mitch's feet, I am eternally grateful ♥
It wasn't until the end of his life that we actually got to see his feet often. He was definitely a city kid, used to full-time shoes and socks. His summer as "Enrique the pool boy" (2000) was the first time I'd ever seen his feet sans sock tan line ♥
Those are pretty white feet there, so this is just after Hayden's birth-ish, 1998. Post diagnosis, surgery and radiation, pre-chemo, in the throes of a much-appreciated calm in the Storm our life could seem at times.
Hannah's smile could bring those moments, those "ah, this is why I woke up today" feelings, with a mere expression of joy-in-the-moment. I'm glad to have captured so many of those moments on her face, to pull out and remember...
The top of Mitch (and the baby Hayden) looked like this sometime around the same day...

I am so blessed! ♥

TP: (Inked) Feet

My feet read one of my favorite verses from Nakey David:

Yea though I walk through the Valley of Shadow of Death,
I will fear no evil,
for Thou art with me.
Psalms 23:4

It's great to be filled with inspiration and comfort when looking at your feet ♥

Merry Winter

May your coldest days be filled with visions
of the rainbows awaiting you...Winter's Day, Corvallis, 2009