Summer 2022

Where have I been and what have I been up to?

Well, a lot of everything. Lots of concerts, lots of hikes, some travel, and lots of quality time with friends and family. Let’s update you with a few photos!

Discovery Park

I’ve been going on many different hikes throughout the past year and it has been so wonderful to see more of the PNW. Along a few of these hikes, my best friend Angela was my companion. She has also been getting into hiking on her own during the last year. It’s always so nice spending time with her, and she gave me an excuse to bring my camera with on our hike in Discovery Park.

Anna Eisch

Finally truly getting back into shooting some shows - for Anna Eisch, who had just release her new EP, I Know About Emily. My good friend Maddie was shooting some video footage, and I attended and took some still photos. Anna and Maddie are also close friends and it was so nice to watch her perform at the new Café Racer!

Justin!

Justin was in town briefly and we all grabbed dinner in Ballard!

A rare photo taken on my camera by someone else of me! Love these two so much, I have known them both since high school and cherish few people the way I do them.

Lusio Lights Festival

I have been a fan and attended other Lusio Lights productions throughout the year, but have never made it to their big festival in the Summertime before. This year we went - it was held at Mary Olson Farm in Kent and it was spectacular. Quite the party - kids were running around mad, and we were all transfixed by the different art installations and projections.

Lucky Sweater Clothing Swap

My best friend Angela is a core member of the app Lucky Sweater, that helps to promote finding slow fashion clothing and facilitate trades between members. Different local swaps in person were held throughout the country and she hosted the Seattle event.

Seattle Design Festival 2022 - Block Party

I didn’t have any friends (models) to come with me to the Seattle Design Festival this year, so I went alone. I haven’t missed one of these since I started going many years ago. This year’s theme was “Connection” and it really translated well within the different art installations. My favorite was probably the circular ping pong table that had a rotating net. Plants were given away for free, Seattle housing was discussed, there was a happy map where you could add a place in Seattle that brought you happiness - I added “Neumos” to the map.

Velocity Music Festival 2022

Bad Snacks

Velocity was back this year, finally! It’s been a minute. The festival holds a trade show, seminars, workshops, and live music. I only went to the trade show and a few of the live sets - I so love to go because the crowd that attends is so different from my other shows as it is a celebration of Synthesizers - it is quite niche. This year the festival sold out. My friend Maddie was also a volunteer handling video for the festival and I found an awesome new artist - Bad Snacks!

Golf Alpha Bravo, Dark Dazey, and The Groovy Nobody

Golf Alpha Bravo

Dark Dazey

The Groovy Nobody

Berkeley Graduation 2022

My best friend is a doctor! On May 15, 2022, my best friend Angela graduated from Berkeley’s School of Public Health & I was lucky to be able to attend. Here are a few photos from the momentous day:

The last time I visited Angela at Berkeley we shot photos at the Campanile (Sather Tower) - this was all pre-pandemic. I had no idea that the next time I’d be back taking photos there it would be the reception of her graduation, along with most of her family and friends!

Of course - all of Angela’s friends are incredibly sweet and even though I love to be behind the camera, I am thankful that people also push me to get in photos as well. This is my best friend after all, and I am so proud of her! Here is one of us together:

Finally, here is also a video montage of the trip/celebration! Most of the video footage and photos were taken by me, but I also included some video/pics from Angela and her other friends so we could have a capsule of this moment from everyone and not just my own perspective.

End of the year wrap up - 2021!

Well…. the time has come. 2021 is coming to a close. In many ways this year has been difficult and in many ways this year has been totally rewarding.

Since the end of November, we have been finishing up the purchase of our first home, painting that home. moving into that home, and cleaning up our apartment. It has been so much work but we also were able to enjoy a little bit along the way. There was no November blog post as a result, but that’s how life goes!

If you didn’t know, I am trying to challenge myself to learning something new or being creative every month in some way. In November, it was learning to paint our house. I am documenting these things over on my YouTube channel - you can watch November’s video here:

December’s video will be up shortly, but for now, please enjoy some of the photos I took this month:

Lee enjoying a latte in our front yard.

We also decided to explore the neighborhood during the terrific weather.

Our neighborhood sure has changed from our location in Ballard! Look what my neighbor has parked in their yard!

Enjoying one of our local parks.

…and exploring another local park that we may or may not have been allowed at!

Finally got to decorate a little bit for Christmas, as well as wrap some presents while Max judged me about how long his next meal was taking…

Went to a holiday market at the Tractor Tavern back in Ballard to get some last minute hand made gifts.

A beautiful ornament from my mother.

A day out in Seattle with my best friend, Angela!

Some family time with my nephew, my mother, my sister, and both Lee’s.

And of course… the snow. The second big snow of 2021. We got some on Christmas Eve and then a bunch more on the 26th. It is still here, going into the new year…. hopefully it will start melting soon when the temperatures allow it!

Capping this year off with a snow-filled view from my back yard.

This year has brought along so much change. I am trying to embrace it, and actually lean into it. I want to grow as a person, and can’t wait to see what 2022 will bring.

As a side note - I only made a few posts this year on my blog, so a true end of the year post with the “Best of” photos isn’t necessary - it’s all right here for you to look at! I also am skipping 2021’s top albums. There were many great moments in music this year, but albums themselves did not capture me this year. Perhaps it was a slow year, or perhaps I was just so busy focusing on exercising, laying my father to rest, moving, and getting back into creative ventures again, during year 2 of the pandemic, that I just was neglectful.

There was only one album this year that blew me away. That was Turnstile’s album Glow On.

The album is phenomenal frontwards and back. I could not stop listening to this one. It was reflective, catchy, and filled with momentum. Here’s a bit to tie you over with:

Thanks everyone, and see you in 2022!!