This is what it looks like when Obama comes to town

In chronological order.  Because, why not?  And then he was gone. 

 

 

Escape from Alcatraz triathlon

At the end of the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is the infamous sand ladder - 400 steps straight up from the beach to the bluffs overlooking the ocean.  After swimming one and a half miles from Alcatraz, participants bike 18 miles, then run 8 miles, only to be greeted by steps so steep there is a hand rope to hold onto.  I hiked up the sand ladder for some photos, and got passed by an extremely enthusiastic competitor who appeared to be having the time of his life, calling out "Great day!" to me as he went by.  I have no excuse for him passing me.  I was carrying camera gear, but I hadn't been putting my body through unimaginable torture all morning.  I'm pretty sure I never will.  Oh well. 
It was absolutely gorgeous out, not too shabby a way to spend my day.  

Oakland A's future at O.co Coliseum

I got to go to a couple Oakland A's games for a San Francisco Chronicle story on the future of the team, and the stadium.  Attendance is pretty low and the stadium is pretty old.  The A's want to move to the south bay.  Lots of photos of empty seats....really nice to be at the game and get to shoot this instead of just shooting the game action.  

I love this state

And here are a couple of the 5 million reasons why.  Shot with my iphone, thought I'd put them up here for those of you that aren't addicted to instagram...
Loving living here.  Still hasn't even been a year yet. 

 

 

Diaper program

I love when I get the chance to just go hang out at someone's home, even if it's just for 20 minutes.  This was for a story on a diaper assistance program, where moms in need can get free diapers.  For this mom, it meant the difference between being able to get a job or not - if she could provide diapers for her babies, she could have others watch them while she worked. 

Cystic fibrosis treatment

Six-year old twins Taylor and Tom Rolefson live in Piedmont.  Taylor has cystic fibrosis, Tom does not.  I got to hang out with them for a bit for a story the paper was doing on gains made in treatment of cystic fibrosis at UCSF.  The Rolefsons opted not to show Taylor's actual treatment, since she's not old enough to make the decision if she wants to put that out there, and I really respect that choice.  I also learned after I got there that their dad, David, lost his brother to cystic fibrosis when he was a child.  I cannot imagine what Taylor's diagnosis was like for him, knowing firsthand what the disease is like.