I’m officially done Christmas shopping as
of today. YAY! Well, that doesn’t necessarily
mean that I won’t shop more, I’m just done with
all the required gift buying!
Now it’s onto the fun stuff..ME!

Let’s see, I already got myself the flip video
camera which I am aDORing! But I think that’s
what everyone should do, just go out and get
themsELVES a little somthin’ somthin’ and call
it a day…I think that’s why the word “elves”
is in “themselves”..hmmmmmmmmm~ good one!

I’m posting a video that I shot with my flip.
It’s Boo and his first Christmas tree experience.

Sure, I’m disappointed in myself for not being
more responsible (my first time ever losing
a debit or bank card!) I even suspect that
just like locking car keys in the car, I will
forever make certain that I have my card when
I complete a purchase by double and triple
checking! There, that’s off my chest!

Next on the docket…Starkey Hearing Foundation.
I just learned that I have been requested to
cover the VIP party at the Austin’s home
tomorrow evening along with some other fun
photographers..Rafael Victorian and Dave Johnson
(of National Camera Exchange fame) We will ROCK
that party! I will be coming right from the
Ultimate Bass Challenge on Minnetonka performing a
quick change at home! I had such a gas last
year shooting at their home I can’t wait to
get there tomorrow!

I have to get up really early to get over to
Lord Fletcher’s to get suited up for my
Ranger Bass Boat that I requested so that I
can get some awesome action shots of all the
pro/am fishermen & women! Then I’ll high-tale
it over to Al & Alma’s for the boat cruise
with the Northwester Health Sciences University
folks for a lunch cruise on the lovely Lake
Minnetonka…I sure hope the weather holds out!

FYI, Boo slept with us last night and was a
very good sleeper. Who Knew!?

Matt & Jennifer are at the Mimi in Playa
celebrating their anniversary!
Anne and I sent them a bucket of beer over
the internet….COOL! I hope they love it there!

Have a great day!

Today I have a 75th birthday to attend
and I’m also going to do a fashion shoot
with some of the students attending the
Minnetonka High School prom..yummy!
Their big honkin’ limo is coming at 7 to
pick them up so I should have some great
light to work with!

(I love coffee!)

Tomorrow I’m going to have the honor of
photographing the Thon family!
Jason & Stacey and their 2 darlings (Ian
& Lauren)..I can’t wait!!
I’m sure we will go somewhere groovy!

Here are some shots from the Science Museum
the other night at my NACE event.
What a terrific venue!!!

FYI..I won again…a bottle of Cabernet!
Next month, NACE celebrates 50 years!
It’s being held at the Chambers Hotel.
That’s going to be a fun one!!

Rusty is doing grrrrreat! My little motor
boat, I should have named him “tug”…
I still might!

I probably have no right to complain yet I can hear
you all going…”poor baby, 2 weeks in Mexico and
you come back to 2 inches of snow in March…poor baby!”
Yea, yea, but seriously…gross. I mean sure, it’s
pretty and all but it still just means that it’s cold
enough to snow, that’s all.

Hey all you video freaks out there…
do you know about VIMEO? It’s like SLIDE!

Also, I’m working on a Pro site for Austin Images Photography.
It’ll be different from this blog and different from my website.
I’m trying a 14 day trial with SQUARESPACE. This will be
another outlet for me…a pro site (or as Gary would call it,
“another time~waster”). Men can be such turds sometimes!

I’m going to mostly post images and information about
those images and keep the personal stuff on this site.
I’m still in the architectural phase but I should
have it up soon. I’ll create a link to it when it’s up.

Over time..who knows, it may replace my website???
I’m meeting with CORY tomorrow to discuss and make
changes to that site (finally).

Well, back to work.

Grieving the loss of a four legged friend is just
too tough. When Scott & Jacquie made the decision
to put Lucius down in December the devastation
just continued day after day after day.
I knew that they were in contact with Lucius’
breeder but to my surprise when Gary picked us
all up at the airport Thursday evening he said,
“Scott & Jacquie got a puppy!” I was sooo
excited for them! Scott has just been miserable.
This is just what they needed. I stopped over
yesterday to meet the gorgeous little guy.
His name is Jet.

My mom pointed out to me yesterday that I never
gave the reason for perhaps not returning to Cabo.
Sorry…I meant to. Well, there’s really no big
answer, it’s just that most of the time Gary and
I like to stay at little placed right on the beach.
I get so sick and tired of people waking up at
5am just to lay 15 towels out on all the best
chairs at the pool. I go to Mexico to sit my *ss
in the sand! The water was colder, the sand was
hot, a bucket of beer on the beach at the Mimi is
10 bucks…here, 25. I don’t know, It’s not that
I hated being there or anything like that it’s just
different. I must say that the photography opportunities
here were amazing…even National Geographic was
there shooting…

There was a steady flow of peddlers on the beach
each and everyday…that gets annoying.
I mean, sure, I bought some stuff from them but
every day they come right up to you and stand
there in hopes that you’ll cave in and decide
that you actually NEED a turtle whistle necklace!
I taught Ben the Spanish phrase for “go away!”
I’ve never had to actually use it before, but I
used it 2 or 3 times on this trip. Ben thought
it was hilarius!

So to sum up, It was beautiful there, pure blue
sky everyday, tons to do day and night, great
food, God knows I love the language, days got
to be about 80 degrees, nights about 60,
diving was awesome, fishing was incredible,
the villa was impeccable…the perfect trip
for families. Gary and I will do that sort of
thing once in a while, but we prefer to go and
do nothing and hang in the local haunts.
Who knows, maybe he and I will go to Cabo to
together sometime soon.

Make no mistake, I would not trade this tip
for anything. I had a FABulous time!
Thank you Anne and Pete for considering me
to come along. It really was a memory maker!

Check this out…REDRUM. This is the deep sea
fishing outfit that we used in Cabo.
It’s also the exact yacht we were on.

The diving group that Pete, Ben and I used
was Underwater Diversions.
Lars was our Dive Master and just the 4 of us
went out. We first went to Pelican Rock and
then to Neptune’s Finger.
Pete has all of those photos on his camera.
I’ll put those up when I get them from Pete.

I have a huge couple of weeks in front of me so
I must make an attempt to get back into my
reality zone.

I’m missing WPPI due to these
vacations but next year I WILL be attending!

Enjoy today!

Okay, seriously, this must be the last day of sub-zero
temps or I am no longer going to be held responsible for
my actions! Last night was the coldest night in forever!
High of 13 is expected today. At least the sun is out, right?

Cold update…I slept for and hour & a half between clients
yesterday, then I slept for 2 & half hours around 4
when I was done for the day, then went to bed at 11 and
slept until just after 8. So, FYI? I now answer to the name
of Rip Van Winkle too. I’m working on the beard.

Now, are you a cat fan? Well, I have a treat for you
today…I have a client who has forwarded me the url for
this woman in Germany who attaches a camera to her cat’s
neck and it takes a photo every 15 seconds…cool, right?
Click here for the cat’s photos.

Huh, if I put one on either of my cats, I’d
get comforter, comforter, comforter, butt, paw, food,
comforter, ceiling, ceiling, ceiling, floor, stairs
hallway, litter box, hallway, stairs, comforter!
Not sure my cats are ready for YouTube just yet! LOVE them.

Remember the “House of Fun & Fur”? I’m going back there
tomorrow to shoot some Valentine’s Day images with her
furry friends! Gonna be sooo fun!

bye.

oh, mom, I’ll get some Zicam on your recommendation!