Rush hour

Eitan at dusk during our post-dinner walk to work-off any remaining energy from the day. Sonnet bakes a blueberry pie, which means everybody will be on sugar-boosters until eventual bedtime around 9:30PM (vs. 7:30 in London).

HW 4

Beloved Route 4, an east-west highway, begins in Hercules, Calif. at the I-80 junction as part of John Muir Parkway. The road is an expressway from its starting point until it approaches Martinez, at which point it becomes a full freeway (the California Delta Highway) passing Concord, Pittsburg and Antioch. After Antioch, the freeway turns northward to become State Route 60, and Route 4 separates to become a suburban and rural road passing through the Bay Area's outermost eastern suburbs (Oakley and Brentwood). Route 4 continues to Stockton, where it briefly joins I-5 and then enters a separate freeway routing almost directly through downtown Stockton. The route then multiplexes with State Route 99 before running eastward into the Sierra through Angels Camp and Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The route runs through the 8,050 ft. (2,454 m) Pacific Grade Summit on its way up to the 8,730 ft. (2,661 m) Ebbetts Pass and ends at State Route 89 ten miles west of Topaz Laek, on the California–Nevada border. The portion from Arnold to its terminus is designated the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway.
Through the mountains, Route 4 is not suitable for large trucks, buses, or RVs, as it becomes very steep and narrow (sometimes with no center dividing line), with tight twists and turns. This portion is also often closed in the winter due to snowstorms and snowpack. Additionally, the segment between Bear Valley Mountain Resort to Monitor Pass near Markleeville is completely shut down through the winter, until the snowmelt. (from Wikipedia)

Redwoods

It is hard to appreciate the magnifisense of these gentle giants unless standing directly underneath one. The trunks, exceeding in some instances 30 feet in diameter, stretch upwards to 150 feet or more before branching and then topping out at 250 to 300 feet. They instantly compare to a whale or 747 and seem friendly somehow. Their earthy pine smell is perfume to the forrest, and happily they have been protected since 1932 from logging or otherwise.

Stick

Photo taken during a hike thru the giant Redwoods. This afternoon Eitan takes hold of my digital camera and instantly falls in love. He snaps away at our ankles, mid-sections, rocks and tree trunks "look dad! Your feet!" staring at the viewfinder image. Of course tensions rise when Madeleine wants her turn, and the solution is to share time to the minute.

Fire

Chas

Chas and I met in Providence, Rhode Island, in '87 and spent two summers painting the exteriors of some 100 houses in Barrington and Providence for CollegePro Painters. I owned the local franchise while at Brown. Our second summer, with Chas the Production Manager, saw our business net over $250K while I was selected "Manager of the Year" from a pool of 105. The stress and general absurdity of CollegePro (or any job for that matter presenting similar responsibility to college-going kids) is now re-lived whenever Chas and I, and the other members of the Providence outlet are together. These stories fyi I consider some of my most cherished treasures taken forward into middle age.

Lake Alpine II

Madeleine explores the shoreline of the reservoir-created lake, which today is stocked with trout and salmon presenting a prime recreational spot for the odd angler or (rare) camper at Ebett's pass. At the bottom of the lake (depth 15o feet or so) rests an old saw mill, abandoned when logging became restricted in Alpine County in the late 19th century. Here Madeleine shows off a digging apparatus, as she merrily constructs squirrel huts, water traps and beaver dams.

Eagle One

The Eagle One from 1974's Space: 1999.

Vital statistics
Mass: 31,551 KG
Size: 34 meters
Thrust main: 990 kN
Thrust hover: 495 kN

I still wonder the outcome of the Eagle One versus a Tie-Figher, though believe the latter would have proven superior given its greater maneuverability and canon. Plus Luke loaded R2-D2 in for added sensory feedback and performance while the Eagle's computer systems would struggle with 'pong.'

Chas!

Kate and Chas in Big Trees, where our families spend the weekend together. On Friday, Kate's company Real Girls Media attracts $6M in her series A round with Walden and 3i the institutional limited partners. Kate is an hold-hand in the start-up game having founded and sold Lot21 in 2002, then the leading online advertising agency. The Thorps have three kids and a dog, live in Northern California and generally lead the good live in our sun-baked, sunshine culture. This photo taken on the stump of Old Sherman (diameter: 28 feet), chopped down in 1853 by Pacific Sierra Logging; Conner in the background.

Chas and I met in college when we painted houses together in Providence. During those miserable summers I contracted and he became my production manner, freeing me up to do what I enjoyed or was good at - selling the business. Chas concentrated on keeping the workers stocked up with paints, brushes, Kodiak and Marbreds. He also planned out the summer's schedule which we maintained in the "action room" of his top flooer flat - pictured a wall of calanders mapped by house and crew. Because of Chas, the summer was butter and we painted 52 houses, if I recall correctly. We also received various recognitions while our summer business made >$200,000 in two and a half months.

Mr Macho

A self-photo I like. How quickly I revert to California. In London, which is way more formal, I am confined to professional attire and certainly would not consider facial hair for God's sake. When I founded my internet company in '99, I was tempted to throw out my suits & ties, but fortunately Sonnet prevailed and I kept several which I now use when travelling or with clients. I must believe that our Act III will be played out on the Pacific Coast.

TV time

This photo from earlier summer '06 and taken during Friday "movie night", where the kids pick one special DVD from the library. Generally, TV is allowed Friday and Sunday morning for cartoons, but this may expand depending on my and Sonnet's level of generosity (or more likely fatigue). Here, Eitan shields me out as I take a shot; beloved Doggie and Teddie are happily tucked away for the screening.

Christmas 2004 revisted

Eitan and Madeleine in the same spot where I took the 2004 Xmas photo, sent to some 400 family, friends and colleagues (3/8/06). Since '04, by my records, Eitan has grown16 centimetres and 3.2 kg while Madeleine has sprouted 10 cm and gained 1 kg.

All American

Eitan shot using my Olympus Camedia with 3.0 mega-pixels. While not a SLR or semi-pro camera, I find that the device takes adequately clear pictures and matches my need for convenience and storage (the memory card holds about 200 images). Plus it was cheap. This shot taken mid-day, under an awning at the cabin and the light against the cherry redwood plays nicely against Eitan's colours. While I try to include hands and appendages in all my photos of children, the close-up portraits I was after prevents this.

Woods

This photo at Big Trees state park in Calaveras county, California (4/8/06). After buying groceries at the large town Arnold (pop. 4,107), we drive route 4 to the park entrance around susnet so that I can take black & white photographs during the prime light. The trail wanders through the ancient sequoia grove for three miles. Fortunately for Sonnet, looking after the kids while I disappear for several hours, Eitan discovers my digital camera "Look! Look! I love to take shoots (sic)" - of mostly feet, mid-sections and out-of-focus objects but hey, this may lead to a joint hobby and lifetime affair together.

On top of the world

Burger

This hamburger joint is in Arnold, CA,and remains the favorite spot for a traditional "burger and chips". Usually we stop here on our way down from the mountains and a nice friendly way to wrap up a vacation.

L'arc

The past two years I've had two fund clients in Paris - Astorg Partners and Edmond de Rothschild (11/11/05). When visiting this favorite place, I stay at Le Faubourg near the Place de la Concorde and Jardin Toulouse. I make a point of knowing at least one museum or gallery each pass, and my early morning runs take me thru the Louvre and up the Seine to La Cité and Notre Dame cathedral. This photo taken on a dreary winter morning from the Champs.

3G

Sonnet, Madeleine and Grace, representing over 120 years of one gene's earthbound journey, pose on the deck of 2501 Shashone Dr. Grace covers the kids with love and attention, baking a apple pie, peanut butter cookies and strawberry shortcake - all from tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. She is careful each child receives equal attention while Sonnet and I appreciate what we miss from the U.K.

Mtns.

The kids soak up the sun, and this photo taken durina a sun and pool "time-out" (we spent 7 hours at the Bear Valley rec center yesterday). Swim lessons begin at 10AM sharp, and both Eitan and Madeleine enamoured with the older, teenage lifeguard instructors who use words like "dude" and "totally". Eitan practices his Californian tongue but so far with little success.

Fabulous Bru

This is Bru (19/5/06). Bru is Sonnet's cousin and son of Missy, who I met in London in '98. He lives in Rome with his Italien girlfriend Manuela, and has two flats next to the Piazzo Campo dei Fiori not far from the French embassy. From upstate New York, Bru followed the Greatful Dead for a number of years, then applied to Cornell where he received his undergraduate degree. A room-mate introduced him to the Vatican, where he worked in the bursor's office reimbursing Cardinals and Bishops their expenses. Bru's expressive personality is best suited for the Mediterranian, and we have taken joy visiting him on several occassions in Rome, where he has opened the city to us. This photo taken in Colorado at Maire's wedding by Stanfill M. Stanfill - and demonstrates one interpretation of 'cowyboy chic.'