It's been a long while...with many great adventures.

Lots has happened since my last post. 
1. The Olympics in Vancouver (no, I did not attend).  Once that ended, all eyes turned toward the 100 days leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  Yikes, only 100 days! 

2. My birthday in Switzerland.
3. I finally managed to "cash in" on my 30th bday gift and went to Patagonia.  3 weeks and 160 hiking km later...I have some awesome pictures of mountains and glaciers and the southernmost city in the world to-be-shared later.

4. Purchase of my first home- downtown Minneapolis.  More info later.
5. A quick visit to Joburg for business to finish up a project from my time there (which also achieves a milestone for my current job).  I had a great time diving in Sodwana (saw my first dolphins "in the wild"!), seeing good friends, and catching up with coworkers.  I left on 21Apr2010, the 50 day mark until the World Cup comes to Africa.  Admittingly, Joburg has really changed (for the better) as they are preparing for this huge event.  My fingers are crossed that all goes well.

Slavery?

The 18Jan2010 edition of TIME magazine had an article about modern day slavery and specfiically focused on the sex trafficking industry in South Africa.  It is definitely alive and real and the fear is that business will boom during the World Cup.  We need to pray. 

Happy 2010 (ringing in the new year in SF)!

I love San Francisco.  It was so good to see old friends, again.
Tina and I had lunch at Chez Panisse to celebrate her 40th.  Yum.

Great job Chelsea, Caroline, and Jessica on organizing a fun new years dinner party.

More pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/backroads.traveler/NewYearsInSF?authkey=Gv1sRgCIyw_PmG8-aguAE&feat=directlink

On my last day in SF, I received an SMS informing me that the HIGH in Minneapolis was below zero.  Meanwhile, Benita and I were enjoying winter in SF under the blue sky and sun.  This was the view from the top of Fillmore looking toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

This is about the time I started missing SF.

Next stop, San Diego

Good food, great friends, a bunch of little kids, sun, beach, and a bit of Rock Band.
Thanks Jenny and Andy for another great trip to San Diego.  And congrats on your new addition to the family!  I think this is becoming a bit of a pattern- you delivering shortly after my visit.

Christmas Day Dinner- Chinese style

The family went out to dinner on Christmas Day.  The requirements: Chinese, Seafood.  No surprise that the restaurant was packed with lines through the door.  They even had chairs outside for the grandma and grandpas to sit down and wait.

It was worth the wait.  Delicious food.

Christmas Eve in Los Angeles.

Well, after a slow drive to the airport through 6 inches of snow, finding a parking spot for the car (in the open, under the snow fall. sorry mom and dad who will have to dig the car out.), a tug to push the slipping tug that pushes the plane away from the gate, 15 snow plows in line to clear the tarmac, a quick de-icing of the wings, we lifted off the ground and arrived in LA 10 minutes early.  Phew.  Once landed, the storm quickly escaped my memory and I was enjoying the sun in Beverly Hills with Warren, Wendy, Tim, Mandy and baby Sara. 

I can't believe I'm obsessing about the weather.

Winter storm warning.
http://www.weather.com/weather/alerts/localalerts/USMN0503?phenomena=WS&significance=W&areaid=MNZ060&office=KMPX&etn=0008

I tried to change my 730am flight tomorrow to leave tonight (this took place this morning).  Too late.  Unless I physically go to the airport to try and get a seat, all flights booked for today already.  Ugh.  Well, I'm still hopeful the plane will take off in the morning.  It has to.  I have plans!  Can't wait to see my old college friends- in LA.