It's a Mad Men Halloween

Having been raised conservative evangelical, dressing up for Halloween was never really allowed. I was always going to "Hallelujah" nights at church and the only costumes we were allowed to wear were biblical ones. I was Queen Esther one year and Jesus another year. Uno was a Bible, a Christian soldier (with the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, etc.), and Noah's Ark. So funny!

So, this was my first year really dressing up for Halloween -- and it was a fun night! A bunch of us dressed up as characters from Mad Men. I was Trudy Campbell and Chris played Ken Cosgrove -- we pretended that the two were having an affair behind Pete Campbell's back. (we need to send that idea to Matthew Weiner.)

I have to say, we all looked stupendous.

My wifey and me as Peggy and Trudy

Don and Peggy (Tim and Cassie)

Snookie and Kwoww (Allison and Kierra, you ladies looked awesome)

Aw shucks!

Snookie, meet Ken.

Betty, Peggy, Trudy (Amber, Cassie, Me)

A final (fake-ish) smoke to end the night -- in true '60s fashion

pretty feather

This photo deserved its own post.

Stunning, no? I found it while on editorial retreat in West Virginia.

momentous moments

I've been pretty busy since returning from Jordan -- wedding, baby shower, goodbye parties. All celebrations for good friends and family facing momentous change in their lives. It is all so bittersweet. I find myself wondering, what big change do I face? Nada. I am here working away and living the day-to-day. I actually don't mind that right now, but I can sense that soon I'll be pretty dissatisfied with it all. Is this the restlessness of my generation? Or is it a legitimate inner-desire for something bigger in life than what I am doing now? It's probably both!

In other news, I've been doing my best to take photos everywhere I go! Here are some of the best of the best.

Cassie's goodbye brunch

Tina Unny's Baby Shower!

Elizabeth and Scott's Wedding Reception

Allison and me dancing. I was a Fall Fairy!

Editorial Retreat!

Fall is here!

Our cabin in the woods

Solea, our beautiful dog.

Pretty birdhouse

Cassie's going away party. Wifey! El Tigre!

The ladies. When will be reunited again??

Video: Wadi Rum!

Jeep Ride Through Wadi Rum from Jeannie Choi on Vimeo.

Longer, louder video clip of the ride here.

Jordan Update

Indeed, I have returned from my Jordanian adventure! I can say hands down that I am a better person for having visited Jordan. It is a beautiful country. I met some wonderful people and saw some of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen! Some highlights included Petra (see video below), snorkeling in the Red Sea, driving through the desert in Wadi Rum, and floating in the Dead Sea.

But the most important excursion for me was visiting Mt. Nebo where Moses died while looking over the promised land that he was no longer allowed to enter. I had a pretty emotional moment there on Mt. Nebo thinking about Moses. He must have been so bitter/proud/joyful/sad/tired/resolute as he made that final ascent to the top of the mountain, knowing what fate awaited him -- and his people. I find him to be one of the more human characters in the bible.

Anyway, I'll have more reflections here and there but for now, one big huge photo dump of some of my best shots from the trip.

At the Jordan River

Me at Mt. Nebo (photo credit: Heather)

Our awesome tour guide, Ra'ed on Mt. Nebo

Heather taking photos overlooking Petra

The view of the Treasury through the Siq in Petra

The Treasury in Petra

Hello cute donkey dwelling in Petra!

Coming back from swimming in the Red Sea (which is actually really really blue!)

Beautiful Wadi Rum

The Jeep we rode through Wadi Rum

Me and Heather, Wadi Rum, one of our many long arm shots

A leftover campfire and animal tracks (bird?) in Wadi Rum

The Dead Sea

Dead Sea at Dusk

Petramazing!

Today we went to Petra in the south of Jordan. It was jaw-droppingly amazing the whole day long. My camera was unable to do the scene justice -- the scope of the city is impossible to capture on a point and shoot. But I did videotape my approach through the Siq, a winding narrow gorge, and to the "treasury" which is not a treasury, but a really HUMONGOUS ancient tomb carved out of the sandstone by the ancient Nabataeans.

Enjoy!


Petramazing! from Jeannie Choi on Vimeo.

Jordan Preview

** Captions added!

Jordan is a whirlwind and I can barely catch my breath -- and yet I am also exhausted by the fact that we've only been here 3 days. 3 DAYS!? Are you kidding???

Anyway, I only have time for a quick upload ... here's just a few photos, no captions yet, but more to come.

(Amman at night, view from my hotel room)

(Umm Quais -- old ruins about an hour away from Amman)

(Jerash, more ruins, they had horse races here)

(Entry gate to Jerash)

(Temple in Jerash)

(Me in Jerash)

 

(If only my legs were this long *sigh*)

canon s95 photos

I've been experimenting with my new camera so I can be READY when I go to Jordan. Still getting the hang of it, but I think I made a wise choice! Please excuse the multiple self-portraits -- not a lot to photograph while sitting in my office.

**Above is something my sister made for me while she worked in my office for an afternoon. It makes me soooooo happy every day.