Chicago

Idyllwild, CA

Sequoia National Park

Was better as a kid.

Po' Boys/Rich Boys

Shrimp Po' Boy, The Po' Boy Shop, Napoleonville, LA

Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, LA

After shooting some video at 7am of the line of fishermen at the BP offices in East New Orleans, we went on a little road trip towards Baton Rouge. I finally got my Po' Boy-- it was alright, a different kind of junk food but junk food no less. We also stopped by Oak Alley plantation, took a tour of the mansion, which I had little interest in at first, but when the french doors opened on the second floor veranda and I saw the view...yeah...

Was excited to get home though. Trips just ain't the same when the other half is missing.

Southern Eats

Alligator sausage!
Gumbo, Jambalaya and Crawfish with rice-- The Gumbo Shop, Bourbon St, N.O.

Bourbon street reeked of vomit and the buildings were pretty, but who didn't know that already.

Sometimes You Find The Most Amazing Things

Ended up in some strange night club in the west side of New Orleans with the most intricate disco ball and dance floor light show. I've been waiting for a camera like the Canon 5D since I started this whole filmmaking thing.

Forest Gump

Went on a shrimping boat today. Interviewed a Vietnamese fisherman. Seems like a slow, satisfying life. It makes me wish I could live 800 years. There are so many good ways to spend your time on earth, it's unfortunate we only get to pick a few. They seem like good people. This oil is going to ruin their lives in ways I'll never understand. It's a sadness I don't even know how to talk about.

New Orleans, LA

Flight was delayed three hours. Didn't get into N.O. until 2:30 AM. First time I've flown United since I was a kid. I literally didn't fit in the seat. The weather said it was going to be 89 degrees with that infamous humidity. When I stepped out of the airport, I thought I walked under a large heated fan coming out of a machine. My glasses completely fogged up. After a few more steps, I realized it wasn't a machine. I asked my boss "is this for real?" He said "Yes. This is for real." On the outside of all the windows of the buildings, a layer of steam and moisture slowly dripped down.

Seattle Zoo

I'm not a big zoo person, or at least I don't think I am, but then I'm there and I actually see the animals and they never cease to amaze me. Immediately, I'm hooked with childhood awe at their movements, their logic, their existence-- I feel like I'm looking at aliens or something. It's just very nice to see with your own eyes and remember that there are so many amazing creatures that exist on this planet other than the usual birds, dogs, cats, cows, etc. Makes you see the world and yourself differently, at least for me.

Seattle Sun

In Photo: Mike Farhat, The Good Shepherd, Seattle, WA.

I can't get over the weather here this weekend. Pure Northwest sunshine-- so bright, so clean and thin.