2007 has been a great year. One of the best that I can remember in a long time.Things have really happened for me. From a new job with VR (VitroRobertson). Great. Great. Great. Freelance has also been very, very good to me. Anything to help push my company forward and achieve my goals.
Is it better to reminisce or look forward?
At the end of last year I said this year would be without Resolutions. To do things I had not done - to try new things, and make a difference in my life as well as others.... Have I done these things?
I had not tried a lot of new things but pushed myself in other ones. It's not about becoming a new person but expanding and broadening the one I already am. I made some new friends this year as well, which I think will be in my life for some time. My long time friends have also blossomed - with kids, careers, homes and things in their life that get them up and running.
I have thought of some things I am going to do (in some cases, more of): Be Creative, Blog, Yelp, Shoot Photos, Draw, Exercise (Bike, Basketball), Cook, Read, Experience new music, Buy a house and Work smarter.
As everyday of the year, I feel lucky for my situation in my career, friends, family, job, love, car, cat, creativity, and life.
In remembrance of one of the greatest TV Shows ever, and one of my personal favorites, as well as the release of Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition, I present you with this trip through the actual TWIN PEAKS...
The month is almost over. Just got done being sick for the last week. Uuugh!!! Actually, I've been out of sorts the last few weeks. Just haven't felt right in my own skin... but working on getting it straight.
Had fun for my Birthday. Went to my local watering hole with Chazz, Spork and Beat Dave. Drank waaaaaaay to much and "Drunk Chris" was in full effect. Had a rough next morning but survived. While we were out and I was blabbering, I said "I'm gonna grow a beard". They all said yeah right. I was like "I'm not gonna shave until New Years!!!". Unfortunately it got itchy and I got bored. Shot a photo of the sweeeeeeet 'stache I kept for my Halloween costume.
One of the things I like to do each year is update my list of favorite songs that I could not live without. Went through the list - some songs were dropped, arranged and even moved up the list.
Most of the songs have some sentimental value, others are just the best song by my favorite bands, and others are just the best songs.... period. There is no real criteria though - like some bands have multiple songs on the list and others are fairly new songs.
Most of you know, I work for a large Ad Agency in San Diego. You might not know who some of our clients are or that we get a very nice discount on their products:
This is a great time of the year to sit back and ponder my life thus far. As I grow another year older & wiser, I think back at my choices & mistakes I have made, that have made me the man (boy trapped in a man’s body) I am today. The reasons I get up and go on, day after day.
My Family. More specifically… me Mum. Without her and Sterling Stan, life would not be what it is today. My Friends. I am lucky to have such a large, diverse group of friends around me. Through thick, thin, horrible times, and the best of days, they have been there.
My Career. That which defines me most. Creative. Fun. Energetic. Being able to create, play and enjoy what I do for a living.
Music. I really do believe in the “soundtrack to our lives” theory. Music makes the world go round. Food tastes better. Life IS better with the music in my head(wires) and heart.
The show me & Spork were luck enough to go to is online. The Foo Fighters in LA at the Nissan LIVE! Show.
The Foo Fighters NEW album "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" dropped today. I listened to the preview online over the last few days. Here's my review:
1. The Pretender - 10 of 10 (Best song on the album - hard rocking goodness) 2. Let It Die - 8 of 10 (Almost hypnotic, then kicks into a jam 3. Erase/Replace - 7 of 10 ( Catchy guitar & drum riffs) 4. Long Road To Ruin - 8 of 10 (Heard it live & it's a great song - definitely a single) 5. Come Alive - 7 of 10 6. Stranger Things Have Happened - 7 of 10 (Mellow but a nice feel to it) 7. Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make-Up Is Running) - 9 of 10 8. Summer's End - 6 of 10 (country feel - "West Virginia country side") 9. Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners - 6 of 10 (another country feel) 10. Statues - 7 of 10 (late 60's beatles - Dave on Piano I think) 11. But, Honestly - 6 of 10 (ehhh... not my favorite) 12. Home - 9 of 10 (Saw Dave perform it live on the piano - beautiful & awesome!!)
Bonus track Once & For All (Demo) - 8 of 10
Online Exclusive (through Apple) Seda - 6 of 10
Over Rating: 7.5
I do feel like it's a good solid album, that flows nicely. Dave mixes it up a little, especially learning to play piano. Looking forward to seeing them live a couple more times in the next 12 months.
I finally had a chance to sit down and ponder my concert experience from this summer.It's been a good one - with lots of great shows. BUT only ONE can be the BEST OF THE SUMMER...
photo by Megan Berru Thanks Megan!! 1. Beastie Boys - Greek Theater / LA: Best show overall. Great sound. Great venue (My first time to the Greek Theater). Played all the best songs - new & old. Put on a kick-ass performance. Barely edged out #2...
2. Foo Foghters - Nissan Live Stage on the Fox Studio Lot / LA: Just because it was only 300 people and I was 10 feet from Dave. They only played 11 songs (Everlong twice). It will be broadcast for the world to see. They sounded awesome, as usual. I will probably never be in an more intimate concert with them again.
3.Chris Cornell - Veijas Concerts in the Park: Played a great show, along with all the hits of Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, and his own material. Sounded awesome. Was the #1 pick for most of the summer. Hard to compete with the power of the FOO.
4.Rock the Bells - Glenn Helen Pavillion: Great venue, but in the middle of BFE. Great line up - Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Wu Tang - and headliners Rage Against the Machine. Crazy concert - fire dancing, pot galore, drunks... but expensive as all HELL. Not cheap by any means. And did I mention it was 100 F@#KIng degrees when we got there.
5. Less Than Jake - HOB / SD (again). Great show, even though they opened up for Reel Big Fish (it should have been the other way around). Played a ton of great stuff and highlighted "Hello Rockview". Not the best show I have seen them play but good.
6. The Police / FF - Dodger Stadium / LA: The big POLICE reunion show. I had always said, if they got back together, I was there. I did. Eh.... Expensive. They sounded good for the most part. Some songs sounded better than others - which I think is to be expected. Had pretty good seats (for the price I should have been sitting on stage). For me the best selling point was the Foo Fighters opening up. They played for an hour - a very solid "rock" set.
White Stripes - Cancelled
Missed Shows: Velvet Revolver Foo Fighters @ Henry Ford KROQ Inland Invasion
For the most part, I am an open book. But lately I feel I want to share less & less about myself – not that anyone ever really reads my rants (do you??). This extends to my pictures on Flickr. I share for the most part, but there is an option to view ALL the pictures, just for signing up on there & adding me as a “friend” (childish I know).
Just found out today that the White Stripes show I was soooooooo looking forward too was cancelled. I am a believer that things like that happen for a reason – that reason being that today I also found out that next Tuesday – the day I was supposed to see the WS, the Foo Fighters scheduled an “invite only” show that night in LA… Oh, did I mention I’m on the list. I am 100-times more stoked about this!!! I can’t wait.
The following night is Smashing Pumpkins at the SDSU Open Air. I will be posting my list of TOP SHOWS of the summer next week sometime. There’s a band firmly planted in the #1 spot but Dave & the Foo-Boys might dethrone them. We will see.
Another month since I have last written. August… Middle of summer… Hot as Hell. Humid as a wet towel draped over your shoulders. But still having a blast. Work really fucked up the beginning of it, making me miss Comic-Con for the most part. July was such a blur from Yamaha, that August seemed to almost move in slow motion. It has been a great month though – 4 Concerts, 5 Happy Hours, 2 visits to the Track, all culminating in a nice 5 day weekend coming up over Labor Day.
September seems to be JUST AS BUSY with Agenda trade show, the start of Football (flag & the NFL), release of the new Foo Fighters album “Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace”, FF at the KROQ Inland Invasion & a not-so-surprise show in LA, Velvet Revolver / Alice in Chains concert, White Stripes concert, and Smashing Pumpkins in concert.
I have been shooting a lot of pictures but haven’t put them up yet. Everything from Comic-Con, Less Than Jake, Rock the Bells (RAGE!!!!!), Del Mar Track, Beastie Boys, as well as more old photos I have been scanning in.
I haven’t been in contact much with my friends lately – partially my fault. Just laying low. Keeping up by reading Blogs, MySpace and the occasional e-mail or phone call. Life still moves on.
We just live our lives the best we can, happy with our selves and the choices we make. Meeting new people is a process – one that I enjoy. The happy hours, wine tasting, singles events, etc. are fun BUT you should be enjoying the time you spend doing them no matter what. Not just if you find a potential date.
My personal life has been good. Dating a couple of people. Hanging out with some new friends.Starting to get inspired again to do some art & design. Needing to get out there and create. To Do... To Experience... I’ve been sketching some. Bought some canvas for painting. Thinking about a good 35mm digital camera. Want to expand my portfolio. Do more freelance!! The Ride is great. Finally had the chance to get it out on the open road. Loving it!!!
I don’t know what my morale to this story is yet – I guess it is : “You better be Happy because no matter what, NO ONE else can make you Happy”.
Foo Fighters 6th studio album slated for SEPT. 25th RELEASE!!!!!!!!!!
Foo Fighters have announced the title and track listing for their forthcoming new album, which will be released September 25th on Roswell/RCA. "Echoes, Silence, Patience And Grace" is the band's sixth studio release. Track list is as follows (sequence TBD):
The Pretender Let It Die Erase/Replace Long Road To Ruin Come Alive Stranger Things Have Happened Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make-Up Is Running) Summers End Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners Statues But, Honestly Home
Lately I have been INCREDIBLY busy with work (55-60 hours a week), so not much time for fun… Hell, not much time for anything for that matter. Work, work, work. It’s good. No time for the freelance though. Sending out some feelers – seeing what’s out there.
Even with all the stress of work, I still LOVE this time of year. On Wednesday, the Del Mar track opens & anyone that knows me, knows I live for the ponies. The smell of Grass & Horses. Yells of Winning & Groans of losing your ass. The Bustle of People. The Free Music. All good things. One curious thing is that they changed from dirt to Polytrack (synthetic surface - a mixture of sand, synthetic fibers and recycled rubber coated with wax). Not real crazy about it - it will change the way of betting. This season will be interesting.
And on top of that, Comic Con is next week!!! I am stoked.
AND in the following weeks I will hit up a half dozen shows.
Here is a History question for you: Name the FOUR branches of the government… Executive, Legislative, Judicial and the CHENEY branch.
The vice president has been trying to cast himself as a "fourth branch of government" because of his legal argument in resisting the record-keeping request. His office told the National Archives that it was not an "entity within the executive branch."
The White House has backed Cheney's view that he does not have to provide the data on classified documents requested by the archives office but distanced itself from an effort to cast the vice president's office as a separate branch of government.
The mandate for the record keeping is covered under an order Bush himself issued and the president always intended for Cheney to be exempt from it, the White House said.
Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said it was not "necessary to go through the law and history" of the vice president's role because Bush had already decided that Cheney does not need to provide the records.
How many secrets does he keep? What secrets? He even tried to abolish the agency that runs the oversight of recording & declassifying secrets. Nice job. I’m glad the government is looking out for me as a citizen.
Remember, Big Brother is watching you, and obviously, doesn’t have to tell ANYONE about it.
Went on Saturday up to LA for The Police reunion show. The FOO opened up. Their set was awesome - all rock, all hits!! They played about an hour with hits like MONKEY WRENCH, MY HERO, BREAKOUT, EVERLONG, STACKED ACTORS... should I bother going on. Dave, Taylor & Nate all sported beards (shaggy wild-man ones) and I have heard a new album in September(really?). They ALSO played a secret show on Friday (more to come on that).
Then the Police took the stage. They sounded great. Some songs sounded better than others but they put on a great stage show.
* Message in a Bottle * Synchronicity II * Walking on the Moon * Voices Inside My Head * When the World Is Running Down... * Don't Stand So Close to Me * Driven to Tears * The Bed's Too Big Without You * Truth Hits Everybody * Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic * Wrapped Around Your Finger * De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da * Invisible Sun * Walking in Your Footsteps * Can't Stand Losing You * Roxanne [end of first set] * King of Pain * So Lonely [end of first encore] * Every Breath You Take * Next to You [end of show]
Wow, the middle of June has come and I am amazed that we are halfway through the year.I am amazed that I haven’t written since May 23rd. My last entry was talking about the expectation of the new White Stripes album. It was released (officially) today – all I can say is “Simply Amazing”. They are superstars. I have listened to the CD three times through and have not gotten bored at all. Could this be their “Color & the Shape”? Anyways, I cannot recommend this album enough. GO GET IT!!!
Work has been draining lately. We had a HUGE pitch last week, in which it took the whole company to get involved in it. We will find out this week what the result is. On top of that, one of the clients I handle – Yamaha, is in the middle of deciding on their entire 2008 campaign (2 Brochures, POP, Advertising, Commercials, EVERYTHING). Needless to say, I am a busy boy.
So busy, that I lost one of my freelance clients. Major Bummer!!! I need to go through my client / potential client list and make some calls.
The new car is (still) awesome. I enjoy driving it everyday. This weekend will be the first road trip in the new ride. Going to The Police / Foo Fighters show at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. LA is always such a blast. Maybe go up early, do some shopping, etc. This is the first in many summer concerts – Police / Foo, Chris Cornell, Less than Jake, Rock the Bells w/ RATM, The White Stripes…
Since I have been making work a HUGE priority, not much social time. I am single (again) and actually okay with it. Dating is always fun & I look forward to it. The flirting, the meeting new people, the socializing – all of it is good. Met a few nice girls that seem to want the same thing.
Since my last entry, there was the annual Memorial Day BBQ & Croquette tournament at the Compound. Chuckles dominated the weak field to crush all that opposed him. Actually, Chazz was a close 2nd but had to leave to hang out with his new chick.
Welcome to my 2 years on my Blog. It's gone by so fast. I went back and read some of my old posts and laughed & laughed. It's nice to know we change as people... constantly changing. But you can't always go home... Lucky for me I still live in the same city I grew up in, so it makes it easy to go back.
Last weekend I took a little drive though scenic Lemon Grove, sans the lemon trees that once populated the podunk I called home. Now you see the homeless, gun-toting, crack smoking ghetto dwellers bent on the destruction of my fond memories.
I drove through the neighborhoods that I remember being so large only to find the berg, shockingly small. I drove by my first house on one of the last dirt roads in town, my elementary school, the house I grew up in (as well as drank, smoked pot, had sex, & cut off a neighbors toe - great story, be sure to ask me about that one), the clam church, Choppy's house, the place I worked my senior year, my junior high, just to name a few.
Looking forward to going back (only in the daytime).
Anyone that knows me, knows I can get intense, focused and downright lost in my own world. I have been that way lately. I have become wrapped in my world of work and it has been great!!!
In January I started with the ad agency VitroRobertson and have been enjoying it immensely. They are located downtown which I love – close to home, less gas and just getting to work downtown again is great, especially with the new chariot in my hands. Freelance work has been a blast as well. My free time has been NIL but my cash intake, much better. It has allowed me to catch up on some bills and plunk some money down for the car.
This Summer looks to be a GREAT one!!! A lot of fun shows(Less than Jake, Rock the Bells, The Police / Foo Fighters, Warped Tour), MoviesSpider Man, Harry Potter, Knocked Up, Super Bad, Live Free or Die Hard, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry), CD’s (NIN – “Year Zero”, Chris Cornell – “You Know My Name”, “White Stripes – “Icky Thump”, Beastie Boys – “The Mix-Up”), throw in the Padres, the Track & Comic-Con….
So, this last Saturday night comes up and I feel like doing a “boys night out” since we haven’t done one in… well, FUCK, I can’t remember the last time. Anyways, I put the all the regular calls into the people that - A. are Single, B. Live close enough, and C. Can actually go out starting at 9 or 10pm (instead of going to bed at that time).
Unfortunately, that list has become rather short in my old age. Spork – out. Philly – out. Beat Dave – out. Neighbors – out. I sit in my living room scratching my head going “Shite, I might be in alone tonight”.
Then I go through the list of bastards, excommunicated friends & losers that NEVER go out.One such person is Chazz which I had all but given up for dead, not talking to him since last June for his Birthday. I throw him a text out of the sheer curiosity of his response. Sure as shit, I get a text back – He’s DOWN!!! So I tell him to be at my place at 9pm. We have a tall Captain (Arrrrgh!!!) at my pad, talk about the last 9 months and head over to my local watering hole – The Bluefoot (or as I call it the Clubfoot). I really love that place though. Good, strong drinks that are not hard on the wallet.
As I partake in some cocktails, Chazz decides to GO BIG his first night out in a long time – 4-5 Bass Ales along with 3 shots of Jaegar, topped off with that first Captain at my house.
Needless to say we were both quite loose and lubricated well into the evening. Even ran into my old neighbors Kurt & Kristen (the owners of Frock You). Played some pool. Watched Chazz work the room with the grace of a leopard (a drunk leopard, that is). By 1am I was ready to roll my happy ass home, but he had other plans – beer goggles in full effect. Sure there were some very NICE ladies in there but not this one, considering the last thing she told him before we left was that she had a Boyfriend.
We leave when the lights are on and they are telling us to get out. We walk (well, I walk – stumbles) back to my place. I know there is NO WAY he will be driving home that night. He sits on the couch and tells me “the room is spinning”. I give him some water and he won’t drink it. I say “You want to go to the bathroom or a bucket” as I was walking in with the bucket he says “The bucket sounds like a good idea” and proceeds to hurl for an hour, pass out, then roll into my bathroom to dry heave for another hour. GOOD TIMES!!!!
The next morning – we both look like crap since I barely slept and he looked like Death shit in his mouth.
Just one of those days, not yet Summer. HELL, it's barely Spring, but was great outside - sunny, blue sky, cats playing in the green grass, the smell of spring in the air.
Makes me think of the things I love... Art, Movies and MUSIC. One of the bands I don't regularly think about, but love to hear when they come on is the Doors. My favorite song - Peace Frog.
Enjoy...
"Blood in the streets in the town of New Haven Blood stains the roofs and the palm trees of Venice Blood in my love in the terrible summer Bloody red sun of Fantastic L.A."
Apple announces IPhone (been rumored for some time) and Apple TV:
IPhone link Consumers will finally get the chance to own an iPhone, a mobile phone that plays iTunes and surfs the Web, electronics maker Apple said Tuesday. The device will retail for between $499 and $599.
Company chairman Steve Jobs, speaking at the company's annual Macworld expo, called the iPhone, which will be available in June, a "revolutionary mobile phone" that will feature an iPod, phone and what he called an "Internet communicator."
Jobs also disclosed that Apple's iTunes will sell Paramount films, and that the long-awaited AppleTV device to view downloaded videos will be available beginning in February.
The phone is rectangular, and the entire front surface is a touch screen. All of its functions are activated by touch, but when you bring your iPhone to your face, a proximity sensor will turn off the touchscreen so you don't accidentally face dial.
The phone, which runs the Mac OS X, will come in two models -- a $499 version with 4 gigabytes of memory and a $599 one with 8 gigabytes.
"This is a day I've been looking forward to for two-and-a-half years," Jobs told the crowd at San Francisco's Moscone Center.
Jobs was particularly enthusiastic about the iPhone's Web-browsing capabilities."It's bad out there today," says Jobs of mobile Web browsers. "It's a real revolution to bring real Web browsing to a phone."
Despite all these bells and whistles, Jobs said the "killer app is making calls." The iPhone will operate on the GSM protocol, but won't have third-generation broadband initially. Jobs said that 3G capability is coming. It will also sync with the Mac's Address Book application.
Cingular will be Apple's sole U.S. partner. It's an exclusive multiyear agreement, which means no other carrier will be able to sell the iPhone through 2009.
In a move that could hurt BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, Apple will offer free push e-mail from Yahoo on the phone device. RIM currently charges for its e-mail service.
APPLE TV link On Tuesday Jobs also unveiled the product formerly known as iTV, which will now be called Apple TV. This device has a wireless connection that will let up to five computers stream or download video content to a television. It can connect to a large-screen high definition television, and with 40 gigabytes of memory can store 50 hours of movies and television shows.
Apple TV will ship next month, and will sell for $299. Jobs said the company is accepting orders.
Jobs announced that there have been 2 billion iTunes sold for iPods. He said it took 3 years to sell the first billion and ten months to sell the second billion. He added that 1.3 million movies have been sold for video iPods.
The company also disclosed that it is changing its name to Apple Inc. from Apple Computer Inc. to reflect the changing nature of the company's product list.
Apple shares surged nearly $7, or more than 8 percent, to $92.44 on the announcement.
