NEED ME

Feels much later than it really is

The shortness of your words

Gently puts your point across

Something about the way you avoid

Your plan of not hurting me

I think you better start looking for a new plan

Why put off the inevitable

Let’s rip it out

When you appear

My heart beats right out of my chest

I lazily waste time in my thoughts

You still consume them

Not when I least expect

But every time I expect

You can now crown me the fool

Gallons of water will never quench this thirst

That has suddenly cursed me

My dry coated throat longs for refreshment

It is never coming

So now what?

We have rules

So you say

I break them

For they are no longer shatter proof

Not in this game

I steal what I can hold in my hands

I must admit it isn’t much

Yet I will always long to seek some kind of comfort

Dig for some kind of approval

That somewhere in the middle of all of this

You need me

More than I need you

© Dina Darling

SHIA LABEOUF

Ok, seriously? When did Disney's channel....little Even Stevens get this freakin hot?! Whew! Come on now!! Shia has come a long way. He is a wonderful up and coming actor. His movies already give him a lot to show for! He's one to be watched for years to come!! I can not wait to see "Eagle Eye," I believe it is being released next week!!

JAMES MCAVOY

So I have this MAJOR thing for James McAvoy!!! He is an incredibly talented brilliant actor!! I am a huge fan of his! He shows much passion in the characters he portrays. I admire him dearly. If you don't know what I'm talking about then check out his movies..."The Last King of Scotland," "Atonement," "Becoming Jane," "Starter For Ten," and "Penelope." He's sexy and he's from Scotland! Meow! He can talk to me all day long!! I won't say that I'm obsessed, but I am definitely on a McAvoy kick right about now! I can't get enough!!!!

SOME RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS

FITZGERALD'S

ROOT CAUSE

Thanks to Brian Mickey, drummer of Finneus, I had the chance to photograph another band he is in called Root Cause. I wasn't sure what to expect when asked to photograph them, but once I saw their live show I was hooked! I am thrilled to be working on photographing them next year for their upcoming CD. I am also thrilled to be working with another band fronted by Maximus Riske called Khaos Theory. He has asked me to photograph their upcoming CD as well. Next year is going to be a great year! I can feel it in my bones! I am ecstatic! I have to admit, for a while I was slipping away on photographing bands and let me tell you...it feels SO GOOD to be back in the swing of things!!

SELF PORTRAIT

NIGHT FORGOTTON COME MORNING

Will you remember me?
After the night you say goodbye
A glass of wine
I will pour my sorrows in
The scar across my back shoulder
Is nothing compared to the scar deep inside

I sometimes forget
How could I forget?
When it all suddenly falls apart
A lapse in memory
Your reach
Gravel roads away
This sadness leaks in streams
Like leaves crunched underneath our feet
Surround sound blaring
The silence overwhelming

The heat close to melting
The truth of mixed up lies
I lied
Yes I confess
Told you I didn't love you
When I did
Gave my best shot
A dismissal for all the wrong reasons
A string of symptoms
I let get the best of me
The ink smears
The words are blurred
The night is gone
Come morning…
You have already forgotten
And I have disappeared

© Dina Darling

THE WEBSTIRS

The Webstirs another MUST see local Chicago band. Full of energy and charismatic stage energy!

SOLID SINCERITY

Quiet times reflect off the absurdity of my mind
Paint fumes kicking in
Suddenly I can't breathe
I'm dizzy
Ready to faint
Won't somebody catch me?
Terrified of being alone
Can't stand sleeping in the cold

Scars are permanent I know
We don't ever really heal
And I'm okay with that
An every day reminder of what I've been going through
I learned how to love
All by myself
Aren't you proud of me?
The sacrifices I have stolen
And made them all my own

I'll keep kicking and screaming
I never back down from a fight
Even if it's against myself
I'll duke it out in the ring
Till either I win or get knocked out
I can't take anymore of this doubt
Creeping up my back
Biting me
I wish I were a magician
To make all the struggling
I'm battling with
Slowly disappear

Let me be a dream machine
Myth and truth stuck between
The opposite of the definite meaning
I can't quite say for sure
What it is I need
A change in atmosphere
A brighter sun to reckon with
A ghostly fog haunting me
A deck of cards not fit for a queen

Leave me be
You don't want to get too close
It might be contagious
And devour you
Kick around the consequences
Of past behaviors
I never looked the other way
And I should have stared dead on
Soaking in the realization
Of a good day and a bad day
And the strength to tell the difference
When in the long run…
I need something solid to believe
In all honor and sincerity

WITH YOU TONIGHT

I'm running late
Yet my own clock tells me I'm on time
Searching over and under
This need stays close to my heal
Always on my trail
Come closer
Whisper all you've been longing to say

The one thing I can't have
It will be the end of me
It's the only thing I want
How can I get it?
Give me an accusation
While my heart waits on the line
The one thing I can't have
You won't let me get my way

God I am so stubborn
You can't compete with me
I'm so good in my own right
But how will he discover me
Put down the pages
These words are suddenly a blur
If you can't hear the passion in my voice
Then I don't know what you're doing hear in the first place

I want you
It's out in the open
I'm calling for you
I want you
The tingling sensation between my legs desires your taste
Let me have my way with you
I will do you no wrong tonight
I won't let you down
Not when you're wrapped up in my sheets
Stop toying with my affection
Let me have the right
To get it on with you tonight

ERIC HOWELL CD RELEASE PARTY

Wow, talk about a night of amazing music! The long anticipated wait for Eric Howell's CD "Greatest Hitch, Vol 1" was over!! Well worth the wait that's for sure!! An incredible show that will be remembered for years to come!The night was filled with amazing talent! Eric was joined all throughout the night by the following musicians:Jim Barclay, Lonni Lane, Mike Zelenko, John Riley, Leroy, Mike Waggoner, Randy Antlept, Casey McDonough, Phil Angotti, Tony Kidonakis, Jamie Motz, Ryan Nelson and Mike Sharp.

**More photos can be found on my facebook and myspace pages!

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT LINCOLN PARK ZOO

As promised, here are a few more shots from Lincoln Park Zoo. To see more check out my photography fan page on facebook or my myspace page. Just do a search for Dina Darling on Facebook.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve here already. Wow! Christmas just isn't the same to me now that Grandma and Grandpa are both gone. This was the first year that I went all out in decorating the house in five years! I made our house look like the North Pole for the fact that my brother and sister came into town the day after Thanksgiving! They were in awe when they walked in the door. Their reaction was priceless and the reason I did it all in the first place. We had such a great time while they were here. I have lots of catching up to do once again on this blog. I also have lots of photos to add. We went to see the Holiday lights at Lincoln Park Zoo. Got some great shots from there. I will get to posting more soon!

In the meantime...I wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas!!

To get into the Christmas Spirit I will share some of my fave Christmas things...

Fave Christmas song: "Carol Of The Bells."

Fave Christmas movie: "The Santa Clause," though I can't forget those beautiful romantic Christmas comedies such as "Love Actually," and "Serendipity."

Fave Christmas memory: Receiving my Grandmother's mother's wedding ring from my cousin Angie. A very long story that I will not share here but let's just say three days before my Grandma passed she told she wanted me to have it. The will said otherwise. Once my cousin's and I reconciled after four years, mostly much anger on my end...Angie gave me the ring. I am forever grateful to her kindness! I am happy we are all a family once again.

Fave Christmas tradition: Every year my Mom goes all out and makes an incredible breakfast for all us. We eat and then open gifts.

Fave Christmas activity: This year was one of the best since I'm back in the spirit. We saw the holiday lights, baked cookies and made stockings.

Fave Christmas story: Of course that would be "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

I know there is much more I can list, but I will stop for now. Enjoy your Holiday!