New Threads and Shoes...again...

I'm very picky when it comes to clothes.  It has to fit perfectly...if not, why wear it?  

So through out the week, I went to several stores trying to find the perfect clothes for tomorrow's wedding (Saturday)...

I don't care to wear all black...I could, but it wouldn't represent "freewise"...I need a little color for some expression...

Here's what I found...it's kind of geeky, but I'm digging geeky right now...

I swear, I'll iron tomorrow!

Black Sketchers...fit like gym shoes...I could run in them!!!

I have brown ones coming in the mail...yes, I bought via the web, but I tried them on at the store first...they had a 10.5....I need an 11...


Shoes...

Food #3

On a few occasions my daughter and I will sit at my computer and watch some old live video clips of Bob Marley performing.  She loves Bob too...his music is so refreshing...and helps us keep everything in persepective...

But in this case, while searching some old Bob Marley videos, we came across a Ziggy Marley video...My daughter likes Ziggy too...

Anyway, I just wanted to share this as my Food #3....the song is called "Be Free"...the lyrics are about being free...being free from gov't/societal norms and expectations....or whatever you need to be free from...

I think being free is the only way you can live...LIVE...and have LIFE...

Be Free and enjoy the acoustic vibes....

Awesome shoot today - Jean, Katherine, & Morning!

If you're one of my facebook or twitter friends, you may have noticed I got up incredibly early to do a shoot.  This morning I got up early in the morn to meet with Jean, Katherine, and Morning...we met @ Hannah Park!

I got to Hannah Park early, because I have never shot there...so I wanted to scout the area out...these guys told me I couldn't shoot here....

So we shot here...Jean and Katherine are super awesome...and their dog, Morning is super lucky to have them as his caregivers!  Jean and Katherine are sisters...Jean graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Microbiology...and Katherine will be finishing up at U of F in a couple of months...she'll have her degree within the pharmaceutical field!

Jean contacted me to do a shoot with her sister (Jean is in the foreground...Katherine is behind her)...

...and she brought her dog as well...which was totally cool...I invite pets to shoots...

Unfortunately, Morning is sick...he was diagnosed with cancer last year...he's gone through chemo...but can no longer receive chemo therapy....so we really wanted to capture Jean and Katherine with their Morning...they have had Morning since he was 3 months old...he's now 9 years old!

Thanks Jean and Katherine for the awesome experience...oh, and thanks Morning...your the best!

Out with the old...In with the new.

I have a hard time parting with jeans, shirts, and shoes...it's true.  As a matter of fact, just a couple of months ago, I threw away my old Shell Top Adidas from my sophomore year in high school! They had the phat shoe laces and all...

Well, today I had to buy new gym shoes...yesterday was the final blow for my gray New Balance. After shooting several hours in the rain, I couldn't justify wearing those shoes again.  It wasn't easy parting with these shoes...I've had them for over 3 years.  I was wearing them when my daughter was born over 3 years ago...and I was wearing them when my son was born 2 months ago...those shoes have gone through a lot...literally.  Well, now they are demoted to lawn care and house work duties...

Here's the old...and the new... 

I'm a New Balance...?

Valentines Day Shoot-out!

Today was the big day - the Valentine's Day Urban Photo Booth Shoot-out!

With the help of Kaci and Matt, we made downtown Jacksonville our super big photo booth.   We met with several couples, for one hour shoots in and around Hemming Plaza...we survived the rain...and we had tons of fun...thanks to all the couples...they were all awesome!

Here's a few pictures!

Rachel & Cody...Rachel works for Jacksonville Magazine!

Shea & Edwin - small world...my cousin in Tampa is married to Edwin's cousin...I found my cousin-in laws...married 17 years!

Maranda & Garry - Garry was a classmate during our trek to complete our certificates in Video Production...we snuck into the public library!

Lillian & Romeo - Getting married April 4th!  

Renee & Gary - Getting married 8.8.09...hence, "8 RESERVED"...???  Their wedding will be in Ohio...where they are from!

My son...

Most of you know by now, Rana and I had a son 12/10/08...so our little man is about 2 months young....

Well, when we took him to his first and second visits to the doctor, they noticed that his soft spots may have closed too fast....so the doctors quickly ordered x-rays....

After the x-rays, they still had concerns, so they sent us to a neurologist.

Basically, they were concerned that his soft spots may have closed to fast, which would not permit the skull to grow at the proper rate...hence, then the brain wouldn't grow properly...hence, developmental problems would incur...hence, surgery would be needed on the skull to prevent really bad developmental problems....hence, very stressed parents...

Well, we went to the neurologist today and he told us not to come back...his head was ok...that he has a mild form of that problem (very long name)...but that his head would grow normally and he will not have any developmental problems....

So, I'm just writing to tell you how relieved Rana and I are! Wow...super relieved...

The Most High, once again showed us grace....thank you!!!

Food #2

I wrote of couple of weeks ago that I would add some quotes, phrases, or thoughts of mine...

Well, in this case, I'm going to write a quote by Carlos Santana regarding Bob Marley's music and his message...

"I think that his (Bob Marley) music and his message remind us that another cycle is coming where we won't depend on primitive things like Patriotism, Money, Fences...when we start utilizing evolved things like Trust, Compassion, and Harmony."

Alright...there's some food for ya...feel free to leave a comment...your thoughts...etc....

Kaci & Family!

So today I got to finally hang-out with Kaci (Kathryn Brown) and her Family...

We went to Big Talbot Island...one of my favorite spots to shoot in Jacksonville...it's a very diverse place...and super cool for kids....

This was a special shoot, b/c if you don't know by now, Kaci and I assist each other on shoots and weddings...so this was special....

Enjoy...

Mike's B-day celebration!

Today I had the luxury to hang-out with Mike Jackson and friends to celebrate his birthday...

We met at Mossfire...in 5 points Jacksonville....

We changed tables 2 times!

Margaritas seemed to be the thing...

We sang happy birthday enough times to fulfill Mike's next 5 birthdays...

Jill was really having fun...

and as always...Mike was awesome....if this Mike looks familiar, it's b/c it's the same Mike (my friend) who took me along to the Adirondacks to shoot his wedding...

Thanks Mike for another fun time and little break from my usual routine....

Linley and Alison

Jill!

The crew that will save the world...sorry Elizabeth...the waitress did a bad crop job on your face?

About Florida

Ok...so like everyone not from Florida has this misconception that the state is all about beaches and hot weather...

This misconception is just plain ridiculous...yes...ridiculous...

To all northerners, yankees, or to my family in Chicago, I have a surprise...

Not every beach in Florida looks like the one in Miami that you saw in a magazine ad that was altered to make the water look bluer than it actually is...

Not every part of the coast is suitable for an awesome day at the beach...

Not everyone lives near the beach...I didn't even live that close to the beach when I lived in Tampa....an hour or so....???  

We have cow fields here...lots of them...

We have agriculture...plenty of strawberry fields (full of pesticide)...

We have mounds...no, not the sacred ones....ones full of phosphorous...or something like that...

Ok...yes, we have mad mosquitos...but you already know this, and we Floridians get upset when you complain about them so much...lay-off the cologne!

We do have springs and spring fed rivers!  And they're cleaner than our beaches!!!

The sand on the beaches aren't all white....most of them aren't!

And it's not always hot here...yes...this is true...tonite, we're getting down to 22 degrees...and it's been chilly like this for a few days.....see what it does to the green stuff:

Freezer Burn!

I hope this orchid will recover?

Poor guava "tree"...every winter he gets beat-up bad...but this year is the worse!

No leaves on the trees...that white spot is the moon!

A few things green...my confederate jasmine...that's what it's called...and it smells pretty darn good...keep crawling jazzy!!!

Superbowl...wow!

So I had this feeling this game was going to be special...check my blog post below....well something did happen in this Superbowl that has never happened in any other Superbowl....the longest interception returned for a touchdown...104 yards.....and it probably was the best ending ever...

I wonder if there were any other first times or new records...the safety wasn't the first...it was the 2nd...the first one took place in Tampa...hmmm...  Kurt Warner's yards....he owns top three performances in the Superbowl.....

Any others?

Superbowl?

Ok...the Superbowl is getting ready to get started...and I really don't care what team is going to win, b/c my team isn't there...again....regardless, I'm going on the limb here....I think this years Superbowl something special is going to happen...something that's never happened in other Superbowls...I don't know what's going to be...overtime...Cards winning on the last play...I don't know...we'll have to wait and see.....