Hello friends, Dogentricks.com here. My great friend Rodger Swan (also known as Tokyo Swan, P Diddy, and Dreamcaster) has graced us with his presence and become an author for Dogentricks.com!

Rodger is an incredible writer and has the charisma of 1000 great looking, smooth talking men. He has also passed the first stage of the JET Program and will have his final interview next week; I have no doubt he will pass with flying colors.

I have updated the ‘authors’ section of the website with his profile. I encourage you to check it out and see what Rodger is all about!

edit: Happy Valentines Day – go make someone smile!

Random thought: There seems to be an exception to every rule. Except for this one.

Hello everyone!

Valentine’s Day is notorious for its semi-nauseating amounts of pink, paper hearts, luscious flowers and most importantly, love. I actually don’t celebrate it but, I thought, why not share with you a love atypical to 14 February?

Kodak moments are particular moments that you feel compelled to capture with a camera. Few of my friends that I questioned believe that Kodak moments are of those rare, special moments often consisting of someone close to you. Their ‘someone’s’ are friends, partners and family.

As I type this I find myself occasionally peering over at my two favourite photos occupying the desk. One is of my brother when he was four months old, sporting a dangerously cute smile. The other consists of me as a toddler attempting to hold my new born brother as I beam at the camera. For me these photos are Kodak moments. What makes them my favourite is what they actually symbolise: family.

Family is not always limited to blood relations. I acknowledge some of my friends as relatives and some of you may be closer to your friends than your direct family. Love and trust seem to play a primary role on who we consider close. Both of which I find with my direct family.

Families are caring.

I, like every other teenager, have been through the frustrating phase of ‘they don’t understand me’. Actually, I’m still partly going through it and will be for the rest of my life. And that’s okay, we are our own people. No two people can agree on everything because we have our own opinions. I do believe, however, that what our parents/guardians do or tell us, they are intending to do it for our own good, our own safety because they care. Sometimes we don’t agree with that and sometimes what they think is really not the best option.

You will also always be your parent’s/guardian’s little bundle of joy whether you like it or not. Bit like how my siblings will always be the little tykes I remember as when they first stepped into my life and changed it for good. Never mind the fact that I’m way shorter and look younger than them. Pfft, minor details.

Families are entertaining.

I have younger siblings. You know what that tends to mean- bloody irritating; it’s as if their sole purpose of existence is to annoy the hell out of the oldest. Just for their amusement. We know that really is not the case but it doesn’t seem that way when you’re riled up!

Despite this, I still think they’re the cutest things to grace this planet. I may be a tad biased…

Families are supportive.

There have been examples where someone wants to venture into a particular hobby (example: tricking) or career (example: tricking) but their parents/guardians/loved ones are not so accepting. Now, with the case of tricking this can be quite understandable because training can cause injuries, possibly permanent.  If they start seeing you skipping the junk food and exercising more, they may think you’re well on your way to an eating disorder. And they may continue to do so until you talk to them. You cannot expect them to be accepting if they don’t even know what you’re aiming for. =D After all, they hopefully want what makes you happy as that is a good indicator for the right thing.

Families are special.

The two photos perched on my desk can easily be considered ordinary childhood photos.  But when I look at them, I cannot help but feel my heart swell with affection. My family- I love them to bits, I trust them with my life and I care for them to no end.

A friend believes a Kodak moment is “some kind of event or happening that can only be captured a few times in one’s lifetime“.

And with the distinct happy, momentuous aura of family emanating from the two photos, these are definitely my favourite Kodak moments.

Questions to consider: Do you have any Kodak moments? What is family for you?

Comments and criticism are very welcome. Thank you! ^_^

Special thank you to friends who supplied their opinions.