PLAYING WITH FIRE

Hello all,

Yesterday I rose from my slumber in West LA with a list of things I wanted to do for the day.  

1. Beverly Hills

2. Fresh Prince Of Bel Air House

3. Visit UCLA

4. Surf in Malibu

I got in my car and made it about half a city block when I saw the most beautiful woman I have seen on my travels thus far and perhaps in my entire life.  She was sitting at a bus stop.  I quickly thought to myself, the hell with my list.  I pulled over to the side of the road and proceeded to have the following exchange. Or something very close to it.

Me: Excuse me, hello, it looks like you are trying to get somewhere.  May I help?

Her:  Hi, Well, where are you going?

Me: Umm, I don't know... anywhere you want.

Her: Santa Monica?
Me: Great!


At this moment, had I been told Poland, India, or the moon for that matter, I was going to say yes.

As a BONUS she had another super pretty young lady with her!   Too good to be true.  Before I knew it, I had two lovely women in my car!  In my mind, this could have been a scene from the beginning of romantic comedy.  Hopefully in their minds it wasn't a scene from the beginning of a horror movie.  Gena, an Austrian computer genius, and Ugne, a lawyer, professional pastry chef, and almost the reason for me driving off the road... from Lithuania, were my new copilots!  Boy, was I in over my head!  Both spoke perfect English too.   That certainly helped because who knows what kind of English I was speaking at that moment.  Nothing comprehensible.  Probably Jabberwocky.

I made a few quick moves with my surfboard in the back seat, took a deep breath, and we were off.  How do you like them apples?  From West LA, we made our way to both Santa Monica and Venice Beach for the entire day!

We also did some amazing people watching, stopped at Arnold's old gym on Venice Beach, and tried on some fancy hats.  Our conversations were also fantastic.  I think we touched on most anything one could think of.   Oh, we also saw some guy with two pythons in a suitcase! Yikes!

After the beach, we made our way to an outdoor rooftop patio to take in the sunset and get some dinner.  I don't think I saw a second of the sunset.  I was preoccupied with my company.  That, and the two dinners I ordered.  2 orders of Chicken Teriyaki and veggies for dinner one.  Half a rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese, and carrots for dinner number two.   Who knows what the ladies were thinking when I took down both meals.  I bet they were impressed.  Or disgusted... What can I say? I had worked up an appetite all day as I had to keep extra focused not to pass out in disbelief of my good fortune.  I could not have asked for a better way to spend the day. THANK YOU LADIES FOR GETTING INTO A CAR WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER!  You made my day!

After parting ways with the two beauties, I made my way to Rodeo Drive and UCLA.    Had I written this blog yesterday, I'd have been raving about UCLA and telling my cousin Daniel or my buddy William to go there.  However, this morning, after setting up camp in my car somewhere North of LA for the evening, I made my way up to Malibu to go surfing and made a visit to Pepperdine University!  Guys, go there!  I'll pay for it if you let me visit.  The security guard asked me what the purpose of my visit ways before giving me the green light onto campus.  I told her I was looking at the law school.  (mind you I was dressed in a bathing suit, tshirt, and my mesh baseball hat)  What?…  I LOOKED at the law school.  I didn't go inside or anything, or ask any questions, but I briefly LOOKED at it.  Don't give me that.  I didn't lie.  This campus is absolutely incredible.  It sits in the Santa Monica Mountains on a cliff above Malibu Beach!  In my next life, I will be going to Clemson for undergrad.  Clemson for my MBA and then I'll take my sweet @ss time with that Pepperdine law degree.

After Pepperdine, I took the plunge with my board into the waves of Malibu Beach on the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway.  About 10 feet from campus.  My good luck continued as I caught the very first wave I went for.  Clean living!   No big deal.

Since this morning's visit to Pepperdine and Malibu Beach, I have made my way up the Pacific Coast Highway.  I am currently in Santa Barbara.  The drive was spectacular.  I went about 20 miles below the speed limit the whole way.  People were beeping.  I wasn't worried.  Mountains to my right and incredible beaches to my left.  I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere.

The whole way up, I kept thinking about how to get myself to Lithuania where I'd commit some sort of harmless petty crime that would leave me requiring a lawyer.  I know, that's playing with FIRE.  I like FIRE.


Mark/Chops

PS..  Yesterday, Ugne pointed out to me that her name translated into English is.. you guessed it... F I R E. 

SANTA MONICA BEACH

SANTA MONICA PIER, RT 66 BABY!

VENICE BEACH GYM. ARNOLD'S GYM.  CHECK OUT MY HUGE ARMS

SANTA MONICA PARK WITH GENA AND FIRE!

THE PRIDE OF AUSTRIA, GENA, AND THE CREEPY GUY FROM THE BUS STOP

UGNE AKA FIRE.  CONTEMPLATING DRIVING MY RENTAL CAR TO LITHUANIA.  SCHOOL BOY CRUSH 

MY ENTIRE OUTFIT WAS PURCHASED AT TARGET AND THE HAT FOR $1 IN THAILAND.  I DON'T FIT IN.  HAPPY NOT TO. 

DONT WORRY.  I GOT EVERYONE A LITTLE SOMETHING FROM HERE

PICTURE #1 WHILE DRIVING

PICTURE #2 WHILE DRIVING.  NOT SMART

MALIBU BEACH, CALIFORNIA

ME TAKING A PICTURE OF A WOMAN WHO IS PAINTING A PICTURE OF ANOTHER WOMAN PAINTING A PICTURE OF A SURFER AND I WAS JUST SURFING.  UMMM WHAT??

HOLY PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY!

HOLY PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY! DANIEL AND WILLIAM, FRESHMAN HOUSING IS ON THE RIGHT. I'LL CARRY ALL YOUR BAGS UP FROM THE CAR

ALL KIDDING ASIDE, I THINK I'D LOVE BEING A TRIAL ATTORNEY

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY: MALIBU TO SANTA BARBARA IN MY MOBILE HOME!

JUST FINISHED UP SURFING MALIBU BEACH DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM PEPPERDINE.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days 

HOLY HOLLYWOOD

Evening, 

Well, this morning I hopped on the 5 from Orange County and made my way towards LA.  It took me an hour to get there.  Then, it took me an hour to get to Hollywood.  Holy traffic!

First stop was Runyon Canyon State Park.  I was setting out to hike up to the top of the canyon which provides an excellent view of downtown LA, the ocean on a clear day, and the Hollywood sign!

Side note:  I don't live life with many rules.  Treat others how you would like to be treated.  OK, well that's about all I can think of at the moment.  Anyways, I have a new rule!  Any man between diapers and diapers, say 3 to 107 years old, NEEDS to hike Runyon Canyon at least once in their life.  I had heard tales that this is where striving/starving stars and starlets come to exercise.  Well, as it turns out, the scene was simply ridiculous.  I am dead serious when I say I saw 100 women that were drop dead gorgeous and I only hiked for 2 hours.  My head was spinning.  I did my best to rescue a few wandering puppies and provided a hand or two when scaling some of the tougher parts of the trail.  What good that did me!  I ate dinner in the Whole Foods parking lot, ALONE.

At the top of the canyon, there were approximately 25 20-something year old women doing yoga. I told myself that they were all drug addicts and hate babies and old people.  That was the only way I could get myself to move on and get back down to my car.

After Runyon, I made my way over to Hollywood BLVD, Sunset BLVD and Santa Monica BLVD.  I took to the streets on foot and explored all day.  The people watching was spectacular.  I am comfortable in saying that I am a pretty average looking dude.  If Hollywood was casting for average, and I was in the running, I'd be thrilled.  That said, I was the ugliest person I saw all day and it wasn't even close.  This place is simply ridiculous.  I think I developed an eating disorder and an inferiority complex in about 20 minutes.  

Highlight of my day in Hollywood was a toss up between a guy dressed as a Transformer running up and down the street and a street performer playing guitar with a sign that said all proceeds would go directly towards destroying Justin Beiber.  I gave him $1.  Good luck dude!

I spent an hour or so looking at the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.  I had no idea that there are 2,500+/- stars running up and down Hollywood BLVD.  I took a picture of a few that I liked.  Walt Disney had gum all over his.  Frank Sinatra's was under a construction cone.  I couldn't find mine.  Odd.

After Hollywood, I set out on foot to the Hollywood Bowl.  Fellow music lovers may know this as one of the venues here in the US that is almost like a right of passage to play in for the whos who of music history.  Anyone worth their salt has played here.  Essentially, it is an outdoor amphitheater in between Hollywood and Hollywood Hills.  There was no show this evening but that didn't stop me from letting myself in.  I sat in the upper deck with my iPod and listened to a few live recordings of mine that were recorded there.  It was me all alone in an 18,000 seat amphitheater listening to songs that were recorded there at some point in the past.  The experience is hard for me to describe, but suffice it to say, it was really really cool. And no, I don't do drugs.  Before I was finished, a security guard kicked me out.   Then I found $5.

Mark/Chops

CRUISIN UP THE 5 FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO LA

HOLLYWOOD HILLS

HAZY LA

TOP OF RUNYON CANYON.  HOLLYWOOD SIGN IS TO MY RIGHT

THE CANYON PART OF RUNYON CANYON

HOLLYWOOD BOWL ALL TO MYSELF! HOW COOL!  LOOK CLOSELY ON THE TOP OF THE PICTURE AND YOU CAN SEE THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN.  HAZY NIGHT :(

HOLLYWOOD BOWL STAGE: I WAITED AN HOUR TO ASK HER TO DINNER.  SHE WAS STILL REHEARSING.  I WAS HUNGRY SO I LEFT.  I BET SHE READS MY BLOG. RAIN CHECK?

"FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE ACADEMY"... IF I WON ONE OF THOSE TROPHIES, I'D WEAR MY CLEMSON JERSEY ON STAGE AND THANK RUNYON CANYON STATE PARK FOR EXISTING.

INSIDE JOKE WITH JENNYE FROM BOSTON AND JODIE AND LEE FROM LONDON!   I AM POINTING AT JIM CAREY, NOT... I AM POINTING AT JIM CAREY.

MY FAVORITE STAR THAT I SAW

CHUCK NORRIS IS THE REASON WALDO IS HIDING
CHUCK NORRIS CAN CUT THROUGH A HOT KNIFE WITH BUTTER
CHUCK NORRIS CAN UNDERSTAND WOMEN

"IF PEEING YOUR PANTS IS COOL, CONSIDER ME MILES DAVIS" 

WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST CROWDED STAR.

ONCE UPON A TIME, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.


And those hollywood nights 
In those hollywood hills 
It was looking so right 
It was giving him chills 
In those big city nights 
In those high rolling hills 
Above all the lights 
With a passion that kills 
Bob Seger

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

Greetings from Orange County

Hello All,

Yesterday, after one last man date with Pete, (lunch and surfboard shopping!!) , he dropped me off at the car rental place.  I picked up my whip and started heading north up the coast.  About an hour into my drive, I found myself sitting in traffic adjacent to Camp Pendleton's Marine Corp Base Camp.  From Highway 5, I could see Marines doing drills both on the ground and from a few helicopters.  As I sat there for a bit, watching Marines drill, I was boldly reminded that freedom isn't free.  I know that I and perhaps we, take much of what the men and women sacrifice to protect our country, for granted. Acknowledging those that keep us all safe 24/7 365 days a year is something that I do far too little of.  Making calls to Veterans on November 11th and hardly doing a damn thing the other 364 days a year is  not good enough.  Not even close.  To those in active duty of any kind, as well as to all our Veterans, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ALL THAT YOU SACRIFICE SO THAT I CAN ENJOY BEING FREE. 

As I continued my way up the coast, I decided to take part in my latest adrenaline rush activity.  The game goes as follows.  With either little or no advanced notice, show up at an old friend's house and see whether or not they let you in or slam the door in your face.  This time, I decided to drop in on Neil and Megan Ferrier in Foothill Ranch, located in Orange County just east of Laguna Beach.  (previosuly I have played this game with friends in Florida, Colorado, Washington, New York, and just this past week with Pete and Amanda in San Diego!  No doors slammed yet!)  I had not seen Neil but once or twice since college and had not seen his doll of a wife Megan since my days as an undergrad at Clemson.  I pulled into their driveway, knocked on the door AND.... they let me in!  Boo Yaa!  What were they thinking??  They are such great people.  Neil has some nerd job at OAKLEY'S Headquarters.  I have no idea what he does, I just know I am not smart enough to do it.  However, I was all on board when he offered to give me a tour of their Headquarters!  The place was beyond amazing with some of the coolest memorabilia and toys I have ever seen.  As for Megan, she is just an absolute gem.  Good luck on the tea/juice cleansing!  That sounds like so much fun!  I'll stick to carbohydrate loading and BEEF.

This morning, I made my way over to Laguna Beach with my new short board!  I was pumped to check out one of SoCal's surfing hot spots!  I hit the waves for about 3 hours!  It was incredible watching some of the folks surfing around me.  They were just destroying waves.  I was both destroying and getting destroyed by those same waves.  Mostly destroyed.

After my morning surf and a quick hike to a place called "Top Of The World" which overlooks Laguna Beach, I grabbed a quick lunch and worked my way up north to Newport Beach to test out some more waves at a big boy beach!  I wish I could have something good to say about my surfing here, but I got absolutely killed by some of the biggest waves I have seen on my travels.  After about an hour and a half of giving it my all, I made my way into the beach.  The waves were breaking so steep and hard and the riptide was brutal.  I was in over my head.  Great experience though.  The surfing I was lucky enough to watch was incredible and Newport Beach and Balboa Island were beyond gorgeous.

Tonight, Neil and I took out his 1965 Camero.  I think it is a Camero.  I don't know cars.  It was old, red, and fast!  Speed limits are merely suggestions right?  We Survived.

Heading north in the morning.  See you later Orange County.  Thanks for having me Ferriers!

Mark/Chops

ur

I NEED TO GET THIS SURFBOARD INTO THAT CAR.. 

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA

TOLD THE LIFEGUARDS TO KEEP AN EYE ON ME.  BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR A CHANGE

"TOP OF THE WORLD" LOOKOUT, LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A LITTLE HAZY BUT STILL AMAZING.

OVERTURNED EVERY ROCK AND BUSH WHILE HIKING TO FIND ONE.  NO LUCK.

I THOUGHT BRIAN MCGILVERY AND DANIEL COBBAN PLUS ALL YOU OTHER REALITY TV WATCHERS MIGHT LIKE THIS.

HITTING THE ROAD

NEWPORT BEACH HARBOR, CALIFORNIA

IS MY RENTAL CAR REALLY IN THE OCEAN?... TAKING A FERRY TO BALBOA ISLAND OFF OF NEWPORT BEACH

"THE WEDGE" ON BALBOA PENINSULA.  CHECK OUT THIS PUNISHING WAVE SMASHING PEOPLE INTO SHORE!

NEWPORT BEACH BIG BOY WAVES

CRUSIN' NEWPORT BEACH WITH THE NEW BOARD!  AT LEAST I LOOK THE PART ON MY WAY TO THE WATER!

POST NEWPORT BEACH SURFING.  STILL VERTICAL AND BREATHING!

MEGAN THE SWEETHEART!, NEIL, MACK THE DOG, ME EATING MACKS BONE.  SO NICE TO SEE MY OLD CLEMSON FRIENDS.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMPING

Hello All,

This past weekend I was lucky enough to go camping with Pete, Amanda, Manzy, Joey, Humphrys, Peach, Maggie, and Kaya the dog!  We made our way to a camp site in San Onofre which sits rights by Camp Pendleton.    We had an incredible time surfing, grilling, and chopping wood!  I was treated to a weekend with truly wonderful folks.  Thanks for having me!

I was also able to meet up with my dear old friend Anson.  We caddied together on Nantucket back in the day.  I was lucky enough to meet his doll of a wife Krystal as well.  What a sweetheart!

I ended my weekend and time here in San Diego, with a great round of golf with Pete and Amanda at Riverwalk Golf Club!

It has been real San Diego!  Hitting the road.

Mark/Chops

CALIFORNIA CAMPING: 2 SURFBOARDS FOR EVERY TENT

CLIFFS IN SAN ONOFRE, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

WE SURFED DOWN BELOW!

PETE AND AMANDA RUFFING IT IN THEIR HOTEL

HUMPHRYS TRYING TO SPLIT FIRE WOOD

ME TRYING TO SPLIT FIRE WOOD

ABOUT 125 SWINGS OF THE AX LATER BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE SPLIT A PIECE

MANZY, KAYA THE DOG, HUMPHRYS, ME, MAGGIE, JOE, PEACH, PETE AND AMANDA.  WITH OUR POWERS COMBINED, WE SURVIVED

BAD FORM

WAITING FOR SOME WAVES

SAN ONOFRE, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

UNCLE PETE LEADS US TO THE OCEAN

SURFING WITH SOME AWESOME GUYS WHILE THE DOG MOONS THE CAMERA

JUST FINISHED TEACHING PETE TO SURF! AWESOME DAY.

WANDERING MISFITS

FIRST TEE AT RIVERWALK GOLF CLUB WITH PETE AND AMANDA!  SHOT OF THE DAY BELONGED TO AMANDA WHO ALMOST HOLED OUT WITH A 3 WOOD ON 18!  SIDENOTE, THEY CLAIM THEY WERE NOT MATCHING ON PURPOSE... RIGHT.

SANKATY HEAD, NANTUCKET REUNION!  I MET UP WITH ANSON AND KRYSTAL WHO CAME UP FROM TIJUANA FOR BREAKFAST!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days