A Toll On My Soul...

 I am very passionate about my work. Saving lives is what I was put on this earth to do. It is MY PURPOSE. But dealing w/ life and death everyday can be tough on the soul, but I wouldn't change a thing. My mom is a nurse as well. I come to her for advice and reassurance when my career takes a tole on my soul. The following is an email I got from my mom after the first in a small collection of the toughest nights in my career thus far. I was faced w/ death's reality head-on for the first time in my career. It was an angle on life and death that I had never experienced before. It was truely a life altering event for me professionally and otherwise. And now nursing is a fixture in my life and who I am. And I do it well!


And now in the words of "The Original" GR-8 1, The illustrious  Ellen Pyrek aka MOM
Remember death is yet another of life's transitions.  When all else fails; if you can help to make that transition more peaceful and less painful and support those left behind; as a nurse you have succeeded.  The decision of when it is another's time to go is not, after all, up to us!!! The patients and families I have cared for are not simply faces from the past. There is a place in my heart where I remember each and every one, and I have a unique legacy from each of them that spurs me onward. I am a better nurse because of them. I am a better person because of them...!" 
So after a tremendously sad holiday weekend or any other time I need to be reminded of the reason why I do what I do, I come back to this e-mail. And it brings me back to amazing opportunity I was blessed with to touch people's lives. I have found peace in the fact that no matter what the outcome I play a pivotal role in the game we call LIFE.

 Thanks Mom...

Yup, It's OK...# 5

Yup, It's OK:

1. To think about what you'd do and where you'd go if there was ever really a zombie apocalypse!

2. To daydream about what you would spend all the money on if you actually won the lottery.-Not that I even play the lotto...

3. To carry your camera around with you...EVERYWHERE!

4. To pick your nose (shut up...Everyone does it) Jus don't get caught.

5. To love kids but not want any of your own.

6. To love what you do for a living, but not want top spend your entire life working.

7. To not need to brag about your relationship to validate it. The best ones are the ones that don't need any outside praise.

8. To talk to yourself.

9. To have embarrassing tattoos and equally embarrassing stories about how you got them.

10. To disregard "NO TRESPASSING" signs as more of a suggestion than a command.

WordLess Wednesdays-Proof That It's The Person Behind The Camera, Not The Equipment That Produce Amazing Images!

 ALL of these shots were taken with either my old point and shoots or a cell phone camera and edited on Picnik!

WordLess Wednesdays-Pure Unconditional Love...

My Photography Rant Of The Day 1

I was trolling through Facebook when I came across a post that read-
"As a photographer, the term I've seen a LOT of these past few months is "fauxtographer." When I was in high school, I was on the swim team. At every single practice, my coach who I still love, DRILLED me like crazy. After EVERY workout, he'd give me something to concentrate on. I'd concentrate on that, and forget something else. Then he'd go back. It was a constant back and forth battle on my form in the water over a multitude of strokes. Was I a fauxswimmer? NO! I went on to set the school record, won counties, placed 2nd in conference, and swim regionals. I have a blog coming in 2012 about fauxtography. STOP USING IT & just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming swimming!" 

So I ( who was a swimmer in H/S myself) was naturally drawn to it and began reading the comments underneath it...And I was, to say the least, annoyed. I have always thought of photography as an art form and not a business. I have never claimed to  be a professional, ie my Facebook fan page is listed as "Artist." But I completely disagree with the way these so called professionals treat others who do photography. Everyone starts somewhere. And they were beginners once too. Who the heck do these people think they are?! Those jackasses that use descriptions for artists who are new to the wonderful world of photography such as "FAUXTOGRAPHERS" or saying stupid stuff like "Owning a DSLR doesn't make you a photographer...It makes you a DSLR owner." jus make them haters. And actually a photographer is exactly what it makes you. Anyone who takes pictures, regardless of the equipment or settings, ARE photographers. 

Photography is an art form and a very wonderful tool for self expression. Just because someone doesn't choose to do things the same way you do it with their own art doesn't make them a fraud, it makes them unique and interesting. So my response to these Haters was-"Having a camera may not make someone a photographer in some people's mind, but it DOES make them an artist! Everyone starts somewhere and I wonder why this so called business has to be so cut throat." 

I went on to re-post a status I had made a few weeks ago which stated simply-
"Photography is my ART. It gives me a voice, and allows me to contribute to the world creatively. It is a love and a passion in my life. But it is NOT my profession. So for that reason, I can make ANY statement I want with my images! And the freedom to do so is intoxicating!!!" 
If this opinion makes me a "Fauxtographer" in some people's books...So be it! My opinion may ruffle a few feathers, and I may lose some fans for it, but it needed to be said. My real/true supporters & fans know me and seek me out for my unique vision and a true love for the art of photography.

The EveryDay SuperHero Legacy-The Origins...

As most of you know I have always thought of myself as a superhero of sorts. The EveryDay SuperHero to be exact. My life's work allows me to touch lives in a way that very few others can. I have the ability to ease pain, save lives, support grieving families/patients, laugh and cry with them daily, and many other very amazing things. My calling as a nurse has changed me forever. But I'm sad to say that I cannot take credit for anything about this phenomenon other than the hard work I put in to become the best nurse I can be. Oh no, you see because I am not the only one w/ this SuperHero heart. Both my brothers are EveryDay SuperHeroes as well.

My oldest brother Scott is a cop and puts himself in harms way to help others and keep us safe. And my brother Steveis a fireman/paramedic that saves lives and doesn't think twice about running into burning buildings. But that is not beginning...It all started w/ our SuperHero mom. It is her heart and desire to help others that has made our family one full of extraordinary people that help others and save lives every day at work.! I refer to this as the Crawford SuperHero Heart, but the truth is that my mom's spirit and The Conner blood that courses through our veins are what made all of us humble enough to serve others.  Is it possible to have so much selflessness is one family? The Crawford Family is proof. And the most amazing part of this is I see that beautiful selfless soul and giving heart carrying on to the next generation!
There are already 4 Crawford boys and another one on the way in the next generation of EveryDay SuperHeroes. And I can already see that the legacy continues. What a way to show our one of a kind mom how much she means to not only us but to the world! So stay tuned for future installments as I headline each of The Crawford Boys and their amazingness!

Wordless Wednesdays-Images That Speak To Me...

15 More Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me...

Oh I am such a bad girl. I have been neglecting my poor blog...Well I decided my list of quirky things you may not know about me required more than 25 on the list! So here is 15 more...

1. I am obsessed with all horror movies, no matter how low budget they are or how bad the plot is, I must watch them!
 
2. I can watch reruns of Roseanne over and over...AND OVER!!! 

3. I LOATHE people who don't pull up close enough to the car in front of them at a stop light...And I  BITCH about it every time I see it!

4. Pumpkins are my fav. thing about Fall. They may even be on my "Top 5 Fav. Things In Life" list!!!

5. I hate clutter, so I MUST pick up every day before I go to bed...No matter what time it is!

6. Fast food places have a vendetta against me. No matter what fast food restaurant it is or what town I am in, they ALWAYS mess up my order, but never the orders of the people I am with...

7. Big places with lots of people give me major anxiety! So I hate Concerts, Fairs, and Sporting Events etc.

8. I hate bugs and being hot, so summer is torture for me. I love to see it rough the window of my air conditioned home though!

9. Sometimes I can take a long car ride in complete silence.

10. When I really love a song I play it over and over and over...I sometimes end up getting sick of it and hating it. Even though I know this about my self, I still do it all the time.

11. I am left handed.

12. I cry often at shows...Even when I've seen them 1000 times and I know what happens in the end. When they cry I do too.

13. I put ketchup on my green beans cuz my mom told me when I was little that they were green french fries.-And yes I STILL do it!

14. I'm a people watcher. I could jus sit in a public place for hours and watch people...It entertains me!

15. I have an obsession with puppets!!!