Like a Hollywood Movie...

2010 started off with me a broken man, lost in my own head. But as the year progressed,
I looked inside and found what I was really striving towards in my life. I feel very fortunate
and fulfilled in many ways. I realized I live a very charmed life and that I am so lucky you
cannot imagine. So here's to the Good, the Bad & the extremely Ugly of 2010:

• The End of a Bad Relationship

• The Beginning of a Great One

• Being Creative Day-In and Day-Out

• Great Live Shows, with the last one being the Greatest FF Show ever!

• Meeting THawk, Shifty, and Nate... leaving just the White Whale, DG

• A GREAT year in TV & Movies

• A Shitty Year for Football

• New Friends, New Love, and Keeping the Old Relationships Strong

• Eliminated Negative Things and People from my Life

• Knowing that I have my Friend's Backs, and they have mine (no matter what)


Biggest Positive - Finding Love that I Didn't Think I Deserved

Biggest Regret - Staying with someone that was not my right someone

My list for 2011 is the same as 2010 (with a few changes):
Be MORE Creative, Shoot MORE Photos, Paint (finally), Draw, Win an Award, Exercise More - Eat better,
Read, Experience Life, Travel a hell of a lot More, Pay off Bills, and Move up in my Position at Work.

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

Good Night and Good Luck.

Material vs Memories

When I look back at this year, it's not the things I have gained or lost... at least not in a material sense,
but the new memories I have. It was GREAT in that respect.

Actually, even for Christmas this year, it wasn't about the awesome gifts I got or gave, but the awesome
memories I have from the Holiday season. Spending time with my Friends, Family and Loved Ones.... Priceless.

Being able to be part of a Foo Fighters show... being that close to the band and the new music... INCREDIBLE!!!

Between Love and Like

My Annual List of My Top Five Albums of the year...

#5 Fang Island - Fang Island
This album is filled with large stadium rock and big guitar riffs, like a High-Five to the Soul.
Favorite Tracks: Careful Crossers, Daisy, Life Coach
LINK

#4 Vampire Weekend - Contra
VW's sophomore CD was one of the most anticipated of the year. They moved away from their
signature sound on their first album (New England, 80's Frat), into something more mature,
large, and complex. They recently released a new EP - itunes sessions, which has awesome live
versions of a few of the tracks as well, as couple of 50 & 60's favorites!
Favorite Tracks: White Sky, Holiday, California English
LINK

TIE for #3
#3 Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders - Red Light Fever
THawk's second solo album combines classic larger-than-life 70's rock with a dose of today's
rock sound. The heavy guitars and drums really bring the CD to life. Had an opportunity
to see them at the Casbah, up close and personal).
Favorite Tracks: Not Bad Luck, Way Down
LINK

#3 Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots
This is a late entry that I kid-of forgot about but after revisiting the CD, I forgot how
AWESOME it is!!! The Album is really, really good and has all the good things that
makes it ONE OF the best STP cd's EVER.
Favorite Tracks: Between the Line, Huckleberry Crumble, Hickory Dichotomy
LINK

#2 Girl Talk - All Day
Gregg Gills aka. Girl Talk's 5th album of Mash-ups and Samples galore. It kicks off
with Black Sabbath "War Pigs" / Ludacris "Move Bitch" and just gets better from there.
Download it FREE here

#1 Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
This Scottish band's melodic harmonies causing stirring moments of emotion. Scott Hutchison’s
earthy, inviting voice cuts through the vast instrumentation like a ray of sunlight. The music is
like floating above clouds, screaming down to the ground below and the reverb keeping you flying.
Favorite Tracks: Swim Until You Can't See Land, The Loneliness and the Scream, Nothing Like You.
LINK

The Night of Nights

So my all-time favorite band, the Foo Fighters announced on Monday they were doing a secret show in LA
on Tuesday night. I signed up (as usual) hoping to go, and with the good luck that I have(and good karma
I have built up), I waited like the rest of the Thousands that hoped to get the "invite".

I had mad an arrangement with my friend Sarah that we would be each others "+ One" if we were picked.
I unfortunately was not.... BUT she was!!! So I go the call and we were off into the pouring rain towards
Los Angeles and the "secret location".

Arrived at Paladino's in Tarzana. It has a capacity of 500, but felt way more intimate. We were 2 of the
first 40 or so in the club. It was set up for filming with a crane, 2 remote cameras and at least 10 camera men
and photographers. The whole thing along with the recording of their new album, was being recorded to be
released as a DVD.

The club was packed by the 9pm start time and we were positioned along the stage. Before the show
started there were sighting in the crowd of all 4 band members, along with other members of the
FF family - Butch Vig (the producer of the new album), Pat Smear(Guitar), Rami Jaffe (Keyboards),
Drew Hester (Percussion), and Jessie Green (Cello). Others in the crowd were Josh Homme (Queens of
the Stone Age), Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal), Tony Canal (No Doubt), Ryan Philippe, Amanda
Seyfried, Juliette Lewis, Breckin Meyer, and Kris Novaselic!!!


Dave came out and said they were excited to be back. He told the audience they had just finished the
album tonight. That they were thinking of calling it "Back and Forth". They played FOUR new songs
(there were 5 on the set list but Matter of Time wasn't played). I have never been THAT CLOSE to the
band and was seriously 5 feet from Dave.

Set List:
Times Like These
Generator
My Hero
The Pretender
Back And Forth (New Song)
Learn To Fly
White Limo (New Song)
For All The Cows
Enough Space
Dear Rosemary (New Song)
Skin & Bones
See You (Not Played)
Long Road To Ruin
Cold Day In The Sun
Matter of Time (New Song) (Not Played)
These Days (New Song)
Best Of You
Everlong (Full-On Rock Version)
Monkey Wrench
All My Life
-------------------------> Break
Marigold (Dave on Drums, Kris & Pat)
This Is A Call


White Limo was the heaviest of the new songs. After White Limo, Dave asked the crowd if we thought
it was a "single", and then said Pat thinks it's a single too. All the new songs were great and the album
should rock!!

Highlight - Dave on Drums & singing, Kris on Bass and Pat on Guitar, with an open mic stand in the
front of the stage. They performed "Marigold", a song Dave wrote while with Nirvana. The stage setup
was an obvious homage to Kurt & Nirvana. After the song, Kris hung his guitar from the ceiling,
and Dave said "Don't let it hit you in the head"... LOL! The Nirvana fans laughed.

After the show, I met Nate (first time) and Shifty (again). Talked with Butch Vig. Said "HI" to
Josh Homme.I really wanted to meet Kris and obviously Dave too. I forgot a sharpee and
my "One by One" sleeve that is missing Nate & Dave signatures. Oh yeah, I also got a
drum stick Taylor used!

It was seriously the best of the best shows I have seen. I wished deep-down to have
FF play my 40th Birthday (a pipe dream, I know) but this show, setting and result was the
next best thing. I realize how lucky I am everyday for great friends and people that share
the same obsession with me. And on top of all that, It was the GREATEST Christmas present
I could EVER ask for!!!!

UPDATE: A couple of Pictures have turned up online...

Everything I Am

I ended up putting together another great Friends XMas party. I moved if from the usual Buca Di Beppo /
Pope's Table location. Taking it back to where it all started from - someone's house. This year it was
hosted at The Peirce's (Billy & Carole) and it went off GREAT. So much that people started talking
about who was going to host next year.

It was great to have everyone there, including the kids running around and playing Wii, and new
additions to the group (Taisa and Jessica).

Highlights from the night was KNOW YOUR HOST Trivia (Classic!!!), Timpano for Dinner (YUMMY!),
and being able for Tasia to meet the rest of my friends that she hadn't yet met.

I love the Holidays and being able to share it all with my Friends.

PIX Here

All the Small Things

50 Things that make me smile

01. Friends
02. Family
03. My Career
04. Kissing
05. Mister Surly
06. Music
07. Art
08. Laughing
09. Eating
10. Making others Smile
11. The way other people smell (in a good way)
12. Honesty
13. Flirting
14. Hugs
15. Accomplishing Goals
16. Photography
17. A Stiff Drink
18. Great Company
19. YOU
20. Listening to Rain
21. Sex
22. Christmas
23. Sleep
24. Inside Jokes
25. Compliments
26. Travel
27. Talking
28. Hearing a Tree Fall in the Woods
29. Being in the Sun
30. Writing
31. Going to Music Shows
32. Cuddling
33. A Clean House
34. Great Books
35. Confidence
36. Morning Texts
37. Football
38. Hot Showers
39. Appreciative People
40. Holding Hands
41. Handwritten Notes
42. A Clean Car
43. The way she smells
44. Museums
44. Movie Quotes
45. Smart People
46. Looking into your eyes
47. Waking up from a Nap
48. Knowing someone cares
49. Knowing I am loved by my Family
50. Knowing my Friends are Happy

Have yourself a... Umm... Happy Holiday Party?

Thursday night was my work Holiday Party. My Third one and might have been my favorite, even tho there were
great aspects of my rookie year. We had it at the usual place - Old Venice. It was a blast with great food, open bar
and fun times with my work friends. I had more to drink at the pjavascript:void(0)arty than I usually do at work
functions, breaking a Cheese Rule - (Work RULE #3 - Never get drunk at a work party).

I have really had a hard time with the whole political correctness this year, more so than other years.
I like Christmas... wait, I LOVE Christmas. It is awesome!!! I don't want to stop being able to celebrate it.
I can appreciate other people religious views and they can celebrate their holidays too.. I know I have been
somewhat brainwashed too - when someone says "Merry Christmas" to me and I question "What if I was Jewish?"
instead of returning the greeting. I'm going to really try to walk the thin political line, while giving
people my Xmas Cheer!

I am really looking forward to the next couple of weeks - many holiday festivities, Christmas parties,
and Christmas with the family.

Pictures from the party HERE.

Misty Mountain Hop

Tasia and myself went up to Julian for the day. We did all the touristy stuff - A gorgeous Fall Drive up
the mountain, Shopping, and yummy Apple Pie!!! We stopped at Dudley's Bakery for some bread and snacks.
The fall weather was awesome. Very cold and crisp. The only thing that would have been better, would have
been a nice dusting of snow.

I am able to really enjoy my life again, with great company and someone that's truly is special in my life.
I feel extremely lucky!

The Story So Far

A couple months ago Warner Bros. announced that DC Comics held WildStorm Comics will be closing their
doors in San Diego and being absorbed into the WB fold in either LA or NY.

WildStorm was my first real Design job out of school. Comics had always been in my heart since I had been
collecting since I was 12 (and just sold off the collection this year). I was sooooooo F@#KING stoked
to get a job being around the thing I LOVED. I probably would have worked for FREE even. I was honored
and excited to be part of it. Now looking back at the legacy and the great memories (PLENTY of
great stories came from it) and awesome friends I still have some 16 years later, I share with you some
hidden treasures that I recently scanned for posterity.

The pictures were taken of new employees (which later went on the back of the Production door
when they left) and the drawing started because of this guy Merv and how he flipped everyone off
all the time. The drawing were posted on the wall next to my desk.

So as they prepare to close up shop, I tip my cap and say it's really still only the story so far.

PIXS Here

Deadbeat Holiday

As December cranks up the Holiday Festivities, along comes Anger, Frustration, Short-Tempers,
Rushing Around, and the occasional "Finger". I try to remind myself of all of this because, YES,
even the "Master of Cool" sometimes loses his head.

Be it the Mall (which is HORRIBLE this time of year), the gym or just driving around town,
there always seems to be more assholes out there than usual.

As far as Holiday Shopping, IF I need to go to the mall, I only go at lunch or later in the evening
(after 7pm). NEVER on weekends. Hell, getting into Target / Walmart are hard enough, let alone
during the Holiday Madness!

But there are great things to do during this time of year that don't cost a ton of money:

Julian for Apple Pie and Fall in a Quaint Mountain Berg

Driving around San Diego looking at Lights

December Nights in Balboa Park

Ice Skating in Downtown (Horton Plaza) or the Beach (Hotel Del Coronado)

Holiday Boat Parade in the Bay (December 12 & 19th)

See Santa in Fashion Valley Mall

Just remember what is important during this time of year. Family. Friends. Good times.
And be sure to keep your cool!

Design as Art - OR - Why do all Designers dress the same?

As an effort to do more with the community I am part of (the Design community, you dolt!), I attended
an event called Design as Art. It was small but fun. It was held at BASIC in downtown, which seems to
hold a lot of art-based events. I talked to a couple of artists and purveyors of cool,artsy stuff.
Overall a great time that shows that San Diego isn't as stuffy as some people think we are.

The people watching tho was... CLASSIC. There is definitely a "LOOK" for said Designer. Part Hipster.
Part Musician. Part Euro-Art Trash. It's true they LOVE to wear black. Throw in Chucks on half of the guys.
Sure there are exceptions, but I know I can pick the Designer out of the group... Always!

Seeing the cool art / design though makes me angry at myself for not completing one of my goals
for 2010 - to start painting! I have my space set-up and built in my garage. I have some supplies.
I am ready... Except I haven't done it or set aside time to experiment. I do know that it will make
my list again next year and will become part of what I am calling my "Year of Expression" in 2011.

Look for GREAT things my friends.... GREAT things!!!