Maggie, our Italian Greyhound

It’s official: we have become certifiably insane.  We’ve become “those people” who dote on their dogs like they’re kids.  We’re officially held hostage by an incredibly cute, cuddly, loving, affectionate…damn, there I go again!  We’re being held captive by a vicious animal.

How the heck did this happen?

I guess you could say we are “pet people”.  We have “Kasey” a black cat we got free from a pet store when we moved in together in Nashville 14 years ago.  She’s old, but sturdy…and still plays like a kitten. 

Ten years ago our 90 lb. pure black German Shepard “Max” joined us as a puppy after we rescued him as a stray on the streets of downtown Tampa.  Max truly believes there are flesh-eating zombies roaming the streets of our quiet suburban neighborhood.  I know this because he alerts us to any movement in front of the house with his low “woofs”. These certainly warn us of impending doom, for which we are eternally grateful and reward him with food. 

I can’t leave out Jake, the three foot corn snake Tucker and I found under our boat in our back yard as a baby.  “Let’s keep him for a couple days to check him out” turned into a year and a half and about two feet longer than he was.  In short, we’ve never paid for a pet, they kind of “fall into” our family.

Then there was the fated day a year ago that Maggie came into our lives.  It all started with a casual trip to Petsmart after the three of us had dinner one night.  We were considering getting a kitten to keep Kasey company during the day.  Evidently it wasn’t “kitten season” as we were told, they didn’t have any.  Unfortunately Italian Greyhounds don’t follow the same biological clock. 

We saw the minuscule greyhound playing with her sister in the window and my wife thought we should just play with her for a minute.  I want to make it clear this was my wife’s decision (something she has to be reminded of occasionally now).

A mere 30 minutes later and something like a gazillion dollars on my Amex and we were on the way home with a dog who has more family history than most people I know.  That’s when we all started losing our minds.

Italian Greyhounds need sweaters. Who knew?

If you don’t know much about Italian Greyhounds (I.G.’s or “Iggies” as we have since learned), they are incredibly affectionate, loyal dogs.  They sleep quite a bit, normally burrowed under any available blankets.  If you are available they much prefer to curl up on your lap or beside you on the couch, so close you would think they are an extension of your body.  They wake up occasionally, look up at you with these eyes that could melt the polar ice caps, then nuzzle back down and go directly back to sleep.

I.G.’s use a lot of ingenuity when they want something, and they’re sneaky.  If they can’t get something by stealing it they’ll find a way to get you to get it for them.  Think it’s funny?  Get an I.G. and find out for yourself.  I took this video after finding Maggie outside of the bathroom where we kept her as a puppy.  Everything would be intact, but she was just out.  I set up the video and walked out the front door.  Came back 10 minutes later with her out…the video is priceless.

These dogs have a real personality.  It is said I.G.’s train their owners, not the other way around.  When I first read that I thought it was funny, now I understand.  Maggie is actually more like a cat than a dog.  She doesn’t do anything that isn’t her idea, so it makes getting her to do things a strategic challenge.  The funny thing is she doesn’t refuse defiantly, she does it with almost a comical, mischievous look on her face, tail wagging as if to say “look at the cute human, he wants me to actually give him the remote control I have successfully stolen from the coffee table.  Poor man, he doesn’t understand this is mine now“, just before taking off at roughly the speed of sound.

She loves to be chased, and at a top speed of 27 mph, I’m not catching her.  I recorded this video at 3am Christmas morning after Maggie decided we had been gone too long at my folks house and wanted to play…I had to run some energy out of her before going to bed.

She’s an incredibly smart dog.  She has as many toys as a toddler, and we typically have to pick up after her nightly after she’s taken them out of her toy box (yes, she has a toy box) and spread them around the family room.  When she wants to play she’ll go through her toy box and find just the right toy to play with.  This is a meticulous process that is really funny to watch.  She’ll pick up each toy, put it aside, dig out another one, put it aside, another one…and so on until she finds the one she wants and brings it over, tossing it casually onto your feet then standing there waiting for you to throw it for her.

She has her “bear”, her “flamingo”, her “mouse”, her “glove”, her “lion”, “rope bone”, etc.  We can ask her to bring us any of these and about 90% of the time she gets it right. As long as you’re playing she’s listening.

So, what'd you have for dinner?

She rules the house, no doubt about it.  She simultaneously annoys the heck out of everyone and makes them laugh out loud.  It’s pretty hard to get mad at her, and it doesn’t matter if you do since she won’t stop what she’s doing anyway.  Max is incredibly patient with her for an old dog, and Kasey tolerates her (and then they sleep together with Kim on the couch).

So as you might have gathered we’ve become “those people”.  I guess I have to willingly admit that.  I know I’ll catch some flack from some people for it, but I can’t help it.  I’m secure enough in my manhood to say my dog has me wrapped around her…um…paw?

I’m not alone either, she owns Kim and Tucker too, oh yeah…also my Mom & Dad, everyone else who comes to the house, our entire neighborhood, and one of my co-workers who has threatened to steal her if I turn my back for too long.  What a dog.  My only regret?  I wish we had one more

Maggie in full gallop

"I should get a treat for my patience with this small human"

There was a good size storm raging over the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 miles to the West. Overhead it was clear and still, stars sparkling brightly. There was no sound of lightning, just some random flashes. I saw them out of the corner of my eye as I stood there. Then I saw a big, single bolt…lost behind the house across the street.

Hmmm. Wish I hadn’t seen that. Maybe it was a fluke, the only big bolt to come down. Wouldn’t be able to capture it anyway with the houses on the other side of the street (I normally shoot off the back of the house where I have a clear view over the lake).

As I was trying to convince myself I could let this one go another huge silent bolt streaked down from the top of this beautiful thunderhead, with additional bolts lighting the cloud from the inside.

Dammit.

OK, the only way I can get this is from my roof. I couldn’t…could I? My wife will surely think I’ve lost my mind. Oh, what the heck…if she doesn’t know I’m crazy by now she probably should get confirmation. I’m doing it.

I rush inside like a tornado, hurriedly grabbing gear. Camera, check. Tripod, check. Wireless shutter release, check. Remote, check. My wife looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “What are you doing?” she said.

“Shooting some lightning in front of the house” I said, “from the roof.” I added quietly, turning as I said it, maybe she wouldn’t hear me.

“The roof? Do you really think that’s a good idea?” she said, quickly adding “storms happen all the time…” she said, kind of singing the last couple words, as if to emphasize how loony she thought I was being.

“Big storm…good stuff…be back in a little while” I said, rushing out to the garage before she could protest.

I grabbed the ladder and headed off like a pack mule around the corner of the house. Moments later I was straddling the peak of my roof, looking over the neighborhood toward the storm in the distance. The worlds largest and happiest lightning rod.

As quickly as I was up there the storm was generating beautiful bolts every 30-45 seconds. It never ceases to amaze me how large and clumsy my fingers are at moments like this.

So I get set up and start shooting, it doesn’t take long to score.

Every dark cloud has an electric lining

I was biting my nails hoping this one would turn out…I think it did.

Nature's Balance, Dual Strikes Over the Gulf of Mexico

And one more:

Running Man in the Western Sky

I sat up there for almost an hour, time melting away with each click of my camera.  My neighbor came out to let his dog out.  I sat up there, quietly, just hoping he wouldn’t look up and see me on my roof in my pajamas.  I wasn’t quite sure what I would say.  I laughed at myself and just kept shooting.  Each time I was ready to pack it up another bolt would streak through the sky, prompting “just one more shot”.

Finally I decided to call it a night, packed up and went inside.  As soon as I uploaded the photos my wife had to acknowledge my idea wasn’t so bad after all.  In fact she wants me to enlarge and frame the second one above.  OK, so far so good

I posted the first shot to my flickr photostream [link] and immediately started getting views, great!  This morning I got up to find the following comment from my Mom on my photo:

“I sure don’t like you sitting on the roof, I don’t want you to be a lightning rod, all the great shots in the world are not worth getting hurt over, but that is perhaps a mothers point of view.”

So I guess I got the shots, but I still ended up busted by my mom. So yes, I was a human lightning rod I guess, but I came through it just fine.  I love you mom!

Space Shuttle Discovery, STS 128 Docked with ISS by Damgaard Photography

We almost missed the flyover thanks to fast moving clouds.  It was 70 degrees up from the horizon, traveling Southwest to Northeast.  We got a short glimpse of it as it streaked by a hole in the clouds.  I can’t believe I got it…made a quick adjustment to my tripod and got the shot.  It was really pure luck, but I’ll take it.

I’d like to run over and catch it land when it comes back to Kennedy, that would bring the whole thing  full circle.  We’ll see!

These will NOT cure your computer.

So I got a virus, and it serves me right. I had let my virus protection lapse in my “It’ll never happen to me” mindset.

In all the time I’ve had a computer and internet access nothing has ever happened…not even a blip on the radar. So in my infinite wisdom I figured I really didn’t need it. I guess I was wrong.

My internet browser was hijacked. I could put “Kittens” into Google and I’d get a million “Kitten” links…the problem is they all went to other websites. This is not a problem if you’re looking for “Kittens” on SHOPZILLA.com, but unfortunately I just wasn’t in the market.

It wasn’t long before the whole thing started acting funky. Pop ups started advising me my machine was going to burst into flames at any moment unless I bought “Windows Police Pro”. It was incredibly hard to tell what was an actual Windows alert and a fake one. Every one that I closed down brought up two more. This was bad. Very bad.

So I did what every dude would do…blindly started poking around trying to “fix” the issue. I quickly renewed my virus protection. Guess what? Viruses that have already taken up residence on your hard drive don’t like getting the eviction notice. Pretty soon it was completely down. Crap.

Fast forward 48 hours without a computer. Here I am, frazzled, less hair, dark circles under my eyes…but with a functioning system again. It was simple, really. Here’s how it went:

I paid $95 for a house call from an “I.T. Professional” who would be able to diagnose and fix my problem in no time. He left with the system “working” after an hour and a half, took my money and the computer promptly crashed again within one hour. (mental note…get money back).

Another $69 to upgrade my virus protection suite, including telephone support (yay!)

Spent 9 HOURS (no, I’m not kidding) on the phone with software provider installing, reinstalling, uninstalling (”are you sure, sir, that you have checked the box which says REFRESH?” “Yes, yes I am” I say as patiently as possible) checking, rechecking…

Tried very hard not to cry when the [expletive deleted] Tech [expletive deleted] Support person told me they have exhausted their abilities. I would have to pay for a “Virus Removal” session for $89.00 with a [expletive deleted] Senior Tech Support Representative. That’s $253 if you’re keeping count.

Could this really be happening?

I begrudgingly paid the $89 and got my session started, surrendering my mouse and keyboard to their remote host. For a full hour I watched this guy race lightning fast through my machine…uploading and wielding programs with names like “The Avenger” (a blazing sword under the logo). Not exactly my thoughts of Saturday night entertainment.

Then it was over. He turned the controls over to my hands, nearly crippled from internet withdrawls. The fix was quick and sweet. My baby was back again, purring like a kitten.

There are many morals to this story, and I believe they’re all self explanatory. I can tell you this was a perfect wake up call though, no serious damage to anything but my psyche. I’ll keep up my protection from now on, and I highly recommend everyone else do the same. Viruses stink…bad.

Doing another photo shoot for the Art Institute of Tampa Culinary Team tomorrow…I have my machine back just in time.

My son rushes off excitedly to class with his blindingly white new shoes.

Remember when you were excited to get back to school?  Yeah, I can’t either   Actually I do remember being excited to go back when I was in elementary school.  You got to see friends you didn’t get to see over the summer, exchange stories of family vacations, but mostly to show off those amazingly white new tennis shoes that made you run so fast (and truly believing they did).  Things were simple.  Happy.  A world of sunshine, Elmer’s glue and glitter.

I look at school through the eyes of a parent now, and it’s a completely different feeling. If you’re a parent you’ll understand.  It’s wonderful and a little terrifying at the same time.  I enjoy watching my son meet new friends, who come as easily as exchanging names.  There are a few precious years when children still look at the world through glasses unspoiled by the harshness of the world.  A few precious years when it’s still OK to hold their hands on the way into the grocery store, give them a hug and a kiss goodbye, say “I love you” and actually get “I love you too!” back from them.

Why didn't they have these when I was a kid?!

We went shopping with my son several weeks ago for his “back to school” wardrobe.  I was in shock by how much he’d grown.  Heck, I see the kid every day, when did this happen?  It started me thinking about all of these things, and reminded me of the importance of recording these times.  I have to save them in a memory capsule I can open when I change from “Daddy” to “Dad”, and all the other changes that go along with it.

We all need those memory capsules from time to time.  They ground us, they build a stronger root structure for our family trees, but most importantly they make us smile.  When I showed my son the top photo of him walking he burst out laughing.  When I asked him what he was laughing at he told me “I look like a LEGO man!!” and then continued right on laughing.  I’ll remember that moment when I see that photo.  Maybe it’s three years from now, maybe it’s thirty.  Either way it will make me happy.

Yes, I am a photographer. I would love nothing more than for you to read this, and with tears welling up in your eyes call and schedule me for a three day shoot during your next family trip to Aspen, telling me your private plane is big enough for all my gear.  Yep, that would be great, I’d even carry your luggage for you

What I really hope you take from this is to shoot. Click away like a tourist at Disney World.  Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are incredibly good…get one and use it!  What you are capturing is your family, your life, the memories you will cherish until your final days.  If it’s within your means hire a professional photographer occasionally to capture those moments, and then frame them and put them on your wall.  I promise you, you’ll never regret it.

My son, silhouetted against Tallahasse's Lake Ella.

In working with several friends of mine I realized it would be nice to get some of the information and relationships I have out to people who may be interested.

I travel throughout Central Florida on a daily basis. I get lots of opportunities to meet great people, see cool things, and eat at interesting and unique places. I try to stay off the beaten path as much as possible, things are better that way.

In this Blog I may show you places I went, things I’ve done, show you cool places to eat, or introduce you to people I know. Being a photographer, I will likely introduce you to my larger network of partnerships and associates as well.

I promise you it won’t be a routine stream of the same thing day after day…I just don’t work that way.

If you have any questions or comments I welcome you to add them, I’m looking forward to meeting some new people through this.

Hey, “at the end of the day” all we have in this world is each other. Even if you like to walk your own path like I do it’s nice to know you’re not the only one out there. I’m here. Let me know if you are too!