Perfect weather for sprints

Spring training at Ocean Lakes High.

Virginia Animals

Sometimes you get exactly what you want: a chance to play around with animals at the Virginia Living Museum. I wanted to do something different for Earth Day, and so I'm working on a series of portraits of animals for the Sunday Magazine. This was my first day, and I got so much amazing help from George and Shannon and Travis and Virginia, who let me set up a studio in a classroom and brought me all the animals I could ever want. I'll be back in a few weeks to finish off the series with birds and more mammals. Stay tuned.

Yesterday

In January:

Yesterday:

Yesterday, I met a pack of wolves, won an award I'm proud of, and held a newborn baby. It was almost too much emotion for one day.

when it rains

working with music makes me edit differently. like this

Cynicism Can Suck It: Even at a Funeral

You know, I'm a total sucker. I'm prone to having my heart stolen at any moment. It was a celebration when 3,400 people gathered for the memorial service for Bishop Thoroughgood, who died doing what he loved: preaching. If I could dance to celebrate loss, I think life would be pretty amazing. That's his wife, Ernestine, at the top, and his sons and grandchildren . . .

The Impossible

Yesterday was a long day. A long drive, a long series of assignments, a long night. I got a chance to catch up with friends who are rocking their freelance businesses, and it sounds like there is life after newspapers. Thriving, chaotic, busy, risky and exciting life. But not just yet, for me. I hope. Because even if yesterday was long, it still beat any day I spent at my old office job as the director of development and communications for an international non-profit. And even if an assignment about cats in a motel for our entertainment section felt surreal, at least I got the chance to see them. And then return home, exhausted, to Thai food and a puppy. It's not always easy, but it's good.

Wrestling, CrossFit