Snow

I don't know why for sure but I've been really excited about the first snow this season. Tonight it came and I did a happy dance!


Perhaps it is because I love Christmas and all of the rehearsing at school for the Christmas programs has me ready for the holiday.



Or it could be that Michael Buble (on of my favs) recently released an amazing Christmas album.


Maybe, I'm just hoping for some "snow" days off of school.


Whatever the reason, welcome snow!

Cancer

It's amazing to me how many people I know that have or have had cancer. Even more amazing to me is the number of people I know that have kicked cancer to the curb and are either in remission or "Cancer Survivors". All types of cancer; colon, prostate, lymphoma, leukemia, brain, the list goes on and on.

I have known four people in my lifetime that have had a cancerous brain tumor. The first was a good friend and classmate of mine. We were 16 and she was (and still is) an amazing miracle. A year or two later another student from our school had a similar tumor and recovery. The third person was a neighbor as well as the father of two of my students. They found the tumor during my first year of teaching. He has had a long road but things are going fairly well now.

The fourth person is someone I've known his entire life. I was "sandwiched" between him and his older sister. The sister a grade ahead of me in school, and he a grade behind me. They found the tumor a few years ago after he had a series of terrible headaches. Only 26 years of age and fighting cancer.

The Lakeview Softball Tournament is a late summer tradition that goes way back to before I can remember. In recent years it had faded away as the "founding fathers" of the Lakeview Softball team I grew up watching all reached "retirement" age. A few years ago it was re-established and organized once again. One of the highlights for me was watching my father come "out of retirement" and play so that Lakeview could field two teams. He even donned his old school softball pants the second night. I love my family and watching my dad, two brothers, and husband play on the same team was so wonderful, even if their team did get eliminated after two games!

The proceeds of this year's tournament will go to my classmate and childhood friend to assist with medical bills. I was asked to take the footage and put together a video since he was unable to attend this year.

So, without further ado...

Lakeview Tourney

Just a quick post before I head off to bed. Recently I (Jodi) have been working with video footage from the 2011 Lakeview Softball Tournament. I really like to make videos using both motion and still photography and although I would not claim to be excellent at it, I learn a bit more each time I work on a project. Usually when I have a task like this I jump right to it and work until its completed. This time was a bit different (more about that in my next post). I struggled to compose the video I envisioned and had a hard time deciding on music, which is VERY unlike me. I did eventually end up with four videos. Two are just uncut footage because I like to add it to the completed DVD. The one I will share tonight, er...this morning, is a video done from a preset that I used to get the creative juices flowing. Though I don't totally love it, it has some fun elements. Okay, enough talking...here's the video:




I promise I will post again very soon and post the other video, explain a bit more about this project, and talk about why it was hard to get these videos put together. Lots on my mind and in my heart but it will need to wait for a more awake time!

Those promised pictures...

As promised, pictures of beautiful Glacier National Park. George and I took the trip last summer. The pictures don't do it justice. I promised some photos...here they are. So beautiful. I would definitely suggest visiting the park if you get the chance but make sure to bring a sweatshirt! Above George looks at the majestic mountains in the first part of the trip that caused him to fall in love with Montana. (I keep telling him he has to visit in the winter as well to make a fully informed decision about the state.)





I will leave you with my favorite...

Exciting Day

I have been really bad about blogging through the school year. But now it is summer! (Cue cheer sound effects!) I was planning to upload some of the promised Glacier photos from last summer....but the inter-web is being stupid at the moment and does not like to have to work very hard. Hmmm, that reminds me of someone I know who is currently on summer break!

Since I cannot upload photos this is just a post to say "I'm still alive!" and to promise a post or two in the near future. In the meantime, I am going to a Taylor Swift concert tonight!!!! I'm super excited about it. I will try to get some photos taken and posted of that as well. So, as Miranda Priestly says on The Devil Wears Prada "That's all..."