First off, congrats to all the Gators this weekend that competed at SEC’s. It was great to see all the hard work pay off!
The past couple weeks have been thick with training and getting in the best shape possible, but last week I was able to get out to Pasadena for a Speedo catalog photo shoot. Besides having to travel all the way out there, this was a pretty good time. The folks at Speedo took great care of me, putting me up in a nice hotel, taking me out to dinner, and just generally being cool. The best part was the catering service truck on set, which had a dangerous amount of good eats on the menu. I would easily consider taking out a mortgage to have this truck parked in my driveway at all times. I would also be 400 lbs.
The set itself was pretty cool too. The photographer used a lot of different effects to create some cool shots. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to show that will end up in the catalog. Here is a quick picture of one of the sets though.
Now there are a few things about a photo shoot that I will never get used to, the first being make-up. I don’t have any sisters and this is a department which I know slim to nothing about. I’m totally fine with it, but I will never get comfortable with someone putting stuff on my face while I stand there doing nothing. It just feels weird, I don’t know how else to describe it. Another thing about a shoot, particularly a swim suit shoot, is having to be oiled up. I guess it just makes the photos turn out better…I don’t make the rules! Thankfully nobody lit a match nearby because I felt like I had just been swimming in the Gulf circa June, 2010. Here is me getting oiled and fixed up!
Here are a few impromptu shots while hanging out on set:
Later this week I’m heading to Omaha to meet with some of the great people at the Mutual of Omaha company headquarters. Training on the road isn’t very much fun, but it does break up the monotony of being home all the time. From Omaha, I’m going directly to Orlando for the NBA All-Star Game Florida Senior Championships competition. I’ll be competing on Saturday and Sunday and then heading back to Gainesville.
Good luck to the Michigan Men this weekend at Big Ten’s at Iowa! GO BLUE!
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