What exactly is a Yelley?

Back when we were all in college, and still in Omaha, my friend Nance dubbed me Yelley. Something about yelling at the dogs or something, and apparently I yelled a lot back then. That was about 8 years ago and it's been with me ever since.

Who is Matty?

My best friend and partner in crime. We met in high school (seems like ages ago) and have been married since October of '94. People who knew us then wonder how we've managed to stay together all this time - so lean close and I'll tell you. The secret to our marriage? Two of everything. We have no children (by choice) but two dogs and two cats claim to own us.

 

I heard you grew up in Omaha(hahaha).

It's true; as a matter of fact I'm the first generation on my Dad's side who didn't grow up on a farm. I think sometimes the midwest gets a bad rap - most people are very friendly and will look you in the eye when speaking to you. The sunsets still make my jaw drop. The cost of living is/was less, but I've recently heard that housing prices back there are catching up rapidly. The problem for us was as two 20-something types with no kids, well there just wasn't a whole lot to do there. I miss my family and friends but we knew when it was time to leave.

And now you live on the Left coast?

We've lived up and down the I-5 corrider in NW Washington State for 5 years now, and 6 if you count the year we spent here before we went flat broke and fled home. I had nightmares the first year we moved back of losing it all and going back to Nebraska again but so far, so good (knock/rub something for luck). We bought a house last year and spend a lot of time remodeling. This place fits both of us well, even when we don't see the sun for months on end.

Profession?

I'm a hardware geek by trade. Luckily I've managed to stay in the field for this long. Every day is a new challenge - sometimes I want to run screaming out of the building and other days I can't imagine doing anything else. I think the same could be said for any profession.

Hobbies?

I take photos in my free time. I started this website a few years ago as just a blog to let people back home know what was going on with us, and then recently just turned it into a photo blog because I can say a lot more with pictures than words. The photography stuff started about 4 years ago when I picked up an old Pentax film camera at a garage sale and started futzing around. My Grandfather was a painter/photographer so I like to say I got it from him. I graduated from film to digital in 2003. In 2004 Matty bought me a Nikon Coolpix 5400, and for my birthmas present in 2006 he bought me a Konica-Minolta Maxxum 5D. :)

Any parting words?

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive both about my photography and also life in general. I am very blessed.
(I miss you, Grandma!)