Yes, this place really is in SoCal

I mean wow...

Back in the Saddle

So on May 30th, 2006 I dislocated my ankle while climbing. The past few months have been pretty frustrating to say the least. I'm an active person and not being able to walk puts a major strain on anything falling into the active category. For the last month or so, I've started climbing again and have essentially had to start over (3 months off was tougher to come back from than I had anticipated). I quickly realized what good shape I was in when I had the accident and what bad shape I'm in now. The muscle memory is coming back, but mostly I need to shed those 'couch pounds' gained during my rehab. For the most part, I'm back in the saddle and amped as ever to be climbing. Also, I've managed to reel-in another friend into the world of climbing. Aaron Swingler has now joined the ranks and has been tagging along with Gene and I for the last few weeks. I'm adding some pics of the last few weeks climbing excursions. Some from the local Santee Boulders and some from today's adventure up to Escondido and the newly discovered (at least for us) Daley Ranch Boulders. Enjoy. -jt

p.s. With the way things are panning out, it looks like there will be lots of cool climbing pics in the next month(s)....Pine Mtn, Red Rocks, JTree...

Let's do this!

About as close as I got to sending this one

Gene working a balancy problem on the Carousel Boulder

Gene feeling the topout of 'Jumpstart'

First time I had been back on 'Jumpstart' since I fell off and dislocated my ankle in May...give me time...I'll send

Finishing the day on a good note - sending the Iron Cross Problem sans anti-perspirant

Wicked sunset from the Santee Boulders

Overhung and juggy...cause that's how we roll

Karen throwing down on the overhang

Face climb...love it

Just an interesting picture of Aaron and the boulder...weird depth and facial expression

So many fun problems on one boulder...very uncharacteristic of bouldering in SoCal

JT working the burly lieback

Aaron - 1, Boulder - 0

Karen checking out the sunset

Another amazing sunset in SoCal

Aussie Girl Reunion

That's right the last weekend of August I was off to Oakland / Livermore, CA for a girl's weekend with my Aussie Gals; and what a BLAST we had! Miss Kelly Kull and her man, Ross, were the mac-daddy host and hostess and made us all feel at home in there cozy home in Livermore, CA. After we all arrived and claimed our luggage we went off to get our palms red as we traditionally do when we're all together. The reading the chick gave us was well....it pretty much sucked and was fake but we did get a few good laughs out of it. I'll only start to worry if Heather starts dating a Mexican man, and I meet a guy named Benji. We turned in early after a fun evening of catching up, drinking wine, and eating homemade pizza. After a leisurely breakfast on the patio Saturday morning we were off for Livermore wine country. We went to about 4 different wineries and took advantage of the free tastings. Fennestra was by far my favorite and I have to give some

mad props to Ross for being a "Fennestatic" and hooking us up with a bunch of additional wine samples (and being our DD). After an early dinner and more hanging out we went to bed to save up for our big day on the boat. On Sunday we had a scenic drive about an hour North to the Delta. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride b/c I got to see hillside upon hillside full of windmills, which I absolutely love for their abstract beauty and sheer potential. But back to the Delta....., the Delta is a series of rivers that eventually flow into the San Fran bay. About 5 minutes into our boat ride, Heather B spotted a seal hanging out on a buoy.
The seal hamm'd it up for us giving us some cute smirks and even a wave or two. As we continued our ride we eventually found some calm water and then hit the skis and wake boards. Heather B and I cut it up on the slalom and Kelly gave it hell on the wakeboard. Crissy was manning the camera and giving us moral support, way to go Cris!

You really couldn't ask for a better weekend. Perfect weather, awesome girls, wine tasting, being on the water...I definitely did not want to get on my flight and go to work early Monday morning. If Kelly and I are lucky we'll get Heather and Crissy to move out to California and then we can have reunions every couple of months vs. once or twice a year. Alright Crissy and Heather, make it happen :)

OIB 2007

Don't let the first picture deceive you, the Sykes family vacation at Ocean Isle Beach was absolutely beautiful! Maybe it's b/c I was home on the East Coast and realized that it was actually possible to miss heat and humidity, or maybe it was b/c it was my first full week of family vacation since I was 16, whatever the case it was really a fantastic week! We did not waste anytime settling into our normal beach routine....wake up, have a yummy Kashi breakfast with fresh NC peaches, sunscreen-up and then walk down to the beach. Activities included lots of reading (I zipped through 3 books), some walking, swimming, and even some bocce ball. None beach activities included happy hour everynight :), a trip to the Myrtle Beach outlets (I'm soooo glad Amber likes shopping as much as I do), putt-putt golf, and even a luau themed dinner hosted by the Sykes family kids. Who could ask for anything more....except maybe another week. Enjoy the pictures!

We had one storm the entire week....pretty dramatic sky!

The Sykes Girls: Karen, Amber, Jenn, and Rita
(This was luau night, we all had umbrellas in our hair but for some reason Mom's is the only one that is actually visible...oh hush, you don't look THAT silly momma.)

What a toss!

Me and the Folks....ahhhh

Quality "man" time by the grill.

What a cute couple!!!

Ah yes, what evening would be complete without some drunken card playing. Can you tell who's loosing?

Summer Fun!!!!!!!

Thought we'd share some fun photos of our summer thus far....4th of July on Mission Bay, birthday's, baseball games, and hanging out with friends. What more could you ask for. Enjoy the pics!

4th of July Fun!

Just some good lookin' dudes hanging out on the rocks

We're so refined here in the Southern part of California; crocket anyone?

Happy 4th of July Miles...don't look so worried about the table decorations that are suspended from your collar.

Bocce Anyone?

What 4th of July celebration would be complete without some grilling

Miles was very scared during the fireworks. He climbed on top of me and buried his head in John's sweatshirt. Guess there's no hope in him ever being much of a watch dog.

Fly kite fly!!!!

Fun was had by everyone....I mean do you see the ears on Miles, that's not everyday fun, that's 4th of July FUN!!!

Grillin' and chillin'

Kareeeen and Mileserific

Liz, Charlie, and Steph mixin' up some drinks at the Poway Party

Man, Rilely & Miles are soooo glad we grilled ribs!

JT, J, and Step hangin out

JT doggin' the dog....almost as entertaining as the 4th of July fireworks that followed the game

Steph and J....go Padres!

Not only my first Padres game, but my first pro baseball game, I feel so cultured now

Oh Boy, she looks excited!!!!

What's that floating above your head Mags, is that a bird, or a plane....you decided.

Make a wish!!!