I'm going to be an Uncle

My brother is going to be a father... and Karen and I couldn't be more excited. Its nothing that anyone had on their radar but I can't wait. I love my nephews and my niece on Karen's side of things but this is a little different. With any luck, Jerry will have a boy to carry on the legacy, we will be expecting a lot from the little guy...

Duncan Sheik and Vienna Teng

I know, I know - another concert? Well, yeah. I am a sucker for a live performance, especially when I can see an artist in a small venue like The Coach House or The Galaxy Theater. So, I wish I would have had my camera because I got to meet Vienna and get her autograph while I was there. Karen wasn't able to make it as her flight was delayed from Chicago, both at Chicago and Las Vegas. So I took my niece to her first adult, small club venue. I think she had a good time though with the onset of teenager-ism I can't tell anymore. Were we so angst when we were young?

The show was awesome, Vienna is a great performer. With the release of her new album we were treated to new material as well as some favorites from the past. Duncan, on the other hand, had a go at it. His guitars were tuned a half step down from where they should be and the poor guy managed to forget the lyrics to one of his new songs. He managed to get through the night with humor and wit and in spite of the issues he was having it was a great show. On a personal note I must say that his mixing board tech had the whole thing dialed in. The sound was some of the best, balanced mix that I have ever heard at a small venue.

If you're in the market for new music, both Vienna and Duncan have new albums out. I would recommend them both whole heartedly...

First week back...

Am I really home again? Though we're jet lagged and still wondering why we came back home we're both happy to be back. We had begun to miss some of the comforts of home and of course we had missed our peanut. Its always nice to come home and see how much your dog has missed you... I'm sure kids are a whole different experience but in most cases they're with you so its a little different, right? In any case, Karen is already off to Chicago to attend CHA 2006 Summer. I wish I could join her, we've never been to Chicago before but with things being the way they are at work I don't have the luxury of taking another 2 days off. I will miss her, but part of me is glad that I'm not getting on a plane. So, I'm flying solo this weekend - so far the plans include some bike rides, some movies and some extra time at the dojo. I'm tired already... Anyone have a sure fire cure for jet lag? Anyone?

The other Paradise

For those of you who haven't been to Tahiti, you are missing out on Paradise. Now Hawaii still holds a special place in my heart but Tahiti is like that undiscovered stretch of beach on a postcard picture island. I would venture to say that when you're looking at some incredible island wallpaper on your computer at work you're looking at a Tahitian island.



Karen and I spent 10 days in the Tahitian Islands - Papeete, Roratunga, Huahine, Moorea, Bora Bora and Raiatea. We spent most of our time in the water either diving or snorkeling and in between those activities we took tours of the islands, ate drank and made merry. The diving we took part in was the best diving we've ever done so far, it even beat out our trip to the British Virgin Islands for sea life. It was like swimming in an aquarium full of exotic fish, with some larger denizens thrown in for good measure. Between the puffer fish, sharks, manta rays, barracudas and sea turtles we didn't know where to look. On a trip like this you really wish you had better photographic equipment... Maybe I'll have to put that on my list for next time.



Our trip was so much fun, we couldn't believe how fast the time went. Before we knew it we had to go back home and face the harsh reality of work. I could definitely see why so many of our tour guides stayed when they visited the islands many years before. Needless to say, I had such a great time that when I got back home I had forgotten what my PIN number is on my debit card...



I would say that the trip would have been perfect had it not been as expensive as it was. Tahiti is still one of the most expensive island getaways you can go to - that and you need to practice up on your French. Though I'm extremely rusty I managed to muddle through dinners and ordering drinks. If you get a chance and like different beers give Kwak or Hinano a try - they are very light and very tasty. So, there it is 10 days, 8 hour flight, 1400 pictures - a great vacation and definitely worth not having time off at work until Christmas. If you ever get a chance to head over there, do it. You won't regret it.

For the sake of the call

For once in a long while we found ourselves doing something that an SDA would consider worth doing on a Friday night. And even then, some SDAs might not approve of a raucous concert on an evening typically filled with "vespers", but you can't please 'em all... Last night we attended Steven Curtis Chapman's only Orange County appearance on his current tour and we had a blast. Yes, there are some things that have stuck with me all these years since my first marriage and the music that Sherry brought into my life is one of them. Though I admit I don't like all Christian music I do appreciate talent no matter what the genre - and in my book Steven has a gift and a true message.



Of course, going to these types of things with Karen, and my current self for that matter, is an interesting experience to say the least. We managed to strike up conversations with some of the local christians in attendance and I wasn't surprised by some of the things I heard. Where else are you going to hear someone say "she's been saved for 3 years, but her husband isn't...", all with a look like someone who got caught cheating on his taxes or getting a DUI. Though I have the background in the whole thing and go toe-to-toe with most of 'em on theology and the other prerequisites I sometimes feel that I'm now an outsider looking in. I don't think I'm missing much and in spite of a pompous overtone I'm sure that most of christians are pretty harmless. I just find it funny and sometimes sad - Karen just continues to point out that these are some of the reasons she doesn't have the least bit of interest in joining the secret coven and getting the decoder ring.



Steven put on an incredible show - played for about two hours and managed to cover all his greatest hits with an energy that is uncanny. I think the funniest part of the whole thing was when the girl next to us commented about remembering his music from 15 years ago and when we chimed in that we remembered it too, she said "yeah, like in high school"... Karen and I couldn't stop laughing. Needless to say we definitely felt our age.



So, for now we are on a two week hiatus. So this will be the only entry for a while, unless of course I can find a high speed internet connection in Tahiti... Keep the faith my friends and have a wonderful Independence day weekend.

Namaste...