With the year ending tonight it's always good to reflect upon what we've learned, how we've grown, etc. I think I may start making this a regular thing for me .. 1) I'm stronger than I give myself credit for .. There have been things that happened in my life that would make many a man falter but I've stuck it out .. 2) The world doesn't owe you a damn thing ... I have always known this, we all should know this but at times we refuse to accept it .. However this year I came to the realization that I'm perfectly alright with that .. I have the movement of my limbs, a reasonable portion of my health (bless the elderly for that saying), eyes to see and a voice to speak .. 3) I am still learning many things about photography even though I came out of the womb with a camera (LOL imagine that) .. I never want to get complacent and think that I know it all because when you reach the point that you're unteachable there is really no use for you .. 4) I know how to be a good friend and I recognize the ones that I have .. I've felt that way for a few years but it really came into focus this year .. So many people truly do come into your life for a season but true friends are there through thick and thin .. They don't start drama and they call you on your mess and tell you like it is and still love you anyway .. 5) Tears are therapy .. Now if you've seen my stream you know that I have no problem at all showing my emotions .. People often ask me "Was the crying real?" lol I must say that 90% of the time yes .. 10% of the time is for the shear love of theatrical photography .. I love getting into it for a shot .. However when I'm serious it can be cleansing and contrary to popular belief I don't go for that bs about not showing emotions .. Who wants to be involved with and android? 6) In order to get where you want to be you definitely have to take the right steps to get there .. I had to learn that instead of waiting for a dream to come true there are times that you have to push it along yourself .. Things we want and dream of don't fall out of the sky into our laps .. it takes work .. 7) Laughter is a wonderful thing .. in it's appropriateness .. I am young (to some) but I do have laugh lines because I truly love to laugh .. Life certainly has it's funny moments and it does keep us young .. However we must never laugh at one's misfortune .. 8) Finally one thing that I have definitely grown better at is to not complain (as much lol .. hey .. I'm still working at my slight aggravation with traffic) We have so much to be thankful for and appreciative for that we don't even realize it .. So rather than complain I try to say thank you .. There are so many things that I have learned this year that I could take forever .. But I won't .. If I don't post anything else tonight I wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year and that all of your resolutions and aspirations come true .. RCKM P.S. This would be a good tag but I'm not going there .. which brings me to something else that I learned a long time ago but even more so this year People do what's important to them .. i.e. People will do EXACTLY what they want to do!! .. lol

For the discussion about grooming on the flatcoat group. This is Splash after a brush and comb. I spent more time than usual since it is spring shed season here, but used only a slicker brush and metal comb - no thinning shears. She is spayed, and has what I would consider a medium coat for a spayed bitch. She looks fuller in the front and does have fairly thick hair there, but also (thank you Daddy Viggo and Moma Shalva) has quite a prominent prow for such a petite dog, so a lot of what you see is solid. She also has NO conformation experience, so has no idea how to pose for stacked pictures! Need to finish up with trimming all of the wispy hair everywhere, but it is quite windy today so I can't get it to stay still long enough to trim :) PS Splash thinks that having to get groomed and pose for glamor pictures is not the best way to spend her birthday weekend.