–Los Muertos Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
| September 28, 2007 08:41am | 
| opinionated (0)
While in Puerto Vallarta Mike and I went on a canopy zip line tour in the jungle canopy and across a huge river ravine. It was an amazing tour with 14 zip lines totaling 2 miles. The most exciting line was 400 meters long and 160 meters high.
There was a videographer who went tandem with each person on the tour. Here's Mike flying through the air with the video guy.
On my tandem trip across a ravine I got a photo of the videographer in mid flight then of the river below.
Our last zip line was two cables side by side. I snapped this photo of Mike as I zipped along beside him.
It was an amazing tour. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
| September 26, 2007 11:47am | 
| opinionated (2)
I'm back from Puerto Vallarta and settling back into everyday life. I have a few photos and stories from the trip which I'll be sharing as I get to them. This past Saturday was the five year anniversary of Melissa's death. In her honor I went on a dune buggy tour through the hills of Puerto Vallarta. The trip wasn't the wild off-roading adventure Melissa would have loved or for which I was hoping. Still, I know that Melissa would have been laughing her ass off at the sight of me covered head to toe in mud and the fact that I had to walk back through town passing many bemused locals before I could shower off.
| September 25, 2007 12:29pm |
| opinionated (1)
I'm sitting in Puerto Vallarta stewing in the heat and humidity. Besides having some challenges finding food and/or a taxi the first 24 hours here, I'd say we're doing pretty well.
While the bed and furniture isn't the very comfy, the condo we're renting is beautiful and we're enjoying it. There are some amazing restaurants here. Last night we ate at Barcelona Tapas which was one of the best meals, best service and best atmosphere I've experienced anywhere. Beyond that we've done some poking around Zona Romantica, along the Malecon, done some shopping and enjoyed the cheap margaritas. Some might think I'm pathetic to be spending 20 minutes in an internet cafe. I'm going on the assumption that I'm being considerate to my loyal fans.
| September 18, 2007 01:47pm |
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Tuesday night I saw Pink Martini in concert at the amazing, gorgeous and awe-inspiring Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA. Pink Martini is "somewhere between a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brasilian marching street band and Japanese film noir..." Throw into the mix an occasional pop stylist nod and you've got yourself a whirling ball of eclectic goodness. The 12-piece band is full of amazingly skilled musicians who know how to work together brilliantly, have fun at what they do and put on an amazing show.
Opening for Pink Martini was March Forth, a bohemian marching band that reminded me more of a wacky circus than acne covered, angsty youth. They had a great sound, though I did feel they're whole routine would have worked better marching down a street than putzing around a stage.
| September 13, 2007 02:23pm | 
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Mike's party was a huge success. All the elements came together beautifully and we pulled off a party involving nearly 80 people, a hosted bar, dj music, hors d'oeuvres passed by wood nymphs, a buffet table creatively displaying all sorts of fresh produce, breads and cheeses, a fire dancer, a drag queen performance, amazing dessert and a dvd created especially for the birthday boy. It was really a mesmerizing event and I couldn't have asked for it to come together better. We're all still over-the-top exhausted, but it was worth it all. It'll be a party we'll be talking about for a long time to come. I didn't get but one blurry photo of the actual party since Michael and I were busy keeping the party running. I did, however, get some photos of the decorations and the dual garden setting. (Click the yellow "View Slideshow" button to see all the pictures.)
| September 11, 2007 02:11pm |
| opinionated (2)
In Muir Woods, CA
| September 6, 2007 11:27am |
| opinionated (0)
For Mike's 50th birthday bash (this coming Saturday) I dyed big lengths of muslin to be used as canopies and backdrops in the garden, where the party is taking place. Each length of canopy fabric is 30 feet long. Dyeing them took a several long days. Ironing them took several long hours. Hanging them took three of us climbing, contorting, straining, scraping, swearing, re-hanging, stretching, fighting and more swearing. In the end I love how they look. Now hopefully the wind won't carry them away before the party on Saturday...
| September 4, 2007 09:06am |
| opinionated (1)
The Family Values Tour concert was a lot of fun. Seven hours of hardcore/metal/rock/alternative music on two stages some of which I loved and some of which I loved laughing at.
Twin Method looked a bit like some sitcom's gender bending "boys gone bad" version of the Spice Girls with each members punk colored hair matching their clothing accessories. Still I really enjoyed their sound and how tight their arrangements were. I even enjoyed the lead vocalist who sounded like he had just finished blowing satan and hadn't yet stopped retching the demonic bile from his stomach.
Through You was great. For me, they were the previously-unknown band of the day that I'd like to hear more of.
Five Finger Death Punch had a cute lead singer. He took his shirt off for me. What a swell guy.
Hellyeah was so hell no.
Flyleaf brought the first girl power to the day with their lead vocalist. They also brought a little more sophisticated sound than a lot of the bands. Though they still practiced the standard hardcore moved of head banging with long locks of hair and repeatedly jumping off anything and everything around them. Ok, the leap off a double high tower of speakers was pretty cool.
Korn wrapped up the evening with more head banging, screaming and an impressive stage set-up, but my favorite band of the day was by far Evanescence. They put on a good show, had a great sound and an amazing light show. They were worth the ticket price alone.
| September 3, 2007 09:06am |
| opinionated (0)
Today I'm heading with Lou to see the Family Values Tour down in Mountain View (almost an hour south of SF). The event is not nearly as morally upstanding and "2.5 children" as it might sound. It's a day-long string of concerts featuring Korn, Evanescence, Flyleaf and a bunch of other alternative/hardcore bands in an outdoor amphitheater. Should be fun. Now where's my sunscreen?
| September 1, 2007 05:52am |
| opinionated (1)
rant
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