Day #3

With the exception of a snorkel trip to a local beach and some shaved ice, we spent the day and night on the property.

Sonia is somewhere in there.

Day #2

We hiked to the Na Pali Coast, found the unhealthiest place for lunch, and retired by the pool until dinner.

The Na Pali Coast

The hike to the look out point almost gave me a heart attack, but the view was well worth it.

Day #1

We stuck around the property on day 1, because, well it’s an amazing property. Pool, beach, restaurant, repeat. And the 10 minutes the hotel could not find our reservation continues to pay off. In addition to the room on the beach, we have yet to pay for a meal.

#11 in Progress

Half a book to go.

Room With A View

This is our view from our room at the St. Regis on the North shore of Kauai. The benefit of arriving at 11pm on Christmas night to a sold out hotel that lost your reservation is the room upgrade. It was well worth the anxiety.

Christmas Eve

X-Mas Dinner

I’ll try to get the X-mas photos uploaded during the flight. In the meantime, here’s one that confirms my nephew, Kaden, has some serious swag.

#44 Done

I’m hoping one of these days I’ll have the time to put a little more effort into this goal, but I’m sure we will manage to make a few people smile on Christmas. I hadn’t been in a K-mart in over a decade, but paid a visit this morning to their layaway department and settled a couple of random accounts that were set to…

Once upon a time, my grandfather was an avid skier and member of his high school ski club. Although Sonia and I are not exchanging gifts this christmas, she had my grandfathers ski club pin turned into a necklace and gave it to me early so it wouldn’t break our no gifts rule.

My Top 5 of 2011

Since my days are booked now through the 31st and don’t include seeing a movie, here are my top five movies and television shows of 2011. Movies 1. The Descendants 2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 3. Midnight in Paris 4. Win Win 5. Money Ball Television 1. Game of Thrones 2. Homeland 3. Walking Dead 4. Dexter 4. Justified

The movie did a good book justice.

A Solid action flick.

Brit’s high school team won their first pre-season tournament. They won the championship game 2-0 and Brit was named MVP.

Our 2nd Annual Company Christmas Party

New website is live. The wholesale buyer login is: LAFI It’s a flash website, so it’s not currently iPhone or iPad friendly.

#7 in progress

They’re making a movie about us.

The Domestication Project continues.

Saw the Descendants. A good authentic character driven movie.

December in LA

Sushi and a kid overheating in a snowman costume.

We were able to get some tape on Brit during the first couple of games of the Thanksgiving Tournament. This is what we’ll use to hopefully garner interest from college coaches. Best viewed in full screen.

A Few Things That Won’t Happen This Year

Now that it’s halftime of the Marquette-Washington game, I figured I’d try to keep my blood pressure down by focusing on other failures. Here’s a few goals that will not happen, but will be included in next year’s list. #2. Sorry, Sis, not this year. It will be number one on my list next year. #3. Although there are a number of scenarios in…

Annual Marquette Dinner in Chi-Town

Enjoyed dinner at our hotel’s restaurant, The Pump Room. It’s a Jean-George restaurant, so our expectations were high…. And met.

Big win against Wisconsin in their house. It’s fun to watch Marquette win in a bar full of Marquette fans. I’m impressed when someone in LA knows that Marquette is in Wisconsin and not Michigan, so it’s always nice to watch a game in the midwest.

Braving the cold and stimulating the economy on Michigan Ave.

Hopefully the below email is the beginning of things to come. Hey Coach, I was able to see several of your games GU17 this past weekend and i’m trying to get a hold of a few of your players. If #9 (Brittany) and #10 (Maria) are 2012 or 2013 we would like to sit down and talk with them and their families about KWU….

I know it doesn’t look like much, but this burrito sustained me for the couple of years that I lived in Chicago. It was as good as I remembered.

First stop of the day. Jean & Judes.

Despite the winds, we took off on time and arrived in Chi-town for a four day weekend.

Santa Ana Winds killed our banana tree.

Photo Shoot Monday

Scenes From Old Town San Diego

The birthplace of California….

The Agony of Defeat

Brit’s team took the game into overtime, but eventually lost in sudden death portion of penalty kicks. The club season is officially over. It’s High School soccer for the next few months.

Won 3-0. Brit’s team is plowing through Premiere teams. Semi finals are tonight.

Early morning view from the hotel room. Forecast is calling for 85 and sunny.

In San Diego for the weekend to compete in one of the larger area tournaments and Brit’s team is putting on a show. 2-0 today against two premiere teams. Brit’s been unstoppable and I’m about as happy as can be. One more win and they’re in the semis.

Happy Thanksgiving

#13 Done

A great turnout made Devin’s 21st birthday celebration a huge success. Because we celebrated a day early, Devin’s ID didn’t quite cut it, but the waitress let it slide. I forgot my camera so you have to settle for a few iPhone pics in poor lighting.

Brit had her first scrimmage as a member of her new, much bigger High School. They lost 3-1, but Brit scored and was named Offensive Player of the Game.

A New Record

Three days before Thanksgiving. Take that, Mom.

Last view from the room before the morning flight home. Great food. Great Shopping. Not so good gambling results. But, we’ll make up for it in February when we return.

Enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Jaleo at my favorite Spaniard celebrity chef, Jose Andres’ place.

#28 Done

A beautiful hotel. This picture is of the bottom level of a three story glass bar that is one enormous chandilier.

Breakfast after a late night at the Craps table. So far we’re even with the House.