Monday, December 27, 2010

My Wonderful Daughter

Her head and shoulders used to fit in my hand with the rest of her body laying on my forearm.
My little girl, at that moment I knew I would never let anyone keep me from being the best Dad I could be for her. Now she is all grown up with plenty of talent in many aspects of life.

She is musical with a great grasp on the clarinet. She is also very smart with an affinity for Spanish, Earth Science, and many other subjects. Creativity abounds as well with some impressive dabbling in design of clothes, computer related ventures, and writing that I have read over the past few years.

This past Christmas my daughter surprised me with a few presents including a spice rack that I had my eye on for a while but only mentioned once in her presence. The fact that she noticed warmed my heart. I usually do not verbalize many of my practical or impractical objects of desire. So she was listening. I think she picks up on the fact that I lead a somewhat minimalist life so when I want something it is usually practical.

My daughter is absolutely wonderful. She knows I will always be there for her and she is always welcome to come live with me where ever I may reside. Take care of your daughter and raise her right. Give her the room to figure out life on her own but build a good framework of guidelines within which she can flourish. It has worked for me. I love my daughter. She continues to make me proud.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Photograph Slide Show with Adobe Rome

One Photograph with my Photo Slideshow

© Songer Photography



In the past few hours I have been trying a few simple projects in Adobe Rome and wanted to test them out here.  This is a basic slide show although in large 800 px by 600 px format flash object so it may take time to load.  I also had trouble finding a place to place it on the web as far as web storage as I really do not have my own domain with a web storage company other than Mobile Me, so that is what I used.  Eventually I plan to have a a small photography business where I can sell prints to people who like them.  Here is an example of how I might present the photographs in a flash based format.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

In the Presence of Greatness

Tyler Silberberg Columbia Flier/Howard County Times 
boys Golfer of the Year. (Staff photo by Matt Roth of explorehoward.com)
Stepping through the door of my oldest sister's Maryland townhouse in the late nineties, I was excited the see my second nephew for the second or third time.  He was at that time past the fragile toddler age and starting to really enjoy testing the physical limits of his body.  He and his older brother decided that their new favorite game to play with uncle Kyle was to wrestle and jump on him as if he was human jungle gym.  Both of my nephews are really incredible human beings.  Blake, the older brother, used his intellect to prevent hurting himself or his uncle. Tyler, the younger brother, just stepped on the gas sort of speak.  He would slam himself right into me with no thought of the impact on me or himself.  My original thought was this kid is going to be a professional football player.  I did not really want to promote that idea at such a young age for knowing his very intelligent parents, it would be better if like my daughter, my nephews pursued careers or endeavors that challenged their minds more than their bodies.  I did think I was in the presence of future greatness at whatever this child, now teenager, decided to do.

It turns out I was not too far off.  This kid is now a budding amateur golfer as a young adult and is rapidly reaching for and attaining greatness.  At a recent family get together at my parents house in New England, he was very astute, poised, and full of eagerness for the game of golf.  He was invited to play at local golf courses during our family visit and did a great job of balancing the social activities of that event and his desire for some green time during that week.

I see children, young adults, and even adult friends with a talent for sports and other activities, but there is something special or different with this young man.  Not only does he seem to have the talent but there is this cerebral energy and simultaneous stoicism in his mannerisms.  Watching him drive golf balls at a driving range one day told me this kid is all business but the same time he really seems to enjoy himself and keep himself grounded.  To me those are the ingredients of a champion.  I am not a golf expert nor did I even watch the game in the past.  That will change now that my nephew is a rising golf star.

Tyler led his golf team at his high school as a freshman and now as a sophomore, he is Howard County, Maryland's top golfer.  His prowess on the golf course sends chills up my spine.  I recently told a complete stranger who mentioned she was just learning the game of golf and loves it that my nephew will be a top professional golfer some day.  I just get that sense.  Follow these links to learn more about this exceptional young man and the game of golf he loves.