Where are Sue and Mike?

Ixtapa Bay Beach Fun

2012-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Between my broken Spanish and his broken
English we finally communicated the commands -
when I was supposed to pull the release to
lower the parasail for landing.

Our motto: "It's not a real vacation
unless you sign a waiver!!"

Massages on the beach are available
for $20 an hour!!

They're a little sandy - kind of like getting
massaged and exfoliated at the same time

Charming Ixtapa, Mexico

2012-01-30T16:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome flowers on the bed - a sweet
Mexican tradition

Our waiter snapped this photo of us trying
to remember when we were last in Ixtapa
and Zihuatanejo - about 5 years ago?

Morning dip in the pool on our balcony -
we had forgotten just how pretty Mexico is,
especially in January with highs of 85 degrees.

Sunset sail along the rocky islands...

Sand hazards in Scottsdale, AZ

2012-01-28T17:28:00.000-08:00

Play it where it lays?

Yay - got out of the sand trap with one stroke!

Even if you're in the sand, you
have to admit the azure blue sky
and the cactus are beautiful!

Javelinas look like wild pigs, but are actually
closer related to the hippo. In Arizona, they
are hunted in winter months. Run, RUN!!!

2012-01-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

Seattle's EMP - Experience Music Project
is based at the Space Needle. It's a jam
thru NW music history (Hendrix, Nirvana,
Heart, Foo Fighters) and a great party space!

One of 5 stages for NY eve - we had 2 DJs, 2 live
bands, and a comedy stage. About an hour later,
the dance floor was elbow to elbow.

Noisemakers: Mark, Sarah, Sue, Jessica, Anthony
and Mike (with the iPhone countdown)

Eight minutes of spectacular fireworks -
and we were right underneath it!

Since cabs were nowhere in sight
at 1:30am, we ended up walking
over a mile before Sarah rescued us
with a car. Mike earned his first
husband points of the year by giving
me his shoes, and walking in his
socks. Chivalry lives!

Christmas in Seattle

2011-12-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

The tea table is set - complete with goodie bags,
filled with battery operated earrings and marzipan.

Great grandma Bev with the
newest descendant, Ethan.

The Rockettes have nuthin' on us, or our
attempt to burn off 1/100th of the tea calories
we just consumed.

Christmas Eve by the fire - Mark & Sarah.

Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas

2011-12-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Mike spent a good chunk of December analyzing historical market data back to 1965 - spreadsheet models galore.

Mike's sister Kathy and I took the opportunity
to check out Red Rock Canyon Park.

This is only 25 minutes from the Strip!

Sometimes we couldn't figure out the path -
and then one would appear. Just like real life.

Golfing in San Diego

2011-12-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

Check out brother Mike's reaction to the course!

Cyndi demonstrating her stand-in-the-golf-cart trick!

My coach for the day, giving me advice.
Watch your head, Mike...

Lake Tahoe in Decembrrrrrrr

2011-12-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

The discussion: "Look that pier is falling down."
"Let's sit on it and take a picture!" "Are you
serious?"

Mike and Dan talking business in a
a pretty nice looking office :)

Top of Eagle Point - short, steep hike, A+ view

Figgy Pudding in Seattle

2011-12-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

Downtown Seattle closed to traffic for the annual
Figgy Pudding caroling competition, to raise
money for the Pike Place Market Senior Center.
Songs both religious and secular (imagine
"Dreamliner flight" instead of 5 golden rings)...

It's not only about the singing - awards are given
for best choral performance, most original,
people's choice, and the coveted "Figlanthropy"
award to the group that raises the most $$$.

Nieces Megan and Jessica braved the chill,
cheering on the competitors.

Looks like this Florida Santa
took a wrong turn and ended
up on Seattle gingerbread!

Pike Place Market aglow with holiday
strawberries, carrots and pears. Healthy Holidays!

Luminous Art Exhibit in Seattle

2011-12-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

Buddha, as interpreted by Japan, China and
Thailand. Each culture has its own version,
but all have elongated earlobes, to show how
Buddha left his privileged life behind in the 6th
century, no longer wearing the heavy earrings
of the royal family. Buddha, meaning
"Enlightened One", directed his followers
to create no images of him. The first images
didn't appear until just before the birth of Christ.

My mom loved this exhibit, having spent
years in Japan and China while my grandfather
was a Post Engineer in the military. My parents
were married in Yokahama, Japan. She taught
all her kids how to expertly use chopsticks -
the test was to pick up a single grain of rice!

Seated Indra, a Hindu god of wars,
storms and rainfall - from 13th century Nepal.
Hinduism and Buddhism are similar,
both believe in reincarnation,
and meditation as a path to enlightenment.

Thanksgiving in St. Louis

2011-12-16T17:21:00.000-08:00

Chef Jeff, the turkey expert.
Justin, quality control.

Jenny buttering up the 72 rolls (yup!) Justin brought.

Sophia and daddy Jeff - peas in a pod.

Apples to Apples, sudden death - serious crowd.

How 'bout them Cowboys!!

The iPad was a hit - it's nice to make a cake
with green icing without the cleanup!

Jeeping in Tahoe

2011-12-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

A few miles into the 45 mile Rubicon trail, Mike
and Dan had to park the Razor ATV because of
a traffic jam! 4 cars were backed up...

Mike & Dan to the rescue!!

Check out how much narrower Dan's ATV
is than the jeeps. Able to squeeze through
majestic pines and over the boulders.

Lake Tahoe Guy Trip

2011-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

Men with knives and fire - at the kitchen in Tahoe.

Mike and brother Dan taking in the view of
Emerald Bay about halfway into the 12
mile kayaking trip.

Miller time! Dan, Mike and Tim after a day's
kayaking and paddling.

Rafting the Rogue River

2011-11-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

The guys (Mike, Dan, David and Andy) rafted 45 miles west, starting at Grants Pass, OR. Despite a sketchy weather forecast, they reportedly stayed dry for 3 days. Tricky river navigation and gourmet meals were courtesy of David Russell (trauma surgeon and ex-professional river rafter par excellence). And his buddy Andy, who did yeoman's paddling on the trailing raft with all the gear and food. Good thing they had that campfire so they didn't realize how bad they smelled :P

Perusing the Palace at Versailles

2011-11-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

The French have vehemently
protested these modern iron
arcs recently added to Versailles.
Akin to putting a lip peircing
on the Mona Lisa.

Famously vain, King Louis XIV
had this painting done when he was
in his portly 50's, but with 25 year old
female ballet dancer legs. In his day,
heels were worn only by men, not women.

The shimmering Hall of Mirrors (this is only
HALF of the room!), which Louis
XIV built not just for opulence, but to showcase
French expertise in the mirror industry in
hopes of spurring exports.

We're pretty sure they groom this with manicure scissors.
Not a blade of grass out of place.

This would make a great
reality series: Man vs. Doily.

Move through the Louvre

2011-11-20T22:13:00.000-08:00

A typical hallway in the Louvre -
the sheer volume of artwork is overwhelming.
We spent 8 hours just hitting the highlights.

Da Vinci's masterpiece, Mona Lisa smiling
from afar (yes, we did make it to the front row
after a while). We had a brief bomb scare in
this room, everyone was ushered out in brusque French.

Winged Victory, the 2nd
century marble sculpture
of the Greek goddess, Nike.
We kept getting lost and
ended up at her intersection
about 6 times. She could
have shown us which way
to go, but hey - no arms.

Mike taking in the perfect
proportions of the Venus
de Milo. She's 6' 8" tall!

Remember the DaVinci Code?
I have my hand on the Holy Grail.

Walking up the Eiffel Tower

2011-11-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

Whew! The Eiffel Tower is 108 stories tall,
we walked up the first 38 stories to the 2nd level,
as far as you can go before taking the elevator.

A well earned kiss and glass of Champagne at
the top! The Eiffel Tower is the most visited
paid attraction in the world.

View from our dinner at Les Ombres...better to see the Eiffel Tower while you're eating than eat IN it! Built in 1889 for the World's Fair, the tower was supposed to be torn down within 20 years. The public absolutely hated it, but it slowly won the hearts of Parisians, and became quite handy for communications - several radio and TV towers beam from the top.
At the time, it was the tallest structure in the world. It's still the tallest in Paris, visible from
all over the city thanks to height restrictions on buildings.

Food in Paris

2011-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

Parisians REALLY care about their food. It was
consistently the best, of any city we've been in.

French onion soup :)

Real Roquefort cheese comes from southern
France. Like Champagne, only the cheese from
that region is allowed by law to actually bear that
name. It was tangy, crumbly and
better than any blue cheese we've ever had!

Escargot from the Trocadero Market, loaded up
with butter, garlic and herbs, ready to GO!
This is Parisian "fast food".

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

2011-11-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

No less than 12 streets meet
at the Arc de Triomphe -
Parisians pride themselves
on NOT braking as they
navigate the 8 lane roundabout.

One of the best views of the Eiffel Tower is
from the top of the Arc de Triomphe - 50
meters above ground level.

Exactly 284 steps to climb to the top -
you're so dizzy, and then you watch cars
going around you in a circle!

Angels and Demons at Notre Dame, Paris

2011-11-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Notre Dame, French for Our Lady - one of the
first buildings constructed using flying
buttresses, or arched exterior supports.
Construction began in 1163.

Gothic sculptures on the exterior

Chilling - something you'd never see
in a church today.

Famous gargoyles are water spouts, keeping rain
away from cathedral walls. Remember the novel
"Hunchback of Notre Dame"? The character of
Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer, drew
attention to the cathedral, and its magnificent
architecture. Published in 1831, it probably
saved the cathedral. In an oddly gothic way.

Leaning over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

2011-10-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

The chasm is a slash in the earth 5,604 ft. long.
The falls were low in October, offering a view
of the 354 ft. drop down from the edge. Higher
and wider than Niagra, but Niagra has more flow.

Dancing like the Zimbabwe natives - more or less!

Note the umbrella - I had to use it several times
when the mist from the waterfall rose up and
then dumped down on us - Victoria Falls makes
its own weather! Mosi-Oa-Tunya means
the "smoke that thunders".

David Livingstone was the first European to view
the falls, and named them for his queen.

Breathing in the therapeutic ozone.

We'll kayak on our next
trip there. It is cool to
have a sense of scale for
the falls, isn't it?

Whoa! This is TOO close!!!

2011-10-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing cowardly about this lion!

Getting a little close for comfort in Botswana

2011-10-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

This bull elephant was busy munching during tea.

A tender hyena moment, mama and her cub.

Lunchtime for cheetah - impala today.

On the Zambezi river between Botswana and
Zambia. Crocs in the water, elephants
on the edge of the river.

2011-10-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Magnificent tusks - realize
that one whip of that head
could be deadly.

The trunks are heavy - about 15 lbs. each.

A wet kiss on one side from
the elephant and a slobber
on the other side from Mike.

African Elephants in Botswana

2011-10-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

We had a rare opportunity in Botswana to hang
with semi-habituated wild elephants for the day.
We'd NEVER been this close...these were not
telephoto lens shots! Here's a closeup of the
trunk, a fusion of the nose and upper lip.

Elephant tusks - actually overgrown incisors.
Did you know elephants are right or left tusked?
One is usually more worn than the other.

The eyelashes were so incredible. The skin
is thick, but so sensitive they can feel a fly land.

Elephant tail. Now THAT is a flyswatter!