I've lost all my events and photos in iPhoto

Question

Recently converted to all things Mac.
I use iphoto to categorise all my photos and events and faces, basically everything. I then use Aperture to create projects and import from my iphoto library the selected photos I want to work with only.
For some reason or another, I cannot tell you how or why it happened, I cannot open aperture anymore cause it tries to open a file only desktop which i think it thinks is a backup file but says " "xxxxxxx.aplibrary" is an iPhoto library and cannot be opened in Aperture". Thing is that I cannot open it on Iphoto either and I lost all my photos in iPhoto. Where can they be stored? There is nothing in the Trash and there isn't a file where photos are kept from what I gather they are stored within the app. If the problem is the app then I need to uninstall it meaning I loose over 2000 photos!?!?!?
Serves me right not to back up on a hard drive.
Anyone understand my dilema and offer a suggestion on how to retirve my photos?

Answer 1

I strongly suggest that you use another application as an external editor for iPhoto. Aperture is not an edior. Like iPhoto it's a Digital Asset Manage - that is, a database. Trying to use it as an extension of iPhoto is adding complexity to your workflow.
In order of price here are some suggestions:
Seashore (free)
Graphic Coverter ($45 approx)
Acorn ($50 approx) 
Photoshop Elements ($75 approx)
There are many, many other options. Search on MacUpdate.
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.