Day 26 (Mon., Sept. 26)

I went out for my morning run and I came back to see a few missed calls on my business cell phone. Oh oh! I hope I didn't miss anything important. A few seconds later, my assignment editor was calling. She was trying to book me for an assignment. I am glad she found me and I was able to take the assignment. I was sent to take photos of the Navy P-3 aircraft that has been used by scientists from University of Miami and University of Washington during an experiment regarding hurricanes.

This experiment is quite interesting. The plane was used to fly over hurricanes Katrina, Ophelia and Rita to record data that will be useful for the scientists. The information will allow them to better understand the different evolutionary stages of a storm. Last weekend's Rita hurricane was the perfect subject for them as the hurricane went through a complete eye wall replacement. That's the reason why it weakened and it's force wasn't as brutal on the gulf states as it was predicted.

I felt good going to this assignment because it helped me understand what hurricanes are about. It also allowed me to cover a different angle on hurricanes Rita and Katrina. See, sometimes you do not need to drive down to the area where the destruction might be to cover the hurricane, and getting in trouble w/ your bosses as a result of it all. I have to say that this weekend allowed me to soak in all the things that happened last week, including getting in trouble for being so aggressive.

I walked onto the aircraft and I had chills going through my body. I was on a plane that 13 daring souls flew right over the storms. That's awesome. The only thing more awesome than that would be to actually be flying over it to take photos of whatever was going on. I was in the plane, nevertheless. Cool!

Then Lt. Mark Sweeney (the guy on the right in the first photo of today's journal), one of the pilots during the experiments, told me that I should get on the pilot's seat. Lt. Felix Hopkins (the guy on the left in that photo) moved aside and let me get on his seat. I HAD to get my photo taken. I mean, how often do you get to sit on the pilot's seat of such an important aircraft? I love my career! This is awesome.

Later today I realize how lucky I am to love what I do. It has allowed me to do some of the most interesting things ever. I know better things are to come w/ time as I finally graduate and get a real job. But for now, not bad for a poor Mexico City kid who has spent eight years in school, huh?

Speaking of doing all kinds of cool things. I closed out my shift by going to the velodrome in Hollywood. There, kids were training for an upcoming international rollerblade skating tournament. I had a lot of fun as I was able to be creative w/ the photos.

I love the above photo because it gives you a different perspective. People around me kept on asking each other "what is he doing down there?" as I crawled under a bleacher to shoot photos. The above photo is what I was doing under the bleacher. I like how there are skaters on each of the open spaces in that photo.

The skaters all wore some colorful and cool uniforms.

And as if my day of work wasn't interesting enough, I was asked by the reporter to go down to the other end of the park at the velodrome to see if I can get a few photos of a soccer semifinal game. "Sure," I told him and headed off to shoot me some soccer. I got the above photo. I only stayed there for 15 minutes, but it was long enough to shoot a few cool photos of the game. Not bad as I shifted gears from rollerblades to soccer.

On my walk back to the truck I happened to spot two owls. One knew I was up to no good, so it flew away as I reached down for my camera. The other seemed a little more daring. It was a good thing as I was able to shoot the owls. It was my first time ever seeing owls away from the zoo. So, that was fun.

There are some Mexican theories about owls. Some people say that it means death when you see an owl in broad daylight. Luckily, the sun was down and I didn't have to worry about dying because I saw the owl. Other theories say that it's extremely bad luck to see an owl.

Sure! But, I don't believe it such nonesence.

Look at the type of day that I had today. I went on a cool plane, sat on the pilot seat on the cockpit, I shot future rollerblading professionals, did some soccer and saw an owl...

I am so unlucky... Yeah right!!!!

Theories, theories.

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