Blog

I spent the past week at an offsite soirée in the tiny Olympic Peninsula town of Port Townsend. The meeting was part work, part team building…but 100% fun. This has to be the most creative team I’ve ever had the privilege to be part of…and they knew just how to occupy easily distracted minds like mine: play dough, a slinky, and (my favorite) orange sparkle pens 🙂

The team chose the historic (aka, quirky) Manresa Castle…built in 1878. (It was built as a grand residence at first, but also served as a “vacation place for nuns” and a “training college for Jesuit priests”.) The hotel is supposedly home to a ghost or two…at least that’s the story the bartender told us. I remain a skeptic. Nevertheless, the quiet location, cool evening breezes, and full-moon views of the shimmering Puget Sound made for deep sleeping.

The highlight of the week was the team’s murder mystery dinner on Thursday night. I had the good fortune to play a former high school jock, who married a popular cheerleader. Talk about fantastic typecasting 🙂 I wasn’t killed, and I wasn’t the murderer, but I did have a BLAST.

Here is a shot from the end of the evening. I’m pretty sure the team would agree this isn’t our most flattering pose…but definitley reflects the crazy side of the week. Unfortunately, the kind -but-impatient hotel staffer who took this for us shook the camera in every shot. Trust me…this is the best shot!!

(Thanks for a fantastic week.)

Let me wrap up a long week with a few shots on the ferry ride across the Sound.

I was in NYC last year when the iPhone launched, and got to see the crazy costumes with people starved to get on camera. This morning, I passed an AT&T store in the SF Financial District, and the scene was much more…corporate. But still, an insane line!

Still…I want one 🙂

I worked through several of the more colorful photos from our 4th of July visit in Michigan. From flowers to fair food to fireworks, these images just scream out SUMMER!

TUESDAY. A 6am flight to Chicago…way too early…but at least on time. A quick run thru the O’Hare neon tunnel and then a short hop into Grand Rapids. Welcome hugs from Jeff’s mom and dad. Lisa and Lynn joined us for dinner in North Muskegon at the cozy Bear Lake Tavern…I had an amazing, creamy blue cheese burger…perfect. Dessert was Jeff’s mom’s homemade rhubarb pie…tangy and sweet…with a tall dollop of whipped cream. YUM.

WEDNESDAY. Dominick, Natalie, and Joshua arrived with Susan soon after breakfast for a dip in the pool. Splashing and jumping and laughs in the sun…Young Joshua is quite the brave swimmer! Dark clouds in the afternoon signaled the arrival of strong thunderstorms and torrential rain. Recently home from Germany, Julie and Adam arrived with Keegan and Mia. Dinner at the fantastic Bernie-O’s Pizza. Three mouth-watering creations, including Jeff’s favorite…the Hot Wing pizza. Jeff’s homemade mint chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Mexican Train to top off the evening…young Keegan with a surprising early lead!!

THURSDAY. A lazy pool-and-deck day. Lynn’s wonderful, cheesy chicken enchiladas. Matthew arrived from San Francisco. Hail, Hail, the gangs all here!

FRIDAY. Happy Independence Day. The Muskegon Art Festival was jam-packed with holiday weekend revelers. Classy art up top in the park; homestyle folk craft down below. For me, the highlight (of course) was the indulgent deep-fried Oreo…a fair rival to the deep-fried Twinkie from a couple of years ago 🙂 Ooey, gooey…these cookie morsels melt in your mouth. Pat and Joanie arrived from Detroit in a zippy convertible. A late afternoon Wippi Dip…chocolate-vanilla twist, please. More pool time, and then the pinnacle of summer picnics in Muskegon…brats on the grill. Fireworks over Muskegon Lake closed out a long, festive day.

SATURDAY. More family festivities around the pool and on the deck. Family and friends dropped by to share in the wonderful outdoor lunch/dinner. Late pizza and drinks out on the town into the wee hours. Madonna and J.T. coaxed a few dance steps.

SUNDAY. A final family meal before folks headed off to various destinations. I left Jeff to continue his Michigan visit, while I headed back to SF. Adam dropped me at GRR for what was to be a tiring flight home…full of delays and more delays. (I’ll save my frustrating United rant for a better day.) Home at 11pm. Missing Jeff 🙁

Sunday’s Pride Parade through the heart of San Francisco had its usual mash-up of bright color, pulsing music, and determined politics, but this year the undeniable feeling was joy. There was a noticeable air of celebration and love and inclusion. It is a wonderful time to live in San Francisco.

Every year, the parade attracts a few celebrities…or at least gay celebrities. This year’s notables pictured below: Cindy Lauper, Leslie Jordan (the diminutive persnickety actor from Boston Legal and Will and Grace…in a less than flattering pose), and “Fernando and Greg” (a local D.J. pair).

But the majority of the parade is full of real folks…many decked out in the most outrageous outfits. The costumes seemed even more over the top this year…it was my favorite parade in years.