"Thirteen."

Well, we've made it through one year and into another. Among other things I personally have been pleased with the things that the last year has brought me, most of which have been bandages for the addition of wounds that won't heal because of things that have gone on, aminly in the news, that have affected me emotionally, most of which are stories that are pretty hard for anyone to shake off, at least right away. All wounds heal in time, even the ones that feel like they may never heal.

This year sounds like nothing but my own shoe size, but with no issues of anything for me to have to put my foot down on to the point of it being as "unlucky" as that number itself. I never think of the unlucky number thanks to the "lucky number" being more on my side. I sometimes call them "lucky sevens" because along with my own last name, I have a lot of seven letter words that have to do with me personally to include my birth city, birth month, the first names of my mother, daughter, and both sisters to name a few. That's a long story and perhaps I will blog about another interesting topic of that kind sometime in the future.

For this new year I don't really have a resolution in mind, but with my new website, which is linked to this blog (MY WEBSITE) I have in mind to better branch out as the businessman that I've always felt like I always have been and can only keep getting better. Counting my blessings as a part of life tells me that the road in this new year is destined to be a smooth one. In October, I will celebrate not a milestone but have as many years under my belt as there are as many weeks in every year. This will be the first birthday I will celebrate on a Sunday in eleven years and I've always thought of myself living un the "fine wine concept as I am only going to get better as I get older.

Every day of every year I just have the same personal philosophy in just taking things one day at a time. 365 days seems to go by so fast, like it did last year, it's one of the many ways that dictates that things are either going well and have good chance to get better, or even that things are going well and have indeed gotten better. Life has many bridges to cross in good time and it's best not to worry about crossing them until they've been reached and the ones that for whatever reason are not reached, sometimes it's all for the better. I'm going to call on the best people I know and then some and say best wishes for happines and prosperity and may 2013 be one of your finest years as I have strong hope that it will be for myself and those who mean the most.

DJ Foster.

The 2012 NCAA Pac-12 football season gave me a nice opportunity to photograph Arizona State University and another player who is making a good name for himself as he moves up the playing ranks.

ASU's freshman running back DJ Foster is a local product by way of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and I had no idea that on September 17, 2009, while following Peoria High School on a road game that I had even recorded images of such a player.

That was the high school footbal game that I remember all too well because it was the same evening when Peoria's KJ Bowen (God bless his soul) hurtled out of bounds, made a quick move to his left to avoid colliding with me, only to collide with a female photographer on the sideline behind me. I'm still thankful she did not get hurt too badly. I don't even know who she is and often think it would have been better for me to take that hit instead.

DJ played quite well in the two games I was able to photograph him this season and he will do just as well, if not better, I know, during the three seasons he has left to play for ASU and I hope beyond as well. Thanks DJ, good luck to you and your team as well for 2013 and beyond. I think the best is yet to come.

Desert Storm Norm

If there's one thing I've always taken plenty of pride in life about, it's my own military service. Mine started much later in life than most but I consider it the best thing I've ever done. It was an honor to my father. I'm proud to say that I'm the only on of my parent's four offspring to have served in the United States Armed Forces despite albiet part time as a member of the Army National Guard in both California and Arizona.

With that in mind, there's nothing in the military service that I can say that I've admired more than the others who have chosen to raise their own hand and take the oath of allegiance to serve our country the way they have. Many have been honored in ways that most of us can only hope for and dream about just as much as there were many others who gave their lives for a good cause.

General Schwartskopf is no exception. I first saw him make a good name for himself in his "Stormin Norman" personality that he brought to his position as commander of coalition forces in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. Frowed on by many for that fiery attitude but praised by many others who knew that he was just doing what a four star general in any branch had to do.

It's not easy being a career military man in any branch, or at any level for that matter. General Schwartskopf did that as well as anyone could have ever asked for and did so in a career spanning back to the Vietnam era that began shortly after his commission into the Army as a Second Lieutenant after graduation from West Pointand serving his fisrt assignment as a platoon leader at the 187th Airborn Infantry Regiment in Fort Campell, Kentucky.

After many rescue missions in Vietnam and moving on to his personal prestiege in Operation Desert Storm General Schwartskopf would retire and go on to public speaking as an alternative to the post military political career that many predicted for him. General Schwartskopf would make his final march to eternal life on December 27, 2012. With that sharp salute that would be rendered by any member of any branch of the service, for the service of General Norman Schwartskopf I say "Thank you Sir for your service and may you continue to watch over all who continue to serve from the body of stars, just like the four you wore on your uniform."

Different Strokes.

Well, here you have me, back again, after another lengthy layoff from behind the blog spot, the place I live for the writings of the thoughts I have on so many topics of interest that are always on my mind as I keep up with the ongoings of everyday life. It's been quite a year. I personally have officially entered that so prestigious CLUB FAB 50 but not without the bumps and bruises that tend so come for one and all as the years continue to march along and we face the given reality of the fact that we're not getting any younger.

Wow, another health scare. All these years of good health that I gave myself with all the fitness that derived from its importance as a member of the military service did not give me the idea that I was invincible but I know for a sure fact that it most likely kept a health issue from being a lot worse than it could have been. A stroke is nothing nice. The stresses of everyday life and what it brings most of us can catch up with anybody at anytime and it can do that in many different ways. What I thought was a vision problem in one eye and the numbness on the left side that followed could have spelled disater but I pulled through it and I can now speak and have my motor skills to use just as well as I once did, though still shaky at times. Diet and fitness are now first priority as I continue the work and education that mean the most to me and are sure to help me move straight forward from here on out.

The personal life is now back in the saddle after a stint of time on the wrong page of what seemed to be the same storybook. There's a soon to be partner in life in another trace of the roots that made me what I am with the sure third marriage that I look forward to calling "the charm" with so much that its had to offer and so much more to come. All in good time is this "JOURNEY" as the tie to the good song by the group that says "Don't stop believing" and that I won't.

So much continues to happen in the news but there was nothing better than the 2012 Presidential Election as President Barack Obama won a second term over the worst possible replacement in an opponnent in Mitt Romney. My heartiest congratulations to our Commander-In-Chief who will always be thought highly of for being himself and giving me an opportunity to have this country in the hands of the leadership that I didn't think I'd live to see. President Obama is a member of my own generation and a member of a minority ethnic background. A member of the opposite gender is next on the list of whom I'd like to see as the leader of our nation.

The news as I watch in so many different areas will always have the best and worst sides of things. In sports, it finally happened in baseball as Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers became the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. Sometimes it makes you wonder if it's possible to lead the league in three major offensive categories when so often one player only specializes in one category (usually batting average) and takes the possibility away with him. The odds were challenged and beaten which looked good for the game and its fans.

On the sad side, there's always one thing too many, especially in the way of lives that leave us far too soon. The main one, Whitney Houston, the words of the beautiful voice I can only say myself and only wish that she could hear them. Whitney, it won't be the same, but as is the case with many of us, I too, "will always love you." Too many lives senslessly taken at a moments notice as well, many young and innocent with their whole lives ahead of them. More must be done to protect them all and I know it will all in good time but not soon enough.

I'm back now, yes, I am. As my eyes stare into the screen of my PC monitor, I see many better things ahead. I've made a better name for myself in social media and will continue to improve in many areas as I keep up with personal improvements and reaching more of my personal endeavors. More to come.

Outer Space

It was "One small step for Man," combined with "One giant leap for mankind." It was the summer of 1969, while myself, a boy of not quite 8 years of age, marveled at the sight of Neil Armstrong, setting foot on the same moon I continue to gaze and admire well into my elder years. All this while making a transition from New York City to Los Angeles, not knowing what life ahead would be.

The Space Travel program has always been on the strong side of my personal interest, even dreaming of being part of it myself, a common thing for young boys of my era, as well as many before and after me as well. The Apollo program continued into the early 1970's soon to be taken over by the Space Shuttle program a decade later.

With interest in the space program at its peak and a visit to the Kennedy Space Center in the mid 1980's I would continue to keep up with NASA and the excitement of the news of the advancement of Space Travel. I say many blessings to those astronauts who gave their lives for the good of the program, especially the ones on board the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986.

As the Space Shuttle program came to a close a few weeks ago, I reflected on 30 years of an interesting side of life and reflect on what may be ahead in the distant future. I continue to listen to stories, mostly rumors, I'm sure, about the possibility of sendind humans to Mars and other distant planets, as well as civillian space travel, none of which I really expect to happen during the course of my lifetime.

With the high tech of today, as I'm sure in the distant future, the Space Travel Program will continue to be a big part of everyday life, news stories, and personal interests for now and many generations to come. Godspeed to all.

Solo of Hope

Sports? Some people think I eat, sleep and think them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. NOT! Soccer? NOT one of my favorites but an interesting game indeed. Over the last few years, to include a few photo assignments at Arizona State University, I've only seen the opposite gender play the game.

In most parts of the world, the game is called "football," which, all things considered, is a sensible name. In most of those countries, especially Europe, the game is as popular as the NFL is here in the United States. Going into this year, there's even a Women's Pro Soccer League here in the United States. It doesn't compare in popularity to the WNBA, at least not yet, but only time will tell in more ways than one.

Hope Solo? That's the Goalkeeper (or "goalie" if you prefer) for the U.S. Women's National Team, who were recently defeated in the FIFA World Cup by Japan. No harsh feelings there as Japan really needed something to be proud of after all they've been through.

Hope Solo was the winner of the Golden Gloves for being the best goalkeeper in the FIFA World Cup tournament, which, by my "guesstamation," is equivalent to a Gold Glove award in Major League Baseball. Currently playing pro soccer in Boca Raton Florida, there seems to be a good future on the horizon.

The way things look to me, the game of soccer is at the point of being popular enough to be taken to a new level in all parts of the world. The tournaments like the FIFA World Cup must do away with thos VUVAZELAS or whatever those horns are called to prevent the stadiums from sounding like beehives.

As for Miss Solo, she's going to turn 30 years old on July 30 and seems to be in the prime of life in the world of a not so popular sport that will only get better with time with the growth of its popularity. David Beckham et al, eat our hearts out!

"It's Miller Time."

"Get your iced cold beer here!" is one of the most familiar cries of a vendor at any sports event. Me personally, I've never been much of a beer drinker, even decided to quit in the summer of 1991 in preparation to enter the military service, looking forward to life with a much healthier mind and body that I'd had up to that point.

Cheryl Miller is no "light beer." Most likely one of the best female athletes most of us have ever seen, hailing from the Southern California (Los Angeles area) like myself, a member of a family with a name as common as their athletic genes.

Cheryl's younger brother Reggie is a former NBA basketball player. A good one all around who, unfortunately, was never able to obtain a championship ring during his playing career with the Indiana Pacers. Lesser known older brother Darrell, was a professional baseball player, a catcher, who spent a portion of his short career in the (then) California Angels organization.

As for Cheryl, I first learned of her during her high school basketball playing days at Riverside-Polytechnic girls varsity basketball team. I mean, hey, what other good reasons would there be to be published in newspapaers and magazines than scoring 105 points in one game?

I would continue to watch Cheryl guide her University of Southern California women's basketball team, along side the "Twin Towers (Pam and Paula) Mcghee" to consecutive NCAA titles. Cheryl's icing on her own cake would come with the gold medal winning U.S. Women's Basketball Team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angelas.

Cheryl would soon achieve a personal goal as a TV sports commentator, covering basketball games, mainly on the sidelines, at many levels, most recently on the TNT network. She had Jim Hill, a TV news sports reporter in Los Angeles as an idol and mentor along the way. She'd even go back to USC to serve as the head coach for her old collegiate team to place another good note on the personal resume.

Then came the Women's National Professional Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1997 with Cheryl becoming the first head coach and general manager of the Phoenix Mercury. The Murcury and the WNBA have been a subject of my sports photography coverage for the third year in a row and I'm still amazed at the success the concept of a professional sport for women has achieved.

There are times that have me wondering what kind of professional level player Cheryl could have been if--let's say the WNBA had been founded ten years earlier. No telling, but it was great to have the chance to see and meet one of the female genders most prominent sports figures on July 15, 2011 at the game in which the Phoenix Mercury gave a much deserved honor to their first head coach and general manager.