Countdown to the End... Part 5

New Years Reflections

I must say, this has been a really good year. 2009 has brought much
fulfillment to my life. But as all good things, they come to an end,
so I reflect on the good and bad of it all.

• End of BSG

• Return of the Old Spaghetti Factory

• A New Camera & many photo opportunities

• Cage the Elephant, Street Sweeper, Them Crooked Vultures and
NIN/JA - all great shows!

• Comic-Con adventures

• Yachting adventures with LT

• First time to Boston

• Foo Fighters Greatest Hits


Biggest Positive - Having someone to share my time and adventures with

Biggest Regret - Missing out on a exclusive FF show

List of things to accomplish in 2010:
Be Creative, Shoot Photos, Paint, Draw, Exercise More - Eat better,
Read, Experience Life, Travel more, Pay off Bills, and Work smarter.

Like everyday in my life, I feel lucky for my career,
friends, family, job, love, car, cat, creativity, and life.

Thank you. Good Night and Good Luck.

Countdown to the End... Part 4 (Xmas edition)

I've got my Love to keep me warm

This year is the first in a long time that I had a GF for the holidays.
Unfortunately she was back home in OH. She was looking forward to a white
christmas but only had some on the ground when she got there. San Diego has
been relatively dry. I keep hoping for a few good storms.

We did Christmas both before she left as well as after she got back. We got
a PS3 for games and movies. I think we both had a great Christmas, both
together and apart with our families.

Speaking of which, I LOVE my family. It's true, throughout your life,
the one constant is that you can count on your family. I'm super thankful
to have my Mom still in my life and appreciate her each and everyday.

I'm very thankful and blessed to have someone that cares about me and values
me in our friendship as well as our relationship. Hopefully she feels the
same way.

Everybody's waiting for the Man with Bag...

The Christmas party went off with a BANG! like most years. It was a lot of fun.
Enjoy it here: [LINK]

Countdown to the End... Part 3

Up in the Air

Everyday I am thankful for the great friends I have in my life. From the
close ones that I talk to everyday and stay involved in their lives,
to the ones in other states that I see once a year, and the one's
(thanks to the internet) that have reconnected with me.

I value every moment I spend talked to them and hanging out. I wish I
had more time to spend with everyone but as our lives have become more
"adult" (some more than others) I know it's harder to do.

Luckily, I see my "Boys" recently a little more regularly. I have been
friends with them for more than 20 years, which is longer that all our
relationships.

I am having my annual XMas party soon and I really look forward to it
(probably more that my friends know). I love to spoil them and tell them
how special they are to me and love them. Of course one gets the LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT Award, a most prestigious award that is a very tight-knit
group. Hopefully everyone knows they all deserve the award.

I am nothing without my friends. A BIG Thanks to all of you.

Top of the Pops

Being a tumultuous year in life for most, the same rests in the best music in '09.
But there really was some that rose to the top of the pops - those ones that you
couldn't get out of your head if you tried.


#1
Band of Skulls - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
LOVE this album!!! From the first spin of "I Know what I Am" on the radio, to digging deeper
on the whole album, the album rocks and sways your being. Definitely one to own from 2009.
Best Track - "I Know what I Am"
[LINK]

#2
Cage the Elephant - self titled
Seeing them live, along with 50 other people, solidified WHY I think this band rocks!
I'm glad of their commercial success (including a video game song)
Best Track - "Back Against the Wall"
[LINK]

#3
Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall
Everyone goes "Are those guys still around?" and the answer is an astounding YES!
Their radio song "Last One to Die" isn't even close to the best song on the CD.
Best Track - "Disconnected"
[LINK]

#4
Street Sweeper Social Club - SSSC
Tom Morello's (RATM / Audioslave) wicked riffs and Boots Riley sweet lyrics,
kick rock in the face and pick up where Rage Against the Machine left off.
Saw them live on the NIN / Jane's Addiction tour and they rocked!
Best Track - "The Oath"
[LINK]

#5
Them Crooked Vultures - self titled
The epitome of a "SuperGroup", TCV is just that - SUPER. Dave Grohl back on drums,
Josh from QOTSA singing/guitaring, and John Paul Jones of Led Zep on bass.
Caught the live show in Boston and it was a great time!
Best Track - "Elephants"
[LINK]



Honorable Mentions -

Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue

Weezer - Raditude

U2 - No Line on the Horizon

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Chickenfoot - self titled


Worst of 2009 -

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Actually, this GD album could go down as one of the worst pieces of CRAP this decade.
A mix between bad pop and worse, coming off like My Chemical Romance, Green Day has
lost their core fans and some of their souls when they made this album.


Most Anticipated Album (for me) for 2010:

Vampire Weekend - Contra
If you never heard of them from their 2008 debut album...
PLEASE!!! I'm begging you, run out and get it!! It Rocks.
The new album CONTRA comes out in January.
[Link]

Countdown to the End... Part 2

AS most know, I am a slave to TV. I love my Box of Electric Love that
gives me pleasure daily. I love comedies, dramas, cartoons and sci-fi
(not necessarily the crappy new SyFy).

Not much of a news guy - I get that from the internet. But I do get
my "Fake News" from The Daily Show. I think Jon Stewart is brilliant
and his writers are genius.

If I ever need a laugh or an explanation on News Vs Opinu-tainment
I turn to one show (my Number 2 thing I'm thankful for) - The Daily Show.

Enjoy this clip from October and you will see why...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
For Fox Sake!
www.thedailyshow.com
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