Palm Springs for New Years

We headed out to Palm Springs for New Years. It was cold in Los Angeles for Christmas, but warm in Palm Springs.

The snow-capped mountains surrounding the valley.

On New Year's day, we donned out high-heeled shoes for our annual stroll down Palm Canyon.

And stopped for lunch.

We look a trip to Joshua Tree National Park for a short hike.

The park is beautiful and there were rock climbers everywhere.

We took a hike through Hidden Canyon. The rock formations were incredible!

It is hard to resist not climbing up the rocks.

Sean, Greg and Alex are on the trail. You can't see Nick - he is climbing the rock wall.

Halloween 2008

This year's theme was "brides." With Prop 8 on the ballot to be voted on in a couple days, it was perfect for help raising awareness.



Many of us gathered at Andy's to get ready.

Andy we all met in West Hollywood for the Festival!

Poll: 49% of Likely Voters Oppose Prop. 8

A poll released on Thursday shows that 49% of likely California voters oppose Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. The Field Poll also showed that 44% of likely voters were in favor of the measure, while seven percent remained undecided. The results indicate a narrowing of opinion since the last Field Poll in mid September, when 55% of respondents opposed Prop. 8 and 38% supported it.

"It's certainly closer than it was before the advertising campaign hit," Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo told the Sacramento Bee. "A lot of that has to do with the campaigning on the yes [on 8] side."

The No on 8 campaign, however, saw reason for optimism. In a statement, No on 8's senior campaign adviser Steve Smith said the poll shows that the opposition's "deceptive campaign has failed to move their numbers much at all," noting that in this survey and others, support for Prop. 8 has remained below 50%.

According to the poll, 22% of respondents have already voted. Among that group, the yes side was ahead by six points.

Rosarito to Ensenada: 50 Mile Bike Ride

A funny picture from one of our training rides: the rattlesnake warning sign on the San Gabriel river bike trail. The trail goes from Azusa to Long Beach, 37.5 miles. We rode the entire trail, from the foothills to the ocean, two week prior to the Mexico bike ride.

This was the second time for Andy and I, but the first for Nick and Heather. 50 mile bike ride from Rosarito to Ensenada, Mexico. We drove down to Ensenada on Friday and managed to make to to our favorite margarita place.

Nick had the 16-inch burrito for dinner.

Up on Saturday morning on the shuttle to Rosarito. Okay, it was a little bumpy on the ride.

Andy had to stop at this favorite place for breakfast before the ride started.

Andy, above, doing a little "stretching." Heather and Nick below. There were about 6,000 people this year. 9,000 last year. Due to the decrease of tourists in Baja Mexico because of the drug violence, this is the last year they are doing the bike ride.

Everyone is smiling when we start the ride.

The kids are cheering us on... and yelling for candy.

The big Jesus is watching over us.

Notice, Heather and Andy are still smiling at this point.

We take a snack break before we get to the 'hill.'

Even with the hill in sight, Nick is still smiling.

The climb begins - two miles up to the high desert.

Heather is feeling it now!



Yes, I am still smiling, even after the big hill.

10 miles downhill to the ocean, then several miles more to Ensenada.

Heather crosses the finish line!


Tacos, churros, and margaritas at the after party under the Mexican flag.



So after the party at the end of the ride, we went back to our favorite margarita place... with the entire gang.

Before we left the room to check out on Sunday morning, I took a picture of the view from our room and the pool!

Breakfast for the bunch at McDonalds!

We head back over the boarder into the U.S. -- after some last minute shopping opportunities from the car.

Within a couple feet of the actual boarder between Mexico and the U.S., we were almost in the middle of a big drug bust. The SUV, a couple cars ahead of us in line waiting for the crossing, apparently got a little nervious when he saw the drug dogs and started BACKING UP... so he didn't have to cross into the U.S. and the waiting police. It must have taken him hours to back up through all of that traffic.