Rising Above

Wyatt Stanfield, Full Circle

Rising Above: Wyatt's Story began on July 10, 2008. The purpose behind it was to tell Wyatt's story, hence the name. There were some ambitious story arcs and I was excited about what I had planned. However, it did not travel down the road I hoped and I just do not have the energy to continue it in the manner I intended. The last post here was nearly a year ago - June 28, 2010. With this post, Chapter 14 ~ Rise Above This, I end it, nearly three years since its inception.

How do you summarize all that you meant to tell in a few words, in one short chapter? It is doubtful that I did it justice. The piece itself follows Studio Time 12 - Complicated and is being posted slightly out of order from the flow of the story arc. It should have been posted there but instead it closes out this chapter in Wyatt's life.

For those of you who followed the story, who cared about this group of college kids, I offer apologies and, from the bottom of my heart, immense thanks.

Spellbound

This took so much longer than I anticipated. I had all the poses mapped out and figured it would be a snap until I realized...I didn't have the pose boxes installed. Oh well.

Had to snap that shot above. Cadence thought it was pretty funny how Gemma was dancing in the puddle. We'll see how funny she thinks Gemma is down the road...

Chapter 13 - Witchy Woman

Shining the Light

You don't know what a relief it is to have finally posted an update. I was so tempted to shut down Wyatt's blog but I found inspiration awhile back and ran with it. Not a small feat considering my neighborhood is really messed up right now.

The piece is called Away From the Sun. Song in the playlist is by 3 Doors Down.

Rising Above Update

And so we draw one step closer to moving past Christmas. This update took much longer to shoot than I anticipated because everyone kept popping out of position and of course I already explained the Santa madness in a previous post.

This piece is called More Than Words. Song #1 in the playlist because I have been pretty random with the songs on this blog and it is performed by Extreme. One of my favorite acoustic rock ballads ever. You may remember the lead singer Gary Cherone did a short stint as Van Halen's front man and lead singer after Sammy Hagar split.

But I digress. The piece is short, in fact the song will last longer than reading it will take, the shots are average at best and I am not happy with a couple but whatever, but I like how the writing came out.

Singing in the Rain

I am just going to say it - I adore this girl. Cadence can light up the stormiest of days. Really. Just look at her.


I have been worrying over this storyline for ages. It has been almost 5 months since I did anything with Wyatt's story. The piece changed quite a bit from its first incarnation. I had a whole deal going on with Wyatt coming to terms finally with his mother's death but it was just too fluffy. I am tired of the idea of Wyatt clinging so desperately to the past and wanted to move him along. Instead he ended up knee deep in the same old stuff. No more poor Wyatt! He needs to move forward! Right?

So. The piece is extremely short. It doesn't really go anywhere. It doesn't even fit with the main story line but whatever. I need to keep him on track. Although at this point where the track goes is no longer clear. I'm stuck in Lodi again. (CCR reference for those keeping track)

The shots are unimaginative. It began to snow. Why? Because in my world, Millwood and wherever it is that Melinda lives are in the same NB and since I just completed Mel's piece, well you get the picture. I worked around it as best as I could. Oh yeah...and it rained. It wasn't supposed to rain.

I have not gotten around to adding music to all of Wyatt's chapters so if you would like to listen to the piece that accompanies this chapter, scroll down to #8 in the playlist. Velver Revolver. Totally worth a listen.

Linkage -> Rising Above - Chapter 10 ~ Fall to Pieces

~ The Long and Short of it ~

Thank you Beth for keeping me focused.

It is much longer than it started out although not entirely unmanageable I hope. I am going to apologize in advance for some very stiff looking images. It took me three tries to get the shots. The first time Gadwin wasn't running; the second time I was making a minor adjustment to the settings and forgot to hit the OK button. Both efforts resulted in fabulously setup shots without the end result. So the third time around all I really wanted to do was finish the damned thing.

Cadence would NOT stop grinning (and who can blame her) and Wyatt's face was frozen half the time. So next time we see Cadie, she will be a freshman in college with new hair. Did I mention I hate her hair?

Song is #4 in the playlist and it is called Closer by Lacuna Coil. (I still need to add the other ones)

Update here -> Closer

ETA: Playlist may be borked. It's too hot to fuss with it right now.

~ Wyatt Returns with a Vengeance ~

The boy has been MIA for 3 months doing I have no idea what. One thing for sure though, Wyatt is definitely learning a thing or two about the Stanfield charm and how to turn up the heat.

This chapter is called Sacrifice. Song in the playlist is by Theory of a Deadman.

~ Update: Rising Above ~

I puzzled through several titles for this one before settling on Tristamente. This one is short but really ripped at my heart.

~ Update ~

Dynamic Contrast, the difference between two, usually extreme, dynamics; a technique of abruptly switching between very loud and very soft in a musical composition.

This is a long chapter again, one of those chapters that needed for a lot to be covered in order to move on. And I absolutely have to acknowledge Beth once more for taking every single shot since my PC is hosed. Thankfully it was written before things went bad.

I can't say thank you enough for everything she has done for me. She is an incredibly selfless and giving person and put aside a lot to finish this for me. And that does not even scratch the surface.

This chapter is dedicated to her...

Menage a Trois

Yeah...I thought that might get your attention...

Before I do anything else I want to express my deepest and heartfelt thanks to Beth for getting me through a really difficult time. Only two major meltdowns which is pretty good. Almost over. Thank you. Cake is on the way.

I also want to acknowledge her part in this latest update. She took all the shots at that gorgeous beach house for me when my game would not allow me to get into the lot. It was a lot of work not to mention stressful for her. I mean, can you imagine trying to take shots for someone else's writing when you have no idea what they envisioned? I think she did it brilliantly.

This one is much longer than I intended. I had been keeping Rising Above at what I felt was a manageable length but this one just got away from me. However it does allow both Beth and I to wrap a few things up and move forward. I hope.

I had initially considered calling it Menage a Trois but a certain someone was not pleased with that. Not at all. So it's called oh what the heck did I call it? Oh yes, Terraced Dynamics. It's a musical term, something about volume levels in a musical piece shifting abruptly from loud to soft and back without any crescendo or decrescendo. Are you yawning? Go read the update then.

Seeing Double

If I didn't stay up most of the night to do this, it would have been another week...without further adieu, here is chapter 4 of Rising Above called Duets.

Is it a dream? Or is it real...go read the chapter!

First of all let me say thank you to everyone's kind words and thoughts. I am starting to feel a little more normal, whatever normal may be.

I've put up a new chapter to Rising Above. It's a fairly short one but thankfully it isn't too bad. I called it Pas de Deux because it features two people. Who seem to have some sort of dance going on...but you will need to read it to find out why...

I will leave you with a cute shot. I just love this family...

Forgot to mention I updated my Bios page with Slim's...

And a Double Whammy

Uploaded chapter 2 of Wyatt's Story on his Rising Above blog. It is titled Aleatory Music which by definition is music in which the composer introduces the elements of chance or unpredictability with regard to either the composition or its performance.

So yeah go read it and figure out what that means...I need a tall, cool, seriously alcoholic drink.

Sorry...I've Just Been Giggling All Night

EDIT 7/10/08: Added Part the Second this morning. Here is the link: Bookends, and Morsels, and Cake...Oh My!

Also added the prologue to Rising Above which is Wyatt's story. Access it here: Overture

Had a really crappy day at work. It's so hot in my house I could advertise it as a sauna and charge admission (not a bad idea really) so I have been playing around with Cadie's birthday shots. I have managed to post Part the First of Completely Cadence on my photo blog. And that is why I am laughing so much. That girl is so precocious...if you ever want to snap out of a crappy mood, spend some time with Cadie is my motto.

Most of the shots were free will...you can tell which ones were posed. I am working on Part the Second as we speak.

"Just so you know, it's all about me so you simply must read it. Did I mention this blog page looks goofy?"
Gee...thanks Cadence...thanks so much...
"When you start my blog, I plan to choose all the colors. Mommy is an artist you know..."
Not happening in this lifetime Cadence, not happening...
"We'll see..."