Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Delone

The Pacific Crest Trail is a trail that runs from the US Mexican border to the Canadian border.  It takes four to five months to hike, hiking anywhere from 15-25 miles a day and you have to pack everything you need.   This is what my son is doing right now.  On the trail somewhere with sore, blistered feet and happier than he’s ever been.

He’s been planning this for months, done tons of research on the right gear to have.  Everything has to be the lightest, and most durable.  He hiked in the winter and in the summer.  Hiked alone, hiked at night, hiked at night alone.  Challenged himself and scared me to death.  But it is his thing!  He loves the outdoors.  Loves hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, mountain biking, all kinds of outdoor sports.  So this just made sense for him.

 

 

He is an amazing, inspiring, beautiful soul, and it makes my heart stop when I think of him out on that trail alone.  There are times when I wish it were me out there, to have the courage to walk away from all my comforts, I might be a bit envious of the freedom to follow a dream like this.  There are times when I want to find him and walk with him to make sure he is ok  – no matter how old they are you still want to take care of them.  But knowing he is prepared and knowing that he is living his dream makes me proud.  What a great feeling to be inspired by the courage and strength of your child!

Although he is not child, he is a grown man and he’s out there having the adventure of a lifetime.  I see great things for him in his future.  But for right now I imagine that the only thing he’s thinking of is his next step, his next meal,  if he has enough water and how far away the next stop will be.

 

 

But to watch him walk away and start this adventure was just – tough.

D


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Gone to Long

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Delone

 

Wow, it has been waaayy toooo looong since I’ve posted.  I didn’t even recognized my own blog.  How sad.  My life has been a whirl wind of busy.  So many things have taken my time, some things replace other things and then you forget the things that you want and love to do.   I’ve loved being busy, well most of the time I’ve loved it.  Volunteering for the high school drama department has been fun, well most of the time.  Watching kids transform into these amazing characters on stage and set these characters to life is something that I never thought I would be involved in.   So I’ve surprised myself by volunteering and I’m glad I did.  But it kept me very busy.

My photography has been a little slow.  It’s not that I don’t want to take pictures all the time, but there are just times when I can’t or it isn’t the right time or some excuse.  I was able to take an amazing workshop held here in La Jolla, the Seniorologie Tour California  – what an awesome experience.   It was so informative and to be able to sit with the senior photographers that I admire most was just – beyond words.  Michelle Moore, WOW!  She is the pioneer of this industry, she has set the standard for the rest of us to look up to.

The workshop was at the beautiful La Valencia Hotel.   Talk about being completely intimidated to be at this workshop.  Everyone was a professional with years of experience and then there was me.  NOT a professional – yet.  But, after meeting everyone, no intimidation, everyone was so nice and helpful, it was one of the best things I could have done for myself.  Now I just need to start applying myself to the craft and make something happen!

 

D

 

 


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Still Learning

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Delone

 

I’m so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter.  She is a fantastic model and is sweet as well.  I keep thinking  I want to get into photography and specialize in Senior portraits but there is so much going on in my life and to make this happen seems impossible.  But, I will keep trying.  This blog is my on-line journal of photos so I can watch my progress and see if there is any progress being made.  I am not confident enough yet, or know enough yet, to start taking pictures of other seniors so I beg my daughter to let me take her picture.  We spent some time at a local park, it was fun and a great learning experience for me working with natural light and finding the right settings.  It’s funny how you think the pictures look great in the preview screen and then get them home and realize what you did wrong or what you needed to do differently.  But at least now I am starting to see what I need to do differently and what setting I need to change, I think that’s progress, right?

D


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Beautiful

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Delone

 

Played around a little with lightroom today and I think the edits are pretty good.  Of course, when you have someone this beautiful it’s easy to get a good picture.  It feels good to be working with photos again.  I’ve been spending most of my free time on volunteer work at the school.  I volunteered for publicity and we have a play coming up in December so that’s kept me busy.  It’s amazing how much work it takes to make a play come together.   And how much money it takes.  And how many fund raisers you have to have to get the funds to make it happen.

So, before I get on my soap box and start telling everyone to contribute to your local school programs, and go see the high school plays, because it’s great talent and a great night out – CHEAP, I will just say - support your local crazy volunteer booster moms.

Love you

D


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Pursuit of Happiness

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Delone

This post today is about my love for my children and my love of the things they love.  If you are a mom you will understand what it’s like to support your child, to help them nurture their gifts and talents.  I have been very blessed with two beautiful children who are the light of my life.  When they are happy, I am happy and when they are sad, so am I.  Deeply.  We all only want the very best for our children, we want to help them and sometimes this is a fine line between helping and interfering or over protecting.  My goal is to raise great adults.  To have them go into the world with hope and optimism for their future.

The differences between my two children are many, and I love it.  Each is so unique and individual.  My son is introverted and loves all things outdoors.  He’s fearless.  He loves to conquer anything with wheels.  He’s amazing on any type of bike as well as climbing a mountain.  He is smart and challenges the things the rest of us accepts without question.  He is a great thinker and I love to have deep conversations with him.  He is becoming a great adult, which I think is not easy right now, and I’m proud of him.  He has big ideas for his future and I will support him in his pursuit of happiness.  Because that makes me happy.

My daughter on the other hand, is extroverted times ten.  She’s outgoing and happy, like sunshine.  She is a bright spot on my every day.  She has helped me become a better woman, to even accept the girly parts of me, well girly for an old lady.  For too many years I felt as though it wasn’t cool to be girly, I felt like I had to hide that side of me,  but not now and I thank her for that.  She has a beautiful voice and loves to sing, always has.  As she said to me one day, without singing is like not breathing.  So as a mom I have been so happy to help her in her pursuit of this love of singing.   Yes, she has vocal lessons and yes, she is in an advanced choir at school, all of this is because she loves it.  I want her to be happy and this is what makes her happy.  And that makes me happy.  Never do I make my kids pursue a hobby for my sake only theirs because, whats the point in that.

I so admire these beautiful children for their bravery and individuality.  I hope they become whatever it is that they want to become.  That would make me happy.

D


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Lightroom Learning

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Delone

 

There is just so much to learn about photography.  The more I read and learn the more I am amazed at all there is to know.  It is a bit intimidating to think that there are so many other photographers that know so much, it makes me feel like I will never be able to compete.  It’s hard to comprehend everything and to remember all the techniques.  Everything I read tells me to just get out there and shoot.  Ten thousand shots is the magic number I guess.  I have been learning how to shoot in RAW and to edit in Lightroom.  I think my head is going to explode!  Today I was watching Zach Arias on YouTube and he has great information, but it just reminded me that I still have so much to learn.  YouTube is a great resource.  If there is something you need to know how to do just check with YouTube.  However, even knowing all the ins and outs and all the technical stuff about my camera will still not make me a great photographer, and maybe I never will be, but I want to keep trying.  I know the only thing stopping me is my own fear.

D


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New Directions

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Delone

 

Awhile ago, I was lucky enough to get a decent dslr camera.  I am at a point in my life that it’s time to start looking at the fact that my kids will be heading off on their own.  Before kids happened photography was something that I enjoyed.  I wasn’t brave enough or smart enough at that time to think of pursuing a career in photography.  Heck, the only thing I thought I could do was something in an office, you know, something that women did.  Stupid.  But it was my mentality at the time.

Fast forward to today.  I hope I’m smarter now, and I think I am, to know that there is still time to do the things that I want to do.  So here it is, I am starting a career in photography.  There, I said it, finally, putting it down in writing so that it’s out there and I am committed.

My daughter has been involved in many things at school and she has encouraged me to get involved too.  I have become a ‘Drama Mama’ and have meet some amazing young people.  I am so inspired by these awesome talented teens.  And in doing so want to capture the beauty of these individuals.  My daughter has become my model to help me learn.  She is easy to photograph and always up for it.  What a learning process for me though,  working full-time, volunteering and teaching myself all I can about photography.  It’s definitely a work in progress and I am  a work in progress.  But this is what’s going on in my life right now.

CRAZY

D


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Camping in The Sequoias

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Delone

 

This year our summer camp trip was up to the Sequoias and Kings Canyon.  I highly recommend everyone see this area because the Sequoia trees only grow in this area and not to be confused with the more famous Coastal Redwood trees.  Pictures just cannot do these huge trees justice. 

 

 

I like this picture because the tiny people show just how massive this tree really is.  This is the famous General Sherman.  You can’t walk around it because believe it or not these big trees have a shallow root system that coul be destroyed by all the visitors walking around it.  I know this because I’m super smart and just know things, ok, not really, I read the sign.

 

 

We hiked around lots and lots of trees.  It’s hard to get good pictures of really big trees.  This pic shows how small the other tree trunks look compared to the old Sequoias.  It’s sad that most of the Sequoias are only 100 years or so because logging just wiped out the whole area. 

 

 

If this area had been left alone it would be so much different.  Trees that were hundreds of years old growing everywhere not just scattered around here and there. 

 

Remains of a mill are still there.  And shooting pictures in bright midday sun is brutal.

 

 

Say “Cheeeese”

We were hiking on a trail through granite boulders when we saw this bear in the berry bushes just below us.  I wanted to leave him alone, but not the boys, no, they wanted to hang out and watch him eat.   All I could think of was that if we made him mad and had to run on this crazy trail, me being the slowest of the bunch, I would be the sacrifice.  Although, you’re not suppose to run, that just tells the bear that you want to be chased. Anyway, thankfully the bear really didn’t care that we were there and after handing the camera off to Jerry, he was able to get this great pic.    

 

This is Kings Canyon.  Amazing granite mountains surrounding a river and meadows.  Absolutely breathtaking in its majesty.  Again, a must see for everyone.

Being the budding photographer I took about 750 pictures of our trip and wished that I had taken more.  Everywhere I go I think I’m taking to many until I get home and realize that it’s still not enough.

D

 


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Comic Con 2012

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Delone

Comic-Con is HUGE here in San Diego.  It’s so much fun to go down to the Gaslamp district and people watch.  Even if you can’t get tickets, which are just about impossible, you can still go down and experience it and have fun.

That’s what we do, but this year, we got lucky and got tickets for Sunday.  What a CRAZY place.  Inside was nuts!  Every comic, illustrator, network, movie, sitcom, all things si-fi was represented. 

We had a great time and here’s a sampling of what went down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great costumes and they are usually more than willing to pose.

 

 

 

 

 This dude freaked me out!  Like totally man.

 

 

 

 

Um, ok, well, hum, not sure about these.

 

 

 

 

Hot babes of Comic-con.

 

 

 

 

NOOOOOO, don’t do it.

 

 

 Sweet ride!

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of people was just insane.

 

 

 

 

 

 And then there was a shoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to know how they get that on the side of a building, really, how?  And how do they take it down?  I should have skipped work on Monday to watch.  That’s a good enough reason, don’t ya think?

 

 

 

 

And behind the convention center just because it’s pretty.

 

What an amazing event.  Hope to do it again next year.  I’m planning my costume now…..

D

 


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A Little Weekend Action

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Delone

 

 

Maybe this big guy is looking for a little dinner action??  Can you believe the size of this thing?  I have no idea who this kid is and I hope he doesn’t mind my taking his picture but it just shows exactly how big this fish is.

Went to Sea World over the weekend to try out the new ride “Manta” – it was AWESOME!!!  If you love rides you would love this one.  Smooth, fast and fun.  And I didn’t scream once.  Ok, maybe once, ok maybe once the entire ride.  But in a good way.  This ride was super fun!! Check out Sea World here www.seaworld.com .

 

My budding Marine Biologist/Singer/Actor was having a great time.

 

 

She loves all things Ocean.  She has always been my water baby, swimming in the ocean with no fear of anything and when we’re playing in the tide pools she is touching everything.  San Diego is a great place for tide pools, when the tide goes out you can see some great ocean critters.  Obviously Sea World is a great place for that too.

 

 

These Sea Stars are pretty cool.  This is not my hand because I usually don’t like to touch, just look, yea, she didn’t get this from me.

 

 

I am a fan of Sea World and I like that there is a place to see the marine animals and learn about them.  Its a great place to see cool stuff and get hands on.

 

 

But not with this one, if we got hands on with this Lion Fish I might be having a hard time typing this right now.

 

 

These birds must be lost.  Don’t they know this is a place for fish??  This is actually a nice place to hang out if your a pink bird.  These Flamingos have it made, they have a new enclosure as part of the new Manta ride exhibit.

If you ever get the chance to visit Sea World you should.  It’s fun and the kids love it.  Make sure you see all of the shows and wear lots of sun screen.

D


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