Last chance to vote...

If you haven't already i'd appreciate a vote for my ideas in the SXSW Panel Picker.
Voting closes tomorrow so do it now if you have a spare minute. It only takes an email to sign up.

and thanks for all those that voted for me already.

Ben...

Our Oregon camping trip adventure

When i was younger and gas was cheap my friends and I would drive hundreds of miles to go camping in some far off place. We decided to relive those adventures this weekend with a last minute camping trip to Oregon. Myself, the wife and my friend Stacey and her family all drove up from San Diego to Lake of the Woods Oregon to camp while my friends from WA all drove down to meet us. We got the short end of that stick on driving. California is one really long state!

Here are the pictures:

The friends from WA kidnapped my friend Scotty from Oregon on their way down.Sunset on Lake of the Woods. The lake was beautiful
Scotty and Chara sitting on a log by the late. Chara is enjoying her juice box.
The kids snuggled by the fire
the dog snuggled on Logans lap
Me taking Carson swimming.
Bodie sitting on Chara's lap.

Chara and Logan posing with hatchets
Then all the kids joining in on the wood chopping competition
it was a great camping trip. It was a LOT of driving for a little of camping, but it was really great to see friends and spend some time in a beautiful place. And much better than sitting at home all weekend.

After 8 long years...

...I am leaving DivX. Today was my last day. Its time for a change. Time for something new. It has been great working with some great people and doing some great things. Now i am going to time some time to relax, recharge and find some new great people and great projects to work with.

Its the end of an era and time for a new season in life.

Ben...

Vote for me!

no i'm not running for President but i have a couple of ideas in the running for next years SXSW interactive festival.

Please take a second and vote for my ideas. You will need to sign up with your email. Its really quick and i appreciate the votes.

thanks

Ben...

Panel idea #1: Changing the world with technology
Panel idea #2: Telling new stories with technology

Wii monster

This guy woke me up at 0600 saying 'kai - I want to play the game' - we might have created a monster.

family day

tonight the whole family headed to the farmers market in oceanside.. me, ben, and keaton.. as soon as we got to the market - i saw a big sign welcoming us to the market - but clearly stating that dogs were not allowed.. that made me a bit unhappy seeing as we had driven the dog all the way down there.. and then we took a moment to look around and noticed that no one else was paying much attention to the 'no dog' rule - so we joined the rebels - and had us some fun.. i sometimes forget how big my puppy is - but we got lots of comments on her size - and she did great considering all the love that she got from kiddos and random strangers..
the night was beautiful and the food was good - but i'm a little angry cuz i heard i missed the cotton candy booth - and i luvs me some cotton candy..

super good corn

keaton and the dad - going for a walk..


*on a side note - i would just like to point out the unfairness of this 'no dog rule' - listen - i don't think it's fair that i can't bring my dog places - but people are allowed to bring thier children places - it seems a bit unfair to me.. children can be just as unpredictable and messy as dogs - and at least i have my dog controlled and on a leash..

Useful site of the day

http://howmuchwoodwouldawoodchuckchuck.com/


your welcome

pandora's box

i heard an interesting story today on NPR - apparently boxes of wine are all the rage in europe - they are something like up to 50% of the market - while in america boxes are only 9-12% of the market.. the reason for the popularity is that boxes are more eco-friendly than glass - and because of a better seal the wine last longer in boxes .. interesting - made me feel a little better about drinking my little juice boxes of wine..

cheers..

as promised

saturday night my we headed to my sister's house for a surprise party for her husband..
we had a great time partying on a roof top in the middle of LA -
trevor - the designated driver

loan, sister, and the husband


and then on sunday my girls and i had a family bbq - it was so much fun to sit back, relax, and celebrate that we all passed our damn tests - and we are all nurses..
my ladies and i

weekend fun

we had one crazy busy weekend.. and it was fabulous - i promise i will post more pictures later.. but for now i must sleep - and get ready for work tomorrow..