I had the opportunity to go out in a boat on the Pacific this Saturday. Typically, we drive to surf spots and paddle out. With a boat, you paddle in. So much fun, and definitely money.
After surfing for a few hours, we had an unexpected visitor.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Run in the Sun
I'm not much of a runner. I finished a marathon, but I nearly died doing it. I never got the runner's high that they said I would.
Also, my knee surgery a few years ago has given me a great excuse any time I question myself. It's not good for my knee I say. Pounding the pavement will only hurt me later in life. The bottom line is I just don't really like running. I'd rather swim, surf, canoe or really do anything except run. iPods have certainly helped because it gives you some distraction, but seriously, running is kind of lame, and boring.
Treadmills are nice because it forces you to keep running or you'll fall off the back. Most gyms have a nice TV setup too, where you can watch brainless, captivating shows while you run, again, for distraction.
I did go for a run today, and I rather liked it. It's the first run I've gone on in a while. In fact, I've only run a handful of times since the marathon. It was nice! Rather than explaining why it was so nice, let me show you.
View Larger Map
Need I say more?
Also, my knee surgery a few years ago has given me a great excuse any time I question myself. It's not good for my knee I say. Pounding the pavement will only hurt me later in life. The bottom line is I just don't really like running. I'd rather swim, surf, canoe or really do anything except run. iPods have certainly helped because it gives you some distraction, but seriously, running is kind of lame, and boring.
Treadmills are nice because it forces you to keep running or you'll fall off the back. Most gyms have a nice TV setup too, where you can watch brainless, captivating shows while you run, again, for distraction.
I did go for a run today, and I rather liked it. It's the first run I've gone on in a while. In fact, I've only run a handful of times since the marathon. It was nice! Rather than explaining why it was so nice, let me show you.
View Larger Map
Need I say more?
Bali Pictures
I've organized (in the loosest sense) some of my pictures from Bali. There are a lot of them, but I think you'll enjoy them. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.
Bali Part I
This is pictures from Kuta, Ubud and our first few days on the island.
Bali Part II
This section of photos has a lot of wedding pictures.
Snapshot Pics
These are pictures from the entire vacation. They were taken with my point and shoot (Optio S4) so some of the pics are fairly blurry and bad. However, it allowed me to bring it with me to places I wouldn't want to take my SLR. Therefore, you'll probably see more booze and club scenes than any other photos.
Bali Part I
This is pictures from Kuta, Ubud and our first few days on the island.
Bali Part II
This section of photos has a lot of wedding pictures.
Snapshot Pics
These are pictures from the entire vacation. They were taken with my point and shoot (Optio S4) so some of the pics are fairly blurry and bad. However, it allowed me to bring it with me to places I wouldn't want to take my SLR. Therefore, you'll probably see more booze and club scenes than any other photos.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Dolphin Glory
This morning came early because last night involved Taleo, Ten and Tentation. That troika makes for a long night, usually denotes a good night, and likely includes a late morning the next day. However, I wanted to charge into and embrace the day. Sunday is a glorious day in general. The Lord's Day as it were. It's the last day of the weekend and I feel it should be attended to with great vigor and activity, regardless of the prior night. Today was no exception. After all, you screw up one Sunday, that's about 2% of your Sundays gone for the year.
The sun was shining and beckoning me out to the waves. I hit it early. The decision to put on a wet wetsuit and swim through some "textured" waves was appearing to be a bad. I wasn't feeling great and my energy was waning. After catching a few waves, I felt even worse. I vowed not to let the triple T from last night affect my Glory Day, but I was having some trouble actually executing on that vow. Then, in the middle of my self centered pity, dolphins.
Here I am, focused on me, my thoughts, my feelings, where dry land meets ocean, not even thinking about how great it is to be in the ocean, surfing, with the sun shining. The dolphins changed that. It's invigorating, and somewhat scary at first, to see a dorsal streaming through the water. After realizing that dorsal fin is attached to a dolphin, the dogs of the sea*, you understand that you're in a special place. They're simply breathtaking. They cruise through the ocean, checking things out, eating, playing, wandering. These particular dolphins were within 10 feet of me. I don't think they gave me a second thought, or even a first thought for that matter. But I thought about them. These dolphins looked particularly long in the dorsal fin. The looked weathered and worn by the sea. It got me thinking about them. Where they had been last night. If they had any regrets about what they'd done. I doubt it. They seemed like good, proper dolphins.
Regardless, swimming with them is always amazing. It's also what makes surfing so great. Participating with some of nature's coolest beings in their environment is simply cool. It made me happy to be alive. It made me excited to be part of that experience, if only for a fleeting moment. It made me feel good about things. It made me want to do it again, and I have no doubt I will.
The sun was shining and beckoning me out to the waves. I hit it early. The decision to put on a wet wetsuit and swim through some "textured" waves was appearing to be a bad. I wasn't feeling great and my energy was waning. After catching a few waves, I felt even worse. I vowed not to let the triple T from last night affect my Glory Day, but I was having some trouble actually executing on that vow. Then, in the middle of my self centered pity, dolphins.
Here I am, focused on me, my thoughts, my feelings, where dry land meets ocean, not even thinking about how great it is to be in the ocean, surfing, with the sun shining. The dolphins changed that. It's invigorating, and somewhat scary at first, to see a dorsal streaming through the water. After realizing that dorsal fin is attached to a dolphin, the dogs of the sea*, you understand that you're in a special place. They're simply breathtaking. They cruise through the ocean, checking things out, eating, playing, wandering. These particular dolphins were within 10 feet of me. I don't think they gave me a second thought, or even a first thought for that matter. But I thought about them. These dolphins looked particularly long in the dorsal fin. The looked weathered and worn by the sea. It got me thinking about them. Where they had been last night. If they had any regrets about what they'd done. I doubt it. They seemed like good, proper dolphins.
Regardless, swimming with them is always amazing. It's also what makes surfing so great. Participating with some of nature's coolest beings in their environment is simply cool. It made me happy to be alive. It made me excited to be part of that experience, if only for a fleeting moment. It made me feel good about things. It made me want to do it again, and I have no doubt I will.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Theory of Relativity
Back from Bali.
Leaving the "Dreamland" that is Bali and coming back to reality has been a bit of a challenge. I've explained how wonderful, dynamic and fun Bali during my vacation visting old friends, meeting new friends, surfing, noodles galore and lots of relaxation and partying. It's no surprise that coming back to work, bills and responsibilities is causing a bit of a Bali hangover.
HOWEVER, please allow me to put things into perspective.
I live in Orange County California. It's springtime, evidenced by the return to PDT and April Fool's Day. It's Saturday afternoon, I'm chillin' in my apartment with a 52" LCD TV, a Mac computer, In N Out close by and the NCAA Final Four about to begin. I'm exhausted because I went surfing at the Newport Jetties with a friend and had a great, big, fat breakfast burrito at Cappy's Cafe. I may go back out to catch a few more waves or find a beach cruiser to get ready for the summer.
What I'm saying is this: life in the OC is great. Bali living will have it's own stresses in the form of work, bills and responsibilities. For now, OC is my home and I love it. I'll continue to dream of greener grass on the other side of the fence. I am glad that places like Bali exist. After all, I could be living in Wisconsin and dreaming of Bali. It's all relative.
Leaving the "Dreamland" that is Bali and coming back to reality has been a bit of a challenge. I've explained how wonderful, dynamic and fun Bali during my vacation visting old friends, meeting new friends, surfing, noodles galore and lots of relaxation and partying. It's no surprise that coming back to work, bills and responsibilities is causing a bit of a Bali hangover.
HOWEVER, please allow me to put things into perspective.
I live in Orange County California. It's springtime, evidenced by the return to PDT and April Fool's Day. It's Saturday afternoon, I'm chillin' in my apartment with a 52" LCD TV, a Mac computer, In N Out close by and the NCAA Final Four about to begin. I'm exhausted because I went surfing at the Newport Jetties with a friend and had a great, big, fat breakfast burrito at Cappy's Cafe. I may go back out to catch a few more waves or find a beach cruiser to get ready for the summer.
What I'm saying is this: life in the OC is great. Bali living will have it's own stresses in the form of work, bills and responsibilities. For now, OC is my home and I love it. I'll continue to dream of greener grass on the other side of the fence. I am glad that places like Bali exist. After all, I could be living in Wisconsin and dreaming of Bali. It's all relative.
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