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May. 22nd, 2008 @ 09:35 pm
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Bleh. I feel awful. Thankfully back home now (in Balmoral - Santa Clara), but all sick and shivery. Ugg, I have not been sick in 2yrs, and now I have a doozy of a temp. Ugg.
I hope this is not a sign as to how the rest of the summer will go. I started the street fair season off tonight by teaching an ABC Responsible Beverage Server class to some members of the ACLC. Nice bunch, and thankfully did not make my evening hell. It was odd doing the class, as this kicks into high gear Pride, followed by UYA and Folsom soon. Damn this summer is almost over ;-) |
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Classic British Humour - I remember seeing this as a kid.
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Apr. 29th, 2008 @ 06:47 pm
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Oh and in other news...
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Feb. 6th, 2008 @ 02:24 pm
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I have lost 11 pounds since Christmas day. Been hitting the gym 3-4X a week. My chest and arms have also noticeably got bigger - finally!
Just need to try and shed another 10 pounds by Feb 25th for my trip to Oz. Not sure that is going to be totally achievable but I will see. |
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We finally did it! - 3 months later a new house
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Feb. 6th, 2008 @ 01:58 pm
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SF 2 Oz....
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Jan. 22nd, 2008 @ 03:09 pm
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So I was sitting at home yesterday writing the annual Christmas letter, before attacking the Christmas cards, and I suddenly saw how domestic the scene was: Richard was making mince pies, Carols from York Minster were belting out of the stereo, we were both drinking a glass of Harveys Bristol Cream and I had one of the cats asleep on my lap. Domestic bliss??
Anyway here is the letter for those curious.
Merry Christmas! We hope that this Christmas note finds you happy and well. Yet again I get to report on another year that has flown by. This one has seen some major milestones achieved in addition to the normal mix, just to add to the fun and excitement. We are both very well and extremely happy if not a little over-committed sometimes. Our Wedding: On May 26th Richard and I finally tied the knot (literally!) after 13½ years of being together. Our “Civil Ceremony” was held at the Lanesborough hotel in London and was indeed the highlight of our year (ok, life). It quite simply was the best day of both of our lives. Many very close and wonderful friends and family were in attendance which just made the day even more special. We could not have wanted a more perfect day, and everything went off without a drama in sight (primarily due to our fabulous wedding planners), and was exactly as we had planned and hoped for. We got to spend the week in London prior to our big day catching up with friends and hosting 2 other receptions. May in London is a fantastic time of year, and it once again did us proud. Our “honeymoon” was spent on the island of Iscia (off the coast of Naples) for two weeks. We were joined for the first week by Andy’s best man John, and his partner David; for the second week by Richard’s best man Dan and girlfriend Shema. A delightful little villa on a cliff bluff overlooking a village was the setting for some serious sunbathing and R&R. It was the perfect round-out to a glorious 3 weeks. Citizenship: After having our Green Cards for 5 years, it became time for Richard and I to apply for our American citizenship. We started the process off in March, and we both finally completed the Oath Ceremony in October, getting our American passports in a record 2 weeks after. Don’t worry we still hold our British passports as well (we will never give these up!), so have just become dual nationals. Hopefully now we can vote and help replace that village idiot in the Whitehouse. America really has lost its way we feel, but is still a fun place to live. We became citizens primarily to help us keep our options open for whatever may unfold later on. House: It finally came time to find a second home to help out on the major commute issues that I am facing (1½ hrs each way at best). We are currently under offer on a house, having missed out on one and pulled out of another. This would be a second home for us and would serve as a commute house for me to spend 2-3 nights a week at. It would also provide a chance for Richard to actually see the sun during the San Francisco foggy summers during the weekends. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will close the deal and be able to move in early in the New Year. The house is in Santa Clara and only a few miles from my current work, and centrally located to any other jobs if the need arises. Unfortunately without a change in career all of my jobs will be down in southern Silicon Valley. At least I’ll be able to bicycle to work, and hopefully gain a little bit of semblance of order in my life. Car: It came time to replace the car after another 3years of lease flew by. The old Audi A4 was replaced by an Audi A3 3.2l. LOTS of fun to drive, and packed with lots of toys to play with. Most importantly Sat-Nav so Richard can now never become lost again. Richard is still with FTI Ringtail and by all accounts doing very well and loving the job. It certainly seems to be a fun company to work for. We’re not sure if this is just because of the large number of Australians! I’m still with the startup and enjoying it immensely. Their first silicon arrived at the beginning of September and although there are some teething problems it is looking very good. Customers are eagerly waiting for the product as well, which hopefully bodes well for the future. This is a new chip for the next generation of internet transport – 10Gbit over Ethernet (which is an amazingly difficult task to accomplish!). I’ve again been involved with the street fairs in San Francisco, carrying on the Presidential duties of Folsom Street fair and returning a record $350,000 back to local and national charities this year. I was also the beverages manager for SF Pride. Richard did his usual fantastic job of behind the scenes support services. The cats, Tanga and Mac, continue to rule the house and are in fine form. The year in a photo diary is as always available at www.copperhall.com. Other than that we are both very well and wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and wonderful New Year.
Dec. 10th, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
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| » FOLSOM STREET EVENTS™ DONATES MASSIVE CHARITY CHECK TO NONPROFIT AGENCIES |
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$350,066 Check Represents 16% Increase Over Previous Year’s Giving Level
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (November 12, 2006) – The Board of Directors of Folsom Street Events announced charitable giving in the amount of $350,066 today. Andy Copper, Board President, says, “We are deeply humbled by this philanthropic achievement. We are so very grateful to our sponsors, beneficiaries, beverage partners, and the leather/fetish community for its growing generous support. This is absolutely a record-breaking year, and we are already working diligently on our upcoming 25th Folsom Street Fair in 2008.” According to Demetri Moshoyannis, Executive Director, “The vast majority of this check will support the work of our 16 Bay Area major and supporting beneficiaries that are working diligently to improve our communities in the areas of public health, human services, and the arts. However, our grant-making extends beyond these groups to include our nonprofit beverage partners and a new National Community Grants Program. Combined, we support over 60 worthy charities; and, we couldn’t be happier with the amount of this check and the results of our giving programs.” On Tuesday, November 13th, Folsom Street Events hosts a very special evening to honor its beneficiaries, sponsors, and nonprofit beverage partners with a check ceremony. The event is by invitation only and will be held again at the incredibly chic and charity-minded supperclub in the South of Market neighborhood. Special invited guests include Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisors Bevan Dufty, Chris Daly, and Tom Ammiano as well as Assemblymember Mark Leno. Presenting sponsors of Folsom Street Events were Miller Lite/Miller Genuine Draft, NakedSword, TitanMen.com, and GLOSS. Premier sponsors were RECON, Hot House Entertainment, Elbow Grease, Mr. S Leather, and Maximus Vodka. Charter sponsors were Steamworks, BigMuscle.com, Blow Buddies, Dungeonbeds, Leatherpost.com, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, and Powerhouse. Media sponsors were SF Bay Guardian, IN LA Magazine, and Bear Party Magazine. Major beneficiaries included AIDS Emergency Fund, Dolores Street Community Services, Frameline, Healing Waters, Lyon-Martin Health Services, Pets Are Wonderful Support, Positive Resource Center, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, STOP AIDS Project, and Tenderloin Health. Supporting beneficiaries included Berkeley Free Clinic, Black Rock Arts Foundation, GLBT Historical Society, Transgender Law Center, and Triangle Martial Arts Association. About Folsom Street EventsFolsom Street Events is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that produces four annual fetish events: Bay of Pigs™, Up Your Alley™, Magnitude™, and Folsom Street Fair™. The mission is to create volunteer-driven leather events that provide the adult alternative lifestyle community with safe venues for self-expression while emphasizing freedom, fun, frolic and fetish and raising funds to benefit charity. In 2006, over 350,000 attendees raised $301,512 for charitable donations. 2008 marks the historic 25th Folsom Street Fair.
Nov. 16th, 2007 @ 10:38 am
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| » OMG - Shoes |
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I am so excited. For the first time ever, I can actually say I am excited about our entertainment lineup for Folsom Street Fair!
We have...
Kelly (OMG - shoes!)
Imperial Teen
Ladytron
Cazwell
theStart
and Risque
I may actually spend some time at the stages this year, instead of avoiding them like the plaque and only going there when there is a problem.
Pretty impressed here.
Sep. 17th, 2007 @ 11:24 am
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| » The life and times of a busy bear |
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Wow, that has been an intense month and a half.... Thank god for a month of relaxing coming up before my grand finale of the street fair season.
A little catch-up.
We arrived back from our Honeymoon and I immediately fell into event mode to get ready for SF Pride. Once again I was the beverages manager for this event, and had 2 weeks to grab all the last minute details together. The beverages operation for Pride, stocks 33 bars over 2 days, runs from 4pm Friday to 11pm Sunday continuously, went through 360kegs of beer (more than most bars in the city go through in a year!) and has a team of 4 of us. Pretty impressive results, and a very smooth operation now. I had fun, in an odd sense of achievement way. It is really nice to see a whole plan and method of my own devising work and go so smoothly. Serving alchol to the 700,00 estimated attendees is pretty impressive as well.
I then had a few weeks off, before launching into Up Your Alley (UYA) or Dore Alley as most people call it. I am the board president for Folsom Street Events, the producers of UYA, Bay Of Pigs, Folsom Street Fair and Magnitude. This is a volunteer position for this non-profit and I also act as the overall Event Manager and the Beverages Manager. Essentially the buck stops with me.
I LOVE UYA - it is such an easy event to run and I can actually have fun doing it. Folsom is a completely different animal, but more on that another time. The estimated attendance for UYA is between 12,000 and 15K people. This year certainly was a festive year, and thankfully no major incidents. My day started at 4am (Folsom Street is really NOT pretty at that time of day!) and finished at 8.30pm. There is so much work involved in putting on a street fair, pretty much all of which goes completely un-noticed - well it does if we do our jobs right. I have a board of 9 all running different sections of the fairs - porta-potties, trash/recycling, security, exhibitors, entertainment, treasury etc. Just stop and look around a street fair and notice all the infrastructure that needs to be put in place to host 12K people! All in and out within 12hours.
Add into this mix, my husband Richard having to fly off to the UK with 6hrs notice to say farewell to his grandmother who unfortunately passed away 2 weeks ago, so it meant I was running solo for the weeks running up to UYA. I also hosted my own garden party for 100 of my closest friends the day before UYA (thanks Pup ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) daikon and house-bear kevin_v5 for your help in setting this up!).
So as you can probably see, I have been a busy little bear.
Off to LadyBear for some R&R this weekend, and then hopefully a nice and quiet August. September will roll around quickly I know and will a launch me headlong into producing Folsom Street Fair - a party for 400,000 people.
Oh yes - all of this done in my spare time, as I hold a regular job working for a startup. So yes startup hours are the norm. Our chip is due back very shortly so loads of work to do before then.
Hugs
Jul. 30th, 2007 @ 01:18 pm
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| » 13 years, 5 months, 9 days later we did it. |
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Well it has been a while since I posted, and to be honest it has been REALLY busy! Richard and I have been getting ready for our wedding.
Yes 13 years, 5 months, 9 days after we met Richard and I finally made honest men of each other and got married in the UK in the Lanesborough hotel on May 26th 2007 (Memorial Day).
There are loads of pictures on our website www.copperhall.com for those curious.
The Lanesborough is a 6 star hotel in the middle of London. It hosted both the ceremony and reception for us.
Prior to the ceremony our guests arrived and had tea and fruit juice and serenaded by a harp player. General pictures of that can be seen here and here The ceremony was split into two halves. The first half was the "legal" bit presided over by a registrar from the local council. This is where we exchanged our rings and simple vows. After the registrar left, a celebrant came in and did the "spiritual' bit. We did a hand-tying ceremony and lighting of a flame.
After the ceremony we had a cocktail hour accompanied by a string quartet, and also had time to take all the staged photos.
We then moved on to dinner. This was a seven course dinner, but we split it up into sections. As we had so many different sets of people, we decided it would be fun to make people move during courses. We arranged the room so that we had 6 tables. Each table was named after a place we used to live in, and the positions on the table after a room in that house. Each person was given a set of driving directions directing them from one address to another. They had two courses in one address, and then moved to another for the next two, and then one last move for the final three. This sounded like a nightmare, but worked wonderfully and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
We then spent the next two weeks on honeymoon with some friends on the Island of Ishcia (off the coast of Naples, above Capri and along the Amalfi coast). The first week was spent with my best man John and his partner David. The second week was spent with Richard's best man Dan and best girlfriend Sheema. Lovely and relaxing!
A full write up is coming when I get time to put all the photos together.
Jun. 28th, 2007 @ 03:02 pm
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| » Loads 'a dosh - $301,512.00 I give to you. |
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOLSOM STREET EVENTS™ DONATES LARGEST
CHARITY CHECK IN ITS 23-YEAR HISTORY
$301,512 Check Denotes Giving Larger Than Three Other Largest SF LGBT Events Combined
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (November 20, 2006) – The Board of Directors of Folsom Street Events announced charitable giving in the amount of $301,512 today. Andy Copper, Board President, says, “We are extremely grateful to our sponsors, beneficiaries, beverage partners, and the fetish community for the incredibly generous support that makes this gift possible. We have had a banner year, and we are going to continue working hard to improve our already remarkable line-up of fetish events for our upcoming 25TH anniversary in 2008.”
According to Demetri Moshoyannis, Executive Director, “The lion’s share of this check will support the work of our 13 major beneficiaries who are working diligently to improve the San Francisco community in the areas of Health, Human Services, and The Arts. However, our grantmaking extends beyond these groups to include our nonprofit beverage partners and a modest national community grants program. Combined, we support over 60 worthy charities, and, as such, we couldn’t be happier with the results of our giving program.”
On Monday, November 20TH, Folsom Street Events will host a very special evening to honor its beneficiaries, sponsors, and nonprofit beverage partners with a check ceremony. The event is by invitation only and will be held at the incredibly chic and charity-minded supperclub in the South of Market neighborhood.
This year’s major beneficiaries include AIDS/HIV/Hep C Nightline, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Bay Area Young Positives, Episcopal Community Services, The Family Link, Frameline, Immune Enhancement Project, Lesbian Health Research Center, Magnet, SF Gay Men’s Chorus, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Tenderloin Health, and Visual Aid.
This year’s event sponsors were Miller Lite/MGD, Tattoo, Cuervo, RECON, TitanMen, LIVE 105, Elbow Grease, Mustang Studios, Blow Buddies, Hot House Entertainment, DungeonBeds, Steamworks, Mr. S Leather, BigMuscle.com, Leatherpost, Renoir Hotel, and Powerhouse.
Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather/fetish/kink street fair in the world with nearly 400,000 attendees annually. Folsom Street Events is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that produces Folsom Street Fair, Up Your Alley™, and Magnitude™. Comprised almost entirely of volunteers, the organization donates net proceeds to selected San Francisco charities.
Nov. 21st, 2006 @ 09:56 am
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| » FOLSOM STREET EVENTS™ ASSEMBLES A RECORD-BREAKING UP YOUR ALLEY™ STREET FAIR Fun, Frolic and Fetish |
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August 01, 2006
FOLSOM STREET EVENTS™ ASSEMBLES A RECORD-BREAKING UP YOUR ALLEY™ STREET FAIR Fun, Frolic and Fetish Ignite Dore Alley and Folsom Street
On Sunday, July 30, 2006, Folsom Street Events™ presented Up Your Alley™, its first major event of the 23rd annual fair season. With a strong line up of DJs (Joseph Lee, Cary Stringfellow, and Matt Consola), cutting-edge leather and fetish vendors, savory food, and beer and liquor aplenty, over 12,000 members of the leather community had a very special and kinky time in the San Francisco sun.
According to Andy Copper, Board President of Folsom Street Events, “Up Your Alley has never been a more exceptional event for our community. With help from The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and our 12 benefiting charities, we produced an extremely ‘intimate’ leather street fair where the adult alternative lifestyle community was recognized, appreciated, and celebrated.” According to Demetri Moshoyannis, Executive Director, “The Board of Directors, Board Associates and staff members were extremely pleased with this year’s Up Your Alley performance, as we raised a record-setting amount of income from sponsorships, gate donations, booth sales, and beer and liquor sales. With an über-hot crowd of fun and sexy leather folk, we couldn’t be happier. This was a memorable event!”
This year’s Up Your Alley benefiting charities included AIDS/HIV/Hep C Nightline, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Bay Area Young Positives, Episcopal Community Services, The Family Link, Frameline, Immune Enhancement Project, Lesbian Health Research Center, Magnet, SF Gay Men’s Chorus, Tenderloin Health (the merger of Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center and Continuum), and Visual Aid.
This year’s Up Your Alley sponsors were Miller Lite/MGD, Tattoo, Cuervo, RECON.com, TitanMen, Elbow Grease, Dungeonbeds, Blow Buddies, Hot House Entertainment, Steamworks, Mustang Studios, Mr. S Leather, BigMuscle.com, Leatherpost, Renoir Hotel, and Powerhouse Bar.
About Folsom Street Events
Folsom Street Events™, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, produces Up Your Alley™, Magnitude™, and Folsom Street Fair™. The mission of Folsom Street Events™ is to create volunteer-driven leather events that provide the adult alternative lifestyle community with safe venues for self-expression while emphasizing freedom, fun, frolic and fetish and raising critical funds to benefit San Francisco charities. In 2005, Folsom Street Events marked the 22nd Folsom Street Fair™ with nearly 400,000 attendees and over $280,000 donated to San Francisco charities.
For More Information
For more information about the Folsom Street Events, the Up Your Alley Fair™, Folsom Street Fair™, Magnitude, or volunteer opportunities please see our
website: folsomstreetevents.org
or contact:
Demetri Moshoyannis
Folsom Street Events
fse@folsomstreetevents.org
(415) 861-3247
Aug. 1st, 2006 @ 02:43 pm
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| » Friends with Benefits mememememememem |
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So lets play........FRIENDS with BENEFITS. Oh how totally narcissistic! :-) Love it.
The rules are simple...
If you want to date me, leave a message saying "I'm yours." (not sure the practicality of this, but interesting to find out!)
If you just want to sleep with me and stay friends, send me a message that says "I'd hit it." Oh and say what you would like to do.
If you just want a cuddle with me, send me a message that says "I'am your bear."
If you want to be bitch slapped, be a smartass. Because you know I would love to :-)
All responses will be screened.
Turnabout is fair play, and to play you must repost the meme in your own journal.
Jun. 7th, 2006 @ 09:46 am
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| » Oh the dichotomy! |
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I sometimes love the fucked up dichotomy of my life sometimes. Here is a perfect example.
The weekend was spent at IML in Chicago. Spent the entire weekend in multiple outfits of leather, perusing the boys, cruising, sexing, flirting etc. Loads of fun and just a wonderful pleasurable trip.
So there I was in the lobby, boy at my feet taking good care of my boots (hey they needed a good tongue cleaning, who was I to say no) and another boy in front of me. I was pounding the living crap out of his chest, and making good and sure his nipples would be nice and sore. A little while later I had him on the floor with my boot firmly implanted on his chest. HOT HOT HOT! All whilst smoking a cigar. Just heaven. The bruises and the perfect boot outline on his chest the next day were perfect testimony to my work. He had a blast and wanted more the next day. I just tied him up and took advantage of the other end if you know what I mean……
A few days later, I find myself in San Jose at the Madge concert.
So there I am perfect seats with the hubby and two perfect friends, screaming like the girls we all are, dancing like we had never danced before and just having an utter blast. The experience could not be as far removed from 3 nights earlier if it tried.
Madge – well the show was absolutely amazing. The sound perfect and lovely and loud. As my father would say, the only way to do it right is to make sure the sound rattles your testicles. It certainly did! I think the highlight of the evening were the visuals. Just stunning videography, amazing use of a see-through video screen. Just HOT HOT HOT!
And there you have it my wonderful dichotic life captured in 3 days. Just utterly perfect.
A very bouncy set of hugs
XX
Jun. 1st, 2006 @ 01:47 pm
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| » Swan Lake |
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So last night, Rich and I went to see the Matthew Bournes Adventures in Motion Pictures version of Swan Lake. If you have not seen it yet - you MUST go. It is excellent.
I also came to realise that it was a strange coincidence. 10 years ago to this month, we saw Swan Lake when it first came out in London. It was April 1996 and we were living in London at the time, and saw it at the Piccadilly Theatre. It certainly has withstood the test of time, and is still fantastic. It was a little odd, seeing something that looked so fresh and new, but we had seen it 10 years ago.
Before going to the Theatre, we had a delightful dinner in a nice find in Hayes Valley. Paul K restaurant - decidely nice food.
Apr. 14th, 2006 @ 12:36 pm
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| » Just because |
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Just because Jeff (beg1n) did it, I thought I would give birth to my Sister (www.thesisters.org) name...
Erin McColon She is a wee bonny scottish lass from the highlands.
Ok, there done it. Back to being butch with tools..
Woody hugs
X
Jan. 19th, 2006 @ 05:39 pm
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| » I have a new tool... |
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Oh yes, joy and happiness abound as HRM2K6 (House Re-Model 2006) starts off with full gusto and a new tool.
Please welcome my new baby..
Yup boys and girls that is a DW716 - a 12 inch double bevel compound mitre saw. WOOF!
So we got aquainted over the weekend as I started to lay a new wood floor in our bedroom.
Fun!
Powertool hugs
XXX
Jan. 17th, 2006 @ 09:31 am
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| » My last day in paradise |
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Well 9 days ago Rich, Matt, Peter and I left all the hum-drum of life behind and headed to Maui for a vacation. Yup a vacation! The first time since February where I have not had anything to do for a week! I have only checked emails every other day, only done 3 hours of work, but I actually read a book (Talk to the Hand by Lynne Truss – not a recommended read, bit of a rant, the entire book reads like the opening chapter, but ok).
The vacation started on the evening of the 17th when Kevin, JW, Rich and I went to see Corteo. I love Cirque shows, and it was exciting to go and see one again. I must admit this one was a little light on the acrobatics – there was not to much flingy around stuff, but at least there was a story, which I liked. The added bonus was that a few of the guys where HOT, and we got to see one of the big beefy ones up close and personal thanks to the fortunate revolving stage stop and front row seats. Yay.
We headed to Maui on the 18th on an early morning flight and spent the rest of the day settling into the condo – you know boring things like food shopping, eating and drinking, and drinking, and drinking.
On Saturday we ventured out to Little Beach (www.gayhawaii.com/maui/littlebeach.htm) the gay nude beach. I fell in love with this beach 2 years ago when I was last here, and was immediately at home when we arrived. It helped that 3 friends I made last time, just happened to be here this time as well. Lots of fun playing in the surf, bodysurfing and just having fun – I must admit I love being in the water and can stay in it for hours playing in the surf.
Sunday again was spent on the beach, and meeting more familiar faces – it seems that every Thanksgiving a core group of guys comes here. Can’t be bad! Sunday’s are a little more special as a whole host of people arrive with drums, tambourines, didgeridoos etc and then just play away, culminating in the beach just jiving and dancing to a major peak when the sun sets. Pretty amazing actually, and quite spiritual – all said from someone who does not believe in any of that!
On Monday we left Maui for a short 2 day trip to Hawaii to see the volcano. A very early flight had us in just as the island was waking up. We took a helicopter ride (www.bluehawaiian.com) over the volcano – the pilot was excellent as he took us really close in and twisted the helicopter around so we all had really good views. Seeing the lava actually fall into the water was spectacular. After the ride we picked a car up and headed up to a tropical botanical garden (www.htbg.com). Having been brought up in the tropics it is very nice to see a lot of familiar plants and flowers again. We then headed to the volcano for an up close and personal view of it (ok then not so close, but we got the picture). The rest of the day was spent hiking over lava fields, being awestruck by the views and expanse and taking lots of pictures. We then headed north up the island for a very long drive to our hotel for the night (www.princeresortshawaii.com/HBP/) The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel for a little bit of luxury.
On Tuesday we got up slowly, and soaked up the lavishness of the hotel. We also went to a coffee plantation showing the boys coffee plants for the first time, and then headed back to Maui.
Wednesday was an indoors day, as it rained. Time was spent reading, sleeping and just mooching. Wonderful :-)
Thursday was Thanksgiving day and we spent it driving around the lower half of the island. This involved the Road to Hana (http://www.maui-vacation.net/activities/roadtohana.html) a spectacular drive down the east coast of Maui resplendent in its tropical rainforest, steep jagged cliffs, breath taking sea views and very very twisty roads. Hana is a curious town, tucked away in the middle of no-where, but still managing to thrive. On the way down we all sampled fresh coconut straight off the tree. After leaving Hana and running along the south part of the island the rain forest is replaced by lava fields, and large sweeping views of the backside of Haleakala. The roads also runs out of pavement and turns into single lane dirt road – my favorite part of the journey as I love driving on dirt roads as it reminds me of back in Africa.
Thanksgiving dinner consisted of grilled steak and salad.
Friday and Saturday where once again spent playing in the surf on the beach and just hanging out with the 20 or so guys we met there.
So that leaves me to today. Here I am on the lanai watching the huge rain storm soak the island but still beautifully warm. As soon as the rain is past, we will hit the beach and watch our last sunset on the island to the back drop of the drums and spectacle of a little beach Sunday sunset. A redeye back to SFO will complete this little trip to paradise, and back to the hubbub of work, volunteering, and all the other little things that just make up life. It has been great to be able to get away, stop and do absolutely nothing.
Nov. 27th, 2005 @ 10:07 am
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| » The RRR leather w/e |
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We ended up taking the motorbikes up to Guerneville last Friday for the "Leather Weekend" Not much leather going on, but a perfect relaxing weekend however. Friday night we had pizza for dinner at that place that also has live music (Main Station?) - heard some dame sing suprisingly well (Verne Williams?) which relieved me as I normally can not stand live music that close whilst I am eating. A very amusing picture of her was also there - taken when she was in her 30's, which was about 50 years ago! A classic AOL photo methinks.
Saturday had the dubious honor of getting the status of "nothing whatsoever achieved". We ate, we gossiped, we drank, we drank, we walked around in our motorcycle leathers causing a stir intown, we drank, we laughed and then went to bed. WE all managed to find our correct beds - unlike some squalid bloke who found the "wrong" room. Umm ummm. Hilarity ensued about that! I mean, jumping into bed bollock naked you would have thought to have checked the man next to you first.......... I am surprised you guys in SF did not hear the scream! LOL.
Sunday was slow, and we rode home in the rain - not fun on a sportsbike, but we all made it safely.
Nov. 9th, 2005 @ 11:23 am
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ecstatic
