Monday, September 29, 2008

Photography Workshop

In addition to the new nine week photography class I started last week, I took a six hour photography workshop specifically geared toward my camera on Saturday. I was by far the most advanced in the class, which was good and bad, but I was about to get some great shots and learn more about my camera.

While I have heard mixed reviews of the exhibits at the National Museum of the American Indian here in D.C., I can tell you that it is a photographers dream!

these were all taken in the atrium, which has a layered ceiling




had to stand there for a LONG time to get everyone to move to get this shot - but I think it was worth it, don't you?
this shot isn't cool in itself. what makes it cool is the fact that the words were actually projected on the wall in white. I made them blue by adjusting the white balance in my camera!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Lets go racin' boys

Last weekend, Brad and I headed to Dover, Delaware to attend a Sprint Cup Nascar Race (the Camping World 400 to be exact). Brad was SUPER excited and my excitement could only increase as we got closer, despite the fact that I was tired and stressed and a reluctant participant in the whole thing! It was a fun race, we got really dirty from sitting in the front row and we stopped at Bob Evan's for dinner on the way home after making it home in record post-race traffic time. What's there not to love?
The Monster Mile

Brad and his favorite driver, Denny Hamlin
My favorite driver, Tony Stewart - it's the last year that he is with Home Depot, which makes me very sad :(
in front of David Ragan's #6 Ford
Brad was very excited about the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol car that is driven in the Nationwide Series (think of it as the AAA league of NASCAR)

the in field at Dover... full of RV's and haulers and crazy fans
turn 1 view from our seats

team haulers - they use them to transport the cars (both the main and backup) and all the pit equipment and everything you need to run a race. Pretty cool.
Denny takes a lap during driver introductions
Tony, as usual, not so excited to be doing his fan lap
ready for the race!
lovin' every minute of it
here they come!

Two big wins!

I was going to post some NASCAR pictures from last weekend, but felt compelled to post this first. Today, and really all week, has been a banner week for the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. In the past 24 hours, two important pieces of legislation moved one step closer to becoming law:

Late yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008. The proposed Act would improve pain care research, education, training and access by addressing significant barriers such as lack of physician training, lack of patient awareness and treatment disparities based on gender, age and race. The vote represents real progress in our efforts to enhance cancer patients' quality of life.

Also, just a few minutes ago, the U.S. Senate passed Michelle's Law, which requires health insurance companies to cover college students who are on medical leave for up to 12 months. The House passed the bill on July 30, 2008, so the next step is the White House! President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law.

Michelle's Law is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student diagnosed with colon cancer. Her family’s health insurance would not cover her if she was not a full-time student, so she was forced to take a full class schedule while undergoing chemotherapy. After Michelle passed away, her mother, Society volunteer Ann Marie Morse, decided that no other student should face the same challenge. She helped pass Michelle’s Law in her state and has been a leader in seeing a federal version enacted.

These two wins are inspiring and motivating to all of us here at ACS CAN. It really shows that you CAN make a difference and that, just sometimes, lobbying done by every day people really does make a difference!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

You CAN make a difference in the fight against cancer

I am happy to report that my event went AWESOME this morning! My coaches rock! ACS CAN volunteers rock! And, well, I rock! :)

For more informaton on Coaches vs. Cancer, click here.

To become a card carrying ACS CAN member, and to support our important mission, click here.

Senator Cardin from Maryland gets things started
Dr. Seffrin, CEO of ACS and ACS CAN
we had over 200 volunteers attend the press conference before the fanned out across Capitol Hill to deliver their important cancer message
volunteers and media
Coach Mark Gottfried from Alabama

Coach Gary Williams from Maryland

Coach Jim Boeheim from Syracuse - a cancer survivor
Coach Jim Calhoun from U. Conn. - a two time survivor
the coaches and Senator Cardin display their ACS CAN polo's
Rep. Davis and one of our great volunteers holding the sign I made
great event. great crowd. great cause.




Friday, September 19, 2008

my new boyfriends

I wanted you all to meet my new boyfriends. The five NCAA men's basketball coaches who care so deeply about cancer research and advocacy that they're coming all the way to Capitol Hill next Tuesday, just to stand around and talk about it to the media that I have (hopefully) assembled. Many thanks to these dedicated guys!

Mark Gottfried, University of Alabama
Fran Dunphy, Temple University
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University
Jim Calhoun, U Conn
Gary Williams, University of Maryland




Sunday, September 14, 2008

the sunset post




I glanced over my shoulder as we were walking back after watching the sunset. I'm so glad I did because I was rewarded with these amazing colors. This photo is straight out of the camera - no special treatment, no filters, no Photoshop-ing. Just God's work.

Harrison's Cave

Ok, so Harrison's Cave in Barbados is pretty much the coolest thing I have ever seen in my entire life. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Nah. The ruins of Pompeii? Nope. Ohio State beating Michigan live in the 'Shoe? Not even close. Harrison's Cave was AMAZING. AMAZING. If you go visit Barbados, you absolutely must go there. Well, well worth the admission price, even if it is a little scary.