My dad has a lust for life at 83 to inspire and often amuse all those around him. Formerly I dedicated a post to him including a slideshow that depicts his life post medical school.

American Public Media just ran a radio interview with Dad about his European bicycle trip. At 78 Dad returned to a bridge where army friends were killed in an ambush during World War II. His story was all news to me, since he never talked about the war, only saying wars are horrible and to be avoided if at all humanly possible. Once a patriotic 17 year old he was inspired to serve his country, the United States of America. On his bicycle trip at age 78, Dad was able to finally care for a 60 year old wound.

If you visit the program, find the “listen now” link at the bottom of the page. Dad’s portion is the first 20 minutes.

Hugs, Dad. I’m so proud of you!

Come get your holiday shopping under way and support an amazing cause at the same time; Janet is one of the Soulumination photographers

I have loved Alaska since my first visit there about 20 Years ago. Arriving aboard a ferry along with numerous other budget conscious adventurers, I camped in my tent on the back deck never wanting to miss a moment of beauty, weather, or learning what made fellow-passengers tick.

Never did I realize that within Alaska’s grand mountain-capped walls might there lurk the likes of Palin. I’m not talking hunters and strong women. What better place to be than Alaska! I’m talking supporting a dictator, or perhaps I’m exaggerating (a bit). Power can be used or it can be abused, of which Palin clearly practices the latter.

I was disappointed to learn Alaska voted her into any office. Sometimes it takes a nation to wake up, shake up our distracted minds, of which mine is often included. But Alaska is wide awake and roaring now. Check out this post. Phew! I was worried one of my favorite states was wanting a leader so badly, following Palin down the 7% oil-covered, slippery slope of “My way or the highway” might be misinterpreted as safe. NO SUCH PASSIVITY IN ALASKA!!!

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/alaska-women-reject-palin-rally-is-huge/

I am thrilled and honored that the Readers of Seattle Bride voted me, Janet Klinger, the “Best Photographer 2008″. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. Granted it was a TIE, but according to Ali Basye (the Editor of Seattle Bride) we split the largest number of votes ever cast in a tie. Spreading the love.

The fabulously talented J Garner won Best Photographer in the “Vendors Choice” category along with his wife, Katarina. These two are not only incredibly talented, but industrious, personable, and business savvy. Hmmm. Wait. Don’t hire them. Hire me! After all, this is MY blog.

Other Winning Vendors (A partial list as it’s late. Purchase the latest edition of Seattle Bride for details.)

True Color Events: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner. Vendors’ Choice.
Aisle of View: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner AND ALL AROUND BEST WEDDING VENDOR. Readers’ Choice. Go Merry Beth!!!
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Bridal Accessories. Readers’ Choice.
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Dress Shop. Vendors’ Choice.
Golf Club At Newcastle: Best Location for a Sunset Wedding. Readers’ Choice.
Flora Nova: Best Florist. Vendors’ Choice. (She’s all over this blog. Do a search!)
Aria Style: Best Florist. Readers’ Choice.
Moms, Maids and More: Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel AND Flower Girl Dresses. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
E.E. Robbins, The Engagement Ring Store: Engagement/Wedding Rings. Vendors’ Choice.
The Healthy Bride: Bridal Fitness Plan. (I work out with her too, but I’m a healthy “Goddess”, not bride.)
The Michael Benson Band: Best Live Band/Entertainment. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
Wave Link Music: Best DJ for the Reception. Vendors’ Choice.
Hotel 1000: Best Hotel for Guests. Vendors’ Choice.
A Heavenly Ceremony: Best Officiant/Clergy. Readers’ Choice.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel: Best Quintessential Seattle-Area Reception Site. Readers’ Choice.

Anyone notice anything in common? Nearly all of these vendors have been featured on Janet Klinger’s Photography Blog. Love to say I told you so. For more Wedding Vendors we adore, choose the “Vendor” category on the right.

Here comes the eccentric neighborhood activist decked out in Rollerski gear, even though the streets of Chicago are still icy. That’s my dad. Still running, swimming and/or biking nearly each day of the week, Dad has always loved to be active and adventuresome. In the last few years he went biking in Europe, biked the West Coast on Highway 1, bused to Washington DC to protest, and is planning his next bike trip with my cousin Jerry. Granted I am getting a bit more worried about him, especially after his dip in the Danube, bike and all. While a bit more cautious, and certainly slower, Dad remains dedicated to his active lifestyle and true to his personable, adventuresome spirit.

Beyond nurturing his eccentricities and devoting himself to multiple causes, my Pop finds time to show how much he loves me. I’ve never doubted it. Truly blessed am I to know the meaning of unconditional love. I hope to be able to share the security this brings with my own little bambina. Happy Birthday, Dad. Thank you for the gift.

Before The Healthy Goddess, Christi Masi created The Healthy Bride. Herself beautiful, fit, and athletic, Christi is clever enough to make a living helping others maintain or create their own positive self-image. And If there is anyone who wants to look good, it’s a bride. Twice each week future brides join Christi at the SAM Olympic Sculpture Park to get in the shape of their lives to celebrate the happiest day of their lives.

BUT WHAT ABOUT AFTER THE WEDDING? Christi found women disinterested in socializing with future brides once no longer belonging to this special club. Hence, The Healthy Goddess. Then even further beyond these newlywed women are women like me who put themselves more in the category of “Recovering Moms”. If there has ever been a group in desperate need of a little kick in the booty camp, its members of THIS club. Move over you trim, fit, gorgeous brides. Here come the rest of us huffing up the hill in hopes of surviving another of Christi’s intense workouts.

Their is nothing like a little camaraderie to inspire me to get out of bed at 5:30 for a rain or shine workout. Even better is having a committed and inspired trainer like Christi Masi creating workouts step by step so my still sleeping brain can relax while the rest of me works toward looking even better than on my wedding day. Or at least better than yesterday. See you at the Greenlake track at 6am SHARP!

Where oh where did those days of traveling to Ecuador or cross country skiing in Yellowstone Park go? In these hectic days of parenthood, I both relish being energetic Ellie’s Mom, and resent the daily responsibilities I’m now faced with– and disappointed in myself for falling down on the job. Right now our fridge interior is barren except for the 5 day old Brazilian black bean soup, last weekends now-cardboard pancakes, and last night’s quinoa pasta leftovers.

Truth be told, the grueling challenge of a “responsible” life goes further back than Ellie. After a scary misdiagnosis with Lupus, I cut back working all waking hours of the day that I wasn’t playing. Until that doctor’s appointment, I felt balanced. Yet the 2 week wait for test results had me reevaluating balance. As my 30’s set in, so did my desire to find that special life-long snuggle guy. Running full boar all waking hours left little time for romance. Scared by the unknown, I felt I would have to give up my full-of-play ways. Sure enough, when I fell in love, I was drawn to the responsible, tenderly adorable, creative, orderly architect, Tim Rohleder. While I thought we had a perfect match, however close, nothing is perfect. Here is a man who puts family first, just as I always dreamed. Tim works hard, loves his clients, bikes to work, takes an equal responsibility for household chores. What more could I want? The answer points to me, not Tim. Janet’s Agenda: supermom, superwife, superphotographer, superathlete, superfriend, supersmart, but subtract “super” and you have a clear idea of how I feel. Not bad, not great. Where is life’s adventure and spontaneity I fell in love with so long ago?

Happily we are able to take 2 annual trips to visit each Tim’s family and my family. Then there’s work related travel. It’s no secret that I relish these work excursions hinting of my old travel ways. Grateful for these work/travel opportunities, today my challenge is to revive self-inspired excursions rather than passively accept them only when clients request. And to somehow get Tim and Ellie to join in the fun.

Modeling an adventuresome yet balanced life to Ellie would be a gift to her, to myself, and to our family team. Onward I struggle for this precarious balance, unwilling to accept my vision only as a dream.

With tickets now booked to Anchorage (June1-7), I’m off to the grocery store… Balance is achieved one day at a time.

A carefree day in Yellowstone Park:

A boy in Ecuador:

In the ever-present struggle to regain balance between personal and professional life, life as momma to Ellie and wife to Tim, Thursday night has been carved out as “MY” night. Granted one Thursday each month I’m at an informative PUG meeting, or an educational Woodland Park 3-5s co-op meeting, or occasionally an inspiring Soulumination meeting. Still, 1 to 3 nights each month are for doing as I please. This tiny freedom rejuvenates.

I usually spend that time with friends, so much do I miss being social. Now it’s easiest to build friendships with other working moms who are also motivated to go around Greenlake at 8:30 in the pitch blackness.

But last Thursday, oh my! I had forgotten the sheer pleasure of nestling into the warm sands of Olympus Spa. Blissful, rare relaxation overcomes me as I bake in the mud & jade room, then cool down to warm in the charcoal room. I don’t know the exact purpose of these “earth energy” rooms. Who cares about energy anyway. Give me it’s antithesis!

Then into the mugwort steamroom. Yuck. Slimy on the butt! Might that be why they gave me an extra tiny towel? With towel in place, mind off the slime, my pores couldn’t be happier, my breathing easier. To cool off, into the freezing waterfall pool. Gasp! Then into the hottest of the pools to soak before I have a 50 minute Korean body scrub.

1) Mud & Jade room 2) Relaxation lounge with foot message 3) Waterfall pool surrounded by 3 other warm to hot pools.

Why work if you can’t splurge now and then? Use of the spa for a day is $35 in Lynnwood, $30 in Tacoma. The bodyscrub is $65/60 Lynnwood/Tacoma. I’m so happy Tim and I figured out a way to have some time for each of us. I’m ready for another week.

Tim is SO sweet. One of his many great traits is his adoration of Ellie, and his complete commitment to our little family. Nothing’s more romantic than being held in the thoughts of the man you love. Ellie adores her daddy, and so do I!

(Tim’s really private and never reads my blog. Shhh. If you don’t mention this he’ll never know.) Oh. Did I mention complete honesty is the key to a successful relationship?

Ellie and Tim Rohleder refueling.

Our annual group trip to Skalitude in Carlton Washington never disappoints. When I want to ski, snowshoe, or sled out my door, this snowy cabin is the place.

Tim & Ellie stepping out.

Vida knows how to travel. Mush, Daddy, Mush.

And neither parent has blue eyes… Look Mom, no Photoshop either!

Thanks to Julian’s trains and track, inside was kid-heaven too.

More on Skalitude

Sipping fine champagne on the beaches of Nantucket. Sunset made to order. Five adult girls indulge in giggles and cameras- just like 22 years earlier living together, traveling and playing at being professional photographers. Claudia Kronenberg and I have emerged from RIT and our year photographing abroad as successful photographers on different coasts. Annie Wiswal Widger’s creation of Gentle Thunder Farms is an equestrian Shangri-La. With her big-heart humor, Annie leads trial rides and boards/owns 20 horses. She also runs a gift shop with all things equestrian. Both Anne Sarsfield Morton and Laura Zeffer have found their personal peace through meditation and self-awareness. Anne occasionally teaches meditation after years of running an on-line fine art gallery featuring her fellow Vermont artists. Laura meditates under the guidance of the late world-renown guru for peace, Sri Chin moi. Laura and I both live in Seattle now so get to run and swim together.

Anne, Annie, Laura, Claudia

Five years until our next official reunion, we College and Europe-traveling friends are happily bonded for life.

Before meeting my daughter Ellie in 2004, my photo studio’s motto was “Elegant Weddings, Distinctive Portraiture”. But now…

Growing with Ellie has emphasized for me the warmth and humor of capturing life’s little moments. That, and having a history with client families including coverage of their wedding, pregnancy, birth, newborn, growing years, three generations, high school seniors, and plain old LIFE gently tugged me to re-evaluate my business emphasis. Now my motto is “for your extraordinary life”. Mine has never felt more extraordinary since Ellie completed our home. I’m in love, more than I ever imagined.

Holiday excitement is in the air, both for my family at home, and for my family at the studio. Excitement being contagious, here are some upcoming events and specials I’m excited about:

• DEC 14 – My Chicago-based family begins arriving to fill our house with Holiday Cheer.
• DEC 15 – SPECIAL OFFER. We have just become one of Washington State’s exclusive photographers to offer Gina Alexander Bags. Come see samples at the studio, or in a week see the “boutique” section of the new website. I LOVE this gorgeous purse/tote collection. Purchase one or more by JAN 15th (Martin Luther King’s REAL birthday) and get 30% off! This is a one-time offer!!!
• 
• DEC 24 – Ellie bakes cookies for Santa Claus.
• DEC 25 – Family celebration of Christmas at our home.
• DEC 29 – Leave for cross country skiing and snow shoeing in Methow Valley at wonderful Skalitude. See my previous journal entry praising this dreamy cross country ski paradise. Meet up with my great friends who I originally met in Teacher Sarah’s Music Together class.
• DEC 31 – Celebrate with said friends the shimmering New Year, or so it looks from Skalitude’s mountain log cabin.
• JAN 1 – Happy New Year (and it’s my birthday!)
• JAN 5 & 6 – Seattle Wedding Show. Come see our Gina Alexander collection, photo stamps, cards, folios, albums, slideshows, and meet my great photo-team. Special Seattle Wedding Show Offer: If you book me or an associate for a wedding between Dec 15th and 5pm Jan 6, your package will be upgraded by one hour each for the wedding day and for your engagement session.
• JAN 8-12 – Portrait Sessions on Nantucket Island, MA. Details here.
• JAN 15 – Happy Birthday to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr! May we all put your wisdom into practice, today.
• JAN 27 - Bride Ideas at University Village. I’m proud to be included as one of the exclusive wedding professionals in this boutique-style event. Bride Ideas hand-picks the best wedding vendors in the area and hosts them in an intimate and elegant setting. Brides can relax in knowing they are visiting with, and learning from, the leaders in the industry. There will be fun fashion shows at each of the sessions too.
  As far as I’m concerned this event should be “Groom and Bride Ideas”. Happily, men are increasingly more involved in wedding planning.

Happy Holidays. Happy New Year. May Peace Be Imminent.

Granted, my first impression was tainted. I rushed full boar to get to Ummelina International Day Spa. Hurry up and relax. My life’s motto.
Still, I had been savoring the thought of this day. Knowing I have a message as often as schedule allows, the talented Heather Quintans gave me this incredibly generous gift after photographing her family. (No bonuses please! Just tell your friends.)

Chik and Heather Quintans’ adorable family. Thank you, from every muscle and tendon in my body!

Feeling good to arrive on-time after a hectic day, I was confused upon entering the building. Where do I enter? Then I had to wait 20 minutes to simply access a dressing room.
From then on, Ummm. Soft light, calming music, lightly scented candles dancing from nooks and crannies. The best part was the divine Molly McMartin, Massage Guide extraordinaire. In a co-ed parlor (bring you sweetheart!) she starts with a lightly scented foot soak and hydrating rub. Then off to the private room. Heat pad under torso, heated towl on my back, she begins applying just the right pressure to the carefully chosen spots. She asked good questions and listened intently. After leaving in a state above reality, I was led next door to the private Monsoon Shower, stocked with many of Ummelina’s bath products. Finally, we end the session back in the parlor, heated neck pillow seeping into my much used shoulders. (Think “heavy camera bag”.)

Congratulations to Ummelina’s on their new business location: Yakima WA wine country, nestled inside the same building as the Hilton Garden Inn! This means you can use the pool and exercise equipment too.  Take a dip, sip some wine, message divine! Hope to see you there!

Ellie has asthma: diagnosed by desparate attempts to barely inhale air into lungs. Horrified parents “help” while petrifying a previously trusting girl.

In the ER at Children’s Hospital we initially had no idea what was going on. The nurse gave us the face mask to put over Ellie’s nose and mouth and left us alone in the room. Elle struggled with all her might to free herself, pleading with us to help, yet confused that we were the ones forcefully holding her down pushing a scary mask over her mouth and nose. Sweat dripped off all of us. Especially off Tim who was relegated to straight jacket duty. I was in tears sympathizing with Ellie’s fear, confusion and her use of the signs we had been teaching her: STOP! I imagined we were forcing her to inhale something that was painful, or worse, harmful. Without thinking, I donned the mask for a few minutes to relieve my nervousness, and hopefully calm hers. With so many friends and family in the medical field, I’ve heard more than my fair share of “medical mistake” stories.

A fabulous book exists called It’s My Body. It teaches kids to trust their feelings. If uncomfortable, a child is given several ways to express herself. One of them is to put up her hand and, if using words yet, say firmly “Stop!” Together, all of us had been reading this helpful book for 3 or 4 days previous when this first asthma attack put us in the emergency room. That awful day my girl was not practicing her new skill, she was DEMANDING it in only the way I would hope she would, to no avail. Her face reflected devastation that her parents were the non-complying adults. Anguish ridden and feeling distraught, we vowed never again to let the nurse leave before telling us how to administer treatment, then to cope with this breech of trust. Unfortunately, after too many attacks, we’ve honed our skills. Fortunately, we now know more about preventing the attacks in the first place. I’m inhaling now, with great relief. While she has eczema (often the two go together), we haven’t seen asthma for about a year. Our bodies have relaxed, but thankfully not from sheer exhaustion.

I brought my camera because I imagined the worst. Having already had a sister and mother die prematurely, I didn’t want to be without precious images. Still, I didn’t even think of the camera until after the storm subsided.

Ellie with Martha on our porch. We were dog sitting for our good buds, Margaret & Scott Bright. Ellie loved every minute.

Finally. It opened tonight!!! Like a child I’ve been awaiting the opening of the new Phinney Farmers Market, hosted in the parking lot of the PNA at 66th and Phinney Ave N. We bought a radio flyer red wagon on Craigslist, allegedly for Ellie’s 3rd birthday, but let’s face it. I’ve always wanted one, and so has Tim. Carrying Market goods and a 3 year old– perfect excuse! I changed my babysitting coverage for Friday so Ellie and I could shop and then meet Tim for a tasty dinner.

The produce was largely organic, all local, and freshly picked. The cheese was easily sampled, expensive but worth it. The breads and baked goods were fresh, organic, wholesome AND tasty. The crepes were to die for. (Oh, to have nine lives…) The thin crust pizza’s were cooked in brick ovens and filled the Market with intense aromas.
The best part was the community camaraderie. I saw so many enjoyable people, both known and new to me. Clients, neighbors, former pre-school parents and kids, future pre-school parents, and friendly people I shared a table with over dinner, coming in waves. I felt like I was enjoying a giant neighborhood party. I can say, knowing it will incorrectly sound like an exaggeration, that I was touched to my inner-being. This is exactly the “center” I’ve been craving for. Best of all, I only rarely work on Fridays, so I plan to make this a weekly event.

Betsy and I have been great friends for about 15 years. (She’s the kind of person who can tell you the day we started rowing together. I, however, have to add “give or take 3 years”.)There is nothing better than friendship. Betsy and Kim invited Tim, Ellie and me to their sweet, rustic cabin in Moclips, WA. Married ocean-side, these two could not have purchased a more appropriate cabin setting than this. Being her usual social self, Betsy also invited friends staying at a local Inn to join us for a happy hour. It was a ball meeting Chris Collins and his two kids. Oh my GOD, I haven’t laughed so much in a long time.

Bets and Kim grab a moment.

Ellie dreaming of longer legs.

Rebecka relaxing.

Henry being a good sport for the photographer.

Ahhh, to be seaside.

Ellie eating sealife. Or a stick, rock, pencil.

Chris and Henry having a sweet snuggle. At 9, these are brief!

Tazo and Betsy share the soon to be retired couch. Uh oh. Have YOU ever tried to un-train a couch-dog? The new red couch is sure to actually be black and red.

Ellie and Daddy. A daddy’s girl from her first moment in life. I enjoy the wonderful number two spot though!

Ellie emerges victorious from her struggle with the shark.

We live one minute from the zoo, so it was an easy decision to go have fun with thousands of other bambinos yesterday at the amazing Woodland Park Zoo. Aside from the steroid-induced design and budget for the new parking garage, (had to get that jab in!) the zoo makes for a fabulous neighbor. The call of the tiger heard from our front porch and even the smell of dung during our morning runs causes us to smile. Well, fun was had, but smiles weren’t my objective during the Bunny Bounce. As my long-term clients know, I like moody shots in addition to the classic big smile.

OK, I’ll put one smile in this collection.

Our Ellie-Belly. The only child I know in this post.

Every photographer or hobbiest who buys new camera gear makes a decision. What to do with the old and replaced. I use these retired old Canon bodies and lenses on days like today. Heavy misting rain along with blustering winds makes keeping a camera dry impossible. Putting the camera and lens in a plastic bag with a hole cut out for the lens helps. I don’t want to be afraid to shoot on sandy beaches, on dirty, dusty trails, on canoe trips, or in our ever-present rain. The next time someone asks why some of my gear looks like it gone through the ringer, well…

Expressiveness isn’t limited to smiles.

Ellie Explorer.

Just checking in!

Soaked and smiling! Love that girl!!!

This old Canon 70-200 lens and 20D still capture sharp, vibrant color, even when wet, dropped, and near freezing. Hell, I’m not sure why I bought a new one. OK, the image stabilization and faster aperture had something to do with it. With Seattle’s ever wet days, I’m glad to have a lens I’m willing to risk. But I sure wish Canon would start sponsoring me!