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Farewell to Winter

Last month my very good friends, Ashley and Justin McGlass, invited Brett and I up to Ashley’s mom’s cabin in Big Bear, California. Down in the valley we had our share of April Showers leaving the mountain tops glistening white and beautiful! I have never been anywhere that had a lot of snow – nor anywhere where it has snowed – so I was really excited. Brett, Ashley, Justin, and I tried to drive up to Big Bear on the 13th after I got off of work around 7pm, but visibility was so low we could barely see a foot ahead of the truck. Erring on the side of caution we turned back and tried again the next morning. The mountain was still covered in snow and the drive was a scenic as could be imagined.

Pit stop for a semi-healthy snack. The resident vegan didn’t have much to choose from on the menu at The Oaks but the peach slices and french fries held me over until we got to the cabin. Brett enjoyed the fish and chips on the right.

The view from the deck at the cabin.

I asked Brett for a nice picture. We got one, and then one that shows our true nature.

My attempt at snowboarding.

And then at sledding. Clearly I am not built for snow sports.

Crazy Ashley wearing flip-flops in the snow.

Ashley covered dinner – making a DELICIOUS vegan enchilada/lasagna dish. The light snack at The Oaks was more than enough to keep me happy until I could devour Ashley’s amazing cooking!

Since Ashley made dinner the night before I woke up early and tackled breakfast the next morning. I bought a waffle iron and pretty much use it every chance I get. Waffles are my favorites. Of course, it’s not a weekend get-away without Stella for breakfast.

Our short trip to the mountains was extremely enjoyable. I got to relax, play in the snow, take pictures, and hang out with some of my favorite people.

Jackie Graduates!

One of my very good friends, Jackie, graduates with her degree in philosophy this June from Cal Poly Pomona. Jackie is hoping to go on to graduate school in philosophy, and eventually become a philosophy teacher at a private high school.

Jackie is beautiful, funny, smart, and a general joy to be around.

I know Jackie will go on to be successful with whatever she chooses to do. Congratulations, Jackie! I’m so proud!

Sherlock Holmes – My 25th Birthday!

My 25th birthday was on February 19th and I decided to have a party. Normally, I ignore my birthday by sleeping and avoiding everyone. I simply haven’t had very good birthdays in the past. This year, however, was amazing. I set up and ran a photo-booth, my friends brought cameras, and I, of course, had a camera on me all night. Here are my favorite from the night.

The Londoners!

Chris and me

The McGlasses and Me

Chrises, me, Brett

Charles & Abbey, Ashley and Matthew, Jake & Me, and Chris & Me

Brett and me

Mindy & Me, Mindy & Dorothy, Dorothy & Me

Brett had a rogue eyebrow hair, I put a $50 bounty on it. Anyone who got the hair got the money. Jake was the winner.

Francisco

Philosophers!

Lenny and Kayla

Kami, Sarah, and Me

Philosophy!

I had a fantastic time. I can’t even begin to thank everyone enough for the wonderful time, the help in getting to WPPI, and for just being great people.

The Getty Museum

I have lived in Los Angeles County my entire life. For 25 years I’ve lived at least 45 minutes from The Getty Museum and despite my desire to go there, I never had. It’s pretty entertaining to me to think that people travel to foreign places and see all of their historical places without ever stepping foot in the gems that are in their own backyards. I definitely am guilty of this. However, I am now rectifying this problem and for my one year celebration of being vegan I decided to go to The Getty. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I hope to go back when the gardens are no longer under renovation.

Brett, Travis, and Jake all came along too!

Los Angeles can really be beautiful, sometimes.

I rarely laugh as hard as I do when I’m with these men. Jake included, of course!

I absolutely LOVE the shot on the left.

Jake, Travis, and Brett were all very nice and patient when I made them do an impromptu photo-shoot. Even though all three of them think they’re not photogenic – I don’t believe it for a second. They’re all wonderful models and have unique and interesting qualities about them that make photographing them fun.

We ended the day at the Veggie Grill in Hollywood. It is easily one of my favorite vegan restaurants in the Los Angeles area. I really suggest everyone go there even if you’re an omnivore – it’s worth it. Their food is delicious and amazing. Even for the omnivores in the group!

Go veg! Go Vegan! Go green!
Also, go visit your local tourist spots – they’re tourist spots for a reason!

Tucker & Tompkins Get Hitched!

February 29th doesn’t rank high on the days packed full of weddings, but that doesn’t mean the day isn’t perfect for getting hitched. And that’s just what Ericka and Drew did in a small, guerrilla-style wedding.

In the mid-afternoon a small group of guests showed up at Union Station and waited to witness the non-traditional marriage of Ericka and Drew. Neither Ericka nor Drew wanted a big, fancy wedding and since the state of California doesn’t let heterosexual couples get “gay married” – as one guest called it – they decided a very intimate and surprise wedding at Union Station was more their style. Once the happy couple showed up, they staked out a nice spot in a garden outside of the station, set up a laptop and a webcam to live stream the event for their friends and families that couldn’t make the wedding, and then began their simple ceremony.

While the service was not meant to be very long it was cut even shorter by the authorities, because, apparently, without clearing events with some bureaucratic office you’re not allowed to get married at the Station. Towards the end of the ceremony a couple of security guards came over and told us all we had to clear out because we didn’t have the right approval for what we were doing. Only in LA can you get arrested for getting married. (Don’t worry, no one was actually arrested!)

Ericka and Drew took the immediate break up of their wedding in stride. Soon, we were all moving into the station where I took some romantics – which were not without problems, of course! Union Station is in fact a train station. And, because it’s a train station there are plenty of vagrants wondering around. While taking some shots of Ericka and Drew a young lady lost her lunch in the seats next to where we were. I hadn’t noticed and neither did Drew or Ericka so when we tried to use those seats… poor Ericka got up-chuck all over the bottom of her dress! She was super cool about it and just told one of the guests, Justin (featured here!), to get a set of scissors and just chop off the gross bit of dress.

Despite the break-up of the ceremony and the unfortunate dress mishap the entire event was in true Tucker/Tompkins style. I was not only lucky to have been asked to photograph the event but I am lucky enough that these two wonderful people are in my life.

So, here’s to Ericka and Drew – may your marriage go smoother than your wedding!