Sweet Child of God

Sweet Child of God, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 26, 2010 at the parish picnic for St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California.

We have had two parish events on Sunday and Monday, in the triple digit heat that plagued Southern California, and yet despite both events being outdoors, people came and had fun. We are tough, let me tell you!

Tee Time

Tee Time, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

The temperature was at about 110 degrees at Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana, California . . . but that is not going to stop the most avid golfers. At the shotgun start to a tournament sponsored by St. Joseph Church, these two took off, seeking those pins.

Age triumphs, my friends . . .

September 27, 2010.

St. Joseph Church, 5:50 AM

St. Joseph Church, 5:50 AM, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Walking by my church in Santa Ana, California, Monday morning before the heat of the day.

Taken with iPhone, using Old Camera app.

Abuela

Abuela, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

This is why you should never have cosmetic surgery done on your face. Because when you grow old, you won't have the beautiful character that age brings, as this woman does. I think she is lovely.

Taken September 26, 2010 at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California.

Trepidation

Trepidation, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I am not sure what is going on in their thoughts, but it almost seems like they are debating whether to go forward . . . or make a run for it.

Us Against Them

IMG_1052, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Some folks have contacted me, asking if I would return to blogging. Actually, I find it easier to update my Facebook page with my views and news, so if you are on Facebook, come friend me (let me know you came from here).

But, I will try to use my photos to illustrate my never-to-be-humble opinion. And let me say this - Loretta Sanchez is an idiot with her interview on Univision in which she claimed the Vietnamese are trying to take her seat away from her, and that her opponent - Van Tran - is anti-Mexican.

Sure, sure, she's backpedaling now, blaming her "inarticulate use of the language" (she gave the interview exclusively in Spanish), but the damage is done.

I am so tired of people reducing everything to a race card, whether they act intentionally or not. The fact is that Loretta represents a constituency of one - herself. She is not going to take any action unless it (a) benefits her or (b) poses no risk.

Case in point: the recently failed DREAM Act, which was an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants who came to the US as minors and grew up here, mas americano que mexicano. You would think Loretta would be all over that like flies on shit. She only gave her support when pressured and it was tepid at best, because the Democratic party did not want to handle that issue yet and she will always remain in lockstep with her party.

The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep

The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

-- Robert Frost

I used a single shot of the full moon and combined it with the picture of the tree, then placed it all as a duotone. September 23, 2010.

Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Autumn begins my favorite time of the year. I wish everyone a happy autumnal equinox.

Taken in the night sky over Santa Ana, California on September 23, 2010.

Peace Out

Peace Out, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

This was taken with my camera but is not my photo. I went to "In-n-Out Day" at my children's school - In-n-Out is a popular Southern California hamburger place and they send a truck to sell hamburgers as a fundraiser for schools - and while talking to other parents, gave my camera to my 10-year-old son to keep him occupied. Evidently, he took this picture of a friend in the boy's room.

It may be time to get him his own camera . . .

September 23, 2010.

Familia

Familia, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

As I was walking past the booth advertising long-ditsance cellular calling (important for many immigrants in the United States), this fellow saw me with my camera and motioned to me to take a picture of him and his family. I was happy to do so. Maybe the little girl is tired - her expression is opposite the starlet on her t-shirt. There is no disguising, however, the pride of her parents.

If anyone knows these folks, please contact me.

Taken September 18, 2010 in Santa Ana, California.

Bailando

Bailando, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 18, 2010 at the Fiestas de Independencia in downtown Santa Ana, California.

A beautiful young folklorico dancer.

Tiny Dancer

Tiny Dancer, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

At the Fiestas de Independencia in downtown Santa Ana, California. September 18, 2010.

Stress Test

Stress Test, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I hate Scientology.

Evidently, She Lost the Primary

Evidently, She Lost the Primary, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

It's a bitch when you are not nominated for the slate.

September 18, 2010 at Fiestas de Independencia in downtown Santa Ana, California.

Now And At the Hour of Our Deaths

Now And At the Hour of Our Deaths, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

May 23, 2008

While I recall placing this picture on my blog before, I have never uploaded it to Flickr and it remains one of my favorites. This is during the May Crowning event at St. Joseph School in Santa Ana, California.

It's always a good day for a Rosary shot.

Hombres

Hombres, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Happy Mexican Independence Day.

Blue Mountains Bring Cold Beer

Blue Mountains Bring Cold Beer, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 19, 2009 in Santa Ana, California, celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

Santa Ana is having its 2010 celebration this weekend.

Piggyback

Piggyback, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 4, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair in Orange, California.

Sometimes when the crowds start getting to you, the only thing left to do is to hoist the child and plow forward. Dude, mine were young once - I feel your pain.

I'm a Democrat

I'm a Democrat, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

They forgot to give him a shirt, so he made his own.

Late Afternoon

Late Afternoon, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Young man in Orange, California.

Intimacy

Intimacy, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 11, 2010 at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California.

Of all the couples at the group wedding, this one was my favorite. At the time this picture was being taken, the focus was on another couple, on the other side of the altar. These two were having a private and intimate moment of happiness.

Novios

Novios, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

The deacon of my church, Dcn. Rafael Romero and his wife, Delia, have set it upon themselves to make it easy for couples who are either common law or civilly married to have their marriages validated in the Catholic Church.

They made the arrangements for a group wedding, and one was held today at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California. Held in Spanish by our pastor, Fr. John Moneypenny, with our parochial vicar, Fr. Leonel Vargas, concelebrating, ten couples came before the altar to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.

The shot above is of one couple who were simply lost in each other.

Never to Be Forgotten

Never to Be Forgotten, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

On this day, put aside the politics and remember the families of those whose loved ones perished. Where is their memorial site? Will it always remain a piece of paper, protected by a plastic sleeve, that one church still allows them to put up?

In my Catholic faith, one of the corporal acts of mercy is to bury the dead. This is why we visit our loved ones gravesites and tend to them. Consider the fact that many of these people have no gravesite, that there was nothing left to bury.

Taken July 2008 at Trinity Church at Ground Zero.

Corn Flake Dancing

Corn Flake Dancing, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 4, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair.

I don't get it.

Fiestas de Independencia

Fiestas de Independencia, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I do a lot of graphic art for my parish, St. Joseph in Santa Ana. Using a picture I took of a tejano accordion player, I made this to get the word out that we will have a Mexican food booth at Santa Ana's Fiestas de Independencia, to celebrate Mexico's bicentennial.

Be there!

Out of Context

Out of Context, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

She is only waiting for her friend's response as to whether he wants one margarita or two . . . but if you didn't know that, you might think she just saw someone she didn't like and was getting ready to confront them.

He had one.

Taken September 3, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair in Orange, California.

Cyan Eyes

Cyan Eyes, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

This guy and his wife came to buy margaritas. I like taking pictures of our customers and his wife posed - actually, she was quite pretty and struck a cute pose with a little peace sign. After I took her picture he demanded - actually with a bit of an aggressive edge - to know why I didn't take his, so I did. They left and about a minute later he came back and asked me to delete his wife's picture because she was "weirded out" by me taking it. I don't care, so I did. After that exchange, I was weirded out by him and later when I saw this shot of him, even more so. Was it a full moon?

September 3, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair in Orange, California.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 3, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair in Orange, California.

This young lady finally made her connection.

Don't Leave Me Hanging

Don't Leave Me Hanging, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 3, 2010 at the Orange International Street Fair in Orang, California.

I was working my church's booth and this young lady was perched in the window of Wells Fargo Bank just across from us.

Aunt Carmen Used to Dance for Egg Money

Aunt Carmen Used to Dance for Egg Money, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

No, I don't have an Aunt Carmen, but maybe back in the 30's someone belly danced on the weekends to make ends meet, or just to have a little extra for a new dress

Yogi's Bento

Yogi's Bento, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I had lunch today with my husband. There is a hidden food court in downtown Santa Ana, with two Japanese cafes and a Mexican one.

Urban Dawn

Urban Dawn, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

September 1, 2010 at 6:19 am on Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana, California.