Ikuru Gets Deported

Ramblin' Ikuru Kuwajima got notice a few weeks ago he had to leave the country. I gave him a ride from Vermont to Boston where he stayed at my place for a night before flying to Romania, where visas aren't required.

God Speed, Ikuru.

Shiloh and Ash

I went back to Vermont for the first time in three months. I dined with Jen and Peter, shot a really fun wedding, hung out with Jason, and looked after these two, below, while Jen was living the big city life in New York.

A storm left us without power for a few days, but Shiloh and Ash didn't seem to notice.

Mike and Jess

Jess gives her fiance a kiss as she tucks Mike in last night. The two were kind enough to let me rest my head on their pillow-top air mattress during my 36-hour visit to New York City.

I'll be shooting their wedding in three weeks. Looking forward to that one.

Deck

After feasting at Applewood, Mike and I drank scotch on his rare and beautiful Brooklyn patio.

Mikaal

I haven't seen Mikaal since 1993. We used to choreograph dance routines to Another Bad Creation while wearing overall shorts with just one strap over the shoulder. Things have changed a little since then, but not by much.

Mike took this one of Mikaal and I at Applewood in Brooklyn.

Small Town

I was standing on 6th Ave. in Manhattan eating a lamb and chicken gyro on Wednesday when I looked up to see my old classmate and friend Nina walking towards me. The day before she celebrated her fourth year in the big city. What are the chances street food would bring us together like this.

Master and Commander

Yesterday afternoon Alex invited me to go sailing with his dad on the Boston Harbor. They pulled on ropes. I took pictures.

North of the Border

Jeremy and Nancy flew up to Boston from Mexico City to spend time with Jeremy's family, catch a Red Sox game, and eat a good slice of pizza.

Hugo

A month ago Hugo Liu and I ran around MIT taking pictures for an L.A. Times food story. Good portraits don't always rely on good subjects, but in this case it did.

Dorchester Nights

Nana Gets Inked

Brooke's grandmother got her first tattoo a few weeks ago. She's already planning her second.

The Origin of Love

Dorchester and Me

Coming home is nice. Brooke came over last night and we opened one of her fancy wine bottles she got in California earlier this year. It went great with our Vietnamese take-out and our respective updates on Boston and Michigan gossip.

Michigan, je t'aime

I had a great visit in Michigan. After almost a week it still felt like I was leaving too early. The biggest shock about being in Midland and visiting my old haunts was how familiar and normal it all was.

My last night in Michigan we went to Bay City and got ice cream. These four, below, also enjoyed the warm night with a cool cone.

John and Paula

In the fall of 1970 my father was enrolled at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School with John Dick and Steve Jones. They quickly became friends and so did their wives. Since 1981, the three couples have spent a week of vacation together in coastal North Carolina with their children. So, it was a pleasant surprise to learn when applying for a job at the Midland Daily News that John and Paula had recently moved to Midland. They became my family away from my family. Occasionaly, I would even go to church where John preached.

I went to service on Sunday to surprise John and Paula. I, too, was surprised when I found my name tag hadn't been thrown out. It was tucked away in a drawer.

Alex

After years of covering the country with his camera, Alex has settled down to focus on one town in the Mid-west. He's made a nice home for himself in Bay City, and it was good to hang out with him tonight, eating his roasted chicken, drinking his fresh-mint-from-the-garden mojitos, and browsing his photobooks.

Ella

I remember when Ryan and Angie left the Midland Daily News Christmas party to give birth to Ella. Ella and I have had a tumultuous relationship since. She calls the shots most of the time. We had a break-through on this trip, however. It's like we've been friends all along.

Ryan took the picture of Brett, Ella, Angie, and I doing our exercises this morning.

Buford and Mindy

Tuesday November 2, 2004 I was in line to exercise my most important right as an American citizen. It was in that line Buford and I first met. We had a suspicion we weren't voting for the same guy everyone around us was. We struck up a conversation, and eventually Bufurd, and his wife Mindy, became my personal life in Midland. They took me in, looked after me, and filled me with food, drink and spirit.

We took The Pig out for a spin last night before I crashed in their immaculate guest bedroom.

Ryan

Almost three years ago I lied to Ryan when I told him I was going to be driving the 10 hours to Midland to visit some friends. I didn't want to look desperate. If he hadn't agreed to see me I don't know where my photography career would be. My portfolio at the time sure wasn't going to get me a job. But Ryan took a risk on me. I'm lucky to have called this man my boss.

Here is Ryan with his rally cap just after the Great Lakes Loons lost tonight.

Brett

Brett and I once lived together while both staff photographers at the Midland Daily News. I was fortunate to work along side him for the time I did. We made a pretty good team. Living with him wasn't so bad either. He makes a mean Frog in a Hole.

Bruce

My friend Bruce picked me up at the Midland airport a few hours ago. My reunion tour started with a piece of pie at Riverside, a family dining experience Bruce introduced me to more than three years ago.

After almost two years gone, I'm back to see my people.