You just never know ...

So, on the way home from the game last night, I ran into a little roadblock. The kind of roadblock with lots of flashing lights, trucks, ladders, and hoses. It seems a nearby apartment had caught fire and I swung through just in time to catch the overhaul. Here's a shot of a mixed Cincinnati Fire Department crew that I can at least say includes members of Ladder 21. I'll sort through the pics again probably next week and might have some more up.

Mandy and PJ: The surprise engagement party

So here's the scoop ...

Months ago, PJ sends me an email giving me the heads up on his devious little plan to propose. Mandy is oblivious. She's expecting a proposal SOMETIME but has no idea what's up.

So a few Saturdays ago, Mandy thinks she and PJ are going to a wine tasting at the Party Source. Little does she know that all her friends and family (and me and my camera) are anxiously awaiting her arrival. Her dumbfounded look of shock as she walked in the door was priceless! And the look of sheer joy as he popped the question was even better.

Everyone went on to have a great night, and of course, Mandy got to show off her new bling.

Back to baseball

If you follow professional baseball at all, you've probably heard about "Manny being Manny." This, of course, refers to the Dodgers' superstar outfielder Manny Ramirez, and the little quirks that define him as a public figure. Having grown up an Indians fan (Manny's original team), I've followed him loosely for quite some time and have heard a lot of the stories. Never until last night had I seen it in person.

It really is indescribable -- indescribable, at least, for someone who calls himself a photographer and not a journalist. Also, there's the fact that I was half-asleep for last night's game, having worked a full 12-hour shift at the hospital beforehand. That being said ...

He reminds me -- and I know I'm not the first to use at least a similar description -- of a seven-year-old. But, like, the seven-year-old with ADHD who's really not even that into sports. He's just good at it, so he does it. The kind of kid that hits a homerun and forgets what he's doing as he's rounding second base. You just see it in his body language, in the faces he makes during the game. But occasionally, he'll do something that even a photographer can turn into a decent story...

I think it was in the top of the 7th inning when Manny was waiting on deck and a foul ball trickled and rolled to a stop at his feet. Now, a professional baseball player has two options of what to do at this point. He can (A) be an overpaid prick, ignore it, and nearly kill the ballboy with a practice swing as he approaches to retrieve the ball, or (B) flip the ball to the ballboy. Manny, however, found a third option -- though, major props for not choosing option A.

Manny reaches down, picks up the ball, proceeds to completely ignore the ballboy waiting at the top of the dugout steps, and tosses the ball in a direction that can only be described (sentence structure be damned) as "clueless." I just remember looking up and watching the arc of the ball as it traveled perilously into the Dodger dugout to a smattering of shouted warnings, "Ball!"

Third baseman Casey Blake (also a former Indian), obliviously stretching against the dugout roof, nearly has a few fingers broken as the ball smacks into the structure about three inches away from his vulnerable digits. A few sighs of relief and a little nervous laughter emerge from the nearby media and players, as Manny shrugs with a perplexed look on his face and continues taking practice swings.

Futbol anyone?

Ahhh, time for another little mini-vacation. But really, there's no such thing as a vacation for a photographer. I'm in Washington, D.C. for the weekend, visiting my brother and sister-in-law. As is usually the case when that happens, we hit up a DC United game.

The United, or rather the Screaming Eagles, get major props for throwing a heck of a tailgate. Sadly, the team is now 0-4 after last night's 2-nil loss to the Chicago Fire. At least there was beer.

Mandy and PJ are engaged!

Man, I've been sitting quietly about this one for a while now. PJ contacted me about a month ago to photograph his surprise proposal to Mandy this past Saturday, and it took all of my willpower and cunning not to spill the beans. But the proposal and party were a success! More pictures and details coming soon ...

The Reds Opening Week

Ok, so I've admittedly been a little lazy in posting here lately. But I can assure you, it's not from a lack of photographic activity. Check out some pictures below from the Reds opening week against the Cardinals and Cubs. And don't forget to check out the full galleries at CNati!