Berlin & Dublin

10 very short days on the other side of the Atlantic. Spent most of my time in Dreilinden, a day sightseeing in Berlin, then one night free in Dublin. In 5 words/phrases ...

Berlin: Pork, history, apartments, public transport and languages

Dublin: Green, Guinness, cobblestones, rain, traffic

Horses by the Brandenburg Gate:

The Berlin Wall:
Little red guy with a hat:
View of Smithfield Plaza in Dublin:
Proof i was there:

Cedar City - Utah Shakespeare Festival - Cedar Breaks National Monument

Everyone should take a long weekend every month ... we spent one down in Cedar City & saw The Two Gentlemen of Verona @ the Utah Shakespeare Festival (in a fantastic replica of the globe, Cedar Breaks National Monument (surprisingly great!), and some reasonably dodgy chinese food.

San Diego

5 days in San Diego by the beach! Went with Jaci & Dane, rented a house by the ocean and enjoyed the humidity and bearable heat. San Diego Zoo, Seaworld (complete with it's own deity - Shamu), ocean kayaking, swimming, bbq, sleeping in ... southern California was very very nice :)

The sharks were hungry:

The frogs were bright:
Got a little wet:
A few times actually...this is pilot whale spit:
We were confused when someone from the crowd went onstage under the guise of a 'walrus', but hey... the otter was cute. Best bit was when the otter came out with a can of pepsi.



Mich forked out the big bucks for a foot massage:While i pondered maps:
Coming home to this made it all worthwhile. The roof was a balcony/bbq area with a nice view of the ocean & sunset.
Can't ask for a better holiday! Thanks guys, same time next year.

Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots 11th June 2008 @ the E Center.

Thought it could be fun seeing everyone's 6th favourite band from the 90s on their reunion tour. For the most part it was, pretty much a greatest hits set, nothing too unexpected. Sex Type Thing was amazing. Scott can still move, although his voice isn't all that good, the rest of the band were tight. Glad i got to finally see them (always missed them in the 90s). Made me wish Layne Staley was still around :(

San Jose, San Francisco and Sonoma Valley and Coast

Just returned from a fabulous weekend in Northern California. Amazing weather, wonderful company ( James) and just a beautiful part of the US. Had so much fun I didn't want to leave...

David Ford

Amazing show at the the Avalon Theatre. Saw David Ford supporting a bunch of bands( Wild Sweet Orange, Mesa Drive and Augustana). His set was waaaaay too short- 30 minutes- Bah!. So James & I went up to him and asked why he doesn't do his own shows and I guess he has to for the mean time ( record company bullshite). Being the eternal groupies we said he could play for us only!!! He giggled and signed my CD. aaaagh... Everyone buy a copy of his albums- " I Sincerely Apologise for all the Trouble I have caused " and "Songs for the Road" -seriously some of the best albums of I have heard in the last few years.

Oh and I am unimpressed with Augustana- way too pretty for me but want to buy the Avalon Theatre.

I love Salt lake City for the cheap music and brushes with talented musos.


My signed copy of Songs for The Road

Ben Lee, Ben Folds and Jelly

Concert Quench, last night at the Great Salt Air, featuring Ben Folds and Ben Lee! Jaci made some amazing jelly (note: quite difficult to eat jelly & drive at the same time). We also got to meet Placid (Ben Lee)!

Capitol Reef National Park

With Michelle in Sydney, i took off for a quick trip to Capitol Reef National Park.

The trip started in the coolest way possible - with the car telling me something was up:

(it says 66666-stupid disposable camera)

Then arrived here:

Drove through some rather narrow canyons, i can see how these things flood in about 4 seconds:

Climbed the odd mountain or two, this one was my favourite.

Then visited this Golden Throne thing, doesn't look too comfortable to me:


And finally, saw this rewarding sign. They forget to mention you have to walk 5 miles back to your car.

Come home soon Michelle!

Sugarhouse

So this is what is happening to my neighbourhood where I work and live... so sad. The Sugar Shack will be gone in 6 weeks as well. I am unsure where I will be working and trying to remain zen like and serene about the whole situation. I think a huge birthday bash in July will be fantastic and there's always a spot of cricket in the Caribbean to think about.

Ice Bush

Amazing bush at our apartment block, it's under a dripping drain, and it's really really cold, resulting in this: