I met up with my buddies Brandon and Owen at CPK on Friday. We discussed work, Australia, America and the usual, and it was great seeing them. Afterward, Owen and I carpooled downtown to see the Pads destroy the Orioles in an interleague matchup. After the game, we boarded the wrong Trolley line heading eastbound. Upon realizing our mistake, we got off the trolley somewhere east of San Diego. A pimped out Escalade rolled by and some hardcore Mexican guy asked us for change. Being two short and not-especially-strong white guys, we were happy when the trolley arrived and took us back to the city. Much to our delight, we arrived back at the stadium just in time for San Diego public service to shut down for the night. We hailed a cab on Fifth Avenue and had the driver take us past my old house to Owen’s car in Fashion Valley.

Our seats in Petco Park.

We met Sean, Amber and their new baby at the Pizza Port in Carlsbad the following day. We chit-chatted for a couple hours about this and that while feasting on the Pizza Carlsbad, a pesto, artichoke, feta and chicken masterpiece on wheat crust. Afterward, we shopped at the Carlsbad outlets, where I purchased a pair of comfortable Lucky jeans. At night, we had a nice family dinner with the Jacksons at C-Level lounge on the San Diego harbour. As usual the food was fantastic, as was the company.

I surfed in Pacific Beach on Sunday, taking advantage of the rare northern summer swell. My trusty old Santa Cruz epoxy was just as good as I remember, which temporarily rekindled my passion for (i.e. addiction to) the sport. The waves were clean and chest high, just what I needed. Unfortunately, I don’t have a car in Sydney and I work in the CBD so I valued every minute in the water, furiously paddling back out after catching waves.

On Monday, Hayley and Andy went skydiving near the Mexican border. I filmed as best I could from the ground (yes, I have no desire to go skydiving); check out the video below. Both Hayley and Andy loved it. Hayley said that she would go again if I went with her… which will not be happening anytime soon.

Hayley and Andy skydiving near the Mexican border.

After a week in sunny San Diego, we said our goodbyes to Andy and Jackie and departed for Santa Fe, New Mexico for my brother’s wedding. The streets of Santa Fe were flooded from a fast-moving freak storm that just passed through the town. We checked into our room at the Inn of the Governor’s and met up with the rest of my family. Santa Fe’s unique architecture is modeled after the surrounding Native American pueblos and no building- including the state capital building- is taller than a specific old church in town. The low skyline exposes an expansive view of the surrounding mountains from pretty much any point in the town. Old architecture is a rare sight in America, where old buildings are demolished by natural disasters, or to make way for Wal-Marts.

Is this a shed or a door? Either way, it looks pretty cool.

Most of our time in Santa Fe was spent site-seeing and eating local cuisine. On our first morning, we took a tour of the town and art galleries. The guide made claims such as “Santa Fe has the third largest art market in the world behind France and New York” and “no shops ever go out of business in Santa Fe, despite the bad economy.” Many stores sport permanent going-out-of-business signs in the windows, so I think she may have been subtly hinting at the scam. Either way, I have not verified these statements but I’m a bit skeptical.

We drove out to Taos one day and played frolf in the Ski Valley (reminder: it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere). The mountains and rock formations outside Santa Fe are stunning, including the expansive Rio Grande Gorge west of the freeway. Stretched for time, we only spent a few hours in Taos but it was definitely a highlight of the trip.

The following day, we attended my brother’s wedding at the Loretto Chapel. The chapel’s claim to fame is a legendary spiral staircase built by a Jesus-like “drifter carpenter,” who used no nails in the construction. Nobody seems to know how the staircase was built, and the drifter left shortly after it was built.

The mysterious spiral staircase at the Loretto chapel. Jesus may have visited Santa Fe at the turn of the century to build it, although the truth is unknown.

The wedding had an elegant southwestern style with talented mariachis, premium margaritas and hors d’oeuvre quesadillas. We danced and celebrated the newlyweds and caught up with family. We recovered the following day, then said our goodbyes on Monday. Next stop was the Bay Area, California where I grew up.

With only four full days in the bay, we tried to relax as much as possible. We shopped as usual, but I also watched baseball and hung around the house with my folks. A few notable events were watching my nephew Tommy’s all star game and hosting a BBQ with friends. Both events were fun in their own right, and it was great catching up with old friends at the latter.

Skip ahead a few days and I’m now on the plane, three hours outside of Auckland. I’m sitting in a middle seat in the center of the plane, my throat hurts from the lack of moisture (edit – actually, it turns out that I was getting sick), there’s a screaming child in front of me and I’m sick to death of lame movies. I suppose all good things must come to an end. No worries, mate! After a short flight from Auckland to Sydney, we’ll be back home and ready to resume our adventure down under.

January

Nice waves in Del Mar, California.

February

Rugby Sevens in San Diego, California.

Rare powder at Mt. High, Wrightwood, California.

March

Noodle Scrabble in San Diego, California.

April

Crazy weather on Mt. Baldy, California.

White out at Mt. Baldy, California.

May

Hayley graduates with a Masters Degree in Journalism. San Diego, California.

June

Bellagio at night, Las Vegas, Nevada.

July

Visiting friends in San Francisco, California.

Epic surfing at Pipes in Cardiff by the Sea, California.

August

Tower Bridge in London, England.

Don’t stop! Somewhere north of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Elephant crossing in Kruger Park, South Africa.

A hyena and vultures feeding on a dead giraffe in Kruger Park, South Africa.

Just before one of our many elephant scares in Kruger Park, South Africa.

Impala horns in Kruger Park, South Africa.

African sunset over the bush in Kruger Park, South Africa.

Wine tasting in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

“Jackass” penguins- after you know what- in Boulder’s Beach, South Africa.

Hiking up Table Mountain on beautiful winter day in Cape Town, South Africa.

Monster surf at Sea Point in Cape Town, South Africa.

Protea at Kirstenbosch near Cape Town, South Africa.

Kudu Crossing in northern South African farmland.

Cheetah sighting at Pilanesberg, South Africa.

Trampoline at Sun City, South Africa.

Township homes outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

Playing with lion cubs in the Lion Park, just outside Johannesburg, South Africa.

September

First cockatoo sighting in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney, Australia.

Flying foxes in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney, Australia.

Dust storm in Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia.

October

Destroying my only surfboard. Sydney, Australia.

Walking to Cremorne Point, Sydney, Australia.

November

Ford Ranger Cup. North Sydney, Australia.

Balmoral Beach, Mosman, Sydney, Australia.

December

Opera House, Sydney, Australia.

Work holiday party at the Watson’s Bay Hotel. Sydney, Australia.

Attacked by cockatoos in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Australia.

NYE Sydney, Australia.

Tyler took us by the street in Full House. We saw five tour buses drive by in the ten minutes we were there. And one guy drove by with his window down and shouted, “Wassup Danny Tanner!!”

The view above the Full House house.

We drove to Fisherman’s Wharf afterward and walked around Cannery Row and Pier 39. Hayley has been pestering me since our last disaster* to visit the harbor area, so I finally gave in. It was fun walking around, although I wish we had eaten at a real restaurant instead of In and Out. Check out our pics, which are posted in a million different places, including http://mswebby.com/flickr/.

The next day my masculinity was put to the test at the Filoli Gardens in Woodside. It was pretty cool for an hour, then I lost it and ran straight to the deli to have a drink. It’s tough being a dude in that place. Ok, honestly it was fine.

One of Filoli’s many Secret Garden-eque pathways.

We spent the rest of the trip hanging out with my folks. Last night mom and dad took Hayley and I to the über fancy Le Papillon in San Jose to celebrate both our anniversaries. My meal consisted of a glass of very nice champagne, a generous helping of lobster bisque and a delicious Pinot Noir Braised Duck Breast with Sour Cherry, Green Peppercorn Gastrique and Black Forbidden Rice. It was pretty fricking sweet, especially since we will be eating much less extravagant meals for the next year and a half (starting July 29, I’m milking this country for all it’s worth, baby).

We flew out today. When we arrived at home in San Diego, we tried Skype video chat with my folks and it worked great.

* Description of the “Last Disaster” mentioned above: We were at the Golden Gate bridge lookout point a few years back and I went prancing down through the shrubbery to check out the famous surf spot at the base of the bridge. Halfway down I noticed that I was surrounded by many beautiful bushes with leaves of three, oily texture and red tips. Yes, Poison Oak, my worst enemy that used to attack me regularly in Junior High while Mountain Biking.

I sprinted back through those bastard plants, ran to the car, changed into my red “santa pants” as Hayley calls them and proceeded to flip out like a school girl. We drove a mile before stopping at the first house I could find. I jumped out of the car, stripped down to the bare essentials and drenched myself under their garden hose, all the while hoping they wouldn’t come out and ask me what I was doing in their lawn. Hayley had put the seat all the way back and was hiding, although I think she may have been laughing at me. She’s very good at that.

We drove another twenty minutes before parking illegally in front of the CVS on Van Ness and I ordered Hayley to get me (1) rubbing alcohol and (2) cotton balls. I scrubbed my legs, arms, face, stearing wheel, shoes, Hayley, etc… until I had finally convinced myself that the Poison Oak was sufficiently removed from my skin.

In the end I didn’t actually get Poison Oak. I guess that’s either because the hose and rubbing alcohol worked, or because it wasn’t actually Poison Oak.

NOTE: CLICK THE HQ BUTTON AFTER CLICKING PLAY TO WATCH IN HD

With the help of her parents, Hayley was able to get by this weekend without my car. This week though, I’m on the bike and she’s got the Suuby.

This morning I barely made it to the train on time; my bike speed is not what it used to be. I purchased my ticket and had about forty-five seconds to spare before boarding. This afternoon, I wasn’t so lucky. Four minutes late and now I have an hour and twenty minutes to burn. I decided to check out the coffee shop next door, Zumbar.

Honestly, things have turned out pretty well! Zumbar is much better than sitting on the couch at home while Hayley works. They have cool, rhythmic music playing and I’m drinking a high quality Vanilla Latte out of a real mug. There’s a hookah bar next door and I’ve seen all sorts of people walking in and out, from suit-and-tie business people to slovenly dressed college students.

The waitress from next door just came over and asked if the internet was working for me. I admitted to it, although I wasn’t very forthcoming since I wasn’t supporting their store. She was very nice and I feel badly about how I responded. Hopefully she’s not too dismayed. No big deal I guess, she’s probably high*.

All in all, I’ve turned an unsatisfactory and agitating situation into a unique and relaxing experience. That’s always nice.

* on life, of course?!

So I decided to do some research. According to Earth 911, the San Diego Department of Environmental Health (DEH) takes hundreds of samples weekly and posts findings on the Earth 911 website. I did a quick google search and found the main San Diego DEH website. The top of the website reads:

Unfortunately due to the Governor’s line item veto of funding for the Beach Safety Act from the State Budget on September 23rd, 2008, DEH will no longer be able to provide the following services:

• Routine water quality sampling and analysis of results for the County’s beaches
• Issuance of water contact advisories based upon bacterial exceedances
• Complaint investigation of suspected contamination
• Daily email, web updates (beaches911.com), pod-casts and fax updates of beach water quality.

DEH will provide limited services listed below:

• Receive reports of sewage spills and issue water contact closures when those reports indicate possible sewage contamination at public beaches
• Notification of closures will be limited to a press release, signs posted on the beach and messages on the DEH phone hotline 619-338-2073.

We would like to remind the beach going public that:

• Beaches with the highest risk of contamination are near flowing storm drain, river, and lagoon outlets.
• Water quality at all beaches can be contaminated by urban runoff for up to 3 days following significant rainfall
• Historical monitoring data indicates water quality at most beaches in the county is generally good during dry weather.

I know everyone has to sacrifice something in this economic crisis, but how much could these samples possibly cost the state? We are forty billion dollars in debt. I would be surprised if this topped five million dollars per year. That is one eight-thousandth of our debt. If you had eight thousand dollars, what is a dollar to you?

The governor sucks. Line item veto, my @.

Mama Testa
Mexican
1417 University Ave # A
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 298-8226
http://www.mamatestataqueria.com/

Mexican restaurants in San Diego are a dime a dozen, but few have the authentic tacos of Mama Testa with the cleanliness that deserves a DHEC “A” food inspection rating (or so I think, I haven’t been in the kitchen). The fresh salsa bar features more than ten varieties from mild to “wicked” spicy. I recommend the Asi Yasado grilled chicken tacos.

Blue Water
Seafood
3667 India St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 497-0914
*no website*

First in line in Middletown’s eclectic row of domestic and international restaurants is Blue Water Seafood. Their menu is printed on paper like most fresh fish restaurants and prices range from $8 to $25 depending on your choice of fish and presentation. Dining is very casual; you order at a cash register and the food is brought to you on plastic plates. It’s honest; why does good fish always have to come with a huge price tag, anyway? I recommend the shrimp tacos.

Mama’s Bakery & Lebanese Deli
Lebanese
4237 Alabama St
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 688-0717
http://mamasbakery.net/

Mama’s is a little difficult to find. Located off El Cajon in North Park, this house turned restaurant has a very fun and casual feel to it. Like Blue Water, you order at the front then seat yourself. The outdoor patio is the only available seating option, but they have a heater for colder winter nights. Everyone I take to Mama’s enjoys in immensely. I recommend the Chicken Shwawarma wrap and the almond baqlawa squares for dessert.

Sushi Fix
Japanese
1608 India St # 101
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 237-7878
http://www.sushi-fix.com/

Few sushi bars roll with the fresh ingredients we expect for the price we pay. Most restaurants use either the new trendy decor or the authentic Japanese style, but rarely the casual seat yourself approach. Sushi Fix is another “order from the register, we’ll call your number” kind of place, yet the fish is fresh and the sushi is delicious. There’s nothing quite like their fried banana and chocolate dessert, sometimes free if you order enough sushi. Look for $5 off and free California Roll coupons in the quarterly magazines that come in the mail or online.

Bronx Pizza
New York Style Pizza
111 Washington St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 291-3341
http://www.bronxpizza.com/

Eh Tony, make me a pizza! Authentic New York style, thin-crust pizza and a no BS attitude. Always busy but always on time. They only have (need) one size pizza, and it’s huge. No onsite parking, but they just started delivery. You can also dine in and order by the slice.

Bread & Cie
French Bakery and Cafe
350 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 683-9322
http://www.breadandciecatering.com/

C’est bon, merci. Bread & Cie is our friendly neighborhood bakery that serves delicious sandwiches on fresh homemade bread. They also have a variety of desserts and pastries to choose from. Bread & Cie is also a nice place to meet with friends for a coffee during the mid-morning hours. Bon appetite!

World Curry
Indian/Island Curry
1433 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-4455
http://www.worldcurry.com/

On upper Garnet Avenue near the Play It Again and on the same block as Longboard’s grill is World Curry, the international curry super station. We visit here at least once a month and have settled on the Mango Frappe, Garlic Naan bread, panang vegetable curry and spinach chicken curry. If you like your curry spicy, they dare you try the Phall Curry. Eat it in 30 minutes and your name goes on the wall permanently. Fun and fast but delicious.

Hash House A-GoGo
Breakfast
3628 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 298-4646
http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/

Do not show up at Hash House A-GoGo past 7:30 am on a weekend. You have been warned. This place is packed, and for good reason. The hashes and scrambles are fantastic; I’ve never had a bad meal here. Come hungry or split your plate with another person because the portions are huge.

C-Level Lounge
Seafood Lounge
880 Harbor Island Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 298-6802
http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/islandprime/

Next door to the famous Island Prime steakhouse is C-Level lounge, a Cohn owned gem on the San Diego bay. At happy hour, C-Level is difficult to beat with its stunning views, $5 appetizers, and fun drink specials. I recommend the lobster BLT and lobster bisque entree as well.

Goldfish Point Cafe
Sandwich and Coffee
1255 Coast Blvd S
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-7407
http://www.goldfishpoint-cafe.com/index.html

This Euro style panini cafe in La Jolla Cove hosts a spectacular view of the bluffs, ranging from Scripps pier to Del Mar. Stop by for an cappuccino, play a board game, order a panini or just relax and soak in the vibe. Parking can be rough, but just try to remember that you are not in Europe.

Today was a pretty amazing surf day. I paddled out at 11th Street in Del Mar. Afterward, I took some photos:

Pretty good conditions:

The rest are here:
http://flickr.com/photos/mswebersd/archives/date-posted/2009/01/19/ or on this site after the sunset photos: http://mswebby.com/flickr/set.php?set_id=72157607806007223&set_name=Del+Mar%3A+11th+Street

Unfortunately I was unable to get a Mt. Baldy VIP coupon book. I was told to call back the next morning for four mornings in a row before leaving my number with someone, who didn’t know what a VIP pass was and probably won’t call me back.

For those that don’t know, VIP passes go on sale once a year at the local ski expos. It’s a great deal: four anytime tickets, two monday-friday tickets, four 2-for-1 coupons and two learn-to-ski-and-snowboard coupons, all for $60. I got mine last year at SnowJam, but Baldy didn’t setup a booth this year. At least that’s what they told me on the phone before the show. If you attended Ski Dazzle in LA this year, you scored.

So what to do? $180 6-pack at Mt. High? It’s reliable, true. You get man-made snow, sometimes it’s real but rare. No steeps. A well-maintained park. The most crowded ski resort per square inch in America. The secret? Ski weekdays. Can I do that? No.

Next option, pay exorbitant prices for Mt. Baldy, which has steep skiing and no lift lines. Unfortunately, you never know what to expect from Mt. Baldy. I went last year in the Spring, and it was awesome. I went in the early winter and they were charging $50 to walk around on a little patch of snow in front of the lodge. In other words if it’s good, it’s the best in Southern California (Mammoth excluded). If it’s bad, you feel like you lost ten hands straight in blackjack and tipped all the rest of your money to the person who enabled your hangover.

So honestly, I hate to rip on Baldy because I completely understand their situation. See, Mt. Baldy has this real local mountain feel to it. The road getting up there is not easy. The patrol is straight out of a movie; last year they had a sign that said, “Be Careful, it’s hard dick out there.” About as helpful as a snowboarder patrolman who told my friend “Why the f*ck should I know?” when asked if he’d seen his lost camera. Plus, the biggest metropolis this side of the Mississippi is one hour from the base of the mountain. So why not charge the douchey Lakers fans who wear jeans tucked into their ski boots $50 a ticket for 60s style lifts? Gotta protect the mountain somehow. Makes you wonder why they even sell the VIP pass?

So I think this year might be a Mt. High year. I’m going up for a day this coming week and I need a guarantee and a cheap ticket. Hopefully working on Sunday and skiing on the 23rd won’t be as busy as a normal day. And hopefully there’s more to that mountain than what I’ve seen the past ten times I’ve skied there. Not likely as you can see the whole mountain from the parking lot.

I’ve been calling Mt. Baldy daily about purchasing a VIP pass, but they keep telling me to call back the next day. Hopefully I can pick one up soon- it’s too good of a deal to share. If I don’t I might have to consider other options such as the 6 for $180 deal at Mt. High. Mt. High is too LA for me though; I prefer the steeps at Baldy.

Keep snowing, baby. I need something to occupy my time while the HEP-A and e-coli infestation festers at the local surf breaks.