Life with Monkeys

In honor of Steve Adler

Friends of Steve Adler surrounded his 13-year-old son, placing their hands on the big, green Stand Up Paddleboard, Steve's prize possession, where Clark sat.

Clark Adler, 13, releases flowers during a paddle-out memorial for his dad Steve Adler who died after suffering from an aneurysm at age 40. He sits on his father's board.

Clark said the biggest lesson his father taught him over the years was "how to be a good person."

Clark Adler, 13, kisses his dad's ashes before releasing them to sea during a paddle out

Many of the hundreds who gathered on the sand at Surfside beach on Sunday would have said Steve Adler was a great example of a good person, a mellow surfer with easygoing ways who always had a smile on his face.

The surfing and SUP community said goodbye to one of their own during a traditional paddle-out ceremony, with more than 350 people who sat or stood on boards offshore, held hands and splashed as memories were shared.

Steve Adler suffered an aneurysm in a vessel near his heart on March 11. He was 40.

(Steve was our friend and neighbor and a most tender-hearted and devoted father. We will miss him always.)

read the rest here

In loving memory of Steve Adler

Steve Adler was my neighbor. More importantly, he was my son's dear friend and a loving and dedicated father to a remarkable and lovely young man. Steve died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 41. Our little community and the larger surf community that was Steve's world has suffered a great loss. Our loss and grief is dwarfed by the loss his son and family will bear. I pray Steve's memory will be a blessing to all who were lucky enough to know him. And I pray his beloved son, Clark, will always remember how much his father loved him and how much we all loved his father.

RIP: Steve Adler

The untimely passing of one of Orange County's finest surfboard craftsman.

March 12, 2010, 12:33 PM

By: Jake Howard

Sadly this morning the Seal Beach and Surfside surfing communities are coming to learn that one of their own, surfer/shaper/paddler/all-around good-human Steve Adler has passed. While details of his untimely departure are still forthcoming, the impact that the 41-year-old Surfside local had on people in his brief time with us is evident.

From the shaping bay to the lineup to the start line, Adler will be missed

Adler, a career surfboard builder, shared a shaping factory in Westminster, Calif., with fellow craftsman Tim Stamps. Reportedly the two were at the shop together yesterday afternoon, Stamps up front and Adler in the back finishing up a board -- sanding a leash plug -- when Adler collapsed. Paramedics were called but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Early word is he died of a heartattack, but that has yet to be confirmed.

Stamps summed up his feelings about Adler in a brief Facebook post this morning:

"One of the best guys I know."

Adler was currently ranked second in the Southern California standup paddle rankings' stock class, was a partner in TheSUPSpot.com, and was in the process of helping Jodie Nelson prepare for her arduous 39-mile battle to raise breast cancer awareness.

"He raced to the finish well," commented fellow SUP competitor Lance Erickson. "I couldn't catch him last Sunday in Cabrillo. That green board was out of reach, sorry for your loss... we as a family of paddlers will miss him."

Alder leaves behind a 13-year-old son and very heartbroken surfing community. Details about memorial services to come.

The Ugly American (shoe)

I was at Costco today. I usually don't like shopping there as I find it too tempting, what with the GIANT bags of chocolate chips, the HUGE jars of olives, the enormous bags of leafy green lettuces (which always begin to wilt before I finish them), the veritable vats of hummus, mmmm, hummus. But I digress. As I made my way through the store for my two items, okay three if you count the eight pound bag of Bosc pears, I avoided looking at all of the temptations. I looked at my fellow shoppers. Almost without exception, all were wearing bad shoes. And I mean, bad. Even the handsomely dressed folks there, presumably on their lunch hours, were wearing bad shoes. It made me wonder when we, as a culture, lowered our standards so. Living here in SoCal, I have become accustomed to, though not happy about it, California Casual. Oh, how I hate it but it's not like all casual shoes are ugly, right? I, myself, was sporting a very cute pair of Pumas, made in China, of course. And all of this made me think of how ridiculously lucky I am. Lucky to have no bigger problem consuming my thoughts, that I could obsess for a few moments on the issue of ugly shoes.

Back Among The Living

Nothing feeds my soul like touching food. It's true. I think touching food is a primal and very satisfying activity. On Sunday's we have a Farmer's Market nearby. I usually go by myself or a girlfriend but as my mister had never been to said market, I brought him along. Lucky thing; he was good enough to pay, carry the food, and snap the shots. How lucky am I? I got completely carried away with the tomatoes and ended up with so many that I had to find a recipe and make soup out of them! I should have taken photos; the soup turned out to be absolutely delicious but really, can something made with a base of sauteed onions (yes, I use them in everything!) and butter, ever be bad?

Earthquakes; Not-So-Gentle Reminders

Nature's reminder that in all of life's really big things, we have no control at all. I was alone at home when the shaking began. I was just feet away from the shelves on the left side of this photo when one of my mister's treasures became airborne, flying off of a shelf and shattering all over the floor. I quickly began taking all of the other treasures off of the shelves just in case the earthquake came back! I called my mister, just as he was calling me. He asked how I was and I announced, "One of your treasures fell and broke and I'm frightened." He asked if I wanted him to come home and although I felt a little silly, I said yes anyway. From the looks of me, you may not guess that I am actually pretty tough but for some reason, the flying and shattering treasure and shifting books in the family room and swinging hangers in the closets and swaying light fixtures in the kitchen unnerved me.  And so, now all is back to normal and I was feeling pretty good until I saw the earthquake expert on TV report that what we can expect within the next two decades is so much worse, that none of our emergency services are equipped to deal with it. And just when I when I was beginning to relax; quick, someone get me my nerve pills...

I Heart Firemen

On the fourth of July after a small plane crashed into the water in front of our house, among the rescue workers who were summoned, were these fine firefighters. Now, like most of us, I greatly admire firefighters for their selflessness and courage in rescuing people from burning buildings and putting out fires but know what I love most about them? They are fun.  For instance, when they noticed I was taking a photo of them in their truck, they paused and switched on ALL of their flashing lights for me and waited patiently, with big smiles on their faces, while I got the shot.  Fun-loving AND heroic? My cup runneth over!

Summer Glow

These Southern California summer sunsets just kill me.   I usually find any excuse to stay indoors, but on warm afternoons with the sunset looking like an explosion of orange, I can't resist heading outside. As we walked in front of the house, I handed my mister my camera and asked him to shoot me with the sunset. "Okay,"  he said, "but you're going to be too dark." Perfect!  There are days when low light can be a girl's best friend!  

Look Out!

Now here's something you don't see every day. As we arrived home from my fabulous friend, Esther's Independence Day Extravaganza, we noticed a fire truck and network news van and man here interviewing residents, children even, and wondered what was going on around here.  As soon as we got into the house and looked out at the beach, we saw the cutest little airplane parked on my beach! I felt it my duty to go out and take pictures and gawk with the neighbors. My lovely friend, Kristy, was out and filled me in on the details. As she was watching her beloved and their sons swim in the ocean, she noticed this little plane quietly make it's way towards them! Talk about panic! Somehow the pilot had lost power and managed to land in the water missing swimmers, altogether. Fortunately, the pilot seemed to be okay save for having smashed his mouth and lost some teeth. This Fourth of July, I thanked God for my freedom, my country, my beloved friends and family and for protecting my neighbors and house from airplanes falling out of the sky.

Long Beach Museum of Art

There is no limit to the reasons one would want to live in Southern California.  This is a photo I took as I sat in the cafe adjacent to the Long Beach Museum of Art.  I was there with my home girl, Esther, aka La Reina. That means The Queen, in Espanol. I call her that not only because her name is Esther and one of my favorite biblical characters is in fact, Queen Esther, but more importantly because she is fancy!  In fact, I do believe she is fancier than most real queens. Except maybe the ones who are queens by choice rather than by birthright. The weather was lovely but ridiculously windy which accounts for how clear the skies were. We were on a mission that day; wig shopping! I needed to get one as I have been invited to a party where wigs are de rigueur.  I tried on more than half a dozen wigs and it was so much fun that I wish I was bold enough to wear a wig every day!  Here is a photo of me wearing my new wig.  I guess when I wear it to the party I will find out if blonds really do have more fun!
To fortify ourselves for said wig shopping, we had lunch at the museum.  I ordered the eggs scrambled with spinach and tomatoes, sprinkled with feta cheese on top and if there is something more delicious out there to have for brunch on a sunny Saturday morning, I can't think of what it is.

Like A Kid In A Candy Store

Today I had the pleasure of shopping with the fanciest friend I have. As she is fancy, we go to stores I would normally not go to. Probably. Maybe. In any event, we found our way in to a shoe store that is off the charts for lovely shoes that one can't help but feel fabulous wearing, Stuart Weitzman. I don't know who he is or who raised him but he must love women, or at least their feet! Not only are his shoes great looking but even his high heels are super comfortable.  I was immediately drawn to sandals that were my favorite color; sparkly!
The shoes were genius; Weitzman took those hideous plastic shoes little girls wear, redesigned them and decorated them WITH CRYSTALS! That's right, crystals. I took this photo although the crystals don't really read as sparkly as they were in the store under those jewelry store lights. The ones I am wearing in the photo were high heels, very comfy and you wouldn't believe how adorable I was in them. Still and all, I couldn't figure out what I had in my closet that I could really wear high heeled plastic shoes with crystals all over them.
There was another more casual though
equally as dramatic pair I tried on. It was actually much prettier than the heels. And so, since they can be worn with casual clothes I can wear them virtually every day! Not to mention, in spite of their unbelievable sparkle factor and fanciness, I can't be accused of being pretentious. After all, they're only flip-flops!

Seems Like Old Times, Only Better

There is absolutely nothing more joyful than a house full of friends, nothing. The surf today was better than it has been in months and as a result we ended up with roughly one dozen fabulous young men here; surfing, boogie-boarding, napping on the beach (really!) and of course, eating. Adrian took it upon himself to feed everyone his specialty; two fried eggs atop a toasty tortilla smeared with cream cheese. I guess after strenuous physical activity, that hits the spot rather well. Seen here is just the beginning of the day's extravaganza. It was an impromptu gathering as no one had any idea the day would be so gorgeous and the swell would come in so spectacularly. I would have loved to post a photo of all of the young men draped across my living room and dining room furniture, studying the sets of waves and chatting animatedly but I restrained myself from pointing a camera at them as I didn't want to inhibit these boys any more than absolutely necessary! As it is, I have the well earned distinction of being the most strict parent ever and as such, the boys are always unfailingly polite when I am around. Poor guys, such pressure to be gentlemen! Imagine that, in this day and age in casual California!

Bats in California

The other day finds me in Target and as I am walking through the place I notice a box that reads FLYING BAT!  Well, those of you who read my little blog in November may remember I had a bit of a run-in with a REAL FLYING BAT in my very own home, and hair!  In some weird way seeing this plastic National Geographic Bat Kit made me a little sad and homesick for the jungle.  It also made me appreciate that my family and I had been up close and personal with the real thing.  That night in the jungle was a Keystone Cops moment if ever there was one. The Flying Bat Kit was on clearance, apparently a leftover from the Christmas Season.  For a moment, I actually considered buying it!  But then I realized, I had no use or reason for it and it would only serve as a reminder of how  synthetic life here is. Wistfully, I shot my little photos and resumed my normal activity.  I am happy to be in So Cal but I must admit, I often miss the unpredictability of life in the jungle.

The Perfect Perch

This, my friends, is a picture of heaven.  Okay, not really but it's pretty close.  In my bedroom there sits a chair next to a window, in the full afternoon sunshine and as I sit there and knit, I have the sense that nothing bad could ever happen.  I sit and I knit and I count my blessings because I know that every day that nothing terrible happens to me or someone I love, is a day to celebrate.  Now that may sound kind of negative but it's really not.  I have never felt that when terrible things happen to me (and they have) I don't deserve it.  Like, why me?  Well, why not me?  I don't take anything for granted.  Why tempt fate?