Juggling

Yes, Internet I married a juggling man. Wait. That might be a bad thing, now that I think about it. Oh well, his aura is a nice shade of yellow as he juggles fruits of orange and green.

Moves Like Jagger Maroon 5 Ft Christina Aguilera

"Have you seen the video for, "Moves Like Jagger?" asks Hubby, playing the video. "Christina Aguilera is in it."

"Isn't that the song Adam Levine (Maroon 5) sang on Saturday Night Live awhile back?" I ask.

"Oh, I LIKE it," I say. "I like what Adam Levine is wearing. I like the song, too."

Internet, I've never seen a tattoo shirt like Adam Levine's before. That's a shirt, right? It certainly looks like he's wearing a tight shirt.

"Yeah, Christina Aguilera is wearing a really big hat," says Hubby, disappointed.

"The video is only half way through, who knows, maybe she'll take it off," I say.

"No, she doesn't," says Hubby, sadly.

Here's the Saturday Night Live version.

Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1

The other night the Huz and I went to see Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 1!

I loved it!

The Huz not so much.

"The beginning (wedding) was sooooooooooooo slooooooooooow," complains the Huz.

The movie itself teeter totters between a B- and a B+. Sure, the Vampires' make up is over done, especially compared to Bella's au natural look. The acting is anything but great. The romance is over the top and makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Yes, it's ridiculous that Jacob rips off his shirt showing off his hot body just as the movie begins.

But the story of Twilight Breaking Dawn, is awesome for several reasons. One, it's not a typical fairy tale with a happy ending. Bella doesn't get married and live happily ever after. Instead, Bella gets married, has a horrible pregnancy, and in the end she turns into a monster.

There's a lot of truth in that, Internet.

Second, Bella finally claims her power, doing what she wants instead of what Edward and Jacob tell her to do. Amazingly, Jake and Edward continue to love Bella even when she's amazing, powerful, in charge, bossy, grouchy, feeling ill and not looking her best.

In other words, they accept Bella even when she is a real woman.


Go Bella!

Don't worry guys, Edward and Jacob don't sacrifice any of their monsterliness in the process of yielding to Bella's power. Breaking Dawn solidifies the charismatic alliance between Bella, Edward and Jacob, which is built on trust, respect, and love.

Lastly, Jacob finally imprints on SOMEONE, and finds his soul mate. What a relief that is. And who deserves it more than Jacob? Well, we all deserve to find our soul mate, the same amount, but still.


While I adore the Twilight novels, the Twilight movies are campy, and overly dramatic causing the audience to burst out into laughter at the movie's most dramatic moments. And this is where the movie magic begins.

Watching any of the Twilight movies with an audience is like seeing it with hundreds of your best, drunk friends. There are no filters. And there's plenty of witty, indulgent and inappropriate commentary at the movies most serious moments.

Twilight Breaking Dawn, is worth watching because what the movie lacks, the audience more than makes up for in entertainment. The Twilight movies could be this generation's Rocky Horror Picture Show. As soon as viewers start showing up in costume and breaking into song, that is.

The Muppets

Last night we took the boys to see, "The Muppets," movie. Internet, normally, I don't take the boys to see children's movies in the theater, ever since the whole lice debacle, anyways. It's too risky.

But the Muppets are so inspiring, I broke my own rule. Hopefully, I won't itch to regret it.

"Honey, can you check my hair?" I ask scratching my scalp. "My hair feels itchy."

And now back to our regularly scheduled movie review of "The Muppets."

Anywho, "The Muppets," movie was entertaining for both kids and adults. Big people will especially appreciate all the 80s jokes and music. I did, anyways. Though I have to admit I was a bit worried The Muppets was going to be a dud for the first twenty minutes of the film.

The main problem with the beginning of The Muppets is that it had only one Muppet with far too many campy, sappy, singing, dancing humans. That's just the wrong human to Muppet ratio in a film titled, "The Muppets."

Also, normally I love Amy Adams, but neither she nor Jason Segal had any chemistry in this movie. Together or apart, in my opinion. Maybe because they were trying to HARD to be cute and/or funny like Muppets, but they were NOT.

As "The Muppets," progressed the movie picked up all the usual Muppets along the way, including Gonzo, Animal, Fozzie Bear, Kermit the Frog, Ms. Piggy, Beaker and many, many more. There were also cameo appearances by David Grohl (Foo Fighters), Selena Gomez, Jack Black and other Hollywood stars.

The soundtrack to, "The Muppets," was fun, including Muppet classics, "Rainbow Connection," and "Mah Na Mah Na." Though there were a few songs, sung by humans, that made me wish I had packed my earplugs, such as "Am I A Man Or A Muppet," and a few others not worth mentioning.

The boys loved, "The Muppets," though they would have preferred more scenes with the Swedish Chef, and "the torekey."

"My favorite scene was when the Swedish Chef blow torched the refrigerator," says Vinny.

Overall, Vinny and I collectively give the movie a B.

Soundtracks

I am laying in bed, listening to waves pound against the sandy shore, and my Husband snore.

There's a third song playing in the house. It sounds like falling furniture, and pouncing tigers.

"Thud!" bangs something from another room.

"It's probably just the cats," I tell myself underneath the covers.

Arm Rest

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful for my amazing life and all the wonderful people I share each day with......

Are You Smarter Than A First Grader?

Scene: The Huz, aka The Perpetual Teacher, and Gio, the boy wonder are at the grocery store.

"Daddy, look Star Wars!" says Gio.

"No, I'm not buying it," says The Huz.

"Star Wars Mad Libs," reads Gio out loud. "What's that?"

"I'm not getting it for you until you know what an adjective is," says The Huz.

"I know what an adjective is!" insists Gio.

"No you don't," says The Huz.

"Yes, I do," says Gio. "It's a word that describes something."

"What?!" exclaims The Huz in surprise. "Okay, what's a noun?"

"A person, place or thing.....or an idea," answers Gio.

"What is a verb?" asks the Huz.

"It's an action word," answers Gio.

"How do you know all this?" asks The Huz.

"Mrs. McAdams, of course," answers Gio referring to his AWESOME first grade teacher.

Next up: Are you smarter than a first grader?

Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, California

Love

Simon Makes Waves

"Mommy, will you go with me to the library to get a book?" asks Gio, before bed.

"Sure," I say.

"Let's read some books back here," says Gio.

"Okay," I say.

"Don't you love it when a child reads to you?" asks Gio.

"Yes, I do," I say.

"Let's read 'Simon Makes Waves,'" says Gio.

"................My mom is a great surfer," reads Gio from the book. "She catches a lot of waves, almost as many as my Dad."

Gio pauses, "that's the other way around for you and Dad."

Monterey Peninsula

Going on a date with the Huz, no time to write. I will say today was awesome. These pictures were taken in Pacific Grove, California. The Huz and Gio just missed getting blasted by the ocean spray.

Rock Climbing

The boys got out of school a few hours early, three days this week, due to parent teacher conference.

To my relief, both conferences went well. But the boys have some things they will be working to improve. Overall, I'm am so proud of them! Good job, guys. I rewarded them, today, with some rock climbing at the beach, which I secretly benefited from, as well.

Children's Jacket

I made the mistake of bringing Gio to the mall. Taking Gio shopping is expensive.

"Mom!" says Gio. "Can I get this jacket? Pleeeeeeeeease"?

"It's ninety-five dollars," I say, showing him the price tag.

I didn't bother mentioning it was 50% off. Or that I had a 30% off coupon.

"But it has a hat!" pleads Gio. "And gloves."

Eventually we came to an agreement and got the jacket.

Bathrobe Jacket.

Surpringly, the jacket doubles as a bathrobe. With so many uses, Gio's going to wear out the jacket, before it actually fits him.

And when Gio grows out of the jacket, Luna will be happy to have it for a bed.

Skater Girl

Belinda Jasmine. Photo by One True Mind.

Great friends are fun AND inspiring!

Surf Art

Internet, this is what happens when the decorating is left up to the Huz. Though in all fairness I did decoupage the skateboard with surfing pictures.

The King of Anything

The Line Up.

Sometimes I am just not in the mood for unsolicited advice. Blame it on the tide. Or my yellow aura, which takes on an attitude of juvenile defiance when someone tells it what to do.

The other day, at the beach the BFF and I were discussing which peak we were going to surf. I brought two surfboards, and I was debating between paddling out on my 5"7', designed for smaller waves, and my 5"10', better suited for head high plus sized waves.

"Where are we surfing?" I ask. "If we surf that peak, I'm taking my bigger board out."

"Yeah, let's go to the bigger peak," says the BFF, amped.

That's when Surfer Joe, decides to offer his help. We didn't ask Prince Not Charming to come to our aid, but he must have sensed our girly helplessness.

"You should paddle out way down there, by the rocks," offers Surfer Joe. "It's an easier paddle out down there."

I ALMOST didn't say anything, but Surfer Joe should at least be able to follow the conversation if he's going to interrupt it.

"Thanks," I say. "But I've been surfing here for twenty-five years. I know where to paddle out."

Surfer Joe wasn't listening though.

"Well, it really is a lot easier if you paddle out down there," says Surfer Joe, pointing furiously towards the rocks.

Sensing the pointlessness of trying to convince Surfer Joe we "girls," knew what we were doing, we ignore him, and paddle out, me on my bigger surfboard.

I'd been sitting in the lineup for a little over five minutes, when Surfer Joe paddles up to me from the south, huffing and puffing. He was just getting out to the line up, and, of course, he felt the need to converse with me, again.

"Wow, you two paddled right out without any trouble?!" says Surfer Joe, surprised. "I guess you've done this a few times."

"Yep," I say.

And that reminds me of this song.......

Monterey Bay Sunset

Tonight, as I was running around doing laundry, cooking dinner, sweeping and mopping floors, barking out orders, "Pack your lunches," I saw something miraculous outside.

I grabbed my camera and quickly ran out the door, wishing I had enough time to drive to the beach for the spectacular sunset.

"Tick, tock, tick, tock, ding, ding, ding," buzzes the vanishing Sun's timer.

Oh well, tonight the view of the setting sun from the tree house, will have to do.

Marina State Beach Snack Bar

I don't feel bad for exposing the great surf at Marina beach these days. The place is hardly crowded, after two shark attacks, in four years in practically the same spot.

The left breaking wave, where the shark attacks occurred, looked pretty fun today, between the close out sets. A handful of brave surfers ventured into the water.

The left bowl used to be named "dredge bowls," or something like that, I think. But since the shark attacks it has a new name. Snack Bar. That's definitely a name I won't forget.

Happy Birthday Weekend Huz!

"Okay, boys we need to get home for Daddy's birthday," I say, on the playground.

"Oh it's Stefan's birthday?" asks a friend. "What did you get him?"

"A skateboard," I reply.

"A skateboard?" asks my friend puzzled. "Wait, whose birthday is it? Vinny's?"

"Stefan, the Dad," I say. "We have a ton of skateboards."

"Oh! So he collects skateboards? " she says, even more confused.

"No, he rides them," I say.

"Did you buy him a helmet, and elbow pads, too?" asks my friend, laughing.

"No, we have loads of pads, and skateboards," I say.

"Why do you need more than one skateboard?" asks my friend.

I didn't know we needed a reason to have tons of skateboards, but I gave her a few, for the fun of it.

"Well, Vinny likes to ride the longboard," I say. Then we have two surf stiks, and our regular skateboards, plus a bunch of others."

And I'm pretty sure my explanation only made sense to me.....

"But our favorite skateboard, right now, is the new one," I say. "I rode it at the skatepark today. It was soooooo fun!"

"You went to the skate park by yourself?!" asks my friend. "Without the kids?"

"No, I met some friends there," I say. "And we had the place all to ourselves."

Happy Birthday Weekend Honey! Keep skating!


Photo by One True Mind.

Monterey Peninsula Sunset

Photo by Belinda Jasmine.

Another lovely sunset thanks to the BFF, from her beach cottage.

Twilight, Breaking Dawn Part 1

The moon is full tomorrow night, but that won't stop me from howling at it right now.

"Owuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

All the howling is probably the reason I find it hard to sleep when the moon is full, or close to full.

Speaking of howling, the next Twilight movie is coming out soon isn't it?

Hold please, while I Google it, just a little bit.



And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Yes! Twilight, Breaking Dawn, Part 1 is coming out November 18th.

Yeeeeeeeew!

The fourth book in the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn, is my absolute favorite in the Edward, Bella, Jacob, triangular saga. Why?

One, there's the very surprising twist. Two,Bella finally realizes her power. Eight, you-know-who will be running around like Wolfman Six Pack Abs, without his clothes, due to his man to wolf transmutations.

Sounds like fun to me.

Man Vs. Nature

Internet, I was driving over a bridge today, when out of the corner of my eye, I notice the reflection of the smoke stacks on the slough.

I stop immediately in the middle of the bridge, engine running, jump out of the car with camera in hand, completely forgetting to put my car in park, oops. At least, I did remember to set the parking brake.

Inspiration is intoxicating.........

Channel Islands Sunrise

The BFF just sent me this picture of today's sunrise of the Channel Islands. It's so pretty I have to share it, Internet. Enjoy.

In other news, the waves should be contestable, good even, for the Rip Curl Pro at Ocean Beach in San Francisco.  Yew!

Kelly Slater Wins 11th, Again

In melodramatic fashion, Kelly Slater has won an 11th World Surfing Title, again.

Slater beat Miguel Pupo, 19, and Gabriel Medina, 17, in a 4th Round Heat of the Rip Curl Pro at Ocean Beach in San Franciso, California, today in challenging, mixed up dumping conditions.

The combined ages of Slater's challengers didn't add up to Slater's 39-years-young, leaving me wanting some of that Fountain of Youth Kool Aid Slater's been drinking.

A blundering mathematical miscalculation by the Association of Surfing Professionals prematurely crowned Ke11y Slater with an 11th World Surfing Title last Wednesday.

Kelly Slater in his post win interview on winning 11, again:

"It (11th) was confirmed the other day, are we sure now?"

"There's been more than a few people saying, maybe that was Andy(Irons) messing with me the other day. You know it just might have been. There's something cosmically happening."

Fall Back

Sadly, Daylight Savings Time, and his sexy seemingly longer days, are coming to end tonight. The bad news is the days will seem shorter because the sun will set one hour earlier. The good news is we get to set our clocks back one hour, gaining an extra hour of sleep tonight, assuming "we" go to bed at a decent hour.

Another benefit is the sun will also rise one hour earlier, which is great for working surfers wanting to dawn patrol before heading to the office. Even non-surfers will appreciate going to work when it's light outside, instead of in the dark.

"Daylight Savings, puhleeeeeeeease don't go!" I plead.

"Sorry I have to, darling," says Daylight Savings Time. "But don't worry I'll be back next year from March 11, 2012 through November 4th 2012, except in Arizona and Hawaii.

"Yipeeeee!" I cheer.

Kelly Slater Wins 11th World Surfing Title Not

Kelly Slater has not won his 11th World Surfing Title, yet. In an unsurprising turn of the tide, Kelly Slater needs to win one more heat at the Rip Curl Pro Search at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California, to claim his 11th world surfing title.

In the words of Homer Simpson, "Doh!"

Apparently a calculation error was made by the Association of Surfing Professionals. This is what happens when surfers are left to do the math.

Ironically, Kelly Slater himself is the one who discovered the mistake last night.


From Kelly Slater's Twitter Feed:

Can you read this comment from Mark? The calculator at @aspworldtour must be broken. I'm not the world champ yet!

I'm not joking. I have not won the world title yet. I still have to win another heat! Give those shirts and hats back!

Hang on to that KS10 gear if you have some...just in case. Haha.

“@_Cod: @kellyslater sweet, my KS10 shirt is still in style then.” Yes it is, buddy.

@onphyr If I get 9th here, 13th or less at pipe and @RealOwenWright wins both and we drop 2 results we're dead tied both carrying a 13th.


@aspworldtour isn't gonna be happy with me or this but realized last night and confirmed just now with them. Only honest thing to do.

In all seriousness, there may be an honest mistake or computer glitch and we're getting to the bottom of it now.

@aspworldtour thank you. We all make errors. Maybe I made one going public but on the bright side it will create bigger interest.

We11, at least Ke11y Slater has a sense of humor.

Kelly Slater Wins 11th World Surfing Title

Wrap up of Ke11y Slater's 11th World Title.

Don't yourself ask, "Will Ke11y Slater win 12 world titles?"

Ask yourself, "How many world titles will Kelly Slater win?"

It's like my friend texted me yesterday, "Kelly Slayer again? Geez he's some kind of alien. Not human."

Pretty much.

Kelly Slater Wins 11th World Title

Minutes ago, Kelly Slater, 39, won his 11th World Surfing Title at the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco at Ocean Beach. Slater clinched his historic 11th world surfing title on the one year anniversary of surfing legend Andy Irons' death.

Slater trailed Daniel Ross in most of their Round 3 heat. With four minutes left in the heat, Slater plucked a head high right-hander garnishing a 7.6 after seven turns, including finishing with a layback in the shore pound.

Ross attempted to answer back pulling into the barrel of an overhead left hander, but the wave shut down on him, and Ross was unable to make it out of the tube.

"How does Slater do it?" wonders Hubby. "How can someone win eleven world titles?"

"He's got to be pretty anal retentive," I say.

That and Kelly Slater is the greatest surfer to enter the ocean, ever.

I almost went to the Rip Curl Pro at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, today, but I surfed instead. Sure, it would have been AWESOME to be on the beach when Ke11y Slater won his 11th World Surfing Title.

But the waves were so fun. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't go. I'm a surfer first, spectator second.

Congratulations King Ke11y!

Shark Attack Aftershocks

The aftershocks following an earthquake are similar to the terror that strikes fear in the hearts of surfers after a shark attacks one of our kind. I call this Shark Attack Tremors, though I'm sure there's an official psychological diagnosis for this such as, post traumatic stress disorder, or something.

Regular surfers, such as myself suffer from Shark Attack Tremors. And if I were the only surfer suffering from Shark Attack Tremors, the anxiety wouldn't be so bad.

Yesterday, while surfing, an alarmed surfer next to me says, "What was that?!"

I look up, and about 150 feet out to sea, I see a large grey fish swimming towards us in a wave.

"Uh, that thing looked big and wide," I say nervously, getting ready to paddle for the shore. "What was it?"

"It was probably a dolphin," says the Surfer.

"Are you sure?" I ask in disbelief, wanting desperately for him to be right.

But he didn't answer me because he caught the next wave. About fifty feet away from me a dorsal fin pops out of the water.

Then I see four or five more dorsal fins, and I say, "Phew, dolphins," to myself.

But just because there are dolphins around, doesn't mean the "landlord," isn't lurking in the nearby watery depths. I sit on the inside of the surf, duck diving wave after wave, for a minute or two debating between going in or catching one last wave.

The waves weren't very good, and no waves are worth being bitten by a shark or worse so I turn around and ride the white water wall of shame in on my belly.

Unfortunately, today wasn't any better.

First I got a text message, saying "I hear it's foggy, sounds sharky to me."

"Stop," I text. I was planning on surfing.

Then right before I paddle out another surfer says, "I can't believe you're going out there by yourself after that shark attack."

There are two other people out there," I say.

"Oh, but still, you're crazy," says the Surfer.

"Thanks," I say sarcastically.

Turns out foggy, wind jumbled surf is lonely with only two other surfers. Especially when one of the other surfers is a shark attack survivor himself.

Internet, those are not good odds.

But it isn't just us regular Surfer Joes who are on hyper shark alert. Professional surfers suffer from Shark Attack Tremors, as well. Today, during a professional world tour surfing event at Ocean Beach in San Francisco a competitor paddled in with approximately five minutes left in his heat.

"I was just sitting there, and I was waiting for a wave," says Pro Surfer Dusty Payne. "It was the biggest fin I've ever seen in my life coming straight at me. The waves are terrible. I wasn't going to stay out there and get bit by a shark."

Some people on twitter seemed to think Payne saw a dolphin. But trust me it's a lot easier to say, "Oh it's just a dolphin," when standing on dry land.

"I've seen dolphins," answers Payne. "It wasn't a dolphin.".

I'm not saying it wasn't a dolphin, but I'm not saying it was. Fear plays tricks on the mind, but fear also keeps us safe. I'm with Payne. I'd rather impotently ride in on my belly than pay rent to the "landlord."