Haunt

Last Thursday I paid a visit to Haunt at Knott's Scary Farm. I love going to these types of events during Halloween times. It's like riding a constant roller coaster walking around the park. You'll be strolling along and all of a sudden a monster jumps out of the shadows to scare you and your adrenaline shoots up. Then, you commence walking and your adrenaline levels out. But, another dark corner comes around and there is monster posed to scare the crap out of you. Wheee! It's all very scary, but it's fun because it's safe.

Of course, I don't get scared. No, not me. :D It helps to bring a camera because all these lovely monsters stop scaring you to pose. They love to pose. And, why not? Their daily masks are off and their true beauty is revealed. On Halloween everyones masks come off.

If you go this year, check out the Lockdown maze. This photo I took of model Missy Spencer is up in the last cell to the right in the first room.

Here are a few of my faves. I want to go back again already. There just wasn't enough time to do all the mazes and see all the monsters. Please to enjoy!

If you'd like to see more, click on the slideshow below.

Thanks for checking out my blog.  Hope everyone is having a spookedy October!

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First loves

16 years ago I shot these two kids in love in a park somewhere in the San Fernando Valley.  16 years later these two kids are still in love and are celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary today!

Happy Anniversary Shannon and Jose!

Thank you for always being there for me.  Thank you for always welcoming me to your lovely home and cooking the best tacos ever.  Thank you for having the 2 sweetest girls, Maya and Morgan, to play Beatles Rock Band with.  Thanks for being one of my earlier guinea pigs models for when my passion for photography first started. I love you guys.

I shot the photo above with my old Ricoh KR-10 35mm SLR film camera.  I even developed the roll myself and made prints in the darkroom.  Aaaaahhh.  The good old days.  This was my first legit camera and I still use her to this day.

Cheers to first loves and everlasting relationships!

Cancer and Santa Cruz

This trip to Santa Cruz was never meant to be fun.  At least, that's what I felt at first.  We were going to a place where we normally go when it's funtime.  Christmas, New Years...but, this time we were going there because my husband's mother, my lovely mother-in-law had CANCER and was having surgery.  Gods, I hate that word.  CANCER.  Cancer was becoming synonymous with Santa Cruz and I hated this thing called CANCER more than ever.  My husband and I wanted to provide support and just be with her for a few days while she healed.

When we reached the hospital surrounded by mountains and trees in Silicon Valley I breathed a little bit.  The hospital was top of the line. It was pretty. It had robots. It had art.  It had free coffee.But, the moment I really knew everything was going to be okay was when I saw Janus right before the surgery.  She was in her hospital gown with an IV in her arm and a smile on her face.  She wasn't going to let her situation get her down.  She had more important things to worry about.  Turns out I needed her more than she needed me.

WEDNESDAY

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THURSDAY

The day after her surgery she wanted to go on a walk.  We walked along West Cliff.  She took us to some tide pools.  She stood on the edge of a rock and laughed.

Bonfire to celebrate the Harvest Moon

All her friends were surprised to see her already out and about.

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FRIDAY

Took some time out to break bread with some other loved ones in the area

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SATURDAY

Since Janus was doing really well, we did fun things.

5 photos stitched

*Pano*

Janus Laughingbear Blume

This is her, 3 days after her hysterectomy (or womboval, as I prefer), looking and feeling fabulous on her way out to celebrate life with friends.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."  

-Winston Churchill

All photos taken with an iPhone 3GS.  Used the Hipstamatic app except for one photo I used the Pano app.  Added text and made collages through Picnik.com.