We Kept Her Alive For 6 Months!

Happy 6 Month Birth Day Zoe Marcia Blackwell! 

I keep waiting for someone, anyone, like a guy in a Tuxedo with a big million dollar check and a camera crew to knock on our door and yell "Congratulations!  You've kept your daughter alive for 6 months!"  But so far ... no knock.

The above picture is Zoe today, celebrating her 6 month birth day by getting an ice blended cherry mocha latte from Starbucks.  Mmmm buddy, did she like it!  The picture below is Zoe Toes in her crib, which is now lowered because someone was found standing up in it.  And she likes her new little low prison.  It's perfect for individual play time because we know she's safe.  Today I found her like this, just chillin. 

And how would this blog post be complete without an approved image of Mama and Baby!  When Zoe got her coffee drink this afternoon we went to Mom's work to see her.  This kid, Zoe, stops people in their steps.  Random strangers will tell us how beautiful she is... and she smiles and coos her thanks.

And a fun video from the Mac Store today when Zoe and our friends went to get eye brows threaded.  That video coming soon.  ;) 

Alright!  Have a good one!

Peace,

-marc

6 Month Check Up

Alright, so this is totally a dad post, but Zoe Marcia had her 6 month check up today.  That's right, tomorrow she turns 6 months!  CRAZY!

She's healthy and advanced the Dr. and nurses told us.  She's a whoppin' 26 inches long and 15 pounds and 8 ounces thick.  Right on track to be a perfectly happy and physically normal child! 

That's all.  :)  Proud dad, signing off.

Peace,
-marc

Zoe Stands Up For Health Care!

I was going to give my take on the whole Health Care Reform ordeal, but I've chosen to keep most of my thoughts to myself.  Ya see, I don't know very much about the thing ... except for the speaking points the President has made in the last couple of weeks.  So I'm keeping the debates on this issue to a minumum frankly because I don't know enough about the thing.  Let me just say that I proudly voted for Barack Obama because I knew he was the right man for the job.  He, and his staff, and the people who made this bill become a law are a helluva lot smarter than I am.  And that's why I voted for him ... so I don't have to make all these tough decisions.  I will trust those I put in power to do the job I want them to do.  And while I might not agree with every single detail or decision, I will be positive and optimistic about our future.  Besides, I don't want to, (or someone else to) have an ulcer while angrily debating and have to use the health care system sooner than needed.

One more point, and I'm done - and I'll let NPR in the background of this video explain the rest of how I feel ... When Zoe was born and Stacey and I needed to get her on insurance she told me "Marc, we need to work harder to make more money to put both you and Zoe on Health Insurance."  We agreed, worked harder, and we're both on happily insured.  We didn't need no reform ... but some people might.

OK.   Really, I'm done.  But what are your thoughts on the new law Obama signed today?

Peace,
-marc

Big Bear Mountain

Today the fam picked up early and trecked to Big Bear Mountain with a few friends. While mom snowboarder baby and I explored the town. (didn't take us very long!) now I'm waiting on the ladies and we're going to our rented cabin for some grub, drinks and a hot tub. Days like this make me appreciate working so hard. :)

Stacey is an avid snowboarder and was super excited to be able to hit the slopes again after pregnancy. The girl looked good too in her snowboarding attire. Mmmm, hot mama!

Well i hope you guys aré enjoying your weekend as much as we are. Zoe says "Hello, Marc's awesome blog readers!" I dunno how she knows you're awesome... I must've told her. OK! Enough cheesiness...

Peace!
Marc

St. Patty's Day

Not gonna lie, I went to a party tonight.  A St. Patty's Day Party.  Several people told me Stacey should win a "Wife Of The Year" award because she's so cool and let's me go out on a whim. 

But the interesting thing was ... going to a party (the first, probably, since Zoe was born, WITHOUT Stacey) ... and telling people "I have an almost 6 month old child at home ... with my wife!"  It's super cool!  A good friend of mine, Brent G. has 2 sons ... around 9 and 11 and they're cool as all get out.  So is Dad.  He's the guy that inspired me to get my tattoo.  He has a tattoo of each of his boys name on each of his wrists.  Anyway - tonight was the first night I've been to a party and someone asks me: "What do you do?" (a very typical LA question) and I responded: "I'm a dad".  Boy how that took people for surprise.  The next question?  "How old are you?"  I love it.  It's fun.  And it opens up opportunities lost by the generic responses people are used to getting.  They see something real.  Love, a father's love and a husbands love.  I and try to explain it to them ...  I doubt most of them understand.  But they listen... at least more than they used to.

I feel old ... but in a good way.  I want to teach this world to love, such as I do.  And whether it's one party at a time - I'm out to conquer the world and let everyone know they don't have to spend their lives in confusion, anger, and pain - they can love and be loved and it's a beautiful thing! 

I love my family.  More than anything else in the world.  When I came home tonight, I couldn't have been happier.  Kissing my wife in bed and kissing my baby in her crib.  It's wonderful.  Much more powerful than passing out wasted drunk not knowing what happened.   Although that was fun too, in it's day.  But now - the meaning of life has changed, and the meaning of life is love ... and I love it. :)

Peace,
-marc

A Question of Laundry Etiquette

We live in an apartment complex that has 2 washing machines and 2 dryers.  There are probably 30 units in our building and I would say 75% of everyone here use the sock eaters.

Today was just another day in the life of a stay-at-home-dad, it's laundry day.  I've been doing laundry since 9:00 this morning (it's 1:04).  Every 52 minutes my iPhone alerts me that the laundry is dry and it's time to put another load in. 

But here's my question.  I was on my way to do the 5th and 6th load of laundry and when I got to the room I noticed a bag of clothes ... waiting ... lonely in the room.  I had 2 more loads to do.  2 washing machines... What do you do?

Do you only use 1 of the washing machines and take twice as much time to complete the laundry, giving the other person an opportunity to use 1 machine and maybe also take twice as long.  Or do you throw both of your loads in and continue because the person wasn't there and timely like you are with your iPhone.  Maybe the poor person doesn't have an iPhone ... wouldn't that be sad?  But anyway ... What would you do?

I'll tell you what I did after I see your responses.  :)

Have a good one!
-marc

Have A Good Weekend!

I hope you all have a good weekend.  This week FLEW by!  We're excited to chill and work a little bit.  I've got 4 photoshoots in the next 3 days so we'll see how much blogging will get done.

We're excited to spend the weekend with mom though!

This picture was taken by our friend Mike Masten.  He's a really good photographer.  Not professionally, but he's got an amazing eye and can produce some cool images when he gets behind the camera.  He's also a pretty decent chef when he puts his mind to it! 

Alright - time to start the weekend!  Y'all have a good one.

Peace,
-marc

Think Bigger

I want to think bigger. I want to create something that's never been created before. I want to make millions of dollars.

I want to photograph what I want, when I want, and how I want. I want to think of ideas not inside my head right now. I want to photograph with film, with the best cameras and the best editing software. I want to photograph celebrities. I want to be in demand. I want my photos to be selling for thousands of dollars a piece. I want people to know of Marc Blackwell as a house hold name. I want people begging, crying, and in demand of my photographic skills.

I want to know everyone, photograph everything, and create art unseen by the world today. I want to change the world with my imagery and help people see the world in a different way.

I will think bigger. I will create something that's never been created before. I will make millions of dollars doing what I love.

I will photograph what I want, when I want and how I want. I will think of ideas I haven't before and will photograph with film. I will possess and use, daily, the best cameras and the best editing software of the highest of quality machines. I will be in demand. I will sell my photos for thousands if not millions of dollars a piece. I will be a house hold name. I will have people begging, crying and doing everything possible just to get in front of the lens.

I will know everyone, photograph everything and create art that's never been seen and can't be matched. I will change the world with my imagery and help people see the world different and hopefully more beautifully.

I am thinking bigger. I am creating something that's never been created before. I am making millions of dollars doing what I love.

I am photographing what I want, when I want to and how I want to. I am thinking of ideas I haven't before and will photograph them with all kinds of cameras, film and digital. I am in demand. I am selling my photos for thousands if not millions of dollars. I am a house hold name. I do have people begging, crying and knocking on my door to photograph them.

I do know everyone and am photographing everything. I am creating art that's never been seen before by mankind. I am changing the world with art and helping people appreciate and see beauty like they've never seen it before.

Zoe Goes To The Beach!

Peace,
-marc

The Blackwells Go To In-N-Out

It's just a typical Saturday in the Blackwells. We were sittin' around, wonderin' what to do and our stomachs were growlin'. We decided to take the fam to my favorite place, In-N-Out. While this is nothing exciting to Los Angelians, you out of towners (especially you Grandpa Gregg!) will love this. :)

Being a nerd, of course, I filmed it.



Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Peace,
-marc

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!  Not that it really means anything for me.  I have a shoot tomorrow, but it does mean Stace Face is home and it's her turn to wake up during the night to feed ZoToes!

Here's a fun picture from today and a video from the other day.

Zoe loves passing out in her swing.  The video is a little long, but definitely cute.  I hope I don't get any copyright violations with the song playing on Pandora in the backgound.

Have a great weekend!



Peace,
-marc

Put It Into Words

Sometimes I find it difficult to blog.  I have a very broad audience, from old college buddies to friends of my late mother. My family reads this as well as my colleagues and peers.  I know complete strangers check this out every once in a while and little young High School Musical fans scour for any photos of my friends.  I have Stacey's friends in Oklahoma and random Facebook people reading whatever I write.  That makes it difficult to come up with subject matters enjoyable for everyone.

I remind myself that I do not write for only YOU.  I write for myself.  To make a situation last forever by putting it in words is like taking a picture.  I get it.  I don't blog to please anyone.  And perhaps this is deeper than just writing blog posts, but I don't always feel like I can be myself and write what is really going on.

For example; when we got our tattoos I was made aware that some people were not happy with that.  "We're parents, we need to be more responsible with our money, do you want Zoe getting tats?" - we heard a lot.

Or when I tweeted that I was enjoying an adult beverage ... I feared a negative response.

Or if I say a bad word ... that one always scares me.  :)

Perhaps it roots to my upbringing that certain things are wrong and should never be done.  I've lost a lot of those ideas that certain things are bad but I still want to be respectful to those who feel that way.  Blogging about day to day goings ons people have can take what they want and make up their own story for your lifestyle.

And I'm learning more and more that people are malicious.  Some people are just plain mean and ugly.  They will talk bad about you no matter what you do.  I've learned to ignore these people, but I know it's still around and having a blog just opens up more opportunities for people to judge and criticize you. 

And after writing this the little voice in my head is stronger and louder saying "Who CARES what they think?!  You're an adult, you have a wife, a child, a career and you can do/blog whatever you want."  Why is that so hard sometimes?

Peace,
-marc

Zoe Tilted and Shifted

A photographer friend of mine let me borrow what's called a Tilt/Shift lens.  It's a beautiful piece of glass that allows you tilt the lens up and down, left or right and shift the same ways.  It provides unique areas of focus and cool affects to what would be flat photos.  Like the photo above.

I'll only have it for a little while but watch for it to be used a lot.  I'm already in love with it!

There's a lot that I want to get to further my career in photography.  Photography is a great profession because you get to have a lot of toys.  It just takes time to acquire them.  Here's my list:

Grey Cards
Light Meter
4+ New Lights
Canon Speedlight External Flash
Wireless Trans receivers
Canon 7d
Extra Battery Pack
50mm f/1.4 Prime lens
70-200mm Telephoto F/2.8 lens
TSE 24mm Lens
TSE 45mm Lens
TSE 90mm Lens
Wide-angle zoom lens - 16 mm - 35 mm - F/2.8
24-70mm f/2.8L USM AF Lens2 White Umbrellas
1 Large Softbox
2 Small Softboxes
iMac (the best of the best and biggest of the biggest)
4 16 gigabyte memory cards
10 1 Terabyte Firewire External Hardrives
Lightroom 3.0

I think that's about it for now.  :) 

Much love,
-marc