My body has forced me to come to a few realizations. Having spent almost six months of the past year practically bed ridden, I cannot simply leap back into the swing of things. No four hour long trail rides. No two hour long workouts. No getting up at 6am, chasing kids and animals around all day, working for four hours, and then going to bed at 2am. This is more than a little unfortunate. I -had- thought that I was taking it easy, but then I hurt my back and got the stomach flu. These things do not combine well. My doctor is now monitoring me closely. I have to count my calories, log my sleep, not work out for more than twenty minutes three times a week, not ride on the trails for more than an hour, no racing at full-tilt gallops.

I want my life back. I want to go dance in the rain and walk through the city on fun field trips. I want healthy lungs and racing my wife up the roller coaster hills. Instead I'm stuck spending my time trying to stay warm and dry, and taking pictures of flowers. Well, other things too, but the flowers part amused me. Sigh.

flower nookie
(click fo' biggah)
overhead flourescent . 50mm 1.8 1/125 . 1600ISO

I was supposed to shoot a soccer game. It got called on account of rain. I figured I'd shoot tonight's game instead. I wound up at urgent care as a result of pushing myself too hard in my attempts to recover from having spent four months nearly bedridden. So, I have local daycare Valentine's day party shots instead. I didn't know any of these children. I forgot to write down one little girl's name, and had to drive out and show the provider the images in order to get it. Lesson learned!

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Holiday Party at Susie's Daycare in Walnut Creek. February 2009.
(Click the images for larger versions)

Nathaniel shows Miles one of the cards from his basket.

Donovan squirms anxiously in his mother's lap.

Ainsley forgoes her napkin.

Lachalan enjoys the mess as much as the food.

Ainsley draws out the end of the festivities while the other children wait impatiently on the step.

FOR SCIENCE!

Life just keeps on keeping on. Eight year olds in safety glasses crack me up. Imala chose to do her science project on the melting temperature of different plastics. This involved sacrificing some spoons. And then came the inevitable "At what temperature does the spoon melt," question. We are now down by six spoons. Ha!