All I know is that I don't know

So if you have been following this blog (all 2 of you) then you know that I just got back from a trip to Vegas with Sandra. You can probably catch all the details I will be omitting over at her super blog.
Drove out there early in order for me to watch the Eagles game. We made great time even with snow on both sides of the 15. Crazy to see snow in the desert. Anyway got into Vegas, checked in at the hotel, Planet Hollywood and then I went down to the sports book to play video poker and watch the game. Sandra went to the mall for some Christmas shopping. The bartender was super cool and was mostly interested in getting me drunk, great plan. Needed the drinks as the game sucked. But I did win some $$$ and met up with Sandra for some lunch. The rest of the afternoon is blurry with gambling, winning, drinking and winning. We both won a bunch of $ on the slots and video poker. It was surreal actually as we both won consistently. Those of you who have been to Vegas know that never happens. This was basically the way the weekend went for us. It was so good that we barely left the hotel. Good thing we did though. I won $500 at the Golden Nugget and Sandra won as well.
Bailed out of Vegas on the 3rd day but before heading home we hit a couple of off the beaten path spots. The neon bone yard and the remains of the Moulin Rouge. That was actually kind of fun as we had to trespass to get the good photos. The neon bone yard was really cool but the tour was too long. Or maybe I know I too much about Las Vegas history. Anyway back on the 15 for the drive home. Very excited about our winnings but more excite to see the guys.

Hope you are thoroughly bored now and want to listen to some tunes. While you listen to the couple songs below feel free check out the list of shit I'm feeling lately. Mainly just random things that have been getting me hyped lately.

Shit I'm Feeling
in no particular order

The Eagles smashing the Cowboys to get in to the playoffs. I'm still laughing...
Doodling - does doing the same thing over and over still count???
The Bourne Ultimatum - awesome! No explanation necessary.
Bomb the System - see this movie!
Piecebook - dope graffiti book!
Tagging - keep it street
Stickering
Radley and Stevie playing chase


Play these. Classic skate tunes. You know them, you love them.


Operation Ivy - Knowledge
Was there ever a better skate band than Op Ivy?? Nope. Did they make the H-Street videos better than they were already? Yes.



The only other band to be as closely associated with eskating in my mind are the Odd Numbers. They did a million songs for The New Deal videos when New Deal was the shit!

Odd Numbers - Holiday
from The New Deal promo video


Until next time keep it dirty.

Back from Vegas!

Still a bit delirious from the trip but glad to be home. My brain is fried from bright lights, loud music, and slot machines ringing. Must sleep. Will be back soon...

Rainy day treats...

Pour yourself some hot chocolate or a hot beverage of your choice, take your eyes away from whatever work you are doing and waste some time!







Enjoy!

Fantasy football - my curse

This year I joined a fantasy football league with some of the fellas at the old office. I figured why not. There was a computer draft, which I figured was fair as I was a late addition and had not really done any research anyway. My starting squad had a lot of potential. Thoughts of the playoffs danced through my brain...then the season started and all hell broke loose. Now it is week 15 and I sit with a record of 4-11. Totally pathetic. Granted my QB's have sucked all year but still. I have LT and Marshawn Lynch, I should be dominating. But this week really sums up my season. My starting QB Jeff Garcia (don't ask) was a late scratch for the game. This left me down a player to start. Great...
It is now 83-80 the other guy. We both have 3 guys still playing so I have time and the ability to get back but this season has been torturous. I lost one week by 80 points, that is freakin ridiculous. Next year I will be much more prepared and ready when the season starts. I am addicted now and will be back...once again with playoff visions in my brain!

Oh yeah watch this below, just in case this was a bit too jockish of a post.

I wanna stay young until I die

I turned 35 yesterday.
Never thought I would be this old.
Now what...?

Where are the cities...

So I am back. It seems like a long time since I wrote anything but it's really only been a few days. Things around here have been fairly quiet. Mostly just hanging with Raddles and riding bikes. I have been drawing a bit more lately. I feel more creative than ever (not that I am some artist) but it has been nice to rediscover photography and other outlets I used to have.

While we were in Philly for Thanksgiving I had some time to walk the city. It is still one of my favorite things to do. Walk around large cities and check out the people, styles, architecture and graffiti. I get to listen to the sounds, see the sights of city life not found in LA county. I miss it. The smells, the crowds, the anonymity, the cement and metal.
Out here is different. Driving almost everywhere leaves me disconnected. While walking through the city I felt connected, plugged in and hyper aware of my surroundings. Not in a nervous scared way, but in a take it all in and process it sort of way.

Since being back I have ventured to "downtown" Long Beach in order to stay connected. While it has some of the characteristics I am looking for, mostly it feels hollow. Too many chain stores, not enough independent business, almost nothing to offer in the way of shopping and a general stale atmosphere.

Where are the cities...?

The concrete playground where I learned who I was

Just got back from Philly for Thanksgiving. It was a great trip, maybe the best Thanksgiving I have had in a long, long time. The dinner was just Sandra, Andrew, myself and my parents. Just the way I like. No crazy relatives giving off bad vibes, no excess drama, just family and good times.

We hung out with Andrew on Fri night and Sat and had a blast. He is a funny ass dude and we can have fun anywhere, anytime. On Fri we cruised around Center City (where he lives now) and did some shopping. I came up on a pair of Puma Clyde's! So psyched! I love just walking around down there as it brings back all kinds of memories. I see old skate spots everywhere I look. Reminds me of simpler times.
On Fri night we hit up a happy hour at a bar Andrew frequents, called Northstar. They have great wings, jerk and buffalo. After indulging in quite a few wings and some alcoholic beverages we went back to a friend of Andrew's house. I have known Josh Satinoff now for 20+ years now so I guess he is my friend as well. It was really fun as there were close to 20 people there partying and having a blast. It was a great time. Except when we tried to call a cab that never showed. We made it back to Andrew's around 2:30 and crashed out. I woke up on Sat morning with a craving for a "real" slice of pizza and a fountain coke (is there anything better). My personal post drinking favorite meal. We found a spot and grubbed down. Then a bit more shopping and back to my parents house to hang.
This was the first time I have picked up the camera in quite sometime. I took a bunch of pics and it sparked me to carry my camera around more. So in honor of the trip back to Philly, below is a selection of pics from the trip and some music that always reminds me of home. Grab a wooder ice, fire up the song below and check it out.

Tuff Crew - My Part of Town



Slide show of Philly trip