how large is this gift show???!!!???

I’ll keep this short…I promise.

Did the Gift Show with the wife at the Javitz Center today helping her shop for her store, YOLK. Told her I would spend a day with her at the show, and I kept my promise….but man, was it painful!!!!

So many badly designed, cheesy, awful, ugly pieces out there! I spent the day staring wide eyed at stuff that people actually sell and by the end of the day was basically a walking zombie, just following her around from booth to booth. Luckily, there were some nice thing in that Sea of bad taste. We found our friend Tracy Tanner who just creates these really great leather pieces, for both guys and chicks. Looking at getting myself the passport wallet (I sneaked an extra one into Maria’s order) AND she’s planning on making guitar straps in the future, so I’ve got a pending order for a few of those as well!

Also, Design House Stockholm was there as well, and they have a bunch of new stuff coming out, I’ll be putting up photos tomorrow, but you can always follow the link and see what they have, THEN, you can come to YOLK’s website, or into the store, and get it from us!

My brain isn’t working too well, I know she ordered a bunch more stuff, she’ll tell you on her blog when it’s up.

Last thing and then goodnight. We went to Aquavit for the Crayfish Celebration, we weren’t able to make it to Sweden this year and I thought this might help Maria’s homesickness a bit. When they found out she wasn’t going to see her family in Sweden this year, they went completely above and beyond and made the evening perfect. We got two appetizers, a crayfish bisque, and maria got a crayfish salad, both on the house and they were delicious! We then got a pound of crayfish and proceeded in destroying the little buggers and, consequently, spraying ourselves with crayfish juice throughout the meal. For dessert, Maria had the Rhubarb crumble with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, I had a dessert not found on the menu, called the Arctic Circle, a small tower of sweetened goat cheese parfait, with a blackberry sorbet on top, and stuffed with passion fruit cream….amazing! If you ever make it to NYC and find yourself near Aquavit, I suggest you make a reservation and get a taste of authentic and delicious Swedish food! Make sure you order the Arctic Circle for dessert, you won’t regret it!

Wandering through Gotham

No, NYC hasn’t gone underwater…yet. Give global warming a couple of years to melt down the rest of the icecaps and then I’ll be diving through the Penn Station Coral Reefs, and doing the “MTA Metro Swim Throughs”!
In NYC on a vacation/business trip, my vacation, business for my wife. You’re saying “Wait, you just got back from Fiji, that was a vacation!” No, sorry, even though it looked like a vacation, and sounded like a vacation, that was actually work for me, hard.difficult.work….God, I love my job!
We’re staying at the Marrakech Hotel a really nice, and cheap (at least for a nice hotel in NYC) boutique hotel. It’s basically a room with a bathroom, a small wardrobe and a flat screen tv (which you’ll hear about in more detail below) It’s Moroccan inspired, the staff is helpful, and the best part is, since we’re on the bottom floor and near the front office, the WiFi works in our room!
Anyways, got in last night, just as the last of a storm was leaving the city, we did get caught in the rain as we walked to our friend’s, Sophia, apartment, but no worries, we caught a cab..you know, you can’t hurt iron, but Mrs. Reynoso isn’t made of iron, more like some exotic, Swedish precious metal that doesn’t like getting wet. So into an infamous NYC cab that charged us $12 for going 15 blocks!(Just wait until they’re underwater!)
Today was easy, took the train down to Houston (pronounced “How-sten” though it should be pronounced “Hue-sten”, though thats an argument for another time.) and we walked through some of our old neighborhood haunts in SOHO and the Village. Maria immediately went into shopping mode and, not only reached her budget, but shattered through it like a jet shattering through the sound barrier! I got myself a shirt and a new hat, tired of wearing baseball caps, Fedora’s make one look like an “Indiana Jones” Fan boy and don’t really go with jeans and t-shirts, and those Kangol caps make my thin, long face look like a mushroom. I found a “newsboy” cap that fits my face and makes me look pretty “jaunty”…yes, damn it, I just said jaunty! Anyways, 10 seconds later I found a stand that was selling shemags and got myself an olive one, just like the ones I had while in the Gulf back in 1991 (before you give me any crap, I served in our U.S. Navy and went through the First Gulf War, so I can wear whatever I damn well please! Plus, we live in AMERICA, where one has the FREEDOM to wear whatever they want, so boycott this!um…how do you flip the bird online?) Think I like the look and will probably get a few more – I tend to collect looks I like, hence my 26 Target ringed t-shirts in different colors. Makes dressing so easy!
We had a nice Indian dinner at the Calcutta Cafe which we both agree had to be some of the best Indian food we’ve had in awhile. Order their Garlic naan and their Tandoori Chicken, you won’t regret it!
We got back to the room and tried to watch the Olympics, I say tried, because it seemed that our television was being controlled by another guest’s remote and he was attempting to buy “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skulls”, so every couple of seconds, usually right in the middle of an exciting race, the tv would be filled with Indiana’s face. We saw it in the theater, and as much as I liked it, we didn’t really want to see it again. After a few trips to the front desk, and an offer of $20 from my own pocket if he would just watch the Olympics (I almost gave away the ending of the movie, but I’m not that big of an ass) we finally got to watch the Olympics.
Yep, a pretty uneventful day, we’re just PARTY animals, aren’t we? The rest of the week will be better I promise, tomorrow we’re going to Aquavit a Swedish Restaurant that’s holding a Crayfish Festival this weekand my wife being Swedish…really Swedish, like she was BORN there, not that “Oh, my great,great,great grandfather was 18th Swedish, which is why I have this Viking tattoo” Swedish, we have to go and participate. For $25 we’ll each get a pound of crayfish with garlic bread, boiled potatoes and Jarlsberg Cheese…hmmm, an entry on upset stomaches? Monday we’re going to go see Les Paul play at the Iridium, and I’ve bought the tickets!!!! If you’re not a guitar music fan, you probably don’t know who I’m talking about, I’ll try and shoot some vid when I’m there. We’ll also be going to see Chicago…the musical, not the city… and, even though we lived in NYC 9 years ago, we’ve decide to do the tourist thing and take one of those double decker bus tours! I love being a tourist!!!

Fiji Adventure Part I (pretend your reading a novel and this is chapter one, ok?)

Fiji 2008

“I’m not him, really, my name is Reuben.”

“Right, REUBEN… so what’s it like being a movie star?”….

Ok, I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s start at the beginning of the trip. I had Maria drop me off at the airport at 6pm, she thought I was crazy, since my flight wasn’t until 11pm and a 5 hour check in made no sense to her, but she humored me, and with a hug, a kiss, and an “I’ll see you soon!” She was off, leaving me to sit on the floor with my bags, waiting for the Air Pacific window to open, which I had just been told that would happen about 8:30…..great.

Luckily it opened at 6:30 and I was checked in and ready to go. I watched my dive gear and my camera housing go through the x-ray, with guys who reminded me of the jokers that hung out behind the school gym in high school and were constantly stoned…did I mention it was a very expensive housing? The bags disappeared behind the door and I swear I could hear metal crunching and glass breaking, but I walked off in search of of my gate.

We landed around 5am and as I stepped out of the plane, I was met by a blast of hot, humid air…it was only 5am! But, I was in Fiji and I took it in stride. Again, security was a breeze “What’s in your bag?” “Um…dive gear?” “Ok, enjoy your dives! Vinaka!” and I was through. I found my driver, waited for the other guests, and we were off, another two hours to the hotel, on what I’ve heard is a very frightening highway, The Queen’s Highway, a tropical island version of Mexico’s deadly roads apparently, one of the things the British Crown left behind. Hey, if you can’t beat them, at least make sure they have a lot of traffic accidents! I can’t verify that, because as we drove out of the airport and through the outskirts of Nadi the Tylenol PM’s kicked in and I fell asleep.

I woke up as we pulled into the resort, head thrown back, drool running down my chin, and I’m sure I had been snoring…great! The check in was quick and painless, got shown to my Bure, which was a freestanding room, sparse, but beautiful. A bed, two chairs, a little table, and an incredible view! I unpacked, stretched out a bit, looked around and then realized there was no TV! Damn, I love watching TV when I travel. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I’m in a foreign country, I’m in Fiji, I should relax, I should experience the culture, the views…yadayadayada…. but I like to watch the news, I need to know what’s going on in the world, plus it was the week the champ was to be picked for “So you think you can dance?” and I was going to miss it. I mean…um… my wife likes it, and I watch it just so that we can talk about it and strengthen our marriage… plus have you seen the girls on the show?!? Amazing..um…dancers!

After a few minutes I decided that since I wasn’t diving, and it was 10am, I was heading down to the pool. Threw on my trunks, grabbed my book and my iPod (I’m kind of anti-social sometimes) and walked down to he pool, where I joined a group of Australians sitting around the pool and were are already in the middle of drinking. Did I mention it was only 10am? Of course, I was envious that they could drink and not make asses of themselves…or at least not care if they did, but I threw on my headphones, popped open the book and tried to read, except I noticed the group kept looking over at me…a lot. “What, why do they keep looking over? Did I forget my trunks?” I looked down, nope they were on and nothing was sticking out. “Have I got bird shit on my head?”, I casually wiped my head and then inconspicuously sniffed my hand. Nope. I got back to trying to read my book, but they were still stealing furtive looks and whispering. I put the book down, took off the earphones and plunged into the pool for a swim. I came up in the deep end and caught them all staring. I swam across the surface and saw them following my movements and whispering some more. Ok, I was a bit creeped out and out of there. I went back to my room, showered, and tried to read, but crashed again. I didn’t wake up until 6pm, dinner time, and I was starving!

I went to the restaurant, grabbed a seat, turned down the offer for wine and order a soda water, getting the stare “This guy doesn’t drink? What’s wrong with him?” and took a look at the menu. So I was in Fiji and excited about eating some Fijian food, so I looked at the menu “..um… burger, ok not very Fijian, though it must be there for people that aren’t too adventurous…what’s next…steak…Caesar Salad…Spaghetti…Samosa, ok Indian…” I ordered the steak. It was actually a really good steak, I mean a REALLY good steak, and it only cost $12 Fijian which was about $8.40 American. I finished the steak, took my book (yep, I read at dinner when I’m alone, I hate sitting there and staring at couples and groups, trying not to look like some lonely peeping tom) and went over to the bar, where I ordered another soda water (yep, same look) and settled down into a big rattan chair.

I saw the Australians partying over on the deck, and as they looked over I gave a smile and a little wave, figured I might as well be friendly. More furtive stares, more whispering and small waves back. 5 minutes later, one of them, a BIG one of them cruised by, as if heading to the bathroom, he was trying not to look at me, but as he passed, he stopped, turned awkwardly and then, pointing to the book asked, “Good book? I mean, you were reading it earlier,…they call me Big Stu… and you’re still reading it now, so I figure it’s a good book, right?” I smiled and nodded, “Yeah, it’s pretty good, it’s about diving…” He sat down, “Oh, diving?!? You’re also a diver, hey?” Also? “So you’re really into EXTREME sports (the emphasize was his) are you?!?” “Yeah, kind of…I guess.” He then leaned forward and looked at me as if we were sharing a secret, “Can I ask you something?” I cautiously nodded, ready to bolt if Big Stu asked me to join him in the bathroom, “Sure, ask away” Big Stu looked around a bit and then, “When you came down to the pool my mates and I saw you there and I turned to one of the girls, the blonde one, the busty one, and went “Hey, do you reckon he looks like…” But she stopped me and went “I’m already on top of that, I think he is!”, and so, sorry if we were staring, we were arguing about it…but, well… um…are you Vin Diesel?”

Big Stu was staring at me with a big smile on his face,sure he had just met Vin “XXX” Diesel. “Haha, no, sorry, I’m not him!” I could tell he didn’t believe me. “My name is Reuben, please to meet you Big Stu.” He shook my hand, still with that “I’m meeting a celebrity!!” look on his face, “Right, right…REUBEN. Pleased to meet you REUBEN.” he gave me a little wink as he shook my hand. “So you’re out here diving, huh? For a movie?” I smiled again, “No seriously, my name is Reuben”, he nodded quickly and continued to smile as I continued to clear things up, “I’m here to shoot some video, hopefully in order to sell something to the Travel Channel, but also…”
“Whoa, you shoot documentaries too?!? Besides acting? Wow!” He looked over at his friends, who seemed to be trying to figure out what “Vin Diesel” might be saying to their mate, Big Stu. I leaned forward, “Seriously, I’m not him, my name is Reuben, I’m just a diver.” Stu stood up, still smiling, “Right, sorry forgot, Reuben, sorry just thought you were him, it’s been good talking to you, Reuben. Gotta head back to my friends, they’re probably dying to hear what we talked about.” He reached out to shake my hand. I shook it, I actually liked Big Stu, he’s a good guy, just a typical, good natured, loves to party, Aussie…just wished he would believe me…maybe when he sobers up in the morning, I thought. He started walking away, and then spun around and walked back “One more question, Reuben?” I looked up at him and smiled. He leaned in, “My friend wants to know if you’re single?” He hooked his thumb over to the blonde. I held up my left hand to flash my wedding band, “Tell her sorry, happily married for a year on the 25th of this month!” He then stood up, looked over at her and shook his head. Then he turned back, patted me on the shoulder and said “Wow, must be hard…”, he truly looked concerned and I was going to tell him that, it actually wasn’t so bad, I liked being married, I had a great wife and even though things could be hard at times, we were able to make it through the rough bits, no worries, “…I mean, I’m sure it’s tough being married and being a big Hollywood star.” He walked away shaking his head, and as he joined his friends they surrounded him, probably asking if I was just like I was in “XXX”. I finished my soda water, grabbed my book, and sauntered out of the bar, making sure I paused at the door, looked back and gave my best Vin Diesel wave back to Big Stu and his friends. Hey, might as well work it, right?

Next: First day of diving:No current no fun! or, “…OH…MY…GOD…I’M GOING TO DIE DOWN HERE!!!! I’VE NEVER BEEN IN A CURRENT THIS STRONG!!!! Oh, look a Clown Fish.”

Bula, USA!!!!

Wananavu Resort..where I stayed

Ahhhh, whatever…. always disliked tourists who would go away for a week and come back with a chipper British accent, or would pepper their conversations with words from wherever they had visited; “So, I was like riding in the back of this camion and… oh, what? Camion? Oh sorry, I meant truck, I just lapsed into my Español, since I spent a whole week there. Yeah, I totally went native, man. They even gave me a Spanish name! Yeah, “Pinche Pendejo” think it means like American Brother or something… yeah, totally native…” So, with that being said, the Bula in the title will be the ONLY Fijian you’ll see, or hear coming from me, alright?

Going to keep this one short, just got back into L.A. about 3 hours ago and I’m beat, a long flight, lost a day…or gained a day…or went back a few decades…something. Anyways, I’m crashing. I’ll look over my notes this week and will post the trip in a few parts, so you won’t have to sit through one loooooooooonnnngggg reading, even though you’ll probably want to. I mean, hey, who doesn’t want to sit in front of their computer monitor for minutes on end reading about my stuff!?!

Anyways, come back for the updates later this week. Vinaka, guys. What? Oh, sorry, “Vinaka” means “thank you” in Fijian, sorry, kinda went native during the week I was there. Yeah, they even gave me a Fijian name, something like “pinche…..

Leaving on a jet plane

I leave to Fiji tonight, scheduled to arrive on Monday… it’s the whole “International Time Line” thing i.e. you leave here on a Monday, cross the line and you get to your destination on Wednesday of last week… or something like that!

I’m packed and ready to go…finally. Had a repacking session last night due to many travelers warning me about Air Pacific’s stringent weight rules. Apparently you’re only allowed an 11lb carry-on, which is basically my camera, a book, my tickets and the bag. So I went through everything and culled, culled, culled. I won’t be diving with my Oceanic mask, don’t really want to pack it in my checked luggage and risk having it “get lost”, kind of bummed, but no big deal, it would be worse if I couldn’t take my housing and camera because, well because its the whole purpose of this trip, to shoot as much as possible and build up my stock collection as well as put together something for the Travel Channel.

Alright, going to go and have another look at my gear, see if I can leave anything else behind. Big question: Should I take my BC or not? I’m used to my back-plate setup, but if it’s going to be an issue I’d rather rent out there. hmmmmm, I don’t know? Maybe I’ll decide at the check in counter.

Keep coming back this week, I’ll try to post while I’m out there!

Hanging out

sea lions – 25, originally uploaded by the wandering I.

Took this photo awhile back out at Anacapa Island. Love it…see, told you I’m obsessed with Sea Lions!

Sea Lions? Not Seals, but SEA LIONS!?!

Alright, so time for one more post! As those of you that know me, besides being obsessed with the Ocean, I’m also obsessed with Sea Lions… those that don’t know me will soon learn about this obsession as you get to know me! Here’s a video I did for my cinema class last year. If you don’t know the difference between a Seal and a Sea Lion, you will after this video. Got it? Good! Enjoy!

Yoshi and the Sea Lions

I’m getting ready for my Fiji trip, so don’t really have time to write anything, double and triple checking to make sure I have everything for the trip. So with that in mind I figured I’d post another underwater video. I shot this one last year, it’s my friend Yoshi and her first encounter with sea lions underwater, hope you enjoy it, I know she had a blast!

Oceanic Datamask Review

Eye to eye with your dive computer...

So I’ve been diving with the new Oceanic Datamask since May now, and I have to say, I love this thing, especially as an underwater shooter. Not having to take your hands off your camera to check your stats just rocks and makes diving, and working much easier and enjoyable.

The mask itself is one of the best fitting masks I’ve had, though due to my “laugh lines” (or wrinkles, as my wife likes to call them) it still leaks a bit, but nothing a bit of mask clearing can’t fix. The readout is is easy to see and easy to read, the only downer is if you don’t add a bit of defogger to the readout’s glass, then you have to deal with some fogging. You can adjust it’s brightenness to suit you and it works really well, except when you hit the surface…then you need to put a hand over the right eye in order to be able to read the computer. No big deal, right?

What’s my biggest concern? Um…losing it! Considering I’ve lost a number of masks through the years, it’s my one real worry, so wearing it through heavy surf on beach dives might not happen. I figure I can always go back to a standard mask for those dives, I wear an analog pressure gauge as a back up, and still carry my Sunntto Vytec in my dive bag, just in case. Just don’t know how I would explain to my wife that “..well, I got tumbled in the surf..and, well, the mask got stripped off by a wave and we weren’t able to find it…um, yeah, it did cost $1500…” Think I might be living in my truck if that were to happen!

Overall, if you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, you love new toys, and you’ve been thinking of buying a dive computer, I would say; take a look at the Oceanic Datamask, you won’t be sorry.

JG8D69D

Just move…

Ok, so this isn’t scuba related, but it is TRAVEL related, and I think it’s just a great video! Tell me what you think.