Aaron Riveroll | Photographer

It is official. I’ve made a very important decision. I have decided that I’m going to go to Mission Valley mall for lunch today and have an Orange Julius.

I’m an adult. I can have ice cream for lunch if I want to. So there.

I seriously made record time to work today…I think it was around ten minutes or so, which is unheard of for a Tuesday morning. I think I was doing about ninety on the 8 for a good stretch. It’s nice.

So where ever you went, stay there.

Cingular shipped my new RAZR and I got it yesterday. Hopefully this will solve my voice mail issues and basically hearing people. Did I tell you that? My other phone was randomly cutting off calls and for a while it was splicing calls. In other words, some Mexican chick was cutting in on my conversation. And it wasn’t the Mexican operator either…she was a fast-talking Latina, with issues. But maybe the new phone will actually allow me to talk with people and hear them too…you know, the whole point of having a cell phone. But I haven’t been able to try it because people don’t call me. So sad.

But I discovered that this new v3 has video capabilities. Granted, they are crappy video capabilities…but you can still make little teeny movies. How cool is that? Can anyone say “upgrade?â€? I think I just did.

Well, I’ve stalled long enough…I must get this busy day started. How cool is it that this week is extra short? That’s something to truly be thankful for.

Dude, it was so flipping hot today. What is wrong with this picture: my Reefs, shorts, and a t-shirt in November? Actually, that’s one of the reasons I love San Diego…although it is nice to have weather once in a while. But today was total, crazy beach weather. Gorgeous day.

The day (like yesterday) started early again with a photo shoot up in Alpine. We missed the ideal lighting by a bit, but it was still beautiful. Bright, though. Brian got his workout holding the reflector/light diffuser. Good job, Sir Mounts. After the shoot, we headed back to Casa Aaron and schmoozed over NGS videos. By this time, a half-asleep Danny woke up and joined in the festivities.

Since then, I’ve watched like a hundred episodes of Friends on TBS and done laundry.

Oh, and a word about laundry. I’m sort of methodical when it comes to laundry. I have a process that has been developed over many lonely Friday nights. But seriously, I have a certain way of washing, drying, folding (especially). Well, I had a conversation a few weeks ago about this process and we concurred that fabric softener was better than dryer sheets. I think this is just common knowledge, people. However, dryer sheets are better than nothing at all…and I confirmed this today because I forgot to include a dryer sheet in my load of colors. I will have multiple shocking experiences in the following week as everything fuzzy will stick to me like nails to a magnet.

So what’s on the books tonight? Hmmm…I think I will go to the Flood later this evening and perhaps retouch some of the photos from this morning’s shoot. Other than that, it has been pretty chill…and should remain that way.

Speaking of chill, I created a play list the other day that I’m quite pleased with. I call it my Chill Music. I have many moods of music, like I’m sure everyone does. My many moods tend to influence the music in my head. But so many times, though, I am just wanting to melt into a couch and soak in relaxing, thoughtful, melodic tunes as opposed to everything else I listen to. So i thought it would be fun to share what’s playing on my iPod. It’s still being developed, but I think I’m off too a great start with these. I might make some changes and definitely add to it, but in the meantime, it’s great to fold laundry to or listen to while sitting in the dark. Here it is: Read the rest of this entry …

When I was a kid, I loved Superman. Chris Reeves was the man. I would throw a towel around my back and jump off the stairs…unfortunately, I was never able to fly.

So even though I’m not what you would call a comic book freak, I am really looking forward to this movie.

You can see the site here and check out the teaser trailer.
Superman Returns

I know you are all curious about the burning. I finally had to leave the house because the smell really got to me. Now I see why; it was simply a load of crap that was on fire. Literally.

Here is the story:
SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro — Trash station fire sends smoky plumes into air

So not only is my nose burning, but apparently a waste management building a few miles away also went up in flames this morning at around 3, which would explain the burning smell earlier this morning. And it’s still burning. The patches of smoke seem to fill the sky and then dissipate, due to the lovely Santa Anas we have this weekend. I’m hoping the fire will be out when the winds really kick in later today…then maybe it will blow the tasty smoke away. But in the meantime, it is wreaking havoc on my sinuses.

I do this little thing every time I sneeze…when I’m at work and do the old “ah-choo,� someone always says, “Bless you.� It’s kind of nice. So I always reply with a, “thank you.� And in my best Elvis voice I add a, “Thank you very much.� But when you are sick or have allergies and are sneezing all day, it gets annoying…even for this king.

Aaron has left the building. A-uh huh.

So I’m still awake from the morning and I have determined that there is nothing on Saturday morning other than cartoons and Saved By The Bell. Cartoons really aren’t my bag anymore…and even though I’m always up for Zack’s crazy antics, I think I’ve seen every episode of SBTB at least a dozen times. This morning Zack invested in potatoes and almost cost Miss Bliss her new whip. Like, oh my gosh!

Alright, I think the fumes are starting to do things to my head…so since there isn’t anything else for me to do, perhaps I will clean and get to my Saturday. It’s only nine and it feels like I’ve been up for years.

It’s almost 5 in the morning on a Saturday…and I’m awake. It smells like burning.

I was sound asleep mere minutes ago and then I woke up. It smells like something’s on fire, and I’ve paced around the house for the last 15 minutes in the dark and I can’t figure out what it could be. It’s quiet outside, and I don’t see any smoke, so I am just as puzzled as ever. But the stench is strong…something is definitely funky.

It totally reminds me of the Cedar Fire back in October of 2003…everything smelled like ash and fire. You could see little pieces of ash floating around and cars were coated with white blankets of ash. It was the most awful experience.

Anyway, since I’m up and disturbed by the smoky smell, I thought I would write. I just came out of one of the biggest and worst weeks for work. It wasn’t bad; it was just busy, reminiscent of my busy days at UBOC. I had problem files and issues to work out, which makes it difficult since I’m still learning. And I hate feeling stupid like I don’t know what I’m doing when I really do know what I’m doing (if that makes any sense at all). It’s annoying. I was able to manage and get things done, but it wasn’t without a little effort. Things like this used to come so easy.

I was also sick for part of the week (like, a day). I kicked its butt and nipped it right when it started. I took medicine (which I never do) and drank lots of fluids. But wow, that one day was terrible!

Well, I have the news on and my police radio and I hear nothing. Nothing at all. I guess I should go back to sleep now.

I have photoshoots this weekend. Should be fun. I haven’t taken pictures in a long time. That is, if you don’t count Daisy or Buster…and the cool moon the other night. Back to sleep…more later.

Well friends, I am a little annoyed…snot-wise. I am having serious allergy issues this morning, which is causing some frustration. It’s nothing serious, just a little nasal-triviality. I’m sure it will be better by lunch. But dude, it’s annoying.

And I’m also annoyed at my cell phone. Apparently it’s been taking calls for me and forwarding them right to voice mail. I had about 7 messages just sitting there from last week that my phone never told me I had. A drunk call from a friend, a favor of some sort, a girl just calling to tell me I’m hot, and a wedding engagement announcement were among the calls I missed out on. So if you haven’t heard back from me, that is why. I will be busy calling people back later today.

And for those of you who never call me anyway, that’s alright…because I probably wouldn’t have gotten your message until now anyway.

Thanks, Cingular!

When I read this, I got all excited.

“Oooh, they are naming a lemur after that Karate Kid guy!” I said.

Sadly, I was thinking about John Creese, not John Cleese .

Cobra Kai still rules.

This has pretty much been my mood lately. But let’s not get into why my mood has been that way…I digress…

But, it’s been a bit since I’ve posted on music in the CCM world, so I thought I would reflect on a few favorites…

First, put March on your calendars for the release of Caedmon’s latest: In The Company Of Angels II: The World Will Sing. Now, I have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the first In The Company of Angels…but, it is Caedmon’s Call…so I’m definitely going to buy this album anyway.

A couple weeks ago, I purchased Relient K’s Mmhmm. I really dig this album…they sort of have this punk-rock sound which is really fun and brings me back to the good old days. I also appreciate punk rock bands that introduce sweet vocal harmonies and really pretty piano melodies amidst the driving guitars and drums. But enough of this musician-speak…they are good. And this is one album I love listening to from beginning to end. Those are rare finds these days.

I’m really excited for Relient K’s latest, Apathetic, which released on the 8th. This seven-track acoustic set is a little mellow follow-up to their usual sound…but it’s nice to see the contrast. I highly recommend it, not only to you but to myself as well. I’m going to pick it up ay-sap. (yeah, I cheated…I listened to the samples on iTunes. But they were pretty samples. :) )

Well, I was going to kick it until the season finale of Laguna Beach…but since I sort of already read about it (two-hour delays are great!) I hardly see the point.

Perhaps I’ll Tivo it anyway. :)