Ann Kagarise Photography
Ann Kagarise Photography
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Okay God
Now, all I did was say lead me into a different direction, open up the doors of opportunity and bam, they are just coming like crazy! It's all about the message. That is the most important part of the whole thing! It's all about the person I'm able to write about. The Vietnam Veterans and their contribution. Now, I'm asked to help write a book about kids with cancer. These are all blessings! I am the one that is blessed! If He allows me to go around Ohio interviewing families whose kids had cancer or have it...wow.. These kids have so much wisdom. They 'GET it.' They understand what is important. And to get the opportunity to convey their thoughts and beliefs in their words on the writte page is such an extremely great honor. I'm very thankful! I pray that this does go through! What a great experience! The kids have lessons to teach all of us! And I want to hear it! And write it! To put their faces with their words on a page so they can get their wisdom out for all to hear is a gift! Wow!
Wow!
When it rains, it pours good! I'm so excited! I did a complete photo shoot for the Ohio Vietnam Wall Memorial that opened this year. I have been asked to do all their photos! What an honor, really! I look at that as a complete blessing! I'm going out there tomorrow to do a shoot 2 different times for vets. Also, yesterday was an amazing experience. I always consider it a blessing to be invited into a situation that I have no business being there just because I am a reporter. I have was asked back to Camp Quality this year. It is a camp to allow kids with cancer to be kids again. The director always has such a great heart and is so inviting to me. She leads me to some of the toughest situations and allows me to sit down with these kids. Two years ago, I was able to sit down with a 17-year-old that died only 3 months after our interview. I learn so much from these kids! I appreciate very much Kerri, the director, and all they do at Camp Quality! After that experience, I came home and I was chilling around a fire outside. There were seven kids at my house going crazy!! They were swimming and running around, eating all my food...lol. Then, my neighbor showed me the humming bird hanging around its nest in the tree. I grabbed my camera and captured one of the best photos I have ever seen. This one I'm selling!!!...lol. This is an amazing picture of the humming bird in its nest! Talk about blessings! It was an end to a perfect day!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Yikes!
I have already submitted 2 posts to the Examiner. I did a review on the book, Tweak and I did a piece on the website Voicerisingcleveland.org. If you have a parent of a young adult or are one, you need to check this site out. My posts will have a variety of local literary interests, sites, and activites as well as many national ones. The was one thing that really did disturb me, however. I went into their diary section. This allows teens/young adults to express themselves. They can talk about anything that may be on their minds and just about all of the posts had to do with self-harm and drug addiction. One girl just came out withe subject reading: Help! She put I am a cutter and I am going to commit suicide! I hope they were able to help her.
This shows me how sad our young adults are. Young adult literature shows the state of our young adults. It is scary. I believe that they feel abandoned and are deeply hurting. You can see the fears in their writing. Go on this site and check it out. Read some blogs of some young adults. Go on my space or other social networking sites and see what they are telling the world. It really is scary.
This shows me how sad our young adults are. Young adult literature shows the state of our young adults. It is scary. I believe that they feel abandoned and are deeply hurting. You can see the fears in their writing. Go on this site and check it out. Read some blogs of some young adults. Go on my space or other social networking sites and see what they are telling the world. It really is scary.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
It's Official
I am an Examiner. I'm excited about this new writing adventure. I am officially the Cleveland Young Adult Literature Examiner. I will add the link to my blog soon. I should start to be published by mid-week. If you know me at all, you know that I am a young adult literature junkie. I am either writing them or reading them. I have been working on a young adult book for quite awhile now. Unfortunately, I have not had much time to work on it, but I am changing that. As my kids go back to school in about a month, I am going to be devoting most of my time to working on my book and writing about young adult books and entertainment. I love the job they offered me. I finished my first piece and am working on my second. I am going to have many links for teens, their parents, and teachers. The links have to do with, of course, literature and entertainment, but also I will be writing about issues that teens face today. I will also be providing local and national resources to help.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
A Cancer Center with a Heart
Cancer can be scary and lonely. At the moment of diagnosis, Stewart's will come along side and be a friend. http://www.thesuburbanite.com/lifestyle/x931212097/Stewarts-Caring-Place-helps-cancer-patients
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Mom bird feeding its baby!
This is one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever had the chance to take, right outside by kitchen window! I absolutely have been thrilled that they placed their home right outside my window. I have been watching every second the mom has been sitting on the egg, and now feeding her young one! What an exciting experience that she is sharing with us!!!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The White House Boys by Roger Kiser
The White House Boys is a tough read, but it is hard to put down. I had no idea a place like this, even existed. I came across this book and decided to just see what it was and before I knew it, I was half way through it. You can read this book in just a few hours, but it is very informative. The men in this story are in their 60's now, but the actual White House, where the beatings took place, was just sealed in 2008. The White House was part of a correctional facility where they sent kids who basically had no parents or were sold out. They were basically throwaways. Nobody wanted them. If one died, it would have gone unnoticed. There are many unmarked graves that sit behind this house becuase many children died there. They are unmarked because they did not even know their names. This is real! This is not a made up story at all. As soon as I read the book, I did research, and I found out a great deal of information about this place. The survivors are still just trying to make it through life because of the horrific abuse they went through. If interested, google, The White House Boys and find out more about them. There are videos, news clips, and you can buys this book to read the accounts of boys who are now men who are just trying to survive day to day.
Nobody's Child by Michael Seed
Nobody's Child is a book about a boy who was adopted into a highly abusive home. The best part about the book is this boy, who knew nothing from adults but pain, became a Catholic Priest to the stars and British royalty. He chose to be different and not become what happened to him! It is a must read! It is a fast read! When I put this book down, I felt empowered. You do not have to allow the bad things that happen to you, take you down. You can become something pretty terrific and really make a difference in people's lives no matter what your past is!
Friday, June 12, 2009
George Sisler Memorial Stadium
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/news/x313674875/New-Franklins-field-of-dreams
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
A Memorial is erected in Ohio for fallen soldiers
What a day! What a sight! 7000 bikers. One Cause!
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/homepage/x2085737084/Veterans-share-thoughts-with-opening-of-Memorial-Park
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/homepage/x2085737084/Veterans-share-thoughts-with-opening-of-Memorial-Park
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Back at the wall
I went back to the Ohio Vietnam Wall today. I looked around and what a sight! People. People. and more people. What a sight to see. Motorcyclists filed in and filled the park. There were so many people who came into to see the great Ohio monument! Ohio has really added a great memorial. Memorial Wall people, who put this together, Chell, Ken, and the others...I salute you!!!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Radio show
Number 3. I have now been on the radio three times. That is so much fun. It is all about the cause though. I talked to the people from the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Ohio and we are getting a book together with all the proceeds going to the Wall. They need to build a reflecting pool and thats it. We need to do it! So, I will help. The cool thing is, Matt Patrick from our local radio show is going to help too. So, we need to get on the ball with this. Like yesterday! hopefully we find the right people who can help!!! Pray!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
God moving
I always say I have the best job in the world because I consider myself on the frontlines of stories because I am a reporter. People take me into their lives at their most vulnerable times. I am able to write the story in a way that reaches the heart and people respond. God does it. It is not me. I want to make that clear right from the start. I dont think it is anything I do except for the fact that I am a willing vessel to write the words that God wants me to. He gives me the storeis that he wants me to have and I watch him move all the time! I am very thankful! I found out today that a story I was involved in writing, touched a church and they responded. They voted and gave a generous amount of money to this family. That is what it is all about! I am very thankful and blessed to be a part of such experiences. I thank God every day for using me!
An Amazing experience
I spent the day with Vietnam Vets from all over the country. Most of them were from the heartland, but they rode in from all over on motorcycles. I have over 180 pictures showing this incredible experience. Men who had never been honored, were. Women whose sons died in the war were able to speak for them, cry for their death, and kneel by a statue dedicated in their name. A wall with 3095 names engraved on it became a reality today for so many. A sea of leather and motorcycles lined the streets in Clinton, Ohio. A town known for not too much. Maybe the Ohio Erie Canal that runs through, but other than that, not a whole lot. This town came together on this beautiful blue skied day and paid tribute to those fallen so we can have the country that we have today. They had noses snubbed at them and mothers were not given the respect to be told face to face that their son had been killed in combat. Those days are gone. Those in the Iraq/Afghanistan war are treated much differently, but partly due to those who have gone before. Those from the Vietnam War came home and decided that nobody would ever be treated the way they were. I was in awe and I looked over the acres of those full of tattoos, long hair, and leather and I knew that those were the ones who came home. They were willing ot die for us, but they did come home and all of them say they would do it again. All of them. If they were asked to go back today, they would. We need to give them the honor they deserve!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Tweak
Tweak is an incredible book written by, author, Nic Sheff. He, and his father, David, have written books about Nic's addiction to Meth. His journey has been a roller coaster ride. Nic allows the reader to go into his journey on the streets of addiction and personally witness his pain, suffering, and self-mutiliation. He does things he never would have done clean. He allowed himself to be less than human for a drug. It is a long book, but worth the read. My 14-year-old read it and absolutely loved it. She could not put it down and said all teens should read this to know what drugs can do. I will definitely go back to parts of this book. He takes a person into his therapy and what he needed to do to grow, heal, and face some deep, deep issues. If you would like to know more about Nic Sheff, go to http://www.nicsheff.com/. He has a new blog that you can follow about his every day recovery.
Boy from the Basement
I just finished listening to the audiobook by Susan Shaw. I have not been able to read it because I am either writing or mowing, etc., but I couldn't stop listening. This is a book that takes you into the life of a child that was kept in a basement for 12 years and did not even know what a birthday was. He did not know his age and was scared to death of the outside. He did not know what Christmas or Thanksgiving was and what it meant to be in a family. It is a must read! I absolutely loved how Susan Shaw went into the mind of this child!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I dont know about you...
but I am very much into American Idol. I absolutely cannot wait to find out what Adam is going to do the next week. I even got American Idol tickets for when they go on tour. My girls dont know it yet...shhhh...but they will be so excited. More people vote for American Idol contestants than they do the president of the United States. There is more excitement behind this and other reality shows than what our government is doing. I find that scary, but then again, like I told a friend of mine, that is why I choose to lose my self in a young adult book or watch the cartoon channel. Go to the days of my youth and forget about the craziness of what is going on outside by window. I choose to believe that the Flinstones are in charge and that the biggest problem we have is Wile E Coyote is still chasing Road Runner. I think I just saw that cat run after Tweetie...Wouldnt that be a great world...lol. So, I watch American Idol and read and write adult books and help take people away, even for a short time
Monday, May 11, 2009
Cancer center love and a robbery all in one day
I spent the morning at a facility that helps individuals who have been touched by cancer. They started it around a kitchen table and now it is a 8000 square foot organization that changes lives. They help children and adults who have been impacted by the disease. The woman who told me about it had brain cancer and her husband died of brain cancer. Yes, they actually had the same cancer. Strange. Makes you wonder. Anyway, the lady I am speaking about was given a couple years to live and she is still here, seven years later. She is very active as a volunteer at the cancer center I am talking about. There were tears, hope, and healing. I was very blessed to interview them today.
I left there, to interview some individuals who were robbed. A man just came into their store with a knife and took very little money. A friend of mine stated to me that our economy is going to lead to more crimes like this. I did hear a report that more people are committing crimes. People who were hard working regular family type people. Not the normal type of person who would do a crime like that. I just dont understand why someone, no matter what condition they are in, would take from another and especially do it in fear. I alway ask my kids when they take something that doesnt belong to them, "Was it yours?" "Did you ask?" Then dont touch it. Maybe somebody didnt tell this man this boundary growing up.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Family adopts Ukraine girls
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/communities/jackson/x2133271665/Adoption-Ministry-Born-in-our-hearts
A great mother's day story
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/news/x1194156871/Eight-is-not-enough-for-Clark-family?popular=true
Friday, May 8, 2009
Transparency
I am currently reading the book, Tweak, by Nic Sheff. An incredible writer who is not afraid to show who he really is. As an addict/alcoholic, myself, I really appreciate his honesty and am challenged to be just as transparent. So many times, we are afraid to show people who we really are. Especially at church. I call it the Sunday morning parking lot wave. We are arguing or putting ourselves together all the way to church, but as soon as we hit that parking lot, we assume the parking lot wave that could it is also very similar to one on a queen's float or someone who has just been crowned Miss America. We put our masks on and go into the church building. We sing the songs. We listen to the preacher. We socialize with those we want to, then we leave arguing all the way home. Are we being real? Are we being real to God? Who are we really? How do we want others to see us. You know, we all argue. We all have issues. We all have a history. And Im not sure which one of us has the most baggage, but im pretty sure, it is me...lol. All I know is none of us is without sin. Im pretty sure that it says that somewhere in the Bible. Im very thankful for those who are real!
The good news is out there
I am very honored to have the job of a journalist. Today, I spoke with a woman whose daughter died at the age of 3 from brain cancer. She is allowing me to tell her story. She exemplified so much strength. She turned it around and is helping other families whose kids have cancer. I am also doing another story on a house for those who have been diagnosed with cancer. A doctor had passed away from the disease and family and friends decided to set up a house with emotional and spiritual support. They have counseling, and groups for kids, crafts, and activities. I spent last week with veterans who completely put up a wall for Vietnam Vets. The wall is 125 feet long and complete granite with more the the 3095 names who died in the war. They are working around the clock getting the wall up for veternas and their families to come for closure. I was able to do an article on a boy who is paralyzed. The family is a pillar of strength and the boy has so much hope. People have stepped up from all over to help the boy.
I was stopped by a couple people in the last week, thanking me for the artcles that I write. There is so much bad news out there, it is really nice to report the good stories. There really is a lot of good happening out there. The stories need to be told more.
Thanks for reading!
I was stopped by a couple people in the last week, thanking me for the artcles that I write. There is so much bad news out there, it is really nice to report the good stories. There really is a lot of good happening out there. The stories need to be told more.
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Busy
I spent an amazing afternoon with a family with a great deal of faith in spite of their obstacles. One of the perks to being a reporter is being able to meet so many great people. I love that they sit down with me and tell me their stories. I had prayed about getting an Easter story and God really did come through. I think everyone will really love it. I think it really tells shows the real meaning of Easter. So many times we get into the hype of the Easter bunny and candy and Christ gets lost. The little girl's name in the story is Abby. She is 6 years old and her mom has a rare blood disorder and her dad was just diagnosed with ALS. I appreciated them sitting down with me. If you are interested in reading his blog, you can go to dreamsofmotion.blogspot.com. Bill, the father with ALS, is actually writing a childrens book on a child with downs Syndrome, just like Abby. I am looking forward to reading it.
Today, I also wrote a piece on a woman who lost 50 pounds rowing. She was an inspiriation to me and it makes me want to row! She says its for everyone! I know I could lose about a good 10-15.
I also covered a news story. A 21 year old man went into our local school district and impersonated an officer with a loaded weapon. He was sentenced to one year. I spoke with the superintendant regarding the matter.
I also had to talk to what seems to be the mother of the year...lol. I am doing a mother's day feature. She has 8 children that she home schools and she has one on the way.
And tomorrow, I am covering a story at a mission center where they holding an all day event for Take a loved one to the doctor day. It is a nation wide event. Should be a good read.
So, I'm all done for the day!
Whew!
Today, I also wrote a piece on a woman who lost 50 pounds rowing. She was an inspiriation to me and it makes me want to row! She says its for everyone! I know I could lose about a good 10-15.
I also covered a news story. A 21 year old man went into our local school district and impersonated an officer with a loaded weapon. He was sentenced to one year. I spoke with the superintendant regarding the matter.
I also had to talk to what seems to be the mother of the year...lol. I am doing a mother's day feature. She has 8 children that she home schools and she has one on the way.
And tomorrow, I am covering a story at a mission center where they holding an all day event for Take a loved one to the doctor day. It is a nation wide event. Should be a good read.
So, I'm all done for the day!
Whew!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Answer to prayer
I gave myself a noon deadline or I guess you could say I gave God a noon deadline. I have 6 articles assigned and I had to find an Easter story. I had no idea where to start, but I got the word out. I let churches and friends know. At 11:00 a.m., I said okay, I'm going to get this story by noon. I will find an uplifting story that truly tells the meaning of Easter for the newspaper. At 11:50, the phone rings and a pastor called and said, "I have an Easter story for you." I didnt even think about it, but I hung up the phone, called the story contacts, talked to them, set up a meeting time so I could make deadline. I looked up at the clock and it was noon. I absolutely could not believe it! I thanked God on this one!
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