The Adventures are Over, Except for the Adventures in Law that is.

So this was a pretty good summer, and I think that it is shaping up to be a pretty good year. Yes, I am back in school for my 2L year, and while it is a little scary still and I know that it will be hard, I am actually excited for the year. But before I go discussing the fall, let's wrap up the summer. Actually, I just had the idea that I am going to try to explain what I did this summer in rhyme, or at least see how far I can go this time (it's already started, yay!).

(Unrhyming side note on the glasses below. Not only are they totally awesome looking, but I got them for cheap at Savers. The real kicker, though, is that they are my prescription. I believe the correct term for what I lead is, "A Charmed Life". Yes, I do believe it is.)



I took a trip up the coast,
In my car with the most,
You might call me a liar
But I got stranded in Ukiah.

My car broke down,
but I did not frown,
I just rode my bike around town,
(and payed $400 down)

Now it's fixed and runnin' fine,
and I drove through some pine (trees)
continued up the coast,
till I arrived at a host (of friends and family).




Portland was the first stop,
Saw sisters, nieces, nephews, and at least one cop.
Then to the ocean,
The Williams' had rented a cabin, I ain't jokin'.





It was quite a blast,
we drove the boat fast,
and emptied the bay
of every single crab that day.








We spent time on the beach,
We spent time in the sun,
There wasn't a lot of heat,
But we sure had fun!

To Portland I will surely come back
for family pictures at which I will laugh.
But time is short, and I must fly.
Besides, SF has more than enough fog for this guy!

Finally to Utah I quickly came,
to try and recapture my Disco Skating fame,
Alas, Renee had taken the crown and beaten me out,
But I manged to capture a pregnant Tracy pout.


Now I am back and the books call my name,
Remedies, Wills, Crim Pro it's all the same.
but as fun as the summer was I felt adrift,
back at home at Hastings is where I fit.



However, when the weather turns cold, and the snowflakes fly,
Back to Utah for Christmas and 'boarding will surely go I.

Trippin'

I had a couple of good trips here. I went to L.A. to see my little bro bro Trent, while he was at Kim and Byron's. I tell ya, those Williams really know how to party.

Here is Trent and I, sneaking so as not to wake the sleeping baby while we ate 3a.m. cereal. Mmm, mmm, good.

Kim made the Cafe Rio pork salad recipe Lisa posted on Taste for Taste. The pork and the dressing were right on, I mean right on. It was really good. That is not Byron in the background, that is their friend Brian, who came to eat dinner because his wife was out of town.

Yea for Prunes!

Byron had the awesome idea to go down to Huntington Beach to see the U.S. Open of Surfing, it was sweet. We got to see Kelly Slater surf a sweet curl, perfect 10 baby, history in the making.


Start 'em young, that's what I say. Just kidding, this was not open, he just likes to put his mouth on cold stuff. He will learn to appreciate it for its sublime taste later on.

While I was with the family after Dal's wedding, Renee taught me how to skid out on her fixed gear. I crashed it the first time, but these are badges of honor. Don't get too sad, I got right back on and skidded it a couple more times, but I was feeling it the next day I tell you.

Never Again Land Ranch

This is it, the big post that I'm sure you have all been crazy to read. After this when people mention Michael Jackson you will be able to say that you have a friend/relative that went to Never Land Ranch after Michael Jackson died. I feel like one of those people that they have on the news describing what the tornado sounded like. All that tom-foolery aside though, it was really quite an experience. Now to the actual events.

Lance and I had been visiting our sister Kim, her husband Byron, and their little boy Harrison in L.A. After a week full of fun, sun, and some Zing Zang Zoom! (circus joke, you gotta go see it if you want to get the joke, sorry) Lance and I packed up the old Olds and hit the trail. to be honest with everyone, this trip was a little bit of a joke from the start. We were driving from L.A. to S.F. and it was more or less on the way, so we though we would take a two hour detour or so and have a great story to tell when everyone started bragging about what big M.J. fans they were. However, it turned into more than a joke and I am glad that we went.

[Side Note: Just for the record I was a huge M.J. fan, I owned some of his vinyl and I was only born in '82, even better (or worse depending on your point of view) at a dance party during the height of his trial, after one of his tunes had finished playing and the music was fading there was a small window of relative quiet and I yelled into the lull "HE'S INNOCENT, HE'S INNOCENT". Now, I no longer remember the date of that party, what song they played, or even what I was wearing that night, but I remember one thing. I was laughed to scorn. Acquitted on all charges haters. The best part is, now when I talk about how great he was I know that I stood by him through thick and thin. The rest of you have to die a little inside as your secret shame about how you quit on the King of Pop eats its way like acid through your consciences. Maybe it isn't that bad, I do tend to be a little dramatic. Also, this is only a small example of why I was such a big fan. End of side note.]

The first pictures are from before the trip. We were sad, but we tried to remember Michael for how he was.

We were trying to look like the picture below, nailed it!


Lance and I stopped to eat at Michael's favorite fast food joint. Of course, I'm assuming McDonald's was his favorite, he was American wasn't he?


When we actually got to Never Land Ranch, there was no more fun and games. Lance and I did take one silly picture, but then we felt too bad to take any more. It was actually pretty sad and really brought the reality of it home. There was a guy there crying and after I took a photo for a lady she told me that it felt weird to smile. While these people might be a little weird, they were experiencing real grief. There was not that many people there when Lance and I got there, but there had been. There were parking barriers miles down the road, and posters and flowers all over the place. The one thing that really hit me was that whatever else anyone reads into it, or says that we should not make a big deal, the reality is that a man died. There are family and friends who miss him and people who's lives he affected in large and small ways. I mourn for Michael like we should mourn for all of those that pass through our lives and are never seen again. He left his fingerprints on my life, and yes, they were sequined. I am glad that I made that trip, and although it was not a seminal moment in my life it was a good opportunity for reflection. The pictures below are at the Ranch, except for the last one, that was Lance's and my final goodbye to the man with the magical hips.


You moonwalked your way into our hearts, now moonwalk your way to heaven, Michael.

Va-ca in L.A.!!!!!!

Lance and I had a great time in L.A., and the Williams really showed us a good time. I'm talking beach, food, and even a trip to the circus. Let me just say a word or two about the circus to all of you haters out there. It is not just for kids, we really had a great time. They shot two ladies out of canons, it was pretty sweet. I bet it is coming some place near you this summer and especially if you have kids you better check it out. I know for a fact that it will be in San Fran this August. It only cost us about $13 apiece, and the wonder reflected in your eyes is worth that. I have to apologize for the pictures, I did not really get out my camera until right before we left, and Byron was at work but he was an integral part of the fun while we were there. The only real commentary on the pictures is that Harrison definitely has the Harrison blue eyes. Next post will be about Lance's and my pilgrimage(?) to Never Land Ranch to pay our final respects to the King of Pop.

Red, White, and True-Blooded American

The Best MJ of them All

The fight for great music lost a powerful ally Wednesday afternoon as Michael Jackson was confirmed dead in Los Angeles. Each person will have to deal with their grief in their own way, and while there were certainly aspects of MJ's life that are better left forgotten, I prefer to remember him for what he gave to the world. All MJ's appear to have a larger than life impact on the world (Michael Jordan in basketball, Michael J. in Back to the Future) but Michael Jackson superseded them all. His Thriller album went platinum 28 times (N.Y. Times), he went from child star to the greatest singer/songwriter/producer the world has ever known. Some people will refuse to acknowledge the impact that MJ's work had on music and the world, but there is a reason why his songs are instantly recognizable to the very young and the very old, he truly was the king of pop, rock and soul, and he was a wise and benevolent king while the reign lasted.

The New York times said this morning that "As with Elvis Presley or the Beatles, it is impossible to calculate the full effect Mr. Jackson had on the world of music." I have devised a simple formula to calculate just that, you add the effect that both Elvis and the Beatles had together, then you double it, and then you times it by infinity, his impact is immeasurable and will continue to influence people for years to come. Whether you loved Michael, hated him, or were ambivalent let us all take a moment of silence to don a single glove and remember him for what he did best, make the world better through music.

Yosemite, Yo

A week or so ago, my roommates were lucky enough to get a reservation at Yosemite, so we decided to do a little camping and hike the infamous Half Dome hike. It was really all it was cracked up to be. It was not too difficult for me, and although my knees were a little sore the next I mostly felt OK, it really was a pretty intense hike, but one I would recommend to whoever was interested in listening to me. I think it ended up being about 18 miles round trip, but you climb about five thousand feet in that distance. It was a really incredible hike, with some really gorgeous scenery. The only real downside was that it really hailed on us at the top and rained for about five hours on and off at the end, so we were wet and not able to climb the cables at the end. Other than that, great hike and I am excited to go again and finish it all the way. Pictures below.

This is one of two major waterfalls, there are stairs cut out of the rock to climb which are pretty intense, so much mist you get a little wet, but very cool.



You can see some of that climb below us, great view though.
If you want to beat the wet and still look cool, just rock the trash bags, it's all about the confidence. You can see that my roommate Shaun (white cap) is a little out of it, I was a little worried that he was not gonna make it but he soldiered on and finished the hike.
This is the part that we did not go up, you can see the trail with the cables snaking up the mountain. I kinda still wanted to do it, but my roommates talked me out of it. Turns out someone actually slipped and fell to their death right after we hiked down. There have only ever been 4 fatalities on this climb, three in 2007 and the one when we were there. It was pretty sad, you have just got to be really careful and I am glad that my roommates talked some sense to me.