Birthday #26 (in pictures)

MuteMath: House of Blues

FACT: I chose the MuteMath show over the "free" Jason Mraz show for this night.

FACT: I don't regret that decision in the least.

FACT: Thought Paul, the lead singer, was a bit off most of the night, I was still impressed with the musical performance. 

FACT: Yes, you are seeing correctly... they play a keytar, and that is the amazing drummer, Derron, crowd surfing on his kick drum and still making beats with his hands!

Brittney Lane Don't Care

So, I have this thing...about paper...but I already told you that, didn't I. Well, it goes deeper. And while I have a thing about paper, I have an even bigger thing about it's close cousin cardboard.

Now you must be thinking that I am a compete weirdo, but hear me out for a second. Most people think cardboard and see a box to move stuff in. But it can be so much more. Like a chair:

Oh and I bet you are thinking that those can't have someone actually sit in them...well I don't know about those personally, but I know for a fact that this one can:

How do I know that might you say? Well, because I made it. In school, we had a project to make a functional, chair out of a 4' x 8' sheet of cardboard that had to hold the weight of someone sitting in it and lean back on it. And it had to be the normal height of a chair too, no barbi doll chairs here.

Anyways, so yeah, I love seeing things made out of cardboard. Like this stuff is great:



Even in the movie, The Science of Sleep (by Michael Gondry; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind), they built an entire filming studio out of cardboard for the weird dream sequences. See:


Even UPS made a whole world for an Ad with it (in cgi).

So now your thinking, OK, cardboard IS cool, but why did I bring this up...

I ran across this music video from a band that I haven't heard of before. And due to it, now love the song, purchased their song and have it starting in heavy rotation...all thanks to cardboard. And I totally am digin the cardboard instruments...I totally want them! So I give you Brittney Lane Don't Care by Meeting of Important People.


For more awesome cardboard objects click here.

Green Screens

I have this thing...about paper...

I like it. There, I said it. Phew.

I also have this other thing...about music...

I like it. There, I said it. Phew



So, when one of my favorite bands, Sleeping at Last, took one of their new songs and made a music video with basically just paper...it's pretty awesome. Make sure that you catch the rino walking to the kick drum line, boom ba-boom... and the bunnies are pretty cute to... oh! and there's a falling garrila!, and a cowboy cliché, and car crashes and a shower scene...

Yes, I'M ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT! Watch HERE.

p.s. the track is the last song on their album, which is very rare and bold for a band to put out a song that deep in their track list. Most of the time, labels/record companies want the "hits" to be within the first few tracks of the disc so consumers don't have to look for them or something when they pop the CD in...like consumers can't look at the track list on the back, or will get lost in 12 tracks...

Guilty! [CrAcK!!!]

Let me tell you how happy you feel when you get a jury letter in the mail: 0% happy, that's how much! Actually, thoughts of running to mexico, or just picking up all my stuff and moving to another apartment in the city just to say that you moved and never got the summons, or devising a plan to commit an actual minor felony so you are on the "other" side of the law flashes before my mind. Don't act like these thought have never crossed your mind, it happens to all of us.

Let me tell you how happy you feel when you get a DISTRICT court jury letter in the mail saying that you have to serve FOR A WHOLE FLIPPING MONTH: -100% happy, I physically cannot be more UNhappy, I am literally maxed out on unhappiness, I am all the way unhappy. You could say completely, or all-encompassingly, unhappy. I might even be flirting with an acute depression... actually, I'm suicidal... I just threw myself off the Coronado bridge... in my mind

Well that is what happened to me for the entire month of September...I was "on call" for the district courts as jury summoner 101311882 (yup, that is my jury prison number). I was required to call the court practically every night after 6pm for a month and listen to a recording that would tell me if I needed to show up at the court for service the following day at 8am. Financial hardship and work related excuses were "not valid". And believe me I tried (even though the letter said they wouldn't be considered), basically you had to have a death in your immediate family or die yourself to get out of this. I wrote a letter begging, my work wrote a letter on company letterhead saying they can't spare me for any length of time and also they won't pay me for any time spent serving jury duty, and I got...drum roll/big surprise... denied (however, I did get a "reduced" sentence and will go into that in a second).

So this is how it works; you call, the recording tells you if you have to show up the next day or when to call back. Most of the time you have to call back the next night. If you have to show up, you go downtown. If you get selected for a jury, you serve and miss work and don't get paid (like their $40 a day compensation is going to cover my bills...pFFFFF! Not even close.) You say guilty after however many days it takes the lawyers to talk it out. You go home and have to call the next night and you just keep being in this jury purgatory for a month until your time is over. You could get on multiple cases in your time. Oh, and you think for normal jury service going down and being in their pool for a day is pergatory...NAY!! This is purgatory, going to the courthouse is HELL.

So back to my "reduced" sentence... the letter they sent back to me about my request for excusal said; Denied. However, if you have to serve on 1 trial then you are done, or if you have to show up at the courthouse 5 times, then you are done... then in tiny print at the bottom of the letter it read..."you cannot appeal, this decision in final. Love, some bastard judge."

f*%#

So I was doing really good most of the month. I was calling when I was suppose to every night, I was taking notes on what the recording said, I even put the times on my calendar and their phone number and my juror number in my phone so I could call anywhere I was....until one morning I woke up at my normal time (7:30am), jumped in the shower, got my clothes on, was about to leave for work when I remembered that... I FORGOT TO CALL LAST NIGHT!!!!!! Memories of the stories that I read online of what happened to people who didn't show up for service flashed before my mind (yes I did my research, trying to find a loophole), stories of big men in suits physically grabbing people from their homes in the morning and bringing them before a judge only to be sentenced to jail with $10,000 bails for not showing up. True story. As I punch my juror number into the phone, my hearts racing and sinks as the cold, unforgiving, familiar female voice on the other end tells me NOT show up at this time and to call back tomorrow. Phewwww! Considering that if I had to show up, it would have been at 8am... and it was already 8:15am... it wasn't good.

This district court stuff is ridiculous. How nerve racking and responsible you have to be to just call all the time... not to mention the hardship imposed if your work doesn't compensate you for service. All in the name of civic duty. I think I will join the Army Reserves as a Graphic Designer/Production Artist/Print Director 2 weeks a year... then I wont have to deal with jury duty at all, ever, and at least I get paid from the Reserves... plus you don't hear of the Army loosing to many graphic designers on the front line or deploying. You never see them make the evening news... I think it's a good idea. I better myself financially, I don't actually have to fight, I get to legally cary a gun and I skirt all jury duty for life! That's what we call a win-win, while stickin' to the man!..while serving the man...whatever, I get a gun!

There was CONFETTI!

That's right, CoNfEtTi!!!!! And fireworks! And pyro! And fire! And video! And crazy lights! And a zebra striped painted stage... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

All the lights are completely on in the arena, bright bright white lights. People rise to their feet as a bass heavy anthem-esk tune pounds through the arena as the Killers confidently stride up onto the zebra painted stage and take up their instruments.

And normally, this wouldn't be out of the normal for being at a rock show... but the bright ass, white, illuminate-everything-house-lights are on...

The bassy music fades, the claps of the fans subside. And as the guitarist plucks his first 5 notes, it all comes together in one big mind Ahhhhhh as the crowd goes crazy again when the Killers take their stride into their song Mr. Brightside! (Mr. Brightside... bright lights... get it?!?)

I managed to find the set list aaannnNNDDDDDD video from the show of all the songs!

Mr. Brightside
Spaceman
For Reasons Unknown
Bones
Joy Ride
The Wold We Live In
Joy Ride Repraise > Bling (Confession of a King)
Shadowplay (Jpy Division Cover)
Somebody Told Me
Smile Like You Mean It
Human
Change Your Mind
A Dustland Fairytale
Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Cover)
Read My Mind
All These Things That I've Done

::Encore::
This Is Your Life
Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
When You Were Young

The entire show was a huge production. I have never been to a concert like this before and I was totally not expecting this at all. The crowd was super into it, even singing the lines to songs without the lead singer even prompting. But I think that the pictures speak for themselves.

The History of Flight

My love of the the game of basketball...as well as my love of shoes...steamed from the gentleman above who is captured taking off from the free throw line to win a NBA dunk contest. He was notorious about proving people wrong and smashing their doubts or their criticism, off but especially on the court.

Michael was my hero and my idol growing up as a kid. We all wanted to "Be Like Mike" as the saying went back in the day. He was a model of hard work, determination and pose and I couldn't think of a better celebrity or sports player to have looked up to.

Today he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame and he is definitely deserving, being arguably one of the best basketball players of all time. So to you, Michael, I say congratulation's.



The funny thing is that a couple days ago I stumbled, randomly, across Michael's jumpman23 website and then his microsite: The History of Flight



The site is a time line for every shoe that was made for him and done so in an interactive paper pop-up book style that highlights all the thinking that went into the shoe design as well as major moments in Mike's career. Anyway, I was blown away by the design and I have always been a fan of the shoes...at least up until '99 (and I'll forgive him for the next 10 years as his shoes became semi-hit to complete misses in my book...but so was every other basketball shoe made in the current decade. They just don't make them like they use too.)

May favorites were: #4


#10


#11


and #12


Doesn't the site just look amazing?!

I have personally only owned one pair of Jordan's, and they are not even one of these above. No, I ordered a pair off ebay of the #4's but the guy sent me some butt ugly #13 in some crazy blue color with cloth uppers instead (yes they are from that decade of ugly design's). I approached the seller and he said he'd ship me the correct pair but then vanished of the face of ebay, canceling his user name and profile. I guess I should be thankful that I even got a pair... I think I even brought it up with ebay and they prorated me some money back... one day I'll have the pair that I have always wanted, one day.

8.29.09 (3 Months)

I took Jordan out to celebrate our past 3 months together last Saturday, but I prefaced the date with an invitation and a little something for the cutie that she really needed (scroll down quite far, just past the bowling pics but before the Heather and baby picture.)

We went to the Pearl Hotel Restaurant in Point Loma. It is this hippster reto 1950's hotel that was rennovated and turned into a modern local hot spot. We both ordered the top serloin with bay shrimp and shell bean succatash, corn drop cakes and sautéed greens all doused with hollandaise sauce...It was a-mazing. We would totaly go back in a heart beat. After dinner, we checked out the lounge. They have this room with shaggy carpet and pillows with small tables as places to play card and board games. We decided to play a little chess. I won twice, but I think Jordan was distracted by the shinny mirror ceiling as all she really wanted to do was take pictures of us in it.


This is the hotel.


This is the courtyard and the restaurant over on the left of the pool. We were sitting at the round table right next to the pool. It is a very relaxed atmosphere which Jordan and I always appreciate. There were people there just for drinks, some for dinner and other guests swimming in the pool or just talking on the lounge chairs.


They also have a huge screen in the courtyard that they project onto at night. When we were there, they were promoting some local surf movie. But on Wednesday nights they have big movie parties and everyone sits around the pool and watches whatever is playing.


We asked the waiter to take our picture after our food arrived.


Check out this dish! Doesn't it just look so delicious?! Talk about a food coma.


This is the lounge room with the games and good times.


And us in the mirrored ceiling talking about what games we should play.

FIRE RUN: PROJECT

Ok, so in light of the recent fires and how my parents home was in immanent danger and they had to grab and dash...PROJECT!

Senario: Your dwelling is in eminent danger but you have plenty of time to grab all the belongings that you love and would not want to live without. There are no limits as to how many items you can take (but obviously you can't "take the house"), and assume you get all your important paperwork, financial papers and clothing for free. Post a blog, listing out all your favored items and tell why you would save each one as well as why it is important to you. If you can post pictures off your items, even better! In your post please link back to this challenge and post a comment on this post with the URL to connect to your blog.

Do you accept my challenge??! (if you were Barney Stinson you would)



(In no particular order...)

1. All My Apple Products
This includes my G5, Laptop, iPod, Shuffle and Monitor. I don't want to live without them. All my pictures, art projects, music...they are a must. I spend way to much time on them and enjoy them too much to just let it go up in smoke.


2. Guitars
The electric can go, but the acoustics were both gifts from my father. The Yahama was his in college that he bought by borrowing money from his girlfriend and let me use it to learn on when I decided I wanted to in college. The Ovation was my uncles and he gave it to my dad when he went over to help him move claiming that he wanted one forever, bought it and hated it so it was sitting in his garage for year. My dad then wrapped it and gave it to me as a Christmas present one year to my surprise.


3. 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Sticker
I bought this from the largest card shop I had ever seen when I was in Jr. High on a trip to Las Vegas with the family. I forgot what the shop was called, maybe Smokey's, and am sure that it isn't there anymore...though I haven't looked for it that last few times I was in town. I saved for almost 6 months just to have money to spend at this card shop. I specifically had my mind on the oldest and most expensive Michael Jordan card I could afford in the shop...this was it. 1986 Fleer Sticker with the old school jersey, the tongue hanging out and the old school nikes! I bought it for $90. Not sure what it is worth today, but the card industry started a new grading scale and made things go all crazy a few years back and screwed everyone over (so I heard)...but a quick google search provides a range from $300 to $3,000!


4. Portfolio
Yeah, although I need to redo the entire thing and update and expand on some of my better projects...it is still worth saving. It is kind of like a college snap shot, shows where you were, where you came from, gives you a point to measure yourself at the present.


5. Camera
It's new and I love it!! My Nikon D60 I plan to have for a very VERY long time. Plus I am really getting more into photography since I bought it, so it would be very hard to hone the skills without it. Plus what am I going to use to capture my home burning to the ground? I would say that's a time when you would want your camera.


6. Framed Art Work
Some of them mine, some of them done by friends of mine, all priceless. But here are just a few of mine.


7. "Green-In-One" Golf Ball
Basically it was my best golf shot to date. I drove the ball from the green 324yard to land 15 feet from the hole on the green. So I saved the ball and encapsulated it in protective plastic.


8. Golf Clubs
They are already in my car...ready to go, always, just in case ;)

SIDE NOTE: Most of the clubs in the above picture I have replaced since taking this photo...Only ones still current are my 3wood, Mizuno Hybrid 3i and my Cleavland CG14 wedges. Oh, and the bag is the same...love that bag.

9. Sansui Stereo
Old, old, old...super, super old. Like 30 years old! My dad bought the speakers in japan in college or something and given to me when I was in Jr. High. These puppies are 4-ways with 7 speakers each. Solid oak cabinets and weigh like 40lbs a piece. Plus they sound amazing! So crisp. The stereo is equally as old but I think it was purchased off ebay. And the record player was his old bosses and they gave it to him knowing that he collects old stereo components. They don't make components like this anymore, they're irreplaceable.


10. OLD HS VHS'
I have some old VHS tapes of my in Jr. High and High School playing football...not that they are pretty to watch, but are part of my life and are kinda funny to watch.


11. Old Game Systems
Nintendo, check. Super Nintendo, check. Nintendo 64, check. Playstation, check. Playstation 2, check. How can I let all my old systems go up in flames? They have provided me with endless hours of entertainment and I intend to have countless more.

FIRE RUN!

(Oak Glen Fire)

I got a text at 12:08am Monday morning (so really Sunday night) from my Mom saying "Wild fire in Oak Glen. Packing just in case. Will call tomorrow"...?!?

But here I sit in Starbucks two days later after getting off the phone with my Mom and her telling me that they are back in the house after their mandatory evacuation the night before.

The funny thing is that I was talking with my father and he was assuring me that they had packed everything important and were ready to go just in case the had to evacuate. But then after I got the call that they had evacuated and were heading for refuge at Mr. and Mrs. Cowens house I started inquiring as to what they had packed. Only to find out that they left all their past tax papers, their passports, the guitar we got my dad for fathers day one year! and (drum roll...) Everyone's birth certificates! Yup, that's right, I almost had no documentated proof that I exist...

Anyways, I am glad that everything worked out just fine. But this got me thinking...project(Coming soon)!

Nemesised.

Jordan here, confiscating Chris' blog. Because I can!

Hope you're all having a fantastic day!

Strawberry Swing

A-FREAKING-MAZING!
LENGEN-WAIT FOR IT- DAIRY!
MORE-DASH-CONNECTED-EXCITEMENT-STATEMENTS!

Watch it! Be amazed. Then watch it again.