Le sigh. It's been so long since I posted. While I haven't stopped shooting. And I haven't missed a day yet. I have been very lax on posting. That is because of many reasons. There has been much upheaval. The BF and I house sat for a good friend, Kenar, the month of Sept. while she was in Turkey. And the weekend before Thanksgiving she lost her battle with cancer. She was in such a deep state of denial that she didn't deal with it. It has been very very hard on me. We had become such good friends. We hung out a lot and she kept my spirits up when I was having a bad day.
Kenar and I had many long talks about being sick and how to deal with the day to day BS. She had this strange notion that she had in some way she had caused her cancer. And she couldn't understand why I have RA because I am a good person. I never understood why she thought that the cancer was her penance. She had gone to several holistic doctors that told her she could cure the cancer by changing her thinking or eating differently or drinking some kind of tea. I had told her on many occasions that I thought she should go to a Western doctor and have it cut out and have chemo. But I told her it's her journey, her path and that she had to make the decision. And she kept telling me that Western doctors are only out to cut and make money. That she could do this a different way. She was so stubborn.
After Halloween I hadn't heard from her in several weeks. I started to get worried. I had called, I had texted, I had emailed. I was ready to go over to her house and find out why she hadn't gotten back to me. Her cousin called me back after I had called like 3 times in a row. Kenar was in the hospital and cancer had spread to her bones, her liver and brain. And things didn't look good. The BF and I would go visit her in the hospital. She didn't look good. Her family decided to try radiation, to try to buy her some time. It didn't work, so they took her home. Kenar passed at home on Nov. 20th at 7:20 am. She was 36 years old.
Kenar's death has thrown me. I am very confused. I know that there wasn't anything I could do to change her mind about getting some kind of treatment. I am just so very sad that I lost someone who special to me. If you only met Kenar once, she made you feel like you had known her forever. She was so giving and so kind.
Even just this little bit of writing doesn't even remotely touch on how I feel. It's been so rough on me.
With the upcoming holidays, things are only gonna get busier. And I know that I need to take some time for myself and get the things done that I have neglected. This blog is one of those things. I promise that this will be all up to date before the new year. I promise! :)
DAY 53
This is a water feature in front of the FedEx office here in Burbank. I love the falling water and the color of the stone. It's kind of hard to see here. It works better in real life.
DAY 52
The BF aunt was going back to Mexico and we took her to LAX. But we had a ton of time to kill before her flight. So we went over to the Tom Bradley building to get some food and to walk around. I love the big board of Departures!
DAY 51
OMG!!! This was a DRAMA filled day!!! It was a continuation from the day before. I will try to make a long story short. So the lady in the picture is Luz. She is the best friend of my Sister in Law (SiL) She was having major drama with a TV she had purchased from Best Buy. It was an open box and didn't have the screws for the base. Several hours later, we had the screws and we took it back to her place to install the base and hook it up. When it was plugged in and turned on, I noticed a dead pixel in the upper right hand side. It was very noticeable. So we unplugged everything and repacked it and decided to meet up the next day to get the TV swapped.
So I woke up early the next morning and we got her TV swapped out. So this is a picture of her standing next to the new TV, very HAPPY!
DAY 50
I shot this waiting for the BF's aunt to come out of church. She is from Mexico and we would take her down the cathedral in Downtown LA. This man got out of an SUV and started to put on some robes. I don't know who is but I thought it was interesting how the man was being treated with kit gloves.
DAY 49
The reason Teresa and hung out the day before was to chat about taking pictures. Teresa is a blogger for many sites including Tor.com and ChinaShopMag.com. She asked me to take pictures for an article she was writing on a short film called Hughes the Force. It is a funny film combining John Hughes sensibilities and Star Wars. This was the premiere in Hollywood at Harmony Gold. It was a really good film. And I had a blast taking pictures for her. Hopefully, Teresa will ask me again to shoot photos for articles she writes.
DAY 48
This is a friend of mine. Her name is Teresa and you can check out her blog here http://teresajusino.wordpress.com/
She and I hung out. I made sure I got a picture of us.
DAY 47
The friend I was house sitting for had some really pretty and interesting things on her walls. This garlic bulb and flowers piece was on the wall in her kitchen. I thought it was so pretty. I really liked the colors and textures.
DAY 46
I took this picture close to dusk. I was having a hard time deciding on what to shoot. So I took my macro lens out. This is the apartment call box for my apartment building. I really like this picture for some reason. I like the metal tones.
DAY 45
Okay, so I kind of have a thing for rubber duckies. I never had one as a kid. But now as an adult, I really really like them. I have one that is a devil ducky. The one picture is silver and has a bronze buddy. I also have rubber farm animals as well.
DAY 44
While walking in the alley behind our apartment building, there was this Spiderman yo yo sitting on the ground. I decided to take a macro shot of it.
DAY 43
YODA!!! Lots of Yodas!! Upon wandering in Little Tokyo, I went into a store that had lots of tchotchkes and knick nacks. There were some really nice mugs and books. As I walked towards the back of the store, I came upon some origami. But not just any origami, YODA!!! Lots of different sized Yodas. It was AWESOME!!!
DAY 42
This is on Glenoaks Blvd. in Burbank. We were driving back from house sitting. This gas station had been closed for sometime. It looks like they had been doing some work on it.
DAY 41
It was really cloudy and the light was really amber. I shot this with one of the creative filters on my camera. It wasn't this amber in real life. But I really kind of like this shot.
DAY 40
I had purchased an adapter for the Diana lens. Diana's a plastic camera, with the initial popularly starting in the early 60's. My mom had a few which I took back the last time I visited. The adapter ring allows me to put the lens onto my Rebel. This is one of the first images I took with the new lens.
DAY 39
As I shot the car wash sign the day before, I got this really cute idea. The BF was gone for a week training for a job. I thought it would be cute to take pictures of letters in signs to spell out our names. We had seen this done at a store over in Santa Monica and we had talked about doing this but hadn't gotten around to it. So I had shot most of the letters for our names. (This is the PH from the Target Pharmacy sign.) But I knew of this sign that had a big E and small M. I went over and shot it. And as I was walking back, I didn't notice the sidewalk had a step in it. I tripped and fell. I hit my head and sheared off some skin on my trigger finger. My camera fell and bounced. Nothing broke on the camera. But I did a doozy on my finger and pride. I was very lucky that I didn't break anything on me or the camera. I made it home where my neighbor was walking out as I was walking in. She took care of me. I ended up being fine in the long run. No permanent damage to either the camera or myself. I just need to be more careful when I am out shooting.
DAY 38
While driving through Burbank, I am always on the look out for interesting signs. I have passed this car wash countless times. So I decided to take some photos of it. From this shot, actually came up with my shot for the next day and some major drama as well.
DAY 37
I had to take the BF to LAX early in the morning. He was flying out for a job. As I came back, I stopped to take some pictures of the sunrise. They didn't really turn out all that well. I was exhausted. I found this really interesting tree trunk. I took this photo with the Hipstamatic App using the Bettie XL lens and the Pistil Film.
DAY 36
I heard a fire truck race down the street. And then I hear another and another. And then I smelled smoke. I walked out back of my apartment and I saw a smoke plume. I decided I had to go check it out. So I headed towards the smoke. I saw firemen and trucks stopped about 4 blocks away. So I walked up with my camera to where the firemen were. They were pretty relaxed about things. So I figured it must not have been a big deal. I asked a couple of people what had happened. And I was told that there was major smoke coming from a deli but no real fire. I snapped this shot of a fireman talking on his walkie.
DAY 35
I love taking picture down on Santa Fe Ave, which is just south of downtown LA. There are many warehouses in the area. One of the warehouse's had metal gate down but you could see into it. I saw this statue and found it to be very interesting. So snapped a few shots off and this is one of them!
DAY 34
I spent the weekend of the month of Sept. house sitting for a friend. This is the view out of her master bedroom patio. I used Picture Show app on the iPhone4 to make it vintage looking.
Rest In Peace Steve Jobs
This week I cried for the loss of a man I had never met. I cried for Steve Jobs. The man was such an innovator. Such a smart, amazing man. I worked for Apple retail a few years ago. In store R001, the 1st store! Even though I had many ups and downs while working there, I always had such a deep loyalty and respect for the man. I wished had been able go to the mother ship and train, Just in the hopes I would have seen him.
I know his physical pain is gone. And He is in a much better place. But I am sad for his family and his Apple family.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently”
Think Different!
May His Soul Rest In Peace!
DAY 33
I drove over to Santa Monica for an errand and afterwards, I went to the Santa Monica Pier. I have seen the equipment for the Trapeze School but I have never seen the school in action. This time, there were classes going on. I only had the kit lens on my camera. And while I got some great shots, like this one, I am excited to go back with my other lens to get some really great shots!
DAY 32
As I went to Ralph's to pick up some groceries, I heard over the intercom something about a pirate at the front of the store. I was like "What?!?!" I had to see what this Pirate was all about. It turns out to be a Capt. Morgan's Rum Pirate. I had to take a picture of a pirate!
DAY 31
I love taking photos in downtown. I really enjoy the urban architecture. I took many pictures and I really liked this one of the stop sign. All of the stickers are really interesting. I decided to shoot in black and white because I like the impact that black and white has.
DAY 30
It is so rare to see a lizard in our apartment building. But this little guy was hanging out next to the door. I snapped a few shots of him but this was the best. Hopefully he'll stick around.
DAY 29
By the Ikea in Burbank, there is a multilevel parking structure. We drove up to the top and took this lovely sunset photo with my iPhone4. We had been out shopping so I didn't have my Rebel with the longer lens. I think I will have to come back to get some more shots of the Valley.
DAY 28
Theresa and I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market this month. It was Theresa's first time and I think she was overwhelmed. I know I was the first time I went. As we entered, James Van Der Beek walked by us quickly.
This is one of the booths that we passed by. We both didn't make any purchases but I saw so many pretty thing. And so many great decorating ideas.
DAY 26
As I was walking to get the mail, I came upon this little apple sitting on the ground. I walked by it a couple of times trying to see if it was real or not. It turns out that it was a piece of a neighbor's wreath. So I broke out the macro lens and set the apple on a step and snapped away!
DAY 25
There are two old motels side by side in Studio City, CA. They have used in many TV shows such as Dexter and CSI. Since I am working on a series of photo of old motel neon. I knew I had to check it out. The photo is tweaked a bit in Apple's Aperture. I think I'm going to go back when it's the rainy season to get a different look.
DAY 24
Driving on Burbank Blvd. I've passed this amazing sign a million times. I took my Rebel T3i with me along with my iPhone4. I got out and framed up a shot with my Rebel and turned the camera on. And it didn't turn on. I had forgotten to take the battery out of the charger and put it back in the camera! D'oh! So this was taken with my iPhone4.
Day 23
So this is the lovely Teresa Jusino! She is amazing blogger who covers nerdy things. This was her Welcome to LA party. She is from NYC and moved to LA in order to grow her career. The lovely ladies of The LxL had a pool party in her honor!
Life interrupted
So I know I haven't been posting. I have been shooting. We have a guest staying with us and so my computer hasn't been in its regular spot. I physically haven't been comfortable working on my computer. So I have many pictures to update! So that is what I am doing now! :)
DAY 22
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DAY 19
DAY 18
Shot inside Rocket Fizz here in Burbank. They have many locations around LA. And they are branching out thru the country. They specialize in vintage candy and soda. SO AMAZING!!! :) Check them out if you have a chance.
DAY 16
This in the parking lot of the Burbank Adult School. If you look closely, you will see the lights of an airplane. That night we were right in the flight path of Bob Hope Airport. Shot on my iPhone4 with the Hipstamatic App.
DAY 15
Roaming around downtown, I have always wanted to go inside the Bradbury Building. I have been fan of the movie BladeRunner since I was in college. They filmed part of the movie here. I really would love to get inside to shoot.
Day 14
DAY 13
So while driving in Burbank, I snapped this out the car window. I have been meaning to go in but I just haven't gotten around to it. There are so many places like that here in Burbank and in the surrounding areas.
Update
I have gotten behind in posting my photos. But that doesn't mean I haven't been taking pictures. I totally have!!! Life has been super busy as of recent. And I am hoping to post the pictures once I have a bit more time!
DAY 12
I took this at the Safari Inn. It's a FAMOUS motel that has been in a ton of movies from True Romance to Apollo 13. I've never stayed there. But I LOVE the sign. It's so old school cool!
DAY 11
Out on a walk, I found this patch of roses. I really thought they were very pretty. I took this picture with the Hipstamatic app using the Lucifer VI lens and the Ina's 1969 film. The Lucifer lens creates that red hue around the edges of the white flowers.
DAY 10
I took my camera out to learn some of the more advanced settings. I created my own B&W super contrasty option. This is Ling Ling. She is a bit skittish. But she was sitting so nicely that I couldn't resist taking a picture.
DAY 8
This is on the corner of Palmetto & Mateo streets in Los Angeles. This building had been seen in many tv shows and commercials. I have adored this building for some time. This photo almost has an HDR look to it.
DAY 7
Burbank has once a year a classic car fest called BeBoppin in the Park. It is so much fun. So many cool old cars show up. I dressed up in one of my vintage dresses and went out to look at the cars. I took many pictures.
DAY 6
I go in for an infusion (AKA Super Serum) every 6 months to fight my Rheumatoid Arthritis, (RA). They put this weird sock like thing over my injection site. I guess it keeps things in place better.
DAY 5
Ever since I was a little kid, I have collected lake tumbled glass. I have a nice collection which resides on my dresser in a pretty glass bowl. I love taking pictures of this glass.
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