Hello Dave.

So Tuesday night I get the worlds longest text message from Gina's cousin, Nina. Let's forget the fact that their names rhyme for a moment and move on. She's done a lot of work for the Pageant of the Masters, a big event in Laguna Beach each year where they use real life people to recreate famous works of art. If you're not from the area, or you've never heard of it before, you should google it. What they do is beyond incredible. Anyway, through this channel she's met some people who also provide similar work for private events, like corporate parties and what not. So she's lined up to do this "living statue" event for a corporate party in Newport Beach taking place last night (Thursday). Problem is, their "David" either bailed or back out. ... not sure the exact story. They were racking their brains thinking of someone who fit the build and lacked the shame to stand around in nothing but a speedo and body paint for an hour while a bunch of strangers sipped on cocktails and wandered around them. Naturally my name jumped in to the void. She was fortunate she texted me late on Tuesday and I'd already gotten a glass of wine in me so the idea sounded like an adventure. You know how I feel about adventure. Plus they were going to pay me nicely and you know how I feel about getting paid. But more then anything I look at it this way: I'm a dad now; it's my job to lead by example. Life is full of interesting opportunities and at the end of the run you want to look back having taken advantage of them. I'm not suggesting they go down to spring break and take off all their clothes, but if someone hands you a "I've never done anything like that" moment and it's tasteful, don't be afraid to see what happens. Your heart may race and your blood may boil to the surface, but those are just reminders that you're alive. Also, in today's age both Gina and I are worried about body image. We both are extremely fit people, but our condition stems from poor images of self in our own mind that cause us to get a little obsessive with health and fitness. I want my girls to grow up comfortable in their own skins, whatever that ends up being. I don't want them to feel ashamed or concerned with how they look to the point that it's all they think about while they're standing on a beach. So, to do my part, I've got to silence my own self depreciating monologue. And part of that involves standing on a pedestal in a pair of speedos for an hour. And you know what? I've never felt so good about myself. I had people staring at me, telling me I was "incredible". It was outdoors by the ocean (cold) and one women even said she'd rather stand by me then the heater because I was hotter. Thank god I was painted white 'cause that one made me blush. There was even this older women (going to guess early 70's) who told me she loved me and then started taken a series of pictures with her cell phone of my butt. So, look for those on flikr sometime soon. The point is I could have easily said no, sat at home and studied until "the Office" came on. Instead I went outside of my box. I became a work of art. I got a great story. ... and an even better picture.