Unexpected places, unexpected faces...

"The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer." -Author Unknown

I had the opportunity a little over a week ago to do my first real photo shoot. I photographed the band, Knuckles Deep.

If you want to check them out:

http://www.myspace.com/knucklesdeepband

I have never had so much fun taking pictures before. These guys were fun and it's the first step to a goal I've had since I was a high school student, to take pictures for a living. I must admit, I surprised myself, as I was very pleased with the turnout. This experience made me come alive. I have recently decided that I need a creative outlet, which was the reason behind purchasing the camera. I have given my photography adventure a name, "Digital Soul Photography." The world is my studio and I hope to capture individuals in words and pictures.

Here is a few of my favorite photos from the Knuckles Deep Shoot:

The soul reflects the mind and heart.

Music gives the soul a voice to balance heart and mind.

Erica Rosenberger is a fan of

Digital Soul Photography

Create your Fan Badge

I have officially named my collection of photography and am looking to create more!

Peg and Whole

Does a square peg ever feel whole?

Grab a drill.

Never seen a drill that makes squares.

May need a saw.

Rough around the edges.

How do you make it fit?

Change the peg?

Not a chance...

Summing things up...

"Life Less Ordinary"

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
Live a life less sedentary
Live a life evolutionary with me
Well I hate to be a bother,
But it's you and there's no other, I do believe
You can call me naive but...
I know me very well (at least as far as I can tell)
And I know what I need

The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me
By the way, I do know why you stayed away...
I will keep tongue-tied next time

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
My face had said too much
Before our hands could even touch
To greet a 'hello'
(So much for going slow...)
A little later on that year
I told you that I loved you dear
What do you know?
This you weren't prepared to hear
I'm a saddened man, I'm a broken boy
I'm a toddler with a complex toy
I've fallen apart, since the ambush of your heart

The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me.
By the way, I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue-tied but...

Honey understand, honey understand
I won't make demands
Honey understand, honey understand
We could walk without a plan.
Honey understand (honey), honey understand
I won't rest in stone all alone
Honey understand, honey understand
I'm all ready to go
But you already know...

Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me.
If I could name you in this song
Would it make you smile and sing along?
This is the goal: to get into your soul
If I could make you dance for joy
Could that be the second-chance decoy?
The bird-in-hand I would need
To help you understand?

The night you came into my life
well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me
By the way, I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue-tied next time

The collective conscience or lack thereof

As I sit, I ponder where it all went wrong. I'm certain it wasn't a specific point of turning, but rather a progression towards destruction. The ease with which humans interact on a troglodytic level is evidence of the "safety in numbers" mentality.

It can be likened to a gang. An individual would never act in such a violent manner as is customary in a gang initiation. The gang mentality is also what drives young kids to act out in public. A lone, 14-year-old boy would not disrespect an elderly person were he walking along the street alone. However, when 5 14-year-old boys are walking the street together, they willingly disrespect their elders. The blame is distributed evenly amongst the group members, rather than falling solely on an individual. And, so it is with the morality of humanity.

It is often and regularly apparent to me that the boundaries of human relationships have been crossed, torn down and trampled on like the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. While the end of communism in Germany marked a movement forward for humanity, the breakdown of the social boundaries we are experiencing is certainly more than a step or two backwards. In fact, I'm not sure the manner in which we treat others, including those we supposedly care about, has ever been a part of society - primitive or otherwise.

The collective conscience - or lack thereof - that has developed is appalling. Sex is casual, adultery is acceptable, nudity is commonplace, relationships are disposable and honesty means nothing. If my neighbors, coworkers, friends, family or the celebrities I see on TV are doing it, then it must be ok.

I've got news. There is really nowhere to go from here.

I'm not a religious person. However, religion does not seem to be the answer. I don't have hard data to support this, but it seems to me that this problem isn't selective.

I can't offer a solution because I don't have one. This is merely an observation and a statement that I refuse to become part of a collective lack of conscience.

Everybody...

I cannot wait for this new song to be available for download on iTunes...



Sometimes in the morning
When I wake up I see your face
But you are in a new life
In a new love
In a new place
Oh the heart holds many hands
My dear it's time I let yours go
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
I'm fine now
It just took time now
You can see how much I've grown
Made room love, for a new love
Now my feet won't walk alone
Oh the heart holds many hands
My love it's time I let yours go
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
I am ready to love
I am ready for love
I am ready to love
I am ready for love
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody wants to love
Everybody needs to love
Everybody wants to love
Everybody needs to love
Everybody wants to love
Everybody needs to love
Everybody wants to love
Everybody needs to love
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh
Everybody
Everybody wants to love
Everybody Everybody wants to be loved
Oh-oh oh
Oh-oh oh

FEAR

How would I live my life if I was not afraid?

I can't answer this definitively since I never have.

i imagine freedom.

fulfillment.

mistakes.

success.

failure.

bliss.

love.

Maybe tomorrow...

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!

Your children need your presence more than your presents. ~Jesse Jackson

August is the month that both my parents were born. At 32, I still need my parents. I don't need them to kiss skinned knees, wash my hair or remind me to clean my room (okay, maybe I still need that last one). As an adult, the wounds can cut a bit more deeply and need more than a band-aid to heal. This means you need your parents presence more than you did as a child.

The presence you need as an adult isn't always physical. Sure, when I walk into my parents' home and smell something cooking, get a greeting at the door (and sometimes on the porch almost before I even get out of the car), and receive those hugs that always make tears well-up in my eyes the physical presence is something I would never trade. However, living 500 miles away, the voice on the other end of the phone is life-saving - literally. The card in the mail for no reason, just so the walk to the mailbox was not in vain and just merely accepting me and the way I have chosen to live my life, different from them, has made all the difference.

Growing up as a middle child in a house full of girls, I never heard that women were weaker, less worthy or should expect less. I was (and still am) fiercely independent. I have my parents to thank for this. As an adult, I have their presence in my life to be thankful for. They have been my biggest cheerleaders, my closest confidants and the most present people in my life - never missing a swim meet, graduation, birthday or holiday. They have been generous with presents but the thing that has meant the most is the generosity of presence.

I love you mom and dad!

My Quilt

"Love is the thread that binds us together."



Yesterday I was seated at my desk daydreaming (which I tend to do quite a bit) and when I caught myself and became conscious of my thoughts, I realized that I was cataloguing and reminiscing about all of the beauty and spirit that is present in every facet of my life.



I have likened my experience and the people in my life to a quilt. The quilt, as it exists right now, keeps me warm and cozy, is beautifully colorful and bright and provides a tremendous amount of comfort. If my quilt were to grow no bigger than it is presently, then I would be more than satisfied. However, if the past has taught me anything, my quilt will continue to grow, become more intricate and colorful and provide additional shelter, warmth and comfort.


To give you an idea of where this warm fuzzy feeling comes from, let me share a snapshot of my life. Last weekend I enjoyed a trip to Carolina Beach with 2 special guys. We laughed more than I have in some time, splashed in the ocean, shared stories at our campsite and learned new things about each other. Monday I shared a delicious dinner with one of the newest but most treasured fabrics in my quilt. Tuesday I shared lunch with a girlfriend who enriches my days with laughter and challenges me to think then caught up with mom on the way home from work. Wednesday night after a 20+ mile bike ride with a friend, 8 intelligent, successful women sat in a circle on the floor and discussed a book, life, love and laughed until we cried. Last night I crawled into my bed at 9 pm, after sharing chinese food on the couch with my roommate and talking with my younger sister on the phone and hearing about all the exciting changes in her life, and opened a new book, which carried me off to sleep. This morning I received a phone call from my older sister and we spent an hour catching up, then my dad emailed me kind words and stories about time he is spending with his grandsons on "the farm."



My cup runneth over...

Reversing Perspectives

"Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you."

~Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Most people go through life with the same perspective. We do have minor changes in perspective as we go from child to parent and student to teacher, but these changes usually happen subtly and without notice. The perspective that doesn't often change is the one you have in the constants in your life. If you are the "mistreated" you may tend to play that role your entire life. If you are interacting with your partner, parents or siblings you may never consider what the photograph may look like if they were holding the camera instead of you. OR, better yet, what if a third person was holding the camera?

Having the unique experience recently of carrying a camera most places I go, observing this in the human condition is amazing. When a person knows the camera is pointed at them, their behavior changes, their perspective is different. They think that someone is "watching them." The joy of taking a good photograph comes from photographing someone when they have no idea you are photographing them. Their perspective is their own and you are able to gain insight about them without any "performance." My perspective is what is captured in that photograph, but you can see things much differently when you sit back and observe. Moving around to find another camera angle or vantage point adds to the ability to view the situation. This act of observing is similar to considering others' perspectives.

Stop, breathe and look at situations and people from other angles and perspectives. You'll be shocked at the perspective you'll gain and the things you'll learn about yourself, your loved ones and the world around you.

Benched...week # 3

It is supposed to be 7 weeks until my marathon (that's right, 26.2 miles).

However, I'm benched.

Indefinitely.

And you know why?

A serious pain in my ass.

My pain in the ass is many things:

Literal.

Figurative.

A blow to the ego.

A mountain to climb.

A risk factor for insomnia.

A reminder of 32 years on this earth.

A mountain that can't be climbed (at least not right now).

A deductible to likely be paid.

A lesson in patience.

A test of willpower.

A discouragement.

A motivator.

A seed.

The one thing I'm not going to allow my pain in the ass to be:

A reason to quit.

Waiting on a train (written July 5th in Granada, Spain)

This week was reformationally good for me. As I was seated on a train riding from Sevilla to Granada, I finished Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. My first trip to Spain, second trip to Europe in my life (accomplished within a 3-month period) and completing the book that resonated with me more than any other self-help, personal relationship, human relationship, religious, philosophical book I have read.

The message for me was simple and I was in exactly the right place at the right time to receive it. I hear Wayne from "Wayne's World, the movie" shouting "Live in the now!" This is the basic message that Tolle is trying to get across. Now, Wayne was trying to tell an ex-girlfriend to move on but it's interesting where we find some of the most precious of life's lessons. The message can be applied to the scene in the movie or any point in life.

As I closed the book and looked out the train window, I had no issuse being present in that moment. I was looking at row after row of olive trees and the Sierra Nevada in the background. The sun was shining in the window, warming my face. My headphones were pumping my own selection of music into my ears. At that very moment, I was in my own personal paradise. It's easy to be present in moments such as this. Why would my mind wander to what I did yesterday or last week or what I am going to do tomorrow?

Following my arrival in Granada, I attended a Arabian-style bath/spa where I spent an hour and a half taking my time soaking in 8 different pools of different temperatures, had a 30-minute massage and sipped herbal tea. I really wanted to use this time to meditate and reflect on the "awakening" I had experienced earlier that day. However, my travel companions and I were not alone in the baths and the group making a "commotion," (I'll call them "euro-men donning Speedos") started to challenge my commitment to being present at all times (I realize it was only a couple hours old but it was a sincere commitment!!)

Fast forward about 7 more hours at the end of a day of trying to find a vegetarian meal in a country that eats every last part of a pig, walking around the beautiful Alhambra (atop the highest hill in all of Granada) and add in 4 adults who are trying their best to be civil to one another and I am no longer anywhere NEAR being present in the moment. While walking to the train, I just kept thinking about getting to the station. Then, I was thinking about getting in the sleeping car and closing my eyes. IN FACT, as I was seated in the train station cafe waiting for the overnight train to Barcelona, I had already placed myself at least into tomorrow and at one point back home in the comfort of my usual surroundings.

Now, as I realize how difficult it is when outside of my own personal paradise to be completely present, I am aware of my writing as I write this. I am conscious of the hustle and bustle of the train station. Most of all, I'm conscious of my breath, my heartbeat, my oxygenated blood running through my veins and the idea that all I have is the very moment that is occurring right now.

(Picture of the sun setting from the train station in Granada moments after writing this...)

"People say that losing weight is no walk in the park. When I hear that I think, yeah, that's the problem." ~Chris Adams

Dear Overweight Americans,

The task at hand is extremely obvious and the solution is fairly simple. Nobody is asking you or telling you to become a professional athlete, develop the body of an 18-year old or mirror the less-than-healthy standard that hollywood has so kindly exposed us to in every check-out line in every grocery store in this great nation of ours. The average person does not have the expendable income to hire a personal chef and a personal trainer nor the time to exercise 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. However, would it kill you to get off your butt 3 or 4 or 5 days a week and go for an hour walk? The most common excuse for not doing so is lack of time. However, don't you watch television for at least an hour per day? Don't you waste at least an hour per day talking on the phone, dining out with friends, fighting traffic, shopping, emailing, myspacing or facebooking? What is ACTUALLY going to kill you is not getting off your butt.

With lovingkindness,

Erica

I hear more people complain about how much weight they have gained and how they wish they could be thinner and more active. My response: Wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which fills up faster. Our lifestyle, society, environment and culture have gotten us to the point that for the first time ever, children born now have a shorter lifespan than their parents. This is due solely to lifestyle related diseases, as evidenced by the fact that medical science continues to progress. However, there is no pill, surgery or medical treatment that will take the place of taking care of yourself.

The solution? Take responsibility for yourself, your actions and your own health! PLEASE! Slow down, eat better and move more. There are very few people in the good ole' US of A that don't know what to do. The next step is doing it. Please. Teach your children to eat better and be more active. You're literally killing yourself and your children.

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all." ~Emily Dickinson


Hope (n): a word that has been vacant from my vocabulary of late but has returned. When we are children and full of dreams and the idea that the world holds everything that those dreams contain, hope is abundant. My parents always told me that I could do anything I set my mind to. That placed in me the hope that life would work out. It always worked out for them, even when faced with hardship.


Growing up reading things like "The Secret Garden," "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Little Princess" and in a house full of girls, I never thought that I couldn't accomplish something. I had confidence and the world was wide open in front of me.


I've been looking back and thinking and it's amazing how the universe seems to come together and lift you up and provide for you when you provide for it. During most of my life I can remember having a door closed in my face and turning around to see a window open. If times were hard financially, something I had forgotten about would appear or a new opportunity would unfold. It's hard, though, in the thick of everything, to keep these positives in the forefront of my mind.

As people, I believe we focus on the one negative rather than the mountain of positives we experience. It's much like having a blister on one toe. If we could somehow focus on the 9 toes that do not have blisters, the pain of the toe with the blister would not seem so great. However, the blistered toe is much more prominent as we walk or run. To train the mind to focus on the blister-less toes is an advanced skill.

Giving to the universe (and others) and allowing it to give back to us replenishes the hope that we have as young girls reading Jane Austen and Frances Hodgson Burnett; the bird that sits on our soul, sings and gives wings to our dreams. Giving to oneself does not have near the same return on the investment. Small investments have small returns and big investments yield exponentially larger returns.

It is my HOPE that I may give HOPE to others and that their HOPE will be passed on. When I see HOPE, the bird perched on my soul sings more loudly and my dreams take to the air.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to...but I'm not going to.

So, it's that time of year again and I guess that means I need to reflect. I've turned 32 and I remember when that sounded so old. When you're there, it doesn't feel that old. I mean, I certainly don't feel old, by any means.

My first instinct was to be a bit depressing, but instead, I'm making a list of things for which I am happy. A friend of mine and I keep a list of all the reasons we are friends and it's very uplifting. This is a similar tribute to my life and the people around me :)

1. I am a healthy young woman.
2. I have a fulfilling job in a shitty economy.
3. I completed my education when I was young and it has served me well.
4. My family is supportive and loving and surrounds me with love (when I allow them to!)
5. I have 2 wonderful nephews who brighten every day and a niece on the way!
6. My younger sister lives 3 blocks away and checks in on me all the time.
7. I live with one of the kindest, most open-minded people I have ever met and I have the chance for that to rub off on me.
8. I have a diverse and wonderful group of friends that enhance my life in every way possible.
9. Blondes have more fun.
10. The Steelers won the Super Bowl!
11. Julian sleeps next to me every night, and despite his bad breath, I like it.
12. I can't count the number of birthday wishes I have received today and the day isn't over yet.
13. I have been exposed to some of the bravest and most inspirational women in my lifetime and have had the pleasure to call many of them "friend."
14. I have all my teeth :D
15. The sun is shining today in my honor.
16. I have a roof over my head and enough food to eat every day.
17. I am free to express myself and make my own decisions.
18. I work in an environment that encourages discovery and personal growth.
19. My mom and dad are still married and present an example of balance in life.
20. I'm touched by every new person I meet and the things that they are able to teach me.
21. HUGS!
22. I am learning something new everyday about who I am and the choices I've made.
23. I have many people I can call on if I need something and many of them I don't even have to ask, they just offer.
24. I still have many, many, many years ahead of me and I'm learning that the important part is the journey, not the destination.

This list isn't inclusive, but just a fun exercise in putting life into perspective on my birthday. You can dread getting on the roller coaster or sit in the back with your arms in the air screaming the whole way. And all I have to say is:

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

European Vacation

I've always wanted to see the world and I got my first taste of it about a week and a half ago.

It took longer than expected to get there and let me tell you JETLAG IS A REAL PHENOMENON! However, the travel was well worth the experience.

First couple days were in Nijmegen, Netherlands. This city is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest in the country. It has rich history, including a great story about WWII (if you're into that sort of thing). The old architecture was beautiful and I enjoyed walking around, looking at the mixture of old and new and taking lots of pictures. That evening, I had the pleasure of attending a dinner party with some coworkers of my friend and host for the week. This was a taste (for me) of what it's like to live in Europe. There were individuals there from all over the world, many of which worked for the same company as my friend, and they were all living in this town in Holland and had all become friends. I encourage those of you who have been to Europe as a tourist to try (if possible) to experience (even if briefly) what it's like to live there. I will cherish my non-tourist experiences the most while on this trip.

While in Nijmegen, I enjoyed the BEST cappuccino that I had the entire time I was in Europe. I had many good cappuccinos, but this was the best. Unfortunately, it was the first, so all the rest just did not live up to it. It was a place called the "Blonde Pater" (ironic, I know). This place has actually won awards for their coffee. Each of the baristas has a signature design that they make in the foam on the cappuccino. I got a heart...and I "heart" my European vacation!

After the rain appeared like it was going to hold off for a day (which is a rare occurence in Holland), the trek to Amsterdam was on! WHAT AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE! The day was spent looking at the beautiful scenery, complete with canals and houseboats. Amsterdam is a wonderful place. Everyone owns at least one bike and they use them. It's a fantastic contribution to the well-being of this place. I don't remember seeing near as many "large" individuals as you see in droves in the US. And, cars actually stop for pedestrians and cyclists! What a concept!! As the day went on, we had coffee with a fantastic couple from the US. One of these women had been living in the Netherlands for many years and the other for only about a year and a half. They were expecting their first child. They chose to do this while in Amsterdam (and plan to stay to have their second child) because health insurance in Holland pays for it. I enjoyed learning about what it was like to be living overseas and the differences in culture. I think we do things differently here because it's how we have learned to do things. I won't make any statements about the validity of either process. I'll just say that it's beneficial to explore differences.

While in Amsterdam, I was fortunate enough to visit 2 tourist attractions with very different feelings and impacts, the Anne Frank House and the Heineken Brewery. The Anne Frank house is something that everyone who travels to Amsterdam should experience. While the area that she and her family "lived" in was larger than I expected, walking through there and spending time there while reading excerpts from her diary was truly moving. To spend any portion of your life in complete darkness and in total silence for a large portion is unfathomable to me. The Heineken Brewery, though cheesy and a bit like Disney World had designed it, was much more light-hearted and fun, but I'll stick to darker beers, thanks :).

I'm going to leave out my description of the red-light district...but, yes I did experience it and yes, I have some opinions and stories about it.

The very next day (and without enough rest), I hopped the train for Paris. Train travel is wonderful and I wish I could take advantage of it in the states. I read for hours and listened to my ipod and it seemed like almost instantaneously we were there. Now this is where I REALLY appreciated my tour guide the most (THANK YOU SO MUCH LUKE!) because I did not have to navigate one bit in Paris (or anywhere else for that matter). I'm sure that my time in Europe would not have been so stress-free had I had to figure out where I was going, what time to be there, where the trains would take me, which metro/subway/streets to take. All I had to do was tell him what I wanted to see and he made it happen. I'm a little spoiled and I'll admit that here.

I spent 2 half days and one full day in Paris. If someone told me that I had a job and a place to live waiting for me, I would leave tomorrow and live there for the rest of my life. I loved it. My favorite place was the Rodin Museum and I can't pick a favorite thing that I ate because I loved it all: escargot, wine, bread, crepes, coffee, onion soup, more bread and the list goes on. We stayed in a fabulous little hotel in the Latin Quarter, Hotel Saint Jacques. The hotel had skeleton keys attached to cute little rope keychains. You couldn't take them with you. You gave them to the concierge/bellhop/front desk person when you left and they handed it to you when you came back in. The first thing I did when I got off the metro near the Notre Dame Basillica was buy a new scarf (I have a bit of an obsession). The Eifel Tower was magnificent, though I must say that when I saw it from a distance, it didn't look real. I had seen it so many times in pictures that the vision of it in the sky looked just like every photograph I had ever seen. Only when I was standing under it did the realization that I was actually there come to me. Then, I KNEW I was in Paris.

I enjoyed myself photographing tourists and locals, observing the sites, smelling, touching, tasting and just experiencing being in another country. I was so glad that I purchased my camera before I left. I came home with over 400 pictures and will have fun going through them, having some printed for frames, and just remembering everything I saw, smelled, tasted and experienced.

Thanks again to my host and tour guide for the week!

Death of a Salesman

Every time a relationship ends it makes me sad. I'm not just talking about relationships in my life, but relationships ending, in general, make me sad as well. There are some ends that are quite powerful and others that seem to sink to the bottom without so much as a ripple on the surface of the pond of life. I'm motivated to write about this because of a marriage within the "circle of friends" that I recently learned was separating and it made me tremendously sad. I think these things make me sad for 2 reasons: 1. because I'm sad knowing what each of these people will go through in the next months and years and 2. I'm reminded of what I went through and continue to go through, still.

I'm not going to try to say that you have to be married to someone to suffer great turmoil at the end of a relationship. The strife from a person exiting your life is relative to the impact they have had on your life. The bonds of friendship are often stronger than romantic bonds and losing your first love can be devastating at the very moment that you are experiencing it. Though many of us try to avoid it, past relationships can present themselves in future relationships for many years to come. Therefore, the end of a relationship, for me, is sad given the tremendous impact it has on life.

I wonder, probably more than I should, why so many relationships fail. How can someone that you can't get enough of for weeks or months or years suddenly become the one person you can't stand the sight of? Now, i realize that not every relationship ends in this manner, but many do. And, even if the "break up" is somewhat cordial, how do you go from wanting to spend every waking moment with someone to avoiding their gaze? My theory is simple and relates mostly to dating and marriage. It's based on supply and demand.

Most people who find themselves in a long-term relationship arrived there because they had the desire to be there. Therefore, they (we) put our best foot forward, as a salesman would to sell a car (and the more "used" the car, the better salesman you must be). "Of course I'm over my ex!" "You want children? I want 8!" "I make $100,000 a year." However, at some point things begin to fall apart, literally. But this is where I begin to become confused with my own metaphor. Sometimes the demand for this product we are selling is reduced (my partner begins to lose interest) and therefore we try to increase it by selling it even better OR we can no longer supply the product we claimed to be supplying early in the dating process and then the demand decreases. In either instance, the solution is simple...

BE YOURSELF FROM THE BEGINNING! I say this but have yet to actually put it into practice. I'm frustrated by the number of relationships that I see fail and by the number of friends that I watch become someone other than themselves simply to impress someone. The answer is so simple yet due to whatever insecurities we have festering in our heads, we feel that no one will want to spend time with the REAL us so we concoct some alternate version of ourselves to become more appealing. It's like a miracle bra for your personality!! All that happens in the end is disappointment for the other person, but more importantly FOR YOU! Think about your self-esteem for a moment and the fact that it takes a hit each time you have a relationship go south, BUT it's not the real you that is rejected or that fails in these relationships, it's you in a miracle bra, a girdle and a pair of spanxx (sorry boys, if you don't understand that metaphor - but basically it's the equivalent of sucking in your gut and sticking out your chest while walking by a group of women in your bathing suit). The disappointment and rejection may not feel great if someone isn't interested in dating the real YOU but think about all the time you will save....Now, if only I could follow my own advice...

I promise, I'm trying it now. I'm laying it all out there and opening up to see what happens.

Parting shots:

I bought a camera

Feedback is always appreciated :)

This is the only place I can think of to start sharing my new photos. I took the plunge, spent the money and brought myself into the fancy, digital photography age. I just got this thing today and only had time to play around in the backyard, but I CAN'T WAIT to really get this thing out on the highway and see what she can do. It's been my passion to be a photographer, so we'll see what happens!

Sisters

My older sister is coming to town this weekend and the Rosenberger Girls will be united again! We RARELY get a weekend without kids, husbands, parents or boyfriends, so this is a treat. The last time we all got together was for my 30th birthday, almost 2 years ago.



The shenanigans will be kept to a minimum since one of us is expecting (NO! Not me). However, there will be much eating, laughing, shopping and perhaps a few tears...usually from me!



This monumental weekend stirs up a few emotions in me and what better place to put them down than in a blog. My life has had so many ups and downs in the past couple years and the one thing that has remained constant is that every time I turn around, one of my sisters is there waiting to give me the pep talk that I need.



Andrea lives close, and we are very close so it's much easier for me to lean on her. However, being the older sister, Missy has more insight and experience with things Andrea and I only dream about currently. I've been a bit down recently and I'm looking forward to this trip because I know I'll come out of it with a big boost and the wise words of the 2 most courageous women I know...My sisters!



Why courageous? The paths that they have both chosen in life show their strength and courage, make themselves stronger and make everyone around them stronger. Andrea, the Emergency Department nurse who takes more crap than she ever deserves and just keeps on going back for more. Missy, the mom of (almost) 3, who kisses skinned knees and makes sure that her children don't go without having or without experiencing anything. Andrea gets spit on and continues to do her job. Missy struggles with a child with food allergies, yet she uses her creativity and passion to find new and different ways to make the things that all kids love. When I grow up, I hope I can be just like them!



I love you both!

First Blog...January 2009...recap of 2008

I have made attempts at this blogging thing before, but have decided to create this as a way to keep friends and family up to date and provide some inspiration to others who may come across it.

It's been a year of catching up, reconnecting and moving on...

I'm going to skip the first part of 2008, and many of you know why. The majority of the late summer was spent at the lake with my two wonderful friends, and one of my favorite couples, Michael and Britt...who were gracious enough to share their boat with Andrea and I, and the occasional friend we brought with us. Some of my best memories from the summer were spent at the lake with "the boys."

July and Independence day meant family vacation for the Rosenbergers. Mom chose a house at Lake Gaston, NC. The trip was very up and down for me, as I was in the throes of the end of a relationship and a major job decision. I'm afraid I may not have been much fun to spend vacation with and I know I wasn't as kind to my family as I should have been. Lucky for me, family is forgiving. I enjoyed the time there with the kids, Missy and her husband, mom and dad, and Andrea. Despite not showing it much, I was so happy to be near family when going through such a tough situation and decision.

I made a vow at the beginning of 2008 to travel to places I had not been before and visit friends. This is the best way to travel, as you don't have to worry about the expense of a hotel. I made 2 trips to Boston (one in late 2007 and one in the spring of 2008) to visit my dear friend Katie, from graduate school, and her adorable husband, Tim. I had never been to Boston before this and it was a great experience. The first trip I made with Stacy and Justin, 2 other close friends from graduate school. The second trip I made alone.

In October, I flew to San Francisco. This was my first time in another time zone! Hard to believe it took me until age 31 to experience this, but I'm glad I did. I visited another very dear friend from graduate school, Chad. It was a whirlwind trip, but he showed me the city and much it had to offer and we were able to catch up. I had not seen him since graduation from WFU in May, 2001! We vowed not to wait that long to see each other again.

I'm a huge Wake Forest Football fan and purchased season tickets this year, as I always do. Andrea was able to attend most of the games and we had lots of fun. Tailgating is certainly the most fun part of the whole experience, but watching the team move up and down the Top 25 was also exciting.

I attended my first NASCAR race at Martinsville this fall. I have a friend in the business and he was gracious enough to get me a pit pass. I was close to some of the drivers and got to see, first hand what racing is all about. It was very loud and very fast. Funny thing is, that track is so small, it's not near as fast as others :)

In October, I drove to Cleveland to see an old high school friend get married. The Buttolph brothers were a big part of our life growing up in youth group, etc. Brian (the last of the 3), got married in October. I had not seen these guys for at least 15 years! It was great to celebrate this occasion with them and their family and catch up on many, many years! Thanksgiving weekend, Andrea and I made a trip up to Missy's in Charlottesville for the family Thanksgiving gathering. As a gift for my parents, we hired a photographer to take some pictures of the family. This was a fun experience and we got some great shots! Here are a few of my favorites:

Julian and I had an addition to the house this summer. My great friend Shannon moved in with me. It is the perfect arrangement because we both really needed it. She loves Julian almost as much as I do and we work fairly opposite schedules and don't get in each other's hair too much. It's fun having someone in the house with me. It's really almost like college again, sometimes. Having a roommate is the perfect way to fight these tough economic times and to guarantee that you don't have to feel alone!

I spent Christmas at home (in Meadville) with mom and dad and the rest of the family. It was warm and inviting as usual in the barn but we didn't get nearly enough time with the boys. We got some great news near Thanksgiving that Missy and Kevin are expecting their third child. I LOVE being an aunt and can't wait to meet this one! While at home, I re-connected with my childhood best friend, Lori. Lori went to the Peace Corps shortly after college and had been in Africa, then moved to the west coast for graduate school. It had been many years and it was time for a reunion. She lives in DC now and I plan to see her as often as I can!

My biggest piece of news and accomplishment this year was having my first publication published in the NC Medical Journal. It's been a long time coming and I'm very proud. Many of you may not want to read about blood pressure control in primary care practices in NC, but if you do, here's the link: www.ncmedicaljournal.com/Nov-Dec-08/Rosenberger.pdf It came out in the Nov/December issue.

That's a quick "year in review" for me. I just watched the presidential inauguration and hope that there are many changes in store this year for me and this country...