Happy day of thanks! I forgot to defrost the turkeys… so we’ll see how they turn out :o)
EDIT, MORE PICS: This is 4 of 4. Click here for the first, second and third of the series.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Here are 1/2 of my favorite images from the model shoot at the Jose Villa Workshop. The models are from Citro Modelos and Megan Ortiz modeling agency with Mar from T.E.A.M. hair and makeup making their hair and makeup flawless.
Anna Paola is the model with the red lipstick and hair feather and Gladys is the one with longer hair and softer makeup. I loved them both… they were an absolute delight to work with and very sweet natured.
An interesting part of the shoot was finding out Mexican customs of being modest in your actions toward members of the opposite sex. There was a male model with Anna Paola that was very reserved in how he’d pose with her; no kissing or sensual poses, not even almost-kissing. I wasn’t in the group that took pictures of the couple, so I don’t have any to show you :o( But here are some of the girls…
Anna Paola was just sitting while getting her hair preped.
I used my white shirt as a reflector for this shot.
Love how the wall is 1/2 yellow and 1/2 pink.
Reminds me a bit of Angelina Jolie in this one.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Free roaming peacocks that would try getting into our rooms.
The all-white peacock that isn’t albino – kinda ghostly.
Did I show this already? Amazing architecture.
I was DYING when this mariachi player was serenading my sweet friend, Elisa Cicinelli. Not that he was singing to her, but that it was EXACTLY like Jack Black in Nacho Libre when he’d flatten his lips against his teeth, almost like he was getting ready to play the trumpet, and sing the “O” in Nacho for a reeeeaaaaly looooong time. This guy held his note FOREVER (and I’m thinking that they haven’t seen Nacho Libre, the movie)! Speaking of Nacho Libre… there were guys in the masks along the roads holding up signs for wrestling matches. Alison‘s beau, Nate, snagged three masks at the fiesta we attended in a non-touristy town. I’m jealous, a little.
Here’s a little statue that kept us company during lunch and dinner.
The model pics will be coming… I’m pretty proud of them so maybe they should hang out over the Thanksgiving holiday for me.
Did I tell you that I’m hosting Turkey Day at our place this year? We will have 11 adults and 5 children in our 1700 sq ft hut (it’ll feel like a hut with that many people here). The last time I cooked a turkey was over 12 years ago when I got one free from work. Not wanting it to go to waste, I started cooking it when I got home from work and figured I would refrigerate it overnight and use it for sandwiches the next day. Well, the next day rolls around and I wake up to the most delightful scent of roasted turkey.
“Mmmm, that smells good. Wonder who’s cooking this early in the morning?”
Um, yeah. It was ME. I accidentally left the turkey cooking OVERNIGHT. Luckily nothing caught on fire. I pulled it out and set it on top of the oven, not sure what I’d find beneath the tired foil. I slowly pulled the sides up to find all the meat had fallen off the bone and all I was left with was a sad carcass staring at me in disgust. What a waste of a huge turkey!
I tried salvaging it, hoping to use the meat in turkey salad for sandwiches. But no amount of mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip, thankyouverymuch) could bring that turkey back to life. Sad, I know.
Wish me luck this year since I have 16 people counting on my culinary skills hahahaha!
EDIT, MORE PICS: Here is the first post, the next after this one and the last of the trip.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
These aren’t in order and I’m too swamped with work to fix ’em. Hope you don’t mind the chaotic manner these are placed. I’ll try to explain them thoroughly though. The Hacienda El Carmen is about 1.5-2 hours outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. It is surrounded by giant walls with two secure gates, ensuring safety. That’s how it used to be in the old days when it was built. Several families lived within the walls, taking care of each other. These aren’t gussied up with any editing. Pretty much straight out of the camera.
From the inside of the hacienda looking at the front desk.
From the inside of our room looking out the back door at one of many orange trees in the morning (we had fresh squeezed OJ all day long; sometimes they’d switch it up and make lemonade or watermelon juice too).
Our main dining crew (I just know the guys names; what’s with me and male servers, eh?… Carlos on the left is about to be a 1st time daddy any day to daughter Scarlett and Chepe in the middle). They were VERY gracious and extremely accomodating to our large group.
This was our classroom… yeah, freakin’ sweet! There was a beverage bar off to the side that was constantly stocked with fresh made cookies, coffee and hot cocoa (yummy).
On the top of the hacienda.
On the top of the hacienda looking toward the outside of the gates. It was really neat to hear them worship in their church Sunday morning. The songs could be heard outside the brick walls.
Our classroom was on the right, the steps went up to a VERY narrow edge that the peacocks liked to climb. Through the gate is where the center of the hacienda is, where we’d eat and get to some of our rooms.
Cute little statue that seemed to be central to a garden.
Inside the center of the hacienda toward where they did the wash, BY HAND.
The center of the hacienda. The office hall is at the middle and we ate on the right side (inside for breakfast and outside for lunch and dinner – the food was included in our room rate and was absolutely excellent as well as beautifully presented).
Check out the oranges in the tree and on the ground. They’d gather these all day long as they found them and squeeze them into the juice containers.
On top of the hacienda in the morning.
Looking out the front of our room at the constantly running fountain. We could hear it through the open window above the shower that was covered in screen to keep out the bugs.
Looking out the back of our room during the day.
The mariachi band arriving to entertain us one day. This is the front of the hacienda. I should’ve framed this better so you could see the tops of the arches upstairs. Dangit.
The front porch of the hacienda. Those ferns, as well as all vegetation on premise, was real and just mammoth compared to any ferns I have seen before.
Hope you enjoyed some images from my trip to Mexico. I have some more of the roaming peacocks (none in full spread, sorry, but I do have a complete white one), in town, of the other attendees and the model shoot. You’ll have to hold your horses for those :o)
EDIT, MORE PICS: Here is the next post of pictures from our stay, the third with brides and fourth with brides.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
I’ll be in Mexico tomorrow afternoon (I get to wake up at 3am to catch my 6:15am flight).
This is the big photography workshop I’ve mentioned over the last several months with Jose Villa, Jesh de Rox and a handful of attendees. What a much needed trip with the last three months of agony in moving. I’m am THRILLED to be deep into photography for the next six days and learn from so many great people. Keep me in your thoughts that we all return safely home.
For those of you in Utah, you might feel me in your bones for about an hour starting at 9:15 during my layover to Guadalajara. On my way back on Thursday, my layover is about an hour at 10am in L.A.
Peace out.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Know how you have those times when you feel like a chicken with its head cut off?
Well, lately I’m not sure where mine is.
I guess right before I moved until this very moment I’ve felt that way.
There’s always something to do, plan or somewhere to go. When this hits, I neglect my blog and that saddens me.
Wanting to show pictures with every post, I put off writing if I don’t have the time to get one (said “up” then realized I should find another way of saying it) prepared to upload (yeah, doesn’t sound right, does it?).
I just got back from a few days in Utah for:
- A badly-needed hair trim. Not cut… I’m growing it out. There is a small window of opportunity to have long locks again before I’m too old to pull it off. But I was (pinches index finger toward the thumb) THIS close to messing it up today by getting an at-home color-in-a-box. I was standing in the hair color aisle at Walmart trying to figure out which one I should buy (can’t remember the last time I used a color-in-a-box). Riley answered his phone, luckily, and talked me off the roof. I was about to jump and it wasn’t gonna be pretty. He said, “Don’t do it. You need to seek professional help.” Maybe he didn’t say those words exactly, but that’s how I hear ’em and whatever it takes for me to come back from crazy is what I’m going with. Last night I contemplated going short again (I’m in the middle stage where it’s just past my shoulders but you can’t tell because it isn’t long enough to lay against my back and instead forms a dorky flip out making me look quite matronly – I don’t want to look matronly, thankyouverymuch). But, luckily, I had encouragement to stick it out. Let’s see how far I go. Update: So I started this post a couple days ago and today I got in to see a semi-professional hair artist… it was a beauty school and my gal is all of 17 and still in high school! Yikes… but she did fabulously… took FOUR hours but it’s a 100% if I were too hot for teacher (by-the-by… her instructor has a bald head with an eyeball tattoo’d on the back — if it were two he could say “I have eyes in the back of my head” but it’s just one… stumps me).
- Lunch with some labies at Carrabba’s (Azucar, ~j, Cdub, b., Tiffayfay, Geo and Peef). Had the salmon, needed me some Omega’s, and got to participate in voodoo at the table (I contributed the materials and Geo performed the ritual… restaurant manager, Leo, had to help facilitate). Tattoo and voodoo in one and two.
- Wicked football game of Colby’s that I spent ON THE FIELD taking pictures. So it’s the playoff’s and security is heightened. I guess the previous weeks game had some drama (as in the other teams coach stomped a pheasant to DEATH on the field; he’s been slapped with a cruelty to animals fine) so everyone was on tight alert. I had my gear and asked Colby’s dad if he thought I could get on the field to shoot a few. He doubted it but cheered me on to give it the old HS try. With my 70-200mm lens in hand, I marched up to the bouncer guys at the gate to work my magic. Well, apparently my magic preceeds me because I didn’t say a word but instantly had a field pass in hand. SCHWEEET! I said “thanks” like I’ve done this a million times (my first time) and played the part by chatting with the cops as we prepared for the national anthem. I was IN and stayed down there the whole game (except 1/2 time when I joined the fam back in the stands to show them a few shots and squeal about how much fun it was being in the middle of all the action).
- Dinner out… went with Colby’s family to Chaddar’s for the first time. Was cool because they’ve been sued by In n’ Out Burger for copyright infringement and I’ve always wanted to know what the fuss was all about. Personally, not impressed (but I’m not impressed with INO either… give me a Fuddrucker’s anyday). But it was good company and that’s all that really matters (especially when I had Carrabba’s for lunch).
- Shopping with my friend… okay, it was a quick trip to Walmart to find more 2.5 oz travel size Big Sexy Hair (no, I still haven’t found it in case anyone out there wants to get me the perfect give or two or three for Christmas, Hannukah or New Year’s). But being with a good friend doing something mundane is better than doing something mundane alone.
- Getting a second set of six temporary teeth installed (I’m sure that’s not the technical term)… my front two teeth were due for replacement after 18 years of cap-tivity (harharhar) so my dentist and lab tech friends convinced me that the best way to go was to do all six to make it look more natural — I’m extremely pleased with how they’re coming along. This time I chose NOT to be sedated (note to self: ALWAYS make arrangements to be sedated) and found out my metabolism (what? I HAVE a metabolism?) is pretty high because I go through the numbing meds like they’re soft packages of Suzy Q’s cream cakes (m-m-m even though I haven’t put one to my lip in years). As I was trying to brave out the last bit of drilling, grinding and chopping so I could try and have use of my upper lip sooner than later (Bart Simpson look-alike isn’t what I’m going for), a seriously strong and quick whip of pain thrusted through my torso that hurt so bad I’d rather give birth again (and all my friends know how much I DON’T want to ever do that again). Phew… so excited that I get to endure it all again in December when I get the permanent stuff “installed.” I love my dentist(s) and lab tech. I love that I can make them all laugh too. They kept saying something about a labial something-or-other and, of course, I couldn’t help but think they were saying something else (if you don’t get it, that’s good).
- Football uniform pictures for Colby’s folks (LOVE them) and grandfolks (they’re so VERY cool)… I swear (a lot of that going on, huh?) I have some great giggles with that kid and have the pictures to prove it. Won’t be able to edit them ’til after next week, darnit.
- Bridals for Kristy (absolutely gorgeous girl) at a crazy hospital with her FUN mom and about-to-pop-out-a-baby-any-minute sister who I photographed two years ago at HER wedding. Hopefully I can get a few shots posted to show you before Saturday. Update: no, I won’t, because Phil can’t see them :o(
- Dinner with Cathy (just the two of us and much needed since we hardly get the alone time anymore) at Carrabba’s that was beyond packed in the waiting area AND outside (can I just say I LOVE it when I don’t have to wait… I make a call and bing-bang-boom I’m in). We both had the tilapia special and had the privalege of being served by the BEST server there (another request)!
- Shopping with more friends… stocking up Saturday night for Sunday dinners and laughing over butcher meat.
- Sunday went to church and didn’t shed a tear this time. When I was there two weeks ago I was a complete basket case and couldn’t hold it in. I swore (see, more of it) this time I would try and keep my cool, and I did. I miss everyone there so very, very much. Because we didn’t have family there, they were my family. They ARE my family still. Great, NOW I’m gonna cry. Gotta get off the computer and take my mind of it.
Will do my best to get some pics for you to see soon. Peace out.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Just got this in my email and there isn’t any recognition of who made it. CUTE!
Gordon B. Pumpkin{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Since moving, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming several service people to help fix our stuff. There’s been a couple from the HVAC cleaning company (the first guy made the ducts worse, the second guy had to come re-do it all and get it cleaned up), several from the cable company (one the first time to wire but it didn’t work right so two more came out to fix what he did wrong then another inside to get the box working and yesterday another for the new box because the first one didn’t work right; did you add them up… yes, five just for our TV viewing pleasure), W/D delivery were two guys and I feel that I’m missing another fella but cannot remember where from.
Every SINGLE one of those guys reeked of cigarette smoke. As soon as I opened the door to let them in I got smacked in the face with an invisible cloud of ashtray smell that made a trail to wherever they were going and floated around them like Pigpen’s dust aura while they were here. Don’t get me wrong, every one of those guys have been very pleasant, helpful and professional (palms to the roof for the W/D main guy) and I certainly didn’t treat them any different than I would’ve if they hadn’t smelled. But, boy, as a non-smoker who doesn’t hang out in smoky environments, that stuff sure hits me like a ton o’ bricks (coincidentally, it’s actually not as bad as pumpkin guts).
Wonder where the unwritten rule is that says it’s a good idea to have employees reek when they come into our homes. Same would go for someone who had foul body odor, too much perfume or whose feet stunk so bad you couldn’t help but notice. Sometimes these things aren’t easy for someone to control (body odor), and I do not fault them if they’ve tried to un-stink themselves.
But, really, why is it OKAY (obviously it is or I wouldn’t have had EVERY ONE of my service people stink)? Has this condition been accepted for so long that it’d be next to impossible to get changed?
Maybe… when we make a request for an in-home service call we request that the employee doesn’t smell? I’ve known some smokers who don’t reek, so I don’t think it’d be fair to ask for a non-smoking employee (and wonder, in the Seattle area anyway, if it’s even a possibility that there’s a non-smoker service guy in the lot). I’m just talking about the stinky smokers, not the non-stinky ones.
And, yes, I do not smoke and have never enjoyed being around people who are smoking or who had recently smoked (so the smell lingered). Kissing a guy that smoked was gross and if I ever knew that a guy smoked before I kissed him then I wouldn’t kiss him at all.
I do not dislike smokers but I do dislike smoking.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
