Going Belly Up.

It's been a heck of a month for the Finn Family, so we had to blow off some steam by rocking out at the Belly Up Tavern.  Finn can't go however, so he either has to be taken care of by the wookie dog Jake, or a sitter.  Since the parents of Finn are still way too high strung and psychotic about leaving him with anyone just yet, we were left with one overly elaborate and nonsensical option: to each see a show solo, while the other parent watches Mr. Finn Bob Squarepants...how the heck else are you supposed to maintain your rock 'n roll lifestyle with a tot?

Greg and the rest of the Hips at the Belly Up, 3/13/2009.

I went to see my buddy Greg and the world famous Mother Hips on Friday night, while Mrs. Finn caught the Von Bondies on Sunday.  The Hips were amazing and are on their way to Austin to play 4 gigs at SXSW before ending up in NYC, then finally back home to finish up a new album.  The Von Bondies changed their lineup a bit, but sound as good if not better than the show at the Casbah 2-3 years ago.

Go to Lou's Records and check them out. Now!

Finn's latest tricks...

Once again, I was forced out of my Leucadian man-cave for a weekend of luxury.  Mrs. Finn ended her big birthday month by spending another night of swankness at the Hotel Solamar down in the big city.  Finn cruised the pool bar and dazzled a bunch of hotties, while their boyfriends glared at me for bringing him over. Finn's such a player.  And a total chick magnet.

The next morning, Finn cruised to Petco Park and decided he had had enough of the stroller.  Like a wee little vampire he rose up on his own for the first time and checked everything out!  My brother thinks he’s a little peeved though – thinking, perhaps, “why the hell did they bring me down here on a day when there isn’t a freakin’ game?".

   

The Player, working his magic.

The Finnster continued to amaze back home in Leucadia, by touching his toes (especially while changing diapers, full moon style...) any chance he gets.  He also likes flying Superman style with dad, either laughing hysterically or drooling, or both.  When he really gets laughing he sounds a bit like a jackass, which is pretty cool.

Finn, bustin' one of his moves.

Finn, pimpin' it in Palm Springs!

Mrs. Finn just had a big birthday last weekend and booked us a bargain room at the swanky Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs.  Finn came along for the ride, and the wookie stayed home (but pets are allowed at the Viceroy, in case you're interested).  Mrs. Finn dug the mod design while Finn and I ogled over the not-so-mini-bar liquor selections and the cool pool scene:

Finn getting eaten by the couch crack.

View of pool #1 from room.  Perfect for spying on the hotties.

Oh the Maker's Mark & Bombay Sapphire was tempting, but not $40 tempting. Team Finn is strictly BYOB baby, yeah!

After the pimpy Viceroy, we got to see best friends Matt and Barbara and their incredible house in nearby La Quinta. Over lunch we caught up and showed off Finn before hitting the road back over the mountains.  Back in Leucadia we were greeted by the overexcited wookie dog Jake, who wished Mrs. Finn happy birthday by yakking up on the bed.  Thanks pal.

Laugh it up, Mr. Chuckles.

Rollin' like Diddy at pool #2.

Idiots invade Leucadia.

I need to vent a little...the Familia de Finn headed out to Juanita's on this last beautiful Sunday to grab a burrito between house projects when we spotted them in front of Pannikin Coffee:

The Idiots.  

The Idiots included 2 parents loading up their innocent non-idiot kids on Dad's crotch rocket motorcycle, and Mom's new Vespa.  So idiot Dad and non-idiot kid #1 tool off down busy Coast Highway, kid looking like a bobblehead because the helmet was so big and heavy (I'm guessing the kid was 9 years old or so).  Then idiot Mom follows on the Vespa with smaller non-idiot kid #2 (maybe 7 years old and even more bobbleheaded), but the kid can't hold on to Mom because the kid is busy carrying the non-idiot dog!  

What the hell? What were they thinking? I don't care how good a rider you are, idiots flock to Coast Highway on weekends like flies on poop. I barely ride my vintage piece of crap Vespa anymore because of the idiots doing illegal u-turns, dangerous lefts, yakking on cell phones, etc. Ok, I'm done now. 

Idiots!!! Now I'm done. Really. Sorry. It's been a rough week. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I finally simmered down after I got home and finished this masterpiece with Finn and Mrs. Finn:

Thanks for the vent session. And don't be an idiot. 

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.

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.