Matthew just updated his website with a great photo shoot he did of one of his roommates and his girlfriend. You might want to go check it out, because as usual it shows Matt’s ability as a photographer to make taking a great picture look easy.

Most people, myself included, have a strong opinion about pitbulls. This particular breed of dog has always scared me and I will be the first to admit that fact. Yet over the years I have come to see things differently. My first encounter with a breed of dog that has always been given a bad rap was when a good friend of ours got a Doberman Pincher, supposedly a very aggressive and mean spirited animal. Nothing could have been further from the truth, although if memory serves me right Tony did get him for a guard dog. He was a beautiful looking dog, but he was very timid and stressed his owner on almost a daily basis. He chewed up a borrowed leather couch, cowered when confronted and adding insult to injury the pièce de résistance was when he urinated on the back of a couple sitting on the beach gazing at the sunset! Oh, how Tony wept about that one. Actually I think he just pretended not to know who’s dog it was!

The second dog I met that persuaded me to change my way of thinking is Koosh. Koosh is Dave’s dog, Dave is Matt’s friend. Koosh is a pit bull and a grand one at that. She is as strong as she looks, and yet she still has a wonderful sweet disposition. Her bark would frighten any robber who dare enter her home, and it can still scare me at times, although she always has her tail wagging when we visit and loves to have her tummy rubbed.
If there is any indication that a tummy rub is in the offering she will immediately get on her back on the floor, feet straight up in the air. Koosh is also under foot a lot when I visit which results in a lot of chaos and laughter, something I admit I enjoy. She is a constant reminder of how one can never judge a book by it’s cover.

Matthew brought Yuki out the other night. He wanted to take a few pictures to keep fresh on his photography skills. Jerry and I are always willing subjects. I thought it would be fun to include Yuki in these photos, for which she was a very good sport. The photo shown here with Matt is one I took time before last when all of us went out to Arroyo Trabuco Canyon for a hike. Hopefully Matt will put the photos he took of us with Yuki on his website or at least send a few our way. A grandma always wants to show off her grandchild, especially if she’s a cute girl!
ps-please note photos # 1, #2, and #5 were taken by Matt, and are the sole property of creative rampancy

We always have a nice time when our youngest son Matt comes down from his place for a visit. Being the amateur photographer buff that I am (which doesn’t compare at all to the professional photographer that Matt is) I snapped a few pictures of him while we sat on the patio. He is most always quite patient with me while I take multiple photos of him from every possible angle and position. Someday I hope to be as good at photography as he is, for now I guess I just have to struggle with showing him the photos I take. You have no idea how humble that can make you. After brunch, Matt and I ran a few errands, TJ Max, car wash and Target. It’s always fun to shop together, listen to his music choices, I do like some of his pics, and chat while we are out and about. I am so very blessed to have such great sons!