Teresa

I finished editing Teresa's senior photos. She is precious. 

Kessiah

I took Kessiah's senior pictures. My friends are pretty.

SISTER

I looked and saw
big eyes, pink lips, blonde hair.
And I followed you.
I looked and saw
skinny jeans, myspace, converse.
And I followed you.
I looked and saw
photography, creativity, beauty.
And I followed you.
I look and see
endurance, courage, bravery.
And I’ll follow you. 

Tay

Me and Him and Him and Me

ME AND HIM AND HIM AND ME
when I get married it will be in the evening
when the shadows are long and the world turns yellow    
and red and every shade in between.
the colors will melt in to the turquoise of the water and    
the white of my dress and the tan of the boy    
and the blonde of his hair and the pink of our    
lips touching with the sunset as a witness.

people will dance, even the mean ones, under twinkling    
lights like christmas with warm weather and sand    
instead of snow mashing between our bare toes as the    
daylight turns to twilight and the twilight turns to night light.
me and him and him and me as everyone around us retreats to their lives    
and we never go back, dancing together, moving to the same beat and    
becoming one body me and him and the sheets around us.

scream

do i have the right
to scream when you just
changed your mind and took
the first exit-the
easy way, when your
eyes always told the
truth and your lips fo-
llowed suit and the only
crime committed was
your decision to
remain rational
i stared at all the
possibilities
and craved to make a
mistake with you but
you don’t take risks or
maybe i wasn’t
enough of a gamble
to waste your time but
i don’t think i care…
i’ll scream anyway

Why it is Apparently Imperative to my Well Being to Receive my Free Sticker:

On November 22nd I recieved an e-mail from Montana State University. (A college which I have never contacted and have no interest in attending whatsoever.)


Subject: Montana State has no Limits for You...
As a token of appreciation for staying in touch with Montana State University, I recently invited you to request your free sticker to remind you of our interest in having you study here ...  (No, they didn't.)

... ______, I also want this sticker to remind you of some other things ...
-insert impressive statistics about Montana State here-

Learn more by requesting your free MSU sticker right now. And when you do, you'll see that there's no limit to what you can achieve at Montana State! 


I laughed about this for a bit and then continued on with life, forgetting it happened. That is, until November 28th.


Subject: You Deserve This 

Dear _____,

I want to talk to you about the value of a Montana State education ... but right now, I invite you to request your MSU sticker as a reminder of our interest in you.... it's all part of the MSU experience, and I'd love to help make it yours! Keep in touch with MSU and get your free sticker now."

This had become a game that I couldn't lose. I would NEVER request that sticker. But they were good. On December 19th I received  yet another e-mail.

Subject: Haven't Heard From You...

Dear _____,

I haven't heard back from you yet about your free sticker from Montana State University - many other students have already received theirs and I don't want you to miss out. Request your free sticker now!


I was annoyed, obviously. But it was mostly because I really wanted that free sticker. I just didn't want them to take that as permission to continue contacting me. But they kept contacting me anyway. The next e-mail came on December 27th.


Subject: PLEASE READ


_____, I'd really like to send you the free sticker from Montana State University that I have reserved for you.
I have only a few left, so I urge you to request your sticker today and I'll send it right away


Once again I ignored them completely. I was beginning to have a sneaking suspicion that the stickers were not running out like they had told me earlier, because they e-mailed me again on January 4th.

_____,

I recently invited you to request a free sticker from Montana State University as a token of our continued interest in you ...
... but since I haven't received your request, I'm not sure if this is the correct e-mail address.
I believe you would flourish living and learning here. That's why you're among a select group of students invited to request this sticker, which you can display in your locker, car, room or wherever you want.
Follow this link to confirm your e-mail address and claim your MSU sticker, 24/7.


...WHAT? I can display the sticker wherever I want? Oh, good. I'll request that now.
NO.  


January 25th.


Subject: Still Interested In Your Talent...

_____,

I checked my records and realized you never requested your complimentary sticker from Montana State University.

I want you to have this sticker because I think you'll truly thrive here. At Montana State, students like you learn to innovate and create alongside our talented faculty.

I have only a few left, ____, but I'm going to reserve one for you. Would you mind letting me know if you're as interested in MSU as we are in you?

I took this question as license to reply. I had given up. This was a game I could not win.

January 25th

No Subject

I'll take the sticker if you stop e-mailing me.

They never contacted me again after that. And I never got the sticker.