One of my former clients asked if I would donate my services for a good cause and I was glad that I could find a day to go up to Santa Barbara with her.

The Circle V Ranch, owned and operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles, is a multifaceted camp whose mission is to serve impoverished and “at risk” children, youth and families from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties by providing innovative and enriching outdoor experiences that build self esteem and expand knowledge and appreciation of others, nature and God. The Circle V Ranch is open to people of all beliefs

To be honest, I expected the camp to be a little chaotic due to the large number of inner city kids in one area. What I noticed was that the kids were so well-behaved. I expected that when a camp leader would try to gather a group of kids, the scene would be a little chaotic but that wasn't the case at all. The kids were compliant, cordial, and full of wonderful smiles. I'm not sure how the kids were before coming to camp, but I can see the appreciation for this opportunity towards the end of the week. It was quite a rewarding experience for me.

Santa Barbara, California.

The weather was lovely for the weekend of Ali and Andy's wedding, which coincided with fiesta week in Santa Barbara. They brought their dog to be the ring bearer and he didn't disappoint. When called upon, he flew down the steps and into Andy's arms to deliver the rings. The reception was held at the Maritime Museum where the exhibits served as a unique backdrop to a bevy of emotional speeches, hilarious dancing, and artistic portraits.

Just got back from Alison and Andy's Wedding in Santa Barbara. I must say, they had the coolest ring-bearer I've seen yet. I have a lot of blogging to catch up on, and hopefully I'll get to this one before they get back from their honeymoon.