SJ Grand Prix

My friend Juan got hooked up with box seats for the Third Annual San Jose Grand Prix over the weekend -- who knew it would be so much fun watching cars drive around in circles? Watching the slick racecars as they swoosh by in a fraction of a second, hearing the loud buzz of the engines, and smelling burnt rubber, all while sipping wine in an air conditioned box...I can't think of a better way to spend a lazy Saturday. The best parts of the show were the motorcycle "clown" who did tricks on a Harley between the racing. Then there was the drifting, where 3-wheel drive vehicles would skid and slide at turns with amazing skill and leaving a cloud of smoke in its wake. All this AND a few new rubber duckies to add to my collection!

Check out some of my videos from the Grand Prix:

Motorcycle Clown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8cONkwc0U
Drifting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghyKqfREF1k
Historic Stock Car Racing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XM0oD339Mw

Ireland

I've got it into my head now that I must go bike Ireland before I die or become too incapacitated to bike. If you've attempted and/or successfully completed this already, please share some of your wisdom with me.

Here are a few other items on my life checklist:
- Skydiving
- 7-day camping and whitewater rafting down the Grand Canyon
- See Prague, Santiago (Chile), and Rome.
- Visit Venice (Italy, not LA) again before it drowns.
- Live in Paris
- Stay at the Ice Hotel

Weird

It's raining right now. Here, in California, in the middle of summer. This is a phenomenon that simply does not happen. Summers are very dry and warm, or sometimes hot. Something is amiss.

Reunion

Here are some pictures from last Wednesday's reunion dinner with both China tour groups. It was a great turnout, and it was fun to see everyone again and to relive the trip through stories and pictures.

Phew!

My China pictures are finally up! Check them out at: http://picasaweb.google.com/heebyjeany

My apologies in advance if you are offended by any of the silly poses.