I got a puppy

So it’s been a while since I’ve written a blog. Here’s an update about my life, but mostly just cute puppy pics!

This was the day I brought the little guy home! His name is Motley. Yes; like the crew. And let me tell you, it was not easy driving a puppy home all by myself. My little Honda Civic wouldn’t fit the crate when it was built so the little guy was free range in the car. Mostly on my lap… he also threw up all over my brand new car. So scared and nervous I’m sure.

My little buddy from day 1

First mud bath

He played in a creek for hours this day. First time in water. Later was his second bath ever. Such a dirty boy but I didn’t have the heart to stop his enjoyment!

We grow together for a few months and he’s still looking up at me like I’m his whole world. He’s mine, I must admit. Animals really do make the world go round, he sure keeps mine turning.

The modEl of the family

Tell me how you look at this face and don’t want to take photos?!

He’s enjoying his three favorite things here; 1. rolling around in the grass, 2. pausing from a rapid round of fetch, and 3. eating giant leaves I have floated in the air for him.

I’m one!

And just like that this guy turned one in what seemed like a heartbeat! This little guy holds me grounded everyday. I’m learned from YouTube and TikTok that the songs on his people (loud whining) are a husky thing, and his attentiveness is the German Shepard in him. The mild excited jumping is both breeds but the love is all him. I love this little fluffy butt with all my heart. I could not imagine waking up without him by my side every morning. Gonna make going on vacations really hard!!

Sharks!

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”
— Chief Martin Brody, JAWS 1975
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This is One of my favorites

This shot is from Florida Shark Diving, but it is my edit of the image.

I was truly blessed this day, my biggest dream came true. To swim with the most beautiful apex creature of the deep, obviously my opinion. I would snuggle up to one if someone would just let me! They’re so neat!

That’s me! With a six foot bull shark!

Can you believe I was within inches of what most people consider the most dangerous and scary creature on the planet?! That’s crazy! I consider them sweet misunderstood puppy dogs.

Can you believe I was within inches of what most people consider the most dangerous and scary creature on the planet?! That’s crazy! I consider them sweet misunderstood puppy dogs.

“Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots of them, that means that you’re in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are in the ocean and don’t see sharks.”
— Sylvia Earle

People think sharks are scary but here’s the thing; there were 129 sharks attacks last year, worldwide. 39 of those were provoked, can you believe that?! A human started that fight intentionally! How many died you ask? Welp, 13. 13 sharks killed humans in 2020. That might seem like a lot but more people died from a cow; on average 20 a year. Oh! Or choking. Just in the U.S. alone in 2019 5,228 people choked to death. Car accidents caused 16,650 deaths! What I’m trying to say is, you’re more likely to die or be injured by just about anything else, than be bit or die from a shark attack! Those are neat odds considering you probably get in a car everyday! And you know what that means? Swimming with these amazing creatures isn’t nearly as unsafe as getting into that car, and we do that with ease. Why? Because we do it often, we’ve become comfortable!

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Fun Fact!
Humans kill over 100 million sharks a year! Demand for shark fins, bycatch from commercial fisheries, overfishing generally, and global habitat destruction all attribute to the decrease in shark population.

Extra Fun Fact!

Finning is the act of which fisherman slice just the fins from the shark, often throwing the still alive shark back into the water to bleed out and suffocate. It’s gruesome.

by “fun Fact” i DEFINITELY don’t mean fun. It’s more of a rhetorical comMent to get you to read the facts.

We got up early, got coffee, I put on my Clark LittleXHurley shark board shorts and we set off. We got to the marina early, it was a bit windy but a bright and sunny day. Our trip had been cancelled days before, so we were really hoping the weather would hold. We met the crew, Alex and Alexis. Both our shark safety divers, photographers, captain and first mate. Alex, the caption began taking the boat out and told us we might get a few splashes. Understatement of the century we would soon learn. Because of the wind, the waves right outside the marina rock walls were averaging between three to six feet! This man proceeded to put on a wet suit hoodie and zip it all the way up, then threw on some Back To The Future stylized sun-goggles(?) and sped the boat up. We were soaked by the time our thirty minute ride was done and we were sitting in crystal clear wavy waters.

Alexis jumped in the water in full wet suit with her Sony AR7III in what I assume an aqua tech housing, I can’t quiet remember. I was too excited that she had my soon to be upgrade and that bonded us for life. (Also, Alexis if you’re reading this, love the photos. Hope you approve of my murky edits on your crispy captures.) Captain Alex asked who wanted to go first, obviously I jumped up in an excited stupor at an opportunity to be alone in the water first with some fins. Boy oh boy. Was this an experience!

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All the photographs were shot by Alexis with Florida Shark Diving. I did slap a murky edit on myself though! If you’d like to see more from her or FSD check Instagram

@aflatteron @floridasharkdiving

What an amazing group and can’t wait to go with them again! If your interested for you and some friends to have an experience of a lifetime, follow the link below.

Happy Swimming!

 

I have been pretty m.i.a….

It’s crazy to follow the events going on in the world lately. I’ve got caught up in the events of everyday life that I’ve forgotten to post to socials or share with friends.

do you REMEMBER The last time you were so obsessed with something you forgot tO share about it? The EXCITEMENT just captivated you too much, distracted you to much?
Me Either!


so here’s an update on life

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I tried this new coffee coke

Kinda hate it, kinda want to drink six more? Idk just try it twice is all I’m saying.

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We got another kitty cat.

Left is my two year old lion Maeve whom we got as a stray kitten. And right is our newest beast Mac Daddy. A 7 year old adopted big boy with four teeth.

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My first trip to Florida

During a pandemic none the less! This is a photo on a glow in the dark night kayak trip we did! So amazing and honestly recommend to everyone.

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Our first rental, and a white 2020 convertible ‘Stang none the less!

Our first rental, and a white 2020 convertible ‘Stang none the less!

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Had some more kids

Meet Lilo and Twitch. Nearly twin boy a girl silky fainters! They’re too sweet and parkour is their favorite thing right now!

Our first girl had her own kids! That made us grandparents!! Lena, you’re a great mom

Our first girl had her own kids! That made us grandparents!! Lena, you’re a great mom

I’ve really just been trying to focus on things around me I can control and contribute to, speak for and change. I’ve been educating myself on a vast minority of new and known things. I’ve been narrowing in at the chiropractor to help with all my body ailments at the ripe ‘old’ age of 25; Doctor Harcourt is concerned with my multitude of car accidents 😂. I’ve been watching the trees blossom, and figuring out new tattoos I want to get done. Planning trips and planning a wedding, spending extra time at home with my cats and better half.

I’ve deployed my time much more responsibly and I’m grateful for each day I wake up healthY.

Thanks for reading.

all of these were shot on an iPhone 11 Pro.

That Place You Go... 

Where do you go when you need to just… go?

I always find myself at coffee shops, and being that I work at Starbucks I appreciate the culture and atmosphere and sense of belonging so much more than I used to. I watch the baristas as they steam all the milks. I know which one is almond, or maybe heavy cream or 2%. I know what drink they are making by the time it takes to pull the espresso shots or how they pour them into the cup. I enjoy the exquisite latte art, which is something I have ‘yet’ to master except for the occasional accident. I listen to the conversations they have behind the bar and with customers, or the lack thereof. I see the tension between baristas or when customers aren’t always right. I see it all. I feel it all.

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I heart you…

…a latte.

So too answer my own question, I come to coffee shops. Why? For one, the caffeinated beverages! But for so much more than that. Honestly, I come for the sense of belonging they deliver, intentionally or unintentionally. You see all walks of life. You can come quickly or stay for hours. You can draw, read, meet future clients, people watch, stare at the walls if you want. 

This is where I go.
 

Folklore Coffee & Company is by far the best coffee shop I’ve come across in my lifetime.

(I installed the address just in case one of you are ever in the area and want a     great cup of coffee, latte or the best London Fog you’ll ever let cross your lips. I get my tea latte made as follows; vanilla, earl grey tea with half the cup of piping hot H2O, and the rest steamed oat milk. If you don’t ever know what to order, please give this a try. Tastes great with regular milk as well. Folklore was the first place I  had this delicious sustenance. anyways...)
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Folklore is based in a rather large establishment with old roots and equally old red brick walls. Nothing but Indie playlists consistently playing music such as Cardiff Brothers, The Decemberists, Erick Baker and artists alike. The smell of homemade chai along with freshly pressed espresso. A different artist featuring their work along all four walls and pillars every few weeks or so. There is a vibe when you walk in, as the kids would say nowadays. A place where I won’t be judged for wearing size 6.5 checkerboard slip on vans, blue jeans, and a blue jean jacket with a purple dad hat. It’s comfortable and homely and there’s never anything to worry about here.

This is the place I go for inspiration, for when I miss Colorado, for when I need to focus on my photography, to write this blog post, to meet friends and family, obviously for caffeine, and most importantly for connection. All those reasons are why I stay, and why I will always keep coming back. So Folklore, please don’t ever change. Please continue your daily attitude as an accepting coffee shop, a place for art and belonging and a place for great food a drinks. Cheers!

Boxerfest 2019

WOW! This was a first for me to attend Boxerfest 2019 in York Pennsylvania. I’ve always loved cars, and owning a ‘02 SRP WRX I should have gone earlier in my lifetime. I’ve always gone to pop up locations run by Nationwide back in Colorado!

I headed over to the York Fairgrounds after I got off work to meet some friends and enjoy the rest of the night. I bought my ticket as I sat in my car and waited with the rest of the Subarus waiting to enter the event late. $20 and ten minutes later I was parked and walking in the entrance. There were booths from Misimoto, Billetworkz, COBB to name a few. There was autocross, ride along with Scott Speed, the man of speed himself. I couldn’t have been more excited!

So here’s a few of the photos I took of the cars a this event!

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Stonewall 50 PRIDE 2019

This past weekend I had the privilage to attend a Pride parade and festival. It just so happen to be the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots when it happened. If you don’t recall what that is, it’s okay! Keep reading!

““By the early 1970s, the number of gay and lesbian organizations soared to nearly four hundred.””
— Eric Marcus - Making Gay History: The Half-Century Fight for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights.

Back in 1969, a [violent] protest erupted outside The Stonewall Inn; which was an illegal gay bar. This riot had sustained momentum for six long days with the gay and lesbian community. Police came and eventually had to barricade themselves inside the Inn and wait out the riot until back up came. After this protest, the real movement began. Radicals from the LGBT community and like organizations trail blazed the path for equality. Demanding the freedom to love, and be loved by whomever they wanted. Pride is an annual event in many cities across the world where people can be themselves, have fun and continue changing the world.