Russell Gilder: Photography

I just recently had the opportunity to work with a wonderful Artist, Photographer, and Designer.  These are just a few he did for me.  There is so much more on his website, you need to check it out.  All of his contact information is on the site and he is wonderful to work with.  Not only do you have the eye of the photographer, but the mind of an artist.  Amazing work! 

Thank you Russ for this wonderful opportunity.

Check out his link:

Russ Gilder Photographer Extraordinaire

Thank you again Russ, Can't wait till next time!

My Childhood Dream Car

Yeah, this is my dream car from middle school.  I have always wanted an old Buick Skylark.  I drove up to meet my parents to get Austin back from spring break and I pulled up right next to it.  I have not seen one of these in so, so many years.  I swear I almost, if you know what I mean. 
The owner of the car was in the truck stop and saw my face when I saw it, she came out and told me her story.  Funny kinda, She had an old truck and this old man wanted an old truck instead of this car.  "The trucks bottom was going to fall out" she said, he said "he wanted the truck, equal trade."  EQUAL TRADE.  REALLY?

Anyway, when I was totally blown away with that, (wondering were was this little old man when I had an old truck and never used it.) She completed her story with "My boyfriend is going to get out of jail in about two months and he told me, "what ever I do, don't get rid of the car".
There is no moral to this story, but this woman lucked out with this car, and depending on what her boyfriend is in jail for and what kind of person he is. (I mean I did not ask, did not want to be there that long) I think I would take the car and leave.
Just saying..

Back to the car, it is and I can't even remember the year she said I was in such AWE! The seats have this metal button in the seats, they were all there. Also this car came with a pillow.  Yes, not only do you get the car, but you get a pillow to rest your tired head.  It was in there as well.  Along with the original stereo (that worked) radio knobs, and cigarette lighter.  It is amazing.  The car for this year only came with one side view mirror, if you look back at the 1st pic, the passenger side mirror was optional, it cost more to have one on both sides.

Well That is that, Dream come and gone.  Enjoyed the moment though! 

Melissa Hall

04/27/2010

Forever my heart alone will be.

Once upon a time, In a fairy tale along time ago,
And that is were that ended.
Be strong now, because things will get better,
It might be stormy now but, it can not rain forever.

The things I can change I will do my best,
For I am only human just like the rest.
The things I can not, No Worries for me,
For those are the "wants" that will never be.

How do you know when it is truly love?
When your heart skips a beat,
And the words you want to say just seem to walk away.
How do you know when it is time to say good bye?
When it is all about the other,
And the shimmer has no color.

The air that surrounds me suffocates me with rage,
My heart is there, so dark and broken, it can only be caged.

Looking back I realize,
I was never ever meant to stay,
But what hurts the most is that you wanted it that way.

Life is a constant change.
The rocks it throws,
The storms it blows,
And the smile on a face of someone you know.

With a blink of an eye.
The storms stop blowing,
And the face stops glowing.
Forever my heart alone will be,
I have no doubt, This Is What I See.

The path I'm walking,
I must walk alone.

Forever my heart alone will be, I have no doubt, This Is What I See.


Melissa Hall
04\20\2010

Cheers To You My Friend

I don't want to go home, because I don't want to be alone.
This pain I feel inside is just something I can't hide.
For when I hide and stay alone, my friends all say something wrong.
I have no heart, this "Walking Angel" you say... is just broken anyway.

There is no, "yes or no", just only "I can't go".
For some reason I can't understand, you just don't want to take my hand.
And walk along the path we see and only be You and Me.

So, Take Care, My Good Friend, And Maybe Someday We Will Meet Again.

Please know and never forget the love I have for you I will Never regret.
I will carry it always in my heart,
Starting today, for "that" reason we must part.

Cheers

Written by,
Melissa A. Hall
04\10\2010

Art Work by: Tara McPherson

When I think of my future,

I think of Brianna’s wedding, Will I be the one that gives her away?
I think of Austin Growing up as “The man” in the house, As a 8 year old little boy.
I think about the Dances, the Soccer games, and all the other activities that I will be the only one to look on with joy and pride!
When I look in the mirror, I think “You are all alone, and you are ALL responsible.”
I find pain and pleasure in that thought.
The pain comes from the unanswered questions still lingering in my head.
The pleasure comes from knowing I do the best I can one day at a time, and it is all mine.
I think for my future I will not let fear lead me, I will make my choices the best I can and not look back.
For regret lives within your soul and eats it’s way from the inside out, if you let it.
But to realize we are all individuals, Human, so you may say, we will make both the wrong and right choices.
So I will hold my head up high, know I did the best I could and would not change a thing, because the past unlike the future made me who I am today.

When I think of my future…. I think I will cross that path when I get there.

For it does not matter how fast or what is there, But that I am who I am when I arrive.


Melissa Hall
05/22/09

So When is Enough, Enough?

Is it when you get to the place were the hills that you have been climbing seem straight, But you know there will always be hills along the path.

Is it when the storm stops blowing you around and around and all that is left is a small shower with the sun shinning through first, before you see the rainbow.

Is it when you realize the baby you brought into this world is not the one you thought, but becomes much more with your guidance.

Is it when you realize that some of the decisions you made were the right ones!, but yet still question the ones you don’t know.

Is it when you can finally sleep alone and feel safe with in your own world, but realize you feel safer with someone else beside you.

Is it when you finally hear the music with in your own heart and learn to dance with it, regardless of the fact that you might be the only one who ever hears it.

Is it when you realize that the life you had will be no more!, But the life you make can always be better because of the lessons you have already learned.


So When is Enough, Enough?


Melissa Hall
04/08/09

Painfully Beautiful

When you look at me,
A smile is all you see.

A genuine smile,
And a kind heart underneath.

But When you look at me, and the smile is all you see,
Question yourself about what is really underneath.

The pain is there, it comes and goes,
Almost like the wind when it starts to blow.

The hurricane is coming, I don’t know when.
All I have felt so far are small storms and wind.

The time is coming and it will not be long,
Just a gut feeling that is so so strong.

The pain is so strong you could not understand,
But with God’s grace, I WILL STAND.

The painfully beautiful smile that you see,
Will always be,


Just ME.


Melissa Hall
02/2009

A lonley Anniversary

The time is coming soon for me to re-live the tragedy I have hidden deep in my soul.

This year the roads have all been mountains so high I could not see my way.

The sun not as bright or hot as it was before , and the winter even colder.

The pictures I had for my future are scattered with blood.

The things I thought would be hard were easy, but the things I thought easy..to hard to handle.

The smiling faces of the old family portraits I can’t even put on the wall.

My head cries why, while my heart knows not to ask.

The days have been longer this year, it is the nights that keep me awake.

The dreams I don’t want to have and the memories I can’t forget.

I look at my children and see his face, the man that took my heart so many years ago, and wonder where he went.

I alone will be at this anniversary

Only Me
Only Myself
Only I

Melissa Hall
01/2009


RIP Steve  I will always love and miss you!

Touch, Touch, Touch, FEEL ?

As I walk through my days I FEEL like I’m the lady in the tissue commercial.

Touch, Touch, Touch, FEEL

For me it is more like Touch touch, Touch touch, Touch, but when it comes to FEEL, I find that part missing.

I miss the FEEL of a warm hand down my neck, down my arms, down my back.

I miss the FEEL of someone I can always go to with anything, and just because they can’t fix it, I know they would.

I miss the warm FEEL of a body around me as I sleep, consuming me as I wake.

As I walk through my days I see friends and acquaintances FEEL one another, and not question the moment, just embrace it. I see it come easy for some and not at all for others, and I question why this is.

Touch, Touch, Touch, FEEL?

Melissa Hall
01/2009

I had a DREAM last night

I don’t think I dream and if I do I never remember them. This one stood out like someone was saying “Hey you, I’m talking to you. Are you listening?, Can you hear me?”

The dream started and it was if I was like a ghost, a mind reader. I could hear what my family and friends said and thought about me.
Strong, Good head on her shoulder, Loving to everyone, Beautiful, Kind, Great mom, Hard worker, Just has her shit together.

But I traveled away and I looked in the mirror and I did not see what they thought, what they see.
Imperfections in myself, Week, Angry, Lost, Wondering “Who are you“, Helpless, Searching for myself.

But again I traveled away. I thought about what I felt, Not about what people think, or what I see in the mirror, but how I feel about myself.
Blessed, Loved, Missed, I feel strong some days, but not others. I feel I’m a great mom, but know I will make mistakes. I really would give more than I have if I could. I can’t please everyone, but my family comes first.

THEN I WOKE UP.

I got up, got the kids up to get ready for school, clothes were already laid out, coffee was already dripping down stairs, I could smell it. Life is great.

I kept thinking about the dream and why do I have to remember one so emotional, so upsetting. I mean at first I felt as if I were at my funeral, then I wondered why when I look in the mirror do I see what I see. That is not me.

I finally realized the last of the DREAM is all I need, the rest does not matter.Who cares what people think, my family and friends are the ones who count. They know me for me, the good and the bad. What I see in the mirror are just my insecurities, and feelings that come and go. It is called life.

The most important part about the dream is that it is the one that let me know I am ALIVE.

I can feel good about living each day to the fullest and smelling the roses along the way. To enjoy each moment as if it will never happen again. I can feel good about staying in PJ’s all day watching movies with the kids, knowing I have so much to do, as stupid as it sounds, to dance like no one is watching. Let the music play, While I let my heart sing, Until the moment I take my last breath. And I can do this because I know you only live once so I will not take the free ride in my life.

I will live it to the fullest, be thankful for the blessing that are given to me and let everything else fall into place.


…… So why then am I having this DREAM…


Melissa Hall
01/2009

Today is here!

I did not write this one, but love it.


There comes a time in your life when you realize that if you stand still, you will remain at this point forever. You realize that if you fall and stay down, life will pass you by.

Life's circumstances are not always what you might wish them to be. The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan. Beyond any understanding, you may at times be led in different directions that you never imagined, dreamed, or designed. Yet if you had never put any effort into choosing a path, or tried to carry out your dream, then perhaps you would have no direction at all.

Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now. Shake off the "why's" and "what if's," and rid yourself of confusion. What ever was - is in the past. Whatever is - is what's important. The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realized. Today is here.

Walk your path one step at a time - with courage, faith, and determination. Keep your head up, and cast your dreams to the stars. Soon your steps will become firm and your footing will be solid again. A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow.

Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey. You will find it magnificent, spectacular, and beyond your wildest imaginings."

~~Vicki Silvers

Free Love?

I did not write this one, but love it as well.


"Free love? As if love is anything but free! Man has bought brains, but all the millions in the world have failed to buy love. Man has subdued bodies, but all the power on earth has been unable to subdue love. Man has conquered whole nations, but all his armies could not conquer love. Man has chained and fettered the spirit, but he has been utterly helpless before love. High on a throne, with all the splendor and pomp his gold can command, man is yet poor and desolate, if love passes him by. And if it stays, the poorest hovel is radiant with warmth, with life and color. Thus love has the magic power to make of a beggar a king. Yes, love is free; it can dwell in no other atmosphere."


Emma Goldman