Leaving Las Vegas

We woke up early, before the sun. We had decided to swing through Zion National Park on way to Las Vegas for and early dinner and then home. Cindy was coming home on Sunday and Skye had a girl scout Christmas Ornament -making event she didn't want to miss.

The skies were clear and just incredibly beautiful for viewing the wondrous sights of Zion.




Skye checking out the rocks and waterfalls.



We only hiked to one of Zion's many sights the Weeping Rock. I really would have liked to stay for a few days but such was not our schedule.

Crazy Vegas

So after a couple of nights of roughing it and getting in tune with nature what better way to acclimate back into the "civilized" world than heading to down town Las Vegas and the "Fremont Street experience".

We had a great Sushi dinner at MGM Grand and checked out the Strip and the casinos now in full splendor and holiday Saturday night crowds.

And then down to Fremont Street.

Being in Las Vegas, completely stone-sober, after camping with my 10 year old daughter on a Saturday night, well let's just say it was a new eye-opening experience for me.




Surrealism at its realistic best. Like a scene out of Blade Runner.

The light show was pretty spectacular, and most important of all Skye loved it.





































Skye was sad to go so soon.





Last looks on the Strip

The parking structure was madness. Some guy offered me $20 for my free parking space. I didn't want to be bothered and felt a little funny taking money for a public spot and helping this guy cut in line, but when he added "This is Vegas, man" I guided him to our spot. When I got our car and realized that I had parked illegally.(There was a "parking ticket" on my window. It as from the casino not the city, so more of a warning than anything else)

I grabbed the ticket, rolled out of the space, allowing the guy to get it before anyone else could and took his money, his voice echoing in my mind, "This is Vegas, man" as I drove away.




We got home around 1:30 am. Exhausted but having had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. And we still had Sunday as well.

Thanksgiving Eve

Where to begin? Too much to say, too much to do, too many thoughts. Cindy flew off today, a family matter. Skye and I decided earlier today that we would make an adventure of this extended weekend. So in the next several hours we will be heading out of LA towards Bryce National Park in Utah. I'm gonna try to time it so that we can have an early breakfast in Vegas before the Thanksgiving gorge gets started and so that we can get to the park by noon or earlier. It's getting late and I have not fully packed. So, there you are short and sweet. Much to follow I'm sure.

Lakers Live

For whatever reason, I have not attended many live events, such as concerts or ballgames, etc. I love 'em, just haven't had or made the time and opportunities. So in spite of the fact that I am a die-hard Lakers fan since watching Magic as a kid growing up, I have only made it to one Laker game. And in that game, Kobe got injured in the first quarter and the Lakers got stomped.

Now thanks to dear friend Charles, I can now say that I've been to two Lakers games and this time it was the Lakers doing the stomping.

In truth, it was a rather lackluster game but it was a win and I saw it was another die-hard Lakers fan who understands basketball. So it was absolutely fantastic.




Add to that we took the Metro to the game, going Green to see the Purple and Gold.

That was Tuesday, the Lakers also took down Phoenix last night, putting them atop the league at 9-1.



Wow this blog is becoming a sports blog, never imagined that.

So in that vein, big shout out and reminder Lance Armstrong is racing in the Tour de France again this year. Maybe I'll make it to France to see it live.

Week in review- A mixed bag

Burn Baby Burn

I'll start with Sunday morning in this week's retrospective, since I woke up this morning to ash floating down around me and covering our cars.




Yesterday one couldn't see Downtown from our house.




The city was in sight this morning, albeit in a smoke-filled Armageddon-like haze.




The morning barely managed to burn through the clouds of smoke. After watching the news for an hour, flipping through channels, we still had only an inkling of where the fires actually were. I found this very informative map on-line. Click to go and see our little ring of fire.




I'm still playing around with the underwater feature on my camera. Meanwhile, we had an invader raid the pond a couple of weeks back. All the fish were fine but whatever it was completely destroyed the water lily's and ate all of the snails. It must have been a French opossum with a midnight craving for escargot.




Speaking of exoskeleton deaths, Alvin passed the other day. She is already missed. Cindy and Skye had a nice ceremony for her. I was working on a pilot and couldn't make it to the service.

We have been meaning to have a garage sale for a while now. I don't why, we both abhor them. They are so much more trouble than they are worth, at least for us. If we enjoyed them, it might be a different matter but......




One of the lamest garage sales I've ever been involved with. If it weren't for the arrival of garage sale wizard, Kip Haynes who managed to sell our one big ticket item to one of the two customers who showed up we would have netted less than $20.




Meanwhile when cleaning for a small pizza party on Sunday, (as if it weren't already smoky enough) we discovered to our horror and humor, a definite sign of being too busy and crazed, that the cans for the beer can chickens from the China Olympic's party were still sitting on the grill. Only to realize that they actually predate that party, going back to the Fourth of July. Oh my, oh my....






The garden is doing well but is in much need of weeding and maintenance.

Let's see, Cindy and I are both working on the remake of Fame.

I, we all started running last weekend, Skye and Cindy posting two 4 mile workouts up in the Kenneth Hahn back country, only to be smoked out this weekend.

The Lakers posted there first loss, happening unfortunately the same evening as my pre-garage sale meltdown. They still hold the best record in the NBA, to the point that Shaq is now expressing an interest in returning blaming his and Kobe's difficulties on coach Jackson. Oh Shaq, retire already with your dignity still some what in tact.

Like I said a mixed bag.

Laker's undefeated

The Lakers are one of two teams that remain undefeated. And they are doing it in a convincing manner, beating their opponents by an average of 22 points. Basketball, particularly Lakers basketball is pretty much my only mainstream sports obsession. Tonight they went up against the Houston Rockets and after going into the half leading by a mere 2 points they dominated and ended up winning by 29 points. They are playing great defense and playing like a team. GO LAKERS!!!!!!

Cindy's and Skye's first 5k, Laker's continue to win and oh yeah, Obama WINS!!!!!!

It's been a pretty great week. The Laker's continue to win(4-0), Cindy and Skye ran in their first 5k and Obama won!!!!!!!

Cindy and I are working together on the remake of Fame!



Skye finishing her first 5k.



The family that runs together, um, um, ........




New and improved rodeo clown make-up.

Sorry to not be more interesting or coherent or .... but trying to dash this off, Friday early eve, end of workday/week. So gotta go.

Yay, Laker's and
even bigger hurrah to Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Lakers Go

The NBA season began last Tuesday, October 28. And the Laker's started things off right by beating Portland 95-76 and continued with destroying our crosstown rivals the Clippers by39 points, a final score of 117-79. I now it's a long ways until the Play-offs and Finals but this is a great start. Tonight they play their first away game, so we'll see if they can keep up the onslaught.

Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Halloweeny ....I'm Getting Old

A friend was having a costume themed birthday party, just in time to give the ol' Halloween costume a trial run.

A bunch of years ago I went as Vincent Van Gogh for Halloween. A bandage over my ear, some semi-appropriate duds and voila, that was that. My reddish hair and reddish beard and broken nose was enough to pull off the mad painter.

But this year when I went to repeat the number, I realized my red highlights had been replaced by gray and silver. And my face was a little rounder.

So, as I have in past years I went to pull together some kind of clown outfit. Except the "fat" pants, pretty much fit. They weren't snug but they sure weren't funny ha ha big either. So I hoped in the car at the last minute throw something together for Kip's costume party.





I thought beat up and tired lookin' rodeo clown was fitting for the evening.



Cindy on the other hand still can play off the Cruella look.



Cruella and the Clown out to scare friends and family

Finally Catching Up....For a moment

I was just checking my old cell phone messages that I hadn't deleted yet and it really helped me remember why I had been so busy and what I've been up to. I know I sound like a broken record and for those who are too young to get the reference, it means I keep repeating myself. Anyway I was very very busy coordinating and setting up seminars/workshops for the Set Decorator Marketplace 2008. I had arranged two tents and eight seminars, figuring that people would drop out and I'd end up with maybe 6. I also started this project months ago with a co-chair, who had actually done this the year before and kind of knew what to expect. Unfortunately he had to drop out and I was set to learn by trial and error.

In the end it went off very well. I was thrilled with the actual seminars and learned a lot. Thanks to all involved. Way too many to get into here, but you can check it out at the SDSA website.

I was also working as a buyer on a television pilot. For me it was like a vacation. I did my job but didn't have the overwhelming responsibility that the decorator or lead do. So given the success of that venture, I am even more resolute on reclaiming my Property card and giving up my Set Decorator card. It's been a fun ride but in the end I don't have the flexibility or the time, money(or lack thereof) and effort to keep to that course.


I've been trying to get in shape, but again have had no real consistancy. But for those who missed it, I did finish my first triathlon. Hurray for me!



Cindy has started working again so I have jumped back in the home school world.

With a little push from home school mom and fellow runner, Theresa Haynes I started a little running club with the home school kids to participate in this really cool project called Marathon Kids set up to get kids involved in running.



Some of the crew who made it to the kickoff event at UCLA.




Skye helped me set up the Pumpkin Patch at the SDSA Marketplace. She was a real trooper that day as it was in the 90's hitting 100 F in the valley even though it was the middle of October.

I've hit the ground running with the home schooling this year, bridging what Cindy had been doing. Helped Skye put do a project on the Black Death in Europe for the Time Traveler's History Club. Been shuttling her between her flute lessons, Tae Kwon Do, libraries and of course park days.



Me and the home school moms witnessed this police disturbance at the park the other day. The officer has the suspect detained while the owner went to retrieve a bag to, well collect evidence, I suppose.




Also running all over town to help to put together the White Witch of Narnia costume and requisite Turkish Delights for the Super Duper Show and Tell. Which again the weather did little to inspire feelings of a shift of seasons. Where is Autumn?




Skye as the Winter Witch, burning up waiting for winter in her fur(fake for PETA).




She was out of her outfit withing minutes because of the lack of fall or winternessness.

My First Triathlon

I can't believe I've never done a triathlon before. I like swimming and biking and running. Hmm wonder why I never did one before. Well I like swimming in warm water, the Caribbean, further south like off of Mexico or Nicaragua, the Mediterranean, but not the cold waters off of our coast. (I did happen to get a wetsuit yesterday, at a huge discount. It was worth every penny of it, believe me) I like biking, as in mountain biking. I bought my first road bike, used from Craig's List a few weeks ago, but it needs to go to the shop for a few adjustments, very neccessary adjustments. So I really don't have a clue when it comes to road bike racing, even though I do like the Tour de France, if I have a DVR that is, I couldn't watch it otherwise .And running, I mostly run to stay in shape, in fact besides the various races I've been doing I haven't run for weeks. I enjoy it to a point but I certainly don't see myself as a runner.

Oh, so that's why I've never done a triathlon before This one, The 2008 Arrowhead Day at the Beach Triathlon, was a pretty short and easy one, ideal for one's first Tri. And weighing in at 207lbs, and being over 40 and riding on a mountain bike put me in a comfortable start wave.

The swim was only a quarter mile but the 60 degree water made it seem much longer. The bike portion consisted of three laps to equal 10 miles and this is where I got passed like I was sitting still. My mountain bike with dual suspension and fat nobby tires was really slowing me down.
My feet were numb for the first 2 miles out of the 3 miles we had to run. And my time showed it. But all in all, it was a great experience. I came in with a respectable 1:21:57. Not bad for an over the hill Clydesdale. Big thanks to friends Melisa and Tyler Patton for getting me to do this race and hurray and congrats to them running it as well.



This shirt does make me look fat. But it is time to slim down and all before the holiday season rolls in.




Tyler Patton, fellow racer, at times co-woker, and friend all the way back to highschool.




Yes, I love you too, Ty.

What, where, when, how did life get so confusing?

Of my life, I truly don't know if the parts are better than the sum or vice-versa. I wouldn't by any stretch say "don't know, don't care", no I just don't know, but my earliest memory of import, (yes I have blocked out much of my childhood, as far as I can remember, it sucked, sorry mom) but Eric Franklin and I were misfits and best friends from 9th grade through High School. So it was pretty amazing to be at his wedding in Santa Barbara Sept 27, 2008. I did a shitty, bad friend job of photos but... I wish them the best




Eric is Pimp Daddy in white, and yes there was a theme to the wedding that is not his usual attire, as far as I know



Skye entertained herself with lairs and hammocks for her stuffed animals and dolls. Yes life is strange, yeah?

Our Miracle Mile Run

Last weekend was another busy weekend. On Saturday Cindy and I attended a very interesting all day conference, 5D: The Future of Immersive Design presented by the Art Director's Guild. We arrived at 7:30 in the morning and didn't get out until around 8:30 in the evening. A lot of interesting ideas thrown around, mixed together with perhaps more than healthy amount of ego and bluster, but all in all a very informative day. Way too much to get into in this highlight reel of a blog. One of these days I'll add a little depth, but right now I'm lucky to just keep up.

Then on Sunday we all got up and at 'em for the Miracle Mile Run, down by the La Brea Tar Pits. It was Cindy's first race ever. Hurrah for Cinders. Skye's first run with a timing chip. And my shortest race to date. I had no idea about pacing so I took it easy cause I was just tired, from working and the conferance the day before and I haven't been training at all. 3/4 way through I realized I had a lot left so I turned it up. I came in at 7:01, almost broke 7 minutes.



Pic by Skye.




Skye bringing it home in the last quarter mile.




Family, chillin' by LACMA.



We treated ourself to a little take-away brunch at Campanile. Some celeb must have been at the restaurant for the paparazzi to be lurking about like this.




Yes we have video. Cindy heading out on her first race.



Skye's race 18 and under was filled primarily by the Fairfax Track team, a bit crazier than Cindy's start.

I AM AN IDIOT; AND NOT BECAUSE I RAN TO THE TOP OF A 75 STORY BUILDING

OK, I signed up for this race, like forever ago and only realized it was on a Friday as opposed to Saturday, when a friend's wedding landed on the Saturday that I thought the race was on.
That's not why I'm an idiot.

I've taken on way too much lately, perhaps even more than I usually do, which tends to always be too much. This means I have been sleeping less than usual which is never enough anyway.
That's not why I'm an idiot.

I'm an idiot because I had plenty of time to get to the race with time to spare and I instead tap-tapped away on the computer, checking e-mail and facebook, looking up every in a while to see the US Bank downtown, seeming so close. How long could it take to get there?

On a Friday? In LA?

That is why I'm an idiot. Because regardless of how many times I just make it somewhere or am a little late or am a lot late or oops couldn't make it because of traffic, I seem to be in denial that "Rush Hour" has become "Rush 20" with the hours between 1 am and 4 am being somewhat traffic free.

So even though I was supposed to be at the event an hour before my race at 6:45, thus 5:45. I didn't end up leaving until ten minutes after six and I didn't have the exact address. I mean I could see the building after all, how hard would it be to find it.




So close and yet so far.




Inching forward.

I ending up just making it. I was pinning on my race bib as runners started ahead of me. The race is staggered and timing chips time racers individually. But I ended up being the last person in my division to head up the stairs. I was still fumbling with my Ipod, actually my shuffle and just remembered to start timing on my watch several flights up. But some how, even though I had just gotten out of maddening traffic, and had been up since 4:30 in the morning, worked all day and barely had trained, somehow, I managed to better my time, clocking in at 17:09 placing 70 out of 258, 14 out of 35 in my age group. So all in all it turned out well.




There it is 75 stories of fun, fun, fun.





Those are the three winners, all coming in with sub-10 minute climbs. Maybe next year, with a little more training and.....