Six Flags... Again

Today myself and three of my other friends from work Jessica, Pedro, and Liz all went to Six Flags Great America. We had been planning this trip for a while now, I cant believe its already over.
We got to the park around 10am when it opened and we didn't leave the park until 10:30pm. By the time we got to Pedro's car we were all pooped and ready to relax. We dragged out all of the coolers we brought and pigged out on some food in the parking lot. Then we left back to AMC where we had all parked our cars earlier that morning. Overall it was a fantastic day! Our friend Pedro wanted to do the flash pass and I've never done one before but it turned out great. It was actually pretty freaking busy for a Wednesday so we were happy to be able to cut in line on all the roller coasters. We just had to reserve our spot in the little flash pass and then we'd show up at the coaster and they'd let us right in at that certain time. I think the flash pass was a wonderful idea after all and I'd highly recommend it. I would definitely do it again the next time I go to Six Flags. Between the four of us we all only spent around $56 dollars for the initial costs which is cheap for Six Flags. The $56 included our buy one get one free online ticket, the parking, and flash pass which were both split between the four of us. So overall after dividing the cost between the four of us it was a cheap day honestly. I could have spent much more at Six Flags but we got some good deals and it was all worth it. After we had a picnic in the parking lot at Pedro's car for lunch we decided to go check out Hurricane Harbor water park. I was so excited because I'd never been in there before and everything looked like a blast. In the end Hurricane Harbor was the worst time I had all day. Half the attractions in there were closed for maintenance or random stupid reasons and the lines were long as heck. We literally walked all the way across the park to go on the lazy river which we didn't even end up going on because it had a line winding around three times. Then we decided to go to the wave pool because at this point we just wanted to get wet anywhere. The wave pool was closed for maintenance so we headed over to the kitty area desperate to get wet and as soon as I put my foot in the water the guy say's sorry we're closed because apparently somebody had just puked in the pool. So all in all we went on like two water slides that we had to wait forever in line for and we were at the water park almost three hours. As soon as we left the water park and started going on rides again my happy meter shot way up. I was disappointed how much I hated Hurricane Harbor. For a first experience it sure was a bad one and I rate it a D for the day. Tomorrow I have to get up early to work and as soon as I'm done working its off to the cottage. I'm going to be so tired I'll probably pass out and sleep the entire car ride.

Me posing with Superman.















All of us with Porky the Pig.















Hurricane Harbor view from the top of a water slide.















Pedro in a fountain of water.















Jaws!















Jaw's is about to chomp my head off!















Self portrait taken on Raging Bull with my DV1 HD video camera. I'm not scared of Raging Bull at all. I just made this face for fun but it really looks like I'm terrified. This is my all time favorite picture of the day.















Liz on Orbit.















Six Flags at night from the top of American Eagle roller coaster.















Porky Pig at the glow in the dark parade.

TheMexicanHam

TheMexicanHam is a new YouTube channel I started. I always hang out with my three friends Carina, Carla, and Carol. I always end up video taping the hilarious stuff we do together. They are all sisters and their even more funny when their all together. So a few days ago I decided to start a YouTube channel devoted to all the things we do together. I'll probably edit all the videos we take and post them onto this channel. I designed the background in photoshop myself with the four of our heads on the side. If your screen is zoomed up to far you probably wont be able to see it but its there. I'm not satisfied with it but it will do for now until I think up something better. I'm really excited about this channel because I want to create scripts and shoot alot more short films for this channel. Our next video is going to be a music video we've decided. I'm really excited to get out and shoot this, we have endless possibility's.

www.youtube.com/user/themexicanham

The latest video on this channel was shot at Meijer grocery store. I came up with the script the day before and the next day we went to shoot it. I did all the technical behind the scenes work. I came up with the script, picked the location, filmed all the shots, edited the video and uploaded it to Youtube. It turned out great and I'm very proud of it.

9 decades and 4 years.

Happy Birthday to Grandma Mickow! Today we celebrated her 94th birthday at our house with some of the family. Can you believe she's been alive for approximately nine decades and four years. When she makes it to one hundred years old we can say she lived an entire century. She doesn't like when we make a big fuss over her and she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday. So today we didn't tell her anything about the party. Its easy to keep stuff from her, she had no idea anybody was even coming over at all. The family just showed up tonight, surprise! We had delicious vanilla and chocolate marble cake with ice cream. It was nice to see everyone as well, especially Kyri and baby Tessa because I don't get to see them to often and they grow fast. I think grandma enjoyed her birthday even though she doesn't like to celebrate I think she liked having the family over for a little bit anyways.

Kyri was in love with the Kitty's.













The famous birthday hat! We started the birthday hat tradition four years ago with grandma's 90th birthday.













John.













Grandma's vanilla and chocolate marble cake with whip cream frosting.













Singing Happy Birthday.













Kyri couldn't wait to get her hands on some cake!













Baby Tessa.













Kyri eating her cake and ice cream. Yummy!













Kyri and Great Grandma!













Kyri loved playing with all our horses, she was sad to leave them. When we put them back in the chest she said "their crying" even though we tried to convince her that that's their home and there happy there.

Swimming, Penguins and Tornados.

Yesterday my friend Pedro from work met up with me at my house so we could go swimming. Our friend Jessica from work was supposed to come along with us but she had to cancel on us at last minute. John had just gotten done working with my dad so we tried to drag him along. John and I had just been swimming at our friends apartment the day before and he had work later on so he didn't want to come. So Pedro and I just ended up going by ourselves to Kemmerling Pool in Roselle and had a blast anyways. We were praying for the rain to hold out until later and it did. It was a gorgeous day while we were at the pool. We hung out at the pool for over two hours and then we decided to go see Mr. Poppers Penguins at work. We drove to work, talked to John for a little while and went into our movie. Towards the end of the movie the screen just went completley black, the movie had shut off. Pedro and I went to go and find out what was up with the movie. We were not in uniform but we had to inform all the guests that we worked at the theater and we had to tell them that they all needed to evacuate the theater because there was a tornado warning. The sirens were going off and the clouds looked intense. After a while of everyone chilling in the hall way it got worse outside so the managers decided to move everyone into the theaters on the right side. So all the guests that were hanging out in the hall way started poring into the theaters and we all sat down. The managers were keeping us updated on the weather as we all just hung out and chilled in the theaters. Luckily I had my video camera with me as I usually do so I was able to keep myself occupied. I took pictures of people and was video taping. After a while the warning expired and everyone was able to go home. It was going to be a while before they even got every theater up and running again so we just talked to other employees and hung out but then we decided to go home. We drove back to my house and watched some home video's and then Pedro left. It was an exciting day. I've never been on tornado lock down at work before but it was pretty serious. People could leave if they wanted to because its not like AMC can really hold them there. Why would you be dumb enough to get in your car to drive home during extreme winds and tornado sirens though. Our theater had to give everyone re-admit passes to come back and see a free movie. They must of given out a million passes yesterday.

Kemmerling Pool.

















Tricks off of the diving board.

















Boredum during the tornado lock down at work.

YAY Fathers!

Happy Fathers Day everyone! My dad could care less about fathers day honestly but my mom being the loving mother and wife she is insisted that I get my dad a gift anyways. She told me to go out to a gas station or liquor store and get him some instant win cards. My dad likes the scratch off win $1,000 a week every week for the rest of your life cards. He's won a few dollars here and there on them before so I got him two of those. Sadly he didn't win a thing on the cards I got him. Other then that I didn't do a darn thing for fathers day. My parents went over to Pam and Carl's to spend the day with the Pam, Carl, Jessica and Carl, and Carl's sister Amy. They all had dinner there and probably spent the evening there. I couldn't go because I had to work from 3:00pm-9:00pm. What a lousy fathers day.. I didn't except to do much though.
Love ya Dad! BUNCHES!! Happy Fathers day.

Swimming

Summer is officially here for me because I have lots of plans for some swimming coming up in the next few weeks. On Monday John and I are going down to Chicago to meet up with our friend from work. We're going to go swimming in the pool at her apartment. On Wednesday the 29th a group of us from work are all going to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. My friends and I are also planning a Chicago trip so we can go to the beach very soon. Lastly, my family and I are all going to the lake for a week over fourth of July. All this swimming calls for a new swim suit. I can still wear the two old ones I have but I felt the need to buy a new swimming suit today. My new swim suit makes me even more excited for summer and all the swimming I'm going to be doing. I wasn't sure what I would find at Target since most people have probably already bought there swim suits but I ended up finding one that I liked. Swim suits are one thing that always give me trouble. I'm never a specific size and all swim suits fit very differently.

Summer Vacation

Right now I'm sitting at John's house listening to Schools out by Alice Cooper. I'm so excited to have some time off of school right now. This week is finals week at school but I've finished all my finals work so today was officially my last day of spring quarter. I am done with school for about three whole weeks until I start summer quarter on July 11th. I'm going to try to get as much work in as possible over my break but also plan alot of fun things as well. I'm going to plan a trip to the beach, a group of us from work are all going to Six Flags on Wednesday the 22nd. I'm also going on vacation to Minocqua for a week at the lake. These are just a few of the awesome things I have planned for my short mini summer vacation. It feels good to not have to worry about anything but work for a while.
For summer quarter I'm going to be taking three classes that fall on Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday and Saturday. I have alot more free time to work then I did for my spring quarter. This is great because I need to start making some more money so I can start paying my dad more for my school bills. The three classes I will be taking are called Fundamentals of Authoring, Art Direction and General Education Capstone. I'm hoping its not to hard of a quarter for me because I'm always lazier in the summer time then any other part of the year. Just the thought of everyone else being off of school while I have to go to school makes me kind of sad. Summer school is good for me though, I need to finish college as fast as I can.

A picture of me happily driving away from school.
Shot on my new DV1 HD video camera.

Underwater Video

Its here!!!!!!!!!!!! It finally arrived!!! I've only been waiting anxiously for this camera for weeks now. Today the doorbell rang and I ran to the door because I knew it was here. My new digital HD video camera has arrived. Its pocket sized so it fits right in my hand and in my pocket. Its shock proof, shoots 1080p HD video, its citrus orange, and best of all its waterproof. I can shoot video underwater with it for up to 16 feet deep. I had ordered it a few weeks ago because I wanted it to arrive before we went on our fourth of July vacation to Minocqua. For some reason the memory card didn't arrive at the same time as the camera so I'm still waiting on that. As soon as that arrives in a few days I'm going to start filming some under water videos so I can test the camera out before I put it to real use up at the lake. I think filming underwater in the lake will be a bit to dark but it will be fun to use in any pools. I did however test it in the sink today and I was able to turn it on while it was under water in the sink. I love this camera so much already and I'm so excited to start using it.
I'd been saving up all my quarters in one piggy bank and all the rest of my change in another piggy bank for a while. I wasn't saving my change up for anything special really. I just figured something would eventually come up that I would decide to use it for. When I found this camera online I knew right away what I was going to use all my change for. I cashed in $71 in quarters at the bank and combined with the rest of my change it came out to $90.48 which almost paid for my entire camera. This camera isn't an expensive camera. I got a new one for very cheap off of amazon and it works great!

25 Years old!

Yesterday June 9, 2011 was John's 25th birthday but we celebrated a few days earlier on Monday with brownies and presents at his uncles house. He was supposed to be working all day on his birthday and I have school and finals then so we didn't think we'd be able to do anything on his actual birthday. So on Monday night I came over to his uncles house and we ate brownies that I baked in a heart shaped cake pan. Then John opened the gifts I bought him and they all fit wonderfully. He needed some new clothes but wouldn't go out and buy some so I bought him some for his birthday. I knew most of his sizes but I wasn't to sure if the jean shorts I bought him would fit. Turns out they fit perfectly snug with no belt needed. I think I did a real good job shopping for him, he liked all the clothes I bought him and the pair of shoes as well.

John and I















New black button up shirt















Brownies in a heart shaped pan















Zelda t-shirt















Jean shorts















I also got John another t-shirt and a pair of shoes that I some how didn't get pictures of on Monday. I think it all looks really nice on him though.
On John's official birthday which was yesterday I ended up getting out of school early so I baked some Texas sheet cake brownies. Later on I met up with two of mine and John's friends from work and we all hung out at work with John and ate brownies and then the three of us went to see Super 8. Unfortunately John had to work so he couldn't come with us but he ended up getting off of work early so we all went to Steak and Shake and got some food. He was going to go home so he could sleep seeing as though he had to be up early this morning for work with my dad. However, everyone at work told him he had to do something on his birthday so he decided he would come with us to Steak and Shake after all. It wasn't even my birthday yesterday and I think I had the most fun of all. I got out of school early, baked brownies, pigged out on brownies at work, saw a movie, jammed to music in my friends car while driving to Steak and Shake and in the end I had a huge mint chocolate chip milk shake. It couldn't of been a better day!

Happy 25th Birthday John. I love you!

Pedro and Jessica















Super 8 in IMAX

Engagement Photos

With the ending of the Rose Festival they always have the Rose Parade. The Rose Parade is always held on the Sunday which would be today.
Today at 2:00 pm was the annual Rose Parade and I was upset that I had to miss it. Even though its the same stuff every year its tradition. I've been going to the Rose parade with my family for years. We sit with all our friends in the same spot every single year and its a blast no matter what. Catching candy and watching all the floats never gets old. Today I had something else I had to do though, I was hired to take engagement photo's for my friend Chandra's sister Karen. Karen and her soon to be husband Tom asked me if I would take photo's for them to use at there wedding. They want to have a few photos of themselves to put on some of the tables at there wedding. I said yes because I always love a photo shoot but today just wasn't the best day. It was wicked hot out and the sun was way to bright. I don't feel like I did a good job at all. I like a few of the pictures but other then that I'm not satisfied with them at all. It was way to bright out and working with two models just isn't my thing I guess. At least I can say I've tried engagement photo's and I have a little experience in them but I will never do them again unless I have help.
We took them at Carol Stream Fountain which is a nice little place with fountains, a gazebo, a bridge and pond. I thought it would be fun and I was pretty excited about it but in the end I wish I had never done the photo shoot because it was terrible. I would have much rather gone to the parade.
I have to give her the pictures no matter what even though I'm not satisfied with them at all. I love natural light but today it was just to bright and it wasn't working for me at all. I like fashion photography and I think I'll stick to doing that with my one model. Usually I wont have more then one model for that.
The photo shoot being terrible today had nothing to do with Karen, Tom or Chandra. I enjoyed hanging out with Chandra, her sister Karen and Tom alot. There all great! I havent seen Chandra in a while either. I'm just hoping the next photo shoot I do will turn out much better then this one did.

Rose Festival

This weekend was our towns Rose festival already. Besides Glen Ellyn our town is one of the first towns to hold there fest. I drive past the Roselle train station every single day multiple times a day going to and from school and work. As soon as I saw some trucks parked by the station I knew it was that time already. I love when its that time of year! Kids are just starting to get out of school for the summer, finals exams are wrapping up and the fest is the start of summer. Roselle fest is always a great way to kick off the start of summer. Even though its small, has the same rides every single year and everything is way over priced its just a fun atmosphere. I love carnivals because there something to do. Music, lights, people and food. Even if you just walk around the whole time like my friends and I did its still nice to get out of the house and do something different. The carnival only comes once a year anyways so you might as well get there as much as you can.
My friends Celia, Carol and I went up Thursday night which was the first night it opened and we walked around for a while to check it out. On Friday I didn't end up working so we went up again and walked around some more. On Saturday we went up a third time and did the noon to five wrist band. It was a blast riding the rides all day but it was extremely hot. We were all almost to the point of passing out because we couldn't take the heat. We finally dragged ourselves over to McDonald's across the street and got some food in us, drank some water and had ice cream. The air conditioning in McDonald's, the water and the food definitely helped. We walked back up to the fest after that and went on more rides before we got down pored on. The rain came out of no where but it felt so good. We danced around in it and got soaked all the way through to our underwear but it was better then being hot. While it pored we went on the bumper cars about fifteen times and then the rain was finished. The storm passed fast and we started riding the other rides again and kept on going until 5:00. At five we walked back to my friends house and I left for work.
I had a blast at the fest this weekend, I'm sad to see it go already. I got to drive past it one last time tonight coming home from work. All the rides still had there lights on so I got a good last glimpse. Tomorrow's Monday, they'll already be packed up and gone by the time I drive past there.

Zero Gravity













Pharaoh's Fury












Wipe Out