Hard to believe that I haven't written in this blog since July. Then, I had a picture of a beach, now it's a new year, mid-winter, and I just finished spending a week at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships shooting pictures for the Rhino.
It was a fantastic week. The skating community really made me feel a part of them, for which I am very grateful. This is probably the only figure skating competition I'll ever shoot, and having it be the Nationals is quite amazing.
Amazing too are the number of pictures I shot - 16,000+! Using continuous shooting and following the action in each group really adds up the number of pics fast. But, it was well worth it. I got some great shots. Some really lousy ones too, I have to admit. I have deleted more than half of what I took, and am still going through the pictures.
I had hoped to meet Scottie Hamilton and Evan Lysacek, and I did. My meeting with Scottie was brief, but still a thrill. Evan grew up in Naperville, Il, where we lived for 14 years, so we talked about favorite spots like Portillos and Lou Malnati's. Pretty cool.
The big names of the skating community were all at the Nationals. I saw Paul Wylie (he's coaching now and was very instrumental in the production of the competition), Todd Eldridge, Tara Lipinski (always on the phone or texting), Randy Gardner, Ben Agosto, Tanith Belbin, Peter Carruthers, and Peggy Fleming. Someone said they saw Brian Boitano in the audience, but I didn't see him. I did see Vera Wang with Even Lysacek, and Johnny Weir walked right by me. Quite an experience, that's for sure.
Now it's time to settle back down into a normal routine, if there is such a thing in my life. Next week I have to write a real estate article, then meet with a group of ladies to begin planning the annual LWML retreat in August. There is also a women's tea coming up in May for which I'm involved in the planning, and an overnight trip to Charlotte in March for an LWML board meeting and Joy Event.
The LWML national convention is in Peoria, IL, in June, and I plan to drive up to Chicago, pick up my mother, and take her to the convention with me.
Of course, there are always photography outings to go on. In May, a group of us will be spending a day with Kevin Adams up at Max Patch in the Blue Ridge. Kevin is a well-known photographer, and his insights will be really helpful. I'm looking forward to that trip.
Some of us are also planning a weekend in the Smokies to shoot spring wild flowers. That trip is scheduled for sometime in April. Busy, busy, busy!
Last night I shot pictures at a wonderful benefit concert for the preservation and upkeep of the Carolina Theatre here in Greensboro. Warren,
Bodle, & Allen and Polecat Creek performed.
Both groups are terrific.
There is so many neat things that go on here in Greensboro. Tonight or tomorrow afternoon, I can go to a production Die Fledermus at UNCG. From Blue Grass to Opera, Greensboro has it all. There are clubs, community theatre groups, a symphony, choral groups, community bands, a magnificent natural science center with tigers and Wallabies, a children's hands-on museum, an art museum, and a soon-to-be aquatic center - you name it, Greensboro has it. Some people used to call this town Greensboring, but I find it filled with wonderful opportunities. If you are bored in Greensboro, it's your own fault!
