Awarding the Green

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing the Green Business Awards in the Veterans War Memorial Building across from San Francisco City Hall with Orange Photography. I was pleasantly surprised with how happy and gracious everyone was that we were there. And even better that Orange Photography was awarded for their greenery. The wall hanging plaques were framed from wooden palletts found from the streets of the city.

Businesses from pet hotels to clothing to furniture were awarded for earning their Green Credentials. Way to San Francisco!

mayhem raised again

Last night the few us left in the city and few more who came into the city, gathered at the Green Tortoise ballroom to celebrate the life of our friend who's life was cut short. In typical Tortoise style, we shared our stories about Toby and our times together in the uniqueness that was.. when we all lived together, worked together, cooked together, cleaned together, partied and made music together. Alot of 'remember whens'. The tribe that I think of so fondly when I think of that year came alive again for me last night. It's obvious to me now, that the story continues on.

weddings, babies, and baseball

No trip to St. Louis is ever complete without a visit to Busch Stadium to watch the Cardinal's play. After wedding, baby baptism and baby birthday, we were ready to head to the stadium for an authentic St. Louis experience. This was the first time for my mom in the new stadium AND the first time for Zeta and Nora at a MLB game. Welcome to St. Louis. We sing, we dance, we do the wave, we watch people and we jump and scream when Pujol's hit's one home.

a marriage off of Route 66

Zeta and I returned to the humidity and the midwest for my older sister, Laura's, wedding. She and Alex were married in a smallish country church in Hamel, Il...right off of the original Route 66 surrounded by corn fields. This was my first experience not being the photographer since all siblings were present in the wedding party. And...well...I kind of loved being on the other side too.


One of the treats of this gathering was the sharing between the two families uniting through this marriage. Alex's family, most originally from Central America, was lively, colorful, and filled with love. Here, my Dad gets a lesson from Jaoquin for their 'El Rey' performance during the reception.

in the captain's company

As Vic would say, "I strongly recommend this view" while laying with his head hanging upside down over the bridge while the river runs through it. This weekend Zeta and I escaped the concrete jungle and headed to Standish Hickey where the Eel River flows and Captain Standish stands 225 feet tall amongst his family of really big red woods. With a little help from our friends, the weekend was a tribute to all things good and revived my love for life in a whole new way. Even though Vic and Liz had been here before, they had never layed their eyes upon the big tree named Captain Standish, the third largest Redwood on Earth. After realizing that the river had our day, it was obvious the forest had our night. Zeta and I made a dinner of chicken and magic and we all four then headed out with a few wimpy flashlights into the woods.

The trail was full of stories, song, and beautiful night. The moon had not yet risen and was nearly 11pm. Night hikes present a wonderful new challenge to the team...especially on a trail no one has walked before. But after maybe only 45 minutes....there he was...like the bean stalk to the sky. It had to be him. How many other trees in the middle of the woods have a wooden post around it with benches to sit and admire?

Of course we step through the fence and join the Captain in his circle. Never have I felt so small and so in the company of true majesty without a tourist in site. It was me and the Captain and the stars.

The forest was silent with an occasion cricket, frog or bird as we all lay on the gigantic foot of the tree. A shooting star flies by. Zeta whispers into my ear. And the green grass grows all around and around.

We continued on the loop trail back down to the river where we had spent the day. There burned a fire surrounded by a conglomeration of different individuals mostly local who invited us to join their ring. They quickly showed their hospitality by sharing beers and off color jokes. I may as well have been in Southern Missouri seeing familiar faces in friends I've never met. In fact, the entire trip brought back memories of family trips, camping, and floating the Black River in Missouri. Home really is where the heart is. I guess mines green and brown with a river running through it.

Ashkenaz

Intersection at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. Sunday, June 21, 2009

Come Together.

Galileo Learning, home of Camp Galileo, Galileo Summer Quest and the Tech Camps at the Tech Museum in San Jose, had it's staff training for nearly 700 staff who will be introducing the world of camp to about 20,000 children all around the bay this summer.

The weekend was a Tsunami of positivity energy...and wonderful craziness. Everyone, EVERYONE was smiling, open hearted and happy to be there. There was a unique unity that I hope rides the waves all through the summer. New staff jumped straight into "camp mode" and left normalities on the way side. It was camp.

My role, until this weekend, has been solely as a voice on the end of the phone line registering child after child. Normally, I wear a headset to work and was SOOO happy to take off the head set and pick up the camera. It has been too long.

all 200+ of t

The event can be seen www.lumeneyestudiosblog.com