On my Soapbox...

I try not to get into the political arena with my friends, don't really speak out against injustice and
people's inequalities, and try to stay out of other people's views. I'm under the impression that if
want to yell and scream and post on Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets about
your points of view... So be it. I probably don't agree and I have a choice NOT TO READ your
crazy-ass ideas, mindless dribble and incorrect stances. I was dragged into a debate at work the
other day that fired me up and boiled my blood. Days like that make me wonder, how my friends 
would treat me if I was different or gay. But it did make me say "HEY, FUCK THAT SHIT, I'm gonna
stand up and be heard on my fucking blog!!". With that being said, avoid this post if you must
my close-minded, narrow brow, drool-spewing readers, because I totally agree with this article.

As well as the right to be a Gay Boy Scout Leader.

Get Married or Joined as a couple as a man/woman or gay couple.

Eat, Live and be Happy where you want, without being discriminated against.

If you don't like it... FUCK YOU.

LINK

Choppy

Choppy aka Eric Sandoval rolled into town this week. I had my time scheduled pretty much 
every minute of the day, but knew this would be my only chance to see him while he was in 
town. We had a few drinks, reminisced a ton and had lots of laughs!! Good times. I’m really 
glad when friends visit form out of town and I’m the call they make to hang out.

Roughing it with the Griswolds

Over the weekend Tasia, Myself and 2 other couples went camping up at Cuyamaca state park. It had been
planned for about 2 months and I was really looking forward to it. Right after hearing about it, I pulled out all
the gear to check the tent for holes and to make sure everything was in good standing. I hadn’t been camping
in 10+ years so I was a little nervous too, especially with a dozen people going!! All the meals were dived-up
so we knew what we had to bring… THEN 3 couples bailed so we all scrambled to fill holes, but it all worked 
out in the end.

We got there Friday around 5pm as it was finally cooling off. The weekend was supposed to be a scorcher and
Friday was definitely a warm one. Andy & Carey had already been there a while and were all set up, so
we followed suit and got our campsite set-up as well as the common area. Kristen and Ivan showed up an hour
later and set up the rest of the campsite with us.

A huge dinner and many drinks later, we passed out knowing we wanted to do a long hike in the morning. In
the morning, first thing while camping, I like to make coffee. Unfortunately, we had burned all the wood the
night before and there were barely any embers. Tasia and me scrounged enough wood and twigs to get a fire
started, which really surprised ourselves and the extent of our wilderness capabilities. After Carey & Andy
woke up the 4 of us went on a 3 hour hike which kicked our ass from the heat and difficulty. After we got back
Kristen and Ivan were up and we made breakfast.

The day was so hot, we ended up going to the Falls to cool off (the water was in the 50-60s and chilly) which
was awesome. The rest of the day we napped and layed-low. Then another night of drinking, partying and
laughing a LOT!! The next morning we cooked breakfast and broke camp[ by 9am. A really a quick trip,
but very fulfilling. Overall we had a blast and all talked about doing it again, hopefully in the Fall when it cools
down a bit.

Comic-Brouhaha

2012 Comic Con is in the books and it was EPIC!!! Another great year (and my 26th Year, 18th as a Professional) which no matter HOW MANY times you go, you find out news surprises and can be excited by many different things.

I will say I feel like I have it down to a science of planning and organizing weeks before, including getting parking passes (offered at a set price this year) and finding out where all the parties were at (and getting on lists ahead of time).

It all started Wednesday night (Preview Night) with Jimmy in tow. Again, having the familiarity of going to the Con with your friends and planning things to see and do allow you to purchase and gain things that others might not have planned for. This allowed me to get the ONE THING I really wanted from Comic-Con – A replica necklace made with ears, worn by Darryl Dixon on the Walking Dead. I did end up getting one and wore it the whole weekend of the Con. We ended up staying until they were forcibly kicking people out of the Convention Center.

Thursday was a day for seeing friends, wandering the Hall and getting into trouble. Zack was my partner in crime and had a blast with me! I ran into a photographer friend, Daniel, that got me into a couple of panels because he is one of 20 staff photogs for Comic-Con. He even got me into Hall H for the Expendables 2 panel (that was PACKED!!!). He is supposed to help get a meeting to possibly become a photographer for next years Con (which would be AWESOME!!).

Tasia was coming with me Friday, which started VERY early (earlier than a normal work day). We knew it would be crazy because of the panels we wanted to see at Hall H, including Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. My Jaw dropped when I saw the line…. YIKES!!! It was soooo F@#KING long! We ended up braving the line for some 4 hours not knowing for sure if we were getting in but in the end we did and it was incredible! Lots of great stuff & insight into three of my favorite shows.

I saw more and got to meet more stars this year, including Tom Morello, Kumail Nanjiani (Pinder on Franklin &; Bash and on G4), Robert Kirkman (Creator of the Walking Dead), Sara Underwood, Jim Lee, Lucy Lu, The cast of Battlestar Galactica, Bruce Timm (Batman Animated Series), Mirina Sirtis (Deanna Troy) and Brent Spiner (Data) from ST:TNG, Marilyn Ghigliotti (Veronica /Dante’s GF in Clerks), The cast of the Expendables 2 (Stalone, Swartzanegger, Etc.), David Boreanaz (Angel), Emily Deschanel (Bones), Shirley Barris (Custom Cars), The cast of Breaking Bad (Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Etc), Bai Ling, Dave McKean, Walter Goggins 
(Boyd from Justified) and Don Cheadle.

My friend Dion (from Custom Logos) went with me Saturday and he was like a kid in a candy story and very excited to see everything! I took LOTS of pictures this year (which took a looooong time to go through) and also broke my favorite lens for my camera. Now it needs to be replaced of fixed.

Had a really a fun time this year and excited to see if I will be a staff photographer next year or just an attendee, which I am completely okay with. No matter what, I will be there.

PIXS HERE

Color Me Orange

I finally finished the home office, adding the corkboard wall and taking advantage of the space to do a little 
painted art project. I think the whole thing came out awesome and branded to visualHYPE, so I can really
call it a workspace for my business. I am constantly adding cool stuff and work to it as well. The website is
next and should be done soon!! 
  

Fortunate Son

I had never gone to the 4^th of July parade on Coronado before and one of Tasia’s co-workers has an annual 
party set up along the parade route. So we got up early and grabbed the ferry from the foot of Broadway, 
across to the Crown City. TONS of people but since her friend was all set up we just slid on in, grabbed a 
mimosa and enjoyed the festivities. At the conclusion, after the last floats have passed – the city in full force, 
with multiple janitors, garbage trucks and street sweepers, purged and purified thecity streets & 
sidewalks, making it seem like it never happened. Pretty cool I must admit. Glad to have done it and can say 
“Been there, done that”.

Highlight of the day – Guy passed out in the median as the city works cleaned up and left there for an HOUR 
 before cops and paramedics came and took his drunk ass away.

A couple days before, there was a Pre-4th BBQ at Rob Baker’s parents house over in Pt. Loma. I haven’t 
seen Rob-Bob in a couple of months, his parents in at least a year and Audra in 2 years. Plus both of his
kids… YIKES!!! Cole was getting all grown up!! It was great to catch up with them, drink some beer and
eat some yummy catered Mexican food.

Great friends and special times for the 4th of July.