Highlights

Just to catch everyone up: I was on a cruise with my mom from April 8th- April 17th. I am going to give the Cliff's Notes version of the trip since I took almost 400 photos.

Everytime you get on a cruise ship you get to do a safety drill including putting on a life jacket and standing uncomfortably close to other people you dont know.

Day 1 was spent on the boat on our way to Mexico. We watched shows, played Bingo, walked around the ship, and just relaxed.

Just before we arrived in Mexico I decided I needed a hair cut since it was getting way to long. So I stopped by the salon and had my hairs cut. Here is the before and after.

Day 2 we arrived in Cozmel, Mexico

We went on a Jungle ATV tour which included some Mayan ruins. It was way hot and many peoople had troubles with their ATV's. Usually it is an hour ride through dense jungle, ours took 2 and a half hours. At the end of the jungle we arrived at a beach where we were served drinks, sat in the shade and ate chips and salsa. I had a great time, we so need to buy an ATV.

Day 3 we arrived in Rotan, Honduras

Today we decided to go for a swim with some dolphins. Hanging with dolphins is one of the coolest things I have ever done. It is just an unbelieveable experience! Yippy!

Day 4 was spent in Belieze

My mom and I took a city tour and an airboat ride. We went croc. hunting.

Day 5 and 6 were spent at sea. We were supposed to go to Cancun but their ports were still messed up from the last hurricane so we spend another day, lounging, watching shows, gambling, etc.

Day 7 was spent in Houston, TX

We took a city tour after the boat docked, which dropped us back off at the airport so we could pick up our rental car. Houston has four different skylines, bayous and numerous ball parks in their city limits. The main street is 37 miles long.

Day 8 Galvastan Island, TX

Yes this is where the hurricanes hit when they hit TX. It is a cute little island. Houses are built in weird shapes and on stilts. They do not have any zoning laws so you can build pretty much anything you want. We went to a place called Moody Gardens which has 3 pyramids: 1 is an aquarium, 1 is a rainforest, and 1 is a discovery place for kids. We watched a 4d movie, 3d movie and a motion movie. They also have a private beach, a paddle boat that takes you for a one hour tour, and it is only one price for all of this.

Day 9 Houston, TX

"Houston we have a problem!" We visited historic mission control, and the Johnson Space Center. Here are a few photos from our day.

Day 10 Houston, TX

Decided to do a little shopping and visited the very nice indoor mall before making our way back to the airport making a few local stops a long the way to look around.

First Ever Hutch Open Poker Tourney

Yeah, it didn't go so good. I was the second one out in the no limit tourney. Blied got his money back and Nick took all the rest.

Savages.

In the dealers choice games I came out a buck ahead. Plus I have a full pizza and some newly acquired beers here so I can't complain there.

Guess I need to go back online with people I know I can beat regularly.

New Feature

In case you haven't noticed, there is a new feature on the side of the blog. There isn't too much on there right now, but I'll be adding some more songs to the playlist for you to listen to while you browse. I also have a few pictures we've taken recently that you can blow up and I'll be adding more examples of my work as I continue my rediscovered photography addiction. If you have any music requests let me know. Enjoy!

Hello... From the Ocean

I wrote in the comments but some of you may not read those.

I just wanted to say hi!

I miss you all.

We have had fun riding ATVs (even though it was so dang hot), getting a kiss from a dolphin, and riding on an airboat. Many photos and details to follow. We are in Texas for a day before we head home.

Tomorrow will be my last chance to get email and check the internet. I hope everyone is doing well. I will see you all soon.

Life lessons

I learned two very important lessons today:

#1 -- If you kick a guy in the face it makes you friends and everything is ok.

#2 -- If someone tries to dishonor your family, you can set things right by killing him or honking his nose.

Thank you Daniel-san. You're a lifesaver.

Music Survey

1. Of all the bands/artists in your cd/record collection, which one do you own the most of?
I think the Beatles and Oingo Boingo are tied with 10 each. After that is Ani DiFranco with 6.

2. What was the last song you listened to?
King Without A Crown by Matisyahu.

3. What's in your record/CD player right now?
U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, but I mostly just listen to my Ipod.

4. What song pretty much sums you up?
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd.

5. What's your favorite local band?
Been listening to Mike Barnet more lately.

6. What was the last concert you attended?
U2 at Staples Center in November.

7. What was the greatest show you've ever been to?
Either the final Boingo show or else Kroq's Weenie Roast 2 with Boingo, Violent Femmes, Counting Crows, Pretenders, Green Day, Offspring, and Rollins Band.

8. What's the worst band you've ever seen in concert?
Rx Bandits. They were opening for the Aquabats.

9. What band do you like musically but dislike the members of?
Dave Matthews bugs me for some reason.

10. What is the most musically involved you have ever been?
I had a radio show at Biola and helped put togther some concerts and in studio performances.

11. What shows are you looking forward to?
None right now. Last year it was U2, but now there's no one living that I REALLY want to see that I can think of.

12. What is your favorite band shirt?
My first Boingo "Dia de los Muertos" shirt.

13. What music posters do you have up in your room?
None right now. In my college/single days, the walls were covered with them.

14. What musician would you like to be in love with for a day?
I'm blanking on this one right now.

15. Pat Benatar or Cyndi Lauper?
Um neither? Don't tell anyone, but I do have a Cyndi Lauper cd that I'm not proud of.

16. Sabbath or solo Ozzy?
Ozzy.

17. Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?
Again, not proud of this, but I can sing several Lionel Ritchie songs.

18. Punk rock, hip hop or heavy metal?
Depends on my mood.

19. Doesn't Primus suck?
Yes.

20. Did you know that filling out this survey makes you a music geek?
Eh, doesn't change anything.

21. What was the greatest decade for music?
I'm biased towards 90's music since that's when I was buying most of my cds, but late 60's/early 70's rock will stick around longer.

22. How many music-related videos/dvds do you own?
4 -- Boingo "Farewell", Social Distortion "Live in Orange County", and U2 "Rattle and Hum" and "Vertigo Live in Chicago". Next on my list to buy would be Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews.

23. Do you like Journey?
"She's just a small town girl, livin in a lonely world..."

24. Don't try to pretend you don't!!
Seriously..."Faithfully" is the ringtone for Cyndi on my cell phone.

25. What is your favourite movie soundtrack?
Edward Scissorhands, Schindler's List, and Requiem for a Dream. Trainspotting is pretty good too.

26. What was your last musical phase?
I don't know...I listen to everything.

27. What's the crappiest CD/record/etc. you own?
Gotta say Culture Club -- Greatest Hits.

28. Do you prefer vinyl or CDs?
Cds, unless I'm listening to old blues or big band era stuff.

29. All totalled, how much do you spend on music a month?
I don't have money to spend on music...not that there are many cds worth buying these days.

The park

On the 23rd of March I went to Irvine park with Moe, Jenny and all the chillins (children). We had fun hanging out and talking. The kids enjoyed the playground, and feed the ducks.

Mini Trip

On March 21-22 we took a mini vacation. Paul booked a little cottage place up in Solvang. We walked around all the little shops and had a great time.

Here is Paul in a cool telephone booth in front of the bakery.

I really wanted to go to Andersen's so we had dinner there. Paul and I even split a bowl of pea soup. It was pretty good. We had some decent Monte Cristo sandwiches as well. After dinner we went over to the Indian Casino and playing slots for awhile.

Before heading home we decided to stop by the Regan Library, I went there once last summer but they have since opened the Air Force 1 wing which is way cool. They took the plane apart and completely remade it inside the building.