Igloos and Winter Fun

Christmas was really magical this year and Thomas was at that perfect age to enjoy all the festivities. He has finally gotten over his dislike of snow and went sledding with friends (until his friend fell on him and face planted Thomas into a snowbank--he liked snow slightly less after that). One favorite gift was an igloo-block maker, which Andy and Thomas put to good use after yesterday's sticky snow. Buzzy likes anything associated with the snow and will plow through any snowbank with the mere command "go get it!"

"The Unknown Santa"

Not sure if any of you remember "The Gong Show" back in the 70s and the Unknown Comic who told really stupid jokes while wearing a paper bag over his head. Recently we uncovered "The Unknown Santa", his lesser-known cousin....

The Quest for the Perfect Christmas Card Picture

It's always a challenge for our household to get a great photo for our annual holiday card. You would think this would not be a problem with a photographer for a mother, but trust me...it happens! This year Christmas just stole up on me. I don't know if it's because Thanksgiving was late, or if I was just overwhelmed with too many irons in the fire, but everything seemed like it was last minute this year. The card was no exception as I herded the kids down to the studio on Tuesday night to take photographs. Thomas is at that age where he has the cheesy grin photo, so it's near impossible to catch a genuine smile. Madelyn said she was having a bad hair day and wasn't feeling particularly photogenic, so I had my work cut out for me.

Here are the best of the lot. We had some fun outtakes that I'll upload later this weekend. I finished up the last shoot of the year on Dec. 22nd with a wonderful family of fourteen, and now I'm just doing planning for 2009 over the next couple weeks. I'm enjoying a much-needed rest! I've been doing some renovation at the studio with my new studio-mate, Ed Doyle, so we're excited to have the space renewed and maximized for the space.

Merry (Belated) Christmas to all, and a very Happy New Year in case I don't get back!

Puttin' the Book to Bed

I hit the 50,000 word mark for NaNoWriMo a week ago, and have spent this past week adding in details and tweaking some stuff. It's certainly far from a polished, final work, but I'm really happy at where things ended up.



The print jobs were all sent to the lab, and I'm finishing up some edits tonight before I head over to the Missoula Children's Theater to take performance photos for "Nuncrackers". Madelyn was cast at the last minute for the show when one of the performers had to drop out, so she's spent the past week learning blocking, music, and all the little details. We're so proud of our little postulate.

The show opens on Dec 5th but there will be run-throughs and dress rehearsals over the next few days. From what I've seen of the show thus far, it looks like it's going to be pretty funny.

Secret Garden images from November 15th and 16th will be posted to my proofing site by this afternoon. Check them out. Performance photos for parents are available on disk.

http://maureenroyphotography.nextproof.com

We are also excited to tell you of our newest arrival to our home. Elfie the Elf arrived on Friday afternoon, a gift from my sister and her daughters. He's our resident "Elf on the Shelf" and Thomas is smitten with this little guy. Elfie flies back to the North Pole each night to give Santa a report on Thomas's behavior, and hides in a new place each morning. I'll post some of the funny places he's ended up. Thomas has beene excited to look for him in the morning, although today was more of a challenge, as he was sitting on the molding on the kitchen door, so it took a while to spot him. Thanks for the new addition, guys! I wish I could have an elf all year!

Have a great week, everyone!

SUCCESS!!!

I've been out of posting-land for a few weeks, focused on a ton of photography jobs and writing, writing, writing like a maniac in all the spare time. I just passed the 50,000 word mark, completing the challenge of NaNoWriMo to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. It's a great feeling of accomplishment--YEE HAH!!! Now it's time to get back to working on the studio and getting print orders fulfilled and out for the holidays. Thanks to every one who emailed their support and kept sending hilarious messages on Facebook! You're all so great!

Photos, Writing, and McDonald's Playland

Today marks the end of week 1 of NaNoWriMo, and I have to say that I'm impressed with myself. Either that or I'm completely insane, but I prefer to go with impressed. Early this morning I passed the 25% completion mark, logging just over 13,000 words that actually gel together and make sense. Not quite sure I'm ready to call myself a novelist, but I've always enjoyed writing and for some reason this particular story is coming very easy to me. I'm writing it in parts, so I'm not sure how they'll all tie together, but it's been fun so far and I'll have to tip my hat to my neighbor, Russ, who encouraged me to do it.

It's been a horrific week with the day job. My work cell phone holds 20 calls in the voice mailbox; my office phone holds 40....both maxed out several times this week...one day they maxed out...TWICE. I thought my head would explode. It couldn't have come at a worse time, when I was trying to get eight shoots edited and proofs back to people, as well as work on a very technical edit that has required some consultation.

Short and sweet of it is that I hit a bit of a wall, but now I've gone through it (insert cartoon characterization of Maureen's outline in the brick wall), and I'm getting everything done that needs to get done. My apologies to friends and family if you've been waiting for me to call you back. When I emerge I'll have a lot of chatting to do.

I did take a much-needed break last night and took Thomas on a little date. I've been working so much for the past two months that he finally came downstairs to my basement office, tugged on my sleeve, and said, "Mommy, when Daddy is gone this weekend, can you and I play?" Enough said. I have no remorse about typing this right now as he's engrossed in a Jimmy Neutron episode, but I shut the computer off last night, dropped Madelyn off at MCT (she's helping backstage) and took Thomas out to dinner and then to the new play structure in the newly rebuilt McDonald's. He's four, but this was our first venture over there. He had a blast and played on the thing for THREE HOURS. The way the place was rebuilt, there is very little echo in there and, sad to say, it was almost pleasant (!!!). He made a bunch of new friends and it was so much fun to watch him run, climb, squeal, and use his imagination to make up all sorts of games. I knew he was tired because when I finally told him it was time to get going home at 9 pm, he didn't even put up a fight. We got home, read some books, and cuddled up together until we both fell asleep. Who knew that going to Mickey D's could be rated as one of my favorite evenings, but it did.

Andy is off in Pittsburgh for the annual trip back to see his brothers and go the Steelers game. I'm jealous. I know tonight he'll be sitting at Delallo's eating his favorite ravioli and kicking back a Rolling Rock...ON TAP. What I would do for a slice of pizza from Fiori's in Dormont. Ugh. Guess dads are allowed their fun, too!

I've not taken ONE photo of my NaNoWriMo experience...sorry. Just didn't happen. I'll just steal other people's images instead!!!

Take care and have a happy Saturday. It's been raining here all day today, and I procrastinated on raking leaves, so I get my punishment by raking wet soggy leaves to the street. Fun fun fun. At least in Missoula everyone rakes the leaves onto the street and they come by and suck them up, recycling them for mulch for the parks and stuff. That's a pretty cool thing about living here.

Of course, now I'm a bit afraid of raking! My neighbor Pat, who raked that HUGE pile of leaves for Thomas last weekend, suffered a heart attack this past week. I saw him out there raking one afternoon, and the next thing I knew, a fire truck and ambulance were whisking him up to the hospital. Luckily he recognized the signs early and called 911 right away, so he's expected to make a completely recovery. Gosh, between Pat having a heart attack while raking this week, and Andy having an episode with his arrhythmia while shoveling snow last winter, I have a feeling there'll be a lot of manual labor in my future.

The Muse Has Struck

Patience is a virtue, right? Unfortunately I've never considered myself particularly virtuous. I waited. And waited. And waited and waited and waited. Watched Poltergeist on t.v. Started watching The Shining. Still feel that that is the scariest horror move. Ever. Then, at 10:24 pm...it came. The muse arrived. The words started to flow. In a sort-of coherent order. I. Am. A. Novelist. Officially. In the same vein that Andy declares I. Am. A. Master. Electrician. when he is able to replace a light fixture. Danger lurks.

2216 words logged. 47784 to go.

I've also received an additional challenge from my photographer friends...document my month not only in words, but in pictures as well. With friends like these who needs enemies? Ok. But today I have to start with someone else's picture. This was uploaded onto the NaNoWriMo Facebook page and I thoroughly howled. I especially like the reference to Full Metal Jacket.




I told you. Danger lurks. I am also enjoying the threatening posts people are making, saying that if you tick them off, they will kill off your character. This could get waaaay interesting.

Let the Games Begin....NanoWrimo 2008

Well, I've gone ahead and done it...again. I'm hopeful that this time my attempt at NaNoWriMo is successful, as I crashed and burned three days into it last time. What is NaNoWriMo you may be asking yourself? National Novel Writing Month. It is a courageous effort made my thousands of would-be novelists, bloggers, cigar-smoking bureaucrats looking for a distraction, teenagers, housewives, crazed lunatics, English majors, and yours truly to write a 50,000 word novel all during the month of November. My dear neighbors, the Thayers, have this year guilted me into the project, noting that almost every week I loudly exclaim, "I've got my novel written...it's all right here!!" (insert visual of me pointing vehemently at my noggin'). In a last ditch effort to have me put up or shut up, they said, "Great...you're all set for NanoWriMo!".

Looking for a quick exit. Stage left. Trying to jump out the window. My office is in my basement.

Damn. I'm committed.

It is now 7:21 pm MST. I have written...um....nothing. It's amazing that when you boast about having an entire novel already written (insert previous visual) when it comes time to put pencil to paper or finger to keyboard, nothing happens. Well, lots of things happen, actually...you find the laundry that hasn't been done. You begin to identify the various types of mold and fungus growing in your refrigerator. You say, "Wow! A 5700 piece jigsaw puzzle! Awright!". You create other projects. The dog gets fed. And you write nothing.

So here I am. The monitor mocks. I wait. In this linguistic duel I am already compelled to admit defeat. But a little piece of me (insert previous visual once again), reminds me that it's in there.

I have four hours and 35 minutes left to get my first 1500 words down. I have consumed 1500 chocolate calories consuming leftover Halloween candy waiting. I have wasted 1500 minutes surfing the Internet and playing on Facebook today. But the words...nope.

Four hours and 34 minutes to go....33...32...31.

If you care to join me in this month-long exercise, see the link to the right. Happy writing. Or not writing.

One Perfect Day

So I haven't mentioned it here, but I have been sick as a dog (well, actually the DOG is quite well, as you'll see below) this past week. Sinus infection and bronchitis...it's been MISERABLE. Today I felt marginally better, Andy went to a friend's house to watch the Steelers lose (bummer), and Madelyn was running spotlight at Jesus Christ Superstar, so it was just me and the little man chillin' out. We went outside and raked up leaves. Our neighbor, Pat, raked a pile at least six feet high and we spent the better part of an hour tossing Thomas into the pile. I think it was fun for Pat to play with Thomas, but also hard to be reminded of his son 14 year old , Colin, who died two years ago this month after he was hit by a car three blocks from our house. Thomas was so thrilled with playing with Pat that he squealed for the entire time and then drew Pat a thank you picture and shoved it in his mailbox. This was a first...Thomas doesn't often spontaneously draw pictures, let alone FOR people, so this was truly a little gift from the little guy. There's just something about Thomas that makes people feel better just being around him.

Later in the day we raked up the leaves in our yard and Thomas suddenly donned his knight costume (a pass-over from Trish, from Alex), and was hacking away at the leaves. All afternoon long he would tell me "Fare thee well, maiden". It was adorable. We let Buzzy join in the fun with her new tennis ball, acquired after yet another adventure to the park (this time she jumped the fence and I was greeted by a phone call at 9:15 am saying, "uh...we're at the park...and your dog is here..."). So what else is new? I finally got her to sit still for a couple shots, only by balancing the tennis ball on the top of my camera lens so she'd look at me.

I finally threw it.

A boy and his 100+ pound beast...

Being goofy.

Happy Sunday!

We're supposed to have temperatures in the mid-50s all week, so it looks like it won't be a sub-zero Halloween. Hooray!!!

The Majesty Returns

Here are some images from Jesus Christ Superstar, which opened last night at MCT. This show is so powerful and the performances are so raw...it is a must see. I'm so thankful to the folks at MCT who give me the honor of capturing these moments.

To view all the show photos, here is the link: http://maureenroyphotography.nextproof.com/galleries/JCS

MCT--Jesus Christ Superstar

I went over to MCT last night to check out the lighting for when I shoot production images this week, and was so entranced by the music and the set that I had to start shooting right away. Jesus Christ Superstar opens this Friday at the Missoula Children's Theater as the first community production of the season. If you don't have tickets yet GET THEM. This is going to be a spectacular show. The cast is amazing, talented, and over the top professional. My hats off to the cast and crew. Can't wait to see you all over the next couple nights!

Check back Friday night and some show images will be posted. No sneak peeks for you yet!

Red Balloons and Signs from The Other Side

So I'm not normally one of those woo-woo people who talks about ghosts or anything, and this post is not a joke with the Halloween season upon us. I've had a couple strangely comforting experiences in the past couple days, and another that has spanned the past couple months. I wanted to share them with you, just because, well...just because.

The first involves my nephew Alex, who passed away suddenly in November 1994 from a virulent strain of menningitis. He was just 5 1/2 years old. I can't believe it'll be 14 years that he's been gone. He was a funny little guy, with some funny little quirks (for example, he liked to collect those little hangers that socks come on, and he liked to save the feeder strips that used to feed paper through computer printers...remember those?). He was a very sensitive little guy. I think about Alex almost every day, and some days when Thomas says something wildly entertaining I think of how much he would have loved his uncle. I think Thomas and Alex would have gotten along famously, since Thomas is WAY quirky and has funny little rituals, too.

When Alex died, we released a huge bouquet of red balloons after his funeral. It was kind of a gray day, from what I remember, and the sight of those red balloons sailing against a cloudy sky still sticks in my memory. Every year on his birthday, Trish and her girls release balloons into the sky as a way to remember him. In the past year I've had a few "red balloon" experiences...sometimes I've been thinking of Alex...sometimes they've happened just when I've been having a rough time and need a gentle reminder that things will change for the better. One day I was really missing Alex, Thomas was throwing a tantrum in the car, and I just said to myself, "gosh...how will I get through this day?" I just happened to look up, and there, floating just over my house as I pulled into the driveway, was a red balloon, dancing in the wind and sailing up toward the mountain.

Weird. But the day did seem to get better and we all got through it.

A few weeks later, I was having a similar day (I seem to be having these days a lot with the studio getting busier and trying to juggle multiple responsibilities). On this particular day, I was talking to Alex and telling him I missed him. A little while later I went to take the trash out and there, sitting smack dab in the middle of the yard (in a breeze, though it didn't move at all), was a red balloon.

Weirder still. But I did get through that day as well.

The following day, I'd had a very trying morning. I won't go into details, but let's just say I was just about to throw in the towel, sell all my equipment, and move to a secluded island...ALONE. I walked into the yard to get a little break and looked at my fence. There was a strip of red there...wasn't there earlier in the day. So I walked over to it...it was a broken balloon. Huh, I thought....how apprpopriate is THIS?! Then I picked it up, turned it over, and there was a face drawn on the balloon...a funny face with a tongue sticking out, as if to give a red-balloon raspberry ***pfffbbbtttffftt***. HA!

This morning I was going through our workroom (aptly named...there's so much junk in there that even walking into the room is considered work). I was looking for some bolts that go to Thomas's crib, as we're loaning it to a friend whose baby is due in another month. I found an old answering machine that I haven't gotten around to throwing away. So I plugged it in. BEEP. You have no new messages. BEEP. You have two saved messages. The first was from Dorothy Ogg...our old neighbor who passed away a couple years ago. She was thanking us for our Christmas card and said she was always tickled to hear from us. The next message was (sigh) from Barry. Calling on Christmas Eve 2006 to wish Madelyn a Merry Christmas Eve. He said he'd try to call the next day to wish us a Merry Christmas Day (which he did).

Ghosts? Communications from the other side? Coincidences? ( you can say so but I don't think so). I'm strangely comforted to be looked over, and after.

Off to do a family photo shoot. Probably the last day we'll have fantastic leaves and sun. I'll be shooting performance photos of the Jesus Christ Superstar show the next few nights at MCT. Look for the post on my blog.

Have a good Sunday! Know that even as we remember, we are likely similarly remembered. Peace to all.

In Memory of Barry Simon

Barry Gene Simon....3/30/94 - 9/29/07

One year ago, we lost someone very special to us. Barry Simon, age 13, died of complications related to Fanconi Anemia. I cannot believe it has been an entire year since this ray of sunshine passed away from this world. We miss you, buddy. Madelyn is hurting with the memory of her good friend as well. Please keep her in your prayers this week. Anniversaries like this are hard.


This is a long post, but I wanted to put it up here. I wrote this email to friends and family last year, upon learning that Barry had moved on to his glorious place in heaven.


Peace and love to all those reading...and please pass this post along to others...everyone could benefit from knowing Barry.

I carry the story that Vince Devlin wrote about Barry's funeral around with me. It was such a touching, poignant tribute. If you'd like to read it, here is the link:
http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_173ef2d8-9cc1-58f4-9c65-c98993346282.html


10/1/2007
It's late on Sunday night. Many of you in Missoula have by now likely heard about the passing of Madelyn's friend, Barry Simon. Barry passed away on Saturday afternoon from complications related to Fanconi Anemia, a genetic blood disorder he was diagnosed with in 2002. Barry left Missoula in August 2005 to go to Seattle Children's Hospital in order to undergo a bone marrow transplant which we hoped would extend his life well into his 20s or 30s. Instead, it gave him two more years.

Many of you included in this email participated in a fundraiser I did back in July 2005 to help his mother, Cindy, with the move to Seattle. I wanted to take a moment to again thank you for those contributions.

Madelyn kept a pretty active correspondence with Barry during his time in Seattle. Most times he couldn't write back, but he routinely called and left messages for her on the answering machine. Madelyn and I were able to visit Barry when we were in Seattle last May (these photos are from that visit). He was in high spirits at that time, despite having been discharged from the hospital (once again) only three days prior. We raced remote control cars around the Ronald McDonald House complex. He refused to use his wheelchair in front of Madelyn and later told me (when she'd gone inside to retrieve something), "I don't want her to know how sick I am." She told him not to be silly, and pretty soon they were racing his wheelchair in the complex instead. It was also during this visit that he said he wouldn't undergo another bone marrow transplant if the time came, not because he was afraid of the procedure but "because it's too hard for my mom to watch me be so sick". He doted on Madelyn during this visit and gave her several things that people had sent to him to keep his boredom at bay. When Madelyn told him he didn't need to give her anything, she should be bringing HIM things, he said that he had received so much from so many people that he wanted to be able to give something back to someone. Earlier that year, we had sent him a University of Montana sweatshirt signed by all the 5th graders at his elementary school. He decided that he would sign one of his sweatshirts, "Love Barry" and give it to Madelyn to wear back to school to show his thanks to everyone. To this day, I believe that he is the one and only person who could get my daughter to wear something other than a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey.

Barry came home to Missoula in early September, after he and his mother decided that he would forego any further treatment for the disease that had ravaged his body. Madelyn and I were unable to visit him until a couple days ago, as we were both battling colds. We were with him for about an hour on Friday night. He was very tired, and unfortunately we arrived just after he'd taken a sleeping aid, but he fought like the dickens to stay awake to talk to us. Madelyn wore the Seahawks sweatshirt Barry had given to her, and to listen to the two of them you would have thought he'd been in school with her all along, dropping names and talking about friends they had in common. Family friends were at the apartment painting Barry's room black, at his request. He said that his eyes were so sensitive from the disease and the rounds of chemotherapy that he just wanted to be able to open them and have it be dark. And he had beautiful eyes. As painful as it was to watch these two young people carrying on this conversation knowing that one of these lives would soon end, it was one of those moments where as a mom I felt very proud and amazed at watching the person my daughter has become and I know that Barry has brought out a side of her that I think even she didn't know she had. He reassured her repeatedly that he was o.k. He asked for and received repeated hugs from us and he and Madelyn held hands as they chattered away. It was tender and bittersweet, and my heart swelled and burst. The unfairness of this can be overwhelming.

And, ever the charmer, as we were leaving and thought he was sleeping, his eyes popped open and he said, "um...Madelyn, so do you have a boyfriend?" She responded with, "Nope, I'm a single girl". He smiled, closed his eyes, and said "we'll have to talk". And with that, he fell asleep.

Barry died the next afternoon, curled up in his mother's arms while the two of them took a nap together. Just before they fell asleep, Cindy told him it was o.k. for him to go to heaven. He had replied, "Mommy, I'd get there faster if I knew how."

This was an amazingly special young man. He was always positive, always cracking a joke, always earnestly grateful for anything he received. I think he's the one person I've met in my lifetime that I could describe as truly selfless. We will miss him.

Thank you again for giving your support to Barry and his family during this time, or for taking a moment to remember him today.

If anyone would like to make a donation to a worthy charity in Barry's name, I would suggest an organization called Soulumination. It is based out of Seattle and started by a photographer named Lynette Huffman Johnson. This foundation takes photographs of children and families facing life threatening illnesses. They photographed Barry and his family in October 2005. The do amazing work and continue to branch out at hospitals around the country. Some day I hope to be among their volunteer ranks. You can see Barry's gallery and find out more about the organization at http://www.soulumination.org/.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who might want to hear about Barry. Thanks again.


In love and peace,
Maureen

Barry Gene Simon....3/30/93 - 9/29/07

This Week's News and Today's Thomas Quote

It has been a LONG week. I celebrated my entrance into the next decade last Sunday (I STILL can't believe I'm 40?!). Madelyn turned 14 on Tuesday. I just finished my third senior portrait session of the weekend. Andy left for Indianapolis for a training for work for the week. Madelyn marched in the University of Montana homecoming parade on Saturday. Whew...I cannot WAIT for my head to hit the pillow tonight.

Thank you to all the people who have sent referrals my way this week, and to all the new clients who have called and scheduled shoots. Holy smokes...my phone was ringing off the hook all week. I so look forward to making new friendships and connections with the families who will be meeting me in the studio and around town in the next few weeks as the leaves start to turn colors. As I was driving downtown to meet my first client of the day, I noticed that the banners for the United Way workforce campaign have been hung. WOW...it's a bit surreal to drive by and think--I helped create those! Too cool.

I got a call tonight from Andy's mom. His dad is in the hospital with a bad bout of bronchitis (at least that's what we hope it is...all signs are pointing that way). Jerry was supposed to come out this way for the annual fishing trip with Andy, but he won't be making it, at least not this week. Please send prayers for a speedy recovery his way.

I also want to tip my hat to Corina, who took me on a wild adventure to find "edgy, urban" places in Missoula to shoot her senior yearbook photos. Once I get her permission, I'll be posting a few here. I did a quick edit to check them in-between shoots and they are GORGEOUS (even if I AM a bit biased). WOW. It's such a great thing when photographer and model click like we did. I can't wait for you to see them!

My apologies to those with whom I've been playing phone tag. I hope to catch up with anyone who I've missed no later than tomorrow.

Tonight as I was sitting with Thomas sharing a cup of tea (me) and a mug of hot chocolate (him), he looked at me and said, "Mommy....hot chocolate makes you smell happy...". Can't argue with that. It's a good way to end the week.

Will be posting new work this week...please check back!

A Study in Opposites

I am blessed to live in a beautiful part of our country. I've said time and time again that I'll probably never leave Montana (unless, of course, someone offers us a killer job, comes to our house and packs us, moves us to said job, comes to our house and unpacks us....then I might be persuaded to leave).

These are recent photos from our trip to the Twin Lakes...

I was thinking about our camping trip as I drove home last night from Huntsville. It was a long drive to/from Space Camp and I had plenty of time to think and to make observations about this southern part of the country through which I was driving. I was entertained by signs of the local culture....

I was also struck by some of these tiny little towns that seemed lost in a bygone era. I'm sure southerners would say the same of some of the Montana towns, so I mean no disrespect by that comment ( you guys have Slick's Gun Shop and we have Mentzer's Used Cow Lot, so you'll get no argument from me on that point thank-you-very-much). But I was struck by the decay in some of these towns, almost like it was Lost America.

This last image really struck me as I rounded the corner of a little backroad after taking photos of an old caboose that was overgrown with vines and shrubs. I started to drive away and noticed this scene and in light of having just dropped off my future astronaut at Space Camp, I had to pull over and capture this one as well. The way the sign fell you couldn't read that it was a furniture store. All I saw was "Discount Future". What a commentary on our world today. Here I was dropping my child off with the hope that the experience she has over the next week will continue to spark her interest in science and math and further develop her passion for space and space exploration. But then I look at our world and how much we discount her future by physically wrecking our planet day by day.

Heavy stuff to think about...no wonder the rain came down as a deluge.