Holiday Speedo Run
121507. 30+ friends and strangers came together, clad in speedo's and holiday garb, to serinade shoppers on the 3rd Street Promenade. It's a donation entry of a suggested $25.00 which goes to a wonderful program called Exceeding Expectations. We meet at Ye Olde Kings Head, and have a few snakebites (cider and beer), and head out singing carols at the top of our lungs as we jog along.
Here is Jen Kramer with the creator and Race Director of the Holiday Speedo Run, Santa Monica - Babak Azad.

Jen, Anna and Heather, our cute Christmas Elves:

Ian McQueen Gonzales and and, with his Yule Log.

Lawrence and Beth - this shot will be part of their wedding showcase I'm sure:

The fastest reindeer I know, Kathryn Donovan:

Hunk-o burning man -- Peter Brantley gearing up in his pink Thumbs Up speedo and Afro:

Lucas and Sylvia hold the fort down as we speed off to do our thang:

Annnnd, this is what it comes down to.... a mob of butts and legs and chests, making their way around the shoppers, spreading holiday cheer -- all for the kids!

Beautiful Butts >>

When we finally made it back to Ye Olde Kings Head, it was time for a round of beer shots for all.

Another successful Holiday Speedo Run, under our belts. Looking forward to 2008, and even more people, crazier holiday outfits...

Merry/Merry to all >> Holiday Ho Ho Ho.

Firm Holiday Party 2007
121307. I don't talk a lot here about my job... it's with international investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey. I've been at Houlihan just shy of 10 years, (only a year less than the time I've been in LA). I really love my job (although never the office politics). I run the corporate creative team for the firm, overseeing the branding for our various products, services and regional needs.

I thought I'd make an entry for our annual holiday party which was last week. The committee did a great job putting together a winter white theme for the over 250 LA personnel. Here are two of our hosts, Annie and Kim at the check in.
We even had a an ice sculpture martini luge at the bar:

Two close buddies, both in & out of the office: Lisa Garcia & Ali Shoemaker with me in front of our ice bar.

A crew of financial staffers, happy to be spending a few hours away from their desks:

The party consisted of tasty eats, drinks, gambling and raffles (I didn't win though)...

All-in-all, a great little holiday party, and 2007!

Arizona & the Lombardi's
120707. I just returned from a visit with Amy & James in Phoenix. Baby M is due on Jan. 4th, just a day after Dad's birthday (but, I think M will hold out even past Jan 4th)...

The visit was drenched in rains, and cool weather, but we managed to fit in a hike on the first day, before it got too wet. It did start raining as we hiked, but James mushed us onward till the turnaround, and we ducked into the car just as the drops grew to the size of my thumbnail.

Below are snaps from probably the last couples-baby-shower for Baby M (if it's a girl, or a boy, they have selected names that begin with "M", that's how this nickname came about)...
Let me tell you -- their friends and family have been so generous! They are just decked out in the sweetest and coolest baby-stuff! You name it, they've got it! I think they have varriations of the various baby-calming devices! That means, the baby will never cry... right?

Rainy day hike... Parents-to-be, bundled up:

Me with Amy and Phoenix (or was that Scottsdale?) in the background.

We hiked, movied, massaged & partied... I'm looking forward to the next visit, when I meet little baby M and we probably won't be able to do any of the things I just listed! Ha. -- Parenthood, here you come!! xoxx

LA Tri Club YEP 2007
113007. The Club looks back at the year - it's a time to celebrate, our Year End Party & Banquet... Luxe Hotel, Los Angeles.

Clubbers came together to celebrate a year well-spent on race courses near and far. Leading up to this evening, everyone on the Board and involved with planning has been dealing with a great deal of stress and unexpected life complications. Sometimes, it's hard to get into party-mode. But, come 7:30 pm, we all put on some fancy duds and our biggest smiles and headed to the ball room to celebrate in style. Sure enough... it's easy to do, (have a great-smashing time, that is), with fellow LATCers... just the freaking BEST people in the world. I want to thank all my clubber buddies for the support toward the club, and of me personally this year. Doing things with all of you is always the best way to do anything.

In particular, Paul Hekimian... pictured here with me at the LUXE bar, before the YEP festivities began. Paul, you've always been such an amazing partner and friend... thank you so much for being so damn PAULSITIVE all the time!
Our Race Rewards Winners!! Each season, clubbers enter and participate in selected races, after which they check off their finishes on our website. You don't have to be fast... At the end of the season, our Director of Racing draws the names of about a dozen club members and gives them a big-fat check. Earning back in monetary ways like with the Race Rewards proram is just one of the amazing benefits of LATC membership!

As Jamie Silber looks on in the background, Ironman bound, Monica Morant accepts her two round trip jetBLUE airlines vouchers from Chairman of Triathlete Magazine and co-Founder of Active.com Mitch Thrower in front of our crowd. This year, we held the first annual LA Tri Club Film Festival - five entrants, 2-minute long entries each. Monica took home the top-prize! Thank you to jetBLUE, (one of our valued sponsors).

Left to right: the Stearns, Heather Hills, Loren Uscliowski (winner of the Best Overall Single Sport Outstanding Performance SWIM category), Cristina Nardozzi, Mike Buehrer, Clara Palmer & Evan Hyde (winner of Most Outstanding Non-Traditional Multisport Performance).

The beautiful and generous Epsteins!

Yowzers... the Ladies of the LA Tri Club....

Looking good Summer, Michelle, Syl and Pauletta!!

Lizzy & Peggy:

Beth, Lawrence, Marrielle, Luis & Dara:

Steve, Stella & Peter:

The Urbans >>

Jen and Gary >>

Yes -- even at play we resort to competition... limbo anyone? Very silly!

Givin' props to President Paul, Jessi and I.

eliza page named one of 50-best stores in Texas!
Baylor bud... Elizabeth Gibson Serrato's jewelry & accessories store in downtown Austin, eliza page... was named on of Lucky's 50-best stores in TX in this months issue -- Yippee E!!
Have holiday shopping to do? Visit eliza page online for something perfect!

Turkey in Texas :: Thanksgiving 2007
Here is the Oakes Family-Boerne clan. Boerne is a town 45-min outside San Antonio and 1.5 hr outside Austin. Pictured below, from left to right: Stina, Finn (16-months), me, Jesse (6'4" behind me), little Merete (5 yrs) in front, then Matt, my Dad/Mike and his wife, Chris holding little Lonestar.
Here is my brother Matt, with Finn and Fred the dog. Fred is a 150(ish) pound Great Pyrenees doggie with the nicest deep bark. Good dog. Jesse and Merete, playing in the hose after we'd just given Fred the dog a bath (which he really, really needed).

An afternoon at the river in my dad's neighborhood... Naked baby Finn and Miss. Merete got in with both Matt & Jesse while Dad, Chris, Stina and I enjoyed watching them from the shore. It was a nice hot-but-comfy Texas day, but the water was coooolllddddd (although, not as cold as the PACIFIC!).

Jess, my Dad, Merete and Labradoodles Biscotti (rust color) and Cowboy (black) -and- little Lonestar (gray) doggies all joined them in the tent we got Jess for his birthday.

Auntie Liz & Merete snap >>

This is such a fun photo! "All the kids" on the couch... Jesse, me, Stina & Matt all cuddle (not) elbow-to-elbow on the couch together one evening... you won't catch us like this too often! ; )

Nikki my dear old buddy from grammar school (say... 27+ yrs friends) with her sister, Beth and Beth's son Caleb, came for a visit from nearby Austin. Caleb enjoyed the tire horse swing my Dad put up for Merete & Finn!

Merete got plenty of riding time in too...

Last, but not least, here I am with my #1 Nephew, handsome 16-month old FINN!

Calabasas Classic 2007
benefiting the Talbert Family Foundation
111107. Each year, for four years now, I've trekked to Calabasas in Nov. to help staff this wonderful event. This year, we drew 1,506 entrants and we keep getting bigger, and better. Here are our race directors, Julie and Lloyd Talbert flanking Sean Astin who came out for the 10k.
We had a wig vendor in the expo, and they loaned me this lovely long/dark wig so I could walk around and wow-everyone! It was really a hoot!! (yes, I said HOOT!). I've always wanted to experiment with dark hair...

The 5k start... I was standing smack dab in the middle of the race course... That's the fun thing about being "staff", you can make the rules!! I think this shot was worth it!

Although, I did almost get run down a number of times. LATCer, Joe here, is aiming for me though. Joe finished #2 in his Age Group...

We gave the 5k and 10k overall winners, Overalls! Ha. Funny, right? They all wore them when they picked them up. It started to get chilly and rainy at the end of the event... so, the more clothing, the better too! LATC in the house, right behind.

I had to snap this Proud Pug who also finished the race. All the canines who crossed the finish lines with their owners earned metals too, of course. There were many! This race is great for families (we have a family fun-run too) strollers welcome, doggies, and adults of all ages!

Next years dates has been set >> Mark your calendars for November 9, 2008. See you there!