Road Trip #2 - Photos

Hi. My Flickr account is being poopy so I grabbed a couple of quick photos to stick here. Hopefully I can get the lot of them up asap.
An update: Portland is cool. The weather is weird, but people say if you don't like it just to wait five minutes. They're right. Sprinkly and dark one minute. Sunny and hot the next. I love it. We went to a theater the other night and had some food and some beer and watched Arrested Development. That was sweet. And last night we went to a Beaver's game(Triple A future Padres). That was sweet too. So for now, here these are:

The tunnel up the 101.


The Bridge Street Inn.


Joseph B. Strauss' Bridge.


Mr. Talbot.


A Redwood, next to Amber.


Portland.


Nickel arcade.


Chris and Sean.


Rocco's pizza.


My bebe.


Me.


The ghosts of S.and S.


Joey.


Joey.


Rose garden.


More later.

Road Trip

I'm writing from a small coffee shop on 39th in Portland. We've been in town for a few days now and are having a great time. Initially my plan was to write every day, or close to it. Instead I've been making a lot of fart noises with my mouth, and not posting. For that I am sorry. So I will do my best to get caught up.
Day 1. We made our way down to Los Angeles to spend some time with friends. Amber and the ladies threw a party for Becca and we doods played golf, and later lit a backyard on fire.
Day 2. Then it was off to San Diego to visit Grandparents who are moving to Texas. We checked into a fancy hotel and had a fancy dinner, compliments of Mom and Dad's Christmas giving’s. We visited G and G Pool the next day, as well as our good ol' boy Trailer, and then crashed at Uncle Tom's house.
Day 4. We were up with the sun, and made our way back up the 5. We had a sweet breakfast in Pasadena with Matt and Lisa, and then it was up the 101 to Cambria, where we checked into the Bridge Street Inn hostel. This place was beautiful. We walked around town, and decided on a little place called Robin's for dinner, where I had a braised lamb shank, and Amber ate lobster enchiladas. We enjoyed a bottle of wine, compliments of the aforementioned M and L, and called it a lovely night.
Day 5. The next day we drove up the 1 through San Simeon, Big Sur, and stopped for lunch at a little pub in downtown Monterey. Then it was through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and on to Santa Rosa to stay with the Talbot's. We spent the night catching up and playing around with the boy.
Day 6. We had a laid back morning. Breakfast at the Omelet Express. A few photos with Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Then up to the redwoods, where we hiked beneath the massive giants. It was beautiful to say the least. We stood in the silent presence of greatness, and we were glad. After that we bbq'd and, being in wine country and all, drank wine. We talked into the night, then slept.
Day 7. We had early coffee, hugged goodbye, and drove to Redding. I drug Amber around town to all the old hangouts. Then we caught up with Peter at an indoor soccer game he was playing. We had pizza and visited a F. L. Wright church that I had never seen, and then went back to the Black's place for cocktails and lot's of Wii Bowling.
Day 8. Coffee at Sue's, a few goodbyes, and the 5 north. Peter hitched a ride with us, which meant Amber, who was peacefully reading her book in the backseat, had to put up with us blasting Dragonforce all the way to Lake Shasta. We had lunch in Ashland at The Black Sheep. Shepherds Pie and Beans on Toast. Then the long haul through the rain to P-town. We got in to Suz's, and caught up for a bit. Drove down to Joey's work for some soup and free beer. Then spent the rest of the evening playing pool at a sweet McMenamins bar called The Backstage.
Day 9. Breakfast at The Cup and Saucer. The Hell's Huevos were completely awesome. After that we headed downtown to snoop around. Powell's books is everything I've heard and some. Time consuming. We made our way back over the river for hot dogs, ping pong, and buck twenty-five Pabst at Zach's Shack. Then we went to The Avalon, which was probably Amber's favorite place so far. Two words. Nickel Ski-ball. Among other amazing five cent arcade games. After that it was darts at The Horse Brass.
Day 10. Coffee and Bagels at Chris's work. Downtown to 23rd Street to shop around and book the wife a haircut. Then back for Joey's acoustic show at 9 Muses, where we ran into a young lady by the name of Annie Bethancourt, also playing. We spent the rest of the night maxin' there, a'sippin.
Day 11. Today. A Monte Cristo at The Cricket. Some photo swapping back at Joey's place, a.k.a. The Purple Barn. And then it was goodbye to Peter, Sean, and Scarlett. And here we are.

So far this town has been a lot of fun. My opinion as of now is: Lots and lots of good food and sweet hangouts, amazing houses, and piles of liberal hippies. Now our goal is to get down to business. Visit schools, and really figure things out. We'll let you know how it goes. And I'll get some photos up asap.

So today I uh, pet a wolf. You know, nothing crazy. That's what I do sometimes. I pet wolves.

Let's burn some dust here. Eat my rubber!

Our departure date is set at June 4th. And we should be back on or around the 28th, to, i guess pack up and go where ever it is we will go. Fun drivey times draw nigh. Friends long since seen. School visits. Future plannings. Lot's of expensive gas. Eventually documenting our exodus into the wild unknown. But before then, work. And more work. Then a camping jaunt to the nuclear tits as I believe rp put it. Sweet.

Does anyone have a thule rack we could borrow?

Breaking the seal

It's been a bit since I've roamed these parts.
We've been making plans, and working alot. Trying to save some dinero for the road. Packing. I built a sandbox for the kids, and there's a good chance I'll be in it more than they will. Lately I've been bbq-ing dinner to baseball on the am radio, brews, and beautiful sunsets, and quite enjoying it. I've also just closed some three or four books that I'm not currently feeling, and, at the request of d, begun reading The Fountainhead. It's a thick'n, but great so far.

That's it for now.

The working day has ended,

and I'm at home drinking cold Coors light. I spent it picking up Water Will Serve letter's, picking up trash, and schmoozing a client. "Ya man, we'll have your carpet in and your door knobs on and your wine fridge in by the weekend man. No worries. Totally."
Will we? I think so.
I've been doing alot of electrical plans lately, and I've come to a conclusion that no shower should ever go without a can light directly above it. That's how we did ours and I will say it's a beautiful thing. Bright shining nudity in the morning.
Dinosaur Jr. will play on Friday, and I will be there.
We're packing up the house, and it's weird, and I filmed it so we will always remember it.
And yes, I youtubed it.

So

Fantasy baseballin', coffee drinkin', Dinosaur Jr. concert figure outin', and about to be a' fence buildin'.

Y'all?

M and L B, and the MLB

We had a fun weekend. Friday night at the with-child Newlove's for ice cream. Later at M and L B's where, after midnight, we partook in some beer, martini's, Patron, absinthe, more tequila, some sherry wine, and The Office. Chilaquiles and a Bloody Mary for breakfast. Later it was off to Ventura where 32's of High life were had in a parking lot, followed by a Rio Bravo church benefit. Then a late night trek down the 5 to San Diego for some work, family times, and an insane but ultimatly depressing game at Petco, where the Dodgers ended up taking a 5-4 win after 17 innings. Bummer. Other than that... tired.

Strange indeed

I shaved, and it made my cheeks look chubby and my mouth look like a little beak.
We went to Vegas for a few days where we saw the in-laws, hung with Rose, drank Keith Richards' at Nate's bar, won money at the roulette wheel, and played pool in some heshin ass corner of the city.
The Bethancourt's ascended the mountain for one of the most layed back weekends we've had in a while. We offroaded to Butler Peak, now a.k.a. Butthole Peak. Nottingham's with Josh and Andrea. Cards with Kahlúa and milk until 5 a.m. In fact yesterday we left the house only to puff a pipe and buy some Rolling Rock.
It's strange to think that we are only going to be on the homestead for another month. Strange indeed.

I want to play rock music soon.
I want to test myself all the day long.

It's blowin up a gale

There was random snow today and wind that blew my beanie off. Basically sucky stupid weather.
I was going to have to go the San Diego for work today, but I didn't. Instead I had my hair cut. And tonight I think I'll shave my beard. On Sunday Shane said to my brother, "For not being able to grow a beard, Matt can grow a pretty mean beard." But it's buggin. It's prickly and thick and food gets in it. So I'm going to shave it.
Been in the mood lately for old music. Old Shins and American Analog Set. Yo La Tengo and American Football and Badly Drawn Boy. Some old Death Cab and Elliott Smith. Nostalgic stuff.
Speaking of nostalgia, I was youtubing old cartoons like Talespin and Darkwing Duck. But this one really took me back:


P.S. Grey's Anatomy, I'm afraid I'm hooked.

Not soon enough

road
Originally uploaded by mattamberpool.

Come the end of May the wife and I will finally hit the road. For a few weeks we will be held down by nothing, and I cannot stand to wait. Destinations may include but are not limited to: The PCH, San Simeon, San Fran, Santa Rosa, Redding, Grants Pass, Eugene, Portland, Truckee/Tahoe, Yosemite, Vegas, Phoenix, and whatever else. I'm looking forward to it. Good stops? Anybody?

¡Felíz Pascua!

Zany Week

-We spent the better part of it under the impression that Amber was with child. Sparks flew. Emotions ran high. As we were discussing when and how to brake the news we found that she was indeed not pregnant, but a bit behind. This moment was met with both relief and sorrow, and has since had us thinking, maybe sooner? We shall see. There are just too many beautiful babies being birthed these days. The niece and nephew, the Chapman baby, and the fresh Hamilton baby. Ah the chapters of life.

-Less significant but still exciting, the ol' humble abode is currently in escrow, and is scheduled to close at the end of May. Finally our plan to lift anchor is in view. But before that, we want to have a last hoorah, if you will. Maybe early May. We'll make some solid plans, and spread the word. A farewell post, maybe some photos, can be expected from the wife.

-Snow Bladed my guts out on Monday with Mr. Patterson.

-Got a sweet phone call from D, in Florida at the time.

-Amber got employee of the month. She rules.

Shit's going down

Lots.
All good.
More soon.

High of 24° Mañana.

That's dumb.

Doing a tile job for Mom and Dad.
Getting paid by way of a new notebook with fancy video for games and crap.
Excited to be online from home like the rest of the world.
Excited for this sweet action to come out.
Excited for baseball to begin.
Not happy about the return of the cold.
Excited for the return of the heat, which includes bicycles, flip flops, hair cuts and beard cuts, beer over bbq'd fish, and offroad's to Butler Peak.

Books! Check Em' Out!

i love subbing at elementary schools because i always come across the best books. the last two days i was in a 3rd grade class and i borrowed and read a book called the tale of despereaux. give it a read! it will fill you with light and make you crave soup!-a

...

Saint Pat's this year was all kinds of radical. Sweet friends. Good food. Oceans of beer. Nintendo Wii. A haphazard fantasy ball team. And a new default conversation topic which is, as Matt B. observed about nine times, "Come to Big Bear! Man totally come hang in Big Bear!"

I am lame. But honestly... come to Big Bear
I'm thinking a weekend after the lake opens to boats. I'll get a cabin, or we can camp. I'll get a pontoon to bbq on and swim from. Doods and doodettes. Doods can fish and drink beer, and doodettes can like, make candles out of pinecones and shit. When's good?

Spring is in the air

Who wants to go fishing?

It is Nice Day! I LIKE!

Waxing the neighbors hacked world wide web waves.

It really is wonderful outside. I think when Amber gets home we will break out the cruisers and hit the bike path, and maybe a hot dog. For some reason I'm in the mood for a hot dog. At a ball game. Soon enough.
Last night we went out with some of Amber's Bear Mt. work buddies. We ate and drank Mexican. Then drank bowling. It was alot of fun getting to know some new people with different interests who live in the same town. And now I've got a fishin' friend for fartin' and fiddle faddle.

An Update:
300 cut my turds yesterday.
Thermopylae reading is adding a wrinkle to my brain.
Wilco does a beautiful thing with "Sky Blue Sky".
Modest Mouse does an almost annoying thing with "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank". Though parts are good.
Kings of Leon do an almost cheesy thing with "Because of the Times". However I'm enjoying it. It's like they've given up being something fashioned and are just sticking with the first sounds that come along. It grooves.
This guy did a nice thing by giving me the above three.
The Sword will ignite my hair and burn my head into a scabby ball on Monday.

F-ing F-ancy.

This past weekend's Magic Kingdom trip was certainly a pleasure, thanks to the above two. We were given free admission with our comp. Club 33 park hopper's. Our dinner reservations were for 5:45pm, which gave us loads of time, so we grabbed breakfast in Downtown Disney at The La Brea Bakery. Panini's topped with fried eggs. Then we hit Tower of Terror right off the bat. After that we pretty much just cruised, sharing our Disney facts and enjoying the environs. We fit in a rickety Matterhorn trip, a turkey leg (new to me), some Shooting Gallery, pineapple softserve in The Tiki Room, mint juleps with fritters, the wildest ride in the wilderness, some goat petting, parade crossing, and a not that rad new Space Mountain jaunt. By now it was about 5:30pm, making it time for real awesomeness!
We then made our way back to New Orleans Square while I threw on a sweater. We snapped a few in front of the door, rang the bell, and were let in. We checked our bags and chit-chatted with the hostess about some of the history. Then we piled into the French lift to the second floor, where a second hostess was waiting. Leisurely we were guided through Walt's final creation. It was bigger and more picturesque than I had expected, with exquisite attention to every last detail. We walked through a lounge alley, past a great bar and wine locker, into the main dining room. On every wall was hung original concept art pieces for The Haunted Mansion and The Pirates of the Caribbean. Our table was just next to a patio french door, and set with fine china. Our server Curt was textbook, answering any question, and describing each plate with flawless definition. Everything was right in the world. I put a couple photos here and a poorly lit video here. Dinner for me went as follows, less the flawless definition:
A Grey Goose Martini.
A gourmet cheese dish with a sage and a brie who's names fail me.
A Pinot Noir bottle who's name also slips my mind.
A crab tart of some kind.
A Filet Chateaubriand with sauce Bearnaise and Perigourdine, potatoes and assorted veggies.
A mousse dish with an awesome topping sauce and sorbet pastry.
A glass of Tawny Port.
Coffee.

So there you have it, hence the title.

Honorable mentions:
Had a fun fun rock show with Rio Bravo.
Amber met Buster Bluth.

Recapitated!

Not sure where to go over this chicken soup. Last weekend The Pattersons and soon to be Harbaughs ascended the mountain for some major max outage, where many a great time was had. Except for Murray's. That place is really slacking with the good dive vibe lately. Nonetheless we made the best of it. Highlights? The term Spread Savage was birthed and used extensively. We broke our "Stay Up Super Late Playing Celebrity And Drinking Super Amounts Of Beer" record. Matt and Lisa, we need a rematch. Seriously. We displayed awesome ski skills on the slopes, followed by awesome bloody mary swollowing skills at the lodge. All in all a sweet weekend. Who else wants to come? We love company. Really. Or who wants to camp soon? Spring time?
So today was nice. It's been awhile since I've had a break in work with nothing to do. I awoke around nine, went in to work and finished a 10 acre plot plan in 1/30 scale. Then I had lunch with my Dad. Then I went and had a soy latte and worked on my book. It was great to be on my own and utilize this little town for more than just sleeping and working.
We finished Arrested Development last night. That made us sad. What a great show.
I think I'll shred on Saturday. Club 33 on Sunday! Rio Bravo show Monday. Be there! Then next week someone will love our house and make a sweet offer. Then we'll sell it and hit the road for a bit. Then we'll win 10,000 bucks on a scratcher and fly to Acapulco where we'll eat fish and smoke hand rolled cigarettes and wear straw hats and short shorts.
Good. I'm glad we've got that figured out.

Snowed today.

33

In less than a week the ever closed doors, that to me once represented something only dreamt about, will be opened.
In less than a week the curtains of exclusivity will be pulled away, and we will be VIP, even if just for a moment.
In less than a week, we dine at Walt's finest.

The anticipation bubbles deep within my entrails.

Still the fave

Mock Orange do it again. Have a listen.

Pour la France!

Everytime I see a Sofia Coppola film I feel like, "Auh... whatever. It was cool and all but, uuhh." Then sure enough it creeps up and haunts me. My thoughts and dreams and the way I talk. Then I watch it again and feel as though I'm watching the greatest movie I will ever put into my eyes and ears, feeling like I have a connection with it that only I can understand. It's wierd that it can go from making a fart noise with my mouth about it, to rewinding a part over and over. But it can, and such was the case with Marie Antoinette lastnight. Very well done, and one I'd like to own. I thought the music was bueno, particularly in this scene where she uses The Cure, followed by the party scene to New Order. Good stuff. And a good picture. Recommended. I've since been burning my eyes up on the French Revolution, and all of it's little linked what have you's. That's it.

Lost tonight. With dessert.

Let me eat cake, oui oui.

So I went ahead and picked me up a viral upper respiratory tract infection.

The amount of crap that has flowed from my nose today could fill nine pickle jars. Maybe next time I'm battling the ravages of the common cold, I'll avoid drinking colossal amounts of beer from sun up to sun down.

This would cheer up anybody

It did the job for me.
"Why the bitching?" you might ask. Well Arch. school is looking like more of an '08 thing than an '07 thing right now. In other words, I'll be receiving my degree in a wheelchair.
I don't know what the problem is. The lack of significance that I or my parents placed on my education maybe? I barely graduated high school because I ditched more than I attended. I would rather sit in my car eating donuts and listening to Screeching Weasel. I applied to bible college about two weeks before classes started, just because I saw everyone else going to college. That lasted one semester, of writing half assed papers on justification by faith and sneaking up to the back 40 to smoke cloves. Then I dicked around a couple of bro'd out community colleges and dropped out to deliver pizza. And here I sit, eight years a high school graduate, no where near what I envisioned as a boy. I'm not unhappy with who I am. I've learned a lot, married my soul mate, and have gained some valuable work experience. Yet I regret some of the choices I've made.
So what did I do? I came home last night, got drunk on Beefeater, and cried to my wife about it. And she's so good. She cuddled her husband's bitchy little head in her lap, played with his stupid hair, and proceeded to lift up the shades on the situation.
So there you have it. And it's a new day. And I'm ditching church to sit at home in my underwear and play on the internet. But it's nice, rain outside, tea inside. No sense dwelling on the past. It's time to sludge through the glop that is my educational near future.

And to my wife, that road trip is looking better and better by the second.

Sometimes I hate myself

And trying to go back to school makes me want to puke.

An update, and other truths

I'm ass tired. Today I worked way out in the countryside, driving a three geared dump truck, pulling up fence posts, and petting horses.
Arrested Development has been really making us laugh lately. I think Buster Bluth is collectively the favored character, with Gob close behind.
I've also been flixing The Sopranos, and watching them without the company of the wife. For some reason she's just not into them. I'm not sure if it's the drug abuse, or the nudity, or the language and relentless violence. Just not sure.
And while on the subject of televised entertainment, Lost is again ruling my life. Last night's episode was very satisfactory indeed.
M and L Bethancourt ascended the mountain for some hang time that went by far too quickly. Pesto Premavera pizza, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and a gem of a card game by the name of Hand and Foot were enjoyed into the wee hours. Good times were had.
I've been spinning a great Kinks album called Muswell Hillbillies, thanks months back to one D Heule and one N Warkentin. "Here Come The People In Grey, To Take Me Away!"
I was let off work early the other day, when I drove right home, put on my boots, grabbed up the ol' M3, and hit the slopes with the wife for the first time this year. It's was beautiful. So much so in fact, that I was filled with awe, which I believe allows me to say it was Awesome!

Rosie you said it.

Uninspired. And I don't think a song can help me here. I need something more. Something robust and warm, like Spring.
Or Budweiser.

That's it.
Lots and lots of warm Budweiser.

Droning day in and day out. Work. Then work. Then come home too tired to do anything but go to bed at nine. We make ourselves nervous sometimes doing this. What are we becoming? We need action. We need to shake it off. And we will. This weekend friends will come up, and max. And this year we will drive to Portland, and see about living there.

Sage Clips

A trip to a fancy studio
+ A few poorly lit video segments
+ A new but limited Windows Movie Maker
+ Two lunch breaks

= This, the first of many probably not great movies.

And tonight at Detroit Bar

I'd do some guest list action but... it's free.
So come haaaaaannngggg!!!

Doods and Doodettes

We Ann Lynn boys will be playing at Spaceland tomorrow evening with The Colour boys, so come hang. If indeed you do want to come le' may know, and I'll see about doin' some guest list action. Sweet? Sweet.

I like the new Shins.

Other things get crazy.

Weekend - Rose, Suz, Jen and Shant in town, smokin' Church Warden's, and puttin' cocktails away.
Yesterday - Rio Bravo rehersal in Pasadena.
J11 - Rio Bravo show at Spaceland.
J14 - Ann Lynn rehersal in Riverside.
J15 - Ann Lynn recording at Sage and Sound.
J16 - Ann Lynn recording at Sage and Sound.
J17 - Ann Lynn recording at Sage and Sound.
J18 - Ann Lynn show at Spaceland.
J22 - Ann Lynn show at Detroit Bar.
J26 - Ann Lynn show at Morongo.
J27 - Wife and I to Vegas, maybe? By the looks of things, maybe not.
F11 - Possible Ann Lynn show at The Knitting Factory.
F24 - Possible Ann Lynn show somewhere else.
In Between - Work and Date Wife as much as possible.

Work gets crazy.

When I first began working at DED&C, I was put out in the field, on the jobs, picking up trash and driving the rickety old trash truck to the dump and back. Work was easy above all, in fact the most difficult issue to cross my mind at the time probably went something like, "Do I, or do I not have enough time to finish a cigarette right now."
That was a few years back, and things have changed a bit. For example, yesterday I had to draw a picture half the size of a windshield, perfectly based on the following:

EXHIBIT "A" LEGAL DESCRIPTION

ALL THAT PORTION ON THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 11, TOWNSHIP 2 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST, SAN BERNARDINO MERIDIAN, IN THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL PLAT OF SAID LAND, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF SAID SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 11 WHICH BEARS SOUTH 16'38" WEST 277.92 FEET FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 339 OF TRACT NO. 1876, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 27 OF MAPS; PAGES 49 TO 53 INCLUSIVE, RECORDS OF SAID COUNTY; THENCE SOUTH 89° 43'22" EAST 79.30 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WESTERLY LINE OF STATE HIGHWAY; THENCE ALONG THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID STATE HIGHWAY SOUTH 7° 19'30" EAST 348.72 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING THENCE NORTH 39° 43'22" WEST 125.762 FEET TO THE WEST LINE OF THE SAID SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 11; THENCE ALONG THE SAID WEST LINE OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 11, NORTH 0° 16'38" EAST 126.08 TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY CONVEYED TO ROBERT M. LEONARD, ET UX IN THE DEED RECORDED DECEMBER 8, 1961 IN BOOK 5606, PAGE 413, OFFICIAL RECORDS; THENCE EAST ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LEONARD PROPERTY TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER THEREOF, SAID CORNER BEING A POINT IN THE WEST LINE OF THE STATE HIGHWAY; THENCE SOUTH TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING.

It was gnarles.

Happy '07

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.