The State of Santa Cruz

Kevin, is that you?

2007-05-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Kevin, is that you?
Originally uploaded by Taylor Shellen.

Tell me this dude doesn't look exactly like Kevin from "The Office".

No shirt? No Shoes? No Problem.

2007-05-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

No shirt? No Shoes? No Problem.
Originally uploaded by Taylor Shellen.

It's good to know that the Capitola DMV has a lax dress code. Most people would find it difficult to accesorize when wearing only Dickies shorts, but Brody here drove the look home with the studded belt, wallet chain and "I drank way to much and passed out face down on the sand" sunburn. Well done, broseph.

Jack Shares A Wave With Dad.

2007-05-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

Jack Shares A Wave With Dad.
Originally uploaded by Taylor Shellen.

My 6 year old son drew this picture of us surfing together in front the harbor lighthouse near our home. Please note that while Jack is getting barreled, I'm about to go over the falls in an inch of water and most likely break my neck. Despite my impending paralyzation, this is my favorite picture... ever.

RIP "Stinky"

2007-05-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

RIP "Stinky"
Originally uploaded by Taylor Shellen.

A 26 foot whale carcass washed up on the beach right next to Jack O'niell's house on Saturday. We named him "Stinky" although I think he's going to get a lot stinkier before he goes away.

Santa Cruz Ducky Derby

2007-04-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

Santa Cruz Ducky Derby
Originally uploaded by Taylor Shellen.

Jack and Luke get a lesson on Sea Star eating habits.

Congrats!

2005-10-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Grant & Heather Shellen who got hitched on Saturday.

The Best Man Speaks
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Car vs. House

2005-02-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

At about 1:45 this morning I was rudely awakened by the sound of a drunken idiot tearing down my street Starsky & Hutch style. The screeching suddenly stopped, but without the telltale glass breaking or metal on metal car accident sound. I jumped out of bed in time to see the car tear off down the street. Without my glasses on I couldn't tell what kind of car it was or what had happened. I figured he had spun out and took a moment to straighten out before proceeding on his drunken way. I went back to sleep. Less than 10 minutes later the fire truck pulled up and we discovered that the car had very quietly crashed into the front bedroom of the house directly across the street from us. The amazing thing is that he managed to miss both of my heap of crap station wagons pictured in the foreground and hit the house instead. I could have won the collision insurance lottery in one fell swoop, but no such luck.

Car vs. House II
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Reasons to Move to Santa Cruz: #274

2005-09-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Eyes Open

2005-06-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Sleepy head decided to wake up for a few minutes last night.

eyes open
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Brothers

2005-06-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Jack and Luke enjoy the new addition.

brothers
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

James Henry Shellen

2005-06-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Born on June 14th, 2005
7lbs 6oz
21 in.

sleepy
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

I can think of lots of better stuff to do than wor...

2000-07-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

I can think of lots of better stuff to do than work

I have a pretty sweet job, my boss one of the funniest guys I know, my company takes care of me, all my co-workers are cool, no one's looking over my shoulder or breathing down my neck, yet I spend most of my day thinking about where I'd rather be or what I'd rather be doing. If I didn't have to work I'd probably sleep 'till noon and watch TV until 5:00 anyway. What's wrong with me? One day I'll get a job where I actually have to slave away all day and I'll think about how good I had it back in the day. My whole life's gone that way so far. In college I realized how easy high school was, once I started working I realized how good I had it in college, etc. I think I'm going to try to enjoy stuff more as it is happening and appreciate the present more since it goes away so fast.
Ok that was a little cornball. I'm going surfing now.

The Cadillac of Soda Fountains

2005-02-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered that the most impressive soda fountain on this earth is located at the AM/PM around the corner from my house. Twenty choices of beverage include every standard soda choice you could think of plus 4 that you can't. Throw in several sports drinks and even "Horchata" for those craving a Latin splash. Add your choice of "Crunch" pellet style ice or the basic old scholl "Cube" and you have magic. God bless the Central Valley.

The Cadillac of Soda Fountains
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Saturday Morning

2005-02-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

Lattes and hot chocolate with the boys.

Saturday Morning
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Foggy Drive

2005-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

My Friday morning drive to Sacramento was like this most of the way. I made it to the meeting in one piece, and on time.

A Picture Share!
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

A Picture Share!

2005-02-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

Tiki!

2005-02-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Tiki!
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Miles Jay Shellen, you're the man.

2005-02-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world Miles. Your Uncle Taylor loves you. (I think he's smiling at me!)

A Picture Share!

2005-01-31T17:07:00.000-08:00

Jack models our new Mac Mini. He looks stoked.

You know you live in the sticks when...

2005-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

You nearly hit a bat on your way home from work. Spooky.

Looks like another Shellen is headed towards an Art degree

2004-10-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is starting to turn into a showcase of Jack's art. But come on, that looks just like me! He even wrote his name and put his age on there (that's the backwards 3). Clearly, the child is brilliant.

Dada drawing
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Jack's First Day of School

2004-08-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

Jack started pre-school yesterday. Despite the look on his face in this photo, he was quite excited about it. I think I might have cried when we dropped him off if Luke weren't screaming about not getting to stay there with Jack. They grow up so fast(sniff).

Jack's First Day of School
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

"Mama" by Jack Taylor Shellen age 3

2004-08-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

My three year old has been really into drawing and learning how to make letters for the last couple of weeks. He poses here with one of his more impressive works.

"Mama" by Jack Taylor Shellen age 3
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Thank God no One Was Hurt

2004-07-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is really just a test of the "Blog This" feature on my new flickr account. I chose a 1994 photo of me posing with my first car shortly after a lady pulled out in front of me. Her exact words after the accident were, "I confused the gas pedal with the brake." Can you say that into the microphone?

BMW 2002
Originally uploaded by No Surf In Modesto.

Sponsors Take Note

2004-07-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to San Diego I conviced my father in law to join me on my dawn patrol with his new Canon Digital Rebel. Below are the results of my pro-surfer fantasy being realized. Enjoy.