Yesterday was something else, but I'll get to that shit later. Right now, I'm gonna recap the last two weeks so far.
About two Saturdays ago, I went with my uncle and his family to Fullerton to help him cover a wedding that was taking place at the Howard Johnson Hotel next to the 91 Freeway. At that point, I was just at a wedding for my homies Eric and Jessica's ceremony a few weeks prior to that. I went as a guest instead of a hired wedding photographer, even though I did take a few photos that day. Yet, its been a damn while since I helped out my uncle in his photography business. He was originally going to rent a mini van since his Xterra that we'd always roll in got crushed last year, but there wasn't any available at the car rental places in his area in the Antelope Valley, so we all managed in his wife's Toyota Yaris on the way there.
When we got there, I got kinda disappointed at the scene where the ceremony was taking place outside the hotel. They held it at a small ass patio right next to the swimming pool, which was occupied of kids swimming and some couples making out on the poolside. It was even hard to move around and to try to get some decent photos since it was a small space. Honestly, they could've held the event inside the banquet hall where the reception was about to take place. After the ceremony was the worst part. All the invited guests was getting in the way taking photos of the wedding party with their mobile devices and iPads. Also, we didn't even get to take personal photos of the bride and groom by themselves together. Same thing happened at the reception. Everyone was going nuts trying to get a snapshot of the Newlyweds and part that pissed me off the most was that they were CHARGING FOR DRINKS! What the fuck?! Even for a bottle of water was like 2 or 3 bucks.
I wouldn't call this the worst wedding I've worked at, cause I've seen worse managed ceremonies in the past. I got 80 bucks for it, but I didn't give a fuck. Wasn't really to amused of it even if I was a guest instead.
The next day I went to this place about 5 to 10 minutes from my house called The Vaping Section. Its a vendor shop where they sell vapors, which is tobacco-free Electronic cigarettes that's becoming popular so far this year. Inside, they have a lounge with a mounted flat screen TV where you can chill and "vape" as they say. They held a grand opening and I went there to not to vape and not only cover it, but to finally get to meet Filipina import model Christine Mendoza, who was gonna make an appearance there along with a another model. The Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce was also there to do a ribbon cutting ceremony for The Vaping Section so that it can be "official". I met another photographer there and most of the staff that works there and they'll all young twenty-somethings who look like very close siblings, but they're all chill nice as hell. However, when Christine showed up....
WOW, JUST..... FUCKING DAMN!
I met alot of models in the past few years, but Christine was on another level. Her looks in body in person is fantastic, but her personality and voice is even WAY MORE FANTASTIC. I admit, she's an Angel. The comments she writes on her instagram photos are legit and on point all the time. This was similar to when I met Justene Jaro at my first trip to Primitive three years back, but the only difference between the two events was that I didn't know that Justene was gonna be at Primitive since I only went to see Paul Rodriguez, but I knew that Christine was gonna be there. Damn, she was nice and sweet. I took as many photos as I can of her, which I think every photographer would want to do of course. That was a tight moment right there. Thanks again to Christine Mendoza, The Vaping Section staff, the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce and photographer Ezekiel Choi for being cool on that day. Here's a photo of my and the sexy Christine Mendoza taken by Ezekiel Choi. I was wearing Primitive Apparel's "Exhale" t-shirt with her on it.
Later on that week, it was mostly working the night shifts, getting pulled over for the first time in 4 years for not making a complete stop and also watching the WorldWide Developers Conference that Apple actually livestreamed for once. Out of all the past WWDC conferences I've seen, this one was quite decent above average. The company is naming their next operating system of OS X after California landmarks instead of the "Big Cats" that they've been doing for the past 11 years, with its next release called "OS X Mavericks". They showed off some new features but I won't get into that until it drops. Then they showed a quick teaser of the new updated and upcoming Mac Pro. That shit is little, way shorter than the current Mac Pro tower. Finally, they got to the new iOS 7 update for the iPhones and iPad (as well as the iPod touch) and this motherfucker got some plastic surgery done. The interface looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, kinda like a preschooler's Samsung play tablet or something soft. Might as well have to get used to the new look on my phone once the updates comes in the fall. Hell, iOS 7 even features Siri has an option to speak in a dude's voice. Weird.
Then on the following Sunday, I had to go to my ex-boss's studio in the Burbank Town Center to help take some Father's day family portraits. The last time I was there was back in October of last year. It was steady throughout the day. We had about 10 families that came in to get their photos taken. Got 100 bucks for that day, so it was no big deal. Its fucking crazy how just exactly a year ago I got hired and started to work at my ex-boss's former kiosk at the Topanga mall, which only lasted until Labor day that fall. After that, he calls me occasionally as a back up, but not all the time. I went to the Hooters across the street after work for dinner, but the place was full and the waitresses and servers are fine, unlike the staff at the one in Hollywood that I wet to in the past. But what fucked up the mood of Hooters nowadays, especially when I went to that Burbank location on that day, was that there were several families there. I know its because of Fathers Day, but not to be offensive, people taking their grandmothers and kids there doesn't make sense. That's just me. After a 2 minutes waiting, I dipped and went to the In-N-Out across the street, and that place was also full. Then I looked at the Baja Fresh right behind there. Its been forever since I ate there, so I walked over there and that place was empty with a few people. There was a family there feasting and one of their kids was shouting offensive comments to a group of foreign women that walked in and the family got the fuck out of Baja Fresh with embarrassment after the women looked at them. That was fucked up, especially on Father's Day.
I'm not a fan of holidays. I mean, I'm cool with my pops and all, but I don't know. Whenever I think of Father's Day, immediately, I start imaging people who never had a father in their lives, or those who've had fathers that walk out later in their lives, or those who's pops have that deadbeat asshole stereotype personality. I guess that's why they let school out before Father's day so that they wouldn't recognize it in the classrooms like they do with Mother's Day in May, cause at least there's 1 or 2 kids in a classroom who don't always see their pops. Or maybe I'm wrong on that estimate. I think everyday should be Mothers Day and Fathers Day, without the Hallmark business bullshit. When I got home that Sunday night, my pops and I had some little dispute, but it wasn't heated or serious. I didn't even get a chance to say Happy Father's Day to him on that day. Its just another day. Again, that's just me. However, I appreciate the real Fathers out there working and grinding their asses off everyday for their families, for reals. I care about my parents and all, and I thank them for everything and I keep them in my mind every second, but I just fucking hate holidays.
Now on to yesterday.
I started out by driving around the West San Fernando Valley. I picked up my first customers from the Macy's at the Topanga Mall and as I got there, Volkswagen was holding a test drive event at the parking lot there. Its been a year since I last did one of those, with the Cadillac XTS at The Grove back last June. After I took care of my customers, I came back at check out the VDubs that they had to try out. I haven't driven a Volkswagen in a while, so it never hurts to experience something different. I first drove the 2013 Volkswagen GTI. I wanted to record the startup of the GTI through Instagram's new video capturing feature that was just released on that day, but that shit confused me for a bit, so I just recorded the startup on my iPhone's regular video camera. The car is very sporty and quick. Makes me feel like I wasn't driving a Volkswagen at all. They made me go around the Topanga mall,, so it pretty much lasted about less than 4 minutes. I also tried out the new Volkswagen Passat mid-size and went the same route. At the end, they gave me a American Express gift card as a small reward and I went inside the mall to cop some stuff for a while. I even checked out the new American Apparel they had inside, and that place is smaller than the other ones I've been to. I used to wear a grip of American Apparel t-shirts back in 2008 when it was cool at the time. I wanna check out their factory in downtown Los Angeles one of these days since I go past it every now and then.
Later that night, I went to the DLT's to watch game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. There were a lot of close games through out the series, but in this particular game, the scoring difference was tighter than some bloke's ex-girlfriend in Apple Bottom jeans. It was really addicting. Got me hooked and focus throughout the whole time. I knew Miami was gonna win the finals, but that game looked like they weren't since the Spurs were balling out of control in the American Airlines Arena that night.
At the end the Heat won their second straight title and alot of pissed off fools on Twitter were going angry and upset over Miami's win. Again, I wasn't surprised of the Heat's win and now that 30 something win streak will make the season much more relevant, but regardless, out of all the finals I've seen, including the Lakers finals, this series was what world championship games are supposed to be displayed. I actually enjoyed it for once. Hell, there's even a film coming out next week called The Heat starring Sandra Bullock ad Melissa McCarthy, which has nothing to do with the team. Even those who don't give a fuck about both teams seemed to enjoyed the basketball athleticism throughout the finals. Thanks again to the De La Torre family for inviting me again and thanks to Marlene for the Barbecued Ribs that night.
Finally, as I was watching the NBA Finals post-press conferences, I learned while browsing through my phone that Kim's newborn is named North West. FOR REALS?! NORTH WEST?! No offense, but what kind of hipster-ass Illuminati type name is North West? Seriously, North West? I don't even.... North West though? At least the media is having a good time with this just like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the rest of their teammates celebrating and clubbing the previous night after the game. That family is gonna be relevant for the next 18 to 21 years.
Instagram For Video shitting on Vine, Miami Heat's repeat, spending 50 bucks on two pairs of shorts at American Eagle Outfitters, getting paid to drive German vehicles, and North West. One of the strangest and unusual Thursdays I've experienced, all on the official first day of Summer. Thanks for your time reading this. Stay cool this summer.
