bubbajay.com

Big Bear

Wow, another month has come and gone…not to mention another year!  We spent around 2 weeks up in Big Bear between Christmas break, Christmas, and New Years.   We had family up to the house, hiked a ton, went snowshoeing several times, ate an enormous amount, watched movies and hung out with family.  We had a wonderful break.  I did a bit of work remotely, but for the most part it was R&R.

Two memories I won’t soon forget…  the first one was on Christmas Day.  My wife Nicole and I took our two boys out for a hike/snowshoe.   We went on a fairly tough hike called Cougar Crest, that climbs from around 6500′ up to around 8000′.  The boys got new snowshoes and hiking staffs for Christmas and were eager to use them.  They’d hiked up ahead a bit and as I followed my family up the trail I couldn’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be.  My kids weren’t home playing Xbox or arguing about who gets to use the computer.  Rather they were both out of breath, working hard and loving every minute of it.  There are a few pictures in my gallery above.

The second memory…  I know everyone rings in the New Year in their own fashion, but for us it was a new way, and one we won’t soon forget.  Our home in Big Bear is about 1 mile from the Pacific Crest Trail (a well known trail that runs from Mexico to Canada).  The 2 mile section that is closest crosses the back of the mountains and from the path you can view the desert off the backside.  It’s an incredible view (images below).  Well as it turns out, on New Year’s Eve there was a Blue Moon.  You’ve probably heard that expression “once in a Blue Moon”.  Well a Blue Moon is when there are 2 full moons in one month -and it’s not a common occurance – hence the saying.  In fact the next one won’t be for 19 years I believe. 

Well we hiked out early around 4:00 to get out to the best viewing location to watch that big beautiful moon rise up over the desert.  There were some low lying clouds which made the event even more colorful and awesome.  I took lots of pictures – a few of which are above in the gallery.  Then we waited an hour or two for the moon to get high enough to light our path home in the dark. 

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the ringing in of a New Year!  Happy New Year to everyone – wishing you a great one!

Well I know it’s almost a week since Thanksgiving, but I just got to the video we shot up at our house in Big Bear, California.  We went up Thanksgiving evening and stayed through Sunday evening. 

Friday was cool and nice out, went for a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and did some visiting with friends in town.  Then got my bike out for an early mountain bike ride early Saturday morning.  Much to our surprise we woke to around an inch of snow and it was starting to pick up.  It snowed all day off and on and again on Sunday for a total of around 8″.

This video shows Dylan sporting his new Innes clothing that Matt/Adam so graciously hooked him up with.

So I didn’t get to go mtn. biking, but we had a great time in the snow and can’t wait to get back up to the house for Christmas!

Was up in Big Bear today, checking on the progress of my garage that’s under construction, and just loving it in general.  Got up early to go for a trail run and it was a balmy 25 degrees out.  But the rising sun was warm on my face and it felt fantastic to hit the Pacific Crest Trail for several miles. 

I posted a picture of the beginnings of snowmaking a few weeks ago, and then the first snowfall of 1/8th of an inch early this last week.  So here’s an updated view of the ski slopes as the base slowly starts to build.  With any luck they’ll be able to open for Thanksgiving.  I know I’ll be up the mountain then!  Happy Thanksgiving – here I come!

It finally happened last night.  About 3am the light drizzle turned to a dusting of snow in Big Bear, Ca.  Total accumulation at my house out in Baldwin Lake was around 1/2 inch.  Not much, but definately a sign that winter is upon us! 

Now if they could finish my dang garage at the house in Big Bear!  Can’t wait to head back up the hill for the weekend and do some mtn. biking.  The snow will likely be melted, but there’s always more to come.

Well, for me it’s a garage!  I’ve been having a garage built…well planning it anyway, and finally it’s happening.  They poured the foundation and slab yesterday, pouring the driveway tomorrow and putting up walls the next day.  Then a day for inspections and then putting on the siding and roof.  Then I can seriously get some toys going up on the mountain!

What else is new…well it’s colder than…well, it’s freaking cold!  I got up this morning to go mtn. biking and at 7am it was 25 degrees out, and crystal clear.     Had a fantastic ride, absolutely gorgeous!  I rode the PCT down to an overlook where you can see the whole Desert down below.  It was crisp, sunny, warm on my face…man I can’t wait to have this in my backyard EVERYDAY! 

So what else happens when it’s cold?  Well in Big Bear they make SNOW!  Yup, they’re blowing snow on Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and the snowplay areas.  Of course it’s still getting in the high 60’s in the daytime, but they’re still building a base, getting ready for that first dusting of natural stuff.

That’s it for now – I had DirectTV turned on, have the garage going in…have been going up almost weekly now while they’re constructing the garage.  It’s such a tease….summer 2010 baby!  Big Bear here I come….

Too long since I’ve posted on my blog that is! Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 4 or 5 months. I used to be so good at weekly updates. Where has the time gone? It’s almost Halloween for goodness sake!

I know where the time went – into my busy life. I help coach my youngest son’s travel baseball team which practices 3 times per week, and my older son’s team too – which practices once a week and has a game once a week. Throw in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and poof the days just fly by. And that’s without the all consuming work…and my own adventure race training and exercise regime.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way. And let’s be honest – by exercise regime, I mean mountain biking mostly, which I absolutely love to do, so it’s not that rough.

Working at the pub 40-50 hours a week, and doing freelance web design work another 10-20 hours a week. But all that has brought me a step closer to ‘the dream’. The dream for me, if you’re not familiar with ‘it’ – is living in Big Bear, California.

This past June we bought our home in Big Bear after working on that goal for almost 5 years. Now we’re breaking ground on building our garage next to the house, and furnishing it. The home is just outside of Big Bear, in an area called Baldwin Lake. It’s less than 1/2 mile to the Pacific Crest Trail and less than that to National Forest where I can hike, climb and mountain bike to my hearts content. Not to mention Kayaking and playing on the lake with Jet Skiis. “All in good time” my wife constantly reminds me when I become impatient. A wise woman for sure.

Here’s a picture of the view from my front porch:

What else – my daughter is a Junior in High School – doing great. My oldest son Cole is in his first semester at Mira Costa College taking Web Design, Photoshop, Sound Engineering and The History of Rock ‘n Roll. He loves it and is doing super. He was accepting to the Art Institute in San Diego next year for their Production program (sound, web, video – all things electronic and cool).

Nic is doing super, working and working out. She’s the glue of course, keeping it all going, on track and on time. Love her so much!

If you’re looking for more me (can’t imagine), I’m on facebook at:  Facebook  and there’s lots of pictures of what we’ve been up to!

Ok, about 20 years ago, I was an aspiring bike racer – training with the US National Team in Carlsbad, California – racing Category 1/2 on the Road and Track all over So. Cal while managing a bicycle shop in Escondido, California called North County Bicycles (now long gone…). 

It was an amazing experience – riding 500 miles a week.  Lifting weights every other day, massage daily, riding like a mad-man and loving every minute of it.  Unfortunately I had a nasty crash, blew out a knee along the way and although I continued to race, lost that caliber of racing forever.

While I was working at the shop, and racing I was introduced to this stuff called Kool ‘N Fit.  I always thought of it as this massage stuff that smelled like Eucalyptus, but it made me feel incredible.  I used it regularly but eventually I left the shop and couldn’t find it at my LBS, and moved on.

Recently I had found out the manufacturer is actually in San Diego, and I met the owner’s of the company.  What a fantastic couple!  They seem to have a true passion for their products as well as still going to races – whether a marathon or a criterium nearly every weekend. 

Turns out they wanted to have a few web-design things done, and I had the wonderful opportunity to do the work for them.  Of course I got some Kool’nFit and man – it was like old times!  You can literally feel the muscles warming up, feeling flush and loose…and my knee that’s been reconstructed twice feels better than ever. 

As I searched the internet I read many times that people had a hard time finding Kool’nFit, but you can get it online from Kool ‘N Fit themselves  HERE .  They also have a whole site full of testimonials you can check out at http://www.KoolnFitBlog.com. 

Do yourself a favor and go check it out!

Pretty much anyway.  In Southern California, it’s a gray area…literally and figuratively.  We have this thing we call May Gray and then June Gloom…meaning the fog and overcast mornings we get from being close to the coast.  Of course it’s not even May yet, still a few weeks away, but it’s that wierd weather time here.  It could be 80 one day and 60 the next.

Just an update of sorts for me…I’ve been working as the GM at a pub in Carlsbad called Hensley’s Flying Elephant Pub & Grill.  It’s owned by the accordian player in the Irish rock band Flogging Molly.  If you’re unfamiliar with the band, they just had a record go gold and you can watch this video below.

Anyway, I’m still doing some freelance web design work and eBay stuff.  I’ve been getting back into Online Marketing since my hours of work have stabilized a bit. 

I’ve been mtn. biking about 4 days a week for 1.5 to 2 hours at a pop.  I got a new bike last week – full suspension Supercaliber from Gary Fisher.  I sold my old mtn. bike on Craigslist (6 hours from when I listed it!), and bought another off Craigslist.  Love that place (Craigslist).  I’ve found bikes there, sold stuff, found work, found people to do work…I actually got the job at the pub from Craigslist and my last web-design job from Craigs…phenomenal!

Anyway, that’s the scoop with me.  I’ve been on Facebook for a bit if you wanna’ check it out here:  http://www.facebook.com/people/Jay-Woolwine/826479799

It’s kind of a strange week – that time that follows Christmas, but before New Year’s Eve.  The kids are out of school – lots of people are off work travelling, but I’m back at work.  I was fortunate enough to get a week off before Christmas, but had to get back to it on the 26th.  

The pub is not too busy however with all the holiday festivities still kind of running long.  But that’s ok, it gives me a chance to catch up on paperwork and such.  

The Christmas break gave me a chance to re-focus on my fitness and kind of get inspired again.  I’ve been running or biking practically everyday since we left for Big Bear.  Of course I’d rather be there, but the dream still lives…

I was greatly blessed on Christmas with some wonderful gifts, but mostly to be surrouned by my loving family and great friends and to be employed at this turbulent time is a blessing in and of itself.  

I hope the holidays were good to you, and that the new year brings blessings to you, your family and friends!

It’s just kind of hit me all at once…that things are changing quickly in my life.

Not that long ago I went from being self-employed to being an employee. My oldest son just turned 18 and my daughter 16 – sheer craziness. My 12-year old son just earned his First Class rank in Boy Scouts – a great accomplishment. And my ‘little’ guy just isn’t litte anymore at almost 9!

Whereas a year ago we were hoping to move to Big Bear, today we’re lucky to have a home in the tumultuous times. I was at a job interview this morning and I realized how lucky I was for what I have. A fantastic family life, wonderful wife and kids, employment – even if it’s not the dream, it keeps food on the table and a roof over our heads.

So… as the holiday season is upon us and within weeks a new year begins – I have so much to be thankful for, and so much I want to still accomplish. It’ll take hard work, but I’ve never been afraid to work hard. Have a blessed holiday and start your year right!