Halloween In The Lunch Room

Today's entertaining work e-mail.


To: employees - San Diego
Subject: Halloween Refigerator - scary

Some experiments have gone horribly wrong in the fridge. If there is *any* chance that you have forgotten an item in the past few months, why don’t you earn some good karma and look for something suspicious in there to toss.

p.s. Let’s make it a contest! Take a picture of the scariest thing you find.



I love a challenge - so I dove on in. Here is the winning entry ... MY hairy, scary refrigerator find!

Lawn Sign

For public release
Presbyterians Against Proposition 8
October 28, 2008


Brothers and Sisters of many faiths,

Let us be absolutely clear that in our opposition to Proposition 8 we are asking nothing more than what already exists in the respectful balance between the beliefs and practices of our many faiths and California constitutional law.

Within the many communities of faith in our State we have conflicting doctrines and beliefs that already govern the practice of marriage.

Our Roman Catholic, Mormon and many of our evangelical churches do not and will not marry persons who are divorced. But that does not mean that those who are divorced are constitutionally prohibited from the right of legal marriage in our state.

Likewise, our Roman Catholic, Mormon, and some Jewish and Muslim faith traditions will not marry persons of different faith traditions. But that does not mean that interfaith couples, or those of no particular faith tradition, cannot be married in our state.

Our California constitution honors all religious traditions by respecting our differences about religious marriage while at the same time providing and protecting the right of all couples to marry the person of their choice.

Prop. 8 would ELIMINATE the constitutional right of same sex couples to marry. That is unfair and unjust. California constitutional law already honors and respects religious differences. No religious institution is forced to marry anyone. But that does not mean that any person in our state should lose their constitutional right for legal marriage.

I urge you to protect our constitutional rights as well as our right to religious diversity and pluralism by voting NO on Proposition 8.

Thank you.
#

Rev. Daniel E. Smith
Pastor, West Hollywood Presbyterain Church
7350 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Peaceful Boots

More from my window shopping in LaJolla last Friday night.

Twin Towers

Friends brought me this souvenier from Malaysia. Sheepishly, I admit, I had never heard of the Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur.



With the help of google and Wikepedia, here is what I have learned...

The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004, before being surpassed by the Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings and office building in the world.

The Petronas Towers were the setting for several scenes in the 1999 film Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The towers were also feature din three levels of the game Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. The PS2 game Burnout Dominator features the Twin Towers as Spiritual Towers. For the Bollywood fans - The Petronas Towers are featured in the film, Don - The Chase Begins Again!

Peace Dove Chases Nemo?!?

It has been a while since we have had an update on the push pin wall. After a dry spell, I posted an Artists Wanted in July. Then this fall I was presented with some very cool fish push pins. I had fun sprinkling them throughout the push pin display.

BUT, then the other day I took a look -- and some mischievous rascal has been re-arranging the fish. Now my Peace Dove is swooping down to eat poor Nemo?!?

Drumming The Afternoon Away...

This afternoon I swung by The Community Drum Circle at Trolly Barn Park. The drum circle is lead by a music therapist and is a wonderful community event. The experience is all about each person finding their own voice and then bringing the individual voices together in community and harmony. The circle is different each time - a reflection of the mix of people participating. It is fun to see who shows up and who just wanders by and joins in. The kids playing in the park are drawn to the experience. I enjoy watching them drag their parents along and convince them to participate.

Today we had an amazing jam with a xylopone, a native woodwind instrument and a guitar mixed in with the drums. We did this improvisational tune for about 20 minutes and when it ended we all sat and looked at each other and went - "Wow, that was powerful!"

Drumming In The Park

Riding To The Coast

Lately, my bike rides have been *transportation* - a way to get to work and back.

I miss my weekend rides where I just hop on my bike and let it take me where it will.

Today - I did just that. I decided to ride over to the coast and enjoy some fresh ocean air!


Almost There...The Ocean Is In Sight

Window Shopping in LaJolla

I spent the evening strolling around LaJolla. Here are some pics from my favourite window display.

Unicef Box

It is 9 pm and it is still over 70 degrees F tonight. It certainly doesn't feel like fall. Growing up, the week before Halloween we would be trying to figure out how cold it was going to be Halloween night. Would we need to wear ski pants and winter jackets under our costumes!?! Another Halloween tradition was those little orange cardboard Unicef boxes..



Things are a bit different now that I am in the land of perpetual summer and in a neighbourhood with very few kids that actually go door to door. So I am adding a new twist to the usual tradition.

Click HERE to place some coins in my online Unicef Box!

The Badoop Badoop Show

TiVo service has changed the way millions of people watch TV. And now... "The Badoop Badoop Show," a quirky show to keep you in the entertainment know with TiVo recommendations every week. The show is named after one of TiVo's unmistakable soundmarks: Badoop-Badoop!

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The Props

It sure can get confusing out there. So many propositions to vote on!

California Council of Churches is an advocate for peace, justice, human rights, equal rights and economic justice. They do not have recommended positions on ballot measures that fall outside their area of work. They also do not endorse any candidates or any political party. Their work is highly regarded by the legislature as fair and non-partisan.

Below is the recommendations published by the California Council of Churches. Of course, you should never let anyone else tell you how to vote. These recommendations are meant to spark your own personal study so you can learn about the issues and vote your conscience.

1A - High-Speed Rail Bond Act.
This is highly complex with unforeseeable issues. PRO: This would provide high-speed electric rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is projected to divert 117 million passengers annually, will carry light freight, be self-supporting financially, and thus will save millions of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. CON: This ultimately would cost at least $40 billion. It's unclear whether the projected greenhouse gas reductions are realistic or whether they would be replaced by pollutants from new electric-generating plants, including nuclear plants. Until the budget crisis is fixed, this is too large a debt to incur without impacts on people in need.
No recommendation.

2 - Humane Treatment of Farm Animals
Most livestock producers already follow these humane practices, but poultry producers continue to use inhumane confinement techniques. States with humane standards like this have seen a cost increase to consumers is about 1 cent per egg.
YES

3 - Children's Hospital Construction Subsidies.
With children's eligibility to use these facilities being substantially eroded, taking away still more tax money to expand hospital buildings is irresponsible.
NO

4 - Restrictions on Abortion
This act would require that any pregnant teenager arriving without a parent could trigger an immediate criminal investigation, further imperiling what may already be a dangerous home life. Teens who can talk with their parents already do so. Those who cannot should not be endangered by either criminal investigations or fear of parental notification that could lead them to seeking unsafe abortions.
NO

5 - Rehabilitation of Nonviolent Drug Offenders.
This would divert nonviolent offenders into effective rehabilitation and drug rehab programs.
YES

6 - Increases Criminal Penalties.
This would increase imprisonment for nonviolent drug possession, youth crimes, and anything deemed "gang related." It would dehumanize the poor and lead to more homelessness by requiring background checks for those in public housing. NO

7 - Increases Energy Costs to Consumers.
This is so poorly drafted that it could disrupt the renewable energy progress already being made, especially for smaller producers. It could cause a spurt in energy prices - which would be a boon for large interests controlling resources such as natural gas, who are sponsoring this proposition.
NO

8 - Eliminates the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry.
Even as many of our churches are struggling with liturgical issues around same-sex marriage, we can be united in supporting civil marriage as a secular right. No church would be forced to conduct a wedding that is contrary to its beliefs, but no church or individuals should be barred from the right to marry if they choose to do so.
NO

9 - Increases Criminal Penalties.
This seeks "remedies" for crime victims that would undermine the rights of prisoners and parolees and reduce or eliminate the possibility of restorative justice.
NO

10 - Alternative Fuel Vehicle Subsidies.
This would give wealthy buyers of alternative fuel vehicles taxpayer-funded rebates up to $55,000 per vehicle.
NO

11 - Fair Legislative Redistricting.
This would allow a panel of citizens without political ties to select their representatives instead of allowing politicians to select their voters. This is crucially important to making legislators accountable.
YES

12 - Veterans Home Loans.
This would continue the Cal-Vet home loan program, helping returning service people to rebuild their lives. In 87 years, this program has never cost the taxpayers a cent.
YES


For much more information, go to http://www.calchurches.org/2-Ballot-Recommendation.htm

Plant Bot

Yup, a planter that has legs and moves your plant through out the day to keep it in the sun.

Who'd of thunk it!



click here and here for more pics and actions shots.

Colin Powell on Meet The Press

Something the Lord Made

This film tells the story of pioneering work in cardiac surgery. It follows the two men, a white doctor and a black lab technician, who work together, despite racial and cultural issues, and find a cure for blue baby syndrome. Thomas' situation as a black man in a white man's world is overwhelming sad - but, you can't help but admire his determination to do something special and excel despite the barriers. This movie has everything: jubilation and celebration, inequity, despair, friendship, and the rewards for perseverence. Best of all it is a true story!

Potato Chip Bliss

I stumbled across these at Trader Joe's the other day. Ingredients are red potatoes, olive oil and salt.

That is it!

Like the name says - these chips are bliss.

Balloons In The Sky

View from the parking lot as I left work on Friday afternoon.

Shirt of a different colour

Manure - Pee Eew!

Most evening I enjoy a jog, stroll or run through the neighbourhood. A great way to blow the cob webs out after sitting at the computer all day. My route is around the local park which provides for a pretty walk -- usually.

Monday they dumped manure all over the park lawn. Why? !? No idea. But, Pee Eeew it stinks.

It Came!

Happy Thanksgiving and Fire Season Begins

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada.

Oh, to be home in Ontario enjoying cool fall weather, colourful leaves and Thanksgiving Dinner.

I haven't been able to convince my employer to recognize Canadian holidays - so it was a work day for me! All was not lost though - I managed to have my own little Thanksgiving celebration this evening. I feasted on a plate of my latest food obsession - Sweet Potatoe Fries. While wandering the freezer section of Whole Foods, I discovered the fabulous Alexia Brand Sweet Potatoe Fries. I am hooked. Truly, this was "love at first bite" !

Tonight's Thanksgiving Treat!


The Santa Anna's are blowing and the warm weather is back. It is unsettling when the warm winds start - they signal the beginning of fire season. Even before you can smell the fires you know they are out there - the whole world gets strangely quiet - there is an eerie feeling that just hangs in the air. Evacuations have begun in two areas of the county. They haven't been able to contain the fires that started earlier in the day. This Thanksgiving Day I am thankful that I am safe and sound and sleeping in my own bed tonight. I end the day with a prayer and hope for a kinder gentler fire season.

Hockey Night in Canada Gets A New Theme Song

Recently, there was quite a hullaboo in my homeland about the the demise of the beloved Hockey Night in Canada Theme song. The CBC decided to run a contest and let 'the people' choose the new theme.

Well the votes are in and the winner is ....Canadian Gold (Anthem #1) by Colin Oberst

New Intro To Hockey Night in Canada



Click here to see the 'making of' video.

Surprise - cooler weather today!

Fall In California

Today we had cooler temperatures. After a few weeks of freakishly warm weather - this evening we dipped below 70 deg F.

A first glimpse of fall...


Signs of Fall: Flower Petals blown across the lawn

Investment Advice

As the stock market takes a free fall - lots of people are looking for financial advice.

My friend, Doug Ferrin, sent me this little story. I met Doug on a trip to the Gulf Coast to help re-build homes after Katrina. I also had the privilege of working on one of his clean up teams after the San Diego firestorms last year. Two investments I have never regretted making.

Here is a story along with some investment advice that will rival what the talking heads on T.V. are giving...


So Who’s To Blame

Well, it’s me of course.

You see it was me at the turn of the 20th century who decided that instead of the people taking care of our neighbors, we would turn the responsibility over to the government. It was easier. Now I can concentrate on my own problems and not have to worry about what’s going on around me. And it’s not like we have that big of catastrophes anyway. Who could have known Katrina and all her friends, tornado after tornado, fires would ravage the west, and earthquakes would become more common?

You see it was me who found out I could cash in on Wall Street without even breaking a sweat. From the comfort of my swivel chair I was able to invest in companies that were spinning out of control and I knew it but the gain was just too easy. I turned my head and took my profit as I saw CEO’s and the like mismanaging their companies, covering up tainted books. I even saw some taken away in handcuffs but I thanked them for the profit they made me. And why couldn’t I stop when the prison doors slammed? All I did was find another company that I could make a quick buck on. And for some reason, I am appalled at the CEO’s taking a huge buyout from their beleaguered companies.

You see it was me who wanted the bigger house I couldn’t afford. In fact there was nothing wrong with the house I sold. But instead of staying within my limits I sought out banks who could get me into that better house. More prestigious you know. People look at me different since I have this superior house. You should have seen all the houses being built up the hillside. Obviously one of those were for me. I didn’t realize the consequences if the housing industry went south but come on, everyone is getting this loan. And name one person who actually read the whole loan document or better yet, understood it. Just sign here. And by the way, there was no way our old car would do in this neighborhood.

You know? As I look backwards…

That bigger house never did make me happier. In fact it gave me more to take care of. And I moved away from neighbors I really enjoyed.

The money I invested has dwindled to about the same as I started with. In the blink of an eye and with the stress of the economy I am back to where I was. But I’m the lucky one. Some have invested with money they never had.

And what is probably the oddest, is that I am most satisfied when I am out in the community with my family and friends helping those who have suffered through one of our all too common tragedies. As we go down and feed the homeless I just want to sit and listen to them and go backwards in their life to find that one pivotal point where the choice they made drastically changed their life. But the more I think about it, I probably made that same choice but somehow got away with it.

So who am I?
Well, I’m definitely me and I’m probably you.

So what do I do?
Well, I’ve gotten to the age where I know my limitations. I can’t change the world. No one will listen to me. I’m surprised you have made it this far in the story. Whining only makes things worse. I’m done blaming government. I’m done blaming Wall Street. In fact I’m even done blaming my Mom and Dad since now I see they were 99.9% right. But as I take a deep hard look at my past the only investments that haven’t lost any value are the ones I put into my family. The ones my family has put into our community. I have seen our community come together and put a great investment on our neighbors after last October’s fires. I watched five teenagers pick up food donated by Costco and serve the Sheriffs at the Command Center in Ramona the night of the fire until the fire jumped a ridge and had to be evacuated. I watched hundreds if not thousands of volunteers clear burnt out properties trying to find valuables for the owners.

Fires are an obvious sign we need to get out but there are people battling circumstances everyday. If you find yourself in the midst of needing a “guaranteed investment” then send me an email. All is not nor ever was lost. Maybe we were just concentrating on investing in the wrong things.

Tonight Show Debut

Friday night I had my debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Friday afternoon I was heading out to Arcadia to view the work of the environmental artist Patrick Dougherty at The Arboretum. I stopped at the Shell Station on Olive St in Burbank to fill up before jumping on the freeway. I noticed that there were several NBC security guards roaming around. It seemed odd, but the gas station is across the street from the studio, so ... I didn't give it much thought. As I was pumping gas I looked around and a Mariachi band came running out of The Acupulco and across four lanes of traffic towards the studio. That is when I noticed the cameras...


'Dinner on Jay' Segment Friday Oct 3rd
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Click here to view the entire Dinner on Jay segment and see my blurry appearance. (Click on Chapter #2 - Dinner on Jay)

laugh dance vote

Don't Vote

Time is ticking - just days left to register to vote.

New PSA.

Will you vote?

Prop 2

Learn about Prop 2 here.

Thought For the Day

If I can see the moon from my backyard, does that make me an astronaut?

Quote Of The Day

It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to saved 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.

- Bono

Escaping The Heat

Yet another heat wave has hit San Diego.

The Pickster is stretched out on the bathroom floor trying to escape the heat!

Quote Of The Day

I scarcely remember counting upon happiness—I look not for it if it be not in the present hour—nothing startles me beyond the moment. The setting sun will always set me to rights, or if a sparrow come before my Window I take part in its existence and pick about the gravel.
Letter to Benjamin Bailey (November 22, 1817)

Fog In The Canyon

This morning there is a thick marine layer all along the coast. I could feel the moisture in the air as I rode through the canyon on my way to work.

Marine Layer Settles in Canyon

The Truth About Curling Shoes

Tonight Pete and I decided to try our hand again at curling.

When we arrived at the rink we found that some of the 'supplies' had been misplaced. Among the missing gear were the 'sliders' for our shoes. You see in curling you want one foot to be slippery so you can slide along the ice when you throw the rock.

If you are going to curl in San Diego - you have to be resourceful. Here is "The Curling Guy" duct taping my shoe!



I was a bit skeptical at first. But, it really worked!


My "slider" foot. Let's Curl!


My 'Slider' Foot in Action

Lipstick On A Pig - No!

“You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”

- Sarah Palin Republican VP Candidate

“John McCain says he’s about change too, and so I guess his whole angle is, ‘Watch out, George Bush – except for economic policy, health care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy, and Karl Rove-style politics – we’re really gonna shake things up in Washington. That’s not change. That’s just calling something the same thing something different. You know you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”

- Barack Obama

“Ultimately, I think the American people will realize that calling a very prominent female governor of one of our states a pig is not exactly what we want to see when we supposedly are going to have this great debate that is the politics of hope.”

- McCain Campaign

Huh?!?



PSA. Lipstick on Pigs - Vote No!

Quote Of The Day

"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people"
-Alexander Bullock

Laugh. Dance. Vote.

Alas, I am not eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

I wish I could. There are several issues I am passionate about.

Fortunately, I can laugh, dance and cheer from the sidelines.



Get your t-shirt here!

First Dance of Season 6

Bike The Bay

Tippie and Pete - ready to go!


Today was the first annual Bike The Bay. The big draw of this ride is the opportunity to ride across the Coronado Bay span bridge. There are no bike lanes and bikes are not allowed on it. Today they are closed down two lanes of traffic at 7:00 am so that we can ride across!!

The neat thing about this ride is seeing parts of towns I don't normally visit - or only see as a blur as I drive by in the car.

Riding by Chicano Park en-route to the Bridge


Riding over the bridge was a real rush. The view was just amazing. We weren't allowed to stop at all. It was tough to take pictures - so I gave up and just enjoyed the view!

Heading Over The Bridge


Once over the bridge we wound our way through Coronado - past the golf course and The Hotel Del. We left via the strand and enjoyed watching some really cool birds in the wild life sanctuary. Once back on the city side we wound through Chula Vista and National City and at one point came around a bend and I would have sworn I was looking out on Burlington Bay in winter. I immediately did a double take - how did all this snow end up in San Diego?!? Turns out we were riding by a desalination plant and it was salt floating on the water!

Salt floating on the Water


About this stage of the ride (mile 20) I was starting to get tired. I was riding my steel framed bike (a.k.a. as the tank) and my friend 'cheater' Pete was riding a light weight racing bike. My revenge came in the final two miles as we hit a sea of pot holes and raised rail way tracks!!

I am going to sleep well tonight!

Bike The Bay - The Movie

Swimming With The Sharks

Today is my friend Jac's birthday. In honour of the day we decided to head over to LaJolla Shores and swim with the Leopard Sharks.

We were barely in the water before Jac saw her first shark. It was fun watching her shock and excitement when she realized that they were not small little fishies but full on 4-6 foot scary looking sharks.

Despite LOVING the ocean I suffer from terrible motion sickness. On a waaavvvvy day like today I can only last about 5 minutes with a face mask on. I had a good time floating up above and gabbing with the other folks looking for sharks.

When we were drying off on the beach - two dudes came up to us and asked us if we had seen sharks. They were TOTALLY freaked by just how big and scary looking they were!! We were feeling pretty cool for taking it all in stride.

Swimming with the Sharks - The Movie

Autism - The Musical

In 1980 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism.

Today it is 1 in 150.

An alarming statistic.

When traditional therapies did not help her son, Elaine Hall sought out creative people (actors, writers and musicians) to work with her son. Discovering the transformative power of these creative methods - she was inspired to found The Miracle Project. Through The Miracle Project, Elaine defies all expectations and leads a group of autistic children through writing, rehearsing and performing their own musical.

"Autism: The Musical" follows the lives of five children in LA over the course of the 6 months leading up to their performance of an original music production. The film is about the human story, the struggles and triumphs behind the statistics.

There are some touching and some side splitting funny moments - but this isn't a feel good movie. What makes the story compelling is that the raw coverage of personal stories of the kids and their parents. Divorce, depression, frustration, an educational system that fails them - and the general unfairness of it all -it is all here.

One of my favourite quotes in the is from Adam's Mom:

"One thing I learned growing up with the Civil Rights movement, is that it's not just enough for you to be doing better. Your whole tribe has to do better, or else you really can't do that much better."

Trailer - Autism: The Musical


The Miracle Project

Poor Picky

Picky and I have been spending a lot of time at the vet lately. After a series of exams and blood work she was recently diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). For the last week, her days have been spent at the vets receiving intravenous fluids. This has brought her blood levels back to near normal. After the first day she started to perk up and I began to see glimmers of her old self. In fact, she was down right demanding. After a month of no appetite - she requested that dinner be served *four* times!

We have been making time each night for some "porch" time. She loves to sit together on the landing and just "hang out".

Picky enjoying some "porch" time after day one on the I.V.


Today was the last day of I.V. fluids and the Pickster is ready to enjoy a weekend reprieve from the vet. Alas, Monday we are back again. Next up is Subcutaneous Fluid Therapy. The plan is I will learn how to administer the fluids so we can get off the frequent visitor plan at the vets. I am the most squeamish person I know - so we will see how that goes!


Picky with bandage on one leg

Denny's Grand Slam - Vegan Style

After my late night hot dog extravaganza - I decided that something a little tamer and healthier was in order for race day.

Real Food Daily a vegan restaurant in West Hollywood seemed like a good choice for a solid, healthy meal. They are known for their melted cashew 'better than' cheese that they serve over nachos ... intriguing.

I ordered 'The Weekender', which could best be described as the vegan version of Denny's Grand Slam.

The Weekender
Scrambled tofu with onions, tomatoes and melted cashew cheese, two pancakes or French toast, tempeh bacon & hash browns or fruit.

Overall, it was quite tasty and I didn't miss the absent eggs and dairy . Alas, I am not a big fan of the melted cashew cheese on the tofu scramble. The lady beside me ordered the nachos and she raved about them and the cashew cheese they were slathered in. It just didn't seem to dance very well with the tofu scramble. When I make tofu scramble, I put it in a flour tortilla and top it with peach mango salsa. Now that is how you make it sing! The weirdest thing on my plate was the tempeh bacon. Tempeh is really a seed biscuit. It is made from soy, but reminds me alot of the sesame seed snaps we would snack on as kids.

Having had a big healthy lunch - I was off to Sprinkles to purchase cupcakes. These would be my big post race birthday treat!

Waiting in Line for my Birthday Cupcakes!
Sprinkles, Beverly Hills

Sometimes less is more...

Sunday morning I visited a small church in West Hollywood. As I turned off Sunset to pull into the parking lot I saw a couple of families walking down the street, heading to the chapel. I have always loved the idea of a small community based church. This congregation was clearly a reflection of the local neighbourhood. The moment I walked on the small campus a friendly lady in Birkenstocks, tie dyed shirt and rainbow necklace came up to greet me. A welcoming and genuine warm and friendly greeting - not the proper and forced "I guess I should say hello to the visitor" type greeting.

There were only about 40 people in attendance this holiday weekend - but it was clearly visible that these folks were a community bound together and supporting each other on the journey. The service was very simple - no pomp, no slick and polished show. A simple Old and New Testament scripture reading, a few hymns, passing of the peace, a time for sharing and a homily. The service started with a time of sharing of praise and thanksgiving and ended with a time of prayers to lift concerns to God.

In church we like to 'talk' alot about being an intentional community. This Sunday I saw first hand what this really looks like

Pink's Hot Dog Stand

How long would you be willing to stand in line for a hot dog?

Much to my own amazement ... I waited a whopping 1 hour and 45 minutes!

Saturday night, after I picked up my race packet, I headed over to Pink's Hot Dog Stand in Hollywood. It was almost 9 pm and I was worried they would be closing. Wow, was I wrong. When I arrived the line was down the block, wrapped around the corner, through the the parking lot (a measly 10 double parked places) and into the back alley. Oh, and closing time ... 3 am!!

Line up at Pink's Hot Dog Stand - Saturday Night


So what in the world would possess me to stand in line sooo looong for a Hot Dog?!?

It turns out -- the journey is more important than the destination.

Pink's is a local landmark and people travel from all over for their hot dogs. I quickly realized that standing on the side of the road I was meeting the most fascinating people. No hot dog was going to top the experience of hangin' out and chatting with these folks. I spent much of my wait with a couple who had just come from UCLA medical center. They were visiting a friend who was recovering from a recent lung transplant. We were beside each other for at least half an hour before I read the text on her pink cap. It said, "quiet, hair growing". Her bald head was evidence of her two year battle with Ovarian cancer. As I looked for the "healthy" hot dog option - she was embracing the moment for all it was worth and checking out the most decadent chilli cheese fries and a hot dog with pastrami on it! Part way through our wait she tired and went out back to sit. I think she had almost given up hope on us when her husband and I finally rounded the corner at 11 pm with her order.

The hot dog stand is celebrating 69 years. Over the years, very little expansion or modernization has been done . When you *finally* make it to the order window - it is the cook himself that takes your order. No pen and paper, no computer - just "what would you like" and then as you stand and watch ... your meal is made. The engineer in me wants to re-design the process, stream line things, optimize -- but there is something insanely comforting in the this old fashioned hot dog stand. As you wait and wait and wait in line .... you cease focusing on the destination - you pause and embrace the present moment and the company of your fellow travelers.

Order window. The cook takes your order and makes it while you wait!


11:30 pm - Mission Accomplished.

The Nike Carnival and Street Party

Nike threw a *HUGE* party for my birthday. Wasn't that nice of them!

13,000 people were invited to run a 10K ... and numerous more came to dance, sing and cheer us on from the sidelines.

Technically this *was* a race. The top runners sprinted through all 10K in about half an hour! Trailing the serious runners by half an hour to an hour were tourists like myself. I as ran as hard as I could and arrived at the finish line red in the face and sweaty - but I also stopped to take pictures along the way, waved to the old folks in their lawn chairs and gave high fives to the kids as we passed by. The whole event had the vibe of a local carnival or neighbourhood street party and I enjoyed every minute of it!

The adventure started on the way to the Coliseum! L.A. traffic is always an adventure - but when you add in the road closures for the race and 13,000 runners, friends, family and spectators trying to find parking -- the traffic chaos was off the charts. It took me an excruciating two hours to crawl the few miles from where I was staying to the parking at USC

Roads in Downtown L.A. blocked off for the Race


The stress of traffic congestion disappeared the instant I arrived. The whole place was alive. The lawn of the Coliseum was a sea of excited people in their Red 'Just Do It' t-shirts. It was fun to see the families participating in the race together. I ran much of the race with a Mom and her 8 and 10 year old kids and a father with his young baby in a carrier on his back!

The race was staggered in waves. Everyone lined up based on their average time per mile. The serious runners were up front - tourists like myself were back in a later wave. The race course, from start to finish, was lined with folks cheering us on. In one particularly rough neighbourhood - the sidewalk was crammed with smiling parents in lawn chairs and little kids jumping around with excitement trying to get a high five from the runners as they passed.

Folks At A Bus Stop Cheering Us On


All along the race route there were performances of music and dance from the various race cities. There was everything from Mariachi Bands from Mexico, Chinese Lion heads dancing, Brazilian drums and L.A. kids bustin' a move to hip hop tunes. Add to the performances the neat architecture and a cool old church - and there was a steady stream of amazing sites and sounds to enjoy.

Shanghai Dancers


Local Kids Breakin'


I was so busy taking it in I forgot that it was a hot and humid evening and that I had been running for almost an hour. I slowed down for a moment to catch my breathe at the 7.5KM mark and a friendly volunteer jumped out and offered to take my picture.

Only 2.5KM Left To Go!


At the finish line we rec'd a finisher's bracelet and lots of free granola, yogurt and berries to celebrate our success..

You would think that everyone would be tired out after the run - but the atmosphere at the finish line was electric. Kanye had a very enthusiastic crowd and he rocked the house with more than an hour of hits - Touch The Sky, Homecoming, Champion, Stronger. It was fun to watch the runners jumping up in down to the music with their cups of granola in their hands!

Kanye On Stage


Closing Fireworks


My photos and video from the run are here on Flickr.