theothegrey

I found a lizard in the front yard. I adjusted it on Adobe’s Lightroom Beta. If you’re on a Mac, give it a try. I’ve been using it for some time and I really like it.

I know it doesn’t look like it, but I took this photo in the blazing hot Texas sun. I turned down the brightness, and cranked up the saturation and contrast. What do you think of the shot? I really like it, but do you think it looks too processed or unnatural?

I dedicate these to my brother, Dennis, who introduced our family to the fine world of lizards. He had a pet monitor when we were growing up.

The portrait project continues. I’m expanding my range beyond kids.

We sat next to Dave and Julie at a wedding a couple of weeks ago. (I’m in three weddings this month! It’s been a bit busy.) I really like black and white portraits. I’m a complete novice at it. Those in the know talk about particular film types and their look and feel. I’ve got a lot to learn in this area.

We had dinner with Victor and Grace a few weeks ago. I was trying to take their pic while Caleb sat on a giant baseball. With my 50mm I just couldn’t squeeze it all in the frame. I’ve been thinking a lot about buying a used wide angle lens, the Nikon 24mm f/2.8 to be precise.

How much laundry can two girls create? Barf, spills, food, pens, crayons, paints…the laundry is endless.

Someone left Easter lilies in my office after the worship service.

I was tagged by my friend silkmandarin, so here’s my list. The answers are not in any particular order.

Four jobs I had in my life.
1. Accounting assistant at a hospital (bored to tears..and sometimes to sleep)
2. Data entry for a Honda dealership (saw the inner workings of dealing cars) and an air ticket consolidator (it’s nice to have family connections)
3. Tutoring Math, English, and History (side job while I was in seminary)
4. Youth Pastor (people still think I’m a youth pastor)

Four movies I would love to watch over and over.
1. The Matrix Trilogy
2. Star Wars (episodes 4, 5, & 6)
3. The Karate Kid
4. Predator (my brother and I have watched this countless times)

Four places I have lived.
1. West Los Angeles
2. Berkeley
3. San Diego
4. Houston

Four TV shows I like to watch.
1. 24
2. HGTV, especiall Design to Sell (we’re getting ready to move soon)
3. Smallville (I don’t know why I still watch this show…)
4. blank… I don’t watch as much as before.

Four Places I have been on vacation.
1. HK/China
2. Hawaii - Oahu, Maui, Kaui, Big Island
3. Europe - London trip, Austria/Germany roadtrip, Greece/Turkey/Italy/Spain/France trip
4. Multiple Caribbean trips
(My mom was a travel agent.)

Four websites I visit often.
1. Photo sites: flickr.com, photo.net, and many more
2. Amazon.com
3. I use pulp fiction to keep track of blogs.
4. Dealmac.com

Four of my favorite foods.
1. Yellowtail sushi and Spider rolls
2. Ice Cream - most flavors
3. Steak
4. Green Tea - I’m hooked on this stuff right now.

Four places I would rather be.
1. Learning to surf in Hawaii.
2. Watching a sunrise in HuangShan, China.
3. Exploring biblical sites in Israel.
4. Eating sushi in West LA.

Name four people who haven’t been tagged that would likely respond.
1. All my non-blogging friends and family. You can respond in my comment section if you’d like. If you want a shortcut, just answer the last one on “four places I’d rather be.”
2. Non-xanga bloggers. This list is getting popular over xanga, so it’s time to share. If you’re on blogger, livejournal, blogsome, or something else…you’re tagged.

This is the view I grew up with in California.

A few weeks ago, my parents came out to Houston. One night we went out to Fogo De Chao. Wow, what a restaurant! Amy said I was “giddy” from all the meat.

I was about to take a picture of Amy when one of the waiters interrupted. I was a bit annoyed by the intrusion, but then I looked at the result. Hilarious! Does anyone want to venture a title or caption?

Emi told me recently she doesn’t like going to church. I had a feeling I knew what her problem was.

“Are there too many people at church?”
“Yeah…”

Emi is very social and outgoing and she loves hanging out with people, young and old(er). But church on Sunday’s is tough on her. The main difficulty is when too many people have said “hello.” When that happens to her too many times, she just buries her face in my shirt. She’s an extrovert but she’s got limits.

When I first started ministry at our church I was bombarded by relationships. I remember one Sunday afternoon years ago. I had been talking to so many people and I had been asked so many things that I started shutting down. A friend came up to me and started asking a few more things and sharing about some struggle, but I had reached my limit. All I could see was her mouth moving. but I couldn’t hear a thing. And then I started feeling my lunch coming back for a second visit. I had to excuse myself and find a place to be alone.

That doesn’t happen to me anymore. I love hanging out on Sundays and talking with people. But I know what Emi is going through. Don’t take it personally if she hides from you on Sunday. She just needs a bit of space.

I’d love to hear how any of you might deal with people overload.

Mia hasn’t had to face this yet. I wonder how she’ll deal with it.