Remind Me to Slow Down

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

These are just a few random things that have caught my eye in the past couple of days that reminded me that sometimes I just need to slow down a bit.

Sturgis Falls 2009

Marsha Hanson, left, of the Lampost Theater, dances down Main Street in the Sturgis Falls Parade in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
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Briana Clark, 18 months, right, dances to parade music with her mother Katie Borman, left, at the Sturgis Falls Parade down Main Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Teagan Locus, left, 4, of Chicago, Illinois, reacts as Nathaniel Wieman, right, 3, of Waterloo, catches a bubble as they play in the bubble pool at Overman Park during the Sturgis Falls Celebration in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

NU vs Janesville

Janesville's Luke Brace, lower-front, slides into second base as NU's Brad Denning, upper-back, guards in the third inning of NU's game against Janesville on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Panther Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. NU won the game 8-6.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Cedar Falls vs Waterloo East

Cedar Falls' John Gogola slides in safe at third base in the seventh inning of Cedar Falls game against Waterloo East at East in Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, June 26, 2009. Cedar Falls won the game 9-1.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Cedar Falls vs Columbus

Cedar Falls' third baseman Joe Schwickerath, left, hunts for the ball as Columbus' Casey Goerdt, right, slides in safely during a game between Cedar Falls and Columbus at Columbus High School Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Cedar Falls won the game 10-6.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Timber

A fallen tree crushes a 1996 Camri, owned by Leandra Sunseri, on West 7th Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa, following severe storms on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Sunseri said the car had over 150, 000 miles on it at the time.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Arborist John Murray cuts up limbs from a fallen tree on Main Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa, following severe storms on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
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Cedar Falls vs Cedar Rapids Jefferson

Cedar Falls' Nick Addington pitches in the top of the first inning in Cedar Falls' double-header against Cedar Rapids Jefferson at the Robison-Dresser Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, June 19, 2009.
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Cedar Falls' Matt Schindel, top, reaches to gain the ball as Cedar Rapid's Jefferson's Michael Rooney, bottom, slides into first base in Cedar Falls' double-header against Cedar Rapids Jefferson at the Robison-Dresser Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday, June 19, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Desert

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Clouds hover over the mountains around Red Rock outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, June 14, 2009.
©Dawn J. Sagert

I recently went to Las Vegas, Nevada for the NPPA Convergence conference. I had a great time and learned a lot. I think a week in Vegas may be a bit much for me--thankfully, my cousin who lives an hour outside of Vegas, was kind enough to take me away from the strip for a while and show me some of the natural beauty. It was my first time in the desert, and the break was very much appreciated! Thanks, Toni!

Dancer

Jaedon Thomson, 14, foreground, assists in leading the Jazz Tap I class at Attitudes Dance by Aimee dance studio in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. Thomson has been accepted into the Joffrey Ballet in New York.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Jaedon Thomson, 14, demonstrates a Penchee position at Attitudes Dance by Aimee dance studio in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. Thomson has been accepted into the Joffrey Ballet in New York
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Festivities

Sara Onofre, 7, left, Stephanie Onofre, 5, center, and Antonio Onofre, 7, right, take a spin on the Tilt-a-Whirl at the My Waterloo Days celebration in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, May 29, 2009.

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

People gather to see Standing Hampton as they perform at the RiverLoop Expo Plaze at the My Waterloo Days celebration in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, May 29, 2009.

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Fireworks explode in an array of color over the Cedar River above the 4th Street bridge in honor of the My Waterloo Days celebration in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, on Friday, May 29, 2009
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

Sub-State Victory

Cedar Falls' Cody Zey, right, and Waterloo West's Edis Dukic, left, try to gain control of the ball in their sub-state game at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday, June 1, 2009. Cedar Falls won the game with a final score of 2-1.

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Cedar Falls' Riley Morris, top, reacts after Cedar Falls wins over Waterloo West with a final score of 2-1 at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday, June 1, 2009

©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier

A Beautiful Day for a Race

Teams Pro Shield, left, and Dragon Breath, front center, head for the starting dock during the Dragon Boat Racing at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday, May 31, 2009. The races are a part of the My Waterloo Days celebration.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier


Team Pro Shield, of Fort Dodge, races to the finish and wins their heat in Dragon Boat Racing against team Dragon Breath at George Wyth State Park in Waterloo, Iowa, on Sunday, May 31, 2009. The Dragon Boat races are a part of the My Waterloo Days celebration.
©Dawn J. Sagert/The Waterloo Courier