Denver Nuggest host the Boston Celtics

I recently got a new camera, a Canon 7D, primarily because the digital camera I have been using the Canon 1D Mark II, well, needed to be replaced. Especially since we are headed to Scotland for our honeymoon in May, I wanted to have a good camera to take some cool pics. I decided I wanted the first photos I took with the new camera were going to be of my trusty pooch, Cali, who is 12 1/2 years old.



Last night Ashley and I went to the Pepsi Center to watch the Nuggets take on the Celtics. It was amazing how many Boston fans there were at the game. Ash and I agreed that they must be like the Yankees and the Cowboys, who all have fans across the country.

Ash got discounted tickets from her work, and we were sitting up in the nosebleeds at the Pepsi Center.




Tip off between Boston's Glenn "Big Baby" Davis and Denver's Nene.




Nuggets' guard Ty Lawson drives between Boston's Rajon Rondo (left) and Kevin Garnett during the 1st quarter.




Denver's Nene (left) and Boston's Kevin Garnett fight for position on an in-bound pass during the 1st quarter.




Ty Lawson holds the ball with both arms as he drives to the basket around Rajon Rondo.




Denver's Al Harrington winces after going up for a rebound in the first quarter. Soon after I took this photo, a dude who worked at the Pepsi Center, who saw me from three sections away, came up to me and told me that I had to put away the lens I was using because it wasn't allowed in the arena. I was using a telephoto lens and I knew that they weren't allowed, but I snuck it in anyways. Hey I wanted to take cool pics!




So at halftime, Ash and I moved over to the opposite side of the court, sitting in the top row of the arena. Can't find me now Pepsi Center worker!

Boston's Delonte West got Denver's J.R. Smith to bite on a pump fake, and after Smith came down near West, he jumped into him and got the foul called on Smith.




Nuggets' Chris "Birdman" Andersen rips a rebound away from Boston's Kevin Garnett during the third quarter. Andersen, who had a battle with drug use early in his career but has since cleaned up and plays great ball for the Nuggets, has the most tattoos I've ever seen.




Nene and "Big Baby" got into it a little bit after Nene threw Garnett to the ground fighting under the backboard. Cooler head prevailed and no technical fouls were issued.




Denver head coach George Karl draws up a play during the final few minutes of the game during a timeout.




After being shown on Jumbotron, Ash found where Tim Tebow was sitting along the baseline. He's wearing the white hat. Must be a tough job being the guy sitting behind Tebow to protect him from crazed fans rushing up on him.




Gotta be pretty hard to shoot a three pointer with a hand in your face, as J.R. Smith found out when Boston's Ray Allen blocked his view.




This was one of the first videos I shot with the camera. I think it's so awesome that you can shoot video through still camera. this is shot with my 100mm-400mm telephoto lens at the end of the game. Denver's Kenyon Martin drains a three pointer to seal the win for the Nuggets 89-75.




Ash and I have less than three months until our wedding! We are so excited and can't wait for May.

California Christmas 2010

Ashley and I made our annual trip back to California for Christmas, and we had a great time. On Wednesday morning we flew in and her mom Melissa and her step-dad Dan picked us up and we drove straight down to Pasadera Country Club in Monterey to do our food tasting for our wedding in May. The food was awesome, and we can't wait to share that day with all of our friends. Here are some teaser pics of the venue.




View from the back, where the outdoor dance floor will be located.




I really like this photo with the country club in the background.







On Christmas Eve, I took my grandma to get her haircut, and while I waited for her to be done, I drove past the old house that my brother and used to live in in Los Gatos. We lived there for almost three years. Here's a photo of the house back in December of 2006.




Soon after I moved to San Angelo, Texas, my bro moved out of the Los Gatos house and it was torn down. Here is the same plot, four years later.





This bar in downtown Los Gatos called The Black Watch is home to the hugest kamakaze I've ever seen. One, and you're done.




This year on Christmas Eve, my mom hosted all of us over at her house for dinner. At 2:30 we all met at the cemetery to say hello to my dad and do our annual balloon release. My brother Scott and his wife Vida brought their two daughters, Lola and Camila. Here's Lola saying hello to Grandpa Tim.






After the cemetery, we loaded everyone up and we went to El Camino Hospital, another tradition we've done for almost 20 years. We all bring over trays of snacks, candy, and other goodies and put one in each waiting room on every floor and at some of the nurses stations to hopefully bring some holiday cheer to everyone's day. The best part, though, at the end of every floor, we take the balled-up aluminum foil and try to make a basket in the can adjacent to the elevator. Here's Scott attempting a shot. He won overall but we all had a great time.




After the hospital we all went back to my mom's house for dinner and some presents.




Ashley with Camila.





Camila hanging out nearby while we ate dinner.




My mom holding Camila while Lola opened a present from me and Ash.




Christmas Day was a rainy one. I woke up and went over to my brother's house to hand out for a little while before I went over to Ashley's mom's house. Lola and Scott were playing together throughout the afternoon.



Here's my brother's dog Biggs crushing his Christmas present. A new rawhide bone.




Even though it was raining, we found a small window where my brother and I could take Biggs and Lola on a walk to the park. Here's Biggs bringing back a chew toy.




Lola trying to figure out the umbrella.







Me trying to get Biggs to look at the camera, but he was too locked in on the chew toy.






Lola taking her turn throwing the toy to Biggs.







Time to head home because the rain was kicking up again.





I headed over to Ashley's mom and Dan's where we had an awesome fondue dinner and present exchange. We headed back home early Sunday morning because I had to work Sunday night. We had a great time and we look forward to an awesome 2011. Happy New Year!