Photo of the Week (POW) - Wiggly

Since it's Valentine's week, I thought I should post about the love of my life. Not the motorcycle. Not the camera. My wife.

Margot and Sadie at the "Woofstock" event in downtown
Toronto. Shot with a Nikon D80 with a 18-200mm
zoom and built-in camera flash in TTL mode for fill.
Click for a larger version.

This photo was taken in front of the flatiron building in downtown Toronto during Woofstock on June 12, 2010. There was a concrete divider that provided the perfect platform for Sadie to sit on. When we tell her to do a sit stay, she does this regal pose. I wanted a fill flash which would have me busting out my SB-800 but when you're this close to the subject, it tends to give unattractive glare on the face and harsh shadows, especially in the vertical position. I was close enough that I was able to use the built-in flash which provided the fill but still looks natural. I also like composition in this one where the eye is lead up to the point at the top of the building. I also Margot's natural smile in this one.

Margot and I have been married for almost 13 years. We weren't quite high school sweethearts but pretty close. We met at the University of Guelph and tied the knot right after graduation in 1998 then moved to a 1 bedroom apartment in the sky in Scarborough, Ontario. Living on the 21st floor we affectionately referred to it as our "hole in the sky".  We had a great view, but there wasn't much space for 2 people, a cat and a 90 gallon aquarium full of fish. We somehow made it work.

(read more after the jump)


Our values might be considered old fashioned to some but it works. We have good communication, we're polite to each other, we consider the other person when making plans, and separating is never an option. We're both Christians and our faith in God as well as Christian values also make a big difference. One thing we've also found helpful is to give the other space to pursue their own interests. This works because we are trustworthy and we've earned it. Do we fight? Sure we do but at the end of the day we know we're still in this together. Our view is long term and our goals and planning reflect this. 

I should explain about the title, "Wiggly." When Margot wanted to post on a local online motorcycle forum www.gtamotorcycle.com , we had to come up with a nickname for her and we wanted something that would match "Wobblycat" so we came up with "Wigglycat" or Wiggly for short. It works because she can't sit still and is wiggly.

She's not just a pretty face, she's smart too! She holds a bachelor degree in psychology and wrote a book on personal finance in 2007 called Spend Smarter, Save Bigger. She's also a contributing editor to Canadian Money Saver magazine and is contacted frequently by the media as an expert in personal finance. She spends her free time training our dog Sadie in agility. She's also taking a liking to grooming as poodles don't shed, their fur keeps growing (see more of Sadie here, including a video of when she was a puppy). Margot also rides, in fact the whole riding thing was her idea. She even got her "M" license before me! We've gone on road trips to the east coast and down to West Virginia on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Margot on her 1993 CBR 600 F2.
Click for a larger version.

She taught me a valuable life lesson that I'd like to impart to all my friends who are husbands

Happy Wife, Happy Life.