Deseret Industries

Living in Los Angeles is expensive, especially when you factor in 4 kids.  Two things that have made our life economically viable over the last few years are Melissa's ability to save (she is amazing and the best family CFO I've ever met) and our joint ability to bargain shop.  The DI up in Sacramento has been particularly helpful on that front.  We were up for my 20th high school reunion (I know, I don't look a day over 30) and did a stop by on the way to the event.  By way of background, we bought a 12 inch bike from Amazon in order to get the older boys up and riding.  It was around 100 bucks, but is a very nice bike.  Julian took to it like a duck to water and is really doing great now.  Problem is all of the other kids also need/want turns.
Luckily DI had two 12 inch bikes in varying states of disrepair, which we were able to snag for 20 bucks total! After a couple of hours of tinkering (putting on new pedals, greasing the chains, etc) we had them up and running.  Now, they aren't as nice as the 100 bike, but they run fine and are perfect starter vehicles.  Just need to find one more set of training wheels for Jack and Christian.  Just having trouble getting over the thought of spending more for training wheels than the bike I'm putting them on!

Mud Run!

Every year there is a widely attended mud run at Camp Pendleton (a marine corps base located outside of Oceanside).  This was my second year in a row participating and I really love it.  I'm a little disappointed in myself (definitely less prepared than last year), but enjoyed having Melissa and the kids come down with me this time.  We stayed at the Marriott in Oceanside and spent a few hours in the pool after the run.  Actually, I think I got more of a work out in the pool than I did at the run as the kids kept insisting on taking turns swimming laps on my back.  I think everyone had a great time.  We also managed to stop at a beautiful nursery on the way home and pick up a new avocado and lemon tree.  Very productive day!

BEFORE:

  
ONE OF THE MUD PITS:

AFTER

AND ROGERS GARDENS WHERE WE GOT OUR FRUIT TREES

A-Frame

Melissa and I went out for dinner at A-Frame a couple of weeks ago.  Its Roy Choi's (Kogi BBQ and Chego) newest place situated in a renovated IHOP in Culver City.  We really enjoyed ourselves.  They do a modern take on picnic food.  You can see a menu here.  We had a spicy kettle corn to start, crab cakes and ribs for appetizers and a cracklin beer can chicken entree we split.  It was very tasty.  I was especially obsessed with the ribs and have spent the last 2 sunday dinners trying to recreate them.  They haven't been as good as A-Frame's, but they have been very tasty.  Failing never tasted so good!

Minimalist Shoes -- My Take

I've had these shoes for a couple of years now. I've used them around the house and, periodically, to work. I like them and its about the closest I can get to bare feet in a business or polite social setting. That said, I could never quite get myself to run in them until the last couple of weeks. I was too afraid of hurting my feet (particularly my gimpy left foot) as I've heard differing opinions on the matter. On a whim I packed them for my trip to France and used them exclusively on the treadmill at the hotel. I managed to get 4 runs in over the 10 days I was in France and liked the experience very much. I decided to do get some street runs in (I'm trying to get ready for a mud run on the 16th) and set off on the first with a little bit of trepidation. I was extremely pleased with the results. I managed to get a 5.35 mile run in (which marks the fastest distance ramp up I've ever done, less than 4 weeks from total sedentary to 5+ miles) with plenty of hills and really enjoyed the experience. Felt lighter on my feet than I have in years and finished with no shin or knee pain. I had plenty of foot soreness and extremely sore calves, but that resolved itself rather quickly and I vastly prefer to muscle pain to the traditional alternatives. A couple of days later I also did a 4 mile run and felt even better. Ended a bit earlier because I suffered from the only major downside of running like this, which is a massive blister on the little toe on my left foot. Need to figure out how to address that as I have a couple of painful abrasions from the constant fabric rubbing. Overall, I think I'm sold. Still early in the process and we'll see how my left foot holds up, but really enthused by the results. I'm thinking of getting a casual version in brown kangaroo skin which could probably work better at the office. Check out some of the options here.

Goodbye Toeman

So our betta fighting fish named Toeman (I believe it was Caleb that has the credit for the name) passed away a couple of days ago.  He was a good, hearty fish and he will be missed.  Melissa and the kids had a porcelain ceremony for him.  The kids swear he was still swimming when the chain was pulled and that he probably made his way to the ocean "like Nemo."  Pretty sure he had passed, but can never quite shake the though of mutated sewer pets coming back to torment semi-neglectful owners.  If you are still alive Toeman, no hard feelings eh?

Knotts Berry Farm

I thought these pictures were too funny, so I must share... The kids had just eaten, and were perhaps a bit tired of sitting down! I love the picture of all of us because of the massive bus in the background! It was such a fun time, and so good to see everyone!

The Napoletana

Most people look at me like I'm crazy when I express anything less than enthusiasm about going to the Cannes Film Festival.  Admittedly the south of France is a sexy location and Melissa and talk about tacking a vacation on to the end of it at some point in the coming years.  That said, it really isn't as sexy as it sounds.  I spend most of my days (and nights) in antiquated, hot and smelly theaters watching mostly mediocre to outright terrible movies.  The one major highlight is the food and specifically the pizza.  I'm particularly partial to the Napoletana, a pizza smothered in anchovies and olives.  Its a salty treasure and it goes great with a salade verte on the side.  I've had it at several restaurants here in Cannes and I like Vesuvio's the best.  Its a beachfront restaurant with great italian food and a selection of great desserts.  It also offers a lovely view of the ocean and the Croisette.  It is a quintessential Cannes experience and makes the rest of the job worth it.