Poser.

It was Frank's influence.

As I sat on the couch in his 'waiting room' of sorts, while he and Israel did their photoshoot thing, I browsed through portfolio after portfolio of his work.

He's none short of artistic in the ability to capture internal glimpses of a soul. The prints that sent me over the top, however, were the captures of the canine persuasion. Dastardly difficult to capture on film most of the time, Frank had somehow gotten into their inner being, and, bringing it forth, produced compelling images of the most amazing kind.

Here is just a sampling of his work.

My mind has tossed creating the opportunity for Frank to capture the DellDog on film ~ and who knows, but that I just might ~ listening to Frank discuss this dog shoot; the other dog shoot; it just gets into your being, the knowledge that these pets of ours have definite personalities.

So, as I was saying, I'm pretty certain it was Frank's influence.

You see, I awoke the other morning, at first oblivious - then, keenly aware of the sunlight glancing off the wall: a perfect ambient light with which to snap a few pictures!

I hopped out of bed, and got right to work! Here is the fruit of one session:

I don't wish to influence your taste by adding my comments today, since, SUPRISE! yet another voting opportunity that leads to a GIVEAWAY!

Yes, my photographic prowess leads to your happie walk to the mailbox, just in the nick of time: the first of the month when most of those bills arrive! Two winners this week: a print of your favorite snapshot and a mystery happie from moi! Simply vote for your fave, #1 through #7 in the comments section. All entries will be put into a random drawing.

Well, I'm no Frank, but I rest assured that if he were here today, he'd give me a nod of "You're on the right track". Well, maybe he would. He might say, "Lady, you're crazy. Please spare your dog." Nah. He wouldn't say that. No self-respecting Belgian would say that. ")

At the very least, one could call me a Poser. A Frank wannabe. And Dell? A Canine Poser indeed.

Crazy Mutt. Get a Life.

Until tomorrow, Choosers. I'm off to discover my world today!

So Much For The Romance Of It All ~

In my mind, I had pictured the scene in 3-D . . .

Crashing waves, sand beneath my feet, the sunset, the cool ocean breeze fresh against my face.

Most likely, I was inspired by Israel's serene countenance some months prior:



So as we drove down Wilshire Boulevard, my inner surferdude was awakened, as, due to the palm-tree lined streets, I suspected an ocean very, very nearby! Fully willing to take the respite at Johnny Rockets, I knew that soon my toes would be connecting with the sands of the sea . . .and I was happy.

Down, down the concrete path we walked [er, well, I walked. Keller strolled. Israel skateboarded]. Closer and closer we came to the smell of salt water. The breeze increased.

Pushing the pedestrian button at the crosswalk heralded nothing less than an increase of excitement within me. I could see the water! I just *knew* I was going to enjoy this evenings stroll at the seaside!

Israel made it to the stairwell first.


From this new perspective, I was a bit suprised to find a row of homes beneath our once-only-water-view. But no matter! Ready? Here we go! Israel again took the lead, skateboard in hand:



"Ummm . . .Mom? Ummm . . .come here!"



"Yes? What is it, son?" I queried.

And setting foot on the landing next to my boy, I looked out to this scene before me. A half-constructed walkway, complete with a crane for my viewing pleasure. Hmmmm.



And then, I looked down.

Oh. The staircase continues, I see . . .



To yet another FREEWAY!?!?!?!



Egads!

*sigh*

So much for the sand and surf.

Dude. That was like, such a bummer. Like, if we coulda walked the catwalk, like, we woulda, dude. But, dude. Another day, maybe,huh?

When In Hollywood . . .

An inevitable happenstance?

I do suppose.

After all, Israel did nothing short of rave about the joint once he returned home from his first trip.

That time, Gil was at the helm, and it was an all-guys outing.


Could I possibly be included? Israel would have to consider, and consider it well . . .


The verdict? "Have cash, Mom? Can go."

Sheesh. I recognize my value around here! LOL So, off to Johnny Rockets, the retro burger joint we went, with a happy skateboarding 13 year old buzzing around pedestrians on the busy sidewalk as though they were obstacle course pylons.

Upon arrival, L'il KellerMan was so excited about the opportunity to follow in his big brothers footsteps, he demanded equal footing! "Get the camera out, people! This is my big moment!!"

So, we took full advantage, and began snapping away. click! click! click!

I'm certain the onlookers wished they had brought their camera. It's not often one sees a bonafide star these days, ya know . . .

But, alas, Keller grew tired of the paparazzi glare ~ and soon retreated into self-preservation techniques of the highest order:

Ah. Who can blame him?

Kute is as Kute does.

Next time, he'll go incognito with a moustache.

Stop The Presses!!

I was all set to bring you the photographic evidence of our latest California adventure.

My only delimna was choosing which photo of the seventy five photos I took would most precisely depict the said such adventure for my readers.

All of that has gone by the wayside.

Every last durn pic has been trumped.

By a thirteen year old boy.

I doubt very highly that you'll be perturbed, though.

As a matter of fact, I think you'll be downright amazed!

It all hearkens back to Israel's innate draw to the local, FREE, skatepark. We still haven't gone. In part, because he still owns a scooter, not a skateboard.

Well, evidently the kid has been praying. Or the Lord intercepted my forward motion (not yet willing to invest in a brand new skateboard) by producing a skateboard for my ever-lovin' skateboarding son.

Yes. Out of thin air.

Seems the lad was returning from a local mountain-climb when, what's that he spies in the ditch?? None other than a tattered, worn out, discarded skateboard, still intact, still functioning.

Wow.

So, he snags it.

And now, he's back in business. As you can see, it goes with us just about everywhere:

Anyway, as I was saying, I had a series of pictures to delight you all qued up and ready to go. Then, SkaterBoy trumps the whole deal.

Late last night, I saw him on the computer, intent on the screen, and asking me ~ "Mom, where are those May photos?" and in a sing-song-y way, "I'm a ghost, I'm ghost . . ." It was then I realized he'd just uploaded something . . .the likes of which I knew not . . .and I became worried. I've spoken to him time and time again about making movies and filling up my harddrive willy-nilly.

I popped up from my seat, and dashed over to the screen.

My mouth gaped open, because the first image my eyes landed on was this:

A ghostly image indeed! How'd he DO that?

The lad had taken, oh, I'd say about 150 photos of his fancy footwork under the glaring city light on the concrete cityscape.

He must've set the shutter to insta-shoot ~ because ~ even though it wasn't a movie, I had every. scene. as though it were parsed.

Every last one of the images in an eerie state of Invisible Man.

Well, they are certainly not the work of Angela Giles Klocke, as she captures her own SkaterBoy in action, but they'll do.

After all . . . This particular SkaterBoy is mine. Somehow, it warms the heart in a different sort of way.

But maybe she already knew that.

And maybe ~ just maybe ~ so do you.

Really.

It really happens.

Those mirages of gorgeous purple, pink and blue mountains, looming large inthe distance. All three of us, Aubrey, Israel, and I ~ exclaimed, echoing thesame sentiment as we drove out of the covering of city trees onto an openfreeway ramp.


"I've never seen that in person before!"



I was manning the wheel, so Aubrey manned the camera.




I felt like I were the recipient of a Blue Mountain Art greeting card.

From the Lord.

Really.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork. Psalm 19:1

Does He Have What It Takes?

Let's face it.

We were all, at one time, 13, innocent, and absolutely void of any ability to rightly judge what 'handsome' is and was. I've got proof!

Out of sheer curiosity, when Tanya mentioned her heartthrob as being Jimmy McNichol, I thought, "Who the heck is that?" (I know, I know . . .) and discovered, thanks to Google images, that "OH!!! Of course!! yeah. He was a hot babe!" See for yourself:

Ummm . . .John Schneider never really caught my eye. Do you suppose it was because I lived in the country with country boys all around?

I'll readily admit, John Stamos is a cutie. But, he came along a few years to late. I had already passed up that 'puppy-love' stage. Matter of fact, I think I already had a child or two. Hmmm.

Kirk Cameron? Yeah. He was a verifiable heartthrob. But once again, he didn't catch my eye as he did others.

Andrea mentioned Menudo. Um, girl? Me thinks you've got it bad for Spanish speaking "babes"!!! LOLOL

And of course, our sheltered one, LeAnne reveals the fact of the matter. Some parents just don't let their kids get out much! LOL Michael W Smith never held much sway over me. Of course, I didn't get AM radio, either.

But there's one ~ one handsome fella in the bunch of Confessions of the Teenage Heart that really had a two thumbs up! None other than Shawn Cassidy! Yep! Now we're talking! Could he possibly. get. any. cuter?????

{swoon!}

Yet confession time isn't complete until I give it up myself. Shawn was great and all . . .but no one ~ absolutely NO ONE compared to THIS piece of work, the most cutest guy ever to hit stardom: LEIF GARRET!!

[Ahem] Are you done laughing yet?

I know . . .to see him now, one wonders . . .

But give me credit! I was 13. for pete's sake!! LOL

Well, enough of the walk down memory lane; enough toying with your affections for one day; enough taunting you by pulling on your heartstrings once again.

The fact of the matter is that now we're looking at this industry from the other side of the coin. Now we're MOM's and GROWN-UP's and all adult-i-fied 'n such. Now we're talkin' about this here young'n, my son, Israel:

Egads! Are the teeny-bopper girls of today going to swoon over my son, drool on their pillows at night, just like we did back then??? YIKES!

How do I feel about that?

And in what manner shall the rudder of Israel's life ship be guided? Heaven forbid he walk in the footsteps of those who've been used up and tossed aside like trash. Heaven forbid he become a statistic.

Instead, may the Lord be his shield and stay. May his footsteps be ordered of the Lord, and may he not stumble.

Guess we've got our work cut out for us. This training up a child in the way he should go. Wisdom and understanding we shall call our sister and kinswoman. There's no other way to do it. But by the grace of God.

So, as I unveil the winners today, my request is that you lift us up, asking the Lord to guide us with His eye. To use us, yes. May we be vessels of honor in His hand unto His eternal purpose of good. ")

********

Ready?!?!?

Here are the winners:

MONICA

ANDREA

JOYCE

!!!

WoooHOOOO! You'll each have proof that "you knew him when" headed your way, plus a suprise happie from my heart to yours! Email your mailing address to JaJireh (at) yahoo.com, and watch your mailbox! (Oh! You can even request which heartthrob pic you'd like to own: Regular kid; Sad kid; or Smart kid. Just email your choice!)

What fun, this adventure we are on . . .

Until tomorrow ~

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19

Crew Of Regular Smart Peeps.

That'd be you.

Youse guys.

Y'all.

You'ns.

I'm pretty tickled that I've surrounded myself with folks that think *just* like me when it comes to capturing that perfect headshot! The tally has been made, and the results are exactly. as. I. would. have. them.

er, my faves are your overall faves, too! ")

Here they are, in order of winning selection:

Winner #1, Regular Kid.

Winner #2, Sad Kid:

Winner #3, Smart Kid:

And Winner #4, Li'l Man:

Now, I wonder how close our selections will be to the selections the agency will make? After the first set of headshots came in, we were suprised at the shots they chose ~ unseemly at first, until I learned what they were looking for. When I find out, you'll find out . . .and it's fun to consider which way it will go!

Meanwhile, I promised a blog giveaway!

Do you remember those teen heartthrob mags you used to get when you were young? Or look at longingly at the grocery counter? Or, the posters that you'd hang on your wall, dreamily staring for hours while you listened to so-n-so's record over and over and over?

For today's giveaway, three winners, randomly drawn from the entries that state in the comments section the following:

Who was your absolute dream-boat of a puppy-lovin' teeny-bopper hero when you were growing up?

No right or wrong answers here, kids. Just flat out honestly. But please, no drooling.

The prize? An autographed copy of noneotherthan the newest Hollywood craze, at least in my eyes . . .Israel! And, should you not fall over faint with that win, a suprise happie added in to boot, directly from my heart to yours.

At the ready, Choosers! Atten~tion! Keyboard~type!

An Unexpected

late start this morning, Choosers! Therefore, results and blog giveaways will have to wait until post fellowship! Meanwhile, consider this piped in music while you wait:

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:4-5

Sad Boy. Smart Boy. Popeye The Sailor Man.

Instinctively I was drawn to one particular photographer out of a short list of potentials prior to arriving in California. Gil, willing to follow my lead on this task, contacted him, and soon, we were wisked into his studio environment.

I knew immediately we had made the right choice.

When we returned for Session 2, we had a task list. Present for character roles, i.e. pitiful boy who has just lost his dog; preppy smart kid cheesing for president of the student council; back street boy, tough and tumble, and the like.

I couldn't be more pleased! Would you like to see?

Choosers! Take your stations! Prepare your keyboards! It's time to vote for your favorite in the comments section! Then, tomorrow, the announcing of the Top Pick for each category ~ and . . .a blog giveaway!

Here are the categorical choices:

1. Regular kid:



2. Sad Boy:



3. Smart Boy:

While Keller and I waited patiently, watching all the proceedings quietly in the background, the photographer took an interest in L'il Man. A few quick shots produced a capture of this little guy to a T! So, for fun, vote your favorite here:

4. L'il Man:

Doesn't your heart just melt? Or is it just me?

Nah. I saw that . . .your heart just melted like a schoolgirl! I know it ~ don't deny it!

LOL

A recap: Vote for one picture (1, 2, or 3, respectively) in each category (Reg, Sad, Smart and Lil Man) in the comments section.

Swoon.

Look again.

Smile.

Love Life.

Live Vicariously.

It's ok. I give you permission!