Camping Trip to Death Valley

Went camping in Death Valley last weekend. Camped for two whole nights — an adult personal best! The lowest point in North America. Yes, that pot hole right there. Pros: The roller coaster roads, featuring many inversions. Taking the Emigrant Road way back to civilization — brilliantly washed out and steep. My new flannel-lined sleeping

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My New Recurring Nightmare

I’ve had this dream like three times in the last couple months: I’m on vacation. The vacation’s a week long. It’s day six and I realize I haven’t done anything yet and I start getting panicky about how I can cram enough into the last two days of the vacation to not feel like I

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The Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Mostly Suck)

A little unfair in that, in fact, I’m surprised they included so many novels that I don’t think suck. Also unfair in that I’m not sure I can confidently name more than 15-20 novels that, in my mind, don’t suck. And that I haven’t read most of the list. Ah well. I also appreciated Game

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I Went to a Basketball Game in Malibu on Tuesday

Best sporting event ever. Well, not counting the MNF game, which, arguably, *was* the best sporting event ever. That I attended. Although the ’90 BYU-Miami game was pretty amazing also. And the USA-Costa Rica World Cup qualifier. But, yeah. Comparisons are hard. And sporting events are better when the right team wins. Assuming JL ever

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Book Report: The Naked and the Dead

Norman Mailer wrote it. It was ranked #61 on the Modern Library 100 Greatest Novels list. Many have called it the greatest novel ever written about World War II. I have to say, the competition doesn’t seem that stiff. Oh well. Pros: Really long. Makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something. Sure, it’s a pyrrhic

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Happy Guy Fawkes Day, Marine Corps Birthday, *and* Veterans Day

Sorry, got way behind on my holidays. And still haven’t firmed up my Pearl Harbor Day plans. I gotta out-do last year. If that’s possible. bkd

I Have a Photos Section Now

(See tabs at top of page.) If I manage to find all the photo pages I used to have on the ol’ BootlegSports side, I’ll post ’em there. Otherwise, I may or may not. Only time can tell. bkd

Ultralight Flying on Kauai

Went Thursday. It was cool. Sometimes I get the impression that the whole point of Kauai is to see how many different ways you can look at the Na Pali coast. Me this trip: 3. Ultralight flying on Thursday, drive/viewpoint/hike today, boat on Monday. Do I win? No. I could’ve done helicopter, kayak, and hike-in.

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I Punched a Fish Today

He had it coming, though. One of those mean yellow ones. You know. For trying to steal food out of my hand.   Slink away, buddy. bkd

Day 2: Wailua River Kayaking to Secret Falls

One of the cooler vacation activities I’ve done. Rented a one-man kayak to take onto the Wailua river (Wailua Kayak Adventures is one of the two or three companies “allowed” to rent kayaks for the Wailua — everyone else has to give guided tours). Paddled for a little bit, then came to the trail to

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