umm...yep sorry I haven't posted I've been doing lots of learning in size 3 font lately.

So I started school on Friday. This is a pretty good illustration of how I felt the morning before my first day.It all turned out alright, and the kids are real nice. The school even gave me a little coat that makes me look like "almost a doctor." In other news, my oldest bestest "brother from another mother" came to visit from NYC. We did some people watching at Venice Beach and then went to Malibu to surf. It was awesome. I surfed with my favorite Beastie Boy. I'll give you a hint he's the "ladies choice." There were other less interesting famous people as well. whatever. This is a re-enactment of my recent future. I hope you feel as confused as I do.

flip-flops vs. slippers vs. clackers

So, lately I've received a lot of flack about the word "flip-flops." Apparently everyone who thinks they have any naming rights to the aforementioned footwear calls them "slippers." Now, now, don't get all up in a huff my fellow 'mericans. I decided to do some thorough internet research to settle this debate once and for all.

A google image search of the word "slippers" yielded 83% actual slippers, and 17% australian/hawaiian "slippers" aka "flip-flops." It also yielded this...

Meanwhile, a google image search for "flip-flops" yeilded 95% actual flip-flops and one unpostable picture of a foot rash.

However the reason I am posting this is that today, while walking, I realized maybe those Ausies were right. My flip-flops didn't seem to be audibly "flip-flopping." Indeed there was some "flip-flop" action but, you know, I always thought it was named after the sound. And, the noise they were making was more of a "clack" or a "thwack". The sound had a negative air suck quality to it that "flip-flop" doesn't quite cover. Clearly "slippers" would be a poor substitute. Being the diplomat that I am, I propose another resolution to this debate. Perhaps we can call them "clackers" or "thwackers" or some alternate name that onomatopoeia-izes (sorry OED) this versatile footwear. Suggestions?

cuteoverload.co.indonesia

This just in...the cutest lil' one has been found.


If that didn't make you smile you might want to go get your cabezon checked. Indonesia was awesome. Surfing, snorkeling, eating, and slapping high fives were all "bagus" (good). I'm sure you will hear plenty about it, so that's the Indo post, short and sweet.

Bali-Ho!

Hey folks! You won't see me being creepy on the internet so much because I'm heading here for the month!!


over and out.

San Francisco to Santa Cruz

The next day we checked out San Francisco. Heidi got this really cool portrait taken of her by her friend Jen.


I walked around the Mission with my new friend Dave from my Israel trip. Note: this is mr. pickle not Dave.

Then we high-tailed it out San Fran and headed to Santa Cruz to stay with T-bone. For those of you who don't know T-bone he is a real neat guy whose interests include bicycles, hot yoga, and surfing. Sorry ladies, a jew already got to him. We presented him with these gifts.
We checked the surf and then went out for a bike ride and tacos at the Palomar.
Heidi played the photo/video trick on T-bone.

Then T-bone did a trick on his bicycle for us.


One of the coolest things that happened in Santa Cruz was that we went to a Bikram Yoga class. The bone said that there were people of all shapes and sizes there but it turns out Bikram is about a bunch of hot chicks sweating real hard with a very small amount of clothing on. No wonder he likes it so much. I thought it was really awesome too, not because of the babes though. The second day we were there T-bone's friends came into to town. They were all really cool especially the little one. He's got a bright future of melting hearts ahead of him.

At some point I made Heidi do this.

The surf was really small in Santa Cruz, but Heidi and I had a lot of fun being in sunny California. Santa Cruz was awesome as per usual. Thanks again T-bone!

Arcata,CA to San Francisco

Heidi and I started the next day off right...with a photoshoot!!!

In this one I am showing off my ninja skills.

These are for Heidi's senior pic.
A few interesting things happened in Arcata, CA. For those of you that don't know, Arcata is located in Humbolt County, which is, incidentally, where are the weed is located. I ordered a coffee at the Muddy Waters Cafe. I think those hippies use some special formula to counteract all the ganga. The coffee put me into hyperdrive!! I'm sure the other Erika thought I was a total weirdo, but I was just ampin'.
Another cool thing that happened in Arcata is that Heidi and I saw some amazing blankets as we were driving down the road. They were huge! They had feathers, and dream catchers, and strange fake native american stuff all over them. So we pulled over to buy them, but they were so expensive! $60?!?!?!? Turns out they were trying to sell us weeds and we didn't even know it. It was fortunate that we stopped, because the crab selling guy was right next door, and we finally got crabs.
I'm not sure how to turn this one, yet. If you have a laptop you can pick it up and turn it.
Next stop was the redwoods. It was my turn to crawl in a hole.
More big trees....whatever.

We paid an admission fee to drive through a tree. This was the bonus shot afterwards.and this is me driving through a tree.


Eventually we left the redwoods and drove all the way to San Francisco for a drink with these gals.

The end for now.

Shorties to Arcata, CA

In the morning we awoke to this scenic ocean view.
I think this is about the time that I started coming down with the hiv a.k.a. sinus infection.
There was a short bushwhacking interlude.

Then I decided to rinse out my gooey sinuses in the ocean. We went to surf short sands, but first there was an obligatory photoshoot. These are the highlights.

Oh, don't mind her, she's just walking on a log.
Please note the epic surf in the background.
Heidi had a hard time getting out of her wetsuit.



So she took it out on me by making me crawl in another hole.
Later on, I got back at her by choosing this hole/abandoned silo. It required use of a de-spider-webbing implement :). Nice butt crack Heidi!

We put the feud to rest just in time to tour the Tillamook cheese factory. Heidi even let me eat some cheese even though she had to be in an enclosed space with me for a long period of time. I'm hard at work at the factory.



Heidi looks dandy in this shot.
This is where the magic happens.

Ironically, the sun decided to commune with our road trip at Cape Foulweather. This is what communing with the sun looks like.

my jew horns finally came in!!!
I used my new evil powers to levitate for a better line of sight.
The whole day we had this vision of eating a fresh Dungenous Crab. However, we failed to keep track of time and we ended up at the harbor at 9:00 pm hoping to buy crab from fisherman. I know, what were we thinking? Anyway, we saw a cool sunset and then drove to Arcata to camp out at clam beach.