I added a special page for those interested in the 2011 Reunion of the Vega Clan.  Find the link on top of the page or go here:

http://www.thellanas.com/blog/vegas-2011-reunion

The page is password protected, if you don’t have one,  find your favorite Tito or Tita and ask them!

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I was sitting shotgun in my buddy’s Subary  with 5D handheld against the roof through Anza Borrego Desert.

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Please be careful with your accounts out there.  If something smells fishy, there’s nothing wrong with asking for confirmation.  Don’t let them mess with your conscience and guilt trip you into giving them what they want.  If the person is a real friend, they would have NO problem confirming something with you.

I had an interseting chat with a “friend” on facebook this morning.  .Names have been changed to protect the innocent. My notes and thoughts are in the “< >”:

friend: hello

friend:how are you?

10:05am

me: hey!

me: i’m good

me: just doin the usual :p

me: you?

10:06am

friend:

friend:not too good

friend:presently in a deep mess

10:06am

me: :/ what’s up?

10:07am

friend:

friend:i and my family are stranded in London,uk  <red flag#1:   she just posted the birth of her baby a few days ago…in San Diego>
friend:got mugged at gun point last night

10:07am

me: oh crap

me: everyoneo k?

10:08am

friend: it sucks and scary
friend:i was hit on the head but i am getting better  <red flag#2:   Let’s just say I wouldn’t wanna be the person to pull a gun on her.>
friend:all cash,credit card and phone were stolen

10:09am

me: damn

10:10am

friend: it was a brutal experience but thank God that i still have my life and passport saved

10:10am

me: that’s the most important part

10:10am

friend: my return flight leaves in few hours but having problem sorting the hotel and hospital bills

friend:i need your help

10:13am

me: i’ll see what i can do

10:13am

friend: can you loan me some cash to settle the bills and also get a cab to the airport? <red flag#2:   Let’s just say I wouldn’t wanna be the person to pull a gun on her.>
friend:i will definitely refund it as soon as i return home

10:15am

me: how can i do that?

10:15am

friend: you can have it wired to my name via western union

friend: to you know any western union outlet nerby?

10:17am

me: about 15 mins away

10:18am

friend: ok

friend: all i need is 950  <would have been funny if it was for “tree-fitty” and she really was just the lochness monster.>

10:19am

me: Just trying to be safe here, how can i know that this is really Jane Doe i’m talking to and not someone who may just be accessing your account?

10:19am

friend: Name – Jane Doe  <Obviously not her name, but these people used her real name>
friend:Location – 22 St. John Street London, EC1M 4AY United Kingdom

friend:thats the info

friend:my name

friend:got it?

10:20am

me: got the info

10:20am

friend: ok

friend: JaneDoe@yahoo.com  <They even created a fake yahoo account for her!>

friend:kindly email me the western union details as soon as you are back

friend:ok?

friend: JaneDoe@yahoo.com

10:22am

me: still didn’t get any kind of information that i’m really talking to Jane Doe

10:23am

friend: omg?

friend: what do you mean?

friend: if i wasn’t the one will i tell you to wire the money to my name? <Really???>

10:23am

me: i need confirmation that you are who you say you are

10:24am

friend: we both knew that i will need some identification before i can receive money here  <After telling me someone just stole your stuff who have said identification>

friend: thank God i still have my passport

10:24am

me: good for you

10:24am

friend: my Husband is not here now   <red flag#3:   uhm, she doesn’t have a husband>

friend: took the Bay to the hospital

10:24am

me: but tell me something only you and i would know

10:25am

friend: like what Vic?

friend: i cant think straight right now  <red flag#4:   Definitely trying to guilt trip me on helping without giving any other information>

friend: i was badly hit on the head

friend: the Doctor said i already suffered concussion

friend: i need to go and meet my husband at the hospital now

friend: i am having serious headache at the moment

friend: are you really helping or trying to tease me around?

10:28am

me: i’m not helping until you can tell me something only you and i would know

10:30am

friend: ok what?

10:30am

me: i’m not telling you, you’re the one asking me for money, you need to confirm who you are

10:31am

friend: well,i just gave birth to a baby boy  <red flag#5:   This information was readily available on her facebook page.  EXCEPT she wasn’t the one who gave birth to the boy =p>

10:32am

me: that’s obvious

me: how do we know each other?

<They signed out at this point.>

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This was taken after a wedding shoot in Fresno and we drove by this beat up, old, shipping warehouse location next to railroad tracks.  Decided to explore and have some fun with the camera.

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Exciting Youtube video about Davao City

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