Author Archive
New Orleans {Heart}
Fall of 1994: Visited with Michael for the first time during the Thanksgiving holiday. Embarrassed as I am to admit this: I never even knew the city existed. I never knew the history, and I surely didn’t know that I would fall in love with the sights, sounds, and smells. For someone as texture oriented as myself New Orleans just did it for me. Instant attraction.
Summer of 1996: Moved down as a newlywed. This was my first time living away from home and I had tons of growing up to do. If I had it to do over again, I’d do it way different. But, the girl that I was here, at this stage, is not the woman I became. It’s easy to be all “hindsight is 20/20”, but in actuality it’s really not that easy.
Summer of 2002: Visited with the kids and Michael. Michael and I also stayed for a night without the kids. It was hot as hell, and being as out of shape was no help.
Winter of 2009: Visited with my big girl camera. This was made possible by being contracted to be the photographer for the Tide – Loads of Hope. This experience was one that (my camera and) I had been dreaming about for years.
Spring of 2013: Visited with the whole family as part of our Redneck Food Tour. It was awesome to enjoy New Orleans with the big kids at the ages they are (15, 14, and almost 13), and while Davey wasn’t too keen on all the walking he had a blast, too!
New Orleans, LA – You will always have my heart.
My {Favorite} Song
I was recently asked—while I was either experiencing a panic attack or low blood sugar episode or something that was definitely a direct result of my own stupidity—what my favorite song was. I know the person that was doing the asking was just asking to keep me reeled in during this episode, and while I heard the question I didn’t answer it; I was too busy going through all the song files that my brain could shuffle through, in that state.
The next day I came up with the one song that I always revisit, and I texted the title to my friend.
#41
-DMB
Come and see
I swear by now I’m playing time against my troubles
I’m coming slow but speeding
Do you wish a dance and while
I’m in the front
The play on time is won
But the difficulty is coming here
I will go in this way
And find my own way out
I won’t tell you to stay
But I’m coming to much more
Me
All at once the ghosts come back
Reeling in you now
What if they came down crushing
Remember when I used to play for
All of the loneliness that nobody
Notices now
I’m begging slow I’m coming here
Only waiting I wanted to stay
I wanted to play,
I wanted to love you
I’m only this far
And only tomorrow leads my way
I’m coming waltzing back and
Moving into your head
Please, I wouldn’t pass this by
I wouldn’t take any more than
What sort of man goes by
I will bring water
Why won’t you ever be glad
It melts into wonder
I came in praying for you
Why won’t you run
In the rain and play
Let the tears splash all over you
The words in bold are the reason.
Because when everything gets all Topsy-turvy in this so-called life, when things seem bleak and you breakdown with fists clenched screaming at the sky, when you finally stabilize and see the silver lining on that once dark cloud, when you realize your mistakes to make them right, when you grow on [these] God-blessed days, and when you can ultimately realize who you are and what you can do and why you do everything you do then (THEN!) you realize that you “are only so far and tomorrow leads the way” and that’s when you decide you can “run in the rain and play and let the tears splash all over you”. You are free; you can be yourself, believe in yourself, and move forward.
{Autumn} Obsessions
For my 1999th post—here on the beloved-and-not-yet-dead-so-don’t-you-dare-count-it-out blog—I am going to take the time to talk about this autumn’s Mishi Obsessions.
1.) Leaves on the Ground
I don’t care if they are wet, dry, crumbled, big, small, yellow, red, or orange, in a big pile or scattered about; fallen leaves beg [me] for a picture to be taken. The more texture the better, too.
George Eliot said it best, “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”
2.) Ethnic Foods in my Belly
I had Cuban for the first time ever, the other day, and despite the inappropriate touching of the rock-climbing waitress, on the part of our almost six year old son, the experience was solid (like a rock). See what I did there? Rock-climbing waitress and solid like a rock? Yeah, I’m totally hilarious like that, but I digress. Ahem.
My other favorite, lately, is Thai. Holy Moly, give me a big bowl of Green Curry with that perfectly cooked Jasmine rice, and I will do anything for you. Except that. Yes, that! Except for you, Michael. I’d totally do that for you. I really should digress, again. Ahem.
Honorable mentions go out to my new favorite dish, Burrito al Carbon, at Fajitas, and the Hot & Sour soup from the Chinese takey-outy place.
3.)Boots on my Foots
My last and current obsession is BOOTS. I have been pining for a pair cowboy boots for a while now. I need to just go ahead, bite the bullet, and order them. But, I’m waiting to see Santa brings them (or I’m waiting to see if “Santa” is going to bring them!) For now I have these boots. I wore them when I shot the wedding of one of my GCA coworkers this past weekend. That’s when I decided: I. Need. MORE. Boots. I need a pair of short, brown leather boots and a pair of knit top ankle boots and a pair of Uggs (or Fuggs, because I really don’t care if they are actually the name brand, but I would totally prefer it) and while I’m at it I definitely think two pairs of cowboy boots are better than one and I choose THESE! Because, duh, they are AWESOME!
{Accessorizing} Your Photo Shoot
There are a few interesting things on the horizon for Mishelle Lane Photography. A week from today I will be shooting the wedding of one of my co-workers, and I have a few families interested in portraiture. I can’t wait! Also, a great fellow photographer friend and I have decided to get our families together and each of us is going to photograph the other family. I’m excited to see myself through someone lens, other than mine on a tripod, a timer, and a prayer. Even though. last year, it did work out pretty well. See?
Recently I was asked to shoot an engagement session for one of the cutest couples ever, Katie & Destin. We mulled over different ideas for various locations, but we finally ended up in a little historic town, called Tate, not too far from where we live. Actually, we started out at Dawsonville’s City Hall (which is also the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, because, that’s how we roll around here.) I love to shoot there because there are a few backdrops that make me really happy. I’ve had photo-shoots there with our kids, Zumba babe – Maggie, and Erica & Dusty. Recently I came full circle with Erica & Dusty by shooting them from engagement to marriage to pending parenthood to first portraits of their adorable baby boy. I honestly hope to do the same with Katie & Destin!
Often my clients will ask me what they should wear; I tell them to stay away from too many conflicting patters and offer some suggestions about colors. Katie was spot on in her choices for their photo shoot. She went with rich autumn colors and accessorized PERFECTLY! I loved that she chose to wear an animal print scarf and beautiful lacy dangling earrings. When we take our family portraits, later this month, I will definitely go with classic accessories like scarves and jewelery to add depth and contrast.
I also visited Katie & Destin, at their home, and photographed them with a couple other awesome accessories—their beautiful fur-babies, Koda and Pixie. And, still, Katie chose a beautiful scarf to compliment her outfit. Seriously, I cannot wait to shoot their wedding on 4/20/12!
We {heart} Biking
Everyone in our family loves to bike. For Benny’s birthday, in September, we upgraded him to a 26″, 7 speed bike. Previously he had a one-speed kids bike that was hard for him to ride in our hilly neighborhood. Now, though, he and Mikey like to ride around our ‘hood and town together. Davey is exclusively riding his two wheel kids bike(with training wheels) instead of his tricycle that he was practically attached to the pedals of every time he went outside to ride in the cul-de-sac. We are all full-fledged riders now. I think Olivia is next in the upgrade department, but Christmas is right around the corner, right?
Now what I really need is a bike rack for my van so that we can all go down to the The Big Creek Greenway a couple towns over. I’ve dreamed of all of us going down to the Greenway for many years now, and now that Davey and Benny can ride, well, it’s time. We went down a few times when we lived in GA (Part I), with Mo and her kids, and it was always such fun.
Friendly PSA: Don’t forget to wear your helmets, kids!
******
A couple summers ago I rode my bike a lot for exercise, but lately I tend to get my bike riding time in with the Les Mills spin class called RPM. I haven’t gone in a couple weeks and always feel bad when I don’t, which goes to show that is is a such a work-out! This week I am going to strive to get into my favorite RPM class with my favorite RPM instructor Krystin. I also want to get my hands on a heart rate monitor so that I know exactly how the work out is affecting me.
That said, this week marks my one year anniversary at my gym, Bodyplex. My body has definitely reaped the benefits of weekly exercise, but I still have such a long way to go. One thing’s for certain—I love that going to they gym is a part of my life! Here’s to the next year and continued fitness and health!
[This is a sponsored post, but all sentiments are my own.]
