Had a pretty great week, regardless of how fast it went. While AJB was out of town, JCS and I got off our asses and visited the Audubon Center at Debs Park – a place I never knew existed until now. It’s great! It’s a natural park with hiking trails and learning centers, they also provide all sorts of free classes like Tai Chi on Sundays. Needless to say, like most natural parks, it’s just gorgeous and what’s better, it’s about 10 minutes from Pasadena, just outside of Downtown. You can discover all sorts of cool things just by driving around and following signs.

The image of our television set is one of the Winter Olympics athletes being interviewed. Me and the kids were making fun of her, so I took a picture and it was all I had for that day. The final picture is our bathroom being fixed after extensive rain damage.

I guess, all I can do is sum up, really. I’ve been making an effort to keep entries around 500 words or so, but that’s easier said than done when I don’t write in a while.

The biggest news of late is that we have a new member of the family. To make a long story short (too late), my ex-boyfriend Todd and his girlfriend have moved to Marrakech and needed to re-home their cat Eva; who happens to be the biological sister of my cat Matilda. Todd gave me Matilda. Over the last few weeks, I’ve attempted to minimize the stress of a new cat on Oatmeal and Matilda, doing all the things I read about on the net and spoke with the vet about. It all went great until a “fiancee who shall not be named” accidentally let Matilda (the jealous baby of the family) into Eva’s safe room. Since then, growls and hisses a’plenty.

After a few more days of quarantine, we finally let Eva out to mingle with the others. There have been a few chase scenes and various growling matches, but otherwise smooth sailing. I’m making sure to let all the cats know that each one is a unique snowflake by spending time with them and laying on the love big time. Things are going well and tonight, all 3 cats played in close proximity to one another without any altercations.

We’re so happy to have Eva here. She’s a sweetheart and I know, in time, all 3 kittehs will soon be piled on top of one another cuddling in the afternoon sun…as cats do.

Along with that, I’ve been pretty busy with my photography. I just finished up with a new client shooting cosmetics. I have to say, my work continues to improve and I often marvel at my own abilities. While I don’t expect Revlon to be calling any time soon, I did some great work and I finally feel as though the mystery of really great lighting is finally revealing itself to me. Or at least, I understand it whole lot more than I did a year ago.

I haven’t had any time to plan my wedding. The holidays and the economy put any real intentions to a grinding halt. We haven’t booked the venue and I’m afraid we’ll lose it. At the same time, when I start worrying (as I do), I wonder if I actually know enough people to fill a big venue like the Masonic Temple. I think the majority of our guests will be guests of our guests. Since I’ve never planned a big event like this, I know I need help. Where do we stand financially? Who knows. Things are unclear at the moment. I feel this general sense of woe regarding the economic crisis and I have this sinking feeling that things are only going to get worse. Because I’m often right about any number of things, the thought scares me.

I’ve passed 500 words. More later.

I often think about the differences in the passing of time. It goes slow when we’re kids and fast when we’re adults. Is it simply about having a basis of reference? An hour is only 60 small minutes and each one of those is 60 small seconds. I guess knowing how long it takes to do something, takes the fun out of it. When you’re a kid, you have no concept of time beyond being home before sunset. You also don’t care about time. You don’t wear a watch until you get your first one in 10th grade and even then, you often forget to wind it. When the battery dies, you stop wearing it. Or at least, I did. I still have the watch my Dad gave me in 10th grade.

This year hasn’t passed any faster than all those that came before it. So why does it feel that way? Once Christmas is over it’s on to New Year’s Eve and the whole thing starts all over again. Except this time, you’re a year older and perhaps a little wiser.

2008 was the year I started my freelancing career. In January I was liberated from Hot Topic the same day my Grandpa Ernie died.

In February we had a lunar eclipse and I took a really great photo of it. We also fired our gardeners and I took on the yard. I’ve regretted it ever since. Poloroid announced they were ceasing production of their iconic instant film.

In March, I turned 33. I didn’t talk about my birthday and can’t remember what I did. A full year passed since my Dad died. March was hard. I did an amazing photo session with an old boyfriend. I got into an accident on the 5-FWY in which my car was damaged and the squirrel died. My baby brother announced that his (hated) girlfriend was pregnant – this would cause a devastating family rift that is still unresolved.

In April, I went to Japan. A life’s dream come to fruition. April was a good month. I also learned why you shouldn’t get wasted on a long flight home.

In May, a friend I’ve known since first grade got married. I went to the wedding by myself. Gas prices were the highest in my lifetime.

In June, Wall-E came out. It remains one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. I saw Peter Murphy at the House of Blues. The Apricots on our tree came in. I had this wild idea of making jam, but the fruit went bad very quickly and I missed the boat.

In July, AJB and I went to Chicago to see his mom. The cicada were in full force. That month, we attended Comic-Con in San Diego and even though I wrote about it, I never published the post. I just did. I embraced Twitter and got into more trouble with the law – expired tags and mysteriously missing insurance information.

In August, we had what might have been an attempted break-in or maybe ghosts. My sister visited for a weekend. I made a YouTube video to take part in an online piano teaching experiment. I still haven’t started because the book is expensive.

By September, the heat was getting to me. I didn’t write much and didn’t get a whole lot done over Summer in general. I did some photo shoots here and there. I started up with a cool vintage clothing store that offers self satisfaction over heaps of cash.

In October, Obama-fever was setting in. AJB and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary by getting engaged. I voted early in Norwalk and waited 4 hours. My sister came into town and helped me pick out my engagement ring. On Halloween, we drove out to Vegas to canvass for Obama.

November, Obama won the election and all was right with the world. Mostly. We stayed in Nevada until the 5th. AJB bought my ring and presented it to me on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. A week or so later, we traveled to Florida for a theme park convention. I had a headache for three days, but got to meet lots of people and saw Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Starbucks unleashed their Gingerbread Lattes as “Ginger Snap Lattes”. My brother’s baby was born. Welcome Micheal Joseph Simental.

In December, we traveled to Chicago and New York. I saw Jersey Boys in Chi-Town and Liza in Manhattan. My brother, my Mom, and I saw Frankie Valli in San Bernardino. Bettie Page and Majel Barrett died. Christmas came and went. I was unprepared but it all came together in the end. I announced to my family that AJB and I were getting married – they all knew something was up, but thought I might be pregnant. LOL.

And now, here we are. The end of 2008. Is it just me or do years get more and more momentous as you get older? A long time friend got married, my grandpa died, I started my career, I went to Japan, Chicago (twice), New York, and Florida. I traveled more in 2008 than any other year. My brother had a baby and I got engaged. 2008 was filled with excitement and many life changing events. 2009 brings new promise, but I am hesitant to say it’s going to be great because I just don’t know. I do know that in 2009 I will be planning my wedding, turning 34, and getting married. The uncertainty of this economic crisis is casting a dark cloud over the new year. Who knows what the future will bring? *We are all interested in the future because that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

See what happened in 2007

*Crisswell, Ed Wood

Friday & The Saturday Photo-shoot
On Friday, I ran around getting ready for my two big shoots. I had coffee with JCS and went to bed later than I would have liked, but I was ready to go. Saturday morning, I awoke at 6am, made coffee, showered and waited for everyone to show up. The clients and 3 out of the 6 models were on time. We decided to wait for the remaining models. One called and was hopelessly lost on the other side of town. From the 710 FWY, there are signs that say “Pasadena”, but you can’t actually get to Pasadena unless you know your way through the streets of Alhambra; which most people don’t. He’d meet us at the location later. Once there, we set up in a side alley about a block from Old Town Pasadena. I’d warned everyone that we might encounter conscientious objectors, but no one bothered us the entire shoot. Pasadena has very strict photography permit rules and we hadn’t followed any of them.

The entire shoot ran about 3 hours and couldn’t have gone smoother. The models I’d brought in were all wonderful, fun, and easy to work with. I love them all. As for the other two that didn’t show, nary a peep from either of them. We made due and made it work. The clients were amazing and so totally easy to get along with. They trusted my judgment, let me make creative decisions, paid me, and thought I was brilliant. My kind of clients. I really hope I get to work with them again.

I spent most of the shoot in the sun and even got a little tan. I can’t remember the last time I had this much color in my skin. We all parted ways and I collapsed on the bed for four hours hard.

GLOW
I’d heard about an exciting art experience in Santa Monica called GLOW. I told AJB about it and we’d decided we shouldn’t miss it. The idea was that large light installations were going to be set up around Santa Monica, on the beach, and on the pier. It would run from 7pm to dawn. Neat idea, right? We picked up Dave, Jason, and their friend Matt. When we got there, the entire city was jam-packed with tourists and people who don’t generally get out to art shows. I mean, packed! We checked out a few of the installations and to be honest, they weren’t all that great. I expected something that made me go “WOOOOOW“, but most everything made me go, “Yeah, I guess that’s cool“. The best part of the night was hanging out with the 3 bears. They’re all so hilarious and cuddly, I can’t stand it. As for Dave, I love hanging out with him because he’s a pretty amazing guy. Smart, sweet, adorable, the gay version of my boyfriend. Seriously. They even dress the same. LOL.

After several hours of gazing upon mediocre art, we were all starving. Except, we’d spend the next 45 minutes in the parking garage trying to get out. As Jason put it, “volume and ineptitude” were the cause. By the time we got out, we were all REALLY starving. It was after midnight, maybe even 1am. We ate at Mel’s Diner, stuffed our faces, and went home. Home by 2am. I still had to get ready for the shoot on Sunday. In bed by 3:30am. Memories of great conversation and humorous anecdotes filled my head.

Sunday Shoot
Exhausted from yesterday, I woke up and downed a 5-Hour Energy Drink. They work like a charm, by the way. We started a little later and had only a fraction of Saturday’s items to shoot. T-Shirts again, only this time designed by an architecture student and much more artistic. I met him at the Southern California Institute for Architecture in the heart of the Arts District of Downtown. We couldn’t get into the school, so we drove around the streets of Downtown looking for a place. We found one about a block away. It was ghetto, but quiet. Sunday always is.

The client brought in his friends for models. I’d asked a great model I know to show up, but he didn’t. I wouldn’t find out what happened until later. The shoot went well. All the client’s model/friends were great and easy to work with. I’m also so much better at lighting than I ever have been. I love it. I love knowing what I’m doing and doing it well. We were done in a few hours, but still had to do some flat shots of some glow-in-the-dark shirts. We couldn’t find a dark enough place, nor an outlet to plug the black light into. So I left with the shirts and will do them at home. And I got paid. A great day by all accounts. I came home again and crashed.

The Download Festival
AJB’s delightful British cousin is married to a rock star from a band that AJB calls “A connoisseur’s band”. They’re not hugely popular in the states, but any band worth it’s salt knows who they are and has been influenced by them. What’s strange is that I know who they are and have loved their music since high school; so it’s weird that we have one of the band members in the family. Right? Very strange, but so unbelievably cool. We try to see him when he comes to town on tour. The band was here for The Download Festival, which may as well been called “The Down Low Festival”…no one knew about it and it hardly sold out. About 20 bands, most of which were small-time or unknown. A few name brands, but nothing of note.

Gang of Four and The Jesus and Mary Chain were headlining – which made me very happy. By the time they came on, the crowd had dwindled down and the amphitheater was half empty. Regardless, Gang of Four, with what seemed like an undying amount of energy, rocked the house and swept the remaining crowd off their feet. You could tell at first, the kids there didn’t know what to do with them. However, by the middle half of their set, the kids were romanced by the rock and jumping for joy. It was pretty amazing. Most concerts I go to, the people in attendance already know the band. Here we had a bunch of curious kids who, at first, didn’t know what to think, until finally, they flowed into full concert mode. Great. I’ve never quite seen a crowd won-over by a band.

AJB went backstage to meet his cousin-in-law-rockstar and I stayed behind to see The Jesus and Mary Chain. It was alright. Not quite as good as when I saw them at The Wiltern a few months back, but JAMC are never a bad idea, even if the sound was bad and they had to stop and re-start one of their songs. It was a short set. Afterward, AJB came back for me and took me backstage. You’d think that sort of thing is really exciting, but it’s just sort of normal. I mean, it’s cool as fuck, but I didn’t really see any huge stars or anything. Miscellaneous family members were there. We all hung out, talked and decided to go eat. We ended up at Bubba Gump’s at City Walk- which is a Forrest Gump themed restaurant that serves seafood and…you guessed it, shrimp. I had a salad. Cousin-in-law-rockstar was in good form, we all gabbed and had a great time. I still think it’s weird to hang out with someone who’s music I’ve listened to since I was a teen. Very surreal. Fucking fantastic, but surreal. We drove AG back to his hotel and dragged our tired asses home. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

Probably the busiest weekend ever. The most exciting, jam-packed, weekend. Two paid photo-shoots, a mediocre art show, a rock concert, and hanging out with rock-stars. Yeah. Good times. Sometimes I step outside my life and think, how did I get here?

I finally heard from the MIA models. If you guessed they’d overslept, you’d be right. One, however, told me he wasn’t aware that Pasadena was so far and didn’t have a ride. I mean, seriously. He’d known about the location for several days. And even though the location wasn’t finalized until Thursday, I told everyone it would most likely be Los Angeles or Pasadena. Anyway. Oh well. Everything went great. I’d decided to chide my Sunday model for being unreliable when I’d talked him up as being reliable, but it took a lot out of me, so I’ve waited to chide the other two until today. It’s hard being a hard ass. My first instincts are to say, “Oh, that’s alright, don’t worry about it“, but the truth is, not showing up to a shoot really puts a kink in the day’s planning and it’s just not cool to say you’re gonna be there and then not. None of the models got paid, but even so, these shoots are great for networking and gaining real world experience. If you’re a model, in the beginning, you have to do unpaid gigs. You get paid with your images and use them for your portfolio. It’s a trade and a pretty good one, if I do say so. I’ve done my fair share of free work for portfolio filler. It’s how things work. Anyway, enough of that.

I’m still pretty beat up from this weekend, but it was filled with so many wonderful moments. It feeds my soul. Friends, family, boyfriend, music, art, paid work. Ah. Life is good. As I drove home from the Sunday shoot, I thought about the weekend at hand and all of a sudden, a thought flashed in, “You’d better be grateful“. I am. I really am.

I’m gonna loaf for most of the day. Maybe watch Muriel’s Wedding on DVD. I have about a billion images to go through.

I found a guy on Craigslist selling his used backdrop support system for well under market value. He claimed he’d only used it once, but I could tell it had a few more miles on it than that. Either way, it’s in good shape, it’s good quality, with the added bonus of recycling. I then bought a 15 llb. sandbag – which is used to keep my stands from tipping over. I then realized that I wouldn’t be able to afford any serious overhead sunshades (known as a Scrim Jim) and didn’t have time to make one, so I did some serious thinking about an alternative. I went back to Samy’s, asked them about an affordable alternative and bought a sunshade holder…or sunshade stand. Not sure what it’s called exactly. It’s basically a stand that holds my sunshade – which is pretty much like those car shades you put on your windshield to block the sun. Aptly titled, the sunshade shades the sun. They can also be used for reflecting and bouncing light. Neat huh? I’ve never used a sunshade stand before, so I’m hoping it will do what I need it to. Either way, it’s something that will definitely come in handy.

The bad news is, I’m broke. Photography is allegorical to a nasty drug habit. You always need one more fix and you always need one more piece of equipment. And it ain’t cheap either. The cheapo sandbags run about 20 bucks. Times 3, you’ve just spent $60 bucks without blinking. The sunshade stand runs about $80 and it’s not even what I really wanted. I really wanted a super-clamp which is the “all purpose clamp things to your stand” clamp. They don’t call it “Super” for no reason. It really is. The super-clamp runs about $150. So there you go. I’ll make due with the sunshade holder thingy and I’ll get some good use out of it.

Tonight, the major prepping for tomorrow begins. I’ve gotta take stock, run the day through my head, pack everything up, charge my batteries, and wash clothes. I’ve got 8 people coming to my house at 8am. I might want to wash some dishes too. I checked out the location this morning and it seems I might have found the one place in Old Town Pasadena you’re less likely to get busted shooting without a permit in. Here’s hoping.

I’m currently working on TWO shoots for this weekend. Back to back. One on Saturday, one on Sunday. Two days, 14 models, two different companies/designers, two locations, about 50 pieces of clothing. Wow. I’m very excited and I have to say that it certainly feels that like, after 6 months post-Hot Topic, I’m finally starting to roll in some business. I feel good. I’m working hard. I’m having a hard time sleeping for the excitement. I’m up all night doing stuff, looking for models, thinking about things. Coffee keeps me alive.

This is what I do. Finally.