I have a thing for old men...

A Morning stroll in Orvietto...

OK so some people collect salt and pepper shakers... I collect old men. Not real ones, that's gross. But capturing their spirit is a passion of mine. My favorite, Italians of course have so much character. It's like they have done more, been to more places, used their hands, eyes and heart and soul more. At least that is the interpretation I have of old Italian men. Most are cute and will allow me a peek through my lens, they always give me a goofy smile like their flirting, (maybe I am). I would rather a smirk or frown but my favorite is the natural ones that do not know I am shooting them. This is one of my favorites. One day I will have one for my very own, but for today, Chris is still very young and hunka hunka burning love of my life!

Their eyes

I found this essay Ashlynn had to write and I wanted to share again the impact Africa had on our girls in their own words.

Ashlynn Patrizi
April 16. 2008
Mrs. Lauer

Their Eyes

Their piercing, cold, sad eyes stared right back into mine; they had nothing else in them except my reflection. These eyes hadn’t seen much past these school grounds, the only thing they had seen was disease, pain, and hurt families. As I was giving each kid a scoop of rice, I noticed that this was the greatest day of their lives. As each kid would go by and get their rice they straight away would run and hide and sit there and eat their rice happily. This is what my eyes saw in Tanzania, Spring break 2008.

We got there in the morning, around 7 o’ clock. It was a gloomy day, but the children were singing their hearts out for us. In Swahili they sang songs of happiness and joy that we were there. It made me feel like I was giving so much to them but I really was only giving a little of my time. Amazing how little you can give but how happy you can make someone.

It was then lunch time, the sun started to part through the clouds and put a little sun on the kid’s faces. Each child was holding a black bag, we all didn’t know what it was until the headmaster came up to us and said, “Its their treasure”. We didn’t understand at first but then we realized it was a plate. Food is life; people will do anything for their lives these kids were out of control when we started to serve the food. I felt like I was dishing food out for starving wild animals. They shoved and pushed and screamed at each other and punched and kicked. The little ones really couldn’t defend themselves so the teachers pulled the young ones out and they got their own bowl. It was a fight for life, but then we actually started to dish out the food.

The sun now was fully out of the clouds and beating down on the kid’s navy blue torn up sweaters. I took a break from serving and just sat back and watched these poor kids digging into these bowls like monsters, I wouldn’t blame them though. It really made me realize, I had to take a step back and look at my life and see that I am very lucky.

Young ones crying, older ones stealing each others food, others that were fed were celebrating by water fights and laughing and dancing. We eventually got to play the ultimate game of Duck, Duck, Goose.

Looking back and remembering those eyes will haunt me forever.

I know that this experience has changed my life and I would love to go back to that sunny day, with the happiest kids that have so little.

Calling all Blue Leisure Suits!!!

Let's do something fun... You guys scan and send me your Prom pictures by e-mail! I would love to blog my family and friend's Prom pictures. Just for fun... First five wins... Wished I had mine to post but I can describe it... I had the Shawn Cassidy/Farah Fawcett hairdo feathered back bangs all the way down. I bought my dress at Eibands in Galveston and it cost $80, which in 1979 was a fortune. We had gone to the beach that day and were sunburned. I rode in the Limo with Jill Dale and her date Steve Eaton (I think was his name). We went to Sandy Lynch's or Karen Risley's house afterwards for breakfast and Michael Licarione had a fro. Anyone have prom pictures?

Anxiously waiting...

Cinderella goes to the Ball...

We call Alexandra "Cinderella" around the house. She is always the one left in the kitchen cleaning up. Ashlynn always manages to sneak out on chores. Well this weekend she lived up to the name. She looked fabulous, and I realize more each day what a mature young lady she is becoming. Kids grow up. I still feel 18, it's my body that is 47. Am I really old enough to have grown kids? I am in denial...

Something that makes me smile....

This picture was taken at the Elementary school during the Fall Festival. This little boy was not the least bit interested in smiling at me. I have printed and posted this right beside my computer, I often just glance beside my screen and see how unenthused this kid is, and it makes me smile.

The other thing that makes me laugh out loud is this video. Once you realize he is not falling out of the ride, you can not help but laugh. I love Janice! I want to laugh that hard every single day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuTf7rPIuY8

Random Ramblings...

Trying to alternate between Patrizi Photography Business Blogs for my soon-to-be customers and photography friends, to personal life stuff is a little challanging. I want my soon-to-be customers to know I am a real person, but how much do I really want them to know? My family and friends could probably care less about seeing photoshoots of sports teams and first communions and pregnant people they don't know. How professional should I make this, or how real?

Well, first of all I am who I am... I don't really try and hide ANYTHING! (Good and Bad) If you know me, you KNOW me! I pray a lot, laugh a lot, cuss, drink wine, hate laundry, love Europe the most, lived in Switzerland and Italy and would go back in a minute, love my kids, love other people's kids, show my cleavege most of the time even in Doha, because I want to distract from the rest of my short stubby body, have a million friends all over the world (and I am so blessed by all of them)...enjoy life a lot, I am a birder, a dog lover, don't love cats, can't speak anything but Texan, because I am a cowgirl from Texas and it is in my heart and soul. I want a cow, and a 100 yr. old live oak tree to call my own before I die. I really really love my husband. He is the sweetest man alive (and he is a fabulous cook, it's in his genes). I can't stand depressing news and never ever read the newspaper. I have no idea what is going on in the real world, only my little bubble and I like it that way. (That's bad and good too.) Although, I did hear about the sink hole in Daisetta Texas, Mom told me. I like to really stare at spider webs in amazment to see what God created a small insect to accomplish, and relate to that when it comes to my real life situations. I watch American Idol with Alexandra the day after it is aired in the States and we love both David's. Speaking of David, David Patrizi was my first true love and God was gracious enough to give me a second chance with love and I took it. My life has never been the same. One day I would love to write a book about it all. It's a sad and good story. I think people who have gone through hard times become better people because of it. We all need angels, David is mine.

There now you know me.

Here are a few pictures of Doha stuff.

An Italian dinner we prepared and hosted as a donation to the American School, (Sorry Marcia just your back, cute shirt!) Chris and his boyfriend Steve made an amazing 5 course meal with homemade pasta while Lisa and I just looked cute and served. (And believe me, she looked cute!)

Then there is a colorful composite of cultural Doha. (I have no idea what this pimply looking cucumber thingy is...)

It's the start of the Doha weekend, WOOOHOOO!!! Prom tomorrow night. I have a gorgeous 18 year old beauty queen to watch go off to the ball. OUCH!

Don't blink... Life will pass you by...

Mothers-to-be....

One of the most touching photoshoots to ever do... Sweet Mothers-to-be. (I have been known to get teary eyed and choked up during shoots and cry myself.) This moment in time brings back emotions only a new mother can feel. The kicking inside you for the first time, the miracle of life, the young exciting love of a couple waiting with anticipation to meet what love has made. I have to say this might be my favorite thing to capture. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN REAL LIFE YOU WANT TO STOP TIME AND REMEMBER OVER AND OVER AGAIN... Here is Patrizi Photography's celebration of new Moms...

Mothers~Mother-in-Laws & Godmothers

So many women have made a difference in my life.

First of all, Thank you Momma for the wonderful example you have been to me. No matter how far apart we live, you are important and loved. I have been blessed from birth. Rita and Mid, my Mothers-in-law with admiration and love today and always. Thank you for sharing your wonderful sons with me. My sisters and Godmothers we cherish in our lives, I love each and every one of you. And all you other mothers out there, Happy day today...

There are four really important things I celebrate today. Nicholas, Amanda, Alexandra, and Ashlynn, the honor I have had to be their Mom.

My life is complete.

Derieres in Doha

How can you resist this... I hope I don't get kicked out of the country for posting these two cuties... It could be worse, I could have added my very large burned butt from getting into the bath yesterday morning. The water temperture is all the same, hot is hot, cold is hot, everything is hot. I looked like a mexican jumping bean trying to escape the fire of death, and all I was trying to do was take a bath. Ahhhhh, Doha!

BOYFRIENDS!

In our lifetime we all accumulate friendships, some from grade school, girlfriends from High School, a few from college, early marriage and so on... Guys have buddies from childhood and a few from college, but to continue a friendship with a male from my 20's through fifty is pretty cool. I want to first Thank my sweet husband for allowing me such great "brotherly" friendships with my "boy" friends. I have a few close relationships though the years and have been able to still hold them dear to me and cherish our times together and still be married. That says a lot about Chris and the other men in my life. (This is not sounding like I wanted it to) Let's get this straight, I have wonderful great lifetime friendships with males and not just girlfriends. I am proud of that! I love these men! Paul Pigue and I have traveled Houston and the surrounding area on horses for days. Kelly Gibson and I have kareokeed together while Chris stayed home and babysat. Jerry Burnley visited me in Switzerland, WA, and Michael Loup and I have traveled though Italy together. Jamie Dishman brought his family to Milan. Chuck Lafratta, Bob Fregole, and Jeff Ix and Hal are all my swiss boyfriends.

Tim Fading and I have had almost 30 years of fun and friendship. We even have nicknames, he calls me Elle Mae! (Biscuit disaster in 1980) We even have a dance we made up together in our twenties called household chores. Today I would like to say, "Hey Tim, Your 50!" Thanks for being such an awesome friend from throwing Frisbees at the beach when I could wear a bikini, to sliding on ice when you trusted me to drive to lunch from Ideco in Beaumont, Boat parties, floating on the Guadalupe with my teenage daughters, you even took a great Christmas Card picture of us in 2001, and the thousand of other times we have had. You have become a great friend to my children as well and I love you for that. I hope that all of my children will have the chance to one day have a great friend like you for 30 years! I wish you a great life today!

Yes that is Matthew, he is not one of them. DAMN! But Tim is single and 50, any ladies interested, his e-mail is tfading@hotmail.com go date him online. He is the one on the right, sorry.
I HAVE GOT TO START HANGING OUT WITH YOUNGER FRIENDS!

Praying hands...

This weekend was the First Holy Communion for the new Catholic Church in Doha. 27 of the finest dressed 8 year old boys and girls from christian families all over the world. It was a beautiful assortment of cultures and faces. And if you know me, you know how I love beautiful children's faces. There was this one little chubby 3 yr old that was so precious with his fat little praying hands, and one little beautiful angel without wings. I had the privilege of photographing the very first Communion of this Church, making history and capturing it. That is what I love about my job. God Bless You!

Coffee shots...and morning memories...

Here is a coffee picture of 6 of my most favorite people on earth.

Today is Kelly Gibson's 40-something Birthday. I remember every year, for many years he was always in Houston playing for the Shell Houston Open and Chris was caddying for him on his Birthday. Today Kelly is actively rebuilding his city he is so passionately in love with, New Orleans and being a Daddy to sweet Elle. I can't find a picture of Elle to post, but once I get to squeeze her little thighs this summer, I will have something for you all to goo goo over. Happy Birthday Mr. Gibson!!

I turned my calandar over this morning to reveal this shot! The Magnolia Jr. League does Venice last year. WOW! Today I would like to celebrate these 5 incredible, wonderful, faithful, would do anything for anyone, lifetime, fun, friendships. My life is richer because of each one of them, Sharon the sweet easy calm one, Robin the shopper/organizer B, Kathy the singing guzzler, Sister Mary Carla the chaplin, and Melinda the most easy going creative soul, SALUTE!