G Routine

By no means am I a great cook, but I like to think I can hold my own. My main discipline is anything I can throw on the BBQ. Or according to my old roommate Mark, I can heat stuff up with the best of them. I also have my ten or so "go to" dishes when I need to impress, but there is definitely room for improvement.

Luckily for me, a friend of a friend has started a cooking class for men called ManCademy. As the copy states on the website, "it's a cooking class for the common man." Although I hate to think of myself as common, I'm seriously enjoying the classes. Since this is the first go around, it's men, women, married folk, couples and a few single people. I personally enjoy the coed aspect, but can see how it may be less intimidating for guys to be in an all guy class.

The chef or instructor is Chris Smith. His end goal would be to have a cooking show on the Food Network, but for now is honing his courses on some very willing ginny pigs. The first step will be putting together 10 classes and establish some paying students. I'm fortunate to have gotten in on the ground level.

So far we've had two classes, the first on knifes and appetizers and the second on utensils, salads and dressings. It's a great format because you first learn a universal cooking skill, like cutting technics or the basics to making any salad dressing, followed by making three specific items. The class has a great pace, where we first listen and learn, then watch Chris demonstrate, followed by breaking into groups and cooking.

The appetizers and wine during the three hour class also helps move things along. The other key is bringing tupperware, so you can take home what you put together during class. Last time I brought home a chicken caesar salad that I couldn't believe I made. Had to have been one of the best tasting salads I've ever made and it was just a caesar!!! All from scratch I'll have you know.

Lastly, Chris does a great job typing up the lesson plan, instructions and recipies. So far I have recreated two dishes at home to what I consider a success. They tasted great and reinforced the fact I am learning something.

Cooking should not be a chore but a fun activity you can share with your friends and family. I'm looking forward to the next installment of ManCademy.

Posted by Gary at 12:06 PM | Permalink

How in the world did I get here? I turned 35 a little while ago and for some reason 35 sounds so much older than 34. I'm not one to get caught up in a persons age. It's all mental to me, and well, a little physical too. Just before my birthday I had a collision at the end of a soccer game. I flipped over and landed on my shoulder, resulting in a trip to the hospital and a sprained AC joint. My arm was in a sling for a couple weeks and it's still hard to put my socks on.

My physical feeling of age is more due to the fact I'm out of shape and slightly overweight. A few years ago, after breaking my back, I worked out all the time, road my bike, swam, and did pilates and yoga. I was in great shape and felt better than I had in years. So I know my physical well being isn't as much about my age as it is my personal habits and amount of exercise I get.

I had a great birthday party with a friend of mine, Ryan Goedhart. We had a house party over at his place,a big ol' BBQ, with a DJ set up outside. A lot of good friends came out we danced the night away. People just don't have solid house parties any more. Next big party will be at 40 I guess.

The last shot is of me and Ryan, the night we were trying to figure out how to put out an eVite. You know you don't party like you used to when you can't remember how to post an eVite and all the contact information in your profile is out of date.

Posted by Gary at 11:51 AM | Permalink

I always park a block down from the Pike Place Market whenever I go to the Showbox. I just enjoy walking through and watching all the people. Even when it's closed, there are still tourists on the upper street walking along or getting a cup of coffee. I've taken the traditional picture of the Market sign with the clock at the main entrance, but saw this electric coffee sign and thought is was another cool backdrop.

My friend Joel got some tickets to go see Moby at the Showbox, when offered a ticket, I couldn't say no. I haven't heard any recent Moby music, but I respect what he's achieved. The concert was on last Sunday evening and he didn't go on until eleven forty five. If I had known he was going on so late, I probably wouldn't have gone.

The Showbox was packed with a good crowd. It was an older crowd, more people my age. Lots of lovely ladies, including a couple that I used to work with at K2. All in all I'm glad I went. I need to see more good music and I do enjoy dancing. Still can't believe how many people go to a concert on a work night.

Posted by Gary at 07:53 AM | Permalink

I needed to get out of town. The month of May is a big one for me. I have gotten to the point where I'm ready to grow the G Brand and I'm pitching a few different companies. I have three proposals to send out and should get responses from two pervious. I also plan to update my resume, portfolio, and website this month. At the same time, my roommate just moved out and I need to find a new one.

So with so much on my mind, I felt the need to go clear my head. There's two places that achieve this for me, being up in the mountains or up at my folks cabin. Since the ski season is pretty much over, I packed up a few things and drove to Everett.

The cabin is on Hat Island, between Whidbey Island and the coast of Everett. It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's a forty five minute drive to the ferry and another forty five minute boat ride.

I got off the boat where my Dad was waiting to pick me up. My parents had come up to the island on Wednesday and were busy cleaning, de-winterizing, doing yard work and getting the cabin ready for summer. They keep it in amazing shape. I walked in the door, we had a little 'happy hour' and then dinner.

Another great thing about going up to the cabin when my folks are there is my Mom's cooking. You all know the comfort of your Mom's cooking. Just feels like home.

Saturday was a grey day. I got up fairly early and went for a run. It rained and we stayed inside for the most part. Just sat by the fire and read my book. Went for a short beach walk in the rain in the afternoon. The only color to be found was our colorful windmill against the dreary skies. The sun did peak out just at dusk for a nice sunset. As I sat in the recliner reading my book, I would occasionally look up and watch the different stages of the sunset and check out the humming birds at the feeder.

Sunday we felt the sun on our face. It was partly cloudy to blue skies. I worked on one of my proposals for about an hour but the summer weather made me shut off the computer and go outside. I grabbed my camera and decided to walk around the island. It isn't that big so it only takes about two hours to walk all the way around. The tide was out, as were the birds, bald eagles, blue herons, and a whale.

I forgot about the clams... As I walked across some sand, peppered with holes, the clams squirt out water and dig deeper. As this occurs, the sand becomes softer and I ended up sinking. So half my walk was in wet sand filled running shoes.

I also forgot that I've been inside all winter and am pasty white. Today, I'm bright red and pretty burned. My shins are particularly red and burnt. It was definitely my first visit to the cabin for the summer. I made a couple rookie mistakes.

But my goal was attained. I'm feeling relaxed and ready to meet the month's challenges. I even finished reading a 600+ page book from Friday evening to Sunday night. That's called relaxing. I didn't even play golf or go sailing. I'm looking forward to going back already. Who wants to come?

Posted by Gary at 09:52 AM | Permalink

I'm getting too old to be renting. I need to buy a house of my own and start putting money into what for many people, is their best investment. It's a tough decision to buy right now, looking at the economy, the cost of living going up and the housing market itself. Prices are falling all over the country, foreclosures are everywhere and home values have tanked. But I live in one of the few cities where the real estate market is holding fairly strong.

I'm slightly stuck at the moment. I have 'some' money that I can use for a down payment so my monthly mortgage payments wouldn't be so ridiculous that I couldn't enjoy doing anything else. The real problem is that I just started my own business, this G Brand company, which is great but doesn't generate the kind of constant revenue needed (yet) to warrant buying a home I'd be happy with. I need to lock in a few more clients on a retainer, not project basis.

Another issue is buying a place by myself. If I had a steady girlfriend or wife whom could also put money towards a place, I wouldn't have to endure the entire cost. I need to find myself a quality lady with some financial means. Where are you?

My current roommate is moving out this weekend. I've been in the same rental house for two years now. It's a nice place in a great location with Green Lake, Fremont, Ballard, Phinney Ridge and Wallingford all really close by. Everything spirals out downhill from my place. It's even easy to get downtown with an I-99 on-ramp only a couple blocks away. The only negative would be the kids who live downstairs. They are college kids who sometime get a little bit noisy. Oh the last renters were a dream, never heard em and they took the garbage out every Sunday.

So here I am, I either need a new roommate or find someone else who I could be their roommate. I hate moving and would rather not move again until it's in my own place. So the search begins. My place comes fully furnished minus the bedroom. I have all the furniture to deck out a house, I'm just missing the house. All my new roommate would need is a bed and a dresser really. It's a month to month lease right now.

So hit me up with an email if you're interested. The first image above is of the entrance to the house. Below are a couple more shots of the inside of the place. I keep it pretty clean and need to live with clean people. Can't handle living in a messy place. Check it out and spread the word, "one bedroom in nice house, great location, pretty much furnished, and live with a nice guy - for rent."

This is my living room, which is right when you go in the front door.

Moving from the living room, your looking at the path into the dinning room and then into the kitchen.

Here's the dinning room, just a little further in from the living room.

I like to cook but don't often enough. The kitchen is pretty good.

This is the bedroom available for rent. The closet will have doors on it again.

And lastly, here's my bedroom and office. There is also a bathroom, but those pictures just don't look that great. The house also has a front and back yard, a shared driveway and a garage for storage. It's a good value for what's available in Seattle.

Posted by Gary at 11:38 AM | Permalink

I had good fun this weekend partying like old times. Thursday evening and my friend Endre Loovas is coming through Seattle with his friend Kaare on their way to do some heli skiing in Girdwood, Alaska. Endre and Kaare are from Norway, where Endre does Marketing for Fri Flyt Magazine and Kaare is a successful real estate developer.

I'm on my way to my soccer game and wondering if they have arrived at Sea-Tac. Just as I put on my cleats, Endre sends me a text they've landed. It's going to be beautiful tomorrow and we're going skiing at Crystal. Or not, as their luggage got lost at the Heathrow Airport. Oh well, there's other things we can do.

I meet them Friday evening at the W Hotel, then walk down the street to Purple Cafe and start off with a few cocktails. After taking in the scenery and catching up on old times, we decide it's time for dinner. I'm trying to think of a good entertaining spot for my friends.

We start off walking towards Pike Place, as that's always a good tourist spot and I recall the great times I've had at the Can Can watching the Cabaret. We stick our head in and sure enough, the next show starts in a half hour. We go for it.

The food isn't the best but the entertainment makes up for it. There were a couple dudes who'd climb on a beam in the ceiling and swing on ropes with other women in the cast. There were belly dancers, singing, dancing, and great costumes. I think my guests were happy with the show.

Once we finished up it was on to 1st Avenue and Belltown. Now I haven't been out in Belltown in a long time. I just don't like the whole meat-market scene anymore. I have lost my interest in making small talk with people whom I most likely will never see again. But tonight was better than usual, as Endre and I found a group from Swedish hospital. A few nurses and doctors who were letting off some steam. Partying with Endre made me think of the good ol' days of traveling for HH and getting my game on.

The next morning my head was a little foggy and I had to enlist my roommate for a ride to pick up my car from downtown. What a amazing day Saturday was. I should be up skiing but blew it on going out too late. Was hoping for Sunday but the weather just didn't hold.

Called up my buddy Ryan and we grabbed the long boards and cruised around Green Lake. I think it was the most people I've ever seen out. Pasty white people hitting the lawns working on the first sun burn, runners, roller bladers, people playing instruments, soccer, volleyball, and the b-ball court was hopping. The warm air felt great as we slalomed threw people cruising around the lake.

Then I went and grabbed some groceries and headed to Ryan's house for boys night BBQ. That's Ryan, his two sons, and I. We consumed a meat diet and then collapsed on the couch and took in Star Wars, Empire Strikes back. An amazing film.

Got a big week coming up. Time to launch the second webisode for Hunting Yeti, look for a place to live or a new roommate, try to take on some more clients, do my finances, and finally start updating my website. It's go time people.

Posted by Gary at 02:06 PM | Permalink

The band leader is back in town. My old roommate and good friend Trevor came to Seattle this weekend yielding tickets to the Showbox for the musical duo Ghostland Observatory. These guys impress.

The duo is made up of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner, two guys from Texas who play a new style of music. Aaron has a stage presence and entertains the crowd like few can with his singing, guitar playing and dancing. He reminds me of Jim Morrisson of the Doors. Thomas is the mad scientist on the drums, keyboard, and synthesizer.

The concert experience isn't like a normal show, it's like a fun party. The music is original and refreshing. All types of music fans are present, some dressed up in wigs and capes while others are in khaki's. The Showbox is packed and the floor is bouncing up and down with the weight of its' occupants.

Not only is the music really, really good but they have a laser light show that's also entertaining. The lasers, back lit stage, and smoke machine give the group a futuristic feel. I had a great time partying with old friends and dancing throughout the evening.

Be sure to catch the Ghostland Observatory if they come play in your town, you will have a great night.

Posted by Gary at 12:02 PM | Permalink

Wishing everybody around the world all the best this holiday season.

Posted by Gary at 11:36 AM | Permalink

There are events every holiday season that get me in the 'spirit'. The last few years my favorite activity has been going to the Intiman Theater with my family and watching Langston Hughes play, Black Nativity.

Part theatre, part concert and part church service, Black Nativity is a remarkable testament to community. Bringing together artists and audiences of different faiths, ages, backgrounds and beliefs, this holiday classic and Seattle tradition unites people through song, story, dance - and a shared commitment to the idea that within all of us lies both the power and the obligation to enhance the civic life of our region.

This season marks the 10th year an amazing group of individuals have come together to put on this remarkable show. The play is anchored by two people, Reverend Dr. Samuel McKinney, Paster Emeritus of the historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, and Pastor Pat Wright, who's a director, pastor, singer, actress, musician, and musical director and I believe runs the Total Experience Gospel Choir.

Although these two anchor the play, the entire group embodies an energy that you can feel in your seat. That is when you're sitting down... The show is not for the casual viewer, as you'll need to clap, stand, sing, dance if you want to, and mingle with your neighbors.

If I were a play critic, I'd give this show my top rating. I highly recommend you try and get tickets.

Posted by Gary at 11:25 AM | Permalink

I went to see the Huskies get beat by the Cougars with my Dad. It was a great game, just too bad the Huskies are so horrible on defense. They do okay at stopping the run, but the secondary is so pitiful it's hard to watch sometimes.

So what should the Huskies do? They had a super tough schedule this year but aren't a winning organization. Fans and alumni must be demanding the return of the purple and gold winning tradition. But it's going to take some patience in an instant gratification setting.

You can see that the Huskies are getting better. They were in just about every game they played. I don't think they got blown out this year and almost upset some very highly ranked teams. Give Tyler Willingham a couple more years to get this team turned around. I mean the guy inherited a scandal and a 1-11 team. It takes longer than normal to bounce back from that.

Plus, the stadium seats are still pretty full come game day. The faithful will still come out and support the Dawgs. Father and sons, families, alumni, greeks, students, all will be there. Do it the right way, support the man you hired to do the job and give him the time to finish the job.

Posted by Gary at 02:53 PM | Permalink

Just wanted to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully you are all having the day off, celebrating with family and loved ones. Family is one of the most important things in life, be thankful on this day for what family you have.

I'm thankful for my health, friends, family, and everything that has happened to me over the course of 33 years. Both the good and the bad.

...When we learn to give thanks, we are learning to concentrate not on the bad things, but on the good things in our lives.

Cheers.

Posted by Gary at 11:58 PM | Permalink

Pretty good time hanging out this Saturday night. Went down to EVO in Fremont and saw Erin Valverde Pollard's art showing. Hung out with her, the whole family, who'd come out from the Portland area, and her hubby Eric. It was a good event that also showed her snowboard film, Float. The amp had a blown fuse or something was wrong with the tuner, so the first half of the movie the audio was screwed up. Too bad.

This is Erin.

This is some of her artwork.

This is her husband Eric.

This is his artwork.

So that's just a couple pieces. Eric and Erin had another showing in San Fran at the D-Structure shop. The only difference was this show was more about Eric and his ski film. These two are such a "couples" story, I'm just waiting to see them in Sports Illustrated or Outside Magazine. There were a lot more pictures taken at the D-Structure show, if you wanna check it out click here.

So the same evening, it was also my friend Ana's birthday. So a little after 11, I walked home, grabbed some canned food for the T-Day food donation Ana requested and walked over. It's nice when everybody lives in the neighborhood.

It was a rock n' roll themed event with Karaoke. There was only one other person in the whole place not dressed up. I was a little out of place. Had a few drinks, did a couple yummy shots (thanks Yonnie), listened to a few songs sung, and headed home at one in the morning. I just can't stay up and party like I used too.

Check it out.

Posted by Gary at 09:45 PM | Permalink

Tonight at EVO in Fremont, Erin Valverde Pollard will be having an art show and premier of her all girls snowboard film. I'll be down there hanging out. Then hopefully ending up in the Whitman corridor for Ana's birthday party. Rock on!!!

Posted by Gary at 01:21 PM | Permalink

Everybody needs a place where they can leave the pressures of life behind, to unwind, relax and regroup. A place where the soul can breath and regenerate. I am fortunate enough to have a place where I travel a little over an hour and leave any troubles I have in my wake.

I spent a weekend awhile back up at my folks beach house with my Mom and Dad. We had a great time. I went sailing with my Dad for a couple hours, we watched beautiful sunsets every night, we went to the island Oktoberfest and drank big steins of beer. Then in the late evenings we watched movies. I had another great day of playing golf on the private course with my Mom and Dad being sort of a caddy and spectator. My drive that weekend went pretty straight and long.

It's amazing how quiet the nights are. If I keep the window closed there isn't a sound, if I open them, all I hear is the crashing of waves on the shore. There is no other place I sleep so soundly.

I wish I could take you all to this great place called Hat Island. It does me so much mental good, I want to share it with all my friends. I know if I can just talk some of my friends into going they will be hooked and want to go all the time. I want to share this special place. Come, check it out for yourselves. You won't be sorry. Next time I ask, "Do you want to come up to my parents cabin", just say "yes".

If you don't have a place like Hat Island, I hope you all find a place to recharge your batteries. A place where nature touches your soul, where you feel one with the world, and where you can dream about the future.

Posted by Gary at 02:00 PM | Permalink

There are certain people you meet in life that are truly special. Those that touch you in just a mere couple hours or those if you're lucky enough, are around to influence your entire life. My grandmother was one of those people. She could meet somebody just one afternoon and they would remember her forever.

My grandmother Gloria recently passed away and today was her memorial service. Times like these make you reflect and remind you that there is nothing more important in life than family. She was an inspiration to me, to our family, and to many people whose lives she touched.

She was lesson in how to live life to its fullest, mastering working hard and enjoying ones life pleasures. She could be intimidating to some, with her forward nature of going straight to the point, yet at the same time, she'd have a playful twinkle in her eye. She took what life threw at her, persevered, and enjoyed the fruit of her labors.

She was very independent. Even in her final years, she never looked for assistance or help, she refused to walk with a cane, battled back from injuries and fought getting older. As much as I and others wanted to assist her, her fighting spirit kept her young at heart. While many people are beaten down by the aging process, she embraced it with grace.

I will always remember when her and my grandfather took my friends and I out on their boat "Livealittle" for a Christmas party. All my friends were blown away at how 'cool' and personable she was to people my age. She was timeless and could relate to people of any age. She was very sharp and could entertain with the best of them.

She seemed to know the secret of life. Balance. Life is a funny thing, you never know how good it is until part of it is gone. She will always be in my thoughts, but never again around in a physical form. I wish I would have learned more from her, spent more time with her, told her I loved and respected her more, and just held her hand a few more times. What an amazing resource that I could have learned so much more from that I may have not fully utilized. I urge many of you to stop the rush and stress of self indulgent life and re-connect with those who are older, wiser, and smarter than you.

Although this entry is a tribute to my grandmother, I have to mention another very special person, my grandfather Sundy. He is also a living lesson in life and how to love. I can only hope that when I'm married, I support and love my wife as much as he did. He supported Gloria in everything she did, was patient and understanding, and loved her for who she was. He was a true friend and partner and knew how to let her be herself. He complimented her in a way that you can never know unless you knew them both.

My grandmother should be proud of her son, my father, Jay Winberg. Tonight, as many nights, I have realized how lucky I am that she raised such a wonderful son. My father has many of the same great attributes as my grandfather, which must be attributed to her love and nurturing. The are both amazingly supportive, patient, and loving. They are both mentors and examples in how one should lead their lives.

Most of us could only dream to live our lives as fully as Gloria did. I wish I could have shared more important moments of my life with her before she left. I wish she could be there when I find the love of my life and get married. I wish I could have made her a great grandmother and she could have held my children. I know she will be watching over me, cheering me on, and more than anything, I hope I make her proud.

I love you Gloria and will miss you every day.

Posted by Gary at 11:17 PM | Permalink

Tis the season for weddings. I was fortunate to be a groomsmen in one of my best friends wedding a few weeks ago. What an amazing weekend. As I get older, weddings are a great excuse for a reunion. It's a time where good friends can get together and celebrate the love of a certain couple and of one another.

It was so good to see so many people. The wedding went off without any stress or hitches. It was a great vibe the whole weekend. The rehearsal dinner, the wedding rehearsal, the days activities, the big wedding event itself, and the reception were all very special. I can't remember such an easy going and fun wedding.

It was an easy drive outside of Seattle, just past Steven's outside of Levenworth, WA at a really cool location. The weather was perfect, maybe a little on the hot side, and everybody who needed to be there was present.

I arrived and checked in, most of the guests all stayed on the grounds with a few people staying in Levenworth. After dropping my stuff off, we then hung out in the sun, kicking the soccer ball and throwing the frisbee. Did the wedding rehearsal, then had a great bbq dinner. Then we brought everybody inside for a slideshow of Adam and Nicole as they grew up and then met each other. Just a little something a few of us put together.

We all hung out until late in the evening with Lawson closing down the party. I remember trying to sleep but still hearing Lawson talking with somebody across the field. He doesn't really have a quiet voice.

The following day started out with a great breakfast, followed by a short hike with Jack and his wife. Then I went down to Lake Wenacthee for some swimming and worked on a sun burn. The water was so cold it took your breath away. But still, a few brave souls managed a few laps.

Went back to the 'wedding compound' got ready and then did the photo shoot. They hired a cool couple to do the photography. It was a little hot to be wearing a suit, but I got used to the heat and finally stopped sweating. Then we went back inside to have a little whiskey to calm the nerves before the ceremony.

We walked the walk and Nicole and Adam did the talk. It was flawless and a beautiful ceremony. Friends, family, and a great location is all you need. Then we had an amazing dinner, great toasts (especially Dustin and Nicole's father) and then the dancing started.

Late night we moved inside and DJ Trevor Ault got it going. Trevor was Adam and I's old roommate. It took me back to our parties at Boston Street. A big thanks to Trevor for a trip down memory lane. I haven't danced like that in a while. Felt good.

Congratulations to Nicole and Adam. I hope you had a great time on your honeymoon and I'm looking forward to hearing more stories.

I think one can judge life on the quality and quantity of stories one can tell. Having heard and been apart of many stories in Nicole and Adams lives, I can say they are truly fortunate. I'm looking forward to hearing many more great stories of their life together. Hopefully I can continue to contribute to a few of their stories.

Love you both and wish you a world of happiness. Congratulations.

Check out the photo gallery for a few images. I should have more once they get back from the honeymoon. You know, the pro photos.

Test

Posted by Gary at 09:41 PM | Permalink

Every single day, hour, minute, and second we get a little bit older. Why is it that actual birthdays make us feel so much older? Today I'm getting closer to my mid-thirties and leaving early thirties behind. Yep, today I turned 33. BAMN!

More than my birthday though is my friends Ryan & Stacey Hayter having their first child. I haven't heard the announcement yet but I know they were scheduled for a C-section at 12:30 today. Life. It's a pretty special gift that isn't given all that often, but lasts a long time and keeps on giving. So congratulations to the Hayters and their newest member of the family.

Each and every day I think I'm going to do this or that. Today I have to work out longer, have to make it to soccer, find a new roommate, get my finances together, get my car fixed, buy a house, sign up for pilates, etc. Each day is a new beginning to be or become what one aspires to.

For my 33rd year, I have a lot I want to accomplish. I plan on buying my own place to live in. I hope to find love. I hope to be successful in my new career. I hope to make new friends. I hope to make new investments. And I hope I make my 33rd year on this earth the best of my life.

Too much to ask?

Posted by Gary at 05:30 PM | Permalink

My roommate Sarah just left and embarked on a new adventure. She got bored with the day to day office job and needed to get back out and see the wonderful world we live in. Off to Chicago for training, then San Fran, and then who knows where she'll be stationed as a United Flight Attendant.

I'm looking forward to seeing her on a plane somewhere in the near future. Sarah is an amazingly kind and generous person who will be great as a flight attendant. I wish her well in her new employment and life's journey. I hope you find the happiness your looking for.

Sarah and I went to Bricco for our last roommate meal. Love that place. We ate too much cheese and meat so that we didn't have enough room for dinner. I managed to stuff myself all the while drinking exceptional wine.

So now I'm hanging out at home alone. It's nice and a little lonely at the same time. I expect to see Sarah coming through the door. For the month of May I think I'm just going to live by myself. But I'm looking for a new roommate if anybody knows of anyone. I have a couple leads I'm going to follow up on.

Preferably looking for another female, as they are cleaner, quieter, and usually easy on the eyes. I'm looking for somebody who is willing to go month-to-month and can either have the place when I move out at the end of the summer or move with me into the new place I plan on buying.

My life is changing and I'm looking forward to having a place to call my own. I wish I could find and buy a place today. I'm so ready, but need to practice patience.

Posted by Gary at 10:49 AM | Permalink

Ahh 30... I remember when I turned 30, barely. What a fun evening that was. Last night a college friend of mine joined us in the 30's age bracket. I've heard with technology and the way our lives have sped up, 30 is the time to have a mid-life crisis. Don't let it get to you Woody.

The 30's are great. As someone once said, "my 30's were when I corrected everything I did wrong in my 20's". So far I've found that to be true. I haven't fixed everything yet, but I'm getting there. I will say I definitely wish I knew what I know now in my twenties.

For Matt's 30th, we celebrated downtown at Fado. Adam, Nicole, Sarah and I went down early and grabbed dinner. Then around 8 o'clock the rest of the surprise party showed up. It was a great evening. I pretty much stuck to drinking Matt's wine. He owns and operates Two Mountain Winery. If you have a chance, be sure to try some.

Since many of the party-goers are in their 30's, the party ended a little early. Well okay, we left early anyway. Adam and I had to get up early for skiing the next morning, so we left around 11:00 pm.

Here's a few images from the evening. Happy Birthday Woody!!!

Posted by Gary at 10:43 AM | Permalink

My last entry provoked many emails. Don't be afraid to share your thoughts by clicking and writing in the comment section. Most of the responses were about helping one another out and what it means to be friends. So I suppose this post is a summary of emails and thoughts from others, interpreted by me, and from my point of few to protect those who choose not to share their opinions on the site.

Does friendship have a time limit? No, but it does take work and continuous interaction. Some people don't like Seattle because the 'people' aren't very friendly. Or as a city we are friendly at first, but then drop off significantly. Is this true of this city as a whole or is it small groups within it that people are being exposed to? Or is it society out here and the variables of work, family, financial burdens, and the grey skies that affect how we interact?

I believe men and women define and experience friendship differently. I hate to put things in a 'box', but it's okay to be different. I have many friends that I don't see very often nor do we make an effort to change. But when we do come together in a social setting, it's like we hung out yesterday. No hard feelings, no "why didn't you call me", etc. We just lead different lives that coincide less frequently. But at the same time I do miss certain people I used to see more often.

An old roommate and good friend moved to Portland for all the right reasons, a good woman. But he was the main instigator or common thread that bound a good group of people together. He was the one who found concerts in Seattle, shows, parties, happenings, and put out an email or called to get everybody together. He would have people over at the house on a regular basis, just to hang out. Or to cook and have people over for dinner.

Upon his departure, I no longer see that contingent of people. I of course wasn't the best of friends with some of these people, but I miss them none the less. I could make an effort to re-connect with these folk but for some reason I don't make the effort. Only when my friend comes back to town or there happens to be a party in which an eVite is required do I get to catch up.

I also used to have another good friend who was my main ski buddy. Besides skiing we would hang out a couple nights a week. Now due to many different circumstances, we don't hang out anymore. Only on rare occurrences do we bump into each other at social occasions. It always feels good to see him and I always tell myself shortly thereafter, "I got to call that guy more often".

Then there is also the single versus married or couples dynamic. It sucks to be a third wheel sometimes. But I have also been told it sucks to be the couple who people stop calling to do things with because they are married or a couple. Even in relationships, those people need a break from one another or other social interaction together. There are multiple levels of being lonely. Whether one is single or in a relationship. It goes both ways, either you don't call because you're too busy being in a relationship or you don't get called because people assume you're too busy being in a relationship.

It also costs money sometimes to be social and be friends. Going out to clubs, parties, dinner, comedy shows, ski vacations, it all costs money. Don't let financial reasons affect your friendships.

There's also geographic challenges to friendship. I live on the West Side, you live on the East Side. In Seattle as the traffic continues to worsen, it becomes a chore to visit certain friends. Some of us are not even in the same city, yet plane tickets aren't expensive compared to the value of friendship. Just shoot an email, have an iChat, Sykpe, call during cell phone free air time, and just try to share in each others lives.

I guess what I've learned from the feedback and discussions is to be mindful. Look at your extended group of friends and try to determine who might be lonely. Some may seem extremely social but are unhappy none the less. Others may seem reclusive and not want to go out, but maybe there is another underlying problem or issue. It just comes down to what being a friend is all about, helping one another whether one asks for it or not. You just have to make an effort. See ya'll around...

Posted by Gary at 10:10 PM | Permalink

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA ORTIZ.

Went to the Black Bottle in Belltown for some tapas and cocktails. Was a really good time meeting some more of Tara's friends. She has a wide network. I have hung out with Tara many times and tonight there were maybe 20 people there, of which I only knew 4. That's just to give you an idea of how many different people this girl knows.

That's T n' me in the photo above. Tara and I are planning on taking some Salsa dance lessons. I just need to find a good class and sign us up. Anybody out there know of where we can learn?

Posted by Gary at 03:10 PM | Permalink

This Friday we celebrated my roommate Sarah's birthday with a night out at the Can Can on 1st and Pike. I didn't really know what to expect from the restaurant but had heard it's somewhat like Teatro ZinZanni's.

It's a cool joint and definitely "the place to be". The restaurant and bar were standing room only later in the night. All of the food on the menu was 9 bucks and tasted pretty good. Took a long time to get served but we were there for the evening so it didn't matter. The wine was good too.

Some of the crew arrived at 8 o'clock and had dinner while others arrived later in the evening. The key was getting there by 10:00 pm when the show started. There were four women and one man who put on different performances. The ladies had some sort of 007 spy thing going on while the man just did some really weird lip synching. All of the acts were some sort of strip tease. The above image is when they all first came out on stage.

Some did individual numbers, one girl sang a couple songs, and two were dancers. I had a particular fancy for Agent Rhinestone. She was talented, extremely beautiful, and quite a little gem. Reminded me of Carmen Electra but better. That's a picture of her below.

In the middle of all this, we chanted for Sarah and they called her up on stage. The whole place then sang her Happy Birthday. After some stage fright, Sarah got her groove on, started dancing with one of the agents, and was awarded with some cash and an applause from the crowd. The first thumbnail image is of Sarah working it. Then a couple more from the birthday party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH.

Like most fun evenings, things come to a close when the bill arrives. We managed pretty good damage at about $750 bucks. Worth every penny. I highly recommend you go to the Can Can.

As the group departed, a girl friend of mine who happens to be going to Vegas for SIA as well, wasn't ready to call it a night either. So we decided to do a little warm up for the trip and headed to another place with female performances. All I will say is that the Can Can was much, much better.

Posted by Gary at 11:25 PM | Permalink

I had such a good time last night. I met a friend of mine named Tara Ortiz at the restaurant Bricco della Regina Anna. If you haven't stopped by and tried the wine and food at Bricco, you need to check it out soon. It's absolutely amazing.

Kevin Erickson is the owner and chef. He's a friend of a friend, Conrad Snover. I remember Kevin telling me about the restaurant he planned on opening at Conrads wedding. I watched it being built as I drove by on Queen Anne Avenue. I've now been there five or six times and every time the food and wine has been spectacular.

Jesse Hufsader is the wine director and he waited on us for the evening. Tell him what kind of flavors you like and just let him pick the wine for you. Both bottles we had were amazing. Check it out at www.briccoseattle.com.

It had been a little while since I had seen Tara, aka "Lil T". The last time we hung out was fun and memorable. I was expecting no less on this evening. She is always entertaining and has good energy.

Not too long into the evening, her and I noticed that I was one of four men in the entire restaurant. I was surrounded by beautiful women. This restaurant was like an oasis. I got up to go to the bathroom and my wing-woman was fast at work selling the single guy to the crowd.

When I returned to the table, Lil T was chatting with the ladies at the table next to us. We then pulled our tables together and shared good wine and conversation the rest of the night. We got to know Erica and Rebecca, who turned out to have some common friends. Rebecca had known some of my childhood soccer friends like Adam Fenster and Mike Berg, while Erica knew some East-siders that Tara knew. It's a small world after all.

We had finished our wonderful meal and were pretty much just hanging out. The guy Tara has been 'dating' came to pick her up and take her home. Rebecca wandered off down the street and said goodnight as Erica and I went back into the restaurant. There's no question that Erica is a beautiful woman and we were having a great time.

But the night was over, the bill had been paid. We gathered our things and headed out the door. Erica invited me to go to another bar that her friend owned. She had just broken up from a relationship and so had the bar owner. I already had had enough to drink, so I just moved in and gave her a kiss, then another. We exchanged contact information and I said goodnight.

I really should have hopped in the cab and gone with her. What was I thinking? All in all, it was a wonderful evening and I had a great time. What do you think, should I give her a call? Erica is the beautiful woman on the left in the photo below.

Posted by Gary at 11:49 AM | Permalink

It's funny how there are certain holidays or events where people lose their inhibitions and do things outside the norm. One main variable in this equation is alcohol and the other is environment. Why is it on New Years Eve, big Birthdays, or certain parties that we tend to drink well beyond our means, almost to the point where it's our last?

Not only do we do it to ourselves but our friends help out. They celebrate the occasion by buying us shots and come along for the ride. In the past I found myself in the middle of the may-lay, but lately I have slowed down (luckily) and now enjoy being a spectator of these social dynamics. More about this in a moment.

I brought the 2007 year in celebrating with some friends at my house with dinner and 'warm-up' drinks, then we walked down to The Nectar for a Masquerade Ball. It was a bargain at 10 bucks with a DJ, the band Altered States of Funk, and a show by Burning Hearts Burlesque. Below are a few more shots from the evening. All in all, it was a really fun time.

Through the years I've drank my fair share of alcohol. It effects people differently in both positive and negative ways. Some get aggressive and have to fight. Sometimes it can act as a truth serum while other times it can make people lie or exaggerate. Shy people can come out of their shell, men and women interact more easily (why we call it liquid courage), we can become more creative, and most often alcohol becomes and is entertainment. What I find most interesting is that alcohol effects people differently. The variables are always different and the outcome to the equation not always the same.

The following is a list of 10 things I've heard about, seen, or experienced on New Years. How many of these things did you hear about or have happen to you?

01. A husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend enjoys kissing too many friends or random people, way too long, right after midnight.
02. A husband or wife asks why you didn't hook up before they were married and admits to having a long standing crush on you.
03. People drink too much and try to drive. The smart ones leave their cars and take a taxi or sleep where they are (if at a house party).
04. You have your bags packed to go skiing the next morning or have something purposefully lined up so that if you bring someone home, you have an excuse to leave early the next morning.
05. Friends become more than just friends.
06. Love triangles show their sides and come crashing in, resulting in the 3rd wheel no longer being friends with the others.
07. You have somebody special in mind for New Years, but you get blocked by a girl friend or guy friend.
08. A friend gets too drunk and you end up having to babysit instead of hooking up.
09. A person you never thought about, confesses their love for you, changing your perspective of them.
10. You hook up!!!

Another social dynamic that I have to discuss is the female herd. Yes, they travel in packs and some men look for the wounded one behind the herd while others seek out the leader. The wounded one is usually the drunk girl who can't control herself. She may start falling for some guy she just met, being a tease because she is enjoying herself, but will be pulled away to safety by the others. This rarely works out for the hunter, as the herd is usually too strong. I find if you seek out the leader of the herd, they aren't usually drunk, but in control and able to carry on a conversation. If she decides she wants to go home with a guy, she will without the rest of the herd coming to pull her away. The chances of a connection is higher with the leader of the pack than with a straggler.

With male herds it's totally different. We arrive together, support each other in the hunt, but once playing with prey, we leave each other completely alone. We don't want to break any rhythm or connection that may have been established. As well as we let one another make mistakes with our prey which the female herd doesn't allow as often. It's an interesting game that's played.

Ladies, just don't get wounded out in the open without a herd to protect you.

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years, that no mistakes were made that are beyond repair, and that 2007 brings you a world of happiness. Cheers.

Posted by Gary at 10:15 PM | Permalink

Every year Christmas comes and goes. Some things stay the same and some things change. This year was particularly nice with all the holiday parties, catching up with so many friends, going to entertaining holiday plays, seeing movies, and having Christmas with my family.

We keep claiming and saying let's do less presents this year, but Santa's sleigh is awfully heavy and he needs to lose the weight so his reindeer don't get tired. Therefor he dropped a big load at the Winberg house.

This may be the first Christmas where I have nothing to return or exchange for a different size. Santa hooked me up with a 12 piece Calphalon cooking set, all new bedding, towels, clothes, PJ's, candles, and some green-backs. What a nice fellow that Santa Claus is.

It was also more fun shopping and giving this year. I gave more presents to both my family and friends than in years past. I even put out a X-Mas and New Years email that I haven't done before. I think it's because I've had a little more time available.

Thanks Santa.

Posted by Gary at 04:08 PM | Permalink

Went downtown to the Viveza Gallery for one of my childhood friends engagement parties. So much fun. You know the story, slideshow of the kids growing up being projected on the wall, the compilation of images from 'through the years' on poster board, parents partying and catching up with their kids friends, music, wine, snacks, and the celebration of two people finding love.

Saw a few more people I haven't seen in a long time. Some had come home for the holidays from the East Coast, some I used to play soccer with, etc. So many mini reunions going on.

It was good to see Will. He's a friend I wish I would have hung out with more. Just an all around good guy who always portrays a positive attitude and fun to be around. I'm sure I will get to know his finance better, but so far I'm sold! Alison seems to be a good match for Will. Dave (Will's brother) through a great engagement party for them. Well done Dave.

After a few hours at the gallery, we then ended the night at one of my favorite old hangouts, The Cyclops. Love that place. Good drinks, atmosphere, and food. Then I looked at my watch and couldn't believe the time. Damn, I had to get up early for skiing the next day and it was getting late. Time to go.

Earlier in the evening I was at the Seattle Yacht Club for my grandma Gloria's 94th birthday party. Wow. She is an impressive lady for reasons well beyond her age.

Posted by Gary at 10:39 AM | Permalink

The holidays have arrived. The X-Mas and holiday party scene has been relentless. Finally had a day off last night, relaxed and caught up on a few things.

One of those things being, creating and sending out my own little X-Mas and New Years card. It came out kind of funny, as I tried to do one of those picture ones. You know the kind, the one where it's your vacation shots, a couple portraits, etc. I think it looks kind of funny because there are so many shots of me. Maybe I should have put a few more scenic shots in? Whatever, at least I got it done and out there.

I am a bit of a procrastinator, so I need to run out and buy the rest of my X-Mas presents. Going skiing again tomorrow and have a ton to do before a couple parties this evening. I don't know when I'm going to have time to wrap the presents. Hmm...

Posted by Gary at 10:50 AM | Permalink

I am fortunate enough to have many different groups of friends. I am truly lucky in that I like just about everybody, many different styles of life, and like to bounce around and check out how people live.

Last night I went to my high school or childhood group of friends X-mas party. I really enjoy hanging out with this group and should try to do it more. It's kind of weird, because when I do I sometimes feel behind in life. Many of these friends are living what I call the "Leave it to Beaver" life. They grew up fast, did college in 4 years, got MBA's, got good paying jobs right out of college, found husbands and wives, got married, bought big houses, fancy cars, and are all having children. They have what we all envision or hope to have some day while growing up.

I don't know what I'm most jealous about. The nice house in Laurelhurst, a nice car, flat screen TV's (projection in this case), and all the material things. Or what I think it really is, their place in life. It's the being married and in love, having children, having friends the same place in life, and financial stability that just sort of says, whew, I made it... It's the not wondering when will I meet the girl of my dreams, how my future will unfold, will I have kids, etc. It's happened for these people and I'm happy for them.

I spent my post college years traveling around the world, partying, skiing, and putting all of my being into work. I wouldn't change any of my past but now I think I want the "Leave it to Beaver" life. Hmm, maybe I'm finally growing up, just a little later than most. Hey, I am 32.

The top image is of Brent Jones enjoying an oversized cocktail and below is just one shot of a small portion of Autmn's Snow Village. She has a whole city. Happy Holidays Cleaver families of the world!!!

Posted by Gary at 04:06 PM | Permalink

After going to a horrible Seahawks game I went home, changed out of my foul weather gear, and headed down to the Times Infinity Gallery for the Hayter Communications Holiday Party. This proved to be a much better way to spend the evening.

As always, Stacey Hayter had cooked up an amazing display of food. Man that woman can cook. When I arrived the party was packed with people, some of which I hadn't seen in some time. There were old HH folk, people from K2, photographers, athletes, people from EVO, etc. Basically all of Hayter Communications clients and friends.

They had a DJ spinning CD's with Cuban music and people were getting their Salsa dancing on. I'm always surprised when people start dancing. I'm surprised by both how bad some people are and by the people you would never guess are good dancers start rippin up the dance floor. I myself, didn't get started until late in the evening, but did my fair share and left having worked up a bit of a sweat.

It was good to see Eric Doyne from the Hayter San Fran office. I also met their new hire who seemed like a good fit to the team. I must have had a little too much wine because I can't seem to remember her name today.

I was in the groove a little so I ended up closing down the party. Nice work Ryan Hayter and the crew. Fun times had by all.

Here's some images from the evening:

Posted by Gary at 03:11 PM | Permalink

Tis the season to go skiing all day and have holiday parties all night. Went up to Crystal again today and skied with Nicole and Adam. The day started out as a blizzard and ended up with clear skies. It had snowed about 4-5 inches and was dust on crust. Also saw Mark up there as he lost one of his brand new skis last week. He was out on snowshoes on a retrieval mission. Sure enough, the kid found his ski.

Then back to Seattle to clean up and back out to Jordan and Ellie Peterson's for a part X-mas and part house warming party. Jordan works for Boeing and just bought a nice new house overlooking Boeing Field and Lake Washington in South Renton. Nice work Jordan.

The theme of the night was old school Christmas sweaters, ties, and apparel. Guys and gals came in serious heavy wool Christmas sweaters that turned out too warm to keep on for the entire evening. Good food, wine and company. Although they excluded themselves from the "best dressed" competition, I think Jordan and Ellie won. Above is a posting of Ellie's socks, with each toe a different X-mas character. Both of them were also rocking good sweaters and Jordan went so far as sporting a half turtleneck. Check them out on the thumbnails below. There's also Mark and his wife Arlene, and Lawson in the cool plaid blazer.

Posted by Gary at 01:42 PM | Permalink

Thanksgiving at my house went really well. The turkey was deliciously moist, the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, all the way to the apple/cranberry salad was extremely tasty. It was fun to have my grandparents and sister over to the house, it was there first time here.

Good food and good company. So FULL. About to fire up some leftovers for T-Day 2. I'm thankful that my family got along so well on what was a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Posted by Gary at 07:57 PM | Permalink

One of the funnest things about working at HH was hooking up friends with free gear. I never could sell the stuff to people because it just didn't feel ethical. I also have a problem where I can't wear last years gear. I'm going to have to get over that because the tap is going to run dry now that I'm not working in the industry.

So my buddy Conrad came over and I outfitted him with a new suit and some goggles. Got to keep the kids looking good. He's also a ripping skier so it's good product placement for the brand. Go HH. Once again, another happy customer.

It's pouring down rain outside so I'm hoping for a little new snow and some more skiing tomorrow.

Posted by Gary at 05:41 PM | Permalink

Whew. Busy evening as I had a couple of birthday parties and a concert to see. Started out at Mark and Arlene's for dinner, then up to a fairly new wine bar called Bricco's on Queen Anne for my friend Conrads' birthday, then to Neumo's for the Kaskade show. Great dinner, great wine, and good dancing.

He's a picture of the good ol' boys reunited.

I don't know why some DJ's aren't more widely listened to. Kaskade is probably one of my top 5 DJ's and put's on a great show. Dance, dance, dance baby... I recommend you purchase some of his music and go see a show whenever possible. You'll thank me for it later.

Posted by Gary at 10:38 PM | Permalink

The Pray for Snow Party never fails to deliver. The Red Door was packed with eager skiers, most of which hooted and hollered for tons of snow and were planning on making it up to either Crystal Mountain or Mt. Baker the following morning. Kyle and Nicole Fisher, owners of the Alpine Hut, were giving away tons of gear in a raffle. The latest ski and snowboard films were playing on the bar TV's and the crowd gathered around to catch the latest action.

Different industry folk made appearances like POW Gloves, Arc'teryx, Bern Helmets, and K2. Check out the image of POW Gloves owner promoting the new 'Shocker' glove. The other images below are of owner Nicole Fisher with fiance Adam Luchsinger (ol' roomie) and the crew.

Already looking forward to next years party.

Posted by Gary at 06:09 PM | Permalink

Since I heard it's raining record amounts back in Seattle, I've decided to change my flight to Tuesday (was Sunday). I'm going to check into the Dreams Hotel just south of Puerto Vallarta with my friends Trevor and Kim. It's an all inclusive resort where you pay one fee and then you get everything. So we dinned at the restaurants, went to the clubs, sat on the beach and drank, and ate, and ate, and ate. It's almost like going to fat camp. I am going to need to do some serious exercising when I get back home.

An Infinity Pool is a very cool type of pool. You can sit there and it's looks as if there is no edge. It's impressive especially when the view is of the beach and beyond that the Ocean. Check out the view for yourself.

They also have theme nights here at the hotel. So it's Monday Night Football here at Dreams and they have a big screen put up on the beach, some lawn chairs, Corona Promo Girls, and an All-American buffet with nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Not bad. Too bad the game sucked. The Seahawks have got to get better soon or else I'm going to spend my Sunday's or Monday Nights doing something more entertaining.

Tomorrow it's off to the airport and going home. We're going to try and maximize our tanning time in the morning before we board the plane. It's probably the last bit of sun I'll see until next summer. Bring on the winter baby!!!

Posted by Gary at 08:50 PM | Permalink

The big night finally arrived and it was perfect. A beautiful day, a beautiful bride and groom, and a perfect sunset. Rose peddles were spread all over the grounds and in the pool, candles where lit, tikki torches were also lit, and good friends were in attendance. I have had such a great time on this trip. I think as you get older, destination weddings can be so much fun because it's like going on vacation with 80 of your friends. A big congratulations to Paige and Trevor!!!

Here's a few more pictures from the evening...

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The day of the wedding we did a lot of set-up. For a short time, a few of us got away and went into town. We all bought some Mexican cowboy hats. There were some new sherif's in town. I think they might sell them just to be sure who the tourists are. So we decided to make fun of ourselves with this classic pose. Hope you like it.

Posted by Gary at 08:31 PM | Permalink

Last night was the rehearsal dinner and ceremony. Great food, little dancing, and we saw turtles. Yes, turtles were the highlight of my evening. The previous night some people went down to the beach and saw massive turtles coming up and laying eggs and returning to the Ocean. Last night we saw hundreds of baby turtles making the trek back to the water. It was pretty amazing to see those little suckers trying to break through the surf. Half of the time the waves would just deposit the turtles back further up the beach than they were before. I got tired just watching them.

So tonight is the big night. It's going to be a beautiful ceremony having seen the walk through yesterday. I think when I get married I may need to do it on the beach.

I also went surfing yesterday and now understand the importance of having a rashguard. Wow are my nipples chaffed. No surfing for this kid today, just walking the beach.

Posted by Gary at 11:09 AM | Permalink

Made it to the house I will be staying at for the next 4 days and it's amazing. Check it out.

Then the sunset came and we had to go out and jump in the Ocean. It's crazy how warm the water is. Nice to be in my final location and with the rest of the gang. There some people here I haven't seen since college. It's fun to reconnect with old friends and see how life has run it's course.

Below is my buddy Drew pondering the surf. We joined him shortly thereafter. Peace.

Posted by Gary at 06:00 PM | Permalink

Made it to Mexico and Puerto Vallarta today. We are staying at the Westin Hotel for tonight and then it's up to San Pancho tomorrow. I'm traveling with my good friends Trevor and Kim. They are awesome people that I need to spend more time hanging out with.

So after checking in, we went down to the Nikki Bar on the beach and starting putting back the cocktails. Back right now to clean up and then it's back out to dinner.

I don't know why I waited this long to make it to Mexico, it's a beautiful country.

Posted by Gary at 10:15 PM | Permalink

A couple weekends ago a bunch of us were down in Portland, Oregon for Trevor Aults bachelor party. Paige (his fiance) also had all the girls down in P-town to do the same thing. The above picture is of Trevor and Paige book-ending one of Paiges bride maids who's name escapes me at the moment.

So here I am proofing my site one last time before I get up in another 3 hours to hop on a plane to Mexico. Trevor and Paige are getting married in a little fishing village in San Pancho. So looking forward to a little more beach and tanning time before winter. Also looking forward to seeing two great people in love and making honest folk out of one another. Can't wait to see everybody, do some fishing, snorkeling, and surfing.

Crap, I gotta get to bed so I can get up in the morning. The image below is another group photo of the "boys" night out during the bachelor party. See ya'll in a few hours.

Posted by Gary at 12:53 AM | Permalink

So my friend Mike Whalley has been throwing these awesome Halloween parties the last few years. The image above is of him and his friend Jesse that he throws the event with. Mike is Crocket and Jesse is Tubbs. Each and every year attendees go all-out on the costumes. I think I only saw one or two people in the whole place that didn't dress up and they might have been security.

This year the location was switched up to Doc Maynards in downtown Seattle. It worked out well and was a good change of pace. Most importantly, the bar was better staffed and the party didn't run out of booze.

Every year there is a costum contest. I think it's for best overall costume and the sexiest (for the guys and to inspire the girls to "bare" the cold weather) but I'm not sure what the prizes where. I think it was a grand in cash split between the two? The winners were Justin Mills as Lil John for overall and Kylee Miller as a fire figther for the sexiest. Lucky for Justin this dude in a Transformer costum came late or he would have won.

Check out the ladies with Mr. Transformer!!

To see some more images of the evening, check out the posting on my Gallery page. Good to see everybody out. Super good time...

Posted by Gary at 12:11 AM | Permalink