Kyle and Angela's Wedding in Houston

Kate and I went down to Houston last weekend for my good friend from high school and college, Kyle Moore's wedding.
We had a great time catching up with of old friends that we wish we saw more often.

Going through the rehearsal with Jared and Kyle's brother Brice


Me and Julie, Jared's wife


Kate enjoying the Rehearsal Dinner toasts




Everybody at the bar after dinner


The aTm guys - Kyle, Brian, me and Jared


The wedding party


The big day


Kyle and Angela


At the reception


Kate and Julie


Fellow Groomsmen Jared and Addam


Angela's family is Colombian and they hired an awesome band for the reception--we were grooving to Latin music all night long.


Taking a break from the salsa dancing


Brice and his daughter


Congratulating the groom


My job here is done

"The coldest winter I ever spent..."

So...I know that Mike will be on soon, sharing all the pics from the festive birthday weekend. I just thought I would share a few of my thoughts on my first San Francisco birthday.

Let me start with the temperature...I don't think we hit 55 degrees the entire weekend. Granted, it gets very, very cold in the mid-west...but July is pretty safe. I've always had a warm birthday. Occasionally warm and stormy, but always warm.

A few birthday firsts for me...

I had never:

worn a coat and scarf on my birthday;

eaten my birthday dinner under a heat lamp;

had an outdoor birthday party where guests were visibly and uncomfortably cold;

had a birthday party where everyone drank beer and wine but yearned for a hot toddy.

I am not complaining...Mike orchestrated a lovely birthday weekend...it was just cold. I believe it is only appropriate to end with the chillingly accurate quote attributed to Mark Twain:

"The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco"

Ahh, and I see that our friends the Senns have added similar sentiments to their blog...

Kate's Birthday Weekend

Opening presents from family far away!








A birthday drink before dinner


Foreign Cinema for dinner






They showed 'Amelie', one of Kate's favorite movies








Walking home through the Mission is always interesting...






On Saturday we went to Crissy Field for some wintertime fun with friends








Such specific rules and regulations at this park

Happy Birthday Kate!

4th of July Weekend

I'm a little late in posting these. We've been busy all week looking for a new apartment. It hasn't been a pleasurable experience.

Anyway, we stayed in town for the 4th of July last weekend. We had a great time despite the fireworks show being completely fogged out.


4th of July party at our friend Darcy's


"Fireworks" on her roof


5th of July lawn games at Golden Gate Park


Bringing washers to the west coast


Very intense bocce ball game


Bocce action shot


Kate in mid-washer toss


We were treated to sweet sounds of Hippie Hill afternoon. Who knew drumming could go on for 4 hours without a break?


Thanks to Marty for a few of these park shots.

cubs vs. giants - game 4

We were back on the outfield wall for game 4










Little Devin Hester


My score-keeping friend Bob




Did I mention Kate likes Kosuke?


This one's for Dale


Bad guys win


Giants 8 - Cubs 3




I was sad


But this made me laugh


Time to go home


It was a fun 4 days. I'm tired and broke, but it was worth it.

Commemorative photos can be purchased here.

Happy 4th of July.