Anyway, in an effort to implement that plan (whatever it is) I'm going to make an entry pertinent to one of my FB groups.  A year or so ago I started a group called Jeff's Goo-Be-Gone.  In essence its a group devoted to people following my weight loss journey.  I started at a weight of 248 and reached a low of 221.  As winter set in and my routine changed I gained some of it back  and hit a high of 235.  

Now you're caught up.  Here's where I am now.  As part of this quest I started running last year and got to where I could comfortably run 3 miles and on a couple occasions did up to 5.  About a month and a half ago I started reading a book called "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougal. I highly recommend it it you're into running.  The essence of the book is that humans are designed for running.  We can run farther than any other creature out there.  And, most importantly, we are meant to do it barefoot. They make an excellent case.  To see how it worked in real life i found a pair of indoor soccer shoes that are very flexible, have little arch support, and very little padding and I started using them to play tennis in.  Almost immediately I noticed by knee pain diminished.  I've been using them for a few weeks now and my legs feel much better.

Today, for the first time, I tried running around the indoor track (its icy and nasty outside) in a pair of cheap aqua socks.  I brought my soccer shoes just in case it didn't work out.  I did 2 miles at what felt like a very good pace (considering I hadn't run much in the past couple of months) and my feet, ankles, and knees felt great!  The only real effect I felt was in my calves.  And I didn't really notice that until I did a final cool down lap walking.  Running barefoot forces you to run with your heels up off the ground so that your arch absorbs the impact.  This, up on your toes, running really works the calves!  

So, on to the Goo-Be-Gone info!  Today I weighed in at 231 lbs.  So I'm still dropping. And now I'm back in a routine and have designated a few days a week to running and the rest are tennis days.  My goal is to be at least 20lbs lighter by the time I head to Honduras at the end of March.  Oh did I mention I'm going to Honduras at the end of March?  No, of course not!  I suck at this blogging stuff!!!  More to come.  

Hey! Don’t book that senior portrait session or don’t let someone you know book one at least until you or they have seen my new website.  Why?  Well, besides the fact that you can’t get shots like mine anywhere else in Central Oregon, there will also be some exciting specials coming with the grand opening of the new website.  So hang in there and stay tuned!  Or do what you want….I’m just sayin’.

PS.  You can still visit the old one to keep you occupied until the new one goes live at www.imagesbyjeffkennedy.com .  And now back to your regularly scheduled programming.  

As a tribute to my lack of focus and just to help keep you entertained while I get my act together I give you WOLF vs PIG (click it).

Whether he knows it or not they guy is an artist.  You heard me - an artist.  With his simple piece of cardboard and felt markers he created something that made me laugh.  In fact I laughed all the way home.  He probably added 2 weeks to my life.  That's art. Creating something from raw materials that has an impact on people.  He made my life better and for that he earned my money.  Now this is more profound than it looks on the surface.  I don't even know if he realizes just how profound.  But he likely stumbled on a valuable truth about life and success.  That truth is the more you take the focus off yourself and work to improve other people's lives the more goodness returns to you. Be a blessing to others and you will be blessed.

Oh, what did the sign say?  "Midget ninjas kidnapped my child.  Need $5 for Karate lessons."  NOW THAT'S ART!!!

Have a great day!

This is a weird business.  I’ve had “real” jobs before.  You know, like in offices, stores, and warehouses with other people – real jobs.  I think I always took for granted the “other people” part.  Now that I’ve had my own business for the last 10 years I’ve come to realize that one of the weirdest things about this is that I don’t have “other people” around.  All my colleagues are virtually…..well, virtual.  If I want to interact with other photographers on a daily basis it seems the easiest way is online primarily via blogs.  I get to see what they’re doing and I get ideas for things I’d like to try.  I can tell who has been to what seminar lately because you notice a certain group of photographers using similar jargon or applying the same “actions” to their work.  Its kind of fun.  I also get ideas for my blog.  And I need all the help and inspiration I can get in that department.  I’m terrible about keeping the blog chugging along.  So here is a recent blog “gimmick” I saw that I liked and thought I’d try out on my (3) readers.  This came courtesy of Bobby Earle who saw it on Facebook.  Its my Jeff from A-Z List!

A-   Art.  If you create you are an artist.  That’s what I think anyway.  Being an artist doesn’t guarantee quality it just means you created something.  Some photographers approach photography like its just a craft to be perfected.  And I have to admit my personality can lead me down that path as well but I find my greatest satisfaction when I push the bounds and try something new.

B-   Blackberry.  I’m not cool enough for an iPhone.  I don’t have those trendy rectangular glasses.  But I can’t function without my Blackberry. 

C-   Cameras.  I know, maybe too obvious for a photographer.  But this is about me and I am a photographer.  I have a lot of them.  Not as many as some but still more than my share.  I have film cameras, point and shoot cameras, medium format cameras, a 4x5 camera I’ve never used, I’ve got the first 35mm camera I ever had.  It’s a sickness really.

D-    Dogs!  LOVE ‘EM!  And the bigger the better.  Don’t get me wrong I’ve seen some cool little dogs.  But often little dogs are not much better than a cat that barks.  Don’t get me wrong on that either.  I had a cat growing up and he was cool.  But they just don’t fit my personality.  Now my dog, Frank, he fits my personality.  Frank is a 177lb Newfoundland and he’s the biggest sweetheart you’ll ever meet.  And if you do meet him don’t get offended if he sticks his head in your crotch.  He’s not getting fresh.  He’s just trying to make it easier for you to rub his neck and ears.  He’s all about accommodating. 

E-    Email.  My preferred mode of communication.  Call my cell and I probably won’t answer.  Not because I don’t want to talk to you but often my cell is anywhere but where I am.  And if I don’t recognize the number and I’m in the middle of real live people I’ll just let it go to voice mail.  I will get back to you.  But I much prefer email.  I have a personality that requires me to be precise and email allows me the time to properly word things so that I say exactly what I want to say. 

F-    Feet.  Size 12’s.  I’m a shoe guy too.  I make a great girlfriend if you need someone to go shoe shopping with you.  I have shoes for when I play tennis.  Shoes for basketball.  Shoes for running.  Shoes for mt. biking.  Shoes for casual (multiple pairs of those since I’m casual more than anything else).  Shoes for dressy.  Shoes for dressy casual.  Shoes for hiking.  Shoes for water.  Shoes for football (I used to referee).  Need I go on?

G-   Guitar.  I’d love to learn to play.  I was in choir in high school and I played the trumpet for 4 weeks in 6^th grade (if you can call it playing – the only thing I really mastered was blowing the spit out of it).  I was in choir because they told me they were taking a trip to Hawaii my senior year.  Turned out to be Victoria in Canada.  Nice place but not Hawaii.  The old bait and switch!  Anyway, that has been the extent of my music experience.  I’ve tried learning guitar before and struggled.  Between the delicate fingertips and a certain lack of musical skill it was tough.  But I’d still like to learn.

H-   Height.  I’m 6’1”

I-     Irish.  My name is Kennedy after all.  There’s a bunch of other stuff mixed in there but that’s too complicated.  So when people ask, I’m Irish.

J-     Jeep.  I’m a Jeep guy.  I have a yellow Wrangler with a soft top.  A red Cherokee that my son seems to be adopting.  I’ve owned other Wranglers and even a Grand Cherokee.  I think I’ve wanted a Jeep since the first time I saw the introduction of Rat Patrol when I was a kid.  That jeep flying off the sand dune with a guy in the back manning the machine gun!  Oooooh, who wouldn’t want a Jeep after that?!?!?

K-   Kitchen.  I’m the cook.  I have to be the cook.  If my wife was the cook I’d OD on mac-n-chesse.  Plus, I like to cook.  I just don’t like to clean up.

L-    Laughing.  I love to.  Often at inappropriate times.  Laughter and levity in general is how I deal with things.  I guess I could do worse things.

M-  Music.  I like all kinds of music.  If I had to pick one band to listen to it would be The Eagles.  But I dig a little bit of everything.  From John Prine to Led Zepplin.  From BB King to Garth Brooks.  If I had to pick on genre I’d probably say give me the blues baby!

N-   Nipple rings.  Don’t have ‘em.  Don’t want ‘em.  Period.

O-   Organic.  The little woman is getting into nutrition.  She’s even studying to become a certified nutritionist.  So we’re eating much more organic.  I think it’s a good thing.  Look at what’s happened to this country.  We’re fat and malnourished at the same time.  TOO MUCH PROCESSED FOOD PEOPLE!

P-    Pet Peeves (thanks for this one Bobby!) – drivers who can’t go (at least) the speed limit.  I like to drive.  I don’t get the point A to point B mentality.  Enjoy the journey!  Also, that accuracy thing in my personality makes incorrect grammar really annoying to me.  For the record its anyway not anywaySSSSSS.  Its regardless not IRregardless.  I mean, they mean the same thing why do we need the IR on the frount?  Ok, I could go on and get myself into even more hot water but you get the point.

Q-   Quote.  Like my dear old dad always said, “I feel a lot more like I do now than I did a minute ago!”

R-   Running.  I’m scared.  I’m starting to get into this running thing.  I’m losing weight.  My legs are stronger.  Hmmmm, maybe there’s something to it.

S-    Shopping.  Did I mention I’d make a good girlfriend….girlfriend?  I’m one of those rare guys who likes to shop.  Bear in mind that means shopping.  Not sitting outside the dressing room while someone else tries on stuff.  As long as I’m actively involved in the shopping I’m all over it.  And if I’m actually shopping for myself….WELL  NOW WE’RE TALKIN’!

T-    Tennis.  I’m a tennis junky.  I admit it.  I love to play.  I love to watch.  Its just a great sport.  Nuff said.

U-   Underwear.  Boxers.  TMI? 

V-   Voluptuous.  It was the be ‘V’ word I could think of.  And I like saying it.  AND it conjures up great images in my head…hey, I’m a guy!  What can I say?

W-  Westerns.  I loves me a good western. 

X-   Xylophone.  HA!  Came up with a tough ‘X’.  How does this relate to me?  Well when my son was in 8^th grade and had to play an instrument guess what he chose. 

Y-   Yoga.  Tried it.  I have certain physical attributes that make this very difficult for me (namely a gut).  The instructor used to show us a pose, have us get into it, and walk around the room fine tuning each of us.  I recall her get to me and start to offer advice, stop herself and say, “Uh, yeah, close enough.”

Z-    Zip lining.  DID IT!  LOVED IT!  But why does it seem to be most popular in third world countries with questionable safety standards?  Just curious.