daines'n around

The blues festival was a blast.

Couple of things:

I'm engaged.

To be married, not just actively involved in a cause.

Marriage this summer.

I have only blogged a handful of times in the last year, but I've been busy writing about DP.

I'm going to redesign chrisdaines.net in the coming weeks. The RSS feed may change.

Before I make any changes I'll be sure to publish one last blog post with the current RSS and directory location. I'm going to simply with php and css.

Life is full of decisions -- brush strokes in a painting that is our lives.

Up close they can look brash and unrefined.

Stepping back, together they paint the entire picture of who we are.

Just so happens I went kayaking on some smooth ocean waters a few weeks ago at Catalina Island off the coast of California.

Chris and Danielle at AIDS Walk San Francisco 2004

Over one million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS today. Worldwide, the figure is over 33 million. Funds are desperately needed to assist in the treatment and AIDS reserach.

This year I have set a new goal with my long-time friend Dani to raise $2000 to fund AIDS research and help find a cure for this crippling disease while ensuring affordable medication can be available to the suffering.

This is our third Aids Walk together, and my fourth. On July 19, 2009, we will walk about six miles together with thousands of other people to earn the sponsorship and donations for this humanitarian cause.

Every little amount donated helps. Donations may be made at:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=302568&supid=126301162

Think, $25 is equal to only four trips to Starbucks / Jamba Juice or only two movie tickets. If you would like to donate less than $25, you can use Paypal and send funds to Dani at solascl@hotmail.com, or you can also write me a check.

Please help in any way you can. Even $5 goes a long way.

Economic times are difficult for many. My sister is preparing to move north to move back in with Mom after spending several months looking for employment as a hair stylist unsuccessfully. My mom elected to move in with her Mother in early 2008 after economic problems hit her in Orange County.

The consolidation of families once spread around the country may be an interesting side-effect of the continual paring down of unnecessary expenses. It's just amazing that rent can be considered an extra expense these days.

Wednesday I'll start a trek that lasts more than 1,000 miles on the 5 freeway to Olympia.




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The storms that blew through before Valentine's Day and immediately after dropped more than an inch of rain in Orange County. While in the Dana Point Harbor I managed to snap a photo of the sunset over the breakers protecting the harbor.

It reminds me I need to make time to make more photographs like this. Click on the image for a large version.

Finally put up a gallery of wedding images I finished editing this weekend after a stifling fever and missing appetite for four days.

So, would you hire me?

The plan:

The result:

The satisfaction