Ridgeline Trail

I had an incredible hike with my Bro-in-law Norm. This was our second annual Ridgeline trail hike. We did this trail last year but it was fogged over the whole way. This year we had clear skies. We did it in about 10 hours. Whew! My legs are still recovering.

The Cope Family

Eric Cope is my cube mate at work and my good friend. His family was in town over Christmas so he asked me to take some family photos. Fun times were had by all. :)

Jump! Action shots are the best.
This photo alone would be confusing.
Here's a keeper. It's a challenge to get everyone to smile at the same time.
This was taken 30mins after we said we were done.
The happy couple. :)

Pictures from the last few days....

Wow... my life just got real busy. Holidays are always busy but geez!

So in the last week I was running around like crazy seeing a multitude of friends and having great adventures.

The skiing trip was incredible. Winter park is an amazing ski resort. Please check it out if you like that sort of thing. I only picked up my camera a few times on the trip. Here's a photo of a cold morning in Dillon CO.
Danny and Laura were too busy on Monday to shoot the engagement session. Their wedding is in May and I should get another chance. Here's the only shot I got of them together because Laura came over, we ate dinner, then I had to catch a flight. I wish I had more time to spend with them, they are truly amazing people.Here's Danny driving his huge truck...
Clark, one of my co-workers, had a meeting of the minds with a holiday theme last week. Clarks' parties are always interesting. The conversation ranges from marriage to religion to history to economics. It got dark fast but I got some good shots of Eric looking rather dapper...
Eric was asking me "what do I do" so I told him to contemplate his navel.
Here's how I see Clark. Yeah he's tall but he's also a mental giant....
Here's Clark making us feel welcome by building a warm fire in his backyard.

One week in

Ok I have a new plan. How about one or 2 goals at once. I have kinda overwhelmed by my December challenge. I have been doing well on the blogging, diet, and exercise. The reading, business, and piano have been taking a hit. Especially after work.

I think I need to concentrate on starting good habits. Things that I do subconsciously. The working out comes natural to me. The diet is not easy but with a little effort I can keep it under control. Blogging is fun for me.

December challenge so far has been a success. It has made me aware of the things that I want to get done, the things I am willing to get done, and the things I do. I am going to scale it back to be more achievable. I understand that goals are important, I'm going to manage them more carefully. Instead of me getting fed up with the state of affairs I'll make small steps and get better everyday.

Workout
didn't have time today
unexpected rest day

Going Skiing

Sweet! I'm going to Denver with some friends from work and I'm going to get a few days in at Winter Park. I can't wait. I haven't been skiing at a real mountain in about 3 years. The snow here in AZ has really stunk the last few years. Which hasn't let itself to good skiing conditions.

I'm also going to see my good friend Danny and his fiancee Laura. I'm staying at their place all weekend. I'm finally going to get a chance to shoot their engagement session. I can't wait. Is it here yet? Fun Stuff!

Crossfit #3
12 Kettelbell swings 35lbs
10 Ring pushups
10 Ring Rows
4 rounds

Second Thoughts

I'm struggling with how much the loft is a month. I won't say how much it is but it would be a stretch for me. I was super excited before I was sent the lease. I started to do the math and it stopped making sense. I'm going to sleep on it before I make my final decision.

I need to find a place that won't break the bank. I like things like vacations.

I'm going to stop worrying about this for now.

Here's a picture of me working out tonight...

Crossfit workout #2
Front Squats x 5
Push press x 5
135lbs
6 rounds

Good Progress

Alright! Let's see how I'm doing on the December challenge.

My diet has been good. I had some takeout that my roommate brought home tonight. It was really tasty which means it was unhealthy. Oh well all my other meals have been spot on.

Workouts have been going nicely. I killed myself yesterday with the interval sprints. I should go take pictures of that hill so you all can feel my pain. I have a workout tomorrow which will be front squats and push presses. I really missed these hard core workouts. They are such a rush.

I have been reading. Not as much as I would like but I seem to be getting back in the groove. Just think if you read 30 mins a day of non-fiction you would compound knowledge like saving money in a bank account.

The coffee thing... yeah it was good while it lasted. I have cut back but the afternoon coffee is a must in the nerdery.

I have been working on my businesses. I seem to be lacking in direction. Maybe I'll write up an action plan. yeah good idea.

I didn't take any pictures today so here's one from the vault...

Workout
Rest day

Relaxing weekend

Sometimes you need a weekend of inactivity. It's not that I just sat around all day. I did plenty. I just didn't overdo it with a huge project or a road trip. I feel relaxed and ready for the week ahead. I highly recommend weekends like this.

I had time to clean. Here's proof...
I did all my laundry. I did some reading. I cooked and prepared lunches for next week.

I know this sounds like normal life but lately it seems I have been rushed and most of the normal stuff gets overlooked.

Pace workout #1
Hill repeats
Road bike
Castle loops x3

Grey Day

We had a taste of Seattle today here in Phoenix. It was cloudy and drizzly all day. I stayed home and packed some stuff for my big move next month. I'm moving to the Orpheum Lofts in Downtown Phx. Here's what it looked like out my current window....
The view out of my new place will be quite different. I'll be on the 10th floor. I can't wait.

The clouds parted for a short time around noon...
This shot was taken with my new B&W polarizer. It really makes the sky pop. I have been wanting one of these for a while.

Crossfit workout #1
Elizabeth
21-15-9 reps of
135 Cleans
Ring dips

December Challenge

For what ever reason I have decided to challenge myself again in multiple areas. Life has become a bit mundane these last few weeks and I need to shock the system. I have a new format that has the goals listed with the challenges just for clarity purposes. All challenges will last until the end of the year.

Here goes....

I want to Keep up with my blog more. People seem to be reading so I'll give them more to read.

Challenge #1 Blog everyday with a new photo in every post. At the end of every post I will include my workout of the day. (you can consider this a bonus feature)

Today's photo. Drive by photo

Next goal is to be as fit as possible by the end of the month. Not to be as fit as I have ever been but just to have an amazing month of workouts and clean eating.

Challenge #2 Perform 16 crossfit and 8 PACE (interval sprints) workouts in the month of Dec.

Challenge #3 Eat all meals from my kitchen. This may not mean much to you the reader but if I cook anything it is 100% of the time super healthy. Eating out is where I slip up. Foundation to my diet is Zone/Burn the fat feed the muscle.

Next I want to continue learning the piano with a goal of playing 5 Christmas songs with my family.

Challenge #4 Practice 30 minutes 16 times before Christmas. Think I can learn 5 songs in 8 hours? I'm gonna do it!

Here's a tough one for me... I haven't been going to sleep before 12 this whole last month. I think I know what the problem is...

Challenge #5 Limit myself to one cup of coffee a day. Yeah you heard me right.

Challenge #6 In bed by 9:30 and up by 5:00

I have so many books I want/need to read. I have been in a reading slump for some reason.

Challenge #7 Read 30mins a day morning or night.

OK last one... I have stalled on some of my business Ideas. I want to set these up so I can leave the rat race and be financially free.

Challenge #8 Work on my business ideas 30 mins a day if not more. If i make small steps everyday I could be at the top of the mountain soon.


OK I think that's enough to do the trick. I should be a new man in a month. My good friend Dan told me once - If you do what ya did, you get what ya got. I have a vivid dream that includes a version of me that I am proud of. Here I come dude.

Crossfit Workout (does not count)

20 Burpees
12 Dead Lifts 135lbs
30 24inch box jumps
4 rounds for time

Saturday wasted

Man oh man. 4 days of vacation over thanksgiving and I catch a cold. I was down hard yesterday and today I'm about %50. I had to cancel an engagement shoot that I was super excited about. Oh well they are friends and we rescheduled for Sunday. Zinc lozenges rule.

My sister got 2 awesome lenses from canon professional services: the 70-200 f/2.8L and the 85mm f/1.2L. Oh man this is some nice glass. I have to mail them back on monday so I'm itchin to shoot with them. Here's what I got on thanksgiving....

The bokah is silky smooth in this image.

Stable of glass. we own the 2 in the middle.

So today in my bed ridden state I have been reading about off camera flash. Zack Arias is the master of one off camera flash. I really like how one light can modify a photograph. I think from now on I'm going to shoot like this. Hmmm ok so I'm going to need 2 pocket wizards, a vivitar 285, a huge soft box with stand.....

Ohhh look at the baby (cooing voice)

What a cutie! Here's Eric and Aubrey's beautiful new baby boy. Ethan arrived on the 10th and their lives changed forever. Here he is mid sneeze....
They asked me to come over and take some pictures. When I got there no one but Ethan was ready to be photographed. I'll get some happy family photos when they get more sleep.

Green Gruel

Here's what I ate post ride today....

Ingredients:
Cottage Cheese
Almond Butter
Vanilla Soy Protein Powder
Greens+
Splenda

It's Really gross looking but it tastes like ice cream. Every time I eat this at work my peers look at me like I am growing antlers. It's certainty not for everyone. This is my super healthy post exercise or before bed snack. My sister gave me this recipe and she found it from a book I gave to her. YUM!

Weekend in Flag

I took Friday off from work to get a head start on a very relaxing weekend in Flagstaff. My buddy Dan has an awesome cabin about 15 minutes away from Flag. I had my nose in a book most of the weekend so I didn't get a chance to take many photos. Here's one I took Saturday on a downtown walkabout....
We were in Flagstaff celebrating a new beginning in Dan's life. He put his 2 weeks in at work and is going to be a full time entrepreneur. The only down side to this whole story is that Dan is leaving his position in MMC and guess who will get all his work? Yeah that's right me. No worries I can handle it. I'm gonna need an intern :)

Flagstaff is an amazing place. The people here are very different than Phoenix people. There is just an inherent kindness to them. I always feel welcome when I go there. I'll have to go back soon.

I found 3 photography studios in downtown Flag. I made some new friends and I got invited to come back in a few weeks and show off some of my work. I better get to work on printing some of my photos. i took a picture of their sign so I wouldn't forget any names.

Messin around

I was at my sisters house this weekend. She has lots of really cool equipment and she lets me borrow most of it anytime I want - THANKS AIMEE! I was playing with the vivitar 285 flash and some pocket wizards. I had the flash on the table and I was bouncing it off a big white door.

The above picture is from left to right - Aimee, Grace, Abby, Grace, Norm. No one else would hold still long enough. According to Wiki this type of image is called a Polyptych. I have no idea how to pronounce that.

Whoa.. explain this.

I'm reading this new book I got on Thursday. It's on NLP which is a study of human communication among other things. Friday morning I was gathering things for work and decided to grab the NLP book for some reading after work in the park. I needed a bookmark so I grabbed one of the polaroids from last weekend. It was a picture of Shannon and I at dinner before the concert.

Ok so I head off to work, normal day, after work I head to the park to knock out a few chapters. I get to the end of the 2nd chapter, put the book down, and take this picture.....
Pleased with my creativity for the moment, I dive back into the start of chapter three. About 4 lines into the first paragraph I read this.... On the inspiration side is Dr. Edwin Land, inventor of instant photography and the founder of Polaroid Corporation. His little daughter wanted to see a picture of herself right away and asked her father why it took so long to develop pictures. This inspired Land to put the development process right in the film.

Umm.. Wha? Did this just happen? Am I in a dream? What a coincidence! I think someone is trying to tell me something. Weird and wonderful.

Sunday Fun

Wow what a fun day. Shannon and her friend Denise we in town to see Regina Spektor at the Orphium. We made a whole day of it starting with an incredible breakfast at Original Pancake House.

You could hang a picture with Shanon's posture.

These pancakes were soooo gooood.

We really had no plans except for the concert so we winged it and went for a hike. It was super hot so we stayed long enough for Shannon to get the essential cactus growing out of your head shot.

Den wanted to see some nature. So here we are

Shan blogged from the car. Ha so cool.

We found this cool old bookstore and Shan bonded with the locals.
Waiting for Scott meant more pics of Den. She is such a good sport.
Shan in action with HER 30D.

The place we wanted to go to dinner was closed (so was the rest of Downtown Phoenix) so we improvised.

We had a little time before dinner so we took some buddy shots. Notice the tree growing out of my head. Shan will be proud.

I love food shots. Shannon took this one.

After diner we were off to the show. I didn't get many shots of the Regina because she was putting on an amazing show.

Thanks girls for the fun day. It couldn't of been better.

Breakfast in Sedona

Saturday morning at the crack of dawn four engineers soar into the east valley skies to break the monitonity of everyday life. There are many luxuries that a person could want. Most luxuries are either temporary of lack real function. A Cirrus SR22 GTS sets you free. Owning a private plane would be exciting and fulfilling and that's just how my friend Scott feels about having this privilege.

We took off from Falcon field just after 7:45am. What an experience. The Cirrus is so much more agile than a HUGE jet. We got up to speed and took flight so quickly i really didn't have time to be scared. Scott is a great pilot, explaining everything we need to know, walking us through all the pre flight checklists, and controlling the plane like a pro. Thanks Scott. Super fun time.

We were in Sedona eating breakfast within the hour. Flying is really the way to go. Not only is it fast but it's fun and exciting. Driving is for suckers.

Aimee the wonderful Sister

I'm a super lucky guy. Not only do I always land on my feet, always find the perfect girl (of the month), and always find myself in the right place. I also have the worlds best sister. She is an amazing woman and I love her in bunches.

So I bring my new Mac Book Pro over to show her and the first thing she wants to do is take silly pictures with photo booth. Nevermind CS3 or any other cool app I have loaded. We had a snorting good time. Have a look...