Had a lovely birthday 🎂🎈

=========================

From March 20, 2024

=========================

Had a lovely birthday 🎂🎈

PS: Need to be better at taking photos with people and not just the stuff and food 😀

Audio: "Smooth Jazz Guitar" by Geno.

Dream In Color ~ Celebrate African American Heritage

=========================

From February 2008

=========================

Dream In Color ~ Celebrate African American Heritage

In 2008, for African American History Month, we took inspiration from the Dream In Color theme that Target had and created this informational about African American Heritage.

Audio: "Images of Tomorrow" by Unicorn Heads from the YouTube audio library.

Early birthdays celebration with Prima Alondra!

=========================

From March 17, 2024

=========================

Early birthdays celebration with Prima Alondra!

Audio: "Little Happiness" by Oneul.

Target Volunteers at Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon!

=========================

From January 13, 2008

=========================

Target Volunteers at Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon

In 2008, I was one of the Target Volunteers for the Target sponsored water station at the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon. That year the event itself was sponsored by P.F. Chang's and so the full name was P.F. Chang's Rock N' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. 

The Target volunteers included Target Team Members from the Target Stores, Distribution Center, and Target Tempe HQ site. The Target Temp HQ site is where I worked at the time. In addition to passing out water during the marathon at the water station, I also got to be the one who inflated the balloons. Back when Target still used latex balloons. 

One photo originally posted on: https://elkirbster.blogspot.com/2008/02/pf-changs-rock-n-roll-arizona-marathon.html

Some of my favorite memories during the time lived in the Phoenix-metro area and working at the Target Tempe HQ site in Tempe, Arizona, were the various volunteer events that I was able to attend and/or participate in. 

#Target

#Arizona

#TargetVolunteers

#RockNRollArizona

Audio: "Target Fuse" by French Fuse from the YouTube audio library.

Japanese New Year Activity ~ January 2008

=========================

From January 11, 2008

=========================

Japanese New Year Activity ~ January 2008 

When working at the Target Tempe location of Target Financial & Retail Services, (Target Financial Services Tempe - TFST at the time of this activity), which I believe goes by a different name now, I was part of the Diversity Council from April 2006 - March of 2020. It too went through various name changes with Target Tempe Diversity & Inclusion Business Council being the name it had when I was last part of it. 

As a member of the Target Tempe Diversity & Inclusion Business Council I provided support in the implementation, creation, communication, leading and co-leading of Diversity & Inclusion events for the Target Tempe Contact Center HQ site. I also managed the internal social media platform used for employee engagement.

So you'll see many D&I type of activities and events from those particular years. 

This specific activity was for the 2008 Japanese New Year. An informational with a word search puzzle. 

#JapaneseNewYear

#TargetTempe

#Inclusion 

#Diversity

Audio: "Imperial Forces" by Aaron Kenny from the YouTube audio library.

Navajo Blues Pie from Sacred Hogan in Arizona ~ July 2012

=========================

Taken July 17, 2012

=========================

Navajo Blues Pie from Sacred Hogan in Arizona ~ July 2012 

On the 17th of July of 2012, we went to eat at Sacred Hogan and for dessert ordered a slice of the Navajo Blues Pie. It's made with blue corn, blueberries, and then dressed up a bit. 

Originally posted an image on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/NM5MSmOj1x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

It appears that, as of 2015, their physical location is no longer as per their Facebook, however does appear that they participate occasionally at events.

#Navajo

#NavajoEats

#Arizona

#SacredHogan

#BlueCorn

Audio: "Natural Light" by Chris Haugen from the YouTube audio library.

Kitty Cat Sammy as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!

=========================

Taken December 29, 2007

=========================

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.

Holidays 2007!

=========================

Taken December 20-29, 2007

=========================

Holidays 2007!

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.

https://youtu.be/l2NIUbNMZIc?si=N0uiMx7aXfW6CR7Z

Rest easy Sammy! 

https://youtu.be/bv0F3x_n4J0?si=qT4eo-yVz6QPbvpf

Audio: "Lost at Seal" by Track Tribe from the YouTube audio library.

Brand Day with Bullseye!

=========================

Taken December 13, 2007

=========================

Brand Day with Bullseye!

This is a photo collage of the Brand Day with Bullseye from the 13th of December of the year 2007. 

Audio: "There Are Chirping Birdies In My Soul" by Reed Mathis from the YouTube audio library.

Holiday Party 2007!

=========================

Taken December 08, 2007

=========================

Holiday Party 2007!

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.

Flowers: From me to me!

=========================

Taken November 27, 2007

=========================

Flowers: From me to me!

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.

Autumn Wreath ~ November 2007

=========================

Taken November 22, 2007

=========================

Autumn Wreath ~ November 2007

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. 

On the blog, I posted an image later in February of 2008. http://elkirbster.blogspot.com/2008/02/fall-wreath.html

At some point, a how to do it video will be created and shared via my Amalgam Creative Arts channel: https://www.youtube.com/amalgamcreativearts

Audio: "Natural Light" by Chris Haugen from the YouTube audio library.

Discover India ~ Diwali ~ November 2007

=========================

Taken November 18, 2007

=========================

Discover India ~ Diwali ~ November 2007

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

=========================

Taken November 03, 2007

=========================

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.

JDRF ~ Walk to Cure Diabetes ~ November 2007

=========================

Taken November 03, 2007

=========================

JDRF ~ Walk to Cure Diabetes ~ November 2007

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.