Where The Boys Are

Get Ready to Get Lost

Link to the short film of the century, Get Lost: The Beat Goes On.

Cake made by our very talented Kate Fingerson as seen as "Kate" in the Get Lost episode.

"In this re-imagining of the ABC show Lost, the popular drama is recast as a sit-com. This episode deals with the genesis of Sawyer's nicknaming fetish as well as his entry into the world of crime. ..."

For your copying and pasting convenience: http://revver.com/u/thatjasonguy/

Scrabbling for the Right Words

Thanks to my friend Molly's suggestion Friday night to break out the Scrabble board, my family and I Scrabbled all weekend. Once the board was out on the table, and remained so all weekend, it was like a Siren's Song that called me away from projects, chores, even long bike rides. It was one of those weekends where the spirit and the body were co-unwilling to do anything task oriented, if just for a couple of days. However, playing Scrabble over and over was the perfect remedy of idle time well spent. Three of the games that Cole and I played (we played well over three games total) ended with no tiles left for either player. I was considering unoriginally photographing and posting a game, but our camera is no where in sight.

No camera is the main reason I have not posted for a while (that and being incredibly busy with work and yard work and mastering the canyon on my bike [which is FUN]) and why I have not written about the awesome "Get Lost" party we threw last weekend at my house. I will post a link to the movie my very talented friends wrote, acted in, directed and edited when I get it so you too can check it out. Hilarity. But the premier, it was indescribable.

The Most Beautiful Smiles Ever

My friends are the greatest. Recently a few of them donated their hair while raising quite a bit of money for cancer research through St. Baldrick's Foundation. Aren't they beautiful?

Tommy showed up just to photograph the event, but got ribbed by the MC and ended up raising $1,000 in ten minutes from the crowd. Everyone wanted to see him sacrifice his lovely locks. Thank goodness he is not named Sampson and still had his strength after the impromptu shaving.
You guys rock!

Strange

Years ago I started a collection of strange automobile photos. But that started back when I had my old 35mm (albeit awesome) camera and since those photos, real hard copy photos, were not digitally stored, it's hard to say where they are now.
Just the last two days have given me the opportunity to start the collection back up. Luckily, by circumstance, I had the camera stored in my glove box for easy grabbing.

(Not a crazy car necessarily, but an interesting addition). I guess some people just need to express themselves.

Today, a rainy day, while at the gym, I could overhear a political discussion between two guys who were obviously not working out very hard. One fellow in particular was going on about this and that candidate, I wasn't really paying that close of attention. Then his voice got louder and I heard him say, "European, think about that word -- YOU'RE A PEON -- he enunciated. "Well I don't want any part of that. I want -- a mer I CAN." "A Mer I CAN," he more exageratedly enunciated.
The other guy said, "What about Mex I CAN?" And then I just couldn't hear anymore, whether physically or philosophically, and I went back to mind my own work out business.

More Mammoth Photos

Not just big photos.

Mammoth Lakes, Ca.The strange beauty of the high desert.

And Mono Lake.
Hannah as the co-pilot (soon to be permitted pilot).

Shout out to South Lake Tahoe. . . and God, who was apparently trying to tell us something.

Unleash 'em

Don't you just want to let all these little doggies free? I did. My job took me (and accompanying me, Hannah) to Mammoth Lakes, Ca.
This is not snow in this doggies eyes, it is tiny rocks and salt from the parking lot. The wind was whipping it up quite vigorously. Don't you just want to free this little doggie? I did. I was dressed for a business meeting -- skirt suit, manicured hair, make-up, brief case -- and then I had to stop in the torrential winds to take photos of Mammoth Mt's. sled dogs. The rocks and salt stung my stockinged legs and the wind whipped my hair and papers about. Nothing about my presentation looked the same after that.

Call of the Wild

Mountain biking has been incredible these past few balmy spring days.  If I haven't been working, or cleaning the house,  I have been in the canyon on the bike -- yeehaa!  Today I went on my feet, running it is called, and had almost as much fun.

I also went to see our friend Kieth Lowell Jensen's movie at the 

Crest theater:  Why Lie I Need A Drink.  He humorously dispels the urban legend that pan-handlers make enough money to own a nice home and swanky vehicle (which they park in a secret place while they grab their cardboard sign and beg for the day).  Go figure.  As guilded as the Crest Theater is, I always manage to fall asleep when I am there (like the time I saw David Sedaris), and sure enough, I fell asleep during the middle of the movie.  But only for about ten minutes or so, so I think I am still good.  Right?  Why Lie, I Need a Nap.

A Very Fine Ending

Hannah is the girl who didn't know if she would make it on the snowboarding team -- who not only made it on the team,  she made Varsity as a Freshman and then qualified for the State finals.

It was an incredibly busy week. . . up in beautiful Tahoe.  We had practices and then four races.  Mornings began in the Village at North Star at 7:00 am (Starbucks and roaring fires around the outdoor skating rink awaited the parents).  The races were very exciting, tons of energy and excitement surrounded the whole event. Parents and spectators gathered at the finish line listening closely for bib numbers and times being announced -- and more importantly to spot their child speeding down the course, hoping they wouldn't injure themselves.  I volunteered one afternoon to record times on a white board during the event for spectators, racers, and coaches to check -- it was hectic, but good to be involved.  There were team activities every evening; it was go, go, go.

Hannah was very successful.  First, she had tons of fun, built team comradery, and gained confidence.  Secondly, her times were great, she finished all races with no falls, and ended up placing 14th out of 100 competitors in the slalom.  It was exciting.  One of the days, after her race was over, I skied while she boarded and I could not even come close to keeping up with Miss Speedy.  It was a lot of fun.  And now the season has come to an end.  I am going to sleep.

That's Gonna Leave A Mark

Today while driving between Coalinga and Lemoore I saw a State Park named "Hickey Park." I looked around for "Make Out Point," but since the land is as flat as the eye can see in that area, there really are no points. There are, however, lots of crops with uniform rows, orchards full of blosoms, and fields of cows wafting with stink -- and Hickey Park.

Hangin' Out

Our cat Chloe, most known as "Girl Kitty."

Work has called me away to the Central Valley of California, namely Fresno, for the next four days. When I get back, I'll be craving some hangin' out time. See you soon!

Lunar Eclipse of My Heart

My tiny pocket-sized camera did not capture the beauty of the lunar eclipse very well, but my naked eye did. Of course, not recalling what caused the shaded, slightly-red moon to hang in the sky, I was busy looking up this information on the internet when Cole announced, "Mom, it's here, you can see the lunar eclipse!"

Since my high-end, large telephoto-lensed camera with tripod was in the shop, the retail shop waiting for a buyer, I only had my senses and inept camera to capture the moment. But the perfect alignment of the earth blocking the sun's rays from directly hitting the moon never looked so beautiful. . .

Birthday Boy

Just in case you were sad that maybe there weren't going to be reasons soon for Fifi (aka Stephanie, my talented sister) to make cupcakes -- you don't need to be sad any longer. Cole had his 13th b-day recently and you know what, Steph made camouflage cupcakes for his special day.

But more importantly, we got the boy a MOTORCYCLE for his 13th birthday. It's a tiny motorcycle albeit, but it is a motorcycle. It's a 50cc trail bike (and if you know about bikes, this one is a replica of the Honda 50cc trail bike that hasn't been in production since the 70's. We found this 2004 version for sale on Craig's List).This bike is so much fun, I even take my turn riding it. Our favorite places to ride are up on my parent's property in Meadow Vista (the bike fits in the back of my car) and on a dirt track behind our neighborhood. The boys are schooling me on shifting. Although this bike is called an automatic, it has three gears, but no clutch. I guess that's what makes it an automatic. It's been at least 27 years since I've driven a motorcycle. It comes back fast, however, like riding a bike!So far, Cole is being very responsible with his bike and it seems to be feeding his budding masculine soul well. I am keeping the medicine chest stocked with bandages however.Now, in case you need more cupcake photos, you may have to wait a while because I am sugared out and hoping for no more reasons for cupcakes. Although, does one ever need a reason for cupcakes? I think not. I'm off to ride now!

Solitude

"Can't see the forest for the trees" is an idiom that means one is paying too much attention to the details and can not understand the big picture. Here's the big picture of a forest that had burned down many years ago. I can't remember when.Looking up at a burned tree.Looking way up.

Turning the camera on myself.
Unflattering self-portrait lying in the snow, taken at the Yuba Gab exit, a couple miles hiked in the middle of nowhere, all by myself, California, USA.

Be Mine, Cupcake

My talented sister, Stephanie, made us Valentine's Day Cupcakes. She's quite the cupcake maker! I would love to see her open a trendy cupcakery in town . . . (I don't think "cupcake maker" and "cupcakery" are real words, but they sure are mmmmm, delicious sounding).

More photos of snowboarding:

I hate to do this to you (I guess I don't or else I wouldn't), but I took more photos at Hannah's practice this last Saturday.You Go Girl! Hannah, cutting close to the gate.

I hiked up the mountain and parked myself in an incognito spot behind two skinny pine trees and spied on the team with my camera.I felt like I was in a 007 movie with an all out attack of snowboarders descending on my secret lair (click on photo to check out the madness, and the boarder who is in a sitting position with scissor arms). . .. . . with Hannah's coach bringing up the pack.

Snowboard Meet

Below are some photos that I took at Hannah's meet on Monday at Squaw Valley, Calif.:

Below are some photos that Hannah took after the meet was over while riding around the park. Wowee Hannah!:

Nice job on the meet too, dear.

Good n' Muddy

It was a great ride this Sunday morning.

B's B-Day

Hannah turned 15. Happy B-Day B! 

(Her nickname became 'B' after Hannah became Hannah-Banana, which became Banana, which simply became 'B').

Hannah and I are exploring our new relationship to each other, with her being a full blown teenager and all. Whew!
I am hoping she stays as sweet as these fabulous cupcakes her Aunt Stephanie (most famously known as "Aunt Fifi") made for her party. I can see that Hannah is trying to find her place in the world right now, although her main concerns on the forefront seem to be friends and fun.
I don't blame her, friends and fun are very important. But there is a strange balance going on right now where sometimes she pulls at the tether that keeps us connected until it feels like it will break. Then other times she's reeled in as tight as she was when she was a toddler.
I suppose the best thing we can do is hold on steadily and enjoy all the sweetness we can find around us.