Merry Christmas

I'm stuck at work for a couple hours, thus I blog.
This morning I was thinking about the days when Derek and I, being about ten or eleven years old, would call each other on Christmas morning to tell each other what we had recieved. Things like Rock'em Sock'em Robots or F-Zero for Super Nintendo. Those were the golden days of being a kid.
We went to church last night for the Christmas Eve service where it was mentioned briefly that amongst the gifts that came with unending life through Christ on the night He was born, was our celestial body awaiting us in paradise. This reminder stuck with me pretty hard while I sat there with my head ache, my stye, my ever worsening eyesight, my sore back, and my heart burn. I can't tell if I sound like a big baby or a seventy five year old man, but oh how I look forward to better days sometimes.
Back to the aforementioned topic of gifts, I'm going to re-live a moment from those golden days and make my "phone call", which will only work if you reply in the same way.
A painters easel.
The complete Calvin and Hobbes hardcover boxset.
An Atari with built in games.
A new Wilco shirt and Tweedy tour DVD.
Muswell Hillbillies on vinyl.
An electric fireplace heater.
Reservations for dinner and a hotel in San Diego.
Bulfinch's Mythology
1000 places to see before you die.
And a book about the art of the Disney imagineers.

Now it's your turn. If you want.

So Pine Summit, or Nazi Germany, as our little circle of ex-employees like to call it, has given my parents the ol' boot due to their need for more prisoner hou-, I mean staff housing. The date that Der Führer gave mom and dad was Feb. 1st. However my old man is going to sit tight until at least the first of March, so that they can look for a house to buy or build.
In the twenty years that I've spent growing up in that house, I've racked up a few memories, and I would think most of my friends have as well being that we spent the better part of our high school days there bbq-ing and watching movies and playing games. So we were thinking of having a little get together before they leave. One last hurrah, and then we'll burn it down. Or if you happen to be in town between now and then, we'll max out there until they leave, and then we'll fill the house up with styrofoam popcorn. Or something. Let us know.

Awesome

The word, to me, can have several meanings.
1. To be more than just cool. "Man, that's awesome."
2. Being or getting inebriated. "Let's get awesome!"
3. To be super super dumb, and evoke feelings of, "Man I hate this" and "Why am I here" and "I just want to die".

With respect to reason #3, work today was, well, awesome.

Gladden Christmas party...

...after many a Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog.

Please pardon the lack of light.

I'm looking for a Clark W. Griswmmnnn.

It's that time of year, again.


I stole the following from Lindsay. I had to. I'm a sucker for these things. And Lindsay, yours ruled. Particularly your birthday.

11 LAYERS OF YOU

LAYER ONE: ON THE OUTSIDE
Name: Matthew D. Pool.
Birth date: August 16.
Current Location: Big Bear.
Eye Color: Kind of brown on the outside, green inside.
Hair Color: Dark brown.
Righty or Lefty: Righty.
Zodiac Sign: Leo.

LAYER TWO: ON THE INSIDE
Your heritage: Irish, Italian, Danish and Welsh. My dad swears there's some African American too. I'll have to check on that one.
Your fears: Getting stuck in a long Taco Bell drive through, while having to pee.
Your weakness: Cream Cheese.
Your perfect pizza: The Vato from Maggios (shrimp, ham, roni, jalapeno, onion, cilantro).
Goal you'd like to achieve: Make a living.

LAYER THREE: YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW:
Your thoughts first waking up: First, I'm going to slit those dog's vocal cords, then I'm going to burn them alive. And watch. Over a beer.
Your best physical feature: My double chin.
Your bedtime: In bed about 10:30, sudoku or book until 11:15ish.
Your most missed memory: Right now, Christmas as a kid.

LAYER FOUR: YOUR PICK:
Pepsi or Coke: Diet A&W.
McDonald's or Burger King: Taco Bell.
Single or group dates: Group dates? Like me with my wife and Rosie? Sure.
Adidas or Nike: Vans.
Lipton Tea or Nestea: Tetley.
Chocolate or vanilla: Dark chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Double vanilla soy latte.

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?
Take a shower: Usually every month.
Have a crush? YES!
Think you've been in love: It's known.
Want to get married? Too late.
Believe in yourself: Often enough.
Think you're a health freak: Every month, for about a day and a half.

LAYER SIX: IN THE PAST MONTH
Gone to the mall: Does the Big Bear mall couNT HAHAHA?! no.
Been on stage: Once. We're slacking.
Been dumped: Nope
Gone skating: Skateboarding, for about 45 seconds.
Dyed your hair: With wet concrete? Yup.

LAYER SEVEN: HAVE YOU EVER
Played a stripping game: Like making candy canes? Sure.
Gotten beaten up: A homie punched me real hard once. Ask me sometime, I'd love to tell the story.
Changed who you were to fit in: I had alot to drink one time, and told some dudes that I liked them and their music, which I don't, very much.

LAYER EIGHT: GETTING OLD
Age your hoping to be married: Why is this under "Getting Old"? C'mon.
Age you wanna have kids: Between now and 31.

LAYER NINE: IN A GIRL/GUY
Best eye color: Brown
Best hair color: Dark.
Short or long hair: Long. I've come around.

LAYER TEN: WHAT WERE YOU DOING
1 MINUTE AGO: Thinking about when I want to have kids.
1 HOUR AGO: Doing some online Christmas shopping for the wife.
1 YEAR AGO: At this very moment? Not sure. Maybe pooping.

LAYER 11:FINISH THE SENTENCE
I LOVE: The ol' lady.
I FEEL: Like having a coctail, a Colorado Bulldog, real soon.
I HATE: Stupid, not smart, dumb ass little dogs.
I HIDE: A hammer under my bed, until I buy a gun.
I MISS: The Talbots, the Chapmans, Ty Watts, Rosie, Suz, the Blacks (all of them), Zack, beer, the shaggin wagon, Disneyland, Screeching Weasel, paintball, the tooth fairy, jr. high, King's Quest 5, Buck (the dog), Buck (the Matt), Chicago, concerts, crossing the line, 94.7 the wave, Norpain, and Nintendo. And probably a few more things.
I NEED: To do my fafsa.

Thanks.

"It would be easy to write a couple of fraudulent pages out of contrast between this shining spring day, the ripening fruit, the chicks filling plumply out in the barnyard, the rising wheat-and death at our elbow. I shall not write that couple of pages because I see no reason why the peace of a spring day should constitute a contradiction of the idea of death. Why should the sweetness of life be a matter for irony?" Antoine De Saint-Exupery, Flight to Arras
-a

I am depleted

And that doesn't even begin to describe it. But I'm stuck here at work for two more hours, thus, I blog. There are some days when music just sounds better. Today was, and is one of those beautiful days. Why is that? Could it be that these just happen to be the days when we slow down and listen? I mean really listen. There is always music. Always. Consuming the silence. And seldom do I hear it. Today I do. In particular a track called Feb. 14 from Drive by Truckers, and Don't Come Around Here No More from Mr. Petty, and what is fast becoming my new favorite record, a little piece called Muswell Hillbillies from The Kinks. They're good to me.
Back to being depleted, and that not even beginning to describe it, we did Disneyland yesterday with Nick and Laura, and got it done. We did Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates*, Jungle Cruise, Thunder Mountain, and picked up fast passes for Indiana Jones. That was all before lunch, which was at the Pizza Port. We then did Indiana Jones, went over to California Adventure, did Tower of Terror**, ate ice cream, met Jen and Shant, did California Screamin', Maliboomer, went back to Disneyland, did The Haunted Mansion***, The Tiki Room, followed by dinner in Downtown Disney, followed by the long ass drive back to Big Bear. So with that as well as work at 8am today, work being digging and installing a fence, I am depleted.

* I thought the changes were quite subtle, and this made me happy.

** Apparently there are 50 some possible variations of this attraction that one might experience. The one I got ruled!

*** This was my first Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion experience, and I was very impressed.

A big day for the donkey.

Due to the election results there have been a few things bouncing around the ol’ cabeza. A little change could be exciting. We shall see. Will the media, by and large leaning left, put some sort of halt to the doom and gloom economic predictions and the consistently negative reporting of the war in Iraq? And why is it that when an elephant wins, it’s due to corruption and cheating, and demanding a re-count? Just thoughts. Trust me, there’s no side taking. Actually, I’ve been leaning lately toward a sort of independent/libertarian fusion type of thing. Sometimes. Local results? I’m 50/50. Jessica’s law passed. That’s nice. Eminent domain, not so much, and that’s not nice. And what’s the deal with Parental notification? 80% support in the polls a week ago, and now nothing. Weird. Anyway, the first female Speaker of the House is elected. That’s cool. I’ve always thought that she looks like an aged Kate Beckinsale. And I like the College Access For All part of her Six for ’06, among other parts. So that’s that.

I’m trying that fruit detox fast for a couple days. Today is day one, and while I was out in the field spotting tree’s and shooting grades for a plot plan, I got the shakes. I heard you get weak but then it’s supposed to turn into energy. We’ll see. There is a tray of bread with this sauce that you put on top sitting next to me right now and I’m about to lose my mind. I will power through this. I will prevail.

Lost tonight.

"Ever’thing in Winston Salem is aginst th’ law

I’ma low pay daddy singin’ th’ high price blues."

More true than you know. Know what else is?

"I don't even care to shake these zipper blues, And we don't know,
Just where our bones will rest, To dust I guess."

Sorry. iTunes on shuffle. I'll stop.

Just an update. Nothing focused.

It get's dark early, and for the first time in my life, I don't mind it. What's the deal?

Remember this guy?



I carved him into my pumpkin, because he makes me laugh.

So Halloween is the night when 5th, 6th, and 7th grade girls dress up like harlots and hookers and walk around freezing their uncovered asses off all night. I forgot. I remember now. I can't wait to be a dad. Sweat pants and sweat shirts will be worn, covered with towels, and then a tarp, until the age of 18... I joke, but seriously.

We saw "The Prestige" last night. It's quite good. And Christian Bale is a great actor, and hot to Amber. And to me. Amber's hot to me too. They both are.

John Kerry is kind of a boob. Kind of a booby.

KBHR 93.3 The Bear acually had a good streak this afternoon. Short-lived, but good. It was Fleetwood Mac, followed by Ryan Adams, followed by Aimee Mann, followed by the song "mushaboom" by Feast. Yes, she said Feast, and that was the end of it.

Lost tonight.

Get informed.

I think that's it for now.

How was everyone's November first?

Create honkin' new post? O.K.

As I said a while back now, we unloaded our camera of a couple hundred some odd photos. Here are a few of them, in the order they were taken.

Josh and I sitting on a curb last Fall.


Christmas at our humble abode, pre snow.


Our humble abode, post snow.


Supper Club, pre Calzones!


Birthday Cake.


The wife with the new nephew, Owen, or Owee boy.


The Happiest Place on Earth.


Croquet at The Dunlap's.


Esme borrowing my boots for a day.


Amber saying goodbye to the old yeller lady.


Supper Club in Silverlake.


The Blair wedding in Laguna Beach.


Our hike to Castle Rock (site of first smooch).


Our couple of months living in L.A.


Esme meeting her distant Uncle Joey.


Bachelor party, pre Black wedding.


Black wedding.


John Steinbeck's house, Salinas, CA.


The Gamble House, Pasadena, CA.


Still The Happiest Place on Earth.


Our house #1. Bedroom.


Our house #2. Still Bedroom.


Our house #3. Bathroom.


Our house #4. Throne.


Our house #5. Dining Room.


Our house #6. Kitchen.


Our house #7. Living Room.


Our house #8. Still Living Room.


Josh at work.


Pumpkin pickin'.


Singing love songs at Big Sur.


On the grass at Bridge School.


And that pretty much brings us up to date.

Adieu.

(Sing)

We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Bridge-School-Benefit-who's-name-is-Neil-Young,
Because because because because becaaauuse,
Because of the wonderful skills-he-has-at-singing-and-playing-guitar-and-some-of-the-other-people-on-the-line-up-too.
Badabumbumbumbumbumbumbump.

This weekend will be alot cooler than that just was.

Wine.

Cheap Wine.

So the line-up is as follows:
Neil Young
Pearl Jam
Dave Matthews Band
Brian Wilson
Foo Fighters
Trent Reznor
Death Cab for Cutie
Gillian Welch
Devendra Banhart
plus special guests!

Out of those, I'm excited to see the following:
Boris
Neil Young
Pearl Jam
Thee Brian Wilson
Foo Fighters
Death Cab
G. Welch
D. Banhart
and maybe the special guests!

Photos to follow will be many in numbers.

I like all my friends alot. All of them.

Catch you on the frip side.

Last night...

...was a blasty. Thanks to those who came. I kicked back quite a few, and there were times on stage when I thought things could get scary, but we managed and had lots of fun.
We were, and were amongst, performers who tend to make mistakes. When these errors occur we performers either brush them off or get a little sad and go home. No big deal. This weekend I will be watching performers who, when they slip-up... could die.



This is called the Opposing Climb. If you look closely you will see the #5 plane pass in the opposite direction just before they pull up. This will rule.

Son of a b.

When I left my parents house last night the score was tied at two. In the time that it took me to drive to the f-ing pub the Card's gained a four run lead and eventually beat the Padres out of the m-f-ing series. It was a bummer. Next year.

It costs $275.00 to replace my lost, piece of s, pain in the a, car key.
F! I think Amber and I will be sharing hers for a while.

Who enjoyed the Lost premier?

Who wants to be a buddy and join us at Detroit Bar on Thursday?

We play at nine.

Thats it.

Welcome to October.

My wife and I awoke this morning to the pitter patter of the first Autumn rain. I oozed out of bed with swollen eyes and felt my way along the bedroom wall, past the dresser to the cold metal of the bathroom door knob. I quickly came to after a hot shower. Coffee. The scent was thick and I was hot on the trail. I pulled on a pair of polyester pants and an old t-shirt. I tied my blue shoes and lobbed a corduroy jacket over my back. My wife handed me a cup of coffee and a fried egg sandwich. I kissed her twice and walked out the front door.

So it's Monday morning and I'm at the office in front of the computer. News readin'. Blog checkin'. Bill Handle listnin'. Phone answerin'. Calculator calculatin'. Not much else to say, I just felt like writin'.

I'm glad the Padres will play in the National League Division Series.

I'm excited to watch Boris rip my face off.

I'm excited to go camping, and go to Bridge School.

I'm getting a gold tooth today.

Welcome to October.

Two things to not do.

#1. Be in San Diego and plan on going to your favorite Baseball team's final home game but at the last minute casually decide not to only to miss out on being a part of a sell out multitude of screaming fans watching Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth blow the cheese right past three Pirates to break the all time record with his 479th career save.

#2. Walk into the dog shelter/pound to look for a dog to buy just in time to see the lady behind the counter pulling a struggling dog away from it's teary-eyed owner who can't keep it because he's moving away.

Don't do either of those things.

On a more cheerful note, get a load of what my boss gave me today.



Yes sir, it's a 1980 Polaris Galaxy 340 Snowmobile. He said it would make his wife happy to have it out of his yard, and that was that. "Does it run?" you ask. It does indeed run. Like a champ. Well, almost.

Soy muy contento últimamente.

Things are looking up, and as a result I've been able to relax, and smile more. The VW went to the dealer for a new alternator, a new battery, and some new wires. I don't know what any of these wires do, I just know they weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing, hence the car was not working. Fortunately she is under warranty for another two years or twenty-five thousand miles, making all the repair free. So that's totally radical. But it doesn't stop there. I sent our water damaged ipods back East to a little company called Ipod Res-Q, and they fixed both of them. And that's awesomely badical! I also just got around to ordering a new battery charger for the D-Elph, and after charging it and turning it on I found a buttload of old photos that I forgot about. They will be on here next time. Belee dat.

This weekend we make way for sunny San Diego, where my Grandparents will celebrate their 50th with a straight up luau, where my Mother-In-Law will buy me belated birthday Levi's, and where I hope to buy a couple tickets to the Miramar Airshow. Well see about that one.

Lastly, I put up a classic on the other blog. Check it.

Until next time.

Drawn Into a Dark But Gentle World

All this thought about where to live lately makes the world seem so awesomely big. Right when I've got my mind set on Los Angeles a Wilco song comes over the headphones and I start thinking about Chicago, that is until a Yo La Tengo song gets me in the mood for the Northwest.

Food has been good to us lately. Onion bagels with cream cheese, cucumbers, smoked salmon, and black coffee for breakfast. Cotija cheese and corn tortilla quesadilla's topped with avocado and crema mexicana for lunch. And last night for dinner, pork loin rib chops seared with garlic and red wine, topped with Granny Smith apples and red onions sauteed in butter. And beer, with everything.

Lately I've been pulling out some books from my childhood, from an author who is probably more positively received by our blogosphere than other writers. His name is William B. "Bill" Watterson II, or simply Bill Watterson.



He's better known as the writer of "Calvin and Hobbes", a comic strip and book series that I've been reading since age nine, and lately, to the wife before bed to prevent nightmares. It's true. I adore these books more than most things, as well as the author for his goodness and taste in inspiration. He wrote a short piece for the L.A. Times in 1999, a few years after he quit, called "Drawn Into a Dark But Gentle World", in admiration of Charles Schulz as "Peanuts" was coming to an end. That, and he rules. It's because of him that my favorite jet was the F-4 Phantom, and that I was kicked out of Mr. Acoin's 5th grade class for drawing dinosaurs.

Man, Oh Man

So it's been a rough go these past couple of months. We are currently back at our home in Big Bear for as long as it takes. We had our sublet in Silverlake, which was very nice. Amber had a steady job in Pasadena. I landed a job with an architect, and was very excited. I had a great first day on the job. I returned to work my second day, to my boss telling me he doesn't have enough time to train me. There were some curse words floating through my head at the time, but I took a breath and went with, "Sail on silver girl. Sail on by." Acually I didn't, but that would have been good, right? So I spent some time at the library and the mac store, looking for jobs and houses. I picked up a couple tile jobs that helped out a great deal. Then we were off to the next sublet in Monrovia. While there we found a great place for rent. We applied for it and a few days later were told that after narrowing it down to us and another, he went with a more suitable fit. With time and money running out, we got a couple parking tickets, spilt water and broke both ipods, and returned to Big Bear with two broken cars, which brings us up to date.

I apologize for being a big fat farting baby about all this. Amber and I really did have a nice time making friends, learning things, and growing together. And we're not giving up. We just need to get a few items fixed up and payed off. But for now we're in Big Bear and it's autumn. The leaves are turning tone and the crisp air is beginning to bleed through our summer clothes. It's high time I pull out the old smoking jacket and vampire costume. Also, if anyone wants to come up and get some last minute fishing in, just holla.

Sorry Friends

We're making some changes at the moment, and we have no internet. This really really bites in my opinion. My wife doesn't mind so much. I am at a library right now, where the computers are free and the air conditioning is blessed. When we are more settled, which will hopefully be soon, we will update everyone. For now, our phones are still on. That's about it.

Had a crazy ass weekend

Drove to San Diego Hotel at midnight Friday. Surfed Saturday. Well, really sucked at surfing Saturday. Swam in pool. Drank beer. Drank bloody mary's. Drank bloody beers. Bought baseball cap. Went to Padre game. Boo'd Bonds. Drank bloody beers. Swam in pool. Went to PB. Got bro'd. Went to LA. Looked for job. Got lost. Went to LBC. Got drunk. Went to Pasadena. Drank wine. Got douched. Ate stuffed burgers. Got fireworks. Toked Hooka. Came to BB.

Two Things

One: Built to Spill. Last night I had the pleasure of being reminded just how much they kick ass live.

Two: Subway Sandwiches. I think that in order for one to obtain a position of employment at one of these fine family eateries, one must be missing at least two teeth.

Nevermind

My Vegas trip ended before it beganded. But thanks for the support Mike. Let's go sometime.

Viva

I'm driving to Sin City tonight with Nate. We will eat buffet food with Rosie, gamble just long enough to get one free drink, then come home in time for work in the morning.

A Late Invite

Tomorrow is the wife's birthday. Amber will be 26. We will be raising glasses from 8:00pm on at the Red Lion if you would like to join us. Hopefully we'll see you.

Teeth

Long story short, I'm sitting in church chewing gum. A filling falls out of a tooth. I swallow this filling. I go to the dentist. Dentist tells me I need a crown. I get sad, and a little scared. I make an appointment. I go to the dentist again. I get drilled. Dentist tells me I need a root canal. I get really sad, almost depressed, and a little bit mad. I get temporary crown, and make an appointment, which brings us up to date.

I'll let you know how this goes, but for now, i say teeth are shit. Little pieces of it all stuck up in our gums, and I hate shit in my gums.

"Smooth move Ex Lax"

Let that one re-materialize for a while.

It made me laugh by myself.

Where in hell is the problem?

Again we apologize for sucking at blogging. This should be illegal. I don't know that it bothers anyone that much, but I do know that I hate it when I'm all into blogging and I go to check other peoples blogs and they keep saying the same thing. It really really sucks. So again, sorry.

A quick catch up of our month:
-We've been eating at home alot more, for reasons like money and health.
-I landscaped the backyard and we're ready to have a BBQ party.
-We need to have that party soon because we might move in July.
-We got caught up with Lost in time to watch the finale, which was crazy.
-We drove to the Bay Area for the Black wedding.
-We went to the Steinbeck Museum on the way home, which ruled.
-We stayed with the Talbots on the way home, which also ruled.
-I'm way way back into Roller Coaster Tycoon again, and Disc Golf.

We hope everyone is well, and we'll keep you posted on that BBQ party. Also, share with us your May highlights if you'd like.

On a whim

Have you ever been leafing through music at a record shop, bought something simply based on looks, and had it indeed be a good buy? Or a terrible mistake?

For example (Both in 2001):

Good buy: Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life.
Result: Complete Satisfaction. Didn't leave stereo for one month. Still peaks it's head out for weeks at a time.

Bad buy: Dashboard Confessional - So Impossible EP.
Result: Ran around in circles screaming, beating self in forehead and chest. Two hours later, burnt it while crying.

not my achilles!

one of my co-workers tore a ligament in her achilles last tuesday. on saturday one of our clients had to go to the e.r. because her left ankle swelled up two sizes. why did it swell? somehow she damaged her achilles. i don't know what is going on, but i fear i may be next!-a

Sheeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

Evidently I have allergies. I've never had them before. I'm guessing that the Big Man was sitting around, kind of looking about on His shelf, and with me in mind He said, "Hmmmmm, lets seeeeeee, maybeeeeee... no. Hmmmmmmm, hooowwww aboooouuut... THIS!

I can't breathe through my nose and my eyes feel like they have cats stuck in them. I'm eating a T.V. dinner that I can neither taste nor smell. I take a big breath, then a bite, then I chew. I then open my mouth and breathe out, then chew some more, then swallow.

In other news, I was inspired today to buy a ring binded sketch book along with twelve Verithin prismacolor lead pencils. I want to start sketching again, and maybe if they don't suck really bad, just maybe, post a few.

Cool? Cool.

5/26/06

I can't wait for X-Men 3!!!! I love the Wolverine. He is a babe. I want to be the Phoenix or the Professor. Who do you want to be?-a

Sorry that we suck.

We've been slacking big time. And even after slacking this big time I still don't have much to say. How about an update? We're good. We bought new sheets and they rule. We watched Fargo and it made us feel wierd. We're excited for Spring and Summer. We go down the hill way way too often. We might be moving down the hill very soon. We might not. We got the Ipod tape thing for the car and the Ipod tv thing for the house. We got season two of Lost from the lovely Pattersons. We will watch it all tonight. We decided not to buy Bloodhounds. Trailor puked in my car. Buying gas blows my ass off. We want to hang out with everybody, and we should really get a camping trip together. Anyway, there's more, but that's about all for now. We hope everyone is great and that everyone does rad at every day life.

And if you'd like, name your favorite entertainment system, and then your favorite game on that system. Mine would be a tie between Intellivision's Dungeons and Dragons and Original Nintendo's Captain Skyhawk. Do two if you want.

no joke

Ann Lynn has a meeting with MTV today. Nobody is sure what the meeting is about, but it's exciting nonetheless. They got a hold of the EP and called Josh up and asked to meet with the band. While the boys are having their fancy meeting, Andrea and I are going to 3rd street in Santa Monica to shop. Wish all of us well!
p.s. They have a show at the Lava Lounge on Thursday night that is going to be fun. Come on out! -a

disappointed

i just ate a really disgusting hamburger. i hate it. i threw most of the stupid thing away. i can't leave work for lunch today so matt said he would bring me something. i really wanted a meatball sandwich but the stupid meatball sandwich place wasn't open yet. so i settled for a burger from this place called bjs. not bjs the pizza place that they have "down the hill". that place has good food. this is a different bjs and their hamburgers suck. matt will disagree with me, but i'm telling you, they suck. matt had suggested that i get a hot dog from circle k and now i wish i would have. it definately would have been better than that stupid disgusting hamburger! all this to say, i'm going back to eating pizza three meals a day. pizza has yet to let me down.

On the brighter side of things.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching an old toothless couple eat McDonald's Baked Apple Pies.

Good Afternoon, Welcome to Big Bear.

When I'm not drafting or building or maintaining, I'm in the vacation business, or the travel business if you will. I take reservations, book rooms, check in guests, as well as give recommendations for ski rentals and restaraunts and hiking trails. Usually I hate this very much. It's not easy being surrounded by people who are fresh on holiday, excited about buying souvenirs and sleeping in and drinking cosmopolitans. However I've found that with a little effort and a slight adjustment in attitude, my position here can be quite enjoyable. It's a lot like what I imagine Christmas as a father would be like. For example, it's not about you as it is about them. You've had your turn, or will soon. You're in control of first impressions. You set the mood. You can sneak off to the kitchen for a quick brandy blazer and be back before the kids put the batteries into Teddy Ruxpin.
So I don't know if battery operated talking bears have much to do with it, but other than that this is how I feel. Check in day is like Christmas. Our customers are like children. I'm the first person they see. I set the mood. I give them things, not gifts, but room keys and maps, and I send them off in the right direction.
I like to think that I'm a significant part of these peoples time away from home. I like to think that I just might play a role in helping them enjoy their vacation that much more. I like to think that even though I would rather be on vacation, while I'm not, I will do what I can to be a part of or as close to the active remains of the worlds community of travelers.

memory

a few winters ago, when i lived by myself above the liquor store and rosie and suzanne lived in "the slum", suzanne and i had nothing to do. as on most occasions when we have nothing to do we found ourselves at teddy bear drinking coffee. after several hours we had consumed an absurd amount of coffee, were much too hyper for our own good, and reverted back to jr. high and thought it would be a lot of fun to walk to k-mart. we took a cup of coffee to go and began the three-mile walk in the freezing cold snow. about, oh, ten minutes into the walk we realized that this was a dumb idea, not fun at all, and that k-mart was much farther than we thought it was. in order to make the time go by faster and distract us from the cold we decided to sing every song that we knew by heart, starting with bohemian rhapsody. we had so much fun with that one that we switched gears and decided to quote wayne's world in its entirety (we rule at this, by the way). we were part way through when we arrived at k-mart, which was closed, and started making calls for someone to pick us up so we wouldn't have to walk back to teddy bear where my car was parked. we couldn't get a hold of anyone, but we still had wayne's world so we started the walk home. we were in the middle of "did you find bugs bunny attractive in a dress playing a girl bunny?" when we noticed that there was a group of shady looking guys walking behind us. fifteen minutes later they were still behind us and we started to get worried. we started imagining all the things they might do to us. like kidnap us or shank our achilles. we started to get angry, "who do they think they are? they can't mess with us." we formed a plan. if they tried anything we would go completely nuts, we would be a fury of teeth and nails. we got really worked up and brave until we passed through a section of the street with no lights and it seemed very very dark. we lost all our gumption and started running, yelling "no, not my achilles! anything but my achilles!" looking back, i don't think those guys were following us at all and probably thought we were complete freak shows. but that night forever solidified our fear of getting shanked in the achilles.

still?

it snowed six inches last night and it's still coming. i'm annoyed. it's freezing. i don't have any snow boots because three months ago it didn't look like i would need them. i like winter, i like all of the seasons. i love the snow and i love bundling up. but i like these things at their proper time. the appropriate time for snow and winter is from november to the begining of march. sometimes it creeps in a little early in october, that's ok. but this is silly. it's april for god's sake. this isn't alaska, this is southern california! this year in november, december, january, and even february: no snow. in fact, it was kind of warm. no winter like behavior. march rolls around and suddenly winter decides to show up. well i say, you had your chance winter. make room for spring. i want to wear cute shoes. anyway, if this nonsense keeps up through may i'm getting out of here. hey talbots, how is the weather in ventura? can matt and i share a room with ewan?

it's not just the ill timed weather that's getting me down. i just finished reading "gone with the wind" and it's got me in a funk. matt tried to tell me that it's just a book and the people aren't real so i shouldn't get upset. i can't help it. i have to take a little break before i start something else. any suggestions of something to read that is not so emotionally taxing?-a

Good Days of Old

This morning I stood in the shower for probably fourty five minutes, soaking up the hot water, staring at the floor, and reflecting on some good days of the past. I noticed that these good days, for me, all encompass the same qualities. For example, these days usually begin fairly early in the morning. They usually take place in nice weather. They are most often experienced outdoors. They don't fall on or around a work day. And among other things, there is no serious responsibility involved. That is the way life should be lived.

1989: We spent the evening at The Conastoga Hotel playing in the pool and listing off, in order, which rides we were going on the next day. Splash Mountain had just opened. Star Tours was new. I bought a jaw-breaker the size of my head, and licked it three times a day for the next seven years.

1992: After a big day at summer camp I came home to find a Hawaiian Luau Birthday party waiting for me. All my friends were present, including Derek, Josh, Seth, Steve, Chad, and Danny. That night we watched Stand By Me, and then I beat Chad at Blades of Steal.

1997: Last day of my sophmore year. We ditched and went out to the rocks, where we jumped in the lake, lounged in the sun, drank Cactus Cooler, and listened to NOFX until nightfall.

1999: We went to the Heule's cabin on the edge of Zion in Utah. We had an early breakfast at a local ranch, rode horseback through the hills, had lunch on the trail, headed back to the ranch for a climbing wall, took a dip in the pool, played paintball, rode quads through the desert at sunset, and went back to the cabin to shoot rifles and skewer up shish-kebabs

2001: Derek and I were in the middle of a backpacking trip down the coast of California, just north of Santa Cruz, when we decided to mellow out for the day and find a place to sleep. We found a thicket of bushes with a cave like grotto inside, where we set camp. We sat on the edge of the cliff to share a few cigarettes and watch the sun go down. Then we gathered driftwood, had a fire, and ate ramen noodles with salami.

2004: Honeymooning on Oahu. We were up at dawn to rent a car and explore the island. We traveled up the east shore, had lunch on a Macadamia farm, snorkled with sea turtles in a shallow lagoon, leaned into the wind at Nu'uanu Pali, ate "shave" ice on the north shore, hiked the jungle to swim Waimea Falls, and made it back to Waikiki by evening for lobster and coctails.

These were good days. What do we have to do experience more days like this, together, and soon?

Dork

I made one. Don't read it, unless your a dork too.

Who wants to set up a Spring beach camping trip with us?

Nerd

Lately I've developed a fascination with nerdy things. Things that are not nerdy at the surface, but become sometimes very nerdy when i give them the amount of attention that I have been giving them, or desire from them the amount of knowledge that I've been desiring from them.
For example: Polynesian history, zoology and paleozoology, capitalism, model railroads, architecture and the American arts and crafts movement, linguistics, and cartography to name a few.
It's strange, this transformation from the young, social, on the go, pursuer of all things hip, to the not as young, lazy, introvert, beer drinker who shops for globes at thrift stores.
Apparently we grow up.
All this to say the doors of curiosity have been re-opened to one of my personal favorite nerdy things.
Disney.
I am hot on the trail of the history of Disney. The channel, the hotel, the world, and most importantly the man, and the land.
We went to Disneyland yesterday. Everything was dressed up in celebration of the 50th year anniversary. I have always loved Disneyland. Who wouldn't. Acually, I know some who don't. Morons. I have been a pass holder a few times, I have gone many times, and I have set a true affection on that park. Throughout my years of going to Disneyland I have become somewhat of a purist. For example, I wanted to burn down Tarzan's climb when it replaced the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. I wept when The Country Bear Jamboree became The Many Adventures of Whinnie the Pooh. And a fire was lit in my heart yesterday when I saw that the little catfish place on the Rivers of America had become a McDonalds french fry and coke stand. These things are crimes. These things make little kids fat. These things make me sad.
There are so many things I would like to touch on. I may even start a Disneyland blog. For now, I'll read what Al Lutz has to say.
My question to you is this:
Stick with and fix up what the people know and love? Or, out with the old in with the new?

In U, S, and A

Very rich people like to drink 'a wine.

Moving on. I've been back at Double E Design two days a week, and it's been very good to me. On days like today I'm reminded of the reasons why I do want to pursue this trade, which are: the artistic expression, the creative freedom (for the most part), and the 1/2 office to 1/2 field time ratio, among other things. Some days I'm at the drafting table, with talk radio and a pot of coffee. Some days I'm measuring up a sunny job in the field, then plopping down on a pile of sawdust to enjoy a ham sandwich with a mexican framer.
Today I was on a new addition marking walls and shooting grades for an As Built. The client was dishing me up some tea and ginger snaps when I took a laid-back gander around the room and thought to myself, "I just might be able to do this".
Nonetheless an occasional day creeps into the mix where I grow frightened, mislaid, and confused. Yet every new day is just that, a new day. I read it put best by a fellow blogger (Mr. Hamilton) this morning, "I'm not stuck with any one profession".
I'll raise a glass to that.

In our Headlines:
My car is back, rip roarin' with her new tranny.
We will say goodbye to Ol' Yeller, but she's getting her very own blog farewell, coming soon (sniff, sniff).
Supper Club weekend. Food. Wine. Beer. Port. Snow.
My wife reads much more than I do. Her book is featured here.
I am a Nicolas Cage fan.

Nashville Trip

On the second of March Amber and I along with a couple friends made our way out to Nashville Tennessee to visit The Colour boys, who were in town to make a record, as well as to see some sights. Here are a few photos from our time.

On the plane. Two books, one ipod, one crossword puzzle, two and a half packs of peanuts, three bud lights, one bloody mary, two games of hold 'em, and a bag of swedish fish.


It does indeed exist.


A long game of Kings Cup back at the house.


Heading out for a day on the town.


Steven M. Black. 2nd St. Downtown Nashville.


Momma and I at the Opry


The Members Only Blues


That's Amber, and that's the CMT building in the distance.
Country Music Television Y'all!


Wonderin' back home. I enjoy this photo.


Derek was happy to see us. This is at The Mellow Mushroom,
a.k.a. The Best Damned Pizza in the South.


This is Wyatt throwing a bowling ball mach 3. This bowling alley was in the boons, about 45 minutes east of the city. We saw true Heshins.


This is one of the few photos I have of the house we stayed in, which upsets me. This house is lovely, 101 years old, original wood floors, fireplaces in every room, huge front veranda, rocking chairs, and located in the Historical District no less.


Here is a before photo of mine and Derek's home-made backyard firepit.


And after. Many a good late night talk was had here.
One of my favorite parts of the trip.


Here we are having a down right rocking chair ho-down,
singin' The Ashtray Blues


Davey, sad to see us go.


Dirty, catching Z's on the way home.


It was a great time.
Items not shown but worthy of mention:
-Nate, he was there too, I promise.
-The phrase, "Get stoked, and get awesome!"
-Brass Monkeys, 1 40 O.E. with 1 cup O.J.
-Catfish Tacos at Judge Bean's.
-Tequila shots with Kings of Leon.
-Derek's beautiful, clean, fresh, bedroom.
-Riding Deeptank with Sean.
-Bongo Java.
-The black lady on the bus.
-Bar fight over Sean's hat.
-Wussy band kids out-numbering tough guy frat boys.
-and
-Coming home to three feet of snow.