Might as well Jump

I'm on my way home from the Brooks Range with a 4-day layover in Fairbanks. 3 weeks in the Brooks was spectacular, only wish it could have been longer, there's simply no place like home. More pictures to follow, just getting over prop lag and culture shock.

This shot was taken by my buddy Philip after I took him up on his foolish suggestion that I rump off a 15-foot rock with my skis on.

Bill Maher- the Politically Correct

I try not to rant political here but these latest words from Bill Maher were pure genius:

"Thank God for Congress, if not for them the president would have nothing to wipe his feet on except the Constitution, and then what would he wipe his ass with?"

On a lighter note, here's Mazzy watching Porterhouse steaks cook on the fire escape grill.  Mmmmmm, meat.

Ice, ice baby

Ang and I hit Squaw Valley on Saturday and had a glorious day in the sunshine.  There was a bit of wind but it was warm and neither one of us got badly hurt so I consider the outing a success.  The mountain was nothing but base and ice that softened a little as the day wore on but was difficult for the wee snowboarding one.  It was fun to watch people yardsale on the black diamond runs with nothing to stop them or their gear.  No yardsales for us though, just chilidogs and tuna sandwiches at the mid mountain eatery that had a very strange fast food look and was run entirely by Chileans.  I guess they don't mind working at 6500 feet.  Then we dined in Sacramento Saturday and caught up with the rellies a bit.  Good times.

Moving Right Along

The house is looking more like a house each day.  Here's the 3rd floor with joist then flooring by yours truly.  We had a good 70F today and it felt nice but I'll be happy to trade it next week for -40F, northern lights and the growl of my Ski Doo as I drag Philip through the surrounding hills and valleys.

Now I'm only falling apart...

The moon was impressive last night and I hope most of you got to see it.  We watched it cover and then open up again, I thought the uncovering was more spectacular.  I stuck my hand up to see if it would change the shadow and Angela said I was being juvenile.  Sorry if I ruined anyone's pictures.  Pictured here is the San Francisco Lunar Observation Crew (Kari and her dog Payton representing)

Streets of SF

Here are a couple of shots I took to comfort myself after riding the #31 bus to Market Street.  #31 passes through the Tenderloin, where Paris Hilton would look fat, teeth are optional and bus stops are where you have long and violent introspective conversations with someone name "Nowhatimtalkingabout!"   It is 5 blocks from the Apocalypse,  of this I am sure...

Dog Tired

After work last week I made the arduous trek up Bernal Hill with Mazzy. The sun was setting, the fog was rolling in and the huddled masses in the streets below looked quite cheerful in the evening glow. I hoisted my Petes Wicked Strawberry Summer Ale in salute and left before the attack crows sensed my presence.

My Crib up in Here

Here are a few cell phone pics from the jobsite. Things are going well and the past week was sunny enough to put some pigment back in my freakishly muscular forearms. We installed a couple of massive steel "I" beams and will begin the 3rd floor next week so my views of the area are only getting better.

Runnin' Runnin'

Angela and I survived yet another half marathon this past weekend. This one was sponsored by Kaiser Hospital but there was no mention of discount knee replacements with your entrance fee. Perhaps I can suggest that for next year. We ran through Golden Gate Park, down to the ocean and back. 13.1 wet miles. At one point there may have even been a bit of sleet coming down. Nevertheless I managed to shave about 10 minutes off my last time so I feel good about that, coming in at 1:51 minutes, averaging about 8:40 minutes/mile. Not too shabby for a non-runner. Here are some pics courtesy of Brightroom.com. If you want a poster size of me running in the rain just click on their website and enter my bib number. Send it to me first and I will sign it, that will make it worth more later.
After the race Matt, Ang and I re-hydrated with irish coffees and eggs benedict. Yummy.

I spent the last two days pushing Ang around in a wheelchair while she makes little whimpery noises and says she can't feel her legs. But she's healing...

Craptacular Weather

Well it continues to rain and rain here and I've just about had enough. Angela and I went skiing in Tahoe a few weekends ago though and the snow wasn't too bad. The good news is that when it rains here it snows there. But we live here so that's really not much help. We had breakfast in Truckee and two people gave us the thumbs up for having Alaskan plates and they came over and talked about the best state in the Union. (Alaska) It was nice and made me glad I'm not in legal compliance with the whole register your truck thang. I'm sticking it to the man...

Go Speedracer

I finally broke down and bought my own highspeed internet after stealing wireless from some gracious hack in the 'hood. I then became obsessed with encrypting my signal. It took days and went a little something like this:


In the end, I was successful.

I'm still very sick...

Poison running through my veins

I am home sick as a dog today with a bug that started between 6:20am and 6:21am today. My body aches and I feel like I have been on a Central American Tour bus for the last 29 hours, so in actuality I may be in Colombia as I type.

'Cause I'm proud to be a 'Merican

I just discovered "The Rude Pundit" and I feel better now.

"Hey, you know what? This is a democracy, and, goddamn, if it ain't time we started acting like it is."

Enjoy to the world.

The weather outside is frightful

Mazzy and I have to stay home from work today as a typhoon descends on the city. It is not a good day to be an umbrella or a set of wind chimes. But I loves me a good storm.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1766106429

The View from Here

This is a 4:30pm view of San Francisco, looking north from the south side of town, Bernal Heights. What you don't see in this picture are massive numbers of crows that were trying to peck my eyes out nor the gale force winds that nearly swept me and my small red dog from atop this hill.

It's the End of the World, as we know it...

San Francisco blew up today but luckily I was there with my camera and dog. As fas as I know, I have the only picture and I am the only survivor...

I'm also pretty sure the Iranians are to blame...

Holly Jolly Times

Well, it's the holiday season here in SF and yesterday was "Santacon," where hundreds of people dress up as santas and roam the streets. Here's a crew we met at Zeitgeist, our favorite beer garden. Jolly folk.

The Roof, the Roof

I helped my friend Kari take portraits of random people from a rooftop in the Mission last weekend. Actually it was a couple of weekends ago but I have been lame and not posting and so here they are. Kari's project was to photograph people with a backdrop of the city that will change when big, new luxury condominiums are built next door next year. Good thing I just quit my luxury condo building job or there are some out there who might have said I have a conflict of interest... I am conflicted though, that is true. But my job was to hold the fill flash umbrella so it didn't blow off the roof and I am proud to report I was successful as an object of supreme gravity. And I also got my picture taken.

This is my House

My new job has brought me to a new 'hood and the rare opportunity to build a house from scratch here in SF. I will be spending the next 6 months transforming this vacant cavity into a beautiful dream home in the hills of Diamond Heights. I turned in my views of downtown SF for eucalyptus trees and the haunting call of the Red Tail Hawk. Reeeeeee, reeeeeeeeeee. No crack whores in sight either which is an added bonus.