Moving On

I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but we didn't get internet at the new place until today... So, here it is~

"Today is our last and final ay at our home of five years.  Lots of good times during that time frame,.  Within it, my obsession with photography started, I started getting into cosplay, made lots of new friends, some very close ones, too, played host to family and friends, took weekly trips to the beach with my beloved puppy, ate lots and lots of delicious foods, and many many more fond memories that I will forever cherish.

After a long and exhausting day, this was my place to relax and rejuvinate, my place to pile and store all of the junk that I'd managed to acquire (and it's quite a lot of junk, too!).

So I bid you farewell Villa Venetia, apartment D-102, I truly enjoyed my time here~"

Things That Matter

So this past week, I started working ten  hour days.  And my commute is 75 miles each way, which averages about a hour and a half, adding up to three hours of road time.  Saturday's are going to become a regular thing, as well... So needless to say, I've been exhausted...  All the time...

Yet, just over a couple months ago, I was mostly unemployed, living the good life.  Sure, I had hardly any money, and paying bills became a pain in the bottom.  But I had time.  I had freedom.  Since I started working, I've missed being able to drive back to my hometown on a whim and visit my mom and dad, hang out with friends any time night or day, taking my puppy to the beach or have her cuddle up to my legs as I draw or read manga (my parents have been looking after her since I'm gone all day at work).  So everything that really, truly was important, I had.  And it was nice~

But I suppose responsibility is almost as important as freedom.  I think its time to find a good balance between the two...

Pacific Media Expo 2012

So this past weekend was PMX~  I believe it was my forth one, and for the most part, though I was fatigued from a long work week, I enjoyed it~  I only went for Saturday, but got to hang out with a bunch of my friends which was nice.

 Some friends doing a Yu Yu Hakusho shoot~

 Most awesome Toph cosplay ever!!!  My favorite character from the series, too~~

Mermaids & A Cosplay Contest, Oh My!

So last weekend, a couple friends were participating in a mermaid shoot at the beach, and at the last minute, I was invited~  It was definitely fun, the beach has BEAUTIFUL tide pools, and it was practically empty!!

I love the way this one came out~  The giant wave came up, and she just stood there, holding her expression the whole time, HAHAHA!!!

And a behind the scenes of the top photo~  Photog, Lightstand Guy, and Cosplay Checker/Adjuster Girl~

In the little tide pools, There was this big sea slug!!  SOOOO AWESOME!!!

The following day, we went to a cosplay contest at a local anime-themed shop~  Above is my good friend's too awesome cosplay of Perona from One Piece~~  And the rest...  Well, I think they speak for themselves~  Enjoy!

AX Live Gathering 2012

Anime Expo held an event this past weekend in a nearby park.  It was a lot of fun!  Though, I think the dogs stole the show, HAHAHAH!!!  Particularly, the infamous Junkers~  The above photo is my favorite shot from the shoot.  I chased these two as they were running, and held the camera low and fired away.  Got lucky, and got this shot, plus the one below, too~~

See??  They really did steal the show, HAHA!!!  So adorable~  But not to worry, I included some cosplay photos below~

An awesome Link cosplay~

The ever adorable Kristin~

Gus posing out for the crowd~

Low angle Miku shot during golden hour~

Dustin working on some new angles, HAHAHHA!!

And I just love the way this one came out~

Road Photography

Every day, I commute an hour and a half to work, each way.  Which adds to being on the road for at least three hours on a daily basis.  But, somehow, it worked out that these past two weeks, I've gotten some of the most spectacular sunsets, with beautiful, wisping clouds running across the sky.  So I told myself, "you know what?  As they always say, the best camera is the one that's with you," so I started bringing my old trusty camera to work just to shoot some skies on the drive~

I advise no one else to try this, AHAHHAHA...  It could get dangerous, but I made sure that it never diverted my attention away from the road.  The camera sat, preset by me beforehand with settings I thought might be most useful sat shotgun with me, easily accessible.  Also, instead of trying to actually get the shots I wanted, I took more of a "spray and pray" approach, where you turn on the rapid fire shooting mode, shoot blindly and hope something comes out good~~  Luckily, I got a few I enjoy~

The first two below were taken during a crazy traffic jam on the way back that delayed my time by over 45 minutes.

Faraway Places Just Down The Street

Yesterday was the last day of my weekend after an exhausting work week.  Not having really gone anywhere all weekend, I wanted to get out a bit and take some photos.  So I decided on the beach, even though I seem to always be there~  But as I arrived on the Pacific Coast Highway, ready to take a right turn to go to my usual spot, I ended up turning left!  Let's go somewhere new!!  I ended up driving all the way down to Crystal Cove State Park and spent fifteen minutes or so winding around mountain roads in ritzy Newport Beach/Laguna Beach neighborhoods.  But on the way back home, I came across a nice looking lagoony type place, so I quickly turned in, made my way around and into it.

Boy, was I surprised~  I was driving along, and all of a sudden, the road before me became one lane wide, with a bike lane to my left.  It was a lovely scenic drive around these wetlands.  After I got back home, I figured out the name of the place is the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve.  All along the route, there were these signs prohibiting people from passing.  But who can blame them though, right?  Its a nature preserve afterall~

I saw all sorts of creatures from crabs, to these lil crustacean things, to lizards~  There were tonnes of nice plants around, too!

And I rarely take portraits of my beloved car, so here are a few~  She never lets me down~

And last, and certainly least, is a self-portrait~  I guess the lesson is that sometimes, you gotta get lost to figure out where the heck you're going!