What Would Eli Do?

2006-11-23T21:55:00.000-08:00

Okay Mom - This one's for you...

2006-11-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

Quick note - You know in movies how villains or super-heros will wear contact lenses to disguise themselves, or throw people off. Then when they're done with the job, in slow motion as they're leaving, rub their eyes all cool-like and flick the contact lenses in the trash. Let me tell ya - it ain't that easy! Seriously took me what felt like the better part of an hour (but was realistically 30 minutes) to put in, then take out, then put back in my first set of contact lenses. AND after all of that - my vision is STILL blurry?!? We'll see how things look tomorrow (literally), I'm hoping that I won't have to go back. That's all. Contact lenses may look cool - but are kinda high maintenence. And if you've got a thing about putting your finger in your eye and actually TOUCHING your EYE BALL - just get ready for a lot of tears. ;^)

2006-10-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Okay - in trying to commit to this blog thing, here's a little recap of my weekend.

Friday night The Shotgun Wedding Quintet played at Elbo Room (in SF) with friends of ours from San Jose - Counter Productive. Here's a clip of Counter Productive.

Uh...yeah. I totally agree with everything he said. Right on man. So eloquently put too! ;^)

Dirt Bag Dan MC'd the night. I liked this intro he gave for The SWQ.

Adam played the Didjeridoo...Dublin Mic'd it.

I like this song Hypocrite. Try and listen to the lyrics. Well put Dub - makes ya think...

At the end of the show, the guys invited Counter Productive and a few other MC's up on stage to freestyle. Here's a clip of Dirt Bag Dan and some other guy...

On Saturday I drove to Sonoma to visit one of my old favorite Pumpkin Patches - Cardoza Farms. Only to find that it was no longer owned or operated by the Cardoza family, and was actually bought by the state's park and rec department. They did a nice job - but it just wasn't the same. Still - I had great company, beautiful weather and an awesome day...

This is what it looks like when you look out the sunroof driving under the bridge.

I always like this part of the drive to Sonoma on Hwy 116

This is the bee man. He was cool...

These are some of his bees up close...

This guy was grinding corn using an old motor. Awesoooooome....

Now THAT'S a nice ass! ;^)My pumpkins are out there somewhere!

That's a picture of my shadow in the hay...yeah...

I can't go to Sonoma and NOT visit a couple wineries! This is the view at Viansa.

Me wrastlin' the boar at Viansa...

Me gettin' artsy at Viansa.

Caught this Hummingbird at Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves. Cool huh?

Does it look like that's my first glass of Champagne? uh...no...

This is a cool driveway on the way out of Gloria Ferrer.

And back to the city! Very nice weekend...

2006-10-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, in just under 45 minutes - I completed the Alcatraz "Sharkfest" Swim! Yep. I did it! I was also the only one I saw with a waterproof camera. Though it did whack me in the haed a few times along the way - overall I'd say it was worth it. This is my first Photoblog - so I hope you like it :^)

Yeah, I woke up at 5:45 AM to jump in the Bay. This is what it looked like outside my apartment. Would you want to go swimming?They don't call it the "Sharkfest" swim for nothin'. The San Francisco Bay Area has the highest population of Great White Sharks in the world! They're amazing animals. Have I seen any? Of course! Caught this guy at the Monterey Bay Aquarium the weekend before (this one was only 6 feet - but they've been recorded up to 25+ feet locally). Fortunately - we didn't run into any on the swim. But they were in the back of all our heads...

Okay - the sun is starting to come out (yes - in San Francisco this what it looks like when the sun comes out). This is just before the race at Aquatic Park (where I'd train the weeks before - swimming between the piers). We all (about 1,000 of us) gathered here before the swim. This is also where the finish line was.
We walked over to the boats that took us out there around 7:30 AM.
Had a nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the boat.
Mom took this picture from Fort Mason. If you look closely, you can see the boats and all the people scattered in the water.
Okay...I'll zoom in for you...
Okay...I'll zoom in a little more. See us now?
We jumped into a warm 60 degree water (yes - for the bay that's very warm). I took a few pics underwater, but they were too dark. This is what I'd imagine it looks like under the sea...
Visibility in the bay in is about 3 feet anyways. Here's a pic of me when we're all just tredding water, waiting for the horn to signal the start of the race. Check out the kayaker in the background. There were about 50 of them volunteering to help guide us.
There's me again! This time with the city in the background. And yeah, that's a guy swimming over me. It was like a fish hatchery out there! No manners...
The sea was angry my friends...
Me again. Floating on my back...
There's the city!
Look how far I've already come! That's Alcatraz...
If you were to look up at me from under water - this is what you'd probably see...(yeah - big dork)
Alcatraz...again...
That's Aquatic Park (the finish of the race).
There's my mom - waiting for me to arrive...
There's dad...
There's another kayaker...
That's dad holding the sign he made to root me on...
I'm the one in the black wetsuit with the yellow swim cap.
Uh...I guess that could be my arm...
I'm probably out there somewhere...
We're comin' in!
I made it! Placed #65 in the mens bracket! Not bad...
Definitely something I'll want to do next year...