Mark Long’s Blog

You just might be a dune rat if you skip work to go to the dunes on a 100+ July day.

 Ryan, Chad and Scott

This is one of my favorite Little Sahara action shots. You can see Scott in the distance wheeling right into the turn.

Scott, Ryan, Mark and Chad

High Flying Chad

This was the last shot before Chad went over a small dune that you couldn’t really see due to how flat the light was in the very bright sunlight. This was the same size of dune that I went over and broke my foot. If it was a big dune you can sloe down by the time you get to the bottom and it normally is not an abrudt end at the bottom. I didn’t notice that he was hurt for a few minutes. He was on his machine but he hit his chest hard against the handlebars and sprained his wrist.

Flowers for Chad - Get Well Soon!

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Going to Bear Lake was one of the funnest family vacations that I can remember. The only downer was that there was a lot of mesquitos. We all went to the beach and played in the sand while some went tubing behind the boat. We didn’t see any bear but we did see moose, deer and antelope during our atv rides.

One of the fun activities was hiking up to Bloomington Lakes. To our amasement even Mama Olive made to the first lake. Most memorable might be the food. We all took turns cooking and the meals were 4 star. I didn’t experience a moment of stress. Thanks everyone! Let’s do it again next year.

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Who say’s money doesn’t grow on trees?

July 11th, 2008 is the 15th year anniversary of Hollywood FotoFix. To celebrate we went to Chili’s for lunch. The employees gave me a money tree and two really touching letters. One form the artists in Peru and one from the staff here. Their words really teared me up. I really love working with all them. They are an amazaingly talented group of people. It is really rewarding to finally see everything come together. I have a few people that I need to thank for the success of HFF:

First I need to thank my Mom and Dad. Even though they had passed on before HFF started their influence is one of the biggest parts of why we are still in business. Dad was my true hero. Surviving POW camp in Japan and surviving an accident that crushed his legs taught me mind over matter. Mom taught me to do my best. She taught me that I could sell anything to anyone. She was a perfect Boy Scouts Mom.

Equally as important has been Heavenly Fathers help. There have been several points along the way where if not for heavenly inspiration I would not have been pointed in the right way. I am deepely grateful that I have been able to live out my dream of operating my own successful business. I need to include gratitude to all of the angels that help in HFF’s work from the otherside.

HFF could not have been without the help and support of Sonia. She has always believed and supported my entreprenurial visions. There have been many struggles along the way and she has never once complained. We have shared the journey together. Always being there when I needed.

HFF couldn’t run without Mirtha, Eleazar and Austin. The growth during the last 5 years has been remarkable and they have really stepped up to the challenge. They have tremendous responsibilities and pressure placed on them and perform with flying colors.

I am also thankful to the hundreds of employees and thousands of partners we work with.

WOW… 15 years went by so very fast. What a change in technology. Remember dial up?

Oh… and thanks to all of the millions of people in all those photos over all the years of 160+ years of photos and the fols that restored them and all the Moms that don’t want braces and zits on their kids pics.

What changes will the next 15 years bring?

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Dean, Mark, Trevor and Scott

The four of us started the 4th of July weekend one day early. We picked a ride that we had not been on before leaving from Daniels Summit up around Currant Creek Resevior and along the ridgeline back. None of us had been on this ride before but Scott used Google Earth and Garmin Maps to plot the perfect GPS route for us. Just at the last bend before we got back to the trail head my gas reserve light went on.

Running through Currant Creek

This was a change up from sand throwing contests at the dunes.

The trails were very dusty. We had to keep a good distance between each of us. Everyone took turns as the lead and at the back of the pack and then moving up to the front again as the lead rider would stop and let everyone pass to be sure no one got lost or left behind.

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I hope that we can go back to Italy again someday. Visiting Genova was terrific. Like so much of our trip we just let the activities of the day unfold without an agenda. We found many surprises here.

The Childhood Home of Christopher Columbus

One of the biggest surprises of our trip was coming across the home of Christopher Columbus. It was only a block or so off of the street we had been walking. Sonia had overheard someone talking about it and so she asked around where it was. Standing in front of his house and looking at the original gate to Genova was a real experience. It was easy to imagine history as that house being a start point and the history of the new world unfolding from then forward as opposed to my normal view of history of from now backwards.

Original Gate to Genova

Columbus grew up just outside the original walls of the city close to the gate. It is amazing to me that it is still standing and being used. You would think that this would be a historical site with tour guides and admission fees. Maybe one of the most famous people ever in the world was just part of the landscape with little fanfare.

Everyone drove a scooter.

More Scooters than Cars.

First Class Street Musicians

A Street Magician added to the ambience.

We ended the day with a very nice Italian Dinner at our hotel that will not be soon forgotten.

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