Fore? Four? Look Out!!!

Sooo.... I have a new addiction. It's a little game called golf. I have wanted to get into it for a few years now, but hadn't really had the chance... But last month I got my hands on a set of clubs, thanks to my Grandpa, a long time golfer (and at one point, a 7 handicap) and I've been playing a little here and there. As of today however, I'm officially hooked. I went out this morning to Cedar Hills Golf Club in American Fork, Utah and played the front 9. Up until today, I have had a super tough time with my driver. I have had a wicked slice... No, I'm not kidding, this thing would curve so hard to the right, that the ball would end up 100 yards from where I was aiming... Needless to say, I was losing a lot of balls... But a couple days ago, someone told me to change my grip on the club. It was a slight change, but it made all the difference. I was just drilling the ball today like you wouldn't believe. I found the sweet spot with my 3 wood, and I was out-driving my buddy, who was using his driver, and I was hitting it straight as an arrow. It felt sooooooo good. Well, after nine I finished with a 50, because my iron game was off today. But still... that's not bad for my 5th round of golf ever. I'm really happy right now, and I'm hooked. Goodbye extra money... Not that I ever had any anyway.

P.S. The title of this post is just a joke. I haven't hit anyone yet. I did almost hit the cart girl on the second hole today though. It was a close one.

A Scalpel, A Wii-mote, And A Steady Hand.

For those of you who know me. I've spent the last year or so with a borderline obsession with the TV show "Grey's Anatomy". This fixation has even led to serious thought about going to medical school to become a surgeon. While this is still an path that I am considering, I have found a way to appease my need to cut and suture people around me. Trauma Center "Second Opinion" lets me be the surgeon I don't want to wait 7 years to be right now. I performed some complicated procedures tonight, from saving a young girl from imminent death because she was bleeding out from several large aneurysms, to multiple abscesses of benign tumors threatening to become malignant. There were a few close calls, but my patients are all healing nicely now, and I couldn't be happier.

Home Is Where You Park It.

So, Tuesday is when I'm supposed to be out of my Apartment. Only, I haven't found a place to live yet, and I refuse to go to the GlenHOOD and live with five 19 year old guys, so I've considered buying an RV to make my residence in.

I found this gem for a measly $4000

That's less than an years worth of rent. Sounds like a steal to me. I could totally see myself living in this sweet sunset striped jewel.

Home is where you park it.

A Photographer Without Film

I just shot my 2nd solo wedding on Friday. It's an interesting experience because I learn somthing new every time.

New Lessons:

• Don't forget to bring your memory cards
• Salt Lake Traffic is like LA Traffic sometimes

So, I totally left my memory cards at home, and being that I was shooting at the Salt Lake Temple, I couldn't run home and grab them. I was able to get by with my one memory card at the temple and then I stopped at Target on the way to the reception and picked up a 2Gb card for the reception. It cut into my profit margin a bit...

As for the traffic. Yeah, I was an hour late to the reception. It should have taken me half an hour to get there, so I left half an hour before. I lost a lot of hair in that hour and a half.

All in all it went well though.

Here is one unprocessed Pic I took.
















Once I get the pictures in Photoshop and touch them up a bit, I'll post more.

New Dashboard Confessional Album - Carrabba returns to roots.

I just read this post from Dashboard Confessional's myspace page:

" This fall, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba will return to his roots with the release of The Shade of Poison Trees, Dashboard Confessional’s fifth album for longtime label Vagrant Records. The album marks a notable return to the signature acoustic sound that Carrabba first developed on early Dashboard Confessional albums like 2000’s The Swiss Army Romance and 2001’s The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most.

Recorded over 10 days in Florida with renowned producer Don Gilmore (Pearl Jam, Linkin Park), The Shade of Poison Trees is filled with the kind of earnest acoustic laments and smart, poetic lyrics that long ago turned Carrabba into a feverishly adored artist. While he continues to evolve as a songwriter throughout, the album is a significant return to the Dashboard of old, as well as a tip of the hat to fans that have spent the past nine years by his side.

When asked why he revisited his earlier stylings he responded, “I never really left.”

Over the past year, Dusk and Summer has received universal acclaim from such publications as Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin and the LA Times. And now, Dashboard has returned with The Shade of Poison Trees, an album that is sure to reconnect with the band’s longtime fans and further proving that Carrabba has become one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. Without question, The Shade of Poison Trees is Dashboard’s most personal album yet, and, to that end, Carrabba is set this fall to embark on a North American solo tour – his first in over five years."

I'm actually really really happy about this. Dashboard's best album by far is the Swiss Army Romance, along with Places You've Come to Fear the Most, and if what it says at the end of this post is true, or at least if I understand it correctly, Chris Carrabba will be returning to his former small club atmosphere and playing more intimate shows, with just a mic and a guitar. I'll gladly spike my hair, put on my wristbands, and scream louder than the 14 year old girls I'll be surrounded by to go see Dashboard as the band deserves to be seen, and how it should be seen.

Large venues and an electric guitar are the antithesis of such a band.
I'm glad Chris is figuring that out.

I'm so glad that this has taken me so long. It's the Journey that has made me so Strong.

I've been gone. I apologize.

I sit all alone in my room in the wake of another failed relationship. It's Friday night, 10:16pm on the 26th of July, 2007, and I don't understand. This picture is my best attempt to visually express my feelings. It's a discouraging feeling to have given everything you can give, and yet, come up short.

My life the last couple of years has been, well, rather unimpressive. There hasn't been much to tell, just the aimless wanderings of a 20 something year old searching for direction in his life. Then suddenly everything came together. The job that gave me everything I wanted. The girl that was both exactly what I needed and wanted, and who seemingly was excited to be along for the ride. But fear is a cruel mistress. Despite all good reason, it didn't work. I am searching for understanding, but it just won't come. Maybe someone can explain.

The need for that "spark" is important, undoubtedly it's what makes it all exciting, but to let fear extinguish the flame? The spark fades, the flame endures. How can I be that I'm the perfect guy, what every girl dreams of, someone without an undesirable quality (words from her own mouth), and someone that she wants so badly to be with, and it still not work? She says there's something missing. What more do you need?

There is nothing I can do. I have two options. Hang on to hope or cut my losses.
I want to hope, experience tells me to go.

Someday I will say,
I'm glad that this has taken me so long. It's the Journey that has made me so STRONG.

INSPIRATION

Failed in business in 1831.

Defeated for Legislature in 1832.

Second failure in business in 1833.

Suffered nervous breakdown in 1836.

Defeated for Speaker in 1838.

Defeated for Elector in 1840.

Defeated for Congress in 1843.

Defeated for Congress in 1848.

Defeated for Senate in 1855.

Defeated for Vice President in 1856.

Defeated for Senate in 1858.

Elected President in 1860.

Thanks Abe.

In Baja with Kaiizen

Baja California, Mexico

So this past weekend took me to Baja California, just north of Ensenada, to a little fishing village called El Sauzal. I went with the nonprofit organization Kaiizen (www.kaiizen.org) to do a little service in orphanages in Mexico. Well, my job for the weekend was to take pictures, I was the offical trip photographer. I had a blast. The things Kaiizen is doing is amazing, especially since this is a group run by a bunch of 20-something year olds. This trip had about 150 people on it, the biggest yet in Kaiizen history, and it went off without a hitch. I was somewhat skeptical of the organization of a group this big, I predicted chaos, but it went very well. I was very impressed.
A number of activities were performed this weekend, including painting of a nearby school, decorating of the orphanage for the christmas season, blankets and food being handed out to the nearby community, but probably the best thing we did was to bring christmas to the orphans. We were able to bring down a few gifts for each of the kids and Santa showed up for the whole deal. It really was quite an experience to watch the whole thing. We were all touched to watch these children light up.
Being of service to those who are less fortunate definately was the focus this trip, and the most rewarding part for sure, but we also had time to enjoy ourselves down here in beautiful Baja California. The wonderful weather here was a nice break from the cold. We spent time on the beach, and in nearby Ensenada. The best part of this whole trip however was the amazing people that came to participate. The calliber of people that Kaiizen draws is astounding. I met some very amazing people this last weekend, and I'm sad I only got to spend 2-3 days with them. Honestly, I miss the group we had down there. I enjoyed myself so much. These trips are great, and I encourage everyone to come along. If you're interested you can check out this and other programs Kaiizen has at www.kaiizen.org or send an email to baja@kaiizen.org and ask to be added to the Baja Project mailing list. The next trip is in February with dates TBA, it's probably over presidents day weekend. I hope to see you there!