Tam and Borias' Comic-Con Adventure

I think we're finally recovered from FOUR whole days at the recent San Diego Comic-con convention this past weekend. Boy, what a whirlwind weekend that was! Celebs! Costumes! Massive amounts of humans! And a couple working dogs, Bo included.

This was his second Comic-con attendance with me, and he handles it so darn well, I'm even impressed. Thick crowds don't seem to phase him one little bit...though when we would get to a hallway that was sparse, he would let loose and want to bounce around like "I'm freeee!!!" LOL.

I imagine if I was smelling a lot of B.O. so was he! It's also hilarious to watch his face while seeing various costumed characters. One was like the swamp thing or something, like a human seaweed. He made this strange face, then went right up to the guy to sniff, and everyone laughed. You could see that he realized it was indeed a person in there, but he sure looked baffled.

Same with R2D2, where I had him pose next to. Wasn't sure if it was a giant toy, or what. That made funny noises. And he tried to steal a tribble from some Star Trek babes! I love having him pose with characters, and the others around love it, too. One favorite was when he went right inside a giant "toy package" of Boba Fett for me to get his photo. Bobo Fett!

The best part for me, is the celebs I want to connect with, and this year there was a ton as usual. I had some really great experiences. Chatted with Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict from the old Battlestar Galactica, which I loved when I was in High School. Had a huge crush on Dirk - and I told him! The first day, I went to see Danny Elfman, genius composer. I used to hang out backstage after Oingo Boingo shows in their last years, and those are some very fond memories. Danny was very funny, and signed autographs at the end. I wanted to say hello, but the mob nearly pushed me over. So I peeked in the curtain as he was passing by...and said the stupidest thing I could think of; "remember me?" Duh. Oh well.

Sure wish I could've met Angelina Jolie, but I got some awesome images of her, especially a couple where she noticed Borias, and smiled looking down at him! Cool! Another actor I used to hang with is Tim Omunsdon from Psych. He immediately saw me, and pointed to me..then whispered to Dule' Hill next to him. Hmmmm, wonder what he said!

Another huge highlight, was at long last getting to meet Lucy Lawless, Xena Warrior Princess. Or, rather now she's been on Spartacus Blood and Sand. Borias is named for a character on Xena, and I have liked her husband, Rob Tapert's work for a long time. Big Evil Dead trilogy fan, and love what he did with the story lines on Xena. So, I heard at the Spartacus panel, that there was going to be a party. Only, I had no idea where. I wasn't going to be a dork and ask, even though I came across one of the producers. But later that eve after the con, I went to Stingaree, and noticed a backdrop up, for studios. I asked if the party was there, and sure enough, it was.

I had a few drinks (liquid ambition), and found out there was an elevator to the roof, so just went up there to scope it out, Borias by my side. Within minutes, I started chatting to a guy and mentioned wanting to meet Lucy for a long time, and he said "hang on, I'll get her"...

Moments later, there she was. And she was super nice! I don't recall everything said, but I do remember telling her about Rob, her husband, being the one to help name my dog. She listened, but halfway through said "MY Rob???" Yeah! They had a GSD who they had to give up awhile back, and now have one again. Yay! Even though I had my camera, I had no flash unit, so someone took our pic together. I haven't gotten it, yet...hopefully I do sometime. Regardless, it was super great to meet her after wanting to for like 13 years or so. It was the right time, under the best circumstances.

I also got to chat a bit with Andy Whitfield, the star of the series. Super nice guy, and hunky, too! he recently overcame Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, which was detected early, and he went through chemo. I told him about my mom having breast cancer twice, and kicking it's ass through holistic treatments.

Sunday was the last day, and the only thing I really was into seeing that day was GLEE! I was again fortunate, and was able to get autographs after the panel discussion, and got a cool poster signed by some of the cast. That is such a great show, which is unafraid to tackle tough issues head on, with a great sense of humor, and music!

So, here's a sampling of some of the photos I took of Borias posing with people, and some of the artists I think very highly of. More can be seen on my Flickr page.

This is Brittney Powell, who played Brunhilde on Xena for several episodes. She's a super cool gal, and had a GSD awhile back. Obviously, Borias really turns to jello posing with her!

Help make us #1 !!

Heart Dog Studios is competing for best pet photography on the 10 News A-List. Please dear readers, Borias thanks you from the bottom of his heart if you would take a moment to vote for us! Help make us #1 !! There's a badge over to the right sidebar there to click on. Thank you so much!

WOOF!

Lensbaby fun

I recently got a new fun lens to play around with, called a Lensbaby. They distort the area that's out of focus, and you can move them around for various degrees of the effect. Gotta manually focus them, so it's tricky. But they can make some very fun photos!

My ever willing (well, ok, sometimes LOL) model posed for a few. As you can see from one, he does argue about being made to pose! Which makes some interesting photos, too!

Life

I seriously don't know why I am not writing here more. So, so much of my dog is a part of me...my growth. I think I've been so caught up in trying to make a "career", that I'm neglecting some really important stuff.

Not to say my career isn't good, because, I really do love it, and am trying with all my heart to pursue it. I had a realization tonight, that the reason I love shooting dogs with my camera so much, is going through the images, and lingering on what it is that makes me love dogs so much. They cut through all the bullshit in life, and look right into your soul. They make your soul want to laugh and sing.

It was a good night. I had one of those random "I'm just going out to eat wherever" times, and found in my "heart neighborhood", Hillcrest, there was an art night going on. And Councilman Todd Gloria was turning on some new lights in the middle of that 'hood. I said hello to him, as this was the umpteenth time I've been to some event he's been at. Though I'm not sure...I do think he might've accused me of liking to be where cameras are! Well, not guilty this time ha ha!

I'm really glad that I had the wild hair to stop off at Gossip Grill. Earlier in the day, I ran into a gal who told me she saw Borias sherd up those pro Prop 8 signs in the March For Equality. I can't begin to explain how amazing that makes me feel, when I have those moments. Something you do that's so spur of the moment, and that your dog takes the spirit of, and heartily joins in on...I mean, it was truly a moment to remember forever. Well, that gal was at Gossip Grill, and I was invited to come to a party at Rich's, a nightclub across the street.

I took Borias home by bus, fed my critters, and then headed back to go have a good time. I was also really pleasantly surprised that other women I know from here and there in the hood, also knew each other. Small world. And we all reveled in how much we loved Glee !! Ah Glee! I mean...it's just a show that gets it, right? I've been a Gleek all my life. Feeling like the Other. Not quite fitting in. Yet, being proud of being different, too. Knowing deep down inside, there's something special going on.

Well, this gal I met earlier, and ended up partying the rest of the night with....is moving to NYC very soon. I told her about my Bernadette Peters experience. She's seeing shows I am desperate to see. I think I really must take life by the reigns, and go for it. I think it's time we see NYC. Borias is still up for adventures. Before the parade passes by, right ? (Ironically, that played on XM after I met Ms. Peters.)

It's an odd feeling for me, people telling me they like me, that I'm great, or cool. Me ?? I still somehow think it must be the alcohol heh. But in the end, I'm grateful...that despite some serious raining on my parade, that the sun still comes out.

Which brings me back to dogs, and my heart.... no matter how you feel, or, how bad a day you're having? Just look at some good images of dogs, you know...dogs being dogs. It's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. I'm really thankful that I have found a calling in capturing those type of images.

Because, well, dogs rule : )

A Letter from an Icon

I am still pinching myself over this! So amazing how events can happen, at just the right moment. I was having a really bad day, feeling blue, Borias not feeling well with a stomach upset (he chews himself and gets hair in his tummy, which of course, does not agree with him). I've been working so hard on the business, and still not getting a lot of it despite all my efforts. So I decided to take a break, and go to a local hang out in the gayborhood called "Urban Mo's", where they were having a Broadway show tune night. My kind of thing!

So I donned my Glee t-shirt and started on my way, stopping to get the mail. There was a little envelope down deep, from NYC. The outside said "Peters". It slowly dawned on me that it was from none other than Bernadette Peters, whom I met about six months ago after her concert here in town! Eagerly opening it, I found a card with a hand-written letter! I had sent her a "heart dog" painting several months ago, to be used for a Broadway Barks/Broadway Cares event fundraiser,and didn't hear anything of it. I worried that maybe she thought it sucked, or didn't get it. Not that I expected to hear from her personally, but I emailed Broadway Barks to ask about it at one point.

Well, wow. She loved the painting, calling it inspiring, and that it hasn't been used yet, but will at another upcoming Broadway Barks event. She said that Borias and I exemplify the connection between man and dog, which I thought was amazingly cool : ) That she even took the time to write to me personally is really a great honor. I've admired her for many years, and it was such a huge treat to get to see her live. I was invited to see her in A Little Night Music, which she's going to be doing starting this summer on Broadway. If only I could afford to go to NYC at this point. That's something I've dreamed of doing!

What a gracious, wonderful, super-talented lady she is. And even cooler is her love and commitment to homeless pets. If you've never heard of Broadway Barks, check it out. Wonderful organization!

Artsy Borias

Thought I'd share this photo I took today, at the side of a school in South Park San Diego. I went by it on a bus last week, and thought it would be a great background. I love how my boy is smiling for the pic!

Out of my Element

Sometimes that old saying is so true, "Shit Happens". This past Friday, I was on my way to a charity event, for the Horses of Tir Na Nog, where I had a canvas print of Clark, the retired police horse on auction. On the freeway, just left home, some older woman pushes me out of the lane I was in, totally clueless. I went around her, and back into the lane to turn off the freeway, looking in my rear view mirror, since she was tailgaiting me.

Suddenly...BAM! I rammed an AT&T van ahead of me, who had virtually stopped on the freeway, rather than changing lanes to let people merge. Ouch. I felt pain as the steering wheel hit me in the chest and gut, then saw my beloved dog fly forward. He hit the back of my chair, thankfully, instead of the windshield. I didn't even have time to brake, it was just so sudden. I must've been going 35 mph or so. Airbags didn't go off!!

Couldn't have happened at a worse time. I didn't have car rental with my insurance, and my deductible is a grand. More ouch. My wheelchair got a little jacked, and they don't cover "special equipment". Luckily though, Borias is OK. He was eager to get the hell out of the car, but he didn't seem worse for the situation.

Did the whole CHP routine, then got towed off the freeway while still in the car, where me and Borias walked to the wine and cheese party for the horse. I downed some advil and cheerleaded for my auction item, which ultimately brought $400 to help this horse. Yay! The tow guy thought my car was totaled. I feared he was right. Didn't find out what was going on til Monday.

More blessings, the car is fixable, and the engine was OK, other than some sensors up front being smashed. Most of it's cosmetic. That's a relief. I'm still without my very cool Honda Element for several weeks, however. Me and Bo had to take buses to the surf dog event, and hitch a ride to another event called Pet-a-Palooza in Alpine. I know I know, I should've rested, but I had obligations! And I wanted to meet Victoria Stilwell from It's Me Or The Dog, on Animal Planet! Plus, I took photos for Second Chance Dog Rescue.

So, glad to find out my Element is going to be new again. Well, almost. Kinda. Heh. Looking at the bright side, there was a mysterious dent on the hood that used to bug me. Well, that'll be gone now ha ha!