Playing Catch-Up

So much has happened since my last blog post nearly two weeks ago.

Jana had a fabulous birthday party at the Yard House in Downtown. Why is it so hard to convince strangers that we giggle that way even without a drop of liquor? There is no better thing in life than laughing hysterically in a corner booth with your best friend until one of you lands on the floor and calls it a night.

The next day was the Dodger’s Home Opener and perhaps it wasn’t such a great idea to just keep pointing at the drink menu at random. The opening day ceremony was amazing, marked by a very special tribute to our very own Vin Scully who is currently in his 60th year with the Dodger organization. The celebration was marred only by the very odd contrast of the fly-over of a stealth bomber and the release of dozens of white doves. A “peace” offering, I suppose, to us liberals who are annoyed by the “traditional” spectacle of American military might during a baseball game. The game was great, of course, and marked by history. Interestingly enough 50 thousand people get to tell one story and two people get to tell another.

Jana and I also went to last Friday’s game against the Rockies. That was a great game. I love watching this team. These boys play with all their heart and win or lose it’s great to root for players who actually try. It’s such a nice contrast over the last few seasons and it is what will make this team a winning team this year.

On Saturday I shot a beautiful backyard wedding in Lakewood. This wedding reaffirmed to me how much I love wedding photography. I absolutely just love being in the center of it all. The couple was so loving and their friends and family were so wonderful. Also, I captured some of the most beautiful wedding pictures to date. I am just in awe of my camera and lens. All it makes me want to do is keep upgrading and adding. My only disappointment about that day was that Jana could not shoot with me. Instead a friend of hers, that joined us in DC, helped as my second shooter and did a fabulous job.

Throughout all of this I have been adjusting to life with a 60 pound pit bull. She is just the most amazing and beautiful dog that I have ever seen. She is constantly charming us with her many quirks and her stubbornness makes me laugh. She is amazing me everyday with her quick ability to learn. She already knows what she can and can’t do and tests those boundaries every day. It is so hard for me to fight the urge to let her sleep on the bed. As to her relationship with the cats, I think they are all finally learning to get along. She ignores them for the most part and they try to keep out of her way. I’m sure they will be friendly in no time, but for now my tiny little cats still aren’t so sure of that giant mouth and all those teeth.

What a Weekend

I know I slacked off of my blog for the whole weekend, but I can explain.

It all started Saturday morning. I had a meeting with a couple about their wedding on April 18th. They were very cute and I am very excited to capture their wedding day for them.

After my meeting Ryan and I had a bunch of errands to run. Our first step was to find a target and a pet supply store for cat food.

The directions to the target sent us right by a Centinela pet store and a little strip mall with an Anna’s Linens. Part of our target shopping list included new towels and sheets so I decided to give Anna’s a try.

Well, wow, not only did we get new towels and sheets but new bedding, including accent pillows, black out curtains for the bedroom, new curtains for the kitchen and a few new curtain rods. All coming in nicely under $200.

We then avoided the Target all together because the parking lot was just insane. It took us nearly 5 minuets just to turn around and leave the parking lot!

Nixing the other items on our list, we then headed for the pet store. Of course, it was Saturday and they always have the pet adoptions of Saturday. We usually put blinders on and walk as quickly as we can. But this day a beautiful dog caught both of our eyes.

Petunia

Her name was Petunia. We learned that she is most likely a Sharpei and Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, two years old and a very sociable dog. Her little tail went nuts when other dogs would walk up to her pen. I just couldn’t believe how well behaved she was. We didn’t once hear her bark or whine and she recognized her name and would sit on command.

Then came the six words of doom, “would you like to walk her?” Well I took a hold of that leash and it felt so comfortable. She just trotted right along side of me. I could feel her strength and energy as well as her focus. Weighing around 42 pounds she could certainly tug me around if she wanted to. She certainly needs work on a leash and she wanted to sniff the ground, but I wouldn’t let her. It felt almost natural to break off into a jog so I gave the leash a tug and we were off. I wasn’t wearing running shoes and when my shoe slipped off she slowed down right with me. It was amazing.

Walking back one of the volunteers explained to us their program. What a great organization. They do a home inspection and a week trial period and at any point for any reason they will take the dogs back. I appreciate that there are so many lovely people out there who are willing to take on such a responsibility to help save the lives of these animals.

I got in touch with Petunia’s foster dad. We had a great conversation and I tried to lay out all of my faults but that we were very sincere in striving to make the best home for Petunia. Our next step is bringing her into our home for the trail week. We are just far too excited. I couldn’t sleep with all the anxious energy.

So it looks like Petunia will be coming to us on Wednesday. Just enough time to get the place ready for her. My cats are in for a huge surprise!

So then the rest of Saturday evening was spent cleaning and changing out curtains and such. I was so tired I passed out shortly after my head hit the pillow.

Sunday was a strange day. It started great. Ryan and I went to breakfast, then to the grocery store. Then I left for Jana’s. Our plan was to go to the gym, spoil ourselves in the hot tub and then work on 643 projects the rest of the day.

Work out was great, hot tube was GREAT, the problem was the sauna. It was great while in there but I think we were both dehydrated or something because the rest of the day we were both just a little bit off.

We got through a lot, but not with our usual gusto. By the end of the day we were certainly ready to be done. So we just grabbed some dinner and Jana brought me home.

It was certainly an eventful weekend.

Weddings, Sundays and the Future

On Saturday Jana and I shot an 8 hour wedding.  It was, let’s say, a very  interesting day.

We stopped to eat lunch at an Outback and for some reason we were totally giddy. We apologize to our server who might have thought we were laughing at him. I don’t know why we couldn’t control ourselves. Just one of those days I guess.

The location for the wedding was just absolutely gorgeous. A wedding photographer’s dream. I was awestruck at the portraits from my 5D. Finally the quality of the images matches the image I see through my lens.

All in all I think the promotion was a success. We met a lot of great people and a lot of business cards were gone by the end of the night.

I think I finally found the perfect outfit. I was comfortable and had plenty of pocket space. My shoes weren’t bad but I think I could still keep looking. At some point I’ll have to give in and spend the money on really good shoes.

Sunday was a wash for me. I would have liked to have spent some time cleaning and relaxing but I was at my computer the whole day editing pictures and working on my script. It wouldn’t have been such a waste of a day if it wasn’t for the fact that it was my only day off.

This weekend made me all the more resolute that I am doing what I want to do. To have the freedom to plan out my own days. To have no one to report to but myself. To be motivated not by a paycheck, but by my own pride in my work. These are my goals. This has to be my future.

I have lived this dream in my mind many many times: I wake up on a Monday morning, not by an alarm, but by the sun. I throw on my robe and fix some breakfast. I sit down at my computer to check my email and read the news. Then throw on some gym clothes and head to the gym for a nice workout. Head back home, shower, pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and head to the office. I imagine that Mondays would be more of a prep day, these are things we need to accomplish this week. If we had a shoot or an event over the weekend, I imagine Mondays wouldn’t even exist.

But until that day comes, and it will come soon, and perhaps just when it is supposed to, here is a little proof that my dream isn’t just a fantasy, it is just a few steps away from being real.