.the gpb kids.

Japanese Maple in Autumn

Posted by Mike - October 29, 2008 at 10:10:11 am

I miss visiting Portland with Jules. Maybe we should take a trip soon.

Wrapped up

Posted by Mike - September 18, 2008 at 08:09:03 pm

The Great Outdoors

Posted by Mike - July 26, 2008 at 09:07:21 pm

Went with the Cho siblings today to Muir Woods and Stinson Beach. The redwoods were as grand as ever, except one which fell recently. It was a big one too. It fell over one of the trails near the entrance so I wonder what they’re going to do with it.

We were pretty touristy and took lots of pictures of the hollowed out redwoods that you can stand in. After the redwoods we traveled north to the Hog Island Oyster Farm where we picked up 50 fresh oysters of various sizes. With seafood in tow we traveled back down to Stinson Beach and spent the rest of the afternoon scarfing down grilled oysters, corn, veggies, potatoes and cheesecake.

After the eats we bore witness to the most people I’ve ever seen on Stinson Beach. But… lame-o me didn’t take a picture of the masses. So this crazy Cho picture will have to suffice.

After all of that we drove back to Oakland, freshened up, and then went out to Mangia Bene out in Martinez for some delicious eats. Now I think it’s time for a nap.

Chez Panisse

Posted by Mike - July 2, 2008 at 08:07:55 am

Jules decided to go to Chez Panisse for my birthday yesterday. It was delicious! Here are some pictures:

Yosemite With the Lindow Lab

Posted by Mike - June 2, 2008 at 08:06:07 pm

Jules invited me to go with her lab to Yosemite again over the weekend. I have mixed feelings about Yosemite. On one hand it is such a touristy place full of people, cars, pavement and garbage that you don’t feel like you’re really enjoying nature. On the other hand Yosemite Valley is such an amazing, awe-inspiring place that you can overlook the hordes of people.

The more popular trails to destinations like Yosemite Falls and Half Dome are lined with people, but on this trip Professor Lindow took us to Taft Point and Sentinel Dome which had very few people. For those of you who don’t like to hike very far, both trails are only 1.1 miles from the parking lot. The picture with this post is of Taft Point. From the edge there is a wonderful view the valley including Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. Apparently there’s a pretty good view if you look straight down too, but I didn’t get that close enough to the edge to look over. It made me queasy just seeing other people do it. It pretty much drops off to the valley floor.

Hiking around Yosemite made me want to take an extended backpacking trip. I’ve pretty much decided on going back to Desolation Wilderness. I went there for a trip once as a Boy Scout and I think about due for another one. I’m thinking late July or August. I can get Jules ready by then right?

Killing Hour HDR

Posted by Mike - March 29, 2008 at 12:03:35 pm

I was doing some experimenting with HDR photography yesterday and took this picture at around 11pm. Not the best time to tote around a $500 camera in Oakland. >_>

Click it for a larger version.

Flower Power

Posted by Mike - March 26, 2008 at 01:03:04 pm

I went to Point Reyes National Seashore with my mom yesterday and took a bunch of pictures. Here are some of the wildflower ones.

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather.

Yip Yips at Wondercon 2008

Posted by Mike - February 25, 2008 at 08:02:00 am

Stan invited me to go to Wondercon with him this year in one of his Yip Yip costumes. The first thing we did was go the costume contest Saturday night where we did a short skit similar to the telephone one seen on Sesame Street. We didn’t have anyone filming for us, but maybe I can find us on Youtube later. It was pretty simple, we didn’t have any audio clip to give to the coordinators so we just yipped loudly. But we got a pretty amazing reaction from the audience. I couldn’t really see because I took my glasses off and the lights are shining toward you on stage, but they sounded pretty happy. I’m surprised they could even hear us actually. After our skit, we stumbled off stage (I almost missed the stairs). At the end of the night, the awards were announced and wouldn’t you know it, Stan and I got “Best Humorous.” He has the trophy on his desk at work. Maybe I can get him to take a picture of it.

On Sunday we went back for a couple of hours and walked the floor in costume for a short period. I have to say that the reaction people have toward the costumes is addictive. Everybody at least smiles when they see us and a lot of people want to take pictures with us. At sound points we would have a little group surrounding us with cameras. A few people has us pose in their booths and one website “interviewed” us. Most of the people knew who we were. I was surprised that both adults and children recognized us. Some, however, thought Stan (in blue) was the cookie monster.

The whole thing was very fun and addicting. If Jules and I didn’t have to make it back for a Joshua Bell concert I’m sure we would have walked the floor for a couple more hours. Yip yip yip.

Update: Stan posted the pictures at flickr. And here’s a video someone took of us backstage.

Nice Ride

Posted by Mike - February 11, 2008 at 02:02:32 pm

I saw this on Digg today and thought it was pretty funny.

I wonder if he does his own bike work.

The Bright Side

Posted by Mike - January 22, 2008 at 11:01:02 pm

I told my mom over the weekend that starting very soon I won’t be working in the city anymore. I’m going to triple my commute time and start working in the South Bay. So she asked if I knew the Monty Python song “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.” I said it seemed familiar. Yesterday I went out and saw her again. This time she had the Monty Python album for me.

She just had her 60th birthday last week on Monday. It’s not something I think about very often, how old my mom is. But when I do it’s very strange for me. Sixty seems so old in my head but when I look at her I see a peppy little lady. She made me a sandwich when I was home. I miss her sandwiches.

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