Bike Ride Saturday 6.6.9. 22 miles

I finally made it to the start of this bike path, which has been my goal for the past few weeks. That it’s just under 10 miles from home and it took this much effort to reach is really pathetic. Although there is a stiff, steady wind coming in off the ocean that I’m battling almost the entire way out. Add to that a slight, but constant uphill grade and it’s kind of a challenge. I followed this path for about a mile along the train tracks. Then it ends and the bike route splits; you can stay to the right towards La Jolla Colony or go left into La Jolla Shores towards the ocean. But I was out of breath and still needed to get back home, so I turned around and headed back. Going downhill with the wind was a fun reward and a such a relief.

On the way home I took an extended break in Mission Bay Park watching everyone having fun in and along the water.

While still trying to catch my breath after walking up Presidio Hill I found this view at the end of a dead-end street. A house at the end of the street had a low wall I stood on to take the picture. I was hoping they didn’t mind too much. The view is looking southwest over San Diego Bay to the north island of Coronado and the open ocean beyond that. To the right is Point Loma. And on the horizon just left of center, very faint, is an island that, according to Google Earth, is about 21 miles away.

New Roommates Frank & Gypsy

Early in March Keith decided that he really missed Puget Sound and the forests and the rain in the Seattle area where he grew up. And he wants to be able to buy a few acres and build a house, which is much easier there than in San Deigo. So the end of April he packed up his stuff and his bird, Nikko, and his motorcycle and headed north.

May 1st Frank and Gypsy moved in. Frank and I had been acquaintances for a little while. I haven't lived with a dog since I was a little guy and I'm really enjoying it. She's really sweet, mostly well-behaved, and very smart. I've taken her for walks a few times and that's lots of fun.

Faces in the Crowd

June 2009: National Gay Pride Month

First Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, then President Barack O’Bama proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

Via Joe.My.God.

Quote: Churchill

“Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing...after having exhausted all other possibilities.”

– Winston Churchill

Action on the Field

Some shots of the action on the field at Friday Night’s Padrés’ game. I’m pretty sure the white blur in the 3rd picture, about 5 feet in front of the batter, is the ball. I’m not sure if it’s coming in or on its way out. Most of the pitches throughtout the game were 85 -95 mph.

Bicycling Mission Bay Park

A panoramic view of the northeast corner of Mission Bay. A minute after I took these pictures (there are 4 shots merged together) there were half a dozen wave runners zooming around on the water.
My 2nd favorite view from Mission Hills. This is across the street from Presidio Park.

My trusty steed.

This morning I rode 18.4 miles on my bicycle through Mission Hills, down Presidio Hill, across the SD River to Mission Bay Park. At the north end of the park I rode along a paved bike trail that goes along one of the creeks feeding into the bay. When that ended I followed bike trail signs on a couple side surface streets. My goal was a paved bike trail going through a nice, shaded canyon I'd seen from the train. But after 9.2 miles I was out of breath and tired and still had to get home so I turned around and headed back.

Friday Night Baseball Game

A client of Bruno’s passed along some free tickes to a Padrés baseball game so I got to see Petco Park from the inside. Even though I’m not a baseball fan it was a very fun evening. They do a good job of getting the crowd involved and keeping us entertained. The structure itself is very well-designed and they used lots of natural stone, stucco, and terazzo finishes to make it a beautiful building to walk through. I love that they incorporated an existing building into the stadium and that the area behind center field is free and a good spot for little kids to run around during the game. At the end of the game they shoot off an impressive fireworks show from there and bring all the people that were sitting there during the game onto the field.

Our seats were about half-way up looking right down the line from 1st to 2nd base in an area where they serve food and beverages right to your seat. But I got the impression that all the seats had good views and none of them were too far from the field. The staff were all really nice and helpful and seemed to be having fun themselves. I’ll post more pictures of the crowd and the action on the field later. Anyone with an extra ticket let me know. I’m in!

Rollerblading Mission Bay from Crown Point

After bicycling 17.5 miles yesterday for the first time in a long time, I continued my efforts to overdo it this weekend by rollerblading around half of Mission Bay in a loop that, according to Google Earth, is about 10 miles. I started at Crown Point, headed west into the wind, crossed over to Mission Beach, went south along the beach to the Channel, and went back north along the Bay. A couple years ago I did this loop almost weekly but I haven't done it much since and half way around my legs were ready to quit, so I stopped a couple of times and took these pictures.

Today is International Day Against Homophobia 2009

Thanks to Joe.My.God.

Quote: Post Secret

You are a little part of everyone, and everyone is a little part of you- our humanity depends on yours.

- Lindsay

Quote: Post Secret

Leap, and the net will appear.

- John Burroughs

Night View from Mission Hills

Thursday night after Kicker’s I grabbed my camera and tripod and headed for my favorite view point overlooking Mission Bay. Gypsy came along to be my assistant.

For the photos from Peter’s birthday last night, which were taken in low light without flash, I took almost all of the color out of them and liked the results so much that I decided to try it with this shot. There’s still a little color in there, but not much.

Happy Birthday Peter!

Battling Friday night traffic and parking challenges was so worth it to meet some of my favorite people at Buca di Beppo’s for Lasagne and Chocolate Cake to celebrate Peter’s birthday

New Job

I’m three weeks into a new job at Invitrogen, a biotech firm in Carlsbad. Actually, Invitrogen just merged with Applied Biosystems and the new company is Life Technologies. Keith has been working there for several months and when one of the data entry people left he ushered my résumé into the right hands.

I’m really enjoying working for a dynamic company in a leading edge industry. They’re doing quite well despite this economy. The interior of the building is well-designed and they seem to have most of the latest technology. Everyone there is very smart and really nice. It’s a bit of a commute, but I’m going the opposite direction of the worst traffic and it’s a nice drive with views of the ocean and mountains off in the distance.

My friend Lisa also works there and we’re caught off guard when we run into each other because we’re not used to seeing each other at work.

Rollerskate dancing lessons

Seagulls Surfing the Wind

While we were rollerblading Sunday the wind was really strong coming in off the ocean and the seagulls seemed to be surfing the breeze or pretending to be kites.

Rollerblading Mission Bay Park

Christian, Bruno, Randall, and Andreas.

I try to be the guy with the camera so I don’t actually get in the picture, but sometimes they catch me.

Last night at Kicker’s Christian and Randall were talking about going rollerblading today and asked me if I wanted to go. Bruno was there so I asked him if we wanted to join us. So today, about 12:30 I put the top down and headed over to pick up Bruno by the Park. After picking up Christian in University Heights we drove to Mission Bay Park along the 5 to meet Andreas and Randall. Bruno braved the back seat of the convertible with the top down at highway speeds by holding onto his hat and leaning forward to hear us. With the windows up it's really nice in the front seat but the back is a little noisy and windy.

It was a beautiful day here in San Diego, if a bit windy by the ocean. After a cool, cloudy April lots of people were out enjoying the sun. Along the way we ran into Tim and Jae also out on rollerblades with their Jack Russell Terrier mix puppy.

Andreas has been really sick with mono for a couple weeks so he didn't rollerblade but he did enjoy being out in the warm sun. After we’d gone clear over to Sea World and back Christian was hungry so the three of us drove into Hillcrest for burritos in a bowl at Chipotlé. What a great day and an overall terrific weekend!

Solana Beach Sunset