Licensed (well permitted) to scoot

My scooter enjoying some shade. You can see Jonathan's in the background.
So I rode my scooter to work today, then to the DMV to take my motorcycle permit test. Yeah yeah, I know it's slightly ironic/slightly illegal driving the scooter to go get my permit, but hey parking sucks at the DMV, parking a scooter is so much easier. I passed the test, only missed one, so I'm free to scoot around the state. WooHoo!

Had my first fill up.
*begin sarcasm* Can you believe how much I had to spend on gas! Back in 2000 it would have only been $1.70. I guess I'll just have to eat cardboard this month. *end sarcasm*

But all the sarcasm, gas savings and environmental benefits aside, the scooter is just FUN to ride!

iScoot

After scanning Craigslist's classified ads for the past couple weeks, I founds a sweet deal on the scooter I wanted. A 2008 Yamaha Zuma! Jonathan started the scooter bug and now everyone is getting one. Even my mom got one today!

I'll write more and post some real pictures soon...Now I just need to get my motorcycle license. ;)

Update:

My Mom's Yamaha Vino Classic

My Weekend & Happy Birthday Levi!

Another great weekend! It's hard to believe that the wedding was only last weekend because I've done so much, it seems like forever ago.

This weekend started off really fun and then got relaxing.

Friday night we planned on a seeing an 80's cover band called the Spazmatics at Pala Casino. To start off the night, Nanci and I met my friends at Chili's for dinner. We arrived a little later, so they ended up leaving a bit early to make it to start of the 80's show while we stayed to finish eating. As they were leaving they said we were in for a special "treat". 5 minutes later all of the servers surround us to sing happy birthday to Nanci and give her a milkshake. They got us good! All I can say is, "Welcome to the group, Nanci".

After finishing up at Chili's we made it over to Pala and found them at the Cabaret Lounge. The band was actually really good at playing 80's music so we went out on the dance floor and danced around with all of our crazy dance moves. I did the "lawn mower", "through the door", and "cleaning the erasers", to name a few. Fun times!

Saturday, we had everyone over at my mom's house for dinner and to celebrate my brother Levi's bday. Happy 24th BDay Levi!

Wim cooked Levi's favorite Indonesian dish called "Bami"

*ruff*Happy Birthday Levi*ruff*
And finally Sunday, we had dinner at my dad's house, with my Grandma Ayako. After a delicious meal we looked at pictures from the Wisconsin trip on Levi's computer and listened to Grandma dispense her wise advice.

Why my job is GREAT!

Quarterly Luncheons and Shaved Ice!

Watermelon and Blue Raspberry, Yum!

Back Home

Wisconsin was really green

I cut my Wisconsin trip a little bit short in order to come back and attend a wedding in San Diego with Nanci. The initial plan was to fly out of Madison on Friday afternoon and end up in Palm Springs at 7PM, but it didn't quite work out that way.

I had a standby seat and the plane ended up filling up at the last minute. So I had to decide whether to just stay in Wisconsin for the rest of the trip or take the later flight (5 hours later), spend the night in Denver because there were no more connecting flights that day, then take the Saturday morning flight to Palm Springs, rush home and get ready for the wedding in 30 minutes before getting picked up to go down to San Diego.

I decided to go for it. About the 4th hour into my waiting at the airport I was seriously questioning my sanity and rationality. But when it came down to it, I said that I would be there if it was at all possible, Nanci wanted me there, and I wanted to be there.

Comfort Suites has the dumbest pillows ever (they're each 1/2 a pillow)!

So after 2 flights, 3 selected security screenings (the whole metal detector wand, pat down, checking all my luggage), 24 hours and 1600 miles...I made it to the wedding!

Congratulations Rosie and Carlos

The wedding conga line

Being a part of the wedding conga line

Nanci taking a break from helping out with the bride and wedding.

I have never done or would have done anything this crazy to be somewhere for someone, ever...but it was TOTALLY worth it!

In Wisconsin

In Madison Wisconsin, visiting family.

Update:

"Cheese!"

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Happy Independence Day!

Even with all of the problems in our country, we still have more freedom than most. We just need be smart enough to keep holding onto it, otherwise big government will continue to increase their powers by taking ours.

Time Flies

I can't believe this year is already half over. 2008 has just flown by, but then again I probably say that about every year.

What I can say, is that 2008 has definitely been a good year. I've been blessed with great friends and family, good health, someone special in my life, a house, a job where I look forward to going into work everyday and I get to work on the once in a lifetime Temecula Civic Center project. Wow, until I just typed those things out, I didn't realize how really blessed I am. It's hard to realize it sometimes when everywhere you turn these days you are faced with the negatives of the world.