AIRLINE FLIGHTS PRICES

After the loss of our 14 yd old Shepherd, Bear (whom we'd rescued from a homeless person when he was only 10 months old), I wanted to return to the breed I had been raised with: Airedale Terriers, not a common breed in Northern California. I wanted to rescue again, something I feel very strongly about, and thanks to Petfinder.com, makes it MUCH easier. For 4 months I checked Petfinder.com daily, with no success. The few under 1yr old, were snatched up almost before they hit the site and most were on the East Coast. In mid-September, I finally found our boy posted: 7 month old abandoned on a ranch in rural southern WA state. I fell in love with his face at 1st sight. I contacted the rescue to get his story and start the adoption process. Although they'd never done an out of state adoption, we proceeded. My husband thought I was crazy, flying from the Bay Area to WA to adopt a dog I'd never met in person. I just knew he be a perfect match for us and our two girls, then aged 9 yrs & 7 yrs. I booked a flight, hotel and rental car and planned my trip north. I arrived to meet a scared, only 35 lbs little boy. He huddled next to my leg while waiting to go to the vet for his final shots and sign off from the vet (paperwork required from the airline). I had already stopped at the PETCO near the airport to purchase a travel crate, food, toys, leash & collar to have with me. After finalizing his adoption, we left for the hotel (had to find one that allowed dogs) but had to pit stop again at PETCO for the food and water bowls I had forgotten on the 1st trip. We woke at 5am to head to the airport for our next experience. his crate had to be fully inspected by TSA and then I took him outside for one finally bathroom stop before the flight - he wasn't going to be out of his crate for almost 8 hours (connecting flight). We found a grassy spot, played for a bit and then tried to head back in. The moment his paws hit the vinyl floor, he dropped to a down-stay and would not move. I ended up carrying him back to his crate. 10 hours later, we finally arrived home to meet the family~what a sight! I don't think he'd ever been on tile before and he was so excited his little behind wiggled like an Aussie shepherd! We got some meat on his bones, cleared up a horrible ear infection and welcomed him to our family. Almost $4000 for the process/trip/supplies & vet trips, but worth every penny.
The photo is his 1st Christmas at his forever home. We love you, Judd!

Leica M2
Voigtlander Super Wide Heliar 15mm F4.5 Aspherical
Kodak Elitechrome Extra Color

First time in Vietnam & I booked a direct flight to Hanoi. The main idea was to be there to shoot & attend a fellow RF-er's wedding in Hanoi.

I spend 5 days mostly alone in Hanoi. I had no prior planning on where I should be going or what I should be doing. Just booked a flight & the hotel & let the road take me for 5 days before I met up with Mai to head to Halong Bay.

I enjoyed shooting there, the only thing that allowed me to get to places & navigate would be my iPhone with the GPS & just one pirated copy of Lonely Planet, Vietnam sold along the streets in Hanoi.

Every morning before I got out of the hotel, read a couple of pages of Lonely Planet, Vietnam, routed the route on my iPhone & walked around for almost 4-5hours each day taking pictures & experiencing the local culture.

Most of the locals called me "dien" which meant "mad" in Vietnamnese as in the daily average of 15 degree celsius, I was only wearing T-shirts, berms. I got quite a fair bit of stares from all the locals as they were all wrapped up in their jackets etc.

The old quarter where I stayed in was an amazing place & that was the place where the wonderful street life takes place. From 5am-11pm, there was plenty to shoot all round.

I guess the only problem there would be communication as the Vietnamese people do not actually speak English well.

I nearly got robbed on my first night in Hanoi as some dodgy looking girl came up to me & tried to pick my pocket while talking to me. Threw her a nice Lennox Lewis heavy right hook to her face & broke her nose! ha!!!!

Other than that incident that took place, Hanoi was just perfect. The street side food, the weather, it was all perfect! Didn't wanna come home at all!

These are my documentation of life in Hanoi, I hope you all enjoy them!