Weekly Round-Up

Has a whole week (+ one day) actually gone by since my last Weekly Round-Up post? I can't believe it. I also can't believe it's only 11 months until Christmas. Didn't we just have Christmas? Sheesh.

Last week in my very first WR-U post I said "...And that made me think it might be fun/useful/possibly entertaining if I dedicated one day a week to shed some light on what I'm doing and what's really going on inside my head." That could be a problem, 'cause I'm beginning to think there's not much going on in my head. My first clue? I can't remember what I did this week.

Let me think...Monday was a holiday but I worked. On something. I'm sure it was important. Maybe some graphics? Oh, I was trying to figure out how to update the menu bar on my website. I want to add a "services" section to pimp all the different things I do to earn a living. Photography, graphics, writing, producing...that sort of stuff. I was hoping I could handle it myself but I can't remember how to do the CSS (I think that's what it's called). :(

Tuesday was inauguration day. I watched that for most of the day...while I worked...on something. I think this is a sign that I need to make daily to-do lists and calendar everything I do. Otherwise I am going to believe that I sit at my desk only to be abducted by aliens for 8 hours a day. I celebrated Barack's first day as President Obama with a free dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse (yes, I always remember the food)...

This does not look nearly as good as it tasted. And it wasn't exactly free...it came with a snake oil salesman shilling a you-can't-possibly-lose-on-this investment opportunity. Evenso, it was worth it. The food, not the investment.

Wednesday...what happened to Wednesday? I think I did an ad. Or was that Thursday? That reminds me. I went to my neighborhood library this week. There was a woman sitting on the bench just outside the entrance with what appeared to be a baby in her arms. She was feeding it applesauce. And talking to it.

I was yakking on my cell so I stopped outside the entrance to finish the call. That's when I took a second look at the woman on the bench. There were a couple of teddy bears seated on either side of her and three individual open applesauces. And the baby in her arms wasn't a baby. It was another teddy bear. And she was talking to all of her bears. And feeding them. Showing them the love that only a mother can give. My first thought was 'how sad.' But my second thought was 'she looks really happy.' Taking care of her family. A simple life...

Thursday I was working on a TV pitch...have I mentioned the pitch before?...I still can't talk about it. I can say that the Italian made lunch on Thursday after making an incredible dinner on Wednesday. This time I took a picture of the meal...

I am now in love with the mozzarella cheese that comes in little balls. There's two of them near the bottom of the plate. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Friday I worked on the pitch some more and then on a graphics job for the Berlin Film Festival, along with some other stuff to be determined.

This morning I got up really early - 7:30am early - to drive to Palm Desert for a weekend visit with my sister, brother-in-law and niece, Kristy. They're here from Canada for a horse show. I took a bunch of pictures of Kristy jumping her two horses and some of the other riders. I forgot to bring the cable for my camera so luckily I can't post them...I say luckily because they show my total lack of prowess in timing horses going over jumps. Turns out riding them is much easier than shooting them. I have one more day to get it right. And I will.

It was cold and rainy when I left LA. And about 40 miles west of my final destination it looked like this...
I was really glad I brought long-sleeved shirts...until I got to the show grounds and began sweating like a stuck pig. After Kristy's class (she placed 2nd and 3rd!) we went to a Mexican canteena for lunch. This was the table after we were done...

And Larry fixing up the tip...

Love that picture.

And Kristy...
Just know that the key to being a great photographer is having the ability to reach inside the subject's soul. Mission accomplished.

Back at the barn and on the phone with her friend Josh back home in Canada...

She's been on the phone at least half the time I've been here. I can't wait 'til her parents get this month's cell phone bill.

After the show I took Kristy to Foster's Freeze...

Yes, I ate the whole thing and it was scrump-dili-icious.

And then there was the religious experience on the way to the condo...

...maybe because we are staying in the PGA West residences where they are holding the Bob Hope Classic this weekend.

Our gated entrance...

And this guy is staying in the condo above us...

This is Chez Reavie. He's a pro golfer on the PGA tour. I'm guessing he endorses Titleist. He's 27 years old. Last year he earned over 1.4 million dollars in prize money.

Sheesh.

So, what am I doing?

Obviously not enough.

And what's going on in my head?

If you can figure it out, please...please...let me know. Consider this my cry for help.

This post began with steak and it shall end with steak...

Yup, tonight's free meal. This time without the spiel.