St. Louis Photographer » A Journal by Holly McCaig

It’s been really sad here in St. Louis over the past weekend and week…we’ve lost a few marines in Iraq. In fact, today is the funeral for CPL Riley E. Baker. On Saturday, a woman came into the store to make a copy of a photograph and pick up some scrapbook supplies to build a framed image. The image was of this fallen Marine. It was all I could do to not cry. Here was this very young man staring up at me from the photograph and I was helping her make a memory for her co-worker, Riley’s mother. I have an opposition to this war, and that’s not really what this post is about. I’m not here to debate with those that are for the war. But I think I got a little de-sensitized to us losing actual human lives….wounded soldiers. Sure, when the war started and we heard of what was happening and then when I saw Farenheit 911 and saw footage that the news wasn’t showing – well, I was very aware and very sad and very hurt. But a few years have gone by and now it’s like we watch the news, we hear of casualties and we move on about our day. That’s wrong. Now, it’s all too real for me again. I didn’t know this boy, but it helped me become sensitive again. As I watch the afternoon news and I see images of this horrible monster terrorists I just get so angry.

Here’s the information about CPL Riley Baker.

————————

We’re hard at work on Plain Digital Wrapper and well, we’ll just leave it at it will open on Saturday – no set time!

————————

So glad I’m not alone on watching Days!! LOL

So, how’s this for a list of designers selling at PDW?

HM
KN
MM
JK
NM
SP
AC
JV
BV
SN
JH
TM
CN
SC
MW
SW
SC
RF
VS
AT
LR
TR
TJ

TEE HEE – only a few more days! Seriously though – July 1 is going to be a HOT day on the Internet with lot’s of people cruising and searching. So please be patient. If you don’t have to buy then wait it out. Traffic on sites will be high and you’ll just get frustrated with the overloads! They’ll still be there the next day and the next and the next! K?

And, with the fabulous team – yes there is a HUMONGOUS mega kit coming out. Think fun in the sun!

And, Pirate update – he’s doing GREAT! He went home from the hospital last night – THANK YOU GOD!

Okay, now I’m off to work my ass off on a few more things!

OH, I am giggling over the guesses at Digi Shop Talk on who is selling with us at PDW. TEE HEE. I had this really cool idea for the “about page” to show off our designers, but it may not be all complete by the time we go live. It will look fun for a later time though. Most have read my blog about us going in with Janel and Misty. But, they haven’t really guessed who all else is jumping on board. I’m in awe! I love it! I love these girls. I love their work. Inspiring!!! We have a lot of work ahead of us to get ready for Saturday – yes, some time on Saturday – no particular time though! Don’t hold me to that and PLEASE don’t be mad if you run into any snags when shopping!! We’re still waiting to find out about some bugs and stuff. But it will be FAN-TABULOUS! I owe Janel a big 0l’ HUG! That is one smart cookie! So glad things led to us all being together!

So, the photos with Kristy and Tracy are up on my photosite now if you haven’t gone there. You can click here to view them all! This one is classic…you law breaker Kristy you!

Haven’t heard about Pirate today – Jake is gone to a concert so I’m waiting….and waiting. I have to work from 12:30 to 5:30 tomorrow so hopefully he’ll be home when I get home and I can find out.

I had a great class tonight and wish they all went as well as this one did. Sigh. I got to see my friend tonight – the one dealing with cancer. She is really tired and feeling sick. I worry sick about that girl. She insists on working and I just think she needs to relax – take a break or something. They have upped her radiation treatments to daily for the next several weeks. Please continue your prayers, please.

I submitted two layouts today – I haven’t submitted in months! I finally went to Pub Calls and subscribed to their RSS feed so I could be notified when new calls come out. I just would like to do more of this. Hopefully I can start playing more and do more projects. Wish me luck.

Does anyone watch Days of Our Lives? Yes….I’ve picked up watching this again during the afternoon’s I’m home working. It’s been years since I watched this. I watched when I was in college. Then I picked it up about five years ago with my friend Betsy on our lunch hours. Now I’m watching again. Can you say, “DORK!”? But anyhoo – Patch is back! Wow…and now Hope is pregnant again? Nothing ever changes on that show!

Now, I must hang my head in humiliation and go to bed!

Well, I’m back in town and I had a blast – while I’m waiting for some photos to upload I thought I’d blog…and plus I’m too tired to do any “real” work tonight.

So, this little guy – he’s really sick ya’ll.

Yes, that’s Pirate. Last week, Pirate ate a colored pencil and got sick – throwing up. So, they took him to the vet and discovered he had worms. Which isn’t really shocking because sometimes mothers pass them on to their pups. It’s just that they had an appointment for this week to take him in for his checkup and more shots – but that won’t be necessary. Now, they put him on de-worming medicine and he’s still vomiting. They took him back last night and he stayed overnight. Now, today they said that he was a little more energetic, but lethargic because I’m sure he is weak. Tonight they got a call saying he was throwing up his medicine and so they have to give him something to keep him from getting sick. This isn’t looking good. And, Jake and Andrea don’t have the kind of money to keep paying for overnight stays at the hospital. $150 a night. I am so sad, and upset. That poor little guy. All though he isn’t so little now. Please pray for the pup – he’s just so damned innocent and has really touched our family’s lives even though he was a pain in the tush.

So, the big news? Well, Plain Digital Wrapper is where me and the girls will be selling our digital wares come July 1. New shopping cart, better than Zen. And, we’re combining with Misty and Janel from The Digi Shoppe. PLUS we have like 22 designers on board! Bet you can’t wait to find out who they all are, eh? Some amazing talent girls!!! REALLY!!! So, my store closes on Wednesday so I can prepare for the July 1st opening. Be patient with us as I’m sure we’ll run into some snags – plus we’re waiting on some modifications to be built for our store that won’t be available until mid July…but we won’t wait to open! So, cat’s out of the bag – and you can sign up for our mailing list on the home page. I’m just so damned lucky to be with these amazing ladies! Plus, I have four new designs I’m finalizing that will go up too! YAY!

So, Saturday, I drove down to Springfield to see Kristy and her sister, Tracy. We had a total blast!!!! It was super duper quick, but well worth it. We stayed up late Saturday night running our traps and having so much fun. Laughing! Loved it. We thought we’d scrap, but only Tracy managed to do that. We shared ideas on the computer with Photoshop and learned a few things from each other. And, can I just say how jealous I am of Tracy’s scrap room? UM, hello – I LOVE IT! Very jealous. Nothing like it – and the space! OH THE SPACE! Made me want to paper scrap again. On Saturday we went downtown and did some photoshooting. Got some neat pictures that are uploading now to my photosite. You can go here to my photosite, but it may be awhile before they are all up since I’m uploading full res pics so they can download them for themselves. I love them. Here are a few of my favs:

Okay, signing off tonight!

I’m outta here! See you late Sunday evening or Monday night after work!