Napping Part Three

FUI Interns love napping. What else needs to be said? We all do it - it's a way to pretend it's not as hot as it really is.

Napping: Part 2

See now Kevin's tired.

Napping: Part 1

FUI makes people tired. Very tired. So they have to nap in the living rooms of the Pink House. The problem with this plan is people enjoy taking pictures of sleeping people. That's why you should nap in your own room.

Re-Locater BBQ

Once a week during the year, the re-locaters in Fresno get together to have a BBQ and prayer time. This really has nothing to do with the actually event but Matt just looks like his head isn't really attached to his body and Zoe looks in pain. It is a great picture.

Project Completed

We were scheduled to finish the fence at 2 pm but with all these people we got done at 11:45 am. The power of 36 people really goes far.

Helping Hands

Today we helped take down a fence for one of the neighbors in Fresno. Through an organization called FUND and One by One they help people do much needed home improvement projects for free. They had already redone a lot of the house but they asked the FUI team to help tear down the wire fence and put up a new one. We did this same thing three years ago as well.

Where For Art Thou...

So we were going through a cross-cultural simulation and there were some groups on the front porch. It is the loudest on the front porch so Bryce wants to see what's going on. He is the tiny head sticking out of the large window.

Fulton Mall

Today we went on an exploration of the Fulton Mall - one of the few outdoor mall areas of its kind. It was used as a way to keep people in downtown but shortly after the Fulton Mall was built, plans for Fashion (a mall in North Fresno) were approved. Now this once thriving place is an area in which you can find a lot of emptiness and despair. But there is still beauty here - the architecture is very unique and many of the fountains are to reflect the rivers and waterfalls found in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Also you can find just about every type of food from hot dog stands to tamale stands. It is a truly unique place in downtown Fresno.

Cody! Ole!

So this is Cody - he is amazing and adorable. I think he may begin to walk this summer (which would be great!) But he is such a clown and knows exactly what makes people laugh. Including posing for a lot of pictures. One of the great things about being on staff is getting to know both Bryce and Cody - as well as Todd and Carrie.

By the way, Cody's favorite word is "Ball!" Whenever he shouts it, he points to where the ball last was and expects you to get it for him.

Quiet Times in Fresno

Today was my first day in Fresno for my six week urban internship project with FIFUL. We started out our staff orientation with a retreat of silence in order to get our hearts and minds in the right place, which was necessary because when Sarah and I moved into our apartment, we found it to be completely unfurnished. We had a feeling this might happen but there aren't even lights in the bedroom. But it's ok to not be in control and to not have lights in the bedroom. All my posts for the next six week will contain a story about FUI so far and of course a picture. Want to read about other stories? Well go to the FUI 2010 blog to find out more.

Tommy

At my grandfather's 75th birthday bash, we brought our dog Tommy with us. He was jumping around the house knowing he was going for a drive and as you can see - he is still totally happy right now!

Tom's Shoes Text Message

My aunt is getting me Toms shoes for graduation and this is one of many picture messages she sent me asking me about how I felt about a certain pair of shoes. These were the ones that I eventually chose.

Father's Day Presents

Shh... this is a secret - but these are the two pictures my dad is getting for Father's Day. One is from BrightWaters photography and the other is from my graduation.

In and Out of Focus

I have a new small Nikon CoolPix Camera and I am still learning how to focus the darn little bugger (it's not as easy as my D3000 I tell you. Anyway - I was having a hard time focusing on the In and Out cup in front of me instead of the one in the background. I told Christina of my troubles and she told me that I really wanted it that way and my camera knew my secret desire. I guess so - I think the photo looks pretty cool.

Cake and Frank

Cake and Frank nights! This is the last one we will have as "single" ladies since Emily is getting married in July. I think we are currently singing about it or screaming about or a bit of both. Or Prince Philip came on the tv and we are expressing our undying love for him.

Hotel Royale

I love this sign. It was at our house, the Palace and I was the one to take it away (since none of my other roommates claimed it). It is just said it no longer resides in the Palace.

Dorothy Parker

My Great Aunt Sherri gives the best presents - she is one of the few people who puts a lot of time and effort into every present she gives. For graduation she gave me this book - The Portable Dorothy Parker because it that was one of the author's her favorite English teacher introduced her to and since Sherri heard I wanted to be a teacher she wanted to pass this along.

For an Aunt I never see, this is a pretty amazing present.

The Bottle Collection

A year's work finally comes to an end. It started with Esther's 21st birthday and since then we've collected a lot of bottles (both alcohol and non-alcohol). I will miss this collection very much.

Graduation!

4 years later:

- I changed my major only once
- I read a lot of books I tried to avoid in high school
- I stopped caring about my GPA when I got my first C in a class (thanks biology!)
- I lead two AWESOME bible studies
- I went on a mission trip to Fresno and decided to go back a lot
- I had an awesome roommate for three years
- I took more pictures than more people do in a lifetime
- I had three cameras total
- I lost some family members, gained perspective
- Gained student loans :)
- Had late night adventures
- Tried new things, found new problems
- Took a lot of risks
- Still have never broken a bone (and it will never happen I hope)
- Still never got a speeding ticket
- Joined the best club ever
- Bought too many Cal Poly sweatshirts
- Love a lot of people
- Grew up, forgave much

Even as college is over (and I won't get too sentimental) I can look back at all the awesome pictures I took (which are a lot) and remember the fond times, the crazy adventures, and the transformations I experienced in only four years.

Face Time

Claire and I celebrated the end of finals week with High Street Deli Friday. Yes that is a phrase I coined to describe the wonderful joys of visiting High Street Deli on payday (every other week). We enjoyed drawing on our cups as well - shows up much damaged had been done to our brains thanks to papers. But it was my last finals week ever so it was well worth it.

Trespassing Part Two

Andrew and Teresa wanted engagement photos taken so I willing drove them to the same spot they got engaged in. This would be the second time I "trespassed" on someone's property. It wasn't really really trespassing since a.) there was no sign forbidding it and b.) we were in between two properties so the line was fuzzy. It was well worth it since the pictures turned out AMAZING!

Final Papers

Thanks to finals and papers, I ran out of time for picture taking. So instead please enjoy this wonderful filler from Yosemite. New pictures will come I promise.

Self and Friend

This is from the old archives for my self portrait for June. Notice the "Awesome Meter Never Lies" shirt. It is quite amazing and wonderful. And factual.

Introducing: Krystal Park

My friend KP is an aspiring artist and I agreed to take her professional photos. She looks amazing in all of them but these area was one of my favorite places.

*Shameless plug: I do many different photoshoots - including bands, engagements, graduations, christmas card, you got bored one day, you want to show off an awesome hair cut, you want to make someone jealous, or you like to look at yourself.

Area Greatness and Matchiness

A while back I showed you all the picture of my area t-shirt. Well this is us all wearing them together. We look pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I think it is one of the best "funny" pictures I've been in too because we are all doing something crazy.

Fremont Picnic Shenanigans

So the Fremont Bible Study decided it would be a good idea to have a picnic. And after many games we decided to have a photoshoot adventure. It included the epic and dramatic tale of girls' quest for a many and the failure of many. Tim with his awesome sunglasses attracts many women but can only have one. Check my facebook for the whole epic tale.

That's the Key

That is my friend Jeanette - and she is performing Hot and Cold with her acapella group, "That's the Key." They are officially awesome. I give my two thumbs up for them - possibly better than Take It SLO - with enough publicity that is.

Lupin

You may be wondering where is the amazing and lovable werewolf from Harry Potter (before Twilight fever hit of course) -but that is not this kind of Lupin. It is the beautiful wildflower found in Yosemite - where I am not going this year. But I will find a way. Plans are being set in motion to make it happen. You see I have this streak - I have been to Yosemite every year since I was born. Even the year it was snowed in - I still managed to go. I am not ruining my streak by any means... just how to I do it?

CPK adventures

This is how tonight's conversation went:

"Claire are you having bible study tonight?"- Me
"Probably. I don't know. Maybe we'll just do a hang out thing." - Claire
"Ok let me know because I want to come to yours." - Me
(several hours later... after sitting in the UU waiting for them to start)
"Are you meeting in the UU?" - Melissa via text
"Oh we are CPK. We'll be there for a little bit more." - Claire via text
(heads on over there)
"We've been here since like seven." - Claire
(it's 8 pm)
"What happened to calling me? I sat in the UU for several hours waiting!' - Melissa
"Oh..." - Claire

Knight House Photoshoot

My friends who live down the way asked me to do a housemate photoshoot. This picture was by far my favorite because the lighting was amazing! It was also the first photoshoot (other than the wedding) I got to do with my camera.