After a fun-filled five days, Dan and Miranda made the trek back to Minnesota today. We enjoyed the visit, and we hope you will make a return trip in the future.
It was a packed week for them as we got started in San Diego Wednesday night at Croce's restaurant and jazz bar named after the famous singer Jim Croce. It was a nice night in the Gaslamp as we ate on the patio and enjoyed the outdoor patio heating. Next up was a trip to our favorite Irish pub The Fields for a few pints ... one day after St. Patty's day unfortunately.
On Thursday, Dan and Miranda were on their own and took the scenic Ortega -- Tracy's commute route -- to Orange County for sushi. They managed to score some great candy halfway through the Ortega at a quaint candy store too! Naturally, we made it the Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the Gophers hoops team disappoint in the second half after Tracy and I got home from work.
Friday was a fun day as Dan and Miranda split up. Not to worry, only on activities. I guess this is pretty common for them on quick vacations. I took a vacation day from work and so Dan and I could play a Robert Trent Jones' designed Murrieta course called SGCA. Miranda headed up to Hemet for a fun horseback ride in the mountains and scored a nice sunburn too! Dan managed to thoroughly smoke me in our round with rented King Cobra clubs no less. Dan penciled a 97 for his first round out this season with rented woods he struggled with. I shot a 110 and it felt like a 125. The front 9 on this course was really tough, and I really got my monies worth with a front 60. I'd say the $35 green fee cart included (a great deal found online) was utilized most on the front side.
Saturday was highlighted by wine tasting in the Temecula valley with one of Miranda's co-workers based in L.A. and her friend. I believe their names were Michelle and Jamie??? The six of us had a good time and Tracy ended up buying two bottles. It was pretty evident that Dan and I were over the whole wine tasting thing three wineries in ... we managed to hit five of them. Saturday night featured a rowdy game of Blokus, Dan won three of four games. Either he's a genius or we're really stupid. I'm hoping for the genius angle.
Sunday was pretty chill. Well, except for the fact that Tracy's car failed the smog test before it was even tested because of a check engine light. The Jetta had a bad thermostat that Tracy was aware of, so Dan and I replaced it. That's the second thermostat replaced in the apartment garage! Tracy has her license test on Tuesday, and to get the plates your car must have a passed smog test on record. Kind of last minute, but we never could have guessed about the check engine lights causing an automatic failure.
Other than that, it was a really great week spending time with my brother and Miranda. I can't recall the last time that we got to hang out so much. On the car ride home after dropping them off in San Diego Sunday night, I already started to miss them. I guess it hit me that I don't know the next time I'll get to see them. Now I know what my dad has gone through the last 25 years with all his brothers in Idaho.
Well, I don't want to bore you too much here. We'll post some pictures tomorrow. Tracy has a bunch of good ones from the week.
Now, we look forward to John and Katie's visit starting Thursday night!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Our First Visitors Are...
Dan and Miranda. We are really looking forward to this Wednesday when Dan and Miranda arrive in town for a short stay here in California. Dan's on spring break and Miranda is celebrating a new position at Ameriprise. We'll pick them up in San Diego Wednesday night and hopefully it will feel like a four-day vacation here in Murrieta. The weather looks sunny as usual, and temperatures will be in the low 80s.
It sounds like it's been a long winter in Minnesota, and I guess Tracy and I have taken our weather for granted a little bit. I've been biking 70 to 80 miles a week with a co-worker for the last three-plus weeks. It's things like that that you take for granted when you're not spending a winter in Minnesota.
After Dan and Miranda visit, our friends John and Katie are here the following weekend. It just happens to be Tracy's birthday on that Friday so we've planned to go to Disneyland. And then Laura and Tim (Tracy's family) visits over Easter. We look forward to seeing all of you!
It sounds like it's been a long winter in Minnesota, and I guess Tracy and I have taken our weather for granted a little bit. I've been biking 70 to 80 miles a week with a co-worker for the last three-plus weeks. It's things like that that you take for granted when you're not spending a winter in Minnesota.
After Dan and Miranda visit, our friends John and Katie are here the following weekend. It just happens to be Tracy's birthday on that Friday so we've planned to go to Disneyland. And then Laura and Tim (Tracy's family) visits over Easter. We look forward to seeing all of you!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Final Vebe Visual Logo
Tracy and I brainstormed a few logos and type sets and finally came up with a logo design we like. The double arrows represent the V in Vebe and the V in Visual. In the trendy version, we will use a drop shadow on the arrows to set them off from the blue background.
Oh, and Tracy wants me to mention the significance of Vebe, the name she came up with. It's pretty simple, really, it's the V for the first initial of my last name and the B for the first initial of her last name. V B or Vebe. It's definitely grown on me. We are putting together an entire corporate design or CD manual with our fonts and design. Once we get this deal launched, we want to approach the local wineries with design proposals ... they don't advertise enough, so we think we can fill a niche for them at a fair price.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
KTM One Year Anniversary
Believe it or not, I celebrated my one-year anniversary at KTM. And, what a year it's been. From making the decision to move to Ohio, to making that decision all over again when I was relocated to California. Tracy and I have been presented with a lot of stressful decisions during my time at KTM, but we are glad we have made the ones we have.
In the last year, we went from hardly seeing each other to living together. What a difference a year makes. Living together is neat.
During that year, I've learned a lot at my new job regarding marketing strategies and keeping yourself valuable during rough economic times. It's been quite the year. I could have never imagined that my house would STILL be on the market right now too! Oh well, I'm scraping along and times will get better. I keep telling myself my house will sell ... just a matter of time. That hour glass will have to run out eventually.
KTM has been a great opportunity and it's a really fun company to work for. Everyone is passionate about the industry at KTM and we don't just work in the industry we live it. As an example, after racing last weekend and riding at a media event in the mountains on Wednesday this week on an ATV, today I hit up the motocross track and spun some laps on two wheels for a change. We are always living the sport out here, and it's much better than Ohio. The nice weather doesn't hurt either.
On Sunday Tracy gets to meet her friend Amber who is in town for dinner while I head up to Glen Helen for the opening ATV National race to represent KTM. Race weekends will start to slow down soon, just in time for Katie and John's visit and Tracy's family for Easter weekend!
In the last year, we went from hardly seeing each other to living together. What a difference a year makes. Living together is neat.
During that year, I've learned a lot at my new job regarding marketing strategies and keeping yourself valuable during rough economic times. It's been quite the year. I could have never imagined that my house would STILL be on the market right now too! Oh well, I'm scraping along and times will get better. I keep telling myself my house will sell ... just a matter of time. That hour glass will have to run out eventually.
KTM has been a great opportunity and it's a really fun company to work for. Everyone is passionate about the industry at KTM and we don't just work in the industry we live it. As an example, after racing last weekend and riding at a media event in the mountains on Wednesday this week on an ATV, today I hit up the motocross track and spun some laps on two wheels for a change. We are always living the sport out here, and it's much better than Ohio. The nice weather doesn't hurt either.
On Sunday Tracy gets to meet her friend Amber who is in town for dinner while I head up to Glen Helen for the opening ATV National race to represent KTM. Race weekends will start to slow down soon, just in time for Katie and John's visit and Tracy's family for Easter weekend!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I'll Take The WORCS
I'm pumped up for this weekend. I should be because I've been preparing for it for more than a week. Last weekend I took a KTM 450 XC ATV with our 540cc big bore kit to Lake Elsinore MX to train for Round 2 of WORCS racing.
Lake Elsinore lived up to its name, that much is for sure. The track is located on a dried up lake bed that holds some water after heavy rains such as the ones we've had recently. The track was choppy and several sections were so sloppy that at least 60 pounds of cement-mix, super sticky mud built up on the machine each moto, wearing me out quickly. This isn't an exageration. It took me 2 hours to get that orange beaut looking new again! I put in a 20-minute moto to wear a line in on the track and had to stop and scrape off the mud to avoid carrying too much weight over the bigger jumps.
The good news is apparently Californian riders are too soft for mud riding so I had the track to myself. You don't get that opportunity every day. Once I wore in a line it was actually a really fun and challenging track. I rode four motos and put in more than an hour of training for this weekend's WORCS National race.
I'm still not sure what class I want to enter. I've never raced a WORCS event, so I'm thinking I'll check out the Open B class to see how I stack up. Open A riders will be on the track at the same time so it will be a good gauge of my skills. The race is 50 minutes that combines both cross country racing and motocross disciplines. There's also tractor tires and telephone pole obstacles to conquer and climb over, but I have no doubt the KTM can handle the job. The question is, can I?
Tomorrow I'll spend time prepping the machine for Friday practice. I'm expecting a really rough course as the dirt bike riders hit the same track this past weekend. And, from a few co-worker reports, expect blisters. I'll take a before and after picture of my hands just to see how soft I've gotten being a desk jokey.
Lake Elsinore lived up to its name, that much is for sure. The track is located on a dried up lake bed that holds some water after heavy rains such as the ones we've had recently. The track was choppy and several sections were so sloppy that at least 60 pounds of cement-mix, super sticky mud built up on the machine each moto, wearing me out quickly. This isn't an exageration. It took me 2 hours to get that orange beaut looking new again! I put in a 20-minute moto to wear a line in on the track and had to stop and scrape off the mud to avoid carrying too much weight over the bigger jumps.
The good news is apparently Californian riders are too soft for mud riding so I had the track to myself. You don't get that opportunity every day. Once I wore in a line it was actually a really fun and challenging track. I rode four motos and put in more than an hour of training for this weekend's WORCS National race.
I'm still not sure what class I want to enter. I've never raced a WORCS event, so I'm thinking I'll check out the Open B class to see how I stack up. Open A riders will be on the track at the same time so it will be a good gauge of my skills. The race is 50 minutes that combines both cross country racing and motocross disciplines. There's also tractor tires and telephone pole obstacles to conquer and climb over, but I have no doubt the KTM can handle the job. The question is, can I?
Tomorrow I'll spend time prepping the machine for Friday practice. I'm expecting a really rough course as the dirt bike riders hit the same track this past weekend. And, from a few co-worker reports, expect blisters. I'll take a before and after picture of my hands just to see how soft I've gotten being a desk jokey.
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