Kanye West Austin City Limits

No matter how annoying Kanye's ego is ("you've never heard this many hits on one stage") I enjoy his songs (more his beats than his lyrics). Kanye's set was a Black Swan ego trip that will never be seen again, and a fun way to end ACL on Friday.

Santigold - Austin City Limits 2011

Feels like Santigold's new CD has been held up for way too long, luckily we were able to hear 2 or 3 songs off of the new album on her first US tour date in some time. Looking forward to hearing the rest soon!

Manu Chao ACL 2011

Manu Chao is one of my all time favorite bands, but their live show is what sets this band apart from many. They have a charm to them that you feel at their shows, and you could see it as they were waving to the crowd before their set even began. I have about 20 minutes of footage from their set, and it was definitely one of the high points of ACL this year (as it was when they headlined awhile back). When they played La Primavera, as they chanted “que hora son, mi corazon” Manu Chao was pounding the microphone so hard against his chest that he started to bleed.... That's a heartbeat!

AWOLNATION - Not Your Fault

AWOLNATION is a band that I thought I wouldn't like based off of what the critics were saying, but it ended up being the total opposite. I have been listening to their CD non stop (almost daily) for quite some time, and with lead singer Aaron Bruno being an avid surfer it made me enjoy this high energy band even more---- and miss my CA roots and surfing even more (I have footage of him surfing on the crowd as well). Great show by AWOLNATION. More to come.



Here is "SAIL" performed live with lead singer of AWOLNATION Aaron Bruno on a surfboard surfing the crowd:

Summertime ATX

Keep my head in the clouds, I see a wave

Austin has pushed my limits this summer with a heatwave that matches what feels like Nevada to me, or at least my Bikram Yoga Studio. Being sealed in four air conditioned walls for about 90 days can drive anyone crazy. Yesterday Tropical Storm Lee came in and cleared out the high pressure system (and brought some fire too...) that has been holding us hostage, and I'm not sure if it is a cruel twist of fate that it occurred on the (symbolic) last day of summer. In Austin summer has not ended, and it will still be hot here for at least a month, so I'm getting some fresh cooler air while I can (90 is feeling like the new 70 these days). A couple of random thoughts:

• Everyone should read some Richard Brautigan. My Dad bought me some of his books and let me know that my Mom used to really love reading his books. I read a few of them over the summer, and couldn't help but imagine my mom reading his books years before me. His imagination and odd sense of humor that he finds in normal people through his characters is comforting and addicting. At first I couldn't even understand why anyone would want to read these books, but eventually I got it, and his ability to steer plot lines in directions that make absolutely no sense eventually end up making perfect wacky sense.
• I really like drinking Kombucha. I just hope it doesn't prove to be another airborne type product.
• This summer I looked at a lot of clouds in Austin. It reminds me of that one full moon night down in Mexico where we drank all night and stared at the shapes of the clouds.
• I've had a lot of good BBQ as of late (not sure if Coopers is better than the Salt Lick).
• Second tubing experience was better than the first.
• I'm looking forward to Surfrider's trip to Port A in three weeks (will I get to wear a hoodie?)
• I'm stoked to be making a difference with Surfrider, and overall am becoming a better person everyday (to the best of my ability).
• The reason I'm even thinking out loud is because I read my old blog from 2008 and I thought out loud a lot.... Less "article-y", more random.
• My google analytics are looking good!
• LIVE HAPPILY EVER NOW!

Down by the water

BBQ with friends

Custom cooler with speakers

Look at my cool beach towel!

Austin is burning

Wifey and me. I'm at my happiest in water

SUP is the new?

In Austin, SUP (Stand Up Paddling) is quite the rage. 5 years ago you may find one or two people out on SUP boards on Town lake, now you will find dozens if not many more. With Austin being such an active city, it is not hard to believe the rapid expansion of SUP in Austin. With beautiful lakes with lush green backdrops, Austin is an awesome place to learn and love stand up paddling. I was lucky enough to SUP with friend and fellow Surfrider member Bill Morris over the weekend, and we had a blast (even though I fell off the board quite a bit). If you haven't tried it yet, there are a ton of places to rent boards, like The Expedition School, Paddle Zen, and Austin Paddle Sports. Get out on the water, and Live Happily Ever Now!

Dog days of summer

While it's been hotter than a Bikram Yoga studio this summer, I have had some good memories thus far! Port A with the Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter (double rainbow), a California trip with family in wine country, hanging out and sweating here in Austin with good friends, boating and wakeboarding on the 4th of July, and most recently Mexico and beyond. Now that Leyla is back to school summer is "sort of" officially over, but we will still have the Texas heat for at least another two months. Wonder what will happen next?

CA bear face

Port A surf crew

Dog days of summer

Trip Report: Sayulita Surf

Room with a view - break your back beach

It has been a blistering summer in Austin thus far (not much surf either), and I couldn't hardly wait to escape the Texas heat and head South to Nuevo Vallarta and Sayulita, Mexico.

Given my past experiences in Mexico (sting ray attack, falling off a cliff, Montezuma's revenge, rolled vehicles, etc.) I was expecting something to go wrong----- And it did. The first night we were in town, Hurricane Dora ripped through town bringing thunder (shattered windows), lightning, and a torrential downpour. This rain managed to make large puddles on the (steep and dark) steps throughout our resort. I can't be sure if it was the water on the steps, or the Don Julio shots, or my curse in Mexico (think the episode of The Brady Bunch in Hawaii when they get cursed), but I managed to slip and fall down the stairs on my back.

Luckily for me when I fell, a local Mexican man rushed to my aid, cradled me in his arms, held me tight, and was yelling to the locals to get help. I ended up not getting help, but he held me close, and after that disappeared, never to be seen again. I never got his name, and we continued on, drinking more Don Julio as the ravenous night pressed on.The next morning I could barely sit up or move or think for that matter due to the pain in my back. After the Hurricane (remnants) passed through town, I knew that with me barely being able to breath without extreme pain, that this was going to be a long trip with not much surfing.

Two of my favorite things: Pacifico and Surfing - Sayulita

To make a very long story short (ask Leyla about the full version), I was only able to surf the last day of the trip due to my injury on the first night. On the last day we were in Sayulita, and I was bummed that it was too small for the left to be breaking (I'm a goofy footer).

I surfed the right (with about 50 of my closest friends), and it was fun waist high surf. The water was a perfect temperature, and there was  a friendly and fun vibe (reminded me of Cowells) out in the water. I rented a board from WildMex (one of the owners was from Chicago), and was super stoked to meet some local surfers! We spent the day in the water surfing, and drinking Pacificos. It was a great way to spend our last full day in Mexico.

Numbs the pain!

I was super stoked to be in Mexico despite my accidente keeping me from surfing most of the trip. It was great swimming in the pacific ocean every day, eating amazing food, being with great friends and the wifey, drinking Don Julio and my favorite all time favorite cerveza Pacifico (see pictures below), and enjoying the sounds of crashing waves outside my window.

It looks like I will have to take another trip this year to fulfill my surfing needs (there should be several), and if I have time I may write another post about me getting stuck upside down repelling down a 100 foot waterfall where they filmed Predator on the second day of this trip. The Mexico curse continues! Here are a couple of pictures of Las Olas and some Pacifico's too!

Hurricane Dora on her way to town

Beach groomer ahead of Dora

Our backyard - Nuevo Vallarta

Best beer ever! Pacifico in the jungle!

Baja flashbacks

Beautiful Sayulita

Represent

WildMex hooked it up

Another trip, another survivor's tale!

 Live Happily Ever Now! Ahora viven felices para siempre!