chillin in the pad

So this update, again is far too long from being updated. I feel like there a billions things I need/would like to do like work out more often, learn a TON about photography and photoshop, and aviation knowledge I should keep up on. Growing up, my mom always told me to be well rounded, which I thought was pretty lame at the time. I had a one track mind of mountain biking and I swore at 14 that I wouldn't be interested in anything else. Granted I go mountain biking from time to time (should more often to stay in shape, but whatever) to relish in that freedom and enjoyment that entertained me for many years, but I'm finding that my intrests are ever expanding. Photography being the primary one these days. In the past few years I've enjoyed taking a few snapshots when out with friends or to document activites. Now it's more extensive with understanding what makes for a good pictures and making post editing that yeilds for intersting expression. It's become almost overwhelming because I want to have awesome shots and know how to use photoshop to prefect them more, but really photography is an expression of a number of differnt things. I'm finding that with my current gig (flying cargo around the western states) I have free time to explore differnt cities and sceneries. This provides such a great way to pass time, and utilize a vast creative palette. Again, overwhelming primarely becasue I want the most intresting shot, and it seems like the more time I spend looking at other pictures, the more I relize I don't like the captured image as much as the next persons. Oh well, the learning about it is fun so as long as I go that direction, I'm solid. hmmm Work? work is going good. I have a job, and right now thats very fortunate becasue pilot jobs are few and far between. Idealy I'll upgrade into larger and more advanced equiptment that will give me an opertunity to go to a major airline like southwest or the like. Hopefully by then the economy will improve and jobs will be a plenty. Until then, time, experiance, and travel will be the bill for now. US FLT 1549... being a pilot I get asked about that a lot. It's kinda funny.... any current event, people like asking someone in that field what they think about it. Hahaha.. in my silly sense of humor, it would be random to respond, "oh yeh, that guy did a terrible job... landed in the water? didn't he know there was an airport just a little ways ahead?" okay, too far with that I suppose. But seriously, that was a very impressive display of skill and excellent crew resource management. The flight attendents safely exited the passengers, the two flight crew members did what they were trained to and with that, no one died. It was intrestin to see the footage of the location becasue I lived just around the corner from that part of NY. I used to ride my bike along the river right where the aircraft touched down at. The alternate airport the captain was shooting towards was the airport I used to fly out of. Having flown out there, it doesn't supprise me his choice of ditching. There aren't many open areas to putdown an airbus 320. Kudos to flight 1549. alright, thats all i feel like writting. mabe this will get me back into the habit. I'll leave you with some pictures too.

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There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today!

The sun is shining, the California happy cows cover the beautiful green hills, the air smells of Eucalyptus and it's a perfect 68 degrees outside...in JANUARY! I simply could not pass up a leisurely drive up California highway 1 on a day as perfect as this!

Ryder and I hit the road with the windows down, sunroof open and Beach Boys serenading our drive towards Bodega Bay. It was just what the doctor ordered...a perfect day with my perfect little man.

Life gets to be so crazy that it seems like Ryder and I don't really get to enjoy being together, just the two of us, as much as I'd like. We spent our day at the beach playing in the sand, running from the waves and admiring our shadows on the ground. We laughed and played and had a good mother-son day.

I am planning on spending my Saturdays with Ryder on little day trips like this from now on. Cell phone off, seeing the many things northern California has to offer. Next Saturday we are going sledding then in the next month I'd like to take a little trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Ryder would love it!

Mommies beach baby.
My little narcissist admiring his reflection in the wet sand.

Happy as a clam.

I'm glad he has graduated from the "eating sand" faze to the "throwing sand" faze.

My whole everything in one picture...

Beautiful!

Perfect!!

The next morning, after our fun day at the beach, Ryder woke up smiling and said, "Best friends Mommy! Mommy play with me in sand. Lub ju (Love you) mommy! Best friends!" He never ceases to amaze me. He truly is a gift from God!

Life is good! Ryder is GREAT and I am happy. What more could we ask for?

2009?? Really?

Yep, that's right, it's 2009. Time flies! Ryder spent the New Year with his dad this year. I spent this New Year out on the town with my girl friends. Glenn Fox rented out a club for the night in Folsom. It was beyond fun!

Tiana, Kim and me at the party.

Heather Poppe and yours truly. We've been friends since birth. Crazy!

With Kim and Deke.

We love our friends Jon and Ian.

Singing the night away with a little karaoke. See that big guy on the end. Yeah, don't know who he is. He wouldn't leave us alone all night.


Dancing Ladies.

At midnight balloons and confetti fell from the ceiling. I took the brunt of the confetti apparently.





So, for those of you who don't know Sean. And I'm guessing most of you don't. Sean is such a fun and interesting friend. Part of his job working at the funeral home is to go pick up bodies when people pass away. It can be a VERY dirty job as I'm sure you can imagine. Well, on New Years Eve Sean was called out to pick up a body. He missed most the night. When he finally returned he had this casket, that was apparently given to him, in the back of his truck. It was empty but we had Tiana convinced that the body Sean had just picked up was in it because he was in such a rush to get back to the New Years festivities. Sean said to Tiana, "they're dead, I don't think they are in a rush." She freaked out pretty good. We did finally tell her it was empty.

Funny picture though. I would think it was a little strange if I saw this driving down the street.




Happy New Year!!!

Mazel Tov!!!!

The weekend of January 10th Ryder and I attended my cousin Jordan's Bar Mitzvah. I had been to a Bat Mitzvah once before (Jordan's sister Julie's) and really enjoyed it. I recommend attending a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at least once in your life, no matter your religion. It is an event to be remembered!

At my cousin Julies Bat Mitzvah I was a little unsure of what the whole thing represented. This time, before Jordan's Bar Mitzvah, I read up on the significance of the ceremony. I found that "Bar (or Bat) Mitzvah" actually translates as "son (daughter) of commandment" -- i.e. the young person becomes responsible to observe the commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah.

The purpose of the commandments are to keep our lives focused on what's truly important: family, community, and a relationship with God. A Bar Mitzvah is a boy at age 13. A Bat Mitzvah is a girl at age 12. Girls are a year ahead of boys because, well, they mature faster!

This is the time when moral awareness and sensitivity fully develops, enabling them to take responsibility for their actions.

During the ceremony the Torah is removed from the holy ark, and then carried to the bima, the raised platform from where the Torah is read. While the Torah is being carried, everyone stands out of respect. At Jordan's Bar Mitzvah Ryder and I were honored to be asked to open the holy ark for the Torah to be removed.

Once the Torah is removed the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, in this case Jordan, reads, in Hebrew, from the Torah.

Talk about impressive! My little 13 year old cousin reading and speaking in Hebrew. I was so proud!

After the ceremony we had a traditional Kosher lunch. It was Delish....

A few pic's from lunch. Notice Ryder's little Kippah (the cute little Jewish hat).

It looked like a baseball.

He looked so handsome!

Ryder with Grandma.

Dinning on bagels and lox...minus the lox.

My Aunt Sheri and her man Peter.

After the ceremony and lunch we headed up to the Sheraton hotel in Petaluma to check in to our room and get a nappy-nap in before the celebration that night.
Here's the lovely hotel...

Ryder insisted on pulling his own little suitcase...

Doesn't he look like a little business man in his little suit and tie wheelin' his suitcase to his room?? Love it!

This trip was full of exciting little moments. But, I must say, one of the most exciting to me was when I was checking in to the hotel and the girl at the front desk informed me she was upgrading my room at no charge to a Marina view. Hallelujah, God loves me!
Our room....

The pictures really don't do the view from my room justice...

By the time we went down for the party Ryder was feeling a little hungry. The appetizers weren't out yet so he enjoyed a couple (bags of) M&M's. But check those table manners...That's right, he's using his spoon!

The celebration...

Looks like Bry has lost a little off the top...

Ryder with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Ricky.

I dare you to find a cuter kid...serious, can't be done!

I enjoyed some of the most delectable hors d'oeuvres before my fillet, garlic mashed potatoes, salad and steamed vegetables for dinner. Ryder enjoyed, well, lets be honest, he didn't eat much after those M&M's, but his chicken fingers and pasta sure did look good!

Enjoying a second dessert.

"I scream for ICE CREAM!"

....Going....

....Going....

....GONE!

After dinner we hit the dance floor and Ryder proved that white boys CAN dance!

Work it~Work it...

Check the girls in the background watching him in all his cuteness! I could not pull this kid off the dance floor all night!

After the hora he let Grandma cut in for a slow dance.

A rare, once in a life time occurrence...my brother dancing...

Micheal Jackson...wait no....Justin Timberlake....no...that's...that's RYDER!

When Ryders hip's get a rockin' the girls come'a flockin...

Proof that my little man had the time of his life... crazy hat, glow sticks and chocolate on the face! All the makings for a 2 year olds dreams come true!

After enjoying a good nights rest in our fabulous hotel room we headed over to my Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve's for a family breakfast. After breakfast we stayed for a bit and enjoyed each others company. Ryder had a lot of fun doing guy stuff with Uncle Steve like watching football, complete with his own helmet for that "in the action" feel and playing with cars.

We really had a weekend that was all kinds of awesome! My only regret...I didn't get a single picture with the MAN of the day, Jordan! If anyone has one of him and me, please, send it my way!!