Kitty Cat Sammy as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!
This is Samos, or Sammy as we called him most often, wearing a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer outfit. Would this be considered Kitty Cat Cosplay?! Ha Ha!
This set of photos was already included on the Holidays 2007 photo collage video, which included all the photos from the holidays, however decided that Sammy should have a separate one with a more upbeat song.
Audio: "Role Player" by Au.Ra from the YouTube audio library.
This is a photo collage of the photos taken during the Holiday season of the year 2007. They range from around the Xmas Holiday and just before the new year. It appears that I didn't take any on New Year's Eve nor Day.
The first half are in Eagle Pass, Texas, USA and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. The last half are back in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
December 2007 was when my maternal Grandmother passed away. Although my cousin Jerry and I traveled from Phoenix, Arizona, USA to Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, border town to Eagle Pass, Texas, USA, we didn't make it to the funeral. However, we did get to spend a few days with family which was nice, specially because it had been several years without visiting during the holidays. In fact, we still didn't visit often during the holidays. Even now in 2024 when this video collage is being made and we both live closer to family, my cousin in San Antonio, Texas, USA and I in Eagle Pass, Texas, USA, we still don't get to spend much time with blood-relative family during the holidays. The reasons now not so much due to distance, but because everyone has grown up and have their own families. Perhaps one day we may have a holiday season where we can somewhat relive, if only a bit, how it was when my grandmother still lived.
The second half of the photos are back in Phoenix, Arizona, USA and it appears that I only took photos of when Sammy, who passed away in 2023, was trying out his Holiday attire. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and of the holiday decorations and cards from that year.
Today we said farewell to the physical form of sweet Samson... Sammy as we most often called him.
This is a photo collage of the 2007 photos from the Holiday Party with co-workers. This particular year I helped coordinate and made the invitations. The invitations were printed onto festive paper with matching envelopes and on this video you just get to see what I had originally typed out. The celebration took place on December 8th at the Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona.
Audio: "Yucatan Peninsula" by Biz Baz Studio from the YouTube audio library.
This is a photo collage of a bouquet of carnations that I got myself back on the 27th of November of the year 2007. That's right, I've been getting myself flowers long before there were songs about getting yourself flowers. Don't wait for someone to get you flowers to get flowers!
Audio: "Back to Portland" by Track Tribe from the YouTube audio library.
On the 22nd of November of the year 2007, I made an Autumn wreath to place on the front door of the house we were living in at the time.
Wreaths are one of those decoration items that in the past I'd only think of as a December type decoration for the winter holidays. I remember for a few years prior to this, I'd wanted to have one for the Autumn season also. There's certainly a huge variety of them at many price points, however could never bring myself to purchase a store made one.
Finally, on this day, I made my own using leaves from an old Autumn garland that I already had.
This is a photo collage of the flyer and the four photos that were taken when we went to the 6th Annual Discover India presented by the India Association of Phoenix & its Sister Organizations that took place on Sunday, November 18, 2007.
Can't remember why I didn't take more photos, however since only had four photos, which were a bit dark, and the flyer, I decided to edit the photos to get a better look. Then, played a bit with the zoom for a better look at the whole flyer.
It was a free event that also celebrated Diwali, The Festival of Lights.
Audio: "A Sitar Story" by Hanu Dixit from the YouTube audio library.
Zoom Edit of JDRF ~ Walk to Cure Diabetes ~ November 2007
After having watched the original collage of the JDRF ~ Walk to Cure Diabetes ~ November 2007 https://youtu.be/Mj5D36fB2_g?si=-utJRooETVOxFU6K noticed that, because some of the photos had a large view of the sky du to photos being taken as we walked, when zoomed in they mostly ended on the sky. Therefore, decided to update to modify a bit of the zoom animation to zoom into what was intended the photo to be of. I though of deleting the original and replacing it with this new one, however ultimately decided I'd just keep both. So enjoy a second look at the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes with a bit of zoom animation edits.
From the original upload:
This is a collection of the photos taken during the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund Walk to Cure Diabetes that took place November 03, 2007. Many of the photos have interesting angles and vies of plenty of sky because most were taken as we were walking. The walk took place in Downtown Tempe at the Tempe Beach Park.
Audio: "Gently, Onwards" by ELPHNT from the YouTube audio library.
This is a collection of the photos taken during the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund Walk to Cure Diabetes that took place November 03, 2007. Many of the photos have interesting angles and vies of plenty of sky because most were taken as we were walking. The walk took place in Downtown Tempe at the Tempe Beach Park.
Audio: "Gently, Onwards" by ELPHNT from the YouTube audio library.
Spooktacular Office Decor ~ Halloween ~ October 23, 2007
This is a photo collage of some of the Halloween decorations from my place of work at the time.
One of the fun things about making photo collage videos is that, sometimes, I find additional photos that either weren't on my mind or didn't remember I'd taken.
For example, this collage of Halloween decorations were found as I was looking for the Hawaiian Luau photos. Appears that on October 23, 2007 on the day of that Hawaiian Luau event, I took a few snaps of just some of the Spooktacular Halloween Decor that were by my area of the Target Tempe office.
Looking back it's interesting to me that it appears that 2007 was the year that I intentionally began taking more photos of the Halloween events from work. Although in 2006 I did have photos of the Halloween Costume Contest, those were the ones that were shared from the contest, not taken by me. You can watch that here: https://youtu.be/U6GHK0bfHoo?si=RnALxWMvqY1KT5kv Perhaps at some point I may find some older photos of past events, though unlikely.
Audio: "My First Attempt at a Fantasy Zone" by Amalgam Creative Arts. Slowed down a whole lot and it made it have a creepy type feel
Witch Themed Cupcakes for Fundraiser ~ October 2007
This is a photo collage of witch themed cupcakes that I helped decorate for a fundraiser in October 2007. If memory serves me right, the inspiration was from a Martha Stewart magazine.
Read more about this back when I had blogged about it. Cupcakes
Camera: Sony DSC-W100
Audio: "Past Life" by JVNA from the YouTube Audio library.
We went for a quick walk at night at the Tempe Beach Park back in June 2007!
Didn't take many photos. A couple of Armandzraven and the few ones taken were a bit out of focus, so played with colors to add variations to add to the collage. The last ones my favorites.
Camera: Sony DSC-W100
Audio: "Almost a Year Ago" by John Deley and the 41 Players from the Youtube Audio library.
Family, Fun, and Fiesta! ~ Ma & Tia Visit ~ Chinese Cultural Center!
In 2007, my mother and Tia Rosa came to visit when we were living in Phoenix. South Phoenix area to be more precise. During their stay we played Wii, went out to eat, grilled, went shopping, visited cultural centers and historic areas.
The photos on this collage shows us visiting the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center. From this set is where the background photo for the series, "Memories of Yore: Photos from My Mother's Camera" came from.
If you watch that series you'll see similar images during this time from my mother's perspective. Additionally, the Visiting the Chinese Cultural Center https://youtu.be/wyswUbwVu1k?si=MmNanzAwbNtGeh4Q came from those.
The center was always a enjoyable the various times we visited, whether shopping at the various stores and grocery store, eating at various of the restaurants, or just strolling through the peaceful garden and koi pond.
Just in case their site is to cease to exist at some point, here's the current info from the site: "Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center's roof was made by the "XiangShang Bang" craft masters, whom inherited the same technique and materials that were use in the Forbidden City, designed and built by their ancestors. President Trump visited China in November of 2017 and admired the Forbidden City's 600 years old roof. 668 North LLC called the 20 years old roof in Chinese Cultural Center as aging roof, and fought in the court to replace all of the roof with residential adobe tile for this commercial building. Their action shows either an ignorance or hostile attitude towards Chinese heritage and culture.
About the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center and Our Mission
The Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center, also known as the COFCO center, was built by the first owner with help from community volunteers and donations from local Chinese immigrants with support from the City of Phoenix government. Special materials and supplies were brought from China, and skilled workers from China spent years making this one of the most beautiful Chinese Cultural Centers in North America. The names of donors are engraved in the Wall of Honor, and it has become a Phoenix landmark, and part of Arizona's history.
668 North LLC, a subsidiary of Scottsdale-based True North Companies, bought 95% of the condo units in June 2017. Szechwan Palace Restaurant owns another 5% of the units since December 1998. While totally ignoring the property rights of other owner, 668 North LLC is planning to remove all features connected with Chinese culture and history from the exterior of the buildings in the common area to create standard "modern" office buildings. While they have recognized the historical importance of the Center and has offered the garden artifacts that will be removed, we want to save the Chinese Cultural Center as a whole. It would be impossible to fully disassemble and restore the center's heritage at another location."
Camera: Sony DSC-W100
Audio: "Percussions Rhythm" from the Buddha Bar IV, and slowed down by almost half for the feeling I was looking for.
