Live from Usana! - 311's got the Boom y'all!

Well, it was bound to happen and it did. I totally choked and didn't have a fully charged phone to get pics at the concert. It died just as 311 were getting ready to take the stage. So the above pic is the only one I have - this was during Snoop Dogg's set - it STUNK! Maybe you can see the back of Paul's head in the lower lefthand corner of the pic, he's playing brick breaker just praying that Snoop will end soon. Luckily the weather was really nice so we just waited patiently for the garbage to end.

Quick note, the seats I had were back a ways for reasons that won't be discussed here, so we didn't get the FULL experience this time (usually we'd be right down in the "pit" or right in front of the stage) but, as Paul said, it was the first time he'd been to a 311 concert where he never rubbed up against anyone else and didn't leave completely soaked with sweat, so there's a silver lining - :-D

They kicked things off with Beautiful Disaster, which is a good song but just an OK kick-off song. I think they should start with Hive or Omaha Stylee, but I'm not in the band, and they don't ask me. They did play Hive 2nd, which totally rocked. During the main portion of the show, really the only crappy things was they played "Love Song," their lone "sell out song." Once that was over we got back to business and they played a really good set. Then they came out and BLEW the place away with a killer encore of Omaha Stylee and my favorite song - Creatures (featured below in the other 311 post).

I know there are people out there who will go see a particular band or singer anytime they come to town because they're good every time. 311 definitely falls into that category. They are great EVERY time! It is just a fun show, lots of action and great tunes - the kind of music you want to hear live. So, overall I'll give this time a 8 out of 10 just cuz of the seats, but 311 did not disappoint at all!!!

Wall-E

Griff and I went to see Wall-E. It was pretty funny. Griff laughed hysterically at parts, so much so that the family next to us was laughing mostly at him. I was cracking up too. The little roach side-kick is pretty funny. I think Pixar does some movies just to show the world how good they are at animation, I swear - but it's pretty cool, nonetheless, so I guess it's working.

I'd say in the rankings of animated movies it was about on par with Toy Story. Not as good as Cars or Monster's Inc, but still good enough for the matinee for sure. It also wasn't even close to as funny as Kung Fu Panda, but I think that was super funny. Griff still says Ska-Doosh! I don't think there were any cute catch-phrases or words from this one but it had a lot of pretty funny slap-stick type comedy. My only question is, this movie is in the future, yet Wall-E can't really speak much??? What kind of robot in the future can't speak? I guess that kind of made it funnier, but still, let's be realistic, OK! :-D I'd say probably 3.5 out of 5.

Wall-E (not a bad capture off the movie screen, eh?

Wall-E, Griff, Eve (weird lighting)

THREE-ELEVUUUUUUUUUHN!

Link to my Favorite 311 song on YouTube

That's right kids. I have 2 tickets to the 311 concert Monday night. I have no one lined up to go with. I did, now I don't. I'd take Griff but I'm not sure he's ready for the 2nd hand high ;-)
SO, if you want to be considered to go with me, you HAVE to sign in to the Guest Book on the Righthand Column of my site here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Snoop-a-loop is opening for them, I don't know how I feel about that, but whatever - 311 know how to kick out the jams. I can't wait! :-D

Hangin' With Griff

Well, I haven't wanted to keep Griff couped up in the house all day, and actually he's been out playing a lot, but we've been skate-boarding down to the pool every day for an hour or so. Griff loves the water and, as usual, makes friends with whomever might be down there, including teen-agers and adults. I just sit in the shade and work :-(

Here are some pics and videos.




Griff wears his swim goggles on his board; Yep, Griff's helmet almost fits my head LOL


Griff and his little buddy "Jet"

Cannonball!!!!! This was making me laugh...

Sunday June 22 - LegoLand and Home!

Sunday morning we got up late, we were totally wiped out. Griff and I shared a king-size bed and the kid has some serious Jimmy legs, he was kicking me all night and when we woke up he was perpendicular to the way he should have been sleeping and his legs were hanging off the side of the bed - crazy kid! Anyway, we got all packed up, had some breakfast and headed out to LegoLand. LegoLand is in Carlsbad, which was about 15-20 north of where we were in San Diego. It was a nice drive with not too much traffic.



I think my first hint to the quality of LegoLand should have been the number of cars in the parking lot. For instance, when we got to Sea World, we had to park like a mile away from the front entrance! When we got to LegoLand, I practically could have fallen out of the car into the park there were so few people there. Amazingly enough, this would prove to be quite an anomoly later on, you'll see...

Here are the pics and video:

We got to wait in line for an HOUR to ride this tiny roller coaster that you have to PEDAL yourself!!! See the mystery? No one in the parking lot but an hour wait for a ride???




I think LegoLand is pretty lame, but Griff loved it! And that's really what the trip was about, so it was all good. It really is geared more to little kids, all the rides are SO tame.

This helicopter basically went up and down really slow - yee-haw!!!

THE ride at LegoLand:


They did have some cool things made out of Legos, but you see one Lego Castle, you've seen them all. I did like this:


Full size Volvo sc90 made of Legos!


Griff Getting his Driver's License

And mini San Francisco and Mini Manhattan were pretty cool:

I was unhappy with mini Las Vegas because it was missing Mandalay Bay.

Griff racing the lego car he made; Hanging with Lego Bob the Builder


Lego R2D2


Steeples of the San Diego Temple heading down the 5, I was going too fast to get a better picture :-)


A tasty beverage at the Airport waiting to head home!

We made it home with no issues. We did have to sit next to someone else on the plane back and Griff wasn't happy about that for some reason, I think cuz he was so tired. We were both zombies driving home, I don't even remember the ride! But, all in all it was a great trip, Griff loved every minute of it and talks about going back to the beach all the time. Keeps asking me if I've ever swam in the Ocean and then says he wants to go back to surf. Maybe Uncle Aaron can teach him!

Anyway, that's about it! Hope you enjoy the pics and videos!

Saturday June 21, The Zoo and The Beach

Saturday was another hot, beautiful day in San Diego. We started with some delicious breakfast snacks and headed out to the pool at the hotel!

Griff loves the Pool!!! Made some new friends as well, he always does!

Here are a few Zoo pics:

This Spitting Cobra was ticked! 25'Anaconda! All you see here is his giant head! Griff loved the snake exhibit, we went back 3 times (Snakes, sharks, what is with this kid???): this rattler was creepy, thought Stacy might like it!

Griff and Hippos; Polar Bears, probably my favorite animal at the zoo.

Griff with the Polar bear statues

The Pandas were super cool, no Kung-Fu though????


Baby Panda

On the bus tour; Griff at the Koi Pond, watching snapping turtles eating guppies

Griff and a Llama :-D This sign cracked me up. I know people who need this sign LOL

I have more zoo pics, but let's move to the beach. Griff had never been to the beach before, so I didn't know how he'd like it, and the California Pacific is very cold right now! But, as you will see, Griff LOVED the ocean! He even got pretty daring and went out beyond the first little break and out to the second. He did NOT want to leave the ocean and stayed out there a good hour. Mission Beach was packed as usual, but it's a pretty good beach. LOTS of seaweed. Here are the pics and video!

You really can't tell from these pics but the beach was pretty crowded. Still, Griff had a blast. Mission Beach boardwalk has a bunch of carnival rides and Griff, on the way out, said to me, "Dad, I wish there was a ride named Griffin!" "Why's that Griff?" "Cuz then I could ride it whenever I want and we could come all the time to ride it." According to that logic, I wish there was a Porsche named Ryan! :-D

This is at Cane's Cantina. Their food was SOOOO good and they also had the Ultimate Fighter Finale on TV, so it was good times. As you can see, I'm still shiny from the SPF 70+ sunblock. That stuff didn't come off without an elephant washer and heavy duty cleanser!

I think that's enough. If you want to see more pics, call me B-)

Friday June 20th - Sea World

The day started out like every other day for me, working (yep even on vacation). While I was working, Griff took advantage of the time and ran all over the hotel. He had his own keycard for the room, so he just took off. He'd come back every few minutes, so I don't imagine he went too far each time. My Grandpa Arnold reminded me of when I went on a trip with him and Grandma Janice and did the same thing, but I'd go all over the hotel in the elevator and they had no idea where I was. So, I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree :-D

Note: Griff is trying out the Hindu faith, thus the forehead dot.(Actually he did a faceplant off his skateboard apparently and that's all that got scratched :-D)

Anyway, we got to Sea World, covered in SPF 70+ sunblock (basically we got zero additional color). This stuff is like clear skin paint, we were shiny all day and didn't get an ounce of sunburn!

Without any further ado, here's the pics and video. I'll add commentary as time permits.

Feeding Sea Lions; Waiting for the Sea Lion/Otter show (very funny)

Pink Flamingos, Griff likes these for some reason: Frozen Lemonade, we drank about 10 of these!

Waiting for the Shamu Show. Ridiculously hot!; Shamu Jump - whoo-hoo!

Waiting for the Dolphin show; Dolphins jump! Yee-Haw

Dolphins jump, again; Shark tube, Griff's fav thing - we went 3 times!

Atlantis!!! Heading up the hill on Atlantis - this ride gets you WET and Griff wanted to ride!!!

Getting ready to head up the hill! Griff afterwards, not TOO wet (that would come...)

Another drink after Atlantis; On the kid's rides (this is flying fish I believe)

This is where Griff got soaked, at one point the fountain shot up his shorts and out the top of his shirt! SO funny, but I wasn't aware he was going to get this wet. He did this all on his own on one of his "escape from Dad" adventures...

Griff and Shamu; Skyride into the San Diego sunset

No trip to SoCal would be complete without this, now would it ;-) And that ended our Sea World day. 9 hours of walking around Sea World and Griff didn't want to leave. I was just looking for any bit of shade I could find. Once things cooled off some, it was REALLY enjoyable :-D I have more pics, but seriously, enough right? And I still have 2 days to go.

OH, I did forget this:

Just one question, where are the boots with the fur? (If you don't know what that means, ask someone younger than you :-D )