Archive for August, 2011

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August 20, 2011

These Boots Were Made For Walking

There’s something about hiking in the woods, or especially in the mountains, that eases my mind, that makes me feel like I’m a million miles away from all responsibility. My senses open to the scent of the pine needles, the sound of the birds chirping, and the rustle of the leaves as the wind sweeps through the trees. As my muscles work to carry a heavy load and climb hills, my worries melt away. 


My last major international hiking trip was to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2007 — it’s time to plan another one. And since my ultimate goal is to be an adventure/travel photographer, it’s time to get in shape and be ready for anything. I set a goal with Personal Trainer, Ryan Toshner, at TNT, to carry a 50 pound pack for one hour by the end of the Commit2Fit challenge — which is this week. Now, I’ve been carrying my 25 pound camera bag around for short jaunts, and have been feeling the pain my shoulders, so being able to carry a 50 pound pack again is going to take some discipline and training.

I dug my big backpack out of the closet, and loaded it up with six of my husband’s free weights, wrapped in blankets to distribute the weight, totaling 50 pounds: four 10 pound, and two 5 pound weights. I donned my liner socks, layered with a pair of SmartWool socks, and my favorite hiking boots — my Zamberlans. My Zamberlans have walked with me for hundreds of miles, through varying terrain, all over the world. They’re scuffed and worn, but they fit like a glove; I’ve never gotten a blister — even on the very first hike; they’re waterproof and stink proof, and they’ve never let me down.


I loaded my backpack into the car, and set off to the Emma Carlin Trail, part of the Southern Unit Kettle Moraine, just outside Eagle, WI. About ten minutes into my hike, I wanted to sit down. After another 15 minutes, I thought about setting my backpack down and carrying one 10 pound weight at a time back to the car. Instead, I worked through the pain, I listened to the birds chirping, I looked around at the natural beauty — the wildflowers, pine trees, and perfectly blue sky with puffy cumulous clouds — and I breathed in the fresh air. 


I thought about my next international hiking trip — where will it be? Back to Nepal or Africa? India? Southeast Asia? The options are endless. Those thoughts are what kept going. We must set goals — and set them high. We must break through the challenges, whether they are physical or mental, we must push ourselves to be better, and to do better. As Me Ra Koh said during her 2011 WPPI speech, “When you feel like you’ve hit your glass ceiling, remember that glass shatters. It’s okay to feel your life is shattering around you. It means that you’re breaking through to the next level.”

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August 4, 2011

It’s All About The Boas

My friend Dawn recently coordinated a Glamour Night — a make over and a headshot, for 20 beautiful women.

This event started out fairly low key; the women arrived, I shot their ‘before’ photo, they got a make over, and then I shot their ‘after’ photo. A few of the women were reserved and kind of intimidated by the camera. 

Then we pulled out the boas…and let me tell you, this was a game changer!! The women were already feeling transformed and alluring with their new looks, so they were ready to push their limits just a little bit more. We had the women either pull their tops down to reveal their bare shoulders…


…or we had them take their tops off (leaving their bras), and drape a boa or a wrap around their arms and chest. 


They felt good about themselves, they felt liberated, sexy, and they were having fun!!


Thank you Dawn for this opportunity to work with you, your colleagues, consultants, and guests. People always come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. — Drew Chalker.

Dawn, you have come into my life for a REASON, a SEASON, and a LIFETIME.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it’s usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. Dawn, you came into my life over ten years ago. I had recently moved to Milwaukee, had started a new job, was making new friends, and was getting married. I had a lot going on in my life, and you were there through ALL of it. I was your ‘dual-coverage, pressed powder’ customer. You had asked me if I wanted to become a consultant, and I politely said, “no.” Being a Mary Kay consultant wasn’t for me, at that time. But you didn’t go anywhere, you were always close by — just a phone call away.

When People come into our life for a SEASON, it’s because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. When I met you, Dawn, I was seven years into my 18 year career as a designer. I was totally unhappy, but felt like I ‘should’ stay in the business because that’s what I had received a degree in. Every once in a while you would ask me again if I wanted to become a Mary Kay consultant, and I would politely say ‘no.’ Then one day, I said ‘yes,’ and you became my Director, my mentor. You got to know me on a WHOLE new level. You worked with me on my shyness. You were patient and listened. You wanted me to soar as a Mary Kay consultant, but the time came when we both realized this wasn’t for me as a full time career. You listened to me as I explained why. Then you found Ruth — the personal career consultant and motivator. You gave me her phone number, even though you knew I wasn’t going to talk to her about how to become a better Mary Kay consultant. It was because I met with Ruth that I’m on this path right now — this path of writing and photographing people, places, and things — my dream come true. More importantly, it’s because of you.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons: those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway), and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. Dawn, you taught me a lot; intentionally, with your kind words, and without even realizing it, through your actions. You taught me much about business. You taught me to keep going even after I’ve received a ‘no.’ You taught me to hold my head up high, and set my goals even higher. You taught me that no matter how tough life gets, to keep smiling and reaching out to people.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you Dawn for being part of my life — my beautiful, endearing, always smiling, life long friend.

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