Sam, Sue, Lisa, and Bryan and I took a trip to Oak Park this afternoon to tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity House. It’s so awesome. I haven’t explored an intimate and visually exciting place like this in a very long time, so I had a doozy of a time. I decided to kick it old school and convert to black and white, something I haven’t done in a while and should probably try doing more often. I don’t think you’re missing much with color here anyway; Unity Temple has a very dull, earthy paint job that doesn’t really accentuate any of its amazing details. Enjoy!

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Family dinner on July 24, 2010 in Schaumberg for my father’s cousin visiting from San Diego and my mom’s birthday. I ate too much.

Two weeks ago, I shot the 3rd Annual Edgar Sanchez Memorial Classic at Niles West High School (my alma mater) in Skokie. I designed the logo for the tournament, t-shirt, and made frequent website updates to the website I designed for The Edgar Sanchez Foundation. Here are some of the better photos from the day, I cropped them nice and tight. Sports Action, ch’yeah! The weather was very hot and I got very sunburnt, and on Sunday a very heavy rain came and passed over us in the middle of the tournament — a nice relief from the hot, hot sun. Overall, it was a huge success, Jessi said that we raised over $6000 for the fight against cancer, and it was super fun to boot.

Linda asked me if I could take some headshots back in June and I stopped by calumet, bought a backdrop stand, and set up a studio in my living room. Here’s some of the better ones. I think we’re going to set up another session to try and take some more photos. I think I’ll try to frame it tighter on her face and try some different lighting setups (I got a softbox! I also want to try out my grid some more. I want a vagabond II and B800… need moneeeey).

Earlier this week my brother asked me if I wanted tickets for Friday’s Cubs game against the Phillies, but it turned out the tickets were for the Thursday night game.

Dempster throws as thousands of cubs fans hope silently with bated breath that the Cubs don't embarrass themselves today

I still went despite the date mix-up, loyally standing alongside 40,000 other hapless folks cheering on a team 9 games back in the Central with record of 40-50 that is not going anywhere this season and possibly the next few years. The Cubs are putrid.

Marlon Byrd: The only bright spot to this season

We cubs fans have been spoiled with the team being contenders for most of the past decade. We been torn apart by miserable failure after miserable failure (see post-seasons: bartman, 2005, and the diamondbacks and dodgers playoffs), and now that the Cubs are back to being terrible for most of the season, if feel like I’ve had enough. But I don’t know how to quit. And I’ll just keep taking the Red Line down to the 100+ year old dowager queen just to hope that something miraculous might happen.

Left: This Cubs baby had the unfortunate fate of being born to a father who wished to pass his anguish down to future generations. Right: This hot dog salesman has the pleasure of giving your money to the Rickettses

Why do I put myself through such sadomasochism? I think part of the reason is that when “it” finally does happen (hopefully sometime before my time here on earth comes to an end — I don’t want to have to gloat in the afterlife), I can say that I was there so many years ago keeping the faith, and keeping myself from vomiting all over the ivy because of how disgusting this team has been.

Left: Sitting under the scoreboard, Jimmy Rollins had a bad day on my fantasy team. Right: A Soriano home run?

Anyway, back to the game. We sat underneath the scoreboard in center field. Having already experienced the majesty and grandeur of Wrigley so many times in my young life, and with the Cubs nowhere close to contention, I spent innings 5 thru 9 under the scoreboard playing with my brother’s new Droid X phone that he picked up that morning. When something exciting happened according to crowd reaction, I would give a spurt of my attention to the game. I shouldn’t be so jaded — it actually was a good game: the Cubs scored early and often, Dempster threw 6 2/3 solid innings, Starlin Castro stole home plate, and Bob Howry defecated on the mound at the end.

The sun sets behind the Toyota sign as the Cubs chances of winning with its overpaid veterans also sets. Metaphor'ed!

Mouseover: See Wrigley descend into night.

Mouseover: Feel my range. From 16mm-200mm, trying to scope out DWTS hottie Julianne Hough while she sings the 7th inn stretch

Mouseover: My brother and his friends. See Pat get all Caruso'd. His one-liner would be something like "We'll I guess he threw one too many.... Strikes." *YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!*

Pat is attacked by the refreshing mist of 101 years of failure.