We're Back!!! Wooo-Hooo!

Greetings, Blitzers! We're back! After months and months and months and...a very long time, we've returned once again! Did you miss us? Of course you did, why wouldn't you? We did! (Well, we missed the blog. We're always around ourselves so it would be hard to miss...nevermind. You get the idea. Oh, but you're a smart bunch! Good-looking, too!)

Anywaaaaay...we're back to posting pics. Mind you, we hadn't stopped taking pics. Au contraire! We've been taking oodles and poodles of pics, Blitzing like the highly-caffeinated & sleep-deprived camera-slingers that we are, endlessly and non-stop. We (okay, "I") just haven't gotten around to posting them all. But thanks to Tim's, ahem, shall we say, steady encouragement ("Did you post them yet? How about now? Now? How about now?"...), I am posting pics from a Blitz in fabulous Long Beach, CA. So without further ramblings from me, here's a big batch o' Blitz. Enjoy the tour. We sure did!

BlitzTim in Action.

Right this way, folks, the tour begins here.

On a clear day, you can see the Hollywood sign.

Art in the park.

The fabulous and uncrowded Long Beach Airport. We flew in from Paris via our private jet.

True story. (Or at least we like to think so.)

The private jet is so big, it has a golf course. Like the logo?

(Ssssh, Tim, don't tell them about the country club. They think this is in the jet!)

The new PhotoBlitz HQ. Yeah, we bought the building. Why not? It matches the private jet.

Well, these are just a few of the pics we shot. Click Here to be whisked away to more random PhotoBlitz shots of fabulous Long Beach, California.

The Dog Days of Summer are Here!

Greetings, Blitzers. Are you enjoying all the reruns on TV? Well, I guess even Hollywood needs a summer vacation. Now, here at PhotoBlitz.US Central, there have been no reruns. New stuff all the time, that's been our aim. But ya know, it is summer...and it's been really, really hot down here in SoCal.,,,and, well, we just haven't been out Blitzing in the usual way. Lots of Blitzettes, but other than Tim's recent Big Bear adventure,.. What I'm trying to say is, who wants to go out in that heat??? We sure don't! As it is, Tim's regular gig has him out in that hot, humid ickiness all day -- and this week he's working OT, he's on-call... I'm surprised he hasn't melted! So, we're a little low on stock (pics) right now. And since the Blitzing has been curtailed -- the PhotoBlitz.US summer rerun season has begun! 

For the next, I dunno, two, three, twelve weeks, (whenever this heat ends) please feel free to revisit previous posts. Enjoy the pics, enjoy the odd writing, and get that warm, fuzzy feeling all over again. Also, be sure to go to the PhotoBlitzUS page on Facebook for bits of photo-related stuff. Now, if you really need some new pics, check out Tim's Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45159964@N08/) and RedBubble.com pages (http://www.redbubble.com/people/blitztim) which he regularly updates. 

Until we return to our regularly scheduled programming, hasta later, Blitzers!

I Can See for Miles and Miles and Miles and Miles and...

Can you believe Tim clicked this pic from the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro!!! No? Ok, how about Mt. Everest? Uh, would you believe a mountain made out of a molehill? Ok, fine, I give up. Now I'm not going to tell you where it was taken, so there. Hah!

...

Darn! I can't keep a secret from you lovely Blitzers. It's a view from Jackrabbit Trail, looking out towards Perris Lake in our own Southern California. Now ya know. And since knowledge is powerful, you're like 100% more powerful than you were just seconds ago. No need to thank us. We are, as always, here for you. 

Hasta later, Blitzers!

TGIF!

Get ready to cruise into the weekend, Blitzers. Have fun, click pics, and always Follow Your Blitz!

Tim's (Semi-)Daring Adventures in Big Bear, Part II

Greetings, Blitzers. Well, I haven't had a response from Tim regarding my tale of his swashbuckling bravado and adventurous escapades during his stay in Big Bear Lake. I'll take that as, "Lisa, this time you've gone too far -- there were no pirates." (I'm guessing he's okay with the Sasquatch and other stuff though.) So, I guess I'll have to bring you the real story, as per our interview, which went more or less like this:

Lisa: "So, Tim, what kinds of awesome things did you do in Big Bear?"

Tim: "Uh, ... I didn't really do anything." 

Lisa: "You took that tour boat ride."

Tim: "Yeah."

Lisa: "And the fire roads?"

Tim: "Oh, yeah."

(And you wonder why I make stuff up...)

What I did manage to get out of him was that he had a very relaxing birthday getaway in Big Bear. (Tim likes to get away by himself on his birthdays, and Big Bear is one of his favorite spots, which made it a perfect choice for his annual retreat.) His HQ for the trip was the Snow Bear Lodge, a nice, inexpensive place, within walking distance of the village. Tim said he enjoyed a comfortable room, complete with an in-room jacuzzi. (What a birthday treat!)

So what did he do during his trip? He Blitzed!

See, Tim wasn't exactly alone during his trip...he had THE PENTAX!!! Yes, the tough little DSLR was his best buddy during the trip and together, they Blitzed Big Bear, explored old mines and fire roads, and met cool locals, including Rick Shoup, the CEO of the Big Bear Lake Resort Association (www.bigbear.com) This was fortunate, as Tim had an opportunity to learn a lot about the resort town, including job opportunities and housing. (Sporting goods are big, and lots of places to stay.) But, back to those fire roads...

Tim did have one precarious adventure during the trip, while trying to reach the Holcombe Valley. After a visit to the Doble Mine, Tim took a fire road which he thought would lead to the valley; it actually led him to get stuck. Fortunately, our intrepid BlitzTim was able to gather large rocks and create a section which the trusty Pathfinder could drive over, without bottoming out. It worked and no damage was done. (Later that evening, after the rock-moving episode, that jacuzzi came in handy!)

So, Blitzers, that's the real story. Three days of clicking pics and living the dream! (Well, minus that fire road incident, which wasn't so dreamy). Click here to see more pics of Big Bear and pirates...okay, Tim, no pirates. (Gosh!)

Follow Your Blitz!

Tim's Daring Adventures in Big Bear, Part I

Sssssh! If you look closely, right there, to the left, just under the cover of dense forest, you'll see a Sasquatch, aka "Bigfoot". See it? Nah, I don't either. But Tim sez it's there, and who am I to argue? I wasn't there, so I can neither confirm nor deny that Tim was able to catch a glimpse of the legendary creature whilst on vacation in beautiful Big Bear Lake, California. Let's just say that he did and leave it at that.

Space aliens. Or at least the exterior of their intriguingly advanced space ship. Oh, the locals say it's a solar observatory. Sure it is. That's clearly where the space aliens observe the sun while flying around it. (We know a space craft when we see it, don't we, Blitzers?) Fortunately, Tim was able to avoid abduction by the space aliens, which is a good thing. Would be really hard to get a hold of his pics if he were out orbiting the galaxy.

The giant boulders Tim didn't actually have to outrun. They were stationary. Now, as for the Finnish ninjas jumping off of them, well, thanks to all his stealthy photo-ninja reflexes, Tim was able to get away unharmed and with the Pentax intact. 

Finally, the boat Tim took for a three-hour tour. (Or maybe it was 30 minutes, who knows? He didn't say. Though he did mention they traveled in a counter-clockwise direction. Obviously, he pays attention to the important details. That's what makes him a Maestro.) Anyway, the ship cruised along the lake peacefully... until it was overtaken by Pirates! Oodles of them! Were it not for Tim's quick escape on, uh, an escape boat, who knows what might have happened? In fact, I'm not quite sure where that fine sailing vessel is now... No one knows. (But I hear the crew is hanging out at Desi's in the Village, a local restaurant.)

So, Blitzers, that's my tale of Tim's Daring Adventures in Big Bear. As for Tim's version of what really happened, stay tuned tomorrow for more pics and the real deal on Big Bear. Until then, don't forget to Follow Your Blitz!

Congrats, Tim!

Pics from the Big Bear Blitz are so close, you can almost see them. But not yet. First, I have a little announcement to make: This really cool pic which Tim snapped of some "Geothermal Mud Mounds" was selected as a Featured Pic in RedBubble.com's "Volcanoes, Earth Geology, and Atmosphere" group page. Yeah, Tim!

Click here to check out more of Tim's work on RedBubble.com. Images are available as cards, prints, posters, and whatever other items Tim selected.

Okay, really working on that Big Bear Blitz, so stay tuned, they're on the way. Until then, hasta later, Blitzers!

Slacking

Yucaipa, as seen from Morton's Peak. Somewhere down there Lisa is doing laundry and writing. Tim is thinking about doing laundry. Neither has actually put together the Big Bear Blitz. But soon, very soon, we'll treat you to a nice selection of pics. In the meantime, Lisa needs a nap. Hasta later, Blitzers!

No Big Bear Blitz Pics Tonight...

But check out this frozen yogurt -- it was awesome! See yesterday's post for our winning yogurt combos. Keep enjoying your weekend, Blitzers. Hasta later!

We Interrupt Tim's Big Bear Blitz...

...to bring you absolutely no important message. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Not even a pic. Sadly, the computer has gone slightly berserkers and refuses to upload one. But have no fear, Blitzers. We'll most likely have something good coming up this weekend. On a bright note, Tim and I had some awesome frozen yogurt this evening. If there's a Frugo's near you, try mixing the Irish Mint, Chocolate Custard, and Vanilla flavors, topped with walnuts and almonds. Add a splash of caramel sauce (my choice) or marshmallow (Tim's favorite). Mmmm, delicious! No need to thank us for this frozen treat advice, Blitzers. Remember, WE are here for YOU. If it means making recipes part of what we offer, then so be it. We aim to serve.

Hope your weekend is off to a great start everybody. Have a great time and remember to Follow Your Blitz!

...And, He's Back.

Greetings, Blitzers. News flash: Tim has returned from the land of Big Bears, refreshed, renewed, and ready for a Big Beer. Or even a little one. But, hey, he's earned it. Did a nice Blitz over the past few days. Preliminary pics are most impressive. I'll be conducting an extensive, in-depth, and hard-hitting interview with him tomorrow evening and you'll get the real facts on all his wild escapades: Encounters with a Sasquatch! Abduction by Space Aliens! Outrunning a Giant Boulder, Pirates AND Ninjas -- from Finland!!! (Okay, I have no proof any of these events actually happened. But they could have. Strange things happen in the mountains, that's all I'm saying.)

In any event, you'll get the inside scoop on Big Bear, find out what Tim really did up there, and see the pics. Brace yourself. This could get crazy.

Until next time, hasta later, Blitzers!

Big Bear Blitz Update

Tim is still up in Big Bear, making the rounds and Blitzing. Venturing out into the untamed wild, he was temporarily stuck on a fire road. Though initially fearing he might not make it out, he was able to clear some rocks and get back on the road to adventure. YES! No further reports available at press time, but I'm sure he's fine. (How Big Bear is surviving both Tim and the Blitz, I have no idea. It's probably okay.)

Maestro BlitzTim will be back some time tomorrow, so there will be more pics following very soon. Until then, Follow Your Blitz!

The Blitz is Back On!

Hey, Blitzers. Long time, no chat. How's the significant other, kids, dogs, goldfish...? Glad to hear it. Your PhotoBlitz Team is doing great. Tim's recovered and has gotten his game back on with astonishing speed. I'm doing just nifty, thanks. Which brings us to new business.

Just the other day, Tim said he thought the blog was a little Blitz-deficient. You know, back in the day, we were posting a variety of Blitzs. Now, it's just been a series of Blitzettes, with quotes. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but he felt we need to get back to our roots and give you MORE! So today, on his 53rd birthday he's in Big Bear -- Blitzing. Just for you. Because he cares. For YOU. No thanks required. It's what he does.

I, on the other hand, am diligently working on today's post because, well, that's what I do. I'm also working on a surprise. Yes, because I care about you, too. Exciting, isn't it? You'll hear about it soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this pic of Big Bear taken just hours ago. More Big Bear to come, and more Blitzs to enjoy very soon. Until then, hasta later, Blitzers!

"While there is perhaps a province in which

the photograph can tell us nothing more

than what we see with our own eyes, there is another

in which it proves to us how little our eyes

permit us to see."

~ Dorothea Lange ~

"We all want progress,

but if you're on the wrong road,

progress means doing an about-turn

and walking back to the right road;

in that case, the man who turns back soonest

is the most progressive."

~ C. S. Lewis ~

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors,

and doing new things, because we're curious

and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

~ Walt Disney ~

“Creativity arises out of the tension

between spontaneity and limitations, the latter

(like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity

into the various forms which are essential

to the work of art or poem.”

~ Rollo May ~

“Enthusiasm is everything.

It must be taut and vibrating

like a guitar string.”

~ Pele ~

"You can’t stop the waves,

but you can learn to surf."

~ Jon Kabat-Zinn ~

“Art is the unceasing effort to compete
with the beauty of flowers -
and never succeeding”

~ Gian Carlo Menotti ~