5.4 EARTHQUAKE in OC

Today I experienced a 5.4 earthquake.
I was at work (in a business meeting).. and the whole building started to shake ... one guy jumped under the table ie. Duck & cover drill.

The consensus in the room was that it was the biggest any of them have experienced (and most lived in California most of their life) ... I was quite excited!!!!

REST OF 2008

So its going to be a busy "rest of 2008":

• Im flying to UK next week (first week in August)
• I'll be back there again first week in September
• My folks are coming down for 6 weeks in September
• Im flying to Beijing in late October
• Back to Australia for 2 ½ weeks in November
• Xmas/New Year break .... Undecided ... but it looks like I may be hosting Sully, Máté, Gasper, and anyone/everyone who wants to pop in and hang out in Newport Beach .. and then New Year’s in Vegas.

I just signed a lease for a 3 bedroom beach house (which is large enough to sleep 20 ... I’m not kidding).... so this is an open invitation to all my friends ... everywhere in the world.
YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO NEWPORT BEACH for Xmas!!! .. RSVP asap!! (cause if no one is coming .. I’ll probably pack up .. and disappear for 3-4 weeks somewhere in central America, Bahamas, or Cuba).

Pictures of the new place to follow (I move in 8th Sep 2008)

BEIJING ... HERE I COME

It seems that every year my Adelaide buddy, Máté, celebrates his birthday in different corners of the world.
Last year it was in Florence, Italy .... and I was supposed to go (had all the flights booked) ....but at last minute, I had to change plans due to the work placement on the LA project.

Well this year its Beijing (October 18 – 26th) , and I just booked my flights!!

There is going to be a large Adelaide contingent ... so it should be a great week .... nothing concrete planned yet .. but Máté did mention a trip to Shanghi ...and there is this wall .... about which I keep hearing al these great things.

Im going to have to organise a Visa ... which will be a pain ... but I think I will leave this till September .. after all the Olympics chaos... plus I will be back in OC for 6 weeks prior to the China trip ... and I still need my passport for next two UK trips.

BACK DOWNUNDER

I have just booked return trip to Australia for 2 weeks in November:

Im really looking forward to seeing my parents/friends (and their kids .... Charlie, Sophia, Louis, Connor/Hudson .... and any othere that popped out while I have been away).

By then it will be 10 months since I was last in Oz..... little longer than I expected ..and I was hoping to be back earlier .... but with work, and seeing the world, sometimes you just cant do everything.

Im also thinking of coming back for 2 weeks or so in March 2009 ... and maybe try to plan it to coincide with Easter