My weekend was very strange. Memorial day is usually one of those weekends that I’m never in town, for some reason I was this year. Celebrated the graduation of Radford, Jen, Barry, Brian and Pato this friday at SoFa Lounge in San Jose. Peter was in town Saturday so I ended up in the city were we met up with Brooks, Cara, Luis and Lisa (also from LA), I ran into Newton and a bunch of Cal folks at Medjool in the Mission then somehow ended up back at the Met. On Sunday I checked out Rick and Mykey’s new crib, it’s phat. Dinner with the g-folks then hung out with someone that makes me laugh. On Monday we met up in Campbell then proceeded to follow the sheep into Santa Cruz. Radford, Lillian, Herman, Brian and I were in Lillian’s new FJ Cruiser…pretty cool car. Followed by Nancy, Pato and the twins behind us. 1.5 hours of traffic…YAY!

I’m beat, worn and tired. A good weekend, I should get back to work now.

-wallace

I really don’t know what I was thinking when I left my old cushy quasi-corporate job 2 miles from my place for a self-financed venture with a 15 mile commute to a city built on a landfill. Oh yeah…it was that whole ‘not using my full potential’ thing, and it’s still about that. I had the old grumpy exec syndrome in Cupertino, I needed a new scene, a new challenge, and new women. However…there is a catch…

The women here are non-existant. You’d think I’m exaggerating, and you’re thinking “There surely must be some decent prospects,” but no. I’m serious. This place is made up of grumpy asian mothers and younger versions that will grow and mature into asian mothers.

To drive this nail deeper, I met this girl, Melody, a few weeks ago through a mutual friend. She was actually the first girl that caught my eyes as I walked in, to find out we have a mutual friend is like an admission ticket. So what stopped me? I realized she’s the typical girl I go for, a cute face, but no personality. A bore, a princess, someone that craves attention. I think about this and and am disgusted by it. The kicker is she works in Milpitas, down the street actually. I bet I could walk to her office, but won’t bother. To be fair, I really don’t know this girl. We’ve said, “Hi” and shook hands, she could be a truely fantastic person…I guess I won’t ever know. Yes, very narrow minded of me. I know.

I constantly walk around Milpitas at lunch and think “I wouldn’t touch that with a twenty foot pole.” If you read this entire waste of time, you owe me a Guinness.

-depressed in milpitas.

Sunny, Jenny and I made the ambitious mistake to conquer Sykes this weekend. Although we did complete the 20-mile trek, we were far from victorious. Instead we have aquired a new-found respect for Sykes. It is fair to say Sykes baited us then showed no mercy. We were challenged in every possible way. Sykes pushed us physically, mentally, spirtually and logically. It was a stony-hearted trail, and this would become the definition of our trek. By 5pm Sunday we would of hiked over 20 miles, climbed 3000 feet, decended 2000 feet, crossed 3 rivers (twice) and become shadows of our former selves. The terrain is composed of steep switchbacks, and the environment unforgiving in every way. Generous amounts of scorching sunlight, spider webs, river crossings, snakes, bugs, land slides, mud, etc. Sykes threw all it had at us.

We left Big Sur Station at about 1:30pm Saturday afternoon and trekked the 10 miles by 7pm. Doubts circulated Jenny’s mind and I have to admit I had my doubts as well. I falsely assumed the third river crossing was Sykes and from there it was about 3.5 miles into Sykes. Therefore Jenny was justified in her acrimony, “Wallace, are we fucking there yet?” was a phrase I never thought I’d hear out of her. “Uh Oh.” I thought…anyways we trekked on and the Sykes switchbacks finally met my eyes. We were happy again and our fears, doubts, and anger subsided. Our second wind arrived and we rushed down to the final river crossing where we would proceed to set up camp then scramble to the hot springs.

This was what Sykes is infamous for, the serene, tranquil and incredible calmness of the hot springs. We were actually able to pull the large pool with waterfall all to ourselves. Something I don’t believe I will ever be able to experience again. Sensational. We lounged for an hour then trekked back, Jenny in a bikini and my flip flops, Sunny and I in board shorts. We pillage some firewood from an abondoned campsite and arrive back at camp. Dinner is cooked and we’re taking swigs of a midori vodka concoction that Jenny and I put together that morning. I called it ’shrek juice’ and yes…it was disgusting. We chased the witch brew with canned lychees and soon we all had a mind numbing buzz throbbing at our temples. hilarity ensues.

Next morning we pack up, wash up, grab a bite and were on our way by 10:30am, after some extended breaks (approx 2 hours total) we arrive back at the trail head at 5pm. A quick celebration stop at a general store for frozen key lime juice bars, coke, strawberry shortcake and kern’s mango nector we were back on the 90-mile drive home. Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, Salinas, Gilroy, Almaden, San Jose, and finally home. Cupertino. It was 7pm and we were all smiles, we know what happens in Sykes…stays in Sykes ;o)

I sit here now with sore muscles and 3 bug bites as my only companions. However we only took memories, trash, and 388 photos from Sykes. We were all tired, dirty, half looney, and on the verge of defeat, I’m glad we all made it and if someone asked if I would do this all over again. My answer - Absolutely.

-Wallace

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

I used to subscribe to the work hard, play hard mentality, lately it’s work hard and avoid society all together. Don’t worry guys, I haven’t forgotten about you all! I mean if I did who would I be spending my time with?! I’ve just been really focused lately, time’s running out and I need to catch up to Paul in terms of being balleriffic.

Did my first open house this past Sunday, a $1.2MM house in Eagle Ridge Golf Community. Meeting with agents, helping them grow their business so mine will grow along with them and focusing on my business model as well. Looking forward to the rewards, I’m hoping this will happen soon.

Finally detailed the dub last night, the bird shit and dust got on my nerves. Then decided to go out and photograph a few things, play with shutter speeds and show you guys my town. Cupertino in the house.

Hmmm…so Sykes this weekend. I will be missing Ferrari Challenge, however I’m stoked. It’s just three of us this year, my apologies to Erwin and Amanda for the short notice. I’ll keep you two in mind for Skyline to the Sea. I’m forecasting a July trek. Pictures to come…

-wallace

Happy Birthday Guys! Tell me how the rest of the party went, apologies for leaving early. I’ll make it up during the next bbq, and Jeanie… you don’t look anything like Shrek, not sure what I was thinking. I bet you’re all still in a alcohol induced comatose.

Pictures Here

-Wallace

Jenny began life as a little white fluff, three black dots defined her eyes and nose. She loved people and was a ham for attention. She loved to have her belly scratched and would try to shake your hand when you reached out. She never sniffed crotches or overpowered anyone, she was a petite 2.75′ long and 1.5′ at the shoulder. Had a crooked walk and a look as if she was always smiling.

At times I thought she had to be the most destructive and troublesome dog. She would not chew up both shoes, just one. Enough to render the remaining shoe useless. She insisted on having a soft spot when nature called, this ment the carpet not the dirt in the backyard, she would later find grass comfortable as well. She would chase anything that caught her attention, this included squirrels, birds, bugs, children and our especially neighbor’s cat. She also had a habit of driving my mother crazy, they became mortal enemies for a short eternity. My mother wanted her gone, however Jenny being her dumb self ended up winning her heart. Mother finally accepted that Jenny will be Jenny, a grown dog that was a free spirited puppy at heart.

There were also the moments which we shared. If I was angry she’d lie there, looking at me for any excuse to rush up and brighten my day. If I was sad she’s lay her head in my lap and sulk with me. If I was happy, so was she. She redifined the concept of fetch, she had no problem fetching it was bringing back whatever I threw that was the problem. She never got the concept. At age 15, I brought her with us to Yosemite where she trekked the John Muir Trail with us. She was a trooper, always ahead; trailblazing and making sure we were safe. She did not take off after any animals (even if she did we were all too tired to give chase), kept her distance, minded her own business, and won the praise of many other backpackers out there that weekend. She made me proud.

Thanks the laughs, the sorrow, the headaches, and the memories. Goodbye my friend. You will be missed.

When’s the last time you did something spontaneous? We ended up deciding that we’ll make a run for Kirkwood this past weekend. If you kept tabs on me Murphy’s Law seemed to follow me on my past trips this season. I was determined not to see its ugly face. I checked the forecast, 78 degrees F, clear, and sunny. MUAHHAHAAH!!! >=) or so I thought.

My Saturday night opened up so we decide to head to my folk’s place and spend the night there. We arrive at 9:30pm and go more or less straight to sleep. I wake up, shower, brush my teeth and jump into my favorite pair of Burton pants. Something about this pair, I love them. Cook breakfast then woof it down, it’s 7:30am and we’re out the door.

30 miles from Kirkwood my car throws a code. WTF? I thought…I just changed the oil and replaced the MAF yesterday. oh well…keep pushing it. We arrive at Kirkwood and the last of the hardcore snowbums are in full attendence. A group dressed in formal attire, A group in 80’s gala complete with mullets and leg warmers, and snow bunnies. OMG there’s just something about a girl that boards in skimpy top, and thanks to Paris and Nichole the BIG SUNGLASS thing covers half their face so all I noticed were pouty lips, perky tits, and tight round bottoms. Life is good.

Speaking of the good:
1. We got to Kirkwood
2. Weather was fantastic, the views are absolutely gorgeous.
3. I got in more runs then I could keep track of.
4. Chair #10, ‘the wall’, was softer then usual so the moguls were not such a challenge.
5. The orange vw got lots of compliments, the best one was from a wrx owner.
6. The orange vw MADE it up.
7. Sunk my teeth into another Kirkwood burger and followed that with a beer.
8. I missed a head on collision with a tree, I’m thinking about a helmet now.

Ok…here’s where Murphy got me

On the return trip I was a walking zombie, physically and mentally tortured and worn out. Mid way through HWY88 I switched places with Sunny. Everytime Sunny gets in this driver’s seat he’s like a compressed can of energy, the excitement radiated throughout the cabin. His eyes a crazed glare and the slight froth at the edge of his mouth was all that I needed to confirm that he thought he was Schumacher on a F1 circuit. The dub finally gave up in Fremont, I blew ANOTHER mass air flow meter. My brother ended up bringing me my spare and we swapped it out on the side of the road. Let me tell you, the turbulance from a 18 wheeler 3′ from you is something you will not forget. It was as if the grim weeper’s sickle missed you by a hair. I was so fed up I didn’t care at that point. MAF swapped and we were on are way home. It’s 10:30pm and I’m exhausted.

What a trip. So what have I confirmed? You really do now know what tomorrow has in store for you or anyone else. Forget tomorrow, you don’t even know about the next hour, minute or second. Tell those you love and cherish that you love them. That they mean the world to you, that you do care about them, because you never know. Crazy stuff. I hate Murphy.

-wallace