More to come ...

Please hold. We will return very soon.

Big Rock, Little Rock...

Flight to Little Rock. Check. Room at the Hampton Inn. Check. Mini-fridge full of Shiner Bock and Miller Light. Check. Friends from Charlotte in suite across the hall. Check. No Rain until after the ceremony. Priceless.

Well, Luke got hitched in Little Rock this weekend to a wonderfully beautiful and well-suited mate, Allison. A beautiful time in an interesting place. Sunday the newly weds headed to Aruba and the wife and I headed back to California. It went fast, but the weekend was unforgettable.

The big highlight of the trip? Easy. Luke's face all lit up when he was repeating his vows. But his wonderment was followed closely by the ceremony's awesome finale. As soon as the pastor announced the new couple, James Brown's "I Feel Good" blared from the speakers and the excited couple danced down the aisle with a joy reserved for such occasions. The attendants were brought to their feet with a roar of applause usually reserved for a bottom-of-the-ninth, two-out, tie-breaking home run. Exceptionally entertaining.

Other highlights? The rental car: a brand-spanking-new, red Ford Expedition quickly nicknamed "Clifford the Big Red Dog." I parallel parked the mother on the first try. The six of us quickly nicknamed "The Charlotte Six" rode through the burbs of Little Rock in high style. Another favorite? Our theme song, which we sketched out during many trips from the downtown bars to the hotel: "Little Rock, Little Rock of Horrors" (Of course, to the tune of "Little Shop of Horrors"). There was also the Saturday afternoon screamfest to Boston's "Feel Like Making Love."

And really, love's all the weekend was really about.

Wedding for couple No. 3262338509215000

So the wife and I are headed back southeast this weekend for what could turn out to be the wedding of the year. Our Charlotte pal Luke (or the man behind the LUUK link to the left ) and his gal pal are tying the knot Saturday in Little Rock, ArKANSAS (wife's spelling, not mine). As I look now over our travel schedule, it goes something like this: take American Airlines flight from the Oakland airport, connect in Dallas, take American Airlines shuttle to Little Rock, catch mule-drawn carriage from dirt-packed runway to downtown motor inn. Beware of the locals. Kidding. Jokes. Laugh.

Anyway, in case you're wondering, yes, our friend has decided to get married on April 1, otherwise known to the general public as April Fool's Day. You may think this is "cute" or "interesting" but anyone who knows Luke knows he's bad with dates and this is to keep from any future embarrassment with the future wife. Again, jokes. Seriously though, Luke is a man who is always full of surprises, so I'm guessing there is something slightly sinister afoot. Stay tuned.

And for our non-wedding entertainment there's this advertisement for the city that says: "Learn about the President of the United States or POTUS at the entertaining and family-friendly Clinton Presidential Library and Museum..." POTUS? Have we really come that far as a society that we need an acronym for the freaking presidential office? Kind of PO-dunk to me. But of course with little else to do in Little Rock, we'll be there.

Half Moon Bay...

The wife and I ventured from the warm, dark cavern that is our condo this weekend in order to dip our feet into the breathing wonders of the Pacific Ocean. The largest ocean on the planet rises and falls a mere hour's drive from our home and the ride through the rolling, green hills mesmerized us to the point that few words were spoken during our trip. The ease at which we progressed from hazy skies and overpopulation to sun-drenched heavens and quiet beaches pressed away any weariness the weeks before had amassed. The violence of crashing waves upon an outcropping of rocks nearby calmed us, as did the gawking of white sea birds circling above. Deep sand stung our bare feet, but smoothed in areas where the water recently receded. But there, where the water ebbed and flowed, we cautioned away. Along this stretch of northern California coast, the salty water is freezing and a single touch is enough to permanently chill your core. We laughed as if tickled by this cold, and then rushed to find comfort by burying our feet into the warm sand. We sat for several silent moments on a thick, black rock and allowed the ocean to speak for us. We had come here to offer our tidings and receive the blessings of the ocean. The energy of the waters filled us. The walk at Half Moon Bay made us whole again.

New Deserted Cartoon...

Check out the newest installment of my buddy Rob's web cartoon Deserted on his site (There's also a link to his site in the link bar at left). If you haven't already taken a look at his stuff, you should do that immediately. There are about a half dozen original shorts that will make you smile.