I’ve been quiet for a bit… I know… You probably figure there’s a million photos coming, right? Well… You’d be sort of right. I’m in Florida, house-sitting for Couch 26 (Mom n Dad)… they went to Canada for 10 days, and I had just arrived in South Florida, so of course I’d watch the house. I’ve had my mail coming here, so this gave me a chance to catch up on stuff– renewing my AAA membership, for example… I mean, I’ve been locked out of my car (well.. lost my keys, and needed to get into my car to get documents to have new keys, or spare keys out) twice this year! I’ve taken my car in for it’s 30,000, 50,000, and 60,000 mile maintenance… there was this awful noise it was making, and it desperately needed an oil change, tire rotation, some parts replaced, etc… It cost $1,400 for this maintenance! There’s definitely no need to worry… I don’t plan on quitting. In reference to the “million photos” sentence I typed earlier… that’s another reason I’m here. One of the things I hear most often is “You need more photos for your blog!” Well.. that’s true… I do… so, I’m here in South Florida to process the 24,611 photos I’ve taken since January (that is an exact number). Other than that, I’d like to start up some on-line businesses… I’ll tell you more about the specifics at a later time, but I need to generate more funds in order to continue more than a few months. If you have any photography projects, I’m pretty darn good I also do motion graphics, web sites (working on a few nice sites right now), and even doing some marketing consulting for some of the couches I met along the way. I also came here to get my passport, so I can go to Canada and Mexico — both of which are places I have couch offers in. I made it back in time to get here for the holidays: Jewish New Years, and Yom Kipur. I’ve been so busy though, that I almost forgot to fast… thankfully my two brothers called me and reminded me. I’m not a Jew… I’m Jew’ish (I love that joke). I like the values the religion holds: close family ties, help out others in need, eat brisket and chicken on holidays… but I’m not crazy about holidays of any kind (Halloween is fun though… but that’s for Obese Satan Warshippers :p ) So… fasting (not eating) is not something I do because I really want to, or care about it (I follow in my father’s footsteps… he doesn’t believe in holidays either), but rather ’cause it makes my mom and my older brother happy. I actually had lunch with my little brother today, up in Daytona Beach today… he ate, I watched and smelled the food. Normally, the holiday consists of a giant feast at Sunset the day before Yom Kipur (the highest Jewish holiday of the year), then you fast, then when it gets dark you feast again (and then there are left overs for 2 months — brisket, chicken, and of course, Matzo Ball soup)… this time, I had a chicken pot pie to welcome the holiday, and teriaki chicken wings to end the fast… oh yeah, and some ice cream. It’s strange to fast, and not to have the actual feast with friends and family. Oh well…

So… while I’ve been here, I’ve had the chance to do a few things. I’ve been studying more marketing and business, I’ve had a business meeting with a brand new client (I am photographing their pool materials catalog), who read my blog! I was so happy about that…. I mean, I’m in his office, and we’re just comparing adventures… he had 500 parachute jumps in the military… Angela and I had gone on Sunday to skydive… we jumped out of an airplane at 13,500 feet…. This guy had some 800 feet jumps at night — that’s really difficult! He’s also had 35,000 feet jumps with oxygen tanks, and gear, and he’d fly 120 miles just on his canopy to cross the border… that sounds exciting! Oh well.. I don’t feel like joining the military for that. He was also a scuba diver for the military, and enjoys it for personal recreation in the private sector. He had some amazing photos of whales (Gray whales are the only ones that actually sing.. he informed me that EVERY Gray whale sings the identical song…. but the song changes every year! Is that amazing or what?) Eagle Rays, Eels, and much more… we also discussed our dogs. It was just such a fun conversation, and he knew many of the things from my travels, from reading, so I didn’t have to explain too much. The really incredible thing is that we were at his office, and about 3 or 4 times, people told him he had a call… and it sounded important, and he kept telling them to tell the people that he’s in a meeting, and to take a message.. meanwhile, we’re talking about why German Shepheds are so cool. Even cooler, was that I had just gone and met some friends for lunch beforehand… one was a friend, one was an acquaintance.. now a friend. John & Johnny. Johnny just started working at John’s company, and they are in the same city as my folks’ house! It was fun…. but the incredible thing is that the night before, I was speaking to John extensively about various business and photography subjects… After 2 or 3 hours, I stated that this was the longest we ever spoke, and that all this personal stuff he was telling me about his work, his relationships, his interests, his goals, and more was really awesome, and I don’t think I really knew him too well before. He replied that he’s been reading my blog since January, and really has lived vicariously through me. In fact, he even curses me out at least once a week, saying “I hate that guy! I wish I was out there doing all that stuff!” That was so flattering! So.. that’s 3 times in 3 days that I’ve had people know exactly whom I was referring to, in what state, and what occurances… I know that people read my blog. I watch my stats on google tracking, but.. you people don’t leave too many comments, so it’s really great to hear it in person. Thanks guys! Johnny however, doesn’t read my blog, as I give him phone updates. Now for the fun and exciting stuff… and kind of deep.

Angela flew in on the 13th! We’ve been looking forward to it for a while… I had a lot of surprises planned, not all of them worked out. I was planning on getting her from the airport, taking her to OneModelPlace.com (my old office), then go to the beach and nap, then go to the Salon and have my ultra-awesome hair and makeup artist style her up, and then take her back to OMP where I’d have a bottle of chilled champagne (compliments of Couch 25) waiting, and our very own private drive-in theatre - using a laptop, a high power DLP projector, and a giant warehouse wall…. however, my stylist was booked that day, and someone had snagged the projector without notifying the office. So… I got her from the airport, I had taken her to OMP, we had lunch at an Indian food place…. she’s never had Indian Food before (Adventure!). Then we went to the beach, and napped… then went back to OMP, then called it a night. Saturday I took my car to the shop (see above), and got stuff done. I then took her to the Salon- a total surprise to her - and had her hair cut, washed, and colored. Cymonne is damn good! We had fun, and we drank an entire bottle of this yummy Champagne that Couch 25 gave e. We didn’t get to drink it on Thursday as planned, but Angela was practically in tears when I told her my plans of a private drive-in theatre. Angela was so thrilled with her new hair. We met up with my buddy, Dan… he’s actually one of the people who gave me the idea to CouchSurf… he told me to call my friend Richard (Couch 13) and that he bets I could crash on his couch for a month… that’s when everything clicked, and I came up with the plan. So.. we met Dan up for some Korean BBQ — another adventure - where you cook your own meat over hot coals.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early, and went to South Miami (Homestead) to Skydive. It was fun.. although they charge me $250 a person, and I know that in Atlanta I can get it for $150 - which is what I paid last time I went (like 10 years ago). Angela said it was the most terrifying thing she’s ever done.. she still can’t believe she did it. I was actually a bit bored… when you’re jumping tandem (have a professional skydiver strapped to your back), you just can’t do all that many stunts, flips, etc… the guy also didn’t let me man the parachute on the way down… those things are responsive! Last time, I got to operate the parachute, and was able to navigate, and do a few tricks with it. Oh well.. Angela had an amazing experience, and that’s what this was about. Also, I had one last surprise planned, which - at least temporarily - fell through. I did tell her what this plan was. We were supposed to go (surprise!) to Francisco Azucar’s (www.fashionsbyazucar.com)place for her to get fitted for some custom dresses… She was telling me about this dress she wanted…. and said she shouldn’t spend the money on it. So, I thought I’d have an awesome fashion designer make her a custom dress. However… Francisco’s uncle had died, and he had a wake to go to. So.. instead, we went to the beach. I had this pop-up tent, and we changed right in the parking lot. It was quite amusing. There was this Latin Festival, but it was pretty lame, so we went right onto the beach…. we put our stuff down, got into the water, and started making out a little. We even proceeded to have sex (yes, that’s the 1st time I wrote this on my blog… bet y’all been wondering what’s up with that) — and I had Angela’s permission to write that — in the water… right in front of everyone.. although to them, it looked like we were just making out. As soon as I finished… like… immediately as soon as I had….. I felt something brush up against my leg. I turned to see what it was, and I saw a purple jellyfish, slightly bigger than a basketball. Angela was yelping in pain. Apparently, the Jellyfish got her right in the (_!_) (ass). She was whimpering for me to pee on it… but… not that I’m shy, but that’s what lifeguards are for… not to pee on people, but to help without getting arrested. The lifeguard had put vinegar on her butt and back… the swelling rapidly went down. We laid out for a bit, and then it was time for dinner… We met my folks for the most amazing restaurant, GOL, The Taste Of Brazil! a Brazilian rodizio dining EXPERIENCE. The food is soooo good! If you’ve never eaten Brazilian rodizio style, I highly recommend it… especially at GOL! I’ve been to 3 or 4 such restaurants, and this is by far the best. The service was so great, the food equally amazing. The way Brazilian rodizio dining works is that you sit down, and you get this coin… like all coins, it is double-sided.. this one red and green. Same rules as traffic: red= stop, green= go. If you keep it on green, all these waiters come by with skewers of meat, and slice you slabs of over 15 different meats. The photos on that website were taken by me. It was actually one of (what seemed) the proudest moments in my dad’s life- I had taken myself, Johnny & Sarah, Gretchen & Damion, and my parents to dinner there for my birthday. I paid off a $750 tab (lots of Brazilian drinks too), by taking photos for their site. This time, we only got a discount, but I also didn’t take any photos. We had such a great time, that just thinking about it I can taste their cheese bread balls, and the grilled cinnamon pineapple. Seriously, if you’re in South Florida, this restaurant in Delray Beach will not disappoint! I’d stake one of my cameras on it (For those who know me, I care about my cameras a LOT!). So… that was Sunday. I can’t remember everything we did on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I think we mostly hung around the house… laid out in the pool. I know I spent a LOT of time processing my Burning Man photos. The people I sent them to loved them. I’ll post them really soon. We watched this movie called “Knocked Up” - it was really hilarious. I was amused by how it makes guys sympathize with the guy, and girls sympathize with the girl….

Thursday I took my folks to the airport at 6am… came back to Boca Raton, hung out with Angela. Jumped in the pool naked, now that the folks were gone (Angela’s idea) and then I drove her to the airport, and I had the house to myself. It was quiet.. just me and the dogs. I studied and worked… and then my folks landed in Canada and called… then Angela called. She had a cute adventure— the Cowboy hat I bought her in Texas (it’s black, with Rhinestones all over)… well.. she forgot it on the plane. She had to run through security, and fight off the security personel, and argue with the United Airlines staff (who kept assuring her that they scoured the plane, and her hat was not on the flight), until they finally did their damn job and found the hat. It was right where she told them it was. She even had to flirt with an airport security person to get back into the terminal.

All this, and you’re thinking… who’s this Angela chick? Well.. I’ll tell you all about her. I have a huge blog entry about when and how I met her, and all the adventures we had. I’m just processing the photos to go with it. My parents liked her though, and… we even chatted the other night, and she said if it was an issue, and things got that far, she’d be willing to convert to Judaism. I’m personally not huge into the religion, and I hear conversion is quite difficult… but I know it would make my parents very happy. Angela said that she doesn’t care what religion her kids are (when she has them), just that they have faith in something. I said that I can offer a religion that at least has really good cooking on holidays!

So… now that I’m here in FL, house sitting… working… studying.. taking photos… having fun… part of my plan is to re-do this entire blog… for one to have a lot more photos… but I was also thinking of turning each entry into a podcast… so you can hear my adventures, hear my jokes, transfer me to your ipod and hear what’s new (or what’s old) in your car… Hear my jokes and my personality. What do you think? I can even make video podcasts I suppose, that would be my voice- and a slideshow to go with. Not sure about that just yet– would probably take too long to produce each segment. Comment or mail me your thoughts on this. Also.. if you’re a techy… I use Wordpress right now. I wanted to add sections about the couches, and add more interactivity. I think the way to do this would be by moving to a more diverse CMS (although, Wordpress is VERY powerful) such as Drupal or Joomla. Any thoughts? I really like Drupal… it’s very powerful and customizable.. but I have a lot of friends tell me that Joomla is better… I don’t like Joomla’s interface. Any thoughts???

Ok… off to play with my doggies! Happy Jewish New Year to you, and may you have an amazing year!

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