Hekimian Beer Garden, Oktoberfest!

Oliver, Paul and Jason got together to host an authentic beer garden for 120+ friends/family... Here is PAUL with his Mini-Him, Mr. Lucas... Looking so German... (ck those legs!)...
Mo & Tina Gellar stole the show with their her & her outfits... Amy and I didn't dress, but just enjoyed seeing those who did! (is Mo wearing blush?)...

Group pic -- CHEERS!

Emerson & Michelle with Sylvia & Lucas.

Here are Lloyd & Julie Talbert. I'm bummed this didn't come out sharper, but I had to include the snap anyway! Julie explained to me that they had authentic steins!

Konrad & Stef nuzzle up:

Our hosts got the attention of the crowd in order to take us through a few German traditions:

Paul says this was the FIRST ANNUAL... so, check back in 12-months for pics from the 2nd! ; )

Mrs. Lombardi made it to LA for a visit ... she's no longer alone... about 6-months pregnant, there is always a baby in tow (although in utero). We had a restful catch-up. Breakfast at Malibu's Paradise Cove and shopping, hanging out... Here we are after our AMAZING dinner at The Lobster:
On Saturday we had a bit of an event... We were the only ones to witness a biker getting thrown into the air as a passenger door opened on him on 4th Street in Santa Monica. None-other than our friends, Ms. Erika Aklufi (OFFICER ERIKA AKLUFI, that is), came to the call. Here is Erika taking the statement of the driver who's door played smack-down with a commuter mountain biker:

CLIMB ON :: Joshua Tree

092807. It was an escape LA weekend for a handful of us as we headed east for a Joshua Tree camping/climbing trip. Temps were nothing less than perfect at low's in the mid 50's and highs in the low 80's. Below is our campfire on night 1:
Just cool enough to be perfect for a roaring fire and good nights sleep... Mike & Cristina cuddle here, after our looonnnnng drive (long due to traffic, of course).

Casa Mike & Cristina.... Saturday morning... time to rock-n-roll / rise-n-shine!

Evan and Chris here, looking for just the right spot they selected in the climbing book.

Once we found home-base, I found this natural recliner and took a load off. You spend a lot of time sitting on the ground when you're climbing with a group (unless you're Chris or Evan of course, who have all the hard work to prep the climb)...

Here is Chris, setting our protection for the day's climbs. Yep, he knows what he's doing.

We found this awesome Joshua Tree near one of our trails to/from our cars -- we thought it looked like it was trying to hover and frighten whoever passed.

Ahhhhh, crack-climbing... Evan is showing us how it's done here -- gotta go ALL IN baby, and love that rock! We all lost some skin working on this puppy.

Evan at the top, looking out for Cristina as she makes her way to victory over this 5.7. Turns out, Cris is quite the natural climber!

Me, preping for my first climb of the day, Mike is fixing me up. My heart rate is a little high right here.... always... before going up...

Re-chalking my sweaty hands... almost up...

Clara, Chris, Evan & I at Crossroads on night 2 after a full day of climbing. Nothing like a delicious beer and burger to celebrate a day in the sun on the rock. Thanks so much Chris & Evan for your expertise, equipment and patience!!

There were sooo many pics.... it was hard to choose those to include here... but, for more of Mike, Cristina, Evan, Clara, Chris, Elizabeth and I, see here.