TreMade

08/26/2026

This photo was taken at a very different time in my life. I remember the day.

At the time, I was working in admissions at an audio engineering school. I had taken the job because, for most of my life, all I ever wanted was to somehow build a career in music. First as a musician, and later as an audio engineer and record producer. So naturally, I thought working at a place like that might bring me closer to what I really wanted.

In some ways, it did. In other ways, it really didn’t.

But during that short period, I happened to hit it off with the studio manager at the school’s actual recording studio. During one of our conversations, he mentioned that Dolly Parton was coming into the studio and asked if I had ever met her.

Of course, I said no.

He thoughtfully invited me to come over.

Now, in my head, I’m thinking, “There is absolutely no way my boss is going to let me leave work to go hang out with Dolly Parton.”

My boss had already given our tiny admissions team a talk about being there to do admissions, not to build a music career. There were only three of us, but the message was pretty clearly directed at me. Unfortunately.

But when the day came, I decided to risk it.

I walked over to the studio.

And what did I see?

My boss’s car.

The same boss who had warned me about leaving.

I called my brother and asked him what I should do. He said, “Man, you’re there for a reason. You’ve got to take these shots.”

So I walked in.

Almost immediately, I saw my boss talking to the studio manager. When she asked, “What are you doing here?” I simply said, “I was invited.”

She didn’t exactly seem thrilled that I was there.

But when Dolly arrived at the studio in a white Cadillac sedan, I was the first person to notice her. I extended my hand, welcomed her, and walked inside with her.

From there, it was kind of bizarre watching how everyone acted around her. It was almost as if a female Jesus had walked into the room.

But the coolest thing was that Dolly didn’t act like that at all.

She was human.

She was funny. She was warm. She cared about her husband, checking with her team to make sure he was alright. And even though I probably wasn’t supposed to be there, she happily took a photo with me.

I wish I’d gotten the chance to talk with her more.

Since that day, my path has taken a lot of turns, some I could never have imagined at the time. And honestly, the direction my life is going now is one I certainly couldn’t have seen coming back then.

But looking at this photo reminds me of something I think I’ve forgotten at times:

Dream.

Take the shot.

You never know where it might lead.

And I’m pretty sure Dolly would approve.

05/07/2026

04/19/2026

It’s funny how photos freeze a moment in time and make it look like everything has always been this clear, this put together.
But what you don’t see here is the in-between—the uncertainty, the pivots, the times I had to start over, the moments I questioned everything.
The late nights, the quiet work, the pressure to figure it out when there wasn’t a clear path.

These are just snapshots.
The real story is everything it took to become the person standing in them.

Still growing. Still learning. Still building something I’m proud of.

04/18/2026

Did you know lizards have their own built-in communication system?

I caught this bright green character right as he decided to show off. Looking at him through the lens, I honestly felt like I was staring at a miniature dinosaur. Between the prehistoric texture of those scales and that intense, unblinking gaze, it felt like a tiny piece of the Jurassic period was sitting right in front of me.

That flap of skin under his throat is called a dewlap. It’s essentially a signal flag lizards use to talk to each other. He might be flashing it to attract a mate, defend his territory from a rival, or just acknowledge another lizard nearby.

It’s incredible how much personality is packed into such a small creature. Nature didn't skip any details on these guys.

The Details:
He’s likely a Green Anole, often called the king of the dewlap flex. Despite the small size, he definitely carries himself with the energy of a predator ten times his size.

Which photo do you prefer—the one where he's looking at us, or the shot where he's giving the full "mini dino" display? Let me know in the comments.

04/10/2026

The rivalry was intense!

04/07/2026

04/01/2026

The pollen is out of control!

03/31/2026

Idk I feel like the music industry is in trouble. Especially songwriters. AI can write and make songs instantly. What’s your take?

03/29/2026

Just wrapped up a week in Utah… and wow, that place is unreal.

The views don’t even look real half the time. Feels like you’re walking through a movie set.

Also had to step into a whole different era while I was out there - 1920s themed event. Let’s just say I made an offer they couldn’t refuse 😏

Utah definitely surprised me.

Anyone here from Utah or been before? What spots did I miss?

03/19/2026

Apparently Burger King is trying something new with their marketing.

I saw one of their new commercials recently, and it caught me off guard. Instead of the usual “look how great our food is” approach, they basically admitted they fell off. They said the quality slipped, the experience wasn’t great, and they’re trying to fix it.

And honestly… my last experience kind of proves their point.

The other day I ordered a burger and some chicken fries. I start eating the fries, and suddenly I get hit with this awful smell. Like something was just… off.

So naturally, I start investigating.

I pick up the burger.

That was the culprit.

It smelled like fish. Not a little weird. Not “maybe it’s just me.” I mean straight up smelled like a fish sandwich. At that point I was sitting there thinking, “Did I accidentally order something from the ocean?”

It completely threw me off.

And what’s funny is, after seeing that commercial, it actually made me think differently about the whole experience.

Because for once, a fast food brand is basically saying:
“Yeah… we know. We’re not where we should be.”

That’s a risky move. Most companies would never admit that. They’d just double down on flashy ads and pretend everything is perfect.

But here’s the real question…

Does saying it actually mean anything?

Because if they’re serious about improving quality, consistency, and the overall experience, then that kind of honesty could actually win people back.

But if someone goes in and has an experience like mine?

That message falls apart real fast.

It turns from “we’re improving” into “we just made a really good commercial.”

I’ll give them credit though. It got my attention. It got me thinking. And clearly, it got me talking.

Now I’m curious where everyone else stands.

Have you had a good experience at Burger King recently?

Or have you had a “this smells like fish and I’m questioning my life choices” kind of moment too?

Let’s hear it.