Day 24 (Fri., July 1)

I want to be different. When I shoot photos I want to be different. When I try to work on my autonomy, I want to be different. Today, I am giving you something different. I am giving you black & white photos just because I want to change it up and be different. Also, because this first photo looks great in black and white.

Just as I did a week ago, I was sent out to the Colts baseball game. I again took the non-traditional approach at shooting sports. I shot the game action, but I wanted to take advantage of the access I had, so I came up with more feature stuff photos.

Shooting the Colts game gives me the luxury that I didn't have while shooting pro baseball like Dodgers and/or Rangers. Although I am still shooting professional baseball, going to the Colts is fun because they welcome the media coverage. I get to walk and talk to the players as if I am part of the game. They are cool to talk to and hang out w/.

Not only do I get to cruise around the dugout w/o a problem. I get to go on the stands and talk to fans. It's fun. You are not stuck on a cage next to the dugout for three-plus hours waiting for action to happen.

I still managed to shoot a bit of the game, like the photo above on a home run. But I am glad I get a chance to be different.

So, today the month of July starts. For the obvious reasons, this is a great month. There is a lot of things that have happened in my life in the month of July. But more importantly, July is my month. Every day I have a birth date. So, start sending over the gifts. If you want to know a little more about how I feel about the month of July, go to last year's Dallas journal and look up Day 33, in which I talk about this month.

Anyways, I guess it is cool to post dumb stuff that I think about on my journal sometimes. It shows people are reading the site and are making note of the stuff I write about. While some people say I reveal too much about my life and seem to take my words too literal and personal, others really get to know me a little more. Either way, it shows people are reading and that keeps me happy.

So, anyway. In the early hours of the day (at around 3 a.m.) I realized I had not checked my mail. I could not sleep so I was stuck walking around the apartment looking for something to do. When I checked the mail box it was a good thing. There it was, a package from Jessica. She's a really cool friend from back in California. We had a chance to hang out a few times before I came out to Texas. She is part of a large group of friends I associate with back at Cal State University, Northridge. Anyhow, She is a Hawaiian Hula dancer and her team had a show a week after I came out to Texas. All of my friends were out there supporting her and I was not able to. What a mean friend I am, right? Well, I missed a lot by coming here. I missed my college newspaper coworkers' graduation, I missed my other friends' graduation. So, I've missed a lot so far. Well, kinda sorta... Jessica was able to catch me up by sending me a home video of her hula show, which seemed like a lot of fun. She also sent me some beach items that put me close to the ocean. I miss the beach sooooooo much. Luckily, in the 14 days that I had to prepare for my last-minute trip to Texas, I was able to go to the beach about eight times. Still, I miss it a lot and I can't wait to go to a beach soon. Perhaps South Padre Island later this month. I heard a lot of cool things about that place and I really want to go. I am excited about going there, so I gotta make sure I do go. Ok, so that was a great way to spend time during boring 3 a.m., sleepless time. Thanks Juicy!

This morning I woke up to a banging on my door. It was the Fed Ex dude. He had a box for me. I was a little scared as I was not expecting a hard knock on my door, let alone a package. Turns out Wendy, a really cool "gabacha" that I met in Fort Worth two weeks ago had sent me a little something. Inside the box, two smaller boxes were wrapped in a beach-themed paper. It was the coolest thing. At first, I had no idea who it was from as the box only had my name and address on it. After digging through the foam I was able to see the note that read "Julio, eres muy chido. Tuve mucha suerte en conocerte y quiero conocerte mas (y mas). Tendremos que juntarnos otra vez. Tienes todo lo que quiero. Besos!"

After reading this note from this blonde, brown-eyed Texan, I couldn't have a bigger smile. Later, however, my smile grew even bigger to see what the gifts were: a cookie monster Giant PEZ and a cookie monster shirt. I was pretty impressed on how much she paid attention to me and the person that I am. Thank you "gabacha", you are a great friend.

Sorry if you cannot read her Spanish message. You should be like her and learn Spanish, she's pretty smart in doing so. The Latino culture is growing tremendously in the United States. Knowing Spanish is a big plus. I have a lot of respect for people like Wendy who take the time to learn about a different culture. And I have even more respect to those that teach it to their communities the way Wendy does.

So, today my month begins. I really was kidding when I wrote in last year's journal about sending gifts. A lot of the things I write on the web site should not be taken too literal. I write what's on my mind and what I think about. Sometimes I just think dumb things and write about them. But I guess this time it worked out for me. I love my gifts. :)

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