Leucadia is for Lovers!

My friend John Finkbiner once had an awesome shirt I think he made that had "Leucadia is for Lovers" written in bubbly round letters on the front...which gets us to Finn's Valentine's day extravaganza last weekend...

   

On Friday, Finn had dinner with the neighbors and caught up on the recent events.  Mrs. Paris Pants just got back from France and picked up a handsome little Frenchie outfit for the Finnster, while Uncle Neil and Charles put together an incredible meal for us all, topped off by a chocolate cake dusted with powdered sugar hearts.  Martha Stewart can eat my shorts.  Neil, Paris Pants, and Charles are the real deal, and they are a hell of a lot more fun to hang out with.

   

Finn, kickin' it Parisian style, while Neil shows off his sweets.

On Saturday we got some work done on the house, then cruised to Cardiff for a stormy Valentine's Day dinner at the beach.  The weather scared everyone away, which was nice, but it was freaking cold out.  Maybe I should have cheezed out and just gone out to supper...but alas, I pulled off some stellar bbq'd lobster and filet mignon and we grubbed out in the Vanagon.  Mrs. Finn even busted out a French red wine with a goat on the label.  I love goats. No really, I love them, especially pygmy goats. Anyway, it was a good night.  Hope yours was too.

  

Finn & Mrs. Finn with the Leucadian escape pod, and supper.

The next morning we all felt the massive disturbance in the Leucadian Force when we discovered the passing of Bob Nanninga. His passion and dedication to our community will surely be missed. Farewell Bob, and thank you for the spark and vitality you brought to Leucadia and Encinitas.

Sunset at Cardiff. February 14, 2009. 

Cheers Bob.

Every day...

I snapped this pic several weeks ago and just re-discovered it among the millions of photos of Finn in iPhoto.  It was one of those recent outstandingly epic mid-winter "summer" days in the middle of January.  

Finn and I have been thinking of the message in the sand quite a bit lately.  Ok, maybe just me.  Without getting too cheezy (yes, cheezy with a z), my "every day" thoughts today included....

1. Every day at work for the last 3 weeks has pretty much sucked, but...

2. Every day I forget all about work when I goof around with Finn.

3. Every day I wish I could go surfing.

4. Every day is a good day for Pannikin and Juanitas.

5. Every day I get a little more fat.  And slow. (this may have something to do with my recent surfing performance. See #3 and #4...)

What's your "every day"?

Finn in his Magnum P.I. Hawaiian shirt, wishing "every day" that his parents will go easy on his sweet wardrobe selections...

Superbowl Sunday Cardiff Freakshow.

Sombrero boy and plane.

Surfing dog, sombrero boy, and 12 of his stand-up friends.

The Whalerider (with stand-up grom in background, of course).

Mrs. Finn has been wanting to get back in the water since the Finnster emerged about 4 months ago.  With the piddly surf happenings this week, we decided to toss the 'yak in at Cardiff Reef to give her some saltwater action.  Finn seemed to forget however, what a freakshow the reef can be sometimes, especially on a beautiful Superbowl Sunday.....

13 stand-up paddle surfers snaking all the waves. Check. 

Guy in goofy sombrero (on stand-up board), check. 

Longboarder with dog on nose......uh, yep.  

Dude on a big fatty outrigger, check.  

Team Finn in the 'yak, with 12 other kayaks in the kelp beds, check.

Low flying airplane buzzing the line-up, uh huh.

Tandem board team practicing, check check check.

Paddleboard spear fisherman, bing!

Several RV'ers watching the game...at the beach...inside. 

That's it. We're out of here. Ok not really. We did manage to scarf down a killer chicken wrap from Ki's, look at a dead mullet on the beach (the fish, not the hair style), and see tons of dolphins and a harbor seal.  But still...should have stayed at Beacons. Leucadia rules.  Cardiff is for carnies, but we still love it.

 

Mr. Finn and his organic pet rat.

Mrs. Finn, back on the water after far too long.