Some Talented Folks!

Ray has been working at Pictage in Torrance, CA for about 2.5 years as a product manager. He began working there just after leaving the Air Force. He will be ending his 2.5 years soon, on July 31st as we exit California and make our way to the suburbs of Chicago for another great business opportunity-- one that will fulfill his dream and allows for his creativity and leadership to shine.

As he says goodbye to Pictage this month, one of their professional photographers came to visit the office and see how the behind-the-scenes magic happens. Pictage is a company whose clients are high-end photographers and they fulfill all the back-end work so that photographers can focus less on the small details, and more on shooting photos. The photog who came to visit, Mike Larson, has a signature shot that he shared with the company: (Ray is at 8 o'clock, inner)
If you'd like to see more from Mike Larson, you can visit his blog. He shoots weddings and other events and the blog allows you to see a snapshot of his genius!

To plug another favorite...
Here's the guy (who also works at Pictage) that shot our wedding almost one amazing year ago.

To plug a pretty talented gal...
I read her blog every now and again and I've been so impressed by her. She's a friend of a friend and lives in Ohio... but if you happen to be in the area.... here's Susie!

Finally... at a recent Hermosa Beach fair (the last one we'll visit!), we wanted to pick up a piece of local photography to remember living at the beach. Collectively, we've lived in all 3 connected beach cities-- Ray lived in Manhattan Beach on the strand and in a few other places, I lived in Hermosa Beach, and when we married, we moved to Redondo Beach. We wanted a piece of photography to exemplify that, and connect on a more personal level. This photo is done by Hermosa Wave Photography and we saw it at a booth at the fair. Ray has taken a great deal of interest in photography, having worked for a company that works in the industry. Thus, we purchase some when we have a chance!

The photo (below) is special to us for the following reasons:
1. That is the lifeguard tower Ray proposed to me at on June 15, 2007.
2. It is located on the same street Ray lived in Manhattan Beach (near the life guard station).
3. You can see Palos Verdes Estates (the cliff) in the background-- the location of our wedding on July 26, 2008.
4. You can see both Manhattan and Hermosa Beach piers in the photo -- since we lived in both cities. Sand from all 3 connected cities can be seen.
5. The final kicker of why we purchased the photo: It was taken just 4 days after we got engaged, same year, at the very same spot. Cool!If you come to visit us in Chicago... you can see it! Bringing a lit bit of beach culture to our new location... our goal is to purchase a piece of photography from every place we live to remember the area --- Next photo purchase, Germany!

Love, B.

More miles than we bargained for!

So... here's the story. Our wonderful friends, Jen and Travis told us about this hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness (in the San Bernardino Mountains). It's called the Vivian Creek Trail and it's summits at the highest peak in Southern California at around 11,500 feet. So, we figured since we're hiking Half Dome in Yosemite with the two of them in a month's time, we'd also get a good trial hike in to prepare us. Here's the timeline:

Friday July 3, 2009
6 a.m. - Wake up unhappy because it's too stinking early...
6:30 a.m. - Leave the house for the 100 mile drive.
7:55 a.m. - Arrive at the ranger station to get our mandatory permits for hiking ... but the rangers were late about 20 minutes and by the time they finally arrived, they were cranky and gave us some bad news... NO more permits for the Vivian trail. Too many had been given out. Then more bad news. We could hike another trail that would take us to summit, but it was 38 miles further in the car and 10 miles of it being on a DIRT road. Fine.
9:45 a.m. - Arrive at the Fish Creek Trailhead, hike begins.
2:00 p.m. - Really exhausted and not excited about what seems more miles.... but then we ran into some other guys who tried to motivate us to the top. Alas, we conceeded, only to pay for it later.
2:45 p.m. - Arrive at summit, wait 10 minutes, then head back down for another 11.4 miles of absolute pain and misery.
6:30 p.m. - Arrive at our car.
7:30 p.m. - Finally driving out of the wilderness after the crazy dirt road which Ray handled with amazing agility and patience.
9:00 p.m. - Arrive at the Pizza Hut/Taco Bell for food heaven.
10:00 p.m. - Arrive home to shower and crash!

Here are some photos and captions of the hike as we went along...

It doesn't look scary here, but for 10 miles in a low clearance car, it's not enjoyable at 5 miles/hr.
More dirt road... bump... bump... bump...

More? Oye...

Finally, the trailhead. Yeah, no one has ever checked out permits. Not here, not at Mt. Whitney, not anywhere! But... we follow the rules!

Some scenic views and pretty lush valleys

Really lush greens for the first few miles

Still smiling while crossing one of the first (of 3) streams

Is this the doing of the Pine beetle?

I just wanted to lay in that awesome grass. Should've!

Such tropical plants in such a desert place

More on the hike. I don't remember this photo one bit!

This is the summit. Try to make out the American flag and random Mexican "Dia de los Muertos" looking flag hanging in the background. Where's the plaquard? Easy button? Sign of congratulations? There might have been, except we were too tired to search for it! Ray, looking in good spirits despite the 11.4 miles to go...

It's JULY! And yes... that's snow.

This is it!

Walking on the way back with the snow in sight...

C-47 crash that occurred in 1953. It's what was left over after the military crash. Somewhat eery. This is the view up the mountain and the next picture is a view down the mountain of more shrapnel.

Down the mountain scraps

Up the mountain, another view with the small memorial sign.

The sign...

All in all, we've reconfirmed that we're di-hards by nature and that we, unfortunately, aren't quitters. We should've been quitters at our maximum time of 2:30, but kept going regardless. It was a good training hike, but with the smog, it made it a bit more anti-climactic than anticipated. The views are supposed to be spectacular, but the smog coverage made it difficult to make out. I should've also taken more photos and usually do... but I was just so exhausted! The ranger station gave us paperwork telling us the hike was 11.4 miles each way, making this a 22.8er. We wanted a 16er (like Half Dome), not a Mt. Whitney distance (like we got). Some conflicting views in cyberspace about how far the hike really was, but we are comfirming over 20. Phew.

Wildlife sightings: Coyote! (in the car), many lizards, beetles, birds, squirrels, skunk smell... but NO snakes of tarantulas. What a rip off! ;) ... my mom thinks I'm crazy!

Last tidbit: Many of you are probably wondering... didn't you just have Lasik THREE days ago? My answer: YEP! A 9 hour hike with a new pair of eyes... I just couldn't be more excited!

More hike photos to come when we tackle the real deal... Half dome, in August!

Eye Can See Clearly Now... the Pain is Gone...

Okay, just kidding. There was only a little pain and it wasn't the surgery itself that hurt. On Tuesday, June 30, I went through the Lasik procedure to change the quality of my (blind) life, and I couldn't be more grateful.

As of now, two days later, I am in the painless healing process and seeing 20/15. Here's a photo of myself and my doctor literally 1 minute after the surgery was complete. I'm actually sitting on the surgery table!
Dr. Brenner and the TLC in Torrance, CA were amazing and I highly recommend them! If you want to read more details (and a few spoilers if you're interested...), read my yelp: http://tinyurl.com/lojexw

Love, B

Really, you shouldn't have.

My eyes and I have had such a "good" relationship over the years that they continue to grow worse as I grow older... good times! In my attempt to be free of this 18-year issue, I'm getting Lasik on June 30th! I'm terrified. This blog is an ode to the specs and contacts that have made life possible. I wish I could've scanned older pictures of some sweet glasses I used to own, but I can't get the scanner to work anymore. New pictures will have to suffice.

These are my current (until Tuesday!) digs. It's not been all that much fun going for runs in them... but soon they'll be worthless!

Former digs. Loved these ones!

This is just me getting ultra excited for not having to wear them!

Timeline of my vision:

3rd grade: can't see...

4th grade: glasses (round with pink/purple speckled wire frames)

8th grade: contacts!

9th grade - graduate school: contacts and glasses...

Age 26: hoping to rid myself (at least until my 40's when it's inevitable that I'll be farsighted...)

Final ode...

Be thankful for your vision!

p.s. If anyone you know has a strong contact prescription (-5.25 contacts), let me know! I have 6 (sigh) newly purchased and unopened boxes (= 18 pairs) of contacts! I'd love to give them to someone who can use them. I spent over $200... and would prefer not throwing them away...

Until next time.... love B.

Thanks, Dad(s).

We love our dads. They've been so inspirational to us through our growing years and deep into our adulthood. We're honored to have such incredible support through them.

While we could not spend the day with Maryland dad, Steve, we spent the day with California (for now...maybe Colorado in the future) dad, John. We went to the Petersen Automotive Museum... and if anyone knows him, cars are his thing. We walked a couple blocks to check out an excavation site at the La Brea Tarpits, then off to Islands for a delicious dinner. After dinner we headed back home to talk about future endeavors and moving. What a great day with great company. We love you, dad!

See you in July to celebrate your awesome-ness, Steve! We love you.