Missed Opportunities sometimes make better stories

So, I was fortunate enough to see Them Crooked Vultures in Boston
on my Birthday Extravaganza with LT. So AWESOME!!!!

Then I got news after I got back about a TOP SECRET invite only
Foo Fighters show that they were taping for VH1 Storytellers. So I,
like any Foo Fanatic applied once I got the info. I also passed it
onto my closest FF friends that have helped me in the past.

GREAT NEWS - my fanatical friend Don was picked!!

Bad news - No invite for this guy. Extremely bummed for a week
but happy for everyone that gets to go.

I have been VERY fortunate on the times I have gotten to see the Foo,
including 2 exclusive invites that wouldn't have happened without
great friends.

Missed Opportunities sometimes make better stories... at least that
is what I keep telling myself. Oh well.

Crooked like me

BOSTON TRIP - PART 4

Sunday was fun. Lunch was at one of the oldest restaurants in America
- Ye Old Union Oyster House for full authentic New England seafood. [ LINK ]

We walked around the North End a bit more, then jumped a train to Harvard
for an Octoberfest - College style. Food, Booths, Bands, Parades, Booze...
the whole works. LT was feeling under the weather so we went back to the hotel
to rest. While she was hanging out, I walked part of the Charles River, down
Newbury for more shopping, through the Boston Garden/Common and back.
People were out in force enjoying the day! Had the opportunity to shoot more of
the city. It was windy and cool like fall weather should be, but nice in the sun.



After a nap and some baseball (Red Sox vs Angels) & football watching, it was off to
our culmination of the trip - a concert by THEM CROOKED VULTURES, the new
super group of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age /
Eagles of Death Metal) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin.... YES, that Led Zeppelin!!!).
[ LINK ]

They sounded amazing and rocked the house! No album (yet) and I heard there is
an LA show and their album dropping November 17th!



Then it was back to the hotel for some sleep because we had a early
day and a shit-ton of flying ahead. (Total travel time on Monday - 12 hours!)

Overall, a great trip!!! One that I will soon not forget.

[ Day 4 Pixs ]

Hey Tom... How's it going?

BOSTON TRIP - PART 3 - in the PM

Dressed to the t's, we took the train downtown and walked a couple
of blocks over to the restaurant. It was perfect chilly fall weather.
Grill 23 was a high-end steakhouse that was boisterous and a lot
of fun [ LINK ]. Our table was late so we grabbed a drink at the bar.
(NOTE: overall drink prices - very reasonable in Boston)

We were seated a half hour late. Oh my god - the service and food
was spectacular! I had my first experience with a Kobe Beef steak,
a nice 10oz cut prepared exquisitely. Lauren had the 14oz Dry Aged
Ribeye that was also extremely good. The meat was so juicy and
basically melted in your mouth. The sides come separate so we had an
order of Asparagus. Overall, a 5 Star meal. HIGHLY recommended!!!

While we were eating, I'm pretty sure I saw Kevin Garnett leaving
the place. [ WHO ? ]


(Lobby at the Liberty Hotel)

We were full and it was late so we hopped a cab back to the hotel.
What didn't readily realize was our hotel was a "scene" on Friday and
Saturday nights. Between the lobby, lobby bar and BAR ALABI it was
packed! There was an hour wait to get in (we bypassed the line because
were hotel guests). LT & myself grabbed drinks at the lobby bar but
wanted to get out of our nice clothes. As we approached the elevator
bank, there was a commotion of women and pictures which we soon
realized was Tom Cruise taking pictures with people!!!
(Yes, THAT Tom Cruise)

We didn't have cameras or phones on us, so we decided it wasn't worth
the hassle, so we watched the melee for a minute then walked over and
waited for the elevator. While we were there, Tom and his entourage
approached. I said to Lauren she should say "HI" but as she was explaining
that she didn't want to be another one of the "WHOO-HOO!" girls, I stuck
out my hand and said "Hey Tom, How's it going??" He answered "Good, Good".
As we shook hands, he said "Hi" to Lauren and she squeeked out a "Hi" back
to him. And a second later, he was whisked off in the service elevator.

Once we were in our room, we jumped around, called and text everyone!
After wards we headed back to the bar for another round of drinks then
it was off to bed.

Tourista, Tourista

BOSTON TRIP - PART 3

Saturday morning was great! The rain had stopped. It was still blustery
and cool but gorgeous. We had breakfast at CLINK, the other hotel
restaurant. It was once the prison drunk tank and still had bars and
some of the tank still intact. [ LINK ] Had a first-class egg white &
avocado omelet, then it was off to a day of tourist stops.



We saw more of the Boston Commons. The State House. Most of the Freedom
Trail, including 2 cemetaries. The Financial District. Chinatown (sorry,
we didn't get dim sum). Art / Theater District. The North End (again).
We ate lunch at THE TAP, a cool brewhouse having some Fish & Chips and
a couple of Sam Adams Cherry Wheat ales. [ LINK ]









Then it was back to the hotel to nap and clean-up, so we could be
ready for our BIG dinner at GRILL 23.

[ Day 3 Pixs ]

MTA - More Turbulence Ahead!

BOSTON TRIP - PART 2
We woke from our deep slumber fresh & alert. Coffee and showers then off
to our 2nd hotel - The Liberty Hotel.



Once a prison, the Liberty was constructed and completed in 1851 and closed
in 1990. One word - AWESOME! [LINK] The place visually rocked. Architecture, History,
Design, Art... Every little detail was great.

We spent some time exploring the hotel then headed off into the city.
It was raining a little but not enough to stop us from being outside.
The hotel was next to a train station (very convenient) but we started
out walking Charles Street / Beacon Hill towards Boston Common & Garden.



We did some shopping on Newbury - the main shopping street. Headed to
the North End and Little Italy. Got Cannolis from Mike's Pastry (YUMMY!!!)
[ LINK ] Checked out the Old North Church, Paul Revere's statue and a lot of
historical monuments. Had drinks at Ye Ol' Green Dragon. Fun, Fun, Fun.



Back at the hotel - not so much fun. First, the hot water was out when
we were trying to get ready for dinner. When is the last time you were at
a 4-star hotel and no hot water in the whole hotel??!!! It sucked trying
to shave and clean-up with cold water, but we made the best of it.

We were eating at SCAMPO (Italian fused)in the hotel. At dinner we had
the WORST server that barely spoke english, was fat, slow and spent too
much time at certain tables (specifically not ours). We waited a good 10 -15
minutes before they asked for out drink order. Dinner was saved by the waited
working the table next to ours that saw we were frustrated. He ended up doing
out whole order. He got a nice separate tip from the bill.

The food and wine was great!! LT had the Lobster and I had the Kurobata
Pork Chop.Afterwards we went to the hotel bar in the lobby for drinks,
Red Sox game and people watching.

[ Day 2 Pixs ]

Mighty, Mighty (Fun) Bostones

BOSTON TRIP - PART 1
First let me say what an AWESOME time I had in Boston and how lucky I am
to have someone like LT in my Life to share adventures with.

Boston. My home away from home. Great city that is near & dear to me.
The trip started the weekend before with packing and organizing.
Not really sure what to pack to a place you have never been before and don't
know what to expect.But in the end, brought a good assortment of clothes
(only taking a handful of things I didn't wear at all).

My neighbor Vanessa would be watching Mister (and by default Pika & Pedro,
that I feed as well). She is great with the cats, so it's easier to leave
him home and not worry. Of course I will miss that little stinky fuzzball.
Vanessa even offered to drop us off at the airport - She is too sweet!

The red-eye flight was Good and Bad. Good because it was super quick and
made NYC (our layover) in 4.5 Hours. Bad because we couldn't sleep on the
flight like we had planned, even though we had help with pills and booze.
We got into New York / JFK around 4:30 am and I was surprised how busy the
airport was - I mean BUSY!!!

We had a couple hour layover which we killed by people-watching, drinking
Dunkin' Donuts coffee and trying to rest (unsuccessfully). By the time
we re-boarded, we were punch-drunk.

Luckily when we arrived at our first hotel - the Hotel Marlowe [LINK], they had a
room ready for an early check-in for us. So after a quick bite and a 2 hour
nap we were off toward Harvard & Cambridge.



We decide to buy a Metro pass to ride the trains for getting around,
which is waaaaay easier and cheaper than cabs all the time. Plus Boston
is a good walking city for the most part. Harvard and Cambridge had great
architecture and history (which was a theme throughout the trip).
The main school surrounds Harvard Square, which is a cool shopping area.



Then it was back onto the T and to the hotel. Which by the way, was awesome,
friendly, accommodating, and really took care of us. Took a quick shower
and back to the lobby for the complimentary wine hour (free wine? YES please!!)

We had dinner at a fancy restaurant called CLIO [LINK]that was offering a Pre Fix
Menu. The meal was good and portions small but for a "High End" place,
that is what you expect.I had the Lamb and LT had Cod.

Great company and conversation made it a great dinner. Exactly the way a
vacation should start. A few more drinks and laughs, and it was off to bed
and did we need it. 10 hours later....

[ DAY 1 PIXS ]

Another Round for You

Wow... 39!!!! Some days I cannot wrap my head around it.
And next year... Don't get me started. At least I'm not at the end.
Where I can see death's icy grip clamp down on everyone before me.

Actually, I couldn't be happier in my life right now.
My Family. My Friends. My Career. Love. Art. Music.

As I grow another year older & wiser, I think back at
my choices & mistakes I have made. That have made me the man
I am today. The reasons I get up and go on, day after day.

------------->

Well we all want something better than
We wish for something new
Well we all want something beautiful
Wish for something true
Been lookin' for a reason and
Something to lose

When the wheels come down
When the wheels touch ground
And you feel like it's all over
There's another round for you
When the wheels come down

[LINK]

List under.... WTF!!!

Just back from Boston and I hear that one of my favorite shows is
canned before it even starts it's 2nd season... All because F@#KING
Jay Leno and his 10pm slot

SouthLAnd Cancelled!!!

SouthLAnd has been canceled with production being shut down after
six episodes according to the Hollywood Reporter. NBC will continue
to air Dateline on Fridays at 9pm.

After screening the early episodes NBC found them “too dark and gritty”
for broadcast, particularly at 9pm.No word on when/if the six episodes
that were already filmed will air.

My question is WHY screw up good... No, GREAT TV with Leno and his
10pm all-encompassing Bull Shit show. Is NBC throwing in the towel
on adult TV? Nice job.

UPDATE:
SouthLAnd has an opportunity to be picked up by TNT. Talks are in negotiation
to bring the gritty crime drama to the network. TNT was an obvious choice as
it shares a corporate parent with Warner Bros. TV, which produces the critically
praised series with studio-based John Wells Prods.

Where's the chips??

Funny commercial making me happy that I am in Advertising.

Super... Friends?

Caught the new Family Guy this week and laughed so hard at the intro!!!

Watch HERE....