The Canal Part 2

This is Chris. I see him from a distance first. My instinct is to walk up the dirt embankment and bypass him. Instead I forge ahead and decide that I'll just say a friendly hello.
"What's up man?"
"Hi. Oh, hey... can you come talk to me for a second?"
He sounds more lonely than someone needing change. I scope him out, he's got clean clothes on and looks healthy. I figure he's got some breakup or issue about losing his kids to his wife that he needs someone to talk to about. I see there's probably no harm in talking to him for a minute.
"I'm on my last two bucks," Chris tells me. "Can you spare some money?" "I'm sorry, I don't have any money to give." This is my new response when I don't get a good feeling from the beggar. I may have money, just none to give. It keeps me from lying.
"Well, could you at least sit down and talk to me for a minute, cause I'm so alone... lonely." I'm definitely not sitting. I like to be on my feet around desperate people.
"What happened," I inquire.
He tells me with this huge frown on his face that he was a checker at a 7/11 and doesn't do that anymore. He's got an electrical engineering degree from a respected college.
"Why aren't you doing that," I ask.
I've answered my own question as I glance down at his empty 40oz Mickey's bottle.
"I've got... I... a little drinking."
I think he's got a drinking problem. So what's his plan now?
"I'm going to paint curbs. I really want to give something that a homeowner can be proud of. Then you've got the keeping up with the Jones' thing and everyone in the neighborhood will want me to do their curbs."
He asks me what I do and then asks if its okay if he walks a couple feet away so he can urinate. I say sure.
"I'm a director." "Like a... what kind, like movies?" "Yeah." "Like have you directed anything that you've had a credit for, like on the credits?" "Yeah."
I don't think he is clearly stating what he means to ask. I withhold the information that I've never been paid to direct anything. Its okay, he's not buying that I make movies of any commercial value.
So, we banter for a few minutes about how the new Star Wars movies suck and how he thinks he can never be an actor because he's got a scar on his face.
"Can you get me a job as an extra?" "No, I don't control that aspect." "Then you're not a real director." "That's what they all say. Well, I gotta go, but you take care of yourself, Chris and get some help. Good luck with the curbs, and stay on the straight and narrow."
He doesn't answer back. I think he enjoyed the company, but that was overshadowed by my lack of giving.

The Canal Part 1

I decided to take a walk by the canal and bring my new camera to try to find some interesting shots. I thought at least I could find some graffiti or rusty barbed wire. Little did I know what I was in for.

Home Again

After a fun and relaxing vacation, we're back in our LA abode. Sometimes I feel transparent in this town.

Engagement!

Shanna's Mom, Janet, got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Ray, on Christmas day.

Bear Part 2

Bored and loyal still. Notice the napping grandma in the background.

Breakfast

Out to breakfast with Shanna and her dad, Jerry. We treated him this time!

Luminaria

One thing I've discovered about my family over the years is that we don't plan our Christmas decorations very well. We all came to Phoenix and stayed with Grandma B. in a neighborhood called Moon Valley. In M.V. everyone is supplied with luminaries to set up and light outside their houses on Christmas eve. This is an excelent display of our care vs. the neighbors care. Obviously the first photo is us.

Ladies

Two of the most important ladies in my life, Shanna and Leslie. Taken Christmas day

Wonderment

Yes, I still feel this way on Christmas. Its a little different now though. When I was younger, I used to be 90% excited about opening presents, 2% excited about celebrating the birth of Jesus, and 8% excited about seeing all my family.

Current stats:
Family 70%
Jesus 20%
Presents 10%

Now, some of you may look at this and say that I love presents half as much as I love jesus. Not true. I just celebrate him everyday and its not everyday that my family gives me objects that represent their affection.

Grandma Scarf Head

G-ma Y., and Leslie Christmas evening. Why was my sister compelled to wrap Gma's scarf around Grandma's head? It makes a great picture.

Lucas and Melissa

My longest (about 22 years) and best friend, Lucas and his new (!) fiance, Melissa. I'm extemely excited to be apart of this wedding. This is kind of like the Christmas gift of a lifetime. I've always thought about what it would be like when one of us gets married. I love Lucas so much, and am elated that he's found someone he wants to commit to! Melissa was wonderful to meet and I'm sure the more I get to know her the more I'll see how wonderful of a person she is! Congrats you two!

X-Mas Dinner

Not a very good exposure, but I love how happy everyone looks. Judging by my mom's expression, I'd say a dirty joke had been told. My parents are on the left and Shanna's mom on the right. We had a great dinner. Chicken marsala for the meat-eaters and baked tofu for the veggies.

Family

I love every single person in this shot. From left to right:
Ray, Shanna, Janet, Grandma B., Dad, Mom, Jay, Uncle Jim, Leslie, Great Aunt Barbie, myself, Grandma Y., and Uncle Jorge.

X-Mas Day

Maybe the only time someone has taken a shot like this with my grandma. She looks a bit nervous. What a beautiful lady though, huh?

The New Bloods

Gangs are out. Love is in. My two grandmothers and my sister looking festive and beautiful.

Lollie

When I was younger and couldn't pronouce "Leslie" I would say "Lollie" instead. I still address all her presents to Lollie from Teevie. Its a link to the past. Those two names really hold a lot of sentiment and love. She took great care of me and was an amazing older sister.

X-Mas Lights Part 2

15 sec exposure. These people across the street from my Grandma do the same thing every year. And every year they win an award. There is a competition in Moon Valley in Phoenix for the best X-Mas lights display and 12 houses receive the 12 Nights of X-Mas Award.

*The lights on this house and the palm trees were all carefully hung by Mexican day workers. Did someone call to let them know that they won an award?

X-mas Lights Part 1

Outside of Grandma's house. 10 sec exposure.

Shanna's Fam

Shanna's Aunt, Step Uncle (is that really a term?), and cousins, Stevie (front), Roxanne (right), and Erin (left). Love these girls. Really sweet ladies. I'm sure they'll grow up to be great people. Update: too bad I was wrong about the great people part.

Santa Luminate

Oh, Santa how I've loved you. I remember I used to watch your sled's blip on the Air Force radar televised on Christmas eve. Of course you're real! The government wouldn't lie to me.

The Joe Top Band

What a great night.

Jazzy Night

Shanna kicking back and relaxing in Joe Top's backyard. We're in for a night of live jazz in a Phoenix backyard (note the drum set in the background). You don't get these opportunites in LA for some reason. Oh yeah, no one I know here actually owns a house (save one person, actually). Shanna's mom's Fiance, Ray, is the drummer in the Joe Top Band.

Jay

Shanna's mom's Fiance's kid, Jay. Great kid. I mean seriously, this kid is great. He's got a style all his own. Just check the threads on this trail blazer.

Wigged Thud

Out for drinks with shanna and Brian. Did I mention I'm in Phoenix for Christmas? Brian is a good friend from high school. We had some interesting adventures together. We were both very theater geeky in high school. Now I'm film geeky and he's still theater geeky. Still geeky the both of us though. That night a woman in her 70's wearing a wig slid off her bar stool and smacked her head on the ground. This picture was snapped before the mood was ruined with the thud of skull and fake hair.

Night Trees

Outside of my Grandma's house in Phoenix. A longer exposure. The sky was really beautiful that night.

Bear

Grandma B.'s dog. Doesn't get walked enough, but not to much fault of Grammy. She walks half a block and has to take a nap. He keeps her company. Bored, yet loyal.

Grammy

My grandma. Cute, sweet, raised my mom. Wears pink and light blue. 87 and dances. Worked at Planned Parenthood in the 60's and 70's, so nothing sexual ever shocks her. Honest and modest.