It’s interesting for me as a photographer to view other people’s work. As you can imagine, I can’t go anywhere without my photographer’s eye wandering away on me. Everywhere I look I see images that reflect a capture of someone’s imagination. But sometimes with my background and training, it’s hard for me not to be critical of what makes it to print.

The biggest mistake I notice in photography is in the lighting. As a photographer raised through the old-school methods of film and dark rooms, I was forced to use a critical eye when shooting a scene. I didn’t receive instant feedback on my photography the way people in the digital age do today, so I was forced to become acutely aware of my surroundings, light sources, and subject placement. Film was expensive and it was time consuming to develop. I learned to take the right shot the first time instead of expending 1000 clicks and wading through them hoping for some good shots to come out.

There are still some basic principles of photography one must utilize to make his portraits stand out from the sea of others who operate with a point-and-shoot methodology. How often do you see the stunning photography of yesterday replicated in today’s photographs? When you look at photos of old Hollywood stars like Rita Hayworth or Audrey Hepburn, you see true art. The lighting, the poses, the way they spring off the page and exude that sultry persona. Today’s point and click methods with little more than a chin tilt and a smile make me cringe at the lost art of true photography.

And do you ever wonder why some photographs look dated while others truly seem to stand the test of time? It’s in the photographer’s artistic eye. The way he lights a scene, the feature he zooms in on, the moment he presses the button to capture the shot, and the confidence and connection the subjects feel with their photographer.

These differences may be hard to distinguish when creating a shot, but they are unmistakeable in the final print.

Today I would like you to consider that you can have—that you deserve the best of both worlds. Timeless methodologies in the careful craft of photography paired with digital equipment that can expedite and enhance your images.

Can you see the differences in photography? Do you ever see images that don’t look or feel right but you’re not sure what’s wrong with them? If you need help understanding imagery and what to look for in an exceptional photographer, please contact me, I’d be happy to help.

In our next blog we’ll take a look at the three types of photography and what makes each one special.

Rev'd Trey Lyon

On Saturday evening at our weekly Eucharist, Christ the Redeemer welcomed Rev. Trey and Jennifer Lyon, and their son, Gabe from Town View Baptist Church in Kennesaw. Trey and Jenn were in Pleven, Bulgaria in September, participating in a mission trip to Bulgarian orphanages. Christ the Redeemer sponsored one of the orphanage visits. During the presentation, Jenn shared about the country of Bulgaria and the state-run orphanages that are operated there. The country is having a difficult time establishing themselves economically, given world conditions and the fall of communism in the 1980’s. Their orphanages are run by the various local governments and are in varying stages of disrepair and all seem to exhibit a lack of staff and funding.

The Lyons work with Paul and Judy Ridgway, who are Americans in full-time missionary service to Bulgaria. They have been there for many years and have good relationships with the authorities in each group home. Jenn also told of the visit to Pleven, and the congregation saw pictures of the precious children in that facility. The facility houses children ages 4 to 7, and they all enjoyed the party that was supplied by Christ the Redeemer’s donations.

They described a specific story from Pleven: Christ the Redeemer had chosen a luau theme for the party and decorations, so the goodie bags contained Hawaiian-style leis, flowery stickers, toys and a miniature beach ball for each child. Jenn had told the CTR ladies that there would be 60 children in Pleven, and they provided 61 goodie bags just in case an extra one was needed. As the mission team was preparing for the party, bible story and craft time, Judy mentioned that they’d just found out a 62nd child was at the facility. The child had just been brought there that day after being released from a local hospital. In the last room where they were setting, the team was opening the goodie bags and getting them ready for the children, as this group of children had some developmental disabilities. Judy mentioned that there were now 62 kids, and they would be one bag short. The team was prepared with additional overflow items, so they quickly put together a bag for the new child. Judy was disappointed that there were no extra beach balls realizing this child would not have one. As they unpacked the goodie bags, they found one of our bags had been packed with two miniature beach balls – so all of the children, including the new resident, would get one.

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at that. After all, the God who knows when a sparrow falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29) would provide for that new child to have the same special toy as the other children. Trey also talked about how this trip brought together several local churches in support of the team’s mission, as a great example of the body of Christ doing small things for the kingdom. Christ the Redeemer is looking forward to supporting this mission next year when they return to Bulgaria.

For more information on this ministry, check out www.ridgwayministries.org and www.bulgarianchild.org.

All right, you asked for it and now we have it. You wanted to know what how we are able to deliver the best fried turkeys in Atlanta and with this video, we are sharing our secrets!!  Well, maybe not all of them.

Watch our video and let us know what you think. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it and we look forward to your comments.

All right, you asked for it and now we have it. You wanted to know what how we are able to deliver the best fried turkeys in Atlanta and with this video, we are sharing our secrets!!

Well, maybe not all of them.  Watch our video and let us know what you think.  We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.

Hello, friends! I hope this Friday finds you enjoying life and the beautiful weather we’ve had after half a week of rain. We giraffes don’t enjoy dreary days so I’m so glad to see the sunshine again.

Well my favorite pediatrician Dr. Long asked me to update all of you on some of the cool things going on this weekend for Kennesaw Pediatrics so here’s your news flash for November 13th 2009.

First of all, we’d like you to take a moment to check out a very helpful link on our Kennesaw Pediatrics website. There are some great videos, and tips on how to avoid the germs of the Fall and stay healthy.

Also, we would like to thank the 3 local Brownie troops 2387, 2385, 2376 who visited with us this past Monday night.  I, Jerry Giraffe showed up with Dr. Long, Dr. Brugner and got to hang with several parents and kids in our Kennesaw community. We talked about well visits, why kids get shots, showed them some of the equipment we use to keep kids healthy, and handed out plenty of fun goodies so they could remember their fun visit to Kennesaw Pediatrics.  This is the first time we’ve had a Brownie Troop tour our facilities but it definitely won’t be the last!

Lastly,  I’d like to remind all of you in Kennesaw to come downtown and visit us at the Folk Tales by the Rails event on Saturday November 14, 2009. Go the official Kennesaw City website to learn more about this fun event. You can come see me and all my pediatrician friends as well as hear some great stories.

Well that’s all for now! Stay safe on this Friday the 13th and make it a lucky day by coming by to see me at Kennesaw Pediatrics. Until next time, this is Jerry Giraffe saying “So long!”

I’m observing a lot of uncertainty out there as we approach these holidays. I see employees putting their all into their jobs in the hopes of offering their employers value and trying to survive any workplace cuts. I see our own employees at Copeland’s pour their hearts into maintaining our high standards by delivering exceptional food and providing guests with a fun and friendly atmosphere. As a business owner, I wonder what I can do to amply show my appreciation to them for their hard work this holiday season.

One way a lot of local business owners reward their employees is through our restaurant. They pick up gift cards for under the tree, have us cater in to their staff on Black Friday, or have us host their holiday parties.

If you are someone who is charged with planning your business’s holiday party, you can let go of the stress and hassle by trusting Copeland’s catering program. We prepare around the clock to take care of fellow retailers during this extreme crunch-time. If you are in a rush, check out our online catering ordering system. But we never want to take the personal touch out of working with you, so feel free to call or stop by to taste the food and discuss the size of your crowd with our catering specialists so you have just the right amount of food without worrying about over-ordering or running out of food.

A lot of companies gift turkeys to their employees. With our Deep-Fried Cajun Turkeys and Turduckens (a duck inside of a chicken, tucked inside of a turkey and surrounding by andouille sausage and cornbread stuffing!) we’ll take your holiday gift up a notch from ordinary to extraordinary.

As a fellow business ourselves, we realize how important it is to maintain employee morale and treat our front lines the right way. Let us know what we can do to help you make your employees feel appreciated and make your life a little easier with holiday planning.

Remember, we work hard to provide a menu that is not just Cajun, but one that suits everyone’s palette so you can serve our tender and flavorful food to any crowd with confidence.

What are you doing for your employees this holiday season? We’d love to hear your ideas!

I hope this first week of November finds you well. I’ve enjoyed watching the leaves fall, playing around the office at Kennesaw Pediatrics and hanging out with all my friends.

Since we have so many amazing parents come from all over the North Georgia area like Marietta, Acworth, Cartersville, and yes of course Kennesaw, I thought we’d talk to some of our parent bloggers to give us some of their expertise about dealing with their children. I, Jerry Giraffe, interviewed some of the parents we see on a regular basis and got some great answers.

What do you do when your little one has a meltdown?

I first heard from my friend Mimi over at The Things We Do

She shared with me about her experience as a mom:

Whining is something that really gets under my skin, and my youngest has turned it into an art form! [But] it’s absolutely normal for kids to express their frustration and anger through temper outbursts and whining!

Mimi also told us how she handles the outbursts through listening understanding.

[They know that] expressing your feelings is okay, and I tell my my boys that they can always tell me why they are upset.

So I live in hope that one day the tantrums will end completely (and to be honest, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel here) and the whining will end (although probably not until they move out of the house from what I hear of the teenage years). But when the tantrums and whining come to an end, I’m sure there will be other issues I’ll need to deal with — like teenage drivers! Yikes!

We also chatted with Meghan who writes on her blog JaMonkeys blah dee Blog

Meghan shared:

We know that things change depending on what age the child is. My child is 2 so it’s not as easy to calm them down.

In dealing with her 2 year old, Meghan admitted…

If we are out in public though it’s a little more tricky! I tend to distract her with something else, whether it’s a game or show on my iPhone or food. [After that], she normally forgets about what she was crying about to begin with.

Finally one of our good friends Eric at OMG I’m a Daddy shared that, though his child is still too young for temper tantrums, he has strategies for dealing with the “fuss” from his experience with nieces and nephews.

I usually take them out of the situation. I take them to a place away from a crowd to subdue their reaction and to make sure they can be less “out of sorts.”

So there’s some good feedback from our some of our parent bloggers. We’d love to hear from you! What do you do when your child is having a meltdown?

~Jerry Giraffe

Good ‘ol Mom! She used to prepare us the best Thanksgiving feast in America. Her turkey was so moist and tender, and her green beans made it into my belly even if I was bursting at the seams. Her smile was golden, her laughter infectious, and her pies—store boughten? I remember seeing the bakery box in the trash can, and then looking over at my mom who was happily chatting with my cousins. This was one smart woman. She had pulled off Thanksgiving without breaking herself in the process, and we were none the wiser.

I like to think Copeland’s is a well-kept secret for a lot of moms out there. Our deep-fried Cajun turkeys and gourmet Turduckens have made it to plenty of tables—with their containers hidden deep in the trash as smiling hostesses enjoy accolades from their guests.

I know planning for the holidays can be stressful all around, and I think it’s fair to say that most of us have had to contrive harder this year to be mindful of our expenditures. My wife has found some ingenious ways to save our family money, and I know that her job on top of keeping the house stocked and clean, the family fed, and the kids (and me!) on track is harder this year than in years past. One thing I’m going to do this year is make sure she enjoys the holidays with the rest of the family. It’s easy to forget that just because she’s present at the holiday celebrations, that she really doesn’t get a chance to relax and enjoy the occasion as much as the rest of us do.

She acts as the chef, cook, pourer, plate re-filler, clearer, washer, and clean-up person charged with making sure everything arrives at the table hot and delicious. It’s really no day off for her while playing hostess to dozens of relatives and a houseful of kids.

So this year as part of my gift to her, I am going to give her back a true holiday experience. Admittedly, I have some behind the scenes help and a pretty good view of our menu at Copeland’s making it pretty simple for me to order our family’s favorites to go. But now Copeland’s has made it even easier on your family to order up your holiday feasts as well. Our customers can order right off our menus in the restaurant, phone in their order, or order their faves online at www.copelandsatlanta.com

I’m happy to know we help holidays run smoothly and give moms the break they deserve. I chuckle when I hear our customers tell us how they deep-six our containers, or “the evidence” as one customer puts it, far from the eyes of their guests. Believe me, I understand. After all, presenting food to others is how so many cultures express their love!

A lot of our friends and guests are shifting the focus back to the dinner table and family interaction over the holidays. What are some things you are doing to get back to basics in your household? Are there things you’re doing differently this holiday season?

Whether you are getting ready for senior portraits, an engagement sitting, a pregnancy or baby portrait, or wish to photograph the whole brood this holiday season, it is important to choose the right photographer for the job.

A photographer who is worth his weight in gold will coach you through the process so you receive beautiful, timeless results. There are some rules of thumb we photographers encourage people to use when planning their portraits. I’d like to share them with you and explain the rationale behind the suggestions. I know that after you become aware of these guidelines, it will make it easy for you to spot why some photographs just don’t look right and keep those problems from occurring in your own portraits.

1. If you are planning a portrait with multiple people, do go ahead and coordinate your wardrobes ahead of time. Encourage everyone to wear a solid color from the same color family, for instance, blues. Stripes, patterns, and bright colors detract from the subjects’ faces and overpower the scene, pulling a viewer’s eyes to one area of the portrait.

2. Choose simple garments that are consistent from head to toe. Each person should wear long-sleeved shirts and slacks regardless of the weather. Bare skin or appendages detract from people’s faces. This also helps avoid a choppy appearance and create flow and congruity in the photograph. Unless we are shooting a clothing ad campaign, the clothing is secondary and should not be a focal point or distraction from the main composition and focus of the photograph: the people in it.

3. Communicate your needs to your photographer. If you have a specific place in mind to hang your portrait, communicate to the photographer your dimensions and whether or not you would like your portrait to appear vertically or horizontally. This will help him take spacial considerations into account when setting up the shots.

4. Outdoor settings If you would like to take a portrait outside, invite your photographer to view the space ahead of time or have an extensive conversation about the area. There are many considerations when shooting outdoors, from when to mow the lawn so it doesn’t appear striped to where the sun is in relation to the shoot. Consider anyone who is affected by allergens and plan ahead so any allergy sufferers can either take an antihistamine or photograph at a time when their eyes aren’t swollen and their face isn’t puffy or red.

5. Avoid busy backgrounds. The simpler the background, the more the focus will stay on the people in the portrait. Additionally, complex backgrounds can make a shoot difficult, as stray pieces in the background can interrupt a person’s presence in the portrait. For instance, it could look like a telephone pole in the background is emerging from someone’s head in a photograph if a person is standing in line with it, even though it can be several hundred feet away.

6. Remove lenses from eye glasses. In a family portrait, anyone photographed with glasses should remove the lenses from their frames for the photograph. It’s always better to avoid glass glare than to photoshop it out after the fact.

Work with your photographer to communicate your desires and follow these simple tips to achieve a perfect end result.

And one more thing. When you have a choice in hair styles or clothing, keep it as classic as possible. If you don’t believe me, just revisit your seventh grade school picture! We want this portrait to be one of beauty and of balanced composition. With the help of a qualified and detail-oriented photographer, you’ll truly have something that will stand the test of time.

I’d like to hear from you. Do you have any photographs that break these rules? What was your worst “offense”?

When talking about Cajun cooking you often look at a dish that is delicious and think, “who thought of this?” That comes to mind every time I see a turkey about to go into a fryer filled with peanut oil. There is no definite answer as to who or when the fried turkey was invented but it is safe to say that it hails from the bayous of Louisiana in the late 19^th or early 20^th century. Growing up in New Orleans, I never took the fried turkey seriously until Martha Stewart put a recipe in her magazine and fried one on her TV show in the mid 1990’s. The demand for this bird has escalated every year since. In the last 10 years we have fried over 20,000 turkeys in the Atlanta Copeland’s alone!!

When these crisply-coated, delicious birds make the news it is often for all of the wrong reasons! The conventional turkey fryer with it propane gas and gallons of hot oil often cause house fires, severe burns and death when not handled properly by it users. It is easy to see the allure of frying a turkey—it is a very social event, like boiling crawfish or grilling out with friends and family. The difference is that you are dealing with 350 degree oil and a large water-based bird that can cause the oil to overflow or spatter if the bird is not thawed and drained properly.

The safest and best way to obtain one these wonderful birds is to simply go to www.copelandsatlanta.com and pick a time for your holiday feast to be ready hot and ready to go! Copeland’s is your one-stop shop for all of your holiday needs. Fried Turkeys, great New Orleans holiday side dishes and the best desserts will make you a hit at any holiday function!

Glen Helmstetter

Hey folks! Jerry Giraffe here and I just wanted to share with you some of the highlights from our time at the Taste Acworth.

I made some new friends during my time at Taste of Acworth. Whaddya think? Love at first sight?

This was Kennesaw Pediatrics’ first time at an Acworth event and we had a stupendous time! Despite the overcast and cold weather we had that Saturday there was a huge friendly (and hungry) crowd. For this giraffe it felt like a New Orleans Mardi Gras… just with fewer beads. Of course it didn’t hurt being stationed right across the street from Henry’s Louisiana Grill, where every day is like Mardi Gras. Henry was even kind enough to let me use his the “Little Giraffe’s Room”. I guess I drank too much sweet tea but thank you, Henry!

Ashley helping out the Kennesaw Pediatrics staff in Acworth, GA

When we weren’t meeting new people, we were out sampling the food and visiting the many exciting booths. Acworth, GA  really does have some of the best top notch restaurants in the state and we were so lucky to “taste” it all.

Courtney and Alexa having a good time at Taste of Acworth

Of some of the businesses featured, I discovered a one that I was crazy about; Take 2 Clothing. It’s a group of several resale clothing stores with very high quality adult designer clothing at low prices. I’d recommend checking this place out. I know some of the staff at Kennesaw Pediatrics will be taking my their daughters back for some of their designer jeans!

I'm really pretty popular with the kids. Fun in Acworth!

Courtney, Becca, Sue, Danielle and several of our staff’s kids worked all day and enjoyed meeting so many people.

So where else can you spot the famous Jerry Giraffe? This upcoming weekend I will be at the Legacy Place Family Fall Festival along with the Kennesaw Pediatrics staff to check out the brand new Frankenstein Halloween House! There will be free food, entertainment, games, moonwalks, candy (what Fall Festival would be complete without candy?), a DJ and tons of prizes. Kids can show off their Halloween costumes too!

I’ll see you Saturday, October 24 from 11 am-3pm located at Legacy Place, 3903 Jiles Rd, Kennesaw, GA (located in front of Legacy Park)

Big Shanty Smokehouse by John Bickford

In February of 2008, Chic Dillard and his partner Ronnie Schaeffer brought to us the favor that is Big Shanty Smokehouse. With a crew that includes his wife, Sissy, and his daughter, Shannon, and others, Chic provides a product that far exceeds any expectations.

I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich and a couple of ribs. My new friends Tara and Mike had Chicken and pork sandwiches. The meat is flavored with Chic’s secret rub, then smoked with just a hint of sauce. There is a small cup of sauce served on the side, but try the meat first. Don’t miss out on the wonderful taste straight from the smoker.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Shanty caters, and sells meat by the pound as well as group meals. They  serve no alcohol, are kid friendly, and are closed on Monday. 

 Keep the smoker fired up, Chic. I’m coming back.

 

Kennesaw, GA

Hey folks! Jerry the Giraffe here and welcome to my first ever Kennesaw Pediatrics’ blog post. I am of course very glad you could join me today and if you’re anything like me, you probably cannot believe this October is half way over.

I must say, it’s been quite a fall already! Giraffes aren’t really meant for the rather nasty weather we’ve been having but I’ve got my family and friends at Kennesaw Pediatrics to keep me warm and make me feel at home.

Today, I’ve got some really great news I’m sure you’re going to love. Kennesaw Pediatrics has brought on a Lactation Consultant for nursing mothers to meet with here in Kennesaw! I’ve already heard some great feedback from parents who have met with her but I’d like to give you all a nice big introduction and warm welcome to… (drumroll please)….

Valerie Vanderlip!!

I was fortunate enough this week to meet personally with Valerie and I got to ask her a few questions about what she does at Kennesaw Pediatrics and how she can help nursing mothers.

Jerry- Welcome to our fun family, Valerie. How have you enjoyed Kennesaw Pediatrics so far?

Valerie- Kennesaw Pediatrics is just great, Jerry. I have to admit though, I’ve never had an interview with a Giraffe before!

Jerry- Yes I do hear that a lot and it’s ok we’ll have a good time. But let’s hear a little bit about why parents need to visit with a Lactation Consultant. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who don’t know exactly what you do!

Valerie- You’re right, Jerry. First off, the individuals who should visit with a lactation consultant are new moms who are planning to nurse for at least 1-2 weeks up to 1-2 years. Since many first time mothers are unsure of how to breastfeed a newborn infant, meeting with a lactation consultant can help moms get over some of the common hurdles and ensure successful feeding.

Jerry- Like I always say, education is the key to success!

Valerie- That’s right, Jerry! And that’s what a lactation consultant is here for, to help equip a new mother with information she needs to learn how to breastfeed. After all, although breast milk is very healthy for a baby, breastfeeding itself can be a challenge. And even if a mom is still deciding on whether or not she wants to breastfeed, meeting with a lactation consultant can sure help the decision making process become easier by providing useful information.

Jerry- That’s so cool! But do you recommend only 1st time moms to meet with you?

Valerie- Well, even 2nd and 3rd time parents tell us they still find the consultation helpful. We of course believe breastfeeding and how to do it is ultimately up to the parent, but we are always here to help!

Jerry- Well thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with me. I’ll see you around here at Kennesaw Pediatrics I suppose.

Valerie- Thank you, Jerry. This was so much fun!

Well friends, stay dry the rest of this week and stay in touch.

One last piece of news for you… I’d love for to come see me at the Taste of Acworth this Saturday.

It’s from 10am-6pm and the event benefits local schools, charities, and will feature over 150 businesses! Of course there will be some amazing food as well as live performances throughout the day. Admission is free and you can find more information here at their website. Of course I, the famous Jerry Giraffe, will be there with all my friends from Kennesaw Pediatrics. See ya there!

There are three of us who partnered to bring Copeland’s restaurants to Atlanta. So far, you’ve heard from Bill Goudey, our Chief Managing Partner. Today we’d like to bring you a word from another partner, Michael Gray, about why maintaining that quintessential neighborhood restaurant feeling in Copeland’s is so important to him.

Growing up in New Orleans was such a unique experience. For most of America, New Orleans conjures up images of wild Mardi Gras celebrations, elaborate parades, and the ushering in of Fat Tuesday. But that’s really just a small part of life to those of us who grew up in New Orleans.

Many of my fondest memories are centered in New Orleans’ neighborhood restaurant and bar settings. Every neighborhood had that special place, whether you lived in Mid-City, Uptown, Garden District or on the Westbank. Places like Frankie & Johnnies, Uglesich’s, Domilises, or my personal favorite Liuzza’s are as much a part of New Orleans’ neighborhood culture as they were the culinary scene. These establishments were much more than just restaurants or bars, they were where the neighborhood gathered to share good times and bad, swap the daily news, and jibe each other while viewing college and professional sports games.

You could actually feel a transformation in the atmosphere based on the time of the day or week you went into your neighborhood restaurant.  During the week the after-work crowd stopped by for a drink before heading home. Lively discussions revolved around sports, politics, life in the city, and upcoming plans. It became a traditional way for folks to unwind after work and transition into the evening. On weekends, families wove in and out, catching up with generations of friends who also made it a tradition to dine regularly at the restaurant. And on crisp autumn Saturdays, sports fans would gather to cheer on Tulane or LSU, priming ourselves for Saints’ Sundays.

I discovered the ultimate New Orleans restaurant when I enrolled at Tulane in 1982. It was the Copeland’s tucked into the corner of Napoleon and St. Charles and it was the place for my friends and I to eat, socialize and soak in that unique New Orleans atmosphere. Even then, Copeland’s offered the finest foods at great prices in portions large enough to satisfy even the hearty appetites of my college friends. When the opportunity came to bring the essence and spirit of this New Orleans neighborhood restaurant to Atlanta, my wife Cindy and I were thrilled. As much as we enjoyed Atlanta, we longed for that taste and feel you can only find in New Orleans and were happy to bring it here and share it with our new friends and neighbors.

I’d like to invite you to spend a Saturday or Sunday at Copeland’s Cumberland location watching LSU or the Saints to experience firsthand what I am talking about. I am proud of how well our three Atlanta Copeland’s restaurants represent the best of New Orleans- from the Gumbo to Etouffee and Prime Steaks to Fried Seafood. Relax and enjoy the flavors and fellowship of your own New Orleans restaurant right here in Atlanta. And please, let us know, did we live up to your expectations? Have you been to New Orleans and an Atlanta-area Copeland’s? We’d love to hear how you felt about the two experiences.

Until next time,

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler, or Let the Good Times Roll!

Michael Gray
Owner
Copeland's Atlanta

A Kennesaw high school student has dropped out of school because of the dress code.

He attended North Cobb High School in GA.

Jonathan, a former resident of Miami, Florida, moved to Kennesaw to live with his sister and attend North Cobb High School. One of the reasons he left his parents home in Miami, was because they didn’t support his desire to wear girls clothing to school. Before he began school at North Cobb, he asked administrators about the dress code and asked if he could wear items like high heels, and brightly colored wigs. He was told that there wouldn’t be a problem.

From his fan page on FaceBook:

Jonathan came new to our school. He’s a guy, but he dresses as a girl. People are making it such a big deal, when were all humans no matter what we look like on the outside. Join and support Jonathan !

YouTube Comment:

Exxic: I go to Nc high. I’ve seen this boy when he attended. And damn, he can wear a pair of pumps better than any other girl on here.

But, the news does NOT show all the details. This has been blown way out of proportion.

He encouraged the attention. He fed the fire. The teasing did happen, but he didn’t do a damn thing to prevent it.

Via

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Despite the torrential downpour today, we brewed up our Oatmeal Stout. Thanks again to Neal and the gang plus TAYLOR and Ed for weathering the storm and showing up to brew night sans beer. I’d also like to point out that David showed up and expressed interest in brewing, we made him clean a lot… but you’ve got to start somewhere. After we took our original gravity, we thought we were going to wind up with a pretty big beer (aka… it’ll get you drunk), but we only missed our OG by 2 points. For those who couldn’t make it, I snapped a few photos with my iPhone. See below…  I’d also like to mention that we are on track for having 10 gallons of Wit ready for next Wednesday! Check back often for updates on our progress on brewing and starting a craft brewery in Kennesaw. We wouldn’t be where we are now without all of our fans support!

We also fixed the kegerator! Happy brewing everyone!