Oh Hello

We are well. We're in L.A. for a bit, trying to find a place to live so's I can start school. If anyone knows of any places, pass it on. Thanks!

Potter Party!

Sunday at the Gloyd home. Info here. Now go get your blumin' movie tickets.

road trip #3

we are driving home from our trip right now. we are on the barren 395, through the mountains. for the last four hours we’ve been listening to harry potter so matt can get caught up. matt is now hooked on harry potter and our marriage, therefore, has grown tremendously.
matt and i are sad to leave the open road behind but also excited to be coming home and getting started on... well we are still sorting that out. for the month of july, at least, we will be in los angeles. while in la we hope to, as matt likes to say, “max out real hard!”
we didn’t do a good job of posting while on the road so here are some more highlights of the trip.

portland:

roller skating at the oaks


playing pool at the backstage


birthday celebrations at the edgefield


harry potter ice cream cake


being with suzanne, joey, and our new portland friends






portland rules! it is beautiful, has great places to eat, lots of cool free things to do, and you can walk everywhere. we agree that we could move there and have little trouble transitioning. the only problem would be a place called st. cupcake where i would spend too much time and subsequently gain 300 pounds.

lake tahoe:
in tahoe we were straight out of a toyota tacoma commercial. we went rafting in the truckee river, kayaked, rafted, and fished in lake tahoe. we gambled, ate great pizza, and enjoyed the company of our lovely hosts the castaneda’s.

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?