Saturday, December 12, 2009

"check it out this" little baby




He's so cute. His name is Klein. He belongs to this lady. If one is not enough, there are a few more photos of him on my photo blog

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Danielle Locken Photography

I come bearing news (and I think it's good news).


In the wake of finding out that the domain name I had long been eyeing (grafiaphotography.com) has now been claimed, I've decided to take my photography business in a new direction by giving it a new name, and what better name than my own, right? Right?


Go check out Danielle Locken Photography and be sure to note that the URL is no longer grafiaphotography.blogspot.com.


For the month of December I'm offering a special on family and individual portrait sessions. $75 will get you a one-hour session with me at one location of your choice and a CD with all images from the session. This is the perfect time to get your Christmas card photos taken! I still have a few spots left, so email me at daniellelocken@gmail.com or ring me at 714-580-3111 to book a spot. 


Also, be sure to become a fan of Danielle Locken Photography on Facebook and tell all your friends to do the same! 


Phew. Okay, that was my little schpeel. Thanks for reading.


Love,


Danielle

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

sin city


I didn't sin in sin city. I did, however, have a couple of virgin pina coladas, which were pretty fantastic. The cocktail waitress looked at me like I was a grandma (no offense to any grandmothers out there).




I also saw enough neon to hold me over for a few years.



Wednesday, November 11, 2009

help

I'm pleading with you readers out there.
Someone, inject some sort of all-natural energizing and motivating something into my veins...
Schoolwork whispers in my ear, "time to work on me," but I just ignore its annoying little voice and find other things that need to be done--like dusting or slow-roasting chiles over the stove. Completely necessary.
It's that time of year again.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Pop Art


strangers on this road we are on
we are not two; we are one

Friday, November 6, 2009

creeps of the month


ventriloquist dummy

mad scientist

Thursday, October 15, 2009

best HALLOWEEN songs?

Kiffy came home the other day to find me listening to spooky Halloween sounds. He laughed at me and called me a weirdo (which I am, If you think about it--I mean, who listens to Halloween sounds like doors creeking, creepy organ music, werewolves howling, and creepy children giggling, just for kicks? I do. But I promise it's only a seasonal thing). I attempted to explain that I was constructing the perfect Halloween playlist. I've got my creepy soundscapes, but would like your opinion on other fitting songs that need to be added to the party portion of my playlist.


So far I've got:


"Weird Science"
"Dead Man's Party"
"Rock Lobster"
"Ghost Town"
"Thriller"
"Love Will Tear Us Apart"
"Head Over Heels"
"The Monster Mash"
"Somebody's Watching Me"



Herein lies my problem. My list is so sad.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

beisbol, shmeisbol


Some of you may agree that baseball games are ... well ... boring. Please forgive me if you're a fan, it's just that they are soooooo loooooooooooooooong and slllloooooooooooooooow. Things are looking up, though! I found a way to pass the time I spend at baseball games rather pleasantly.


Kiffy loves baseball. It's a trait passed down from his father's side. My brother and his girlfriend are insane Doyer (Dodger) fans. So naturally, at the Dodger game, Kiffy, my brother, and my brother's girlfriend have a wonderful time. I, on the other hand, have a wonderful time for other reasons--'cause I get to eat LOADS of junk (It was the best).


Sitting in my nose-bleed seat with no room for my lanky legs to stretch, my mind is in a completely different place from the company I keep. I'm sure a few die-hard Dodger fans (like the ones we pass on our way in who beg for extra tickets) would like to smack some sense into me if they only knew I care nothing for baseball.


 I pass the time by planning out my meal for the night (Dodger Dog--check. Nachos--check--but I have to share with Kiffy. Frozen lemonade--check), then eating my meal, and watching beach balls bounce through the crowd.


Had you been there, you might have heard me asking, "What's the score," "Who's up?" or "What inning is it?" I didn't know. And I didn't really care either way. I was happy with my food and my company.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

a visit from gramma

Get out your red pens and open up your ears. School House Rock enlightens grammar-starved minds and 
makes good music. Can I get this on my Ipod?





Now that we've had a quick review, let's practice, shall we? To echo the words of my eye doctor,
"One better, or two better?
Three, or four?
Again?
Three? Four?
About the same?"
Go to it:
1. The man who/whom I almost hit with my car was riding a bicycle.
2. Dunder Mifflin Corporation bases its/their decisions on extensive research.
3. Someone on the chess team left their/his or her Trapper Keeper on the table.


Friday, September 25, 2009

oh gnome!

A bit creepy, a little heartbreaking, kind of funny, and very nostalgic. I never knew this would be the fate of David the Gnome, but I guess eternal life as a tree is only fitting for gnomes, and it ain't a bad way to go either. Apparently, this is the very last episode of the TV show I loved as a kid, and a heavy episode it is. This is just a small clip.
You may cry a tear, as did I--I'm just sayin'.



Saturday, September 12, 2009

tea time

Lady Toni Donovan hosted an afternoon tea for the ladies in our family (although some gentlemen decided to crash it). 
It was a beautiful afternoon--my eyeballs were inspired and my taste buds were satiated. There were yummy treats, beautiful outfits (hats were mandatory), an array of tea cups and saucers to choose from, and lots of feminine chit-chat.
I gorged myself on too many scones and delicate finger sandwiches--not very ladylike--but, oh well.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

summer love

IMG_8706_wm
Some very sweet people right here. 
Check le photo blog
for more of this duo.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

don't tell Kiffy...

I was looking through his CD collection as I was updating my ipod and found something I thought you might find interesting. It was an ATB CD (you'll remember them from the tune below).

This is how I know we're one another's perfect match. There's nothing like good/bad techo beats that make me feel like I'm soaring through a jungle.
Don't ask. 

I have a husband who enjoys the same and I'm sure would understand exactly what was meant by that last bit. I can just picture us growing old together, sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs, watching the sun as it sets, CD player at 
our feet blasting "Don't Stop."

Monday, August 31, 2009

Sweat-tember

THINGS I LEARNED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: 
1. It's difficult to fit my new lunch bag into my backpack--a total disappointment. 
2. Wyatt from Weird Science is the new Medievalist in our English Department. WEEEEEEEEEIRD! 
3. Budget cuts = sweaty classrooms = sweaty Danielle & sweaty Kiffy. 
4. Furlough days = me getting gypped.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

stay-cation day 2

One trip to The Container Store, two organized sock drawers, (I don't know if these first two should be included as official stay-cation activities) one matinee, and a couple of never-ending pasta bowls later, and we've come to the conclusion of our stay-cation. As promised, it was quite eventful.
However, today we did bike to 7-11 for Slurpees. I guess if we count working, going to school, and running seemingly pointless errands as the necessary evils of our stay-cations, and throw in some fun here and there, it seems our lives can be perceived as one perpetual stay-cation, can't they? 
Maybe not.  
And maybe next time we'll just go camping.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

stay-cation day 1

We are broke. So, we'll be having a stay-cation this summer.

Kiffy hates hybrid words, by the way (he told me so when I brought up having a stay-cation this year), but I think they are clever. Stay-cation, stay-cation. Ever since he agreed to this so-called stay-cation, he says I've been over using the term. He's right.

Day one consisted of once again taking advantage of our close proximity to Little Saigon. We dropped some big bucks and had 15 dollar hour-long massages. You might be thinking this sounds a little sketchy. I did too. And maybe it is a little bit. But, alas, it was legit and strong Korean men do give great massages. We both had a fine, relaxing time, and isn't that what massages are all about anyway?

To top off our luxurious day, we got some delicious chicken McNuggets to fill our bellies as per Kiffy's request. A fine day, indeed!

Stay tuned to see what day 2 has in store for us. Ohhhh, exciting!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

band meeting


our place or yours?

Monday, August 10, 2009

Pretty Amy

I need more models. Any takers?

Sunday, August 9, 2009

happy birthday, ma

Fun day. Inclusive of pozole, carrot cake and cousins! Here are a few cousins. There's more to glimpse on my photo blog!



Tuesday, August 4, 2009

perks of teaching in Little Saigon


BOBA smoothies on a boiling day! I've acquired quite the taste for those strange-textured little tapioca pearls. Remember when Boba became the hip thing to drink? The hype over Boba has died out some since cupcakes and fro-yo have taken it's place, but there will always be a corner in my heart for Boba. Doubleplusgood!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Ladybugs

Thursday, May 21, 2009

the unreasonable dreamer in me is always thinking about the next exciting trip we can take

If I didn't have Kiffy to bring me back down to earth and remind me that my big dreams are a little too excessive for our penniless state, I'd probably be sleeping under a freeway overpass somewhere in Los Angeles.

BUT, this time we've come to an agreement that in T minus 365 days we'll embark on the road trip of our lives!! The planning is officially underway.

The plan is to take one month next summer and drive cross-country so we can explore the good ole' USA.

We figure it's about 3,500 miles, give or take a few, from California to the East coast. We're not quite sure of the routes we'll take yet. But I do know that I plan on eating fried green tomatoes, stopping in as many podunk towns as possible, and seeing Coney Island.

Any suggestions of must-sees we shouldn't miss?

I'm looking forward to the open road. Until then, we'll be packing this baby with our spare change to keep the dream alive!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A twitch of the scalp

I have one. 27 hours without sleep and counting . . .

Question: at what point does lack of sleep become dangerous?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

And they will have children with beautiful eyes




For more, check out grafia photography!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My sentiments exactly

Analyze this!

"Children's Games" by Brueghel


The poem by William Carlos Williams about the painting by Brueghel:

Children's Games

I

This is a schoolyard
crowded
with children

of all ages near a village
on a small stream
meandering by

where some boys
are swimming
bare-ass

or climbing a tree in leaf
everything
is motion

elder women are looking
after the small
fry

a play wedding a
christening
nearby one leans

hollering
into
an empty hogshed

II

Little girls
whirling their skirts about
until they stand out flat

tops pinwheels
to run in the wind with
or a toy in 3 tiers to spin

with a piece
of twine to make it go
blindman's-buff follow the

leader stilts
high and low tipcat jacks
bowls hanging by the knees

standing on your head
run the gauntlet
a dozen on their backs

feet together kicking
through which a boy must pass
roll the hoop or a

construction
made of bricks
some mason has abandoned

III

The desperate toys
of children
their

imagination equilibrium
and rocks
which are to be

found
everywhere
and games to drag

the other down
blindfold
to make use of

a swinging
weight
with which

at random
to bash in the
heads about

them
Brueghel saw it all
and with his grim

humor faithfully
recorded
it

Monday, May 11, 2009

Love this kid for various reasons . . .

one being that he does what I say




Wednesday, April 22, 2009

mary



Today I was able to photograph little Mary Lockhart. She was so adorable in her strawberry outfit. She was smiling lots and was such a good model.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

a day in the life

Today consists of translating Beowulf from Old English into Modern English and that's about it.

Kiffy is busy doing mad-scientist things in his lab.

And now that we've completed all ten seasons of Friends, we don't know what to do with our lives.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

we're on a boat!

Had a little photo shoot/bike ride day with Anne Bench today. We had lots of fun!

we call this one "ANTARCTICA"


oh snap!


isn't she lovely in tiger stripes?

Monday, March 30, 2009

tamales for me


Today my mother and grandmother made tamales and atole. MMMMMM! The two accompany one another really well. Dinner was spectacular!

Being Mexican means Kiffy and I get free tamales! A whole bag fullovem! Come over and maybe we'll eat 'em up together.

Joshua Tree through the new lens







Thursday, March 26, 2009

Where the Wild Things Are


Watch the trailer here!

SPRING BREAK 2009!!



HOLLA. Right now, I feel the way these silly sunburned college kids from (perhaps) the Midwest do. I'm not in Cancun checking out scantily clad bodies or sipping beach-themed cocktails. But, it's spring break. Time to have time to do things I love. We're headed to Joshua Tree for some camping fun. We'll commune with nature and regroup amongst the jumbo rocks and pretty flowers. Ahhh, I'm so happy. I feel the stress melting away already. Kiffy, I'm sure, feels the same way.

Monday, March 23, 2009

word of advice

To those who own a camera, NEVER EVER attempt to clean dust off your sensor/focusing screen/mirror on your own. Let someone who knows what they're doing take care of it. You just might break something, as did I, and want to kick yourself in the neck, as did I. Learn this lesson the easy way and take my advice.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

King Cake!

I had my first taste of King Cake today in honor of Mardi Gras.

Yup, interesting day.

I never knew there was such a thing.


It's a pastry-like cake filled with cream cheese and apple goodness and decorated in green, gold and purple sprinkles, the official colors of Mardi Gras. New Orleanians, or those who participate in the OG Mardi Gras festivities, (it hasn't always been about winning beads in very bad, dirty, dirty ways) hold this very special treat near and dear to their hearts.

There's even a little baby baked into the cake. Not a human baby, (that would be disgusting, of course) but a miniature, plastic, human baby. The lucky person who finds the baby in his slice is made king or queen for the day and is also responsible for providing the next King Cake.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

my inner nerd

An abstract for a paper I wrote for my comics class (yes, I'm taking a class in grad school on comics) on Watchmen was accepted to an academic conference--The Living Text 2009--at CSUF. I've got mixed feelings about it all.

On the one hand, I'm very excited to know that my hard work is taking me places and I'll have the chance to have my work heard. I mean, this is what grad students are supposed to do. I sort of feel official now. On the other, I'm frightened of speaking for 20 minutes in front of a large group of really smart strangers, turning beet red, looking like I can't breathe, sounding like I have a Birmingham accent because It's impossible for me to breathe, etc.

These are all valid fears because they've happened to me before. I'm hoping that one day all of these things that happen to me when I get really nervous will never happen again because I'll somehow get over my fear of speaking in public to my peers or superiors.

Strange, but this never happened to me when I taught ESL. I think it was because I spoke English and my students, well, didn't.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Old Elvish

Don't ask me why, but this semester I'm taking a course on Old English among others. Sure, it's a dead language, but it has its benefits--one possibly being the ability to sound like I speak Elvish.

My poor husband. He's got a geek for a wife. Anyway, Mel's got the right idea in this little video.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

mushaboom


Red mushrooms with white spots. We saw these babies on a hike. They don't just exist in Super Mario Bros.