Sunday, December 27, 2009

Good Christmas

We're up in the snow, by the fire, eating and drinking far too much of everything. It's good to be an American. So blessed. New clothes, books, movies, hard-drives, sewing classes, and gym memberships. We made gifts for people, a dollhouse, masks, art. I'll put photos up soon. Good to be in the mountains. Happy New year.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

W'all back yall

We spent Thanksgiving in San Antonio with the wifes family. Twas good times. Listened to some Conway and some Reba, met the Gloyds for some Cracker Barrel bisquits and steak and eggs, explored the Alamo, boated the river, got a Don't Mess With Texas shirt, watched the Dallas game, spent some money at the Super Wal-Mart, and played bingo out in the sticks with some true homegrown Texans. First time I had Bud light with my pumpkin pie. First time I done cooked up a turkey solo. Amber did most of the other fixins and I don't mean to be as full o wind as a corn eatin horse but it was gooder than grits.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Texas forever

We head to the Lone Star State tomorrow. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Realized

Today I walked through the first thing that has ever been built from something that I somewhat designed and drew. While it's just a duplex of sorts, it was quite an experience to move through the 3D environment that just two months ago was lines and curves on my screen.

Going big friends. Going big.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Pointless

Everybody hates him.

Anyhooooooo, who hath already known of the following?

THE BQE- A Film By Sufjan Stevens from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.


If so, why hath thou not been more exciteth and told thee?

I shall vieweth asapeth.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thoughts?

Like him or hate him, if you can get through this video over here I'd like to hear your thoughts?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

I updated The Modern Classic with bits of some more recent design projects, right over here.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

?

Is there a such thing as a 1/4 life crisis? Because I'm putting 1/2 and 1/2 on everything. And I mean everything.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Weekend

I saw Bon Iver at the Wiltern Friday night. It was the first show I've been to in a while, and it was good. Here is an encore highlight:



Saturday we scaled the mountain for the Heule Oktoberfest. Lots of good beer, log sawing and stein holding competitions.
Saturday night I attended my ten year reunion. Chad's Place. Big Bear Lake. Pretty amazing.

Yesterday I ripped out an old shower. Today I went to school. Tonight I took a quiz:

I didn't cheat, I promise. I answered all the questions honestly.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Broke

As a joke. Looking forward to the day when I can buy a juice-it-up every once in a while, or drive a car with a radio.

On a less whinier note, I've got a 10 year reunion this weekend, as well as an Oktoberfest. Good times.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Yesterday I ate a two day old Reuben.

Today I might eat steak from yesterday.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Update

Brandon and Alex got married last night in downtown Los Angeles. We played a Kinks song for their first dance. It was good.

Mike and Kelly did the same two weeks earlier in Pasadena. Also good.

School is back on. I'm trying to keep my cool. I still have several years to go, and I'm not getting younger. I am, in fact, getting older. It's weird.

I just ate a two day old tuna sandwich. Not feeling so good.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Ah... The great affair is to move, indeed.

Robert Louis Stevenson said that. I only know because I've just looked it up to sound sharp. But it is a fine quote. I partook in the great affair for 12 days earlier this month, and have been wandering around in a cloud since my return. I've caught the fever.

There are too many good tales and great photos to include here, but I've managed to compile a few of both the Mouse's and my own in a quick slide show. The awesome ones are his. Those less awesome are probably mine.



Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up...

Matt Bethancourt and myself drove a Penske moving truck from Los Angeles to New York City by way of the Northern United States of America.
We hiked, sipped, napped, and ate Tri Tip with our fellow campers in Yosemite.
We drove the straits of insanity in Northern Nevada exploring abandoned truck stops and filling out post cards to our better halves back home.
We ate breakfast for dinner at Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, then blasted Built To Spill as the evening turned into Idaho.
We cowboy camped under the stars, talking politics and sharing a handle of Makers Mark.
And wow, lunch at the Silver Horseshoe equals America. Biscuits and gravy covered in bacon, Idaho potatoes, Camels, Buds, coffee, and the husband of our stout waitress playing World of Warcraft on what may have been the only wifi for miles.
We passed through Montana, and passed the Makers whilst doing so.
We soon entered Wyoming and Yellowstone. We saw Old Faithful in the 34 degree wind, watched the sun go down over Lewis Lake, drove around Yellowstone Lake and over the Continental divide.
We camped in Grizzly country without bear lockers, where we were attacked in the middle of the night. Not by bears, oh no. Worse. Osprey. Aka the Devil’s bird. The Mouse slept happily through this. I did not.
We blew a flat just short of South Dekota, and sat for four hours while a guy whose name was most likely Bubba and his girlfriend drove to the next state to find us a tire.
We drove through Deadwood as the sun set again, and pulled into the Mount Rushmore parking area just in time for the lighting ceremony, which was followed immediately by the departure of every soul but the Mouse and I, which was soon followed by epic, nonstop lightning (most of which was captured by Bethancourt's sweet camera skillz) , which was followed by the swiftest gale of wind I’ve ever known, which was followed by the most treacherous hale storm I’ve ever been in, which was followed by thick Black Hills rain and steamy roads. Awesome, then scary. Matty sprung for a double queen smoking room in Rapid City that night.
We drove across the rest of the state, then down through Iowa and Missouri, by way of several Cracker Barrels and several million fire flies.
We ate at Waffle House then pulled into the Harbaugh’s in the wee hours of the morning, slept shortly, ate a lovely breakfast, and hit the streets of St. Louis. The Arch, Citygarden, a free Sheryl Crow show, stuffed pizza and shuffleboard, and some Ricky Gervais netflix.
We drove over five states and stopped to camp in the sort of Appalachians of Pennsylvania. We ate chili and drank some of the park owner’s Southern Comfort.
We drove across the rest of the state, through a bit of New Jersey, and spent several hours trying to get the truck through Manhattan and into Brooklyn, where we unloaded it, and where it got tagged.

Then it was New York City for several days.

So that's the summed up version. Twas a really great time.

Thanks Matt B.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

Trailer

April 15th 1995 - June 24th 2009

Photobucket

I tried to take it like a man when we took him in, but I failed. With tears in my eyes I just stared at him and said, "I love you, I love you, I love you".

There will never be another like him.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

wrote a post

Wednesday night. Came home. Ate a quick dinner with A. Went to Kaveh's. Drank coffee. Worked on early stages of studio final till 7am. Came home. Slept till 10am. Showered. Ate cheerios. Worked more. 12 noon, drove to Kinkos for prints. Went to class. Presented. Skipped next class. Came home. Drank a beer. Ate leftover pizza. Drove to Andy's. Walked to liquor store. Walked to Metro. Rode gold line to Union. Rode red line to downtown. Walked to the Golden Gopher. Drank two beers. Walked to Staples Center. Saw Fleetwood Mac. Caught a drunk lady falling down the stairs. Drank a beer. Snuck down to the floor level. Watched the encore from the foot of the stage. Took crappy cellphone photos. Tried to sneak backstage. Got asked to leave. Grabbed a set list. Got some Brits to give us their stickers. Got into the Lexus Lounge. Drank a beer. Found out the Metro stops at midnight. Called A. Got picked up at 9th and Union. Told stories. Dropped off Andy. Came home. Went to bed. Dreamed of gypsies.

FM
FMSL

Friday, May 08, 2009

Saturday, April 18, 2009

WHISKEY!

Padres won last night. Close call. Good game.

Just spent a half hour reading old entries. I hate the way I write.

Packing up to go swim and hang with friends at a Hilton.

On Spring break.

The Beatles breath in through their teeth when they sing Girl.

WHISKEY!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Politics part deux

Couldn't pass this up.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has approved adding about 17,000 U.S. troops for the flagging war in Afghanistan, administration, defense and congressional officials said Tuesday.

8,000 Marines, then 9,000 Army... After that 5,000 protesters will hit the streets in Berkeley, 7,000 in San Francisco, 8,000 in New York, 4,000 in... wait what? Really? They're not?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Reagan did it better

Didn't Obama say that he wouldn't sign a bill until the people have had a chance to read it, then comment? That wasn't too long ago right? The members haven't even read it, which makes me think that our chances of understanding what's in this thing by Monday are slim. For now, I guess we can try.

Washington is currently not bi-partisan. Not even close. And the majority seem to support ideas that do not reach down and "stimulate" the poor, struggling, lower class. They punish the successful. What's the point of embracing the opportunity that is America, only to get hurt, when I can collect checks for sitting on my front porch and eating flaming hot Cheetos and downloading new ring tones?

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Four Score and Seven if by Sea is Well on the Western Front

We are currently up in the snow. We came up the other night to visit family, and help out in the office. Last night we played Wii, then played cards and chatted into the night with Keith and Karen and Mom and Dad. I do love the mountains. I would like to get into some serious mountains, seriously soon. Somewhere like this. That is a photo of a peak called Bear Creek Spire, east of Bishop Ca. in the High Sierra. I've been there as a child. We backpacked up a series of five lakes for a couple days, until we reached to foot of the Spire. There was a lake that was so fresh, one could stick one's face right in and slurp up the icy water. That's where I'd like to go soon. I always assumed that as a young, married man, I would camp and backpack and hike a lot. But I don't. Why is this? We have the gear. We live near some of the worlds most beautiful terrain. So why don't we go? This, my friends, is the question... Wait... I've just had an apostrophe! Lightning has just struck my brain! This is just coming to me now, literally as I type. None of this preplanned - "I'm going to blog about this this afternoon" - stuff. What if I began hiking? Start small. Realistic. Say every other weekend. Start local. There is a beautiful hike up the Arroyo Seco watershed, literally out my front door. It goes up to the Rose Bowl, underneath the Colorado Bridge. That's it. That's where I begin. When? Saturday Feb. 21st. Late morning. I have shows both Fri and Sat night, but I think I can make it work. So late in the morning on Saturday the 21st, I will pack a lunch and walk out my front door, up the Arroyo, and back. Does anyone want to join me? If so, let me know. And on this hike we will plan the next one. Good.

In other news:

Last week my boss and I presented a project to the 136th wealthiest man in America. It was big time. The presentation consisted of a few of my designs and renderings, as well as others. It was as real world as I've ever seen.

Last week I pulled into our driveway, and when I got out to open the gate and pull the rest of the way in, I realized that my truck was still in gear. Just like a scene in a movie, it rolled, by itself, through the gate, busting the lock and slamming it open, while I'm running for the brake pedal between the truck and the trees. I stopped it before it went into the garage, but was shaken nonetheless. It's funny now.

Shepard Fairey, of the Obey brand fame, is a moron. I heard him on NPR the other night talking about how he was arrested for putting up the now famous, communist-ish Obama Hope poster on private property. He said the police were treating him inhumanely because he couldn't get comfortable in the back of the cruiser.

School starts in two weeks. I'm 50% excited, 50% dreading it. All-nighters... bring the pain.

Ten points to the first one to get the Hook quote.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Still alive

I swear. We still exist. One (blogger) would not think it but we do. Many things to catch up on, with more time preferably. But for now: new job, two weeks in, architectural firm, office, presentations, meetings, pro-clothes, the whole bit. Good times. Hung out with Bob Dylan's (and a gazillion others) ex drummer the other night. Dude came out to our ramble, and was as down to earth as could be. Watched classic Tom Petty footage with the Cassidys. Watched LOST with the Gloyds. The times they are-a-still-a-goin. Ski trip soon. Who's in?

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Mountain top

Yesterday, we stood at the top of a mountain. Then we went down it, over and over again.

Happy '09 again. Every New Year, my wife and I toast each other saying,
"If the rest is as good
as the path we've known,
Here's Hail!
To the end of the road."

There's that, and this. The planet - a model.

The North Wind Blew South from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Oh Nine

I very well may have gained fifteen or twenty over this holiday. Maybe even just within the last couple days. My dad has had non-stop mole going in the crock pot. Non-stop! In all of it's ground peanut and chili goodness. There is beer and wine flowing from my ears. There is fire in the fireplaces of my family, and snow just outside. It is good times.

To update: The semester ended well. Great reviews and great grades. Christmas went well. San Diego with the wife's family. Fun times and fun gifts including books on Anthony Bourdain's recipes and architecture, dvd's on Planet Earth, salt and pepper shakers and underwear and M. Ward tickets. We made the trek up the mountain on the 26th for a Pool Christmas and New Year, and here we are. We've done Pong's Thai, Maggio's Pizza, Nottinghams Beer and Prime Rib, Teddy Bear's Coffee. We will shred the slopes. Then we will leave.