Leipzig, Germany

Leipzig is in the former Eastern Germany and you can see it throughout the region. It is a great mix of old German architecture, not too damaged in the war, and eastern block housing. The city has a calm energy and a many newer restaurants and refurbished old buildings. I went for a nice run through a forest that straddles the town and along a misty river. This is my shortest trip to Europe, only three days on the ground. But it has been productive and fun. The picture is from a dinner with the German Geospatial press in a gorgeous historical hotel. Walls of carved serpentine. On my left is the VP of my business unit.

Lego Mania as Party Performance Art

Silas says: these are the pod racers that me and Jasper made. But they are kind of like Pod Racers that have wheels. And there was two motors on my ship.

Jasper says:we went to Noah's birthday party. Lego people came to the party and we made Pod Racers. We had to make engines for the back and me and my brother made our engines spin. I had lots of guys on my ship. I had three droids and Jar Jar Binks and two Stormtroopers and Anakin. We went to McInnis skate park after the party.

Get it While You Can

Joel, Elijah, Jasper and I have been charging the wonderful Fall surf, conditions are always much better at the Beach in the Fall and we still have long days. We made it out after school and work twice this week, an activity that will be harder to pursue mid-week once the time change comes. Just mention surf to Jasper and his eyes light up and he stops what he is doing and says "let's go." Elijah and Jasper are really improving fast. Elijah has great paddling form and can catch waves that are just breaking and Jasper has intense persistence and loves to ride waves all the way to the beach. They are both beginning to really get turning the board and standing up sooner. Joel and I are all smiles.

The Crest Jewel

It was like going home. It has been at least 10 years since I last climbed Crest Jewel on North Dome in Yosemite. This was my sixth time up this fun and epic route. A route i have climbed with some of my closest friends over the last twenty years. The good news is I am in better shape now than in a long time and I could do it. Forty must be the new twenty.

Hanging on a slab in the middle of North Dome's Crest Jewel

The day included a ten mile hike and ten pitches of slabby dome, friction and little holds, blank faces up to 5.10a. Early to rise on Saturday morning and hiking in by 7am and on the climb by 10am. Finding the route through the manzanita was intuitive... I have been here before. Five hours and ten beautiful pitches later, with sore feet and quaking thighs, we reached the summit and had a nice two hour hike back to the car.

The long 5.9 pitch with a roof on North Dome

Then, today Sunday, I lead Reed's Direct a crazy, sustained, demanding and steep crack climb. Sinker hand jams, like riding a bicycle. The only problem, my for arms can't hang on that long. I cranked the first pitch and a half and then, for those of you in the know, Fifi helped me rest for the last few placements. But I got the pump, I felt the rock, and I remembered another wonderful part of my life, the life I am getting back!

Sustained Reed's Direct, notice person rappelling to the right for scale (red helmet)

Two Weeks Later

Thanks Andy, Beth, Mia, and Shaq for the great Lego sets. See blog post for 8/18/2007 when we received all the Lego. It took Silas over two weeks to assemble the scale model of the Batmobile, including gearing, hinges, and over 700 pieces. Boy was so proud to finish this model meant for kids twice his age.

Uncle Mo Get's Waxed

Our crazy Uncle Mo (Amos) is having a ripping time in Las Vegas these days... clowning around and collecting money to save the endangered clown fish. (You might want to view this before sharing it with your young ones):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPtoMeFZM0

No Labor on Labor Day

Surf. BBQ. Surf. BBQ. Repeat. Great three-day weekend for the CrockerBoys. Saturday surfing at OB and BBQ with man local friends. Sunday drive to HOT SantaCruz for more beach time and BBQ. Daddy got great south swell at 26th Avenue and Jasper got real shore pound tube rides, punished, and back out for more.

Our Santa Cruz family.