A couple weeks ago, Cherise and I hit the waters of Newport Harbour. The vessel was Destiny, and the occasion was Albert and Junko’s wedding.

I’ve known Albert since 2001 or so, and he and Junko had been together long before that. I started playing violin that year, and enquired with the music department at UCI as to where I could find a teacher. They gave me Albert’s phone number, and it quickly became apparent that he was a bit of a screwball. Naturally, we hit it off pretty well.

Saturday morning, I got up at 5 am, showered, and headed down to Newport Bay. It never ceases to amaze me that despite barely being able to wake up in the morning during the week everyday to go to work at 9 am, I don’t have any trouble getting up for shooting jobs. There’s also something cool and calming about being up that early and driving around. You feel a sense of camaraderie with the few other early risers you share the roads with in the early hours. Also, waking up early to be on a boat in Newport Bay isn’t a bad way to start the day, either.