Very quickly! I'm sitting here in a sweatshirt and it's slmost June! I feel like we've had summer and winter in the same week! It was almost 100 degree on Monday and then on Friday it was 49! Our mountains even got some snow. We scrapped our plans to hike this weekend because we thought it would be to cold and even snowy! Crazy huh! Some weird May Cali weather!
So yesterday we traveled down to Santa Barbara to not only visit with my cousin and his family, but so I could do some mini sessions and build up my portfolio. I even took some of my cousin and his wife. A few of them are posted on my blog. We wandered out of the park onto the streets and got some great shots.
www.micheleschanker.wordpress.com.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I'm so excited...I just can't hide it!
So today I get home and rush to get the mail as I have done all week. Why? Because I've been waiting for some hopefully very good news.
Today it came...from the National Park Service! After we didn't get a permit to hike Mt Whitney, I started asking myself what other backpacking hike would I like to do before we think about having kids...the GRAND CANYON! So today I reach in the mailbox, see the envelope and notice its not the thin envelope I got from Mt Whitney. This one was much more bulkier! Yup, we got the permits!
This time I requested at a minimum of 1 night, said we were willing to camp at almost any campground, and hike any trail. Basically leaving our options almost limitless. Luckily we got one of our top options. We got two nights at Bright Angel so we can spend a day actually hiking in the canyon and playing around. We are hiking Bright Angel on the way down and coming back up by the South Kaibab Trail. We go down on Sep 20th and return on Monday Sept 22nd! At least I'm going to get my backpacking trip after all.
We still plan to practice the backpack thing by going to Yosemite or somewhere in the sierras for an overnight trip during the summer. Our first training hike will be this weekend as we have to train for Half Dome. We will be going up Half Dome, again, on June 14th!
Yippee....I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED! I literally came bouncing into the house today.
Today it came...from the National Park Service! After we didn't get a permit to hike Mt Whitney, I started asking myself what other backpacking hike would I like to do before we think about having kids...the GRAND CANYON! So today I reach in the mailbox, see the envelope and notice its not the thin envelope I got from Mt Whitney. This one was much more bulkier! Yup, we got the permits!
This time I requested at a minimum of 1 night, said we were willing to camp at almost any campground, and hike any trail. Basically leaving our options almost limitless. Luckily we got one of our top options. We got two nights at Bright Angel so we can spend a day actually hiking in the canyon and playing around. We are hiking Bright Angel on the way down and coming back up by the South Kaibab Trail. We go down on Sep 20th and return on Monday Sept 22nd! At least I'm going to get my backpacking trip after all.
We still plan to practice the backpack thing by going to Yosemite or somewhere in the sierras for an overnight trip during the summer. Our first training hike will be this weekend as we have to train for Half Dome. We will be going up Half Dome, again, on June 14th!
Yippee....I AM SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED! I literally came bouncing into the house today.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Another Fantastic Weekend
I truly feel so fortunate that we have so many great weekends! I am truly so happy with our life!
This past weekend was Dave's 31st birthday..yes 31 can you believe that! I've known Dave since I was about 23, but honestly it doesn't feel like it's been that long. We've just been having so much fun together. Time goes by fast when your having fun. Happy Birthday again!
So on Thursday night we hopped on a red eye after a small pre birthday happy hour. We arrived to a cool and rainy MD. But being from the desert we didn't mind. After a little nap, we ran some errands and took my mom to get birthday snowballs (her bday is Tuesday). For all of you who are not from the mid atlantic your probably not familiar with snowballs. They are different from snowcones in that the ice is grounded up really fine and then there are about 50 flavors of syrup to choose from. They are way better than any snowcones! Then it was off for Japanese dinner.
Just had to make sure my mom had a black eyed susan!
Big Brown to the finish line
After the preakness we headed home for a traditional MD crab feast! Yummy...nothing like crabs steamed in old bay!
So instead we drove to the Dulles Air and Space Museum. That place was pretty neat and was new to me. 
Then it was off to fly Virgin Atlantic back to LA.
----------------------------------------------
This photo is from a few weeks ago, but just wanted to post it anyway. It's Dave in La Jolla but I addded some texture for a unique feel. I got action...totally rad action! I also applied one of the BW Totally Rad actions. Haven't had much of a chance to use them yet, but so far I love them!
This past weekend was Dave's 31st birthday..yes 31 can you believe that! I've known Dave since I was about 23, but honestly it doesn't feel like it's been that long. We've just been having so much fun together. Time goes by fast when your having fun. Happy Birthday again!
So on Thursday night we hopped on a red eye after a small pre birthday happy hour. We arrived to a cool and rainy MD. But being from the desert we didn't mind. After a little nap, we ran some errands and took my mom to get birthday snowballs (her bday is Tuesday). For all of you who are not from the mid atlantic your probably not familiar with snowballs. They are different from snowcones in that the ice is grounded up really fine and then there are about 50 flavors of syrup to choose from. They are way better than any snowcones! Then it was off for Japanese dinner.
Saturday was a ton of fun. Preakness Day! What a blast Preakness is. So many people just having a good time. We even walked over to the infield for a bit, but that just made us all feel old. In tradition of the 133rd running of the Preakness I decided I had to make some photos kind of antiqued. Pimlico is a really old track. 
Just had to make sure my mom had a black eyed susan!
Big Brown to the finish lineAfter the preakness we headed home for a traditional MD crab feast! Yummy...nothing like crabs steamed in old bay!
On Sunday the rain returned. But we headed down to DC anyway for some sightseeing. We went to the Lincoln Memorial, but the rain really started coming.
Now thats old skool, huh! I think i really like the action I used here.
Now thats old skool, huh! I think i really like the action I used here.
So instead we drove to the Dulles Air and Space Museum. That place was pretty neat and was new to me. 
Then it was off to fly Virgin Atlantic back to LA.----------------------------------------------
This photo is from a few weeks ago, but just wanted to post it anyway. It's Dave in La Jolla but I addded some texture for a unique feel. I got action...totally rad action! I also applied one of the BW Totally Rad actions. Haven't had much of a chance to use them yet, but so far I love them!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Early Birthday Dave!
We actually spent all weekend at home, but it was a good one! Although we spent a lot of time doing some much needed cleaning, organizing, lawn care, etc..
Mothers Day/Fathers Day are pretty uneventful for us since we don't have kids or even live close to our parents. But Dave always manges to sneak out, get a little something, and say its from the cats. How cute! Today he got me a wireless optical mouse for my laptop and told me to order the actions I wanted to CS3. He's so adorable!
Anyway sunday morning started out with us assembling this....our new grill (thanks to gift cards from Lowe's from our kitchen remodel! )
We are going to MD over the weekend for Dave's birthday so we can go to Preakness with some friends and family. So while Dave took care of lawn stuff, I went shopping. So we could have Dave's birthday a bit early. We cooked a steak dinner (that was yummy) on the new grill and then it was time for presents!
Look what Dave got!
He also got some new shirts and a hat for hiking.
Instead of birthday cake, he got birthday white chocolate fondue!
What a good day!
Mothers Day/Fathers Day are pretty uneventful for us since we don't have kids or even live close to our parents. But Dave always manges to sneak out, get a little something, and say its from the cats. How cute! Today he got me a wireless optical mouse for my laptop and told me to order the actions I wanted to CS3. He's so adorable!
Anyway sunday morning started out with us assembling this....our new grill (thanks to gift cards from Lowe's from our kitchen remodel! )
We are going to MD over the weekend for Dave's birthday so we can go to Preakness with some friends and family. So while Dave took care of lawn stuff, I went shopping. So we could have Dave's birthday a bit early. We cooked a steak dinner (that was yummy) on the new grill and then it was time for presents!
Look what Dave got!
He also got some new shirts and a hat for hiking.
Instead of birthday cake, he got birthday white chocolate fondue!
What a good day!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Happy Hour!
So we will be traveling for Dave's birthday again this year. Our customary thing has become birthday happy hour. So today I came up with "Dave's 45 sec commercial!" to promote his happy hour! Ha. I love it! It was a surprise for him and when he saw it he loved it too. Check it out. If your local expect this or a link to somehow show up in your inbox in the near future. Location is still TBD. More info will be in the email we send out.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Sometimes the small details make a difference!
I have fallen in love with WHCC (White House Custom Color, for all the non photographers). I ordered some "sample" prints on Linen texture paper this weekend and Gift Certificates for Photoshoots. I must have placed the order on Saturday and the order arrived on my doorstep today! Then every time I get a package from them I get a lollipop! Ha I feel like when I was a kid and would go to the bank with my mom and they'd give me a lollipop! I love that every time I get a package from WHCC I get a Tootsie Pop or a Blow Pop! How cool! Yeah, I'm a sucker for small details, huh! Oh the linen paper is awesome. I love it. I used a wedding photo to get it printed and I absolutely fell in love with it.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Show and Tell Time
Just thought I'd share a few photos from last weekend.
We spent last weekend in San Diego with 2 friends from Maryland
View from our hotel room
Shells on the rocks
Our friends enjoying the view in La Jolla
Walking in the water at La Jolla, and wishing I had put my bathing suit on
The View from the park at the top of the hill (I forgot the name, it's soledad or something like that)
We spent last weekend in San Diego with 2 friends from Maryland
View from our hotel room
Shells on the rocks
Our friends enjoying the view in La Jolla
Walking in the water at La Jolla, and wishing I had put my bathing suit on
The View from the park at the top of the hill (I forgot the name, it's soledad or something like that)
Friday, May 02, 2008
Mt Whitney Update
Still no permit! Ergghh..the minute we both called we got busy signals. Which apparently means there are at least 50 people ahead of you. I was thinking I should have called at like 7:55 and just let it ring for 5 minutes until they turned the phones on or something. I'll probably try again next week for August. There are plenty of weekday day hike permits, but I don't know anyone willing to do 22 miles in one day with me! So disappointing, as this is the one thing I really want to do before we think about having kids since I know this kind of stuff will become much harder to accomplish.
But I also faxed in a permit request for the Grand Canyon for September. If we don't get that, then I guess we'll jut be backpacking in Yosemite or something. Any way we do it, we will be backpacking this year. I'm determined! And I think we are going to call the Mt Whitney people every Thursday afternoon starting in July and see if there are any cancellations. It's close enough that we can just drive up there at the drop of a hat. So that's the plan.
But I also faxed in a permit request for the Grand Canyon for September. If we don't get that, then I guess we'll jut be backpacking in Yosemite or something. Any way we do it, we will be backpacking this year. I'm determined! And I think we are going to call the Mt Whitney people every Thursday afternoon starting in July and see if there are any cancellations. It's close enough that we can just drive up there at the drop of a hat. So that's the plan.
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