11-25, Broncos vs Steelers

Last week really was a crazy Broncos week for us.  In talking to Dee during his visit, he told me about an Instagram contest he was hosting.  The winner would receive four tickets to the Broncos/Steelers game.  As you can imagine, Sven and Nik's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and then Dee said the tickets were in the BRONCOS Friends and Family section.  LOL.....then MY eyes lit up!  Fast forward a week..... and I WON the contest!!  (The contest was for the best retouch of an image taken by Dee and judged by a panel of 4 judges- not including Dee so there wouldn't be any bias.)  The below screenshot is Dee's photo with my retouching announcing that I won the tickets.  Woohoo!!  Next concern: are Sven and Nik physically able to contain themselves at a Steelers (I mean Broncos) game and not cheer for the home team's opponent?!  Yeah, I had some major concerns here, too.  Obviously, it was very important to Dee that whoever won the contest conduct themselves accordingly and respect the team and location of the seats.  

The BIGGEST Broncos fan is ready for the game!

I'd always wondered about the 'Broncos bus' that picks up fans at the stop at the entrance of our neighborhood on game day.  (Normally, a commuter bus but on game days a fan bus.) Everyone is always decked out in their jerseys and Broncos paraphernalia- quite an orange sight. I always pictured the riders cheering and chanting all the way to the game.  I guess that was just a figment of my imagination, lol.  This is what it was really like. Riding the bus was SO much better than driving and dealing with game day traffic.  AND, it was a fraction of the cost of parking and it dropped us off right next to the stadium.  Score!

The closest thing Sven could get to wearing his Black and Gold.  Yet, he's still wearing a smile.  A hesitant smile, but a smile nonetheless.  He's not the only one with a hesitant smile, I'm still not convinced he can be a 'big boy' and conceal his inner Steeler for this game.

We're pretty sure that the person we asked to take this photo of us is a girlfriend of one of the players.

Look at where we sat!  How often are there more people ABOVE you at a game?! 

The Broncos players entering the field.

So what are these guys doing in the Broncos Friends and Family section?! 

Yep, like adding fuel to the fire of Sven's Terrible Towel addiction.....

Baby Girl is happy as ever.

I never imagined that we'd be so close to the field that the cameramen would obstruct our view.

LOL..... I took these with my PHONE.  I'm still amazed at how close we were to the field.

You all know I'm pretty 'football dumb'.  I get lost in the games because I never know where the ball is (embarrassingly true).  Look!  It's right there, and I can see it with my naked eyes!

The infectious roar of the crowd and energy of the players was awesome!

Sorry, Sven, Nik and all other Steelers fans.  Broncos won this one 24-17.  What a great game!  (And, yes, that's coming from ME! =).....)

11-20, A Visit from a Bronco!

It feels like a lot has transpired in the last week.  Two weeks ago, I reached out to a photographer here in Parker who was highlighted in a local magazine spotlighting the charity foundation he began in honor of his daughter (she passed away in July 2017 at 24 years of age).  The mission of his organization is to capture quality photos for families with terminally ill children.  (He discovered how few non-phone photos he had of his daughter after she passed. You can learn more about the organization at www.throughthelens.org.) I strongly believe in donating my skills for higher purposes and have teamed up with Johnnie to help build this organization.  

After meeting Johnnie for a lengthy, introductory coffee, I invited Johnnie to my studio to teach him about studio lighting.  He asked if he could bring another photographer and attached this photo to the message:

WOW, right?!  Meet Deiontrez Mount, Broncos Linebacker #53.  He has agreed to be the Life Through The Lens ambassador.  He also happens to be an avid photographer who wants to learn studio lighting as well.  So, there you have it.  That's the story of how this craziness came to be, and how we had a Bronco visit our family!  Johnnie, Dee and his girlfriend ended up hanging out for over 3 hours in my studio.  (Wouldn't you know that's the first time the kids have ever hung out in the studio that long?!).  Sven couldn't believe his eyes when he came home from work that evening to the impromptu photo party we were having and who the guest of honor was.  And the best part?  Dee is a SUPER nice person (and so is his girlfriend)!  This will be a memory that won't be soon forgotten!

You know..... just playing ball with a Bronco!

I've never seen Nik so happy to share his bag of chips.  Lol.

Dee signing Em's Broncos helmet and football.

Dee's Instagram story.....

Ha!  And MY Instagram story.

Johnnie Medina, founder of Life Through The Lens.  I normally don't show arms and hands in my headshots, but this inclusion has special meaning.  Makayla was wearing the braided bracelet when she died and Johnnie requested it be in the photo.

Deiontrez Mount, Broncos Linebacker and Life Through The Lens Ambassador

His super cute and friendly girlfriend. =)

We were so psyched that night like "did that REALLY just happen?!"  What a great, great experience!

10-12, SanFran Day 6

I have a Headshot Crew friend that I met at Headshot Mania who lives in Oakland.  He's spent the last year becoming the zoo photographer and a certified docent.  Our 'maybe we'll come see you at the zoo' theory became a reality on our last day of vacation.  He suggested we plan our visit to the zoo for Friday as that significantly increased our odds of seeing multiple lions due to the rotation of the animals.  He wanted to make sure Emalie got to see her favorite animal.  It was another gorgeous day.  We were there just before the zoo opened at 10am, and we left the grounds after closing at 4pm.  It was the most fun and pleasant zoo visit we've ever had anywhere.  Steven gave us a personal tour of the zoo;  he really knew his facts and shared lots of interesting information about the animal behaviors (as well as most of their names!).  It was the perfect ending to a nearly perfect vacation.  

Our family with Steven

Steven was right- Em got to see THREE lions!

The Oakland Zoo sits atop a hill with panoramic views of the Bay area.

Who knew a bear climbed trees like this?! Steven has some amazing photos he's taken of this scene  with mama bear up the tree and her babies lingering on branches below.

This poor guy is a two-time widower.  The marks on his face appear to reveal his sadness, but you can see it in his behavior as well.

A train ride for everyone.

Steven spoiled the family and Emalie this visit.  Even tickets to ride the amusement rides before leaving the zoo.  Look at that happy girl!

A perfect day was topped with a perfect afternoon ferry ride back to San Francisco.  This entire trip I was enthralled with the water and how much I miss it.  It was fun to reminisce about days gone by, but it also highlighted how much I miss the living by the ocean.  If we ever leave Denver, I can promise you it won't be for another landlocked place!!

Waiting for the ferry.

The gantry cranes at the Port of Oakland.  I haven't laid eyes on this place since I was 20!

The President Roosevelt.  When I was a deck cadet, I sailed on the President Harrison and the President Eisenhower.  Seeing this scene was like looking through a window of time.

A beautiful scene indeed.

Well, that's it!  That sums up our fall vacation to San Francisco.  What a great vacation to a beautiful city.  I'm definitely looking forward to another visit in the future!

10-11, SanFran Day 5

We spent a good deal of time on our second to the last day in Chinatown.  Instead of it being a passthrough experience or mealtime destination, we (as in Emalie and I, lol) chose to spend a few hours strolling the streets and shops.  Chinatowns are always my favorites, no matter which city they are located.  Here are some scenes from our day.

I thought this only existed in the movie BIG!

A souvenoir for Shihan as he's always asking the kids if they know who Bruce Lee is.

Bruce Lee could be found on practically every street corner.

What a delicious lunch this was.  I think we were the only non-locals in there.  (That's how you know you've found the right place!)

Playing cards in the park.  This scene truly reminded us of our experiences in China.

He doesn't quite play on playgrounds like he used to.  While Em was busy monkeying it up on the monkey bars, Nik entertained himself with his phone (and what teenager doesn't?).

There's Bruce Lee again... and a little girl who is missing her karate!

Another colorful Chinatown mural.

A brother and sister duo from England asked if I could take their photo.  I did and asked if she could return the favor.  I had to (sadly) laugh when I saw that our memory incorporates a Ryder truck.