Spring Fling

M1 with Dodger Legend Tommy Lasorda at Surprise Stadium

As a baseball junkie and die-hard Dodger fan, one of my dreams has been to be a part of that annual spectacle: Spring Training. When the LA Dodgers relocated from Vero Beach, FL to Glendale, AZ 3 years ago, the dream became more doable and this past weekend it became a reality! Mike Bayard, Mike Hawkes, Ryan Hawkes and myself (M1, M3, The Falcon, and M2 respectively) jetted over to the Valley of the Sun to cheer on our Dodgers in a couple of Cactus League games. Yes, this was Man-Cave trip # 2. Last year we made a trip up to San Francisco to check out the hated Giants, in person. That was an awesome trip. You may have read about it here. For those of you who are familiar with our Man-Cave activities, they are always about two things: Sports and food! This Cactus League trip exceeded all expectations and more than adequately met our two requirements. We also made it to four movies ( a quick review included):
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone> Not bad, pretty funny, don't rush out and see it.
The Call> Started off well, but devolves into total ridiculousness. Wait for the DVD, maybe?
Dead Man Down> Surprisingly good, but don't take the wife.
Identity Theft> Hilarious! A must see!
Enough about movies, let's talk baseball and food.

Friday morning we started the day with an hearty breakfast at Over Easy in Phoenix. The Eggs Benedict and hash browns were to die for! That night we ventured to Camel Back Ranch, spring training base for the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. A beautiful facility located at the west side of Glendale at the edge of the world. A nifty 10,000 seat main ball park with 8 separate practice fields, 4 for each team, adorned this desert oasis. While the different food choices were copious, the hot dogs were absolutely awful. Imagine a Dodger Dog boiled instead of grilled, served on bun baked several days ago. Yuck! Talk about wasted calories. At least the game did not disappoint; as the Dodger back-ups drubbed the KC Royals 8-1. Dodger Cuban phenom, Yasiel Puig went 3-3. He's big, fast and hits the heck out of the ball. Look for him to be the future Dodger left fielder for years to come. It was a great night!

M2 lounging on the grass at Camel Back Ranch

Saturday we started off with another breakfast adventure at one of Phoenix's favorite spots, The Black Bear Diner. After about a 45 minute wait the cholesterol assault on our bodies began. What a great place. 10,000 calories must have been consumed!

Cavers waiting to gorge themselves at Black Bear Diner

M1, M3, The Falcon, and M2 at Black Bear Diner

Yes, we shared it!

Black Bear Diner Breakfast Feast (The Falcon [blue shirt] ate 4 of the 8 plates of food!)

With full tummy's we set out for the home of the Texas Rangers and KC Royals, Surprise Stadium in Surprise, AZ. This facility was amazing. It was an upgrade from Camel Back Ranch. Another beautiful 10,000+ seat park. M1 had secured us great seats in the shade for this daytime match-up pitting our Dodgers against the Rangers. Clayton Kershaw pitched 6 innings of shout out 2-hit ball. He is ready for the regular season. Another 20 win season is not a reach. Unfortunately, after Clayton hit the showers the Rangers roughed up a few Dodger scrubs. But hey, it's spring training. The highlight of the game occurred off the field. Mike Bayard had a chance meeting with legendary Dodger Manager, Tommy Lasorda! How cool is that!

Surprise Stadium on picturesque Saturday afternoon

Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw in motion

Grabbing some ice cream cones on the way out of the park (and also running into an embarrassing drunkard) we hit the road cris-crossing back across the valley towards Scottsdale for movie and dinner. After the movie we arrived at one of the Phoenix area's most famous eateries, Don & Charlie's. This place is kind of a sports bar/restaurant with endless sports memorabilia covering the walls and ceiling. The joint was a mad house! As we entered, and elderly gentleman was seated at a small table with a box of baseballs in front of him. Upon closer inspection, it was the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays! Willie turns 82 later this year and he looks it. It is hard to believe that he retired from the game 40 years ago this year! The years have not been kind to Willie. He sat at the table like an automaton as his handlers fed him balls to sign at $200 a pop. There was no interaction with fans other than a single isolated half smile. It seemed so sad and pathetic. Somehow, I had hoped life would be better for one of the greatest players that ever lived. Finally, all the balls were signed and Willie struggled to his feet. An assistant helped him with his jacket, then his entourage walked him outside to the waiting mini-van. Then he was gone, vanishing into the desert night.....

Dinner was fantastic. A perfect capper for a perfect trip.

As we rolled back across the valley to the hotel, various spring training parks lit up the desert landscape like twinkling stars in the night. We reluctantly bid farewell to the Boys of Spring, but our next adventure is already in our thoughts...........

Sunset at Camel Back Ranch

Top 10 Rock Songs of All Time

Just the other day, I received an email from The Eagles. That's right, Don, Glenn, Timothy and Joe and me are buddies. Actually, I am on their mass mailing list. They announced their big TV special coming up on Showtime next weekend, The History of the Eagles. I'm sure I will be tuning in for that. Anyway, as I drove home that day from work, I played some old Eagle's tunes. As Joe Walsh and Don Felder manically strummed their dueling guitar duet on Hotel California, I thought, "That is one of the greatest rock songs of all time." Then I started musing as to what songs might make my top 10 list. Well, after much deliberation and deep thought, here it is. Now, I know many of you will be appalled at some of the songs named here. But, bear in mind that I am a child of the late 60's and 70's. I am sure most will agree that that era was the best ever for rock and roll music although I'm not much of a 'hard' rocker. I regret I couldn't find a spot for Elton John, Uriah Heep and Neil Diamond. I felt bad leaving out Bread and the Bee Gees, even Three Dog Night. James Taylor and Coldplay should probably be there, too. I know, I should have included the Stones, Bob Dylan and Elvis. But, I had to draw the line somewhere. Please let me know which of your favorites I omitted. Make a case for your songs, I'm willing to listen. Without further delay, here is:

 

The Top 10 Rock Songs of All Time 

1. Hey Jude

1968 Beatles (Paul McCartney and John Lennon)

"Hey Jude" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was released in August 1968 as the first single from the Beatles' record label Apple Records. It also spent nine weeks as number one in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles' single, and tied the record for longest stay at number one (until the record was broken by "You Light Up My Life"). The single has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best songs. In 1968, John Lennon and his wife Cynthia Lennon separated due to John's affair with Yoko Ono. Soon afterwards, Paul McCartney drove out to visit Cynthia and Lennon's son, Julian. "We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life," McCartney said. Cynthia Lennon recalled, "I was truly surprised when, one afternoon, Paul arrived on his own. I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare.... On the journey down he composed 'Hey Jules' [later renamed Hey Jude] in the car. I will never forget Paul's gesture of care and concern in coming to see us."
So, Paul wrote this song in his head while driving out to John's country home!!! Ridiculous!! 

 

2. Hotel California

1977 Eagles (Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey)

"Hotel California" is the title song from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. It is one of the best-known songs of all time. Don Felder wrote the music and Don Henley the lyrics. I’m not sure what Glenn Frey’s contribution was. "Hotel California" topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week in May 1977. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for "Hotel California" at the 20th Grammy Awards in 1978. Felder and Joe Walsh’s song ending guitar solo is one of the high points in rock history. It’s a shame that “The Gods” (Henley and Frey) fired Felder from the Eagles a few years ago in a squabble over money. Pretty pathetic.

3. Stairway to Heaven
1971 Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page and Robert Plant)

Led Zeppelin’s biggest hit with Jimmy Page composing the music and Robert Plant the lyrics. This tune is recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It was the most requested song on FM radio stations in the United States in the 1970s, despite never having been officially released as a single there. Who can forget the somber final line of the song: "And she's buying a Stairway to Heaven".

4. Imagine
1971 John Lennon

"Imagine" is a song written and performed by John Lennon, the best-selling single of his solo career. While I don't endorse Lennon's views on the nature of God and organized religion, I do acknowledge his musical genius:

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

5. Bridge over Troubled Water

1970 Simon and Garfunkel (Paul Simon)

"Bridge over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, and stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. Simon wrote the song in the summer of 1969 while Garfunkel was filming Catch-22 in Europe. Simon and Garfunkel fans are aware that Paul Simon wrote all the songs while Garfunkel was primarily a vocalist. In my opinion, he was an incredible vocalist. Bridge over Troubled Water was the beginning of the end for the duo. Simon has said he has always regretted having Garfunkel sing this song. Since it became such a monster hit, it catapulted Garfunkel to greater fame than Simon. Since both these artists were monumental egotists, Simon couldn’t allow that to continue and they broke up. It seems in rock bands and sports dynasties, dream teams never last.

6. Ventura Highway

1972 America (Dewey Bunnell)

Dewey Bunnell, the song's vocalist and writer, has said that the lyric "alligator lizards in the air" in the song is a reference to the shapes of clouds in the sky he saw in 1963 while his family was driving down the coast from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California where they had a flat tire. While his father changed the tire, he and his brother stood by the side of the road and watched the clouds and saw a road sign for "Ventura". He states that the song "reminds me of the time I lived in Omaha as a kid and how we'd walk through cornfields and chew on pieces of grass. There were cold winters, and I had images of going to California. So I think in the song I'm talking to myself, frankly: 'How long you gonna stay here, Joe?' I really believe that 'Ventura Highway' has the most lasting power of all my songs.’

The song went to #8 on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Charts for America, spending nine weeks on the charts after debuting on November 4, 1972. America also won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1973!

America is my favorite rock band of all time, so one of their songs had to be included in this list. I first discovered America’s music sitting in Eric Woodhouse’s mint green Ford pick-up while it played on his 8-track player in the winter of 1972. I have been hooked on their sound ever since.

Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek were sons of American Servicemen stationed in London in the late 60’s. Dan Peek left the band in 1977 and regrettably passed away 2 years ago. Dewey and Gerry still perform today. Did you know they are Hawaii’s favorite rock band? 

7. Won’t Get Fooled Again
1971 The Who (Pete Townshend)

Written by Townshend and sung by Roger Daltrey. A list of the Top 10 rock songs of all time wouldn’t have any credibility without including this classic. I still remember listening to it for the first time at Steve Boyack’s house on their giant stereo console. (They just don’t make them like that anymore) I think we must have borrowed the ‘Who’s Next?’ album from his older sister. Then I think we went and played "Mystery Date."

8. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

1987 U2 (Adam Clayton, Dave Evans [The Edge], Paul David Hewson [Bono], Larry Mullen and Victor Reina)

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 after "With or Without You". There is just something about U2’s distinctive sound.

9. Every Breath You Take

1983 The Police (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner [Sting])

"Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers (but officially credited to Sting only). The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks. Sting won "Song of the Year" and The Police won "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for "Every Breath You Take". This song has generated 1/3 of Sting’s music publishing income over his career! We are talking about $100’s of millions of dollars!!!! By the way, my wife is in love with Sting! Look for him on the Grammy Show this Sunday night.

10. There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler

1974 Dan Fogelberg

“There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler” is the 11^th and final track on his 1974 Souvenirs album. It also appears on the soundtrack to the movie FM, and was produced by Joe Walsh, who supplied backing vocals. Also appearing on the Souvenirs album were: America’s Gerry Beckley - acoustic guitar,  Graham Nash - vocals, Eagles Glenn Frey - background vocals, Don Henley -background vocals, drums, and Randy Meisner – vocals.

Fogelberg is one of my wife and I’s favorite solo artists. Sadly, Dan passed away due to prostate cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. In the 80’s and 90’s we saw him concert at least 20 times. We first saw him live at the Oakland Coliseum in October 1980. The next day we went to the local record store and bought every one of his albums. I once smuggled a portable cassette recorder, ace wrapped to my leg, so I could record the concert. It added to the excitement, but the recording quality sucked. Fogelberg was an amazingly talented guy. One of his many fantastic songs had to be included in this list. His insightful ballads are sorely missed.

Well, there you have it. I'm sure my list will be ridiculed by Rolling Stone magazine as well as my brother-in-law, Brian K. He is a heavy metal guy also known as "Mad Dog." (Hard to believe he is also a Stake President) I will be looking forward to getting your top 10 lists!!!

OK, turn on your iPod and imagine you are on a beach somewhere................................

Sunrise at Koloa on Kaua'i, Hawaii Dec 2012

  

Les Miz Maximus Decimus Meridius: A Movie Review

On Christmas Day, the 5th day of a fabulous 35-year wedding anniversary trip on the island of Kaua'i, Kar, Ari (my daughter Ari tagged along) and I set out to catch the Grand Opening of the much anticipated film, Les Miserables.

Soon to be extinct theater

King of the Road, Monsieur Rooster

 We were greeted in the movie theater parking lot by the island's King of the Road, Monsieur Rooster. If you have ever been to Kaua'i, you know that chickens are on the loose everywhere. Why? That is a story for another blog post. The outdated 3-screen dump seen above will soon be extinct, since a brand new multi-plex is set to open soon, nearby. No amphitheater seating at this place. I waited in the concession line for 20 minutes, but was able to score some black chocolate Raisinettes along with the requisite popcorn. This was a good omen for wonderful movie experience.  I barely made it to my seat before the movie started. You see, since the movie was sold out, they started it 20 minutes early! Once seated in this theater from yesteryear, we were pleased to find ourselves in very comfy rocking chairs with cup holders, albeit the floor was a little sticky. Certainly, NOT the Arch Theater (Spanish Fork, UT), nor the Arclight (Pasadena, CA)! As the movie began, we were transported across time and space to the French Revolution and witnesses to the incredible journey and transformation of Jean Valjean. Unless you were born and raised on the island of Niuatoputapu or lived your life in a cave, you are familiar with Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. You've probably even seen the play. Therefore, no need to get any deeper into the plot or story for this review. This film was shot with the characters singing live, as opposed to recording the vocals in a studio and being dubbed in later. The effect gives the characters more emotion and enhances the story telling. I preferred this style, with one exception. Here is my expert critique as a frequent movie go-er:
Helena Bonham-Carter (Madame Thenardier) & Sacha Baron Cohen (Thenardier): Very funny, well done. Provided the comedy relief to a very sad story.
Samantha Barks (Eponine): Fantastic vocals incredible performance! Some of the best vocals of any cast member.
Eddie Redmayne  (Marius Pontmercy): Tremendous vocals played very tenderly. Instantly likable.
Amanda Seyfried (Cosette): Strong soprano, an emotional, and understated performance. Great harmony with other actors. Lovingly vulnerable. However, I thought the role of Cosette was a little too big for Seyfried.
Anne Hathaway (Fantine): Hathaway delivers an incredible acting performance. You could feel her anguish deep to the bone. Unfortunately, in my opinion(with which Ari does not agree), this emotionally laden depiction detracted from her vocal performance. The film's signature tune, "I Dreamed a Dream" suffered as a result. However, it still brought tears to my eyes.

Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert

Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert): Is there anything this guy can't do?! Maximus' Gladiator absolutely killed this role and took it where it has never been before. Crowe just has that "it" factor. As you observe Javert's constant inner struggle, you somehow love him and hate him at the same time. Crowe is truly is the Master and Commander of this film!!

Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean

Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean): Much like the evolution and gradual perfection of Valjean's life, so too was with Jackman's performance. This X-Man took on the role of a lifetime and did not disappoint. This is one incredibly talented dude!
Here are my Top 10 Les Mis 2012 highlights ( in reverse order), (I had a "Top 8" but I thought that would be weird so I added two more):
10. "Look Down" Great opening scene! Valjean displays super-human strength as Javert looks on..Jackman and Crowe are totally awesome!
9. "The Confrontation" Valjean and Javert, the immovable object and the irrestisitable force. Jackman and Crowe are perfect rivals.
8. "I Dreamed a Dream" As eluded to earlier, Hathaway's vocals were not in peak form. Nevertheless, a very touching scene.
7. "Javert's Suicide" Crowe ends Javert's guilt with style, realizing guilt might be something less black and white, but unable to live in a world with an innocent Valjean.
6. "One More Day" Main cast. Delightful!
5. "Valjean's Death" Valjean, Cossette, Marius, Fantine, Eponine. Touching; incredible vocals.
4. "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" Always one of my favorite Les Mis tunes. My friends, Redmayne's Marius delivers an incredible rendition.
3. "On My Own" Newcomer, Samantha Bark's Eponine breaks your heart into pieces with an amazing effort in a heavy drizzle. Samantha puts herself on the map with this role.
2. "Bring Him Home" Jackman's Valjean reaches his perfomance pinnacle with this mind blowing vocal extraordinaire! Start etching his name on the Best Actor Oscar statuette right now!!
1. "Stars" Crowe's Javert is all alone atop the city bathed in soft starlight as he convinces himself that he is right and God is on his side. Incredibly done, definitely the cinematic highlight of Les Miserables. Russell Crowe does it again. He will join Hugh Jackman on the stage to pick up the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The righteous will certainly have his reward!!
As you applaud at the end of the film, I have only one question for you;
quoting the immortal Maximus Decimus Meridius:
 "Are you not entertained?!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I do not pretend to posses any expertise when it comes to reviewing plays and musicals. My only experience was being in the chorus of Spanish Fork High's 1974 production of The Mikado. Our top priority was perfecting our Fu Manchu make up. I never learned any of the songs. But we had a blast. Gary Marks, where are you?
Final Note:

I have made a necessary adjustment to my Top 20 movies of all time; Les Mis (2012) is now at #19, right behind The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). This pushes Heaven Can Wait to #20 and knocks War Horse out of the Top 20.
Note after the Final Note: I saw the movie again tonight (1/2/13) and realized that I was way too harsh on Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" in my initial review. After seeing that again, I would move that scene up to #5 on my Top 10 list of movie highlights. Nice job, Anne! Also, Russell Crowe was even better the second time around!
And finally: While you were enjoying your Christmas, this is what we woke up to on our Christmas morning:

Sunrise from the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i in Koloa, HI

'Cloud Atlas' Shrugged

I am proud to boast that I have never used hallucinogenic drugs. However, after enduring the 2 hour and 52 minutes of a crazy confused mess of a movie, we felt like we had just been on a 'bad trip,' man. Cloud Atlas, with a star-studded cast that includes Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, will certainly drift away from your local multiplex, silently amidst mega-box office failure. Based on a popular novel penned by British author, David Mitchell, this film was greatly anticipated by movie goers. It was co-directed by Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski brothers (oops, wait a sec, it is now the brother and sister Wachowski. Larry is now Lana having had a sex change operation a few years ago. No, I'm not kidding), the partnership just didn't work. The Wachowski's "Matrix" films were awesome, but not even Neo could have saved this flop, and I don't care if he was The One. Each of the actors in the film play multiple characters across different stories and time periods. The make-up was impressive, quite often I couldn't spot the star. The movie consists of six nested stories that take the viewer from the remote South Pacific in the nineteenth century to a distant, post-apocalyptic future. Each tale is revealed to be a story that is read (or observed) by the main character in the next. All stories but the last are interrupted at some moment, and after the sixth story concludes at the center of the movie, the story "goes back" in time, "closing" each story as the movie progresses, but regresses chronologically in which the action takes place. There is a postscript at the end of the film with one of the Tom Hanks characters looking up in the sky at earth. Say what?? The hallmark of all great films is the story and this screenplay was just way too confusing. I spent most of my energy trying to figure out what was going, instead of just enjoying the film. I also had one major gripe: In the South Pacific story, the pacific islanders are all played by African American actors posing as Maori's! Now, I don't have anything against African American actors, but for heck's sake, couldn't the producers have signed some actual Polynesians for these roles? Gimme a break. DON'T GO SEE THIS MOVIE! This monumental miscasting catastrophe was as bad as casting Burt Lancaster as the native American athlete, Jim Thorpe, in the 1951 film, Jim Thorpe: All-American. If you want a good laugh, rent that movie. Jim Thorpe with a Brooklyn accent is a back-slapping hoot.

On a positive note, 'Argo,' starring and directed by Ben Affleck is a MUST SEE!

See you at the movies!!!

Endeavour over LA

 Today is one of those days that you will remember for a long time.Why? Well, it is the day before the Fall Equinox, although one would never know by the current temperature here in the Southland. No, that's not it. Is it because BYU football coach, Bronco Mendenhall, still has a job?

"Why did I do it?, said Gopher Two...

 In case you missed it Coach "Gopher Two" (that's my new name for Bronco) bet his nest egg on a 2-point conversion in last night's 7-6 (really?) loss to Boise State. With no time outs remaining and less than 4 minutes left in the contest, BYU finally scored, needing only to kick an extra point and most likely send the abysmal game into overtime. Considering how pathetically awful the offenses were for both teams, I still liked BYU's chances in OT. It was not to be. Pass incomplete, Boise State runs out the clock as the helpless BYU faithful kicked their collective dogs and cried Big Blue tears into the night. So, Coach "Gopher Two" blunders into his 2nd straight defeat. Wasted time outs, silly penalties and turnovers have become the modes operand i for this year's Cougars. I love what Bronco, err "Gopher Two' has done for the program and he is a very impressive guy. But, crap, he just can't seem to win the games we need to be winning!

"Gopher Two" telling Riley that he 's benched...

But I digress... I wasn't about to let last night's debacle ruin my Friday. Yes, today has been a great day. Was it because the iPhone 5 was released today? I passed by an AT & T store at 8:15 this morning on my way to work, and there was a line of about 50-60 Apple geeks patiently waiting to pick up their pre-ordered phones that they don't really need. Yes, this is the world we live in. Have you picked up your phone yet? Good, well then you are having a great day, too!

iPhone 4S or the iPhone 5, is it worth another $399?

 But, no, that's not what I will remember about today. Was it the mail I received from the BYU Parking  office? I think I mentioned in an earlier post, that I received yet another BYU parking ticket a few months ago while shopping at the bookstore. This was in addition to like the 200 tickets and one Rhino Boot I obtained during my matriculation on campus back in the late 70's. Let me quote a portion of the letter I received today: "This letter is to inform you that your appeal of the above citation has been carefully reviewed. The citation was issued per University Regulations. However, based upon the circumstances described in your appeal, the fine has been dismissed." YES! I FINALLY BEAT THEM! FROM RHINO BOOT TO DISMISSAL! What a day! This news almost makes up for last night's loss...But, not quite.

I beat it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 So, is that the capper for today?.. No, not quite. Today, just before noon, the retired Space Shuttle Endeavour, piggy backed atop a 747, made her final flight. She circled NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab as we viewed her from the La Canada Country Club parking lot. So cool! Thousands of Angelenos gathered at the Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood, downtown LA, LAX, JPL and even Disneyland as Endeavour made her flyover. There is just something captivating about big beautiful machines that fly. I could watch this thing all day long. The Endeavour is now safely hangered at LAX as she is being prepared for her last leg via truck to the science museum at Exposition Park in LA. Can't wait to see her up close! Mankind has come a long way from the billowy white sails of Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour that he plied throughout the blue Pacific, before his untimely death at the hands of the Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay.

Cook's H.MS. Endeavour

 It is mind boggling to think that man first landed on the moon 43 years ago. It's a shame that if an American astronaut wanted to go into space he or she would have to hitch a ride with the Russians. That's just wrong. I love what we are doing on Mars, but let's put a man up there, and return him safely to earth.

September 21, 2012: The Endeavour's final flight. A day to remember....
Enjoy some of the images I shot today....

Into the Burning Blue

Floating on the clouds

The Endeavour and her F-18 escorts

Coming over JPL

Sky Scrapers salute the Endeavour

High Flight

Awesome!

So close, you can almost touch her, the Endeavour soars!