Mike's Instant Vacation

Welcome back! I know. I know. I've been gone from my blog for a very long time. If you ask me why, I think it's weather related. I really do.  I think that when it's cold outside, I like to stay inside and blog. When it's nice out, I like to be outside riding my bike, on the beach, around town, just enjoying myself. So you see, my blogging mood changes with the weather. :) Anyways, I decided to post a blog today because it is my friends birthday, and I figured it's the perfect day to post it, even though it was done six months ago. So here we go!

Today (Meaning six months ago) I am shooting a good friend of mine Mihalis Psimis. Some of you may know him as "BongoMike," or simply just Mike. Either way, Mike's the one on the dance floor with his bongo drum making you move to the rhythm of his beat! You see, Mike has been a percussionist for over 15 years in Chicago, and has been making people shake their booty at many weddings, festivals, dance clubs, and events around the city. He says, "There's nothing more joyous than making people dance and be happy. It's such a great feeling when you can just play music and make people forget about their problems and their worries. Music takes you away. It's an escape from all your troubles. It's a drug, that is very addicting, and I can't get enough of it."

Mike is a very passionate, energetic, and a free spirited person. Oh...AND he's definitely a looker too!  Here's Mike.

Here's a little on Mike before we go on his vacation:

Mike was born and raised in Chi-town baby! I say it, like he would say it, "CHI-TOWN BABY!"  His dad Zack is Greek, and his mom Martha is Cuban. What a hot combination right!? And yes, that is the same Martha from my previous blog on 90 miles Cuban Cafe. (The great cook) http://spanos311.blogspot.com/2014/02/logan-square-sculptures-and-90-miles.htm 
He works in sales in downtown Chicago as his day job, but his real PASSION is MUSIC. From playing his bongo drum, to jamming on his guitar, to writing and creating his own songs, music is in this man's DNA. If you remember from my 90 miles blog, his grandfather Rolando was a member of a swing band in Cuba back in the 50's and 60's. So you see, the love of music runs in Mike's blood!

Mike also loves CARS. His dad Zack was a mechanic for over thirty years and taught Mike to work on cars at a very young age. Mike has also worked as a car mechanic for several years before he did sales. He says his dream car would either be a '69 Camaro, a '72 Chevelle, or an '81 Monte Carlo. "I really loved my '94 black Camaro that I had back in the day. It had T-tops, plates that read "Bongo," and a windshield with the word ELLAS!  (Ellas is another work for Greece)

I am picturing Mike now driving around Chicago back in the day in this black Camaro trying to pick up the ladies;)

One last thing I must mention about Mike before we get to his vacation is his very beautiful dog Abby! She is one of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet. All she wants you to do is hug her an play with her. (AND FEED HER of course)  Isn't she gorgeous?

Awwww....

They love each other very much. I can say so much more about Mike and Abby, but this blog is about Instant Vacations, so we must go on. Ready for Mike's instant vacation? Lets go!

"Having any three-day weekend from my work week"

Mike says he is a very  "homey feeling"  kind of guy.  By that, he means he likes to make his home comfortable and cozy so he could just feel like he's on "vacation" just by being there. Chilling and relaxing in the backyard for like this for example...

"Hearing  a song and remembering when I was in a certain city, or country, takes me on an instant vacation. I LOVE Greece and I even went to China last year and climbed the Great Wall. I love traveling and plan to do more in the near future"

.

"The smell of BBQ or outdoor cooking. I am a lover of all types of foods. I am not a picky eater at all"

"Finding a hole in the wall food shop that carries delicious ethnic food"

Cubanito 2555 N. Pulakski Chicago

We went to Cubanito and had some of the BEST Cuban sandwiches we ever had! Check it out if you are in the area. You will love it.

"Ummm. Maria can I eat in peace please?"

OHH! Sorry! Let me put my camera down.

"The moment you're with your friends that you haven't seen in a long time. I love being around good company. Sometimes that is all you need to feel like you are on vacation."

Let's Dance!

"Doing something spontaneous that you would probably never do again. I am a very spur of the moment kind of guy and I love a good adrenaline rush!" 

He's a magician!!

No he's not....he's simply Mike. (So cute though!)

"Playing music with friends. I believe music is LIFE. I can't imagine my world without it."

Look at you looking like Stelios Rokkos. Remember when people used to say that you look like him? I kind of see why NOW!  

Stelios Rokkos (Greek Rock Singer)

"When I hear my friends parents yell at them for not doing what they are told to do. I get a real kick out of it. It must be my Greek side."  (Greek parents will tell you what to do for the rest of your life, just in case  you are wondering.)

You are so funny Mike! You get pleasure from other people getting yelled at? 

"Come on Maria don't you? I know you do too!"

Lol. You're right! I kind of do too! It must be a Greek thing. 

Speaking of Greek things, I forgot to mention how much Mike loves his Greek Frappe. (Iced Nescafe coffee) Even though I think he makes it way

"too foamy"

                                       

"Shhhh......Skase Maria!"  

Ok, Ok. I had to say it. You know I'm just messing with you! 

And with that, we end this weeks Instant Vacation. Thank you SO much Mike for spending the day with me. I had so much fun with you. You helped me with my photography assignment this week and I couldn't be more grateful.  Keep smiling and spreading your light. Your energy is contagious!!

Before I go, here's a little Video on Bongo Mike. Enjoy and have a great week!

                                 

Kevin's Instant Vacation!

I'm back with your weekly INSTANT VACATION! I know you guys couldn't wait.... ;)  This week, I am photographing a friend of mine from work. Well, we used to work at the same place, but then he found a better fit for himself.  Meet Kevin Taylor.

Kevin was born and raised in southside Chicago. He has been living in the  Roseland neighborhood with his mom and his brother since 2006. Roseland? You might ask. Isn't that a "bad" neighborhood? Well apparently Superman think so....

I asked Kevin about that though, and he says that it's not as "bad" as people make it out to be. It also has gotten better over the years. That being said, I traveled down to the southside to do my photography homework, and see what my friend Kevin's instant vacation feels like :) Before we get to that though, here's a little bit about Kevin:

Kevin works for the Chicago Police Department and loves his job.  He loves the atmosphere at the police department, and loves helping people in need. It's a very rewarding and humbling experience for him. On his days off, he likes to go to dinners, the movies, and once in a while to the bars and clubs. He also loves traveling to the West Coast, especially LA,  and is hoping to move there one day. I hope you make it there my friend. I feel you on that. A LOT of us are California Dreaming:) 

Lets go on Kevin's Instant Vacation!

  "Lounging on the BEACH and soaking up the sun."

"Chicago's 39th Street Beach is one of my Fav's"

They have some cool rocks there too that you can just chill on and relax without getting sand in your pants!

Why are you so serious all the time Kevin? Smile! You're at the BEACH baby!! 

That's better:)

"Enjoying a nice glass of Wine!" (My kind of man...he must be God sent ;)

Or a bottle for that matter! (Makes the vacation last that much longer)

Since we are on the topic of wine and GOD. Kevin also takes his faith very seriously. He is a believer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and has the symbol of the Holy Cross permanently engraved on him. 

"Stopping at the Barbershop for a fresh hair cut"

"Driving around Chicago, enjoying my city, and shopping on Michigan Avenue."

And finally....... 

"Just sitting on my porch carefree, smoking my Newport. I can do that every day." 

 Puff puff

ahhhh....

Much better now :)

I AM NOT ADVOCATING SMOKING! This is just what Kevin likes :)

Well that was FUN! Thank you Kevin for all your help on my assignment this week. 

"Maria, before you go....how bout a little game of baseball?"

Kevin, do you even like baseball?

"Ummmm......"

"NO" (LOL)

THAT'S what I thought. Bye Kevin!!! I appreciate you so much though, and I will be sending you the rest of the pictures through email. There are so many good ones. I hope you like them. Thanks again!

One more thing before I go. Kevin warned me about the huge pothole in the middle of the street by his house. What's up with ALL these potholes in Chicago? Come on....fix them already!

 At least the southsiders warn you about them though. See, they're watching your back! ;) THANK YOU KEVIN! You saved me from a whole lot of stress if I ever were to run into that thing. You gave me an instant vacation just thinking about it:) 

With that, assignment number 2 is DONE! I can't wait to go and print some of these and show my classmates for critique. This week, we also have to print them out on three different types of papers; Matte, Lustre, and Glossy, and see which one we like best.  Let's see. I will let you guys know which one I like next time! :) Till then....xoxoxo

Go on an Instant Vacation with Cecilia and Alyssa!

 Hello everyone, I'm back! It's been a while huh? Sorry about that. Life happens and I got busy with other things, that the blog had to take a bag seat. I LOVE blogging though, so I've decided to make my next blogs shorter and easier, so they can get done faster. Ok, forget faster....just get DONE. :)

This is where I am at now. I have finished Photo I and Photo II, and now I am continuing on at Richard Stromberg's Photography Classes with Photo III. I couldn't be more excited this time abound....wanna know why???

Well, for the next seven weeks, WE get to pick our OWN "theme" for our photos! After thinking about it for a little while, I've decided to do:

AN INSTANT VACATION!

I thought about photographing trees, nature, graffiti, or other things....but then I thought to myself... NO! I love people! I LOVE capturing people's candid moments ESPECIALLY laughter and happiness. I feel that these types of pictures are uplifting, positive, and they just put a smile on everyone's face.  Since I love this type of photography, I decided to photograph people when they go on what I call an "Instant vacation." By that, I DON'T mean to a far away and exotic place. I mean right here, close to their home. Because after all, you do NOT need to go far away at all to FEEL like you are on a vacation. Think about all the times that you felt joy. Whether it's sharing stories and laughing with your friends, drinking wine, or singing your favorite song in the shower, ALL these moments make you feel HAPPY. They make you feel like you are on VACATION! 

During the next seven weeks, I will photograph different people and ask them about what their instant vacation feels like....THEN I will blog about it :)  These blogs will be MUCH shorter like I said before, filled with pictures and comments from the people themselves. 

So if you like, you can follow along during the next seven weeks. Who knows? Maybe you find out that it's easier to go an a vacation than you think! ;)  (Ok Maria, enough with the word Vacation already...we get it... ;). 

Here we go! Today we talk with two teachers from Youngstown, Ohio, Cecilia Velazquez and Alyssa Paidas. Cecilia used to live in Chicago and moved back home to teach Kindergarten. She has a passion for teaching and helping kids in this very  important chapter of their school lives. Alyssa also teaches, but her focus is on children with special needs. How awesome is that!? Here we go! These two young ladies are about to tell us what takes them on an....OK...I won't say it...... you already know;)
                                                                             

CECILIA VELAZQUEZ 

"No Alarm Clock"

"Not being responsible for anyone but myself. ESP no one over the age of 6:) Although I miss my kids.

It's a similar feeling to a woman not having to carry her purse somewhere.....like AHHH I'm free."

"Lots of food that cannot be had locally."

"Mmmm......"

ALYSSA PAIDAS

"Belly Laughs"

"Unexpected cancellation in a normal activity(a snow day for example) and driving with music loud and sun shining:)"

"Exciting activity that you plan that you normally don't do"

"Having ah hah moments where you escape from the world and think who gives a crap what anyone thinks...happens in Yoga a lot:)"

 This was so much FUN! Thank you for helping me with my assignment for this week ladies.  You are both so bright and beautiful! Keep teaching our children and making a better future for all of us. 

                                                         

You are an INSPIRATION.

See, I told you guys these would be a lot shorter ;) I hope you enjoyed it! Till next time...:)