If you know Nancy and I, you know that we love TN Football. Admittedly this is her legacy, as she, her brother and her sister all went to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I, on the other hand, was a Yankee and graduated from a big ten school – Michigan State University (better than Michigan to my SEC friends, but also they won their game against Michigan on Saturday!). All of that said, I have grown to LOVE SEC football. Any time we get the chance to go and see a game, we take it. Now that we are in Atlanta, we can drive and enjoy the trip as much as the game.

There are many of us who support our teams in the good years and the lean years. I learned that early as a Buffalo Bills fan. So, we went to this game last weekend knowing that our young, inexperienced, injured team would have a major struggle playing the number one team in the country! But we still had a great time. Here are a few of the highlights.

I am still telling stories – once that are related to my “work” and ones that are not. This is a mix of both.

Before I left for Costa Rica, my good friend kept asking me to define vacation. There seemed to be an opinion going around that I needed to unplug and take a break. I was caught up in all of the “get it done before I go on vacation craziness.” Right before I got ready to pack I looked up the definition of a vacation: A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest or relaxation. Wow. It hit me. It’s not taking a few breaks from your computer during the day. It’s not looking outside at the view and then going back to work. A vacation is devoted to pleasure – rest – or relaxation. Well, what do you know?

So I went off to Costa Rica with that goal in mind. I did it so well, I have been having a very hard time plugging back in. In fact, this trip has caused me to think hard about my non-vacation life. But that’s another story. For now, here is the Costa Rica story.

We stayed at a wonderful resort in Tamarindo – the JW Marriott. Yes, it was decadent and lavish and had the largest pool in central america. And I took advantage of every part of that. So, take a little tour with me. You may decide to unplug yourself.

Driving in Costa Rica

We decided to rent a car and drive from the airport in Liberia to the resort in Tamarindo. We had such detailed directions, we just knew we would find our way just fine. Huh, uh. Well, we did ok, but there were certainly moments when we weren’t sure we were going the right way. When we made the last turn toward the resort and the “road” was just a gravel path, we really weren’t confident.

There was tremendous relief when we drove into the resort and they came to greet us. Whew! Plus, the 95 degrees was a shock after the 45 degrees we left in Atlanta. But we were thrilled to get to a beautiful room, have a view of palm trees and green grass, and change clothes. We had lunch at the pool restaurant looking at the ocean while we ate.

The next step was swimsuits, sun block and costa rica hats.

First Night Sunset

The first night we were there, I learned about being so close to the equator. You get about 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. I didn’t totally understand all of that, until I realized that we were walking on the beach and folks were setting up to get photos of the sunset – at 5:30 pm! After I got out of my geographically challenged mode, I realized that I was in exactly the right place at the right time – totally by accident. As I watched Nancy walk the beach with her new costa rica hat, I was also ready for the first sunset.

Tamarindo

We ventured into town the next morning and realized the definition of roads in Costa Rica. The people are wonderful and friendly, we just had to get our brains away from the urban definitions of road signs. We did find our way to Auto Mercado (the grocery story), and were relieved to be able to use dollars and just get colones in exchange. With an exchange rate of 10,000 colones to $18, my brain couldn’t do the conversion in my head. I got better as the trip went on (move the decimal point over three and multiply by 2 – take off a little), but our dollar was more popular here than it is at home.

Roads and signs aren’t quite the same in Costa Rica, but we loved driving around feeling like we were big and brave. It was great fun! And yes, I know the self photo is dumb, but I couldn’t resist.

The Resort

I can’t describe the resort. It is even more amazing than the photos on the website. OK, OK, I work for nonprofits. I know about the contrast between the resort and the “real” Costa Rica. I spent some time talking with the folks who worked there, partly because I like to know people and partly because those little guilty moments crept in. I was impressed with the folks I met and how much they seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

One waiter talked with us quite a bit about his work and his boss and his goals in life. He was appreciative of the opportunities he has, is almost finished with business school (to change is waiter life style and see his girlfriend more. Hummm, sound familiar?), and talked about being tired but loving the overtime pay. The country may be different, I’m not sure the goals are.

So, enjoy some resort photos.

Eating

Eating in Costa Rica was a wonderful experience. The freshness of the food was a delight. Our breakfast buffet allowed us to have fresh fruit to the max. Pineapple, mangos, melons – yum!!! The fish was fantastic and it was all I ate. These photos are of the resort at night and us having a great time. I just couldn’t resist the night photos – remember, I’m on vacation… On Friday night all the power went off at the resort and it was more than a little weird. But then we managed to find our way our the sliding glass doors to the our garden and the stars were amazing.

Snorkeling

We loved our snorkeling trip, perhaps more for the boat trip than the snorkeling itself. The ocean was a bit rough and we got swamped a lot. But check out the landscape (and I don’t mean me…)! Wow.

Lola’s

Lolas is the place everyone wants to go and with good reason. It’s a local restaurant right on the beach with all the informality that implies. We thought about walking to Lola’s, but we were put off by having to leave early to avoid the tide coming in and blocking our way back. Since we had the rental car and had managed to find our way to the resort from the airport, we thought we could handle this one. Imagine our surprise when we met these folks on our way out! It was a very interesting road trip…

Lola’s is named after a 300 pound pig (no longer with us, the photos below are of a descendant), the seating and ambiance are wonderful and the view cannot be beat. You can relax in your swimsuit, drink beer (or whatever) and enjoy a spectacular view of the ocean. I’m not sure there is anything better. It’s also a place where you can soak up the local culture. Dogs are indeed everywhere, something we had no problem with. This was probably our best outing. It’s a wonderful place. This is one of those times where photos speak louder than words.

The Last Sunset

People who know me are well aware of my penchant for sunset photos. But the last night we found a wonderful location to take the photos and had our best sunset ever. I couldn’t resist and if you are a sunset photo lover like me, you can see a bunch more on my flickr site. But here are three that will tell you why we didn’t want to come home.

What did I learn?

Be careful when you unplug. You may not plug back in. More to come in a later post.

I have been away from this blog for a bit and it has been an interesting journey. I find myself once more back on track with social media and story telling with images. Let me share one with you now.

We have a new puppy at my house. She was left in a vacant lot of a burned out house, still in her crate. We prefer to believe that she was left there specifically so we would find her. It’s been a difficult time for pets and owners here in Atlanta recently, as so many people are finding themselves losing homes and jobs. So when she came right to Nancy, was a girl (better for our boy dog, Charley), and was clearly a yellow lab – by the time I got to the parking lot to meet her she already had a name. I knew it was all over. And she has been a true joy in our lives.

I have always maintained that photography is another way to tell a story. Some of you are familiar with my work at www.tellthestorynow.com, where I consult with nonprofit organizations and small businesses on social media. Today I will spend some time at a real estate caravan. I put together a presentation of my commercial and real estate photos to display at the caravan – as I am raffling off a free real estate photography package.

While I was putting the show together, I realized that this type of photography is no different from the others. These photos, too, tell a story. I think if you look at the show below, you will agree with me.

Just when I consider my paths in life to be most unpredictable, I have an experience that reminds me that nothing is really by chance. While I would never have predicted the road my life has taken, I firmly believe that I am, and have been, in the exact right position. Not always the most comfortable, but the right place.

My recent trip to Dublin, Ireland has confirmed that perspective yet again. Nancy and I were able to travel to Dublin in November, where she presented at a conference on child sexual abuse. We had the chance to see some sites, brave the rain and gale force winds, and meet some amazingly wonderful people. If you only want to see the photos, you can go to the gallery of images and have a look at the Dublin album. But the full story is more interesting……

The trip began with an overnight flight to Dublin from Atlanta, where we both realized we aren’t very good at overnight flights. Even after four hours of sleep at the hotel, we were a little stupid as we ventured out in the weather. But, we were able to find our way around and get our bearings sufficiently so I would be set to do my wandering the next couple days during the conference.

Our hotel was right on the River Liffey and provided us a wonderful view. These photos give you some idea of both the view and the weather…

I went out on my own on Thursday and although my bright blue slicker was embarrassingly out of place in Dublin, by the time I was making my way back to the hotel in the rain and wind, I really didn’t care! I didn’t venture far that first day, but I enjoyed seeing the Irish sailing ship across from my hotel. It’s called the Jeanie Johnston, and it really does function as a sailing ship. You can learn more about it here, and here are a couple photos.

That night we joined all our new friends in the bar and had a wonderful time sharing information, stories and a few pints/glasses of wine. I have never felt more welcome and accepted within a group of people who had been strangers only moments before. It was a bit amazing. Nancy and I went to a wine bar up the street from our hotel and enjoyed some of the best food and wine we have had in awhile. Dublin was impressing us!

Friday I refused to be deterred by the wind or the weather and I walked my tail off! I went to O’Connell Street, to Henry Street, to Grafton Street, to Trinity College, and every store or shop in between. And I never took my camera out of the bag! This was a weird reaction for me and afterwards I wasn’t quite sure why. I only know that I was fascinated by the people and the buildings and the places – and that I was proud of myself for taking my trek by myself, never getting lost or confused, and, eventually, finding my way back to the hotel. The only explanation I have is that I was so much in the moment – that I couldn’t step back enough to even take photos. (More about this feeling on The Women Speak Blog.

I did enjoy taking photos of the new bridge across the river when I returned, so I will share those – and some news links that give you an idea why this thing is really so cool.

On Saturday, Nancy and I made our way all over Dublin. This time, I decided NOT to take my pro camera, but instead to just manage what was supposed to be terrible weather! So, I didn’t have the good camera, Nancy took the little point and shoot, and guess what? The sun came out! The pics below should be credited to Nancy and the Nikon point and shoot. We were visiting Grafton Street, where we saw the mime artist, and St. Stephen’s Green with its beautiful scenery.

And then there was Sunday…. The person who had first contacted Nancy about coming to Dublin was JulieAnn. When we arrived, Nancy admitted to feeling relieved when she found a room waiting and heard JulieAnn’s voice, since their only contact had been by email! She was for real! Over the wine and pints of the following days, we heard about Toots. We even saw a photo (or rather an image on the cell phone – more discussion about that on the tellthestorynow blog).

So before finishing the conference, JulieAnne had promised to try and introduce us. So, Sunday morning JulieAnn called and we arranged to meet Toots – and J.J. too. It was truly wonderful to meet Toots in person (or puppyness). Oh, yes, and of course it was also cool to meet her boyfriend J.J. The wind was so fierce that we had to huddle in the doorway of the hotel restaurant in order to have our little meeting, but still…The pics say it all.

It was our last day, and we were determined not to be deterred. So, we went out yet again in the rain and wind, only this time, I took the camera. We saw one of the coolest rainbows! When we talked to our new Irish friend David about it, he didn’t seem to share our wonder and amazement. I suspect they are much more common in rainy/sunny Ireland than here. But you will have to admit, this is a rainbow! There are more photos in the gallery if you really like it.

We proceeded on our way to Kilkenny Shop Ireland, the wonderful Irish store where we were spending a gift certificate and looking for gifts. It was here we found not only our best gift, but also one that spoke volumes about our experience in Dublin with the people we met. It’s called the Celtic Cross of Journeys and Meetings and this image tells it all. It is prominantly displayed at home to remind us of the new friendships we have made.

In spite of the rainbow, the wind was bloody cold and we finally gave in and bought hats and gloves. When we met David Kennedy, one of our new friends who agreed to give up even more of his weekend for us, I couldn’t resist taking a photo of him and Nancy in her wonderful new hat at Trinity College. I spared myself the hat photo – I had the camera.

And yes, that is flash in her glasses – tells you it had gotten dark yet again!

We found a pub (a really cool one that reminded us of a library), and enjoyed another couple of pints, and then we went to dinner. It was truly a wonderful ending to a wonderful trip. You can tell from these photos – we were having a great time!

There are times when you know you have met folks who will continue to be in your lives regardless of time or distance. We know that is true of the friends we made in Dublin, Ireland. Thank you one and all!

The Cheer for Children Ball is a fun-packed evening that also benefits the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. Serving children who have been sexually abused or severely physically abused, it isn’t always easy to talk about what they do. At the Cheer for Children Ball there isn’t any talking about the work, only having fun. But you know everyone is aware why the evening matters so much. If you want to know more about the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, visit their website.

I had the honor of taking photos at the event. It was my first attempt with my Flip video camera, and I didn’t do very well. The most important thing I learned is that I need to be quiet…. Those of you who know me are now chuckling…. But the photos were as much fun as the event itself.

It was a Hollywood Theme with all the wonderful chefs from the American Culinary Federation who prepared these delicacies! Thanks to Chef Mike, Chef Daryle, Chef Ciaran, Chef Joe, Chef Curtis, Chef Ron, Chef Natasha, and Chef David.

The palm trees were blowing and we had our own gold statues. Several guests were startled when the “statues” scratched their noses.

The women who worked so hard to make Cheer for Children happen were happy all went well and also enjoyed themselves.

In the end, it was about helping children and families, and the auction items and live auction will allow the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to do wonderful and important work. If you want to see all the photos you can go to this link, or enjoy the slideshow at the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy Blog. Or, as always, the full set of images will be part of the gallery on this site.

Some of you who have visited us before will notice a change! Bright and light! With a new focus – on the stories images tell us, rather than on the images alone. My work in social media has influenced this change, along with an increasing awareness of my own story. It’s partly age – since yesterday was my 59th birthday – and it is also my Mom moving close to me and watching her at 80 manage this new stage of her life.

I believe all of you will enjoy the stories the images tell as much as you have enjoyed the images themselves. During the next couple of weeks, the portfolio will change and become smaller, the posts of stories will be more often, and we will be sharing our stories in more ways and more places. Stay tuned! Oh, and for those of you looking for Kate and Mark’s wedding photos – go to the post “coming full circle.”

My friend Gary VanKempen has always said that changes in your life are like chapters in a book. You have satisfaction and sadness at finishing one chapter, and, at the same time, anticipation and excitement as you turn the page to the next. Dorinda (his wife and my best friend from graduate school) and I always looked at him a bit dubiously. That’s probably because at the moment we were having the conversation, she and I were feeling the sadness and anxieties of major life changes. But last weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I decided that he was correct all along.

I had the opportunity to see parts of my life come full circle. Two young people who decided to make a commitment to each other and their new life together gave me the opportunity. Mark VanKempen and Kate Hutchins were married on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 and my partner Nancy and I were given the honor of being there to participate in the celebration.

Just for a little background, Dorinda and I have been friends since we were in graduate school from 1972 to 1974 getting our Masters in Social Work. Drin and Gary, her wonderful husband, are very rare in the friends category. Their commitment to your friendship is unwavering (no matter what kind of stupid things you may choose to do in your life), and you can pick up with them right where you left off every time you see them. And Nancy and I count our week each year at their place at Lake Michigan as an essential part of our mental and spiritual health. We love them without exception or hesitation.

I had the privilege of being around when Mark was born (his brother Craig as well), and I watched them grow into adults. Much of my knowledge of their direct lives became second hand as time went on, through their parents whom I love, but it always felt to me like Mark and Craig were part of my family as well.

My life path has been curved and unpredictable, taking me to Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA; to the loss of one relationship and the joy of a new one; through several career changes, successful and disastrous; and now to those later chapters of my book of life. It is at this time when my nuclear family is coming closer together geographically that I came to this celebration to see another new family beginning. It felt very full circle.

I was also blessed with the opportunity to take some photos at this celebration. So, with joy and memories and hope and contemplation, I share them with all of you.

I have had the honor of photographing many amazing moments in the lives of friends, family and customers. I was privileged to be there. My introduction into professional photography was as a franchisee, owning a photo finishing franchise. I had always loved photography as an amateur, and the business gave me a path to the world of professional photography. I continue to be amazed and awed.

It still amazes me how different the world looks from behind the camera. I learned that the first time I picked one up. When I started shooting more, I realized that nothing looks the same from photographer to photographer. For instance, if I stood at a spot with the camera at my face and you stood shoulder to shoulder with me, and we took our pictures, they would be different. I would tilt my camera a bit differently. You would crop in tighter on a particular section. I would focus in the foreground. You would focus on the background. I would use settings that brought light to the front. You would create shadows and silhouettes. And when we placed the two images side by side, in a print or on a computer screen, there would be some who would never know we were standing shoulder to shoulder.

That, to me, is the magic of photography. Every photographer has a view – a way of looking through the camera into the scene before her. It is what makes us different, and yet makes us all the same. In choosing a photographer, you need to know her view. Take time to get a sense of mine. And as you visit us here at Photos by Peggy, come back often as we share ideas, perspectives, successes and blog the view.