i've been moved to submit to JPGmag.com again. if you think my photo fits the theme/you love me and you'd vote even if you thought it was a crappy photo click the link below!

Just as soon as I started working I'm off again and I don't go back until school starts up. This time I can actually sit back and relax since I'm not stressing about finding a job, hmm...kind of feels like a vacation.

Today, I stayed in and made art. nothing profound just pretty:

Yesterday, I added some more photos to flickr. This one is my favorite:

Two days down and about 20 to go. If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area and want to do something fun (and relatively free) lets get together! I have a feeling I might get bored.

Some of you have probably already heard the news of today's earthquake in Southern California -- thanks for the calls and text messages, we're okay. The epicenter was in Chino where they recorded a 5.8 magnitude. It was strong enough that we felt it over 40 miles away but not strong enough to cause any damage.

Dominic was in his office in West Hollywood where they had pictures fall from the walls and he's happy to report that his first earthquake was actually quite fun. I was on a field trip with the kindergarteners at UCLA. Luckily, we were having lunch outside and the kids were barely phased by it. I, on the otherhand, was pretty "shaken up" by it but happy to report that I survived my first earthquake!!

I guess we're officially California residents now!

When we started the process of moving out to California, I hadn't hoped to find the perfect job right away. We had planned for me to get the first possible job, whether it be nannying again or barrista-ing at an S-bucks, whatever that "first" job was going to be I wasn't planning on loving it. The only real criteria for a job was that it be close by since we're now a one car family (plus a scooter that I'm only brave enough to ride on with my eyes closed and my arms wrapped tightly around my hubby).

I applied for the job at the center because it was close -- though I didn't know how amazingly close until they called me for an interview -- and it wasn't retail or coffee, working with infants wasn't at the top of my list either, but it was closer. Then by accident, or luck, or something more divine I landed the kindergarten job and I'd been eagerly waiting to start working.

My wait ended yesterday and it was more perfect than I could have imagined! I'm told things are a little tougher during the school year (we're just doing a summer transition camp for the kids coming into kindergarten) but I doubt it will be that bad. The school is on a team teaching model and I will be the third teacher in the classroom which means the student to teacher ratio will be less than 10 students per teacher! To illustrate how amazing that is: public schools run on a 20-30 student per teacher ratio, and when they're kindergarteners that number can seem to double. Aside from the wonderful ratios, all the people I work with are lovely! They let me know that they're here to help me learn and grow as a teacher and not to worry about my future because with this job on my resume I'll be set.

I have no idea what the future holds, I'm honestly not even thinking about it. I just know that right now things are perfect and I'm savoring every little bit of it.

One might expect that a world famous photographer, who works only with the most rich and famous, would be as pompous and pretentious as the rest of them. If one expected that of TSP (can't say his full name here) one would be utterly mistaken. The world class photographer I had the extreme pleasure of spending a day with is a genuine and good-hearted man; with an abundance of unmatched artistic talent, I might add.

I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated at first but once I got to know him a little the tension cleared and we got to talking, and talking, and talking. We talked about everything-- pets, culture, economics, travel, jurkupa, the changing world, and, of course, photography.

He told me this really inspiring story of how he got started in photography and how it had more to do with luck and passion than anything. At the time he was going to school for architecture but half way through he realized he really didn't want to be an architect but it was too late to turn back so he continued school. To pass the time and feed his creative side he picked up a 35mm camera, he'd go to school all day and stay up all night doing photography. At some point someone saw his photos and hired him for his first job but all he had was his little 35mm so the guy loaned him a Hasselblad. He went to the site with his loaner Hasselblad and realized that he didn't even know how to load the film! By chance, the site was just across the street from a camera store so he went there and asked for help. He now shoots effortlessly with a Fujifilm GX680 III. With his permission, I took a photo of his other half:
(copyright Nicole Filosa)

You would never know by his perfectly composed photos that he was not formally trained, but if you were to watch him work you would see that he is a true artist unfettered by rules, methods, and procedures. He lets the space become its own thing, he talks about what makes the space and about the "personality" of the room that he's trying to capture. The words "strong", "glamorous", "wild", and "unique" came up over and over during shooting. Once while shooting some vases in front of a series of large framed snake pictures TSP used the word "creepy" and moved on quickly -- it's not that he hates snakes, in fact he used to look for them when he was a kid, but these pictures gave him the willies. Most of the time, though, he worked slowly and patiently -- it took us two and a half hours to get the perfect shot of the office!

He admits that the condo we were shooting is one of the more difficult spaces he's had to capture and even though it's relatively small it is very complex and every corner has its own story. We found ourselves experiencing the space as more of a modern art museum than a living space, at one time getting caught by the interior designer admiring this very large piece of photographic art in the hallway. We talked not about the artists' clout or extravagant rates, nor did we discuss colors and compositions, our museum tour was all about the feelings and environments captured and created by the artists. It was an experience I won't soon forget, he even let me take one of the polaroids home to remember it all by.

I left the Sierra Towers feeling informed, inspired and complete. I also have the strange feeling that it wasn't the last time I'd see my new mentor. Time will tell.

Well not really, but apparently some old footage from a piece CBS did on Dan's energy drink endeavors made it into the spotlight again. We wouldn't even know it had been on again if my brother hadn't seen the morning news.

Dominic found the clip on the internet, you can find it here.

Thanks to Dan for making us all famous!

Remember what I said about Dominic's job being blogworthy? Well, thanks to connections through his firm I have some blogworthy news!

Again because of the confidentiality I can't say any names or anything but today is about to be an amazing day for me. I will be assisting a very talented and well known architectural photographer in capturing the extravagant Beverly Hills condo of one of the world's most famous music icons. I'm not getting paid or anything, but I'm more than happy to fill in for the guy's m.i.a. assistant!

I'm really excited! Not because I get to see how the stars live but because I get to see how a real live photographer captures it! I will have so many questions but I think I'll be too afraid to ask. I hope he's not afraid to share something about photography with me. Whether or not he does, I am certain this will be an epic day for me! Dominic says it could be the start of something photographic, we'll see.

I've been trying to put into words how amazing life has been as of late but my words fall short every time. The title here actually came from a few different people commenting on our blessed situation and it really does feel like there's some order in the universe, even amidst all the chaos. Life's funny that way, I guess.

Our move to California seems to have put us on a path that feels right, perfect even. I know that Dominic deserves all the happiness and blessings he has been receiving and I'm just lucky I get to tag along. He really took a leap of faith by moving us out here and it's really paid off. His job is A-mazing! Its too bad for most of you that his work is so confidential because otherwise it would make for some good blog posts. You know what else would make for a good blog post? Updating you all on my job hunt...

My hunt started and ended in one place. I know you're not supposed to put all of your eggs in one basket or whatever but Dominic and I both had a "good feeling" about the job I interviewed for so I went with it. I talked to my mom and told her that I felt like I was going to get the job but I had no proof just a feeling and she told me if I believed it I didn't need to apply anywhere else, so I didn't. The most incredible part is that I ended up with an even better job than I originally interviewed for!! I've been hired as an assistant kindergarten teacher!! It's pretty amazing how it all happened and I have every reason to believe a higher power worked some magic on that one. I am so grateful.

I hope you all are finding some good in your lives despite the whirl of fear and madness around.

There's something new to experience everyday here! Yesterday, I was showering and I heard a man screaming in horror or pain outside. My first thought was that it sounded like a crazy person but I peeked out the window just to be sure it wasn't an emergency. Outside, directly below our bathroom window was a man standing in the middle of the street belting out these horrible screams to the sky. Just as I was about to write him off as insane a camera crew came into view. L.A. is neat.

Even neater was the grand opening party of a couture handbag store we attended in Beverly Hills last night. I can't say too much because I don't want to get Dominic in trouble with his new firm. But I will say that I've never been so excited to be someplace I don't belong! I'm pretty sure I was the only person in a 5 mile radius wearing a $2.00 Arden B. thrift store top but I felt great in it. I think half the people in there had shoes worth more than our monthly rent and they probably still didn't feel as blessed as did in my thrift store clothes. Oh, and on our way in to the party some kids were sitting outside and one of them mistook me for a celebrity. I have no idea who I could be mistaken for but as Dominic and I walked up one of the boys pointed at me and said "there she is!" but of course as I walked closer he realized I wasn't her, he got a little embarrassed and buried his face in his sister's shoulder. It was cute and maybe even just a little flattering.

Wow! What a whirlwind life has been lately! A lovely, dizzying whirlwind that has landed us in Los Angeles, California.

I'm still trying to convince my brain that this is our new reality but everyday something fantastic happens that makes me think we're dreaming. Yesterday I had an interview in West Hollywood at an amazing private school. I think the interview went well and the school's philosophies mesh well with mine. Even though they are a private school in one of the wealthiest areas in the nation they work hard to make sure their staff and students are diverse, and at least 1/3 of the students are from low income families that receive financial aid. And because it's private they get away with not having to take those worthless standardized tests and they can focus on more important things like actually TEACHING! Oh, they even do everything they can to tap into students' unique talents! The best part about their school is that they believe in social responsibility and every year each grade level participates in a community service project, even the preschoolers!

The position I applied for isn't my ideal job as I'd be working with the infant group (3 months to 2years) but I think it could be the start of something great. I'm really trying to lean on faith here but waiting for the call always kills me. I promise to let you all know what happens. Send good thoughts this way!