The xmas homecoming that almost wasn't....

The xmas that wasn't... well it's been a month since my last update.... Since then nothing much has really happened but, with my new job, I have been allowed to actually go home for xmas. I was very excited as I haven't been home for xmas in 5 years!!!!

So I got off work and started cleaning and packing for the trip. I didn't sleep in fear that I would not make it to the 630am flight!! Eventually I did nap for 1 hour and was on my way... Got to the airport at 5am and after parking strolled up to redeem the tickets that I booked on expedia. I arrived at the NWA terminal to find out that my flight has been cancelled!!! Apparently my flight had been changed from NWA to continental because they are doing this work/cost sharing thing. I thought, "that's wierd why would I be going to another company". "Lord help me"

So I went to the train to go to the E terminal so I could check in with continental. The train took a long time to get to the E terminal (about 20 min). Eventually I arrived and by the time I made it through the long lines at continental it was 6AM... Freaken great, I have 3o minutes left... plenty of time... and that's when it all fell apart.

I swiped my card... NO itinerary found. Tried my other credit card, Nothing... Tried by confirmation number.. nothing... so I hailed the manager down (who was very rude and treated me like I was a retard) and gave her my license... she looked and said there was nothing for me that day!!!! At this point I was furious, frustrated, and almost in tears... I wouldn't be going home for xmas. "Why Lord Why??"

Out of desperation I called NWA customer service... and asked what the freak was going on... The woman was very nice despite getting a call 610AM on xmas eve... She said that she could see where they cancelled my flight ... she told me to hold... "in my mind i'm thinking I'm never going to make a 630AM flight at this point"... about 5 minutes later she came back and explained to me that they never re-enrolled me into the replacement flight... So I asked for a confirmation of the enrollment and marched back up to the same manager and asked them to look up the flight.... and she said.. "oh here you are, I guess I must have missed it the first time"... thanks but no thanks b****!!! So it turned out the flight I was put on was a continental flight that left at 708AM... by this time it was 645AM.. "thanks for the break Lord"

I rushed to the security check point and the line was hella long... It looked bleak, and the whole time I'm praying "Lord send me home if it be in your will".... just then 3 tsa workers walked up and helped check ID's so people can go through faster!!! What timing... I ran to the gate and caught the flight 5 minutes before take off!!!! "Thanks be to GOD!!"

Epilogue: So I flew to detroit for a layover to get off my continental flight and finish the rest of my journey on NWA. Got off my plane, looked for my gate, and found it... got a gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwich (crunchy PB, easy on the jelly, heavy on the banana) and headed to my gate... and just as I rolled up to the gate, i looked up at the board to see where my second plane (the one that will take me home to indy) was coming from... and guess where... IT CAME FROM HOUSTON!!!! I could have ridden the same plane all the way from houston to detroit to Indy... I hate expedia and NWA now!!!

I'm home now and after two great korean meals with my folks and a 3 hour nap I'm happy to be back in the house I grew up in. The weather played a minimal roll today as it finaly let up LAST NIGHT!!! Thanks for all the prayers for better weather... I told my parents that I had the whole congregation praying for good weather... God is truely large and in charge...

ok peace ya'll... MERRY XMAS!!! God bless us every one!!

Sidewalk project!!

A buddy of mine is really involved in arts and charitable giving. This weekend he had a great project where artists can put up their art and the procedes go to charity!! www.sidewalkproject.org

Anywho since my "art" was on display I thought I would take pictures there. Packed up some of my off camera lighting equipment (barebones: stand, flash, and pocketwizards) and was off. To my surprise there was an incredible singer there who was the "Headliner" of the show... Great stuff!! kinda sappy songs but very talented nonetheless!!! You can find him at: http://www.myspace.com/tjeaustin

here are some of the pics:

diy r-strap

Just reposting the post i submitted on DIYphotography.net

Here is a quick R-Strap recipe by Hee Soo Shin:

1. Take a strap from a messenger bag. You can take one from a bag you no longer use, or buy a new one for close to nothing at goodwill.

2. For this hack, Hee Soo, took one of the quick connects by Bogen tripod, but you can also use a 3/4 bolt with an extension. Or,
you can use an L bracket from the bottom part of a cactus v2s receiver mount.

3. Use a buckle to fasten the two ends of the strap together...

4. For shoulder pad, you can use what ever came with the messenger bag strap, or use a shoulder strap pad from a guitar store(7 bucks))

Voila... DIY R-strap.. it's super comfortable and the great part is at weddings when you have to have 2 camera's with flashunit in the hotshoe it's totally out of your way and you don't have 2 flash units sticking up at you.

Bartlett Wedding

What a pleasure it was to take pictures of such an animated family. Everyone was pretty chill and laid back and the venue was incredible!!! Here's some sneak peaks from my side of the wedding...































Congratulations guys!!! Thanks for letting us share this day with you!

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Happy fourth!!!

Happy fourth of July!!! More pics to follow

Wedding pictures

Okay people, I have gotten permission to post all the photos... They can be found at:

http://albums.phanfare.com/heespharm

They turned out better than i thought they would.. But , always being hard on myself, I know I can do better... Gotta think more before I click the shutter... To my credit, however, these were all taken with my single back-up camera and ONE lens... Just shows that the gear doesn't matter... anyways here's some teasers!! (LMK if there are problems with the pictures displaying..)

Oh and if you want any pictures, I have allowed downloads on the site (check the right side of each picture)... Also check the slideshow... I love the song it's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Oh and there are NO pictures of me so don't ask... hahaha

Congrats

Congrats Billy and Mei Mei Kim....

Thanks for letting me take part in your special day!!!

Many more photos will be up soon once I get clearance from the happy couple!!