NAMM
Anaheim, California
January 15-17, 2010
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Over the weekend, I went to Anaheim, CA with my wonderful friend Sarah for the NAMM Convention. [A brief history on this acronym - NAMM used to stand for the National Association of Music Merchants, but now has expanded globally, and so therefore has changed to the International Music Products Association. The acronym, NAMM, was kept, however]. This essentially invite-only convention features the latest instruments, music hardware, software and other related items for people in the music industry to check out. While at this event, it is expected to see so many of music's most talented performers checking things out, signing a few autographs, and taking some pictures at random.

After the convention hours, it's party time! Sarah and I had a LOT of fun with this part of the day, and spent some time with some of the industry's well known people - we had dinner with a few of them, took some pictures with them and others along the way, and of course threw in the random shot of tequilla to solidify the good time being had (OUCH!!! My esophagus STILL hurts just thinking about that!).

Anyway, here's a peak at our weekend of music and networking.

Sarah, THANK YOU again! Much love to you, my dear friend :)

xoxo

~amy

Ahhhh... beautiful California weather!! A far cry from snowy Chicago!





Guitars EVERYWHERE!!! :)





Everywhere you turned, there were people ready to sign autographs





Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains just checking out some new gear





Sarah LOVES KISS, so we just had to meet Gene Simmons!!!





When it was my turn, Gene twirled me around like a ballerina ;)





Trying to be a rock star ;)









Skulls at the fender room!! Doesn't get much more rock than that!





Sarah hanging out with some of her VERY talented musician friends that she introduced me to





Sarah and her guitar making friend :)





TINIEST drum set ever! :)



Random gatherings like this were very common AND fun to walk by!









yeah.. it was kind of a circus like that...





A paraplegic drum set creation - VERY cool!! :)





Me and Sarah with some new musician friends... VERY awesome people who were so kind to us - thanks so much again boys (and girl!!) :D





Sarah and her friend Rachel - what a nice guy!! (And a very talented musician!)





Me and my new friends, Matt and Ryan... AWESOME guys (Ryan lent me his merino hoodie and also bought us tequilla shots; Matt showered us in compliments and hugs, and BOTH made us laugh hysterically!!) and, VERY talented musicians





And suddenly, we were on a plane back home.... but the view was beautiful!







For more pictures, visit my facebook photo album:


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51157&id=1138585006&l=c3cbfd6540

Adventures in Nashville
with Sarah and Christine :)
December 19-21, 2009
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My beautiful friend Sarah, and her lovely roommate (and my NEWEST friend!!!) went on a road trip with me to Nashville over the weekend. We all had the most amazing time while there!!

We started by checking into our beautiful 4-1/2 star hotel called the Hutton. It's a green hotel, so it limits use of water, electricity, and waste. Sadly, this also meant no pool or hot tub, but we managed just fine!

The three of us went to a holiday party after having dinner at the swank Palm restaurant in town, and met Sarah's talented and sweet friend, Keith. While we had possibly a bit too many cocktails and glasses of wine, we sang songs (and created our own) into the wee hours of the night. What a way to spend your first time ever (that'd be me) in Nashville!!!

Saturday was spent shopping, resting, and going to BB King's club. The live music there was so fabulous! These musicians really were top notch. Sarah mentioned the club's strict policy on their in house musicians (i.e. they REALLY have to be talented).

The remainder of the evening was spent in our hotel watching Julie & Julia, snacking on homemade chips from the hotel kitchen, and fighting sleepy eyes. The morning meant a quick breakfast at the Pancake Pantry with Sarah's friend John Sepetys, and a quick meeting over coffee with one of my new and talented friends, Mikky Ekko.

Several hours, a few potty breaks, three cups of coffee, road snacks, and back seat naps later, we made it back to my place. The girls still had about an hour and a half left to go before they reached their home in Milwaukee, WI. They made it home safely, as did I after driving to pick up my kitty, Leala, from my wonderful friends' (Josh + Helen) house - they cat sat the grouchy little girl!

Here's a peak at our trip!

xoxo

~amy

For more photos from our adventure, plus descriptions of the pictures above,
visit my facebook photo album:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=47906&id=1138585006&l=c2debbf167

New Zealand

August 12-25, 2009

________________

My trip absolutely changed my life. I have a brand new outlook on who I am, what I want, and what I will be in this life. My goals have become grander, if that was even possible, my heart has been reborn, and my inspiration for new photographic experiences has been rejuvenated.

I spent these two weeks (well, 12 days after the travel factor) with three absolutely amazing, sweet, kind and caring people (Lee, his girlfriend Krystina, and Ben). They made me forget about everything back in Chicago, and have inspired me to live my life to the fullest, as they've all done in their lives.

I kept a travel journal from this trip, and am still deciding if I want to post it or not. In the meantime, I will post some of my favorite images, along with a link to my facebook photo album on my photography page.

Thank you SO much again Lee, Krystina and Ben! The beauty, adventure, culture and unexpected surprises are things that I will continue to strive for throughout my future adventures in life.

xoxo

~amy

As a side note, many of the above pictures were supposed to appear as panoramic shaped photos, however, they have somehow been cropped along the right side of the images. My apologies for technology being crappy.

To see more from my absolutely amazing trip, including FULL uncropped images, check out my photo album on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104653&id=10720871199&l=c4c4e5b414