Thoughts on St. Patrick's Day

Here is a little Ireland surf vid to celebrate


When I worked at Guinness for the first years we would get a limo and tour the Irish Pubs. It was fun for the first few bars. Then you would realize that after about bar stop number 8 it was no fun. You were stuck for the duration with people who were not pleasant after beer 11.


So one year I just blew the whole thing off. I realized that no one was going to call me that day. I started to tell the bar owners that I saw them on St. Paddy's day and all. No one missed me. Most places were crowded and you knew that you could say I was at Molly Malone's when they were at CB Hannigans....

I was at Four Mile all day. The weather was always nice on St. Patricks day and the waves seemed to cooperate. The next day when my colleagues were in hangover pain I would just smile and say 'ya that was a late one last night'.

This is a good shot of Four Mile north of Santa Cruz

Today I surfed this evening it was fun. There was a trace of warmer water with southerly swells and sun out. I was reminded of those long days up North on the most busy day of the year for Guinness it was really the eye of the storm. There was nothing to do except go to the bars. I chose the road less traveled and did not regret it once.

One year I won a sales contest and went to Ireland for the big day. We thought Ireland St. Pats! Wow it will be like New Orleans during Mardi Gras. We learned quickly that it was actually a somber religious holiday and most of the pubs were closed. It was til recently that we brought over our tradition of drunken revelry when they changed to more of a party.

Oh, what a bitter thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes................ W. Shakespeare

So Chris went to Fiji and filed a quick report:
From: Aaron Foster <8@yahoo.com>
Subject: Your immediate response is needed
To: "miller chris" <9@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 7:41 PM

1) Was it the best trip of your life? in top 3
2) Did you surf better than you thought? yes
3) Were the Austraila guys as funny as you thought? yes - and cool
4) What spots did you surf? Kava Bowls, Natadola, Sigatoka, SonaSalis, Wilkes and Namotu lefts
5) Girls? did you meet an Indian Fijian beauty that will be coming to live with you ? No Indo/Fijians but there were 85 travel agents from Queensland next door!!! do the math ;)
6) Are you buying a fish or short board now? My 7'-8" hybrid is working killer down there!

Please respond asap - more to come........



Here I am looking at happiness through Chris Miller's eyes. I had my best trip ever when I went and scored incredible waves. It looks like Chris did himself good.



He is on his way back tonight. Evidently his friend is a pilot and he has found slow economy pricing ($0) So have fun Chris.

Surfline just in 'top ten surfing colleges'

Surfline just ranked the top ten surf colleges: Link to the whole story is here

1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO


Photo: Jeremiah Klein

PROXIMITY AND ACCESS TO SURF: As long as you can handle a hike and don't have an incurable pointbreak fetish, you can ditch your car for a bike as long as you live on campus. UCSD is set back a few hundred yards from the cliffs overlooking Blacks Beach, widely regarded as one of the best sand-bottom A-frames in California.

SURF CLASS(ES): Mission Bay Aquatic Center (858-488-1000), a UCSD affiliate, will get you on board.

SURF TEAM: Coached by FCS Marketing head Tyler Callaway. Check this link: http://recadmin.ucsd.edu/sports/teams/surfing/.

SURFING PROFESSORS: Who says surfers are a bunch of dummies? UCSD has enough surfing MENSA candidates to clog up the lineup at Windansea, including: Ed Hutchins, Beacons local, Professor of Cognitive Science, MacArthur Fellowship recipient and president of the UCSD Surf Club in 1968; Jim Hollan, Professor of Cognitive Science; the late Paul Saltman, former Professor of Biology and college provost; David Sandwell, Professor of Geophysics; Greg Mitchel, Associate Research Biologist; Ralph Keeling, Associate Professor of Geochemistry; Sam Iacobellis, Assistant Research Meteorologist.

SURFING ALUMNI: There's at least one in every yearbook, but here's a short list: Ricky Grigg, big-wave pioneer and Professor of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii; Rusty Preisendorfer, founder of Rusty Surfboards and Clothing; Tom O'Keefe, founder of Red X Fin Systems; Isabelle Tihanyi, founder of Surf Divas surf school; Mark Massara, Sierra Club figurehead; Bolton Colburn, current chief curator of the Laguna Art Museum; the late Chris Bystrom, surf filmmaker; Rob Gilley and John Bilderback, premier surf photographers; Benicio Del Toro (OK, he doesn't surf, but the dude won an Oscar, for Pete's sake); Geoff Rashe, shaper of M-10 surfboards in Santa Cruz; Charles Golden, PhD graduate in Marine Geophysics and current golf club designer at Taylormade/Adidas; Scott Bass, online editor at Surfermag.com; Allen Johnson; Garth Engelhorn; Holly Beck (former NSSA national champ); Loryn Wilson; Zach Plopper; Edward Graham.

CURRENT RIPPERS: Marty Wienstien, Lauren Sweeney.

HOW HARD TO GET IN: Comparable to a 6-foot triple-up behind the boil at Big Rock: good luck. Average high school GPA: 3.98; Average SAT: 1256.

KNOWN CURRICULUM: Everything that is right-brained. Biochemistry, Biology, pre-med... if you're an aspiring numbers person, you'll fit into the equation.

ANIMAL HOUSE/PARTY FACTOR: Compared to its crazy sister, San Diego State, UCSD is all highwaters, pocket protectors and Coke-bottle glasses.

MALE/FEMALE RATIO: 49/51

COST (in-state/out-of-state): $8,062/$20,600.

EXTRA CREDIT: "It's kind of weird," says Allen Johnson, who transferred from Florida Institute of Technology and graduated from UCSD in 1990. "But the fact that Blacks is right there almost improves your work ethic. If you miss a good swell because of your studies, you always know that a good day of surf is right around the corner."

DEMERITS: Due to the workload, missing that "good day of surf" easily can turn into weeks, months... even semesters. Remember: when in doubt, paddle out. There's always summer school.

ADDRESS/CONTACT: 9500 Gilman Drive 0021, La Jolla, CA 92093-0021; Phone: 858-534-4831; www.ucsd.edu or e-mail at admissionsinfo@ucsd.edu

Other top surfing colleges in the San Diego area include Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego State, Mira Costa College, and Cal State San Marcos.

So the gaunlet is out there for my surf kids. Might as well go for the best. There will be as close to a pro surf career as they will get.

College is fun....you can surf, have fun and all while being able to show up at family functions with your status-'going to a top school'.

Of course when I went to SDSU it was rated number 3 by a national magazine (Playboy's top party schools). Now SDSU is a bit different. My friends son tried to get in and here are the stats; 58,000 applicants for 6800 slots. Average GPA 3.81. When I got in to SDSU I was down in San Diego for the late part of summer and did not want to go home. Wandered into the admissions office and there I was a student. Everyone else in my family went to UCLA. Me not a chance. The average GPA for UCLA is over a 4.1.

But I agree with Surfline UC San Diego is a good goal which will be carot/stick/threats/etc for my kids.

My computer got smashed so I am using my company computer

Here is what happened when I went to watch the latest Southpark

You have tried to access a web page which is in violation of your internet usage policy.

URL: www.southparkstudios.com
Category: Tasteless

Rule # 11 Work hard when the waves are bad / Note to Secretery Giethner

Rule #11 work hard when the waves are bad.

When I moved to Encinitas I was told you don't want to be Sick, Sued, Arrested or Audited when the waves are good. Your Doctor, Lawyer, cop friend and Accountant are out surfing. OK fair enough, but you know when the waves are crap these guys are the best. We know this and the system works well.

Now my note to Secretary Geithner:

The waves have not been good. Overall the winter swell session has been no excuse to blow off work. You need to step it up a bit. We have a nice big South Swell on the way but most of us are up on our work. Making the calls communicating with our customers. (We might as well overachieve now and be able to surf when the waves come).

Tim you are a surfer and should know the rules. which brings us to-

Rule#11-You have to work when the waves a bad. Not just work but work spectacularly well enough to be able to surf when the waves are good and your customers/bosses/minions will think you are on some big project. (Read your boss Obama is up and working, he will be able to rule Sandy Beach on his next vacation)


My guy Robert Reich is turning on you. He wants you to take action, let AIG start imploding ,take over the insolvent banks and spend your time protecting our assets and policies. Un and underemployment is on the rise, China is nervous, Mars needs women, pay your taxes. All this going on and we have a South Swell ready to hit any moment. Get your house in order or no one will give you a wave the next time you go to Martha's Vineyard with your board. Remember in surfing we run the ultimate democracy. A kook is still a kook whether you are the highest powered financial guy in the world or your my 11 year old son Logan. You get respect if you give it.
So Tim it's time to work spectacularly. We are pretty cool here about our shapers and glassers a bit late when the surf comes up, but we know that they will take care of business and get us our boards when the waves are flat. Talk with a clear voice on what is going on. Be calm, your smarter than us and we need you right now.
Do something....You have put Jon Stewart in charge of fiscal regulation...funny and uncomfortable but we need you.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 2

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

No waves for you until you get on the program.

The Drinking Will Continue Until the Economy Improves

With St. Patrick's day approaching I had some drinking thoughts.

First check out the award winning Guinness Ad


Kinda cool in an anglo saxon gladiator way.....

So my best College drinking buddy Todd just friended me with the Facebook thing. That is cool and makes me want to go to an 80's happy hour with my power suit and expense report (sans hang over)

Right after college I was the Guinness Rep and most popular college friend in the universe. Todd and I would live for Friday night happy hours throughout those days. See my college jobs post for the very important drinking information.

One summer day while going to SDSU with my minor in Pub Consumption, I got invited to a surf contest at Stone Steps. This was not your polictially correct contest.

It was packed with people hammered. The deal was you had to drink a quarter 'bucket of beer' before each heat and as you progressed the quarter seemed to get bigger. I think I made it through 5 heats. (I was preparing for a professional career).


This was my first foray to Leucadia before moving here in 1993 and my last until then. It was fun and funny. I want to say it was 81 when I was invited. And found myself a very poor quality surfer after some beers.

I found some pictures on line.

Cramer v. Stewart

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Basic Cable Personality Clash Skirmish '09

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

This has been funny. The experts have lost their Mojo!