Moto GP was this past weekend at Laguna Seca. I was pretty excited to use my new 5d Mark II camera with its super-fast shutter and eager responsiveness. Above is the best picture I took. If you click on it and view the largest version, you can see a very intense vein in Rossi’s neck!

Here’s the entire set.

Last month I finally got around to do something I’ve been interested in for many years: skydiving. I went with my friend Maritza. We decided to go on a Saturday night, and Sunday morning we were traveling across the bay to Bay Area Skydiving.

While we were signing up and getting ready, I was trying not to think about the logistics of it all. I just wanted to jump out of a plane and see how it felt to be surrounded by nothing but air (and a man strapped to your back). Our jumpers kept joking around with us as they put the gear on, I think they do that to break the ice for nervous people. I guess my biggest concern was getting motion sick. Fortunately it was not a problem.

As we left the plane I had to look up and back, he gently rocked us out and suddenly we were floating through the air. I just remember looking around and trying to take it all in so that I would remember it forever. We fell for about 2 minutes. During that time the camera guy came over to us. I blew him a kiss and he held my hands.

Then he pulled the parachute. And everything slowed down drastically. He showed me how to steer the chute, spinning us in circles really fast and then switching to the other direction. That’s when I started to feel sick. He stopped just in time and gave me the controls. It was really hard to steer, you had to pull on the ropes very hard. I didn’t turn us much. I mostly just looked around at the horizon, unobstructed by dirty glass, it was beautiful.

About 10 minutes or so later we landed on the ground. We had a pretty good landing. And I was so happy and excited about the whole thing. I would definitely do that again some day.

Here are all the pictures.

So, naturally, because I wrote about having a lane all to myself, when I got there this morning every lane had two people in it. Some even had three. Go figure.

I managed to suck it up and swim with two others. After about two or three go arounds we were spread out evenly and it wasn’t so bad. Eventually the guy left and it was just me and a woman. And actually, I prefer swimming with women because it makes me feel faster. :p

Post #12 (50-100-50)

I’ve been swimming at the YMCA in the Presidio since about November. I try to swim Monday, Wednesday and Friday, though I don’t make it if I’m sick or have to run an errand in the morning. I’ve been pretty consistent for the most part though.

Around January and February the pool got packed for obvious reasons. People made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and were coming to the pool to do so. This annoyed me greatly, because although the pool is big I hate sharing lanes. Splitting it two ways is fine, but when you have to circle with three people it gets down right irritating. Usually the three people aren’t always going the same speed. The staff puts markers at the ends of each lane: fast, medium, and slow, but that doesn’t always mean you’re going to end up with someone that goes the same pace.

So many times I would have to slow down and wait for the person in front of me to get ahead enough for me to actually get a bit of a workout. And if the person was doing the butterfly stroke forget about it! That stroke is so damn slow. I think it should be off limits if you’re sharing with more than one person.

I was so annoyed by the increased number of people that I contemplated finding a new pool. Luckily I stuck it out though. Around March and April those folks started to peter out. And now on days like today I had an entire lane to myself during the whole session. So wonderful! Thank goodness for lazy people.

And if you are wondering how much I swim, 32 laps make a mile. I swim 24 laps, which is 3/4 of a mile.

Post #10 (50-100-50)

This past weekend we went snowboarding and skiing up in Tahoe. Needless to say I am very sore now! Anyway, on the way there we stopped in Sacramento to visit our friends Mike & Meg (M&M). They’re at the half way point and they offered to watch Joe while we ski-boarded, so we spent Friday night at their place.

On the way to Tahoe Saturday we ended up on a road that was covered heavily in snow, and opted not to continue on that road. We turned back and went straight to the hotel. Sunday we hit the slopes, and boy was I rusty.

After a tiring day we headed back to M&M’s. Again, they were more than hospitable. They fed us some dinner and told us all about their adventures with Joe. They took him for a long walk; he jumped over the back of the couch, and promptly waited to be told to get off; and he slept in the bed we slept in the night before, as opposed to sleeping with them (which is what we thought he would do). And that is the part of my story that is so sweet. The little guy missed us so much, he needed to sleep where we did. Aww

Last night Steve and I went to the usual Tuesday night rolling sessions (see previous post). In the last couple of weeks I had practiced doing rolls with hand paddles and was able to do it pretty well, but once the regular paddle was in my hand I lost it all – two many things to think about at once.

So last night after some warms ups with the hand paddles, I finally did it! I rolled not once, not twice, but about 10 times with the paddle and no assistance!!! Woo hoo, I can roll a kayak! And all thanks to Steve’s wonderful instruction and encouragement

Now we need to head out on a river. No, no, not a crazy one, just a simple little class 2 – one that doesn’t require rolling as a prerequisite. It should be a lot of fun with our new-found kayaking buddies.

So I have two very separate kayaking experiences to relay. I went sea kayaking and I’m learning how to roll a kayak for white water kayaking.

Steve is teaching me how to roll, he’s taught about 30 people. On Tuesday nights we go out to Gunn High School in Palo Alto where they have 1.5 hr sessions for $5. I’ve had two lessons so far and he says that I am doing very well.

Before we began I was so nervous about the whole thing. The thought of being trapped in a kayak under water scared the crap out of me. But he went step by step, first showing me how to escape, then moving on to rolling and all of its steps. It was no where near as bad as I anticipated.

At the end of my second lesson I actually rolled the kayak on my own, although I didn’t really feel it – felt just like when he was supporting me. So apparently it’s somewhat impressive to get it on your second time in the boat. He also says that women learn a lot easier than men because we actually listen and we don’t try to muscle it. It’s kind of fun and I can’t wait to try again and actually “get it.”

Now the sea kayaking… I went with my friend Nicci and a group of her friends. We went out at White Gulch in Point Reyes. It was a three hour tour that included lunch. The day was overcast and not too windy, which seemed to be perfect. Our guides were very nice and lunch was pretty darn good.

We saw some Tule Elk, a huge buck with a harem of about 8-9 females. When he saw us he stared for quite a while then decided to move them up hill – hearing him bugle was quite fascinating. We also had a harbor seal following us around for a little while. The guide pulled a big starfish out of the water and passed it around. And we saw all sorts of birds.

The tour was very quiet and peaceful and just long enough to tire me out. I was a little sore afterwards, but not too bad. After that we went to a local bar and had oysters and beer. I had a good time

I went snowboarding for the second time over the weekend. Steve and I went to Kirkwood with our friend Ben and his brother, John. I was very nervous about it, considering the terrible head trauma I had last time. But I knew that if I didn’t try it soon, I may never try it again. Plus, I bought a helmet so I knew I would at least be a little better off in that department.

I took my second lesson on Saturday with John (his first lesson, second time out). I did sooooo much better this time. I’m not sure if it was just a better teacher or having less students or me being more in tune with the lesson and the board, but whatever it was it worked. He got us to the point of turning our boards, which my last teacher never even touched on. For the first time I felt like I was in control of the board. Also, the snow was like butter, so soft and nice. Though it was much colder this time. Last time you could have gone downhill in a t-shirt and snow pants!

After the lesson John and I continued on the bunny hill a couple of times, along with the other green runs beside it. I continued to fall a bit, but overall was doing much better – I think I got it.

On Sunday John and I started on some greens on the other side of the resort. Suddenly we both forgot what we were doing. It seemed that we could both go one way, but not the other. I was doing well facing away from the hill, heel side and he was doing well facing the hill, toe side (we lead with opposite feet). We figured our inability to ride on one side may have been due to the slope of the hill. At any rate, I forgot how to turn and simply could not do toe side. Ended up catching the edge of my board and landing with my face in the snow several times.

I eventually gave up on that hill and decided to head back to the bunny where I was going to meet Steve later anyway. John went off to another hill, a blue run I think (little braver than I). Here’s my rationale, I’m used to the bunny, may as well get back to it and build up my confidence there before moving on. I should have started there that day. And I was right, when I got on that hill I was able to turn again and managed to make it down three times without falling.

I think the key to learning something is taking it slow, knowing your limits, knowing when you’re ready to move on, and being honest with yourself about taking those steps. I find that when I do these things I’m much more likely to succeed. I followed the same rules when learning how to ride my motorcycle and am doing well because of it.

Steve came up to the bunny hill and we took a short break before going out together. He’s been skiing since he was little, so it wasn’t much of a challenge for him, but he enjoyed spending the time with me. We went down the bunny, the one next to it and then another green that was a little more challenging. By the end of Sunday I had much more control of the board and could easily pin point my weaknesses – going too fast and having people in my path. When either of these two things happen I panic and fail to function, unable to turn I fall on my ass. At least I’m slowing down though and then falling, which hurts much less.

Overall I had a really fun time and can’t wait to go again, despite how sore my entire body is today

Steve and I went up to Lake Tahoe to go skiing and snowboarding this past weekend. Steve skis and I’ve never done either, so I decided to take snowboarding lessons. I was doing alright for most of the lesson until one of my last attempts. I was facing up the hill trying to stop, when I unintentionally stood up too straight, which caused me to fall backwards down the hill. First I hit my ass very hard, then I hit my head just as hard. Later on I discovered a huge bruise on my butt.

I didn’t try again the next day fearing that if I fell on my butt, hands or knees one more time I’d just fall apart. Steve did well both days and said that the snow was great.

On our way back to the hotel Saturday night the moon was out and looking awesome above the mountains. I took a few pictures of it, but it’s never quite as nice as in person.

Today the marketing department took a little field trip to ride go karts and do some wine tasting. The go karts were a blast. They went up to 40 mph and we had to wear flame retardant suits and helmets.

First we did some practice laps. I came in third for fastest lap time. Then, based on our practice times, we were split into four teams of 6 people. We had 8 races, so we each got to race twice. Then we did semi finals, and finals. I won every race, had best lap time and the most points! There were 22 people, half of them men � and I beat them all! OH, what a blast! The women were so proud of me, the men too for that matter. But I�m sure it just ate some of them up!

I would attribute some of my skill to the fact that I love to drive and have learned a bit about it, but also to the motorcycle and the course I recently took. Taught me a lot about how to handle the bike in small places, which also apply to a kart on a small track J I just can�t express how much fun that was today!

That’s me in #14 in the red.

The top four racers… there were two in second place, Mandeep and Ken, while Brett (the one who organized the event) came in third. What a fun day!