Thursday, December 31, 2009

High as a Kite

Brentwood, CA

Yesterday I moved out of Antioch, but today I had a few loose ends to tie up. Amy and I dropped off the UHaul trailer, and then went to Lumpy's for lunch. As we were driving from Lumpy's to the movie theater we saw this huge thing hovering over the Mormon church. We stopped to check it out and were informed all about this kite, it's orgin and how fun they are to fly.
Next was a movie and then I turned in my keys with my former landlords. Following that, we went to Benecia to see some Christmas Fairy Vomit. All in all it was a great random day.

Christmas Fairy Vomit


Don't you just hate it when the Christmas Fairy Vomits all over your house and it won't even go away - not even after Christmas has passed you by.

triumphant Dum Dum return

The tooties pops are gone. The candy canes are gone. The Dum Dums have returned.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

suck on this

Oakley, CA

One of my jobs at work is to take care of the fish across the hall when their care takers are on vacation. This particular fish (I think it is an algae eater) is getting really fat but the other fish aren't.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

More Birthday Chocolate

Antioch, CA

My birthday buddy struck again this year. Looking at what I got last year and looking at what I got this year - I'm detecting a theme.

Not pictured is the book I got: "have a little faith" by Mitch Albom. I'm 50 pages in and really enjoying it.

Monday, December 28, 2009

from a friend, for a friend

Antioch, CA

A friend of mine sent this to me for my birthday. She is one of those friends I never want to see leave and whom I miss terribly. I can't wait to see her once the cold Idaho winter is over.

In and around the light house

I asked Amy to go on a drive with me and we started our drive at the lighthouse in Crescent City







This little guy came up and played with us right before we went to the lighthouse island.

Camp Clifford

While out on our drive, Amy and I ran across this little campground. It had a day use area and 10 camp sites. Between the parking lot and the tent sites there was a little path that led to a waterfall and a bench. The path also led to the beach which we had to ourselves. There was no one for miles either direction on that beach.








as seenonthe way home



After we got back to the Bay Area, Amy and I went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. We went to Black Angus and had steak. As we were getting ready to pay the waitress asked us how everything was. I told her that for a Birthday Dinner it was pretty darn good. The waitress said "Oh you should have told us. I could have gotten people to come sing to you." I assured her that is not what we needed or wanted. The waitress was kind and did not return with a choir - but she did return with dessert to go and a candle to make a wish upon.

Driving in Oregon




Just some of the things we saw while we were in Oregon


Coast Guard







During our drive today, Amy and I stumbled upon the Brookings Oregon Coast Guard station and while we were hiking one of the boats came in from a run.



Surfers





While we were visiting Oregon Amy and I stopped at this beach because I wanted to take pictures of a Coast Guard at work. Instead what we found were these three guys surfing. Amy and I crawled out onto a jetty and took pictures along side ofthese guys as they surfed in.


Sunday, December 27, 2009

the forest through the trees in northern CA

South of Crescent City, CA

Today we drove home from Amy's Sister's place. It was a very nice drive filled with scenery like this. Once we got home, we un packed the cars, fed the cat and then went to celebrate my Birthday with a nice quiet dinner at Black Angus.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Waves of Oregon

Brookings, Oregon

I haven't been to this part of Oregon or Northern California for about 13 years. So Amy and I went for a drive today. We first went to a light house, then a campground. We saw surfers and the US Coast Guard at work before just getting an eventual taste for Oregon while we were there.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Sugar Plum Ring (minus the plums)

Crescent City, CA

Keeping with my families tradition, Amy and I made a sugar plum ring for breakfast this morning. Unfortunately the dough wasn't ready to be shaped until the afternoon so it wasn't technically for breakfast but it was still good.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

the presents have the tree surrounded

Crescent City, CA

In a big change from my personal life, Amy and I drove up to Crescent City today to spend the holidays with her huge family (It's actually not that big except for people like me that are used to spending Christmas with just my dad). Hopefully the next few days won't be too over whelming for me.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Kissie Kissie Time

Oakley, CA

There is mistletoe that grows every year out side my office.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Temples at Costco?

Antioch, CA

I was getting my tires rotated tonight and wondered Costco while I waited. I was surprised to see a book on temples at Costco. It had some good pictures in it.

Monday, December 21, 2009

pea fog

Oakley, CA

There was a time in Idaho where I didn't see fog for two years. For the past two weeks I've seen it every day.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

I make fire

Vallejo, CA

I don't remember who I started this tradition with but I try to have a bar b q on the first day of winter every year because of a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. Tonight was tri-trip.

A quick Hike

Amy and I were supposed to go on an extensive hike today. On our way too it we stopped at a Vista point so I could try to take a picture of a boat. The picture didn't materialize but we quickly discovered how bitter that cold wind was and how deep it cut into you. So, in the end, the most we hiked was about 1/4 of a mile. These pics are from the Vista Point.