The Bay and Baseball

We spent a weekend in San Francisco for fathers day, to celebrate my dad. His two favorite teams (Yankees and Rockies) were in town playing the Athletics and Giants, so we did something rare, and ventured north to see the two games. Now, I did make a stipulation for the trip and said we had to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum before Saturday's game in Oakland. Not that it was much of a stipulation, because the entire family loves Disney and the amazing history behind it. But, here's some of the shots from the weekend! 

She's an angels fan, but still supports the pinstripes! 

Presidio has some beautiful buildings. 

The temporary Mary Blair exhibit is nothing short of amazing. 

Girly hard hat is girly. 

I didn't realize just *how* much Walt loved Mary's work. He's been on record numerous times saying she was his favorite. For good reason, too!

Now for the Walt part of the museum!

The type of truck Walt drove when he was in the army (remember, he faked his age to do this. How 'bout it for patriotism, right?)

Walts' grandad's violin. They really did their homework with finding and collecting all of this material. 

This was ingenious. The instruments on the table were synced up to the video on the screen, and guests could try to sync up the music with the short film, just like how they did it back in the day. I can attest, this is the hardest thing to do. It really is an amazing thing to see how hard they worked to sync the sound with the short films. 

Multiplane camera. Definitely a highlight to see such a brilliant piece of film technology. 

Hannah really soaked in a lot of the audio pieces around the museum. Families, this is actually a fairly kid-friendly museum. It's not just all history and facts. There's a good element of fun for the young ones. 

Touch screen with short clips about the films Walt worked on. 

There's also a beautiful view of the bay and the bridge, too. 

And the model of Disneyland with all of Walt's ideas. I loved that they didn't just have a model of Disneyland, but an idealized concept of the ideas he had, and some that either look different than today, or just aren't there because they never made it to conception in the park. 

Why can't Autopia cars look this cool today? 

Audio-animatronic body. 

This room. The last one in the museum. Most of the time you don't hear much of Disney talking about Walt's death. It's a hushed topic that he was a smoker, and died because of it. But the museum is wide open about it at the end. There's audio from the Sherman Brothers, Marty Sklar, X Atencio, and more, that speak of where they were when they heard that their beloved leader had passed. It's sad, but somehow at the same time, beautiful and poetic. 

Another shot of the multiplane camera from inside the gift shop. 

And now onto  the rest of the weekend...

Lunchtime at the Wharf. 

What up, Paul Blart(s)?

Game one! 

Not sure if anyone watched the game on TV, but these stadium lights went out in left field for just about thirty minutes and they delayed the game because it would 'hinder their ability to see the ball'. C'mon, you get paid millions of dollars to play baseball, and you can't see the ball in left field when it's hit because a few dozen lights are out? Go back to the sandlot, boys and see how it is to play with only streetlights!

Dad with his oldest and youngest. 

The captain! 

Work it, Jeter! 

Game two! 

I think they're a fan...

Met up with the Paulus family too! Good friends from the central coast. 

Dad and I decided to walk around and check out the stadium. AT&T Park is really one of the coolest stadiums on the west coast. Great atmosphere, cool location, and good ballpark food. The Coliseum on the other hand...well, there's a reason there isn't more photos of it from the trip. It's a concrete pit. That's all I've got to say about that. 

Family photo! 

Me and Nan <3

Since it was fathers' day weekend, we were able to walk the field, and dads with kids 14 and under could run the bases! So dad and Hannah jumped on the opportunity! 

On the field!

And she's off! 

Dad soaking in the views from ground-level. 

 Hailey and I drove up a day after my parents and sisters got there, so on the way back, we drove over the bridge and into Emeryville to see the famous studio...

I wish we could have gone inside and checked it out, but soon enough, I'll be able to go in for work! 

All in all, it was a great, fast paced and fun weekend. We don't get up North a lot, but when we do, it's a lot of fun. Can't wait to go back! 

What Are You Looking At?

I think once a week I'm going to post a photo I've shot. Really for no other reason than to just keep me focused on my writing and photography.

Disney's always a favorite subject of mine to shoot, especially in the parks. There's so many different things I can do to shoot in the parks and never get the same shot. Yes, there's hundreds of 'Disney Photographers', and I guess I'm one of them, but I don't try to get 'The Castle Shot', or any of those typical angles most people are shooting. When I shoot in the park, I try to find things others don't. See what only I see and do my best to capture it. By no means am I good. I'm an amateur, at best. This is only for the fun of it, and to learn how to be better by pure practice. These shots are what I think are cool, and for all we know, everyone could hate it. That's fine by me, because if it's disliked, and people explain how they think I could do something better, that just means there's more practice and more room to grow better as a photographer.

So, with all this said, this is a shot I took some years back. It was a trip to the parks on a whim with my family, and my sister and I were rushing into the parks to catch the fireworks after a dinner at Rainforest Cafe. We were halfway up Main Street when we found a somewhat empty spot in the crowd to stand. As the show started, I started to shoot. A lot of them came out blurry, over exposed, under exposed, and just generally terrible. But then during the 'Remember, Dreams Come True' section of the Haunted Mansion, they shoot fireworks all around the Hub of Main Street, imitating the  stretching room. I was able to get the light of the fireworks, without getting them in the shoot, giving off a rather apocalyptic look inside an otherwise magical place.

Bachelor Trip

Most of the time, bachelor trips are not things that need to be, or should be documented. Strip Clubs, loads of booze, etc. But, I'm not like most guys and none of that stuff happened on my trip. I like having fun, but I can at least remember my bachelor trip, and thanks to my great friend Preston, we got a lot of our day on video! 

Disneyland

Contents of new page. 

The Past, Present, and Future Journeys

Mother's Day was yesterday. It's the first year Hailey and I are out on our own. It's interesting, but a lot of fun. This whole thing, about growing up, and learning more about yourself and your significant other is unbelievably wonderful. I love it. It's one of the greatest challenges I've had. Yet, I've really been thinking back about some things, specifically this week, about my family. Family is important. It's important to invest in their lives. Not just doing the basic work that makes your family keep going. No. Not that. Investing in their lives where you're able to pick up their mood immediately as they walk into the room. Going to surprise them with a little gift you know they'll like, just because you love them. Investing where you know what to order for them at restaurants if they aren't there, and be right the first time. I've come from a family where all of this has happened. Where we've done family trips all over the country, because we all love exploring. Where we may fight, but the fights don't last too long, and we're stronger after it, and don't make the same mistake twice. After all, it was my dad who said as I was growing up: "Measure twice, cut once".

I want to take a moment to write this out. I don't care how many people read this. I'm doing this for me, because I love writing, and I love sharing what I write, even if it's with a small audience. My family is important to me. So I want to write out my thoughts on each member.

First: My Hailey

This is the girl that stole my heart. She's smart. In year of college, she did two. She works two jobs, and has this work ethic of getting things done faster than you can ever imagine. Did I mention she's beautiful? With eyes that you can get lost in for forever, and a smile that will make anyone's bad day instantly better, I'm a lucky man to now be waking up next to her every morning. Oh, and did I say yet about how much she cares? No? Okay, let's put it this way: The first time I ever got sick, she drove 30 minutes out to the middle of nowhere where I work, brought me a 'Thank You, Jesus' (Secret Jamba Juice Menu...get on checking that out...), and cough drops, took my temperature, and asked every day when I was going to make a doctors appointment, because I was going to just ride out the cold, and she wanted me to go to get checked out, so she bugged me until I went. Because she cared. Ah, and I haven't mentioned her sense of humor. She can get me laughing to the point of tears. I haven't laughed with anyone more than her in the time we've been together. She's everything I could ever ask for in a wife and more. 

Next....

Hannah

So much could be said for this now seven year old. I was privileged to travel to China when we adopted her. She has a cleft lip (fixed now) and cleft palate (going to be fixed). You'd never think she had it though, with her spunky personality. She's seven, and at a fourth grade reading level. She is at the top of her class and at the top level for her age at the moment for gymnastics, and she's got her first meet already this coming July. She, next to Hailey is the girl who has me completely wrapped around her finger, and I'd do anything for. Hannah has adopted my love of Disney, and every Friday on my lunch break, she asks to watch an old Mickey Mouse short, and wants me to show her old photos of 'what was at Disneyland before I was born.' Her giggle is infectious, and her desire to be the best is inspirational. She loves any princess,  and adores reading and telling everyone about her latest book she read. It's really a blessing to see how far she's come, and will go.

Now for...

Emily

This girl...this girl is awesome. She's got the biggest heart of gold. There's been so many times through my life she's done things for me just because she wanted to, and I didn't realize it was something special until much later. For instance, when we were kids, she ran into the kitchen and asked my parents for a cup of water. They gave it to her, she ran back the way she came. Seconds later, she was back, and asked for a second. They asked "what'd you do with the one we gave you?" she replied: "That wasn't for me. That was Jacob's. May I have one for me now?" Things like that throughout my life she's done. We've argued like any siblings do, but at the end of the day, this beautiful girl is my sister and I'd do anything for her. She's amazingly smart and wants to get into wedding/event planning as a career, and I can't wait to see how it works for her. She's been drawing dresses and writing up what parties would look like ever since I could remember. Oh, and she has the COOLEST taste in music. My blondie found out who the Lumineers were before they became popular. Like, she was jamming to their EP months before they won grammies. It's amazing to hear what she finds, and then hear it months later as it's playing on the radio. As my closest sibling in age, she's one of my best friends. 

Now for....

The Parents

This was originally meant to be posted over the weekend as a Mother's Day write up, but since have changed it. My parents are the best. My dad has given me the chance to grow into the man I am, and I wish I could be half the man he is. My mother has given me the chance to learn compassion and love for others. Both of them have given me the chance to see the world I live in, experience flavors and styles of all over America and China. They've given me the foundation of my passion for life and exploring the world around me. My dad has given me the love of movies and music, and understanding why artists create their work. My mother has given me the love of Disney, and shown me so many wonderful stories that she grew up on, and I got to grow up on as well. They're the reason I've become who I am, and I'm beyond thankful for that. 

Which leads me to this: I'm now the man in my own family. I lead my family. It's definitely not something to take lightly. But with that said, I want to write this out: My family is never going to be stagnate. The world we live in is small enough already, and our lives are too short not to explore it. I've been blessed to be able to see over half the US and counting, and experience life in China when we adopted my sister. My family is going to experience culture, and new food, and countless memories made on trips. I would rather have a smaller house and a cheaper car, if that meant I can give my family the experiences of a lifetime. Through all of this, I'm sincerely thankful for my parents, who inspired me to see what's outside of my backyard, and explore what's around us. I'm thankful for a wife who's willing to be able to get up and go with me, and not just stay home doing nothing. I may only be twenty-one years young, but the life ahead of me and Hailey, I intend to live exploring the world around us. Which is why I'm thankful for this blog, where I can document and share the experiences we have. 

In Sickness and In Health

This past week Hailey has been feeling a bit ill. Yesterday she really wasn't feeling it, but went over to the beach to celebrate our little sisters' 7th birthday. We were planning on staying the night, but decided to cut the trip short, and head home.

She tossed and turned, and once kicked me trying to get comfortable, but with antibiotics, and even with a tub of sunscreen on her, she still got pretty burned on her legs. Last night, I was up thinking about how marriage vows really do play into married life, whether we notice it or not.

"In Sickness and In Health"

I took her to be my wife, and with those vows that I said, I promised to be there for her when she's healthy, or when she's down and sick. It isn't too hard to do, being there for someone when they're sick. Granted, this is nothing more than a small cold and some sinus issues, but I've heard older family friends of mine talk about how they have to take care of the kids, run the errands, make dinner, go to the meeting for work, etc. and their spouse is off in their world doing what they need to do for them. I'm not saying I'm not selfish, and I'm the worlds' best guy. But I actually enjoyed taking care of her. Running to CVS to pick up some NyQuil and cough drops, and grabbing a Jamba Juice C-Booster for her.

I know we're young and married, and older couples will probably say 'just wait, life hasn't fully kicked in yet'. They're probably right to a degree. But that view is cynical. It's not that positive and it doesn't make a good impression on me when I promised her to be there for her when she's sick, and when she's healthy.

Which leads me to another thing: Why is it so hard for married people to keep their promises? After all, the promises and vows they made get broken when divorce happens because of whatever reason, right? Is working hard at a relationship that much of a struggle? Or is it that people just aren't as willing to work for it when the going gets tough? Why do people end something they loved?