You Can Ring My

It was tough for me to be at work all day and not out shooting. There were two saving graces - Mahmoud's birthday lunch at the teppan steakhouse...I love me some Hibachi...and the fact that Mooney and I could make it down to the pier after 5 and watch the sun go down. This gentleman and his eco-friendly transportation were watching people fish.

Freights!

Welcome to the short rail.

Twofer

The rains have been nuts here. What was supposed to be a walk to the beach needed some egging on by a vehicle. It feels like its been a really long weekend.

Fun Times

Smith Family Thanksgiving 2007
Cobb, Calif.

Optimism

count me in.

llar for eside

Northridge, CA

The Grotto

Ventura County, Calif.

Back in the swing

Its been good to be back, but even better after today. I have had to work extensively to earn some cash, or scrilla, as it is commonly known, and have not really had time to get out and make some pictures. That is, until today. I met up with Mark and Shante for the first time since before I left. I wanted to jump right back into the swing of everything, however I couldn't go buck wild because they were hyper aware of the camera. I only ended up with one frame that i like from this take, but the project is alive and well, which is the good thing. Speaking of projects, I have to finalize my ideas for the essay class....

Nature's paintbrush, something beautiful...

Something awful

Home

Its where I want to be. It has a smell, a texture, a feel...a softness that you can sense, transcending the screen and into your heart.

In the Sespe

Mooney and I went for a sunday drive on a saturday. With all of the talk about ventura's big 'rain event,' we went out in search of snow. Instead, we ended up on a great hike in the Sespe wilderness. I was very impressed at her river-crossing prowess. For being burned not too long ago, it was pretty incredible to see how much of the land had significant growth. Dad, the lichens are for you.

Home again

good to see this guy again. A couple days of work and then back to the grind. I never noticed the different color temps before this.

easy come, easy go

From ypsi, we travelled to Valparaiso to hang with the Mooney family and throw about a thousand darts.

After a night of wine and games, we moved on to Chicago, where Fenster was kind enough to provide a warm floor on which we could all crash after the festivities. I finally got to meet Megan and she is cool as hell, even if she was on antibiotics and couldnt get large with us.

Megan and Fenster selecting dinner from a long list of online delivery options.

And on to the party. This was shot during the middle of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Playford annihilating the hors d'ourves.

I was feeling for this guy. You know its time to go home when...

not quite snow.
mooney showing off her miraculous desert warrior boots at a Ferndale brewery with Tara and Lois and two people I dont know well.
We went to see Kelly and Will's new place in ypsilanti and it was awesome. They live in this little historic district near depot town and we walked to this restaurant for lunch as the trains rolled on by. They were still trying to get set up before having a new years party, but the place was in prime form. i think B described it as a bohemian paradise....very dark walls set an excellent mood.
Jazz, Mooney and Bianca laughing at something hilarious I just said...

And now....

presenting...
the spit shine wash went out of business....weird.
you can't smoke everywhere in michigan but i was definitely missing cali's restaurant laws.
Belle Isle winterscape
yours truly. Nice shot dad

Yes Michigan!

By about day three of the trip home i was back to normal, so we went around Detroit looking at its current state and visiting old landmarks like my pops' old house. Detroit at its finest
My dad Joel and sister Diana by this great blue wall.
Eastern market was one of the only places where we chose to get out and walk around. It still looks pretty sweet. I wanted to go inside the muslim slaughterhouse, but Di and dad were not as into it.
An improvised gutter.