Photography Phaturday

So I was going to do Photography Phriday but I decided to go out on a date with my wonderful wife last night instead.  We went and saw Star Trek and we both loved it!  Anyway, here are some pics from our trip to the Wild Animal Park in SD last weekend.

Weekend Update

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This weekend Dani and I had quite the "Earth Day" weekend.  We saw Disney's Earth, and despite the resuse of Discovery's Planet Earth footage, and slight Global Warming agenda undertones, was a very enjoyable movie.  It was cool to see on the big screen.  Then we got to make use of our new memberships to the Zoological Society of San Diego, and went to the Zoo!  Here's some of my best pics of the day... we already can't wait to go back.

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Weekend Update

WEEKEND UPDATE
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This weekend Dani and I went camping with a whole grip of friends (i've been trying to work that word into my vocab more often.) We went about 15 miles from our house to this 8,000 acre wilderness park called Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park. It was about as cush a camping experience as you can expect, short of cabins, but as is required for camping a group of this size. (See description of size earlier.) It was lots of fun though and b/c it was so close we got to spend a ton of time there, and we got great warm weather!

The wife and I on our "Throne".

Dani loved the equestrian facilities they offered at these campgrounds.

A new attempt at a differnt kind of One Armed Photo.

We came across a good size rattler on a hike.

Jocky by the historic "Ole Corral Windmill" built circa 1940.

We also came across a good sized Horned Frog!

Luckily I was wearing my TCU purple so we were cool.

Sunday morning, Rocky, Scott, Nate, and I charged up Sitton Peak at first light. Its a 3200' peak, but it allegedly has some of the greatest views in the Santa Ana Mountain range. It didn't disapoint.

That mountain in the distant left is San Grogonio, I believe.

The highest peak seen here is Saddleback Mountain (the tallest peak in the OC).

That's Catalina Island in the distance.

It was a cool hike and a cool trip, and nice to see that there is actually a ton of green space surrounding the sprawling metropolis that is the OC. It helps to not feel quite so fenced in.

Photography Phriday

- -COSTA RICAN FLORA - -

WEEKEND UPDATE

WEEKEND UPDATE

Friday -

Dani and I were invited to eat Indian food with Neha and Astik. Ever since we got a taste of authentic Indain food at Neha's wedding, she had been promising to take us to their favorite Indian food restaurant in all of LA/OC. So we're thinking that its going to be some amazing authentic atmosphere/experience, and I asked Neha what it was called, thinking it would be something like "Bombay Palace" or "The Taj", but no, its called "The India Restaurant". So the atmosphere wasn't exactly all that amazing, although it was different. But the food held up to the promises, it was really good! The garlic naan was great, and I had some spicy ground lamb something, and it was delicious. As we went home we realized we stunk like we'd be slaving over some sizzlin curry all day, and the next day my car still smelled like it! But it was worth it, and we're already talking about the next time...

Saturday -

We decided that we had a lot to take care of around the house this weekend in order to feel comfotable going backpacking last weekend and camping next weekend. So saturday morning, we set to work on the house, Dani working on the kitchen and usual wifely domestic things, and I working on equally husbandly domestic things, in the garage. I got a hankerin to organize and organize I did. I was a mounting, hanging, cargo stowing fool.

Saturday night we invited friends to go to the gun range and then back to our place for dinner. The gun range was alot of fun b/c we had several girls who were either completely inexperienced with shooting or had not shot in a very long time. There were definetlely some interesting (near death) experiences, but everyone made it out alive. Then it was back to the beachhouse for grillin up some ground dead meat on the balcony whatching the sunset into the ocean. The girls sat around talking about whatever it is that girls talk about when the guys aren't around and the guys sat on the balcony drank some port wine and had some cigars. All in all, a very enjoyable evening.

Sunday -

Dani and I got up pre-crack o' dawn and made our way over to Steed Memorial Park in San Clemente for the EasterTogether.com sunrise Easter service that 8 south OC churches got together to put on. Dani's been to sunrise services before and enjoyed them, but I've never been to a one. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a very cool service overlooking the sun rising over the Ortega mountain range. It definetely had tradition potential.

After that we enjoyed the morning at the house, before heading over to my cousin's in-laws house for Easter dinner/lunch/big meal in a wierd afternoon hour. Randomly, one of my coworkers and his wife's family was there when I arrived, and we were both like, "What are you doing here?" Turns out his wife's family is old friends with the Strombacks, and have been coming to their Easter celebrations since she was little. I'm always amazed at the small world we live in. It was good times and good competitions to be had, as always at the Stromback's. 

We had some a rousing bocce ball tournament, a chipping comeption, and even some ladderball. 

It was a great day celebrating with great family and friends!

Weekend Update

WEEKEND UPDATE

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This weekend Dani and I finally got to get our feet wet and go on a backpacking trip, just the two of us. We wanted to just do a quick overnight trip to get us back in the swing of things, and we got more than we bargained for. We went to hike the Piedra Blanca Trail (named after the amazing White Cliffs you hike through) in the Los Padres National Forest, near Ojai, CA. We attempted to hike up the Pine Mountain Lodge campground at about 6400' but we stopped about 2 miles short and decided to bed down at a small campground we had passed about a quarter mile back. Which turned out to be great, because we were the only people for miles around, and there was nobody playing Tom Petty on their iPhones next to us (as we experienced last camp out), or disturbing us whatsoever. Just us, God, and nature, it was great. We have resolved however to go back and with a slightly earlier start to the day, complete the climb up to Pine Mountain Lodge, can't wait.

One armed action shot!

... carry the 1... yeah, this way.

Look at my amazing leg on fire trick!

... and now for fire breathing!
That little spot on that rock on the bottom is my wife.

For the full album click here.

WEEKEND UPDATE

This weekend while most of you were celebrating Valentine's day we had a wedding to attend and it was quite a doosy... 

My boss, Neha Patel, got married on Saturday to Astik Patel (no relation) on Saturday.  It was a traditional Indian wedding and we felt lucky to get to be a part and witness this grand event.  

  There are too many great pictures to only show a few so here's a slideshow:

  

It was so much fun to experience the Indian culture and people that I had heard so much about from Neha.  They are such a fun loving relaxed people that the entire day was just fun.  At the end of the reception I realized that I must have some Indian roots, because I think that is where I got some of my dance moves.  Dani got some video that I will try and post later.  It really was an  amazing experience that I will not soon forget. Then on Sunday, Dani and I decided to go for a hike so we went out to the Ortega Highway, bought ourselves an Adventure Pass (for access to the local National Forests) picked up a map and took off down a one lane road toward a trail that sounded intriguing; 15 miles and too many bumps for Dani to not be sick later... and we were at the Teneja Falls Trailhead.  It was definetely worth the curvy drive, as it has been raining in the area last week, so we got to see a rare SoCal waterfall!  And this was a big one, 5 tiers, pools at each level, and tons of rocks to scramble around on.

We rounded out the weekend going to the Sunday Night Service at Mariner's and Kenton's message delivered the goods as always, as we are learning to be wiser through Proverbs. We then came home and I put Dani to shame at Chess once again, and all is right with the world.