Surf's Up?

I finally got surf board over the weekend from my neighboor's garage sale. It's a 7'6" fun board. I'm pretty stoked about it. I can't wait to try it out.

Today was supposed to be a monumental day of waves in California and in parts of it, it was. But not here, we were blocked by Catalina Island. There were still 4-6 ft. waves here today, but the AVERAGE for the California coast today was 18 ft waves! Up in the bay area, at Maverick's, there were 30 ft waves, and I heard that a surfer unfortunately drowned there yesterday.

Ireland was slammed today though! 50 foot waves!

Foat Wuth Ah Luv Ya

Here are my pics from our trip back to Texas. This was my first time to go back to since I moved out here a year and half ago. Dani came with and we had a great time. We went to the renowned Fort Worth Zoo, had a grand Thanksgiving, celebrated Honey's (my grandmother) 80th birthday, and then got stuck in a blizzard in west Texas!

Good Eats

I just got back to California from having Thanksgiving in Texas last week. Will post pictures soon. It was a great week with lots good eats. In addition to the abundance of food on Thanksgiving there was a list of restaurants that we had to hit while we were there because they aren't out west. I'm proud to say that we hit every one on the list:

• Taco Bueno - my favorite
• Angelo's Bar-B-Q - home of "The World's Greatest Hickory Smoked Ribs And Beef"
• Freebirds - Only in Texas
• Don Pablos - had to get a queso and tortilla fix
• Luby's Cafeteria - old standby
• Chicken Express - the BEST fried Okra
• Taco Cabana - Great tortillas
• Whataburger - serves drinks by the gallon

Just typing this is making me hungry for them and miss the food already.

"In The Woods"

OK, so long story, but if you really want to know the "woods" story, ask me and I'll tell you. But for those who get it, enjoy these pics from our Fuel Costume Party. Those who don't get it, enjoy anyway: Fuel Costume Party

Burning Men

So the fires are out now, and people are breathing a sigh of relief and fresh air after a long week of smokey skies. Here is a picture of one of the fires bearing down on San Diego. All told there was a couple dozen fires, some big, some not so big, some deadly, some destructive. There were 10 deaths, and 1,500 homes completely destroyed.

I didn't think much of the disaster myself untill the fires at Camp Pendelton came within 4 miles of my house. A fire that had burned 32 square miles was just 4 more miles from making me and a thousand others homeless. It really made me realize the magnitude of this disaster. It is a natural disaster because it was fueled by the strong Santa Ana winds, but the worst part is that alot of these fires were started by people, intentionally. I don't quite get what would cause a man to commit arson, and arson seems like too light a word for this crime. Its not just starting a fire. It's robbing people's entire livelihood, and sometimes their entire lives. And all so you can feel powerful?

There was one suspected arsonist that was caught in the act, and when he tried to ram the squad car to get away the policeman shot one shot into the vehicle, and it hit the suspect in the head, killing him. Some have criticized the use of force, but I applaud the policeman for not being afraid to act quickly and fiercely against this crime. It is as serious as murder. There is a $150,000 reward out to catch these cowards, and I pray that they are all brought to justice.

I've been thinking about this since the fires started, about what drives a man to commit arson. And I say a man for a reason. I read online that only 12% of arsonists are female. So this is pretty much a male malfunction. I believe that it has to do with a man not feeling like a man. When a man does not feel manly in his life he will find other ways to fufill that need, because men need to feel manly. The problem is that this is not manly, and it makes them feel manly because they feel strangely good when that power to have the capability to destroy wells up in them and they feel even better when they release it. They have gotten their wires crossed somewhere along the way, and have not figured out how to feel manly by being a strong valuable man in community with others. They have either forgotten or were never taught how to be a man who walks through life with purpose and passion.

The real men here are the firemen, and the firewomen are heroes the same. I'm in awe at their willingness to go in and battle these beasts for us, and most of us don't even realize the effort and risk that they are putting forth. They literally fought for days on end without stopping and without relief, and in doing so saved many lives and countless houses and business. Thank God for the firemen.

Here's a few pics I took of the smoke around my house in San Clemente:

Vege...maybe?

Ever try this stuff? I've heard its taste compared to motor oil, chewing iron tablets, and belching in solid form.

Apparently they pump this stuff into kids from birth in England and Austrailia. And thus they grow up with a taste for it, and they put it on everything over there.

Well, I just had my first Vegemite experience. And I was pleasantly surprised! I actually liked it, and went back for seconds. Maybe its the negative descriptions I've heard. Maybe it was my taste for salty things.

Or maybe it's just good!

One Armed Bandit

So as mentioned in #37 in the post below, I have a little known hidden talent for taking photos towards myself from the end of my arm. I know you're all jealous of this amazing ability, but we can't all be blessed with it. Don't believe me? See for yourself: One Armed Photo Album

100 Things About Me

1. I've wanted a blog for a while, but I've procrastinated on starting one for a few years.
2. I'm a big procrastinator.
3. I'm proud to say that I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas (AKA Cowtown!).
4. I moved to Austin when I was 19 (AKA The Live Music Capital of the World!).
5. Austin is probably my favorite city.
6. When I gradutated from Texas State I decided to pack up my car, and drive to California.
7. California is working out pretty well for me, I love livin out west. Californian's think that 'out west' is weird term.
8. I have a great job, that I love, using my degree. (Who'd of thought?)
9. I live and work in San Clemente, California.
10. San Clemente is rivaling Austin as my favorite city.
11. My house is right by the beach!
12. I really like the beach, and try to go there everyday that I can.
13. I try not to be superstitious, but I still get an eerie feeling about the number 13.
14. I was just in a traithlon (Yay), but had a flat tire (Boo) so I want to do more of them.
15. I want to run in a marathon.
16. I've been in 21 states and 1 province.
17. I've never been to Europe, but I want to go to Greece, France, Switzerland, England, and Ireland among others. And Mexico, I know that's not in Europe but I want to go there.
18. I really enjoy building things with my hands, and wood working.
19. I can type 60 wpm with 95% accuracy.
20. I love white-water rafting.
21. Even though I lived in Texas my whole life, I am surpisingly accent-less, except when sleepy, I'm told.
22. I love my family, and I'm thankful to have grown up in a good home.
23. I never liked to eat my mom's cooking growing up.
24. My mom is great cook.
25. Now I miss my mom's cooking.
26. I miss Texas storms. Tornados are fun!
27. I really like strong stormy weather, and going for walks in the rain.
28. One of my guilty pleasures is cheesy disaster movies. The Towering Inferno, 10.5 Apocolypse, and The Day After Tomorrow are pure gold.
29. Same with reality TV, but lately its become a little old. Survivor kind of lost its edge somewhere between Season 14 and 32.
30. I've been sleeping on a glorified air mattress for almost a year. (See #2)
31. My favorite animal is the white tiger. With all other species albinos just look odd, but the tiger rocks it.

32. I can play the guitar.
33. But I can't memorize songs, kind of a problem.
34. I love sunsets and take pictures of them all the time.
35. My favorite TV shows right now are Lost, 24, and Prison Break.
36. Since I moved to California, I find I watch ALOT less TV. (See 11, 59, & 62)

37. I have an uncanny hidden talent for taking pictures of myself.
38. I could never have pictured the life I have now a year ago.
39. I am a Christian. God is my friend and Jesus is my savior.

40. I think that some dog treats smell good. (I should have trusted that it was just a good smell.)

41. I'm not as wide as my profile picture makes me look.
42. Some of my favorite movies include The Holy Grail, The Jerk, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Gladiator.
43. My mom says that I said, "When I grow up I want to be President of the US, or an Archeologist, or the guy who sells roses on the street corner."
44. My favorite food is steak, on the rare side.
45. I have a goal to someday eat the Free 72oz. Steak, at the Big Texan in Amarillo.
46. I still have a boyish desire to climb trees for no good reason. Its just fun.
47. I recently decided that rock climbing is a good idea for the same reason.
48. I am the proud owner of an ocean kayak. (Here's a pic of it!)
49. I think it would be fun to go on a trek through the amazon rain forest.
50. My car's name is Bonnie. (Yes as in Bonnie & Clyde)
51. My kayak doesn't have a name, but she needs one. Any ideas?
52. I've been a Private Investigator.
53. I am proud to say that George W. Bush is our president.
54. My favorite subjects in school were science and history.
55. I have a good sense of direction, and usually have a good bering on where I am.
56. Having said that, I once was lost in the woods alone. (Probably the most scared I've ever been)
57. My comfort food is Cheeze-its in buttermilk. Mmmmm......... salty cereal.......... you should try it before you knock it!
58. My middle name is Somers. But some people say its Adventure. (.....or at least I like to think so)
59. I love golfing.
60. Every Wednesday morning I go golfing before work at 5:45am.
61. I don't go hunting, but I love fishing.
62. I like to go fishing on the beach and from my kayak. (Not me pictured, but how cool would that be?!?!)
63. I think Kiwis are the best tasting fruit, but they're too expensive. They're also a nice people.
64. I am currently a Tier 2 SQL Support Technician at a CRM company called Firesocket.
65. I don't like chocolate, which apparently makes me weird.
66. I don't really like sweets in general, they kind of make my teeth hurt.
67. I hate biting into cold things, that hurts my teeth too.
68. I have wimpy teeth.
69. I do like hot things like hot salsa, sauce, and peppers.
70. Mexican is my favorite type of cuisine. I could eat it everyday.
71. I like Texas' Mexican food better than California's (There's a big difference) (see #69).
72. I love egg nog. I buy it as soon as it comes out every year.
73. I share a birthday with Abraham Lincoln. Some people say I look like him. (Reincarnation anyone? ..... I do hate slavery.)
74. My grandad used to call me Adaham.
75. I've been told I have good backpacking shoulders. Not sure what that means, but it sounds like a compliment.
76. I really like exchanging massages. Probably because of my backpacking shoulders.
77. Touch is my favorite sense.
78. I think board games are fun.
79. Monopoly and Clue are my favorites.
80. I have a habit of popping my knuckles, toes, and neck.
81. I hate shopping.

82. I have a chocolate lab that used to weight 115 lbs. that lives with my dad in Fort Worth named Sable.
83. The only other pets I had growing up were 1 goldfish and 2 frogs. They seemed like a good idea at first.
84. I like new clothes. But I don't get see them too often. (See #81)

85. I once ate 48 ounces of steak 3 rolls and some green beans in 1 sitting.
86. I love acapella music.
87. Probably because I grew up in the Church of Christ in Texas.
88. Everybody always think I'm mad, but its just my face.
89. I drink 7-11 coffee and like it. Thus, I only have 2 tastebuds.
90. I took French class so that I could be 1 of 2 guys in the class. (There was 35 people in the class :)
91. I have strangely strechy skin.
92. I was just told that you can tell if I'm really laughing hard because I hit things with my hand.
93. My garage looks like more fun than yours.
94. I have weighed within 5 lbs. of the same weight since I was a freshman in high school.
95. I'm Dr. Pepper fiend.
96. I like beer, and fancy myself an amateur connoisseur.
97. Same goes for cheese.
98. I'm a huge fan of camping (with friends, see # 56)
99. I can't speak any other languages fluently (see #90).
100. It took me 3 days to do this list.



I tag Dani, who inspired me to start a blog.