I follow the Yosemite blog on my Google reader. Today I saw a post referring to another blog. It's a Yosemite Ranger who blogs all bout his California Black Bear stories. This one made me so sad and angry! I just don't get why people can not be responsible! Seriously!!! If you can't be responsible then you shouldn't be allowed to camp in Bear Territory! Once we were camping and some idiot left this cooler on the picnic table and dog food in the back of his truck…despite al the signs asking to store your food in the bear boxes! So what do you think happened…yup the bear came to visit his campsite..not once, but twice!Come on people, those boxes aren't just to protect your food, but to keep the bears alive!
This is from jeffreytrust.com:
The next year, I was working one night when we received a report of a bear (who turned out to be Yellow 53, a yearling on his own at that point) near Lower Pines Campground. Since he was out of the campground, we didn’t bother him, and he soon disappeared. Expecting that he might come into the campground once it got dark, we talked to everyone to make sure they stored their food. Meanwhile, Yellow 53 ambled over a nearby bridge and left the area. He’d had his chance to get into Lower Pines, but he walked all the way around the campground and over a bridge to go somewhere else. This is what bears are supposed to do, and I actually remember feeling proud of him! Maybe he’d be unlike his mother! On another night shortly after, I was working once again, and I ran into my partner as he told a woman not to forget the bag of trash she still had hanging out.
Hours later, as I was walking through Upper Pines Campground, checking on food storage, I found Yellow 53 eating from the trash bag that this woman my partner had reminded had never put away. The bear treed, and when he finally came down, I chased him away. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first time Yellow 53 got human food on his own, and all because this woman, despite the reminder, still managed to forget to throw away her trash.
And thus a downward spiral began. He was active that year, less so the next, and then very active the following two years. He knew by then that getting human food was far more efficient than eating only natural foods, despite the occasionally annoying person who actually tried to scare him away. He could sneak into campsites with people just a few feet away and grab their food. As time went on, he was so comfortable doing this that visitors had a hard time scaring him away (although, I always found him easy to scare away).
He was a smart bear, like his mother. Orange 19 once banged a bear canister against a rock for 45 minutes until the lid popped off. Yellow 53, on the other hand, went around opening up unlocked car doors… using the door handles.
I (and many others) spent quite a lot of time trying to undo the consequences of that woman forgetting to throw away her trash. I even got an award for it, but all Yellow 53 got was more and more food. He got so close to people so often, and may have injured one (or more) people, that we were beginning to think we’d have no choice but to kill him. We tried moving him, we tried aggressively using a shotgun with rubber slugs or bean bags to scare him, we tried to improve food storage. But, in the end, none of these things made a difference, and we had to kill him. It was a very sad day. He was perhaps my favorite bear.
So, a few nights ago, I was walking through Upper Pines when the wildlife techs, just a loop away, found a sow with three cubs in the campground. And what were they doing? Eating from a trash bag someone had forgotten to throw away.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Traveling
I absolutely Love to Travel! As a kid I would get so excited for vacations. But when did I get that international travel bug? It all started with a 2.5 week trip to Ireland! It was amazing! I loved Ireland so much and really didn't want to leave (esp to go back to Florida). But then I wanted more! So about a year after Dave and I were married we made the trek to Italy for 2.5 weeks! OMG....seriously amazing. I loved every minute of it again. Since then we have been on 3 other big international vacations. As soon as I get back I'm already thinking about where to next. It seems that as we go to some countries I tend to add more to the list!
International traveling is so much fun to me. I love experiencing their cultures and seeing how people live. In some ways even getting back to the basics...things we have but they don't.
It's been about 6 months since we returned from Thailand and I am really itching for that next vacation. I've been almost obsessed this week with looking into vacations. I am so ready to hop on a plane and take of to the next wonderful international location!
International traveling is so much fun to me. I love experiencing their cultures and seeing how people live. In some ways even getting back to the basics...things we have but they don't.
It's been about 6 months since we returned from Thailand and I am really itching for that next vacation. I've been almost obsessed this week with looking into vacations. I am so ready to hop on a plane and take of to the next wonderful international location!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
New Army Pass
Was still snowed in as of June 27th! Dave and I had planned to hike to the top of New Army Pass. But after hearing reports of the last switchback being snowed in, Dave decided to stay at High Lake while I continued up. As I got almost to the top, I realized I just wasn't getting passed that snow. Everyone was climbing up rocks to get to the top. Now some people had to get over...since they were backpacking...but I was just out for a nice day hike, so I decided I didn't need to be that adventurous and turned around. The total hike for the day (according to my GPS) was 14.66 miles. Not bad. We will be backpacking in 2 weeks. I so can't wait to campout in the middle of nowhere!!! Dave did great with this hike, averaging over 2 miles an hour.
I really love the sierras...they are just so amazing. Now this is the part where I would normally share some photos since I hike with my XT...but guess what...I left all my memory cards sitting on the computer desk! So I have absolutely no photos. I was quite bummed. But there will be more hikes later in the year.
The campground was interesting...lots of mosquitos at around 6pm - 8pm..and we forgot the bug spray. We camped at 10,000 feet...so it was quite cold at night. We lived by the campfire once teh sun started to go down.
I really love the sierras...they are just so amazing. Now this is the part where I would normally share some photos since I hike with my XT...but guess what...I left all my memory cards sitting on the computer desk! So I have absolutely no photos. I was quite bummed. But there will be more hikes later in the year.
The campground was interesting...lots of mosquitos at around 6pm - 8pm..and we forgot the bug spray. We camped at 10,000 feet...so it was quite cold at night. We lived by the campfire once teh sun started to go down.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Miscellaneous Update
I haven't posted very much lately…not to much going on cause I've been doing lots of photography the last few weeks.
But this weekend we are heading up into the moutains for some camping and hiking. I can't wait to hit the trail! It's been since last October.
I did get my new road bike so I'm going to start training for duathalons and trathalons. I ran 7 miles on Saturday and did a short ride on Sunday. The bike is awesome!!!
Our garage is a ton better thanks to Dave…more stuff gets hauled away today then its time to morve onto organziation.
I've been very good at completing my Tuesday and Thursday morning runs.
On July 4th were going to go see the Orioles play the Angels in Anaheim..so we will be watching the firewords at the stadium.
I hung up some large photos updstairs from Thailand and they look great…so vibrant! Now I want to hang up some more larger photos.
But this weekend we are heading up into the moutains for some camping and hiking. I can't wait to hit the trail! It's been since last October.
I did get my new road bike so I'm going to start training for duathalons and trathalons. I ran 7 miles on Saturday and did a short ride on Sunday. The bike is awesome!!!
Our garage is a ton better thanks to Dave…more stuff gets hauled away today then its time to morve onto organziation.
I've been very good at completing my Tuesday and Thursday morning runs.
On July 4th were going to go see the Orioles play the Angels in Anaheim..so we will be watching the firewords at the stadium.
I hung up some large photos updstairs from Thailand and they look great…so vibrant! Now I want to hang up some more larger photos.
Friday, June 19, 2009
An Extra Light
So tonight I was playing around making sure I know how I want to shoot things during the reception tomorrow. I plan on using some off camera flash again like I did at the last wedding. Hopefully it goes smoother this time. But here's an example.
Here is a photo with just my on camera flash going off.

Now here is the same scene with my flash going off on the camera and the one on the lightstand.
Here is a photo with just my on camera flash going off.

Now here is the same scene with my flash going off on the camera and the one on the lightstand.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Loving our weather lately!
Apprently we're running about 20 degrees BELOW normal! Since we live in the desert we would normally have temps reaching into the 90s by now. But most days have been in the upper 60s to low 70s. We have even had overcast days typical of the LA Area. I'd be so incredibly happy if this was how summer really was for us. However, I know the heat is somewhere around the corner. The crazy thing is the cold weather in the mountains as well. They keep getting snow showeres. At this rate, we might be doing some hiking in snow real soon. I asked Dave the other day if we happened to have hibernated and woke up in the fall, cuase that is how it feels out there. Yesterday I had a long sleeve shirt on and was totally comforatable outside. Global Warming?
Tomorrow I go to get sized for my bike and will be ordering it. I can't wait. I test rode one in the parking lot on Tuesday. Soooooo different from my mountain bike.
Since Dave is now working from home twice a week - he has been grilling more. On Tuesday we had grilled chicken skewrs with a Thai Peanut Sauce…so good! Tonight is turkey burgers with gouda and aspargus and potatoes.
Tomorrow I go to get sized for my bike and will be ordering it. I can't wait. I test rode one in the parking lot on Tuesday. Soooooo different from my mountain bike.
Since Dave is now working from home twice a week - he has been grilling more. On Tuesday we had grilled chicken skewrs with a Thai Peanut Sauce…so good! Tonight is turkey burgers with gouda and aspargus and potatoes.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Duathalon!
I'm getting a ROAD BIKE!!! We're gonna go order it this week! I would go today but they are closed on Sundays! Then I'm gonna train for this duathalon! I'm so excited! It's on my birthday!!!!
Saturday, June 06, 2009
View of the Sierras
This is what we would have been hiking in today had we gone! You can't even see the top of the mountains. I guess its good we didn't go, but I'm still pretty bummed.

This is today's forecast at 11,000 feet! We would have been hiking to over 12,000 feet.
Today: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a high near 30. Calm wind becoming west northwest between 7 and 10 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. North northwest wind between 9 and 13 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

This is today's forecast at 11,000 feet! We would have been hiking to over 12,000 feet.
Today: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a high near 30. Calm wind becoming west northwest between 7 and 10 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. North northwest wind between 9 and 13 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday, June 05, 2009
SNOW in June!
Yeah seriously can you believe this…I think we're getting snowed out of our hike this weekend! I've read anywhere from 3-8 inches or snow at elevation is expected!
Hello Mother Nature, did you not get the memo that it is now June! I'm so incredibley bummed. I was so looking froward to the cold weather and a nice hike up to the pass. Then a night by the campfire roasting marshmallows! Instead, we'll be at home cleaning our garage. ***SIGH***
We're going to try again in 3 weeks.
But the positive note is that I can go bike shopping! :)
Hello Mother Nature, did you not get the memo that it is now June! I'm so incredibley bummed. I was so looking froward to the cold weather and a nice hike up to the pass. Then a night by the campfire roasting marshmallows! Instead, we'll be at home cleaning our garage. ***SIGH***
We're going to try again in 3 weeks.
But the positive note is that I can go bike shopping! :)
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Workin It Out
Totally lovin it…I'm really getting back into my more hard core exercise routine. Feelin good….but now its summer and I won't be racing until the fall.
Here's my accomplishments for the week:
Friday - ran 5.5 miles
Saturday - Shadow Boxing + Cardio at the gym (1.5 hour workout)
Sunday - 60 miles on my bike!
Monday - recovery day
Tuesday - Tennis
Wednesday - Shadow boxing + cardio
Thursday - Ran 4 miles + Tennis
Tomorrow I plan to run as well and then we're going to do a big hike over the weekend.
After my Tour De Cure experience I've decided I'm going to get a good road bike, so I need to start looking around! I want to start doing Tris and Duathalons…seriously, how long have I been saying this! Yup, many years! I have a new workout routine I've worked out for myself that includes some biking. I also plan on running on T and TH before I go to work to take advantage of the much cooler desert weather. It was 54 this morning!!! So nice…wish it would stay like this until fall. So anyawy I now get a dual workout on T and Th with playing tennis with Dave. Totally looking forward to everything. And I'd like to do a bike race in the future or something. There is a tri up at Mammoth in July, but I totally won't be ready for that. So I'll have to look around. But can imagine doing a tri in the sierras! Amazing! Although I'm sure that water is freezing cold.
Anyway - we're hoping to go camping for an evening this weekend. Do you know what the temp will be up there at night….34!!! And a slight chance of snow! Seriously…in June! Gotta love Cali. You can have 80 degrees and 30 degrees all in one day.
Here's my accomplishments for the week:
Friday - ran 5.5 miles
Saturday - Shadow Boxing + Cardio at the gym (1.5 hour workout)
Sunday - 60 miles on my bike!
Monday - recovery day
Tuesday - Tennis
Wednesday - Shadow boxing + cardio
Thursday - Ran 4 miles + Tennis
Tomorrow I plan to run as well and then we're going to do a big hike over the weekend.
After my Tour De Cure experience I've decided I'm going to get a good road bike, so I need to start looking around! I want to start doing Tris and Duathalons…seriously, how long have I been saying this! Yup, many years! I have a new workout routine I've worked out for myself that includes some biking. I also plan on running on T and TH before I go to work to take advantage of the much cooler desert weather. It was 54 this morning!!! So nice…wish it would stay like this until fall. So anyawy I now get a dual workout on T and Th with playing tennis with Dave. Totally looking forward to everything. And I'd like to do a bike race in the future or something. There is a tri up at Mammoth in July, but I totally won't be ready for that. So I'll have to look around. But can imagine doing a tri in the sierras! Amazing! Although I'm sure that water is freezing cold.
Anyway - we're hoping to go camping for an evening this weekend. Do you know what the temp will be up there at night….34!!! And a slight chance of snow! Seriously…in June! Gotta love Cali. You can have 80 degrees and 30 degrees all in one day.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tour De Cure
This weekend was the tour de cure! It is over and I survived! Yup...60 miles on my bike! You may think 60 miles would be tough, but try it on a mountain bike. I think I got the most of a workout out of anyone out there! Why...well mountain bike tires are thick...which means more surface area, which in return means more friction. So all those road bikes were just passing me by! It took me forever, I got a great workout, and a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment! But now I want a road bike.
Saturday - Dave and I left in the afternoon to hang out in Long Beach. Our plans were simple, walk around the city and snap a few photos, Eat some good food, Drink some good beer, and spend some time at the hotel pool!
We stayed at the Westin in downtown so we could walk around during the day and not have to worry about driving.
We had beers at 3 different locations...Yard House, Auld Dubliner, and Rock Bottom Brewery!


This was the view from our room.

Random photos throughout the city.











Right now I am totally exhausted and thinking it's going to be hard to walk tomorrow. Dave is passed out on the couch with 2 cats. It's been a long day!
Saturday - Dave and I left in the afternoon to hang out in Long Beach. Our plans were simple, walk around the city and snap a few photos, Eat some good food, Drink some good beer, and spend some time at the hotel pool!
We stayed at the Westin in downtown so we could walk around during the day and not have to worry about driving.
We had beers at 3 different locations...Yard House, Auld Dubliner, and Rock Bottom Brewery!


This was the view from our room.

Random photos throughout the city.











Right now I am totally exhausted and thinking it's going to be hard to walk tomorrow. Dave is passed out on the couch with 2 cats. It's been a long day!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The only thing I like about summer is...
camping and hiking in the Sierras! Can't wait. We'll be there next weekend. Planning on doing a 10 mile hike probably. Yipeee!!!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend
I love it when I only have to work 3 days in a week...I have Friday off too!!! Yipeee!!!
So Friday night I picked Dave up at LAX then we drove to Oxnard. Where we spent the night. Then on Saturday we drove over to Goleta to see my Cousin and his family. It was nice cause my aunt and uncle were here visiting too and I don't get to see them very often! It was Foster's 3rd birthday party! I'll tell you that kid had so much fun jumping in the bounce house they rented! He barely came out for a breather at all.
Foster got to enjoy a yummy cupcake for his birthday.


We left there around 7ish and went to downtown Santa Barbara for dinner. That took longer then I expected cause of the Lakers game.
Sunday morning we woke up to the sonic boom of the shuttle reentering the atmosphere since it had to land at Edwards. Haven't heard that in a couple of years, since the last time they landed here. We kinda took our own time to get going. We had breakfast and then headed towards Los Olivios for a day of wine tasting. We had a ton of fun. The wineries were packed! We did find some good wine though. We ended up making the trek all the way up to Santa Maria and drove home from there after stopping for dinner. On the way home the lighting was just gorgeous in the hills. I wanted to stop so bad, but felt bad cause I knew Dave was just ready to get home. We finally pulled over and got some amazing shots. Oh I'd so love to do an e-session in those type of hills right as the sun is setting. So gorgeous!!
The hills at sunset!

The road at sunset! I love this shot. I think I forsee this being framed somewhere on our wall soon!

Me @ one of the wineries

Today - Memorial Day - we are home. Dave hasn't been home in 10 days! But we have a lot to get done, so we are spending the day shopping and cleaning.
So our pet sitters didn't stop by this weekend. I guess some sort of emergency came up and the lady forgot. You can only imagine how hungry they were. Haley seemed to be OK even though she didn't get her insulin.
So Friday night I picked Dave up at LAX then we drove to Oxnard. Where we spent the night. Then on Saturday we drove over to Goleta to see my Cousin and his family. It was nice cause my aunt and uncle were here visiting too and I don't get to see them very often! It was Foster's 3rd birthday party! I'll tell you that kid had so much fun jumping in the bounce house they rented! He barely came out for a breather at all.
Foster got to enjoy a yummy cupcake for his birthday.


We left there around 7ish and went to downtown Santa Barbara for dinner. That took longer then I expected cause of the Lakers game.
Sunday morning we woke up to the sonic boom of the shuttle reentering the atmosphere since it had to land at Edwards. Haven't heard that in a couple of years, since the last time they landed here. We kinda took our own time to get going. We had breakfast and then headed towards Los Olivios for a day of wine tasting. We had a ton of fun. The wineries were packed! We did find some good wine though. We ended up making the trek all the way up to Santa Maria and drove home from there after stopping for dinner. On the way home the lighting was just gorgeous in the hills. I wanted to stop so bad, but felt bad cause I knew Dave was just ready to get home. We finally pulled over and got some amazing shots. Oh I'd so love to do an e-session in those type of hills right as the sun is setting. So gorgeous!!
The hills at sunset!

The road at sunset! I love this shot. I think I forsee this being framed somewhere on our wall soon!

Me @ one of the wineries

Today - Memorial Day - we are home. Dave hasn't been home in 10 days! But we have a lot to get done, so we are spending the day shopping and cleaning.
So our pet sitters didn't stop by this weekend. I guess some sort of emergency came up and the lady forgot. You can only imagine how hungry they were. Haley seemed to be OK even though she didn't get her insulin.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Next Vacation
I'm starting to think the Olympics in Vancouver is just to much of a headache for a vacation next year. Getting tickets and such is not at all like it was for Torino! They are making it so difficult! So now were debating on skipping it next year and going in another 4 years. It's in Russia then! But if we do that, where should we go!? You all know how much I look forward to our international travels! I'm really itching to go back to Europe so I think that will be our destination if the Olympics falls through.
Options:
- Greece
- Southern Italy
- Ski trip to Austria
- Coppenhagen/Blegium area
- Spain
What do you think?
Options:
- Greece
- Southern Italy
- Ski trip to Austria
- Coppenhagen/Blegium area
- Spain
What do you think?
Monday, May 18, 2009
Preakness 2009
What a great weekend! The weather was kinda dreary all weekend, but we had a good time. We had 2 snowballs, crabs, crab cakes, and crab soup! It was also a yummy weekend.
Preakness was just great. Two of the jockeys were actually on our flight to Baltimore. Dave managed to get one of the flight attendants to take one of our Preakness tickets to them for autographs. She was the sweetest flight attendant I've ever come across.
Wanna see some photos….check them out here.
So what was Dave's big present….I told him I'm going to take him to Chicago this August to go Chicago Bears Training Camp!!! He is pretty excited.
We had a really good time. I manged to get some great photos since we were right up along the railing this year.
So here's the weird thing…last night my plane lands at about 8:28…I'm (yes just me - Dave took a different flight to Cincinnati) one of the first people off the plane…apparently a 4.7 magnitude quake hit about 3 miles away from LAX at 8:39pm. I never felt a thing! I heard some things rattling in a shop, but since I didn't feel anything I thought maybe its was plane going by or something, but thought that was kinda unusual too. But no one around me said anything about an earthquake. I get home and see all these Twitters about a strong earthquake. How weird!
Preakness was just great. Two of the jockeys were actually on our flight to Baltimore. Dave managed to get one of the flight attendants to take one of our Preakness tickets to them for autographs. She was the sweetest flight attendant I've ever come across.
Wanna see some photos….check them out here.
So what was Dave's big present….I told him I'm going to take him to Chicago this August to go Chicago Bears Training Camp!!! He is pretty excited.
We had a really good time. I manged to get some great photos since we were right up along the railing this year.
So here's the weird thing…last night my plane lands at about 8:28…I'm (yes just me - Dave took a different flight to Cincinnati) one of the first people off the plane…apparently a 4.7 magnitude quake hit about 3 miles away from LAX at 8:39pm. I never felt a thing! I heard some things rattling in a shop, but since I didn't feel anything I thought maybe its was plane going by or something, but thought that was kinda unusual too. But no one around me said anything about an earthquake. I get home and see all these Twitters about a strong earthquake. How weird!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
We're Heading To Preakness
Well we are off to Maryland this weekend. I'm pretty excited to go back and go to Preakness. Hopefully the rain holds off.
This past weekend I participated in a fantastic Bridal Shoot. It was held up in the hills near Topanga. There were 8 other photographers and we had a fnatastic time. If you want to see photos check out my blog. I'm rather happy with the stuff I catpured. I plan on enlarging some of these for bridal shows.
Nothin to note wrothy going on around here right now. Hopefully we'll be camping and hiking agin real soon. We’re both so ready to pack up the car and go. I relaly want to do a wekeend backpacking trip. I did reserve something for us in Sept up in the high sierras. I can't wait to do that. But there will be plenty more before then I'm sure.
So Dave's birthday is Saturday!!! I can't wait to give him his gift. I hope he'll like it. I'd love to tell you guys but I'm afraid he might see it.
This past weekend I participated in a fantastic Bridal Shoot. It was held up in the hills near Topanga. There were 8 other photographers and we had a fnatastic time. If you want to see photos check out my blog. I'm rather happy with the stuff I catpured. I plan on enlarging some of these for bridal shows.
Nothin to note wrothy going on around here right now. Hopefully we'll be camping and hiking agin real soon. We’re both so ready to pack up the car and go. I relaly want to do a wekeend backpacking trip. I did reserve something for us in Sept up in the high sierras. I can't wait to do that. But there will be plenty more before then I'm sure.
So Dave's birthday is Saturday!!! I can't wait to give him his gift. I hope he'll like it. I'd love to tell you guys but I'm afraid he might see it.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Wish I Could Tell the Future
Ahhh…sometimes I feel like Dave and I are caught in this giant catch 22. We were talking last night about our future and what we want. We both agree that we want to live in the wonderful state of Colorado! Our original plan was Cali for 4-5 years then Colorado…well guess what..July is my 5 year anniversary with LM. Yup…its been 5 years since I packed 2 big suitcases and boarded a plane with a cat in tow!( I still can't believe that is all I came with!) So here's the dilemma... The housing market stinks…so it’s a good time to buy a house, but a bad time to sell one. So do we take a loss (well I guess its not really a loss, just not the equity we had about 2 years ago!) and follow our hearts or do we stick it out a little while longer in Cali. Now don't get me wrong…we do love Cali. I mean how can you not…great hiking, skiing, wine tasting, beautiful scenery, etc… But we know we belong in CO. Sighhh….
So anyway that is our constant battle. For now we deal with the immediate future. It's good to have Dave home again. He was off visiting his parents in FL. I think he totally hated all that humidity. I have one rule regarding going to FL…I will only step foot in FL in Dec, Jan, or Feb. I hate heat and I especially hate humidity. So I stayed at home in our 60 degree weather instead. I'm still itching to go somewhere but I got a good opportunity to go shoot a bridal shoot this Saturday. So we will be at home again this weekend. But the next weekend is our trip to MD. So much for spring at Yosemite….looks like we'll miss it again this year. Oh well. But I do think I see some camping in out very near future. Just got to figure out where is hikable since it just snowed! Yup..it snowed in May! We had a crazy weather weekend. It was windy and in the 60s or so here..but the mountains north of us got snow.
So anyway that is our constant battle. For now we deal with the immediate future. It's good to have Dave home again. He was off visiting his parents in FL. I think he totally hated all that humidity. I have one rule regarding going to FL…I will only step foot in FL in Dec, Jan, or Feb. I hate heat and I especially hate humidity. So I stayed at home in our 60 degree weather instead. I'm still itching to go somewhere but I got a good opportunity to go shoot a bridal shoot this Saturday. So we will be at home again this weekend. But the next weekend is our trip to MD. So much for spring at Yosemite….looks like we'll miss it again this year. Oh well. But I do think I see some camping in out very near future. Just got to figure out where is hikable since it just snowed! Yup..it snowed in May! We had a crazy weather weekend. It was windy and in the 60s or so here..but the mountains north of us got snow.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Playin' around
I have lots of free time on my hands this weekend and we have a blue sky today!!! It's been kinda cloudy all weekend. Ok, I have to warn you...I don't look so great in this photo...with my running (red shirt) on..I never wear red!!!!! But it was free shirt and its good for running. But I wasn't about to go change just to test some photos out! This is just in our backyard...hence the California block wall!
So I wanted to try of camera flash with that super blue sky. I exposed to get the sky the way I wanted it then I put my flash on the light stand. Here's what I got. This is straight out of the camera.
So I wanted to try of camera flash with that super blue sky. I exposed to get the sky the way I wanted it then I put my flash on the light stand. Here's what I got. This is straight out of the camera.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Santa Anita
Just thought I'd share this little sideshow...I put this together from when we went to Santa Anita and dodger stadium. No time for editing, so this stuff is pretty much SOOC.
You can also see it here.
You can also see it here.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Busy Busy
Wow I just realized that I have a pretty busy life the next month or so.
next weekend - Bridal Shoot with OSP
May 16th - In Maryland for Preakness (we have god seats this year!)
May 23td - I think I'm free! Hopefully we can go somewhere though cause I'm ready to get out of town!
May 30th - A photoshoot with TWINS!!! and then I ride my bike the next day for the Tour De Cure.
June 6th - Maybe camping and hiking somewhere
June 13th - I have a maternity session and helping with a wedding all in one day..lots of shooting!
June 20th - A wedding here in Palmdale!
So I just thought I'd post the info...if anyone is interested in donating to the Tour De Cure. All of the money raised goes to the American Diabetes Association. You can doante here, you can buy a print here, or you can auction on my photoshoot here.
next weekend - Bridal Shoot with OSP
May 16th - In Maryland for Preakness (we have god seats this year!)
May 23td - I think I'm free! Hopefully we can go somewhere though cause I'm ready to get out of town!
May 30th - A photoshoot with TWINS!!! and then I ride my bike the next day for the Tour De Cure.
June 6th - Maybe camping and hiking somewhere
June 13th - I have a maternity session and helping with a wedding all in one day..lots of shooting!
June 20th - A wedding here in Palmdale!
So I just thought I'd post the info...if anyone is interested in donating to the Tour De Cure. All of the money raised goes to the American Diabetes Association. You can doante here, you can buy a print here, or you can auction on my photoshoot here.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Playing Catch Up
This week I managed to catch up on all my photography stuff. I finished the wedding proofs, I finished the baby session proofs, I ordered referral cards, ordered vendor postcards, and I ordered some more sample prints including some thin wraps!! I can't wait til some of this stuff gets here. Anyway if you don't follow my photog blog check this out. When I shoot baby sessions I like to keep a photojournalistic approach. I call this lifestyle sessions. In other words I want to capture the kids doing this they normally do...such as being fed, taking bath, or playing with a toy. This sideshow is my take on the baby session I just did.
Tonight should be nice and relaxing. We bought crab meat at Costco so I'm making Maryland style crab cakes at home. Yummy Yummy! BUt we'll be back in MD in a few weekends and will surly get our fill of crab then. But we were totally craving it.
But here's the thing...Costco switched up the brand of crab meat they carry. It used to be a reputable name that I knew in Maryland. Now it Chicken of the Sea. Well, I opened the can, tasted the crab meat, and it was MUSHY! I know exactly when this happens..the crabs are coked to long and have to much water in them. I was very upset since this stuff is not cheap. So I sent them an email. We'll see what they say. But this stuff never should have passed through quality control! We cooked with it anyway, and it was okay...just not the great crab cakes I'm used to.
Tonight I went for a run! I was so nice out...something like 64 degrees and a light breeze. I wish it would stay like this all the way through summer. I'm dreaking the summer heat. But at least it hasn't hit yet. Hopefully we have another month before the comes.
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
Tonight should be nice and relaxing. We bought crab meat at Costco so I'm making Maryland style crab cakes at home. Yummy Yummy! BUt we'll be back in MD in a few weekends and will surly get our fill of crab then. But we were totally craving it.
But here's the thing...Costco switched up the brand of crab meat they carry. It used to be a reputable name that I knew in Maryland. Now it Chicken of the Sea. Well, I opened the can, tasted the crab meat, and it was MUSHY! I know exactly when this happens..the crabs are coked to long and have to much water in them. I was very upset since this stuff is not cheap. So I sent them an email. We'll see what they say. But this stuff never should have passed through quality control! We cooked with it anyway, and it was okay...just not the great crab cakes I'm used to.
Tonight I went for a run! I was so nice out...something like 64 degrees and a light breeze. I wish it would stay like this all the way through summer. I'm dreaking the summer heat. But at least it hasn't hit yet. Hopefully we have another month before the comes.
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Another Weekend Come and Gone
Ahh...another weekend at home. We were thinking about going skiing but it warmed up drastically this weekend. So we didn't think skiing was such a great idea. I'm so itching to go somewhere!!!! But I think is going to be a few more weeks with Dave's schedule. We're thinking about going to Yosemite in early May though. Then its off to MD for Preakness. At the end of the month I will be riding my bike 62 miles in the Tour De Cure. I realized this weekend that I need to start raising money for this. As there is a minimum you have to raise to participate. Then I thought well I can use my photography to my benefit. So I'm auctioning off a photoshoot on my blog! I hate sending out emails asking people to donate. So I'm using this as a method instead. I also have a photoshoot lined up with 1 year old twins that same weekend.
I wish I had thought of this auction thing earlier as this weekend was the Relay for Life. I could have done something there as well. I also participate in that every year. This year Dave and I signed up for 3 hours of time to walk/run. I ended up running like 10 miles!!! Soooo makes me want to train for another half marathon. Although I'm worried about the stress fracture thing. I'm really not even that sore today. I did like 46 laps on the track, but I walked a few laps with Dave. So I figure I did 11.5 miles total, but probably walked a mile or so. I was proud of Dave cause he ended up doing 5 miles total and ran about half of that.
I wish I had thought of this auction thing earlier as this weekend was the Relay for Life. I could have done something there as well. I also participate in that every year. This year Dave and I signed up for 3 hours of time to walk/run. I ended up running like 10 miles!!! Soooo makes me want to train for another half marathon. Although I'm worried about the stress fracture thing. I'm really not even that sore today. I did like 46 laps on the track, but I walked a few laps with Dave. So I figure I did 11.5 miles total, but probably walked a mile or so. I was proud of Dave cause he ended up doing 5 miles total and ran about half of that.
Monday, April 13, 2009
It's Nice to Be Well Again
Whoo Hoo..I feel so much better! May even hit up the gym tonight! Still have some sniffles but I can deal with that! The weekend was rather uneventful with me being sick.
The cool thing this weekend was Dave went to the store on Saturday. He walked in told me to close my eyes and said he had an Easter present. I was a bit down cause I was sick and mammoth got fresh powder! I wanted to go skiing! So he said he'd brought skiing to me. We have We Ski for the Wii but have never bought a Wii Fit...now we have one! And you can use it with We Ski. That was a nice surprise!
Sunday I was mostly better, so I edited photos and did taxes! Ughh...taxes suck. And I so hope I did them right! I still have to do the state ones though before Wednesday. Yeah we procrastinated. We were going to pay someone this year, but that just never happened. So now I'm stuck with it.
The awesome thing is so far Dave has not been hit with this flu thing. I'm so glad about that. I told him I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I was in so much pain, between the body aches, sore throat, ears, and headaches.
The cool thing this weekend was Dave went to the store on Saturday. He walked in told me to close my eyes and said he had an Easter present. I was a bit down cause I was sick and mammoth got fresh powder! I wanted to go skiing! So he said he'd brought skiing to me. We have We Ski for the Wii but have never bought a Wii Fit...now we have one! And you can use it with We Ski. That was a nice surprise!
Sunday I was mostly better, so I edited photos and did taxes! Ughh...taxes suck. And I so hope I did them right! I still have to do the state ones though before Wednesday. Yeah we procrastinated. We were going to pay someone this year, but that just never happened. So now I'm stuck with it.
The awesome thing is so far Dave has not been hit with this flu thing. I'm so glad about that. I told him I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I was in so much pain, between the body aches, sore throat, ears, and headaches.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Sick!
It's been so long since I've been sick that I seriously think I forgot just how awful it can be!I've only been to work 2.5 hours in the last 2 days. I've been in lots of pain between my throat, back, and ears. I hope I am better real soon. But I'm doing better than yesterday since I'm actually on the laptop.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
So Far This Weekend...
So this weekend Dave's sister and dad have been out visiting. And its been one of my 3 day weekends. Friday I had a photo shoot with a 3 month old baby. 3 mos is a hard age to do, for sure. I learned some lessons, but I do think I got some good shots. You can see one on my photo blog and more will be coming. The rest of the day on Friday we went bowling and cooked dinner at home. They played some Mario cart on Wii during the evening. Then it was off to bed cause we had to get up at 5:30am!
Yup 5:30 on a Saturday! needed enough time to fuel up and get down to Santa Anita for our annual Derby Day 5K run. Due to lots of circumstances I haven't run very much lately and I knew I wouldn't do well. I did what I qualify as "ok". I typically run at about a 7:30- 7:45 pace for 5 K races...and this one I was at just about the 8 min/mile pace...so much slower for me. Surprisingly I felt good strength and endurance wise, my downfall was that I was severely dehydrated when I started. I immediately had cotton mouth and therefore got a bad cramp in my side...before I even reached mile 1!!! I pushed my way through it, but I was in pain. So I had to slow down. My first mile was at 7:45...but I slowed down a lot after that. This race is hard though cause its kinda hilly, then there is the fact that you finish on a horse track. So I finished 13th in my age group. Which isn't bad when there are over 2000 people running! So not to say I'm disappointed, it just wasn't my best race. My official time isn't my actual time since they don't do chip timing. But My stop watch said I did 24:51. I'm usually in the 23 range...so about a minute off!!! That's a lot in the running world!
The rest of the day spent at Santa Anita then it was off to Pasadena for Spanish Tapas. We completed the day with an exhibition game at Dodger Stadium. This was my first time to dodger stadium...I have to say I was NOT impressed! Being from Baltimore and being used to Camden Yards...this stadium is very out dated and plain. Not what you would expect for LA!






Yup 5:30 on a Saturday! needed enough time to fuel up and get down to Santa Anita for our annual Derby Day 5K run. Due to lots of circumstances I haven't run very much lately and I knew I wouldn't do well. I did what I qualify as "ok". I typically run at about a 7:30- 7:45 pace for 5 K races...and this one I was at just about the 8 min/mile pace...so much slower for me. Surprisingly I felt good strength and endurance wise, my downfall was that I was severely dehydrated when I started. I immediately had cotton mouth and therefore got a bad cramp in my side...before I even reached mile 1!!! I pushed my way through it, but I was in pain. So I had to slow down. My first mile was at 7:45...but I slowed down a lot after that. This race is hard though cause its kinda hilly, then there is the fact that you finish on a horse track. So I finished 13th in my age group. Which isn't bad when there are over 2000 people running! So not to say I'm disappointed, it just wasn't my best race. My official time isn't my actual time since they don't do chip timing. But My stop watch said I did 24:51. I'm usually in the 23 range...so about a minute off!!! That's a lot in the running world!
The rest of the day spent at Santa Anita then it was off to Pasadena for Spanish Tapas. We completed the day with an exhibition game at Dodger Stadium. This was my first time to dodger stadium...I have to say I was NOT impressed! Being from Baltimore and being used to Camden Yards...this stadium is very out dated and plain. Not what you would expect for LA!






Friday, March 27, 2009
Just A Quick Note
Photog Friends...I love what this photog said in this photo lovecat article!
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2009/03/finding-ideal-clients-and-freedom.html
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2009/03/finding-ideal-clients-and-freedom.html
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Miscellaneous Thursday Night
10 Misc. Things off the top of my head:
1. No I'm not sad or upset that the terps lost last week
2. I think they did well in the tourney and showed people they belonged, despite some fo the talk.
3. I am glad Memphis lost tonight, as I always thought they were overrated.
4. WOW...Duke lost! By a lot!
5. Dave is taking training in Portland in April - I'm thinking I may go up with him over the weekend
6. I had a wedding last weekend, that went pretty well. Despite some tough leanings about Off camera flash. But that kind of stuff will only make me better. My next wedding is in June
7. I have a baby session next Friday
8. I don't like the fact that spring is here...that means the heat of summer is right around the corner.
9. Winter returned last Sunday...we had rain, hail. and snow flurries!
10. We are going to try and go up to Yosemite this spring.
I'll leave you with one photo from the wedding I shot last Saturday...

One last thought...The F22 crash was just an incredibly sad event. I still can't believe that happened out in our desert.
1. No I'm not sad or upset that the terps lost last week
2. I think they did well in the tourney and showed people they belonged, despite some fo the talk.
3. I am glad Memphis lost tonight, as I always thought they were overrated.
4. WOW...Duke lost! By a lot!
5. Dave is taking training in Portland in April - I'm thinking I may go up with him over the weekend
6. I had a wedding last weekend, that went pretty well. Despite some tough leanings about Off camera flash. But that kind of stuff will only make me better. My next wedding is in June
7. I have a baby session next Friday
8. I don't like the fact that spring is here...that means the heat of summer is right around the corner.
9. Winter returned last Sunday...we had rain, hail. and snow flurries!
10. We are going to try and go up to Yosemite this spring.
I'll leave you with one photo from the wedding I shot last Saturday...

One last thought...The F22 crash was just an incredibly sad event. I still can't believe that happened out in our desert.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Bracket Buster!
So, how many of you had Cal on your bracket today!!!?
Oh yeah...its nice to upset someone!!! Go Terps. Cal 71 and UMD 84!!!! I love it when the opposing teams fans try and make fun or put down Vasquez cause all it does is fire him up to do better! Hence the steal after the little airball he threw. My Terps rock!!!
This was out of an article written by Dan Wetzel on yahoo sports!
• Maryland defeated Cal 84-71, which means Mike Silver is wrong and Cal isn’t the center of the universe.
The question going forward is which Maryland team will show up? We’ve seen the Maryland team that got blown out by Duke and lost to Virginia in the regular season finale and had people speculating about Gary Williams’ job.
The one that pulled away from Cal, however, had the look of the Terrapin club that beat North Carolina and Michigan State this year. It had great ball movement, played with passion and made shots. It’s obviously capable of beating anyone. In a game with Memphis, the Terps’ Greivis Vasquez, who had 27 against Cal, could be the best player on the court – Tyreke Evans included.
If that’s the case, the Tigers are going to be in for a battle.
I'm hoping for another upset! This time a #2 seed!
Oh yeah...its nice to upset someone!!! Go Terps. Cal 71 and UMD 84!!!! I love it when the opposing teams fans try and make fun or put down Vasquez cause all it does is fire him up to do better! Hence the steal after the little airball he threw. My Terps rock!!!
This was out of an article written by Dan Wetzel on yahoo sports!
• Maryland defeated Cal 84-71, which means Mike Silver is wrong and Cal isn’t the center of the universe.
The question going forward is which Maryland team will show up? We’ve seen the Maryland team that got blown out by Duke and lost to Virginia in the regular season finale and had people speculating about Gary Williams’ job.
The one that pulled away from Cal, however, had the look of the Terrapin club that beat North Carolina and Michigan State this year. It had great ball movement, played with passion and made shots. It’s obviously capable of beating anyone. In a game with Memphis, the Terps’ Greivis Vasquez, who had 27 against Cal, could be the best player on the court – Tyreke Evans included.
If that’s the case, the Tigers are going to be in for a battle.
I'm hoping for another upset! This time a #2 seed!
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