Glosoli / Hoppipolla

Just So We Are Clear

2010-08-01T00:31:00.001-07:00

I moved my blogging to Tumblr. Please keep up with me at christrementozzi.tumblr.com

Dear Blogger,

2010-08-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

It's a sad day and I'm terribly sorry I had to do this through a post, but this will make us both a lot better off, well me at least. This note will be the last memory you'll ever have of me, I'm done with you because I decided to be with your best friend...tumblr, my bad. (christrementozzi.tumblr.com)

Don't let it get you all upset inside, it was completely your fault, no doubt about it. It is because of your extremely bad templates and image handling capabilities that keep me from being even remotely interested in continuing this relationship with you.

You even had a shot of keeping me happy with your new template designer! But I realized real quick how useless it is when you can't customize most of the aspects of any template and you have to use your lame stock photography as backgrounds.

You'll be much better off with your 1,000,000 other bloggers that can deal with the annoying ways you handle blogging, and not a designer like me. You see, I like my uploaded images to line up, and...well, you just make it difficult.

You will further be dismayed to know that I will be moving my blog following needs to your cousin "Google Reader". You see, I'm glad this is done and we're going separate directions for good. I think you'll be fine with your one million other users. After all, I'm just a small fish in your sea, and there are plenty of people that you satisfy just fine. Never-the-less, I wish you will old age, uglyness, and failure. Good Riddance.

Your once loyal user,

christrementozzi.tumblr.com

I'm Not So Sure...

2010-07-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

This is Kayla's "I'm-not-so-sure-I'm-comfortable-with-you-and-your-camera-in-my-face" look.

And this is her "I'm over it" look.

David didn't have any problems warming up to me ;)

Here are a few more selects.

More to come...

San Fran (Finally!)

2010-07-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Kris and Becky invited us to accompany them to the bay area for a long weekend of site seeing and general shenanigans. And since we've never spent more and a night there, and we wanted to get Jordan on a plane before the big trip to Hawaii so she could know what to expect out of flying, I thought it would be fun.

We really had a packed trip and got the full San Fran city experience. Our hotel was literally in the middle of the city and so we traveled on the cable cars, the buses, the trains and the BART to get to our attractions...which all just so happened to be at the opposite corners of the city on the shores.

We went to Pier 39 & Fisherman Wharf, Took a boat tour to the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz, had cupcakes at Ghirardelli Square, toured the Aquarium of the Bay, checked out Lombard Street, the California Academy of Sciences (which has the Living Roof, the rain forest, and the planetarium), and the Exploritorium. Whew, that was a lot!

There was so much that happened I couldn't possibly type it all out or remember it all. But the main stuff was that Jordan did great flying. You need to wear good walking shoes and expect to climb lots of hills. Public transportation is great, but expect to share your personal space. It's always overcast. Kris and Becky need 18 pillows to get a good nights sleep (and our hotel only had 16, so they didn't sleep well). Fun Becky ≠ I'm on a boat (even if there are flippy floppies, T-pain and nautical themed pashmina afghans). Everything cool in SF closes at ~5pm. And two dollar signs($$) on yelp does not mean $100 for a couple but $11-$30 for one person including one drink, tax and tip.

San Francisco

2010-07-14T22:23:00.001-07:00

Remember, Save The Date

2010-07-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to Cody at caavadesign.com for designing these!!

Engagement Selects

2010-06-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have heard me say that we have the best wedding photographers in the world...here's proof:

studiocasterillo.com

Where Does the Month Go

2010-05-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

So what if it has been almost a month since my last post. I've been busy. And clearly I should be busy if I haven't been blogging! What kind of person sits around with nothing to do and doesn't use that time to write how interesting the wall is that they are starring at is in their blog?! Right?!?!

Anyways, I was looking back over my calendar and damn do I pack it in! Most people are in awe of other people, but right now I am in awe of myself. I am literally so amazed that I was staring at the wall in amazement, so then I decided to write this blog post.Keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times because heeeeerrrrrrrreeeee we go!

Engagement Photoshoot
We just got home from this. Literally, as in 2 hours ago and it was a BLAST! I love our photographers! They are so laid back and chill but super creative. I can't wait to see their shots. We went up to the Encinitas area, to a old barn-y woods-y area they knew of. Actually the barn happened to be a church and there was the worship team inside practicing for the service that apparently happened later that night as we were doing our photoshoot close by. There was another couple on the site doing their engagement shoot too... we kinda kept making fun of them because they were shooting in these really uninteresting or typical places around the site. mix it up a bit right?!?! I feel like if we were to put our pics up against theirs, we'd win hands down. But I guess we will see. I told Rico I'd back him up if there was a photographer turf war pending...but they kept their distance ;) Anyways, I don't want to give to much away and I'll probably keep most of the shots secret until the actual wedding, but involved were a field and sky, a stump, a barn, polaroids and polariod cameras, concrete, chalk and of course light. But here is a small visual snack for your hungry hungry eyeballs.

Ryan Prades
I helped him move into his new, awesome, amazing apartment last weekend. He needed someone with huge muscles and a bit of brains/know how (I know, 2 things that are hard to find in the right amounts in one individual) to help him with some moving conundrums...or just somebody with a power drill. Luckily, I have a power drill. But you should know that I had selfish ulterior motives for volunteering, though that didn't stop me from teaching Ryan how to run cable under carpet or liquid nail a busted couch leg back together... ;)

The SERIES finale of LOST was the next day, and since Ryan has the HD 52" real-er than life flat screen TV, I really wanted to close the past 6 years of utter bewilderment and frustration and getting one answer only to have it lead into 12 more obsession, using it to break in the new pad. And although I dozed in and out during the 2 hour recap and then the following 2.5 hour episode (dang comfy new carpet) I loved every second that my eyes were open. All the moving tuckered me out! That show is by far one of the best I've ever seen. If you disagree me, and Jordan will, you will be shunned. You've been warned.

Piano Recital
One of my seven loyal blog readers, Melody, asked Jordan and I to come be her photographers at the piano recital she was putting on for her students. I was excited and a little nervous about it as it was the first "event" that someone has asked me to photograph for them. Plus I always imagined music recitals being kinda stuffy and Grey Poupon-ish, which isn't exactly the best conditions for loud shutters, bright flashes, blocking views or being up in pianist faces while they perform. It was at one of the kids beautiful homes in Cays off the strand in Coronado and the kids did great...even with me accidentally adding a little light show and bell accompaniment of my own during one of their performances. Here are a couple of my shots (Jordan is still working on her set). Mel I'll have a disc for you this weekend.

Diamond Dash
Def: A text messaging scavenger hunt held in Balboa Park where the winner gets a $15k diamond ring put on by The Knot and other wedding vendors in San Diego.

We were "selected" by The Knot to participate, so how can you pass that up? Jordan and I literally ran all over Balboa Park, answering questions and solving puzzles. It was actually a lot of fun, and probably the most exercise we have both gotten in years (I guess diamonds motivate us). I was extremely impressed with my Fiancé when she made an "educated guess" as to how many times we could spell the word "diamond" using all the letters of a plaque attached to the Natural History Museum. There must have been at least a couple hundred letters in the plaque and I was looking at it like, "Dang! We're done. Let's go home." And Jordan looks at me and whispers... "3"...right on the first try! And there were at least 20 other people who looked stumped and were there for a long time! That girl is a keeper I tell ya!

Anyways, we didn't win. We ended up with a total of 137 points and we heard the winner had almost 300. But considering we were on foot, running from clue to clue, and the winners were on bikes (but not to mention their 2 kids were in toe) we felt pretty good about ourselves. Next year we are bringing our bikes and bringing home the ice!

Mothers Day
We were up in Vista and celebrating the woman who gave me life. Which turned into a huge wedding wine tasting event with the battle of the Cab's. All the wines were placed in paper bags and numbered. My mother rated everything with a 5...good to know that mom doesn't care what it tastes like, as long as it's wine. Easy to please. I turned out to be the toughest scorer not rating anything over a 3, except for 1 which ended up being our winner that I rated a 4.

Turns out the competition was rigged though! The winner was a Merlot that was snuck into the mix. The Cab's never had a chance.

Sarah brought over this green cake from some bakery by her new place. It was the most amazing cake I have every had. I can't even tell you what was in it, but if you are walking down the street and see a green frosted cake...tell me cuz I's be there in a second.

Back to the inevitable
Wedding planning is moving along. Save the Dates are the next priority to mail out...only waiting for a shot from the shoot today to drop into the layout.

We got our wedding bands and are both supper happy with the final product. Jordan's came in without a hitch, after the first hitch of them canceling my order after them being stupid. It was being custom made to match her engagement ring and sporting another .25kt of diamonds. Mine on the other hand, had a few small hitches. It didn't have the right finish on it (It had a powder finish when it was suppose to have a satin finish) and that finish was suppose to be on the sides of the ring as well, and it wasn't...it was shinny. And everyone knows how I feel about shinny. Plus it was a half size to small. But they fixed everything in store and now my Jeff Cooper, 6mm, Palladium stain finish band is prefect. I love it. It was the only ring that I loved, and I looked at a ton. I feel like you should love your ring, you have to wear it for the rest of your life, you might as well, right?!

We met with a florist that we really like, secured Jordan's friend Jarrod as our DJ, place our order for our cupcakes/wedding cake, Jordan picked her wedding dress and we finally came to a compromise on the bridesmaid dresses. 117 days to go! And I can't wait!

LA on a Monday.

2010-04-29T19:16:00.001-07:00

Last Monday I took a half day off from work and headed up to LA with Ryan to hear one of my favorite bands in the whole wide world play at the illustrious Hotel Café. And just in time to because I needed a break from work and all this wedding planning. Who are they? Sleeping at Last(.com)

SHAMELESS BAND PLUG
• I've written about them in my blog here & here.
• And they have a new music video here.
• And this is one of my all-time favorite music videos here.
• And they have an amazing album design artist here.

OK back to the day. We took off at noon-thirty and headed for Pizza Port in Solana Beach for lunch. It's on the way and I have never been but have heard tons about the Pizza Place/Brewery. We tried 4 of their specialty brews before making our pint selection.

I ended up picking their porter, as that's what I'm into at the moment. This one looked dark but tasted much lighter considering it's a porter. The pizza was good too, stacked with fresh onions and chicken on our BBQ Chicken pie.

After we were done, we still had about 1.5 hours to kill. We decided to stop at Disneyland since we both have passes and we might as well use them. That's the beauty of having passes. Scenario: You're driving near Anaheim and have an urge to give Micky a jumping high-five...with said pass, no problem! High-five on the way!

We parked and made a B-line for the Tower of Terror (our favorite any-land ride)...Ryan downloaded the Disneyland App that tells you the line wait times, but not in enough time for us to get there and find a 40 minute wait (in the middle of a MONDAY?!?!). That was too long for us. Bye, bye tower...next time.

Then we remembered that every time we come, all the girls are too scared to get wet or it's too cold overall and none of us want to get wet...ummm we have car time to dry off, Raging Rapids it is!

While in line I realized I was wearing a white t-shirt and contemplated the show I potentially was about to give Ryan... I'll leave you with that image for a second.

We only got drizzled on overall and still had time for at least one more ride. The iPhone revealed 10 minute wait for the roller coaster, California Screaming...and we figured the fast coaster air would help us dry off. Well the app failed at that one...30 minutes later we just got on the ride and when it was over we had to take off for the car and get back on the highway.

I have never been to the Hotel Café before. And so you know, it is more small concert room / bar than hotel or café. But I have like tons of recordings from the place for people like John Mayer who set up secret midnight shows here to this day.

LA is pretty sketchy too. There are swanky establishments sharing walls with questionable ones on the blocks of Hollywood. To add to it, the Hotel Café doesn't let you in the front door...you have to walk next to the building, down the ally and around the back where there is a big dude with a clipboard and a small velvet rope. Thankfully, Ryan had been before, but just to be on the safe side I let Ryan go in first ;)

Once inside it is super dark and you have to go through a couple more "waiting rooms" to get into the main room. Low and behold we made it, stage cram-filled with tons of instruments set right in front of us.

The band sounded great! And thank God because this is only the second time I've seen them. They live in Chicago and never make it out to Cali on tour. I found them, and the first time I saw them play, was as the first opener for a Switchfoot concert at Soma that Switchfoot videoed and released a DVD of...yes I have it, and yes you can see me crowd surfing in it ;).

I always want to put SAL's music to my life. Meaning that if I was directing a movie of my life (and if you read Donald Millers new book, I am), I'd put their music as the soundtrack to my life and orchestrate moments just to compliment their songs. Really I would. They are so beautiful and the lyrics are blow away. I might even use a few tracks at the wedding. My favorite line is on their song Levels of Light: We are volcanoes, making new land, Transcending borders with seeds in our hands.

You know you have made it when LA gang members write "Danger" on your concert poster!

Planning Woes & Decision Blows

2010-04-29T14:54:00.001-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that on countable occasions Jordan has published how she feels about marrying a designer, and alluded to it as "being hard work." Reference here and here.

I'd like to reciprocate the sentiment by saying that marrying a NON-DESIGNER is barely effable. That's right—effable.

You would think being a designer would qualify you for some slack, a vote of confidence or at least the benefit of the doubt when it comes to things that relate. Designers have vision, imagination, they see the big picture and are constantly building with color, texture, imagery and type to visually communicate and evoke emotional responses or some kind of action through their designs, regardless of the medium. We are always drawing inspiration from, and spend countless hours staying up to date on current trends encompassing art, fashion, film, music, architecture, design, culture and society as a whole.

So why is it that my illustrious bride-to-be labels me as being "hard to work with" concerning our efforts about planning our wedding?

Is it because when she speaks I listen and believe that what she says she means? Like when she says, "I love this dress," and for me to agree after looking at all the options, only to hear her profusely recant and even deny her previous statement, rebuking the said dress all-together?! To which I respond saying; marrying a crazy person is hard work.

Is it because she forgets when we find and agree on a compromise? Like when she didn't want to wear any type of heeled shoes for the wedding because she said she'd "sink" into the grass and I agreed and even urged her to find a cute pair of flats that would better suit the circumstances. To which she jumped repeatedly for joy yelling, "really! really! I'd LOVE that!" Only to completely forget our compromise conversation, ignore her self established wedding shoe criteria of no heels and go against my professed hatred for small heeled shoes by buying a pair of small heeled strappies—openly publishing on her blog that they, "wont sink FAR into the grass." Plus they weren't even close to the deep yellow color of our wedding. To which I respond saying; marrying Attention Deficit Disorder is hard work.

Is it because she isn't use to someone telling her, her idea sucks? Like when she wanted to designate pastel blue, green and yellow as our wedding colors...so it looked like we were one hidden hard boiled egg short of an a 5 year olds Easter egg party. To which I respond saying; marrying the Easter Bunny is hard work.

Therefore if marrying a designer is hard work, then marrying a non-designer is damn near a midlife crises. But the truth of the matter is that love is hard work. And marrying love is even harder work. And if I have to endure the hard work of a midlife crisis to marry the love of my life...bring it. I LOVE that crazy, A.D.D., Easter Bunny of a girl, and will fight to get her the best things and experiences in life that I can design and provide for her. Even if I'm up against Ms. Non-Designer herself.

There is something you shoud know...

2010-04-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

I'M ENGAGED!

And she didn't make it very easy for me either! I mean for someone who reminded me daily that she was ready and wanting me to pop the question, she didn't give me any space to plan and got sick 3 times in the week preceding forcing me to resort to plans B, C & ultimately D. Plus, she was convinced that I couldn't pull it off without her finding out...CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

(Oh and P.S., she is the love of my life.)

Judging by the look on her face I'd say: mission accomplished.

Here's the full story:

I started with a diversion. I wanted her to know that I was serious and preparing to take our relationship to the next level without being so blatant as to get her thinking that this would happen at a time that she could guess. So I took advantage of circumstances that just so happen to arise, making it seem like what was happening was Jordan's idea and then tried to seem nonchalant about it happening. For instance, I had no idea what kind of ring Jordan would like or what shape diamond she preferred...hell, she didn't know either. So when she came over one day and started telling me about a coworkers recent engagement and that they were looking at the ring online at work, I asked her to pull it up. Which lead into a discussion about what she would like. We did some looking online and then I dropped it.

Maybe a week later we went to Fashion Valley Mall to catch a film. When we got out, it was pouring rain. I thought it would be a good idea for us to go to the bottom level and use the overhangs as cover. Boy was I wrong. The entire bottom level was flooded with 4" of water. We waded through until we got to the next section where we could ascend the escalator and get back to the upper level. Well at the top of the escalator was Tiffany's & Co. So I casually mentioned we should duck in to this store and get out of the rain. That started our ring shopping (and she didn't even know were we at Tiffany's).

We ended up doing a lot more looking online together that night and the next night made an appointment at Robbins Brother's. We ended up finding the ring she fell in love with that night. But I didn't buy it then. It took me another few weeks or so for them to find me the diamond I wanted and set it in the ring. She ended up choosing a 14K white gold ring with 8 channel set round diamonds in the band (.28pt tw). I chose a square ratio, excellent cushion cut, .40pt center stone with an SI1 clarity and (this is the cool part) a D color rating.

Let me explain the "D" rating real fast (as I love specs, and nobody cares to ask and let me tell them about it!) Every diamond is rated on a color scale from Z to D. The closer you are to Z, the more yellow the diamond is. And the closer you are to D, the less yellow is in the diamond. Actually, D means it is completely colorless, clear or "ice" are the terms used. It is the highest color rating that a diamond can get. This diamond is a D. Pretty cool right?!

Anyways, I didn't want to start any actual proposal planning until I had the hardware in hand. It's mid February and I finally had it. We had some family events, like Sarah's birthday that I didn't want to overshadow with the proposal and therefore set a goal for the end of March.

I started coming up with super elaborate scheme's to ask. Like a spontaneous day flight somewhere, or a weekend getaway on the coast somewhere. But I knew that as soon as I pulled this on Jordan, she would know what was probably short to follow. No, it had to be a seemingly normal day, with a reason to be out or a planned event.

We were at Balboa Park one day, waiting to use these free passes to the iMax theater my Grandfather gave us for Christmas. We popped into the visitor center, and I found all kinds of literature on San Diego and pamphlets on things to do! One stood out to me...Whale Watching! So I started planting hints. I got online and started researching companies. And mentioning ever so often that I wanted to do this. I even came up with even more cover as Jordan knows that I like to try to experience something new in San Diego at least once a month. It's like a goal of mine. So I chalked it up to that with her, and she bought it. And it's a good thing because I had already bought our tickets, bought some sea sickness medicine just in case and arranged to borrow a super zoom lens from Cody for the day.

In the mean time, I keep taking Jordan around town to Jewelery stores to look at rings. We went to Jared's, Kay, Zales, Ben Bridge and a couple others that I can't remember. Robbins Brother's by far had the best quality diamonds and biggest selection of rings. This could have backed fired on me if she came across another ring that she liked better. Thankfully, my purchase was only solidified even more as she kept comparing everything that we saw to the one I had already purchased.

So my complete plan was to take her whale watching in the morning. Then when we got off the boat mention that it was lunch time and we should get some food. Then casually insist that I was in a mood for a good burger (which I am always down for a good burger!) and head up to a great place in La Jolla that we've ate at and loved once before called Burger Lounge. Once in La Jolla, I was going to mention to her that I wanted to find out where the "Cave Store" was and suggest that we go check it out.

Let me stop there. We've been in La Jolla before and Jordan has mentioned this "Cave Store" to me before. She has been once, but I never have. We've talked about going, but haven't. The Cave Store is a store that has a tunnel dug in it down into a cave on the shores that has an opening that overlooks the north end of La Jolla Shores. The opening of the cave, looks like the outline of the face of Lemony Snicket. And apparently, during prohibition, they use to use the cave and tunnel to smuggle whiskey into San Diego. Plus, since my ring box had a built in LED light in the lid that shined on the ring when you opened it, I thought the cave would be a perfect place to utilize that feature and get a dramatic effect.

Back to the story, I was going to ask the Burger Lounge employee's if they knew where the store was. But in reality, I already knew and is one of the reasons that I picked Burger Lounge in the first place as it is only a few blocks away and thought we could walk there after lunch. Perfect right!

So I have my plan, and I start planning Phase 2. I wanted to, and had gotten some inside information from Jordan's roommate Jenna that Jordan always wanted to have a party with all her close friends and family after her engagement to celebrate. Since we would be engaged in the early afternoon, I thought it would be perfect to get everyone together later that night. So working with Jenna and another one of Jordan's friends Sonia to send out invites, I booked the loft of Gio's Restaurant and Wine Bar.

We are a week away. All the invites have gone out. And a bunch of my family and friends are coming down from out of town, booking hotels and such for the night of the party. Tuesday comes and with a delayed reaction to some undercooked salmon from Sunday, we both get food poisoning and have to call in sick to work. I got over it by the next day, but Jordan remained sketchy. By Thursday, we thought she was better. Only to go out to B.J.'s after trying to go ring shopping again and her relapsing that night and all day Friday.

It's Friday afternoon and I texted to check up on her, and she responds with still not doing well, and asks me if we can cancel whale watching. I figured I didn't want to chance getting her more sick by taking her on a ocean voyage and obliged. But now I have a big snag in my plan, I have no reason to get her into La Jolla that day, yet alone to go get lunch with someone who can only eat crackers and Gatorade...I play it cool.

I let her sleep in the morning of. Hoping that she is going to magically feel better and I can come up with some excuse to get her to La Jolla with the lure of a picture excursion and a "hey, the fresh air will do you good" argument. Somehow...that worked and she agreed. Then she told me that her camera battery is almost dead and proposes geocaching instead, and asks me where we could go. PERFECT! Now this trip is her idea and she wont even see it coming. I act cool and mention La Jolla would be beautiful right now. And we were off!

On the drive into La Jolla, I mention that I have another jewelery shop that I wanted to check out after we were done there, if she was feeling up to it. Then I accidentally followed a set of cars to the right of a fork and we drive right by the Cave Store. To which Jordan sees and exclaims "There it is! We have always talked about going there!" (Coming into my web, says the spider to the fly.) To which I respond with an acknowledgment and purpose going after we do some geocaching.

Now, it is about 1:30pm and I had arranged for my fellow coworker, Garrett (that Jordan has never met) to meet us in the cave at 3pm to try and photograph the proposal.

Jordan starts geocaching, and I am taking pictures of her under the pretense that I wanted to take advantage and use the zoom lens that I borrowed for whale watching.

A cool thing was that we found a cache and Jordan wrote on the log, Chris & Jordan - 3.20.10, unknowing that she just wrote the date of her proposal.

We geocache our way toward the cave store and Jordan starts feeling bad again. So I convince her that we need to get her out of the sun, get her some liquids and possibly some food. Which, on both our reflection, wasn't the soundest argument for someone who is suffering from food poisoning...but she agrees. Plus, it wasn't quite 3pm yet so I had to waste time.

We end up at the Livingroom Cafe and I ordered some easy simple food that Jordan likes; turkey sandwich, a bowl of fresh fruit and a naked juice. I look at my watch a few times as we are eating and am texting Garrett a few times, and I notice Jordan kinda catching onto it. After eating, I asked her how she felt and if we could still go see the cave real fast with the argument that it wont take long, I really want to see it and we have always talked about it, so let's just do it. She says she's feeling better and agrees to go.

As we are walking, I send another text to Garrett about us being on our way and blurb out to Jordan, "Man! Kris Cowen keeps texting me about when we are going to go golfing again!" Jordan buys it.

We make it into the cave and it's not as big as I originally thought. I didn't have time before hand to make it there and scope it out before the big day. But the bigger surprise is that Garrett wasn't there yet, and he hadn't answered my last few texts...I had to stall. So we start talking photo's of each other and around the cave. I figured out where the best light and angle was for me to propose and Garrett to try and get the shot, but after 20 minutes I am running out of excuses to stall and start thinking that I can't wait for Garrett any longer. Just then I see him approaching the deck! Thank God! I let him get situated and tell Jordan that we should get going but that I want to put my camera away first. I take her over to the good light spot, knell down in front of her and open my camera bag to put it away. I had so many things in there and I didn't want to put anything on the dirty deck that I hand a lens to Jordan and ask her to hold it. To which Garrett starts snapping our picture thinking that it was go time! I notice Jordan see him do this and is looking at him bewilderingly as he nonchalantly keeps snapping shots up into the cave ceiling and down the side wall... I stuff the camera in the bag, grab the lens from Jordan and pull out the ring box. She is still looking at Garrett. I grab her attention with a stern "Jordan!" She looks down at me, i'm holding the box, and proceed to say "Will you marry me?" and open the box.

Her reaction, "HERE!?...NOW?!?"

Me, "Is that a yes?"

P.S. She didn't even notice the box light :(

See the rest of the photos HERE, HERE & HERE.

A Million Miles

2010-03-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

WOAH! I can't believe that my last post was like 5 weeks ago, where does the time go? I feel like I have been running at a million miles...

Speaking of millions of miles, I just got done reading Donald Miller's new book "A Million Miles In A Thousand Years". I know what you are thinking—yes I do read, occasionally.

I've wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don't want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment. We don't want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn't remarkable, then we don't have to do any of that; we can be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.

The book is about living a better story. That there is just too much going on to be part of a boring story. He compares what are the essential elements of an amazing story and how we can apply those same ellements to our lives to ensure that we live a life of purpose, a life of passion.

A character is what he does.

Sometimes I feel like there is down time in my life. A period where I am waiting for that "what next" moment, for direction, for a passion, for a reason to move. It may be unintentional, but at times I feel as though there is something more, something that I have missed, something that I just don't know what it is, that I missed something important but I don't know what it is. At times I feel stagnate, unsure about what I am looking for, or where to start looking for it. But I am always looking, with eyes wide open.

...but I wasn't living any kind of sacrifice. My entire life had been designed to make myself more comfortable, to insulate myself from the interruption of my daydreams. Your life is a blank page. You write on it.

I feel like I am skeptical of strangers a lot. It takes a lot of conscience thinking for me to put myself out there and take an interest in other people. The funny thing though, is that I am fascinated with other people. But all the time I run into situations where I think that after, I should have asked this, or done that.

Just this last weekend, Jordan and I were in Subway eating dinner in Anaheim after a half-day at Disneyland. As we were eating, a teenager was being rung out and came up 50 cents short for his sandwich. He didn't look to well off in general with a baggy t-shirt and beat up skateboard. He asked openly but under his breath if anyone in the store had 50 cents...I barely heard him. I almost dismissed it. But I looked up to see him looking from the counter at everyone eating, eager. I check my pockets and wallet but all I had where big bills.

Here's the truth about telling stories with your life. It's going to sound like a great idea, and you are going to get excited about it, and then when it comes time to do the work, you're not going to want to do it. It's like that with writing books, and it's like that with life. People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain.

I'm not unhappy with my life at all. Not in the slightest. I just want to be conscience of what is going on around me and make sure that I am aware of the opportunities that are either presented or created. The opportunities to live a great story or be a character in someone else's story.

Job responds, even before his health and wealth are restored by saying, "All of this is too wonderful for me." Job found contentment and even joy, outside the context of comfort, health or stability. He understood the story was not about him, and he cared more about the story than he did about himself.

I heard this passage in a sermon one time, the line "all of this is too wonderful for me" part, and thought how cool is that! Compared to what Job went through, any trial that is going on with me seems trivial. Especially when Job can be completely torn down and still maintain an attitude that is focused on heaven. Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed I remember this and just say to myself, "All of this is too wonderful for me". I usually feel a little better.

People who live good stories are too busy to write about them.

I think that it's crap if you are too busy living a good story to not document it, to not tell it, to not reflect upon it. If you are too busy living and not doing those things, then you are missing the point. You should be living, but you have to create those stories along with the ability to tell them. Because if you can't tell them, they aren't stories.

Besides, every moment that we experience that is out of the ordinary becomes a marker in our memories. At least in mine. I have a terrible time recalling things. I make a million lists. I forget. I need something to anchor each memory too, a peg to hang something important on so I never forget. I heard a quote one time that went, "words are pegs to hang idea on." I'm not very good with words, I'm better with pictures, but if I can remember someone else's, I figure that just as good.

But honestly, when I think back on those those six weeks [Don speaking about riding his bike across the country], what I really remember are the few times when we made an extra effort to do something memorable...When we look back on our lives, what we will remember are the crazy things we did, the time we worked harder to make a day stand out...Good stories contain memorable scenes.

I'm realizing more and more that the things that matter the most, are the people that stick around you. I have been blessed with an amazing family, a loving girlfriend and equally amazing friends. I have realized that the stories I want to live, experience and tell, involve them. And that people or characters are the center of any great story. That you can't have a story without people. I use to think that I didn't need anyone, I could do it all on my own. Now I realize that I don't want to do it without them. I'm also realizing that strangers are opportunities to learn, or listen, or tell, or become part of a story. And all it takes is some passion or just willingness to to do that. My sister is great at this. Sometimes I envy her for that.

[A fathers little girl comes home with a dress to wear to the prom] She put it on and cames down to show her dad, he turned down the volume on the TV and tells her she looked nice. As she thanked him and and walked away he thought he should have said more. He went back to the watching TV, but it kept bugging him. Then he came up with an idea. He decided to create a memorable moment, if you will. He turned off the television and went into his closet and put on his suit. Without letting his wife or daughter see him, he found the family camera and knocked on her door. When his daughter opened the door, she was still in the dress and her mother was sitting on the bed with stick pins in her mouth. "Honey," the dad said to his wife, "would you mind taking a picture of us?" "Daddy, you're wearing a suit," his daughter said confused. "I want to look good in the picture too," he replied. The three of them ended up dancing in the living room until one in the morning.

When I hear about stories like this, where a little inspiration and effort turn into something more, something...extraordinary, it makes me feel glad to be alive. It makes me think that the small things do matter and that it doesn't take much to create a story. I don't have to change the world, I can just recognize an opportunity and act in changing another persons world. I don't do that enough, I feel. I might be present, but am I acting...I need to act more.

I like those scenes in the Bible where God stops people and asks them to build an alter. You'd think He was making them do that for Himself, but I don't think God really gets much from looking at a pile of rocks. Instead, I think God wanted his people to build alters for their sake, something that would help them remember, something they could look back on and remember the time when they were rescued, or they were given grace...We have to force ourselves to create these scenes. We have to get up off the couch and turn the television off, we have to blow up the inner-tubes and head down to the river. We have to write the poem and deliver it in person. We have to pull the car off the road and hike to the top of the hill. We have to put on our suits, we have to dance at weddings. We have to make alters.

I heard a sermon this last Sunday where the speaker was talking about us being the salt of the earth. That we were created to go out and flavor things. And that if we are not doing what we were created to do, then we weren't even good enough to stand on God's poo pile. That the poo pile was better than us. That God could use that poo pile to create something, but he couldn't do anything with us. That rocks are potentially worshiping God better than us when we don't flavor things and go out to show his glory because they are rocks and they lie there doing what they were created to do, which is just be a rock. I thought that was funny, and also kind of beautiful. We all search for "what we are suppose to do," when ultimately all we are called to do is worship God. Everything else that happens is just the story. I found comfort in that.

Be present, experience and worship God, be active and jump on opportunities, create, push, react positively, document. I'm writing a new chapter in my story, and it starts...now.

You Know It's Time

2010-01-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

As my title suggests, it's time. And I know it is time as my monitor clearly couldn't take one more second of displaying my digital needs, as it failed at the stand hinge and falls flat on it's back in a fit of rage. I think its message was pretty clear. Here let me show you.

You are probably asking yourself, how can a monitor just break and fall over? Here I'll show you.

In the below photo, the round hinge use to connect to other Plexiglas piece at the bottom of the image. There is no metal there to support, just the Plexiglas screwed through and connected to the hinge.

I guess it is actually something that happens to these old apple cinema displays. That's fine, it was getting pretty old, starting to ghost and the colors were noticeably a bit "warm". After all, I have used the monitor for a good 4 years, and I bought it used.

Actually, it still displays, it just doesn't stand up. And this monitor thought that by falling backwards on it's rear it would avert me from finishing my photo editing, pSSSH! As I got over the initial shock of the fall, I just stood up and kept clicking away until I was done. See Monitor, I tell you when you are done. Not the other way around.

The ironic thing was that it fell in the middle of me editing a photo of Jordan waving her finger of judgment / disapproval at me. It was like an "I Told You So" that she didn't even want to say. Oh well, out with the old, in with the new.

I did some quick research and Jordan and I headed off for Fry's and Best Buy. After considering a HDTV as the new replacement, I was assured by a Best Buy associate that in my line of work, I need to stick with the plain computer monitors for more actuate color densities and representation. We perused their selection but I wasn't impressed with anything non-apple, but I didn't really want to spend $900 on a new apple monitor. We headed back to Fry's where I ran across a Samsung 23" monitor with the HDTV capability built in...hmmm. Interesting. If I shouldn't get a TV with monitor capabilities, I'll get a monitor with TV capabilities! Perfect, I can replace my old tube TV in my room and my monitor at the same time! Brilliant!

They didn't have any in-stock. Then they closed for the night. So on Sunday we made a trip up to another Fry's and picked it up there, and then I spent the rest of afternoon cleaning, disconnecting, arranging, rearranging and reconnecting all my gear up. Here is the new set up, I'm diggin' it. Much cleaner and more functional I feel. I think I need to look into getting an HD cable box now.

What Does 1.8 Look Like

2010-01-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

INTRODUCING...
My new lens! Da-ta-da duh!

It's Nikon's Nikkor 35mm f1.8 fixed focused lens, but you can see that.

Look at what is can do!

This is a picture through my dad's old zoom lens for his old 35mm film camera. See how I can focus up close and how much it blurs the background?! oooooou. ahhhhh. And that upside down head is Jordan in the lens.

Test Shot 1: Jordan thinking she has a hot boyfriend.

Test Shot 2: Jordan telling me to get over my new lens and stop taking pictures of her.

From Front Row

2009-12-30T22:48:00.000-08:00

Ryan, with his amazing concert ticket karma, scored 2 front row, stage right tickets for John Mayer Trio from Ticketmaster for this past Tuesday night.

Wanna know what it looks like to be in the front row?
LIKE THIS.

We only had our camera phones on us for pictures, which don't do so well with the low lights and details and such, but I think that you can imagine the jist. But just to add insult to injury...

Here is the venue. Beautiful right?! Our seats were so close, you can't even see them in this picture as they are under the stage.

John and the gang played their hearts out and you could tell. They looked like they were having a ball up there, and we were having a great time watching them. John really did sound great. His vocals were really on that night (as sometimes those highs are a little shaky, but I don't care), but his guitar playing was just incredible. He made every note count and just scream for your attention. Ryan read a tweet from Mayer right after the show that read:

TY/S: thanks for the best show the Trio's played. And sorry I can't stay and sign... Travel constraints. You were unreal tonight!!!

Some of the mentionable moments were, A) since this show was right after Christmas, in the middle of the set, they break into a super fast bluesy version of Run Run Rudof. B) they played Ain't No Sunshine. C) the medley transition from I Got A Woman into Crossroads was legendary, as John snuck a few notes of crossroads at a time into the I Got A Woman chorus until it was like Crossroads has engulfed I Got A Woman and took it over.

I really wanted a guitar pick and thought that since I was in the front row that I had a good shot at getting one. There was nobody in front of me and just enough space from me to the stage that I thought a normal to enthusiastic throw would fall for such a tiny flying object. But unfortunately instead of him throwing out each pick individually to each seating section, John grabbed his whole lot from the mic stand holder in one fist full and threw them all in one toss to the middle section. Boo. I was even ready to fight some people off or even do a floor dive. I was that mentally prepared. Next time John, next time.

There was a girl sitting behind us that after the show went up to the stage and got one of the stage hands to give her the setlist. As me and Ryan were both keeping track of the setlist, we kept trying to see what was on it while she posed with it for a picture in front of us with the stage as the backdrop. Impressively, we had everything except we saw that they were going to play 4 songs for the encore but skipped one named "Freedom." JM3 doesn't have a song named Freedom...and neither does just John...it peeked Ryan and I's interest, with us wondering if it was maybe a new song, or another cover...It is a little too wide as a search criteria on Google as a quick search didn't provide any answers. Anyways, the setlist went as follows:

Who Did You Think I Was
Good Love Is On The Way
Everyday I Have The Blues
Come When I Call
Ain't No Sunshine
Vultures
Run Run Rudof (Johnny be Good)
I Got A Woman > Crossroads
Out Of My Mind
Try!

Encore
Gonna Find Another You
Who Says
Wait Till Tomorrow

See other photos from the show here.

The Adventures of A 4 Day Weekend : Part 2

2009-12-19T22:25:00.001-08:00

Goal #4: Something New Every Month
Instead of doing one thing new this month, I decided to do a whole bunch of new things and stack it into some forced, use-it-or-loose-it 4 day vaca-stay-cay.

Day 3: Saturday
Getty Villa

Jordan, Ryan and I picked up Sarah in Lake Forest and met Kris and Becky at the beautiful Getty Villa in Malibu.

So some background on the place. It was once Mr. Getty's house, who collected art. Then he got so much art that he dedicated a wing of his house to it. Then he thought that it was wrong to keep it all to himself, so he started opening his art wing to the public by appointment only. But he only saw maybe 1000 guests a year and he wasn't satisfied with that. So he made his wing open to the public. Eventually, as he kept collecting more and more art, they had to build another building on the property to house everything. They eventually moved Getty's collection to the new Getty Center up on the hill and left only his Greek and Roman collection at the Greek and Roman inspired architecture buildings/grounds of his Villa.

It was in the middle of the storm while we were there. Raining off and on all day. But we had a great time playing should I grab an umbrella at the exit of every doorway. After a delicious meal at the cafe, we explored the grounds and gardens, the buildings, the ampitheater and the art. Overall, I enjoyed the grounds, gardens and architecture, but the art got a little repetitive as it was all statues, busts, and objects. There were one or two things that I remember seeing in my old art history classes (which is always interesting to me). But the most enjoyable thing was really just hanging out and goofing around in this beautiful place.

For instance, there were these statues posing by the water in the middle of the villa courtyard. But there was one space left open..begging to be stepped upon and strike a similar pose of the statues...but as I approached, they placed this tiny sign that said "keep off". Edged on by my entourage I jumped up for a quick picture. Waited a few moments and jumped off. Later Sarah told me that as I stepped up, two dark figures appeared and started making a B-line for me, but then vanished as they got word of some other patron skipping rocks across the reflection pool.

A QUICK TOUR:

The entrance to the grounds.

You come out of the entrance at the top of the ampitheater overlooking the main building entrance.

The view through the main building entrance through the courtyard, through the other side on the building, to the round fountain and ending with the mosaic waterfall fountain. This arrangement of the grounds is very Greek.

This is the view looking back through the villa.

This is the mosaic fountain at the end.

This is the view from the garden on the side.

That concludes our tour. And now onto the days models.

The gang...singing in the rain.

My Cutie posing in front of a column.

My Cuties posing in the garden and on the steps ;)

Sarah looking fondly at one of the Roman statues.

Jordan giving me the stink eye for no deserved reason what-so-ever.

Jordan posing with one angry and one concerned man.

Nice try buddy, but I think he as a few thousand years on you.

This is the face that Sarah gives you when you almost drop her mobile and break it into a million pieces...almost.

We had Kris taking pictures of us together when a group of photographers walked by and one of them stopped and posed us like this... Thanks for the tip stranger!

That concludes our day at the villa. We did go to dinner and tried some peruvian food that was amazing! It's like Mongolian and Mexican had a golden baby. We spent the night at Sarah's place and set off in the morning to get Sarah her annual pass and spend another day at Disneyland (also known as day 4 of our vacation).

See all the shots from the villa HERE

The Adventures of A 4 Day Weekend : Part 1

2009-12-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

Goal #4: Something New Every Month
Instead of doing one thing new this month, I decided to do a whole bunch of new things and stack it into some forced, use-it-or-loose-it 4 day vaca-stay-cay.

DAY 1: Thursday
Julian

I have never made the hour+ trip up to the apple growing semi mountain town of Julian, so I thought this would be a perfect chance to experience what all the pie eating fuss was all about.

Off we went, but got super hungry as we arrived. Jordan saw this "new" (in quotes because nothing in Julian looks new) mexican place... and I should have known better. Mexican food from a tinny mountain town that's built around apples... I should have taken the even bigger cue to go to a new place when I tried to open their door and it was stuck, but they had a sign that said push real hard. It was the most AWFUL food ever! I can't even explain how awful it was. So I say to you, don't go!! It was so bad that I started seeing double!

The good news was the rest of the day was not as unfortunate... except for the fact that it was cold and Jordan purposefully left her jacket at the condo and resorted to commandeering mine and leaving me to be a man and face the bitter cold while I assured her that I was fine as with each passing half hour the temperature dropped a degree.

We bounced from shop to shop trying to stay warm in the more mild set climate of each shop. The owners were all very friendly and started conversations with us as soon as we entered each new shop. I think they were bored and didn't have a lot of visitors as it was a late Thursday afternoon. But we enjoyed checking out the keepsakes, trinkets and novelty's of the area. After the shops we headed to Mom's, which apparently was the place that usually had a line for pie all the way down the street. But being as this was a Thursday, we walked right in... only to wait as these four foreign men in front of us proceeded to be annoying and monopolizing the workers time with unrealavant questions and concerns that did not amount to them getting pie or letting us order some. We got our apple pie's and I ordered a cup of their apple cider. Jordan enjoyed hers, but mine I thought was DUBNA (Decent But Not Amazing). I certainly wouldn't wait in a ridiculous line for it. The apple cider was way better.

Day 2: Friday
Birch Aquarium + Burger Lounge

It's storming outside but Jordan and I are determined to see some fish. The Aquarium is actually quite the place. It isn't as large as I thought it was going to be, but it has a ton of aquariums packed very closely together. It felt like it took us an hour just to go through the first few. The coolest thing that I saw were these giant starfish, which looked like something straight out of the movie evolution. And it was moving, fast... well, fast for a star fish. The thing was like the size of a coffee table.

Their main on attraction exhibit was called "There is Something About Seahorses". And we learned 2 very interesting and surprising things about seahorses.

1. There are seahorses that look like aliens or something straight out the new movie Avatar. I mean, just look at these things!

2. The males are the ones that carry the babies in some front pouch and when they are ready, shoots them out his belly button in these violent compulsions. It's a little disturbing.

After that little display of the circle of life we were off to try a new burger joint called the Burger Lounge. It is like In-N-Out on crack. All they do is burgers, salads, frys and onion rings with their ambiance being ubber fresh, modern and clean. All their meets are from a sustainable and on grass feed farm somewhere in the middle of the country, and other all natural fresh ingredients. The burger just melts in your mouth and makes a huge mess with it's juiciness being uncontainable, going every which way, running all over our hands. I would highly recommend this place.

Right Now

2009-12-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

Right now, I am drinking the Guinness Book of World Records labeled "strongest beer."
14% alcohol and with a name like Samichlaus, who could ever forget it after trying it? It tastes like a wine flavored beer, seriously. I stumbled across it today at Bevmo picking up a few Christmas presents. Classic.

NorCal Musical Trip

2009-11-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

DAY 1: Friday, San Jose

After the long long drive up to San Jose, we made it to our hotel and checked in. And after getting settled and freshened up, we headed back out for downtown San Jose for dinner and and the first musical of the trip, the much acclaimed and beloved show, Spring Awakening.

We ate dinner at the Firehouse, a small local hot spot in the rustic downtown area. The restaurant was small, with old brick walls, painted bright red floors, and projected fire on any blank walls that were not covered in fireman garb. We had some great burgers and beers, and headed to the theater for the show.

Spring Awakening was good, but not great for me (Jordan/Ryan...sorry, but I can't say I can join you in your fanaticism). The singing was strong, and the set was very beautiful. I loved all the movement on stage and the choreography, but the overall storyline didn't move me. I wasn't wowed by it, and it felt a little bit predictable...like I have seen this formula before. The parts were good, but as a whole it didn't do it for me.

DAY 2: Saturday, Berkley/San Fran

We made it up to Berkley for our afternoon matinee showing of American Idiot. Which is this new musical they made by taking Green Day's American Idiot album and a few other from the 21st Century Breakdown album and using it as the soundtrack and the storyline for the show.

The show was at the Berkley Rep, this pretty modern and industrial theater. We had front row seats (which somehow turned out to be 2nd row seats) and Jordan and I were in the "Lodge" which we also thought we had front row, but alas it was 2nd row as well.

I was super impressed with the set design. They backed the stage with a huge wall plastered with Obey style newspaper prints and cut outs for TVs that they controlled and showed graphics and videos on. The show was just all rock and all energy. I thought it was an amazing production, the music was on, and the singing was strong.

After the show we made our way to San Francisco, checked into our hotel and set out for dinner at Pier 39 and Bubba Gumps.

Oh and I might have forgotten to mention that it was halloween night and all the shops on the pier were having kids come by and trick-or-treat at their stores...but some stores were not as prepared as others.

They had great service and these cool flip license plate style signs that when you needed something you just flipped and they came running. The shrimp was good, especially the coconut battered fried shrimp, and because it was my birthday a few days before...my friends told the service peoples who made me stand on the booth as they sang their birthday song to me.

After the night, we grabbed breakfast at Panera. Jordan was acting a little rambunctious and attention deprived before we started out 9hour journey back to to SoCal.

See all the shots from the trip HERE

Birthday #26 (in pictures)

2009-11-10T22:04:00.001-08:00

MuteMath: House of Blues

2009-10-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

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!!!]

2009-09-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-24T21:42:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-10T11:21:00.001-07:00

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)

2009-09-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

(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.

2009-08-30T20:24:00.003-07:00

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

Hope you're all having a fantastic day!

Strawberry Swing

2009-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

Watch it! Be amazed. Then watch it again.

High Noon

2009-08-26T22:32:00.001-07:00

I got a text from Ryan asking me if I wanted to go shooting with Trent (Britney's BF)...umm, YES! Trent owns quite a few guns and works at a shooting range. He is very knowledgeable about them and I didn't take long to talk to him to find out that he has a real passion for guns.

After loading up Trents Jeep we head off to the range. We get setup, geared up and locked & loaded and we start letting them fly.

Trent brought for us 6 guns to shoot. And after some lessons and demonstrations on each weapon we all started going to town. Once we got the hang of things Ryan and I put up fresh targets to try our aiming with each gun.

• AK47 - Which is the gun of choice for most of the fighting world. This is the gun you always see the terrorists with and which Ryan said was his favorite. As I was in the middle of shooting, one of the rounds went off with a considerable louder bang and much bigger flash than all the previous...we all stopped and checked it out thinking that it had jammed or misfired. As it turns out the gun was fine...there was just a couple armor piercing rounds mixed in! Like the kind of ammo you use if you are shooting tanks and vehicles. Talk about a punch and the kick those things give.

• Scoped M16 - Which is the gun of the U.S. military and was my favorite. It just felt very solid and comfortable in my hands. Plus the scope lighted up green or red depending on what I wanted and turned the dial.

• GSG 5 - Which is a rifle that shoots small 22mm rounds. As you can see, I didn't hit the target...but it's not my fault! It was the first time Trent even brought out the gun to shoot as he just bought it and we learned that the sights we off...down and to the left. Trent target looked exactly like mine. We both would have been all over the center of that thing if it was dialed in.

• Bretta 9mm handgun - A pretty standard handgun. Now, I don't know if my arms were just tired or what the deal was, because this was by far my worst series. And I have shot mostly handguns and pretty well too out with Philip and Emily in AZ...I even split a peach which blew up from 25 yards...See:

My First shot was good...but the rest were nowhere near the the target...one even hit the very edge of the paper. I feel like my hours of duck hunt growing up failed me this night.

There were 2 other guns that didn't make the clean target:

• 12 Gauge pump-action shotgun - Which I learned that there is a ton of different kinds of ammo for a shotgun, with different pellet sizes depending on what you were hunting or even solid shots which are basically a hug shotgun slug.

• 1934 bolt action Len Field Mark 3 - Which is a rifle from WWI. This thing was really weird, you pulled the trigger wait half a second, then it fires. Though it was cool shooting such an old gun, I can't believe the difference in feel from the more modern guns. It was even hard to aim because you were never sure when it was going to fire. Trent told us later that it wasn't the gun, but the ammo..and we were shooting ammo that was as old as the gun.

Anyways, that was everything. A big thanks to Trent for showing us a good time.

Torrey Pines, South Course

2009-08-16T22:40:00.001-07:00

Not sure that I really need to say much about this...Mr. Cowen and I, determined to play like the pros finally got together to try our skills out on the amazing links of Torrey Pines. They held the U.S. Open here just over a year ago...which 2 month prior to that was the first time that I had braved this course (accept it was the North Course, when the pros always play the South). Anyways, this is the same course that Tiger tore up his knee on, still finished and ended up winning the tournament after going extra holes, and was forced to stop golfing for 8 months.

Overall I thought that my performance was admirable. My end score was 109 (Mr. Cowen shot a 94, who usually shoots in the 80's which gives you an idea of the difficulty of the course, about a 10+ on your normal). Unfortunately, there were no amazing shots to speak of. Just beautiful views of the ocean off the cliffs with parachuters and hang gliders in the background. The rough is crazy difficult and really makes you pay for your off shots, hanging on to and grabbing and slowing the club headng tweaking your shots. And I would know, I spent a lot of time in it.

Here I am teeing off on the what was 600 yard par 5, 13th hole for the U.S. open, but we played it around 510 yards. It's a nice view from the tee box, but much more intimidating when you get up around the green with 6 deep bunkers guarding the front elevated green. I shanked my tee shot off to the right, but saved it on my second shot and ended up making par.

I'll be back Torrey, and next time I will be ready for you.

Whooty Whoo

2009-07-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while and I've been keeping busy busy, so Mr. Owl up here is going to help me out. Here we go:

1. I was really excited when one night right before I went to bed I happened to stumble upon a feed that said one of my favorite bands had their new CD available for download! That band is Sleeping at Last, and their new CD is called Storyboards. I haven't given it a lot of play time yet, but so far it sounds like the band is moving farther away from the more rocky tunes that they started with and are moving more towards the orchestral arrangements. Check out their compellingly moving music on their Myspace.

And just as compelling as their music, is the artist that does their album art, Geoff Benzing. Check out his watercolors, gorgeous pieces like the owl above that he did for the album cover of Storyboards or the one below for their last CD keep No Score.

Some of his stuff you can even buy right off his site. Too bad this rolling elephant piece isn't available to be purchased any more, I love the colors in this one.

2. Speaking of music...I flew back from Sedona to go to the Coldplay concert. To make a long story short, I brought Jordan down to the venue with me and Ryan without having a ticket for her. I thought I would be able to pick one up at the venue no problem since I had gotten a email deal the day before for discounted lawn tickets. We go to the ticket booth and are informed there are no more tickets for sale. So we start looking for someone who might want to get rid of a ticket. One guy approaches us and proceeds to tell me he has a lawn ticket....FOR $80! What?! They are only $30 tickets anyways. He rudely declines me when I offer him $40 so we keep looking/asking people if anyone has a spare. We can't find anyone, and the more we talk to people the more people we find them in our same situation. So with 15 minutes before Coldplay takes the stage, I decide to just make someone else's night. After 3 trys Jordan and I find 2 girls that have one lawn ticket and need one more. They ask me how much I would sell it to them, but I tell them we are in the same situation and someone should go enjoy the show and just give it to them. They can't believe it but quickly grab the ticket, thank us and run into the show. So then Jordan and I run up the hill to the super secret park above the the venue where you can still hear but can't see. Cody and Ryan are texting me the whole time telling us how awesome the show is...and from what I heard, I agreed, especially with their 20 songs set list. Next time Coldplay, I'll be there, tickets in hand and I'll even show up early.

3. I started watching this new series that I know is just going to disappoint me in the end, but it is called Jericho. It centers around the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas in the aftermath of a huge nuclear attack on the United States. So far it's been very interesting and entertaining, but I say that it is going to disappoint me because they canceled the show after only 7 episodes into the second season...I think that the show is awesome, but due to ratings (which were probably due to bad marketing) the network canceled the show. Hopefully they wrap things up and not just leave the series hanging at the end...I hate when they do that.

4. I started the remodel of the garage last Sunday by cleaning it out and taking down the rest of the original crappy built-in shelving in the far corner as Jordan gave me smirks from her insta-office I set up. Complete with folding table and rolling chair, so she could work on her computer but still spend time with me while I labored away and she edited images. Aren't we cute?! Now I have to fix the damage done to the wall, paint the walls and the cabinets, epoxy and seal the floor and then install some new storage racking that my dad is finding for me. I can't wait to cross one more condo project off my list.

Doesn't it look like I am building heaven in this one?!

5. Last but not least, Wednesday was Jordan's and I's 2 month anniversary. Now, I am not one of the people that think you should celebrate every month, just the major ones like 3 & 6...maybe 9...we'll see. But I was very surprised to hear about how many people knew and reminded me that it was our anniversary (Go friends and fam!). Anyways I scheduled a Gift of Time from work and it coincidentally was our 2 month...Soooo, we went down to the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park then off to Sea World to give our new passes a workout.

Being as Jordan is a huge picture taker, I have been wanting to take her down to MOPA for some time. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the museum to find they had Ansel Adams on display. Who just so happens to be one of the most famous photographers of all time. I learned that he use to shot people doing "Skijoring," which are people skiing while being pulled by a horse, and that Ansel didn't like to work in color...of which I can relate. He said, "He lacked color imagination." But he also said, "The negative is the equivalent of the composers score, and the print the performance." I thought that was pretty cool. Here is some of his work:

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." ~ Ansel Adams

I especially liked the cans of Hills Bros. coffee they had on display which they used one of Ansels images to sell their product back in the day. That's just good marketing, and I think by taking such an originally object as a coffee can and infusing it with art turns it into something extraordinary. Very Andy Warhol.

After the museum we set off to sea world, where we spent some time going through the shark exhibit reading all the signs and facts and what not. We came to notice that Sea World likes to pluralize the already plural word "fish" to "fishes" and noticed it all over the park. Anyways, back at the shark exhibit they had a board with a title that Jordan read out loud, "Sharks don't eat people," which I had to follow with, "people eat people!" That gave us a laugh. We had a good time overall, making it to see Cirque De La Mer (which sucks, don't see it), a couple other aquarium/small exhibits in the park, Jordan touched a starfish and we ended with the Wild Arctic ride and the polar bear. Bam. That's the update.

Sedona: Day 5 (Wednesday)

2009-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Pink Jeep!! Yup we did it! And mom was a trooper.

They took us out on a 2+ish hour 4x4 ride to see the natural beauty of the rocks and forest and have us climb up and down 45° angled rocks and boulders. It was pretty crazy. So much fun.

See all the photos here

Sedona: Day 4 (Tuesday)

2009-07-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

Golf, golf, golf!!! Today Dad, Mom and I went together to take on our resorts’ course, uniquely named the Sedona Golf Resort. Now I was super excited to play this course because it was rated 4 stars by Gold Digest Magazine as one of the best places to play for 2008/2009 and that’s a big deal as the magazine is pretty much the forerunner publication for everything golf.

We get there and suited up, go to the range to warm up, and get called to tee off at 1:15. Now keep in mind that this also only my mothers second time playing golf, ever…and it is hot outside, in the hundreds. We pull up to the first tee box and out of nowhere it starts blowing crazy wind and then starts sprinkling! We waited for about 5 minutes, we hit our shots and rush out to our balls. It is still sprinkling a little bit but we finish the hole and move on. As we get into our carts, the storms picks up and it starts raining crazy hard, as if it were a hurricane or something. The rain was coming at us sideways! We get up to the second tee (which is this beautiful 169 yard par 3 elevated tee to a green probably 100 feet below.) I hit my shot really fast (which lands 2.5 feet form the hole!!) and the rain starts coming down even harder! We decide we need to go in, as we are soaking wet at this point, in shorts with no rain gear at all (we are in Arizona after all, why would we need rain gear?!).

So we went to have lunch and try to wait out the “monsoon” which we were told usually last about 30-45 minutes and then we could restart our round. And that is what happened. It passed after lunch and we got geared up again and went out, this time it was clear, a little humid, hot and windy. The longer we were out, the more beautiful it became. And it was beautiful out there. I am so happy that we waited it out instead of packing up and going home like we entertained. This course wound through the hills surrounded with the towering views of the red rock background contrasting against the lush green of the course. It really was just like all the fancy pictures that you see everywhere if you google Sedona or the cowboy cliché (but before it turns to a sunset scene).

We had a great time out there with some big highlights. Here we go:

1. First of all, I shot a 95! Just to reiterate, anytime I come in under 100 I am stocked! But to come in under a hundred on a course of this caliber…it was just an amazing feeling. I even had a birdie on the 10th (171yard par 3 that I stuck my shot 8 feet from the hole), two pars (7th and 17th both par 3 holes, which I normally don’t shoot very well on) and 8 bogies (some of which could of have been birdies or pars, like on the 15th 427yard par 4 I stuck my approach shot 2.5 feet from the hole from 70yards out).

2. Even though I said it in the paragraph above…this needed it’s own bullet point…On the 10th where I birdied on and knocked it 8 feet from the pin was the same hole that the course uses as there signature hole on all there collateral /promo/and web pictures! It feels really good to dominate a signature hole like that.

3. I also hit this amazing shot to save par, but I don’t remember what hole it was. I shanked my second shot with my 4 iron off to the left. Luckily I found the ball, in the rough with a ok lie, 70 yards out with a 30 foot tree right in from of me blocking and good shot that I might have. I really had no choice and no other shot than to just try a go over the tree. But I was sure that I was going to hit the top of it and have the ball coming right back at me. So I opened me lob wedge up and hit a flop shot with everything that I had. Usually, because your club face is so open that when you hit the ball it goes so high that it doesn’t go very far, especially not 70 yards, at least for me…plus with how close the tree was to me I really didn’t think I had any chance of hitting it steep enough to even clear the tree in front of me, but amazingly somehow I did! I cleared it with what looked like inches to go and then to see it land right next to the flag on top of it! Arms were up in a triumphant walk to the green to save par.

4. The last hole has a story too (the 18th). I knew that I had to finish this hole off well in order to make sure that I hit my goal of under 100. If I had a meltdown like I did 2 holes earlier…I’d blow my goal and I couldn’t let that happen. It is only a 300yard down hill par 4 (something that I could pull driver and possibly hit the green), so instead of going the risky route, I pulled my 7 iron, and I’ll tell you why. A) I have way more control of this mid iron than I do of my driver so I was ensuring that I hit a straight shot where I wanted it and try to avoid hitting a snap hook off into the condos and adding strokes to my score. And B) it is only a 300 yard hole…and I usually hit my 7 iron 150 yards…so I theoretically could hit two controlled 7 iron shots to make the green. So that is what I did. Hit my first shot exactly where I wanted it, right smack dab in the middle of the fairway. And since it was a down hill hole my shot went farther which left me with 135 yards to go (which was awesome too, because you usually try to leave yourself with yardages that you actually hit with a full swing of any given club.) And 135 yards is my 8 iron. But this is where it gets sticky. I hit my 8 iron over the green into the bridge/road behind the hole(!?!?). Now that was a good 40 yards past the hole…WTF? Why do I keep flying greens?!? That’s like the 5th one this trip! So I have to add 2 strokes to my score. I pull my 9 iron, take my fourth shot now and stick it 2.5 feet from the hole! I make my putt, which with my penalty gives me a bogie (which should have been another birdie!!) but that’s the way it goes.

5. Last notable thing, was the wildlife. I go to step onto a tee box and all of a sudden my dad yells “SNAKE”!!! Sure enough, slithering across the tee away from me but directly from where I was standing was a 2 foot snake making its way across the grass. If I would have gotten there 10 seconds earlier I might have stepped on it. Secondly, as we were making our way back to the clubhouse after we finished, this family of wild bores cut across the cart path right in front of us. There were about 3 adults and 4 babies just scurrying between the trees and on their way. Luckily we didn’t hit them, or make them to mad because the starter later told us that they can get aggressive if they feel threatened. So that was golfing.

For dinner I took my parents up to uptown Sedona to a place called the Cowboy Club. Basically it is just a nice old steak joint that serves more than steak and has been around since the 1920’s. I tried another Buffalo burger, determined to know if the first place really just sucked at cooking it or if that is just the way it was…I was right, place number 1 sucked at cooking it. This burger was awesome. Cooked perfectly medium, and I had them add fresh avocado and their raspberry-plum BBQ sauce. The meat really doesn’t take much different from cow, but I hear that it is leaner which should mean it’s better for you.

Anyways, that’s Tuesday. Can’t wait for some off-roading tomorrow in a pink jeep.

Sedona: Day 3 (Monday)

2009-07-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the golf course this morning as my parents sit through another timeshare presentation to get us a great rate for golfing tomorrow. They graciously let me off the hook for today so off to Oak Creek Country Club I go. I had a good time, and got to be by myself. The front nine was rough, but I got my act together on the back nine. Total score was a 107.

My tee shots were money today, and so were my second shots. It was my wedge action inside 100 yards that was killing me. Oh! and the fact that all the yardages on the course were wack! I must have flew at least 4 greens today, and not just by a little bit like my shots are being better and going longer. I flew them by 15-30 yards each and I'm pretty sure I didn't just become Tiger and can hit my PW 150 yards when it use to go 125 yards. It's a big deal. Anyways, notable hole was #14. It was a 315 yard par 4. When I pulled up to it, my eyes lit up...cuz I thought there is a chance that I could reach the green in one shot (and I have done it once before! just not at this course). So with driver in hand and a few hearty practice swings I planned my shot. It was a slight bend to the left for the green with a bunker at 220yards on the left side. I knew I had to at least clear the bunker if my shot didn't make it cuz I was going to have to go right over it. Anyways, I took my stance and lined my shot, and with a big shoulder turn I let it rip. With a loud "crack" I look up and the ball is in flight, straight and right where I wanted it! I'm thinking there's a chance I might actually have made it!!! I jumped in my cart and off I went...only to find that I came up just short of the front of the green by 15 yards (a 285yard drive ain't shabby)!!! And even though I didn't make it to the green it was still a damn great shot! Of course I chip up and 3 putt to go from a birdie opportunity to a scoring bogie. But that's the way it goes I guess. Here is what the hole looked like.

After golfing, I showered up and my mom wanted a facial. My dad and I didn't want to go out again, but she was insistent she go now and that we take her. I remembered that there was this local brewery that a coworker was raving to me about so I quickly looked it up online. Turns out it was just a mile down the road from the spa! So I tell my dad that we should go while we wait for mom to be done and I'll buy him a beer! How can he say no to that?

We get the place and there is this old car in the parking lot with beer taps on the side of it, awesome! Beer on the go!

We roll in and the vats were lining the room and there wa a bar right by the front door and then a patio with a firepit (that was covered with potted plants :( ) and a water fountain in the corner in the back. They even had an old school movie theater popcorn machine full of free popcorn and a tub of whole peanuts! This place is great! I ordered us a couple of hefv's and off to the patio we go, snacks and beers in hand.

While we are talking and having a good time, my dad goes to lean back in his chair...and in an Austin Powers, Dr. Evil moment...I see my dad's face go from smiles, to concerned, to OMG! to splat! This spring iron chair coil weld breaks as my dad leans back and he goes flat back feet up into the flower bed behind us! He's ok, and even nailed the landing. I help him up and we get him a new chair as everyone around us is concerned and asking if he's ok. It was a surreal moment for sure, that we kept laughing about. I really liked the place too. No frills, just local flavor. Cheers to that.

Sedona: Day 2 (Sunday)

2009-07-13T20:18:00.001-07:00

And we are off! Oh, no we are not, as my Dad pulls into an information center looking for deals. Oh! and deals do we find. Found in the form of listening to timeshare presentations. Apparently that's how you do it here in Sedona to get things cheap. So we get booked and start the day with a 2.5 hour sales presentation to get $140 in Pink Jeep Tours gift certificates (Pink Jeep is an off road Jeep tour in Sedona up some of the mountains and things). We also got $20 for one of their restaurants for lunch. And after the presentation, we are starving so we go. Stakes and Sticks is what it is called. You can bet on the hourse races, play some pool, and grab a bite.

Next we checked out the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village

There were bungalo style shops all over the place with water fountains and courtyards. So pretty.

First stop was the candy store, where I found some yummy mint bark.

Check out these totally awesome sexist magnets at their novelty store!
"The secret ingredient is resentment"
"Martini's...they're not just for breakfast anymore"

Then there were these wind sculptures scattered everywhere and then I found a garden of them with these cool chairs and tables made out of iron and rock slabs.

Then I found this cool colorful mural of a Mexican Marketplace, so I took a "what's going on slightly to the right of the camera" photo.

And then a straight one.

It was getting late and apparently all the shops closed up around 6pm (it was Sunday afterall) so we get back in the car and were off to see the new Transformers moive. But we had some time to kill and heard about this awesome view up the hill by the airport, and it was on the way to the theater so up we went. We could see the whole valley and all the main rock formations off in the distantance, everything here is red, green or a tint derived there of. Really is is just a beautiful place.

Now we are in the movies, and remember that "gift" we got for going to the timeshare presentation?? Well my mother is very excited about doing this, and I am shocked at how gun-ho she is about it. Because this is coming from the woman who still holds onto the door when I drive her anywhere, or screams "RED" 100 yards before the light, or who goes to sit in her chair at the movie theater and screams when is reclines a little because it is not stadium seating! she doesn't like to be moved, jerked or bumped...needless to say, I can't wait to do the 4x4ing. If the guide sucks, at least I will have my mother to entertain me, screaming all the way. But that's not till Wednesday. Untill then...

Introducing: The Mischievious Adventures of Sir Bombs-A-Lot

2009-07-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

Sir Bombs-A-Lot here. I got dragged on this little Sedona vacation and thought I would get into a little trouble, if you know what I mean. These are my mischievious adventures.

Oops, my bad. I just had to let one rip, let me light my match.

Hehehe, I'll just make a slight temperature adjustment while the family is asleep. Wouldn't want anyone suffering of heat stroke out here in the desert.

Just getting back from a wild night out at the clubs. Picked up an explosive hottie and now to seal the deal with a little mood music that no woman can resist, Al Green!

I got so hungry wanting for my lunch that I had to let the waitress know what was up. And being that I have a blow away temper my psycologist recommended to take my aggression in more constructive ways. I think that I are making progress.

Sedona: Day 1 (Saturday)

2009-07-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

We made it out to our destination, Sedona, AZ, after watching the thermometer climb to 114° then down to 85° as we climbed the hill and back up to 100° as me pulled into our resort. Right before we go to the resort we pulled off the road at a senic spot and took a few pictures of the beautiful country and the red rocks out the in the distance.

Arn't they cute?

Here is where we are staying

We settled in and it turns out that I have an entire studio to myself that is attached to my parents suit. My own TV, DVD player, couch, fridge, sink, kitchen table, huge bathroom and iHome iPod clock radio/spear system (that coincidentally works with my iPod that I brought!). If you are not jealous right now, your lying to yourself ;)

After getting settled in we went out for dinner at the Market Place Cafe. It was more of a restaurant and bar than a cafe all decorated with Hollywood movie photos and the industrial lighting. We all decided to try the buffalo meat burger, real buffalo people. Which turned out to taste just like cow but was a little tougher (probably because it is leaner than cow, but mostly because it was over cooked) and slightly spicier. Though all I could think about while I was eating it was being on Oregon Trail and out hunting for buffalo for food for my family...I ate everyting on the plate though as I was starving...then all I could think about was when you hunt too much and your waggon is so full that it can't carry any more food and you have to leave all these dead animals in the field...that's how I felt. Over full. I'd try it again for sure though.

Anyways, we are off to check out the town today and see where everything is. Oh and don't you worry your little hearts...I know I am staying at a "golf" resort...don't think that I wont get a round or two in! (I already snuck on late last night to check out the greens, this place looks super tough...but I guess at $100 a round they better give you a challenge.)

The Massive Mini Update

2009-07-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

Busy busy busy. Here is the huge download.

June 29th - Marked Jordan and I's one month anniversary. I thought to do something "casual" but very us. So I surprised her with a text that afternoon saying "hey, I'm taking you out tonight." or something to that effect. Basically just something spontaneous and not giving her any details just to keep my plans a surprise. Anyways, I took her down to Coronado, parked in my secret spot and we talked as we walked the beach in front of the Del. Then we stumbled upon this new installation of Dr. Seuss character statues celebrating his works in the main courtyard of the Del, so we spent some time reading the descriptions by cellphone light. That's all I had planed when on the way back to the car I had an idea..."wanna go to the movies?! and see UP?"...off we went. the movies on a Monday night was awesome. There were 4 other people in the theater, we naturally picked the make-out corner. And we joked about claiming the spot for ourselves by carving our names into the side wall...we didn't. Anyways, we had a great time.

July 3rd - Jordan and I got up and were on the road to San Bernardino at 5am. I had a tee time with the guys and Jordan decided she wanted some quality writing time at the local Starbucks while we golfed. The actual point of the trip was for Jordan to meet the parents. So after our round we headed for the hills of Yuciapa. We shared a nice lunch on the patio in the back yard as we talked and shared stories...afterwords I jumped into the shower to rinse the golf off me, and that's when all hell broke loose...Jordan asked to see my baby pictures! Album after album came out and she just kept laughing at all my awards through grade school as they really did give out a ribbon for just about anything. Somehow they got onto the subject of sewing which ended with a little how to sew a straight line tutorial with the sewing machine...to which Jordan emerges from the back room, smile plastered across her cute face as she shows me her sample stitch, and I couldn't tell where my mom's finished and and Jordan's began (good job babe!). Overall, it went very well, not that I had any doubts that it wouldn't.

July 4th - We rounded up the gang (Ry, Brittany, Jordan and myself) and headed for Coronado to celebrate our freedoms. We hit up Miguel's for dinner which was very good as usual. I tried the swordfish tacos which were quite amazing. I also had a beer with Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce...it wasn't as bad as it sounds, but I don't think I will need to have that experience again. After dinner we walked over to the golf course to watch the fireworks. It was quite nice actually. We spread out a blanket and tried our hand at photographing the display (see below). Afterwords Jordan and I tried to do a little night geocaching, but to no avail. It was a great 4th.

On a side note, for some reason every time I watch fireworks I think of the Jimmy song "Just Watch the Fireworks"...of which I am pretty sure has nothing to do with fireworks, but I love the song.

Janie's Graduation

2009-07-07T21:04:00.001-07:00

6.20.09

Left SD after work on Friday night for Aromas...arrived around 3am. The point of the trip, Janie graduated from high school and is bound for Chico State. So we were parting of course. Pretty much the standard Trementozzi party...too much food, lots of people, and the infamous marshmallow fight...where my Grandmother, playing the instigator, lost her balance in the middle of a throw and fell and broke her wrist in two places. But even though it was Janie's day...I couldn't turn the camera away from Jess. Congrat's Janie, 4 great years are on the way!

See all the photos here

Surprise! LOST

2009-07-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

6.26.09

Yup! We pulled it off without Ryan suspecting a thing. And we might have had to tell him a few little white lies to do it, but I think with time Ryan will forgive us.

But let me flashback…or back track. A week or two before Ry’s birthday we were at a movie talking about what he should do for his birthday, and after some back and forth I decide to give him 2 choices: A) Let me plan something to which he will not know the details of and must go along with or B) Keep planning it himself of which I will no longer be of assistance. It was a very Matrix red pill blue pill scenario. Aaaaannnddddd I told him he had to make a decision before the movie started. He chose option A.

So I gathered some great friends and Andy, Jordan, Brittany and I went to work with the idea of throwing this LOST themed bash that I saw some other people do online.

He was so surprised! Look at the expression on that face!

We had Dharma labeled food!

Dharma style and Ryan featured posters.

I even created a Dharma magazine with Ryan as the feature and filled the pages with old school Dharma ads I found online opposite blank pages for everyone at the party to sign and write happy birthday wishes in.

Then we partied it up!

Then after we got Ryan liquired up enough, we made him do a photo scavenger hunt where we hid small LOST episode shots around his apartment and made him look for them, complete with a Dharma checklist.

And we even had a photobooth with Island themed backdrop for people to get a little LOST in.

Happy Birthday again Ryan! Hope you had a great time.

See all the party photos here courtesy of Jordan Peck
Read Ryan’s response to the party here

What's In A Name?

2009-06-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I where driving back from Janie's grad party (but that is another post) when Sarah saw a red and white striped water tower off in the distance. Now when we were younger and would go to visit our grandparents in Fresno, my dad use to use this game to make us shut up. Basically he started shouting out "Waldo tower!" and gave himself a point. So naturally we had to start playing and being on the lookout for Waldo towers because we couldn't let Dad win!

So Sarah turns tome in the car and says, "The name Waldo is weird. What do you think of when you hear the name Waldo?" And of course I'm like Where's Waldo! That's right! That awesome 'I Spy' game from our childhood!

So we start chatting...do we know anyone else named Waldo...no. But we do have a friend who is expecting and who is searching for a name...So we consider texting it over for consideration.

And then we really start thinking...what if they actually do name this kid Waldo? Would he have to dress in a red and white stripped shirts all his life?! Would you have to create a legend in the corner of every baby picture taken? When he get's older would he always have to have a backpack full of items to strew about at a moments notice to create a Where's Waldo anytime anyone wanted to take his picture? As he get's older would he become bitter and resent his parents for his name and retaliate against "the movement" Where's Waldo and become a villain and plan the demise of Mattell?!!

All of these are good questions...and we came to the decision not to present the name to our friends. Who needs all that pressure to live up to as a kid? They should just just name him Bob. That name wouldn't predispose his life...WAIT! There's Bob the builder!!

Theory: The Bartender Bonus Effect

2009-06-25T16:54:00.001-07:00

A guy and a girl sit down at a bar and start flirtatiously chatting with each other. After a few minutes they get the bartenders attention and proceed to order their drinks. They continue in their conversation and after a few minutes their order arrives with a friendly smile. As the girl takes her first sip, the bartender shoots a quick glance over to the guy and gives a subtle head nod. As the guy takes his first sip, the girl says "Wow, this is a stiff drink!" The guy finishes his sip and mutters, "Really? Mine seems just right." The bartender turns away slightly grinning as he approaches another couple at the bar to take their order.

And let it be known...that's the Bartender Bonus Effect!

THEORY:
When a bartender sees a guy and girl flirtatiously chatting with each other at a bar, he purposefully makes the girls' drink stiffer to help the guy out...

Crazy you say? NAY! Jordan and I were at Chevy's for happy hour the other day and that was exactly what happened. Except we had a waitress who took our order instead of the bartender, but I bet she put a little star next to Jordan's order and not mine. Ryan quickly joined us and as I formulated this theory we tested it with his only order drink (no girl involved) and was conclusive that his had just right amount of alcohol. We spent the next 10 minutes trying to appropriately name our new theory with something that correctly communicated its complexities but simplicity...to which we were unsuccessful and I was not completely happy with anything we came up with until the next day when Ryan unexpectedly texted me these three little words: Bartender Bonus Effect!

I'm Broken

2009-06-16T19:08:00.001-07:00

Yup. Sure am. See.

I have an appointment with the Orthopedic sports medicine doctor tomorrow.

It is the first bone that I have actually broken. Despite all my valiant but failed attempts over the years through sports and not counting that minor hairline fracture I did during football, which coincidentally was on this same hand right above my thumb joint...die left hand, die!

****UPDATE****
I don't need surgery. I just have to wear this new finger splint and not bend my joint for 6 weeks to let it heal! I'll have a bump on my finger and it might be slightly crooked (but nowhere near how crooked it was before) for probably the rest of my life. Also, I'm not going to be able to play in my basketball league for the rest of the season, but I think that I can still get away with a round or two of golf! Note to Chris, try not to kill the ball ;)

Vegas Day 3 & 4: Monday & Tuesday

2009-06-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

DAY 3: Monday
We got up to try and make a 6:22am tee time at Angel Park Golf Course...what were we thinking?! I thought that we were on vacation...oh wait, we always do that on vacation.

We were late, but still got on the course. Golfing was fun. I shot a 102, much better than the day before. My 4 iron is still being a great club for me, but my gap wedge definitely gave it a run for its money this day. Golfing highlight was my 25 foot putt with the right to left break on the side hill. It was a nice round.

After golfing we headed over to the Hash House for some crazy huge burgers. Seriously, crazy, huge.

Faxed over my offer for the condo after 30 minutes of hassling with the Kinko's fax machine. I hate that place. It's always a pain.

After all that we made it down to the strip and hit up the Winn, the Venetian, Harrah's and then the Mirage. We lost $20 to the slots at Harrah's, but were looking for a Baccarat table that was affordable. We never found one. I think the cheapest was $20 a hand. I didn't even see a blackjack table for under $15. So after 4 hotels...we saw it...the video texas hold'em poker table. It was great, you only play against the dealer, so we are not taking money from each other. We got our free drinks, were joking around with each other and didn't have to pay super attention with what we were doing and be serious about the game. We stayed and played for a couple hours and I left breaking even. Not a bad couple of hours.

I was most impressed with the Winn as they had these little paradise balconies with water feature views and bars and I can't explain it...here is a pic of there lagoon:

On our way back to the car, walking down the Strip, where people run into each other and don't move out of the way or try to be courteous, this black lady in passing got very close to me and stuck out her hand to grab my junk! She did not succeed as my spidy sense kicked in and I stopped walking abruptly and avoided her personal space intrusion as I twisted sharply around her grabby appendages. Better luck next time lady, just because I'm in Vegas doesn't mean I'm that kind of guy.

DAY 4: Tuesday
Last day or really morning in Vegas. We hit up a short 12 hole par three course back at Angel Park. I couldn't seem to find the right shot for all the 100 yard holes. Which is weird because usually it is a good distance for me. I was always coming up way long or way short. Oh well, after that we basically just packed up and headed home. Thanks for a great time guys! Let's plan another trip soon and make it to a show or two!

See all of the trip photos here

Vegas Day 2: Sunday

2009-06-07T21:27:00.001-07:00

We started the day off right, LEDGENDAIRY pancake breakfast with berry salad whipped up by Shey. Thanks Shey!

After breakfast we headed off to the Revere Golf Club. This is the view from practically every hole on the course.

A little side note about this course: It normally costs about $225 a round to play here in the high season, that’s the same price as Torrey Pines. Moses has a friend (Michael) that works here and took us out for free! Plus got us waters for our cooler and free range balls to practice with before the round. Super nice guy, was a pleasure to play with and it was very nice of him to hook us up. Thanks Michael!

All the tee boxes were elevated and you hit down onto the fairways for most of the course. This makes it really nice since you can see where you are trying to go and all the traps. Plus you get all the spectacular views of the valley, the strip and the mountains off in the distance. Super gorgeous. Plus we played from the gold tees…that right, like Mr. T., Mr. Trementozzi that is ; )

My only beef with the course was that every green broke the exact opposite way than it looked. How does that happen??!!?? I have no friggin idea but my final score reflected it (109). Plus they were super fast. I guess that’s what the pros have to deal with so I better get use to it.

Highlight of the day was my surprising 4 iron play, notably on the 13th hole, 203 yard, par 3…but I’ll come back to that.

I have a mixed set of irons, PW-5 iron are my Adams Idea Pro blades and my 3 and 4 iron are part of a Mizuno blade set that I traded to Moses for the Adams. So since his set only went to 5 iron we did a straight club-for-club trade and I kept his 3 and 4 irons. He has been telling me about this gap he has in his bag so I entertained the idea of just giving him his last 2 clubs…I told it depended on my play over the round…I don’t usually pull my 3 or 4 iron very often, but I needed to for this course and did so well with the 4 iron I told him I couldn’t part with it and have a gap in my bag. Chris if you find me a 4 iron in my set, it Is yours. But I did end up giving him the 3 iron (which is fine because my hybrid is a 3 iron loft/distance anyways).

Oh, so back to my shot…stuck it in the middle of the green! Which is a pretty big feat for that distance and that club…so I’m up there putting for birdie, end up shooting bogey. Typical, but my 4 iron is still the hero of the day. Here is me on that hole:

Second highlight is that my driver action is coming back! It did very well for me this round too, got me inside some good yardages to make easier 2nd shots at the greens. And of course all this was due to Moses “fixing” my swing. That boy is talented. He will definitely be my caddy when i'm on tour ; )

We came home and Shey spoiled us again with Lasagna and a tri-fold desert with some special alcohol that I can’t remember what it was but spent a good part of last night driving around looking for Lee’s Discount Liquor to get it. So worth it, thanks Lee!

Cowen and I went over my condo offer and signed everything in anticipation for my approval letter coming the next morning. We then waited for the spa to warm up but it wasn’t for some unknown reason (what did the new pool guy do Chris?!?) so we just hung out by the pool and chatted some more over drinks with each other before bed. I don’t know why we do this to ourselves but we scheduled a 6:22am tee time…we are crazy, but this trip was turning out to be awesome.

See all of the trip photos here

Vegas Day 1: Saturday

2009-06-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

Kris and I took off around noon. Destination: Las Vegas. I've been looking forward to this trip for some time. I needed a few days off to hang out with the guys and get out of the state. Originally we were going out there to play in Moses' works annual golf tournament, but then we found out that it was not open to people that were not perspective clients or employees of his company. So instead we planned our own golf vacation.

We arrived around 5pm and quickly got settled in. Moses took us around his house as it was the first time that we had the opportunity to see it since he bought it and moved out there last October. We got aquanted with their new dog Mack and then we piled back into the car, bound for dinner at the Mandalay Bay's, Burger Bar.

BEST BURGER I'VE EVER HAD!

Yup, I would say so. Meat so tender and flavorful, it just melted in your mouth, and we only opted to have the Angus beef and not the Kobe beef that we were entertaining. But with the Kobe burger being twice the price and it being the first night and all...we decided to just get the angus. I can't imagine if the angus beef was that good, how the kobe must have tasted, next time definately next time. They had a crazy improted beer list too, I opted to take a little different approach and instead of getting a straight Heffeviesen, chose a dark beer but still a wheat called "dogfish" (how can you go wrong with a name like that?!?!) Burgers and beer...sounds like a great meal to me!

Anywyas, we talked, laughed, drank and ate. It was like old times again. I really miss Moses and Shay sinse they moved out there to Vegas and don't get to see them that often anymore. So I decieided we were going to have to make this trip count!

We went back to the house and caught up a little more with each other, had another beer and toasted with a couple chololate cake shots. Then, in our slightly inibriated states (we were fine), retired to chris' "golf room" to get ready for tomorrow ; )

See all of the trip photos here

It's Official

2009-06-06T01:11:00.000-07:00

Jordan and I are together. One week to the day actually. We went to Disneyland last Friday and at night under the fireworks with Tinkerbell throwing her pixie dust around I got Jordan's attention, pulled her close and asked her to be mine right there on Main Street.

Dear Mom,

2009-05-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

Just remember that when we tease you it's our LOVE wrapped in FUN.

;)

Oh, and sh!t is not pronounced "sheet"...

Injurys

2009-05-22T19:21:00.001-07:00

I jammed my left index finger pretty bad in my first basketball game this season. So bad in fact that it turn completely purple, swelled up, I can't make it go straight or make a fist (without complete agony that is). The picture doesn't really capture the true ugliness of the damage, but whatever, you get the idea.

And on top of it I also got cut/burned by someones shoe during the game...I don't exactly remember what happened, but it kinda looks like I tried to commit suicide by ankle...Ohhh you are suppose to cut up and down, not acrossssss, ooohhhhhhh.

Then I woke up today to find 4 big bruises mysteriously appear on my ribs this morning...WTF?!?!? What is going on with me?! This is weird, just call me curious and Benjamin Button.

I Think She Said It Best

2009-05-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

She being Jordan. Confessions.

Best Weekend Ever (Part 2: Sunday)

2009-05-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have not been to Disneyland in years…and after 5 months of begging and pleding by Jordan and Ryan for me to accompany them (cuz I’m awesome)…I found out my cousin works there and offered to get me in for FREE! Sold, let’s go.

There were a few key highlights:

1) Well this is not a “highlight” for me at least but,…Jordan kicked my a$$ at Buzz Lightyear. She talked a big game and backed it up killing me by a whopping 140,000 points. Now granted it was my first time, but I’m confident on making a comeback…or at least making it respectable next time. Watch out Jordan, I’m a fast learner, with many years of duck hunt under my belt.

2) I’m usually not one to love the get strapped to a chair, then lifted a million stories into the air and get dropped back to earth…but I loved it from the Tower of Terror. There are a lot of other things going on to and you get pulled up and down in all these “random” sequences, but it is pretty fun and you get to see all of California Adventure when they open the doors at the top, and we did it a dusk so it was very pretty with the sunset and park lights. Oh not to mention that Jordan hates the ride (but secretly loves it) and used it as an excuse to latch onto me, I wasn’t complaining ;)

3) Jordan kept raving about the Fireworks show and I have to say that I didn’t have to high of expectations. Though I did want to see Tinkerbelle jump off the Matterhorn and fly to the castle. Low and behold, the show was actually very cool, especially with all the music and Disney stories that they weave together to coincide with the blasts. It was done very well. Even if Tinkerbelle didn’t jump for this show.

4) There was an earthquake that hit later in the night. It was a 4.7 and Ryan and I were standing under the raised track for the monorail…and even though a 4.7 is hardly enough to get me out of bed with it’s gentle and almost comforting sway, we promptly moved to a more open area after we realized what was happening. At first we thought it was just all the people around us walking as we were leaning against a planter bed with a loose railing…obviously it isn’t when the ground starts swaying. They shut down Space Mountain and the Matterhorn right after, the 2 rides we were about to hit up and end our day with. We were going to just leave, but decided to hit up Honey, I shrunk the Audience real fast…when we got out, low and behold!...the rides were back open! Jackpot!

Overall, great day. We left at 12:30am got back around 2am with Ryan surprisingly staying awake the whole time (even though I bet him that he couldn’t make it and was a little questionable during the “Table for Glasses” incident, Jordan will testify. But he assured me he was conscience and I now owe him 5 Red Vines at 5 different requests at anytime from now until eternity…a candy-ized slap bet if you will.) Blasting Jimmy the whole way and with Jordan’s company, I got us home safe and sound. I was a zombie the next day, but due to other circumstances…

Best Weekend Ever (part 1: Saturday)

2009-05-21T23:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday started at 12am when my cousin Linda flew in to SD to stay with us due to some work conference she had early the next morning. So being the gracious hosts that we are, I gave up my room and made plans to sleep on the couch at Ryan’s. Which turned out to be really cool as Ryan and I ended up talking and hanging out talking about life until 3+am, something that I haven’t done in a real long time. And we made plans to wake up around 9 and get ready for our day, even go to the gym!...

Noon rolls around and I just wake up, Ryan’s still fast asleep…so being as I had been getting up early and going to bed late for a long time, I took to opportunity to just relax and be lazy. I turned on some Park’s and Recreation and then took to killing aliens in Halo 3. So it was a great morning…I mean afternoon.

We finally get our butts in gear and head off to watch the new STAR TREK!

SIDE NOTE: I love J.J. Abrams! So far everything he has touched I love. Which includes LOST, Fridge, Cloverfield, and now Star Trek. Still need to give Alias a shot and Felicity…

On the walk out of the parking structure to go to the movie…Ryan spots a $20 on the ground! We look around…nobody there…score!! Somehow I convinced Ryan to buy my movie ticket with his new found riches, double score!

The movie was brilliant. I need to take my dad to see it being the treky that he is. I remember growing up watching the Next Generation Series with him. Then I came home from college one day and Dad tried to get me to watch whatever the new series is by telling me the girl in it was hot and had big lips…WHAT?!?!

After the movie, we headed off to In-and-Out for dinner then jetted down to Cricket for the Nine Inch Nails concert. Which was quite the experience.

They made us park in the weed filled lots next to the water slides super far away (but at least it was free!). And as we are walking up, there folded up and pressed sharply into the tire track softened dirt, Ryan gasps and pulls up…drum roll…ANOTHER $20!!! 2 in one day!!! So free movie and now free lawn ticket (for Ryan at least, I couldn’t persuade him to buy my ticket again)?!? It was just like eating I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter…unbelievable!

We got our tickets and got up to the lawn and totally scoped our new favorite lawn spot! Good thing too, cuz we have Coldplay coming up soon. On the far left side of the lawn there isn’t as many people cuz it is far away from the center and away from the entrance, so we can totally sit right on the edge with no obstructions or annoying people in front of us! And with the way that the amphitheater is arranged, the sides are much MUCH closer to the stage than the center so you can totally see great!

As for the performance it had some very interesting stuff and some other…and I am intent on bringing this word back, dubna (decent but not amazing).

So we will start with my cons:

• They didn’t play anything off the Year Zero album…WTF?!? It is their second newest CD and awesome. And they only played one above dubna status song off their newest album The Slip…I don’t understand.

• So they didn’t really play anything off my favorite albums, and most of the stuff that they did play were songs that I wasn’t very familiar with (even though they did sound good most of the time and had some interesting arrangements) the set list in my opinion was again, dubna.

• For the encore, they played a couple ballad-y arrangements…don’t get it. Send us home with a bang!

Now the pros:

• First off, Trent is crazy! He was running around the stage, knocking equipment over, throwing mic stands 20 feet in the air only to let it crash onto the stage, he kicked a few monitors off the stage, and ended the show with a manly heave of his les paul straight into the air as he walks off and it too crashes into pieces behind him…total rockstar status. I loved it. I wish that I could do that one day, or at least just afford to do that one day…after all I am sure that it was at least a $3000 guitar.

• Every member of the band had some sort of sound machine next to them, looping in sounds and letting them get away from their instruments and go off on crazy sound tangents. I love that! I love crazy sounds and how artists can manipulate or blend them into a composition.

• In the middle of the second song, they blew up the sound board! Well not exactly, but all of a sudden all the amplification and speakers stopped and all you could hear were the actual instruments themselves. The band stopped in the middle, problem got fixed, and they started that one over. It is pretty cool to be rockin so hard you blow up the sound board.

• They ended with what I thought was going to be The Hand That Feeds and take the cake as my favorite track of the night, and it was good, definitely one of my favorite NIN songs ever…I really enjoyed that one live, but then they went into Head Like A Hole after to really close out the set and everyone was just into it. Pure energy, so it took the cake.

Now off the get ready for Disneyland…

One Hundred Million Things...

2009-05-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

One hundred million thing to fix, with this swing that is :(

Dear Good Swing,
Where did thou go? The days of 300 yard drives and the possibility of greens in one...I miss thee. Come back soon.

Zoe Keating: Avant Garde High Tech Fusion Cellist

2009-05-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

I ran across this artist yesterday here on Wired.com and thought, how awesome!...A Cellist that records, mixes and loops with a mac on the spot!! I'm sold (cuz am obsessed with musicians who write music in parts and loop, build and layer to make their pieces) and I hadn't even heard her music yet! I just find it so interesting...always trying to hear every sound that is being created or hear a phrase that I never caught before...they are always there, even in teh music that you listen to all the time, you just have to listen...

Furthermore, I feel like classical style music get a rap for being stuffy and old, but Zoe is mixing in technology and giving it a fresh feel with I think is, dare I say...legendary! I'm all about reinventing and refreshing things.

Anyways her music is amazing, definitely worth checking out.

http://www.wired.com/video/latest-videos/latest/1815816633/avantgarde-cellist-zoe-keating/21830486001

Museum Hit & Runs

2009-05-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

The Getty, Goal #10 & 4

I made it to the GETTY!!!! Cowen called me about setting this little day up and as it is one of my 365 things, there was no way that I could say no...or wanted to for that matter!

Cowen didn’t tell Becky where he was taking her until they got to the museum. But the bigger surprise was that Kris didn’t tell Becky that I was going to be meeting them there...and we all know how much Becky loves me! What’s not to love?!?! Don’t believe me? Just check her face when she sees me:

Yup. Love.

So after the big surprise (ME!) We decieded to get into a tour of the facilities which was really cool. They went into all these details about how the architech was inspired by the grid of LA and then the ridge line of the mountains that the property sat on and so everything is situated and built off of 30” x 30” square tiles (or a derivitive of) where the lines run from the ground up into the buildings and then continued over them and back around the other side. Then there is the 22° off axis grid going on every now and then with something positioned off kilter. I love grid systems...must be the organizational freak in me...

And everything was going great, until...a motorized wheelchair vigilante ran over my foot! There was swelling involoved, definite bruise-age, and a little limping for the rest of the day. It’s a good thing that the driver had teathered to him the cutiest assistence dog ever...that didn’t assist him in not running over my foot! More training definitely needed.

Moving on, even slightly dabilitated we made it around to all the buildings. Mostly renassancy religious art that is not my particular cup of tea. But in the last stop of the day...there was a room of joy! Impressionistic monet and renoir. This was my favorite, Monet’s Rouen Cathedral, Facade:

Love the colors that he uses to capture that morning light moodiness.

I sniped a few unsuspectings over the day, trying out Cody’s 200mm telephoto lens. Which was great for this kind of thing (note: not so great for capturing the scenery, forcal length was way to long). I’ll Just have to make another trip to catch the beauty of the architecture ;)

I love the look on this girls face...though I was called "creepy" by my coworkers for taking pictures of little girls...

Silhouettes through scrim.

This is the New Year... Death Cab and Drug Addicts

2009-05-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

THE NEW YEAR
So this is the new year.
And i don't feel any different.
The clanking of crystal
Explosions off in the distance (in the distance).

So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions

So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogs bleed into one

I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then i could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There'd be no distance that could hold us back.
There'd be no distance that could hold us back
So this is the new year

365 Goal #4: Something New Every Month UPDATE!!!

For April I designated Art Walk as my new thing...totally forgetting that Death Cab was that month too (and being as since I have never been to a Death Cab concert) I felt like I needed to change my new thing because it totally trumped Art Walk and Josh Damigo.

But before the concert we had some girls standing next to us asking us if we had some booze (No)... then coke (not the kind for booze. No)... then E (No)... and then weed (No)... apparently Andy, Ryan and I look like drug dealers... or like we are on drugs... The girl proceeded to dance the whole night off beat like they were, in-fact, on drugs.

Back to the show, DEATH CAB ROCKS!! and a lot harder than their CD's give them credit for! They played 20 songs with I Will Possess Your Heart as taking the cake as my favorite track (with The New Year, Crooked Teeth and No Sunlight all tied for second place). The build up and the base line are just engulfing, especially when in a big dark room with a 1000 other shadows. They played a very nice mix of songs from across all their albums too, which I like when bands do (see set list below). I think that it gives bands some solidity to their work, like their songs can stand the test of time and people still love them. They don't get tired or dated which is quite a talent in my opinion.

THE SET LIST (courtesy of Andy):

01. 405
02. You Heart Is An Empty Room
03. The New Year
04. We Laugh Indoors
05. Crooked Teeth
06. No Sunlight
07. Photobooth
08. My Mirror Speaks
09. A Diamond and a Tether
10. Summer Skin
11. Grapevine Fires
12. I Will Possess Your Heart
13. I Will Follow You Into The Dark
14. Cath...
15. Fake Frowns
16. Long Division
17. The Sound of Settling
18. Bixby Canyon Bridge
19. Soul Meets Body
20. Transatlanticism

Lovely Combinations

2009-04-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

365 Goal #4: Something New Every Month

After an early morning with my sister of dropping cars off at the mechanic, breakfast at Coco's (which I surprisingly had the most amazing multi-grain nut pancakes), aimless wandering at Parkway Plaza which resulting in some purse shopping and video Deal or No Deal at the arcade (game strategy tip: eliminate the ugo's first! The pretty ones always have the higher valued cases! Don't believe me, watch the real show.) waiting for a car to be done, picking up that said car (mine-oil change), eyebrow waxing (Sarah), bikini waxing (me-JK!)...we finally made it down to ART WALK.

I have never been to this SD event before, but have heard about it every year just about since I have moved here. Basically, they shut down Little Italy and set up tents in the street with all local(ish) artist vendors to show and sell their artwork. However, in everything that is art, it is subjective. So we saw some cool stuff and some forgettable stuff, and some weird stuff, and some inappropriate stuff. Nothing really struck a chord with me (and as I was thinking about why...it's because all the art I own I've done or I have had a personal relationship with the artist and that makes it more meaningful. Oh and I have sold one of my pieces before at a silent auction aimed at donating money to the needy in Africa through World Vision. That makes me a lagitimate artist right? It sold for $65. See it here.)

Anyways, I beat your wondering why I called this entry "Lovely Combinations". I have a few illustrations for the day:

A) They had music artists playing on almost every corner at Art Walk. As we were aimlessly walking around the art store I saw the back of a guy playing and jokingly said to Sarah "Hey look, isn't that Josh Damigo?!" (I have only heard him play once before but met him after the show and he is a cool guy.) So we went up there and surprisingly enough it was Josh Damigo! So we sat and listened to him play for at least an hour. Everyone knows that I already LOVE live music, but most of the time for bands that you are walking by on the street either suck, or you just don't care about. So it was a lovely combination of his music and the outdoor setting of Little Italy and us running into his set at exactly the right time at the right spot in Little Italy.

B) Multi-grains + Nuts + Pancakes. Sounds like a hockey puck of a pancake right...negative. It got better with every bite, which is something as a chef that is hard to do in my opinion (ussualy food gets worst over time, right?). Oh, and I have a witness as Sarah ate my entire 3rd pancake and uttered those very words, "it gets better with every bite"!

C) Also going with the "New" theme for the day, Baklavah. What is it?

It is a rich, sweet pastry featured in many cuisines of the formerly-Ottoman, Arab, and Iranian countries. It is a pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.

It was our desert at the Greek restaurant by Sarah's work for lunch. And sticking to the "lovely combination," it was sweetened with a thin layer of honey at the bottom of a plate sprinkled with cinnamon. It was quite a nice combination that surprised me.

2009-04-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

I had my first product photoshoot with the new camera this past week for work. I still have a lot to learn about lighting...actually I have everything to learn about lighting.

NOTE TO SELF: Look up lighting techniques and how to read histograms.

Then I took some time to develop some saddle stitched blank booklet templates so that we can drop in design on a whim to graphically display our books instead of photographing them every time. Time saving, efficiency and usefulness...all things I am ginormous fan of. We did 10 platform design books for this project, all of which I dropped into these templates. Somebody shake my hand.