Brrrrrrrr.....

The Pacific ocean is so deceivingly cold. This is as far as I went.

~~Yellow flower fairy dust is not magical, but it does make the snot fly~~

Spring semester.

So, here's hoping Punxsutawney Phil predicts that spring-be-a-coming, okay okay,YES YES, there is no snow here east-coasters, I know, I know, but I am not a cold fan, and I was down right chilly today on the first day of Spring semester, and of course in my class, I chose the seat by the door.
Last semester I was the nerd up front, and now I am the cool-headed chic in back. An old pro if you will. With emphasis on the OLD.
As my three hour class came to a close, I decided to reward myself on my first day back with a bacon spinach salad from Trader Joes (comes with Poppy seed dressing-you must try this) and a peaceful stroll through downtown Monterey. My main reason for going there was to photograph the wharf, for my "one photo a day" challenge...but I changed my mind, and decided on a street scene. By the way, I think I am now changing my challenge, to one panorama a week. I know I am already two deep, but it's my blog and my rules to break, so there.

Just one photo?

I love walking downtown. As a family we usually choose to walk along the wharf on sunny afternoons, but this "no-kid Friday", the hubby and I decided to stroll Cannery Row. The air was ripe with a super yummy blend of sealions and clam chowder samples as we meandered through all the tourist shops before lunch (not the most appetizing of smells...but we got over it).
Sourdough burger and Newcastle for him, Tunamelt, Stella,...and one photo for me.
I think this is a new challenge for me.
JUST.ONE.PHOTO.

~~SO. I totally cheated. 8 photos to make one. eh, you don't really care do you?~~

Sometimes it's okay to stand alone.

Hap-pi-ness.

When I describe my best friend to strangers, I always say, "If you looked up happiness in the dictionary, her picture would be there". Well, today I decided to make it happen. This isn't exactly Websters Merriam, but you get it. And of course I took the pictures.

Definition of happiness:


1. good fortune, prosperity
2. a. a state of well being and contentment, joy
    b. a pleasurable or satisfying experience
3. felicity, aptness

-blissfullness, gladness, joy, warm fuzzies-

She left the country for the FIRST time in 37 years, to come see ME, in PERU. These photos are taken at the sand dunes of Huacachina Peru...and THIS my friends, is HAPPINESS.

MEOW

I would like to put this in writing. This will not become a trend. I am not turning into the crazy cat lady. I will not fill my blog with pictures of my cats. I promise that I did not take 30 photos exactly like this.

But looooook how cuuuuuute they are!!!

I hate cats by the way.

A Friday Hike

The hubby and I have officially made time for eachother...something that has been hard to come by in our 10 years with our three crazy kids. He has fridays off, and before things get too hectic and he has to take those days to study, we are putting the littlest in daycare, and dedicating our fridays to US. The last two "us-days" we have had a nice breakfast out and then gone hiking, exploring the trails behind our house. The dreary winter rain has subsided for now, the sun has been out, warming the air, slightly. Having an adult converstation with your spouse, and not having to speak over spilt milk, snotty noses, shrill shrieking, is refreshing. Now, of course we have been lucky enough to take vacations in the past where we spent quality time together, but I think having a weekly escape, if only for a few hours, is priceless. 

Of course, I took my camera to capture the pretty things on our journey.

I didn't have to change a diaper, threaten a "time-out", or find a potty spot!!

Okay, I may be lying on the last one.  

Saved by the light.

My great friend, and amazing artist, Scott Jacobs has a great story. I wish he could tell it, but this is MY blog...so I am going to do it...I'll try to be as accurate as possible ;)
The other day, Scottie was painting his latest work of art "That's a bad chic" in his new apartment. His easel was set up in the center of his poorly lit room, underneath the ceiling light....until it suddenly burnt out on him. He then readjusted his workspace, pulling his easel two feet back, to be closer to his dresser light.
The next night, while painting in his new spot, he heard a weird noise, and something wizzed by him.
Two gun shots.
One came through the kitchen window, through the wall to his room, and embedded itself in the back wall. The trajectory path of the bullet? Right where his easel stood not one night before.
Thank god he is alright, and that he was indeed, in his words, "Saved by the light".
I was lucky enough to pretend I was CSI (of course after the cops did their own work) and photograph the details.

~~Scott and "That's a bad chic"~~

~~Scott with the shell, stands next to where his easel was, notice the bullethole in the wall~~

~~"Martini with a shot"~~

A collaborative piece with a close up of his painting, with the shell and the bullet that was in the wall.

~~Kitchen window bullet hole~~

Bored in Black and White.

~~~This is art people. ART.~~~

 FIGURE I: A speck.

FIGURE II: Cupcake.

FIGURE III: Stinky diaper.

Figure IV: Thirst comes in all sizes.

Figure V: Threesome.

Figure VI: Technology

FIGURE VII: Cold.

FIGURE VIII: Ridiculously goodlooking.

Imagine

I took this picture last week, and I cannot think of a more appropriate day to post it. It's exactly what I want to convey. :))

Imagine there's no Heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Rest In Peace ~ John Lennon ( 9 OCT 1940-8 DEC 1980)

Christmas spirit

Not to anyone's surprise, but I am turning into my grandma more and more everyday. I have all the classic symptoms...filling up my walls and empty spaces with framed pictures and art, baking cookies, dressing up my daughter like a birthday cake, and yes, putting up Christmas trees all over the house. I LOVE Christmas!!! I have had five trees for a few years now, and I am going to do my best to keep it this way, for a few years more at least...before I add anymore!! I think this year I shall share all of them with you, throughout the month...because it's a very trendy thing to do, and I know how much different my Christmas trees must look compared to yours. :P

~~Main living room red and gold tree, with my entryway bronze and green tree in the background~~

To get the shot...

I have gone to the absolute TOP...I have scaled cavernous trails...I have teetered on high walls...I have gotten down in the mud...I have ever so carefully waded to the middle of the pool...and I obviously have gotten waaay too close to the shore break. Photography is so fun.

Thought of the Day

~~It's all about perspective.~~

Public Service Announcement.

It's back to school! Don't forget to save your boxtops on all your favorite groceries to raise money for your kids school. Here in California it's so important, as budget cuts wreck havoc on our school funds...while these box tops wreck havoc on my pocketbook; I see double boxtops...I buy it...who knows if I need it or not! :)

Thought of the Day

Happy Father's Day.

I have always loved photography, ever since I can remember. I never took it seriously though, not until I shot this photo. My first born son is no more than a month here, and I am taking it with my brand new, first ever digital point and shoot Nikon camera, newly gifted by my mother. Now, what I love about this photo is, well, there are many things I love about this photo, but, I love that it is real. In simple black and white I captured something so complex. A new baby. A new father. A new relationship. What I love even more about this photo is what you don't see. When I took this photo, I was probably mixing the cheese packet into the macaroni (the extent to my culinary abilities at the time) and my darling husband was hushing the boy to sleep. I looked up and saw the silohette, and thought, "well ain't that nice". They are standing in front of a huge window, I assume it was open, it was hot...on the 16th floor, of our "cute" little apartment in Honolulu, Hawaii. What you do not see is Diamond Head crater behind them. One of the most famous, most photographed scenerys in this world, that we could see from our window...is not there. Amazing.

I love this photo. I love that this was the beginning of my relationship with photography. I love that this photo is in a photo book somewhere (I won a contest, and didn't buy the book), and I love that I captured one of the most beautiful moments in my family's life.

Fashion 101

I finally got myself a pair of ballet flats. I am so trendy.

Editing 101

I took this picture in Palm Springs earlier this year. Nate peered into the lens with the most perfect natural smile. During the editing process, I almost made a huge mistake by cropping out my cousin Kristine's boot. Before I did, thankfully, I realized what an integral part of the photo it was; the color, the placement...the boot makes this photo so much better! Sometimes the things you think don't quite fit, are actually the perfect fit!!