Pinner + SeaBass = Disaster

The only idea worse than having Jud & Kevin to our house on the Island at once is having Jud & Mike (which will be happening next week). Jud and Kevin came out to help MSA with one of our biggest weeks ever, and it was a blast. These are the tame pics. The others are not to be released!

Wastin' Away Again In....

MARGARITAVILLE...

Suzanne, Eric, Joe and I have been obsessed with Margaritaville since we went to Vegas a year and a half ago. They have the best Volcano Nachos and really good beer. This new one opened up in Glendale at Westgate and Patty showed up to hang too.

Also, they had the best cover band there on Wednesday nights. They were probably the best cover band we have ever seen, besides the Corduroys...

I loooove Margaritaville!

Baby Ava

So, the first one of my best friends had a baby! Baby Ava in May! I got to see her in AZ and she was such a cuuuutie. This is the Book Club plus 1 member. She is the newest member of our Book Club, soon to be joined by the 1 and only boy member allowed (for now) Baby Cruz. Which if you can see if inside Jessica's belly (far right).

Ava is a total LOVE BUG!

Camping with Crazy People

Each season, we take the staff out for an MSA camping trip. For the least 2 seasons we have gone to an interior location called Black Jack Mountain. It is so beautiful up there with large pine trees, grass and it is so quiet. This year we went and took Blanca- the crazy SCOOBY DOO van you see here. Dont think it did not overheat and die on us on the way there, but it was a blast. P.S. Why does Joe look like the Godfather in the picture?!?!

Pure Country

Also for Joe's big 29th birthday, we went a saw George Strait in Anaheim. This was so great. We paid for nose-bleed seats and we ended up being given suite tickets by some random guy and his wife at dinner! It was amazing. They were the best seats we could have ever wished for- WITH complimentary beer and wine all night! NICE!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I know this is SO late, but we did get to go to a Dodgers Game in LA. It was so fun, and we got to sit in the All You Can Eat Pavillion. This means you can have as many Dodger Dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and soda that you want during the WHOLE GAME! Plus, the seats are awesome too! Happy Birthday Joey!

The G-Ride...Or Not!

Well, its official...WE HAVE OUR OWN BOAT! It is an Achilles inflatable boat...and its all ours! We are so excited to have a boat of our own to zoom around on the weekends and do whatever we want! The only problem, we need a name for it. As of now, it has been G-Ride. Any other suggestions? Please add a comment below with your ideas!!?!?!?!

Moms All Aboard!

This past weekend, our moms (Deb & Evelyn) came to the Island to visit us, and what a perfect weekend it was! The weather could not have been better, about 70 and sunny each day... We got to catch up, hang out in Avalon, hike and go searching for dolphins on the boat. Thanks to Joe's lasik eye surgery, he spotted a pod of dolphins and we headed for them. They were so big and beautiful! I was really glad that we got to show our moms the Island life, even if only for a weekend. It was so great!

Wiked Witches!

My mom and I got to go and see Wiked, the off-Broadway musical in LA about the True Story of the Wiked Witch of the West! It was amazing, funny and so fun to go with my mom! If you havent heard the soundtrack or read the book- DO IT! Or go see the play!

Our First AZ Visitors!

I never thought the day would come! Our first non-family, friends from AZ visitors out to the Island to visit us! Eric and Sue came out a few weekends ago, and it was so amazing. The weather was perfect and the Island was so green from all the past rain. We kayaked, hiked, and took out our new boat for its first ever Island Adventure! This could be you too, if you all just got up off your butts and came to visit us! Its ok, we still love you!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A little late, we know....but worth posting anyway.

We hope 2008 will be a prosperous year full of happiness, love and healing for all of our friends and family. The Island is calling, you know you want to visit!

Is it Fall or Winter?

Winter on the Island

Crazy weather over here this winter so far. Or is it still FALL? It is getting colder and colder- doesnt this make you want to come and visit us! Come on- You know you want to!

Fire Sky

Thankfully, all of our family in the LA/SD area escaped all the fires this past month! Look at the sky in Avalon- 20 miles from the Orange County area- and we still got a lot of smoke and a crazy looking sun. Also, the Santa Ana winds swept through a few weeks ago and completely demolished our floating dock! Crazy weather out here sometimes! Come on, you know you want to visit!

Paella (Pie-A-Ya) Celebration!

pa·el·la

–noun
a Spanish dish prepared by simmering together seafood, rice, vegetables, and saffron and other seasonings.

Yesterday, we had a Paelle Celebration hosted by Annie & Fran! We gathered around to celebrate all fot he hard work of the staff for the fall and all of the amazing things everyone has done this fall. Paelle can be made many different ways. Francisoco's Paella consisted of a base of salt water right out of the ocean, rice, fresh caught California Spiney Lobster, salmon, ahi tune, corn, red peppers and olives (and much more). We had the yummmmmy paelle along with some fresh made Sangria and it was a perfect Sunday afternoon!

Feels Like Heaven

Annie, my boss, took me to this place last week on our way to Arizona. It is called Glen Ivy Hot Springs and it is a spa that contains many different mineral pools, hot spas, natural clay mud club (yes, where you put mus all over you) and natural hot springs. It was so amazing- and pretty affordable. Anytime you are traveling around the I-15 area in LA, you have to check it out! It is like heaven!

A Family Affair

Joe and Evelyn got to come out this past weekend and visit and it was amazing!!!! It was so beautiful. Dad fished all weekend and mom and I walked 20 or so miles to prepare for our walk. It was so much fun!

Black Jack Pine Cone

This weekend, a few of us from the staff went out to Black Jack Mountain to camp amoung the tall pine trees. It was so beautiful to be so high up on the mountain, see the bright stars, smell the pine trees- AND SEE THESE HU-MONG-US PINE CONES! Look at that thing!

Linus the Sea Lion

Last Tuesday a baby sea lion pup was dropped off by its mother on our beach. I named him Linus, in my head, and he stayed at the camp until the next morning. Here he is climbing from one kayak to another. He was so cute! We think he was about 2 weeks old.

Joe, The Lobster Hunter

Saturday Night kicked off Lobster season, here on the Island. Joe, Kevin and Rob went out and got 6 California Spinney Lobster and they were delicious!

Airport In The Sky

This past Saturday, a bunch of us on the MSA staff went through the interior of the Island to learn more about this big piece of land. This is us at the Catalina Island Airport, called Airport in the Sky- because its runway is on top of a mountain, and known to be one of the most dangerous airports in our country! Have fun if you ever want to fly in there. Here you see Kevin, Me, Rob, Brooke, Samantha, Joey and Santos- having a blast!