In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
L-R Ray, Jim, Jim’s brother, Matt, and Perry hidden behind.
Ray and I picked up Perry in Palm Desert and we drove into the San Fernando Valley yesterday. We met Jim and his brother, Matt to drop Perry off with them.
I asked if I could take a photo of everyone right then instead of at the meeting later. Ray has just given Jim Jim’s 36 coin.
Matt, Jim, Perry and Ray
Jim and Perry. Perry had just given Jim his birthday card.
Perry and Jim
Ray took this photo of Katya, Paula and me before leaving for dinner at Tipico’s. Katya spoke at the ABC Club one block away from the restaurant. Katya gave a great talk.
So I’m eating clean right? As is Katya, Ray and Sandi (who joined us for dinner and the meeting). We’re at the Mexican restaurant where the chips and salsa arrive as we are seated. On the food plan you get one grain or starch with dinner. Hmmmmm. I’m starving. I want to eat chips, NOW. But then if I eat the chips I can’t have the tortilla with dinner. While going back and forth in my head…”Chips or Tortilla?”….I decide to lay out chips on the table in a circle the size of a tortilla to see how many chips I could have if I decided to choose to eat chips. Paula thought that was funny. I was quite serious! The tortilla won. Actually, I had two tortillas with my Fajitas dinner!!!!!
Katya feeling her oats heading up the Bump & Grind hill. Paula and I were dying in the 95 degree heat.
A nice lady took this photo of us on our way down from the top of the Bump & Grind hill.
Down from Bump & Grind, on the walk back to the car, I asked Katya if she wanted to carry my pack. She said, “Carrying it makes me walk funny.”
Hiding out from the rain drops before we could get in to Milly’s.
L>R Taye, Linda, Angela and Sandi
In Milly’s living room before our teleconference call to the out of town ladies.
Many thanks to Milly for allowing us to use your living room each month.
I’m not complaining, I’m not feeling too sorry for myself, I’m not bragging….. but after getting home at 1:30am Friday night I got up at 5:30am to lead the 7 mile Mission Hills CC hike carrying a 26 pound backpack!
We 7 seven hikers on this hike decided this particular 7 mile section on the PCT is our favorite hike of all the hikes our Club has gone on.
Here is the link to photos from our four hour hike.
p.s. Once on Smugmug, after clicking the link above, you will notice another gallery has been added to my Smugmug photosite and I’ve posted to this new gallery the Debbie D. Talk photos from March 10th. Any of you who were at the talk and would like a photo, you may order photos from Smugmug.
I will be emailing out one group and one family photo in .jpg format to all who are in our family within the week.
Our group shot of Ray’s family and my family.
Ray’s family.
Linda’s family.
Last night Ray and I hosted a 12 Step Talk given by my sponsor, Debbie, at the Just the Black Print meeting room in Sherman Oaks. Before the meeting, I asked to have my photo taken with my sponsor and grandsponsor, Milly. They are both my verbal, visual and emotional examples of how I want to be when I grow up.
Hopefully this coming trip to LA for 3 days will be the last in a back to back travel phase.
Quincy’s children,Sienna and Nicholas at the mall 3 weeks ago in the San Fernando Valley. And no, I did not have ice cream. 
Me and my sponse, Debbie two weeks ago in Concord, near Oakland. 
Tina seated next to me, in my attempt to capture a motion photo to submit for the last assignment in the online photo class. We are on the plane, headed home from a weekend in Oakland at PRAASA.
Karen spent the night last night. She got up early and drove out to the start of her 5 K race in Palm Springs.
When she arrived home sometime after 9am she was smiling, holding her race number and exclaiming, “I ran a 33:36 minute first 5 K!”
Bravo Karen.
I remember the days when racing was all I thought about. I asked Karen to sit down and share every detail from the beginning when she arrived at the race, including her thoughts and feelings during, to the finish. She didn’t walk a step. After the first mile, she knew she could do the remaining two miles. She wasn’t even tired at the finish.
It was so much fun watching and listening to Karen talk about her race as she realized how much more she can do than she thinks she can do. Boy, do I relate.
She’s already got her second race, The Great Race of Agoura Hills, a 10 K picked out and even a possible marathon (before the end of the year!).
While at the Zoo last week, I asked Stacy and Sandi to give me their best fish impressions in case I couldn’t come up with 3 fish photos from my next assignment.
What do you think?
Thanks you two.
