Iyindo

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U2

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Last night, I got the call that Lama Gyatso had passed away. I am so glad for him and for all of us who knew him. I know that with every last breath, every last moment, he was in meditation and dedicating whatever merit might come from his life AND death to all of us. I know he knew what he was doing, and he died in the presence of his most beloved teacher.

In the last years of his life, I didn't see him much. In fact, the last time I remember seeing him is at the end of Tools for Peace Camp last year. Yet, it doesn't matter. Not because I didn't love him, not because he didn't love me, but because there is never separation. We have remained connected in the dharma, and we will continue to be.

I'm so grateful for his unconditional acceptance, the inspiration of his egolessness, and his indefatigable commitment to those around him. It is in the spirit of becoming more like him -- and Chhoje Rinpoche -- that I became a teacher. Though I may never manifest enlightenment in the way they do, I take comfort in knowing that my heart is the same.

Thank you, Lama, for your teachings, and more importantly for your example. I pray that your sangha will follow your example and not just the rites and words of your teachings or texts. I pray that the peace and openness you had for all beings will continue through all of us who knew you. Thank you for giving me one of the most defining periods of my life, in Sikkim. I have never been the same since then, and I know it was you who magnetized that. I know I have been thankless and you loved me anyway. Thank you for continuing to live in my heart. I will do my best to honor you in body, speech, and mind.

OM MANI PADMA HUNG

OM VAJRA SATTVA HUNG

GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA

Onward.







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http://jzqphotography.blogspot.com/2009/10/eulogy.html

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I'm more depressed than I've been in a long time; Ariel, my best good friend at Monroe, is being displaced. The 9GAs, which were two, are likely going to be recombined. This means that I will lose my amazing team. Back to the nay-sayers... Did I mention? -- the biggest asshole one of those is the person displacing Ariel. I hope no one fucks him (except in the ass with a hot iron poker) until the day he dies, and I hope he dies the most long and painful death imaginable. He is irredeemable, and I have lost all patience for people who are worse than Satan.

I am so angry, hurt, and shocked... I don't even know what to do.

It's a good thing I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow. I need it to balance this out.

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I don't know what's going on, but I've been really exhausted lately. I've been sleeping about 7-7.5 hrs. a night, drinking lots of fluids, doing yoga... in short, I've been keeping a pretty good balanced lifestyle up, but I still feel like sleeping every afternoon. Is it just the heat? Or what the hell?

I've got a life to live. I don't have time for this!

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http://jzqphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/poolyard.html

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Click to meet our new kitty and see pictures!

http://jzqphotography.blogspot.com/2009/09/phoenix.html

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The memory of this image has been haunting me all day.




There's something about the row of houses in front that makes this pictures more unsettling for me. It's like the houses symbolize people with their backs turned to the catastrophe, who are just heedless of what is going on or willfully ignorant while the earth is being scarred around them.

Two firefighters have died, which I think is beyond awful. They're in that black mass of smoke and ash while we're watching the news in our houses. I don't think any of them should ever die.

More at:

http://jzqphotography.blogspot.com/2009/08/state-of-emergency.html

I really do love this interview... sans Rob & Kristen.  The second or third questions are a little slow, but hang in there through the end.  It's some great cast fun.  I love Edi Cathegi's response to the "How do you get into your characters?" question, and I love Taylor Lautner's response to the "If you could be ANY character, who would you be?" question.

Enjoy!

Just got back from seeing INK for the second time. I'm so glad I got to see it again. DAMN that movie is good.

Seriously, just buy tickets to next Thursday's show already. Laemmle Sunset 5, 8/27, 10pm. You won't regret it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14458937@N06/sets/72157621973125689/

... make this my desktop picture.  And I'm enjoying it.



I'm so happy for Taylor Lautner.  He seems like a genuinely nice, talented guy who worked his ASS off to be the best Jacob he could be for fans.  Kudos to you, Taylor.  All the best in your burgeoning career.

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Just get online and buy your tickets right now.  It's playing this Thursday and next Thursday at 10pm.  If at all possible, you shouldn't miss it.

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opening night... with all the other screaming girlies.

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Two years ago, my nephew had a party at Kidspace in Pasadena. I remember trying to take pictures in there and being really frustrated that I couldn't get them right.  I had just gotten my flash and hadn't delved into the particulars of how to make bounced flash work.  I tried, but there was so much color in the celebration room that I kept getting photos washed in a green or blue or red.

Well, yesterday my other nephew had his birthday party at Kidspace.  I went into it with a certain amount of dread, remembering how difficult it had been for me to shoot properly in there.  I was thinking it would be another frustrating day of not being able to get things to look like I wanted them to.  But you know what? -- It wasn't a problem at all.  I went in there, scoped the place out and just knew what to do.  It really made me question whether it wasn't so much easier because the room had changed somehow and not me.  I don't think so.  I think I've just photographed enough stuff in enough tricky situations that I've learned to figure these things out.  That thought makes me really happy, particularly when I've got the wedding of two dear, dear people coming up in October.

Here are some pics from the party.

Here's Mikey looking bright-eyed just before the Kidspace staff introduced him to a desert tortoise and a Madagascar cockroach.



Time to play with present ribbon!



This is the epitome of Birthday, I think... the moment of JOY over cool presents!


Now, it's off to Yosemite for more photographic opportunities!

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Here are the fruits of my SEVENTEEN HOUR photo shoot on Saturday.  It was a long day, and I was sore for most of Sunday and today; but it was also a lot of fun and yielded some badass shots.

This one puts the ginormity of the dress in perspective.  I love the feet all askew and the creepy doll double in the corner.  This is definitely not the type of shot one would find in any other Quince album.



This one looks like it migrated into this decade from the 1940s. It also has buttloads of sheer personality.  I've never seen chambelanes look so awesome!  Maybe I'm biased because I know them, but still.  Kudos to the limo driver for letting them climb all over the thing!



This one is so romantic, it's enough to make everyone who sees it want to make out. This is not her boyfriend here, but she wishes it were.  I think this is a good start!  As I was photographing them, I was seriously expecting them to kiss before the dance was over.  So much chemistry!  Have you noticed I love lens flare? -- And don't you love how it's coming together here?  This was just a damn lucky capture.  Looks like a production still and I just GOT LUCKY that the DJ lights did that when I pushed the shutter button.



Since La Quinceañera is a huge fan of Twilight, we also did this... the pièce de résistance, if you ask me.  I KNOW there's no other girl in the world who has THIS in her Quince album... but loads are going to wish they did after they see this!  I'm really glad that I was able to give my girl her shot at being Bella! 


Oh... and BTW, that isn't her boyfriend either.  He showed up late, stayed for like 5 minutes, and then left without saying goodbye.  I'm thinking she ought to explore other options, considering these last two pics.

If you have some time and want to view the whole slideshow, go here.

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Just watched this again for the first time in a long, long time.  Man do I love those movies.  I was so joyful by the end.

I love how Julie Delpy turns to him and says, "Baby, you are gonna miss your flight."

And he simply says, "I know."

So awesome. One of the most real and romantic movies I've ever seen.

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Pictures from our vacation.

And a few faves:



That's the entryway to the Outer Bay exhibit at the Monterey Aquarium.




Seriously, that's just cookytalk.  So gorgeous.  I don't think I'd ever seen anything like it.




Axo's fascination with jellies.




So classic and awesome!!!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MERCHIMEEEEERCH...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

I hope you have a kickass Birthday!  I'm thinking about you and love you lots!

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