September 2009 Archives

(for those of you just joining me, I messed up the code to my blog while trying to fix something. So that is why it looks all crazy weird. But now instead of fixing it, I am working on an awesome redesign...coming soon...ish!)

My plan for getting to the Krystal Square Off this year went from non-existent to amazing to not-so amazing all within the span of a few days. I had always planned on going, but, as it was last year, it fell on the Sunday after the one Saturday a year I am required to work. In the week before though , my plan started to come together: My boss graciously gave me Monday off, Sadie and Jamie offered space for me to sleep in their hotel room, Mat said he'd come along to help me drive. Things were looking perfectly in place.

And then things happened at work and I was asked to come in on Monday. And told I would possibly have to come in on Sunday (Luckily when I asked my boss on Saturday night he said that it would be OK for me to go). And then I got a phone call from a number I didn't know. And it was Mat. Who had been mugged at gunpoint the night before and now (understandably) wouldn't be able to come with. Can I repeat that? He got MUGGED at GUNPOINT! (He is fine and alive and that is all that matters! Scary though.)

And my plan pretty much was non-existent again. But, if you know me at all, you know that I am a bit crazy and am not going to sit at home when I can possibly make it somewhere I really want to be. So, Saturday night, at 8pm, during the second act of Tosca, I hopped in my car for a ten-hour drive hoping I wasn't embarking on a suicide mission of my own. Since I had about 14 hours to make the ten-hour drive I pulled over twice, once for a two-hour nap at 1:30am in a Kentucky rest stop. Another early in the morning in a Tennessee fast food place for a half-hour power nap and giant coffee when I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. And after a brief run-in with the law (I have to pay Tennessee $150 for going 83mph in a 55...), and with my Garmin (who had decided that the Interstate was not the best option for getting there...I need to learn not to just blindly follow its lead), I finally made it to Chattanooga shortly after 9am.

I texted Sadie and met her and Jamie for my second double espresso of the morning before we headed to Ross' Landing for the event. There I picked up my Media pass. Thanks to the amazing Kenny Hammontree of Krystal and Brian of Wicked-PR I was granted press credentials for the contest! Yes, my stalkerdom was officially made official! And I wouldn't have to worry at all about where to watch the contest: I got prime, splatter-zone, front-row seats!

After picking up my pass, I wandered about shooting, listening to the band, talking with other press, and getting pumped for the event ahead!

Finally it was time to introduce the eaters, who arrived via boat on the riverfront. This is where it started to be weird being press. When you are audience you stand in the audience. When you are press you can go just about anywhere. I had to make choices of where to stand. I usually like planting myself in the stands and watching every drop of the show. But that is also in part because I had to in order to keep a prime spot. And now I could go anywhere. And that is daunting. For their introductions I went behind the gates to watch the eaters come from the boat. It meant missing them talking to George Shea on the podium. But I made the choice to stand where I as primarily because I could get shots that I wouldn't otherwise get.

And then as the rest of the pre-show went on it was choices. Do I stay back and talk to the eaters or do I go out and watch. Do I shoot from the side of the stage or run back into the audience. I ended up doing some crazy mixture of it all as the Sackful Challenge went on and as Badlands Booker performed.

When they called the eaters to congregate in the back it was time to take my space up in the front. I was right up on stage with only the judges and television crew between me and the eaters. I planted myself in the middle. The eaters were announced one by one, being raised onto the stage amidst smoke and fire and confetti. For some of it I followed the lead of Charles from Wicked who, needing the shots, ran back and forth to capture them all as the ascended. I still had somewhat of the hesitation of not wanting to get into other people's ways, but I made sure to be right there is front of my Chicagoans Tim and Pat and the two front-runners Kobayashi and Joey. And right there in front of Joey, Koby, and Pat during the contest.

I determined three things.

1. I need to take up running. Because running back and forth like that was pretty exhausting (especially on all of zero sleep).


2. I need to invest in some knee pads. Because kneeling on that stage kind of sort of hurt.


3. I need a second camera. I like to shoot with my telephoto for competitive eating events, no matter how close to the action I am. I like getting in there as close as I possibly can. Getting the food particles, focusing on the mouth and hands. But I also have to make sacrifices and really with the telephoto from that close I only get isolated shots of the eaters. Which I like. But it would be nice to get more than one person in a shot now and again.

Anyways.

The contest began with a bang. This year not only were there regular Krystals but each competitor could eat five Big Angus Burgers as well. So hamburgers flew from boxes and bigger hamburgers were unwrapped from paper and meat was shoved into mouths.

But the burgers weren't dunked into water. In years past they could take the buns and dip them in water to soften them up and make them easier to go down. This year, as a new rule, they couldn't dunk. It was cool in that they had to modify their strategies and that it was a different way of eating and that some might see the contest as more legit that way. And I appreciate it and will root for it in any way possible. But honestly I love the dunking because I love photographing the food particles flying through the air and water spilling everywhere and Pat's wonderful bright red hands. Sure there were some water spillage and some falling crumbs, but it wasn't the same disgustingly awesome captures. (But don't get me wrong, it was still mighty awesome.)

Soon into it the numbers were flying up. Would Pat overtake? Would Joey reign? Would Kobayashi come back?

Soon it became clear. Kobayashi's numbers started to rise and rise just enough to put him in what seemed to be a clear lead. I don't think I have smiled so much or come that close to joyous tears in all the contests I've been to before. You see, I always have the attitude with these contests that I don't really care who wins. By now I have met them all. And yes, I will always want Pat to win. But I like Joey and I like Sonya and Erik and Eric and Tim and Tim and Bob and everyone. But I had never before seen Kobayashi win in person. And I so wanted to see that happen.

Three Krystals ago Koby dropped out due to his jaw injury. Two Nathan's ago Joey won in an overtime eat-off. One Krystal ago Joey won. One Nathan's ago Joey won. I was there for them all. He was zero for four in major contests I had attended (which was, every major contest for the last two years). And what competitive eating fan doesn't hold Takeru Kobayashi up on a pedestal of ultimate competitive eating greatness?

So when it became apparent that he was not only winning, he was sweeping the floor of the rest of the table, it was the most thrilling, amazing, thrill of my competitive eating fandom career. I had to just put my camera down for a second and catch my breath. Kobayashi was about to win.

And when they counted down until the end he was the winner. By a mile (or at least enough burgers to put him well on top.)

I was taking a photo of Pat, I believe, when I all of a sudden was drenched in warm water. I turned my head to see Kobayshi pounding his fists on the table in victory. That's what you get when you want to be in the splash zone. A wet T-shirt contest, apparently.

They announced the numbers to the crowd: Pat Bertoletti in third with 76 points (51 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers).

Joey Chestnut in second with 81 points (56 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers).

Takeru Kobayashi in first with 93 points (68 Krystals, 5 Big Angus Burgers.)

Amazing.

I stuck around for a bit after the contest. I was going stay and hang out for a bit longer but as I kept doing the math in my head of when I would get home and as I actually didn't feel too tired I decided I should hit the road instead. So I hopped into my Saturn and again blindly followed my stupid Garmin as I drive another ten plus hours back home. I pulled into a gas station to rest at one point and some farm supply store parking lot at another. And I almost fell asleep too many times. And I finally rolled into Chicago at 4am in an amazing wind storm ever and almost thought that maybe I had fallen asleep on the road and that this was what dying was. But I am pretty sure I am alive.

So yeah. I drove over 20 hours in 32 hours on no sleep and got my first speeding ticket ever and am mad sun burnt (I put on sunscreen but my camera strap wore it off) and still got no sleep when I returned home. And yes, I am crazy. You already knew that about me. It seems that every time I take a trip anywhere I begin by saying "This is the stupidest plan I have ever had." But I think if every trip I take for the rest of my life can begin that way, I will have led a pretty amazing life. And if I hadn't, I would have missed out on seeing the amazing return of Takeru Kobayashi. And really, that is all that matters.

More Krystal Square Off VI photos here!

one.
I found out last night that Robot Chicken is not about a chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force is not about aquatic teenagers.

two.
Saturday morning around 8am the gay couple upstairs were having a very loud fight. Again. I heard I giant thump of something hitting the ground. I heard something being dragged across the floor. Then about half hour later I heard a very long zipper closing noise...

three.
I really want to like Central Camera, but they never have what I need.

four.
Dude. The choreographer guy on Glee was the same guy who played duck face on Full House. Just sayin.

five.
My boss is a bad influence on me. He makes me have way too much tequila.

six.
I made organic whole grain puffed rice kosher all-natural marshmallow treats...I really need to stop doing all my shopping at Whole Foods.

seven.
Chelsa and I saw a midnight showing of the Muppet Movie a week or so ago. We got Chinese food and mine came in a pineapple. The movie was awesome and I made shadow puppets while we waited and the guy in front of us helped me remember the words to where is thumbkin.

eight.
After the Jalapeno contest I went to the IO with Chelsa for Electric Mayhem's last performance. :-(

nine.
One day was Tabitha's birthday. We went out to some bar. I had class so I missed the show. Afterwards Chelsa and I went to Ian's for pizza. Steak and french fry and barbecue sauce pizza is quite possibly one of the best inventions ever.

ten.
My website is awesome.

So I just had the stupidest weekend ever. It was pretty awesome though.

Saturday night was our opening night gala. I took photos of the for our Facebook page. So check them all out here!

Here is me in my hippie ballgown:

And one of me and Eric before I started working.

Note to self: Do not drive in Little Village on Mexican Independence Day. It took me twenty minutes to drive there...normal...and then once off the highway it took me another hour to go the last mile!

Luckily I gave myself plenty of time to get there! And why was I going there, you might ask? Well it was time for the annual La Costena Jalapeno Eating Contest! Massive rains and flooding kept me from going last year, so nothing was stopping me this year!

This year's contest was crazy! It was a pretty decent-sized crowd and there were lots of great posters cheering on the favorites. The contest was exhilarating...so fast pace as competitors stuffed their mouths with the big green peppers. I don't know how they did it! I am not a spicy-girl so I certainly wouldn't have gotten far at all! In the end, as the tallying of totals began there was a buzz in the crowd. It seemed as if first place was a tie.

Pat was the defending champion and Sonya was out for a win so there was much tension when they announced there would be a one-minute overtime battle. More plates of peppers were placed in front of them and the eat-off began! It looked close, but Sonya's technique seemed to be dead-on. She managed to shovel more into her mouth, and in the end was declared the winner!

It was a crazy day! They handed out medals and bottles of Pepto Bismol to the winners. I loved the Pepto Bismol. Awesome.

Afterwards I went to Pat's for an after party. He is not only a great eater but a great chef! Who knew I would love a cream cheese/jelly/bacon sandwich? Or balsamic cheese curds? Unfortunately I had to leave before some of the real craziness began...but it was a fun time none the less! Can't wait to do it all again this Sunday at the Krystal Square Off!

More photos here.

My poor little blog feels neglected. :-(

First I broke her.

Second I haven't been keeping up posting to her.

Third I put the redesign of another site above her.

I think she hates me. But I promise, dear blog, that I will be posting regularly again soon and after this weekend's crazy renegade road trip I will give you your much needed facelift...

But I swear I have a good reason for the neglect! Almost two years ago I announced that I was staring a new travel blog, Silly America, which would focus on roadside attractions and other weird places. Well...over the last two months I have devoted all of my spare time to FINALLY actually designing it! And last night it officially launched!

It's not quite done yet...I still have to import about a thousand photos and caption all four thousand...but I love it!

So check out Silly America!

One website down....two to go...

OKOK, so I am way behind in almost everything right now and have way too many photos awaiting editing...I'm hoping to get semi-caught up before I leave for Chattanooga next weekend. And by "leave" I mean drive ten hours through the night all by myself...

Anyways, here's a little preview of photos from last weekend...

Val (seeing the title "Ocean's 11" on the TV screen.): which movie in the series is this? I mean, I know there were multiple Oceans movies. Which one is this?
Mat: Well there was Ocean's 11, 12, and 13. But this is the original movie that those were based on.
Val: Oh.

Is it just me or do my conversations sound terribly too close to Jessica Simpson's?

After the concert I met up with Mat who was just finishing up work a few blocks away. We grabbed dinner and then tried to head back to his place on the blue line. Which ended up taking over an hour and being the biggest deal ever. The blue line stop was closed and the lady guarding the entrance acted as if it was closed for most of the way and that we should catch the shuttle bus. We walked another block debating what to do, tried to catch a cab but none would pull over as Mat had his bike. Then walked back to catch the shuttle. We waited for one for a while and then the bus driver was really rude as Mat was having trouble getting the bike thing to work. And then was rude to me and said I had to pay even though you don't have to pay on shuttles. And then he didn't make Mat pay which made me mad (not that it matters as I have a prepaid 30 day unlimited pass). And then it drove two blocks and pulled over. And we waited for it to start going again. And then finally someone asked something and we found out that that was as far as the bus went. So a) if the lady had just said walk two blocks and the next stop is open we would have just walked and b) if the bus driver had actually said "this is the last stop" instead of just sitting there we wouldn't have waited for five more minutes. Anyways. We got on the el and finally headed back to his place. Then he put on a movie. And I fell promptly asleep because I was dead tired.

The end.

Every year Lyric Opera presents a big free concert in Millennium Park. I always have to work it, usually helping at the info booths and whatnot. This year we decided to try something different. My sneaky plan of posting vacation photos all around my desk to show what a great photographer I am paid off and they let me run around the park with my camera to take photos of the crowds to post directly to Facebook as the show went on! That way the people listening on WFMT at home had something to follow along with!

The plan went off semi-well. The internet connection we had out there was spotty but we managed to get some of them up as the night went on.

It was definitely a different experience than what I normally shoot. I usually shoot in RAW files and go over each one to tweak slightly before posting them anywhere. And I usually keep every photo I take just in case and compare them on the computer screen to pick the best. In this case due to the rapidness of what we wanted to do, I had to shoot in jpg and self-edit down the photos as I went along so that the card I had had everything I wanted to post and only what I wanted to post. And I couldn't edit them on the computer. Which was scary because I had to get them as right as possible.

But it went pretty well I think.

Here are a few of my (slightly edited later...) photos from the night. For tons more check out our Facebook fan page!

If you're not doing anything Friday night, you should head on over to Millennium Park for the FREE Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert! Starting at 7:30pm you'll hear some great opera performances by some of the best opera stars! Come one come all!

If you can't make it, WFMT will be broadcasting it live on the air and streaming on the internet...and you can also follow along via Facebook where I will (hopefully) be taking and uploading photos throughout the night!!

Awe-some, right?

My last assignment for photo class was to document a city block and tell a story in three photos. Being the lazy self I am I took these photos about fifteen feet from my apartment. But it worked. I think I have to remind myself that even if I am not the best photographer I am pretty good at telling a story. And I think the technical know-how will come.

Here is my story of Roscoe Village in three photos. #1 is a view of the bridge. Heather says you need a dog and a baby to live here. #2 is a view standing under the bridge. #3 is a detail shot inside the bridge.

Friday...

I made a map of everywhere I want to travel in my life...which is everyhere...

I drank way too much wine at work...

I had a conversation with a living statue on the el...

I went to Julie's for a little BBQ...

Saturday...

I went to Cheesecake Factory with Jenny and Nadia...

I put up an "Out of Order" sign in the Cheesecake Factory bathroom...

Heather put one up in the Starbucks changing table...

I stayed up way too late and Mat came to watch informercials.

Every year my sister Jennifer throws a tea party...

I took a photo of Dylan...

Dylan took a photo of me...

Dylan tries to steal my camera away...

More photos here!

Today I threw away a picture frame that I really liked with a photo in it from my twenty-first birthday party.

I also got a mimosa.

1. Today stared longingly at every guy I saw and contemplated whether one of them could be the love of my life. I stared at the guy at Starbucks and told him how excited I was that I was ordering a pumpkin spice latte. I stared at everyone on the el and on the street. I stared at the hot guy who works at Whole Foods. I stared at Eric and MattS. I told Eric and Matt that I don't think either of them is the love of my life. Eric complained that I was staring at the back of his head and it's not his best feature. I think I freaked everyone out.

2. How crazy on the crazy scale is it that I found the shoes I want to get married in and contemplated buying them.

3.
Saturday afternoon Alyssa and Heather and I went to Kitsch'n for brunch. I want to like Kitsch'n more than I do but every time I have been there the food has been kind of dry and bland and only soso. I had a chicken sandwich.

4.
Saturday night I met up with Chelsa despite the fact that I was so incredibly tired to go see a midnight showing of Ferris Bueller. We stopped at Julius Meinl first and I had the most delicious blueberry panna cotta ever. I should have taken its picture. The movie was awesome, of course. Chelsa drove me home and there was some idiot girl on my block who was just standing in the middle of the road and then got really pissed and yelled at us and gave us the finger for daring to drive down the street.

Today I picked out my prettiest toe (the one next to the big toe on my left foot. It is cute.), told Heather my middle name (Jo), talked with the phone on my wrong ear, jay walked on my way to class, and said "yo" instead of hello (but I often do that.)