Milbrae Art Festival
Probably the longest one I have ever seen. Too hot and crowded…so we headed to Pacifica
Golfing Half Moon Bay
Game of Inches
You have to look long and hard to find someone with a dicier take off than me, but this guy managed to this morning đ
Beer Mile
I talked to the guy who won the 1st heat. He said he had been “training” for this event with IPA’s so that the Budweiser’s would be easier to keep down. The announcer was hilarious. California is a little kooky. I stayed on the sidelines.
Eden Balloon Fest 2015
Another PPG Failure
So this weekend I  was 0/9 on successful takeoffs, despite perfect weather đ This thing is not going to beat me ….not yet anyway. Notice the extreme concern, and Olympic-sprint of my wife at the end of the video (who was filming me)…. as she realized I just crashed đâŚ
Kite Festival
Kite Festival in Berkeley today. Here is a tip for all my friends who’s career paths have led them astray to the final resting place as a realtor (or air conditioner salesman – you know who you are). Watch the guy with the bubble for kids. There is hope –âŚ
Cocoa Beach Sunrise
Street Art – San Rafael
Went to a San Rafael yesterday looking for something to do and avoid the millions at the Pride Festival. 100 Street artists using chalk and 12 square foot road canvases. Seems a shame the city street workers wash it all away tomorrow đ
Lily’s 1st Trip to California
Lily’s 1st trip to California: Science Center, Yosemite, Mariposa Grove, Beach, Botanic Gardens, Kite Flying and goofing off.
Frustration in PPG
After 5 failed attempts the night before, the next night on the 1st launch it appears that the right side lines got caught in the ground shrubs and the whole glider rolled over, cut a few lines and split my prop đ Warning – PG -13 for Adult language Of courseâŚ
Giants vs. Braves
We bought nosebleed tickets to go see the Giants play for $37 via Oracle. The pre-game bar is attached to the stadium, so you walk right to your seat from there. Our seats had a nice view of the bay but not so good of the players, so we sneakedâŚ
Kite Surfing on the Bay
Memorial Day 2015
A VERY busy Memorial Day weekend: a train ride to Bakersfield, a concert with 50 artists, a day in Morro Bay, drive up the California Coast, and a concert with Bette Midler. The highlight is I taught the 2 of them how to salute. Bakersfield – Ambrosia, Foreigner,  JuiceâŚ
Horse and Double Rainbow
On hold for an afternoon Powered Paraglider Flight….due to….ummmmm…. weather Nice distraction though
More Bubble Research
I had to run a test to see if I could efficiently pump water 10 feet high to allow the bubble solution to gravity feed on to the ropes. So I used a tree as a test. The 1st set up worked great. Two older ladies walked by and askedâŚ
More PPG Training
This week I got 2 more flights in, this time without any blood, jammed fingers, or scraped legs. So I call that progress. As students, we try to help each other learn, by shooting video of each other. On this one the camera man almost got taken out (me) đâŚ
Campbell, CA
Looks like the summer street parties this year start at Campbell….never heard of that town before but it is on the way to Santa Cruz 40 minutes away from Foster City One of the more unique things at the art show, funky dolls
Steamies
I read an article on the best bars near Caltrain stops, Steamies close to my stop was one of the top 15…this was our 1st visit. They are obviously used to locals and not a lot of newbies but they were very nice to us. We will go back –âŚ
Rick Smith in San Francisco
My friend Rick Smith and his wife Gale are out visiting us in San Fran for vacation…..so far the usual activities; Irish coffee at the Buena Vista       Sea Lions at pier 39 The pretty side of Alcatraz This was weird, only 3 guys are left living whoâŚ
Joe Bonamassa Concert
Barb and I went to Joe Bonamassa last night in Sacramento, it was a great concert. I almost totally screwed up, 20 minutes from Sacramento Barb looked at the ticket to see if anyone else was playing with him as a warm up. I had grabbed the wrong tickets –âŚ
Fraud Alert – Anglican Church of southern Africa
Be aware of this internet fraud that is targeting keynote speakers. Here are some of the type of correspondence you will receive like I did; Here was my final response:) When I spoke to the FBI, they were well aware of you and your scam for many months and areâŚ
Giant Bubble Maker Model
May 2-3 Weekend
Barb wanted us to start documenting things we do while we are in California and to take more pictures of our lives. So here we go; Happy hour at Marvin Gardens Friday night Then the wine bar after dinner……crazy chick in blue got the guy next to her thrown outâŚ
Giant Bubbles
I have been wanting to research and make giant bubbles for many years Now that  am semi-retired I finally have some time. I never heard of J-Lube before, when I went to the web site to buy it, it said “The worlds best lubricant for fisting” – no telling whatâŚ
Blackhawk PPG Fly In 2015
The weather was perfect for all 4 days. I got in 3 flights but unfortunately did not get any afternoon flights in. The 1st afternoon I failed 3 take offs and got tired so decided to bag it and open a beer. The 2nd night I crashed on take offâŚ
PPG Failed Takeoff
The more seasoned pilots (about 30 years old) tell me you need to budget for about 3 props during training Here is why (this is not me…at least not yet)
Wizard Academy
If you want to make more money in your business, expand your horizons and meet new awesome people this is the place. wizardacademy.org Here is my next class, Da Vinci and the 40 Answers that I am teaching there in October, 2015 in Austin, TX. Look at this place weâŚ
Powered Paraglider Training
This was my 10th flight. It takes about 20 they say before you know what you are doing đ Both my flying toys ( airplane and hot air balloon) are in Florida and now that I am in San Francisco – of course I need a flying toy here. ThisâŚ
Crush Corn Christmas Contest
Throughout most of his life, Christopher Muldoon (Corn), a legend in his own mind, has lived under the delusion that he is an outstanding golfer. Friends and family have known for years about his illness, but have found no cure to date. A charity âinterventionâ event will be held toâŚ
Another day in Paradise
75 degrees in May with no worries Your browser does not support the video tag Your browser does not support the video tag
Lily at the beach
Lily Turns 3
We tried to take Lily out to Gorman’s Ranch for her 3rd birthday, but she wasn’t all too excited about the horse and the animals. She had her moments. In fact Gorman called me on the phone today and asked “how is it that a 3 year old says “IâŚ
Crop Formation Report
I have had a moderate interest in crop circles for more than 25 years. I have never really pursued it much, just a general interest that fades in and out as the years goes by. Like most people I (sort of) believed (maybe) what the media has told us forâŚ
Abacos
Rented a 40 foot catamaran for my 50th birthday in Abacos, Bahamas. It was 4 days after hurricane Irene. No one was there but us, we had the whole Caribbean to ourselves.
Day Before Irene
The day before a hurricane, is not the best time to be born. Not if youâre a Sea Turtle anyway. Here is what the ocean in Cocoa Beach looked like yesterday. ——— ———- Here is what it looks like today. â˘Â Pay attention to the guys trying to paddle out, IâŚ
Worldsâ Biggest Orgy
It is hard to visualize what 10 million looks like. But I saw it this morning. It is that time of year in Florida, the lovebugs are everywhere. Those pesky little, acid-rich, car paint-destroying, sex maniacs. For those of you who have not experienced it , we are swarmed downâŚ
My World, Your World
âCan you tell me how to get to MacPhersonâs Irish Pub?â âSure, you head North and at the 4th or 5th stop light, it is on the west side.â This is the 1st women I had ever met that used magnetic directions. I nearly burst from excitement. This had beenâŚ
How to Give a Killer Speech
My wife said âYou donât need Public Speaking 101, you have been speaking for 30 years now! Iâll be shocked if you learn anything you donât already know.â But I knew better, this is the Wizard Academy. I could only stay for ½ the class before catching a flight, butâŚ
Fresh Air Fund
My wife and I donât have any kids. We have periodically talked about getting involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, but the same problem keeps popping up its ugly head. We just canât afford the time commitment that they demand. But recently I was contacted by Fresh Air Fund YouâŚ
Ballooning in Cocoa Beach
It wouldâve been easier finding a Nobel Prize Winner in Cocoa Beach⌠⌠than trying to get any friends to wake up at 6:00 am on a Sunday morning. But I finally hit pay dirt when I called my life-long unlucky charm, David Gralla. Alas!.. He didnât jinx me thisâŚ
Sunken Flagships and Side Doors
What would you do if the direct sales from your top selling product tanked tomorrow? Well itâs gonna happen. It may not be tomorrow, but the death of your star will come some day. Itâs a fact, so why not assume it is going to happen sooner than later? OneâŚ
3-1-2 â The right combination
My friend Roy Williams told me years ago that the best way to develop a killer advertisement is to follow these steps in this order of priority: 3 â Start with the end first. What is the Last Mental Image (LMI) you want your audience to have stuck in theirâŚ
2200 Pennies
âA pound of water and a pound of feathers are both still a pound!â âRight⌠I know that, but we are talking about fluid ounces not weight ounces, there is a differenceâ âNo thereâs notâ âOK, this 20 fluid ounce bottle of water weighs about 2 pounds, right?â âYepââŚtossing itâŚ
Easter Bunny at Christmastime
Which is more inescapable? Death Valley in July or Santa is December No I am not some kind of Scrooge; I just want to show you an example of how you can use deliberate creativity. A tool to help you think âhow to think.â If you’re running holiday advertising withâŚ
CBHS Video
I took Julie’s pictures and turned them into an Animoto video. If anyone wants the actual video, they can download it here. I uploaded it to YouTube but it didn’t look good. I think YouTube compressed it too much. If you anyone wants to send me more pictures and/or anotherâŚ
Class Reunion
âThatâs because only 3 people didnât smoke pot in high school: You, Me, and one other person.  I canât remember who the 3rd was right nowâŚbut⌠I know for sure it wasnât HERâ ———- âWhy didnât you ever like me? âWhat are you talking about? What do you mean IâŚ
Innovation Book
Earlier this week I presented my workshop “Da Vinci and the 40 Answers” as part of an Innovation Series to 80 of this countryâs leading women. Specifically Women in Defense. Each attendee received a physical copy of my Innovation Book. âThank you for coming to Picatinny!  I thoroughly enjoyed yourâŚ
Airline Blues
Well itâs not much, but itâs something. In the days of $7 pillows, blankets and Budweiserâs pretty much anything the airlines do that is positive comes as a surprise. When everyone in your industry sucks, even a little gesture can make a difference. On October 16th, our flight was anâŚ
Free Book on Creativity and Innovation
Most of you know me, but for those of you who donât – My name is Mark L. Fox and I am author and leading authority on teaching practical creative thinking techniques for business. At age 31, I was the youngest person with the title of Chief Engineer on theâŚ