Last weekend was my birthday so I did what I wanted to do….surfed all day (stayed in my wetsuit for eight hours straight), didn’t leave the beach from sun up till sundown, and hung out with family and friends. Other than some video I shot I didn’t pick up my camera except for a couple snapshots.

I got back from Hawaii a couple weeks ago and flew up the next day to Seattle, one of my favorite cities. I stayed at the Ace Hotel in Belltown with Katie and celebrated our anniversary. It was rainy, cold, and perfect. We sipped coffee, smelt fish, and walked the city Here are a couple images from when I picked up the camera.

Last weekend I was able to get a way for a day and drive down south a bit. Katie and I had a great weekend camping, relaxing, and hanging out in Encinitas where we saw 180 Degrees South (which I highly recommend) at the famous La Paloma Theater.

Danny Simon

Rear view mirror while driving home. This is my favorite.

Ocean Land View

Here are a few obligatory photos from a recent picnic at Griffith Park and Observatory.

Harry is a WWII Veteran, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, a photographer, a pipe collector, and a seasoned traveler (among many other things). As Katie’s Grandmother’s Boyfriend he has become a friend over the past few years, and the last time I was with him he gave me a tour of his Florida home. His home is filled with shelves and cases of dark room chemicals, bulbs, and every type of camera you can imagine. On the walls are photos of him and his wife in their twenties, the bowtie he wore in their wedding, the garter she wore, photos of him with his production crew, and the metals he earned in the war.

The most fascinating item in his home is a photo of his wife displayed next to his Purple Heart. In the war he had been carrying this photo in his gas mask and a bullet pierced through this photo and into his side. This photo is displayed proudly and lovingly in his room of memories. It was an honor to hear his stories of the war, talk about photography, and remember his wife.

Harry in his 20’s

One of two Purple Hearts Harry earned for his service

His bowtie, her garter

Just a couple from his collection

My favorite of these photos

This afternoon the wind really picked up and turned the rare surfable Long Beach waves into launch pads for kite boarders. A crowd of onlookers, kite boarders, and even the news station gathered on the sand to watch the kites whip their riders back and forth across the water and into the sky.

Drew spraying the beach.

This will keep you young.

Drew coming in for a moment before he goes back out to get more air (below).

click on thumbnails to view more photos

Surf Long Beach! Yes, that’s right…Long Beach. This afternoon I walked across the street to see the aftermath of the storm and there were chest high waves rolling in. The normally placid, oil island littered water was tossing and turning. I threw on my wetsuit, grabbed my board, and Katie and I ran across the street. I paddled out into a pack of about eight surfers just shaking their heads in disbelief as wave after waved poured in. . They weren’t the best waves I’ve ever surfed, but they were waves. I caught a few  and headed in to take a hydrogen peroxide bath.

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The sun sets so early these days that when I realized there was an hour left of sunlight, I grabbed Katie and we ran out the door. Driving from Long Beach over the ship ports, the Vincent Thomas bridge, and through the seemingly abandoned streets of San Pedro, we made our way to the edge of the earth and to the Korean Bell of Friendship. The last drops of sunlight made the Korean bell glow red and provided a bit of light for a pair of basketball players trying to get their last couple shots in.

I went out the other day on my bike and cruised around my city capturing the last sliver of warm weather. In my opinion it is the best way to explore a place and I hope you enjoy (and visit) Long Beach.