Who was the best boss you've ever had?

Did my dad write this? Dad?

Ask me anything

In the Doghouse

Sorry it's been a while...

I'm sure I'm in the doghouse with you for not posting.

(By the way, is this the cutest picture ever? Yeah, I thought so).

I've been very busy with getting back from Sacramento (pictures coming) then attending a Bridal Tea (more pictures) and finally, cheering on J as he won FIRST PLACE in Fontana Nationals for mountain biking! It was so exciting. So stay tuned...I have a lot to come.

Out of town

Miss me? I'm currently in sacramento for a marketing conference. Found
mean girls on tv so I'm relaxing until dinner. :)

Sent from my iPhone

Pillars of the Earth

Yesssss!!!!!!!!!!! My dad just told me that they are making a movie (a miniseries) of the novel The Pillars of the Earth. I am 3/4 of the way through it now and I love it. Love.it.

Here is the website, if you're interested.

:)

Happiness!

What is your LEAST favorite book that you have read?

Oh my...I have stopped reading several books, but I have obstinately finished some terrible ones. Generally I don't put down a book...if it gets someone reading, I'm happy! But I would have to say: I finished and really despised A Million Little Pieces, and mainly because the Author capitalized His Nouns. And as You can see, Toilet and Bedroom are not Things that need to be capitalized. Also I thought he was an arrogant jerk. Bear in mind, my opinion on this book has NOTHING to do with its level of truth; I believe an author has creative license to do whatever he wants to make a story compelling, and I could care less if he actually had Novocaine during his root canal. I just didn't like the narrator, so I never connected with the book. [whew, that was long!]

Ask me anything

J meets Dick Butkus!

How exciting!

Adventures of J: XC Race at Bonelli Park

J rocks! Check him out...in action at his race at Bonelli Park in San Dimas.

Ooops...I got carried away with flowers. :)

New photos!

I have a new session posted on my photo site here.

Family Photos

Family photos are a lot more difficult when your family is made up of a bunch of adults.

First of all, you don't all live together, or have the same schedule, and communicating about what to wear and where to go are much more difficult when there isn't one central "boss."

In 2009, J and I gifted his parents with a family photo session, and then a canvas gallery wrap of the finished product for their 30th anniversary. Later in the year, we also took family photos with my side. It was the first Christmas card for both sides with new family members, after the Christmas when they had a wedding picture to use! I love the sessions, shot by Jeff Woon, and I love that one feels like summer and the other feels so much like fall. Such different vibes in a state with no weather!

And the winners:

Wanna talk fashion? If you have family photos coming up...comment and we can discuss the lessons learned for getting a group of grown ups to match!

If you were given a brand new yacht, what would you name it?

Uhhh...this is a random question. Can yachts only be named something that no other yacht has been named? Can I name it something like "holycrapihaveayacht?" or "S.S. Korey is Awesome?"

Ask me anything

What message would you want to put in a fortune cookie?

"You will be happy."
It's vague and wonderful!

Ask me anything

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/eastofeden

Comments

I have gotten a lot of comments (but not on this blog) that people cannot figure out how to comment. I had previously not allowed comments from people who did not have a profile (AKA anonymous comments) to avoid trolls, but I changed that last night. Since comments are what keep blogs alive, comment away! :)

Because every post is better which a picture, here's the Back Bay in Newport on Thanksgiving morning.

Really, dude?

As a matter of habit, I typically do not post without a picture, but I had to say this:

This morning, on my drive to work, a car in front of me was unusually slow. As I approached, I could see that the driver was eating from a giant bowl. With chopsticks.

Really, dude?

Guest Blogger: Music Hour with Dad

Today's pick from dad:

OK todays music blog is about a band I've had the pleasure to see, admire and even interview (which means party with late after a concert.) The band is Jethro Tull.

First a little history - Ian Anderson started in 62 in Blackpool England in a white soul band. They didn't do very well and changed their name frequently to get bookings in London. Someone at thier booking company was a history buff and booked them under the name of an 18th century agriculturist [the inventor of a seed drill which, credited as one of the pioneers of the agricultural revolution, says K, who learned this in High School history class] "Jethro Tull." The club manager liked it and it was the first re-booking they had so the name, some said, started their success. Of course, ironically their first album came out with the name misspelled "Jethro Toe."

Second guitarist came in Tony Iommi from a group "earth" who then changed their name to "Black Sabbath" (we all know them now thanks to reality tv). Then in 68 came Martin Barre from Noel Reddings' "Fat Mattress (Noel of course from Jimi Hendrix fame) Martin was the second longest member next to Ian Anderson.

When I saw them in Detroit at the small but infamous Grande (pronounced grandee) Ballroom in the 60's, they were the opening act for a Famous Detroit band "Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels" (stories about them at a later blog). They came out and killed the (my opinion) rock & roll capital of the US. I think it was the beginning of the end for Mitch, also my opinion.

I have to mention the flute, and this came right from Ian Anderson himself, in the beginning he wanted to get the band recognized and was at a pawn shop looking at guitars. Feeling that he would just be another guitar palying rock dude he saw a flute in the window and decided it was something that would set him apart. Mission accomplished. I for one felt his flute solos were mesmerizing.

They became one of the top drawing rock acts of their time. Personal story: flash forward to 1972, I'm at the fabulous Forum [L.A. Forum in Inglewood?] for a concert and down in front with my camera doing some shots of Tull. My freind Steve somehow got back stage and I, with my camera, managed to get in a back door and ended up in a room with Martin Barrre, Jeffrey Hammond (who Anderson called Hammond-Hammond cause his mother's maiden name was also Hammond, they were childhood pals by the by), John Evan and Barimore Barlow. Later they were joined by Ian Anderson who they told me didn't hang with the rest (he didn't party).
We had a great time, although I was asked to shoot pictures of the wives and girlfriends (they told me "nobody ever gets them in the pictures")--a chance of a lifetime for an amateur like me; however I had run out of film at the show, so they started calling me "Mr. Photographer." Being mocked by rock super stars somehow did not damage my fragile ego.
*Short note: Steve, who was by then pretty stoned, corraled Ian Anderson, who clearly didn't like smashed Americans, and proceeded to spill the free champagne all over his shoes, at which time he yelled "Mr. Photographer come get David Bowie away from me! (He called Steve David Bowie because Steve was questioning him on his favorite rock star, as though all englishmen know each other.) [naturally]

This part of the story is my favorite and I swear its true: I had to work early the same day and we left and went out on the street surrounding the Forum. We met a group of hippies out at a corner and began to tell them the backstage story at which time they of course said "sure you did" and laughed. Just then a limo pulled up and the window went down and it was Martin Barre. He yelled "Mr. Photographer are you coming to the hotel?" the looks on the previously sarcastic faces were priceless. Sorry I had to work. I ofter wonder what I was thinking; I was making 6 or 7 bucks an hour hauling shampoo at Redkin Labs in Van Nuys ay the time. Midwest work ethic I suppose.

By the way, Martin Barre was my favorite guy, just an average guy, single and normal and fun-loving. He came up to me at the post concert party and said "I think that bird over there is giving me the green light, what should I do?"
Like it was going to be difficult for him to hook up with a groupie, really?

How to take good pictures of your dog

Here's my dog. Look how patient and attentive he is. A perfect subject, no?

Would you believe me if I told you I bribed him? That his attentiveness was due to something other than me?
It's true. But I can't bribe him with anything too delicious, as he has pancreatitis. So I bribed him with little pieces of yam. Don't believe me?
I have proof!
Ta-da!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Mmmm cupcakes for the bake sale at work, benefitting Water for People:

The frosting is lovingly piped on using a pastry bag.
Like this one (okay so this exact one).
It's very simple, rather like milking a cow.*
I stand the pastry bag up in a large, heavy mug to fill it. This really helps.
Lovely!

*Who are we kidding: I've never milked a cow! But Samantha learned how on a Sex and the City episode once and I think of it every time I do this...

Birth Announcement

I made these darling announcements for my friend Mai's new little girl, Lia.

Ahhh flowers

The "good" pictures I promised:

primroses

a lavender bud blooming
pink stock
ranunculus
love these colors!


Star of Bethlehem (the theme of my wedding flowers)
more raunculus

The most wonderful scent...

Nothing smells better than early spring in California.

The first of the crop of sweet smells has to be pink star jasmine. I have about ten pounds of it in my backyard. The vines are weighted with these small white blossoms and pink blooms about to open.

Some buds ready to bloom