So, we discovered a lump on Myla's left hind leg about 6 months ago.  Although it did not grow in size considerably, it did get slightly bigger.  The vet was concerned that it could be a tumor because cats rarely get cysts so we just scheduled a time for surgery.  Well, we were surprised to hear that it was indeed just a cyst and Myla was going to be perfectly fine.  They sent us home with a drugged up, irritated, stich-sewned cat with an E-Collar to boot.  She was so incredibly miserable when we got back that we decided the following day to give her a couple of hours of free time, apart from the dreadful collar that makes her walk around like a dinosaur and bump into the simplest of things like the door frame and her sister Ani.  It took a distracting phone call and engrossing movie for Myla to find the 20 seconds without our attention to rapidly pull out all but 3 of the 12 stitches holding her wound together.  Obviously we had to go back to the vet where they proceeded to tell us DO NOT TAKE THE E-COLLAR OFF THE CAT!!!  

Sorry Myla.  No, really I am.  Well, you do provide a little humor for us now, but sorry all the same. 

Although she is having a heck of a time getting around, if there is a treat in the vicinity . . . . she manages just fine.

Yesterday morning, I had the rare privilege to take a ride with my Uncle Donald in his GORGEOUS new plane he just had custom built.  It really is so stunning to look at.  All of the paint work was done to represent his time in the Navy, a time very dear to him.  Although I really hate flying, I completely trust Uncle Donald and so what few butterflies were fluttering around during the car ride over quickly disappeared the moment I saw him checking and rechecking every saftey aspect of the plane.  Although he has been flying for over 20 years, this was the first time I have ever been in the skies with him.  I must admit, it was the most amazing flight I have ever taken.  The scenery was beautiful, a flight along the Northern and Southern shores of the Outer Banks, the ride was smooth and felt effortless and I loved the fact that it was just he and I and blue skies high above.  I cannot wait to go again.

At the airport in Manteo.

LOVE this one.

 A very focused Uncle Donald.

Southern Shores.

I thought that this was rather funny.

Nags Head.

Hatteras.  If you look closely, you'll see the lighthouse in the middle-left section of the image.

I couldn't get enough of the sandbars and how they turned the water green.

 Me and Uncle Donald

Coming in for our landing.  You can see the runway in the distance.

The plane itself was a whole lot of fun to photograph.

Obviously, this is the second Valerie's Nightmare to belong to Uncle Donald.  The original one was sold a couple of years ago.  Both were named after my Aunt Valerie.

My favorite from the day.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH UNCLE DONALD!!!  I can't wait to go again. 

Kim, it was so wonderful to see you again.  You are just as kind, loving, intelligent, engaging and beautiful as I remember you to be and I have no doubt that Jake will be a better man for having you as a mother.  It was truly an honor to get the opportunity to photograph your newest addition and I cannot wait to see you both again in the future.

Much love,

k

So, if you recall, a few weeks ago I was informed that one of my weddings was a finalist in The Knot's Best Of 2008 in the Destination Wedding category.  Because of my personal disappointment with the Name Your Dream Assignment contest I did not heavily solicit votes for my wedding this time around, simply because I was never the most popular kid around and I have issues with popularity contests.  That being said, to my surprise, a couple of weeks ago I found an email squealing with angst to be read.  I could almost hear it cheering as I sat down to my computer that morning.

I really was in shock.  I couldn't believe what I was reading,  "REALLY?  REALLY?  We won?  Oh my God!  THIS is awesome!"

The accolade, along with 2 images from the wedding featured, will be appearing in The Knot's National Fall/Winter 09 issue.  When it hits the stands I will make another post about it.

I thought I would share with you some images from Tom and Anny's wedding.  What makes their wedding and the feature that more special to me is that Tom and I have been friends for the past 15 years, meeting in highschool, and just to be invited to join them and their loved ones in Mexico was an honor in of itself.  Although I almost NEVER allow friends to hire me, I did make an exception for Anny and Tom.  It was such a wonderful week, as I arrived when family and friends did and spent the week catching up with long lost friends, making new ones and taking in all that the area had to offer.  

As a matter of fact, I had to fly from Philadelphia to Newark and then from there to Cancun on my way to Mexico.  When I arrived in Newark I had about an hour layover.  I grabbed some breakfast and then headed over to my gate.  Grumpy.  Tired.  7:30 is just way too early to arrive in your layover city.  Anyway, I tripped over the front of my shoe, as I often do, trying to make my way to an empty hard plastic seat and as I looked up I say a giant dress bag.  I remember thinking to myself, "I bet that's a wedding gown.  I'm sure there's a bride hovering nearby, like a vulture protecting their prey."

I looked up but saw no red-eyed bride fluffing her feathers.  Just a dark haired girl sitting next to the gown with her back to me, half asleep with a Starbucks paper cup in her left hand, balancing on her left knee.  My eyes trailed upward.  It took a minute to register what I was seeing, almost like that half dream have awake place I have been known to operate in.  

"OH. MY. JESUS!  Tom????"

Yes, it's true.  We ended up on the same flight to Mexico.  It couldn't have been more perfect and it was totally unplanned.  I almost always book my flights independently, however I knew that they were also arriving that day.  We hugged, laughed, did that "I'm totally in awe of the obvious unintentional coincidence" and then all crashed in our seats and waited for the crotchety old airline lady to begin boarding the plane.

Thank you both, so much, for giving me the honor of documenting your wedding.  It was a fabulous week.  From your friends and tequila to your family and guacamole, I enjoyed every last ounce of it.  I cannot wait to see you both again and give you enourmous hugs for being so wonderful, for loving each other so unconditionally and giving me the opportunity to show the world what a wedding truly is about!

I just wanted to share my latest honor with all of you, one of my images was chosen to grace the cover of the North Beach Sun.  I was so shocked when Tori Peters, the owner of the success paper here in the Outer Banks, contacted me a few weeks ago expressing interest in my work and wanting to feature one of my images for this season's issue available Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Although I sent over about 100 or so some great beach portrait shots from last season, it was this image below that she stumbled across on my site that was her first choice.  I was thrilled, this is honestly one of my favorite portraits I have ever taken down here and couldn't be more proud to share it with locals and vacationers alike.  A special thanks to Tori, her whole staff and my fabulous friends over at Village Realty whom I believe made the referral for me!  I am humbled and grateful.