In addition to the article above, I found multiple articles from parent’s perspectives talking about the improvements they’d seen in their children as well as multiple articles discussing specific apps parents can use.  Speaking of parents… if you or someone you know is a parent of a child with disabilities or if you’re an educator, I would highly recommend checking out bridgingapps.org.  This is a new online community devoted to helping parents and teachers find apps to help their children as well as connect the community.  Very cool stuff!

Below are the two spots I did for WBIR and FOX.  Check them out and let me know what you think!

–Dan Thompson

Part 1 WBIR Morning Show

Part 2 FOX Mornings

    A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Tremont Institute Spring Photography Workshop up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This was actually the third time I’d been to this particular workshop, and as usual, I had a great time and brought home some images that I’m really proud of (some of you may remember “the tree” from last year).  As someone who is actively trying to improve, this particular workshop is always inspirational and can shape the way I approach my photography for a good time to come.  Good stuff!

    The workshop itself is led by photographer Bill Lea who is, among other things, famous for his bear images.  This year on the last day of the event, myself and a couple of the other participants were lucky enough to find a young black bear wandering around the park.  Seeming to not even notice we were there, the bear just went about its business of finding stuff to eat as we clicked away.  Such an amazing experience.

   Over the next couple of weeks I’ll share some more of the images I captured from the workshop.  Until then, go tell your mom you love her!   Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

–Dan Thompson

    I have to admit that I had a hard time picking this week’s picture of the week.  Holly and I had such a good time in Seattle and there are so many unique and interesting things to photograph that it was a bit difficult picking my three favorite shots.  I do have a few more shots I’d like to share eventually though, so I’m sure POTW will be returning to Seattle in the future.  Given that I love night photography and that Seattle has such a pretty skyline, this one seemed like a good shot to end the series on.

    Taken from a nice overlook just down the street from my cousin’s west Seattle home, the spot is rather unassuming during the day.  It is obviously a picturesque vantage point no matter the time of day, but at night it really comes alive in my opinion.  All the lights reflecting off the water… the stadiums on the right providing balance to the space needle on the left; I loved it.  It is truly a good summary of how beautiful the city is.

–Dan Thompson

   This week’s picture of the week is an ode to street performers… specifically this fellow we ran into in Seattle.

    One of the big tourist draws in downtown Seattle is the Pike Place Market; you may know it as the open air market where the fish vendors throw fish back and forth to each other as patrons purchase them.  In our recent trip to Seattle, Holly and I of course had to stop by. 

    While wandering around the market, you can’t help but notice the various buskers around performing for whatever change you’ve got in your pocket… some more talented than others; or maybe I should say some more elaborate than others.  We ran into this guy in one of the many allies and when I passed by I couldn’t help but notice his unique mustache; a sort of miniature handlebar.  My cousin Jenny immediately turned and said “you’ve GOT to take his picture”.  I walked over and listened in on a conversation between him and a couple other musicians and when they were done I asked if he would mind if I took his picture.  His response was classic… “Well that depends on if you tip well!”.   I handed him a couple bucks and snapped away as he lit up what appeared to be a hand-rolled smoke. 

    A short man who has apparently embraced his lack of height, the “Howlin’ Hobbit” as he’s known, is as entertaining to listen to as he was to converse with.  If you’re ever down that way, keep your ears open for a man spinning stories to the high-pitched chords of a ukulele.

–Dan Thompson

    Last weekend Holly and I had the opportunity to hang out with my cousins Jenny and Mike up in Seattle, Washington.  Neither Holly nor I had ever been up to the Pacific Northwest, so this was a real treat.  I had always heard how rainy Seattle was, so I wasn’t sure quite what to expect… turns out we were quite lucky and it only rained one day.

    On one of our outings, we all headed up to the Skagit Valley to check out the tulips.  We had an absolute blast.  Think of fields and fields full of endless tulips, and that’s what you’re in for.  It was definitely a sight to see.  While East Tennessee has been about 6 weeks ahead as far as weather is concerned, Seattle as it turns out, has been a bit behind.  We were blessed with a grand display of red tulips and buttercups, but the rest of the tulips hadn’t quite bloomed out yet.  Even still, this was simply amazing.  If you’re ever up in that area during the spring, you should definitely swing up and check it out!

–Dan Thompson

    This may be a POTW Easter Tradition… come to think of it, I may have two traditions started.  One showing off Holly’s hair and one of our humongous azalea bush and dogwood tree (the dogwood is average sized… it’s the azalea that’s huge). 

    This year it seemed the weather was perfect for many of our plants.  The Jane Magnolia bloomed out big time and hung around for a good while, and the somewhat-famous azalea was brilliant red for quite some time.  Much as they have over the past 20 years or more, people drove by extremely slowly in front of our house or came to a complete stop to try and figure out what in the world this brilliant red flowering “thing” was.  It’s big… it’s red… we love it.  Even if it is a bit overgrown.

–Dan Thompson

   Oh the difference a year makes.  This time last year Holly had gotten fed up with the scarves, and decided her hair was long enough to do without them.  This Easter, life is slowly getting back to normal.  Holly had highlights put in her hair the other day for the first time since it has all grown back… a big deal in the Thompson household.  It’s the little things in life that you can’t take for granted; not any more.

–Dan Thompson

I’ve got some new things coming to the danandholly.com site. Namely I’m consolidating some of my blogging efforts and moving all my technology stuff to this site instead of worrying with keeping multiple sites going.

My plan is to copy my body of work over to the new Technology tab on this site; this could get a little messy though. Those of you who have subscribed to my blog via RSS readers… well, I may blow up your feed. I’m hoping that since I’m post-dating all the old articles that this won’t happen, but some readers may still view this as new content and display it in your view. My appologies if that happens. I will be doing everything in one shot, so it should just show up on Thursday night / Friday morning. Those of you who subscribe via email notifications, I’ll be deactivating your emails for a day or so, so you guys should be none-the-wiser.

Any way, hang with me here… And thanks for reading!

–Dan Thompson

It’s funny what cancer will motivate you to do.

    After Holly completed her last chemo treatment she started making bucket-list type items of things she needed to do.  She needed to “start living” as she put it.  She went zip-lining and tried her hand at rock climbing… and then somewhere along the way she decided she was going to run a half marathon.

    Having never even run a 5k, she had some work to do.  She started training last Fall and all that work paid off today at the Knoxville Marathon where she met her goal.  This week’s picture of the week is of her crossing the finish line… an awesome achievement!  I’m so proud of you baby!!

–Dan Thompson

–Dan Thompson