"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.