Aaron Riveroll | Photographer

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.

The following is a true story. I have to say that for those of you who know the background…

So many of you know that I love clouds. As a kid, one of my favorite things to do was lay on the ground and look up at the sky. I would marvel at how big and round the sky was. I would pick out things that I saw in the big, white fluffiness. Today at lunch, I sat in my car…and I noticed how blue the sky was. Some clouds were gray and scary looking…but most were just white and fluffy. Like big pieces of cotton candy. I looked to the left and noticed the biggest one up there…and I saw a bear.

It looked like a grizzly bear strangling a dude. In other words, it was a man and a bear…fighting.

The first thought I had was, “wow, that guy needs help.” After all, the bear cloud was twice his size.

But then I remembered something my grandpa used to always tell me. He would always say, “…if you see me and a bear fighting, you help the bear.” Back then, I had no idea what it meant…but it always made us laugh.

I suppose in his silly ways, my grandpa wanted us to know how tough he was. Well, there’s no denying it; my grandpa’s a tough guy. But if I could…even though he wouldn’t want me to…I’d still help him fight the bear.