Again at universal studios. Its Jurassic Park. It was a decent ride, one of those water rides, like the log flume. Not the best, but it was based on an AWESOME movie. Enjoy!

Jurassic Park

I wonder if trees like this existed here in Maryland and were considered the norm, if I would think they were so photogenic? Probably not. But since they aren't here, and I happen to have taken many pictures...well....

This is a picture from Costa Maya beach in Mexico. I took this while on one of our cruises back in 2005. I love the bent tree here, and the water and pier in the background. Enjoy!

Palm Trees

On a cloudy day like today, I think an image like this fits in nicely. Its a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge with the fog rolling overtop of the bridge. I like the scale that this shot gives the bridge as well. You are able to walk both sides of the bridge, bike it as well, and so while walking I was able to take this picture. Enjoy!

Foggy Days

While in San Francisco, I'd have to say that your trip just insn't complete without a visit to Lombard Street. Jenn and I were able to visit the street right at the end of a trip, but a trip is a trip.

For those unaware, this is a street in San Francisco with 8 turns down 1 block in order to lessen the 27% incline. Its really neat to look at, and quite steep. I took this picture from atop Coit Tower. Up in the tower you are able to see the entire city in 360 degree view, its really a neat sight. Enjoy!

Lombard Street

Actually its just elephants. But they were at the Zoo. At the zoo that we didn't go to this past vacation because we went 3 years ago. But still...they were there. I was talking with a co-worker about the San Diego Zoo vs. the National Zoo and I commented that the San Diego version was better. She inquired why and i responded that it was a more natural environment. There is just something about seeing tons of really neat animals walking freely about in a somewhat natural habitat. I don't think there's anything natural for an elephant in Washington D.C. in the middle of January. Enjoy!

Its a Zoo!

Many of you will know what I'm still very involved with Marching Band, and I thought that this would be a good photo for all those back to school (yesterday, sorry I'm a day late). This is a picture of the LEGO marching band at LEGOLAND in San Diego. To all those back to school, good luck! Enjoy!

Back to School

One night while down in Ocean City a few weeks ago Jenn patiently waited in the car while I took numerous shots of the lighthouse in the dark. In order to get this kind of shot I set up my tripod on the corner of the sidewalk and left the lens open for 68 seconds in this instance. What I like about this shot, is the light trails on the road. When I took the picture I was afraid it might detract, but I actually think it gives the picture a bit more life. Enjoy!

Fenwick Lighthouse

In so many ways this turtle embodies how I feel on Sunday afternoons. Tired, sleepy, like laying around. And that is exactly what I've been up to, and by the way, its great! As for this picture, it is of a giant tortoise at the Sea World Park in San Diego. Enjoy!

Sleepy Sundays

As the summer has winded down Jenn and I have definitely felt our schedules get wound right back up. Just two weeks ago we were very far removed from day to day life and work and such and now in just two days, school (with kids) starts back for Jenn and I of course have another week of work.

Point behind all of this, today and this weekend will be a chance after a hectic week of band camp and back to work for Jenn for us to catch up and reconnect before another school year starts. That's why I have this picture of the two of us, which was taken on the sightseeing bus by some dude I don't know while we were stopped in Union Square in San Francisco. Not only that but I think that was an incredible display of a run on sentence right there. Enjoy!

Family Time

What I'd like to point out about today's picture is just how close the road is to the edge of the mountain/water as you drive up the pacific coast in California. Whats also really neat to me here, is that the green mountains remind me of what I think Ireland would look like. I don't have much basis for this theory, other than the fact that its what I think. Either way, enjoy!

Pacific Coast II

While walking more miles in a city than I think one should be exposed to, Jenn and I walked past Fisherman's Wharf. It was pretty cool to see all the little boats sitting there, although there really weren't any fishermen. I like this picture because of all the boats and colors, and if you notice the boat in the foreground is labeled with San Francisco, just in case you forget where this is. Enjoy!

Fisherman's Wharf

For me, and Jenn to I think, nothing defines the west coast and the Caribbean quite like palm trees. When we think of those places, the trees are one of the first things to come to mind. I've recently been going through some of the pictures from our last cruise three years ago and putting some of them online.

This is a picture from our trip to a beach in Costa Maya, Mexico. The beach there was absolutely beautiful. We were able to go kayaking in the water, swimming and just overall beach lounging around. While out in the water I took this shot of these bent tress. This picture is from the same vacation/location as this picture, one of my all time favorites, that I posted about 2 years ago, and also hangs in our bedroom. Enjoy!

The Palms

So yesterday was my mom's birthday, followed up today by my birthday. I'm not to sure what really to say, and more so not sure what to post picture wise. This is a picture of me, Homer and Bart at Universal Studios out in L.A. which in case you haven't read from the last month's worth of posts, was a lot of fun. As for my b-day, for those that read here, thanks for attending last Saturday's birthday get together, I had a great time and I was really glad that everyone could attend!

My Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday, followed up tomorrow by the equally important my birthday. I figured I would use this form to publish my happy birthday well wishes for her. The picture below is of mom when I visited her last December for lunch just before she retired. So again, Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

So I was thinking it had been long enough that I should update everyone on Max's growth and so forth. He's up to 55 lbs. now, and still growing. The doctor thinks he'll make it to about 75 lbs. I think maybe even 80 (he does have big feet, which everyone likes to point out).

As you can see in this picture he's gotten quite large. We took him down to the beach in O.C. and he really loved the sand, but not the ocean so much. Hopefully next year when we go down he'll be a little more interested in the water, like we hear labs usually are. Enjoy!

Max Update

While at the beach last week my friend Angela had asked me to take some pictures of her family (husband & daughter) while they were at the beach. Hopefully they like the pictures that I took! After I took those pictures for them, her husband Jake took a few pictures of Jenn, Max and I. This is one is pretty good I think, and it even has Max looking at the camera, which of the 15 or so pictures, I'm pretty sure this is the only one in which he was doing so. Enjoy!

Our Family

In addition to going to a game in L.A. we had to take in a game in San Francisco. The ballpark there was very very nice. It had a feel very similar to Camden Yards, which 3000 miles away makes you feel a bit more comfortable.

At the park, which is built right on the water, it feels very cozy and all the seats seemed wonderful. I know ours were. The people were nice, we even got tips from a local about a good spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge. In the picture below, taken from our seats, you can see the scoreboard, the water in the background and the coke bottle and huge glove out in outfield. By the way, the Giants are worse than the Orioles, so they lost that game to the first place Diamondbacks. Enjoy!

AT&T Park (Giants Stadium)

I've finally been able to process through the images I took while traveling the Pacific Coast Highway. I took a ton of pictures, many of which I hope to be able to use to create some really nice panoramic images. The image below is actually a composite of 3 images. I love how this image turned out.

The bridge in the image is the Bixby Bridge which was built in 1932. This was one of the last stops we made along our scenic trip. This bridge is located about 25 miles south of Monterey and plenty more miles south of San Francisco, our end destination that day. Going back and looking through those pictures was tons of fun and very cool to relive those memories from not that long ago. Enjoy!

Bixby Bridge

How about some baseball photography? Well here you go. Its been a long time a comin' about 2 1/2 weeks now I think. I've finally gotten some of the baseball photos up and online so I can start to share them.

This is a shot of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The stadium was really cool to see. Personally I kinda equaled it a little to Yankee Stadium. Its definitely designed in much the same way, however sitting at the game later in the evening, I never felt far away from the game, even though we had cheapish seats. It certainly is a great park. Enjoy!

Dodger Stadium

So we're back from our second vacation down in Ocean City. It was a wonderful, relaxing time (with exception of the drive home yesterday). So I'm back, back to work, and so forth.

I'm still working through the pictures from California (of which there are a ton), I posted a bunch more last night, that I will be sharing on here over the weeks. Anyways, this is a picture of the sign designating the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. It was a pretty cool area of downtown to check out, and what I like here is how the sign arches over the roadway ushering you into the district. Enjoy!

Gaslamp Quarter

We're still on vacation, down in O.C. but wouldn't it be nice if it were a little more like this outside. This is another picture from the Universal Studios back lot. This is a portion of the set from the live action Grinch movie that was made a few years back. This is one of the few neat things that we saw on the studio back lot tour. Enjoy!

Whoville

At Sea World you could purchase the little fish to feed the Dolphins, so of course we partook in such events. We bought one tray of them to feed the fish and then I used that opportunity to get some nice and up close shots of the dolphins. Enjoy!

Feed Me

During the Studio back lot tour at Universal Studios they have this scenario where you're sitting and looking out in the water, basically waiting for Jaws to attack. In my anticipation of said event I was ready to capture him in full fury here. Enjoy!

`

Jaws

Again from vacation...this is a picture of a figurine that was for sale at some store we went into in LA i think it was. I really liked it, just not enough to buy it and lug it back home. The screen reads "Surfed to Long", but what's really funny to be is that the guy just kinda died and rotted away at the computer. Sometimes I feel that way at work. So with that, today through the rest of the week Jenn and I are down at Ocean City relaxing away. Enjoy!

To Long

While in Los Angeles one of the things we did was a day trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. It was pretty cool. Jenn had been to Universal in Orlando before, so she was really looking forward to going. I hadn't been before, so I didn't really know what to expect.

It wasn't your typical theme park in that it only had 1 roller coaster (Revenge of the Mummy) and that was indoor. The park was full of simulated rides and such. Saying this though, one of the best rides I have ever riden was there. The new Simpson's ride is absolutely amazing. Tons of fun, and a great ride.

The picture below was taken out in front of the park. I like the globe (which rotated) and the lineup with the palm trees. I think it gives the photo a real California feel. Enjoy!

Universal Studios

When we went to see the Painted Ladies in San Francisco, we got off of the tour bus at City Hall and then walked to see those houses. It just so happened though that San Francisco city hall is a pretty amazing sight to see. This is a picture of the dome of the building. I love the little ornate details all over the facade and in the dome. The colors are also very cool. You can see a few more pictures if you click this one to go to the gallery of these images. Enjoy!

The Dome

I think the title just about says it all for my feelings regarding Tijuana, Mexico. It wasn't exactly the most glamorous place I've been to. In fact, as soon as we were in, I was looking around trying to figure out how to get out. Either way, they do have this neat sign marking the line between the two countries, and Jenn stood behind it for this nice little picture. Enjoy!

Been There, Done That

While in Hollywood we made sure to take in the classic sights and tourist traps as you would expect. Included in that must be the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was pretty cool to see all the stars laid out on the street. They line both sides of the street for a long time. This is a tall shot of what the sidewalk looks like. Everywhere you turn there are people stopping and looking down to see who's down there. I found myself walking with my head more down that up as we walked this street. Enjoy!

Walk of Fame