My pal, Karissa, is graduating from San Diego State…and when she asked me to snap her senior pictures, I jumped at the chance.

I want to say it’s been a year since we last shot together…but it was so good hanging out with her and her beau, Geno. We spent the afternoon wandering all over State. I never realized how beautiful the campus was. I mean, I’ve never really just walked around before. The campus was SO empty…Karissa was the only hot girl on campus today because of Spring Break…but it’s all about quality, not quantity anyway.

Here are just a few of the first edits. There were SO MANY fun pictures in the set it was hard to choose the first three:

I remember how happy I was when I graduated…but I think she shows it off just a little better than I did:

Anyway…good times.

I also got to share some hot dogs with my brother and my dad. Definitely good times.

And speaking of good times, I’m hungry so I’m going to grab some food. Hope y’all are having a great night.

More time to play.

One of the reasons I would move to Scotland in a heartbeat is not the haggis, believe it or not. Oh no…

I would move because it’s practically daylight all day in the summer. I remember playing in the field with my fellow choristers at this Scottish castle…and the sun was bright and shiny. It was also 9pm. Crazy.

Today, I left work and drove up to Windansea for my first “after-work” photo shoot. Granted we only had about an hour and a half…and it was very warm light…and I didn’t have an assistant…but I think we got some great photos. I shot with Deserae, a really cute and sweet model that I met through another photographer. She was a lot of fun to work with and I think we are going to try and get another shoot in together before she leaves for the east coast. But anyway…the pics:

But like I said, the light lets me play a little bit longer on days where I wouldn’t usually have time. It’s plenty of time to get my shoot on and to photograph people who I wouldn’t otherwise have time to shoot. So I think I’m going to start scheduling more after-work sessions.

Anyway, the weekend is here…and it couldn’t have gotten here any sooner. And believe it or not, April is almost here. Where in the world did March go? Well, it’s sad and happy to see it go. It’s been a rough month in more ways than one.

Well, I’ve been scarce this week…mostly because all heck broke loose at work. Well, not really…but we’ve entered a period of “mandatory” overtime. I’ve been working late and even came in last Saturday to get some stuff done. It hasn’t helped with my tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis…not to be confused with medial epicondylitis (which is golfer’s elbow). But anyway, enough of the medical lesson. My arm hurts. And as I type this, I am experiencing a great deal of pain. Maybe I should stop typing…hmmm, there’s an idea. :)

I haven’t been doing much photoing…but I’ve been addicted to ModelMayhem.com and the craziness that happens on that site. Always entertaining. Makes me want to go out and create something though…and the models are scarce these days…probably because of midterms, methinks. But I’m slowly getting back into the groove. I’m looking forward to a beach shoot after work tomorrow with a really cute model…a senior session on Saturday at SDSU…and a super calendar shoot up in Vista on Sunday. Woohoo!

Last weekend, I photographed a nice couple at Balboa…I spent a couple of hours with Allie and Neal, who happen to be from Ramona too. Had a great time and got some really nice shots. Definitely a couple in love:

I’ve also had some tax fun this week too. Just call me H&R Block…I helped my brother with his return a couple of weeks ago and this week I’ve been helping my grandma. I have no idea how you can fill these things out without some sort of advanced mathematics degree. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Anyway, I do have to get up early, so I will cut this short. Hope everyone has had a great week.

So, I was listening to Channel 933 this morning and in my half asleep/half awake state, I overheard something about a bunch of college coeds running around San Diego in nothing but their underwear. My first thought was, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?” And my second thought was, “It must have been a little nipply. “

Apparently, this half-naked madness transpired in the wee hours of the morning. I think I might have still been awake, though. Which again, brings up the question, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

Although the rest of the pics are tame, they might be considered NSFW, especially of you work with a bunch of Japanese bankers…so be warned and click on if your curiousity is getting to you. *grin*
(more…)

A little M&M, that is. I got a little bored this afternoon, so I made myself into an M&M:

Notice the Latin lust, backwards hat, and camera. Now I just need a lucsious M&M babe to photograph. :)

Make your own at becomeanmm.com

This was one of the strangest weekends I’ve had in quite a while. First of all, my three photo shoots got widdled down to none, which is quite odd considering they were cancelled due to unordinary circumstances.

Oh bother.

At least I got to spend some time with family and getting things done. Since I’ve had nothing to do media-wise, I’ve been starting (yet again) new projects and editing photographs like crazy. It’s a sickness, really…this whole work-a-holic-ness that I have. But at least it’s something I enjoy.

I went to Flor’s favorite store as well and picked up a few odds and ends on Saturday…including some all new Irish Spring body wash.

I love Irish Spring…and love it even more in it’s gel-form. Its clean, refreshing scent lasts and lasts with it’s new 8-hour formula. Ladies, feel free to sniff me as much as you want.

Well, I’m going to try and get to bed before 3am tonight. Due to a weekend-long Three’s Company marathon, I haven’t had a decent “night’s” sleep. Now, a decent “day’s” sleep…well, that’s another story altogether.

Enjoy the next two minutes of the weekend.

Another crush…and this time, it’s an older woman. Ooooh!

Lauren Graham is probably one of the cutest, hottest, and sassiest actresses on television these days. And she plays way-cool-mom Lorelai Gilmore on the hit CW show Gilmore Girls. It’s almost hard to choose between Rory and Lorelai as far as which one is cuter. Mom or daughter? Hmmm…please don’t make me choose.

Not only is Lauren Graham uber-cool and way sexy, she’s also 40 years old today. Hard to believe, huh?

Anyway…Happy Birthday, Lauren!

Wish her a happy birthday and leave a comment on the CW Blog.

So those of us that work in the corporate world know the drill: the cut-throat, dog-eat-dog environment can be draining on a person’s mind, body, and soul. The stress. The anxiety. There are ways to make money, but at what cost? What’s the point if you aren’t happy? If money can’t buy you love, it certainly can’t buy you happiness.

Sometimes. :)

But your happiness at work is ultimately dependent on one person: you. So when I saw these 10 steps to be happier at work pop up on my Gmail Reader bar, I took a look…and thought I would share…

• Top 10 Ways to Be Happy at Work

On the flip side, there are times when you can’t make it work. In the words of Kenny Rogers, you gotta know when to hold them…and know when to fold them. Here are the top ten reasons why you should quit your job. Lord knows I’ve experienced some of these at one point or another…

• Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job

So excited…the new Bethany Dillon album, Waking Up, releases on April 3.

Pre-order your autographed copy at GrassrootsMusic.com

This was just too funny to not share.

Police save man, 91, glued to roof — CNN.com

I’ve decided that Josh Groban’s new album, Awake, is some awesome music to work to. As I was editing photos this morning, the luscious tones seemed to soar around the room. It was quite the experience.

Yesterday afternoon, Brian and I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the future Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Glenn Harrison Von Rosenberger, III. We spent the afternoon at Balboa Park with Danny and Chanin taking their engagement pictures. It was quite a good time. After the shoot, we headed out to Casa De Pico for dinner and drinks. It was good to hang out with them.

Here are some photos from the session…

More coming soon in my Picasa Gallery.

A photographer on the ever-entertaining Model Mayhem forums posted this and I thought it was absolutely hilarious. This is directly quoted from the owner’s manual of his new camera:

* Do not place strap around your neck Placing the camera strap around your neck could result in strangulation.

* CD-ROM’s The CD-ROMs on which the software and manuals are distributed should not be played back on audio CD equipment. Playing CD-ROMs on an audio CD player could cause hearing loss or damage to the equipment.

* When using the viewfinder When operating the diopter adjustment control with your eye to the viewfinder, care should be taken not to put your finger in your eye accidentally.

* When cleaning your equipment Do not use your tongue to clean the camera’s sensor or mirror. This could cause the camera to short circuit. Seek immediate medical attention should you get a body part stuck inside the camera.

We laid Pipa to rest this morning. After a beautiful service (most of which was in Spanish, so I didn’t understand), we said our goodbyes to a very, very special man.

There’s a song by Steven Curtis Chapman I’ve been playing in my mind the last few days…

…now you’ve gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but …

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
‘Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
‘Cause we believe with hope
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again.

In today’s Union-Tribune:

I’ve had a few of them lately, but they just don’t seem as funny as they usually would. It’s been a rough weekend.

But in light of everything, I know he found humor in everything and made us smile all the time, so it’s the little things I’m finding comfort in. Because I know he would.

This is just one of those things. I work a lot on my laptop…and even though I KNOW I should hook it in to power if there is power available, I don’t. So I always end up running around looking for my AC adaptor and an outlet at the last possible second. This little message that pops up is funny…

Because it really should say this:

This morning, I said “Goodbye,” to my Pipa.

My grandpa will always be one of the greatest men I will ever know. He could always make us laugh. He was pretty much the goofiest guy I know…which is probably where I get it from. Well, my dad is pretty goofy too…I suppose it trickles down the line.

He would always be willing to drop what he was doing to do stuff for me. We would spend countless hours in the garage, tools spread about, creating all sorts of masterpieces we designed. He could have built a space ship out of a cardboard box, a roll of duct tape, and some twine. He was that good.

He was also always willing to kick my butt at ping-pong (of which he was the master), Yahtzee, or checkers. However when we played chess, he always let me win. Come to think of it, he’d also let me win at those other games too.

He taught me how to drive…which is why I am the amazing parallel-parker I am today.

He made the best sandwiches.

I remember many hours he spent in his study learning the words to the hymns he’d be directing on Sunday mornings…and when I heard him singing in the other room, I’d sneak up and listen in the doorway. One of his favorites was, “To God Be The Glory.” I remember his face lighting up when he came to a Concert Choir concert to hear me sing. He loved music.

He knew how to grill a mean hot dog.

He’d always have a smile on his face and a joke to tell. His big ears alone would make me smile. He swears it’s my sister’s fault for stretching them out so. I sort of believe him since I think she stretched mine out too.

And every photographer’s dream; he’s always be ready for a photo op and would stop and pose for the camera. Especially when he was sleeping. :)

He knew how to love. His wife…his family…his God. During tough times, he was a pillar. A rock. For a man of very few words, he let you know everything was going to be okay. You always knew where you stood with him…he showed you with his actions, he let you know he cared about you and he loved you. And he was like that with everyone he met. He would go out of his way to make you feel important.

There is so much more to say about a man as great as Pipa, but there just isn’t enough room, time, or tears. The one thing I know for certain is that I will miss him very much.

I love you, Pipa.