Slaving away in sunny California

(from Tamie)

Bobby and I are at Pepperdine University this week for the Ascending Voice symposium. We're working tirelessly to cover this event for the Chronicle, as you can tell from the photos below.











Really, we are working hard. We were just following Lynn McMillon's orders to (a) see the beach and (b) eat and play at Paradise Cove. At all other times, our noses have been right up against the proverbial grindstone. Our children are living it up with Papa and Nanney Ross in Keller. They've seen movies, gone swimming, had sleepovers with cousins and watched the Texas Rangers (gasp) win on Tuesday night. They may not want us to come back, given all that.

I've heard many folks say that Pepperdine is the most beautiful campus in America, but since I don't consider myself a judge of university landscaping and such, I never paid much attention to those comments. Until this trip. Oh my, this place is just breathtaking. The last photo of Bobby was taken at the vista where the graduate schools and new student housing sit. That is the campus and ocean below, not a Photoshop prank.

We met a lifeguard today on a beach area in Malibu (just a quick break from the grueling work) who told us that we're actually experiencing "bad" weather days, with 70-degree temperatures and wind gusts that will blow your hair. Funny boy. Bad weather days in Oklahoma involve triple-digit highs and tornadoes. I'll take this low pressure SoCal system any day!

As for the main event, it has been a wonderful experience so far, and we've still got a full day remaining. More on all that to come. :)

I'll leave you with two short video clips. In this one, Bobby is determined to have his ocean experience, no matter the water temperature:



The second is me filming my little bit for the Malibu Chamber of Commerce.