My Summer Vacation (2008 Edition)

As I mentioned in my last entry, I actually did have a large number of half-assed half-done posts from this summer, that hadn't progressed enough to be posted. Instead of trying to finish them, here they are in their half-baked glory:

• I bid farewell to my goat neighbors. This made me sad, as the goats were much more lively than the horses. And they used to continuously screw with their owners whenever they weren't promptly fed (which is often with my slackass neighbors). As a tribute to my goat friends (of which I nicknamed mama, runt and rowdy), I present to you my favorite video of rowdy the goat:
  
  



• I became a professional photographer:

  Hi /k,
  
  I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo has been selected for inclusion in the newly released second edition of our Schmap California Guide:
  
  Arco Arena
  
  Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please enjoy the guide!

  Sadly, this photo sucks. And it came from my old Treo mobile phone.



• We endured high winds and epic wildfires. For a few weeks in June/July, it literally looked/smelled/felt like the entire state of California was on fire. And being near a large body of water, we got to see a lot of the firefighting preparations first hand:
  
  



• The summer was not completely without travel. I had to make a quick swing through Asia to present at our fiscal year kickoffs, which basically meant that I flew for about 10 hours every other day for one week to present for 1 hour total. However, this did leave some free time which I was able to fill. Below is a picture of the Sapporo Beer Station, which is on the Sapporo Beer Headquarters grounds in Ebisu-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
  
  
  

I am sure there were a few others things along the way, but this should bring you up to date.

Santa Cruz

I spent the first part of this week down on the coast in Santa Cruz, CA at a company technology conference. Surprisingly, the conference was actually pretty good and it was nice to be back on the coast again (especially in a place without the constant fog like Pacifica). As a bonus, I also saw this bumper sticker.

High bridge

High bridge
Originally uploaded by /k.

Killing some time yesterday in Auburn, CA, I decided to take Brian to the Foresthill Bridge. As you can tell from the picture, the bridge is the highest in California and was created to bridge the Auburn Confluence Lake. The only problem there being is that the Auburn Confluence was never created, out of fear of seismic problems with the dam and incredible cost overruns. This is a good thing, since the confluence area has some incredible hiking and biking trails. In any event, the bridge sits here, high over the Auburn valley. Some views from the bridge here and here.

Lost Coast

Lost Coast
Originally uploaded by /k.

In my whirlwind tour of the Humboldt nightlife, I've hit upon the Lost Coast Brewery as my dinner spot. I've had their beer before and their food isn't half bad. However, due to the Humboldt State Uni influence, I appear to be the only man here without a full beard and pipe.

Arcata Bucks

Arcata Bucks
Originally uploaded by /k.

Arcata has a starbucks that rivals Brian's Cup O Joe. Apparently Humboldt has their priority squarely in line.

North

Arcata
Originally uploaded by /k.

I took off North this afternoon to race my bike in the Whiskeytown Shasta forest (there's a big Cal State contest there). Since I've never really been north of Chico, it's been a really nice trip. Most of the way (say until you get to Redding or Shasta) is pretty much like the rest of the central valley. However, once you start west to the coast from Redding, you are in old growth forest for about 100 miles. This picture was taken about 15 miles from the Pacific (near the race site) looking south towards Eureka, CA.

While it looks warm and sunny in the picture, I am staying in Eureka tonight and it seems much more like my home in Pacifica. Low 50s and foggy. Quite a change from the 100+ degree temperatures in Sacto.

How (Not) To Open Mike

Open Mike
Originally uploaded by /k.

Okay, while I know that open mike night at the coffee house is supposed to be an artsy, free wheeling affair, I have to make one suggestions: If you are going to perform, either sing or play an instrument. Don't come and rant about bizarre observations in your life and then call it "spoken word."

Lab Side Car

Lab Side Car
Originally uploaded by /k.

These may be the happiest Labrador Retrievers in the entire world.