Blind Sided

"San Mateo’s John Niupalau tackles Gunn’s Jerrel Lynch in the open field during their game on Saturday."

Man was that a hard hit or what? I had a few other images but I think these where the best of the bunch.



"Gunn’s Nikko Jackson runs the ball against San Mateo defenders during a regular season game in San Mateo on Saturday."

This game was wild over all. I only got to see the first half since I had to rung and get some other stuff out of the way but it was fumble and interception galore!

Salsa time...

"Plezhetter Martinez, and Daniel Orantes, of Los Angels, dance to Salsa music on Saturday in Redwood City. The city held its first ever Salsa Festival featuring music from various bands as well as local merchant booths to browse through. "

No not the one you dip your chips in but the one you dance too.



"Left, Lorena Alvarado, and Dennis Bedolla, of Sunnyvale, dance to Salsa music on Saturday in Redwood City. The city held its first ever Salsa Festival featuring music from various bands as well as local merchant booths to browse through. "

Now... im not a great dancer and have never been into any kind of dancing. I dont think I like to sweat, but hey people seemed to enjoy them self.



"Members of the Orquesta Salsa Dura band perform on stage in Redwood City on Saturday. The city held its first ever Salsa Festival featuring music from various bands as well as local merchant booths to browse through."

Bloodmobile

"Assistant Training Supervisor Geoffrey Belanger gives a tour for the Sanford Blood Center’s new bloodmobile on Saturday in Palo Alto."

Another day another assignment, and this time is was the bloodmobile.



"Martha Castillo, of Palo Alto, takes a peek inside the Sanford Blood Center’s new bloodmobile on Saturday in Palo Alto."

Now just the thought about donating blood just freaks me out... doing it on a bus... well I dont think so. Now if some one NEEDED my blood and I had a very rare blood type well then I will give them my blood... but I dont think we will be running out of 0+ any time soon??? I hope..

When disaster strikes

Oh My God... today was just a disaster but was able to bring it together by the end of the night.



Now when you work for a newspaper you have deadlines that you need to meet. When you have a card with photos that do not read is not a good thing either.



I tried my laptop, I tried various computers in the office and the flash card would just not reed. So what can I do... usually you can read the card and if its corrupted you can extract files.

I thought to my self that I can still see the photos in my screen of my camera when you play back the photos. I grabbed the USB cable and made a connection between my lap top and camera. When the first try did not work I thought I was going to die. My managing editor exited her office getting ready to go and she looked over at me and asked if I was ok, mind you not... the never has asked me about my well being or anything in those lines. I turned and told her the bad news and she was in shock. Now she know im not a slacker and im not trying to pull a fast one so she collected herself and wished me luck. THANK YOU! because it worked. I turned the camera back on for a second attempt to load the images and it worked. I pulled a few files off the camera and quickly turned them in to meet deadline.

Gentle Hands

"Zohar Dance Studio Art Director Ehud Krauss helps 4-year-old Amelie Rausch, of Mountain View, stretch her feet on Thursday in Palo Alto. The studio held a dance class for children with Cerebral Palsy. For more information and class schedules visit www.zohardancecompany.org."

Man was I in a pinch today with one of our editions not having a photo.



I made a quick scan through some websites and came across this dance class for Cerebral Palsy children.



The art director was nice and so where the parents and allowed me to take some photos.



I do have to admit. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are tying to tell me how to take photos... just had to through that out there.



The class brought a lot of joy to the kids and to the parents who stuck around and danced a long with their kids.

New Parks and Rec Director

"Jonathan Gervais was announced as the new Belmont Parks Director."

Fairly nice guy! I was able to set up a quick portrait in the park near his office with the light just right.

Burlingame vs Aragon Volleyball

YAY! another day of volleyball...



There is not much that I can say about these just another Volleyball game...




Well... I guess there is one thing I can say... my wife went to Buringame?!?!



The game took place in Burlingame with Aragon being the visiting team.

Walking for a cause

"Start! Heart Walk participants finish up their trek on Thursday at the Electronic Arts complex in Redwood Shores. More than 2,500 walkers from various Peninsula companies participated in the walk organized by the American Heart Association to raise $800,000 for education and research on heart disease and stroke."



"Employees of Nuvelo Inc., left, Mark Joing, of Palo Alto, Jeff Paulson, of Menlo Park, Lee Bendekgey, of Burlingame, and Pamela Hoover, of Sunnyvale, eat their sandwiches after completing the Start! Heart Walk on Thursday in Redwood Shores."

It is always nice to see when people care. It's a change of pace of politics, deaths, people being a you know what... But what I was thinking the whole time was... hey... can I get in there and get some cheap EA games??? I need to upgrade my Tiger woods and Madden Football games!!!

Help needed

"Right, Master Sergeant Mike Malloy, of San Jose, gives his 2-year-old daughter, Riley, a hug on Wednesday at Moffett Field. About 50 California National Guardsmen returned to Moffett Federal Airfield today after conducting rescue operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike."

All my assignments where back to back today... I don't enjoy it when that happens but you gotta work with what you have. The image above is my favorite of today.

Where there is a will there is a way...

"Palo Alto police officers and the corners office investigate the scene where 35-year-old David Hahn, of Palo Alto, was found deceased on Tuesday afternoon in Palo Alto."

The last thing I want to see during the day is a dead body, but I have a job to do. I got a call about some one found dead in Palo Alto today and they wanted me to go photograph it. I get on scene and there are bushes all over and no way to see whats going on. Now what should I do I asked my self... I can't see the police, I can't get and interesting angle from down here.

I then saw an apartment with roof access and made my way up the stairs. I get to the top and it was locked. I then made my way down and knocked on a door... and lucky me with the first try the couple had let me in their apartment and allowed me to shoot down to the scene.

Never be discouraged to ask and to push to get what you need because where there is a will there is a way...

Giving back

"Center, Brandy Boman, a homeless woman out of the Palo Alto Invision center, has her hair curled by, left, Emma Klabo, of San Jose, and, right, Aisha White, of Mountain View, on Tuesday at the Place 2b Hair Studio in Santa Clara as part of “Make-Over, Make it Happen.” The event was sponsored by Innvision, a provider of housing and supportive services for homeless women in Silicon Valley."

From a full day of death and negativity today, shooting this assignment made me feel a bit better. The salon along with the homeless shelters got together to give homeless women a make-over.

Heart Condition

"A student rides her bike by a small memorial put up near the intersection of Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real at Palo Alto High School on Tuesday for Travis Brewer who passed away due to a heart condition on Monday."

I think it is very sad when young people pass away. About a year ago I lost my cousin who was 24. I can't even imagine how the parents of the child feel.

Me and my best friend Palin

"Former Navy Air Crew member, Louise Foriofrio, of San Francisco, stands next to her life size Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin during a McCain-Palin volunteer kick off event held at the Hiller Aviation Museum on Tuesday in San Carlos. "

There was a Republican volunteer kick off today in San Carlos... it was interesting...