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Search Engine Strategies San Jose 2009 Recession Recap

Boy, this sure reminds me of the last year of comdex 2003. Do any of u technosaurs remember having to dodge the 125mph tshirt launches and tripping over the models who adorned vendor booths in the early years of Comdex? By contrast, I had to leave my drivers license to borrow a pen in 2003.

And so it goes for SES. No Danny Sullivan. No Google Dance. Few attendees. The workshops are still good and access to programmers is fair, but this is not the same show.

Google had a 12 year old giving the keynote speech today. he stumbled over his facts and figures and in the end, it was not much more than an infomercial. I remember by contrast, the fireplace chats with Danny Sullivan and Sergey Brin and chatting with them and many other legends freely on the showroom floors.

Okay, my rant is over. I suppose Nothing gold can stay.

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General Posts

Summer Solstice in Corona del Mar

Dad's Day adventures in Corona del Mar

Dad’s Day adventures in Corona del Mar Freshly back from Boston and so glad to be home.  had some egrets drinking from the pool on this golden Father’s Day.  What a fine weekend with family and now I know the secret to the perfect Father’s Day.  Yes, I am amazingly dim for my ripe old age beacause everyone else already knows this: prepare gobs and gobs of barbecued dead meat and the man will love his family 4ever.  Atop that, Lauren chauffered Dad out for  spin to Seal Buoy. We actually started the day with a broccoli fest for my very healthy grandpa “B”  Broccoli pesto and pasta, Broccoli wraps, salad, stir fry…so we ended up eating our veggies first on this very fine day.Here is hoping that each of you had a fantastic day with your families.Egrets at Pool in Corona del Mar

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General Posts

Cabo Azul Report

James and melinda herndon at cabo azul in Los Cabos, Mexico
James and melinda herndon at cabo azul in Los Cabos, Mexico

This report is for Steve and Shirley or anyone interested in learning more about Cabo Azul. Steve and Shirley are our fabulous friends who joined us for a charity auction where we both bought these packages to visit Cabo Azul Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The resort is gorgeous. Rooms are perfect. U will want to rush home and redecorate. Elegant and romantic touches everywhere. Try to request an ocean view. They are very accomodating.

I am going to give you a couple of tips that I wish we’d had before we set out.

The resort arranges ground transportation coming, but not going. See if the driver will take the toll road if u agree to pay the extra 3 or 4 bucks. It is worth it to see Cabo untouched.

The boys will have a fine and dandy time and you can kick them out of the room often for grown up time and feel fine doing it. The boys can play on the beach. Calm with occasional 2-3 foot sets. Good shore break. They can use the internet cafe that is on campus. They can rent jet skis or swim in the pools. Oh, speaking of pools, there are three. The top one gets heated and feeds the heat to the second (less warm) and third (freezing). More kids are at the top though so it may be worth it to brave the cold and have more privacy. Lots of jacuzzis. Mariachi singers come out around 4:00pm and do a muy romantico job of setting the tone.

Food is to die for. It is Javiers, like on the newport coast. Everything is fresh, healthy, brilliant. There is also a great and well stocked grocery store so you can easily make meals in the well outfitted kitchen.

Oh, I should mention, when u get there, they will try to do the time share thing. Just say u r not interested in free stuff and they will respect your wishes.

Oh, towel trick. Same one as for everywhere with card towels. Just trade them in at the beginning of the trip and bring them home each day to the room. Trade for fresh in the a.m. Lose a towel and pay $50.

Okay, I am off for the pain of the season’s first triathlon and looking forward to seeing you guys in the very near future. Are you up for bid of excitement this year? Did they send u tickets or should I get some for u?

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Fitness

Time for pain

melinda herndon and tri divas in san diego
melinda herndon and tri divas in san diego
So, here we are in 2009. My last triathlon of the 2008 season was on a blisteringly cold day near the end of October and since that time, I have been a gym irregular and have done no training. That said, I have my first event of the new year coming up in just two short weeks; so, if you hear about some old lady dropping dead in the middle of a tri, well, look no further than here to know for whom the bell tolls.

Here is a photo of a fun group of girls that I trained with last year which was headed up by the brilliant, talented, optimistic and highly motivating Martha Szufnarowski who is assuming the queen “B” diva position complete with crown and scepter, front row center.

I really like this photo because it is at the beginning of the event. The finish line ones are just awful. I am second from left in the back row.

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Newport Beach/CDM travel ideas

Why I love Newport Beach and Corona del Mar

newport-beach-film-fest
newport-beach-film-fest
Okay, so it is true that this is an exceptional weekend. One of my very favorites. It opens with the Newport to Ensenada Sail Boat Race, sponsored by The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. This is an absolutely fun time for everyone 21 years and above. Come to hear classic stories from vetran sailors, come for the coronas or come to get offered a last minute spot as a deck hand.

Then, we must not forget the opening night for the newport beach film fest. A really good, albeit quirky movie, is chosen to launch the event and you will listen to some much deserved words of recognition for the event founders/sponsors. The director and cast do a q and a and after the film, there is a nice party with lots of restaurants and distilleries contributing their bit.

Now is the tough time, though. With 350 films to see and only a week to see them in, there are compromises to be made. Who looks forward to a digital world where these special films can be shared after the film fests?

Okay, the family is almost back so I have to sign off and make the plan for the evening’s events.

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General Posts New Years Chicago 2006 New Years Mount Hood 2004 New Years Rio de Janiero 2005

Notes about some great New Years Eve Trips

So many fun family New Years Eve Celebrations.  I LOVE NYE for two chief reasons: You get back to back parties for each year and u get to do it in a ballgown & with confetti, fireworks and friends. That is why NYE is my favourite.

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General Posts

Kids, daily life, random thoughts

Welcome to ImMelinda.com, photos & blog by Melinda Herndon.

Okay this section will be my daily life, random thoughts and some ideas about parenting. One thing that is for sure, is there will be no order to this section.