Tis the season for White Water Rafting! Fa lalalala la la la la!

Hello friends, family, and the Future Rafters of Tomorrow.
Here it is. The American River Monkeys hosting White Water Rafting on June 29th. Again this is thirty five dollars, which you will give the guide when we meet up.

Stu, Justin and I would like to fully extend a brief thank you to everyone* who chose to participate in the events coming up in only a few sparse days. Thanks. I am ecstatic about the turn out,and here I was thinking that this was going to be a trip by myself.
For all the first timers joining us! Here's a little tidbit as to what to expect.

First off, the weather.
It's warm, true. It's hot, hell yes. Sure, the water's cold enough, but please realize that your chances of getting burnt are at an all time record high when wet. Please, please, bring sunblock and apply it generously. Lube up. Like Robin Hood giving money to the poor, but for your skin. Or some bar b que sauce on ribs. Lather. And half way through, lube up again! Most of all, make sure to dress comfortably. Men... now is the time to bust out those bikinis. Please no cotton, this will only make you heavy and an unhappy camper and not to mention chaff like your made of powdered sugar. Dri-fit, or athletic wear for instance is a great example of what to wear, over your swim gear. Caps/hats/sombreros/fedoras are also a great addition to protecting that beautiful face of yours. Just make sure you are able to securely fasten it to your head so that it stays on! Sunglasses are another great option too, yes, you look ten times cooler in those pictures, and they protect your eyes from glare but, make sure they are glued to your head. Please.
They. Will. Fall. Off.
This is my disclaimer to those of you who do not heed my warning and reduces my guilt if such does happen, at any point during the trip. I will still feel relatively bad though. Please make note of this.

Secondly, the water.
The river is unforgiving in many aspects. So you need to worry about the rapids, the rocks and what direction you are facing. This could save your life.
There will be Personal Flotation Devices available, they are mandatory. No shirt, no service so to speak and sizes are limited. If you happen to have your own PFD, bring it! You will be much happier and satisfied with your own, not to mention looking much cooler at the same time for having your own, looking like a seasoned raftarian. Those of you looking to stay aboard dry? You will get wet. Or fall in, I promise you. So make sure you have protection for your feet as well. Water shoes** are a must have and they will save you a ton of trouble. If you decide to rock your tennis', make sure there are holes for water drainage. Mesh, is the best option. But water shoes are cheap and comfortable. But either will do. They will protect your feet from both sharp and slippery rocks. Keep those feet looking happy! Be happy and smile! For those of you who have seen the pictures of me on the raft, you would agree how spectacular it looks. Those pictures were paid for, taken by third party photographers waiting at the major rapids. But for all the other moments on the water, look into getting a waterproof disposable! To share more lasting moments!

Third, your water.
Bring a drink. Better yet. Bring your OWN drink. Thanks to our guides, Stu and Justin. There will be a cooler provided and on board, to house all your necessary beverages. Be it Gatorade, water, Caprison, beer or Smirnoff that will quench your lust for thirst. Also bringing small snacks is highly encouraged, we will be on the river between 3 - 4 hours, and after paddling trust me, you will be sorry you didn't bring anything. As far as personal belongings go, please keep what you carry to a minimum. There will be a dry bag available, but space is limited as to what it can carry. Leave all valuables in the car and you will be happy that your ipod wasn't in the dry bag now floating down stream. The essentials only, will be brought onto the raft. Medication, sunblock, keys, chapstick and anything else I may have left out for you basket cases, including myself. Remember, bring only what you don't mind losing!

Lastly, safety.
Safety, is extremely important here. Everyone will need to cooperate and listen to your guide. We want to make sure we have a fun and safe trip to tell when we get back! The accidents that happen most are not in the water but on the raft! Missing teeth, bloody noses are all from not adhering to proper handling of equipment. Your paddle. Protect your head and the head next to you. Although, the river we will be rafting on does not require the use of helmets, we still need to practice caution. The first half of the river will give us a chance to become accustomed to the raft and hone in our skills as paddlers, we will learn guide commands, proper handling of the t-paddles, what to do when you get knocked out of the raft, a couple drinks and a chance to take a dip safely before we hit the rapids. By being safe we increase our fun! BE LOUD! BE CRAZAY! We are not a company tour! We are not paying over a hundred dollars. And! We get to drink alcohol!!! Any nerf footballs out there? Spray guns!!! Bring them just in case. Monday is going to be exciting and remember to bring everything you need and leave all your worries behind.
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Our rendezvous point. Sacramento// JUNE 29 MONDAY

We will do a short meet n greet and leave at 9am. This will give us a chance to learn names of the other rafters. At this point we will meet up with the guides Stu and Justin, at the ending point. From there we will make our way up river to the launch point. You will board one of the two rafts, one holding 7, the other holding 6. Travel time estimates around an hour to an hour 1/2.
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The night before!!!
Board Game and Bar B Que night! // JUNE 28 SUNDAY
Same place! In Natomas. We will expect company at 7pm. Please wear casual attire. I really don't want to get dressed up... but expect to have a great time!!! Bring whatever you like! Come see White Cheetah and Kingdom the Frisky Dingo!

* Roster includes
Guides
Stu // Justin
Rafters
Jasmine, Chris, Pam, Paul, Ron, Voleck, Phil, Sunny, Suvee, Koon, Ariell!

** Water shoes can be purchased at any participating Wal-mart or Target brand retail store.

*** Also someone remind me to buy a bag of ice and water camera.

The ingredient for Fathers Day

Reflection // Seems to be lacking in my life. As I cruise down the Folsom Lake Trail in my Asics, it finally hits me that I don't have one to tell this to. For some reason, this year I realize how much a fathers presence can impact a child. It has never occurred to me that I missed him or imagined what it would be like today if he were still here. Funny, how these things lay below the conscious and resurface at the most peculiar times.

As I march in a rhythmic cadence over the gravel, I come up on a hill. Shortly cresting the apex I find myself alone among families near the shores. The same after each family. Children, mother, father an occasional grand parent. I stand back in my mind and I watch myself from above, trying to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I lose myself after a while, feeling a little numb and resistant to keep from thinking about those weekends with the dad and hating being out there catching fly balls. Or when he would call me to help with a project he had going on that weekend. No matter how much I didn't agree with his fathering skills, there is something that helps cope with the hard things in life when you have that fatherly figure who will pick you up by the collar, dust off your shoulder and tell you to get back in it. And for this I still dedicate today to the man I had hated, feared and loved.

Maybe someday I can set things right, to be the support and the strong one to pick up someone and teach patience, to endure and to believe in themselves. In this, I find clarity and a happiness that wells up deep inside me today. After an hour on the trail, I pack up the dusty shoes that almost need to be replaced, I take a deep swig of powerade and start the engine. I drive off never looking back, because I know that my day will come.

Twist to open

I am left feeling, unhinged at the moment. After a beautiful Friday, at Old Part time Sacramento with the little sister, for the upcoming Disney Holiday Feature ' A Christmas Carol ' staring the legendary Jim Carey, looks fantastic by the way.
Also a little time spent with the gents. With my left and right, Eric and Nick both BFFs' from time periods present and past. I cannot have imagined a better night spent with these two upstanding men. A little game of cue, a couple of drinks at the R15 in the grid, even slipped in a late dinner of green rice, blacks beans and all the chips and salsa you can eat at Zocalo. Followed up at the Sheraton for some good talk, I can happily agree that life really is filled with good people. We also met up with Violet and Ruby who both looked stunning, in the reflection of night. We chatted and shared a couple laughs.
The night does end a little too soon, and am left wishing the need for sleep was not necessary as I lay affixed in bliss wrapped around my favorite person. I cannot ask for more. Except for morning donuts and coffee...

Art // Music // Jaffa Cakes

The formidable Second Saturday is upon us once again and it is 2pm currently. If you decide to pick up an SNR for absolutely no cost to you. You can format a strategic path of attack. There are free shuttles and art shops displaying the newest and most classical form of ' art ' . But we all know why you go. To drink and walk around in the public with some of your good friends and good times!

See you when I get back!!!!

Gotta go... get sum. Dim Sum.

Feeling Refreshed and so so clean

Transitions // The best summers. Last summer, was probably the MOST exciting summer I have ever lived. Building a new me, meeting new people, finding love, losing hate. It all seems like nothing, and everything at the same time. I only need a few seconds of wind to really feel last summer. What a beautiful one.

But Sometimes... the best summer memories aren't meant to be re-created. Each summer lives on as its own entity. Maybe that is what makes a summer so great. I have to commit to the each day that it is different from the last and the next. That's just the way life will always work. And for some reason I enjoy that. This week sure has been a high for me, for many many reasons. But that's not going to hold me back from enjoying these next months of freedom and self cultivation. Everyday should feel better than the last I say. This is totally easy to do. You simply must place yourself in a new environment, new restaurant, break repetitive cycles. Not a full 180 but little increments.

Last night, instead of seeing a movie. I had spend most of the better afternoon and evening with a very special person of mine. Her company is enduring, and I adore her. If you guessed Violet, well my friends. You are right on. To all my readers out there, I consider myself lucky to have her devotion, and I give mine to hers without hesitation.

So... is there anything that will top last summer extravaganza? Hell yes. Well, what's to do in Sacramentos? psssh. Are you kidding? We live in a wonderful area with the most interesting people. Sure, everyone has those less exciting extracts of their own city but I feel extremely proud to live in Capital City.

Sacramento is a playground for adults that loved to be kids. Vegas on the other hand, is a playground with kids with addictions hahha. Our kids in Sacramento, know how to really enjoy life, along with the sights, people, food and culture.

This will be another one for the books, there are already many great events going on in and around Sacramentos'. The Fresh City. Concerts, nature, freshly paved roads. Bums that give you money. Ham and cheese, that has never happened. But it will someday... you bet your ass. Oh and whats up with the damn weather? Can you say gorgeous ? Concrete? Java? Peach? FUzz? Blab? Nut and Bolt? Sofa King Sexy? Of course you can!


Like I said.

Best.
Summer.
Ever.

Its all knews to me

Another end to a beautiful week and the beginning to one with endless possibilities.

Sitting here, taking it all in. I am really at a loss for words. So much has happened since last post, that it's really hard for me to transfer it all to the screen.

I had gotten myself into a good circulation of training for my triathlon
that has moved to August 9-10.

Violet and I attended a wedding reception. Where we did not get a chance to congratulate the very tall bride and very tall groom. But The place where it had all taken place was quite comfy. With a dessert table, a very berry punch and a large large koi pond to gaze at. Probably I'd say between 6 - 7 thousand gallons of water.

During our visit to my nieces' graduation, I also found that I am attracted to the aesthetics and mechanical design of firearms, as to what this will solidify into who knows.

Man, its 6:50 am and I'll continue after some breakfast and class.

Life as a crystal glass cup

Day 3 of summer and I am tired. I haven't felt this good physically in a long while, but balance is still necessary to be happy, some would say that I can be an emotional wreck and this week is no exception. And no matter how good you feel, if your life is not near the OPZ then happiness is still hard to attain. Probably because I am a left handed adversary. I tend to rely more on the right side of my brain (creative, emotional) rather than the more logical left hemisphere. So I can have a very vivid imagination. Life is a balancing act. I know this. I've known this. I'm reminded of it every single serving of a day. I intend to make things right... but no matter what I do, it will not matter unless communication is shared...

To a brighter note, it's time to get on the high horse and slip the running shoes on and off to Folsom Lake.

Till I get back here are some website to enjoy.

rottentomatoes // Critics do what they do best and you can view them naked from the comfort of your own home

metacritic // A suggestion from a fellow co-worker, reviews from games to artists

Need some new food for your ears?
Try some of these good eating...

Paolo Nutini
The Dead Weather
Blitzen Trapper
The Black Keys

The fact that I live in Sacramento is nice

This day signifies the first day of the official summer season for me.

So far so good.

*Downtown sacramento has many wonders about it that makes it very homely. The constant buzz down at the Sac grid makes it rather fun to watch passerbyers. I found a perfect ledge to watch all the action at the K street mall, which is right near the Hard Rock on the second level. There's a small palm planter that also serves as a formidable ledge to sit and just take everything in.

//Starting my day off with a early morning workout at 24 downtown, with a Banana Berry 16 oz. from Jamba and some oatmeal.

*The team at Jamba Juice downtown seems super close to each other. I heard a whiff of 'saturday night' between the two of them. This made me think back to my first job I had taken up at the Jamba Juice in Salinas, CA. Eventually the 'Jamba Drama' caught up and that was that. They do make rather good smoothies though and if there is any extra in the blender they get you a larger cup which is nice.

// I took the rather annoying 'creak' out of my bed I purchased from IKEA, with a couple of strategic screws and metal braces. It is probably the first of it's kind. General public meet ninja bed. You don't even know its there until its too late.