~Becky

Lights Camera Fashion!

2011-02-16T11:05:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to be able to come to the SPA event this week being held in gorgeous Palm Springs, CA! SPA - Senior Portrait Artists is an awesome organization specifically for just that =). They will be putting on a Fashion Show tomorrow between 12-1pm and streaming it live! Check it out here on my blog!

Live TV : Ustream

If Slaughterhouses Had Walls...

2011-01-26T15:28:00.000-08:00

Everyone Would Be Vegetarian. Paul McCartney says it all.

I cried so hard while watching this, I couldn't even bring myself to finish the video. Instead I listened. I've seen it all before, and it's high time more people wake up and see the truth. =(

It's not just about the way we treat animals, it's about your health, it's about the environment.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

2011-01-23T19:52:00.000-08:00

"If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self-worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others".

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.”

“If an individual has a calm state of mind, that person's attitudes and views will be calm and tranquil even in the presence of great agitation.”

“Dialogue is the most effective way of resolving conflict.”

“A compassionate state of mind brings inner peace, and therefore a healthier body.”

If more people lived by these simple ways, the world would be so much more beautiful. The Hate and Fear of Humans is what brings ugliness to our existence. I have lived and breathed these ways for years without ever knowing they were spoken by the one I look up to. I hope to share these ideas and help others learn to live their lives in peace, while providing peace to others. We all deserve it.

The Stars At Night Are Big And Bright!!

2010-12-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Deep In The Heart Of Texas =). Such a wonderful road trip and vacation! Thank you Mandy for inviting me and giving me a taste of Southern culture and hospitality. Texas is Huge. The people are warm and inviting, the food is sinfully great, the pace is slower, the economy is doing juusssst fine, and I got to spend a week with one of my best friends ever!

Mandy drove out for Thanksgiving and I decided to hitch a ride with her back to Tyler, Tx. (with Sidney =). We stopped off at the Alamo and Riverwalk in San Antonio, which it turns out, is NOT on the way to Tyler. But who cares?? I spent the week touring Tyler and some surrounding towns while Mandy went back to work. I took some awesome shots of different animals I saw at the zoo and the Cherokee Trace Drive thru Safari. Check them out on my photo blog!

She did take another day off, plus the weekend, so we had a chance to do some sightseeing and photography related things together. I finally got to meet her dad and Bobbie, who were both delightful people. I truly enjoyed the time I spent with all 3 of them. Heck, I even attended church with them, that's saying a LOT!

Sunrise on the Road!
napping on the Roadtrip there
Yikes...
The Alamo!
In line for the tour =)
Riverwalk Boat Tour
San Antonio Riverwalk
Texas Rangers...
Salt Licker!
Me and my Sopapilla =)
Bacon wrapped ANYthing.
Mandy's Dad, love him!
Check out all those Boots!
Some People would say that I am an Oilman..
Mandy rockin the Camo!

Cowboy Hat Coffee Shop
Tyler Rose Garden in the Fall

Mandy's Cute little House!
She lives in a neighborhood where the streets are brick, talk about quaint!
Me and my best dog-pal, Sidney
Howard the Terrible
Margie the Menace
My Worst Nightmare!
1st Mondays!! We rocked it!
FLC's... Fat Lazy Carts
Phil took me for a ride on his Trike!
So Sad to go.. =(
My puddle jumper of a plane out of Tyler

Slider BBQ

2010-11-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Angel invited me along to his Dark Harbor BBQ where I got to meet all the guys. Such a fun time! I feel good about this =).
Me & Angel
All the guys
New Jackets!
Julio, Angel & DJ, it runs in the family.
Me Parker & Tony
Peek-a-boo Parker =)

Steampunks!

2010-11-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

Diana invited me to check out this SoCal Steampunk group with her, so we all dressed up and headed out to see what it's all about. We took a tour of some old Victorian Era homes in (where else?) Montecito Heights... Very interesting.. but we had a good time, learned some things and came away with a sweet album from Jon Magnificent, lol.

Jimmy Buffet!

2010-10-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

Despite the reasons for me being there, I ended up having a drunken good time. Thank you Jess and Paul for extending an inviting hand to me, and thank you Jessica for being my date.. even though you ended up finding your own date!! =)

Attaboy Rick!

Queen Mary's Dark Harbor

2010-10-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

What an awesome change from previous years! The Queen Mary definitely did it right this year. I had a blast with Becks and Jessica, and I'm glad I got to see Angel in action.
Thanks for the invite gals!
Becky Scared
Becky, not so scared
Jessica and Becky
Parkerman!
3 girls =)
Marlo & Julio
DJ and Marlo

Haunt with my Sisters

2010-10-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

First haunt for these girls! I made sure they went through all the mazes and met a few of the best monsters =). Can't wait til next year!

My best bud Henry!
We're sistahs..
The girls and their favorite clowns.

Whirlwind summer

2010-10-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's been pretty much madness this summer for me... and it's not stopping now that fall is here! I'm working 2 photography jobs right now, and hardly have time to sleep, let alone BLOG... I'll catch up at some point, but for now, check out my awesome man and his gig at the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor =)

My boyfriend is a Monster...

2010-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Angel is once again sliding at the Queen Mary =)!! He's really happy to be back and better than ever. They love him enough that they asked him to be part of their promotional team and appear in some Morning news spots for KTLA 5 yesterday morning!! Only my favorite morning news team =) Dark Harbor is awesome and the Queen Mary is back, scaring in full force! YOU NEED TO GO!

Cuzin!

2010-09-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

My Cousin Jeff came out to visit for a weekend (well really he came to see the USC vs. Virginia game) and I was delighted to show him and his pals around LA for a few hours. I love this guy and am SOO glad we could find some time to hang out!

Bass Lake & Yosemite

2010-09-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

What a wonderfully amazing trip! Ryan & Diana are two of my favorite campers in the world! From bear sightings to hikes to gorgeous views, this trip had it all. Not even Labor Day weekend crowds could dampen the mood on this trip! Awesome Awesome Awesome =)

A Life Taken too soon...

2010-09-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

My Uncle Bill was buried at Arlinton National Cemetery. What an honor, and a beautiful ceremony. The day was dreary and drizzling, and just as we made it out to the gravesite, it began to pour buckets of rain. The band continued to play, the rifles fired their 21 gun salute, we all stood there getting soaked. It was somehow perfect. Uncle Bill was always a jokester, good humored and fun. His last joke was to watch us all be miserable in the rain while he smiled down at us from wherever he ended up. =). I will miss him dearly.

On the upside, I had another chance to visit my brother and sister-in-law. We toured a couple of cool sites including Virginia Falls and a real Colonial Farm. All in all, a wonderful trip.

This is the house mom and my uncle grew up in,built by their father. My aunt Joyce still lives there today!

Reno or Bust!

2010-07-16T18:55:00.001-07:00

The Lounge downstairs
Our awesome corner room had a great view of downtown Reno!
Reno from the Virginia Mountains
Virginia City Rocks!

Random river we found before the rainstorm started
My love <3

View from above Mono Lake
The Sierras, my other love!

Pretty much the best work trip EVER!! They sent me to Reno, and I recruited Angel to come along. Turns out they put me up in a great Casino Resort, so Angel could chill, go to the gym, the pool etc. while I worked. Annnnd I got off a day early so we could take our time driving home down the 395. This is the most gorgeous highway ever, going past Lake Tahoe, the Eastern Sierras, Mammoth, Mono Lake, Bishop and Manzanar. We made the 8 hour drive into a 14 hour one, stopping in Virginia City, NV for a few hours. This town is awesome! Like an old west film =). Greatest road trip ever with my bub!

La Mirada Nights

2010-07-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

4th of July in Wrightwood

2010-07-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

Dad & I went up to Wrightwood, CA for the 4th. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm (while clouds covered the valley below). They had a cute little parade and pie eating contest, lots of fun stuff... including Bed Racing. Check out the video. It's not as easy as it sounds!

Rowdy (aka DJ)

2010-07-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

He's getting bigger, and less rowdy... I guess I'll save that name for the dog Angel and I will get someday!

Huck Finn Days

2010-06-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Bluegrass Kids!

Cloggers =)
Dad found this extravaganza for Father's day, so we trekked up to Victorville for a day of fun. There was music, good food, performances and competition. I especially enjoyed the Cow Chip throwing contest (the winner threw a piece of crap over 250 feet..). We also watched a kids group playing bluegrass and a group of cloggers. Great day!!

Brandy's Graduation & Didneylaaaaan!

2010-06-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Brandy & Carlos
Me & Brad
The Sisters
Lisa & Matt
Walking into DL.. already tired apparently!
Check out this hat!

Brittney tried her hardest to be chosen as a Jedi...
The whole gang, LOVE this pic!

BP Spills Coffee

2010-06-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Yep...

Ren Faire Geeks

2010-05-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Me & Bear, Friends 4 Life!
It was windy.. and sandy.. we felt right at home, haha

I only made it out twice this season thanks to work... (can't complain though, at Least I have a job this season!) I'm very happy with myself as a gypsy, and my little Indian looks good too =)

2010-05-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

I just have to say: GOD DAMN! He's looking amazing... even more so than before ;)

I miss my Mandy!

2010-05-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

2010-05-18T09:34:00.001-07:00

Mobile blogging, what WHAT??

Cows and Hotels

2010-05-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

Fresno, Elk Grove and Clayton, Ca. This has been my life on the road for the past 2 weeks. I'm thankful for the opportunities that have come my way, but-- It's Great to be Home!!

The Millers

2010-05-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

Some old school photos from mom's childhood

Georgetown to DC on foot!

2010-05-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

DC Subway system
The Potomac, looking south at DC
GeorgeTOWN!

Me & Brad, Kennedy Center
Watergate Hotel
Korean War Memorial

A group of WWII veterans from Minnesota were visiting the memorial for the first time. What an awesome sight!

My Mom's Dad served in WWII, and his name is in the registry thanks to mom's brother.

Family Matters

2010-05-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Uncle Bill, Rest in Peace

Bill and Claire were part of a motorcycle group that showed up with over 50 bikes and 100 people. It was an amazing show of love and support for the family.

All of the cousins, all grown up

Aunt Joyce, Uncle Byron and mom

My Uncle Bill was an amazing man, and this was proven eloquently over the weekend. Members of the community lined the street on the 6 mile drive from the funeral home to the church. People stood, waving flags, hands over their hearts as his hearse passed by. It was a beautiful show of admiration, love and respect which was really touching as a member of the family. He will be missed dearly ='(

Legally Prohibited From Being on Television

2010-04-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Simply AWESOME!! Conan O'Brien did a kick-ass job at the Gibson. He sang, dressed up in ridiculous costumes and had a ton of rad surprise guests. The masturbating bear, Triumph, Andy, La Bamba, and a few other regulars from the show were there to add to the fun. Jim Carrey even showed up dressed as Superman and sang a song with Conan! A few more TV and Moviestars came out for a Walker, Texas Ranger bit. Angel and I enjoyed 3 hours of nonstop laughter =).

350.org: Because the world needs to know

2010-04-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.

There are three numbers you need to really understand global warming, 275, 390, and 350.

For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules to all of the molecules in the atmosphere. 275 ppm CO2 is a useful amount—without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

For the rest of the article click here.

www.350.org

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What is Wrong with the World Today?

2010-04-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Gotta love Flight of the Conchords!

There's children on the street using guns and knives
Taking drugs and each other's lives
Killing each other with knives and forks
Calling each other names like 'dork'
There's people on the street getting diseases from monkeys
Yeah, that's what I said - they're getting diseases from monkeys
Now there's junkies with monkey disease
Who's touching these monkeys, please
Leave these poor sick monkeys alone
They've got problems enough as it is.
Man's lying on the street
Some punk's chopped off his head
I'm the only one who stops
To see if he's dead
Mmm...
Turns out he's dead.
And that's why I'm singing
What...what is wrong with the world today?
What is wrong with the world today?
(Jemaine mumbles)
What...what is wrong with the world today?
You gotta think about it
Think think about it.
Good cops been framed and put into a can.
All the money that we're making is going to the man.
What man?
Which man?
Who's the man?
When's a man a man?
What makes a man a man?
Am I a man?
Yes. Technically I am.
They're turning kids into slaves just to make cheaper sneakers.
But what's the real cost?
'Cause the sneakers don't seem that much cheaper.
Why are we still paying so much for sneakers
When you got them made by little slave kids
What are your overheads?
Well, at the end of your life, you're lucky if you die,
Sometimes I wonder why we even try.
I saw a man lying on the street half dead
With knives and forks sticking out of his leg.
And he said,
"Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow
Can somebody get that knife and fork out of my leg, please?
Can somebody please remove these cutleries from my knees?"
And then we break it down.
This is where we break it down
Ooh
This is where we break it down
Aah
This is where we do the whoa-o-o-o
Break it down
This is where we build it up now
We build it up now
We build it up now
We build it up now
We build it up now
Build it up
And then we stop

Belly Dancing Class!

2010-04-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

I attended my first class of the year finally, and as expected it was wonderful. I went to a lot of Veronica's classes last year when she was teaching out of her home. Now she has Studio Space! Veronica is an amazing dancer, and a really good teacher, encouraging, patient, and positive. Classes are on Monday nights from 7:30-8:30pm in Fountain Valley. It's $15 for a walk-in, and $55 to pay by the month. Starting on May 3rd, she'll be starting new beginner classes. Check her website for more info: www.veronikadancer.com

Beach Cities Stars Dance Studio
18956 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Proper Belly Dance Attire:
-Hair pulled back, off neck and shoulders.
-Form-fitting dance pants or yoga pants. Harem pants are ok, too. Please no skirts.
-Form-fitting top, able to roll up to reveal belly (a choli top or dance bra is good too)
-Bare feet, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, foot undies, or any other soft soled dance footwear is acceptable. Please no street shoes.

If you've ever thought about taking classes, you should check this out! Ask me about it and we can go together. It's not only fun and girly, it's also a great workout!

Birthday Snow

2010-04-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

This year I had the most amazingly wonderful birthday. Angel and I went up to Big Bear for a couple of days to snowboard and relax. The sliding was perfect. Soft, 3 day old snow, sunny and gorgeous weather. (down below it was cloudy and raining off and on allll day =). That night we went to the most perfect Indian & Nepalese Restaurant right in old town Big Bear Lake. The Himalayan is Great!! Angel even spotted a moviestar... (I would have never known that dude at the next table was Jon Cryer, lol).

Our room was a private little cabin- with a Jacuzzi! It was a great place, I recommend the Frontier to anyone who's looking to stay the night up there. We woke up around 7am to a beautiful sight, light falling snow. Angel said he's never seen snow fall before, so we went outside in our snow gear and played around for a bit. Simply perfect. Here are some shots I took while Angel was getting his boots on.

Paul McCartney Live!!!!

2010-04-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Ever since I can remember my mom has played The Beatles for me. She had their records when I was young, and the only radio station I remember is K-Earth, which played a ton of their songs. In addition, she would always be singing along (whether we liked it or not!). Well, mom's influence on my was not lost. My presets in the truck are KLOS, K-Earth, JackFM, Star and the Sound. I don't even know any modern music anymore.... The Beatles have always had a special place in my heart.

Aaaannnyway... Ever since I've know Angel it was clear that he is a wild Beatles fanatic. He knows more about them than my own mother, who, to be clear, used to sport a Beatles mop haircut in the 60's. So when we heard that Paul was coming to the Hollywood Bowl, we were both pretty excited. I looked up ticket prices and saw that the cheapest seats were going for something around $200, since he sold out almost instantaneously. We decided we couldn't afford it and went about with our lives.

Well, I simply couldn't let this opportunity pass us (especially Angel) by. I kept searching online for tickets that I could afford and finally bought a pair up in one of the upper sections. I didn't tell Angel about it for about a month (damn it's hard keeping a secret that AWESOME!). But I know how he works and decided that I'd have to tell him so he could go through the routines and rituals of listening to songs and generally getting as excited as I'd been for the last month in private. I swear I saw a tear the night I put on the Paul McCartney Live in New York DVD. I told him, "We're not going to New York, and I don't know if he'll play the same songs for us....." He said, "No.. We're not going to see Paul McCartney are we??!??". "Yea, bub, we are =)."

The concert was simply beautiful. The Bowl sound is always amazing, but this was different. We were in the presence of greatness. Hands down the best show I've ever seen, and I'm sure the same goes for Angel. Paul played for over 3 1/2 hours, Beatles tunes, Wings songs and some of his newer stuff. It was absolutely fantastic. My mother was extremely jealous, but totally excited for us. All of Angel's aunts felt the same way. I think we won that night =)

The Great Grocery Smackdown

2010-03-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

I've never been a fan of Wal-mart, that's a fact. I always saw them as a major contributor to the problem of American obesity. They sell food... however until now it was always pre-packaged and high in fat and calories. (for the most part.) It was also far from sustainable and did not do anything to support local growers, which in turn beats down the environment (shipping, trucking, oil, etc.)

I just read the most uplifting article about the company. Wal-mart is making big changes. They are beginning to sell fresh produce from local farms. They are carrying organic milk and cage free eggs. The food is comparable to what you might find at Whole Foods in quality, and a lot of it comes from the same places! Walmart is able to charge lower prices because they are so huge and they can guarantee the growers that they will buy their crops. This is happening at the supercenters, and I don't frequent any Walmart supercenters, so I really wasn't able to see this for myself. However, in the small towns where Walmarts are a big thing, the Supercenter is what they get. I am officially impressed. It seems that Walmart does a lot behind the scenes and they don't really brag about it. Many props to the guys in charge - thank you for doing your part to give less-than-wealthy Americans some better options.

Check out the article on MSN!

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Food Revolution!

2010-03-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Jamie Oliver has a new show called Food Revolution.

Jamie has already revolutionalized school lunches in Great Britain and he's on a mission now to get the U.S. on board. Children of this generation will officially live shorter lives than their parents due to childhood obesity.... this will lead to adult onset diabetes, heart disease and worse. While this is just a television show, it is also extremely important and a great first step in getting our fat asses back on track. Check out the show on ABC, Fridays at 8pm.

Also, go to Jamie's website to sign the petition to change food in this country!

Here's the Premise: The American Food Revolution needs to start now! If you care about your country and the health of its children please help us make a difference. We need your support to get people back in touch with food and keep cooking skills alive before it's too late. We want to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. It's proven that real food promotes more effective learning. If you want better health for your kids the junk food must go.

Snowboarding!

2010-03-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

Em and I (and Bear) made a trip up to Snow Summit yesterday. Best day of snowboarding ever! We're at practically the same level, so nobody ends up waiting at the bottom of runs for the other person. By the same token, nobody feels like they need to go faster than they're capable of. It's a sweet happy medium where we are both able to challenge ourselves without slowing down the other. Em, you're my favorite snowboarding partner by far =)

I'm with Coco!

2010-03-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

Team Coco

Coming April 24th =)
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SUV Ends Up In The LA River, Female In Critical Condition

2010-03-11T20:34:00.000-08:00

What a crazy, horrific, yet inspiring story... This only strengthens my desire to become a paramedic. This woman's SUV plunged off of a bridge and ended up at the bottom of the dirty Los Angeles River. 17 feet underwater. For over 20 minutes. Firefighters and Paramedics performed CPR and Advanced Life Support procedures on the rescue boat and on the way to the hospital. The woman is in critical condition, but has a pulse! INSANE.

Check out the Long Beach Fire Department's blog story here.

Another great account of the story is on Contra Costa Times.

My girls =)

2010-03-10T18:36:00.000-08:00

Still going strong! As we each grow and change in our different ways, we still seem to come together and connect on the same great level. I hope to god this continues and we remain this close forever and ever! I love my girls =0)

Rowdy, no.

2010-03-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

Dad's new puppy, DJ. (short for Dutchess & Jewel). But Angel and I think he's more of a Rowdy, courtesy of Scrubs. I actually think he's part albino with that brown nose and green eyes and I love him already =)

What's going on??

2010-03-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

I took a photographer position with Lifetouch Church Directories and Portraits, and so far I'm liking it. It's very similar to what I did before with Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch (high school seniors)... except now I get to photograph all ages, groups, even doggies! So far so good and I'm really enjoying getting to know my coworkers. I am already perfectly suited for this job.

I believe that this came to me at the perfect time. Unemployment was starting to worry me, and it looked like it would take a while for the EMT certs to come through. Don't get me wrong though. I am completely dedicated to my goal of Paramedic. I am actively applying to EMT jobs all over So. Cal. and hoping for the best. If possible, I'd love to do both jobs for a while. EMTs work minimum of 12 hour shifts (some up to 24!) so I'd only be working 2 or 3 days per week. It would be simply amazing to be able to do them both. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Bite me

2010-02-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

San DiegoWild Animal Park

2010-02-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

This place makes my heart happy =0).

Not only can the animals run free, they can also roam in packs/groups similar to what they might do in the wild. Many types of animals are placed together in harmony to allow them a semblance of normalcy. A lot of them are on the endangered list, and the San Diego Zoo is working to reverse this. All of their profits go directly to programs benefiting the animals they are protecting -- and THAT makes me feel good about spending money there! Highly recommended! Check it out, San Diego Wild Animal Park

Passed the NREMT!

2010-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

I now have national certification to work as an EMT.. I even got a patch! So now all I need is my LA county cert and I can work. This process is longer than I expected, but I can only see it as a great thing. I mean, if I didn't have to go through all of this, I'd have little faith in the pre-hospital care we receive. soon.. very soon.. =)

Haiti

2010-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've been watching CNN coverage for the past 2 days, just wishing that I were further along in my schooling. I want to be there, I want so badly to help, to provide medical care for these people. I am making it my personal goal to be able to help in the next major emergency, in some way. Any way. I've thought of joining the Peace Corps, but I think linking up with the Red Cross or a similar aid organization would be even more fulfilling. Many doctors and nurses are on their way to Haiti to do whatever they can to help these people. I want to be that help...

In the meantime, Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross Haiti relief.

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times are tough.

2010-01-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

I have THE absolute GREATEST friends and family. If you've seen me in the last few months, you're exactly who I'm talking about. So many of you have helped me in your own special and distinct way. I couldn't ask for a better support system. Hopefully I'll be up and running smooth shortly! Thank you for everything.

Soon to be.... EMT!

2010-01-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

It was only 3 weeks long... but the most crazy intense immersion program I could have imagined. I have been eating, sleeping and breathing nothing but basic life support and I wouldn't have it any other way! Literally, since I finished I have dreamt about saving people's lives every single night. I met a lot of really great people in my short time there, and I intend to grow those friendships as I make my way through this insane career path.

I learned so much more than I ever thought I would, and this is only the beginning! Everywhere I go, I see potential to save a life. I know why the body reacts to things, I know how major disease affects us, I know how to keep someone alive if they suffer an accident or heart attack or diabetic coma. I can stop bleeding, splint an extremity, deliver a baby (if I HAVE to)... I can breathe for someone, keep their heart pumping blood, treat for shock, I can triage, I'm prepared for mass casualty, this is just madness. The body is an AMAZING thing, yet so incredibly fragile.

I have a ride along scheduled for this Sunday, actually with one of my instructors, so hopefully I'll really get some hands on action. I'm doing my ER hospital shift next week as well. Then I take my National Registry Exam, then get Certified in LA County.. and THEN I can get a job. I am looking forward to so much!! It can only get better from here. I can't wait to save my first life. I realize I'll be taking the bad with the good, but I know that the positive experiences will FAR outweigh anything traumatic. I'll see some things that I'd never wish upon anyone else... but I'll also see some things that I will cherish forever.

New Year's at Betny's

2010-01-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks Beth and Danny for hosting - again! Sing Star, 'Absince', Rockband, Korean Tacos, Jello shots, Dress up, and Snuggies... That about sums up the night. We had a blast, celebrating with close friends can never be bad! Happy Birthday Beth, we love your place and the new year's sleepover is probably the best idea ever. Everybody had fun, and nobody had to worry about driving home! I love you guys!

HH Holiday Party 09!

2009-12-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

Tine and Rhino hosted this year and as always we had a LOT of laughs =). Beth and Danny ended up with the dreaded Penis statue, which is now beautifully engraved with the names of previous owners (thanks Em!). There were some great gift wars, especially between the boys, and everyone ended up with something suitable to them. I'M certainly more than happy with my new pair of Handerpants courtesy of Christina!

YES YES YES YES!! It's about to begin!!!!

2009-12-08T17:15:00.001-08:00

I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait!!!! I have all of my pre and co-requisites taken care of including physical and vaccinations, my books are purchased, I scoped out my classroom and parking locations (as well as lunch options!)... My journey is about to begin =). I finished reading an anatomy book I got from the library, working on the physiology book now, gotta brush up on CPR before I start, but I'm SO ready for this.

By January you will be looking at LA's newest B-EMT. I still need to decide between working for an ambulance company vs. an ER, but I'm guessing that will fall into place as I go through my classes and studies. Wish me luck, it's gonna be a shock to this girl's system. I'm used to getting my 8+ hours of sleep and cooking whatever I want whenever I want it. But for those of you who know me, I'm all about change and diversity, so this will be a welcome challenge.

Vegas is Fantastik

2009-12-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

The Indoor Swapmeet, no better way to start off the trip!
Fremont Street Experience, woot
Bryan said, 'give me tiger'. this is what he got.
A Healthy dinner of hot dogs. My veggie version consisted of a bun, melted cheese, onions, jalapenos and peppers. Absolutely disgusting.
This Cab Driver asked "You wanna take my pikchah?" yes I do..
Dressed to impress... and go bowling
Birthday hats always warrant a smile, no matter how sheepish.
I think Bryan felt like a kid with all the decorations.
I had to find a way to get both me and the Dam in the same picture and get the right exposure on both..
portraits in action
A long way down
Bear makes an appearance
Trevor is a F***ing rockstar
Dam buttons make for a good Picture
They were dropping pennies off the side
Night FOUR. We sat at the casino bar for 3 hours.
Trevor meets Bear
I have always wanted to drink at the Circus Circus carousel bar: because of Fear & Loathing. FAIL, it was closed.
I was expecting to see a great trapeze show including flying bears.
At last, time to go.

Vegas on a budget for 5 days is quite a feat, but Thanks to everyone who went we had a FANtastik time =). It was Bryan's birthday, and his present was a few days in a timeshare in Vegas. The condo was simply awesome, with a full kitchen and laundry, sweet pool and jacuzzi, etc. We didn't step foot on the main strip even once, preferring to spend our time in Downtown and within walking distance of our condo. We still did plenty of slot play, however it consisted mostly of penny and nickel slots... and we actually won a little bit! We even took one day to hit up the Hoover Dam, which I haven't done since I was a little kid. It's so great when you don't have an agenda or a plan. We got imaginative and really made the trip fun. Thanks Mandy and Bryan, this would not have been possible without you both =)

Andrade Family 2.0

2009-11-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

This family is ALWAYS a blast =). I'm thankful that I had the pleasure of joining in on their Thanksgiving festivities once again. This year, the theme was '20's', in honor of Lyndsey's 20th birthday. sooooo everyone dressed up in their 1920's best. Angel decided that we should go as Bonnie and Clyde, and we watched the movie about 4 times before the day to make sure we had it right. Lots of fun, lots of laughs!

LA Works

2009-11-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

So in all my spare time lately I've rediscovered volunteer work. I registered on www.laworks.com, an organization which makes it easy for people to volunteer in places that suit their interests. They offer everything from activities with kids to environmental work to feeding the homeless. As a volunteer, you tell them where you have skills, and what you are looking for in the work you do. Personally, I'm interested in anything having to do with animals or the environment, and it was easy to narrow my search to concentrate on these areas. So far I've done work in an educational garden - The Daniel Webster Garden, established to teach children growing up in an urban area about the environment. Also, Angel joined me on a project to help out in the Ballona Wetlands right here in Playa del Rey. We cleared land (backbreaking work) for an area to regrow native plants. Really, a great workout!

Tomorrow Mariko, my mom and I will be doing a couple hours of cleanup with Heal the Bay. They do work anywhere from Redondo Beach to the Pacific Palasades.. just happens to include all of the beaches that I ride my bike through in the summer! My question is this: Why NOT do work like this?? It does nothing but good for everyone, and I feel good inside when I'm done =). What I really can't wait for is coming up in a few weeks.. I'm volunteering at a no-kill animal shelter in West LA. I CAN'T WAIT. I get to feed and walk doggies all day long, heaven for me.

Anyways... I really think this is a powerful website and organization. It gives us absolutely no excuse NOT to volunteer. Do yourself some good and help others along the way. Check it out! LA Works

Girl Talk

2009-11-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

Move! It's an easy remedy. WebMD agrees! Exercise raises your level of beta-endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain associated with pain relief. Studies have shown that beta endorphins have a positive effect on mood and behavior. =)

Hungry for Change?

2009-11-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

This movie is incredibly important, hopefully it will open the eyes of consumers in this country. Americans are so focused on saving money that they never stop to think about where the products they buy are coming from... or how they were produced. Please check it out if you have even an ounce of compassion. Check it - Food, Inc.

heh-hem... PHOTOBOOTH!!!!

2009-11-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks Adam and Sandra.... from what I hear, I had a fantastic time at your wedding.

Sinister Pointe

2009-11-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

Best__________Haunted__________Attraction____________EVER!

Beth, Danny, Angel and I headed out to Brea, CA on Halloween night hoping for a couple of screams and a lot of laughs. Beth and I walked away with sore throats and promises of nightmares. Ok, I'm being a little dramatic, but in all seriousness, this place rocked it!

As we walked up to the old converted theater, we could hear the terrified screams of girls and feel the fright in the air. To begin with, before we even got our tickets, we had to walk through a dark, foggy outdoor hallway of sorts, very creepy. There was even dark, tense music playing. There were about 5-6 monsters just waiting for victims to scare. The coolest thing was that on top of the structure they had built, a monster was scaring and spraying people with water. awesome! Others outside included the slider with the chainsaw(!!), the Sheriff who kept shooting the zombies, and the creepy girl with crutches. This group worked both lines relentlessly and kept scaring the whole time we were there.

There were 2 mazes this year: Silent Hill and Fear. We checked out Silent hill first, and were scared beyond belief. The best part about these smaller haunted attractions is that they spread out the guests, so that you're not crowded or rushed through the scare areas. Every single room got a scream out of someone in our group. Totally creepy. I never played the video game or saw the movie, but if this maze has anything to say about it, I'm guessing it's pretty scary!?

The Fear maze was really unique. We had to work as a group to get through different stages of the maze, working together or we wouldn't advance. For example, the very first test was two exposed wires that we were supposed to grab. Kinda trippy, cuz we expected to get shocked... instead we got a scare. Loud screeching noise and a blast of air, and we were on to the next room. This continued with different tests and psychological scares, including a hall of hanging pigs, a claustrophobic balloon hallway, and a room where we each had to reach into a tube in the wall and press a button at the end. Freaking awesome!! The creepy music in this maze is courtesy of Jon Autopsy, trippy, freaky, perfect =)

I will most definitely return next year to see what they come up with. Great job to the entire crew, every single monster and talent was on top of their game. Check them out: www.sinisterpointe.com

They took this just before the Silent Hill maze, shocking us with another blast of air and loud screeching. I love that Beth and I are screaming, Angel has a giddy smile, and Danny looks like he didn't even notice anything. Haha =)

The Empty Grave

2009-10-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

Henry and I rolled out to the Gardenwalk in Anaheim, Ca on Friday night to check out one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a while. The Empty Grave is not your typical Haunted House. In fact, it's more like a creepy, dark, gutted warehouse full of monsters. They had this HUGE open space to work with, and in turn, it makes the guests feel small and exposed.

The very first thing they did was put us in 'the incinerator', which was a pitch black, fully enclosed, claustrophobic box. On top of that, there was a monster inside WITH us! Shaking the room violently, screaming and grunting the entire time! Totally freaky. Once they let us out, we walked in a seemingly random path, hoping we were going the right way. It was dark and foggy, but we could tell it was a big open space. We wandered through the warehouse, getting scared by monsters in hiding, and in plain view.

The lighting in this place was simply amazing. There were strobes pointed in our eyes at certain points, so we had no clue what we were walking into. There were a few maze type structures built, giving us direction and a sense of security, only to push us right back out into the creepy open space.

The monsters in this haunt were great too! These guys and girls went all out, every time. There were even zombies outside scaring in the line and in the mall area, bringing in customers. The Empty Grave is a unique concept, and I can't wait til next year to see what they come up with!

Rash, my favorite monster =)

.

Clippers Box Suite!

2009-10-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

The entire gang, such a fun night!!

Gabi, Marisa & Em

The Kubos

Mariko & Marcus

Stacey, Emily, Beth, Mariko & me!

Beth was the only one to get a shot of this!

Mark & Tom

Marisa & the birthday boy

Danny & Beth

Jeff & Mark (bromance)

The Mark we all know and love!

This was the perfect birthday event for our buddy Mark. Not only is he the biggest Clipper fan since Clipper Darrel, but he likes to live the good life. Mark got a SWEET suite for the Clippers vs. Hornets on Friday night. Seriously, that place was NICE =). Mark got drunk per usual and yelled down at the court, cheered for the Clipper girls, and clapped as loud as possible - all in True Mark form. We had a blast, ending the night with some more drinks across the street at the Yard House. Great times with my greatest friends ever! oh btw, the Clippers won. By exactly 3 points. Happy Birthday Markifer!

Sweeping Chimneys

2009-10-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

People stopped us all night to take pictures with the group. SOOO much fun!

Me, Henry, Amy and Liza suffering from Black Lung

Me, Leilani, Liza, Leo, Jeffry, Frances, Henry, Wade
Scotty, his mom, Abi, Natalie

What a stupendous idea!! This was a collaboration between Henry's mom and their friend Jeffry (aka Mary). They invited Henry's family and pals to come to trick or treat night at DCA again this year for his birthday. All we were told was to wear all black, with a black newsboy hat... they would provide the rest. We got there and Jeffry had hand-made 11 chimney sweeps! They had cute little scarves and black smudge for our faces. Let me back up a little bit - Henry's favorite movie/musical of all time just happens to be Mary Poppins. He's practically in love with the character, and is instantly happy when Mary is around. This was PERFECT for him =). I'm so happy I was able to be a part of this fantastic night! Happy birthday bud!

I love cowzers!

2009-10-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

A LONG time coming

2009-10-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. Chopped off almost 14 inches of unnecessary hair! I was inspired of course by 2 of my best friends in the world, who both do this on a regular basis. Christine and Mariko donate their hair to Locks of Love, an awesome non-profit organization which makes wigs for children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. I figured, since I donate my platelets every two weeks, why not join my girls in donating my hair as well!?

Most wigs by retailers are made to fit adult heads, way too big to stay put on children. The hair prosthetics Locks of Love provides are custom-made from donated ponytails for each child’s head. The hairpiece forms a vacuum seal, like a suction cup, and does not require the use of tape or glue. Children can dismiss insecurities about classmates pulling off their hairpiece, or losing it at recess. They can swim, shower and do gymnastics – in short, they can be kids again.

If you have 10+ inches of hair to spare, you can donate too! Here's the info =)

Oktoberfest!!

2009-10-06T21:07:00.000-07:00

Mariko is about to attempt to conquer the Sampler!
Full table at BJ's
I was so amazed, Kristine finished her whole Sampler Taster with no help.
Mariko, Marcus and Shamanda!
Tine and the rarely seen 'Drunk Ryan'
Couples
LAYY-dies!
Team America Drinking Team... I had to have a picture with them.
the three amigos
Tom showed up at the very end of the night =)

Mariko liked it so much last year that she made it her Birthday Celebration for 2009 =). Started the night at BJ's for pizza and the beer sampler... ended it cheering for a drunk guy until he puked. Now that's class! One of the high points of the night was playing Crack Coin, where we dropped quarters down the crack of a drunk guy who was hunched over on the table. Yep, like I said... Class.

This is why I donate

2009-09-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

Give Blood, Give Life

Carnival Cruise!

2009-09-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

Simply Paradise

Our Porthole view!

We had to do an emergency drill- DRUNK. I insisted on keeping my lifevest on.

Angel with 'his' ship

Bubar. Every night the room steward would make a cool animal towel creation for us!

On Catalina we were too big to dock, so we took Tender boats into Avalon

The Beautiful Atrium Plaza

I rode the cadillac of horses, 'El Lote' Angel rode 'El Mexicano'. For a while I thought the caballeros were referring to Angel as 'The Mexican'...

The 'Adults only' Serenity Deck

THIS is why they call it a FUN ship!! I loved the slide, LOVED it =)

The Atrium bar

Our view from the lounges... so serene

Everyone needs to go on a cruise at least once in their lives. It's well worth every penny, especially since all meals are included, the shows are free, there's a dance club, karaoke bar and live band every night... the list goes on! We did a day trip to Catalina and one to Ensenada, Mexico, and our third full day was spent at sea. It's fun to get dressed up for dinner every night and see everyone else do the same, plus you can drink and not worry about driving ;). (just stumbling when the ship rocks). It was a great trip overall and It's a given that this will not be my last cruise!

For real, this time

2009-09-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

The LAPD venture is officially over for me. I received another letter saying that something was off and I could either start over or appeal. I don't feel like starting over AGAIN with them, and I'm not getting any younger. When I started this almost 3 years ago, I was strong enough, agile enough and energetic enough to do well in the 6 month long academy. Now I'm not so sure about it. I still feel like I'm in good shape, but.. I'm almost 30. Gees that sounds old... Also, my desires have changed. My main goal is still ultimately the same, but I have now chosen to take a different path (or trail in my case).

As of Saturday I am certified in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. It's the first requirement I need in order to start EMT classes. Down the line I'll work toward ultimately becoming a Paramedic and who knows from there... The world is my tofu! (cuz i don't do the whole oyster thing). I'll be starting classes at UCLA within the next few months.

This is SO FREAKING RAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

2009-09-09T13:53:00.001-07:00

F*** this week. Please skip ahead to Saturday so I can start over.

H [_] <-- that's the closest I could get to a square.

2009-08-31T21:20:00.000-07:00

We love hanging at Beth and Danny's place! We especially love their sweet doggies and brand new NinjaCat =)

thinking about thinking

2009-08-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

A bunch happened today, random things, but my mind won't tire of them.

- signed up for a CPR class...
- gathered a bunch of my images to begin work on an art show, it's about time!
- health care reform discussion, liberals vs. conservatives is always fun :P
- although it's not my job to make someone else happy, I'll always give it a shot. We'll both feel better in the end.

Camping Rocks! (and sticks, and dirt, and rain)

2009-08-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

I've said it before, I'll say it again - Camping makes me happy. Just being out in the fresh air, where you can see stars and experience weather is enough for me. This weekend we had some rain.. you never think about rain until you don't have the expected shelter, then it becomes a big deal. Lucky for us it mostly rained while we were sleeping (or in my case lying awake reveling in the pitter patter sound against the tent.) I'm glad everyone was such a good sport! Honestly I could have done without the cell phones and sports updates, but I can't really ask that of MY friends, so I rolled with it. I was just happy that everyone tried it out. Thanks kids, can't wait for the next one =)

Veg Out

2009-08-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have taught me exactly how serious I am about my choice to be veggie. I've gotten pretty emotional talking about it and I've realized that it's harder and harder to sit by and watch when other people eat meat. I don't think I'm comfortable cooking it anymore either. It actually makes me a little physically sick to do so. I'm drawing another line now, well really a few lines... I will no longer buy or prepare anything with meat in it. I'm cutting out eggs too, yea, even the cage free variety. Milk is more difficult, cuz so many foods are made using the stuff. I only drink soy milk, and I'm trying out soy cheese now, but I don't know WHAT I'm gonna do about ice cream. That might kill me.

Jeff asked me if I could ever go Vegan. I said yes. Here's me slowly making my way in that direction. I will also no longer say I don't want to talk about it because it makes others uncomfortable. If someone asks, they should be prepared to hear what I think. Now I feel like I'm hiding wonderful knowledge if I keep my mouth shut.

Thanks Dad, for being obnoxious enough to piss me off and cause me to research more thoroughly. You've really opened my eyes.

Virginia and DC in the Summertime!

2009-08-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Fredericksburg Streetcar

My Brother's townhouse was modeled after the original structures in downtown Fredericksburg, such an awesome space!

Cowzer! I mooooo'd at this cow for about 10 minutes until he came over to the fence. When I got near him to take his picture, he MOOOOOO'd right back at me. We proceeded to have a MOO conversation. He thanked me for being a vegetarian :)

Hi Horsey! Brad fed this guy some hay and he loved it!

Sweet old school wooden fence at Mt. Vernon

Barber shop in downtown Fredericksburg

Candlelight Ghost tour of Fredericksburg

Haunted Church where there have been a ton of sightings

creepy graveyard next to (and under) the haunted church, love this =)

Hay bales at Chatham house, also haunted!

This ghost cat was practically dead when we happened upon him. He was pretty blind too. I poured some water into the cap of my water bottle and let him drink for a while. After 3 servings, he finally had enough strength to stand up and walk away. I saved him =)

The Potomac River

Brittney with kids armor. The security guard specifically asked me to read the 'No Photography' sign as I entered the exhibit. This is what they get.

broken down house in the middle of the woods

Evac route on Pennsylvania Avenue!

heh heh, nature>technology

Brick-lined streets of Fredericksburg

Hiking on the old railroad from the 1800's

This cool fountain at the Smithsonian allowed people to soak their feet on a hot day

Geese on the mall in front of the Washington Monument. WaaaaWaaaaaaa!

Foot in wall at the Hirsshorn Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art. Officially my favorite museum.

These people were dressed up in costumes filming something. "What do we want?" "Halloween!" "When do we want it?" "Saturday!!" simply Awesome.

Ryan & Anna's Wedding!

2009-07-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be the photographer for Ryan & Anna's big day in Vegas this past weekend. Not only was Anna the most gorgeous bride, but the wedding and reception were just as beautiful! Thanks guys, for allowing me to be a part of your special day :) Here's one of my favorites from the day, and I'm posting some more at rgsphotos.

Downtown Vegas

2009-07-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

Never partied here before... *slightly* different from life on the strip!! We stayed at the Golden Nugget for Ryan and Anna's wedding, and hardly left the place.. The Nugget has a kick ass pool with a shark tank and water slide going right through it, very fun. It also has it's own night club, properly named 'Gold Diggers'. We danced there for a while with the wedding party and a bunch of guests and relatives from the wedding, practically filled the place up!

Anyways, Stacey and I went on a quest to find my ghetto plastic visor and ended up in a gift shop waiting in line behind *heh-hem* STEVEN TYLER!!!! At first I made some rude comment about him spending $100 in a downtown gift shop, all the while looking at his tight ass loud pants.. Stacey's better with celebrity faces than me, and pointed out who he really was. deep breath.. So we followed him and his pals (and bodyguard) and begged for a picture. Nice guy, took one even though it could possibly start a riot and draw a crowd. YESSSS!!! Stacey you're the shit, thanks for having your camera handy, some photographer I am..

Warning, this could piss you off... Just the facts.

2009-07-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

I became a vegetarian primarily because I have a soft spot in my heart for animals. I believe that most mass produced beef, pork, chicken and even fish is a direct result of animal cruelty. From what they are fed, to the hormones they are injected with to their terrible living conditions.. It makes me sad and sick to my stomach. I can live my life free from the guilt that most non-vegetarians never even notice - because they have never stopped to look at the facts. I just want people to be informed, I'm not trying to switch anyone over. However, I do tend to have more respect for a person who can respect all living, breathing things.

I did some research the other day and found that being a vegetarian comes with many more perks than I ever imagined. I'm not even gonna go into animal cruelty here, that's a given, and researching that on your own should suffice. Health is number one. But it also comes down to the destruction of our environment, the money we could save, and the humans we could save from starvation. If every American cut back on even 2 meals a week containing meat, many of the world's problems could be solved. We were brought up this way, it's not our fault, we say... but we can also make better choices as adults. Arm yourself with the facts. You'll feel better about yourself.

Some statistics

Over a billion cattle populate the earth, with a combined weight greater than the entire human population. They are sustained unnaturally in these numbers to satisfy demand for their flesh. They are a primary cause for the destruction of the environment. Beef cattle return only 1 pound of meat for every 16 pounds of grain and soybeans they are fed, causing huge inefficiencies in food utilization, while millions of people go hungry.

Animal-based diets are high in saturated fat, excessive protein and cholesterol, leading to heart disease and stroke, nearly 50% of all deaths in the U.S.

It takes about 2,500 gallons of water to produce a single pound of meat. According to Newsweek, "The water that goes into a 1,000 pound steer could float a destroyer." In contrast, it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat.

The world's cattle alone (not including other livestock) consume food enough for 8.7 billion people. Over a hundred million of tons of grain go to animals while only 5 million tons of grain could adequately feed the 15 million children throughout the world who starve to death every year. By feeding grain to livestock, we lose 90% of the protein, 96% of the calories, 99% of its carbohydrates, and 100% of the fiber.

A meat-eating American needs 3-1/4 acres of cultivated farm land per year; vegetarians only require 1/6 acre per year.

Meat contains no essential nutrients that cannot be obtained in higher quality directly from plant sources.

Meat would cost over $35/lb. if the water used by the meat industry were not subsidized by the U.S. government. Livestock production accounts for twice the pollution of industrial sources in the U.S.

Trees are being cut at an alarming rate to clear land for meat production. If tomorrow people in the U.S. switched to vegetarian,, 200 million acres could be returned to forest.

Meat-centered diets are linked to many kinds of cancer, such as cancer of the colon, breast, cervix, uterus, ovary, prostate, and lung.

U.S. livestock produces 20 times the excrement of the human population.Their waste no longer serves to fertilize pastures a little at a time, since they spend much or all of their lives in factory sheds or feedlots. Wastes are often simply flushed away dangerously raising ammonia and nitrate levels in our drinking water. Going vegetarian helps to clean up our nation's water more than any other single action.

On a calorie basis, spinach has 14 times the iron of sirloin steak. Animal products are deficient in vitamin C which is needed for iron absorption, .

Cattle are responsible for 12% of the methane emissions. Methane contributes to global warming by trapping 25 times more solar heat than carbon dioxide.

Cattle grazing destroyed most of the lush ecosystems in North America. Grazing is the primary cause for the loss or endangerment of plant species in the U.S.

Factory-farmed animals have as much as 30 TIMES more saturated fat than yesterday's free-range, pasture-raised animals.

Meat contains about 14 times more pesticides than plant foods; dairy products more than 5-1/2 times.

A vegetarian diet helps prevent diabetes, often relieves the symptoms, and can even eliminate the need insulin treatments.

Agricultural engineers discovered that the energy costs of producing poultry, pork and other meats was over 10 times that of any plant food.

Nearly all toxic chemical residues in the American diet (95% to 99%) come from animal sources.

Our dwindling water supply is directly tied to meat consumption. Over half of the water in the U.S. irrigates land for livestock feed and fodder.

An acre cultivated in spinach yields 26 times more protein than it does for beef.

Demand for ocean fish contributes to over 200,000 deaths of marine mammals and birds caught in fishing nets every year.

To help end the controversy over whether humans are carnivores, consider that it is not common for a person to stalk a wild animal, catch it by sinking claws into its body, bite its neck, and feel comfort in the taste of fresh warm blood and uncooked flesh. Human beings have no sharp needle-like teeth to puncture flesh as do carnivores; humans have flat back teeth to grind (plant) food unlike carnivores.

17 miles, 8 hours, just me

2009-07-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Mt. San Gorgonio has it in for me. I want to make it to the top, but I've been twice denied. This time I came within 2 miles of the peak before the thunder and lightning became too much for me to psychologically overcome on my own. There are apparently storms like this pretty often, and they pass quickly, however.. I was alone on the mountain, 8 miles in, watching lightning strikes elsewhere on the mountain, and wildfires were running through my mind. I simply don't think I could outrun one of those... I will try again, mark my word. I will climb the tallest mountain in Southern California.

The Friendship that can cease has never been Real

2009-07-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me how friendships can stand the test of time. My best friends are those I met in Elementary School or Jr. HIGH (Christine, Beth, Emily, Stacey, Mariko)... I talk to exactly ONE of my college pals, barely. I have ONE solid friend from the time I did at disney. (love you Henry) ONE solid friend from my time at lifetouch. (Mandy, you're the shit). ... .. and I don't miss anyone else. I've kept those close who matter to me, and the rest have faded away.

Does it matter to anyone else? nahh... just what went through my mind this afternoon.

Palm Springs Girls Weekend!!!

2009-07-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

Whoa... Happy Birthday Stace, who knew we still had it in us?? We chose the Riviera Resort and Spa in Downtown Palm Springs... for the pool and the nightlife. We got everything we dreamed of and more! When we checked in we got a complimentary upgrade to a suite :). Then we got a sweet deal on a Cabana by the pool.. then we drank and drank and drank and drank some more. (thanks box o' wine). The pool was awesome, and the cabana was awesome-er. It was somewhere around 112 degrees and we needed the shade and misters, for real, especially hungover as we were!.

The Cabana Boy, Dom, turned out to be a delight, giving us advice on restaurants and nightlife. We even ended up meeting him for drinks and dancing the night away. Dinks was a great spot for dinner, and had a good DJ spinning, but nobody was dancing so we hit up The Village Pub. 2 thumbs up for the live band and fun atmosphere! All in all, great weekend, however, I am once again giving up the booze. It's sooo not good for me, and not worth the price I pay the day after.

I LOVE BACKPACKING. period.

2009-07-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

I need to do this more often. There is absolutely nothing that compares to being 7 miles (on foot) away from anything resembling reality. The serene quiet of the forest puts a simple, happy feeling in my heart and clears my mind. There are more stars than you can imagine when you get away from distracting city lights. Animals playing become the most fascinating thing, you forget all about television and movies and technology. The rushing water of a simple stream is enchanting, and a necessity if you want to survive out there. Mac and Cheese is a meal fit for a king after a long day of hiking with a 40 lb pack on your shoulders. The pitter patter of rainfall on your tent is soothing, like a lullaby in the dark of night. Imagination takes over and Rock throwing for accuracy eats up your time. Mt. San Gorgonio called my name and I responded. Angel was a trooper, joining me for 3 days and 2 nights in the wilderness :). I know a lot of people who couldn't hack it out there, and I'm glad he was up to the challenge!

My girls = me happy

2009-06-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just another girl's night at Mo's. I love my girls!!!

Not like it used to be

2009-06-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not as nimble as I'd like to think anymore... Went rollerblading the other day and lost control on a downhill street on my way to the beach. I tried to turn, then spin around to slow myself down, but my skates slipped out from under me and I fell - flat on my face, stomach and left arm. Turns out I most likely sprained my wrist, as I can't really move it without pain. In my defense, the street was newly paved and pretty slick. However, I forgot to wear the wrist guards that I swear by when I snowboard. So I suppose I had it coming.

It's just kind of a bummer, cuz you never realize how much you use a body part until you can't anymore. I can't even tie my shoe without a struggle. Bringing groceries upstairs was quite an ordeal today... Most of all I think I'm embarrassed that I hurt myself doing something douchy! Of all the cool, adventurous things I do on a regular basis, I had to hurt myself ROLLERBLADING. Boooooooooooooooo!

Mt. Baden Powell

2009-06-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

So, I've attempted this hike a few times before, but never made it to the top. Reasons ranging from starting too late to getting too cold to hiking alone... OH MY GAHHHH, why did I ever wait??? It's 4 miles up at a pretty steep grade (2800' elevation gain). At the top we were exactly 9,399 feet in the air!! Thin air up there, but soooo gorgeous :). Well worth the sweat and aching legs!

Baden Powell was named after the Boy Scout Founder back in the day and at the top is a sort of monument/compass with boy scout writings all around it - very cool. You need the trusty adventure pass to park here, up the 138 to Hwy 2 past Wrightwood.

Mom got her Masters!

2009-06-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations mama!! Stephanie and I accompanied mom to the ceremony at Cal Poly Pomona and helped her celebrate afterwards. It's been 2 1/2 long years of projects, writing, rewriting and stress for my mother, but she can finally relax now :) (she probably won't, but she CAN)

Palos Verdes tidepools

2009-06-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

We went looking for an old shipwreck, but the tidepools were so sweet that we never found the wreckage! Crabbies everywhere, sea urchins, seals out on the rocks. Sadly we also found a couple of dead seals on the beach which, in their own way, were beautiful on their own. It was a foggy day, making the hillsides even more serene.

Corona Pirate Faire

2009-06-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Probably my last faire of the season, but I got to wear my finalized gypsy garb!! I'm so happy with the way it turned out :). This time we hung with Sifty, Ryan & Diana and really had a great time. Corona is smaller and less crowded than Southern, AND they allow DOGGIES inside. I was in heaven!

Crystal Cove

2009-06-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mandy asked if Angel and I would mind being her practice models for some engagement shots she was going to take down at Crystal Cove beach. It's just north of Laguna Beach and just as beautiful. We had a great time pretending for her and enjoying the day. If you're ever in the area, I recommend checking it out (although there's a parking fee). Make sure you walk all the way down the beach and take a look at all of the condemned houses in the older section. gnarly.

Here are a couple that Mandy took of us!

Gumball Rally

2009-05-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ever spent just a little tooooo much time at Disneyland...? I did just that at the Micechat Gumball Rally. Henry and Liza were rad enough to let me on their team- The Bad Idea Bears, along with Brian. We had so much fun navigating our way through the trivia questions that forced us to go on almost every ride in both parks.. and we got some fun pictures along the way. We did not stop from 8am til 8pm, not even to eat! No, we didn't win, but we enjoyed the hell out of the day :)

White Water Rafting - Upper Kern

2009-05-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend 2009 - absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!
We camped out with Mountain & River Adventures along the upper section of the Kern River in Sequoia National Park. SUCH a beautiful area and the greatest adventure trip I've had in a while :). What made it even better was that I got to do it with my 3 best girls in the world. We learned a lot this weekend, about ourselves, teamwork, dedication and hard work. There were a few scary moments, but we pulled through like champs and ultimately had a blast.

Mtn River has the most awesome guides/cooks/hosts we could ever ask for. Emily, Sanders and Jim navigated those waters beautifully and gave us a great time and even better memories. What was really cool though, was to be able to come back to camp after a hard day of paddling to have your tents set up and waiting, take a hot shower, and settle in for beer and appetizers with the rest of the group - all of this provided by our guides! They cooked amazing meals that we could not have possibly done ourselves and even played a few rounds of beer pong with our rowdy crowd. 10,000 thumbs up to the whole crew!!

Trail Canyon Falls

2009-05-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

This one is up off of Big Tujunga Canyon Road north of the 210 fwy. A super hot hike in blazing sun the day we tried it, but definitely worth it in the end! The pool below the falls was actually kinda warm compared to some, and we splashed around in it for almost an hour before heading back. 2 thumbs up! but watch out for rattlesnakes, we unknowingly took a water break right next to one..

Karen's Wedding

2009-05-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Karen and her father

Jackson & Karen

appetizers!

Me & mom

The ladies! Mom, Valinda, Jackie & Stephanie

Mom invited me to be her date to Karen Chou's wedding at Rancho Las Lomas. It was an absolutely gorgeous ceremony, and Karen was the most beautiful bride. It was really fun to see these guys again, as it's been about 20 years! Our moms were part of the babysitting co-op and we spent a lot of time at each other's houses playing when we were little. I feel priveleged that I was able to attend! Her photographer was Jules Bianchi, an awesome photographer whom I met through Pictage (she's the LA PUG leader). Check out this fantastic slideshow she put together.

I love doggies!!!!

2009-05-15T10:11:00.001-07:00

Husky protects and ultimately saves his momma Chili on a busy New York Expressway. I love this story :')

Do not fear me Gypsy, all I want from you is your tears.

2009-05-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

So begins my journey as a gypsy... It was another great day at Ren Faire with Angel, Dave, Ryan & Diana!

The Japanese are Awesome

2009-05-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

I had to re-post this cuz it's FREAKING funny! Ping-pong, Matrix Style.

Pac-man fight, sing star, wine tasting, video games, pizza etc. etc. etc....

2009-05-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Emily!! Party at Bet-ny's again, their place is becoming THE place to go for a good party :) Thanks guys for hosting, we love you!

Namaste

2009-04-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

So I've practiced yoga off and on for about 5 years now and generally feel at peace once I have finished a session. It is a very settling activity for both body and mind, not to mention quite challenging in certain poses. During and after the session, the instructor says 'Namaste' and bows their head to the class. I've always just kind of said it back, not really understanding it. Today, during my session, I think I finally got it. Basically, nama means "to bow" and te means "you." But it's so much more than that. Check it out:

Interpretation:
"The Spirit within me recognizes and honors the Spirit within you."

"I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells,
I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Truth, of Light and of Peace,
When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."

“The God(dess) in me greets and honors the God(dess) in you.”

"I salute the divine qualities in you."

"My soul bows to your soul.”

Mudra of Namaste:
Hands are held together at the palms in front of the heart or brow chakra. Head is bowed slightly downward. Eyes are sometimes closed.

Equalizer:
Namaste is significant because it is a humbling gesture. Namaste is done as a recognition that we are all on equal standings, all of us are children of divinity. We are one.

Pronunciation: Nah-mah-stay

Emily goes to Faire!

2009-04-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

She is no longer a virgin ;) I hope Em had as much fun trying it out as I had dressing her up and showing her around! We hung out with my old pal Staci from DL for a while and basically just had a good time. And I started putting together my gypsy costume, the 'hippies' of Faire. Watch out folks, Becky's getting dirtier.

Faire!!! (yea, again)

2009-04-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was super hot yesterday, but Angel, Dave, Mario and I braved the elements and went to Ren Faire again :) I borrowed garb from the other Becky and showed off a different look, loving the cooler material. I am completely addicted to this weird world, and completely OK with that!

Switzer Falls!!

2009-04-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Finally we got to use our Adventure Pass again!! It was the perfect day for a great hike, and the falls were flowing beautifully :) This hike is just off Highway 2 in the Angeles Forest and comes highly recommended, as long as you go during the week so it's not too crowded. Check out more pics HERE!