July 2016. Dawne and I, close together in the golden evening light. I look at this photo and remember how much those simple moments meant to me. Years later, her smile st...

July 27, 2001. Dawne and I, dressed up and smiling together. Four photos that take me straight back to that evening—the flowers, the laughter, and how lucky I felt standing beside her. Some memories never fade. ❤️

July 27, 2001. Three frames of Dawne and me, smiling under the evening lights. What I remember most isn't the camera or the flowers. It's how happy I was standing beside her. Some moments stay with you forever.

I have joked more than once that I outkicked my coverage with Dawne, and this photograph makes the case better than I ever could. We were dressed for a formal evening, standing beneath the warm light of crystal chandeliers, and somehow she still managed to make everything around her look secondary. Dawne has that kind of presence. She can walk into an elegant room without needing the room to announce her. I am standing beside her in a black suit trying to look like I belong there, while she looks completely a...

June 2016. I still love this photo of Dawne. Her smile, the warm light, and that look in her eyes bring me right back. Years have passed, but some moments never lose their meaning. I am grateful this one was captured.

2016. Dawne and me, just being us. I’d give anything for one more ordinary afternoon like this. Some photos don’t just capture a moment—they keep part of a life close. ❤️

November 2021. Blue skies, autumn colors, and a little time to myself. Looking back at this photo, I'm reminded that the simplest days often leave the strongest memories. Just being present was enough.

Two snapshots, one moment in time. 2026 has taught me to appreciate the little things, embrace the imperfections, and keep moving forward. No filters on life. Just me, one day at a time. 📸

November 2020. Autumn colors, a little sunshine, and a moment worth keeping. Looking back at this photo, I’m reminded how much can change—and how the simplest memories can still bring me right back. 🍂

Dawne at 18, reimagined. Coffee in hand, that unforgettable smile. This isn't an old photograph, but it captures something I still carry with me. Time moves forward; love doesn't disappear. ❤️

Summer 2025, on replay. Sunsets over the lake, bright lights, and moments I wish I could hold onto a little longer. Summer's over, but some memories refuse to fade. 🌅

Summer's over, and this photo takes me right back to 2025. Coffee in hand, feet up, and lake days moving at their own pace. Seasons change, but I'm grateful for the quiet moments that stay with me. ☕

On August 4, 2026, I had a TLIF spinal fusion at L4-L5. TLIF stands for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. In simple terms, the procedure was performed to stabilize the L4-L5 level of my lower spine. The surgery involves placing an interbody cage and bone graft between the vertebrae, along with screws and rods that provide stability while the bones have time to fuse. Reading about spinal fusion is one thing. Going through it yourself is something entirely different. Surgery becomes a very real dividing l...

August 2026. In the hospital for my L4-L5 TLIF fusion surgery. Not how I imagined spending the summer, but this chapter reminded me to slow down, accept help, and take recovery one day at a time. Every small step matters.

I have spent a lot of time building this application, but somewhere along the way I realized I was building more than software. I was building a place for stories. The technology matters. The database matters. The architecture matters. The pages have to load, the links have to work, the publishing system has to be reliable, and the application has to be able to grow. But none of those things are the reason I kept working on it. The reason is much simpler. I wanted a place where people, ideas, photogr...

My stroke did not end when I left the hospital. That may be one of the hardest things to explain about surviving one. There is the emergency itself, and then there is everything that comes afterward—the work of figuring out what changed, what may improve, what still needs to be retrained, and what may simply become part of your new normal. I still live with lasting effects. There is weakness and stiffness on my left side. My left leg does not always move as naturally as it once did, and I have had to consc...

I wanted to share this graphic because it gives a clear look at what happens during a TLIF at L4-L5. TLIF stands for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. The procedure is designed to stabilize the segment between the L4 and L5 vertebrae while also creating more room for compressed nerves. The first view shows the lower lumbar spine from the side and highlights a degenerative, collapsed L4-L5 disc space. Changes at this level can contribute to instability, nerve compression, back pain, and pain that travels...