Black Dahlia and David Cross. September 23, 2007

Last Sunday Conor and I went to an awesome show in San Francisco at Slim’s. The Red chord, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Cannibal Corpse played and it was a fantastic show. Next night Jessie, Conor, his brother (with friend and girlfriend), and I got LAST MINUTE tickets to see David Cross at Cobb’s. David Cross was as usual hysterical, but I was also surprised by his opener Paul Tompkins. This guy was hysterical and somehow made five minutes talking about Jetblue still funny till the end. I met with him and David Cross after the show to snap a quick picture and learned that Paul was also from Mr. Show, and I must have not recognized him from such an old show. Anyway it was a great two evenings, and now we are preparing for our week trip to Yosemite!

The money shot!

So far unemployed and homeless… September 21, 2007

So far we have been having adventures in CA whilst unemployed and homeless. We traveled to Catalina Island which was amazing. Right after landing from the Flyer, we immediately jumped in the water to snorkel and catch the fish early. Jess was terrified and it was pretty funny trying to coax her into the water, but she overcame her fears quick as the beauty of the sea and fish took over her senses. Eric’s on the pier was closed and we couldn’t get a pier burger, but we ate at some other burger place which was good. We biked for about 2 hours up to the highest point you can go in Avalon without having to pay an arm and a leg to enter the wild reserve. Yeah really wild, all those buffalo surely are vicious. Came back down, explored the city, had an Olaf (awesome ice cream, though as I have come to learn, not nearly as good as Marianne’s ice Cream in Santa Cruz!) then hopped aboard the boat and headed home! Great day trip!

 

After a long bike ride and short hike, we got the money shot! Great success!!

 

San Diego trip. September 20, 2007

We made a trip down to San Diego once Jess got into Newport with me. First we had nowhere to go, simply hoping someone would host us for the night. We hung out at Balboa Park which was an awesome park that houses tons of sweet architecture, museums, and the San Diego Zoo (where we went to next day). We met up with Katy (Jesse’s friend from HS) and her friend Tal from Israel and went out to a great Indian dinner then surprisingly to Shabbat at a conservative Chabad. It was an experience, and the traditions were a bit weird. The Rabbi couldn’t shake Jesse’s hand, probably because she has cooties. Toilet paper in the WC was pre-ripped as orthodox Jews can’t rip paper on Shabbat? As well as turning off lights and such…strange shit. Anyway there was free beer, ironically German, and strangely warm; maybe they can’t use the refrigerator or ice on Shabbat either? (sarcasm) Later we met with Elsa (Jesse’s other friend from HS) and went to a club on the beach where jess and I acted like a crazy weird couple and tried to get everyone to dance Greek style, they weren’t having it, everyone there was “too cool.” We ran around the moonlit beach barefoot in the warm night air and cool water which put the cherry on top of a fun evening. Next day was the SD Zoo with Tal and Katy The highlights were 500lb. tortoises having sex, monkeys fighting, elephants pooping, and a flock of flamingo’s being fed. Jess and i cooked everyone a fantastic Mexican dinner consisting of my famous quesadillas, Jesse’s guacamole, and margaritas. We talked about everything under the sun, namely Jewish history and Israel with Tal and then slept well. The next day was a romp through the big city with the whole crew. It really is a beautiful city as I was pleasantly surprised. Then we went off to my mom’s house in San Diego. We ate well for a few days and spent our time shopping with mom for odds and ends, swimming, reading, throwing Harley, and discovering how amazing Flight of the Concords on HBO On Demand is. Had a great time down in San Diego and headed back to Newport Beach.

Here’s a baby panda for your enjoyment.

Some more pics from the San Diego Trip.

 

For more pics through Facebook:

http://ucsc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098885&l=ad750&id=6700706

 

It begins! September 20, 2007

Well I have started our travel Blog.  It was much easier than I thought.  Now I need to get used to doing this so when we travel I will be well acquainted with it.