Between the Lines

So we have officially started summer because a bunch of the new music has dropped over the last couple of weeks.

It will start with my favorite in the last couple of years - the self-titled STONE TEMPLE PILOTS cd. It is REALLY GOOD,
competing with Purple as their best album.

The album starts with the radio-friendly / heavy rotation song "Between the Lines", then rips through"Take a Load Off" and
"Huckleberry Crumble" which is very Aerosmithe-esque. The 2nd radio single is "Hickory Dichontomy"
which has a southern rock meets the Doors feel to it.

Other great songs include Cinnamon, Fast As I Can and Maver.


Two more new CDs I picked up are Fang Island, which I caught at the Casbah. Very Rock-Opera meets Anthem Rock.
Very Good debut album from the guys from New York.

The other is Frightened Rabbit - " Winter of Mixed Drinks". Very mellow, soulful and heatfelt. A great band from Scotland.

Stone Temple Pilots - 5 Stars

Fang Island - 4 Stars

Frightened Rabbit - 4 Stars

Come as you Are

Me and LT went to LA over a long weekend and had a blast and a much needed vacation.
We like to split the responsibilities of booking hotels and picking restaurants to try
while we are there. We also like to plan out some of the things we want to do /
visit while there. This trip was no exception...

WE left early Friday and headed straight for the Getty Museum. If you have never been- DO IT!
The place is F@#KING incredible. The have some of the greatest art pieces ever produced in their
permanent collection and get great traveling art exhibits too. They had a Leonardo DaVinci exhibit
that was INCREDIBLE!!

We took Sunset to our hotel in Hollywood. Our first night was spent in the heart of the city,
at the Roosevelt Hotel, across from Hollywood & Highland / Gromein's Chinese Theater. Very swank
to say the least. We had dinner at Carlitos Gardel, and Argentina Steakhouse. Great food and great service.

We headed over to the W hotel for drinks in their new club, which wasn't open
until 10:30 so we had drinks at the lobby bar (which wasn't too shabby either).
Then back to our hotel for a few drinks poolside and at the pub.

Saturday was filled with Shopping on Melrose, a trip to my favorite Art Store - Wacko!, and a stop
at the LA Natural History Museum. I wish we had more time there but something to do next time.

That night we went to the beach in Santa Monica for dinner at Wilshire. The look,
feel and vibe of this place is great. The way the 4 elements are incorporated into
the decor is wonderful and relaxing. We sat outside on the patioat sunset.
The service was top-notch. The servers and waiter were all super attentive.

The food was incredible and super tasty! We started with the Hamachi. I had the
Miso Black Cod (very good) and the GF had the Scallops (Yummy!). We had asparagus
for a side. I wish I had got the Whole Fried Snapper... Oh well next time.
Highly recommended!

Sunday morning we had breakfast at Quality Food (get the biscuit and home-made
jam!!!) then over to the Grove for some shopping. Finishing up our trip at the Melrose trading post -
a Sunday only swapmeet. Came home much more relaxed, focused and happy.

Ramble On

HOLY S@#T!!!! 5 years of me ranting, raving, talking about movies & music,
and no-one telling me shut up (maybe a few snarky comments). This year is
flying by too... I'm looking down the barrel of the end of May with a
shit-ton of stuff coming up. Glad to have squeezed in a vacation this last
weekend, while knowing there is a 3 -day weekend coming up, as well as a
short Friday this week too (Company Meeting, BBQ & Bowling).

I am finally starting to feel okay with myself and getting out my creative
funk that has been plaguing me like the flu. I am doing a handful of freelance
projects. I have started sketching for some paintings as well as got the
garage set-up as my art studio. I have started to write creatively as well,
which makes the guys happy.

Work is going really good. Focusing on the positive and trying not to let
politics drag the work down.

Relationships with friends and family are strong and healthy. And I couldn't
ask for a more understanding and supportive Girlfriend in LT.

The summer is chalk-full of the normal goodness - Memorial Day Party (Arrrgh,
Pirate theme and all), LT's Birthday, Del Mar Track, Comic-Con, a New Album
from STP, a bunch of music show including Sage Francis, Cage the Elephant,
Cypress Hill, The Dead Weather.

Sounding like a Whole Lotta Fun!

Behind the Wheel

My AUDI turns THREE today and I couldn't be any happier with my car choice!!
Actually the car is 5 but since I have had it only 3 years, that's how I roll.
Going to be taking a little road trip this weekend, which I love to do in my car.
It's so smooth on the open road with the music blairing, sunroof open, and a
smile on my face.