What more can you say, much like most couples, there was a bride and groom. And well, for Jason and Sara it was obviously no different. However the energy that these two have is something else. From the first time I met both Jason and Sara I knew right away that it is just meant to be.
And their day, ahhh, the looming rain. You know, many say rain is good luck on a wedding day. Not that I think Sara and Jason need any luck. Then there were other individuals to the day. And one that I will never forget must be Sara's Grandmother. You can't get anything past this one, even when you throw two Tim's into the day. Especially once it was made clear that I would be Tim #1. (nothing against you Tim 2) So to me it's obvious where Sara gets her great attitude from, handed down from her grandmother through her mother and I'm sure that happiness will be passed on for generations to come.
Then there is Jason, he was soooo Mr. Cool on the wedding day. Not in a bad way, but when we met up earlier in the day it was obvious that he didn't have a single doubt in his head.
From the start of the day it all seemed to go off with out a hitch. The ceremony was perfect, the smiles were abundant and of course the moment where they become husband and wife. From the ceremony it was time to take some pictures. Hampered by a pouring rain. But what do we do? We work with it and create images that reflect exactly what their day was. It's nothing to hide at all...
So we work with the rain... Fast and sweet and off to the farmington club we go. A great place, tucked away with beautiful gardens, great staff and some decent food. The rest of the night unfolded much like the entire day, with out a mishap insight. The dancing, the cake, the party... After all, it's the party that brings the entire night together and it's the entire party that wraps up the big day for Jason and Sara. The day that represents the rest of forever....
Some of you know, others don't, but cycling, outside of my family and photography is one of the most important parts of my life. Why? Because it keeps me going forward. It's not always easy to ride, as a matter of fact, it gets hard. Trying to wake at 5:45 am for the morning rides as to not eat into the rest of the days journey. Yet it slowly gets easier, it slowly becomes part of me once again. Last weekend was my first race since the "accident" on 6/6/06. It was good, no, it was great to be back out there. To push myself beyond what my mind believes I can do. To be inches away from the tire in front of me, or from the rides all around. 40 mph, into a 90 degree turn, the wind, the freedom, taking any thoughts or worries from any other part of life away. Just being right there, at that time, and no where else....
And while I'm not sure what I'm getting at or where I'm going with this, I do know one thing, cycling, my bike, is a great thing.
"Le Tour De France" ended yesterday and I couldn't help but smile with excitement, watching all of the riders come across the line after 3 weeks of intense racing. What they go through is unlike any other athlete. Burning thousands of calories a day, pushing beyond a point that many think is safe. Going up into the alps, harder and harder with each pedal stroke, bringing their bodies and minds into a place where they no longer hear the thousands of spectators lining the streets... In some cases unable to comprehend where they even are. At times they will find the finish line a top one of those towering mountains, trying to ride solo to that banner... And at other times when they crest the top of the mountain at 10,000 feet or more, they decend the hairy switchback filled roads... They push harder and further trying to find the days finish line. Snaking through the small villages, unable to take more than the blurring colour in... And should they come to that finish line as a peleton, all of the racers in one pack, it's like a wolf trying to get that last piece of steak... Each teams "sprinter" fighting to get into the front, to head down the road at mind numbing speeds in search for a single white line... Bars clashing, heads down, legs burnings... Lungs unable to get the oxygen the body so craves...
To them, that one single white line is all that matters right then and there....
Randy Pausch passed away today leaving his wife and kids to live the rest of their lives as happily as they can. The below "last lecture" makes more sense than most can handle. Follow your dreams... That's all I can say. I don't know Randy, you don't know Randy, but what I do know is that he is a remarkable soul...(reprise of full lecture which is over an hour)
(THE ENTIRE LECTURE FOR WHEN YOU HAVE TIME)
PITTSBURGH - Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47.
Pausch died at his home in Chesapeake, Va., said Jeffrey Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal writer who co-wrote Pausch's book. Pausch and his family had moved there last fall to be closer to his wife's relatives.
Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.
In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death.
"The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique."
The book "The Last Lecture" leaped to the top of the nonfiction best-seller lists after its publication in April and remains there this week. The book deal was reported to be worth more than $6 million.
Pausch said he dictated the book to Zaslow by cell phone, and Zaslow recalled Friday that he was "strong and funny" during their collaboration.
"It was the most fun 53 days of my life because it was like a performance," Zaslow told The Associated Press. "It was like getting 53 extra lectures." He recalled that Pausch became emotional when they worked on the last chapter, though, because that to him was the "end of the lecture, the book, his life."
At Carnegie Mellon, Pausch was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, and was recognized as a pioneer of virtual reality research. On campus, he became known for his flamboyance and showmanship as a teacher and mentor.
The speech last fall was part of a series Carnegie Mellon called "The Last Lecture," where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk. The name of the lecture series was changed to "Journeys" before Pausch spoke, something he joked about in his lecture.
"I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it," he said.
He told the packed auditorium he fulfilled almost all his childhood dreams — being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co.
The one that eluded him? Playing in the National Football League.
"If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you," Pausch said.
He then joked about his quirky hobby of winning stuffed animals at amusement parks — another of his childhood dreams — and how his mother introduced him to people to keep him humble: "This is my son. He's a doctor, but not the kind that helps people."
Pausch said he was embarrassed and flattered by the popularity of his message. Millions viewed the complete or abridged version of the lecture, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," online.
"I don't know how to not have fun," he said in the lecture. "I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it."
Pausch lobbied Congress for more federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and appeared on "Oprah" and other TV shows. In what he called "a truly magical experience," he was even invited to appear as an extra in the upcoming "Star Trek" movie.
He had one line of dialogue, got to keep his costume and donated his $217.06 paycheck to charity.
Pausch blogged regularly about his medical treatment. On Feb. 15, exactly six months after he was told he had three to six months of healthy living left, Pausch posted a photo of himself to show he was "still alive & healthy."
In May, Pausch spoke at Carnegie Mellon's commencement ceremonies, telling graduates that what mattered was he could look back and say, "pretty much any time I got a chance to do something cool, I tried to grab for it, and that's where my solace comes from."
"We don't beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully," he said.
Born in 1960, Pausch received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Brown University and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon.
He co-founded Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center, a master's program for bringing artists and engineers together. The university named a footbridge in his honor. He also created an animation-based teaching program for high school and college students to have fun while learning computer programming.
In February, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in California announced the creation of the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund for university students who pursue careers in game design, development and production.
He is survived by his wife, Jai, and their three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe; his mother, Virginia Pausch of Columbia, Md.; and a sister, Tamara Mason of Lynchburg, Va.
In a statement Friday, his wife thanked those who sent messages of support and said her husband was proud that his lecture and book "inspired parents to revisit their priorities, particularly their relationships with their children."
There's something about flying from Ct. to Oregon to shoot a wedding. Maybe it's just a new place, far away from everything my camera currently knows? Maybe it's flying out and the entire experience? Or maybe it's the fact that the wedding was a wedding like no other. On a beautiful farm, under this marvelous, old, huge tree that protects all underneath it. The beautiful weather, the blue sky, the mountains in the distance and to pull it all together, square dancing, plenty of smiles and a rooster.
And on a slightly more serious note, this day for for Matt and Paula was like no other. Why? because it was theirs. Their day to start a new "thing". A new thing together. A future that they will share on the Washougal river, in NW Washougal Rd, in their new house which will be nothing less than perfect. Unless of course the rooster from the farm that decided to chase me shows up on their property. In which case they had best get some ear plugs. Just know that the entire trip to Oregon and back was nothing less than a great adventure!!!! Goes to show that weddings are worth the travel!!!
What can you say about Tanya and Brian. From the e-mails to the first visit I felt like the right connection, that one you need when shooting a wedding, was there. And then hearing that Tanya was a dead head of course brought it all together even more. Of course Brians musical tastes don’t go hand and hand but it’s all good. Although, as much as he would like to deny, half of her dead collection is now his. BUT NO BRIAN, THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN PUT IT ON EBAY!!!
So their day, arriving at the house, what can you say, a good handful of people wanted to make sure they too got ready at their house. Such a great place snuggled in the woods. A beautiful new addition and some furniture that many would long for. Myself being one. And how Brian built it I have no clue but if I could borrow some of that talent and never give it back I would. The dress, full of detail and of course, with some certain style I seem to drag along with myself I steal the dress. Outside maybe??? YOU KNOW IT!
Coming in because of the looming darkness over head... Rain... Rain.... Rain... Where is it, when will it come, will it show up at all? The weather channel will tell all.... Okay, maybe the weather channel will tell nothing!!! Plan B is on, the rain is coming... No, plan A, back on, no rain... no plan b, no plan A... Thankfully for all, plan A was the one to stick with. A beautiful spot down by the lake. The cabins where some will spend the night, a beautiful gazebo for the ceremony and well, a rock to which I will almost slip off of and fall on my ass while taking a shot. HAH! Only one person saw. And no comments are needed!!! LOL....
Group shots, by the lake, all good and easy. In out in and out. Of course Tanya making sure everyone knew who was taking the pictures helped... “EVERYONE LISTEN TO THE TIM IN THE STRIPED SHIRT! AND DO WHAT HE SAYS!” Pure greatness Tanya pure greatness!!!
Up to the reception site. What a great choice, simple, fun, relaxed. That’s the way to go with out a doubt. Music jammin’ from the porch, musicians truly everywhere. Laughs, smiles, good eats, great live music... The smiles were abundant and that friends, is what a wedding is all about. Relaxing smiles from all around... Even if all around means straight from Italy... Yes, from italy to Lyme Ct. to share in a new chapter of both, Tanya and Brian... Congrats!!!!
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