Hello again,
We started our family vacation. After a stop over at my wonderful sister-in-law's home, where we slept for the night, we drove on to Castro Valley. For the unfamiliar,
Castro Valley is a small town on the East side of the San Francisco Bay. As of the 2000 census, Castro Valley was the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States.
Since 1997 when I left, I think I have only been back through Castro Valley once. That was a stop-over on my way back from my Grandfathers's funeral. It has been interesting to see all the freeway changes that have taken place and are taking place. It is also comforting to see how much things haven't changed. Though if they had resurfaced some of the streets and I wouldn't have minded. The day we got in to town, we had dinner and then drove around. I showed my kids (the two that came along) where I went to school (elementary, Jr. High (both) and High School). I also showed them the two places I lived while growing up in Castro Valley. For the curious, when I entered Jr. High, it covered 7th and 8th grades. During my 8th grade year, actually probably before but I didn't know, the school districted decided to close the two Jr. High schools and create a single 7th, 8th, 9th grade Jr. High. The upside was I was part of the "ruling class" (8th grade and then 9th) for two years in a row.
Sunday we went to the church were my wife and I were married. It is also the church we attended and served in until we moved to Arizona in 1997. It was really great to see familiar faces. The hugs were fantastic and the welcome was superb. It was almost as if we had never left. Sunday evening was very special. I was able to hook up with Brent Goodale. I got to meet his wife Nora and their two sons. We got together at Brent's parents home so I was able to catch up with his mom and dad (Carol & Doug). We shared some wine and talked for 3-4 hours. It was great. I wish I had notified more friends that I was coming to Castro Valley and maybe I could have caught up with more of them.
The only potential downside to all of this is, now I want to move back. I know I cannot due to kids, finances and several other reasons. That doesn't change the fact that if all those "planets aligned" I would move back in a heartbeat. I asked myself several times why I left. There were very good reasons at the time and those are still valid now. So while it was wonderful to visit, I will learn to be happy where God has placed me, until He decides to move me again.
Until next time,
Paul Rogers
Owner - Paul Rogers Photography
Preserving memories for all time
web: http://www.MemoriesForAllTime.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/Paul.Rogers.Photography
twitter: twitter.com/PaulRogersPhoto
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Hello again,
It has been a LOOOOOONG time since I have done anything on this blog. I wonder if I still have any followers. If I do, you are to be commended, or you need to get a life (just kidding). When I logged in, I was informed that it had be 162 days since my last post. That is several eons in Internet time.
Lots of things have happened since my last post. My oldest daughter started her freshman year at NAU and turned 18 in November. My son was shipped off to Air Force boot camp in at Lackland AFB. He is about to graduate and start his 4 years of service. We are teaching a third child to drive and my "baby" turned 14 in 2009.
I have been shooting one act plays, choral performances, swim meets and the Gilbert Tiger Pride marching band and color guard. Because of my picture taking at marching band performances, I was able to help out with a Christmas surprise. A brother and sister who are both in the marching band went "Christmas shopping" one evening. This shopping involved getting in to their band uniforms and taking some pictures together to give as gifts. I am sure mom and dad were thrilled.
2009 was a year of learning and struggle for Paul Rogers Photography. However, I am truly excited with ideas and plans that we are going to implement this year. Paul Rogers Photography is going to do several new things that we haven't done before. This is scary and exciting at the same time.
Until next time,
Paul Rogers
Owner - Paul Rogers Photography
Preserving memories for all time
web: http://www.MemoriesForAllTime.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/Paul.Rogers.Photography
twitter: twitter.com/PaulRogersPhoto
(more...)
Hello again,
Currently I am in San Antonio, TX. Why did I go to San Antonio? The answer is that on November 17th 2009 my son was sworn in to the Air Force and today he graduated from being a "trainee" to being an "Airman". Though the weather wasn't what I had hoped for, I praise God that it wasn't pouring down rain like was forecast.
This is the official start of a new season in my life. I now have a child in the military and it is likely he will never live with us again. I am sure he will visit but he will never again live under my roof. This is an expected change and the start of a new season.
I am so proud of what my son has managed to accomplish in the Air Force so far. He has made some new friends and learned that he can accomplish things he never thought possible. He has talked about possibly applying for the Air Force Academy as well as getting his bachelors degree and applying for officer candidate school. I would swear he has grown during these last 8.5 weeks, but it most likely is that he is walking taller with his head held high.
Today, at the graduation ceremony, each trainee was given a coin to signify their graduation. The sense of hope and pride I felt as all the trainees became airmen is hard to describe. Hearing all of them recite the Airman's creed was amazing. In case you have never heard it, here it is:
I am an American AirmanI am a warriorI have answered my nation's call.
I am an American Airman,My mission is to fly, fight and win.I am faithful to a proud heritage,A tradition of honor,and a legacy of valor.
I am an American Airman,guardian of freedom and justice,my nation's sword and shield,its sentry and avenger,I defend my country with my life.
I am an American Airman:Wingman, leader, warrior,I will never leave an Airman behind,I will never falter,and I will not fail!
I may not agree with everything our elected leaders ask our military to do, but know this, I support the men and women in our military 100%.
Until next time,
Paul Rogers
Owner - Paul Rogers Photography
Preserving memories for all time
web: http://www.MemoriesForAllTime.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/Paul.Rogers.Photography
twitter: twitter.com/PaulRogersPhoto
(more...)
Hello again,
As I write this we are driving on I-10 from San Antonio to El Paso on our way back home. I have just spent a wonderful 4 days with all my kids together again. It is amazing to see the transformation that has taken place while my son completed Basic Military Training (BMT). He has definitely done a lot of growing up.
While in the San Antonio area, we toured the Alamo and walked some of the River Walk. The walk itself was very nice. The river was brown. I don't know if that is the normal color or a result of rains the day before. Based on pictures I saw of the area, I am guessing the run off from the rains has made it brown.
On major downside to the whole trip, besides the rain which I wish had waited a few more days, was the freeway system. For those that live in the area and drive it regularly, it probably is just fine. For this out of town traveler, it was extremely confusing. Everything may be bigger in Texas but the signs to get on the freeway, or find the freeway from surface streets are obviously not Texas signs. They are small and in several cases, I missed them completely. The interchanges are confusing. More than once we had to turn around to get where we wanted to be.
Our family has "scattered" again. My Airman is going to spend a few weeks at Lackland AFB at the first part of his technical training before heading to Keesler AFB. My oldest daughter is flying back to Flagstaff (or at least is as I am writing this). The rest of us are making our way by car back to Gilbert to continue on with our jobs and responsibilities starting on Tuesday.
Until next time,
Paul Rogers
Owner - Paul Rogers Photography
Preserving memories for all time
web: http://www.MemoriesForAllTime.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/Paul.Rogers.Photography
twitter: twitter.com/PaulRogersPhoto
(more...)
Hello again,
So while I was spending time with my Airman, we went into the Apple store. This is not as bad as it sounds. I didn't buy anything! We looked at some software and I showed him the Mac Pro I want to get one day. As we were about to head out one of the store employees asked if they could help. I said I doubt it cause what I really wanted was a new iPhone 3GS and I wasn't eligible for an upgrade until August at the earliest. Just for grins and giggles I checked and I am eligible for an upgrade!
I didn't get it right then, though I was tempted. I want to got in to the AT&T store to figure out how I can transfer my "old" 3G to my wife and what this does to our family contract. If it simply extends by 2 years, which is my guess, but doesn't include new phones for the rest of the family, that may put a damper on my upgrade.
I am purely guessing at this point but I am guessing that AT&T is trying to lock in as many iPhone users as they can. I mean if they wanted to have happy and loyal customers, they could have allowed the upgrade back in June or July when the 3GS came out. The could have offered MMS service back in June when the 3.0 version of the iPhone OS came out supporting it. They could have already allowed tethering so that I could actually post this blog post while driving rather than waiting until I get to a location with a wifi connection.
I believe, that this move is simply a way to entice 3G owners to upgrade to the 3GS and lock them in for another 2 years. Suddenly the arguments why they couldn't upgrade 3G owners when the 3GS first came out ring hollow. I mean do you expect me to believe that the extra 7 months that I was not allowed to were sufficient to pay the subsidy for my 3G? That was the primary reason I heard as to why AT&T was not allowing upgrades until you had completed most of your existing contract.
Also, why hasn't AT&T told me that I was able to upgrade. I had to find out on my own on a whim. I think that they may be a little scared that their exclusive distribution agreement with Apple is not going to be renewed. I can certainly see that, rather than any corporate benevolence, as the driving force behind me being eligible for a 3GS upgrade 11 months before the end of my contract.
Depending on what I find out at the AT&T store in the next few days, I may be upgrading to the 3GS. I will keep you informed.
Until next time,
Paul Rogers
Owner - Paul Rogers Photography
Preserving memories for all time
web: http://www.MemoriesForAllTime.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/Paul.Rogers.Photography
twitter: twitter.com/PaulRogersPhoto
(more...)
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