Donna

lead-er [lee-der] noun
1. a person or thing that leads.
2. a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.

wom-an [woo-man] noun 
1. the female human being
2. an adult female person.

self-less [self-lis] adj
having, exhibiting, or motivated by no concern for oneself; unselfish

These are only three words from the english language that can be used to describe Donna. There are plenty more that come to mind, dedicated, committed, absolute, loyal and the list can go on and on. This week Donna is traveling again. She finds herself in Hyannis, MA. on Cape Cod attending NEIPP a week long educational experience put on by the Professional Photographers Association of New England, that she just so happens to be the current President. She has tirelessly devoted the last six months as President to this organization moving it forward. I have watched her complete a long list of tasks she had set out for herself and a few pet projects along the way. I have watched her change attitudes from can't to can, from won't to will and when that has failed she has stepped up to the plate and finished whatever needed to be done . I can only hope others see what I see in her everyday. It is no wonder I love her!?!

Donna's at NEIPP

Donna headed out to the Cape for a week of instruction. A week long school called NEIPP (New England Institute of Professional Photography) Three of our friends either had or is having a birthday during the week so we made a cake to bring down for them to celebrate, this would also be a test run for the cake we would make for Cait's birthday next week. Sorry guys you were guinea pigs on this one


The lucky guinea pigs........ Tom, Ed, and Nancy.

Make a wish!!!!!





Save some for everyone.........I don't want the piece with drool on it!!





Xmas finally comes for the Sirrico-Green's. In earlier posts you've seen the fabulous house signs delivered and hung. This one was finally finished after receiving the pictures I needed to complete it.




Peter looks happy....but what the hell is wrong with Gillian? I know the cake is not that bad.





Neipp Staff group photo.
All smiles....must have been taken early in the week.






Donna gives yet another variation of her convention speeches.

When are you coming home?????

MEMS presents "The Music Man" junior

On an exceptional evening in March Donna and I traveled to Manchester to catch Dinner and a Show. Both were put on by Cait's Schools 7th and 8th grades. The evening started with dinner in the cafeteria decorated like the Pick-a-Little Cafe from the play, staffed completely by students. I had the roast pork and Donna tried the BBQ chicken. Both meals were great. When dinner was over we were ushered into the show and what a show they put on. Cait's role was as stage manager she made sure everyone new the choography, when and where to enter scenes and she created the final stage call at the end of the show. Later I would find out from my mom who atteneded an earlier performance that she had spoken with Margaret Connor who directed the play an stated Cait was the best stage manager she had ever had working for her and she had been doing these for sometime with the school.

Cait's visit

Cait was up for the weekend. We had plenty to keep us occupied. Earlier in the day Cait and I worked on homework for her play and algebra sprinkled with some social studies. Later we went to Cait's beading classes we got her for Xmas. After dinner we tackled a puzzle I got for Xmas.




We got the edges done quickly and went to work on the picture.






With Donna out to dinner with friends, Cait and I settled down in the studio and streamed episodes of the Twilight Zone on the mini Mac which is connected to a 32 inch flat screen LCD tv. Some of the ones we watched were "To serve man" "There is enough time" and "The Shelter". Nothing like old tv.




Gillian stayed with us to go to Donna's meeting in Manchester. The dogs got to stay with Cait and I. Here is our Lola, and Gillians Rufus and Arlo and little Bella who Gillian was also watching for a friend.


Leaving the dogs to play, Cait and I set off for the afternoon to Geocache. We started with a cross town multi that we tried to complete last fall. We found the second stage but were unable to complete it, I think we were close. Here Cait finds our first find of the day look behind the GPS and you can see the cover of the cache in the rocks.


Our next find was a hidden in plain site cache.








Took Cait a little to spot it, but with coaching she did.





We can't tell you where it is but it is a Rutland City Cache. BEWARE of the prickers.

VPP weekend

VPP has its last meeting before convention at the convention location. That location this year is The Equinox Hotel in Manchester just a mere 30 miles south of us here in Rutland. Being this close we like to offer up our home for VPP'rs who might not want to drive those extra miles early in the AM to arrive on time. Two members took us up on the offer. Those are not cotton balls sitting at the couch...........











Its Gillian and Robin!!!!!! They are getting the tour of Donna's new sales tool. What is it you ask? A mini Mac with bluetooth keyboard and mouse and connected to a 32inch flat LCD tv mounted to the wall as seen above. Images and videos just POP when viewed on it. Custom hidden installation too, which can requested for your own set up.





This bevy of beauties were captured at the Sirloin Saloon in Manchester. Julia, Gillian, Donna, Robin, and Felice. It must have been a hell of a program to draw members of other states( NH and ME). Maybe its just the reputation of Vermont hospitality that brought them. You decide.

PS. I got the doggy bag, sorry Kevin!

Office help

 Bella thinks she is helping me out when she takes a nap on my desk. I am not sure if it is the heat off my MAC or if she just wants to be near me, either way SHE IS IN THE WAY!! And boy you should hear her complain when I make her move!

Birthday BINGO girl!!

Miss Lori's birthday and anniversary happen to fall on BINGO night this year. She beckoned her friends to play bingo at IHM.




Every time I go to bingo with Lori I come home with a head ache. Looking at this you can see why. I mean, really how many ways can they come up with playing bingo. You need a degree in bingo playing to keep up with them.






Here is the birthday bingo girl. No big wins for her but she was all smiles with her flowers and her friends that came to celebrate her big day. Brad is the only one at our table that bingo. He won $35 bucks!

101 album layout

On Sunday Matty made the journey down from the North East Kingdom to work on his wedding album. Matt and Angela got married in October. They had seven photographers and over 2000 images. I am impressed that they narrowed them down to 500. I spent a little time showing Matty how to use labprints and away he went on designing.





I think in the end Matt would even admit he enjoyed laying it out. The album came out beautiful! Hope to have it at VPP to share with everyone.

RI convention

So my super hero couldn't go to the RI convention with me, so I got the next best thing.... BOB!!











I bet after 3 and 1/2 hours in the car with ME, Bob was happy to see this sign!!





The best part about this convention was that I got to spend time with one of my dearest friends from photo school, Heather. This is Rob and Heather on trolley on our way to dinner.







How cool that I got to see Amia on this trip too. If you need any match making, Amia and I are the ones to ask. 100% success to report. Two friends, 1 marriage, and 1 baby!







Look Bob is having a GREAT time! Of course when is the last time you got to visit the twilight zone??









Here is Heather celebrating her birthday the night of the banquet. Makes me think back few years ago that Heather and Rob made it up to Vermont for one of my Birthday bashes!










With all the 80's music we heard that night it took Heather and I right back to our days at RISP!!