General Update and Such

Back to running again after being sick a lot at the end of last year and then being busy at work with show season, so I have massive blisters on the back of my feet from my first long runs in a while.  Not fun.
Angela and I have been working on Quickbooks certifications.  We've completed and passed the first course there is much celebration.  More to go, her small bookkeeping practice is growing though.  It's a pleasure to watch her succeed and to know that if my occupation ever goes away I'll have someone I like to work for and with.
My work has kept itself more interesting by adding in field duties.  I've learned to do a lot more in the realm of computer networking and phone installations and I continue to learn more each day.  Progress can be very exciting.  I may even get to travel to one of the sites of the political conventions for work this year.  Crossing fingers for that.
After our last camping trip went so fun Angela and I have booked another one.  We are going to Idyllwild in late May to camp and experience the magic.
In mid may we also get to pass that way to stay in a nice house with a pool in Palm Springs with Devin and Dylan.
And in a month and a half we will have the pleasure of a long weekend visiting my niece and nephew in Kansas City.  Woot Woot!
I've done a lot of work on Devin's Album in the last couple of weeks, that should be coming out soon.  My S no S album will probably be wrapped up very soon as well.  Perhaps a few more vocals to record this weekend should do it for that.

The excitement level is strong for all of this.
Here are some photos to help celebrate.

 Fresh havin' a rest

 toon is not amused

 Colin and I using face swap

 Tiger and I using face swap

 Angie and I went to see Dita Von Teese at the Avalon, here's Murray Hill in full Showbiz pose

 Dita!

Buddy and I, we still got it. 

We Went a Camping!

I've been to theme parks that cost a pretty penny, and there are theme parks that cost more than I've ever spent, yet as I walked around the Camp Ground at Leo Carrillo state park watching families in nature I was struck by the difference; families were actually happy here.   One of my favorite things about a theme park is 3:00pm, watching the sad faces of people who have waited in line after line, waiting in yet another line.  It's a stark contrast to a camp ground where you see entire families sitting together, laughing and smiling.  That's what I was thinking about yesterday, as Angela and I walked around our little camp.
It's been busy times in Los Angeles these past few months.  Times have been good busy for the most part, but there is also always the inevitable crap that life throws at you, that stacks up, that for some reason doesn't seem to alleviate in just a weekend at home.  So to that end Angela and I booked a camp site a couple weeks ago and decided to take to our tent for just one night.  Knowing that Devin and Dylan were probably in a similar circumstance we invited them to come along as well.
So this past Friday evening Angela and I came home from work, went down to the garage and started to gather the tent, the sleeping bags, the flashlights and all the other gear we might require for a night away.
We got a good night's sleep Friday and woke up to finish supply runs and packing.   By Noon we were on the road, Sunset Blvd specifically, heading north to where the strip meets highway 1.  Then north again through Malibu to Leo Carrillo State Park.
Devin and Dylan arrived before us, and had the Picnic table set up beautifully.
Since I am myself, I immediately set about making camp.  The tent and all the usual stuff.

Angela and Devin in our little patch of dirt heaven.  

From our camp ground a sidewalk and a tunnel led to the beach.

Which looked like this.

We enjoyed some beach time while we watched surfers & kite surfers. All of us getting excited when the kite surfers would almost crash.  When one finally did it was less dramatic than we'd hoped. 

After the beach we came back to camp and drank beer and made a fire to cook burgers on. 

 Then Dylan and I hiked around to explore the beach and sunset.

 After our hike we enjoyed the fire Dylan made. 

and we tortured some peeps. 

Also, Angela had her very first proper Smore.  Can you believe that?  She loved it.  

 The next morning Devin made pancakes and Bacon and fake eggs. 

Then I went for a walk around the campground with Angela.  Then I went for a hike to the top of the canyon. 

 Looking back down at camp from halfway up the canyon.

 happy selfie

After our camping was over Angela and I drove home via Mullholland highway, which turned out to be a beautiful scenic drive.  We stopped and had the best Deli sandwiches in Agoura Hills and before you knew it we were home.  We hope to go camping again next month too.