Hot Steamers in Leucadia!

Finn grabbed a hot chocolate at the Pannikin and checked out the sunset tonight over Stone Steps.  Unfortunately, a nearly endless supply of hot dog-steamers had to be avoided during the walk to El Portal.  Then at the North El Portal lookout, Finn and Jake were stoked to see a new dog poop sign and bag supply at the benches! When did this happen? Where else are they? Why is the guy in the sign holding a golf club? Why? Why? Why?

     

While we don't really dig more and more signs everywhere, there has been a large increase in hot steamers (in both quantity and volume) from dog owners who don't "pick up".  Suck it up, glove up, and be one with it.  I'm sick of worrying about turds in the lineup when deciding whether or not to surf after these recent rains.  

   

A quick trip to Big Bear.

Finn decided he was in the mood for some snow, so a few weekends ago we shlepped up to Big Bear and stayed at a great place Mrs. Finn found on VRBO.com.  Getting me out of my Leucadian cave is quite a feat, usually accompanied by massive amounts of groaning, sighing, whining, feet dragging, and the like-but as usual, once we were there things were great due to Mrs. Finn's expert planning tactics. The key to successfully extracting me from Leucadia is finding places where the 14 year old wookie dog can join us.  The cottage we scored allowed dogs AND was nice and clean with no skanky traces of previous pet occupancy. 

     

The snow was beautiful and Finn had a blast snowshoeing and hiking in the Baby Bjorn.  Momma Finn enjoyed the hot tub while Jake parked it in front of the gas stove for most of the trip.  If you're looking for a nice place to stay in Big Bear with your pooch, check this place out.  It's also about 5 minutes away from Bear Mountain and Snow Summit for boarding and skiing.  We were stoked to bomb down the mountain and make it back to the surf in 2.5 hours flat, while Finn slept the whole way-not a peep!

     

Cozy dog.

Perfect Leucadian weekend.

No big news or anything, just the lowdown on another incredible weekend in Leucadia and beyond.  Finn had a craving for burritos Friday night, so we grabbed Jake & off to Juanitas we went.  The missus had a classic bean & cheese, while I went for a grande veggie con extra frijoles, extra salsa, and a self serve sac o' jalapeno carrots.  

I grabbed our loot the way Indiana Jones snagged that golden idol, with a similar crazed look in the eyes, hands trembling, mouth drooling.  The result, of course, was mesmerizing.  Pure burrito satisfaction and the realization (once again) that there is no better place to live than Leucadia (Although this thought came as we were cutting through the mortuary parking lot...burritos, liquor, and the mortuary in walking distance to home-hooray!).  I can only hope Finn gets a few trickle down burrito particulates during the evening milk sesh.  Man he is a gassy little fellow.

All this pontificating on burritos reminded me of a friend.  A friend who fights for the rights of all things burrito-from the care and feeding of burritos, to their history, to the epic battles between southern and northern burritos.  He is Dr. Burrito, and you need to check him out now:  http://drburrito.com/

Saturday meant surfing! Finally, after the holidays, crazy work schedule, house projects, family visits, and living with a 3 month old, I finally got to get in the water again-it has been far too long.  La familia de Finn packed up the car with all his crap and headed to Seaside Reef for a field trip.  Surf was waist high and it was ultra low tide, breaking in about 2' of water on the reef.  A few guys were working the inside lefts and getting some sick little rides, while I struggled on the main peak with some groms in my post-holiday bloated slothlike condition.  

We decided Finn looked a bit like Chef Boy-R-Dee in his funky hat.  The tidepools were going off and we got a few shots before Finn had had enough of our day of fun.

On the way back north, the Cardiff Kook was sporting a slightly out of season Santa hat and wreath.  I was hoping for something more original.

          

Finn's college fund.

So at the ripe old age of 3 months, we sold Finn out and put some advertisements on his blog.  Thus far he has made a stunning $2.28 in 3 weeks.  The funny thing (to me at least-I know, it doesn't take much) is that the "targeted" ads have ranged from skunk & vermin repellant to pilates to psychotherapy to environmentally sustainable home accessories.  I guess that pretty much sums up life in Leucadia.

Stone Steps Labyrinth.

Finn cruised down to his home break, Stone Steps, to see what all this labyrinth hubbub was all about. We have not seen the neighborhood this crowded since the famous Stone Steps 4th of July fireworks that are sadly missed.  Anyway...it was quite a scene, and since we don't dig scenes, we watched from the bluff while Mama Finn got a closer look-she's the one in the middle with her hands in the air (like she just don't care) :

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2009 everybody, and thanks for following the funky misadventures of Finn & life growing up in Leucadia.

The Stereotypes-Orange EP

Finn and I just got a chance to check out the Orange EP, one of the latest releases from Leucadia's very own Stereotypes, and it's damn good.  While the albums "4" and "5" largely headed in a different and beautifully refined direction from their previous albums, Orange returns to their go-go garage rawk 'n roll sound-the sound you would hear blasting from the Bar Leucadian when bands like the Screamin' Seamen, Nipple, The Realistics, The Creepy Creeps, Thee Corsairs, and of course The Stereotypes played in the years past.  If you ever caught them at Leudrock or one of the legendary Halloween or New Years Eve shows, you'll know what I'm talking about-IF you can remember those nights...

Orange is a total foot stompin' rumpshaker, with songs like Nicolette, Door in the Wall, and Giraffe sure to be stuck in your head for days. Run to Lou's (or itunes) and bang down the door for The Stereotypes latest albums "5", the Orange EP, and the Grey EP today, your rump will thank you. 

http://www.thestereotypes.com/

Halloweenie at the Leucadian with The Stereotypes, 2004.

Nipple & Miss Daisy at the 2007 Leucadian Halloween gig.

Mexican wrestlers, go-go dancers, cavemen, cowboys, and Nipple-another perfect Halloween at the Leucadian.

Christmas in Quayludia.

Stefan, my personal tech Santa, was kind enough to let me borrow his Canon 20D while I continue to geek & obsess over which dSLR to buy.  I picked up the amazing (and cheap-$80) Canon 50mm lens that can bust out indoor shots at f1.8 with no flash.  The pictures pretty much kick ass over my little Canon SD600 point & shoot-I'm totally sold. Anyway, here's a few pics I shot during Christmas week while fooling around with the new toy.  

Hope you're having a killer holiday!

Finn & Jake were cranky xmas morning, but Finn warmed up a bit when he got some stylin' clothes on.

Christmas at the Beels', pimped out with some bubbly and Mrs. Beel's groovy decor.

Then on to visiting with friends in I.B. & Coronado, where Auntie Anto fixed Finn a nice spread in her garden.

Ebony was grabbing some rays, while Finn was flirting with his new hottie, Casey.

Leucadia wildlife.

El Skunko.

He's getting pissed!

Cooper's Hawk.

Leucadia Reindeer.

Our street has been pretty stinky lately, with a gang of skunks marauding around the 'hood.  Finn and I were eating breakfast at about 5:00 am when we heard some kind of ruckus outside.  Looking closer, we saw 2 skunks in the driveway. One had its head stuck between 2 slats on our gate, apparently oblivious that he had just dug a huge hole under the gate the previous night.  His buddy was freaking out and running around in circles in our driveway.  I went out (in my boxers) to see if I could free the stuck dude, when the panicked one charged me and ran up the kitchen deck.  Finally...Mr. Smartypants somehow removed his noggin from the gate and both skunks ran under the hole through our yard to the neighbor's, while leaving a yummy musky scent in the area where the action took place. Thanks skunks.

We also have a Cooper's Hawk that has been sizing up the baby and Jake.  He picks off Mourning Doves in the avocado tree and de-feathers and eviscerates them in our yard.  What a freakshow.

The Holidays in Leucadia & Encinitas

Just a few of our favorite holiday sights we've observed in the 'hood.

Finn's new favorite activity.

While taking advantage of these last few sunny weekends, Finn has been hanging out at the beach and catching some rays.  One of our favorite activities is to try to find couples who look like they hooked up using eHarmony or match.com.  Not that there's anything wrong with those sites, but the commercials are so cheeseball.  We can spot them a mile away-rolled up jeans, walking half pace in ankle deep water, way too much laughing, usually in the middle of a piggyback ride...