Showing Some Class with the Lions

I see myself as your average guy who likes to do "manly things" like hiking, camping, fishing, and talking about lawns over a cold beer with the neighbors. Every once in awhile though, you've got to clean yourself up, put on a nice shirt, and go do something with some class. In this case it was taking the family (sans the littlest one) to a Broadway production of The Lion King, which was showing here in town (and I had to get tickets for almost 8 months ago).

Fathers Day

Spent a great Fathers Day hiking in the mountains and fishing with the family. It was a nice day and I had one of those "this is what it's all about moments".

Family Camping in Yosemite

A couple of weeks ago (I know, I'm a slow blogger) the family and I did some car camping in Yosemite Valley. Was kind of a strange trip, even from the beginning. Pulling in to gas up at my usual last stop before the valley at Crane Flat, there was a dusting of snow all over. Snow in June! Crazy.

Bye Bye Boots!

I tried to make it work. Alternating socks, laced up tight, laced up loosely, and everything in-between, but I've officially made the decision that I'm breaking up with my boots. My heels wanted me to burn them, but I think instead I'll take advantage of REI's kick butt 100% satisfaction guarantee return policy.

Impressions of San Francisco

My company sent me to San Francisco for two days of training connected to the big JavaOne Conference going on all this week. I won't bore you with the details of Software Engineering training, but I did want to share some photos from my wandering in-between sessions.

Chaos

"It turns out that an eerie type of chaos can lurk just behind a facade of order - and yet, deep inside the chaos lurks an even eerier type of order." Douglas Hofstadter

Back on the Trail

Took a short hike out to camp at Island Lake up in the Sierras a little over an hour from where I live. It's amazingly beautiful up there, especially with all the snow right now, and I was glad to get in before it got too over-run with people.

It's that time of year

I always look forward to my camping trips this time of year. I've been limited to car camping for quite some time, but here I am all packed up for my second backpacking trip of the season. This one is much more mellow, just a quick over night'r up to a small alpine lake called Penner Lake. Sounds like there is still quite a bit of snow up there, and the road in to the trail-head is still closed. The ranger seemed to think I can get at least half way down the last 2 and a half mile dirt road turnoff, so I'm figuring I'll leave my truck somewhere along there and hike in.

Happy Mothers Day

Wishing the happiest of days to all good mothers out there!

Eyes That Pop

One of the most striking elements you can add to a portrait is eyes that really pop. The problem is, nowadays people get lazy and try to do this too much in Photoshop, rather than with the camera using proper light. So my tip of the day is how to find that light.