The Best of '07

This will be the last time I write on this blog. It's truly been a great year, and while I think overall this "project" has been a success, I'm a little relieved that it's coming to an end. I went back and re-read some of my very early posts, and it's funny how accurate I was in predicting the results of this thing. I've decided as a way to close this thing out, I'd go back and find the 5 photos that I like the best. Much like the "In Review" series I did at the end of every month, I'll try to go through the roughly 380 pictures I've taken for this blog in the past year and weed out the very best. So without further delay, here's the very best of '07.

#5 - Flower GirlThis photo was taken at Dan and Michelle's wedding, and when I look at it, it just makes me smile. Everything about this shot is so close to perfect, and you just don't often get those shots. The smile on Jules' face, the people looking on behind her, craning their necks to get a glimpse, it all comes together to make one of my best shots of '07.

#4 - GravesideSome days, I just go and drive, looking for something to shoot. This was one of those days. I went through a little phase a couple of years ago where I hunted down all the local cemeteries to look for shots like this. I wasn't nearly as successful on those trips as I was on this one. As I've said before, sometimes you have to shoot a hundred shots to get one good one.

#3 - Lost at SeaSome of my best photography this year came from our trip to California in July. Of all the hundreds of shots I took, this was my favorite by far. There's something about the tranquility and isolation of this shot that really grabs me.

#2 - Welcoming in the FallThis was one of those little shots that surprised me. Sometimes those off-hand shots you take can be the best ones. I can go to a forest preserve or a museum and take 300 carefully planned shots. Those shots will turn out great, but the one shot I take on the fly on the way out always seems to turn out the best. This was one of those shots. Sometimes that makes it more special to me knowing that is was instinct that took this shot, pure and simple.

#1 - My Beautiful WifeI don't consider myself a good portrait photographer. Frankly, I really don't like to shoot people. That's probably one of the reasons I try to stay away from shooting weddings. That being said, this may be one of the best photos I have ever taken. I'm not saying that because this is the most important person in my life. I just really feel like this is a perfect picture. Of all the shots I've taken this year, this is the one shot I always come back to when I think of the best of the best. That earns it the number 1 spot for the year.

Honorable Mention - Missed the CutI really love this shot, but held up next to the above 5, it just didn't make the cut. I took this shot late on a July morning. I was nearly falling asleep, but when I passed this on the way home from Rockford, I had to come back and take some shots. This kind of image is something that in the years to come, may be a thing of the past. Over development in our area will surely force these farmers into another line of work.

Honorable Mention - Most Impact
It's funny that this photo best exemplifies our most life-changing event this year, and I didn't even take it. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, and I really can't wait to see her in person.

In closing, I just want to say thanks to all of you who have indulged my ego over the last 12 months and taken a few minutes a day to read my humble ramblings. I'm really grateful mostly to those of you who have read daily, and the kind words you've written over the last year. I have (mostly) enjoyed doing this, and it will be interesting in the years to come to look back at this year and see how I have changed. I may throw together another blog to hold my thoughts and photos, so check back periodically for the address. Thanks again everyone, 2007 was a great year!

Goodbye 2007

I thought it was appropriate that the final picture this year should be nearly the same as the first I posted on this blog. There are a few subtle differences, but in essense, it is the same. This is probably the only thing 365 days later that is the same in my life. I never thought going into this "project" that so many things in my life would be different. The threat of being laid off at Chrysler was always there, but looking back at my earlier posts, it's funny to think at the time I wrote it I had no idea that 12 months later I would be an expectant father. There have been other, smaller changes in my life, but nothing is comparable to that one thing. Even with the potential loss of my job looming on the horizon, this has likely been one of the best years of my life. I'm sure it will be surpassed very soon-- in about 4 months.

Abandoned

Today Dad and I took another trip to Poplar Grove to pick up some furniture for his new place. The last time we did this, we passed by this old abandoned house. It was incredibly foggy that day, and when I saw this place, I kicked myself for not having my camera on hand. I guess earlier lessons slipped by me today. Anyway, this time I was prepared. Even though the fog wasn't there today, I think there is still a very eerie quality to these images. It makes you wonder what happened to these people to just abandon their home like this.


We hit another milestone today. Well, it was more of a personal milestone, but it was pretty important nonetheless. Today was the first time I felt my daughter kick. I have to say, that is one of the most incredible things I have ever felt in all my life. It seems like such a simple thing, and it's something Steph feels daily, but for me to feel it was pretty special.

Out With the Old....

... in with the new!

We got the car today! After getting to the dealership at noon exactly, we rolled off the lot about 2:30 with this shiny new car. It took a lot longer than I had anticipated, and since I woke up a little late this morning, I hadn't had anything to eat. I was feeling pretty crappy by the time we got done, but it was nothing Portillo's couldn't take care of. Mmmm.... Italian sausage....

Steph's really going to miss the "stump", and we'll both miss the amazing gas mileage it gets, but we simply had to have something bigger. The payment is only about $10 more a month than the Scion, so there really isn't much of a difference as far as that is concerned. I'm certain this will be a great car for us when the baby comes, and it's something we could keep if 5 years down the road we decide to expand the family a little more.

Whitewashed

Today I woke up to be greeted by one of the bigger snowfalls we've had this year. It snowed pretty steadily for about 4 or 5 hours, then petered off to a gentle flurry. The snow is pretty heavy and wet, which made for some great shoveling. We didn't get a lot of snow, but it was enough to blanket all the trees and make it look very "seasonal".

I called the dealership this morning, and told our guy that we are indeed going to get the car. Considering my job situation, it was a very difficult decision. At the end of the day, we are going to have that payment no matter what, and we really need something bigger and more family-friendly than Stephanie's little Scion xA. Pics to come!

New Baby is Born!

Well, I screwed up today. We went to visit our newly born niece, Lilian Alaine, and I left my camera at the hospital! To top it off, it's highly likely that either tomorrow or Saturday, we'll be trading in our 2005 Scion Xa for a brand spankin new 2008 Jeep Patriot. Hopefully I'll have my camera back by then so you al can see the new ride.

I'll be editing this post tomorrow or the next day with the photo I took. It figures. 4 days left of this thing, and I probably won't have my camera for two of them....

*EDIT*
Okay, once again I'm an idiot. Turns out by when I said I left my camera at the "hospital", what I really meant was "Steph's car". Anyway, here's a really great shot of Steph holdning her new niece, while her slightly-less-new niece Juliana poses for the camera. Cute!

Building the Baby Bed

Steph and I braved the nearly 2 hour drive through Chicago traffic today to go to the giant blue box, also known as Ikea. Our intention was to look for a bed for the baby, since the prices there are pretty good for furniture and we were okay with the styles. What we came home with was exactly what we wanted-- something affordable, that will convert to a "toddler bed" in a few years when the baby gets bigger. We also picked up some decorations for the room, 12 really nice glasses (for 6 bucks!), and other assorted odds and ends.

Opening the box was a bit intimidating. There were tons of parts, and the hardware bag was full of what seemed like far to many screws and bolts for something so simple. In the end, it was far easier to put together than I had anticipated, and to be perfectly honest, I kinda like doing stuff like this. Am I a freak or what?